Once Upon a Time

The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

By: Elizabeth Beller

Narrated by: Emily Tremaine

The inspiration for the FX series Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette

A NEW YORK TIMES, LOS ANGELES TIMES, AND USA TODAY BESTSELLER

This “intimate and sympathetic portrait of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy that is as enthralling as she was” (Dana Thomas, New York Times bestselling author) reexamines her life and legacy as never before. Perfect for fans of My Travels with Mrs. Kennedy, What Remains, and Fairy Tale Interrupted.

A quarter of a century after the plane crash that claimed the lives of John F. Kennedy Jr., his wife Carolyn, and her sister Lauren, the magnitude of this tragedy remains fresh. Yet, Carolyn is still an enigmatic figure, a woman whose short life in the spotlight was besieged with misogyny and cruelty.

Amidst today’s cultural reckoning about the way our media treats women, Elizabeth Beller “reveals the true woman behind the mystery, and what a woman she turns out to be: fabulous, fierce, fashionable, flawed…formidable” (J. Randy Taraborrelli, New York Times bestselling author). When she began dating America’s prince, Carolyn was thrust into an overwhelming spotlight filled with cruelly relentless paparazzi who reacted to her reserve with a campaign of harassment and vilification.

To this day, she is still depicted as a privileged princess—icy, vapid, and drug-addicted. She has even been accused of being responsible for their untimely death, allegedly delaying take-off until she finished her pedicure. But now, the truth is finally unveiled.

A fiercely independent woman devoted to her adopted city and career, Carolyn relied on her impeccable eye and drive to fly up the ranks at Calvin Klein in the glossy, high-stakes fashion world of the 1990s. When Carolyn met her future husband, John was immediately drawn to her strong-willed personality, effortless charm, and high intelligence. Their relationship would change her life and catapult her to dizzying fame, but it was her vibrant life before their marriage and then hidden afterwards, that is truly fascinating.

Based on in-depth research and exclusive interviews with friends, family members, teachers, roommates, and colleagues, and featuring never-before-seen family photos, this comprehensive biography reveals a multifaceted woman worthy of our attention regardless of her husband and untimely death.

Pieced together from other publications

There really is nothing new in this book. Unfortunately it is pieced together with quotes from other publications, places Carolyn and John had been based on photos published, and speculation that does not seem to be fact checked.

PERFECT FOR KENNEDY FOLLOWERS OR NON FICTION ROMANCE

Thus is my second listen and I loved every minute.
I'm old enough to remember "John John " as the
three year old kittle boy saluting his father's casket in 1963. I had no idea how much his father's assassination affected him. I also was unaware of how close he was at the time pof his death to entering politics... and the plans that he had to one day assume the presidency himself.
I always admired his wife, Caroline, and this book
only cemented that admiration. She was constantly
hounded and chased by the paparazzi and suffered severe depression because of being forced to stay at home. But most of all, 0John and Caroline were deeply in love.
Truly an enjoyable listen.

An exquisite portrait

Beautifully written, poignant, supported with evidence from friends and family…. A fascinating biography of a beloved person

Read this if you haven’t read anything else

This is basically a compilation of every other book that has been written about them in the last couple decades and the experiences of literally anyone who ever sold them anything or opened a door for them. Seriously. It feels like anyone who was their trusted friends has written a book for profit. Considering their desire for privacy and how careful they were about who they surrounded themselves with, it makes me sad for them.

Predictable Deification

Although unfairly criticized during her lifetime, this saint like portrayal doesn’t ring true either. JFK Jr’s irresponsibly and arrogance ultimately won the day. Although John’s arrogance was not evident to friends, his belief that he will never suffer any consequences drove him his entire life. It’s a shame Carolyn, the empath, never saw this. May they rest in peace.