Reviews

Jackie and Me by Louis Bayard, Louis Bayard

dillydallying's review against another edition

sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

rym201's review

emotional mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book was beautifully written, and quite absorbent so I didn’t really like it. I think the thing I didn’t like the most for the characters, who were, by design, unappealing and flawed. I’m glad I read it and I know I will think a lot about it. 

heidiarousseau's review

Plot was bland.

janefc's review

emotional funny reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

raldrich24's review

slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

ctorms's review

2.0

Audiobook narrator should be arrested for war crimes

knitlitcamp's review against another edition

ran out of time, library book, but would like to revisit

drubyy's review

informative lighthearted slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

courtlisull's review

emotional informative reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

decoachwife's review against another edition

2.0

I can't wrap my head around this book. On the surface, it's a novel about Jackie navigating the Kennedy family with the help of her (closeted) gay best friend. But Lem, who has been there through the revolving door of lovers, gas lights his "dear friend" into believing that JFK will change his ways once he's married to her and that "men like him aren't held to the normal standards". (I'm paraphrasing.) At no point in the book does JFK's show any sign of actual affection for Jackie and he's a straight up a** to Lem. Lem is just that friend that the girl goes to to cry about the man that's awful to her. Honestly the vibe I got throught the whole thing is that Lem wanted JFK and if he couldn't have him he was going to have a weird proxy relationship with his girlfriend. It would have been a much more interesting book if it had focused on what it was like to be gay in the proximity of a family like the Kennedys in that era. Maybe as a book club book it would be an OK pick because there is a lot to unpack but as a casual reader it left me very disappointed.