{Review} THE BLONDE by Anna Godbersen

ISBN #: 978-1602862227

Page Count: 400

Copyright: May 13, 2014

Publisher: Weinstein Books

About the Author:

Anna Godbersen, author of The Blonde, is the New York Times bestselling author of The Luxe and Bright Young Things. Anna grew up in Berkeley, California, graduated from Barnard College, and lives and writes in Brooklyn, New York.

For more information please visit http://www.annagodbersen.com and follow the author of Facebook and Twitter.

Book Summary:

At the height of the Cold War, Marilyn Monroe was the object of the world's desire. That's the part you already know, but here's the part that's never been told: Marilyn Monroe was a Soviet spy tasked with seducing presidential candidate John F. Kennedy.

In 1947, a young, unknown Norma Jean meets a mysterious man in Los Angeles who transforms her into Marilyn the worldwide star. Twelve years later, he comes back for his repayment, and Marilyn is given her first assignment from the KGB: Uncover something about JFK that no one else knows.

But what begins as a simple job turns complicated when Marilyn falls in love the the bright young President, and learns of plans to assassinate Kennedy. Now the most famous woman on the planet will do anything to save her man, the leader of the free world. Part biography, part love story and part thriller, The Blonde is a vivid tableau of American celebrity, sex, love, violence, power and paranoia.

Lupe's Review:

This book was everything is described and more. The mystique and intrigue, the love and hate relationships, The Blonde fulfilled all of those requirements. I think what I loved most about the book is that it all seemed feasible. I mean, why COULDN'T Marilyn have been a spy? Everyone believed that she and JFK were having an affair, why couldn't that have been the truth? Godbersen makes it all so convincing and that's why I loved it so much. I could see how all of those scenarios could go down. At the same time, she made it so convincing that, even though I KNOW that JFK dies (I mean, history, duh!) I was STILL pulling for him to be saved, knowing it wasn't going to happen. Such a good story line.

Godbersen made Marilyn a REAL person, not just the starlet that the world knew her as, and she even portrayed JFK as a real man, one whose stresses included the Bay of Pigs, and the attempted overthrow of Castro. I really do encourage those who are fans of historical fiction to read this. I am pretty sure they will be completely satisfied.


*A physical copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.