The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable

*Disclosure of material connection- I received a copy of the book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest thoughts. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are 100% my own. 

My thoughts-

The Summer I Met Jack] offers an alternate Kennedy family history that will leave readers wondering whether America knew the real JFK at all." --Kirkus Reviews

New York Times bestselling author imagines the affair between John F. Kennedy and Alicia Corning Clark - and the child they may have had.

Based on a real story - in 1950, a young, beautiful Polish refugee arrives in Hyannisport, Massachusetts to work as a maid for one of the wealthiest families in America. Alicia is at once dazzled by the large and charismatic family, in particular the oldest son, a rising politician named Jack.

Alicia and Jack are soon engaged, but his domineering father forbids the marriage. And so, Alicia trades Hyannisport for Hollywood, and eventually Rome. She dates famous actors and athletes and royalty, including Gary Cooper, Kirk Douglas, and Katharine Hepburn, all the while staying close with Jack. A decade after they meet, on the eve of Jack’s inauguration as the thirty-fifth President of the United States, the two must confront what they mean to each other. 

The Summer I Met Jack by Michelle Gable is based on the fascinating real life of Alicia Corning Clark, a woman who J. Edgar Hoover insisted was paid by the Kennedys to keep quiet, not only about her romance with Jack Kennedy, but also a baby they may have had together.

About the book-

There are so many things I love about this book. It is set (at least partially) in one of my favorite places- Cape Cod, it is based on historical people that actually existed, and it has an intriguing protagonist in Alicia Darr. I had never heard of Alicia Darr before reading The Summer I Met Jack, but the book has set off an interest that needs to be explored. I will definitely be looking for more books about her and her fascinating life. I appreciate the extensive research that the author conducting to be able to write this book and I also plan to read several of the books she cited at the end. I would love to see another book from Michelle Gable from Jack Kennedy's point of view of this time in his life. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or who has an interest in the Kennedy family.