
An Invitation to the Kennedys
Captivating pre-WW2 historical fiction about high society, forbidden love and a world on the cusp of change, inspired by real events
Emily Hourican(Author)
Hachette Books Ireland (Publisher)
Published on 2. May 2024
Book
Paperback/Softback
464 pages
978-1-3997-0805-0 (ISBN)
Description
'Perfect for fans of The Crown and Downton Abbey ' Hazel Gaynor, bestselling author of The Last Lifeboat
'A breathtaking, glamorous and escapist read' Irish Times
London 1938: Daughter of the US ambassador, Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy is a huge hit in society's most elite circles, though she isn't always sure she fits in. While Kick is falling for duke-in-waiting Billy Cavendish, a man her parents will never let her marry, across the city Lady Brigid Guinness has no interest in love or society connections. But her ambitious brother-in-law has other ideas and seems determined to engineer a match with a German prince.
When they are invited to an exclusive gathering at a country estate, the young women soon form an unlikely friendship: the stuck-up aristocrat and the brash American. Then Billy and Prince Fritzi join the party, and tensions rise as Kick and Brigid discover that beneath the group's facade of politeness, nothing is as it seems.
As the days at Kelvedon Hall pass in a haze of sunshine, secrecy and surprising revelations, Kick and Brigid begin
to rethink their hopes and plans for the future. Do they still want what they once did? And with the world around
them constantly shifting, as war in Europe looms, will they ever be able to have it?
'A breathtaking, glamorous and escapist read' Irish Times
London 1938: Daughter of the US ambassador, Kathleen 'Kick' Kennedy is a huge hit in society's most elite circles, though she isn't always sure she fits in. While Kick is falling for duke-in-waiting Billy Cavendish, a man her parents will never let her marry, across the city Lady Brigid Guinness has no interest in love or society connections. But her ambitious brother-in-law has other ideas and seems determined to engineer a match with a German prince.
When they are invited to an exclusive gathering at a country estate, the young women soon form an unlikely friendship: the stuck-up aristocrat and the brash American. Then Billy and Prince Fritzi join the party, and tensions rise as Kick and Brigid discover that beneath the group's facade of politeness, nothing is as it seems.
As the days at Kelvedon Hall pass in a haze of sunshine, secrecy and surprising revelations, Kick and Brigid begin
to rethink their hopes and plans for the future. Do they still want what they once did? And with the world around
them constantly shifting, as war in Europe looms, will they ever be able to have it?
Reviews / Votes
This is a captivating story of high society, forbidden love and a world on the cusp of change from the bestselling author of the Guinness Girls series * Irish Country Magazine *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Castleknock
Ireland
Product notice
Paperback (UK-B)
Dimensions
Height: 130 mm
Width: 197 mm
Thickness: 32 mm
Weight
322 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-3997-0805-0 (9781399708050)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Emily Hourican
An Invitation to the Kennedys
Captivating pre-WW2 historical fiction about high society, forbidden love and a world on the cusp of change, inspired by real events
E-Book
09/2023
Hachette Books Ireland
€4.49
Available for download
Person
Emily Hourican is the author of nine novels and one book of non-fiction. Her first novel, The Privileged, was published in 2016, became an instant bestseller, and was short-listed for the Best Popular Fiction Award at the Irish Book Awards that year. She then published three more works of contemporary fiction, the last of which, The Outsider, is being developed as a six-part TV series with Treasure Films, with Emily as screenwriter, supported by Screen Ireland.
In 2019 she began writing historical fiction, and has since published four acclaimed, best-selling historical novels based on the Guinness and Kennedy families.
Emily is also an award-winning editor and journalist with the Sunday Independent,
Ireland's biggest-selling newspaper.
In 2019 she began writing historical fiction, and has since published four acclaimed, best-selling historical novels based on the Guinness and Kennedy families.
Emily is also an award-winning editor and journalist with the Sunday Independent,
Ireland's biggest-selling newspaper.