Once Upon a Time: The Captivating Life of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy

A New York Times, Los Angeles Times, and USA Today bestseller, this book offers an intimate and sympathetic portrait of Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy, reexamining her life and legacy like never before.

Twenty-five years after the tragic plane crash that killed John F. Kennedy Jr., Carolyn, and her sister Lauren, Carolyn remains a mysterious and misunderstood figure, often unfairly portrayed by the media. Amid today’s cultural reckoning about how women are treated, author Elizabeth Beller reveals the real Carolyn—fabulous, fierce, fashionable, flawed, and formidable—a far cry from the cold, privileged image long perpetuated.

Before her marriage to John, Carolyn built a successful career at Calvin Klein, admired for her intelligence, independence, and impeccable style. When she began dating “America’s prince,” she was thrust into an intense spotlight and endured relentless paparazzi scrutiny.

Drawing on extensive research and exclusive interviews with friends, family, and colleagues, and featuring never-before-seen photos, this biography uncovers the vibrant, complex woman behind the headlines—someone deserving recognition for her own life, not just her tragic death.