Meant To Be (Ballantine Books, 368 pages), the new book by Emily Giffin, began with the same question that inspired the plot lines of her 10 internationally best-selling novels: What if? This time, she wondered what might have been if John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette got to live decades beyond their fairytale wedding on Cumberland Island in 1996.
“You have to remember that, in the late ’90s, they were the It Couple,” says Giffin. “Nobody could touch John and Carolyn in terms of sheer glamour or star power. They seemed poised to embrace a much bigger role in shaping the cultural and political future of America.”
Whether the pair would have lived up to that promise or even if their relationship would have survived the burden of such expectations, is anyone’s guess. But Giffin has reimagined the couple as Joseph S. Kingsley III, the son of a socialite mother and father who was a military hero; and Cate Cooper, the daughter of a single mother and abusive stepfather in a love story the Atlanta-based author hopes will inspire readers to ponder the same question that haunts her as a writer.
In advance of her sold-out book launch talk at the Atlanta History Center on Wednesday and book party at Huff Harrington Home on July 19, Giffin shared her thoughts with ArtsATL about the evergreen appeal of Camelot; class divides and upward mobility; and today’s equivalent of John and Carolyn.
ArtsATL: When did your fascination with the Kennedys take root?
Emily Giffin: I’ve been fascinated with the Kennedys ever since I was a little girl. My mother inspired this early intrigue, sharing vivid recollections of her own childhood with the romantic backdrop of Camelot. I remember her showing me a copy of Life magazine that she’d saved from July 1953 when she was only 8 years old. On the cover was a photo of John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Lee Bouvier smiling on a sailboat, the headline reading “Senator Kennedy Goes-a-Courting.” I loved looking at that picture, as well as so many other happy images of Jack and Jackie over the years with their two adorable children. Of course I followed them into adulthood as they struggled to uphold their father’s legacy.
ArtsATL: Why do you think the legacy of Camelot has maintained its place in the hierarchy of pop culture seven decades later?
Giffin: I think the reason so many of us remain fascinated with the Kennedys is not just because of their fame, glamour, and political influence, but because so many of their most intimate moments — both celebratory and tragic — have been on full display for the public, which makes it seem like we knew them. That kind of perceived intimacy forges a personal connection that goes beyond superficial, fleeting celebrity intrigue.
ArtsATL: Given the emotional connection so many people feel with the couple, was it intimidating to fictionalize aspects of their love story?
Giffin: In some ways, yes. I think anytime you’re drawing details from real-life people, especially two who were so famous and beloved, it’s a huge responsibility to be respectful to their memory. That said, the beauty of writing fiction is that you can reimagine what it was like to be inside that high-profile relationship, and to write a story based on your imagination. Joe and Cate are purely fictional creations. That’s why I say the story is inspired by John and Carolyn and not based on them.
ArtsATL: Class divides and upward mobility are recurring themes throughout Meant to Be. Why are these social constructs interesting to you as a storyteller?
Giffin: In some ways, and in a very basic sense, that’s the essence of the “American dream,” right? That we’re all equal, that class distinctions don’t really exist here, and that you can come from the most modest background and ascend into these incredible social and financial heights simply by working hard. Well, obviously we know that this isn’t always true and that it’s a lot more complicated than that, and the ways in which those class divides manifest in America are something that really interest me as a writer. I loved contemplating the challenges and obstacles that would come with a relationship in which one half comes from a pedigreed, wealthy family and the other a troubled past.
ArtsATL: What did writing this novel teach you about why some public figures are admired and/or respected, while others are beloved?
Giffin: What an interesting question! I’d have to really think about that, but I think it comes down to relatability and vulnerability. For example, I think we all loved Jennifer Aniston even more after her breakup from Brad Pitt because who hasn’t suffered from a broken heart? I should also say that public favor seems to be very fickle in the age of social media and the sub-24 hour news cycle, so sometimes it feels that it can really blow with the wind. In that sense, I think it’s important for celebrities — and all people — to really know who they are, what matters to them, and do their best to lead an authentic life.
ArtsATL: Now that social media has democratized access to fame, do you think John’s and Carolyn’s light would have burned as brightly today as it did 25 years ago?
Giffin: I actually do think John’s and Carolyn’s celebrity would have been the same today as it was 25 years ago, despite the rise of social media. True glamour isn’t really something you can quantify or define, but it’s something you can recognize when you see it, and John and Carolyn clearly had that “it” factor. That’s a quality that transcends time and place, so I do believe their celebrity would have carried through in this day and age. (Which is why their classic style doesn’t look dated today, nearly three decades later). As an aside, I can’t imagine either of them being very active on social media, aside from perhaps using the platform to advance causes that were important to them.
ArtsATL: Does any modern day couple compare to the heirs of Camelot in terms of their celebrity status and ability to ignite the public’s imagination?
Giffin: That’s tricky. Obviously, the Kennedys are “American royalty,” so the parallel may be British royalty in William and Kate? That’s the closest comparison I can conjure up.
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Gail O’Neill is an ArtsATL editor-at-large. She hosts and coproduces Collective Knowledge a conversational series that’s broadcast on TheA Network, and frequently moderates author talks for the Atlanta History Center.
