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Fairy Tale Interrupted  By  cover art

Fairy Tale Interrupted

By: RoseMarie Terenzio
Narrated by: RoseMarie Terenzio
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Publisher's summary

To everyone else, John F. Kennedy Jr. may have been American royalty, but to RoseMarie Terenzio, he was an entitled nuisance—and she wasn’t afraid to let him know it. RoseMarie was his personal assistant, his publicist, and one of his closest confidantes during the last five years of his life. In this, her first memoir, she bravely recounts her own fairy tale interrupted, describing the unlikely friendship between a blue-collar girl from the Bronx and John F. Kennedy Jr.

Funny, moving, and fresh, her memoir is a unique account by the woman who was with him through dating, politics, the paparazzi, and his marriage to Carolyn Bessette. Her street smarts, paired with her loyalty, candor, and relentless work ethic, made her the trusted insider to America’s most famous man.

After John and Carolyn’s tragic, untimely deaths on July 16, 1999, RoseMarie’s whole world came crashing down around her, along with her hopes for the future. Only now does she feel she can tell her story in a book that is at once a moving tribute and a very real picture of her friend and employer.

Many books have sought to capture John F. Kennedy Jr.’s life. None has been as intimate or as honest as Fairy Tale Interrupted, a true portrait of the man behind the icon—patient, protective, surprisingly goofy, occasionally thoughtless and self-involved, yet capable of extraordinary generosity and kindness. She reveals what John really had in mind for his political future, how he handled media attention, and the reality of life behind the scenes at George magazine. She also shares how she dealt with the ultra-secretive planning of John and Carolyn’s wedding on Cumberland Island—and the heartbreak of their deaths.

Fairy Tale Interrupted is a deeply loving story and a fascinating adventure, filled with warmth, humor, insight, and five years’ worth of unforgettable memories.

©2012 Rosemarie Terenzio (P)2012 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Terenzio's captivating story, told with style and grace, chronicles her time with Kennedy within the glorious but often brutal bubble that encircled his world, and what he taught her about living." ( Publishers Weekly)

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What listeners say about Fairy Tale Interrupted

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
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    2 out of 5 stars

Mediocre read

Is there anything you would change about this book?

My guess is that she didn't work for him long enough to experience enough interesting information with John. As a result, there isn't enough 'meat' in this book. It might have been better left unwritten.

Would you listen to another book narrated by RoseMarie Terenzio?

No

Do you think Fairy Tale Interrupted needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No! There was barely enough for one book, let alone another.

Any additional comments?

If one wants to get more insight into John, I'd suggest 'Forever Young' by William Noonan who was a close friend of his from childhood into adulthood.

Also, I don't know where this author read the book because at times, there was echo noise in the background and at one point, there was a siren in the background. A bit distracting.

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8 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Taking Credit

What did you love best about Fairy Tale Interrupted?

It was an interesting perspective, John Kennedy's personnel assistant.

What did you like best about this story?

There was nothing that stood out for me.She has not written anything here that we did not know about John Kennedy Jr already.Which makes me think that the relationship was not as close as she claims.

Did RoseMarie Terenzio do a good job differentiating all the characters? How?

I think you could have written this book just by looking up Wikipedia for all the insight she displays in this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I found her continued 'coming to the rescue' at every crisis in John & Caroline Kennedy's marriage frankly unbelievable.To the point that if it was not for her powers of persuation, Caroline would never have been on that fatal flight.

Any additional comments?

I just found it annoying that she continued to over inflate her place and importance in John Kennedy Jr life.

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7 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

This was a very touching book

This was a great book - I really enjoyed the stories - I liked that RoseMarie included many parts of her own life, her family, Frank, etc. I enjoyed that she gave us a glimpse into John and Carolyn's life, but that it was not disrespectful to their memory in any way.

The proof-listener could have done a MUCH better job at making sure the audio was clean. There were a few sentences that were repeated. I don't think that is fair to the author.

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4 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The inside story from a "No BS" gal

Where does Fairy Tale Interrupted rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This author has a fresh

Who was your favorite character and why?

John Kennedy, Jr., of course.

Which scene was your favorite?

2 Scenes: 1) When John Kennedy took Rose Marie to lunch and dined in a separate table from the other staff. 2) When John Kennedy took Rose Marie to a basketball game for Rose Marie's birthday.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

How America's prince showed grace, despite the burden of life in a fishbowl where all the world demanded a closer view.

Any additional comments?

I enjoyed Rose Marie's clever approach to tackling a dragon.

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3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartfelt, inside telling of JFK Jr's Final Years

RoseMarie Terenzio does an absolutely terrific job of taking you inside the offices, the apartments, the lives of the people that put out the magazine George, and most prominently, the late, great John Kennedy Jr.

I cannot do justice to the wonderful job RoseMarie does in telling how much she loved working with John. His pet peeves, his tricks of dealing with the world, and how his and her world came together to allow her to have such an amazing, inside view of such a charismatic person.

I have bought the hard cover of this book twice, having lost my first copy during a move, and knowing I needed to have it in my life. It is that good. I was so glad when it became available on Audible and I got to hear RoseMarie tell the story in her voice. Truly one of my favorite books.

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2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Wonderful Read.....new perspective on JFK Jr.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Definitely recommend. Easy read and couldn't stop listening. Gave such a refreshing perspective on JFK Jr.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fairy Tale Interrupted?

Felt like you were actually in the office at "George".....and could almost see JFK at his desk.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many wonderful scenes.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Not a particular scene but the realization of how much the "rich & famous", and also those who work with them, must give up. I was so moved that Rosie did not attend the wedding, because others from the office were not part of it.....That must have been so hard.

Any additional comments?

My only negative comments are around the quality of the recording. Narration was very good, but there was background noise early in the recording, and also duplicated phrases several times (chapter 8 I think.) This was not the usual excellent recording quality of Audible.
Otherwise, loved it!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Enjoyed this one

Where does Fairy Tale Interrupted rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

one of the top ten

What was one of the most memorable moments of Fairy Tale Interrupted?

John coming in the office for the first time

Which scene was your favorite?

Christmas for Rosie

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

No, I wanted to spread it out

Any additional comments?

Really enjoyed the insight that Rosie brought into John and Carolines life and character. Well written story

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

great story-bad audio

Where does Fairy Tale Interrupted rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I loved the story and I always enjoy when the author reads their own work, especially a non-fiction. Ms. Terenzio did a good job of reading, but the recording was so bad that it was to the point of distraction!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Not about JFKjr. and wife

It’s really the story of his assistant who, unless you know her personally, I don’t see why you would be interested. A loyal assistant she reveals nothing you could not read in the papers about the tragic couple. She purports to be their best friend, in a sense, but she wasn’t invited to their wedding. She also couldn’t get a job after he died. I found it perplexing that

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Love this

Raw and touching. I hope she writes more. Great delivery in her reading. I may listen again. I loved it.

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