Anna Godbersen is an American writer whose debut novel was the first installment of The New York Times’ bestselling Luxe series for young adults, which includes “The Luxe,” “Rumors,” “Envy,” and Splendor.” She also wrote the Bright Young Things series and “The Blonde,” her first book for grownups. “The Blonde” takes place at the height of the Cold War when Marilyn Monroe was the most infamous woman in the world and poses the question: what if she was also a secret Soviet spy? In 1947, a young, unknown Norma Jeane Baker meets a mysterious man in Los Angeles who transforms her into Marilyn Monroe, the star. Twelve years later he demands payback, and Marilyn is given her first assignment from the KGB: uncover something about John F. Kennedy that no one else knows.

“The Blonde” begins with a Prologue that chronicles Norma Jean’s early years beginning in 1926 when she was born and then jumps to New York in 1959. This fictional account, at the height of her career, has Marilyn Monroe coming across a man named Alexei Lazarev, a Russian, who reminds her that he helped make her famous and now wants her to repay him. He claims to know her real father, that he wants to meet her, and that he can make it happen. All she must do is get close to JFK. From there, the story speculates on what Marilyn and JFK’s relationship might have been like with the added intrigue of Russian spies and the Cold War. It is divided into five parts, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1962, and 1963. The Epilogue shows Marilyn as a guilt-ridden older woman visiting JFK’s gravesite. It is also the story of the Douglass Walls, the FBI agent who spied on Marilyn, told through his point of view.

The real story behind Marilyn Monroe and JFK may never be known but it is always fun to speculate, especially when spies, murder, and double agents are concerned. An easy read, the action flows through the pages and is mostly dialogue driven. The language is simple and down to earth, and at times even poetic: “The air coming off the high desert was over a hundred degrees, the kind of heat that melts the borders of a girl’s body.” It is an interesting insight into how far people are willing to go for power, wealth, status, and love. The line between fact and fiction are blurred and readers get a glimpse into Marilyn’s thoughts and what might have driven her to make the decisions she made. Part romance, part thriller, it is a fun novel that pulls the reader into the the lifestyle of that era. “The Blonde” is recommended for fans of Marilyn Monroe and Cold War era novels who appreciate fictional spins on real people.

“They forget that vulnerability can be itself, and it can also be a shield, and also a knife. Any old thing can be a weapon, so long as you know how to use it right.”

*The author received a copy of this book for an honest review. The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to her.