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. Terenzio 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.
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"Terenzio's memoir about her time as JFK's number one assistant is a good read. I was captivated reading about her close relationship with John and Caroline and talks in-depth about how charming they both were. An intimate look inside the creation of the "George" magazine with JFK Jr. at the helm. Terenzio is the receptionist who worked closely with JFK Jr. and occasionally with wife Carolyn. Her account of the plane crash that caused his death was sad and brought to my memory where I was when it was announced that he was missing. "
— Julie (5 out of 5 stars)
“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“The memory of her dedicated service is heretofore memorialized, with obvious admiration. A fitting personal tribute to a unique boss.”
— Kirkus ReviewsTerenzio'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 WeeklyBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
RoseMarie Terenzio was born in the Bronx and served as personal assistant, publicist, and confidante to John F. Kennedy Jr. from 1994 until his death in 1999. The founder of RMT PR Management, a public relations and talent management firm in New York City, she also served on the board of Reaching Up, a nonprofit organization founded by Kennedy.