Discover the best books on Grace Kelly. This book list offers an array of fiction books that span her life from Philadelphia to classic cinema in old Hollywood, European royalty, and beyond, including her lasting legacy after her tragic death.
As a friend of the Kelly family and a Philadelphia resident who frequently visits her childhood home, I am closely familiar with her life stories. Find my favorites below.
Must-Read Books on Grace Kelly: An American Princess Turned European Royal
The Grace Kelly Dress by Brenda Janowitz
In The Grace Kelly Dress, three generations of women are inspired by a single wedding dress worn by an American princess – Grace Kelly.
Each of these three women is uniquely tied to “the dress.” First, there’s a seamstress who designs a Grace Kelly replica dress for a bride as she begins to fall in love with the bride’s brother.
Second, there’s Raquel (“Rocky”), a modern, non-traditional bride who has unhappily inherited the wedding dress of her mother, Joan, who is the third woman in the book.
As the lives of the three women become further intertwined and Rocky’s wedding date approaches, the reader uncovers the love and heartbreak in the history of “the dress.”
This book about weddings celebrates both individuality and tradition, and I couldn’t recommend it more highly. It’s a satisfying, light read brimming with heart.
The Girl in White Gloves by Keri Maher
The Girl in White Gloves is a fictionalized story of Grace Kelly’s life. It goes beyond the beautiful face and dazzling wardrobe into a life of which many of us are unfamiliar.
Behind the “veil,” the reader learns about Grace’s acting studies and budding career, her boyfriends, family struggles, her courtship with Prince Rainier III of Monaco, and the constraints of being a princess in a foreign country. It’s fascinating!
At times, I couldn’t put this book down. However, readers should note that it’s more of an overview of the main points than a comprehensive analysis.
I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn more about this American Princess from a book that reads like fiction, rather than a biography.
Meet Me in Monaco by Hazel Gaynor & Heather Webb
Meet Me in Monaco is another book about Grace Kelly’s wedding. As Hollywood stars and paparazzi descend upon Cannes, France, actress Grace Kelly takes shelter away from British photographer James Henderson in Sophie Duval’s failing perfume shop. This single meeting forms bonds between Sophie and Grace, as well as Sophie and James, that span several decades.
The lives of these three characters continue to intertwine as Grace meets, becomes engaged to, and then marries Prince Rainier of Monaco in a grand royal wedding, to become Princess Grace of Monaco.
It’s a glamorous escape read with heart and hope, and a few unexpected twists!
About Grace Kelly
“I would like to be remembered as someone who accomplished useful deeds, and who was a kind and loving person.” – Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly was born on November 12, 1929, and grew up in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Her father, John B. Kelly, Sr. won three Olympic gold medals for sculling and owned a successful brickwork contracting company that was popular on the East Coast.
To her parents’ dismay, she studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and rose to stardom thereafter. She won an Academy Award (the Oscar) in 1955 for The Country Girl. Other popular films in her short acting career include Rear Window, To Catch a Thief, and High Society.
After a yearlong courtship, Prince Rainier III of Monaco and Grace Kelly married in 1956, and she became Princess Grace of Monaco. The couple had three children: Princess Caroline, Prince Albert II, and Princess Stephanie.
On September 13, 1982, Princess Grace was driving to Monaco from her country home when she had a stroke and lost control of her vehicle. Her daughter Stephanie, a passenger, attempted to regain control but failed, and they drove off a steep, winding road, down a 120-foot mountainside. Princess Stephanie sustained injuries, and Princess Grace died the following night at age 52.
Grace Kelly also left behind a fashion legacy. She was a 1950s style icon comparable to Audrey Hepburn and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Recap
The best books on Grace Kelly showcase both her very public life and her lasting legacy as an American princess, award-winning actress, and style icon. They are: The Grace Kelly Dress, The Girl in White Gloves, and Meet Me in Monaco.
remember, it’s a good day to read a book. – jules
