I am a complete sucker for any book about Jack and Jackie Kennedy, so of course I couldn't resist this, even though all Christopher Andersen really does is rehash all the old favourite anecdotes and events from every Kennedy biography ever. But he summarises their love story with such emotion that I was completely swept along - again! - and read the whole book in a day.

Jackie's myth of Camelot might be over, thanks to the mudslinging tactics of modern day journalism, but I don't care. I know that Jack cheated on Jackie relentlessly. I know that his appearance of youth and 'viggar' belied his ill health. I know that Jackie was conditioned by her mother to stay with her philandering husband because his family was rich. But I also believe that Jack and Jackie did love each other, in their way. He had issues with displaying (nonsexual) affection and Jackie preferred to be alone and could cut people out of her life without blinking an eye. Yet in the words of one friend, 'They both wanted desperately to connect, but hadn't the faintest idea how. That's what made their love story so achingly poignant.' Both had personal quirks and failings born of privileged yet dysfunctional backgrounds, but they were 'two lonely people' and saw in each other the other half of themselves, and that's what I love about the slow-burning, marriage of convenience turned partnership that was Jack and Jackie's marriage.

Andersen interviewed first hand many of the people who knew the President and his First Lady, which surprised me after reading the first chapter, which sounds slightly cribbed and one-sided. He does tell both sides of the story, light and dark, however, including JFK's many dalliances and Jackie's personal methods of dealing with a homelife that was at times both mentally and physically gruelling. I just revelled in the descriptions of Jack's love for his children, his admiration for his wife, and Jackie's growing and enduring love for him - brutally cut short in Dallas, 1963. And if the chapter on baby Patrick's short life doesn't bring a tear to the eye, there must be something wrong! Beautifully told. ( )

I am so fascinated by the Kennedys, especially JFK and Jackie, so naturally I just had to read this.

I liked this book a lot but there were a few things I didn’t like. First of all, the title is misleading. This book is about the entirety of their relationship, not just their last year together. Another thing was that it was a bit too gossipy. It talked about JFK’s extramarital affairs a lot. Aside from these things, I did enjoy the inside look that this book provided. JFK and Jackie were truly one of a kind. ( )

This is an author who can write well, telling a balanced story. No holds barred, there is an in depth portrayal of both Jackie and Jack, the positive and the negative traits provide a well rounded portrait.

The title is misleading. I thought the book would focus on the last days of their marriage. Instead, it is an overview of their marriage from beginning - ending. When all the glitter and glitch is laid bare, both were human beings; both were flawed, both were amazing.

Jackie is portrayed is a strong, intelligent, classy lady. John is portrayed a president able to navigate the stormy, tempest tossed waters of the cuban missile crisis. Jackie played ignorance regarding his serial cheating, until clad in a very sheer ultra form fitting dress, Marilyn Monroe lustfully sang Happy Birthday Dear Pres i denttttt at Madison Square Garden.

To obtain needed energy for their busy calendars, both took daily, frequent injections of a combination steroid and amphetamines. By today's standards, they would be classified as addicts. ( )

It was an interesting account, and I learned things I had not known about the Kennedys. Although his infidelities are no secret, it still rather astounds me that he was able not only to get away with so much but that she put up with all of it. I think that had technology been then what it is today, discretion would have been a lot more difficult to maintain. And perhaps the myth of Camelot would have been shattered (or not existed) a lot sooner. Overall, though, an interesting story ( )

This book should have been named differently. In fact, precious few of those "Precious Days" are included. It is not about the final year, but different sequences from Jack and Jackie's marriage. I thought it seemed to dwell a little much on the affairs JFK had. Granted that it was a huge part of his life, I just feel that it has been done so much before. The book opens with JFK's assassination and ends with the events leading up to Dallas. Good for those looking for a non-political, brief overview of the Kennedy marriage. ( )