Louis Bayard's Jackie and Me follows Jacqueline Bouvier in the time leading up to her meeting her first husband, Jack Kennedy, the future President of the United States. The novel delves into the complexities of Jackie's relationship with Lem Billings, a closeted gay man and personal confidant who helps her cultivate her relationship with Jack, a member of the U.S. House and a political star on the rise. In the end, it is a novel about relationships and the way that a single person can always impact your life—in both good and bad ways. It is also about being who you are no matter what in a time that doesn't always value individuality and being different than others.
The story unfolds through Billings' perspective, providing a deeply personal view of his relationship with Jackie, whom he considers charismatic yet enigmatic. Their bond is deep and intense; it is perhaps the most profound connection Jackie has ever experienced. Nevertheless, like any friends, they encounter roadblocks, including periods of tension and misunderstanding.
In the end, Lem becomes an integral part of the Kennedy's life. He helps Jack navigate his political career, acting as a close confidante, and helps Jackie as she navigates the responsibilities associated with being First Lady and the husband to the most powerful man in the world. Most importantly, he is the one who introduces Jackie and her husband at a swanky party for the elite, showing the importance of friends and the power of being in the right place at the right time.
The novel's structure, in which Bayard intertwines past and present, not only enriches the storytelling but also deepens the reader's understanding of the characters' development over the course of the novel (and after the novel, too). The transitions between time periods are seamless, allowing the novel to explore the nature of memory, change, and the enduring impact of friends who change your life forever.
Finally, throughout the novel, Bayard employs rich, evocative language and detailed descriptions to bring the novel's setting and characters, all of whom are real, to life. The cultural and social context of the 1940s onward is vividly rendered. The setting feels real; readers are able to feel and inhabit the setting, adding depth to the characters' experiences and the challenges they face.
