Once Upon a Time: Behind the Fairy Tale of Princess Grace and Prince Rainier

This book gets 5 stars for research, 5 stars for presentation (simply a photo of Grace in THAT wedding dress justifies a book existing) and 4 stars for a good read; It's not that it could have been any better, it's just that the story is ultimately sad. However, I think the subject matter was taken very seriously by the author, and unlike other reviewers here, I consider the thoughts expressed to be well thought out and supported by the material that was uncovered in the process, including that from interviews. What other material is ever likely to be uncovered on this subject?? This book is better than 3.5 stars.

anyone interested in the life of grace kelly or the principality of monaco should definitely read this book. the author goes in depth about the joys and sorrows of her (the princess') life to the point that it makes the reader feel like you personally knew her;a very emotional book to read. the small independent state of monaco came rather close to losing its sovereignty to france but thanks to the story in this book it maintains its unique identity in todays modern world.

I couldn't wait to read this book and was not let down. What I loved is that the author didn't just copy every one else's information. If he didn't agree with what was written before, he wrote it his way. Therefore, to me, it was all fresh perspective. I loved the story of how Grace made the best of her life in Monaco, and became such a wonderful Princess even though the odds were against her. Who cares if the writer got the date of Diana's death wrong? Like that has anything to do with anything? That's a fact checker's error. This was such a good book, and so emotional. I would recommend it. If you want to know about Princess Diana and when she died there are lots of books out there that will give you all of that. But this one gives you Grace's and Rainier's story in a beautiful and wonderful way. Five stars from me, and I have read all the Grace books, too. This is the best one yet!

I tend to be one of those readers who picks up a book from his bedside table and reads for a few minutes before drifting off to sleep. This book, though, kept me up for hours the first night I started reading, and the next day I carried it with me, stealing away moments to read more -- and I ended up finishing it before that day was through. "Once Upon a Time" paints a vivid portrait of Grace Kelly's incredible life, taking the reader on a journey through her early years (living for the approval of her dominant father) her whirlwind Hollywood life (that was far more complex than I'd ever realized) and the mysterious marriage to Prince Rainier of Monaco (which, while thrilling, in some ways broke her spirit). Taraborrelli's writing style, with short, concise chapters, keeps the reader flying at warp speed through the timeline of Grace's life, without sacrificing the specificity and detail one craves when cracking open a biography. As a Grace Kelly fan, I had been left disappointed by previous attempts to capture her life on paper -- but, thankfully, this book finally gives me a bit of real estate on my shelves devoted to the memory of this enigmatic beauty. The horrific death of Grace had haunted me, as it has many over the years-- but finally, after reading this book, I feel that enough of my questions-- about her life, her career, and even that terrible accident -- have been answered. The clarity of the storytelling in "Once Upon A Time", helped me put perspective on a life that would have otherwise gone misunderstood. I highly recommend it.