Book Review | The Jewels of Tessa Kent

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BY: Judith Krantz
RELEASES:October 27, 1998 by Crown
GENRE: Contemporary Fiction
AGE RANGE: Adult
RATING: 2 out 5
SYNOPSIS:For the first time Judith Krantz has chosen to tell a story rooted in the shattering emotions of a mother-daughter relationship gone desperately wrong. The story unfolds on a classic Krantz background, a magic carpet of gorgeous entertainment and sumptuous events. Yet, at its core, The Jewels of Tessa Kent is an engrossing, deeply moving, and ultimately inspiring tale of two women bound by blood yet torn apart by their deepest emotions.


Tessa Kent, an exquisite and precocious fourteen, gives birth to an illegitimate daughter. Her parents, devout Catholics, raise the infant, Maggie, as their own child. At sixteen Tessa is discovered by Hollywood; by nineteen she's an international movie star. Maggie lives for her glorious "sister's" infrequent whirlwind visits. Maggie is a captivating, independent eighteen when she accidentally learns the truth. Mortally wounded, she breaks all ties with Tessa and starts to work at the famed Manhattan auction house of Scott & Scott.


Five years later, a life-altering crisis makes Tessa passionately determined to end this estrangement. An auction is the only way she can find to reach her daughter, an auction of the immensely valuable collection of famed jewels that represent all the love lavished on her by her late husband. Tessa promises Scott & Scott the auction on the condition that Maggie and she work closely together on the sale. For Tessa, her entire future now hangs on the hope of an almost impossible reconciliation.


The Jewels of Tessa Kent deals with the fascinating workings of an auction house; it's a revealing look at the inside of Hollywood stardom; but more than anything else, it's a story of feelings and family, of loss, mistakes, joy and redemption.



Review: When she was a teenager, Tessa Kent gave birth to an illegitimate child. Her parents, devout Catholics, raised Tessa’s daughter Maggie as their own. Hollywood discovered Tessa when she was sixteen, and by nineteen she had become an international movie star. Despite Maggie’s ignorance about her origins, she adores her glorious “sister” and looks forward to her infrequent whirlwind visits. Upon turning eighteen, Maggie accidentally discovers the truth that destroys her relationships with others.

She breaks all ties with Tessa and begins working at the renowned Scott & Scott auction house in Manhattan. Several years later, Tessa is passionately determined to break this estrangement after suffering a life-changing crisis. It is only through an auction that she can reach her daughter. This is an auction featuring famous jewels that represent her late husband’s love. Can Tessa bridge the gap between her and Maggie’s relationship?

There’s nothing special about The Jewels of Tessa Kent by Judith Krantz. There was nothing exciting about it, and some of it was downright ridiculous. The book tells the story of Tessa, who seeks to repair her relationship with her estranged daughter. She hopes to reconnect through the sale of her beloved jewels.

Instead of a heartwarming story about a mother trying to repair the damage caused by a secret. The writing was sufferable, but the characters were unbearable. Teresa and her mother were particularly frustrating. The characters lacked depth, making it hard to sympathize with their struggles. The plot felt contrived, and the resolution was unconvincing, leaving the reader unsatisfied. While the concept showed promise, its implementation fell short. This made the book a letdown, even with its interesting setup and emotional core.



Overall, I will skip this book.