(Reviewed by JD Jung)
I’ll admit—long before the MeToo movement reframed sexual injustice, I had a soft spot for Monica Lewinsky. I empathized with the twenty-four-year-old intern who was attracted to the most powerful man in the world, and then subsequently demonized. Dear Monica Lewinsky takes that cultural moment and spins it into something surprisingly funny, self-aware, and relatable.
Jean Dornan, a nineteen-year-old studying abroad in France, once judged Lewinsky harshly, referring to her as stupid and skanky. During that summer of 1998 she found herself caught up in an affair with an older, married professor, David Harwell. Fast forward twenty years, and Jean, while married, still hasn’t gotten over David and the subsequent rejection. This has also managed to eat away at her self-esteem for all those years.
She receives an invitation to a reunion commemorating that program in France, as well as a retirement party for David. Should she go? She summons Monica Lewinsky, not only for forgiveness, but to tell her story and to seek advice if she should attend.
What makes this novel so enjoyable is its tone. Yes, it touches on regret and self-reflection, but it does so with hilarity. Jean’s inner dialogue is sharp and often laugh-out-loud funny, especially when she imagines conversations with “Saint Monica,” who delivers surprisingly modern—and snarky—responses.
The reader will become immersed in nineteen-year-old Jean’s summer abroad, while anticipating how the celebration will turn out twenty years later. The inclusion of stories from The Golden Legend adds yet another layer, blending medieval tales with Jean’s present-day drama in a way that feels clever rather than heavy.
Dear Monica Lewinsky is a witty, engaging read about youthful mistakes, second chances, and sexual inequity. If you enjoy smart, character-driven novels with humor and heart, this one is a great pick.