Member Review
Review by
Carol (, Reviewer
Only the Beautiful is a compelling and haunting historical fiction story about eugenics and forced sterilization.
Told in two timelines, Only the Beautiful recounts (in two parts) the stories of Rosie, an orphan taken in by the Calverts, and Helen, the sister of Mr. Calvert. In part one, Rosie is mistreated by Mrs. Calvert and dearly misses her parents’. Rosie has a condition (synesthesia) that she attempts to hide from everyone. In unfortunate circumstances, Rosie ends up pregnant and is shopped off to a home for unwed mothers. While there, her condition is discovered and Rosie is labeled as unfit and faces sterilization. After Rosie has left the institution, Helen returns to the U.S. and asks the Calverts about Rosie. Part two is devoted to Helen and her attempts to find Rosie.
(***May contain spoilers) It’s unusual that I need to give so many content warnings for a Susan Meissner story. While this compelling story is well-researched and well-written, the subject matter is difficult and disturbing. Trigger warnings include death of parents, mistreatment of a child, an adult/minor sexual act with no consent, unwanted pregnancy, institutionalization, involuntary euthanasia, forced relinquishment of a child, and forced sterilization.
The story is divided into Part One and Part Two. Part One is Rosie’s story and Part Two is Helen’s. There are no alternating time lines. I became attached to Rosie and was deeply concerned about her dire situation and uncertain future, so I was dismayed when the story abruptly switched to Helen’s perspective. I became a reluctant reader at this point. Eventually, I became immersed in Helen’s story and appreciated her earnest efforts to find Rosie. Along with Helen, I wondered what had happened to her. The women’s stories converge in the end and we get some answers about Rosie’s life. This is a satisfying conclusion, but I really missed hearing about Rosie’s life from her own perspective.
The practice of forced sterilization is definitely disturbing. Meissner exposes the unfortunate history of this practice in the U.S.
If you are OK with the content, I’m certainly recommending Only the Beautiful for fans of Meissner and historical fiction. The story is compelling and page turning, and the title of the book is haunting in light of the content.
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkelyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e ARC of #OnlyTheBeautiful upon my request. All opinions are my own.
Told in two timelines, Only the Beautiful recounts (in two parts) the stories of Rosie, an orphan taken in by the Calverts, and Helen, the sister of Mr. Calvert. In part one, Rosie is mistreated by Mrs. Calvert and dearly misses her parents’. Rosie has a condition (synesthesia) that she attempts to hide from everyone. In unfortunate circumstances, Rosie ends up pregnant and is shopped off to a home for unwed mothers. While there, her condition is discovered and Rosie is labeled as unfit and faces sterilization. After Rosie has left the institution, Helen returns to the U.S. and asks the Calverts about Rosie. Part two is devoted to Helen and her attempts to find Rosie.
(***May contain spoilers) It’s unusual that I need to give so many content warnings for a Susan Meissner story. While this compelling story is well-researched and well-written, the subject matter is difficult and disturbing. Trigger warnings include death of parents, mistreatment of a child, an adult/minor sexual act with no consent, unwanted pregnancy, institutionalization, involuntary euthanasia, forced relinquishment of a child, and forced sterilization.
The story is divided into Part One and Part Two. Part One is Rosie’s story and Part Two is Helen’s. There are no alternating time lines. I became attached to Rosie and was deeply concerned about her dire situation and uncertain future, so I was dismayed when the story abruptly switched to Helen’s perspective. I became a reluctant reader at this point. Eventually, I became immersed in Helen’s story and appreciated her earnest efforts to find Rosie. Along with Helen, I wondered what had happened to her. The women’s stories converge in the end and we get some answers about Rosie’s life. This is a satisfying conclusion, but I really missed hearing about Rosie’s life from her own perspective.
The practice of forced sterilization is definitely disturbing. Meissner exposes the unfortunate history of this practice in the U.S.
If you are OK with the content, I’m certainly recommending Only the Beautiful for fans of Meissner and historical fiction. The story is compelling and page turning, and the title of the book is haunting in light of the content.
Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkelyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary e ARC of #OnlyTheBeautiful upon my request. All opinions are my own.
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