Beautiful by Danielle Steel
Published: April 19, 2022
Delacorte Press
Pages: 235
Genre: Women’s Fiction
KKECReads Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with nearly a billion copies of her novels sold. Her recent international bestsellers include Against All Odds, The Duchess, and The Right Time. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina’s life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; and the children’s books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood. Danielle divides her time between Paris and her home in northern California.
The ruthless terrorist attack has the entire world on edge. Veronique finds herself hospitalized and alone, devastated to learn that the blast has killed both of the people she loved most. She is also forced to confront the harsh reality that she has been severely injured, her famous appearance forever altered. As she plunges into seclusion, the industry that once adored her believes her to have fallen off the map. In truth, she is struggling to find herself again after losing everything, and to discover what truly matters in life. But her mother’s will, accompanied by a letter Veronique never knew existed, reveals long-held secrets, introducing her to a world she hadn’t even known was possible.
As Veronique forges bonds old and new, she begins to see a light beyond the darkness she has come to inhabit, finding peace in opportunities to help others, and redefining for herself what beauty is, and what it truly means to be beautiful. Danielle Steel presents a story of one woman’s breathtaking perseverance in moving beyond tragedy to a life more meaningful than she could ever have imagined.
“What else is there to say?”
Véronique Vincent had spent the last four years as one of the most sought-after supermodels. Every designer wanted her in their runway shows and as the face of their latest campaigns. When a tragedy leaves Véronique scarred, she has to figure out how she continues living when the life she had is over.
This was my first ever Danielle Steel novel, and I can see why she has amassed such an intense following. She brings a story to a life filled with raw emotion, civic characters, and in-depth descriptions.
There weren’t a lot of characters with significant roles, mostly just Véronique, but I enjoyed the role each character played. Véronique was such a beautifully tragic character.
She starts as rather apathetic. She’s gorgeous, with a face that everyone notices. She inspired photographers, traveled the world walking in fashion shows, and photographed for Vogue magazine.
After the attack, Véronique is left with terrible scars she can’t hide. She’s told they may fade with time but will always be there. Now she doesn’t know how to move forward.
Having spent so much of her life being seen and being declared a beautiful face- her world has shifted significantly. More than the scars on her face, Véronique has to learn how to live with the wounds in her heart.
This is a beautiful representation of kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and true beauty. Second chances are a huge theme, and I loved how the story unfolded. The way feelings were described helped put you in Véronique’s position, making the pain palpable.
A slow burn, this novel truly explores what beauty is, what love means. And how to keep moving forward when all you want to do is collapse. Powerfully written, with so many beautiful moments, Beautiful will break you heart.