Only the Beautiful is a compelling and haunting historical fiction story about eugenics and forced sterilization.
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Eugenics, U.S., Vienna
*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.
My Summary of Only the Beautiful:
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.
My Thoughts:
Content
(***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.
Structure
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.
Thought-Provoking Themes
The practice of forced sterilization is definitely disturbing. Meissner exposes the unfortunate history of this practice in the U.S. Other themes include determination, resilience, courage, a mother’s unrelenting love, and found family.
Recommending Only the Beautiful
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.
Related: Other books by Susan Meissner I’ve reviewed are As Bright As Heaven, A Fall of Marigolds, The Nature of Fragile Things, and The Last Year of the War. (Nature of Fragile Things is my fav closely followed by As Bright As Heaven and Marigolds)
My Rating: 4 Stars
Meet the Author of Only the Beautiful, Susan Meissner 
QOTD:
Is this new release from Meissner on your TBR?
Happy Reading Book Buddies!
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading.”
~Rainer Maria Rilke
“I love the world of words, where life and literature connect.”
~Denise J Hughes
“Reading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.”
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
“I read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection! Books take us to places we’ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.”
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text
Let’s Get Social!
Thank you for visiting and reading today! I’d be honored and thrilled if you choose to enjoy and follow along (see subscribe or follow option), promote, and/or share my blog. Every share helps us grow.
Find me at:
Twitter
Instagram
Goodreads
Pinterest
***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price.
I purchase or borrow from the library all books I review unless explicitly stated that the book is free (arc)
Amazon or an author’s (or publisher’s) website receives all credit for book covers and author photos.
© ReadingLadies.com
Wow all those content warnings do seem very unusal for one of her books. Great review and thanks for the warnings Carol!
Great review! It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Susan Meissner’s books, but I’ve really enjoyed those I have read. I think next up for me would be The Nature of Fragile Things, but I’ll keep this one in mind too.
Nature of Fragile Things is my fav of hers! Enjoy!
This sounds interesting Carol, but not sure if I’d want to read it after your reviews and warnings – thanks for being so honest!
Lots of readers have loved it, and it is well written….just heavier than I expected!
I really enjoyed this one, too, in spite of the disturbing subject matter. Meissner’s one of my favorite hist-fic writers and this newest book did not disappoint! Glad you enjoyed it, too.
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
I always look forward to her new releases!
I read a Diane Chamberlain book last year, Necessary Lies, that also dealt with the terrible history of forced sterilization and how it was endorsed and actually pushed by the government at the time. It was very sad to read about, but I think if is an important issue. I am definitely going to read this one. Wonderful and well thought out review for a book that has a lot of possible triggers, Carol.
Oh yes! I was trying to think of that book! I knew I read one that dealt with forced sterilization and that must be the one! It’s a difficult and tragic subject.
Somehow, this latest book by Susan Meissner wasn’t even on my radar! I enjoyed The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War, so I look forward to reading this one — in spite of the subject matter. I just finished reading The Last Carolina Girl, by Meagan Church. It deals with eugenics, too, which is quite sobering to read about.
So tragic 💔