Only the Beautiful

By: Susan Meissner

Narrated by: Xe Sands, Jorjeana Marie

Length: 12 hrs and 28 mins

Publisher's summary

A Best Historical Fiction of Spring Pick by Amazon, PopSugar, AARP, and BookBub!

A heartrending story about a young mother’s fight to keep her daughter, and the terrible injustice that tears them apart, by the USA Today bestselling author of The Nature of Fragile Things and The Last Year of the War.

California, 1938—When she loses her parents in an accident, sixteen-year-old Rosanne is taken in by the owners of the vineyard where she has lived her whole life as the vinedresser’s daughter. She moves into Celine and Truman Calvert’s spacious house with a secret, however—Rosie sees colors when she hears sound. She promised her mother she’d never reveal her little-understood ability to anyone, but the weight of her isolation and grief prove too much for her. Driven by her loneliness she not only breaks the vow to her mother, but in a desperate moment lets down her guard and ends up pregnant. Banished by the Calverts, Rosanne believes she is bound for a home for unwed mothers. But she soon finds out she is not going to a home of any kind, but to a place that seeks to forcibly take her baby – and the chance for any future babies – from her.

Austria, 1947—After witnessing firsthand Adolf Hitler’s brutal pursuit of hereditary purity—especially with regard to “different children”—Helen Calvert, Truman’s sister, is ready to return to America for good. But when she arrives at her brother’s peaceful vineyard after decades working abroad, she is shocked to learn what really happened nine years earlier to the vinedresser’s daughter, a girl whom Helen had long ago befriended. In her determination to find Rosanne, Helen discovers a shocking American eugenics program—and learns that that while the war had been won in Europe, there are still terrifying battles to be fought at home.

©2023 Susan Meissner (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

“Only the Beautiful is an emotional journey of grief, hope, and second chances… Meissner pulls no punches in comparing America’s treatment of people with disabilities with the Nazis’ actions a few years later, leaving the reader with the emphatic message that everyone has a moral obligation to speak out against governments doing horrible things. This one resonates.” – Historical Novels Review

“Susan Meissner is a master of the genre…[Only the Beautiful] is set in 1930s California and explores our country’s brief but troubling fascination with eugenics via the story of Helen.” – San Diego Union-Tribute

"Uncovers the horrors of eugenics movements through the stories of two women in 20th-century America.” – PopSugar

My favorite author, her best work yet!

Excellent story and narration. I didn’t expect a story covering the WW2 timeline to surprise me with new aspects, but it has - so much. Once again I’m overwhelmed by this author’s ability entertain and inspire, to deliver historical fiction in a way that is relevant to our present and future. Tastefully yet unapologetically told. I wept and soared and will never forget the characters.

Great

Wow! What an amazing story. I loved it. Well and the parts you hate. Great story.

Touching read

This story is both excellently written and narrated. Few books touched my heart as this one did.

Excellent!

Only the Beautiful is a balm to the heart and soul. Wonderful. It’s indeed Beautiful …

Our June bookclub book !!!

I loved your beautiful writing and descriptions! We have a smart and fun bookclub that meets one evening a month. Yours was our book for June . We would love to have you join us on zoom to talk about our experiences reading your story . Is there any way we could work this out. We will be meeting at 5:00pm on june 19th.we live in west Bloomfield michigan. Please let me know! Thanks.. Barbara wool 2484706036😊

Powerful

This book has a twist that I didn’t expect! What a powerful read! Love it!

5 stars

Great story that brought me to tears. The narration was superb. Highly recommend this book. One of the best I’ve come across in a long time.

Powerfully Written and Beautifully performed

This is such a touching story was well written and the narration tugs every heart string.

One of the best books I’ve read!

Well written, I could not put it down. The audio recording is excellent. This book is a must read!

A heartbreaking yet beautiful story

As the characters come to life, my heart dipped and soared with Rosie at the start of the book. What a tragic set of life circumstances befell that poor girl. She bravely pushed through and was a hero for all she endured!
Then part two comes along and blows my mind! The bravery and gusto of Auntie was so compelling and compassionate- such a real character that I found myself cheering on.
I also loved the quick ending that was happy beyond words on so many levels. I learned so much and also loved the entire story as I spent my school vacation walking and quilting!