Book Review: Beautiful by Danielle Steel

Posted April 18, 2022 by WendyW in Book Review, bookblogger / 32 Comments

Beautiful
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by Danielle Steel
Publication Date April 19, 2022
Published by Random House Publishing Group
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Genres: Fiction / Family Life / General, Fiction / Romance / Contemporary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 256
Format: ARC

***I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.***


A renowned supermodel’s world is torn apart in an instant, sending her on an unexpected journey of discovery in this masterful novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Veronique Vincent is a star. At age twenty-two, she is one of the most sought-after models in fashion, gracing the covers of magazines and walking the runways of haute couture shows across the globe. Yet, despite being the consummate professional, Veronique wants little of the glamorous life that modeling affords her. The beloved daughter of a hardworking single mother, she has always preferred spending time at home or with her kindhearted boyfriend to attending lavish parties. When a quick getaway presents a welcome break on the heels of Paris Fashion Week, and before a Vogue cover shoot in Tokyo, Veronique is thrilled, eager to escape the mayhem of her busy schedule.  Then, out of nowhere, a tragic explosion at Zaventem Airport in Brussels changes her life forever.

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.


Beautiful by Danielle Steel is a fast-paced book about one woman who has it all.

But, when a woman whose whole life is based on her beauty, what happens when she loses it all?  

Veronique Vincent is an international model who is at the top of her game.  She travels the world as one of the most sought-out models in the world.  She loves her life and knows she can’t be a model forever.  Her mother has managed her career and saved her money and invested it wisely.  Veronique’s best friend is her mother, who is a successful lawyer and also lives in Paris.  

When she travels to Brussels with her mother, a tragedy ensues that changes her life forever.  How can Veronique move on without all that she has held so dear all her life?  

This book started off quickly and I was drawn into this world immediately and read this book all in one sitting.  In previous Danielle Steel books, she starts off a bit slow with an info dump, but this didn’t happen in this book.  There are only a few characters in this book, but they are all well developed and interesting.  The story never dragged, and I enjoyed the author’s descriptions of Paris and Angola.  

There is a little bit of romance in this book, but it’s mostly about Veronique and her journey as she adjusts to her new life.  

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves women’s fiction. I received a complimentary copy of this book.  The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

UK Cover:

Publishes in UK on April 28, 2022

About Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel

Danielle Steel has sold 650 million copies of her books internationally, and every one of her books is a bestseller. She is published in 69 countries and 43 languages.

Steel’s latest novel is Nine Lives. Other recent bestsellers include Finding Ashley, The Affair, Neighbors, All that Glitters, Expect a Miracle, Royal, and Daddy’s Girls, all of which have leapt to the top of the New York Times bestseller list, the Wall Street Journal list, and comparable best seller lists around the world.

Steel has written more than 196 books, 168 of which are novels; 18 children’s books, including Pretty Minnie in Hollywood and Pretty Minnie in Paris about her white long-hair teacup Chihuahua; four works of nonfiction, including His Bright Light: The Story of Nick Traina, A Gift of Hope: Helping the Homeless, and Pure Joy: The Dogs We Love; a book of poetry; and she has written the lyrics for a music album.

She also founded and runs two foundations, one named in honor of her late son, The Nick Traina Foundation, which finances organizations involved in mental illness, child abuse, and suicide prevention. The second foundation was established to assist the homeless. In 2002 Steel was decorated by the French government as an “Officier” of the distinguished Order of Arts and Letters and in 2014 she was decorated as a Chevalier (Knight) of the Order of the Legion d’Honneur in Paris. She lives in Paris and San Francisco and is the mother of nine children.


Have you read any of Danielle Steel’s books? Which cover do you prefer?

32 responses to “Book Review: Beautiful by Danielle Steel

  1. This sounds very good! A change of pace for Danielle Steel. Her bio says every one of her books is a bestseller! Imagine being able to say that as an author!

  2. This sounds good; I like that the focus is on Veronique’s journey rather than a romance. I’ve never actually read Danielle Stelle though I’ve watched a few adaptations

  3. I love the premise of this one. I haven’t picked up a Danielle Steel book in forever but this one definitely has caught my attention. Excellent review!

  4. I haven’t read Danielle Steel in ages. This sounds good though so perhaps it’s time to pick up another one. Glad you enjoyed it.

  5. I do enjoy Danielle Steele’s books and this one sounds like one I’d like to read. Thanks for sharing your great review Wendy.

  6. Jenny+McClinton

    Sounds good, I haven’t read any books from this author yet. Great review 💕

  7. I have read two Danielle Steele books. I liked the first so I read a second and didn’t like it. This one sounds like a winner.

    • She’s hit or miss for me too. The last two I read were really good, but the one before these wasn’t very good at all.

  8. I’ve never read anything by Danielle Steele. I always thought she wrote steamier stuff. Maybe it depends on the book? Maybe, I’ll have to give her a try.

    • There is absolutely no steam in this one. I think she used to write more steam, but in the few books I’ve read recently, there isn’t any steam either.

  9. Seeing this is bringing me flashbacks to me sneakily reading Danielle Steel in school! I didn’t realize she was still writing books but good for her! I’m glad to hear that the characters are well-developed and the pacing is good here. Great review, Wendy!

  10. I was once a big fan of Danielle Steele. I haven’t read any of her books in the longest while. I hope to pick up her books again soon. Great review you have here.