Super Short Summary

Confessions of an Ugly Stepsister by Gregory Maguire retells the classic Cinderella story from the perspective of Iris, one of the "ugly" stepsisters. Iris reflects on her childhood in Haarlem, where she lives with her mother Margarethe, her disabled sister Ruth, and her beautiful stepsister Clara. Throughout the novel, relationships evolve as Iris befriends Clara, navigates her mother's ambitions, and develops feelings for a painter's assistant named Caspar. The story culminates in Clara's secret appearance at a grand ball, leading to life-changing decisions for everyone involved. The book includes themes of disability, poverty, and bereavement.