Only the Beautiful

Written by Susan Meissner in 2023, the historical fiction novel Only the Beautiful is set in the time leading up to World War II and in the years following the war’s conclusion. The novel tells the story of Rose, a young, orphaned girl with synesthesia who is unjustly institutionalized for her condition. Over the course of the novel, she is forced to give up her infant daughter, after which she embarks on a mission to understand her condition and improve her life. At the same time, an old friend named Helen Calvert directly experiences the horrors of World War II. Upon returning to America and discovering what has happened to her friend, she becomes determined to find Rose and her child.

A popular and much-celebrated author, Susan Meissner has written over a dozen novels, many of which use fictional characters to explore the deeper interpersonal nuances of real historical events. Notable for its unflinching critique of a range of social issues, including the abuse inherent in the psychiatric institutions of the time, Only the Beautiful has won numerous readers’ choice awards for its carefully researched plot and vivid characters.

This guide refers to the e-book version of the 2023 Penguin Random House first edition text.