The Devil’s Daughter
This book by Danielle Steel should have been titled “The Devil is the Daughter.” Still, both the dad and the selfish sister, Mickie, are two peas in a pod—mean, cold, and self-centered. But that makes for a good plot. The older sister, Billie, the Cinderella of the clan, is forced to raise and protect Mickie, and takes the brutality of their father in her stead. Thankfully, she is studious and, in time, makes her escape with a scholarship to MIT, where she excels and eventually graduates. Still, finding a job in Boston or New York doesn’t pan out, so she accepts her sister’s rare kindness and moves to Los Angles, to share an apartment.
Soon, both women’s dreams come true.
Billie lands a steady and fascinating pathology job at Cedars Sinai, and Mickie lands a lucrative modeling/spokesperson career. Both also find love. Micky goes all in, giving up her independence and morals to live with a man who worships and spoils her, as she’s been raised to believe she deserves. But the glamorous million-dollar lifestyle comes with a cost—a life built on lies with a target on her back.
Of course, being a household name in the book industry, Steel is the kind of writer who will draw you in from the first page and keep you hooked the entire way. That said, this level of author can get away with head hopping, which sometimes makes it hard to follow, especially when it occurs in the same paragraph.
Still, the story is believable and honestly probably a stark reality in so many families.
One blessed and spoiled child who believes they are owed everything and ultimately faces the harsh realities of the world. The nice balance between the sisters’ personalities, along with their distinctive paths, keeps you turning the page to discover what happens next. Both journeys have hiccups and startling setbacks that provoke a visceral reaction and empathy. And, as with all Danielle Steel novels, you’ll be surprised by the choices and eventual outcomes for Billie and Mickie.
Source: Purchased
Image: Courtesy of Delacorte Press
