Book Review: Danielle Steel's BIG GIRL is a Must Read!

Excited to read a new Danielle Steel, I scrambled to get Big Girl released in February. With a cover that screamed chick lit and Steel's reputation in romance, I was sure to like this new read - even though I would never consider Steel's other 50+ novels anything but romance. Big Girl didn't let me down.

The storyline follows a girl who is anything but petite, hence the title. Victoria Dawson is rejected by her parents from the start because she is not blond-haired and blue-eyed like them. Named after Queen Victoria as the family joke, she struggles initially to gain both Mom and Dad's acceptance despite their obvious disregard for their own child. Narcissistic dad is a terrible character who I can only hope was not created in mirror of an actual
person in Steel's life! His jokes about his own daughter's looks, weight, and intelligence are appalling. Her mother, who is obviously dependent upon dad's praise, is anything but a true mom. The only time she even acts like she cares for Victoria is when she is strong enough to walk away. It is interesting to note that when the Narcissist and Dependant DO have the perfect child in Victoria's sister, Grace, the duo find reason to not poke fun at their eldest, so much as ignore that she even exists. Grace, on the other hand, with her blond hair, blue eyes, and petite figure, may fit her parents' mold, but idolizes her big sister (no pun intended) and Victoria feels the same...until she sees Grace stepping up to be exactly like their mother.

This tale also takes a look at the archaic concept of smart girls finishing last. Victoria is told that she shouldn't even try going to college or looking for any intelligent career choice because the true success is to find a man and build a home for him (enter Narcissist). Even when Victoria moves across the country to get away from her family, moves in with models, gets her dream job, and is commended by her peers, she is seen by her LA family as worthless and a joke. Overcoming this may be Victoria's biggest challenge.

Ever cool and collected, Steel explains Victoria's struggle to lose weight and gain acceptance, in the end only to decide that only she needs to be comfortable in her own skin.

Bringing to light to many issues a person notably "big" faces in society - albeit to a rather brazen extent, Danielle Steel has hit the mark with this entertaining chick lit crossover. Because it is not outwardly a romance novel, I enjoyed it even more. Of course, being that it IS a Danielle Steel novel, the romantic interludes between characters is present but takes a backseat to the internal struggle of Victoria and the familial
relationships she tries to build.

Big Girl is definitely a must read for any Danielle Steel, Sophie Kinsella, Jane Green, or Nora Roberts fan. Or any woman who wants a sweet tale about self acceptance and the strength in each of us.