- Paperback: 336 pages
- Publisher: Pan; Main Market edition (3 Oct. 2019)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 150987769X
- ISBN-13: 978-1509877690
Synopsis
Winona Farmington once dreamed of graduating from college and moving away from her small Michigan hometown. Then real life got in the way, and now she’s in a dead-end job with a loser boyfriend.
As she comes to believe that perhaps dreams are meant for others, at least she can console herself by escaping into the world of Beauchamp Hall, a hugely popular British TV series set on a Norfolk estate in the 1920s.
When Winona is betrayed by both her boyfriend and best friend and loses her job, she feels that life can’t get much worse. So she impulsively buys a one-way ticket to the UK to visit the village where Beauchamp Hall is filmed. The colourful cast become her friends, and the behind-the-scenes affairs become a drama to match the show.
What happens next, as Winona takes the boldest step of all, reminds us never to settle for second best and to always follow our dreams.
Review
There is no doubt that Danielle Steel is the one of the queens of storytelling and if you fancy an easy and escapist read then Beauchamp Hall is perfect. Winnie is from a small town in Michigan, and stuck in that small town rut. She always planned to leave after college, go to New York to work in publishing, but her plans were put on hold when she returned home to look after her mother. At thirty eight she finds herself in a relationship that’s going nowhere and in a job she hates. Her escape is watching the British TV drama Beauchamp Hall. After her boyfriend and best friend betray her, Winnie takes the decision to take a break in England and visit the village where Beauchamp Hall is filmed and to reassess her life, and follow her dreams.
The one thing you can guarantee from a Danielle Steel book is an engaging plot, interesting and relatable characters and pure escapism. Winnie is typical of many people who find themselves in a rut, where they are not necessarily happy but feel comfortable with their life and are willing to accept that. When she looses her job, boyfriend and best friend in one day she is shocked into taking action, and this is where her strength comes through, and her determination to do better. Winnies’s story is about taking chances, trying something new, and having self-belief. As a character you can’t help but like her, she is someone who could live next door to you, and someone who deserves to have things go her way.
I am sure that the show Beauchamp Hall set in the 1920’s is inspired by Downton Abbey and the success it has had in America, and the tourism it has brought to the UK. With Winnie we see how shows like this can blur the lines between fantasy and reality as the viewers become invested in the lives of the characters, and the values of that period. Winnie wants a man like those in the show, who are gallant and polite, but what she really wants is just someone who treats her well, someone who isn’t Rob.
Beauchamp Hall is pure joy and escapism in a book. As Winnie follows her dream we go with her, wanting her to have the life she deserves. There is plenty of drama, on the set of the TV show and in real life; affairs, arguments, illness, and love. I loved this book, with its message of hope, courage and that it’s never too late to start again. A charming and engaging read that will leave you with a smile on your face.
