This book was originally published as Hidden Beauty, when Lucinda wrote under the name Lucinda Edmonds. Lucinda had already republished a couple of her earlier novels during her lifetime. This was has been revised and republished by her son Harry Whittaker, under her name Lucinda Riley.
It is a long novel but what a story!
It features a young woman, Leah, who grew up in Yorkshire. Her mum works at Rose's house, where Rose lives with her two children Miles and Miranda. Leah's life changes completely when she meets Brett during a summer holiday. He is the son of David, Rose's brother. All these people will find their lives totally intertwined from then on.
In Lucinda's amazing style, we go back and forth between story lines and between present and past.
On one hand, we follow Leah as she becomes a fashion icon and we get a sense for what the fashion world in the 80s feels like on the inside. There is the glamour, the success and the beauty. And there is also the pressure, the demands and the negative sides of having to be always beautiful, slim and perfect. Well before the Me Too movement, Lucinda addresses the power that ruthless and sexually driven men have on young vulnerable women. She worked in the fashion world and the film world and she probably had real life material to draw her story from.
On the other hand, there is the past, coming back to haunt Rose and David, their past from Poland and Treblinka, loosing their parents, experiencing the camps and all that came with it, escaping but not freeing themselves from danger.
And there is this prophecy from the past that weaves together all these parts of lives and brings the story to a strong closing few chapters, with darkness, hope and quite a bit of food for thought.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I love the idea that Harry Whittaker lends his talent to bringing these reading treasures to us.

When Lucinda Riley died in 2021, it seemed that there would be no new books from her, but since then her son Harry Whittaker has completed her final, unfinished Seven Sisters novel, Atlas, and now has reworked one of her earliest novels which was originally published as Hidden Beauty in 1993 under the name of Lucinda Edmonds. Retitled The Hidden Girl, it’s not clear exactly how much input Harry has had, but he states in the foreword that he has ‘refreshed and updated the text’.

After a brief prologue, we meet our heroine Leah Thompson as a shy teenage girl living with her parents in 1970s Yorkshire. Leah has no big plans for the future – her time is filled with schoolwork and assisting her mother with her job as housekeeper at the big farmhouse owned by Rose Delancey – and she doesn’t consider herself to be anything special. She does have natural beauty, but is overshadowed by more confident girls, like Mrs Delancey’s adopted daughter, Miranda. Yet it’s Leah, not Miranda, who is spotted by a London modelling agency and within a few years has become one of the world’s top models.

In a second timeline, we join the young Rose – or Rosa as she was previously known – and her brother David, who are children in Poland during the Second World War. Rose and David are from a Jewish family and like many Polish Jews they experience some terrible things and are very lucky to survive the war. Some of the tension is lost because we already know that Rose and David are still alive in the late 1970s – we meet Rose in the very first chapter, a semi-retired artist living in Yorkshire with Miranda and her older son, Miles, and we learn that David is a wealthy businessman and a widower with a teenage son, Brett. However, it’s still harrowing to read about the things they had to go through before reaching a more settled status in life.

Although the wartime narrative does have relevance to the lives of the younger generation – in ways that they themselves don’t understand until much later – most of the novel is devoted to the ‘present day’ storyline (the 70s and 80s). At first I thought it was going to be a bit of a shallow story about celebrities leading glamorous lifestyles, but I soon discovered there was more depth to it than that. Riley explores the dark side of stardom and the fashion industry, including the temptations of drugs and alcohol, the pressure to succeed, the internal rivalries and competitiveness, and the men who just want to take advantage of beautiful young women. Some of the things that happen to Leah’s friend, Jenny, in particular, are horrible and I think anyone who picks up this book expecting a light read may be surprised by the topics it covers.

This is actually the third Lucinda Edmonds book to be reissued under a new title, after The Italian Girl and The Love Letter, but those two were rewritten by Lucinda herself and published during her lifetime. I wonder whether any of her other Edmonds novels will be reworked by Harry now as well – or whether he’ll decide to write a book of his own.

A truly magnificent book. I simply adored this story. Flipping between multiple pov as well as straggling over many decades, this book is so multilayered. Fabulous characters and some seriously harrowing circumstances. First book I have read by this author but I'm now very tempted to try out the Seven Sisters series.

Sooo good to read something new from Lucinda despite of she's not with us anymore.

I loved the story, Leah and Brett are just adorable.

A great surprise this book, I'll highly recommended it to everybody I know! And also to those who don't

Another superb standalone novel by Lucinda Riley reworked and reimagined by her son Harry Whittaker.

A beautifully written historical drama come family saga which has everything from revenge, greed, fashion, glamour, power, death, war and of course friendships and love. A cleverly interwoven story from the Yorkshire Dales to the bright lights of New York and the rich and beautiful of Milan to the dark depths of war torn Poland during the 2nd World War.

I loved the dual timelines element and enjoyed the character development throughout. You will be rooting for Leah all the way through!

The book does cover some uncomfortable and dark topics, but written with empathy and sensitivity but not without impact.

A fresh and current take on an already rich and emotional historical mystery. A fantastic read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC.

I am a big fan of Lucinda Riley and loved the Seven Sisters series, of which Harry Whittaker completed the final book. This book was also finalised by Harry Whittaker. I enjoyed the story and was definitely sucked in. However, just a warning that the tale becomes quite dark! A bit of a departure for typical Lucinda Riley fans, as her books are usually more historical romance. This has some intense scenes in concentration camps and some character deaths etc. I still enjoyed it but wanted to put a warning in this review.

Dark and intense, I think this book will stay with me for some time. This is a great read, all the threads of the story weaving together to result in a climatic ending. The pace of the book is quick and at times it feels the narrative skips over important moments but this doesn’t really take away from the overall story telling. I found this book enthralling from start to finish, an entertaining combination of dark secrets, human emotion and family ties.

Thank you Netgalley

This was a fabulous read. It cover the story of Leah, a beautiful girl from north Yorkshire, who becomes embroiled in the lives of the Delancy family - a rich, creative and successful family who are also very troubled.

It was, as you would expect from Lucinda Riley, an epic tale which flashes from past to present, unfurling to an explosive ending,

I thoroughly enjoyed it and feel that Harry Whittaker has done his mother's original story absolute justice.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Hidden Girl is one of Lucinda Riley’s older novels and has been reworked by her son. It is a sweeping story following siblings Rose and David, their children and friends. It almost feels like several books merged into one as it moves from France before the Second World War, the art world and current fashion scene in London, Paris and New York.
I quickly became invested in the characters and storylines even though it was a little far fetched at times. The book held my attention and I looked forward to picking it up again to delve into their world one more.

Another beautiful story from Lucinda including all the things we have loved in all her books: drama, romance, history, and family secrets. While this is one of her earliest novels, it has been reworked by her son brilliantly. I highly recommend it.

Absolutely loved loved loved this book. Harry Whittaker has done a great job in editing it without taking away from his mum’s original beautifully written novel. As always, Lucinda has researched thoroughly a difficult period in history and woven a magical and riveting story around it. I enjoyed the split time lines. Didn’t want to finish it and would highly recommend.

I am a fan of Ms Rilley. I have to say that up front. So many great novels that I have devoured, so many wonderful hours of reading that she has given me. I was really sad when she died in June 2021. Then a crime novel by her came out posthumously last year, which her son, Harry Whittaker, finished writing, and I liked the work exceptionally well; I thought it somehow bore her signature.
So I was now looking forward to the "hidden girl" (the German title of this is "Das Mädchen aus Yorkshire" by the way, and it will also be published sometime this autumn). And what can I say? I don't like this one. A total of just under 600 pages long, and I'm stopping now after just under 200.
I'll briefly summarize the content so far; the novel takes place on 2 time lines, and we spend most of the time in Yorkshire in the 70s. Leah, 17, is a beauty who tends to bloom in secret; Leah is rather introverted and, as the daughter of a housekeeper, also tends to be on the poorer side of life. Her mother and often Leah herself works in the house of the artist Rose, and her daughter Miranda goes to the same school as Leah. Yes. And Miranda is provocative, selfish and jealous, and Leah is her counterpart, who suffers because of her. Of course, Leah is discovered by a modeling agency and Miranda is overlooked. Who would have thought this......
In a second timeline, we are in Poland during the Second World War, with the harassment that the Jewish Delancey family has to endure; specifically, these are Rose (Miranda's mother) and her brother David. This is where it gets more interesting; the narrative thread captivated me a little more, but here too the protagonists remained strangely bloodless and stuck in clichés.
And now we come to the core of my problem with this novel: the whole cast is strangely impersonal and ther is one cliché after another. Whereas in previous novels the depth of the characters captivated me, this one was not at all gripping.

I took a closer look at the blurb, this novel was probably written ages ago by Ms Riley, published in the early 90s, but as far as I can see never made it onto the bestseller lists, and has now been completely revised by her son. So, it might be interesting to compare the texts with each other - I mean, why was the book revised? For me, nothing exciting came out of it. I'm sorry. I don't feel for Miranda or Leah, I'm not interested in either of them; and the story of Rose and David - as tragic as the circumstances were back then - has been told many times before. And have been told better.

I also think that the whole style, including the choice of words and the sentence structure, is kept rather simple here. As a non-native speaker, I probably notice this more than native speakers. I fly through the pages effortlessly, this isn't particularly sophisticated English. Yes, of course, Lucinda Riley wasn't a Nobel Prize-worthy linguist, but her style was actually always a bit more "sophisticated" than in this novel.

Anyway, I'll give up now, maybe I'm doing the book an injustice and it will develop into a classic, 2/3 of which I'll unfortunately miss....I'll still give it a rating and give it 2.5 out of 5 stars.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the review copy anyway!

An Intriguing Blend of Glamour, Secrets, and Historical Drama

Lucinda Riley’s The Hidden Girl is a sweeping saga that takes readers on an emotional journey across two generations, from the war-torn ghettos of Europe to the dazzling fashion world of New York’s Fifth Avenue. If you love stories that weave together history, mystery, and deeply buried family secrets, then this book will hook you from the start.

At the heart of this tale is Leah Thompson, a young woman who rises from the humble countryside of Yorkshire to become a fashion icon. But Leah’s success is shadowed by her connection to the powerful and enigmatic Delancey family, whose hidden past is filled with dark secrets and devastating betrayals. From forbidden love and ambition to revenge and murder, the Delancey family’s secrets threaten to unravel everything Leah has worked for.

The dual timelines, spanning Leah’s rise in the modelling world and the mysterious events that haunt the Delanceys, are masterfully interwoven, keeping you on your toes as the layers of the family’s twisted past are peeled away. Riley’s talent for capturing the glitz and glamour of New York high society contrasts beautifully with the darker, more sinister undertones that run through the Delanceys’ story.

The drama is rich, the tension is high, and the characters are vividly drawn. Leah is a wonderfully complex FMC, strong, determined, yet vulnerable as she navigates both her newfound fame and the dangerous undercurrents of her ties to the Delanceys. As the mysteries unfold, Leah finds herself caught in a web of secrets, deceit, and a forgotten prophecy that threatens to destroy everything she holds dear.

Fans of Lucinda Riley will appreciate how The Hidden Girl captures her signature blend of emotional depth and captivating storytelling. Originally published as Hidden Beauty by Lucinda Edmonds, this reimagined version, with the help of her son Harry Whittaker, brings a fresh perspective to the story, making it a must-read for longtime fans and new readers alike.
Perfect for readers who enjoy multi-generational sagas with a touch of historical intrigue, this novel will leave you guessing until the very last page.
Get ready for a journey through time and secrets, it’s one you won’t forget!


Thank you to the publisher Pan Macmillan | Macmillan , the author Matron by Lucinda Riley , and Netgalley for a copy of this in exchange for an honest review

As a huge fan of The Seven Sisters, I was excited to see Riley’s son has undertaken work on novels previously not published. You can definitely feel Lucinda’s style in this book which is wonderful, however I do think you can tell it’s an earlier work of hers.

Fantastic characters, lots of intrigue, and contrasting settings- Poland in WW2, the bleak Yorkshire moors and the glitz and glamour of London.

I thought the storylines were gripping and, as always, Lucinda writes the characters so well, however I did find myself thinking there was perhaps a bit too much going on from the storylines combined… the model-lifestyle arc to the story seemed quite random and almost unnecessary at times. That’s not to say it wasn’t a great storyline, but almost as though there were 2 stories in 1 book and it wasn’t needed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this novel from Lucinda Riley & Harry Whittaker. As a big fan of The Seven Sisters series, it was great to see that her son has reworked this previous book. Its two timelines come together perfectly, it has a mixture of glamour and luxury that we love about Lucinda’s books, but also tragedy and sadness that gives depth to this story. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for this review copy.

I love it that Lucinda's son is reworking her old Lucinda Edmonds books meaning we haven't seen the last of her as I have always loved her books. This one telling the story of Leah ranges from the Yorkshire moors to the international fashion world and WW2 as with her other books there is a fascinating storyline, great characters and intriguing twists. As always compelling reading that I couldn't put down

As with all of Lucinda Riley’s books I was sucked into this story and the characters lives.

I loved quiet Leah, plucked from obscurity into the world of models she is calm, modest and level headed and I loved that about her. She is a great friend and someone who cares for others.

Her relationships with men were difficult, she lost the love of her life and struggled to find connection but did find friendships which she learned were not always honest and true.

Other characters had more difficult lives and there are a few dark themes in this one which I found compelling. As the book sweeps you across the Atlantic it’s got elements of true friendships and love and there are parts set in the past which show the horrors of humanity and the fight for survival.

A wonderful story which I enjoyed and it captured my attention very easily. I loved it. A great read !!

"The Hidden Girl" by Lucinda Riley and Harry Whittaker can sweep away into a world rich with emotion, secrets, and a tapestry of history that intertwines the threads of past and present. Lucinda Riley, alongside her son Harry Whittaker, has breathed new life into this reimagined tale, and it becomes immediately clear that both the storytelling and the characters are as captivating as ever.
Leah Thompson, the protagonist, begins her journey on the rugged Yorkshire moors, and I felt grounded in that landscape as she transformed from a village girl into a radiant model navigating the glamorous yet tumultuous fashion world. The contrast between her humble beginnings and the luxury she eventually encounters paints a vivid picture of ambition and the sacrifices that accompany it. The allure of the Delancey family and the complexities of their influence on Leah added another layer of intrigue that kept me glued to the pages.
As the novel unfolds, we learn that Leah's story is deeply intertwined with the tragic history of two siblings in Poland during World War II. The connection between these two narratives is powerful, and I found myself captivated by how Riley masterfully weaves them together. The historical elements are meticulously researched, and the depiction of the Holocaust is both haunting and heart-wrenching, reminding us of the darker side of humanity while showcasing the resilience of the human spirit.
Surprisingly, I found this book to be darker than many of Riley's previous works, and at times it ventured into the realm of thriller. However, this unexpected twist only enriched the reading experience for me. The suspenseful plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat, and just when I thought I had everything figured out, Riley would throw in a surprise that made me gasp in delight and shock.
I was particularly drawn to Miranda's storyline, which highlighted the emotional depth and complexity of family secrets as they unfurled. Every character felt well-developed and relatable, leading me to feel as though I was experiencing their lives right alongside them. The multiple perspectives allowed the storyline to flourish, revealing intricacies that would have otherwise remained hidden.
Riley's talent for storytelling is unparalleled, and the way she navigates the themes of love, loss, and redemption resonated deeply with me. I laughed, cried, and cheered for Leah and her companions as they faced their challenges and sought to rewrite their destinies. The emotional journey was profound and beautifully executed, capturing the essence of what it means to be human.
Despite the book's length, I found myself devouring it. The narrative flows seamlessly, and I often found myself reading late into the night, unwilling to put it down. "The Hidden Girl" masterfully balances the darker aspects of human experience with moments of warmth and hope, making it a formidable addition to Riley's illustrious body of work.
In conclusion, "The Hidden Girl" is a spellbinding masterpiece that remains etched in my heart long after the final page. Lucinda Riley has outdone herself, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone who craves a richly woven narrative filled with mystery and emotional depth. It is a book that will not only entertain but also linger in your thoughts, a treasure for lovers of historical drama and heartfelt storytelling.

A beautifully well written story which is set in two different eras (one of which is WW2), Very dark at points and touches on family relationships, secrets, revenge and intergenerational trauma.

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

For the most I found The Hidden Girl an enjoyable read but it is a very long book (a bit too long for me). There are a lot of plotlines that are cleverly interlinked and some of them are quite dark, but you can also guess the outcome of some as the start to unfold.
The ending is interesting.
This is a good book to start as the days are getting shorter.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read The Hidden Girl.