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Starting with an anecdote of a trip to Paris a year into her forties, this is the story of a woman named Angelina from her childhood up to the modern day. Angelina is obedient, hard-working, and loves her family but has to deal with overbearing parents and a drug addict brother that berates and even abuses her. As a teenager, she seeks to escape from her family through romance, and ends up engaged to a man who loves her only to support her, and cheats on her when she gets a successful job. Then she meets Daniele, a Frenchman who captivates and enraptures her every sense. But there is something about Daniele that seems too good to be true. Angelina’s story is a whirlwind of romance, heartbreak, drama, and even violence that she can’t seem to escape from.
The strength of this book stems from the way that readers become personally acquainted with Angelina. Despite her can-do attitude and inclination toward optimism, we see her at her most vulnerable moments, when she is unsure if she can go on. The fullness of her character makes for interesting subject material and the highs and lows of her life keep the audience engaged and determined to see her story through. This is a story about empowerment and vulnerability, and how these two seemingly opposite concepts co-exist within the modern woman. Angelina’s desire to be loved and supported emotionally but not professionally causes her to put her heart, her career, and even her health at risk in order to find a romantic partnership. With a message of positivity and perseverance, Angelina’s story of life can serve to inspire as much as it will entertain.