Fairest is the story of a young woman who is physically unattractive, but whose inner beauty is incomparable. Some of the characters she meets immediately see her beauty, and others never come to see it. Ms. Levine has used "Snow White" as the basis for the story, and those who enjoy the adult versions of fairy-tales will love it. It is an absorbing read, especially for fantasy fans.

This story is set in 1949. Dottie is an embittered widow, the epitome of a crotchety librarian. Before her son was killed in the War, she was vibrant and full of life. Violet is a returning WAAC who feels she is shunned for her service and for being too self-reliant. Gordy, Violet's neighbor, has been in love with her since before her hasty, short marriage. He has helped her raise her son, from a distance. Jake is a stranger, who has a secret to tell Violet. Arnie is a young, fatherless boy with an over-active imagination. These people get stranded together inside Dottie's house for three days before Christmas. During this time of forced togetherness, they learn to know each other, faults and all. While sharing the meager food stores Dottie has, and dealing without heat and with power outages, they discover truths about themselves. By the end of the storm, they have each grown, and changed, and their futures will be different, more different than each would have imagined before the storm.