Member Reviews
Thank you for Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.
When a major earthquake hits San Francisco, Meredith White opens the doors of her mansion to her neighbors. A recluse for the last 14 years, Meredith not only opens the gates of her property, but also to the world outside them. As she becomes absorbed into the lives of people she has lived near but never met for years, she begins to realize the vitality she has left behind.
This book follows a typical Steel format: introduce a bunch of characters with a barrage of different storylines, one fading out early to dust ant one final one lingering until the end. While it isn't a bad book, and not hard to follow, there's just a lot going on and it sometimes feels as though there's no real focus. There's the typical tropes==husband cheating with a younger woman, an older man seeing a young woman with a "gorgeous body" and huge breasts who also has brains, and a family torn apart by abuse. These are all storylines that she loves to use, and in this novel, she employed them all.
While not as bad as some of her more recent books, it's still not as good as the books from her glory days.
Neighbors is the best, most heartfelt, emotional, moving, and powerful book that Danielle Steel has ever written! 5+ stars! Danielle Steel has created a literary masterpiece about the best of humanity and how one decision can have the power to ultimately change lives for the better.
With the multitude of challenges people all over the world are facing, the characters and events in Neighbors is a reminder of how important it is to look beyond our differences. It is a beautiful and exquisite portrayal of how sometimes it’s our differences that unite us more than our similarities. Danielle Steel tells an endearing story of how offering blind trust can sometimes make the difference between life and death, and how one act of kindness can make the world a better place.
Neighbors isn't your everyday average love story - it’s a much needed way of life and a heartfelt testament to living, loving, persevering, forgiving, trusting, growing and moving forward in a world filled with uncertainty.
Meredith had lived an elegant life as one of the most successful and famous actresses the world had ever seen. She was married to an equally successful and prominent actor, Scott, and they were easily viewed as the golden couple. They had the perfect marriage, lived in perfect homes, and had perfect children so there was no way Meredith could’ve been prepared for the heartbreaking news that her husband was having an affair. While tending to her broken heart, she clung to the love she felt for her children. Despite the damage to her marriage, she knew how important it was for her children to maintain a relationship with their father. Her daughter, Kendall, was practically a grown woman, but her son Justin was only 14. Having always despised being the child of legendary famous parents, Kendall’s relationship with her mother was strained. Meredith had a close relationship with Justin though and tried to be there for him during such a tough time in his life. After the sordid news of her husband’s affair, Meredith withdrew from the spotlight and focused on Justin. When a gut wrenching tragedy struck again, Meredith felt broken and lost, and knew that she’d never be able to pick up the pieces of her life. Kendell steadfastly believed that her mother had wronged her father, so their already strained relationship became nearly non existent. Meredith could no longer cope with the life that fate had thrust upon her, and decided that a life outside of her mansion wasn’t worth living.
For the next 15 years she lived as a recluse, rarely left her house, and relied solely upon the couple she hired to help her (Debbie and Jack). What she didn’t know was that Debbie and Jack had their own agendas and secrets.
When an earthquake tears her neighborhood apart, Meredith boldly sets out to help the neighbors who have always been strangers to her. She knows that her mansion weathered the disaster better than the other nearby homes and immediately invites her neighbors to live with her until the necessary repairs could be made to their homes.
A highly successful business man and his drop dead gorgeous girlfriend learn more about each other, as well as the guests they are living with in the mansion. Neither of them is prepared for the revelations though. A elderly concert pianist and the young man who assists him with his day to day living tasks are surprised to learn more about their neighbors, too. A Dr, his wife, and their children find themselves at odds and struggle to maintain the secrets of their marriage.
Surrounded by such a lively cast of diverse characters, in the midst of chaos, Meredith learns what it means to live again. Not only has her life changed, but the ripple effect of her kindness also changes the lives of her neighbors.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and Netgalley for allowing me the privilege of reading Neighbors. My review is voluntary, and expresses my honest opinions.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the ARC of Neighbors by Danielle Steel in return for my honest review.
I had not read Danielle Steel for several years and I am happy that Neighbors was my choice to return back to her writing. This was a fast read with many enjoyable characters and a few ( intended) dislikable characters. The storyline is based around a group of neighbors coming together after an earthquake. With all the current California fires (and the potential for earthquakes daily) this book really makes you think about what you would do, how you would react in the event of a natural disaster. The author tells a story of how people from every walk of life are resilient when we allow ourselves to trust others during traumatic uncertain times.
Danielle Steel does it again! This is a wonderful story that starts with a tragedy and then many years later a current tragedy brings about new friends, deception, heartbreak and the ability to move on and continue a wonderful life that was on hold for far too many years. This story made me smile and it made me cry - another winner. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
As usual you will fall in love with many of the characters in this book, and find some that you will despise! Imagine living though an earthquake and then inviting the neighbors to come and stay with you... and imagine how this event changes the lives of the characters in the book. I was interested in the characters, as making many predictions about the twists and turns.
I am a huge fan of Danielle Steel and loved this book! It was heartwarming, intriguing and very engaging. There is a reason Danielle Steel is a huge best-selling author and this book is a perfect example of why! I thoroughly enjoyed it!
Meredith was an iconic movie star, until she suffers a family tragedy. She shut the world away and lives as a recluse for many years... until one night there is a huge earthquake. She opens her house to her neighbors, people who don’t know here and who she doesn’t know. This nook has several different characters from different backgrounds. I found most of them very interesting.
A quick read in the style of this author
I love when Danielle Steel releases a new book - but this was not my favorite. I liked the overall concept of the book, but I didn't feel that the overall character and plot development was...well developed. I felt like she didn't spend as much time as she could have on the most interesting parts of the story, and added too many story lines that got a little confusing and too busy at times. **Trigger warning - there's a big plot event with abuse wrapped up in this story! This was an okay story of Danielle Steel's but not her best.
Neighbors by Danielle Steel, emphasizes how important people and their interaction together especially in times of distress. A recluse famous actress learns how reaching out to her neighbors changes her life after an earthquake how impacted her life and also the others in the novel. Man is a social animal and we need people to interact with, trust and love. This book proves this concept and I thought Steel did aa very good job expressing this in her latest novel. Thank you to goodreads for allowing me to read and enjoy this book
Former Icon Meredith locked herself away from the world after her husband cheated on her. Meredith then blamed the death of her beloved son. Meredith is also estranged from her daughter so she relies on her hired hands Debbie and Jack. They are not what they seem. After an earthquake, she opens her home to her neighborhood. Then start friendships. The book started to get very boring at this point, and some parts were shorter then others. I really love reading her books, but lately, her books are not up to par.
#netgalley
There were a few characters that really mad me upset, but that's what a good writer does! As usual, all the pieces came together to make an excellent story. Don't know how Ms. Steel can write so many books and no two storylines are alike. Hat's off to Ms. Steel!
Thank you to the Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
The reader is first introduced to 63 year old Meredith White, who has immersed herself in her grief and became a recluse for fourteen years after a very public betrayal of her husband's affair and the death of her son shortly after. Currently, she is a very famous former actress living in a mansion/fortress in the exclusive neighborhood of Pacific Heights in San Francisco with a couple who serve as caretakers of the estate, but are also robbing her blind and have been for all of those years. When an 8.2 earthquake strikes, Meredith's whole world is shaken. She opens her fortress after 14 years and invites her neighbors to stay with her. The neighbors include a Doctor, his wife and two children who are harboring a terrible secret; a narcissistic tech magnate and his girlfriend of the month; and an elderly, blind, pianist with his sweet caregiver, who has big dreams of his own.
Danielle Steel, as always, is an amazing storyteller, and grabs the reader from the first sentence. She manages to merge all these lives together to create one beautiful story. I have not read a novel by this Author in many many years and was absolutely delighted with this simple, beautiful read.
First, a big thank you to NetGalley and Random House publishing for this ARC. All thoughts are my own.
My mom has been trying to get me to read Danielle Steele for years. When we were on amazon the other day looking for a book for her, we stumbled upon this & the description pulled me in. I came onto NetGalley and was lucky enough to be approved for the arc.
Equal parts mystery, romance, perseverance and growing up- Neighbors really has a little bit of everything!
After an 8.2 magnitude earth rocks San Francisco, Meredith White comes out of hiding, much to her neighbors surprise. She’d been a recluse for the last 15 years, leaving Hollywood after the tragic death of her son, the first time she steps outside is following the earthquake. She even does the unthinkable- invites them to come live with her while their houses are repaired. Little does she know each set of people have their own secrets. But, are there secrets still hidden within her own walls?
While a little predictable, Neighbors gives you an insight into coping with loss, love, tragedy and happiness. The underlying theme seems to be growth, which Steele showcases so well. This is a quick read and I’d recommend it!
After 2 tragic losses, first her husband after a very public affair, followed by her son in a heartbreaking accident, Meredith White, film actress becomes a recluse over the course of a 14-year period. Meredith lives in her mansion in a very exclusive neighborhood with her “caretakers” where her life takes a dramatic turn after an earthquake ... forever, literally and figuratively. Meredith’s giving heart opens to her neighbors with housing, counseling, friendship and love. During the course of the story, we also learn about Meredith’s own family.
Once again, Danielle Steel delivered a quick-read that brings characters I felt emotionally connected with.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me this opportunity to review this ARC.
A significant earthquake shook up more than a city but helped tear down the walls that many characters created that were preventing them from truly living especially in the case of Meredith. By letting her neighbors into her home, she created a new family and life for herself and in return turned richer, happier and more in love than before. She let Charles and Julia in and became a grandparent to Daphne and Will. I must admit that the scenes between Tyla and Andrew were hard to read but I was glad she escaped. The story of Peter finding love was sweet and heartfelt. A great read!
Danielle Steel brings us to San Francisco. We are first met with Jack and Debbie, the caretakers of Hollywood elite Meredith White's home. They attended to her every need for the past fourteen years taking advantage of the benefits of their job. When tragedy strikes Meredith's family, she ends up shutting the outside world out. One night, an earthquake strikes California prompting Meredith to open her doors after all these years. Once she does, her neighbors slowly bring her back to the outside world. She discovers things about herself and others and what she once thought safe and concrete are shaken.
Danielle Steel once again brings us a story that goes through all the emotions. It makes you want to turn the page to see what happens next and to continue the story long after I turned the last page. I enjoyed reading about Meredith and her neighbors. I liked seeing Meredith open up as time went by with the help of those around her. Danielle Steel has always been a wonderful storyteller and there is always a surprise round the corner. There is tragedy, but with that also comes friendship, love, and acceptance.
I look forward to reading another adventure by this author. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for this privilege.
This is my 34th book by Danielle Steel and it was not my favorite. An earthquake in CA happens and a lot of the houses on one street are badly damaged. All the neighbors who barely know each other go to stay with an ex-movie star who has lived like a recluse for many many years. (Her house had very little damage) They all share meals, learn each other’s secrets, etc. It moved a little slow for me and I felt like there was a lot of repeating in this book. Looking forward to her next novel. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
I love all of Danielle Steel books. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. As always, the writing in this books was beautiful.
Read this for early review. Short book and a quick read. This is a character driven novel eith a protagonist who opens her home tonneifhbirs during an earthquake. Lovers of this author will read this, but for others, it might not hold interest. It glosses over the devastation of the earthquake and centers on personal relationships that develop quickly. The ending is predictable.
Danielle Steel has done it again, She has made this book better than her others. I can honestly say I think I have read all her books that came out this year, and this one comes out next year. I hope people will love it just as much as I do.
This book may be a little triggering for others though, it talks alot about domestic violence and what the result may end up if a person doesn't break free. Daneille steel never shied away from these kind of topics, in fact she covers them really well. My favorite character was Meredith. She had the heart to look out for others and was a mother figure, even a grandmother figure, I wish I had one like her.
I am grateful that Netgalley let me read this book in exchange for an honest review.