Like I've said in the past, I keep reading Danielle Steel for those "gems" that come out periodically. I thought that "The Ball at Versailles" was one of these little gems. The story revolves around 4 different debutants coming out to socieety in the 1950's when it was a very different world. Each young woman has her own issues to deal with and we get to know them fairly well before they are all invited to attend a ball at the Versailles Palace in Paris. They attend with their families, who have issues of their own to go through. Amelia's mother has lost both her husband and her job, but will do anything to make Amelia's dreams and her own come true. Felicity is overweight and lives in the shadow of her beautiful and outgoing sister. Samantha has an overprotective father as a result of a car accident she was in when she was a small child - one that killed her mother and her brother. She now has to deal with a limp and a weak left side. Finally, we have Caroline, who was brought up in the golden age of Hollywood as the daughter of a highly successful actress and her equally important producer husband. The four ladies find each other in Paris and their stories are fun, engaging, and altogether a worthwhile read.

I want to thank RandomHouse-Ballantine & Delacorte Press for allowing me to read and review The Ball at Versailles written by Danielle Steel.
I have read dozens of her books over the year and this one does not disappoint. It’s a break from reality and peering into the lives of the rich and famous.
Fifty American debutantes are chosen to be presented, along with French debutantes at the Ball of Versailles. Four of these Americans meet at one of the pre ball functions and become good friends. They are all debs but their lives are very different. We get to live vicariously through these young women.
Will they meet Prince Charming? Will he sweep them off their feet? Will the experience change them?
Will everyone live happily ever after?
This book will appeal to women and young female adults.
The Ball to Versailles publishes November 21st, 2023.

I was so excited to receive an ARC of The Ball at Versailles by Danielle Steel. Once again, she does not disappoint. The story takes us inside the glamour and glitz of balls and debutantes in the 1950s. In the beginning, we meet the debutantes and their families and get a sense of their family life and backgrounds. Then we dive into the characters lives, their likes and dislikes, their dreams and their secrets. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and hated for it to end. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

Danielle Steel has another page turner in the books. It’s the summer of 1959 the Palace of Versailles is hosting an event that will make history. It is an exclusive dusk-to-dawn ball in which a select group of American and French debutantes will be presented to international society and royalty. Amelia, Felicity, Caroline, and Samantha, all with something to prove, receive what some see as the invitation of a lifetime. For all these young women, Paris and one transcendent night will change their lives forever.

This book oh my was amazing, definitely she pulled at the heartstrings with this one, another 5 stars from Danielle, it gave me Gilmore Girl vibes, when Rory done her ball. A must read of 2023!

My wish came through. I was lucky to get my wish granted by Net Galley and receive this book to read and review.
Again, another Danielle Steel book I loved. Three girls from different types of family going to a debutante ball.
How each one deals with this and what happens that will effect there entire life. (I don't want to spoil anything). I highly suggest reading this one, you won't be disappointed.

The Ball at Versailles by Danielle Steel is a great historical fiction that takes us into the glitz and glamour of the balls and debutantes late 1950s.

This book takes place over in France during the summer of 1959 at the Palace of Versailles. Here the author gives us a glimpse of this world all unto itself through the eyes of several different young woman. All of similar age, all present at a similar location, but all possess the different backgrounds, characters, and paths that give us a wider, deeper, and more appreciative view if how social and societal expectations shaped the young women living during those pivotal and changing times.

4/5 stars

Thank you NG and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication on 11/21/23.

The Ball at Versailles by Danielle Steel Enjoyed the stories of the four debutantes, Amelia, Felicity, Caroline and Samantha. The first half of the book was more of an overview of the girl's family life and backgrounds. However, the second half had more depth and the characters came to life. Amelia's mother and Samantha's father's “secret” romance was an added bonus. Entertaining and heartwarming read.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

This book shoes how a debutante really Is. It specifically shows hoe one girls overcame everything and found someone special to be with forever. I love the live aspect of it it was a touching bilok. This book was approved by netgalley and the publisher for me to read and review.

The Ball at Versailles is set in the summer of 1959. The Palace of Versailles is hosting a debutante ball like none other with 250 French and 40 American debutantes. A very select few American girls have been chosen. It would be a great honor to be one of the 40 except for Amelia, Felicity, Caroline and Samantha. All 4 have their own reasons for not wanting to attend, all 4 finally agree to participate not realizing that one night will change their lives and form a lifelong friendship.
Danielle Steel has a way of describing a fairy tale and making the reader feel like they are at the ball. She builds the character of each girl to the point that the reader can feel the struggle of Amelia’s mother trying to make ends meet without Amelia knowing there are problem as well as the dislike felt towards Felicity’s sister, or the despair felt when it is obvious Caroline is making a bad choice. Danielle Steel has a way of making a world of debutantes, 5th Ave, chateaux, emeralds and viscounts seem like everyday people for her readers with the same social issues, family problems and finances just on a different level. I actually forgot several times that it was 1959 and not modern day. My only complaint is the repetition. Several places especially in the beginning would have the same sentence just reworded right after it.
Thank you NetGalley, Ballantine Delacorte Press and Danielle Steel for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Four young women receive invitations to The Ball at Versailles in France. They each come from varied backgrounds and all of them attend college. This is like a fairy tale of a book and I just loved it. Each young woman has their own story, and their own experience at the ball.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

(3,5)

I must admit that I was first attracted by the cover. And since this was my first novel written by Danielle Steel, an author that I had been dying to read for years, I was really excited to get an ARC of it.
Ball At Versailles was a well-written story that I truly enjoyed. It was entertaining and easy to read. The kind of book you can definitely read during one "lazy" day with likable characters.
So. While I did not find it mind-blowing, it did give me a taste of Danielle Steel's novels and I cannot wait to read others of her backlist!

What a beautiful weekend read. The stories of the girls took me to places I have never been, and probably never will get but to see how young love blossomed at this dance was so comforting.

Thanks Net Galley for an advanced copy.

I was thrilled to be given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher of Daniele Steel's newest book. I've been a fan of her for years so this was a real treat.

This was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed quite a bit. The stories of the four young ladies who "came out" at Versailles were each different and engaging. It was also interesting to get a peek of the whole coming out process. My only small criticism of the book is that because there were so many concurrent stories, I would have appreciated more depth in each story.

If you're a Danielle Steel fan, you'll love this book as much as I did.

This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the author and the publisher. The rich and wealthy countries me together for a ball at Versailles. Romance ensues. Friends and family meet, and the future unfolds. This famous author has written a book for escaping into lives that are not realistic. I liked the time period which added to the story. Enjoy

The Ball at Versailles follows four young women who are beginning to enter society and college in the late 1950s. Each come from prominent families, who are also significant (if not main) characters to the storyline. When each young woman receives an invitation to the first ever Ball at Versailles, they must decide if this grand event fits into the life they had began to build for themselves.

DNF at 30%. I’m so so sad about this. This book has everything I’ve ever wanted to read about. Different POV’s, Versailles, balls & gowns, and well educated young women.
I will likely come back to this book in the future to finish it and see if it redeemed itself, but by 30%, I unfortunately could not do it anymore.
I have never read a book by this author and went in knowing absolutely nothing about the writing style so this has no impact on my reading experience.
Mild Spoilers ahead:
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By 3%, five (nonessential) characters had been killed off. Four of these felt that they did not even need to be mentioned and the one who added to the story was not given the respect they deserved. I found this particularly offensive which is a terrible way to begin a book. The author continues this pattern. Only one character has a storyline which this seems fitting.
The lead characters in this book are all so different and I loved each of them so quickly but unfortunately the family members play a significant role and they are so unlikeable. I’ve never been happy for a lead character to have something happen to them until this book.
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Overall, this book has significant potential but it needs a lot of changes.