Member Reviews
Easy read with all the Steel trademarks: beauty, wealth, compassionate characters, and for the most part, civility among them.
Ardith Law is a famous, extremely wealthy and lauded actress in LA, while her daughter Morgan is an accomplished, wealthy and very well respected plastic surgeon in a prestigious NYC firm. While not estranged, they are also not exactly close and disagree on most issues that arise.
So when Ardith begins dating a much younger man and Morgan, a much older man, their lives intersect in
ways they never expected.
Just another calming read that offers great respite from the noise and anger that surrounds much of the world today. Good character development and an uncomplicated plot to follow.
Steel manages to engage from the first page and holds on to your interest till the last.
Thabks, Danielle.
Just what I needed today.
Ardith Law has spent her life becoming a famous Oscar winning actress at the expense of her daughter Morgan. Morgan, a successful plastic surgeon who wants little to do with the mother she feels she never had.
Upside Down is a story about forgiveness and second chances about finding love in the most unusual circumstances.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing – Ballantine for my ARC.
Upside Down is another Danielle Steel winner. It started a little slow but once it picked up then you wanted to keep reading until the end. The difference in ages of the characters added a different element to make the story interesting.
Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.
I loved the book! I would definitely recommend it. It had romance, but some some suspense in it. It’s about a mother and daughter and their relationship and how they find love. Definitely more to the book, but a definite good read!
Upside Down by Danielle Steel Enjoyed the heartwarming December/May romance of Ardith and Josh Gray, a perfect couple despite the difference in ages. The interaction between Morgan and Ben Ryan not so much. Ben’s character seemed dodging at best and his turn around was all too quick and did not seem sincere. Another winner for Ms Steele.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.
Wow! This book keeps you on your toes. Mother, and actress and daughter a plastic surgeon are navigating their tumultuous relationship. Love interests for both of them brings drama, healing and love. Very good read. Recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this well written book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.
A nice quick read about two aging actors who come together after tragedy. Not one of my favorites by the queen of romance but I still enjoyed it. Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
*Spoilers*
In some ways, Upside Down reminded me of why I fell in love with reading Danielle Steel books. Seasoned actress Ardith Law is the epitome of Hollywood glamor with the gravitas of being a respected and decorated leading lady after decades in the business. She is feeling the limitations of her station, as the opportunities for quality and meaty parts dwindle as women age in this industry. Her quiet and comfortable relationship with her partner gives her the companionship she thinks she needs at this stage of her life, having given up on passionate romance after the death of her cheating husband many years before. To make a long story short, when her long-time companion dies, a much younger man steps in and takes his place. I thoroughly enjoyed this dynamic and the relationship between Ardith and this new love, Josh. This is the part of the book I loved, the story line that reminded me of some of my older Danielle Steel favorites. The rich setting, the enjoyable twist on the May-December romance, and the challenges faced by the characters made this part of the story fun and engaging.
I was less enamored by the second story line—that of Ardith’s daughter, Morgan, now a successful plastic surgeon who carries an enormous grudge and whose feelings towards her mother are dominated by resentment and anger that stem from being the lonely child of an international movie star. Living clear across the country, Morgan keeps her distance and her life separate from her mother’s, barely tolerating their minimal relationship. Morgan begins to thaw towards her mother only when her own new relationship with a much older man helps clear a path for Morgan’s change of heart. This romance is plagued by #MeToo accusations, which was a story choice I found to be forced and dissatisfying. Morgan’s relationship with her mother did improve by the end of the book, but I would have been happier had Morgan’s storyline had been dropped all together and the book just focused on Ardith and Josh.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for sharing this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
I enjoyed this advance copy of Danielle Steel's latest novel. This centers around actors lives and how suddenly when one passes away, how the main character picks up her life and moves on. She finds love with her assistant, and in the end is able to make some progress with her estranged daughter. I am sure this is more true than people realize. It was a quick read, and up to par with her other stories!
I am an avid Danielle Steel fan. I enjoy her books and the stories she can write and keep readers involved in the story.
I read this book in just a few days. It had a good plot but for me it was not one of her best books.
I liked the story and the characters, but it did not touch my emotions as much as many of her other books.
The book for me had gaps that needed a bit more emotion and made me feel like I was with them as I read.
Thank you NetGalley, Danielle Steel and Random House Publishing Group for the Arc of Upside Down. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This story revolves around an aging Hollywood legend. She has been in a long term relationship with another actor when he suddenly dies. She has an assistant, Josh, working with her who is 25 years her junior who becomes an important part of her life. Her relationship with her daughter is strained and Josh is an understanding ear for her when she struggles after the loss of her friend. This is a fast easy way to spend an afternoon. It is predictable but still entertaining. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.
This book was enjoyable. A mother on one coast and a daughter on the other leading their lives. The daughter is resentful of her mother because of her childhood, while her mother was trying to do her best in juggling work as an actor and raising her daughter when she wasn’t location. The mother suffers a terrible loss and the daughter barely cares. Enter a few men who have issues of their own but care for these women. It was a lovely journey to see their lives grow despite the drama and the mother and daughter repair their relationship.
This was a typical Danielle Steel novel. It did cover some current topics like the Me Too movement but it was basically superficial and used to cause some tension in one of the relationships. It was a quick read. I think I'll skip purchasing this one for the Library. We have lots of her novels and this one won't be very popular after the novelty wears off. Thanks NetGalley for the advance copy. #NetGalley #UpsideDown
A lovely, if a bit predictable, romantic read by Danielle Steel! Always a favorite, Steel delivers time and time again to her readers.
10 stars!! I think this one is now in my top 10 of Danielle Steel’s bibliography…compelling characters and a great story. Danielle Steel never ceases to amaze me with her ability to weave such fabulous stories.
Danielle Steel creates an engaging story of mother/daughter relationships and the love affairs that bring them together. Upside Down follows the parallel paths of a mother and daughter seeking love in unusual circumstances.
Both successful in their careers, Hollywood icon Ardith Law and her daughter, Morgan, a plastic surgeon, simultaneously meet and fall in love with unlikely men. Their relationship has been strained because of Ardith’s career and the tragic death of her husband, Morgan’s father. But their relationship changes when Ardith’s long-time lover, Bill, dies on a movie shoot. She soon develops feelings for a younger man, Josh. Morgan finds love in an older man, Ben, whom she recently treated.
But a crisis occurs when Ben is accused of rape by his intern. Josh proposes marriage as he and Ardith’s movie careers escalate. Both women turn to each other and find comfort in their new relationships. It’s a typical relatable Danielle Steel novel, which doesn’t disappoint. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read and review it. #NetGalley, #UpsideDown #romance
The concept of this book was one I was looking forward to.
But I struggled, I struggled for more than 50% of this book.
I was disappointed.
I was given an advanced copy of this book for my honest review. Thanks Netgalley
A Hollywood legend's world comes crashing down when something tragic happens. This book was a quick read and I even laughed out loud several times which I do not remember doing in past Danielle Steel books. I loved all the characters and the storyline was good.
Upside Down by Danielle Steel is a captivating exploration of love, ageism, and the perennial struggle between career and motherhood. The story revolves around Ardith Law, a glamorous Hollywood icon at sixty-two, and her strained relationship with her daughter Morgan. When Ardith hires the rough-around-the-edges assistant Josh Gray, an unexpected tragedy brings them closer, unraveling conflicting feelings. Simultaneously, Morgan, a successful plastic surgeon, navigates a romance with the charismatic TV anchorman Ben Ryan, facing challenges posed by their significant age difference. While the novel adheres to Steel's signature blend of romance and societal commentary, addressing issues like the "me too movement," and ageism, it may lack the depth found in some of Steel's more thought-provoking works. Nevertheless, Upside Down remains an enjoyable and quick read, offering a satisfying escape into a world of love, glamour, and the hope for second chances.
This book was good. It talked about two couples that had age differences in their relationship. It worked out well in the end. It also talked about the me too movement a little. The ending was different from what I expected. It was better. I am grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.