For much of Danielle Steel’s novel, Joy, I searched for a connection between the title and the story. Allegra Dixon led a grim childhood, one without much love or affection from her parents and grandparents. Each time she came close to finding the joy implied by the title, some tragic circumstance took it away.

As I thought about takeaways from the story, however, I found it hopeful and optimistic… that difficult circumstances don’t have to define you, that you can confront and overcome them and lead a happy life. And I thought that the point of the story was a reminder to hold on to joy when and where you find it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, Random House - Ballantine, and NetGalley for providing me with this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

I've been reading Danielle Steel since I was in high school and was happy to read another. Allegra was such a likable character and had every reason to give up, to be angry. Through the adversity in her live, abandonment, lost love, loneliness, she never quits on herself or finding her place in this world. Another solid and enjoyable book by Danielle Steel.

I loved this book. Joy, despite extreme neglect and abandonment, shines through with her personality. After childhood trauma and numerous set backs, she shines with her outlook and positivity. As always, another wonderful story from Danielle Steel. Her books are as comforting as a warm blanket. Highly recommended.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

Allegra loses so much as a child. However, there is a bright spot during her stint in boarding school. During her stint at boarding school, she meets a young West Point cadet, and once again there is joy in her life. Life intervenes, and soon, things have changed and not for the better. Allegra deserves happiness, but circumstances seem to provide a stumbling block instead. This is the story of a woman searching for happiness and the courage she shows in spite of her situation. This is an enjoyable read. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book.

A sweet story of a girl looking for someone to love her. After being abandoned by her parents, Allegra finds love and joy in her life in the most unexpected places. Another good one from Danielle Steel.

Such a sweet, sweet story. Heartbreaking at some points but shows the resilience of one woman. Brilliantly written as always from DS. Many thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

Allegra, forsaken by a military father and abandoned by her mother at six, navigates a tumultuous upbringing. Sent to boarding school after her grandparents' passing, she faces rejection from her mother's parents. In her lonely existence, she finds solace in Shep, leading to a secret love and marriage plan disrupted by Shep's military duty. Alone again after divorce, Allegra decides to break free from familial ties, embarking on a journey from New York to California for a fresh start. As she grapples with self-discovery, Danielle Steel's narrative unfolds a captivating tale of Allegra's resilience and pursuit of happiness. Special thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for the ARC

Allegra Dixon’s life is full of loss. It started with vivid memories of her mother leaving when she was 6 years old and without even saying goodbye. Her father always away fighting a war, grandparents passing away it appear to be never ending except for Shep. He was a constant until the military took him away. In search of a new life, she travels to the other side of the country and begins again in California. Struggling to deal with her past and future, she tries again to find joy in her life.
Danielle Steel has a way of taking the most devastating situations and finding the joy in it. Her descriptions of scenery and character development make the reader feel a part of the novel and can vividly see them self in the story as the plot unfolds. Allegra’s story provides hope during tragedy and a focus on finding joy that everyone should be searching for.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing- Ballantine for ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When I think of the books I read in high school I think of Danielle Steel. I was so excited to receive a Danielle Steel arc from NetGalley. Danielle’s novel Joy comes out in August.

Joy is about a young girl named Allegra. The story talks about her complicated family dynamics. She has a father in the military and a mother who left her. As a child Allegra’s father left her with her grandparents. She didn’t grow up with a warm family. When she’s a teenager she meets Shep. They fall in love but he ends up joining the military. I love something that Danielle wrote. “You are brave when you have no choice.” I could relate to that. This is a wonderful story about the strength of a young independent woman.

This was a very good book. I haven’t read her books in yrs. This may have turned me around! A young girl who is starved for love and had her heart broken many times. What happens you will have to read to find out. You might even need a tissue.

I read this through an authors early release and the book is unedited.
Oh this was a really good book. It is a reminder to take your time and live life and if life is tough, being straight-forward will bring you through the tough times. I know this is fiction. The story gives you hope. Just doing your best and striving through life can make a person find love and hope and joy where you least expect it.
I love the authors books, and reading it made me happier, I cannot wait for another book.

In many way, Joy is typical Danielle Steel. There are the usual well-educated central characters in the plot, for whom great wealth does not always bring lasting happiness. Allegra, is beautiful, smart, and talented. The men in her life are not always worth Allegra's attentions. It takes a long time for the joy in the title to show up in Allegra's life. A major theme of abandonment/rejection/neglect dominates most of her significant relationships and yet her resilience shines through as kindness, hope and dedication. I would highly recommend this book!

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While Allegra was born into a prominent family, there was little joy. Her father spent months overseas in military intelligence and her mother's partygoing ways left Allegra alone with babysitters. Isabella leaves when Allegra is six years old and she's ushered between grandparents knowing she's not wanted.

Learning to remain invisible, Allegra glimpses happiness when a childhood best friend turns amorous. Finally her life has direction when sadly once again it veers off course. Will Allegra ever be free to live her own life and make it a joyful experience?

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #Joy in exchange for an honest review. I felt sorry for Allegra but struggled with the book's trajectory. It was as Anne Shirley remarked 'always at the depths of despair.' Every time things looked up another obstacle presented itself.

When I read, I enjoy escaping my problems. Allegra's on-going issues didn't provide the romantic or relaxing experience I previously encountered in Danielle Steel's novels. Things changed when Allegra became an adult but it wasn't the joyous experience the title suggested.

I have read many Danielle Steel books over the years and enjoyed them - this one was not any different ! I was hooked very early on. The FMC Allegra, had a heartbreaking childhood and a lot of her adult life was sad as well. This did make it hard to read at times. I just so badly wanted a win for her. Things do turn around eventually and I thought the story wrapped up really well! Not the happy ending I originally thought but even better- a great message and lots of great qualities you can learn from Allegra. Overall this was a great book! The writing style made it addicting and hard to put down. I was rooting for Allegra the whole time and loved her character! I would recommend this book to others!

Thank you netgalley for this ARC!!

I have been reading Danielle Steele for more years than I would like to admit, because it will show my age (35 years) Danielle Steele has always been an auto but for me. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an advanced copy of this book. The way she is able to provide such vivid details which make you feel like her characters are your friends or acquaintances and this one was no different. , I will continue to read her books for as long as she writes them. "Joy" is another 5 star read for me. Danielle Steel never disappoints! "Joy" is a heartbreaking story about Allegra who goes through so many situations where she feels like she will never be loved. How many times must one start over and reinvent themselves. Her tenacity is inspiring.

Reading a Danielle Steel novel is like curling up with a good book, warm and cozy by the fire. It's like coming home. Her newest installment, Joy, follows a young woman named Allegra, who had the worst childhood. Born to a mother who cared more about her social life than her child, and a father who was constantly away fighting for our country, she lived a life of solitude between boarding school and her grandparents. Never wanting for more than the love of her family, Allegra knows she'll have to set it out on her own to find it.

Her first love is Shep, the boy next door. The perfect young adult romance becomes serious when Shep enlists, and they decide to marry before deployment. Shep is hardened by the war, and yet again, Allegra is left behind. She finds her second life in publishing, which ultimately leads her to the West Coast, where she can find herself yet again.

I really enjoyed Allegra's character. I liked how she didn't let all the hardships set her back, and I wistfully enjoyed following her on all of her adventures. Another book read in 2024; and I can't wait for her next one! :)

Finding joy after a lifetime of abandonment brings this novel joy. Allegra has been mistreated by her parents and her husband. Can she ultimately find the right person?

I need to start by saying that I haven't read Danielle Steel in a while, but when the opportunity came to read this book, I was taken by the storyline and decided to give it a go. I liked the book very much, and really felt for Allegra Dixon, a beautiful young girl who was left behind by her selfish mother and her absent father. She loses herself in her books - the main source of comfort for her. She was thrust into the care of first her father's parents, who seemed to feel burdened by and were elderly and then they passed, was shuttled off to a boarding school, the only one there who really had no family. Her father had guilted her mother's parents into taking her for school vacations and the summer, and although their busy social life really had no time for her, they did their part. Her saving grace was meeting Shep Williams who was a few years older when she was 16, the son of another prestigious family (although not as prestigious as her maternal grandparents) and they fall in love. He goes to West Point and upon graduating begins to service his mandatory training and service in Intelligence. She worries that he will follow in her father's footsteps and become a career officer, but he promises that he will only serve the minimum time and then they will resume their civilian life. As part of his training he is going to Afghanistan and right before he leaves they secretly marry at NY's City Hall, telling none of their families about their wedding. Allegra graduates from college and gets a job in publishing. She stays in touch with Shep, waiting for his return and when he comes back, he's changed and re-ups for another tour. He is turning into another version of her absent father and the marriage goes downhill. And this is only the beginning of the book. We follow Allegra as she moves to the West Coast and finds a true love, and follow her growth from little girl lost to a substantial and strong woman. I liked this book and wanted to thank the Publisher and Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read and review an advanced reader copy. It's a quick read and I feel that fans of Danielle Steel will love it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the arc!
Wow - this book covered so much! The various relationships and backgrounds that someone can have throughout their life. The first was hard and I almost couldn’t continue - having an ex-husband that was in the Army, so many things rang true in that and brought up some past feelings. I’m glad I powered through that and read the rest! Finding love with a hard background and general distrust of others, so interesting to see how things can go. I felt like this story, although fiction, was very much applicable to many lives. I loved this so much! 100% recommend!

The mystery of some military life with its ups down and effects on family life. The life of a daughter growing up in a military family and a mother who was self centered and never grew up. There was sadness in the book and joy. A young woman who learned to endure the life she had been given and to make the best of it and eventually find happiness. I enjoyed the book and would definitely recommend it to others.