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.

It’s sad that you have to feel invisible. Due to both your parents too busy with their own affairs. Allegra grows up just trying to fit in and feel loved. She finds her joy but it don’t last for long. Now she will have to live through her memories.

Joy was a story all about abandonment, resilience, finding small joys in things even though life is tough, and finding purpose!

Allegra had a rough upbringing - her mother abandoned her and her father was a career military man who was gone for 1-2 years at a time. She was bounced around to grandparents who didn’t really love having a child around and also attended boarding school, then Columbia Allegra ends up coming out of all of this as a very intelligent and resilient woman. She experiences so much trauma and tragedy while she’s only in her mid-twenties. Even through it all, she looks for the joy in life wherever it takes her!

This book had me turning the pages so fast. I was pretty invested in what happened in Allegra’s life! I would have loved more about her relationship with Shep and then with Henry. It felt a little rushed! It’s been a bit since I’ve read a book in 3rd person POV so I had to adjust to that. It’s not really a “feel good” book so if you need something to put you in your feels, this is for you!!

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC!! 🫶🏻

A beautiful story of resilience and finding small joys wherever you can. Allegra’s journey is tough but the plot twists kept me hanging on. I loved this book and all Danielle Steel books.

Wonderful story of overcoming abandonment and loneliness early in Allegra’s life. Goes into the strains of military live. I grieved over Allegra and Shep and kept waiting to see him return until the end. I was so happy for Allegra to find Henry and loved the hopeful joy at the end. Wonderfully written quick read by Danielle Steele. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy

Allegra Dixon is the daughter of a rich socialite and her older military intelligence officer husband. Neither of her parents wants a child so she grows up with her aloof paternal grandparents and ends up in a boarding school in her middle grade years. During her summers, she goes to Newport with her maternal grandparents who also spend little time with her. Allegra emerges from this trauma as a resilient, intelligent woman. As a young adult she encounters more tragedy but she continues on looking for joy. This is one of Danielle Steel’s more engaging books. It has a strong heroine who perseveres no matter what obstacle is placed in her path. Unlike some of Steel’s other books, Allegra never needs a man or anything else to save her. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I thank NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Danielle Steel’s latest book Joy is due out in August 2024. I was lucky enough to get an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review. We follow Allegra - she’s raised by a father in the military who she never sees and a mother who could care less about her. She meets Shep who is also in the military and she falls in love with him but hates he’s following in her father’s footsteps. Other things happen and some is heartbreaking. It was a typical Danielle Steel book. I did enjoy the story and read it in 2 days.

Joy encompasses the fallout of complicated family relationships and shows the strength of one woman and the power of real love.

Always like reading books by Danielle Steel and this one also does not disappoint. Held my attention from start to finish. Love the plot. Keep writing.

Great story by Danielle Steel. the plot twists kept me eager to turn the pages to find out what would happen next.

This book honestly had me in a chokehold! I was very satisfied in this read, and it kept my attention for sure!

Unfortunately the story was a little confusing, I wasn’t sure when it was starting or if the beginning was background information. It kind of felt rushed like on yo the next and next thing. I don’t think I would recommend unless you like this author. It kind of was just depressing.