Based on the title, I was expecting something more joyful than what I found. I did enjoy Allegra and her perseverance through life's difficulties. Overall, this was a quick read. However, it was quite repetitive and a bit flat. If you are looking for an easy beach read, this could fit the bill. The joyful moments were very brief, so this is certainly not a feel-good read.

This book was truly an absolute joy. The writing was fantastic, I loved each and every character. And the overall plot and storyline was realistic, enlightening, heartbreaking and wonderful. I would recommend this book to everyone.

This book is a true masterpiece, it is not often you find a book that so accurately expresses real life issues so well.
First of all, I found myself completely captured by the writing, this is one of those books I could be reading it anywhere and I don’t even hear what’s going on around me. The author has an absolutely amazing way of just bringing you into the book and every bit of it was so interesting I could not put it down.
I instantly fell in love with our FMC, Allegra, she goes through so much in this story and I wanted to see her be happy of course, but I also admired her strength. I feel like in books we often see all the reason for a character to be happy, but in this book we saw all the reasons for her to be sad but she continued to pick herself up and chose to still find JOY!
I utterly adored Henry and feel he was such a vital piece to this story, I also really loved Shep and his character really broke my heart.
I felt every type of emotion throughout this book and at times had to take a break from reading because it was so intense.
This story was expertly crafted and is one of my favorite books I’ve read this year!
I am completely honored to have received this arc from NetGalley and these opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the copy. Danielle Steele is an author that I always enjoy. Her books hook you from the beginning. Joy is no different. Joy follows Allegra, a woman who has not had an easy life. She was abandoned by her mother when she was six, and was sent to her grand parents. She grew up without any close connections, and felt that she did not belong anywhere. We follow her journey as she goes through different situations and relationships. I would not categorize this book as a feel good story. There were some heavier topics and not many joyous moments. The storyline was fast paced and kept me hooked.

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. She seems like the kind of person I would choose as a friend. She perseveres through many difficult things in her life. There is much repetition which sometimes takes away from the story line rather than add to it. Typical Danielle Steel. This is an easy read and perfect for a day at the beach. Thanks to NetGalley, the author and to Random House Ballantine

Allegra had an awful childhood. It’s amazing she turned out to be a decent human being! Her mother abandoned her as a child to relive her partying life. Her father was career military. She was raised by reluctant grandparents. She falls in love in college with a West Point graduate who begins his military service. As he suffers from the effects of this service, he chooses the military over her. She has no one and relocates to California. There her life begins.
This is a story of hope and redemption, but her childhood is just so sad.

An emotional journey of searching for joy! Danielle Steel is a natural when it comes to painting a picture for her reader of great detail into the core of each character so it feels like we are walking the path alongside them. Allegra is an extremely easy character to connect with because she has been so neglected emotional throughout her childhood that we can't help but want to wrap our arms around her. I found her journey and perseverance to be inspiring and I really enjoyed getting to know her. The plot held my attention, her supporting characters were well developed and enjoyable and seeing her finally be seen was inspiring. The only thing I walked away from this book feeling bereft about was that she never got true closure with that first love. I would have loved for her to have run across him one last time ... whether it be in person and a final goodbye, or in finding out info about him. He was her first savior in feeling love, so I had a special spot in my heart for him even after. I highly recommend this book to anyone that enjoys an inspiring life journey of overcoming life even when it throws you obstacles time and time again. I loved Allegra's spirit!

It’d been a couple of decades since I read a Danielle Steel book, so I was delighted to receive an ARC of her newest novel “Joy” from Net Galley. The book is a quick read, and it feels more like one is hearing the tale of Allegra rather than reading a novel with her as the protagonist. Allegra is abandoned by her selfish parents when young, and she is raised in boarding schools and by distant grandparents on holidays. Despite not growing up in a loving family, Allegra is a highly principled and kind person. Understandably she keeps her distance with strangers, but when the barrier comes down, she offers full and complete love. I enjoyed this story a lot. Is it the best novel I’ve read in recent years? Not even close. But it was a very pleasant way to spend a couple of afternoons.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.

If I am being honest, Danielle Steel's books have been either a hit or a miss for me. (being in my twenties, I am not necessarily her target audience) With that being said, this is a good book to pack into your beach bag while you're trying to soak up the last few days of summer. If you have been a diehard fan of Danielle Steel's the last 2-3 decades, I am sure you will find this book enjoyable.



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Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

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Allegra's story is a sad and emotional one but she is determined to find her joy and peace in life. I enjoyed her story and thought this was a nice, quick read.

This book seems very similar to others that Danielle Steel has written, with the exception that the main character, Allegra is exceptional likable. My interest in reading further and further into the story was I couldn’t wait to see what would happen. Reminding me of Danielle Steel’s early books. I would stay up far too late for being a Mom of young children, because I couldn’t put them down. Danielle Steel is still one of my favorites!.

First off, I want to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me access to the ARC for Danielle Steels, "Joy". My mom is an AVID Danielle Steel lover and I knew that once I saw this, I had to request it.

I had a feeling about what would happen with Shep, given the direction of the story, but Allegra's life took a turn I didn't see coming.
It's incredible how much can change when you step out of your comfort zone.

Allegra has spent most of her life being left behind by any and everyone who was supposed to love her. Her mother left without a goodbye, her father disappeared into the military, the same for her husband, one set of grandparents who took her in because there she had nowhere else to go, but sent her to boarding school and so on. She only wanted to find a place to fit in, feel safe and loved. Her journey to finding love, losing it and finally and most importantly finding herself was emotional, sad, smart, well written, exhausting, hopeful and all of it eventually leads her to joy. This is one of my favorites from this prolific author.

This is an incredible story, albeit heart wrenching at times. Allegra was a survivor, no doubt about it . She endured a horrible childhood of rejection and abandonment. Everyone she cared about left her without so much as a goodbye. As a child she never knew love , nor had anyone ever cared about her. But this strong, resilient woman made a great life for herself, all alone , until she was able to find a love worthy of her..

Joy is Danielle Steel's latest novel centering on Allegra whose childhood didn't contain much Joy and how much of her life is searching for joy and someone to truly love her and see her. A more appropriate title might have been Resilience. Still, like all Steel books, it's a quick read with a plot that you will likely see coming and yet it's a relaxing afternoon read.

This book like so many of her recent novels feels like she has to quit a certain number of pages and so she ties it up so quickly. That's quibbling though, if you like Steel you will likely enjoy this one.
3.5 stars rounding up to 4.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of Joy in exchange for an honest review. Joy is available now.

I thoroughly enjoyed Allegra through her years of turmoil and having a HEA. My heart broke many times for Allegra starting in her early childhood through her adulthood but she never gave up. I must admit that they shed a few tears through out the book it broke me over Shep, I thought they were so perfect. This was a hard book to put down, very emotional.

Joy by Danielle Steel is, like most of her books, an unlikely romance, told mostly in third person narration. Like most of her books, it is a totally relaxed and feel-good book. Allegra had grown up an unwanted child. Her mother didn’t want her; her father was gone most of the time; her grandparents took her in only out of duty. Her mother left her father when she was six. He was no fun. Fact. He was a high-ranking military man, sent mostly to war zones. He was cold and unfeeling; partly because of the way he was raised, partly because of his experiences in the military. Her mother didn’t even say good-bye. She saw and heard from either of them seldom and was sent to boarding school when she was eleven. The only bright spot was the son of her grandparents’ neighbors at Newport Beach: Shep. They became friends and then fell in love. They got married before he was deployed. He was in the service because he attended West Point and so owed the military time. He wanted to get married. He thought it would keep him safe. They did but never told anyone. It kept him alive, but not safe.

This is not the love story. That came later for Allegra, after she moved to California. Allegra was supremely well-organized and worked very quietly. That came from years of trying to be invisible, mostly from her grandparents. She became indispensable to the composer she worked for. He was notoriously difficult to work for. He was a genius, thirty-eight years her senior. She loved her job; she loved her life. It was a moving story of love bridging the generational gap. It was written with Steel’s typical compassionate narration. She is a master and this is a terrific book. Is it different from her other books? No. But, that’s what makes it so satisfying. I loved it. Thanks Danielle Steel for making my day!

I was invited to read Joy by Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #RandomHousePublishingBallantine #DanielleSteel #Joy

Allegra has been left behind by everyone all her life. She fights to have a relationship with someone after her party hungry mother leaves her and her military father sends her to live with grandparents. In boarding school she meets Shep. He's in West Point and joins the military after graduation and again Allegra is left behind. Eventually she leaves New York and heads to California to start over fresh. Can she find joy in life again? I really enjoyed this story about finding joy in life despite life's challenges and tramas. Great summer weekend read!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. This review is based on an ARC from NetGalley, courtesy of the publisher.

Great story.

Allegra had a traumatic childhood. Her mother walked out on her father and left her behind without saying goodbye when she was only 6 years old. Her father was a career military man who spent 10-18 months away from home on missions; he's never been there for his daughter either. So he sends her to live with his cold parents in upstate New York. When Allegra was 11 her father sends her to boarding school and shamed his ex-wife's parents into spending some time together over the summer in Rhode Island. Allegra has always made herself invisible around the adults, knowing that she wasn't wanted or loved. She's never been taken care of emotionally.

During her time at Columbia, her boyfriend Shep, who had a job in intelligence is sent to Afghanistan after 9/11. She's afraid that he'll come home as emotionally dead as her father. When they secretly wed, Allegra believes that her love be will be enough to save him. It helps him cope after he comes home from his first tour. But after the army entices him with an offer he can't refuse, he goes back for 10 more months. When he comes back after that tour, Allegra doesn't recognize her husband anymore. He goes back to Iraq and divorces her; trying to protect her from himself.

Allegra decides to leave her job and NY behind and moves to the West Coast. She gets a job for a famous composer and they fall in love a year later. That's when Allegra finally discovers joy for the first time in her life. She can conquer anything now with her husband's love. When he dies 7 years later, she doesn't want to start over again. But meeting the right guy changes that.

A must read!

Allegra is a woman of fortitude. This is the story of her life, her loves, and her struggles. I enjoyed seeing how she was able to succeed in life, even though it wasn’t always easy.