I loved the last half of this book and wished we didn’t have all the sadness and heartbreak of the beginning of the book.
However if it weren’t for the beginning of her life, the life she made in LA wouldn’t have been so special. I felt like Allegra’s joyful life didn’t begin until she met Henry. A wonderful love story!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy.

"Joy" by Danielle Steel is a novel about Allegra Dixon, a determined young woman who endures a series of abandonments to find true happiness. Abandoned by her mother at age 6 and left by her military father who was rarely home, Allegra's only real friend was Shep, who eventually became her husband. However, Shep's military career led him to face war trauma, echoing her father's absence. Allegra's journey to find joy and purpose ultimately leads her to Henry and true love.

My Thoughts: This is a quick read, ideal for a vacation. However, be prepared for a lot of sadness, as joy only comes in the last quarter of the book. I struggled to connect with Allegra, and while the story was good, it wasn't one I couldn't put down.

Publication Date: August 13, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley for this eARC.

Joy by Danielle Steel is a captivating tale that delves into themes of loss, sadness, wealth, love, and second chances. The novel follows a cast of well-educated characters who, despite their great wealth, struggle to find lasting happiness. Each character is portrayed as beautiful, talented, and possessing impressive abilities. For fans of Danielle Steel, the familiarity of her storytelling serves as a comforting escape, providing readers with the emotional nourishment they desire. I am a huge fan of Steel, once I start reading her books I find that I cannot put them down.

Joy is another winner by Danielle Steel. This is a story about Allegra’s traumatic childhood and how she works hard to overcome her lack of love to find happiness.
Allegra is abandoned by her mother when her parents divorce and her father is in the military and has no time for her . She often feels alone until she meets Shep during a summer visit to her Grandparents. They become fast friends and she thinks things are beginning to look up for her.
This book is full of heartache and new beginnings . Danielle Steel has a way of always bringing you into feeling the character’s highs and lows.Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

A child who is rejected by all who should love her, grows up seeking love. When she thought she finally had found it, heartbreak strikes forcing her to start a new life far away from all she knew. A new career and new beginning might bring joy or heartbreak.

Danielle Steel has always been one of my favorite authors. I never miss one of her new releases. Just like its name, Joy was a joy to read. From the young age of six, Allegra Dixon's life is filled with abandonment and emotional neglect, but her escape into books provides hope. Her journey from a lonely child to a successful book editor who finds love is beautifully depicted. The narrative takes a turn as Shep’s deployments to Afghanistan strain their marriage, highlighting the deep emotional scars of war. Steel masterfully portrays Allegra’s strength and determination to reclaim her happiness despite overwhelming challenges. This novel is an unforgettable and emotional rollercoaster, showcasing Steel’s exceptional storytelling. A must-read!

This was a great binge read. Although this book was full of sadness and heartbreak, it also showed Allegra’s strength and determination to break the cycle her parents started. A lonely , quiet child who was shuffled between grandparents and boarding school becomes a successful hard working individual.

An incredible read by Danielle Steel! I'm a lifelong fan and always enjoy her books, but this time she really knocked it out of the park. This was one of those stay up late and read kinds of books - truly well-done.

"JOY" is certainly a misnomer for this book. Even when you thought it might have a happily-ever-after ending, it really doesn't. There was just the barest hint of happiness at the end.

I was pulled in right from the start, and although I never cry while reading a sad book, however, I came close right from the very first section of the first chapter.

The rest of the book went downhill for me. No matter how much I hoped Allegra would find a bit of happiness, she didn't until I thought I could stand no more!

It took me a long time to get through this soul-wrenching novel, and that is unusual for me. I just couldn't take this book in big gulps; I had to take it with tiny little sips.

*ARC was provided by the publisher Dell, the author, and NetGalley.

When Allegra Dixon was six years old her mother left her without even a goodbye. Her father was a high ranking military officer and didn’t really know how to take care of her. He didn’t even have time for her. He was never there due to his job duties. Allegra was sent to her grandparents’ joyless home to live an invisible life. She finds her only solace through an escape in books.

While attending boarding school she meets a handsome young West Point cadet named Shep Williams and falls deeply in love with him.

After college Allegra gets a job as an editor for a publisher in New York and Shep is raising himself up through the ranks of the military. Suddenly he receives orders to go to Afghanistan and they decide to get married before he goes. They cling on to the stolen moments together. Shep promises each time he leaves that the separations will end soon.

Allegra soon realizes the horror of war is changing Shep and she no longer recognizes him as her real husband. The trauma that he experienced has changed him and she finds herself alone again when she thought that she had finally found happiness.

Danielle Steel has you crying one moment and the next enjoying the feeling of happiness. So many emotions throughout. She has you following Allegra’s life through her ups and downs. Plenty of twists and turns through a maze of romance and non-spoken goodbyes. There are a number of likable characters. Danielle Steel’s descriptions of the surroundings are very descriptive and makes you feel like you are there experiencing it too. Danielle Steel never disappoints! Another one of her unputdownable stories! You won’t want to miss this one of hers! A must read!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers in letting me read this book and allowing me to leave an honest review.

Full of heartache and pain as a child, Allegra is abandoned emotionally by her parents. In her young adult years, she is left feeling unwanted by her first love. Yet she eventually finds "joy" and purpose in life. Excellent, as always, by Ms. Steel.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

An easy read story about the life of a young girl growing up who is abandoned multiple times in her life. This is her journey thru heartbreak to find herself and happiness. Full of sorrows and joys along with a story that will keep you turning the pages. A light read for an afternoon at the beach. Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC.

The brief moments of joy were way too brief to make the story a feel good read. Fortunately, it is a fast read. Recommend you plan to read something more uplifting. I could say more, but really “Joy” is no joy and I will eagerly await the true gem from Danielle Steel because I KNOW it will be forthcoming. Like i said not my fav but not her worst 3 stars

What can you say? Danielle Steele continues to deliver. It is a Joy to read her books. I read this in one day. I couldn't put it down.

A good story about a young girl who is abandoned multiple times in her life. This is her journey thru heartbreak to find herself and happiness. Full of sorrow and joy along with a story that will keep you turning the pages. A light read for an afternoon at the beach. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

Another great book by Danielle Steele! Thank you for the early copy NetGalley! Joy is an easy read about a girl named Allegra who was abandoned several times throughout her life. Allegra faces each new challenge with integrity and perseverance. PTSD is a tragic outcome of war that our soldiers continue to face and seeing it through the eyes of a child of a soldier and later a wife of a soldier is eye opening. Allegra is independent and strong and seeks happiness, which she eventually finds!

this book was such an easy read, i cannot imagine growing up the way Allegra did-noone wanting t0 be around her or even putting forth an effort. Her childhood was so sad and so lonely but she was determined to come out of that and try her best to be happy. Her non existent parents,the grandparents on both sides so didn't want to be bothered with her.

She meets Shep and thinks he is everything she needs, that part of the story is sad and hard. But she keeps moving forward and decides to move to California. A lot of great things happen and she gets the love that she always wanted, he teaches her so much about herself and she realizes she doesn't need her mother after all. She has alot of self growth, starts writing books and heals.

This book had me in tears and made me laugh. Danielle Steel really caught all the emotions in this book, i loved Allegra and Henrys story and everything after that. Amazing!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for this arc.

I was excited to read this story, thinking it would bring me joy, but it was actually really depressing! You definitely need to be aware of that going in to it.

Danielle Steel's newest book, Joy, is full of everything a reader has come to expect from this amazing author: fear, heartbreak, anxiety, emotional turmoil, friendship, family, and above all - love. Joy is about self discovery and knowing what you deserve, and refusing to settle for less, even if others want to keep giving you less than you deserve. This book also deals with war, and the aftermath the soldiers and their families have to deal with, and how the events of the war changes everyone, not just the those that fought the battles, but those that waited at home for the soldiers to return. Ms. Steel does an amazing job bringing the emotions everyone feels to the forefront, making the readers feel like they're part of everything that is going on. This book will make you laugh, make you cry, make you make you rage, and make you draw your loved ones close, but most of all, this book will make you feel joy for being alive.