Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Delacorte Press for the ARC. Another sweet love story with a lot of heartache to get to the Joy. Another great read. Highly recommend.

What a wonderful story. Allegra was just a child of 6 when her mother callously left her. Her father was a long time soldier and had no clue
what to do with her. Her paternal grandparents took her in until they died and then she went to boarding school. She fell in love with Shep and was so disappointed when her joined the service. She was worried as he was a gentle man. When he got sent to Afganistan, he came back different. Everytime he came back from his tour, he was worse, until the PTSD almost killed her. He left her for good then. She was broken hearted, but she was used to not being wanted. Finally, she moved to LA and met Henry who was 40 years older. She worked for him and slowly, they fell in love. They didn't have long together, but what they did have was perfect. They deeply loved each other. I think by the end of the book, she was ready to love again and maybe the right person has come along.

Thank you NetGalley for the early copy of Joy. I’m not convinced that Joy should have been the title of this book. This is centered around Allegra who had a sad upbringing. Her Mom walked out when she was 6. Her Father was a career military man who she barely ever saw him as he was overseas all the time. So she was left with her grandparents who really didn’t want her stating there. She eventually went to boarding school. She fell in love with Shep and they married secretly before his first military assignment. Even though he promised only 4 years in the military, he followed in her father’s footsteps and became very broken and he eventually divorced her. Then she moved across country to start over fresh and became an Assistant to a famous man. I really thought she had found Joy but nope he died of cancer years after they married. She became a homebody and wrote. Allegra’s journey was a very sad one

A great story of perseverance and belief in oneself. I finished this in less than 24 hours. As always, Danielle Steel touched my heart with this one and I couldn’t put it down.

This book made me realize how much I enjoy Danielle Steele’s writing. It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book by her. I LOVED this one and was pulled it pretty much right away. I loved the setting of this book and as well as the main character. As always, Danielle Steele puts a reader through an emotional roller coaster with her characters, but in the end it’s all worth it. Many thanks to the publisher and to NetGalley for the ARC.

Another great book by Danielle Steele! Kept me turning the pages until the end! Thank you for the early copy NetGalley!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

My first thought was poor little army brat, but as you read on, you realize that this is the story of abandonment and resilience. Allegra is abandoned time and time again. Yet she manages to become a successful woman. Allegra is affected by the trauma of war and how it changes those that are loved. Once again, she appears to be abandoned. She manages to pick herself up, relocate and make a new life for herself. You want to feel sorry for her, but her strength makes that all but impossible. This is a woman who will not give up and let life beat her down.

I received an arc copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. Allegra is abandoned by her parents at such a young age and as she grows up, it seems like someone she loves always leaves without a goodbye. I really enjoyed this book and devoured it in two days. I was so hoping that Shep, her first love and husband, would come back into the story.

Joy by Danielle Steel was an amazing book! It made you feel so many emotions and thought you what real healthy relationships should look like compared to the ones that we shouldn’t be in.

The first half of this book revolved around one of the saddest childhoods I can imagine. To feel discarded, unloved, and easily forgotten as a young child. Feeling like you had to make yourself smaller to be palpable. It was so sad.

Then to watch the fmc go through heart ache after heart ache, but ultimately find peace and joy was the best ending.


I gave this one a 5⭐️ rating.

I loved Joy! This was a one-sitting read for me. It was interesting reading about the effects of PTSD and how it affected relationships. Allegra was a great character with a sad upbringing and I was rooting for her to find happiness--to find joy through many ups and downs. A satisfying ending and I would recommend this book.

I remember my older sisters reading Danielle Steel books and soon I became a fan too. I have read many of them, This was not my favorite but still a good book. The book has a ton of family drama and many issues. It is a well written book and has likeable characters. It just was not one of my favorites.

Allegra's mother took off when she was a young child, leaving her with a father in the military who was never home. She was raised by cold grandparents who really didn't want her and was in boarding school for several years. She has so much love to give but it seems that every one she loves leaves her without even saying goodbye. When she finally meets the man of her dreams, a much older man, illness strikes and that is short lived. This is a story that is heartbreaking, but, Allegra has much grief she must work through. Thanks to @NatGalley for the ARC of this book. I liked it and even though it can be sad, it is a quick read that will hold your attention.

Allegra grew up only really wanting one thing, to be loved. With her mom leaving her at six and her dad in the military she was mostly on her own. She held all of her love inside of her until she met Shep. She thought Shep would be her saving grace in life, the one she would make a life with, until he decided to stay in the military after his first 5 years, he owed the Army after graduating from West Point. You could only feel bad for Allegra throughout this whole book. How does one survive life without people that love you, care about you, want you in their lives. But, one thing I kept thinking about throughout this book was why did Allegra keep her personal life so private, was it that she felt she would be rejected by others if they knew of her upbringing, or feel left out of conversations or sad about not having anyone like she did in boarding school. A common theme was that Allegra never seemed to try to make friends, even when people tried to reach out to her. By the end of the book I understood why this book was titled Joy and it made you think about if you have Joy in life in different parts of you life, that you know you can have it again.

Thank you Net Galley and Random House for allowing me to read the ARC, my mom has always been a Danielle Steel fan, but I’ve never read her books before and I truly enjoyed this one.

What an excellent book! Danielle Steel never disappoints. Allegra's story was very sad initially, but I enjoyed following her journey to happiness!

A compelling story that captures the essence of resilience, love, and second chances. The writing is elegant and evocative, painting vivid scenes that will resonate with the reader.
Many thanks to Random House and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Joy was a beautiful story of heartbreak and resilience at every turn. So many emotions reading this – but in the end Joy of course. To me the books started out a little slow and repetitive of a previous DS read, but once the story took its own turn, so did the pages. Thank you Net Galley for the advance read #Joy #NetGalley #DanielleSteel

Emotional Heartfelt Ride!

Thank you NetGallary for an early review copy of Joy!

Storytelling at its Best!

Soulmates - In every sense of the word!
Powerful words!!!!

As usual Danielle Steel hooked me from page one!

This book has it all, heartbreak, love, pain, and healing and it’s one emotional roller coaster!

Character development was excellent!

I don’t want to give away any spoilers with my review, this is a must read. PERIOD!

Allegra and Shep’s story is beautiful and heartwarming!

I gave this book 4 stars! If I could rate this book higher I would!

Well done!

No spoilers with my review!

I really enjoyed this Danielle Steel novel. Personally, I related to the main character of Allegra and her discovery of books as a child to fill the environment around her. In typical Danielle Steel fashion, Allegra suffers heartbreak and loss but ultimately finds her joy. The story was beautiful. I highly recommend this one, especially if you are a Danielle Steel fan! Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own. Publication Date: August 13, 2024

Such a sweet, sweet story. Heartbreaking at some points but shows the resilience of one woman. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review.

Book Title: Joy: A Novel
Author: Danielle Steel
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine ~ Delacorte Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: August 13, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 256

Our protagonist is Allegra Dixon. She was abandoned by her young twenty-eight year old mother Isabelle when she was only six. Her father Bradley was a forty-nine year old Army Colonel and often off on assignments.

Isabelle and Bradley were in a loveless marriage so Bradley was fine with her leaving but since he was gone so much he needed someone to care for his six year old daughter. He talked his elderly parents into taking her in. They did but allowed children so they allowed the cook to care for her. Allegra stays with the Dixons for several years then go to her maternal grandparent the VanderHolts in New York however they are not anxious for her to live with them. So next it is boarding schools and camps with very few visits from relatives while she is away.

Forced to make herself unheard all those years Allegra found a love for reading and made herself finds friends within her books.

She moved to LA and find a job as an assistant to Henry Platt who is in the film industry and responsible for many award winning movie soundtracks. Now Allegra finds herself with him on the Red Carpet. She has finally found a new life and is doing well. Henry is thirty-eight years older than her but there is definitely a good connection. Allegra has found Joy and purpose with Henry as well as the joyous feeling wanted.

This is beautiful story that left me with a smile on my face.

I have been a Danielle Steel fan since 1977. At that time I could not wait until her next novel was release. Although I did move onto Psychological Thrillers but there is a magnet holding me as I have a soft spot for Ms. Steel’s stories. This is #50 for me ~ so yes we Danielle Steel fans are a unique group and I am proud to be a member!

Want to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine ~ Delacorte Press for this early eGalley!
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 13, 2024