In High Notes we meet Iris a young girl with an incredible voice that everyone seems to take advantage of starting with her father. Her mother runs off when she is a young girl and it was just her and her father. When she was young he would take her to bars and have her sing on stage. Everyone loved her because she could hit the high notes like no one else. Her father continued to use her to earn a living until she finally had had enough. She signs with a producer that sends her on the road on a really bad road tour and he uses her voice for the next 5 years sending her to small places with really bad conditions to sing the high notes. This continues until finally The right person hears her sing. He treats her right and gives her the royal star treatment.

This book is rife with inspiration. Main characters, Iris, Boy and Clay have all overcome broken childhoods to go on to become superstars while remaining true to themselves. Not to give anything away, but this book touches on a tragic situation that has become a major problem in the US in the last few years. I think it is awesome that she is not afraid to visit the situation and also with the way that it was portrayed. I always have tissues on hand when reading a Danielle Steel book as I know I will need them! To me, it is a sign of a great story if I become so engrossed that it can make me cry numerous times...both sad & happy tears! I definitely recommend this book.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for allowing me an advance copy for my honest feedback.

The High Notes by Danielle Steel, follows Iris Cooper from throughout her journey to stardom. We're first introduced to Iris as a young girl with the voice of a young Mariah Carey who just wants to sing and be loved. Her father uses her singing as a meal ticket & pay check as he drags her from town to town until she's old enough to go her separate way. We watch her continue to be exploited in her musical career until she magically is given the cell phone number of a manager, Clay, who of course immediately books her and her bff of two minutes named Boy and makes all of their dreams come true. Cue albums, immediate chart topping success, sold out tours and of course a "happily ever after for Iris with her manager Clay.

I appreciated that this book skimmed the surface of life trying to break as a musician and didn't give Iris immediate success, I do feel overall it was a bit superficial, things just fell to easily into place and her friend Patti deserved better not only from Iris but from the author.

Overall this was a quick read but I would have liked a bit more substance. If you are looking for a fluffy, feel good novel then I would definitely check it out. Please note there are some traumatic moments especially at the the end that could be extremely triggering regarding gun violence so please proceed with caution.

Thanks to Netgalley for this Arc! It was a 2 star read for me.

This book is the fourth by Danielle Steel that I have read in the past three weeks. Three have been ARCs, and one was a new release. I have not been in the mindset to read anything heavy, and knowing that the author’s books end on a good note, reading these books has been a good choice for me.

The High Notes is your typical “girl grows up poor, has a great voice, pays her dues, gets a recording contract, and lives happily ever after.” The main character is likable, although naïve, and so many scenes are unrealistic. But that isn’t why I read these books. I want quick entertainment and checkout from reality.

The first two-thirds of the book moved along at a good pace; however, I felt that the last third was wrapped up rather quickly, and the ending was slightly abrupt.

If you’re a longtime Steel reader, then I think you’ll enjoy this book because it is a quick, smooth read. If you’re new to her books, you won’t read anything earth-shattering, but you will get some brief entertainment.

Thank you Random House and Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of The High Notes in exchange of my honest opinion.

The first book I ever read by Danielle Steel was Palamino when I was in 8th grade or so. And I remember loving it. Here I am, 30 years later, reading Danielle Steel’s newest novel and enjoying it just as much. A story about a young girl with the voice of a powerful Angel. Iris Cooper is bound to be something big. Her dad doesn’t hesitate to take advantage of her talent for his own benefit.

The High Notes is my 46th book I’ve read by Danielle Steel. Iris Cooper has a rough childhood growing up with a “loser” of a father. She starts singing at a young age and she even writes her own songs. I enjoyed this story of how she became famous and was rooting for her the whole way! Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published October 2022.

I love Danielle Steel and this book was one of my more recent favorites!!It was heartwarming, entertaining and very good!

Iris Cooper has the voice that everyone envies – a beautiful voice what can hit the “high notes”. Iris drifts from town to town singing to support her deadbeat dad. She loves to sing, so she really doesn’t mind. The story follows Iris from the twelve year old girl who first sings in Harry’s Bar to the superstar she becomes.
It’s easy to fall in love with Iris. She is a genuine caring individual. The story is about forgiveness, love, and those moments that are life changing.
Highly recommend this book. Thank you NetGallery for my ARC.

Have read all of Danielle Steel's books and have loved many of them and found others to be just hohum. Good, but not spectacular.

I really wanted this one to be spectacular, but for me it just wasn't.

The plot was okay, but there didn't really seem to be any depth to the characters or plot.

The age difference between Iris and her liver gave me the heebee geebees. Yuck. He could have been her father. Think she ended up with some Daddy issues. So glad Danielle did not go into detail with the sex!

Four stars for me. Not one of her best.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, and Danielle Steel for an ARC of this book in return for my honest review

Really good novel from the best! Iris Cooper is raised by a father who exploits her. She joins a touring company and finds the boss as bad as her father. Can she find the courage to break away and find the way to a great career and maybe find love in the process. Great Read!!

I absolutely loved this book.

Iris Cooper had a terrible childhood, her dad dragged her across the state of Texas from town to town and made her sing in bars when she was just 12 years old. He milked his 12 year old daughter for money. The bar fed Iris the only meal she ever ate, and her dad drank their profits. They never stayed in one place too long.

She had white blonde hair and blue eyes, she looked and sang like an angel. But her father exploited her until she was 23. When she came home from a tour to find out that he had spent all of Iris' money.

This tour was a little bit better than the last but not much. The owner was abusive always showing up and screaming at the performers after great shows. He loved breaking their souls. Iris only had less than 1 year on her contract and she couldn't take anymore abuse from the owner, so she left the tour. Before she left, someone gave her the number of an agent in NY. So in Seattle, Iris catches a bus and slowly starts following her dreams.

Iris got off the bus in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and became a tourist. She walked around and stopped in a bar. The band was great. She listened to them play. The guitarist invited her on stage and she went to sing a few songs. Afterwards, she meet, Boy, the guitarist, she told him what her story was and he offered her a job. Two weeks later Boy and Iris are driving to NY to follow a dream.

When Iris and Boy get to NY, Iris finally gets the nerve to call the number on the paper. Immediately she gets an appointment with Clay Maddox the music legend and Boy is coming too. Neither one of them thought that phone call would change their lives so much.

A beautiful story. A definite must read!

First off I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Ballentine for allowing me to read this fantastic book. I have been a fan of Danielle Steel since my teens…a long time. This book felt fresh, compelling, heartwarming and surprising all in one. This is a fast read as you won’t want to put it down as you follow Iris from 12 years old singing in a roadside bar to stardom. Along the way you meet a fantastic cast of characters…some good some not so good.for our heroine. The story was structured well and kept my attention throughout…no lulls in the story. A surprising tragic twist near the end took me by surprise as it literally came out of nowhere but that’s one of the things DS does so well…I freely admit this one had me crying in parts…and as I was on a plane the surrounding passengers must have thought I was crasy…but I was just so wrapped up in the story it made me quite emotional! Another resounding success for DS!!

The High Notes by Danielle Steel is one of recent favorites. Iris Cooper grows up performing in bars as her broke down father moves her around the south. Once they make it to Las Vegas, he gets her into a bad contract and spends all of her money, leaving her with nothing to show for all of the years she has been performing. After letting her dad know she isn't having him manage her anymore, Iris ends up in another bad contract and finally leaves after the tour organizer attacks another performer. Setting off on her own, Iris heads to New York to become a star.

I really enjoyed this story, even though I didn't think it sounded like something that appealed to me.


Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press for this ARC.

Wow, just WOW! Danielle Steel is an extraordinary author. What an amazing story about Iris Cooper and her journey starting at the age of 12 when her father and then 2 sleazy managers exploited her talent. It was heartbreaking and had me in tears towards the end of the book but also had such a heartwarming ending.
I couldn't put it down and HIGHLY recommend it.

THANK YOU to Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for this ARC!

This was a fast pace book and a good read.

Iris, a girl with a voice that can sing all the high notes, is raised by her single dad. At the age of 12, he gets her her first gig singing at a bar. They move frequently, but at least she can sing. The book follows her as she grows up and the obsticles she faces in both her personal life and her music career.

I enjoyed reading this book. Most of it was a sweet story, some of it bitter sweet, but there was one horrific twist I didn't see coming.

I received a copy of this book from netgalley and appreciate the opportunity to read it.

Poor Iris is a talented twelve year old when her father starts exploiting her talents by having her sing in a bar. Over the years, Iris grows from her trials and tribulations and turns into a strong, talented performer who meets some amazing people along the way. In The High Notes, Danielle Steel once again teaches us that hard work pays off.

Thank you Net Galley for an ARC of The High Notes by Danielle Steel. I love this author! This book was about Iris Cooper and her rider to stardom.

I think I’ve read my first Danielle Steel book when I was 14-15 years old. And looking back, that means a long time ago. She was one of my mother’s favourite authors.

“The high notes” touches various topics. From a stolen childhood to fulfilling a dream and to unexpected decisions.

Throughout the book, we learn about Iris and how she had to get through so many tough moments and scenes that none of the teenagers at her age should have to live.

I enjoyed the writing as it flows easy and makes the story move at a right pace. The characters are interesting and with a good mix of personalities.

From her parents to her lover, they all bring something new to the story and Iris’ arc character grows from it all.

I loved the author has given justice to her even when there’s no chance.

Because the story spans out over a few good years, I really enjoyed the new elements added with each period. What was normal when she was only a child and how much consent means nowadays.

It is a beautiful story, with many heartbreaking scenes in the beginning but with such a satisfying ending.

🆓📖 Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy

The High Notes is probably one of my favorite Danielle Steel books to date. It makes you not want to put it down until the very end.
Iris started singing as a young girl , when her father realized what a special voice she had he used her to make money to pay for things and for his alcohol . Iris met some special people while she moved around singing . Iris loved to sing but after being mistreated by her father and other managers she finally finds a great manager in Clay and learns how she deserved to be treated and how special her talent actually is .
The High Notes is about roughy childhoods and second chances. Danielle Steel does a great job engaging readers as always. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy for my honest opinion.

Hit the high notes is what Iris Cooper is told by her father for as long as she can remember. Raised by her father, Iris has moved from town to town with him in search of his next job. When she is twelve, he figures out that it is easier for her to sing in bar than for him to work. He eventually moves her to Las Vegas, connects her with a manager who exploits her while her dad keeps her money. She appears to be on an endless cycle until the moment her life changes and she begins hitting the high notes to fulfill her own dreams.
“The High Notes” is a change from Steel’s more recent novels. There are no diamonds, planes or castles, at least in the first ¾ of the book. The characters grew up poor, hungry and for the most part with no family. There are a few week spots and not many twists and turns. There is no sudden tragedy in the first chapter just the background story of Iris’s life. It is the perfect feel good, fairytale book for a rainy day.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for an early read in exchange for an honest review.