Danielle Steel never ceases to provide readers with a swoon-worthy read! Most women can only imagine what it would be like to attend the Ball at Versailles in its atmospheric setting. With her vivid descriptions and glorious imagery, Steel paints a vivid picture of the elegant gowns, elaborate decorations, and intriguing conversations, making her readers feel as if they are there themselves.

In the summer of 1959, a historic event takes place at the Palace of Versailles. In this exclusive ball, a select group of American and French debutantes will be presented to international society and royalty. This evening promises to be an unforgettable moment for the debutantes, as they will be entering a new era of affluence and opportunity. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Amelia, Felicity, Caroline, and Samantha, four young American girls. There will be opulence, glamour, and a chance to form lasting connections with the elite at this stunning ball. This trip to Paris promises to be a dreamy night that will change their lives forever.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for sharing this beautiful story with me. I felt like I was on a stunning adventure as I read The Ball at Versailles.

It’s the summer of 1959 and the Palace of Versailles is hosting an event that will make history. It is an exclusive dusk-to-dawn ball in which a select group of American and French debutantes will be presented to international society and royalty. Four young women, all with something to prove, receive what some see as the invitation of a lifetime.

Amelia Alexander, who hopes to eventually attend law school, hesitates to participate in what she sees as an archaic and privileged tradition. But her indomitable widowed mother, Jane, who’s struggled financially and sacrificed for a career, encourages her to attend. Jane would do anything for Amelia to have the chance at a happily ever after.

Felicity Smith is equally uncertain about the ball. Although her family is prominent in the Dallas social scene, Felicity prefers to keep to herself, avoiding the older sister who torments her. But to get out of her sister’s shadow, Felicity decides to accept. If it’s a success, the tables will have turned at last.

For Caroline Taylor, the beautiful ingénue and daughter of Hollywood legends, the ball is an irresistible opportunity. But an unexpected heartbreak just before she leaves for France gets things off to a bad start.

Then there’s Samantha Walker, an art history major with an overprotective father. Her excitement about the invitation is overshadowed by the emotional and physical effects of a past tragedy that still haunts her.

For all these young women, Paris and one transcendent night will change their lives forever.
I love anything read by Danielle Steel! This one did not disappoint!

I really loved this story of 4 debutants that are invited to the historical event at the Versailles. The 4 ladies are Amelia Alexander who will be going to law school as soon as she finishes NYU. Jane is her Mom
Samantha Walker who also is going to NYU. raised by her father.
Felicity Smith who goes to MIT in Boston studying to be a physicist.
Caroline Taylor whose parents are Hollywood actors.. This is such a GREAT READ that I am not going to tell you more. A MUST READ.

This book was OK. It talked about four women who met at the ball. I liked how it talked out each of them. They became best friends. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publishers let me read this in exchange for an honest review.

Four young women and their parents attend a coming out ball in France and develop friendships that sound awesome. The four separate stories continue to be intertwined and just really make me wish I could have been in the audience. I love how this author develops the stories of these four young women and their parents. Such a beautiful story. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

In 1959 the Palace of Versailles is having its first cotillion for young ladies from both France and America. This book focuses on the four young women from America who received the coveted invitation. All 4 of the young women have very different family backgrounds and future pursuits.
The 4 find a special comradery together when they arrive in Paris and meet. Will this presentation to society in France change their future paths forward?

I received this book as an ARC from NetGalley.

The Palace of Versailles has decided to host its first cotillion in 1959. Forty women from America have been invited to join 200 French women in this honor. The novel follows four America women from different walks of life and perspective through the ball and the year that follows.

As one would expect, Steel writes a glorious, richly described novel about love, loss, and friendship. Would love a sequel to see what comes next.....

The Ball at Versailles is a captivating and enchanting novel that transports readers to the summer of 1959, immersing them in an exclusive and historic event held at the magnificent Palace of Versailles. This mesmerizing tale revolves around the lives of four American debutantes, who are bestowed with the honor of attending a dusk-to-dawn ball, where they will be introduced to international society and royalty.

Steel masterfully crafts well-developed characters, allowing readers to form deep connections with each debutante. Their individual journeys are emotionally compelling, drawing readers into a world of relatable experiences and heartfelt challenges. As the story unfolds, readers will find themselves wholeheartedly cheering for the triumphs of these young women, while also empathizing with the obstacles they face.

Immerse yourself in the glamour and intrigue of The Ball at Versailles, as Danielle Steel weaves a tapestry of passion, ambition, and resilience. This novel not only offers a glimpse into a bygone era but also explores timeless themes of love, friendship, and personal growth. Prepare to be captivated by the allure of Versailles and the indomitable spirit of these remarkable debutantes.

Another enjoyable read by Danielle Steel. It was interesting to see the coming out process and how the characters are affected. The process itself seems somewhat random and arbitrary. I enjoyed seeing the main characters evolve and interact. However, it seemed that the final resolution for two of the characters was not expressed, which I found disappointing. I would have enjoyed an epilogue several years into the future showing the reader how this experience ultimately helped them in their growth. Altogether an enjoyable read. I would recommend.

This is the story of 4 young women from very different backgrounds who meet at a debutante ball in Versailles. The story follow their lives after they leave the ball. This is a typical Danielle Steel, you can expect a happy ending with a good story to enjoy along the way. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

This was an excellent Danielle Steel book. Four very different girls go to the ball at Versailles and it changed their lives over the next year. None of them wanted to go at first, but did it for their parents. Amelia's mother Jane struggled to pay for it until she sold something she treasured. She also met Samantha's father and they hit it off and found they had a lot in common. Felicity was an overweight younger sister whose older sister picked on her relentlessly and her parents did not protect her until it was too late. Caroline had famous parents who left her on her own alot and she ran into trouble that came to light during the ball. The ball ended up changing 6 people's lives all for the better. It really kept me engaged throughout the whole book

I got this book from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review

This was a true sleeper! I kept putting it down not wanting to read it. I love Danielle Steele but this one was not one of her best.

The Ball of Versailles is written by Danielle Steel. I have been reading her books since I was 15 years old. My grandma would pass them down to me when she was finished with them.. It’s the summer of 1959 and the Palace of Versailles is hosting an event that will make history. Four young women, all with something to prove, receive what some see as the invitation of a lifetime. This is a time where more opportunities are opening up for women. One woman wants to attend law school, one wants to step out of her sister's shadow, one is the daughter of Hollywood legends, and one has a overprotective father. They form life long friendships.

This story is beautifully written and engaging right from the start. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

This is a brief excerpt of the book's recap, and it is exactly what this book is about:

"It’s the summer of 1959 and the Palace of Versailles is hosting an event that will make history. It is an exclusive dusk-to-dawn ball in which a select group of American and French debutantes will be presented to international society and royalty. Four young women, all with something to prove, receive what some see as the invitation of a lifetime."

Now, remember these women were born in the 1940s and raised in the 1950s, so this makes all of the difference to how this story plays out. This book is as much historical fiction as well as romance.

Ms. Steel hit all of the necessary tropes to keep this a romance.

We have the spoiled rich girl who hates her sister. Another not-so-rich girl who has lost her father and has a mother whose career may be in jeopardy. There is another girl who was horribly injured in an accident and who is extremely rich. Another is an overweight, very tall, and highly intelligent young lady. Another young lady whose antics may shock you.

But as you all know, this is a Danielle Steele romance, so we all can look forward to a happily ever after, even for some who may surprise you!

*ARC supplied by NetGalley, the publisher Delacorte Press, and the author.

This was a good book. The characters were good and the story line was a little different. It started slow but pii up as the story went on

Danielle Steel knocks it out of the park once again as she ventures into historical fiction with The Ball of Versailles.

Summer. 1959. The Palace at Versailles has announced the ultimate invite- a group of American and French debutantes to be presented to society, in the palace. The story chronicles four young American girls, all at different stages in their lives, who are given the chance of a lifetime.

1. Felicity- a larger-than-life Texan pursuing a career in Science at MIT, wonders why her? Shouldn't this invite have gone to he beautiful ladder-climbing society princess sister?

2. Caroline- Daughter of two Hollywood darlings, Caroline is just out of a secret, complicated, relationship.

3. Amelia- Daughter of a widow, her mother Jane is going through her own personal, financial, crisis. She'll do anything to give her daughter the chances she had as a young woman.

4. Samantha- Daughter to a widower, she struggles with physical reminders of the accident that took her mother and little brother's lives. Nervous to take this step on her own, she's still excited to see what the ball will bring.

How does this one special night change their lives? You'll have to read to find out!

Placing the setting of this story in the late fifties allows for old school traditions to begin to lose attraction to the main characters. The ball in question is held to reinforce old school debutant practices. The four women in question, while coming from privileged backgrounds are each reluctant to continue such an outdated ritual. Each decides to go to the event, each finds a new reason to participate. Each returns from the experience a changed for the better woman.

"The Ball at Versailles" by Danielle Steel is an utterly captivating and enchanting novel, transporting readers to the summer of 1959 during a momentous and exclusive event at the illustrious Palace of Versailles. This story revolves around four American debutantes, each handpicked to attend a grand ball at the Palace of Versailles, where they will be presented to the crème de la crème of international society.

These four young women hail from diverse backgrounds, and not all of them initially view this invitation as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, yet they all agree to partake in this extraordinary event. Little do they know that this ball will mark a pivotal turning point in their lives, a night of profound significance that leaves an indelible imprint on each of them.

"The Ball at Versailles" is a spellbinding historical fiction masterpiece with exquisitely developed characters. It effortlessly immerses readers in the glamour and intrigue of this bygone era. Heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and #Delacorte for affording me the privilege to delve into this ARC.

Four American debutants are invited to attend a ball at the Palace of Versailles. Each young women with something to prove. This novel highlights the lives of young affluent women in 1959.

Danielle Steel’s novel highlights the difference in thinking between then and now.
Times were different. These affluent young women, while I working on their own independence were looking for a husband. While there were a lot of characters, they were all described in breadth, but I felt that none of them were developed in depth enough for me to care deeply about them, one even disappeared for most of the second half of the book. The story in itself had potential, but felt like it lacked the conflicts that keeps you turning the page. I loved the secondary characters plot line probably more than the main characters. This storyline highlighted more of the social constraints for women during that time period that I would have liked to have seem more of from historical fiction. The settings were great and all the storylines were buttoned up cleanly at the end. Overall a good, but not great book for me.

The world you no longer live in - unless you're rich and famous. This story weaves around debutantes, balls, young marriageable women on display in a short season of life. They may or may not want husbands - but off they go to be twirled and courted and feted at two grand events.

Steel remembers what it's like to be young and the drama of fitting in. She knows what the wealthy and status-driven will do to keep their place and understands the rules of high society. She offers a glimpse of a culture that has shifted to other methods for marrying off their young.

You may like or dislike the women and their families but you'll want to know what and why as you keep turning the page. A good novel to tuck in the tote bag for when you need an escape and time to dream about dresses and jewelry and ballrooms.