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

I love Danielle Steel’s books and this one was as the title says a joy to read! It was heartfelt, warm and had fascinating characters. I love how rich her writing is and how it makes me feel like I’m there with the characters experiencing what they are experiencing!

I absolutely loved this book. But I thought that it was a bit sad for the main character of the book to be so young and left with so much unbelievable pain and grief in her lifetime. But I was a little bit curious as to what had happened to her first husband shep and if he survived the war and if he ever regretted divorcing Allegra and what happened to her mother did she ever pass away too. And her new family never knew about to Allegra.

Ugh. This was such a sad read for so long of the book, so much loss and heartbreak.

I kind of knew what would happen with Shep, based on the way the story went, but I was not expecting Allegra's life to change the way it did.

Amazing what happens when you step outside of your comfort zone.

Thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Some of my earliest memories of books is my mother devouring a Danielle Steel book. She is a classic & timeless & continues to write amazing works. This book is full of family drama/issues & Steel has woven a beautiful story intertwined with lovable character. I will definitely be pulling some of her works from my mom’s library.

Thank you NetGalley & Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine for the ARC copy of this book.

In Danielle Steel's Joy, readers follow Allegra Dixon's poignant journey as she navigates a life marked by abandonment and the search for genuine happiness. From a young age, Allegra grapples with the absence of her mother and the emotional distance of her military father, finding solace in books and later in a fleeting romance with Shep Williams. As Shep's deployments to Afghanistan strain their marriage, Allegra confronts the harrowing realities of war and the toll it takes on their relationship. While the novel may follow a predictable trajectory and lack significant plot developments for some readers, Steel's skillful storytelling and exploration of resilience make Joy a compelling and emotionally resonant read, offering a message of hope amidst life's trials.

Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Alegra dud not have the best parents. Her dad was in the military and would be hone for months at a time. When she goes to school she meets a boy named Shep who she loves. Allegra did not have the best life but made the best with what she had. I enjoyed this book and can't wait to read her next one.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ — Age Gap Say Whaaaaa?

So this book has a great foundation — Allegra grew up with parents who divorced and essentially abandoned her to live with her grandparents. Then she meets Shep, who she elopes with and quickly realizes he suffers from undiagnosed PTSD from tours in Afghanistan. They divorce a few years later after he chooses his career over his mental health.

Allegra ends up in LA, where — here’s the kicker — she falls in love with a man who is not only her boss but nearly 40 years older than him. Look, I’m all for true love, but this man could be her grandfather and I don’t see it how it worked out.

As can be expected, he dies after 7 years of marriage and Allegra is truly single in her mid-30s. The end of the book? She sleeps with her dead husband’s best friend and there’s a chance she will end up with a fan who she refuses to do an interview for but feels a spark?

I love my Danielle Steel books, but how the book turned out wasn’t for me. I think I would rather the ending be that Shep ended up working on himself and earning Allegra back.

Have not read much of Danielle Steele through the years, but know she has been around for a LONG time as a great rom-com author. This book kept my interest, but wasn't the best I've ever read - just nice, quick - but really not full of a lot of JOY!! Kind of a sad story. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC e-book for my enjoyment.

I’m not sure how Danielle Steel does it, but her books are consistently good - like since the 70s/80s, they’ve been good. They’re easy, breezy, quick reads (this one starts sad, but you know what I mean) and you really can’t go wrong if you’re in the mood for a comfort read that you don’t have to think much about.

In JOY, we meet Allegra who had a tough childhood. Her mother left her when she was young and her dad is an officer in the military who is far from warm or loving. She goes to live with her grandparents, but they’re not welcoming, either. Allegra finds solace in books and falls in love with Shep, but Shep’s time in the military changes him and she realizes she needs to find her own happiness.

This book is about finding your own way in life. It’s not my favorite Danielle Steel book (those include Jewels, Thurston House and The Ring … I guess I like her historical fiction best) but it’s one of her better novels from the past few years, in my opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the early digital copy of JOY in exchange for my honest feedback.

To call this book Joy when 80% of it was sad seems like a reach. Our main character, Allegra, has a mother that doesn't care for her, a father that's never there, grandparents that are strict, and of course she would attach herself to a husband that disappoints her. Thankfully this book is a fast read, so the glimmers of actual Joy are found quickly. I still enjoyed the book, but I definitely had to find a happy book to read after this one.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for allowing me to read an Advanced Reader Copy of this title.

Typical Danelle Steel novel. Lonely girl, rejected by her parents finds solace in the arms of a man.. Her last spate of novels have protagonists without best (or any) friends.