Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.39 AVERAGE
3.39 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Neighbors is the latest novel by Danielle Steel. It is a character driven story featuring Meredith White. I thought Neighbors was easy to read with a diverse cast of characters. Normally, I would object to so many characters in one book, but it works in this story. I did not find it hard to keep track of each one and their story. Meredith White was once a famous actress. Betrayal and a tragic accident changed the course of her life. Meredith retreated from the world with only two employees for company. She is estranged from her daughter which means she has not seen her only grandchild in about ten years. An earthquake changes Meredith’s life for the better. She opens the gates on the grounds of her home and welcomes her neighbors inside. The story moved along at a good pace, but I did feel there was too much repetition. A domestic abuse situation is described in detail (terrible violence). We see how it affects those involved as well as their close friends. I did feel that this took over the second half of the book. I did like how the author handled the subject. Romance is not the dominant part of the book which I appreciated. Neighbors is a good book to read on a lazy afternoon or rainy day. Neighbors is a book of love, danger, secrets, and hope.
Neighbors by Danielle Steel
This story is about a woman an ex movie star who's divorced and her girl has moved to the east coast to live.
Her ex hooked up with another actress and they do their own thing...Her son had died in a boating accident when he was young and story tells all about these facts.
The earthquake has hit the bay area and with the help of the live in couple that has lived there for years they are able to prepare food for the other neighbors who turn up at her door.
As a recluse she has no idea who her neighbors are. Debbie and Jack the couple that tend to her every need are leery of inviting the whole gang in as they have no power and houses are not fit to be lived in.
They do get to know one another and we learn about them and the secrets. Some scenes are very emotional and scary for me. Abuse plays a role in this story.
Love the time some of the spend on the scene at soup kitchen and helping others. So much goes wrong but a man that has come into her life helps her realize some are not who they say they are.
Love the time she finds her granddaughter and reconnects with her and surprise ending. Never saw it ending like this.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
This story is about a woman an ex movie star who's divorced and her girl has moved to the east coast to live.
Her ex hooked up with another actress and they do their own thing...Her son had died in a boating accident when he was young and story tells all about these facts.
The earthquake has hit the bay area and with the help of the live in couple that has lived there for years they are able to prepare food for the other neighbors who turn up at her door.
As a recluse she has no idea who her neighbors are. Debbie and Jack the couple that tend to her every need are leery of inviting the whole gang in as they have no power and houses are not fit to be lived in.
They do get to know one another and we learn about them and the secrets. Some scenes are very emotional and scary for me. Abuse plays a role in this story.
Love the time some of the spend on the scene at soup kitchen and helping others. So much goes wrong but a man that has come into her life helps her realize some are not who they say they are.
Love the time she finds her granddaughter and reconnects with her and surprise ending. Never saw it ending like this.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Decent story if a little formulaic but made for easy reading and some escapism. I especially liked how the main character ultimately found herself again.
The plot was promising, and could have been pretty good, but DS really needs a better editor, proofreader, and so on!
Meredith White, an iconic actress, has retreated from the world after her husband’s betrayal and her son’s death. She is almost completely cut off and relies on her live-in housekeepers for companionship. Then a devastating earthquake occurs and Meredith finds herself rushing out to help her neighbors.
I really liked this one from Danielle Steel, An icon herself, she can write about a star who has that kind of fame with great understanding. She also tackles the tough subject of domestic violence in a believable way. I very much enjoyed and appreciated the theme of a recluse slowly opening up again through the act of helping others.
There are several different storylines in this book as we see into the lives of Meredith’s neighbors. We also see into the thoughts, daily lives, and motivations of her housekeepers.
If you want to read a romance that tackles the issues of domestic violence, self isolation, and loss, you should check this one out.
I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
I really liked this one from Danielle Steel, An icon herself, she can write about a star who has that kind of fame with great understanding. She also tackles the tough subject of domestic violence in a believable way. I very much enjoyed and appreciated the theme of a recluse slowly opening up again through the act of helping others.
There are several different storylines in this book as we see into the lives of Meredith’s neighbors. We also see into the thoughts, daily lives, and motivations of her housekeepers.
If you want to read a romance that tackles the issues of domestic violence, self isolation, and loss, you should check this one out.
I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary.
2.5
I know it is just my personal opinion, but I find that all her books just tidy everything up too easily and simplistically, so they always seem to start with a good idea and then never really follow through for me.
I know it is just my personal opinion, but I find that all her books just tidy everything up too easily and simplistically, so they always seem to start with a good idea and then never really follow through for me.
Another quick read by Danielle Steel based in one of her favorite towns, San Francisco. Very predictable, well-written characters.
Well, that was the most disappointing read of my life.
I am so surprised that Danielle Steel, an author of such renown, has written this atrocity.
The book was repetitive, with information that was told in one paragraph being repeated in the next one. The narrative was confusing with so many different characters and the attention going from one to the next, from one paragraph to the next.
The conversation was dull and sounded robotic, there was one conversation where Meredith was talking about her life and it sounded as if she was just reading off a list.
"Meredith opened it, and there was her spectacularly beautiful, tall, sexy granddaughter..." Who calls their granddaughter sexy???
The timeline was odd and was difficult to keep up with. A chapter could revolve around one day whilst the next chapter skimmed through months.
Someone left a review saying that it was like AI read Danielle Steels book and wrote this and it's so true.
It was so difficult to read this book, it was a pointless book and a pointless story. The description of it had so much potential but flopped majorly. Don't read this book!!
For those leaving 5 stars, I have no idea how you have rated this so high. I hope that you guys were paid well for the review
I am so surprised that Danielle Steel, an author of such renown, has written this atrocity.
The book was repetitive, with information that was told in one paragraph being repeated in the next one. The narrative was confusing with so many different characters and the attention going from one to the next, from one paragraph to the next.
The conversation was dull and sounded robotic, there was one conversation where Meredith was talking about her life and it sounded as if she was just reading off a list.
"Meredith opened it, and there was her spectacularly beautiful, tall, sexy granddaughter..." Who calls their granddaughter sexy???
The timeline was odd and was difficult to keep up with. A chapter could revolve around one day whilst the next chapter skimmed through months.
Someone left a review saying that it was like AI read Danielle Steels book and wrote this and it's so true.
It was so difficult to read this book, it was a pointless book and a pointless story. The description of it had so much potential but flopped majorly. Don't read this book!!
For those leaving 5 stars, I have no idea how you have rated this so high. I hope that you guys were paid well for the review