What do you think?
Rate this book
The Ball at Versailles
Four American debutantes attend a renowned Paris cotillion in #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel’s captivating new novel.
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 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. Bestselling author Danielle Steel extends an invitation to all, in 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 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. Bestselling author Danielle Steel extends an invitation to all, in The Ball at Versailles.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 21, 2023
About the author
Danielle Steel
829 books15.1k followersDanielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world's bestselling authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include All That Glitters, Royal, Daddy's Girls, The Wedding Dress, The Numbers Game, Moral Compass, Spy, and other highly acclaimed novels. She is also the author of His Bright Light, the story of her son Nick Traina's life and death; A Gift of Hope, a memoir of her work with the homeless; Expect a Miracle, a book of her favorite quotations for inspiration and comfort; Pure Joy, about the dogs she and her family have loved; and the children's books Pretty Minnie in Paris and Pretty Minnie in Hollywood.
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews
October 10, 2023
The Ball at Versailles
By Danielle Steel
Pub Date 21 Nov 2023
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press
Historical Fiction | Romance
Rating: 4/5
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 dreamy journey as I read The Ball at Versailles.
#TheBallAtVersailles #DanielleSteel
#bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
By Danielle Steel
Pub Date 21 Nov 2023
Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press
Historical Fiction | Romance
Rating: 4/5
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 dreamy journey as I read The Ball at Versailles.
#TheBallAtVersailles #DanielleSteel
#bookaddict #bookreviewer #bookishcommunity #bookstagramcommunity #readingcommunity #Books #bookfriends #booksbooksbooks #booksta #bookstagram #newtobookstagram #bookreview #bookreviews #instabookstagram #bookish #bookishielife #newtobookstagram #newtoinsta #newtoinstagra
October 19, 2023
I was excited NetGalley and the publisher approved me for Danielle Steel’s latest book The Ball at Versailles. This had me from the very first page and I loved this heartfelt story from 1959. Four American women and other women from France were chosen to go to as debutants to the ball and none of them wanted to go but each of their parents talked them into it. Loved the story, loved the characters and loved the ending! My 51st Daniel Steel book!
December 1, 2023
I enjoyed this one from Danielle Steel. This is historical fiction set in 1958, mostly in France during the first "Le Bal des Debutantés," a ball for American and French debutantes held in Versailles. We follow four girls from America who are invited to France as part of this ball. Caroline has little interest because she's already in love, but her movie star parents think it will be fun. Brilliant Felicity is constantly battling her weight and her verbally abusive sister, so a night in the spotlight is not appealing to her at all. Amelia and her mother Jane once had money, but are now in dire financial straits. How can they afford to go? Samantha has problems with her balance due to an accident years ago, and she is a bit worried about falling during the ball. Her very protective father has the same concerns.
This is set in a time when women had fewer rights and some families still thought that their daughter's best "career" would be finding a rich husband. The financial struggles of Amelia's mother Jane are very real, as her late husband came back from the war a different person and had left her with little money when he died. Her career struggles are very true to the time period, as women were passed over for promotions and paid much less than men. In some of Ms. Steel's previous books, someone with money might come in and rescue her, but I was pleased to see that did not happen in this one.
I loved the setting in Versailles, the decadence of the ball, and the descriptions of France. Steel has a tendency to "tell" instead of "show," but she's sold a billion books that way, so who am I to judge? Sometimes her style works for me and sometimes it doesn't. This time it worked. The character Felicity was my favorite. Despite the fact that she is a brilliant student at MIT, all her mother and sister can see is her weight. That's very true even today, and I loved that one of the characters did not have a "perfect figure." So few of us do.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys books set in France and in the 1950s.
I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
This is set in a time when women had fewer rights and some families still thought that their daughter's best "career" would be finding a rich husband. The financial struggles of Amelia's mother Jane are very real, as her late husband came back from the war a different person and had left her with little money when he died. Her career struggles are very true to the time period, as women were passed over for promotions and paid much less than men. In some of Ms. Steel's previous books, someone with money might come in and rescue her, but I was pleased to see that did not happen in this one.
I loved the setting in Versailles, the decadence of the ball, and the descriptions of France. Steel has a tendency to "tell" instead of "show," but she's sold a billion books that way, so who am I to judge? Sometimes her style works for me and sometimes it doesn't. This time it worked. The character Felicity was my favorite. Despite the fact that she is a brilliant student at MIT, all her mother and sister can see is her weight. That's very true even today, and I loved that one of the characters did not have a "perfect figure." So few of us do.
I highly recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys books set in France and in the 1950s.
I received a free copy of this book from Random House via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
November 26, 2023
I have received an advance copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Danielle Steele is a very successful author. I have seen her books in libraries and shops all my life. Her commercial appeal cannot be denied, so I decided to read one of her novels. I am very grateful that I was allowed to read this ARC.
I won't lie, the cover is what sucked me in. It is gorgeous, and being a big fan of debutantes and midcentury glamour, I hoped this would be my entrance into a fandom spanning decades of readers before me.
Welp.
I'd like to see the author get away with trying to publish a book with this first chapter as an unknown. Ladies and gents, we are in 3rd person POV and 5% into the book before we hit a single line of dialogue. We are subjected to pages on pages of infodumping via "this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened". The old writer's adage of "show, don't tell" appears to not apply here. Despite the dramatic events that were being related, it just got BORING.
Three chapters worth of new characters were introduced in this manner, with a few token lines of throwaway dialogue at the end of each scene-cum-narrative flashback. There was more dialogue as the book progressed, but it was of a kind with the narration...bland. The characters did not have any uniqueness in their voices or motivations.
Beyond my issues with the writing style, the plot was a grade-A, number-one clunker. The ball didn't really effect each character's trajectory in life. Nobody changed what they would have done AFTER the ball from what they would have done BEFORE (with the possible exception of Felicity). Nobody had an arc. Nobody learned anything new. They all got married and lived happily ever after, and if they didn't, it was from events before the ball, not anything that happened in France. You can argue "but they met the guys in France"...
Yeah, and if they hadn't, it was 1959 and they'd still be getting married to some other guys.
I'm so sorry. This was a good idea, terrible execution. It needs to be sent back for a reworking. I'm so disappointed. What a waste of a beautiful cover.
Danielle Steele is a very successful author. I have seen her books in libraries and shops all my life. Her commercial appeal cannot be denied, so I decided to read one of her novels. I am very grateful that I was allowed to read this ARC.
I won't lie, the cover is what sucked me in. It is gorgeous, and being a big fan of debutantes and midcentury glamour, I hoped this would be my entrance into a fandom spanning decades of readers before me.
Welp.
I'd like to see the author get away with trying to publish a book with this first chapter as an unknown. Ladies and gents, we are in 3rd person POV and 5% into the book before we hit a single line of dialogue. We are subjected to pages on pages of infodumping via "this happened, and then this happened, and then this happened". The old writer's adage of "show, don't tell" appears to not apply here. Despite the dramatic events that were being related, it just got BORING.
Three chapters worth of new characters were introduced in this manner, with a few token lines of throwaway dialogue at the end of each scene-cum-narrative flashback. There was more dialogue as the book progressed, but it was of a kind with the narration...bland. The characters did not have any uniqueness in their voices or motivations.
Beyond my issues with the writing style, the plot was a grade-A, number-one clunker. The ball didn't really effect each character's trajectory in life. Nobody changed what they would have done AFTER the ball from what they would have done BEFORE (with the possible exception of Felicity). Nobody had an arc. Nobody learned anything new. They all got married and lived happily ever after, and if they didn't, it was from events before the ball, not anything that happened in France. You can argue "but they met the guys in France"...
Yeah, and if they hadn't, it was 1959 and they'd still be getting married to some other guys.
I'm so sorry. This was a good idea, terrible execution. It needs to be sent back for a reworking. I'm so disappointed. What a waste of a beautiful cover.
November 21, 2023
The Ball at Versailles
By Danielle Steel
DNF
I was excited to get an ARC from #netgalley of Danielle Steel's novel, The Ball at Versailles, to be released in November 2023. The premise of the book was intriguing to me and the cover art is absolutely gorgeous. However, this was a DNF for me, which is very rare in my reading habits. I read seven chapters and had to stop- I unfortunately found the writing style to be lacking. There was a lot of repetitiveness where the same thing would be explained multiple times within the same chapter, just using different wording. I also found the focus on “looks" to be very off-putting, all the descriptions of the characters had to do with how beautiful they were or weren't. The constant body shaming of one of the main characters was also a big turn off for me.
The characters had the potential to be well-rounded and relatable but within the 7 chapters I read, Steel just hadn't gotten there yet and I couldn't continue with the book.
By Danielle Steel
DNF
I was excited to get an ARC from #netgalley of Danielle Steel's novel, The Ball at Versailles, to be released in November 2023. The premise of the book was intriguing to me and the cover art is absolutely gorgeous. However, this was a DNF for me, which is very rare in my reading habits. I read seven chapters and had to stop- I unfortunately found the writing style to be lacking. There was a lot of repetitiveness where the same thing would be explained multiple times within the same chapter, just using different wording. I also found the focus on “looks" to be very off-putting, all the descriptions of the characters had to do with how beautiful they were or weren't. The constant body shaming of one of the main characters was also a big turn off for me.
The characters had the potential to be well-rounded and relatable but within the 7 chapters I read, Steel just hadn't gotten there yet and I couldn't continue with the book.
February 11, 2024
I can't explain it, but this entire book disturbed me.
Update:
Thinking about it more, I've come up with some ideas as to my problems with this book, and I'll talk about it in terms of each of the main characters' story.
Amelia:
I'm starting with Amelia because she was the first of the fantastic four introduced to us, and honestly, I think I had the fewest problems with her and her story. My only real complaint would be that she didn't real undergo any character development. It would be interesting to see a storyline with her finding out about everything her mother has sacrificed for her and how this changes her perception of the ball (especially when you think about how she already thought the ball was antiquated at the start of the novel). I think it was a missed opportunity to explore Amelia's opinions because she was a very bland character otherwise.
Felicity:
One of Felicity's primary storylines involved bodyshaming from her family, and I appreciate that Steele made it explicit that Felicity's decision to lose weight at the end of the book was not due to the pressure her family had placed on to her. However, as far as I can tell, Felicity's main motivation to lose weight was because she believed it would make her more attractive for her boyfriend. Maybe that wasn't Steele's intention when she wrote the book, but to me it still felt like Felicity still had some of her family's views internalised by the time she got her 'happy ending'.
Caroline:
Caroline's story contains the most heavy topics of the novel, with her experiencing a toxic relationship, an accidental pregnancy and a miscarriage during the course of the book. The issue with how these themes are addressed however, is that there is no nuance to how they are presented. Honestly, these events are treated more as plot devices than anything else, we don't really get to understand specifically how they affect Caroline beyond a caricature of depression (Steele seems to think that making her lie in bed for weeks on end is an adequate substitute for a detailed exploration of emotion). Without the care that this narrative should have been given, this story serves to add nothing to the overall book and as such, I don't believe these themes should have been included. (Especially some of the superfluous horrific details that Steele added: think for instance, how William goes back inside to dance with Amelia, knowing he has Caroline's blood on his shoes. Why this was included, I have no idea.)
Samantha:
My main problem with Samantha was definitely how immature she was. Evidently she has led a very cloistered life but it seems to have resulted in her being incredibly childish, with no obvious maturity developing throughout the course of the book. Now, this wouldn't be a problem for me if Samantha hadn't been married off at the end of the novel. I get that the book is set in the '50s and people, on average, married at a younger age back then, but Samantha literally acts like she's in her early teenage years (another thing to think about is that Quentin is in his mid to late 20s with a job - even though they are both consenting adults, there is a significant maturity difference between them). I'm fine with Steele wanting to marry some of her characters off*, but I don't think that Samantha was the correct character to pursue this narrative with. For me, she wasn't experienced enough with life outside her little New York bubble to be getting married to a man she had only known for about a year (during which time they had been living on different continents as well).
In summary, this was a book entirely without theme or depth, but which tried to tackle important themes and have depth. I think this should have been left as an enjoyable, low-stakes romp with glamorous settings and pretty dresses, rather than a half-baked story trying to cram important themes in with plot but not succeeding in doing either well.
*Firstly, this decision justifies the context, considering it would be extremely atypical to have a randomly selected group of upper-middle class girls in the '50s, none of whom ended up married. Also, I like the fact that we're not pushing the stereotypical career-woman idea of strong female characters.
Update:
Thinking about it more, I've come up with some ideas as to my problems with this book, and I'll talk about it in terms of each of the main characters' story.
Amelia:
I'm starting with Amelia because she was the first of the fantastic four introduced to us, and honestly, I think I had the fewest problems with her and her story. My only real complaint would be that she didn't real undergo any character development. It would be interesting to see a storyline with her finding out about everything her mother has sacrificed for her and how this changes her perception of the ball (especially when you think about how she already thought the ball was antiquated at the start of the novel). I think it was a missed opportunity to explore Amelia's opinions because she was a very bland character otherwise.
Felicity:
One of Felicity's primary storylines involved bodyshaming from her family, and I appreciate that Steele made it explicit that Felicity's decision to lose weight at the end of the book was not due to the pressure her family had placed on to her. However, as far as I can tell, Felicity's main motivation to lose weight was because she believed it would make her more attractive for her boyfriend. Maybe that wasn't Steele's intention when she wrote the book, but to me it still felt like Felicity still had some of her family's views internalised by the time she got her 'happy ending'.
Caroline:
Caroline's story contains the most heavy topics of the novel, with her experiencing a toxic relationship, an accidental pregnancy and a miscarriage during the course of the book. The issue with how these themes are addressed however, is that there is no nuance to how they are presented. Honestly, these events are treated more as plot devices than anything else, we don't really get to understand specifically how they affect Caroline beyond a caricature of depression (Steele seems to think that making her lie in bed for weeks on end is an adequate substitute for a detailed exploration of emotion). Without the care that this narrative should have been given, this story serves to add nothing to the overall book and as such, I don't believe these themes should have been included. (Especially some of the superfluous horrific details that Steele added: think for instance, how William goes back inside to dance with Amelia, knowing he has Caroline's blood on his shoes. Why this was included, I have no idea.)
Samantha:
My main problem with Samantha was definitely how immature she was. Evidently she has led a very cloistered life but it seems to have resulted in her being incredibly childish, with no obvious maturity developing throughout the course of the book. Now, this wouldn't be a problem for me if Samantha hadn't been married off at the end of the novel. I get that the book is set in the '50s and people, on average, married at a younger age back then, but Samantha literally acts like she's in her early teenage years (another thing to think about is that Quentin is in his mid to late 20s with a job - even though they are both consenting adults, there is a significant maturity difference between them). I'm fine with Steele wanting to marry some of her characters off*, but I don't think that Samantha was the correct character to pursue this narrative with. For me, she wasn't experienced enough with life outside her little New York bubble to be getting married to a man she had only known for about a year (during which time they had been living on different continents as well).
In summary, this was a book entirely without theme or depth, but which tried to tackle important themes and have depth. I think this should have been left as an enjoyable, low-stakes romp with glamorous settings and pretty dresses, rather than a half-baked story trying to cram important themes in with plot but not succeeding in doing either well.
*Firstly, this decision justifies the context, considering it would be extremely atypical to have a randomly selected group of upper-middle class girls in the '50s, none of whom ended up married. Also, I like the fact that we're not pushing the stereotypical career-woman idea of strong female characters.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 10, 2024
The first 1/3 of this book painstakingly provided biographies of 4 young ladies who would be attending the Ball at Versailles. Much of the info was repeated and repeated, a writing trait of Ms Steel (and she must not use an editor to tighten it up). Once the story started to build, and additional characters were introduced, it was hard to remember which were the 4 ladies. The story built nicely, and provided happy endings (another feature of Danielle Steel's stories), which increased the rating. 5 out of 10.
April 18, 2024
I haven't read D.S. in many years. My teenage self would have loved this. Four girls are among those invited to a ball at Versailles. None of them particularly wants to attend, for varying reasons, despite their parent's promise that it will be a life changing event. This is predictable yet pleasant.
December 23, 2023
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...
🗼In November I received a copy of The Ball at Versailles from Pan Macmillan to review. This new Danielle Steel publication offers a tale of promise, glamour, ambition, succession, love, friendship and security.
🗼Danielle Steel takes us to the year 1958 and the opulent Palace of Versailles is about to host one of the biggest social events on its calendar to date. A dusk to dawn ball is open to a select few debutantes who will be officially presented to international society. Each of the four debutantes has a back story and motivation for attending this lucrative event. As the tale unwinds, we meet Amelia, Caroline, Felicity and Samantha. Steel reveals their reasons for attending the ball which range from hope for a better life, family inheritance expectations, sibling rivalry and escaping the past. In true Danielle still fashion there is drama aplenty and many opportunities where the narrative ‘tells’ a story rather than delving into the finer details of the story at hand. Character development is also at a minimal level so it is hard to really click to any of the main protagonists or the secondary characters. But this is a common feature of Steel’s more recent works and it may not bother other readers of this bestselling author’s work.
🗼For me The Ball at Versailles was all about the beautiful cover, the stunning location and the chance to simply escape from the world at this very busy time of the year. I was surprised to learn that debutante balls were still popular in the late 1950s, I honestly thought they would have been phased out by this time. The Ball at Versailles is a nostalgic and days gone by tale. I’m sure if my Nan was alive today, she would have appreciated this book very much, it speaks of her time and place.
🗼If the hustle and bustle of Christmas time planning leaves you stressed, The Ball at Versailles might offer a spot of respite over the busy holiday season.
🙏Thank you to @macmillanaus for the copy.
🗼In November I received a copy of The Ball at Versailles from Pan Macmillan to review. This new Danielle Steel publication offers a tale of promise, glamour, ambition, succession, love, friendship and security.
🗼Danielle Steel takes us to the year 1958 and the opulent Palace of Versailles is about to host one of the biggest social events on its calendar to date. A dusk to dawn ball is open to a select few debutantes who will be officially presented to international society. Each of the four debutantes has a back story and motivation for attending this lucrative event. As the tale unwinds, we meet Amelia, Caroline, Felicity and Samantha. Steel reveals their reasons for attending the ball which range from hope for a better life, family inheritance expectations, sibling rivalry and escaping the past. In true Danielle still fashion there is drama aplenty and many opportunities where the narrative ‘tells’ a story rather than delving into the finer details of the story at hand. Character development is also at a minimal level so it is hard to really click to any of the main protagonists or the secondary characters. But this is a common feature of Steel’s more recent works and it may not bother other readers of this bestselling author’s work.
🗼For me The Ball at Versailles was all about the beautiful cover, the stunning location and the chance to simply escape from the world at this very busy time of the year. I was surprised to learn that debutante balls were still popular in the late 1950s, I honestly thought they would have been phased out by this time. The Ball at Versailles is a nostalgic and days gone by tale. I’m sure if my Nan was alive today, she would have appreciated this book very much, it speaks of her time and place.
🗼If the hustle and bustle of Christmas time planning leaves you stressed, The Ball at Versailles might offer a spot of respite over the busy holiday season.
🙏Thank you to @macmillanaus for the copy.
May 17, 2024
Cringefest. Just what the people want, a book about the four different personality options for young female characters: innocent/perfect, clumsy, fat, and slut. Backwards, predictable, appalling at times. I would recommend this book to somebody I don’t like, because it would very effectively waste their time and be annoyingly repetitive. Too bad Jane isn’t real - editing this book would be a fantastic job opportunity for her, since the real editor of this book didn’t show up to do the job. Ps: the audiobook reader is CREEPY. do not feed his voice to your ear holes, you’ve been warned.
November 22, 2023
I knew this was going to be shallow just based on the blurb, but wow, I had no idea how shallow. I get that this book was set during an era where things were far different than they are now. But wow, this was brutal to read. Things also didn't match up for me - some characters were clearly from the late 50's, while others seemed much more modern and living in today's world. I liked all the characters, but I just can't get past the archaic storyline and mismatched writing. I typically give this author a lot of slack, but I just can't do it here.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 5, 2023
I can’t believe I’m gonna say this but I didn’t like this one. It seemed dated. Like it was current in its happenings but the mindset of the characterization was from long ago. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review
February 1, 2024
Well . . . not Danielle's best work. Extremely predictable, needlessly repetitive narratives, highly improbable story lines.
Coming from me, one of her fans, that says a lot.
2 stars ⭐️
Coming from me, one of her fans, that says a lot.
2 stars ⭐️
December 10, 2023
I liked this latest Danielle Steel book. It focuses on 4 American debutantes that get invited to the first Ball being held at Versailles palace. Each debutante comes from a different family situation and of course love becomes the outcome in the end. Like a modern romantic fairy tale.
February 7, 2024
Fluffy dullness
If you're a sixth grader with an interest in reading a grown-up book, "The Ball at Versailles" might be for you.
Combining writing at a third- or fourth-grade level (if you disregard all the grammatical errors) with occasional references to sex is an interesting choice.
It's consistently dull, obvious, and incredibly repetitive.
I read this book because I remember seeing Danielle Steel books lying around as a kid. Moms and grandmas loved the hell out of a Steel novel, right? They were required poolside reading in the '90s. I am not a '90s mom, I guess.
As every character says at some point, "It was fun" spotting the awkward comma splices and absolutely inane repetition of key details. Steel doesn't want you to miss a thing! Everything key is stated at least four times, often twice in a sentence and three times in a paragraph. She repeats herself. It is a repetitive book.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say: Every character gets a happy, predictable ending. The drama, where it occurs, is quiet and demure. The romance is as simple as a Disney movie. The descriptions of endless pretty designer dresses are dry and lifeless.
Even the most interesting characters (Felicity, the fat genius, and Jane, the struggling widow) are rote and predictable. Felicity, tortured by her pretty "slut" sister, can't stop eating quarts of ice cream in secret until she meets a fellow fat genius (and somehow, it's righteous for the women's father to call his daughter a slut, yikes). Jane is treated badly simply for being a woman in a man's world, and she was dealt a somewhat believably rough hand, but things keep magically working out for her.
Things are not going to work out for us, I don't think I'll be giving Steel another chance.
(Bad sentence structure throughout this review is inspired by this book. Please forgive me.)
If you're a sixth grader with an interest in reading a grown-up book, "The Ball at Versailles" might be for you.
Combining writing at a third- or fourth-grade level (if you disregard all the grammatical errors) with occasional references to sex is an interesting choice.
It's consistently dull, obvious, and incredibly repetitive.
I read this book because I remember seeing Danielle Steel books lying around as a kid. Moms and grandmas loved the hell out of a Steel novel, right? They were required poolside reading in the '90s. I am not a '90s mom, I guess.
As every character says at some point, "It was fun" spotting the awkward comma splices and absolutely inane repetition of key details. Steel doesn't want you to miss a thing! Everything key is stated at least four times, often twice in a sentence and three times in a paragraph. She repeats herself. It is a repetitive book.
I don't think it's a spoiler to say: Every character gets a happy, predictable ending. The drama, where it occurs, is quiet and demure. The romance is as simple as a Disney movie. The descriptions of endless pretty designer dresses are dry and lifeless.
Even the most interesting characters (Felicity, the fat genius, and Jane, the struggling widow) are rote and predictable. Felicity, tortured by her pretty "slut" sister, can't stop eating quarts of ice cream in secret until she meets a fellow fat genius (and somehow, it's righteous for the women's father to call his daughter a slut, yikes). Jane is treated badly simply for being a woman in a man's world, and she was dealt a somewhat believably rough hand, but things keep magically working out for her.
Things are not going to work out for us, I don't think I'll be giving Steel another chance.
(Bad sentence structure throughout this review is inspired by this book. Please forgive me.)
December 6, 2023
I must be turning into an absolute sap because I teared up at a totally normal proposal
Anyway, this was not a super deep book, but do books need to be super deep? No. It was fun, like a storytelling of some 1950s fairytale and I personally enjoyed that :)
Anyway, this was not a super deep book, but do books need to be super deep? No. It was fun, like a storytelling of some 1950s fairytale and I personally enjoyed that :)
December 5, 2023
Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
Danielle Steel’s latest is an enjoyable historical story about four women and an invitation to a Ball at Versailles and all the melodrama that goes with it.
It’s 1958 and The Palace of Versailles is hosting a glamorous ball for young ladies and men to enter society.
For four very different girls it will be a night to remember.
Amelia, Caroline, Samantha and Felicity are some of the chosen ones and the foursome become very good friends.
It’s a unique invite and will change each of the lives forever…..
A quick, lighthearted and entertaining tale.
While there’s four lead character voices here, three get a main story and one is more of a sub plot.
For more of a role development, the author should have concentrated on just three.
With that being said, this is a better Steel book and one of the better releases that has come out in the last few years.
Loyal readers of her books, will gobble up another story and with an interesting premise, a cast of complex people and a setting of an alluring location, fans will appreciate.
In true Danielle Steel fashion, all the elements are here, the good and the bad.
Danielle Steel’s latest is an enjoyable historical story about four women and an invitation to a Ball at Versailles and all the melodrama that goes with it.
It’s 1958 and The Palace of Versailles is hosting a glamorous ball for young ladies and men to enter society.
For four very different girls it will be a night to remember.
Amelia, Caroline, Samantha and Felicity are some of the chosen ones and the foursome become very good friends.
It’s a unique invite and will change each of the lives forever…..
A quick, lighthearted and entertaining tale.
While there’s four lead character voices here, three get a main story and one is more of a sub plot.
For more of a role development, the author should have concentrated on just three.
With that being said, this is a better Steel book and one of the better releases that has come out in the last few years.
Loyal readers of her books, will gobble up another story and with an interesting premise, a cast of complex people and a setting of an alluring location, fans will appreciate.
In true Danielle Steel fashion, all the elements are here, the good and the bad.
December 4, 2023
Absolutely loved this novel. The initial pages and chapters felt a bit repetitive and dry but as the ball approached and the internal struggles of the characters were revealed, I bonded and adored them. I loved that every character had a happy ending that they deserved. Jane in particular was my favorite character. Initially she seemed vane and vapid, but as her sacrifices and motivation came to be known, she quickly became a beloved character. I wish Caroline had been given a larger presence in the book. Although her storyline was interesting, it almost seemed like an afterthought. Overall, I loved the novel and couldn't put it down despite a slow start.
November 21, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.
I tried, but I just can't read this. I got one chapter in before I decided to DNF. The writing and story are stale and boring. I think she did a similar version of this book a few years ago.. I forget the name of that one, but I think it was called Coming Out or something to that effect. I truly think it's time for Ms. Steel to step away from the keyboard and retire, and I say that as a loyal reader who has read nearly every book she's written.
I tried, but I just can't read this. I got one chapter in before I decided to DNF. The writing and story are stale and boring. I think she did a similar version of this book a few years ago.. I forget the name of that one, but I think it was called Coming Out or something to that effect. I truly think it's time for Ms. Steel to step away from the keyboard and retire, and I say that as a loyal reader who has read nearly every book she's written.
November 27, 2023
2.5 Stars
Historical fiction that takes you back to the late 1950’s and the age of Debutantes. Four American women are invited to come out at the Ball. Different background, but same wealthy status.
With so much darkness in our current world, I chose a lighter read mainly due to the cover art. I devoured Ms. Steel’s books at a younger age and have enjoyed a few of her recent books. They are good for an escape. This storyline was predictable from the beginning: invitation, issues with parents, rich girls wanting to break out of their routine but never really succeeding. I enjoyed the backstory of each girl and appreciated what they wanted to do with their life, but in typical Steel style, love, marriage and money trump all. I found the story on the slower side and could not connect with the characters. Not as descriptive as I had hoped for. This would be a nice read for an older reader who enjoys being transported to a romantic place and time.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Historical fiction that takes you back to the late 1950’s and the age of Debutantes. Four American women are invited to come out at the Ball. Different background, but same wealthy status.
With so much darkness in our current world, I chose a lighter read mainly due to the cover art. I devoured Ms. Steel’s books at a younger age and have enjoyed a few of her recent books. They are good for an escape. This storyline was predictable from the beginning: invitation, issues with parents, rich girls wanting to break out of their routine but never really succeeding. I enjoyed the backstory of each girl and appreciated what they wanted to do with their life, but in typical Steel style, love, marriage and money trump all. I found the story on the slower side and could not connect with the characters. Not as descriptive as I had hoped for. This would be a nice read for an older reader who enjoys being transported to a romantic place and time.
Thanks to Random House/Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.
Read
August 16, 2024This had alot of potential, and I was drawn in by the cover art, the plot, and the characters, but imo the book didn't deliver.
March 16, 2024
This writing style annoyed me as it seemed like a stream of consciousness. She would flow from one character to the next within a paragraph. I enjoyed the 4 different POVs for different women attending the ball. Overall a little cheesy but fun to get a view into debutante balls and upper society in the early 1900s.
December 21, 2023
I quickly bought this book based off of the cover at the airport. I was hoping for a beautifully written historical fiction but really it felt like a book aimed at high schoolers.
I particularly got lost with the constant switching 3rd person narration between characters’ pov. The characters were forgettable and honestly I wish I’d spent my $30 on another book.
Also, TW for body shaming, bullying and miscarriage.
I particularly got lost with the constant switching 3rd person narration between characters’ pov. The characters were forgettable and honestly I wish I’d spent my $30 on another book.
Also, TW for body shaming, bullying and miscarriage.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 24, 2024
I really enjoyed this one! I read all of Danielle Steel’s books, and this was a fun and satisfying one! I’m still smiling!!
December 22, 2023
A wonderful romance!
May 14, 2023
I was thrilled to be given an ARC by NetGalley and the publisher of Daniele Steel's newest book. I've been a fan of her for years so this was a real treat.
This was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed quite a bit. The stories of the four young ladies who "came out" at Versailles were each different and engaging. It was also interesting to get a peek of the whole coming out process. My only small criticism of the book is that because there were so many concurrent stories, I would have appreciated more depth in each story.
If you're a Danielle Steel fan, you'll love this book as much as I did.
This was a quick and easy read that I enjoyed quite a bit. The stories of the four young ladies who "came out" at Versailles were each different and engaging. It was also interesting to get a peek of the whole coming out process. My only small criticism of the book is that because there were so many concurrent stories, I would have appreciated more depth in each story.
If you're a Danielle Steel fan, you'll love this book as much as I did.
November 24, 2023
Ugh, too many happy endings.
July 4, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed Danielle Steel’s, The Ball at Versailles. The story presents an interesting conflict between the traditions of storied families and their young debutantes while they come of age during the 1950s, a time when more opportunities were opening up for women. The tension between being young, independent professionals up against the then traditional path of wives and mothers presents each of the girls with life decisions that were a new struggle for the time period. The story provided an interesting glimpse of the not-so-distant past while also painting a clear picture of the glamour and pitfalls of the debutante world. While the story starts with four debutantes, one falls by the wayside throughout the meat of the book and I would have liked to have seen her story get the same attention as the others. Aside from wanting more of her story, I liked the book very much and highly recommend it for Danielle Steel fans.
Many thanks to Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Many thanks to Danielle Steel, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for an advanced reader copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
November 28, 2023
Listened to the audiobook and there are a few things I don't particularly like.
1. I wish there was a bigger pause or a sound between character sections. It's hard to keep straight which character story is being told.
2. With that being said, there are a lot of he said/she said sections. Naming characters a little more often could have helped with keeping characters straight.
3. The more I listen to of the book, there are many parts of the stories that are retold and rehashed, almost like there was a wordcount that needed met.
4. The storyline,specifically the romances, were a little old fashioned for my taste.
1. I wish there was a bigger pause or a sound between character sections. It's hard to keep straight which character story is being told.
2. With that being said, there are a lot of he said/she said sections. Naming characters a little more often could have helped with keeping characters straight.
3. The more I listen to of the book, there are many parts of the stories that are retold and rehashed, almost like there was a wordcount that needed met.
4. The storyline,specifically the romances, were a little old fashioned for my taste.
December 5, 2023
Definitely written for young young adults. Very cheesy and happy ever after in every way. No surprises or emotions.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 614 reviews