Discover the best Danielle Steel books in order of publication. With over 190 published works ranging from children’s books to poetry, fiction, and nonfiction, Steel has sold over 800 million copies and is one of the bestselling authors alive today. Despite criticism, Steel’s exceptional writing regimen and silk-stocking protagonists have mastered the formula for the perfect love story, making her a household name in the romance genre. Join Discovery, the new community for book lovers, and trust recommendations from real people, not robots.
1. Zoya (1988)
Zoya is a novel written by Danielle Steel, published in 1988. It tells the story of Zoya, a cousin of the Tzar, who is caught up in the Russian Revolution. She manages to escape to Paris with her grandmother, but the upheaval of World War Two brings new challenges. Zoya meets Clayton Andrews, an American GI, and they fall in love. Clayton takes her back to America after the war, but their happiness is short-lived.
Zoya’s story is one of resilience and determination. Despite the many setbacks she faces, she never gives up on her dreams. Steel’s novel is a rollercoaster of emotions, with highs and lows that keep the reader engaged. Through Zoya’s experiences, Steel shows how quickly one’s luck can change, but also how important it is to keep fighting for what you want.
Overall, Zoya is a gripping tale of love, loss, and the human spirit. It is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope for a better future.
2. Blue (2016)
In the movie Blue, rising TV star Ginny’s life takes an unexpected turn when she loses her family. Feeling lost and hopeless, she decides to start a new career as a humanitarian aid worker. However, her sorrow continues to weigh her down until she meets Blue, a thirteen-year-old boy who has also experienced the loss of his family.
Despite struggling to trust others again, Blue opens up to Ginny and they develop a close friendship, filling the void in each other’s lives. However, Ginny soon learns that Blue has a secret that she was not prepared for. In order to be there for him when he needs her the most, she must put aside her own grief and be strong for him.
Blue is a touching story about trauma, grief, and the power of friendship. It emphasizes the importance of found families and shows how even in the darkest moments, there is always hope for a brighter future.
3. All That Glitters (2020)
All That Glitters is a novel by Danielle Steel that was published in 2020. The book follows the story of Coco, a young woman who is forced to leave behind her sheltered childhood after everything she loves is snatched away from her in a second.
Throughout the novel, Coco navigates through her formative years with the help of her oldest and dearest friend, Sam. However, despite Sam’s efforts, Coco is unable to steer clear of questionable men who come and go from her life. The story also delves into Sam’s own struggles and decisions as he stumbles through early adulthood alongside Coco.
Despite the imperfect lives and unwise choices made by the characters, their unbreakable friendship sees them through all the hardships life throws at them.
In All That Glitters, Steel stays true to her well-loved early style, with a story that promises to have readers smiling, crying, and everything in between.
This novel rounds off our list of 15 must-read books by Danielle Steel. We hope that readers are now armed with enough information to take a deep dive into the colorful lives and journeys of Steel’s characters. For those looking for even more pulse-raising romance, we recommend checking out our list of 15 swoon-worthy romance writers.
4. Jewels (1992)
Sarah Whitfield’s life takes an unexpected turn after her divorce from Freddie in 1930s New York. Her parents take her to Europe to distract her from her grief, where she meets and falls in love with William, Duke of Whitfield. However, their newlywed bliss is short-lived as WWII breaks out.
Post-war, The Whitfields stumble into a profitable business of buying and selling jewels. As their brood grows, Sarah must balance motherhood and profits. When their children leave the nest, an empty house becomes a new problem. The family legacy must be secured before any sitting back and relaxing can occur.
The story of “Jewels” highlights the challenges of balancing family and business in a rapidly changing world. The Whitfields’ success in the jewelry industry demonstrates the importance of adapting to new opportunities and seizing them. The novel also portrays the impact of historical events, such as WWII, on personal relationships and business ventures.
5. Spy (2019)
Alexandra Wickham, a blue-blooded woman, desires more than a life of luxury and is presented with the opportunity to seek out more during World War II. With remarkable linguistic abilities, she is recruited by the British Special Operations Executive to begin her career as a spy.
Although espionage is the primary focus of the novel, love is also a significant aspect. Alexandra falls in love with a handsome soldier and continues her espionage work despite the societal expectations to give it up. As a diplomat’s wife, Alexandra finds it challenging to balance her personal life and her career as a spy. The novel explores her struggles to maintain her duplicity in both her personal and professional life.
The novel is filled with perilous missions and perils of the heart, making it an adventure that readers won’t want to miss.
6. The Gift (1994)
In the 1950s, Maribeth, a sixteen-year-old girl, finds herself pregnant and shunned by her strict family. She seeks refuge in a convent, but it turns out to be less of a sanctuary than she had hoped. After leaving the convent, Maribeth settles down and takes a job as a waitress to support herself until the baby arrives.
Meanwhile, another family is dealing with a great loss that threatens to tear them apart. But when fate brings Maribeth and the grieving family together, a spark ignites, and they find hope in each other.
The Gift is a heartwarming story of love and loss, and the power of human connection. The film explores themes of family, forgiveness, and the unexpected ways in which people can change each other’s lives.
Through its poignant storytelling and compelling characters, The Gift reminds us that even in the darkest of times, there is always the possibility for hope and redemption.
7. Accidental Heroes (2018)
In the novel Accidental Heroes, author Danielle Steel takes readers on a thrilling ride through the eyes of ordinary individuals who find themselves in the midst of a daring rescue mission. The story centers around TSA agent Bernice and Homeland security agent Ben, who team up to prevent a potential terrorist attack on two planes headed to San Francisco.
Bernice’s concerns about a cryptic postcard featuring the Golden Gate Bridge are initially dismissed by her superiors, but she persists in raising the alarm until she finally catches the attention of Ben. Meanwhile, up in the air, Air Force veteran and pilot Sarah is at the helm of one of the planes, with high-profile passengers on board. As Ben begins to suspect that this plane could be a target, the race is on to divert disaster and save the lives of everyone on board.
The novel highlights the idea that heroes can come from unexpected places, as ordinary individuals step up to the challenge and put their lives on the line to save others. With a nail-biting plot and a cast of compelling characters, Accidental Heroes is a must-read for fans of suspenseful thrillers.
8. Prodigal Son (2015)
Peter and Michael are twin brothers who have grown apart because of their complicated past. Peter becomes a successful investment banker, while Michael stays in their hometown and works as a doctor. However, Peter’s life takes a turn for the worse when he loses his job due to the Wall Street crash and his wife leaves him. With nowhere else to go, Peter returns to his hometown and stays in a cabin he inherited.
As Peter confronts his troubled past and re-immerses himself in the life he left behind, he uncovers a shocking truth that challenges everything he thought he knew about his brother. Prodigal Son is a dark and suspenseful journey that will leave viewers questioning their own perceptions of good and evil.
Here are some key points about Prodigal Son:
- The film explores the complex relationship between twin brothers who have grown apart due to their past.
- Peter’s return to his hometown forces him to confront his troubled past and re-examine his relationship with his brother.
- The film is a suspenseful and thought-provoking exploration of the nature of good and evil.
Overall, Prodigal Son is a gripping and emotional film that will leave viewers questioning their own perceptions of morality and the bonds of family.
9. Silent Honor (1996)
In the movie Silent Honor, Hiroko, an 18-year-old girl, moves from Kyoto to California to live with her family. Despite initial difficulties, she begins to build a life for herself. However, her world is turned upside down when Japan attacks Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Suddenly, Hiroko is seen as an enemy of the nation, and the already unwelcoming environment becomes hostile.
The film depicts Hiroko’s struggle for acceptance and survival in the internment camps. Through her relationship with an older man and the brutality of the xenophobic regime, Hiroko is forced to relinquish her childhood innocence. The movie is applauded for its attention to historical accuracy and its poignant coming-of-age story.
The film’s title, Silent Honor, suggests the silent suffering that Hiroko and other Japanese Americans endured during this dark period in American history. The movie highlights the importance of acknowledging and remembering the atrocities of the past to prevent their repetition in the future.
10. Summer’s End (1979)
In Steel’s novel, Summer’s End, the protagonist Deanna is a wealthy woman who appears to have a perfect life. She has been married to a charming Frenchman since she was 18 years old and has a teenage daughter. However, her marriage lacks the actual bliss that she craves. When her husband and daughter leave on vacation, Deanna meets a man who provides her with a glimpse of a life beyond her current marriage.
Unfortunately for Deanna, her newfound happiness is short-lived. Life begins to deal her one blow after another, leaving her feeling trapped and hopeless. The blissful summer she experienced with her new partner becomes nothing more than a distant memory. The question arises whether Deanna will ever find true joy and reclaim the love she once had.
Steel’s writing style is evident in this novel, as it portrays the struggles of a woman who seemingly has it all. The story is relatable, as many people have found themselves in similar situations. The novel highlights the importance of finding true happiness and the sacrifices that may be necessary to achieve it.
11. Kaleidoscope (1987)
In the movie “Kaleidoscope” released in 1987, Arthur Patterson is a terminally ill man who feels the need to make amends before he dies. He was once friends with a glamorous couple named Sam and Solange, and was a supporting character in their fairytale-like lives. However, when the couple’s lives come to a sinister end, Arthur is left to make arrangements for their three young daughters. He sends each of them to a different home, but years later, he hires a private investigator to reunite the sisters.
The movie follows the private investigator as he enters the lives of the three sisters, who have grown up in very different circumstances. One of the sisters, however, finds it difficult to forget the past and is torn between running from the pain and yearning for the sisters she lost. She struggles with her anger and heartbreak, and must decide whether to let love back into her heart or to continue running from the truth that has been buried for so long.
12. His Bright Light (1998)
Danielle Steel’s non-fiction book His Bright Light is a powerful and emotional account of her son Nick’s life and tragic death at the age of 19. Nick was a talented and gifted young man who shared his mother’s love of words, but he also struggled with bipolar disorder throughout his life.
In this deeply personal book, Steel shares her experiences as a mother trying to navigate the medical system to get the proper treatment for her son. She writes candidly about her frustrations and the uphill battle she faced in trying to get Nick the help he needed.
The book is a moving tribute to Nick and his life, and the proceeds from its initial sales were used to establish a foundation in his name that funds treatment for mental illness. His Bright Light is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of mental illness and the importance of supporting those who are affected by it.
13. Safe Harbour (2003)
In this heartwarming tale, Ophelie is concerned when she discovers her daughter Pip befriending a strange man, Matt Bowles. Matt is a once happy husband and father who is now a lonely artist, struggling with the aftermath of a bitter divorce. However, he sees something in Pip that reminds him of his own daughter, who he is now separated from.
As Ophelie begins to warm up to Matt, their lives are forever changed by the stranger who has unexpectedly entered their lives. The story explores the unlikely friendship between Matt and Pip, as well as the unexpected connections that can be formed between people.
Despite the joy and warmth that Matt brings to their lives, remnants of past loves begin to resurface and threaten the newfound romance. Safe Harbour is a touching testament to the power of human connection and the impact that people can have on each other’s lives.
14. Message from Nam (1990)
Message from Nam is a poignant novel by Danielle Steel that explores the devastating effects of war on those who fight it and the civilians who get caught in its crossfire. The story revolves around Paxton Andrews, a young and ambitious journalist who travels to Vietnam in search of answers and adventure. However, what she finds is beyond her expectations, and she is forced to confront the harsh realities of war.
As Paxton’s investigation progresses, she witnesses the horrors of war firsthand and meets several men who leave a lasting impression on her. She documents her experiences in a newspaper column, and her articles immortalize the happenings of the war, while the men she meets leave an enduring impression on her heart.
Message from Nam is a sad and very human reminder that the effects of combat will continue to be felt by many for the rest of their lives. The novel artfully captures the havoc wreaked by war on both soldiers and civilians, and the lasting impact it has on their lives.
15. Echoes (2004)
Echoes by Danielle Steel is a gripping novel that tells the story of Beata and Antoine, a couple in love during the First World War. Despite their families being against their union, they choose each other and build a life of their own. However, when the Second World War breaks out, Beata’s past as a German Jew comes back to haunt her and her family. Even her daughter Amadea, who has become a Catholic nun, is in danger due to her mother’s history.
The novel explores themes of identity, family, and strength in the face of adversity. Steel’s writing style is clear and concise, making it easy for readers to follow the plot and connect with the characters. The use of multiple perspectives adds depth to the story and allows readers to see the impact of the war on different individuals and families.
Throughout the novel, Steel emphasizes the importance of resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. The characters face numerous obstacles, but they never give up and continue to fight for what they believe in. This message is a stirring reminder that we are capable of more than we realize, and that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope.
Summary
Danielle Steel is a prolific author known for her romance novels and family dramas. Her books have been translated into over 40 languages and have sold over 800 million copies worldwide. Steel has written over 190 books, many of which have been bestsellers. Her writing style is characterized by simple language, relatable characters, and emotional storylines. Despite criticism for her formulaic plots, Steel remains a beloved author among her fans.