{"id":2271,"date":"2025-03-15T05:40:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-15T05:40:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2271"},"modified":"2025-03-15T05:40:51","modified_gmt":"2025-03-15T05:40:51","slug":"never-say-never-by-danielle-steel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/?p=2271","title":{"rendered":"Never Say Never by Danielle Steel"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In her latest offering, Never Say Never<\/strong>, bestselling author Danielle Steel crafts a poignant tale of resilience and second chances. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the French countryside, this novel explores how life\u2019s most devastating blows can ultimately lead to unexpected joy. With her signature blend of emotional depth and romantic optimism<\/a>, Steel delivers a story that reminds readers it\u2019s never too late to begin again.<\/p>\n

Plot Overview: When Everything Falls Apart<\/h2>\n

Oona Kelly Webster seems to have it all\u2014a successful career as the head of a prestigious literary imprint, a twenty-five-year marriage to Charles, and two grown children pursuing their dreams. Her life appears perfectly ordered until Charles delivers a devastating revelation: he\u2019s been having an affair with a man named Roberto for the past year and is leaving her to start a new life with him in Argentina.<\/p>\n

Reeling from this betrayal but determined not to wallow, Oona decides to proceed with their planned anniversary trip to France alone. She settles into a beautiful historic house called \u201cLa Belle Florence,\u201d named after a king\u2019s mistress from centuries past. Just as she\u2019s beginning to find her footing, another blow strikes\u2014her publishing imprint is being shut down in a merger, and she loses her beloved job of twenty-five years.<\/p>\n

With both her marriage and career suddenly gone, Oona finds herself adrift in a foreign country. However, France offers unexpected gifts: a little white dog she rescues and names Florence, and a charming neighbor who turns out to be Ashley Rowe, a famous actor from Trinidad. As she develops feelings for Ashley, who is eight years her junior, Oona must confront her fears about beginning again and question whether she can embrace a future far different from anything she\u2019d imagined.<\/p>\n

Character Development: Strength in Vulnerability<\/h2>\n

Steel\u2019s portrayal of Oona\u2019s transformation is masterful. When we first meet her, Oona is defined by her roles\u2014editor, wife, mother\u2014and prides herself on maintaining order and stability. As these identities are stripped away, we witness her gradual evolution into someone who values authenticity over predictability<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Ashley Rowe serves as an excellent foil to Charles. While Charles prioritized his own needs regardless of how they affected others, Ashley demonstrates genuine concern for Oona\u2019s feelings and his children\u2019s well-being following their mother\u2019s death from COVID-19. His openness about his past mistakes and willingness to be vulnerable create a stark contrast to Charles\u2019s deception.<\/p>\n

The supporting characters are equally well-drawn:<\/p>\n

Charles Webster<\/strong> emerges as more complex than a simple villain, wrestling with his sexuality at nearly sixty
\nMeghan and Will<\/strong> (Oona\u2019s children) navigate their own paths while supporting their mother
\nSimon and Alana<\/strong> (Ashley\u2019s children) add depth to the story as they mourn their mother while forming bonds with Oona<\/p>\n

Setting: The Healing Power of Place<\/h2>\n

The historic house \u201cLa Belle Florence\u201d becomes almost a character itself, offering Oona sanctuary during her most challenging moments. Steel expertly weaves the house\u2019s romantic history\u2014built by a king for his beloved mistress\u2014into Oona\u2019s own journey toward new love.<\/p>\n

The contrast between pandemic-era New York and rural France emphasizes the psychological space Oona needs to heal. The French countryside, with its slower pace and reverence for history, provides the perfect backdrop for her contemplation about what truly matters in life.<\/p>\n

Themes: Reinvention and Authentic Living<\/h2>\n

The Courage to Begin Again<\/h3>\n

At forty-seven, Oona must confront society\u2019s assumptions about middle-aged women and their prospects for happiness. Her journey illustrates that reinvention requires courage but brings rewards worth the risk.<\/p>\n

Love Across Differences<\/h3>\n

Steel tackles several potentially divisive elements in Ashley and Oona\u2019s relationship\u2014their age gap, different racial backgrounds, and his celebrity status\u2014with sensitivity and nuance. Their story highlights how authentic connection transcends conventional boundaries<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The Pandemic as Catalyst<\/h3>\n

Set during the COVID-19 pandemic, the novel uses this unprecedented global event as both literal and metaphorical backdrop. The virus serves as a powerful reminder of life\u2019s fragility and the importance of pursuing happiness without delay.<\/p>\n

Strengths and Weaknesses<\/h2>\n

What Works Well<\/h3>\n

Steel excels at creating emotionally resonant moments that capture life\u2019s bittersweet nature. Particularly moving is the scene where Ashley gives Oona a miniature portrait of Florence de Montmarrin, symbolically blessing their union. The author\u2019s portrayal of pandemic challenges feels authentic without overwhelming the narrative.<\/p>\n

The pacing demonstrates Steel\u2019s expertise\u2014she allows readers to experience Oona\u2019s grief without lingering too long before introducing new possibilities. The parallel storylines of Charles\u2019s relationship with Roberto and Oona\u2019s with Ashley provide thought-provoking contrast.<\/p>\n

Room for Improvement<\/h3>\n

At times, Never Say Never falls into predictable patterns familiar to Danielle Steel\u2019s\u00a0 longtime readers. Some conversations between Oona and Ashley feel repetitive as they circle the same concerns about their future together. Additionally, certain secondary characters, particularly those in the publishing world, remain somewhat underdeveloped.<\/p>\n

The resolution of Oona\u2019s career concerns feels slightly rushed compared to the careful development of her romantic journey. Readers might wish for more exploration of how she reconciles her professional identity with her new life circumstances.<\/p>\n

Comparison to Steel\u2019s Other Works<\/h2>\n

Fans of Steel\u2019s extensive bibliography will recognize her trademark optimism and belief in love\u2019s transformative power. Never Say Never<\/strong> shares thematic elements with Danielle Steel\u2019s earlier works like Changes<\/strong> and Second Chance<\/strong>, but the pandemic setting adds fresh urgency to familiar questions about prioritizing authentic happiness.<\/p>\n

Unlike some of her more sweeping historical sagas, this novel maintains a tighter focus on Oona\u2019s personal journey, more reminiscent of intimate works like The Gift<\/strong> or Heartbeat<\/strong>. The integration of contemporary issues\u2014pandemic restrictions, remote work challenges\u2014demonstrates Steel\u2019s continued relevance as a chronicler of modern life.<\/p>\n

Reader Appeal: Who Will Enjoy This Book<\/h2>\n

This novel will particularly resonate with:<\/p>\n

Readers navigating major life transitions
\nThose who appreciate romance featuring mature protagonists
\nFans of stories set in picturesque European locales
\nAnyone who has experienced significant change during the pandemic<\/p>\n

If you enjoyed Elizabeth Gilbert\u2019s Eat, Pray, Love<\/strong> or Nancy Thayer\u2019s Girls of Summer<\/strong>, Danielle Steel\u2019s exploration of reinvention in Never Say Never will likely appeal to you. Similarly, readers who appreciated the second-chance romance in Elin Hilderbrand\u2019s 28 Summers<\/strong> will find comparable emotional depth here.<\/p>\n

Final Verdict: A Timely Reminder About Life\u2019s Possibilities<\/h2>\n

Never Say Never<\/strong> delivers exactly what Danielle Steel\u2019s readers have come to expect\u2014an emotionally satisfying journey through heartbreak to renewed hope. Though not breaking significant new ground in her extensive catalog, the novel offers a timely reminder about the importance of remaining open to life\u2019s possibilities, regardless of age or circumstance.<\/p>\n

What elevates this particular offering is its pandemic setting, which lends added weight to its carpe diem message. As Oona learns, life\u2019s uncertainty means we should never say never to unexpected joy. In a world still processing collective trauma, Steel\u2019s optimistic perspective feels both comforting and necessary.<\/p>\n

At its heart, this is a story about having the courage to imagine a different future when the carefully planned one dissolves. With warm characterization and genuine emotional insight, Steel reminds us that sometimes life\u2019s most devastating losses create space for its greatest gifts\u2014if we\u2019re brave enough to receive them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In her latest offering, Never Say Never, bestselling author Danielle Steel crafts a poignant tale of resilience and second chances. Set against the picturesque backdrop of the French countryside, this novel explores how life\u2019s most devastating blows can ultimately lead to unexpected joy. With her signature blend of emotional depth and romantic optimism, Steel delivers […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bookreviews"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2271"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2271"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2271\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bookloves.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}