The Portrait: A Novel

by Danielle Steel

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A gifted portrait artist and a high-powered subject confront past wounds to embrace new love in this poignant novel by #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel.

Devon Darcy’s reputation precedes her. As a highly sought-after portrait artist, she seems to have the ability to peer into the souls of her subjects and then capture them on canvas. But the world doesn’t know about the devastating losses she has endured, first as an orphan, then as a far-too-young widow.

When entrepreneur Charles Mackenzie Taylor sees her at a New York gallery event, he is instantly haunted by her beauty and her talent. Having lost his mother when he was thirteen, and still living in the cold shadow of his late banker father’s disapproval, Charlie has given up on love. He’s resigned himself to a loveless marriage to avoid the inconvenience of divorce.

But Devon awakens something in him across that crowded gallery, and she is in turn intrigued by Charlie. He approaches her to paint his portrait, and while her schedule is booked for many months before she can accommodate him, with the electricity between them palpable.

When they encounter each other over the summer in the Hamptons, their connection deepens as they each release years of pent-up emotions and unfulfilled longing. But the ghosts of their pasts are not easily put to rest. Charlie wrestles with his fear of real intimacy for the first time in his life, while Devon struggles with her fear of abandonment. And after an accident endangers Devon’s career, they must decide together what their future holds.

Danielle Steel’s sensitive portrait of two successful people who have built walls around themselves is a wise chronicle of the rocky path to true courage and connection.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Realistic Fiction, Love

256 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 30, 2025

About the author

Danielle 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

Reviews

[chantalsbookstuff]

I'm holding out for that 4/5 star read. I hope it comes soon. These books are always quick and easy reads, but the storyline stays the same. A romantic story, but also one I would probably forget by the next day. I did like Devon's background and her passion for painting.

[Jennifer]

one day i’m gonna quit these books! but sometimes you just need something mindless to listen to. i’m not sure i could keep track of the number of times i rolled my eyes during this one. just silly.

[Tim]

Great, if you want to tolerate abuse and are weak.

[Esther]

The Portrait was actually very bad, and not in a way where something awful happened in the plot, but more so that the book was just not good. As I was reading, I was more and more convinced that this was a debut novel by a young author just starting their career, because this book reads like someone’s first attempt at writing professionally.

It was a lesson Faye hadn’t learned yet, and maybe never would, like his father. He realized now that he had married a woman who was very much like his father.

There were several issues I found with The Portrait, but the biggest one was the constant repetition. Something about a character would be stated, and then one line later, it would be said again, almost verbatim. It's like the author forgot she already wrote the line.

He rapidly did the math, and was surprised by her age. She looked so much younger. She made it all sound so simple, and didn’t say that she left France and came back to New York because Axel had died. She felt private about it. Axel belonged to her.

The random POV switches were very confusing and unnecessary. There was no method to them, either. First, I would be in Charlie's head and quickly begin to wonder how he knew something so personal about Devon, before realizing that it's her POV I am now in.

“Oh my God, no, not that exquisite face. She’s so beautiful.”
“She still is. Brandon, this is serious…”

Brandon is a very strange character, and I don't know why he was portrayed as anything other than a creepy guy. The other characters treated him like an eccentric puppy with a bit of a strange disposition, when in reality, he is an unsettling old man.

It was hard explaining to Devon what he did every day, and why he was running from one meeting to the next, in cities across the country, with video conference meetings in between. He’d never been busier in his life. And to anyone outside the company, none of it was very interesting.

Also, what the hell does Charlie do for work? I don't know, you probably don't know, and the author definitely doesn't either. Yeah, he starts up businesses in some mysterious way, but what are all of these important meetings that take up all of his time? What would you possibly have to discuss so much?

He took her hand and they ran down the beach, laughing, with the dog following them into the future.

The ending was so irritating. There's no way that after all of Devon’s insistence that she wasn't getting back with Charlie, she runs off into the sunset with him (literally) because “love is worth taking risks for” or something like that.


Rating: 1 star

[Nina Dolan]

2.75 / an easy and quick read, but I couldn’t forgive Charlie for his poor decisions as easily as Devon could. Sweet sweet Devon, you deserved so much better. (This was my 20th book of the year, so I met my goal!!)

[Janet R.]

typical Danielle Steel

[Gloria L. Barnes]

Do not waste your money on this book. I am used to the repetition in her books but usually find a simple enjoyable plot as the story moves forward. This plot was monotonous and repetitive over and over for three fourths of the book. A man and a woman meet, fall in love, but have emotional issues because of deaths in their families. The woman is wonderful. The man is scared and dumps her due to his fear. Then he does it again when she gives him another chance. The plot did get more interesting for a bit near the end and then suddenly ended abruptly with a few paragraphs.

[Veronica ⭐️]

3.5 stars
It always takes me a few chapters to get into a Danielle Steel novel. I think it's a combination of the 1st person narration and her "tell" style of writing. However, once I get into the story and the characters I'm always fully immersed in their struggles and relationships.

Life is never easy and Devon and Charles both have previous traumas to work through. I really warmed to Devon but Charlie was a chauvinist, selfish and over dramatic about everything. I did not like him at all and was wishing something bad would happen to him. 😂
I was invested in this story for Devon only and wanted to see her grow and find peace.

The Portrait is a great story to get your emotions rolling and your blood boiling. It evoked a lot of different feelings.

[Brooke Banks]

How boring. I remember stealing Steel's books from older women and loving them as a young girl so I decided to try one out after so long when a skip the line option was presented. Either I had terrible taste or shit has really gone down hill. Or both.

Over 150pgs and nothing happened. The writing is so bland and repetitive. Did you know the male love interest is such a good guy?? Because he says so!! What has he actually done that's good?? Fuck knows!!

And it feels very shitty and sexist towards every woman except the love interest who just happens to be so dainty and petite with brilliant red hair and Imperial Jade eyes (the caps are important) and hasn't been with someone since her husband and child died decades ago. Gag me.

[paige (ptsungirl)]

“The silence was where they each felt safe.”

[Jenny]

Utterly ridiculous book. Virtually non-existent plot, a walking red flag of a male lead character and a lack of depth in writing so extreme you could skim read it.

[Brandy Lemire]

3.75 stars. It was a quick read but overall a good book!

[tei hurst]

feeling like an old lady being like hm okay danielle steel i didn’t understand your game at first but now i surely do

[Amy Warren]

When I am in a reading slump, I always reach for a Danielle Steel novel. Her stories have such effortless flow, her characters are well-developed and ultimately its like sitting with a friend and hearing them tell a story. Here, a couple is brought together by fate and kept apart by issues they never saw coming. Her books may seem formulaic, but they always manage to hold my attention and give me comfort, while ALWAYS snapping me out of my slumps! Would recommend.

[Tatyana]

Slow romantic story filled with immature behavior and silly excuses. I liked Devon, but her beautiful character fell victim Daniel Steel's writing style that made her seem shallow and cliché instead of showing her depth and strength.

[Sallie Martin]

Predictable and boring, the best part of the book was the last few chapters

[Beth Eich]

No absolutely not

[Micayla Russell Kish]

I rarely leave reviews, but I felt compelled to after hate-reading this entire book. It was in serious need of an editor. The plot was mid, the characters were half-baked and basic, and my biggest qualm was with the descriptions. We’re always told to show, not tell, but this entire book was just telling. There was no feeling or depth in any of the descriptions.

So much was also repeated that it felt like multiple versions of the book were written and no one bothered to delete the duplicates in the final edit. The ending also sucked.

[Marie]

3.5 It took awhile to get used to this style of writing, which is mostly a narrator telling the story without much dialogue. I guess this is considered third person omniscient. I like the story, but the middle third of the book was a bit slow. However, I had strong feelings of frustration toward one of the main characters, and sobbed at the end, so I give it a 3.5!!

[Tina Prince]

3.5 Stars

[Jennifer Silva]

The latest from Danielle Steel ..I enjoy all her books ..They are light and easy reading

[Janet]

This book was a disappointment to me.

[Denise Matthew]

Good characters with realistic lives and responses. Though a romance, the novel is more about healing from past hurts and being courageous enough to live and love.

[Sierra Trambaugh]

Literally what is “romantic” about an emotionally unavailable man in his 40’s? Go to therapy!!!

[Lori Walton (Personal)]

Typical Danielle Steel. Everyone is richer than the next person. Repetitive. Happy ending.

Will I keep reading Danielle Steel? Absolutely. This one was a little tame but still a decent story!!

[Ellie]

This shockingly left me satisfied

[Andrew]

It was reminiscent of normal people in a way but like 1000x better. Something beautiful about meeting the right person at the wrong time and never forgetting them.

[marijane]

comfortable read

Easy to read and par for the course. One read a year and I was set to move on till next time. A typical Steel story, ends well

[Lindsay Schukei]

it was ok. I feel like she would describe characters as being one way, and then when they interacted they would be a different way which made it a little hard to follow. Which I guess makes it a little thought provoking as well.

[Sherrill Warmack]

This was probably one of the best Danielle Steele books I have ever read.