The Color of Hope: A Novel

by Danielle Steel

A hopeful new novel from Danielle Steel, whose countless #1 New York Times bestselling novels have made her one of America’s favorite storytellers.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Adult Fiction, Adult, Chick Lit

320 pages, Paperback

Published November 18, 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

[Renata Annese · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a comforting and heartfelt read. 💛 It’s filled with quiet reflection and beautifully explores the highs and lows of life... the moments that shape us, challenge us, and ultimately help us grow. The writing is engaging, and the characters feel genuine and relatable, like people you could easily know in real life.

There’s also a soft, almost dreamy atmosphere woven throughout the story that adds a touch of escape and elegance ✨ while still keeping the emotions grounded and real.

What I loved most is how this story gently encourages you to pause and think about your own life… especially that season when things begin to shift... when work slows down and a new chapter quietly unfolds. It made me reflect not with fear, but with curiosity. ✨ What will fill my days? What will bring me joy? It also touches on something so real... how hard it can be to figure out where you belong after life changes in ways you never expected. That quiet searching felt especially meaningful and honest.

The story weaves together themes of love, healing, family, and second chances 💫 while also highlighting the beauty of art and self-expression. There’s a realism to it... the ups and downs, the family pressures, the complicated relationships... that makes it feel both grounding and uplifting at the same time.

At its heart, this book reminds us that maybe life isn’t about constantly chasing “what’s next,” but about creating a life we’re excited to grow into. 🌿

Warm, hopeful, and emotionally satisfying... this is a story that stays with you. 🤍

[Read Rest Recharge · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standard, predictable story. My guilty pleasure. Be nice, don't judge.

[Tim · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another same rehashed story.

[AlohaKarina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Yeah, her books are so short you can finish in a day. Basically they’re like Danielle Steel Harlequin romances. Still cute, still her voice, but not like her old books that were twice the size. Still, if you like her books, you’ll like this one. Very Danielle Steel formula.

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book by Danielle Steel that earned 5 stars. Loved the main characters, Sabrina and Xavier, as they get to know each other. Especially loved the children who came to live with Sabrina from the monastery.

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable as always. Somewhat predictable, but not completely.

[paige (ptsungirl) · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Sometimes, the price of doing the honorable thing was just too high.”

[Cyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Same old. Lonely perfect woman tries to flee from her boredom by moving into a posh little dower house overseas. She is of course wealthy, even has her yacht shipped over. She meets a beautiful sad man. Together they are happy. The end.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a surprise. I loved the two main characters who met in Paris. They were such good people! The storyline was unique and kept me very interested. 4.5 stars!

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another complicated romance/family drama.

[Latham · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Color of Hope is the sort of Danielle Steel novel that works the best. This sort of heart-warming, wholesome story of perseverance through trauma and trying times. It has some of the Steel hallmarks: wealthy older woman, handsome love interest, extravagant and beautiful surroundings, financial stress, divorces, deaths, family drama. I loved the French scenery, it makes for a tasteful and lush background for the growing dynamic between Sabrina and Xavier. I enjoyed the dialogue between the two and the development of each character's individual arc in the story. It's a short, simple, feel good novel which was a nice palate cleanser from the horror I was reading earlier that day. I might not have been paying as much attention this time, but I felt like its one of Steel's least repetitive novels of late, the writing wasn't as obviously one-note this time at least.

[Jessica Boland · Rating 5 out of 5]

My Nana was a Danielle Steel fan, and it’s been a very long time since I’ve read one her books. This was a sweet story.🩵

[Terry · Rating 4 out of 5]

After the heartbreaking death of her husband, who was the love of her life, Sabrina decides to go to France for a vacation. She ends up renting a chateau in a small village near the border of Spain. While in this beautiful, peaceful place, she begins to heal from her devastating loss. Her three adult children live in New York, London, and Milan. They witness their mom’s rebirth. And of course, she ends up falling in love again. Nice story.

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

A classic novel about love and lost a must read but not for everyone

[Tatyana · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book reminded me why I stopped reading Steel's book after two I read a few years ago. This book could have been so much more, it had a promising setting, a French village, but there wasn't any description of the French village life, culture, nothing of her liking to live there. So, per story, her choice on where to live was essentially tied to one person and one house.

I did not like:
1. How much emphesys were placed on what brands of clothing/shoes/jewelry characters wore. Characters were described not by personality, not even looks, but what brands they showed up in.
2. Author repeated similar descriptions and texts a lot. Reading half of the page with same info (just rephrased) I read 10 pages back seemed like waste of time and took away from what could have been more other specifics not mentioned.
3. The ugly way author kept desribing Xavier's wife Brigitte. Just because their marriage wasn't working out isn't a reason to call her vile. awful woman. Just becuase she didn't want to wear expenisve clothing and didn't try to look 20 years younger than her age doesn't mean she deserves to be called nasty, ugly, and old. She is Xavier's age (in 50s) and author emphasized how she's now so old, and her hair is graying, and how awful it is that she wears loose clothes, and that she doesn't deserve a man because she looks her age. Just so many ugly statements and calling names regarding her physical appearance, that it was hard to continue the book.
4. The way Sabrina's adult children looked down on helping orphaned children, describing it as something terrible, too much work, dangerous, unnecessary, not their problem, etc. made me roll my eyes at such entitled and selfish way of seeing the less fortunate people.

I liked:
1. History of Chateau, even thought it's mentioned just few times in short sentenses. I wish it was expanded a bit more and weaved into a story in more significance.
2. Part where Sabrina and Xavier both realized and accepted the fact that new generation is differnt and her adult children will not follow parents' rules out of obligation or for the sake of a certain public image.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Hope is just that, hope. When Sabrina's husband dies suddenly, she feels like her whole world has died with him. He we three children try to help, but the all live far away and have their own lives. She is encouraged to try to move on, one day at a time. Sabrina finally allows herself to slowly move forward. She travels to France and discovered a small town and a beautiful chateau. The owner, Xavier isn't bad either, but he has his own troubles. Watch as Sabrina's new life is empowering her to reach for the stars, even though there we will be some stumbling blocks to overcome. Beautiful story.

[Lesli Heard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ because of the ending

I enjoyed this book, but a lot of it was spent with descriptive writing. I’ll save you the first 50ish pages: Sabrina and Malcolm had a great marriage, raised 3 great kids and were empty nesters, were rich, and were planning on retirement soon and traveling. Then he passed away and threw her into grief and all their plans went away.

Sabrina spends several months mired in her grief then gets out and finds Xavier’s chateaux to rent. I enjoyed seeing their friendship blossom. I was afraid it would be the cheating trope since he was married but it really wasn’t. It was a sweet story and the ending was satisfying, if predictable.

It was a decent book to read between some intense thrillers.

[Ashley Farley · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was fun to read. took place in new york, LA, France, etc. so many places around the world was kind of fun that the main characters kids all lived in different cities around the world. once her husband passed away, she had to start finding a different way to live without him. i loved the things she got into and the love story that came later on. great book.

[Suzanne Viola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading this book, it was an easy read. The storyline caught your interest and kept you curious what would happen next. The authors description of the locations of the story line were very vivid.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Typical Danielle Steel story, but i liked it.

[Victoria Arrowsmith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A feel good book and my first Danielle Steele experience. I’m a fan.

[Kathy Hutchinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like this Danielle Steel book. It was a light hearted read, a fast read. It was a little predictable but sometimes you just need to read a book like this one.

[Brandy Lemire · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Kaitlyn Griffith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Would have DNF if I wasn’t listening via audiobook. A few themes were really beating a dead horse.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an ok book. It was not a gripper and a quick read. There were no surprises.

[Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I liked the orphanage plot in here.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful new Beginning

Loved the name The Color of Hope and all the details and thoughts of the Mural.And the peaceful feelings of the Chateau.

[Pam Krocak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Terribly Trite and Boring.

Extremely predictable and very disappointing read! Book was not anywhere near as interesting and satisfying as the many other books written by Danielle Steel!

[Linda Reiser · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read The Color of Hope by Danielle Steele. The story is about a woman with an ideal marriage and family. Her husband dies and she is so forlorn her grown children encourage her to travel to France and stay there for a while. Very predictable things happen there. VERY predictable things. I think it’s the same basic story as the last Steele one I read. Only read it if you’re bored one day.

[Nicole · Rating 2 out of 5]

Again really confused by Danielle Steel. This book reads like AI or a very amateur author wrote it.