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, Audiobook, Fiction, Chick Lit, France, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

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

[Read Rest Recharge · Rating 3 out of 5]

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

[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.

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

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

[Kendra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable as always. Somewhat predictable, but not completely.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another complicated romance/family drama.

[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.🩵

[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.

[Deity World · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[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.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast read. Sometimes I just need something easy to pass the time.


Following the unexpected death of her beloved husband, art gallery owner Sabrina Thompson finds herself adrift in their Malibu beach house. Her three adult children—scattered from New York to London to Milan—are concerned for her well-being and encourage her to take a trip to Paris.

Once abroad, an impulsive day trip from Paris to Biarritz leads Sabrina to discover the charming medieval village of Arcangues in the Basque countryside, with its unique and iconic blue shutters and historic château. The château is the ancestral home of Xavier de Bonport, who is trapped in a loveless marriage and trying to dig himself out financially after a business failed due to the pandemic. He needs rental income as urgently as Sabrina needs a refuge. With Xavier living in a smaller house on the property, Sabrina begins to transform the château into a temporary home.

As they each sense compassion and resilience in the other, as well as kindness, a friendship blossoms. Inspired by the stories of Xavier’s grandmother, who saved hundreds of Jewish children during World War II, Sabrina considers fostering some children at the request of the local Dominican nuns, whose orphanage is filled to capacity. As a newfound family begins to fill the château, Sabrina and Xavier wonder if their friendship is becoming something more.

[Toriii · Rating 3 out of 5]

In “The Color of Hope,” Danielle Steel masterfully weaves a poignant tale that explores the themes of grief, resilience, and the profound journey of self-discovery. Through the intricate relationship between Xavier and Samantha, the narrative delves into the complexities of love and healing.

As both characters navigate their personal struggles and past traumas, the story beautifully illustrates how connection can lead to emotional revival and strength. Steel employs vivid imagery and deeply relatable emotions, drawing readers into a world where hope shines even in the darkest of times.

The characters’ growth is both inspiring and uplifting, highlighting the idea that embracing vulnerability can pave the way to renewed purpose and joy. The novel's warmth resonated with me, leaving an indelible mark on my heart and reminding me of the transformative power of love and hope. It’s a compelling read that serves as a testament to the human spirit's capacity to heal and thrive, making it a true gem in contemporary literature.

3.5 ⭐️

[Merceda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice, easy read over the holidays. Of course, the widow falls in love with a French man who owns the chateau that she is renting after her husband quickly passes away from ALS. She also volunteers at a monastery who take in children, and she leans again on the pandemic for this book. The pandemic left children orphaned, and the monastery take them in while trying to find relatives who will care for the children.
Sabrina and Xavier become friends, then eventually lovers. Her 3 adult children aren't enthused about her fostering 3 children from the monastery, and they are sort of bitchy about it. Then her son impregnates his rich girlfriend and Sabrina is really angry about that. Telling him he isn't done with school, doesn't have a job, and they should be married before his girlfriend becomes pregnant. This sort of surprised me, but I'm almost beginning to feel like she might be using a ghost writer now a days.

[Lindsey Escaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

One note for readers: the front cover contains multiple misprints, listing the main character as Samantha when her correct name throughout the book is Sabrina Thomas. It’s a small but noticeable error that can be momentarily confusing.

While the story is heartfelt, I couldn’t help but wish for something different from Steel’s usual formula. Once again, the characters are surrounded by wealth, fame, and seemingly endless resources. I’d genuinely love to read a Danielle Steel novel where the main characters are more grounded — navigating hardship without financial cushions, privilege, or high-profile lifestyles — because her emotional storytelling could shine even brighter in a more relatable, everyday setting.

That said, The Color of Hope still offers warmth, hope, and an easy emotional escape, making it an enjoyable read for longtime fans — just with room for a fresh perspective.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Samantha is learning to live again after her husband's sudden illness and death. She has three children sho have their own busy lives. She wants to continue on with life but is unsure how to do that. She visits each of her children; realizing they are to busy she goes to Paris. She finds a house to rent and meets a nice man. She also begin voluntering at the monastary for children. She loves the work and it fills her free time. She agrees to foster some hildren until their grandmother is found. Life is busy and fun. She fallsin love with the owner of the house she is renting and they make plans for the future. The plot is about a widow finding her life again after her husband dies.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Samantha Thompson's husband dies unexpectedly she is lost. he was not only her husband but also her best friend. her adult children are scattered around the world and she finds herself alone in their Malibu home unsure of what to do. Her journey takes her to France and a rental home in a very rural area. Hopefully this move will start her on the path to healing. As she becomes more involved in the lives of the villagers and of her landlord the healing journey continues. As with all Danielle Steel books the characters are complex and open. A story of love, loss, healing and finding happiness again.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you had to identify a color that symbolizes hope, the Basque village of Arcangues's blue epitomizes joy and a bright future. When Sabrina loses her husband at 48, the empty nester feels lost.

Her husband and best friend's aggressive diagnosis of ALS left her a widow three months later and with her family scattered abroad, struggles to pick up the pieces of her life. Her children remind Sabrina of her promise to find a place in a France and after visiting, rents a chateau for the year. What she doesn't expect is how much the area will impact her life and that giving back will color her world and light the way for a new chapter.

[Sheri Sumpter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I’m actually being nice by giving this 2 stars. I can’t get over the repetitive dialogue in the paragraphs at the beginning of the book. Was the author needing a minimum number of words and decided to use the same phrases over and over?! A word or two would be changed, but for the most part, every person’s dialogue was the same. Sabrina and her artists, Lizzie and her tough schedule until graduation, Coco and her fashion show, Brigitte only with Xavier for the lifestyle he gave her (mentioned 7 times in 5 pages)…over and over it went. Tough to get past the first 70 pages. I hung in there, but it wasn’t easy.

[Gloria L. Barnes · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just finished both reading and listening to the audio book “The Color of Hope” by Danielle Steel”. This is a tender story of healing and new beginnings for a newly widowed mother, whose three college age children are all living far away in different places, leaving her feeling lost and lonely, that finds new life in a little town in France. I think this is the best book she has written recently.

[Janene Martens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Audiobook.

It was easy enough to listen to and it was short but I didn't really buy into the plot and characters. It was almost like an instalove situation. Sabrina came off as entitled and arrogant but also a victim of poor life circumstances. She acted like she was a martyr and was giving and generous but it felt forced. Her kids were also entitled and obnoxious. It was family drama all around but tied up in an unrealistic happy bow.

[Anne Egbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very enjoyable book. The story of a young American woman who has become a widow in France. Her three adult children who are worried about her encourage her to take a trip to Paris. When she arruves she takes a trip to a small village in the Basque countryside on a whim. And this trap drastically changes her life. She visits a charming village on a whim finds the village has a certain type of blue paint used only in this village. Their outside walls are all painted the same color. She makes friends with the nuns in a local convent and becomes a place of hope for three children who currently live in the convent. She also finds good friends and a new life partner, although there are many hurdles to cross first. I will definitely be looking for more novels by Danielle Steel.

[Terri LaRue · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have read Danielle Steel books for decades. Her books are always a quick, easy read. However this book has too many repetitive paragraphs throughout the entire book. In the inside cover the description is that Stephanie Thompson had lost her husband. In the book the character is Sabrina! Who is even editing her books anymore? The storyline I gave a 3 despite repetitive nature of the book.

[Alex (Alex's Version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alright, this book was basically an AI experiment, every cliché and everything Danielle Steel has written for the last years: a beautiful widow who happens to be rich, traveling in Europe, busy children who are in their 30s. Then we meet the male lead, a kind man in an unhappy marriage, who lost his fortune but has a chateau that has some value. They fall in love, and bam—that's the book!

[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.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I believe I am finished with Danielle Steel books. On its own, this is a nice story with a lovely grief-to-happiness arch but, it is so similar to other Steel stories…following the same equation, that I am no longer surprised or frankly, entertained. Predictable, repetitive and because of that I want to give it 2 stars…but am giving it 3 as I really want to try to look at it on its own.

[Doris Kinsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Color of Hope

I liked the pace of this novel. History of the pandemic wove itself through the story. The characters were developed in such a way that each one came alive to me. The
Color of Hope showed me that happiness after loss is possible. This was another Danielle Steel book I could not put down.