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The Numbers Game
Eileen Jackson was happy to set aside her own dreams to raise a family with her husband, Paul. Together they built an ordinary life in a Connecticut town, the perfect place for their kids to grow up. But when Eileen discovers that Paul’s late nights in the city are hiding an affair with a younger woman, she begins to question all those years of sacrifice and compromise. On the brink of forty and wondering what she’s going to do with the rest of her life, is it too late for her to start over?
Meanwhile, as Paul is thrust back into the role of suburban fatherhood, his girlfriend, Olivia, is in Manhattan, struggling to find herself in the shadow of her mother, a famous actress, and her grandmother, a fiercely independent ninety-two-year-old artist. With their unique brands of advice ringing in her head, Olivia takes a major step, expanding her art gallery business internationally. Seeing her mother pursue old dreams and even find new love, Olivia realizes that there is so much she must learn about herself before committing her life to someone else.
Ultimately, Eileen decides to chase her own dreams as well. She’s off to Paris to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. What awaits is an adventure that reinvents her life and redefines her.
At every age, there are challenges to be met and new worlds to discover. In this surprising, illuminating novel, Danielle Steel gives us a warmhearted portrait of people driven by their emotions, life experiences, and loyalties, who realize that it’s never too late to turn a new page and start again.
Meanwhile, as Paul is thrust back into the role of suburban fatherhood, his girlfriend, Olivia, is in Manhattan, struggling to find herself in the shadow of her mother, a famous actress, and her grandmother, a fiercely independent ninety-two-year-old artist. With their unique brands of advice ringing in her head, Olivia takes a major step, expanding her art gallery business internationally. Seeing her mother pursue old dreams and even find new love, Olivia realizes that there is so much she must learn about herself before committing her life to someone else.
Ultimately, Eileen decides to chase her own dreams as well. She’s off to Paris to attend Le Cordon Bleu cooking school. What awaits is an adventure that reinvents her life and redefines her.
At every age, there are challenges to be met and new worlds to discover. In this surprising, illuminating novel, Danielle Steel gives us a warmhearted portrait of people driven by their emotions, life experiences, and loyalties, who realize that it’s never too late to turn a new page and start again.
263 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2020
4392 people are currently reading
3294 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Steel
930 books17k followersDanielle 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
Facebook.com/DanielleSteelOfficial
Instagram: @officialdaniellesteel
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 641 reviews
July 20, 2022
Likeable enough. Made me think of Days of our Lives with all the relationships and drama.
May 29, 2020
3 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Danielle Steel has been one of my guilty pleasure authors for years. Her books are awesome if you need a break - like I do - from all of the thrillers and psychopaths I normally love.
Like most of Steel’s books, this one is all about relationships, family dynamics, changes and heartbreak. A mother and wife - who is only 40 years old, but has been married for 20 years - is trying to find her place in life, but still hold her family together. A daughter going off to college and a cheating husband with a 27 year old mistress is only adding to her stress.
Now, I can handle some cheesiness - and I expect it when reading her books, but this one piled on the cheese factor a bit more than usual for me. I also was not interested in the mistress’s storyline - it was boring and irrelevant in my opinion.
I think Steel fans would enjoy this one and find it easy to read. It just wasn’t awesome for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine and Danielle Steel for the advanced copy to read and review.
Danielle Steel has been one of my guilty pleasure authors for years. Her books are awesome if you need a break - like I do - from all of the thrillers and psychopaths I normally love.
Like most of Steel’s books, this one is all about relationships, family dynamics, changes and heartbreak. A mother and wife - who is only 40 years old, but has been married for 20 years - is trying to find her place in life, but still hold her family together. A daughter going off to college and a cheating husband with a 27 year old mistress is only adding to her stress.
Now, I can handle some cheesiness - and I expect it when reading her books, but this one piled on the cheese factor a bit more than usual for me. I also was not interested in the mistress’s storyline - it was boring and irrelevant in my opinion.
I think Steel fans would enjoy this one and find it easy to read. It just wasn’t awesome for me.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine and Danielle Steel for the advanced copy to read and review.
September 11, 2025
Hovering around the 2-3 star mark, as always, I choose DS as my audio reads when doing easy tasks at work, and to break up heavier reads. They are so easy to read and I find myself reading 35% of the book in what seems like minutes - making both work and listening easier!
Why must the content of all her books centre around infidelity? Here we find ourselves again with women being let down, men doing what they want and families all mixed up in the mess.
This story was a little different where a side character created her own place in the narrative, where I assumed she'd be passed on in the story. I found this confusing as the story went on as her character developed, creating another sub plot.
Another unimportant inconsistency was the wronged wife retraining and upskilling (loved this) but I feel her business venture merged into a different hustle than what she studied for - possibly an error in the story, who knows that the idea was there.
New York and Connecticut were a bonus for me for setting, but generally this was a very light and insubstantial read with rich people and infidelity a common theme as always.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
Why must the content of all her books centre around infidelity? Here we find ourselves again with women being let down, men doing what they want and families all mixed up in the mess.
This story was a little different where a side character created her own place in the narrative, where I assumed she'd be passed on in the story. I found this confusing as the story went on as her character developed, creating another sub plot.
Another unimportant inconsistency was the wronged wife retraining and upskilling (loved this) but I feel her business venture merged into a different hustle than what she studied for - possibly an error in the story, who knows that the idea was there.
New York and Connecticut were a bonus for me for setting, but generally this was a very light and insubstantial read with rich people and infidelity a common theme as always.
I listened to this via the Libby app and my public library.
April 1, 2020
The Numbers Game is yet another solid contemporary romance from the well known Danielle Steel. This book is one that follows several different characters, relationships and changes the point of view between them to give readers a look into all angles of those relationships.
The story begins with Eileen Jackson who is an ordinary wife and mother who has put her family first her whole marriage. Eileen was happy with how her life turned out until she finds out her husband, Paul, has been hiding an affair which makes Eileen question just what she gave up being the faithful wife.
After Eileen and Paul split up they both begin to go their own ways and follow the paths that seem right for them. Eileen decides to go back to school to take cooking lessons as she always wanted to become a chef all the while Paul finds the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Again, I must start with Danielle Steel’s novels have been one of those guilty pleasures for years for me so I always go in expecting to enjoy the story. Thankfully again The Numbers Game did not disappoint and I found myself easily caught up in the story and with the characters. The story flows easily from one character to the next and it’s great to see things from all sides as it expands to include more than the original couple. Definitely another I think long time fans and new fans alike will enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
The story begins with Eileen Jackson who is an ordinary wife and mother who has put her family first her whole marriage. Eileen was happy with how her life turned out until she finds out her husband, Paul, has been hiding an affair which makes Eileen question just what she gave up being the faithful wife.
After Eileen and Paul split up they both begin to go their own ways and follow the paths that seem right for them. Eileen decides to go back to school to take cooking lessons as she always wanted to become a chef all the while Paul finds the grass is not always greener on the other side.
Again, I must start with Danielle Steel’s novels have been one of those guilty pleasures for years for me so I always go in expecting to enjoy the story. Thankfully again The Numbers Game did not disappoint and I found myself easily caught up in the story and with the characters. The story flows easily from one character to the next and it’s great to see things from all sides as it expands to include more than the original couple. Definitely another I think long time fans and new fans alike will enjoy.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 30, 2019
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this novel.
Eileen's world is rocked when her husband of 18 years cheats on her with a much younger woman. Sound familiar? Yeah, I bet it does, because Steel has written this same book several times. This was clearly a phone it in book that I scanned very quickly. There were many characters and subplots, but none of it added any value. This is essentially the same book Steel writes when she has a deadline to meet and needs material. Woman gets cheated on by husband. Younger woman. MIdlife crisis. Younger woman is selfish and gorgeous (obviously). An older matriarch that doesn't look or act her age, and has a bohemian lifestyle, while her daughter is much more staid and traditional. I've read this book a hundred times, just with different character names.
Books like this FRUSTRATE me because I know Steel can do better. She HAS done better. I feel like sometimes she tries to write too many books within a time span, and the result is tripe like this that takes no effort or brain power to read. If you are looking for a mindless read that you can scan 75% of and still know exactly what is happening, this is the book for you.
Eileen's world is rocked when her husband of 18 years cheats on her with a much younger woman. Sound familiar? Yeah, I bet it does, because Steel has written this same book several times. This was clearly a phone it in book that I scanned very quickly. There were many characters and subplots, but none of it added any value. This is essentially the same book Steel writes when she has a deadline to meet and needs material. Woman gets cheated on by husband. Younger woman. MIdlife crisis. Younger woman is selfish and gorgeous (obviously). An older matriarch that doesn't look or act her age, and has a bohemian lifestyle, while her daughter is much more staid and traditional. I've read this book a hundred times, just with different character names.
Books like this FRUSTRATE me because I know Steel can do better. She HAS done better. I feel like sometimes she tries to write too many books within a time span, and the result is tripe like this that takes no effort or brain power to read. If you are looking for a mindless read that you can scan 75% of and still know exactly what is happening, this is the book for you.
March 13, 2020
I’ve said it before and I’ll repeat myself for you people in the back: DS books are like comfort food to me and right now this was exactly what I needed to lose myself in.
February 11, 2020
If you have not read a Danielle Steel this will be a great read for a family dynamic type novel, If you have read Danielle Steel, well you have probably read this one a few times. A cheating husband, the wife who he made strong, pregnant daughter and how they handle their situations. It got a 4 star for the ones who haven't read any of her works. A really quick read.
February 27, 2020
Danielle Steel has written over 150 novels. They all end up on the best seller list. Yet some of my fellow avid readers seem to downplay or don't admit that they are fans. Well, I am. There's something comforting about knowing that there will be a good story that wraps up nicely. This isn't a spoiler alert. This is simply what you get when you read Danielle Steel. Some of her recent books have been darker than usual. Good to see an author continually trying new things.
The Numbers Game is back to what Steel does best. It's my favorite type of book from this author as it is about relationships. About family. About love. About living up to one's potential. And what is special about this book is that it is a multi-generational story – “numbers” in the title refers to people’s ages. The center of the story is a couple with school age children – the marriage has not provided this seemingly happy couple with the type of deep love they each yearn for. They have settled in their aspirations. Their 17-year old daughter is maturing fast and is working to handle the ups and downs of first-love. There are characters we meet who are up to 93 years of age. Each one is seeking fulfilling relationships yet mistakes are made along the way.
There are no great surprises here. But this is a nice, light read that reaffirms that age is just a number and that everyone should strive for love and happiness. It’s never too late....what a nice thought.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House – Ballantine and the incredible Ms. Steel for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book in advance. Keep ‘em coming!
Review posted at MicheleReader.com
The Numbers Game is back to what Steel does best. It's my favorite type of book from this author as it is about relationships. About family. About love. About living up to one's potential. And what is special about this book is that it is a multi-generational story – “numbers” in the title refers to people’s ages. The center of the story is a couple with school age children – the marriage has not provided this seemingly happy couple with the type of deep love they each yearn for. They have settled in their aspirations. Their 17-year old daughter is maturing fast and is working to handle the ups and downs of first-love. There are characters we meet who are up to 93 years of age. Each one is seeking fulfilling relationships yet mistakes are made along the way.
There are no great surprises here. But this is a nice, light read that reaffirms that age is just a number and that everyone should strive for love and happiness. It’s never too late....what a nice thought.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House – Ballantine and the incredible Ms. Steel for the opportunity to read this enjoyable book in advance. Keep ‘em coming!
Review posted at MicheleReader.com
February 18, 2021
A heartwarming story about family ups and Downs. A story of second chances and moving on with your life. Very well written. Great characters that draw you into the story. I loved every minute of the story and hated to see it end.
March 13, 2020
Really awesome book by Danielle Steel with a pace that moved fast and with characters that you actually enjoy reading about (except Paul…Paul was a tool). I love Danielle Steel books for times when you don’t want intensity and you want to have something to feel good about after you finish reading it. With the pandemic going on, it is really nice to escape into a book.
March 20, 2020
The story and characters were very engaging but the constant repetition of characters' thoughts and plot points drove me crazy! The novel could have been a short story!
January 24, 2020
There is nothing better than getting lost in a Danielle Steel novel and this one was a wonderful read! So many feelings were touched on in this story and it was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. No matter your age, change can be a wonderful thing. I thank Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this great book.
May 21, 2020
I hadn’t read a Danielle steel book before but knew her name. Oh my gosh, how boring! I felt like she was writing for third graders where everything was tied up in a nice little bow every other paragraph. Very predictable and I found myself rolling my eyes and speed reading to the end.
April 19, 2023
*
‘If you play the game, you have to be willing to pay the price.’
Big-name author Danielle Steel currently has written over one hundred and fifty book in her career and this number continues to rise by the month. The Numbers Game is a typical Danielle steel contemporary fiction novel. A story concerned with family, relationships, love, change and heartache, The Numbers Game is a cursory novel for fans of the author.
A factory model Danielle Steel novel about three different generations of women, The Numbers Game was released in March 2020. The Numbers Game introduces a number of different characters. One of the core protagonists leading this tale is Eileen Jackson. With martial troubles and confidence issues plaguing her, Eileen is finding it very challenging to deal with her personal issues. But when she finally finds the strength to seize control over her life, she realises she may finally be able to fulfil the dreams she cast aside years go. Meanwhile Olivia Waters is a twenty something who has the world at her feet. She is smart, gorgeous and has achieved success in her life despite her young age. When Eileen’s husband Paul falls hard for Olivia, this young woman grapples with her feelings for this family man. Olivia is after a fun and carefree romance, but Paul brings family baggage to this relationship. Olivia knows that this love affair I doomed as her aspirations come before this suitor. The final voice in the numbers Game is a Gabrielle, a ninety-year-old woman and Olivia’s grandmother, who has made a name for herself as a talented artist. This renowned sculptor is all about embracing everything life throws at you. Gabrielle is determined to live life to it’s fullest, even in her twilight years. These three women will learn about the hard times, chances and opportunities that must be embraced to experience the brighter days.
Danielle Steel has written many novels in the career concerning family affairs, love matches, heartbreak, choices, changes bad relationships. These common themes seem to attract Steel's faithful fans a newcomer, as her novels seem to continually enter the bestseller charts. The Numbers Game is typical Danielle Steel trope. There are no surprises with this narrative, but there is also a sense of ease and comfort for readers going into The Numbers Game.
Taking on the viewpoints of three different women, this March 2020 Danielle Steel release is a personal growth style story. We witness the downfall and resurrection of these characters as the story progresses. Though these three core protagonists are varied in age, their issues are common. Almost too common with the mistress related sub plot. The key cast go through areas of happiness, triumph, failure, tough decisions, heartache and fulfilment. The shifts in perspective between Olivia, Eileen and Gabrielle attempt to build a picture of each respective woman and although it seems to flow okay, despite the fact that it is minus any full angle investigation into any of leads lives. This aspect did irk me, but maybe I need to give up my hope that one day Danielle Steel will launch into a thorough characters exploration of her leads. I enjoyed the beginning storyline about young Pennie having to make a difficult decision, this did draw me in at the start. Olivia’s affair was nothing amazing really and the other two women’s lives were average fillers. I seemed to go through the motions while reading this one. I do admit to skip reading The Numbers Game at times, which was easy to do as it was a fast, light and easy read.
Steel’s messages about the positive and negative aspects of family life, affairs of the heart, age, generational differences, life changing choices, crisis points, accepting personal challenges, rebuilding procedures and moving on all play a part in The Numbers Game. The cast gain perspective as the story travels along and eventually they reach that expected happy close that readers come to expect from Steel’s books. Save The Numbers Game for a lazy day, I read this while nursing a hangover! It is a tale that makes no demands!
*Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
‘If you play the game, you have to be willing to pay the price.’
Big-name author Danielle Steel currently has written over one hundred and fifty book in her career and this number continues to rise by the month. The Numbers Game is a typical Danielle steel contemporary fiction novel. A story concerned with family, relationships, love, change and heartache, The Numbers Game is a cursory novel for fans of the author.
A factory model Danielle Steel novel about three different generations of women, The Numbers Game was released in March 2020. The Numbers Game introduces a number of different characters. One of the core protagonists leading this tale is Eileen Jackson. With martial troubles and confidence issues plaguing her, Eileen is finding it very challenging to deal with her personal issues. But when she finally finds the strength to seize control over her life, she realises she may finally be able to fulfil the dreams she cast aside years go. Meanwhile Olivia Waters is a twenty something who has the world at her feet. She is smart, gorgeous and has achieved success in her life despite her young age. When Eileen’s husband Paul falls hard for Olivia, this young woman grapples with her feelings for this family man. Olivia is after a fun and carefree romance, but Paul brings family baggage to this relationship. Olivia knows that this love affair I doomed as her aspirations come before this suitor. The final voice in the numbers Game is a Gabrielle, a ninety-year-old woman and Olivia’s grandmother, who has made a name for herself as a talented artist. This renowned sculptor is all about embracing everything life throws at you. Gabrielle is determined to live life to it’s fullest, even in her twilight years. These three women will learn about the hard times, chances and opportunities that must be embraced to experience the brighter days.
Danielle Steel has written many novels in the career concerning family affairs, love matches, heartbreak, choices, changes bad relationships. These common themes seem to attract Steel's faithful fans a newcomer, as her novels seem to continually enter the bestseller charts. The Numbers Game is typical Danielle Steel trope. There are no surprises with this narrative, but there is also a sense of ease and comfort for readers going into The Numbers Game.
Taking on the viewpoints of three different women, this March 2020 Danielle Steel release is a personal growth style story. We witness the downfall and resurrection of these characters as the story progresses. Though these three core protagonists are varied in age, their issues are common. Almost too common with the mistress related sub plot. The key cast go through areas of happiness, triumph, failure, tough decisions, heartache and fulfilment. The shifts in perspective between Olivia, Eileen and Gabrielle attempt to build a picture of each respective woman and although it seems to flow okay, despite the fact that it is minus any full angle investigation into any of leads lives. This aspect did irk me, but maybe I need to give up my hope that one day Danielle Steel will launch into a thorough characters exploration of her leads. I enjoyed the beginning storyline about young Pennie having to make a difficult decision, this did draw me in at the start. Olivia’s affair was nothing amazing really and the other two women’s lives were average fillers. I seemed to go through the motions while reading this one. I do admit to skip reading The Numbers Game at times, which was easy to do as it was a fast, light and easy read.
Steel’s messages about the positive and negative aspects of family life, affairs of the heart, age, generational differences, life changing choices, crisis points, accepting personal challenges, rebuilding procedures and moving on all play a part in The Numbers Game. The cast gain perspective as the story travels along and eventually they reach that expected happy close that readers come to expect from Steel’s books. Save The Numbers Game for a lazy day, I read this while nursing a hangover! It is a tale that makes no demands!
*Thank you to the publisher for a review copy.
March 15, 2020
This is a wonderful story about a family with a teenage daughter and twin boys. Paul and Eileen had to get married 18 years ago and neither of them accomplished what they had set out to do. When Paul's affair was discovered, Eileen decides to finally chase her dream of becoming a world class chef and caterer. All of the characters are fabulous and rich which is typical of Danielle Steel's books. This one does not disappoint.
January 3, 2026
this was a good one!! i absolutely LOVED the way it all tied together- what a beautiful happy ending 🥹
January 28, 2020
Probably closer to 3.5 stars for me.
Overall, I liked this book. There were quite a few disconnects for me. In the beginning, I struggled to understand the core main characters. It starts out in great detail about Pennie and Tim, then shifts to Eileen and Paul, in a way that was really disjointed to me. It was a recoverable, but confusing beginning. Once I got going with things I generally enjoyed the book despite its predictability and "repetitive" storyline (as in, I've read this subject over and over again). The characters were decent (other than Paul being an ass, but again, predictable). I found Olivia's family to be a great diversion - her grandmother was simply a jewel of a character and breathed some life and interest into the book. Olivia was also an ass (again, predictable) and too much focus was put on her character for my taste. I enjoyed Pennie and her maturity about her circumstances and the changes in her family and life. This wasn't a barn burner, but it was a good "lose yourself for a few days" book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Overall, I liked this book. There were quite a few disconnects for me. In the beginning, I struggled to understand the core main characters. It starts out in great detail about Pennie and Tim, then shifts to Eileen and Paul, in a way that was really disjointed to me. It was a recoverable, but confusing beginning. Once I got going with things I generally enjoyed the book despite its predictability and "repetitive" storyline (as in, I've read this subject over and over again). The characters were decent (other than Paul being an ass, but again, predictable). I found Olivia's family to be a great diversion - her grandmother was simply a jewel of a character and breathed some life and interest into the book. Olivia was also an ass (again, predictable) and too much focus was put on her character for my taste. I enjoyed Pennie and her maturity about her circumstances and the changes in her family and life. This wasn't a barn burner, but it was a good "lose yourself for a few days" book.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2020
Another bestseller by Danielle Steele!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In my opinion most of her books are that we know everything's gonna work out great & the main characters are gonna end up happy cliche but Ms Steele writes her stories in ways that make you stick with the characters just to follow them on their journey to happiness. Ya know you don't get bored on the journey because you're so invested in them and the families. We have Elaine and Paul- a couple in their forties who are married w/three children. They got married because they were pregnant without their fist child back in the days when it was expected it them. A series of events make them realize that that's not the path they shld have taken in their lives. You don't always do what is expected of you if it doesn't make you happy. Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Books for my honest review.
November 23, 2019
If anyone ever wonders why Danielle Steel always winds up on the best seller list, reading this novel will remind you! Starting with family crises, and life changes, Steel takes her characters through many traumatic changes, towards hopeful futures.
She is able to show the resilience of her female characters in rebuilding lives after devastating experiences. Each female character in this book is extremely likable and admirable. The women are nicely developed and moved toward a future that is not what the reader initially expects.
This is simply a lovely book, that makes the reader happy as the characters move toward their own happy endings
Thank you Netgalley! Another book I enjoyed reading and reviewing.
She is able to show the resilience of her female characters in rebuilding lives after devastating experiences. Each female character in this book is extremely likable and admirable. The women are nicely developed and moved toward a future that is not what the reader initially expects.
This is simply a lovely book, that makes the reader happy as the characters move toward their own happy endings
Thank you Netgalley! Another book I enjoyed reading and reviewing.
April 4, 2020
This is the first Danielle Steel book I have read in the past few years and I enjoyed it very much. The story surrounds two families whose lives intertwine through an extramarital affair. The story is told from the perspective of several characters and provides the reader with insight into the personal growth of each of the characters as well as their relationships to one another. The transition from one character to another is absolutely seamless - a quality I particularly admire.
The message behind the book is that age is really only a number and that it is never too late to follow your dreams and start something new. The book represents multi-generational characters - I particularly loved the story of the oldest couple and their love of life.
I accessed the audiobook version of the book through my Audible subscription and appreciated the performance of Michael Braun.
I recommend this book to those that appreciate Family Fiction, General Fiction or Women's Fiction.
The message behind the book is that age is really only a number and that it is never too late to follow your dreams and start something new. The book represents multi-generational characters - I particularly loved the story of the oldest couple and their love of life.
I accessed the audiobook version of the book through my Audible subscription and appreciated the performance of Michael Braun.
I recommend this book to those that appreciate Family Fiction, General Fiction or Women's Fiction.
July 23, 2020
I enjoyed this one although some of the characters and storylines seemed unnecessary. I think she was just trying to convey different people of different ages in different stages of life and love but it came off a bit muddled at times.
June 16, 2020
I felt that many sentences were repeated over and over. This was not a book that kept my attention at all.
November 23, 2021
I've always enjoyed Danielle Steel's book and this one was just as good. I figured out what the title meant almost at the end of the book though. Typical me.
The characters were well thought out and I knew that Paul and his 27 year old girlfriend weren't going to make it. Eileen was his wife (soon to be ex) she finally got what she wanted out of life before her life with Paul. She got married at a young age when she got pregnant. Their kids were were very mature for their ages. Daughter was 17 and wanted to go to Harvard and 12 year old twin boys.
Then there was Olivia who was Paul's girlfriend who met his kids in a very awkward situation and noone liked each other. Thankfully she ended it with Paul and found her love in her art business and a man in the same field. Her mother Gwen was a movie star and then there is Gabrielle her mom at 92 who was famous in her own right as a sculptress of iron horses. And guess what? She had a boyfriend who she met in Paris a long time ago who she was living with for 14 years and almost as famous as her as a photographer at age 84.
As always, the ending was steeped in love for all three couples.
The characters were well thought out and I knew that Paul and his 27 year old girlfriend weren't going to make it. Eileen was his wife (soon to be ex) she finally got what she wanted out of life before her life with Paul. She got married at a young age when she got pregnant. Their kids were were very mature for their ages. Daughter was 17 and wanted to go to Harvard and 12 year old twin boys.
Then there was Olivia who was Paul's girlfriend who met his kids in a very awkward situation and noone liked each other. Thankfully she ended it with Paul and found her love in her art business and a man in the same field. Her mother Gwen was a movie star and then there is Gabrielle her mom at 92 who was famous in her own right as a sculptress of iron horses. And guess what? She had a boyfriend who she met in Paris a long time ago who she was living with for 14 years and almost as famous as her as a photographer at age 84.
As always, the ending was steeped in love for all three couples.
August 6, 2021
This book reminds you that life has many chapters. When one closes, another one begins. Age is no number. Things turn out the way they are meant to. I loved reading this book and following the several characters.
September 11, 2025
Quick enjoyable read! Pretty predictable, no real twists and turns. Makes you see perspectives from different ages of life and most characters have a happy ending which was nice for a change. Character growth was strong.
June 11, 2020
Paul Jackson dumps his wife (Eileen) for a younger woman.
April 21, 2023
This book had it’s moments, but not my favorite.
June 17, 2020
I haven’t picked up a Danielle Steel book in over 20 years, smug in my belief I had outgrown her and moved on to more highbrow literature. So I was somewhat surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Sure there are glaring flaws, but I didn’t let that niggle me. For example we are lead to believe that an international film star living in a New York penthouse catches Uber’s everywhere? What is she saving for her retirement? I feel Ms Steel is simply trying to be hip and bring her writing into the 21st century, but it doesn’t quite come off in parts.
The story begins with young Pennie falling pregnant at the tender age of 17, and you think she is the main protagonist. However the story takes a sudden turn and it’s really about the breakdown of her parents’ marriage. Eileen and Paul were forced into marriage when Eileen unexpectedly fell pregnant during college and Paul seemingly has never got over his resentment.
When Paul leaves Eileen after 18 years of marriage for a cliché (much younger and stunningly beautiful woman) I was astounded by how quickly she manages to get her shit together. Literally within a fortnight she is over him and moving on, even planning a 3 month sojourn in Paris to attend a cooking school? From personal experience, and those of a host of friends and acquaintances I know, this is simply not how life works!
The reader has to accept the fact the other woman naturally has a famous actress mother and 92 year old sculptress grandmother, and runs her own international art business at the age of 27 (two Picasso’s excuse me!). We want to hate her for being a selfish, home wrecking whore, but she actually comes to her senses long before the hapless husband Paul, and she earns some respect because of this.
The speed and ease at which Eileen’s catering business gets off the ground, with the help of a handsome, younger Italian stud (officially ‘assistant’) is nothing short of astonishing. I found myself wondering how she could afford to pay his salary before she’d even thought of a business name, let alone pay the employment agency she uses. I actually found that laughable, but carrying on…. Their first catering job turns out to be a $700,000 wedding for 300 guests??? Naturally it all goes off without a hitch. Pretty amazing for someone who hasn’t worked in 18 years and just earnt a certificate from Le Cordon Bleu.
Money is no issue for any of the characters, they all seem loaded. The cheating husband Paul not only give his wife the unencumbered family home, along with child support etc etc, but he has enough left in his coffers to purchase his own family home with pool! Oh and falls for the real estate agent, how tidy! Finances are never discussed, everyone is wealthy, so if you are looking for a gritty, true to life break up story move on.
All the storylines are tied up neatly and of course everyone gets a happy ending. This means that all their dreams come true, they all find a partner and live happily ever after as one big blended family. Again this hasn’t been my experience, and I’m not sure how relatable this is for the majority.
You would think I hated this book to its core, given my nit-picky criticisms. However I actually enjoyed it. Maybe it’s a simple guilty pleasure that I’ve been missing, reading all those Man Booker Prize novels and wading through some truly second rate crime thrillers of late. So if you’re like me and think that Danielle Steel is part of your youth (I'm talking to all my high school buddies), I suggest you give her another go. It doesn’t require too much thought, just go with the flow and you might find yourself consuming every page like I did. I read it in 2 days which is probably how long it took for Ms Steel to write it (insert grinning emoji).
The story begins with young Pennie falling pregnant at the tender age of 17, and you think she is the main protagonist. However the story takes a sudden turn and it’s really about the breakdown of her parents’ marriage. Eileen and Paul were forced into marriage when Eileen unexpectedly fell pregnant during college and Paul seemingly has never got over his resentment.
When Paul leaves Eileen after 18 years of marriage for a cliché (much younger and stunningly beautiful woman) I was astounded by how quickly she manages to get her shit together. Literally within a fortnight she is over him and moving on, even planning a 3 month sojourn in Paris to attend a cooking school? From personal experience, and those of a host of friends and acquaintances I know, this is simply not how life works!
The reader has to accept the fact the other woman naturally has a famous actress mother and 92 year old sculptress grandmother, and runs her own international art business at the age of 27 (two Picasso’s excuse me!). We want to hate her for being a selfish, home wrecking whore, but she actually comes to her senses long before the hapless husband Paul, and she earns some respect because of this.
The speed and ease at which Eileen’s catering business gets off the ground, with the help of a handsome, younger Italian stud (officially ‘assistant’) is nothing short of astonishing. I found myself wondering how she could afford to pay his salary before she’d even thought of a business name, let alone pay the employment agency she uses. I actually found that laughable, but carrying on…. Their first catering job turns out to be a $700,000 wedding for 300 guests??? Naturally it all goes off without a hitch. Pretty amazing for someone who hasn’t worked in 18 years and just earnt a certificate from Le Cordon Bleu.
Money is no issue for any of the characters, they all seem loaded. The cheating husband Paul not only give his wife the unencumbered family home, along with child support etc etc, but he has enough left in his coffers to purchase his own family home with pool! Oh and falls for the real estate agent, how tidy! Finances are never discussed, everyone is wealthy, so if you are looking for a gritty, true to life break up story move on.
All the storylines are tied up neatly and of course everyone gets a happy ending. This means that all their dreams come true, they all find a partner and live happily ever after as one big blended family. Again this hasn’t been my experience, and I’m not sure how relatable this is for the majority.
You would think I hated this book to its core, given my nit-picky criticisms. However I actually enjoyed it. Maybe it’s a simple guilty pleasure that I’ve been missing, reading all those Man Booker Prize novels and wading through some truly second rate crime thrillers of late. So if you’re like me and think that Danielle Steel is part of your youth (I'm talking to all my high school buddies), I suggest you give her another go. It doesn’t require too much thought, just go with the flow and you might find yourself consuming every page like I did. I read it in 2 days which is probably how long it took for Ms Steel to write it (insert grinning emoji).
October 24, 2020
*sigh* Another Danielle Steel, in which everything wraps up so perfectly at the end. I really have to stop reading these books. Eileen is a housewife and mother of three who had to give up her dreams when she got pregnant young, and Paul is her cheating husband who gave up his own dreams to marry Eileen and raise their children. The couple settled into a comfortable suburban Connecticut life where neither one is happy. Paul has an affair with the much-younger Olivia, and after kicking him out, Eileen decides the time is right to put herself first for a change. She basically up and leaves her family to study in Paris and them comes back and starts her own business, which of course does perfectly well. Everything always works out so easily for these characters, and it is totally unrealistic, often annoyingly so.
December 28, 2020
As the blurb suggests; ' its never too late to start a new page and start again!'.
Steel continues to voice family issues in most of her books. The Numbers Game hits the sensitive spots - family break up and extra marital affairs.
Mothers' advices ring true :
a) If he cheated on her, he will obviously do that on you.
b) Breaking up a family isn't a nice thing to do.
c) Keep your eyes open and don't lie to yourself.
d) Just be careful!
The flow of the plot makes the book an exciting read! I couldn't put it down.
Women should be like Eileen, she stands her ground doesn't cry after her worthless husband nor stands in his way. Instead, she lets him had his choice and in the end, she's the winner!!
Thank you for the story, a real life scenario Danielle Steel!
Steel continues to voice family issues in most of her books. The Numbers Game hits the sensitive spots - family break up and extra marital affairs.
Mothers' advices ring true :
a) If he cheated on her, he will obviously do that on you.
b) Breaking up a family isn't a nice thing to do.
c) Keep your eyes open and don't lie to yourself.
d) Just be careful!
The flow of the plot makes the book an exciting read! I couldn't put it down.
Women should be like Eileen, she stands her ground doesn't cry after her worthless husband nor stands in his way. Instead, she lets him had his choice and in the end, she's the winner!!
Thank you for the story, a real life scenario Danielle Steel!
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