The Affair

by Danielle Steel, Jim Frangione (Narrator)

When Rose McCarthy’s staff at Mode magazine pitches a cover shoot with Hollywood’s hottest young actress, the actress’s sizzling affair with a bestselling French author is exposed. The author happens to be Rose’s son-in-law, which creates a painful dilemma for her. Her daughter Nadia, a talented interior designer, has been struggling to hold her marriage together, and conceal the truth from their young daughters, her family, and the world. But Nicolas, her straying husband, is blinded by passion for a younger woman—and not only that, she is pregnant with his child.

Nadia’s three sisters close ranks around her, flying to Paris from Los Angeles and New York to lend support and offer their widely divergent advice. Athena, a jovial celebrity chef with her own TV show in Los Angeles, is leery of marriage. Olivia, a stern conservative New York superior court judge, is haunted by a shocking secret of her own. Venetia, a zany fashion designer, happily married with three kids, has the gentlest, most realistic point of view. Despite their well-meaning advice, Nadia needs to figure out what she herself thinks, and what to do next.

The Affair is about the painful journey to discover who you are, what you want, and how much forgiveness and compromise you are capable of in order to be loved. It’s about finding yourself at the crossroads of life when everything is on the line. It’s about the hard lessons we are forced to learn about others and ourselves. Right up until its final twist, this gripping novel is full of powerful insights about who we love, how much—and even how much we love ourselves.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Contemporary, Ebooks, Adult, Contemporary Romance

Audible Audio

First published January 1, 2021

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

[Alex (Alex's Version) · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is by far the worst Danielle Steel book I've read. I might need to stop reading her, as all of her characters are beautiful and perfect, which gets old.

I laughed out loud when the mistress got pregnant and it moved him deeply?

Danielle Steel, get fucking real.

All she writes about is fashion. Someone is in the middle of a divorce, and she talks about a fucking Birkin bag? Get the fuck out of here!

Olivia didn't take drugs while in labor because she cheated on her husband? She didn't want to say anything to reveal the secret and she wanted to feel the pain. I laughed so fucking hard.

And we know Olivia is a Trump supporter! How many goddamn times do we need to be told? Most people don't forget what they just fucking read. Does Danielle Steel forget what she just wrote? It seems as if the author was challenging herself to figure out how many times she could repeat one thing in sentence variations.

And you can't forget the chapter that describes Athena and Joe as a good match because they are both heavyset. That made me livid.

She describes all these cute, great form-fitting outfits the other sisters wear to something, and then she literally says, "Athena wore a flowing white dress to cover her shape." It's obvious that Danielle Steel hates overweight people. She wrote a book about 10 years ago called "Big Girl," and it was pretty obvious that she has disdain for heavier people.

And the mother is a terrible mother, like Joan Crawford bad. And the fucking book tries to paint her as a wonderful mother. She's like Rose is the Eva Braun of mothers.

The theme of this book was forgiveness, which is wonderful and so important, but you remarry the man that cheated on you with a twenty-two-year-old bimbo and gets knocked up and is on the cover of every fashion magazine, including the one that the jilted wife's mother runs. Nadia forgives her mother as well. There is forgiveness, and then there is being a moron. Danielle Steel wrote and created a weak, pathetic protagonist in 2021. Frankly, she should be ashamed of herself.

One star from me. That is being more than kind after this filthy and disgusting book. Oh, I have canceled all my five pre-ordered upcoming books by her. I'm so offended by this book.

[Dilek VT]

Do I want to read about an idiot who takes her husband back after he had an affair with a younger woman, flaunted it all over and impregnated her??

Do I want to read about a doormat heroine with no backbone, no self-respect or pride?

Do I want to read about a disgusting hero who gets away with cheating?

No, thanks but no.

*********************************************

You can follow my Instagram page from here

[Samu · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could give this one negetive stars I would. I hated it so much that I'm never reading any book by this author. Cheating, in fiction, is not that much of trigger for me if done properly. But this was way too much. The heroine was the most pathetic person ever. And the hero was a lying cheating scumbag with absolutely no redeeming qualities at all.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

For the last 15 years, every Danielle Steel novel is the same: main characters are wealthy, thin, good looking and successful. Even when the predictable terrible event happens to them, they rise up and the book has a happy ending. She constantly repeats character or scene details, oftentimes on the same page or chapter. I think the author has lost touch with reality and how “normal” people live. I would have loved to see her adopt a more realistic storyline where readers can actually relate but I’ll never know because this book was my last Danielle Steel novel.

[Ghost Orchid · Rating 1 out of 5]

Honestly, I don't think Nicholas ever really understood the depths of the hurt caused by his selfish behaviour - that's what makes me the most mad. Nadia is a saint and I can understand why she would make the decisions she made, but really - Nicholas is a selfish shit who deserves to burn in the firey pits of hell. F*ck him and his decisions to continue to publicly humiliate his wife by (1) cavorting with his mistress in public and taking her to his friends' houses; (2) doing the interview - he could have just said no to the picture or the interview; and (3) constantly insisting he is in love with his wife to his wife and then leaving their home and to return to his mistress where they are constantly photographed!!! Also cheating doesn't just "happen"- a man's penis does not accidentally land inside a woman - and neither does announcing it to the public infront of reporters at a film festival... He really just could not care less about his wife or daughters. Just cannot with this pile of steaming sh*t.

Would give this a score of a negative million if I was allowed. Please never pop up on my radar ever again. I desperately hope that the memory of this book is wiped from my brain asap.

[Avani ✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

The book did not work for me at all.
I had to literally go through the pain for 150 pages, it was that bad.
I could read it further.
The plot is boring, the characters are just there blabbering their story and I could not even withstand it.
I did not care about a single character in this book or the plot to actually continue the book.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the story was not realistic in the slightest, I did enjoy how brave and strong and poised the h was through most of the book. I would have preferred her stay strong but I guess DS felt this was the better ending. (It wasn’t)

[Readaholic Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the characters, especially Nadia, Rose and the sisters. I love see how they grow. I detest Pascale. Overall, it's a good book.

[wrkatreading · Rating 2 out of 5]

Save your money

This review may contain spoilers. So be warned. The two stars is for the writing. I hated the story. The hurt and and humiliation that the male MC did to his wife was totally unforgivable. There was no grovel. Ms. Steel wrote the MMC aged in his 40s. He thought that he could still keep his mistress (aged 22) and have his wife waiting for him when their affair was over. REALLY? The author used the French culture of having other partners in relationships to no avail. I didn’t buy it. At no time in the book did I think the MMC felt remorse. He talked about it but the author didn’t make me believe it.
Save your money and wait, if there is one for the movie.

[Marianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where to begin. First off, I'm starting to feel like all Danielle Steel books are the same. Maybe not the plot, but the characters. They're all the absolute best looking, richest, and most successful people on the planet. Just once I'd like to read a Danielle Steel book about an Average Joe. There's not much I can say about this book without giving away the ending, which is what I had the most problems with. The ending to this book was by far the dumbest ending of any book I've ever read. To say I was completely exasperated and dumbfounded would be an understatement. I feel like giving this book two stars is being generous, but I didn't completely hate it, which is why I didn't give it only one. Definitely not my favorite Danielle Steel.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an eARC of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Bianca Braithwaite · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wayyyy too much repetition. Rehash of the affair throughout three quarters of the book to the point where you skip over parts because you already know that information. Plot didn’t really change until close to the end and then it was just a blip on the screen.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie, I liked the characters. The sisters were interesting. Danielle used a bit of fat shaming on the one sister that I did not care for. Many times concepts were brought up over and over as if Danielle had a word count. One example was the sister with the dogs. At least twice we are reminded that she wasn't married and loved dogs but did not want children.

I did not like how easy Nadia's character used Harley's example to forgive. It was so much different and we already saw how weak and "French" Nicolas was. The title should of been "Doormat". It was not just a book about forgiveness, otherwise, the better story would of been Harley and Olivia.

I was sickened when Nicolas would go back to Pascale and have sex with her all the while pleading with Nadia. It was weak on his character.

So I'm not going to recommend book. I could barely finish book and cared less.

[Shelleen Toland · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Rose McCarthy’s staff at Mode magazine pitches a cover shoot with Hollywood’s hottest young actress, the actress’s sizzling affair with a bestselling French author is exposed. The author happens to be Rose’s son-in-law, which creates a painful dilemma for her. Her daughter Nadia, a talented interior designer, has been struggling to hold her marriage together, and conceal the truth from their young daughters, her family, and the world. But Nicolas, her straying husband, is blinded by passion for a younger woman—and not only that, she is pregnant with his child.
I loved Rose and her daughters. They are always there for each other and brutally honest with each other. So when Nicholas has this affair and it is plastered all over the news media, Nadia's family is there for her.
I hated Nicholas from the start. He is a very selfish man. Wanting Nadia to wait for him while his fling runs its course, I was like oh Hell No. Nadia's emotions are all over the place, which I get but what he does and acts like is infuriating. She doesn't need him or his money since she has a great business of her own.
I enjoyed all of this book except for the end. I was not happy with what Nadia's choice was.
I received this ARC for review from NetGalley and Delacorte Press.

[Sherri Thacker · Rating 3 out of 5]

I always request a Danielle Steel book when they are available in NetGalley because I have read them all. This one was just ok. The whole book revolves around “The Affair”, hence the name of the book. Nadia drove me crazy, constantly taking back Nicolas who was the one who got “caught” having the affair and of course, there were consequences they all had to live with. But somehow I could not put this book down and wanted to see how it ended. This is my 35th Danielle Steel novel I have read. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review. This will be published in Spring 2021.

[Myra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have always this author because of the way she builds her character, develops her plots, and shows strong, independent, smart women
Her books are very easy to read and one becomes completely engrossed in her story. This is just what I was expecting from this author but each book gets better and better.

This story is about 4 sisters and their mother and one very ardent love affair which ruins a marriage but brings together the sisters and mom in spite of the heartache. They each find their strengths and come clean with each other making the family bond stronger. The very public affair that resulted in a pregnancy has become a medium to make each female a stronger group.

[Kathy Zorn · Rating 1 out of 5]

Seriously????????? What a waste of my time.

[Lois · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book feels like a piece of tabloid journalism/sensationalism. I wish I had read the reviews from readers before I ordered this book from the library. I loved the closeness between Rose and her 4 daughters. They are all so different. And Nadia has a good head on her shoulders.

However, I hated Pasquale! Such a selfish person! Young people may relate to her; however, Steel’s readership is of a generation that doesn’t tolerate or understand people like her. If this is the kind of story that she is going to tell, I am done. And Nicholas - get real! If you love someone you don’t ignore them. They are not less important than your mistress! “Oh I made a mistake, but now I have to see it through! I’ll be back after the baby is born.” Balderdash!!!

Thanks to other reviewers, I know how this book ends. I am hoping to understand the reasons and like them. Will get back to finish this then. But I wanted to get this much written....

I am disappointed in the ending - not because of what it is, but because there was not sufficient reason to make the choice. A lot more would have had to be explained to make it seem a reasonable response. That choice would not have been made in real life quite as easily as was made out.

[Lisa Sickles · Rating 1 out of 5]

Worst book from this author in a very long time. I’ve always admired the way the author writes about strong independent women. This time it was about a weak, easily manipulated woman who is conned (twice!!) by a cheater. A real let down.

[Jennifer Warwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Dear Danielle Steel,

You are no longer allowed to write fat/curvy/robust characters again. In this book you went with the "jolly fat person" trope who also was partnered with another "jolly fat person", because goodness knows that fat people must only be partnered with one another. In your previous book Neighbors you made the fat characters downright evil and used so many negative descriptors I realized that you really must hate fat people. In The Affair, you take Athena, who could have had a very interesting storyline and you boil her down to a fat chef who doesn't have kids, who has a fat chef for a partner and they're so happy with the life they have created. All of that at face value is great, but she could have been more developed, she could have worn clothing that was described like all the slender, chic characters and not just "a flowy dress to cover her size." Your disdain for people who don't fit in your beauty standard mold is so obvious at this point. I've read every single one of your books and your fat shaming has gotten so bad it's hard to overcome it and read the book around it.

Now, that said, there are also so many other problems with this book, the ending being the obvious biggest problem. I know people change with age and the writing style of your earlier books seems to have faded. Where did the author who wrote about race in the south in the 60s (Full Circle) or about a family struggling through addiction, different points of view, and learning to accept their gay son in the 60s/70s (Family Album) go? Now you moralize so heavily it makes me wonder if you actually still live in San Francisco, one of the lost liberal cities in the country. Using "honorable, respectable, and conservative" as positive character descriptors over and over and over again surely tells your readers where your social and political leanings are. I could forgive all of that for an interesting story, or at least a well written one. Get a new editor, one who will tell you to stop repeating yourself ad nauseum.

I've only ever written one other review and that was also to ask you to do better (not that you're reading this) and remember how you used to actually write strong women. Go read your earlier books again because your female leads from Full Circle, Kaleidescape, Family Album, etc are very disappointed in you.

[Carolyn · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my favorite. Normally, I would refer to the male character as our hero. Can't do that here as he was a selfish, self-centered, immature fool! That ending? Really? Nope!

[Craig and Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

The latest from popular bestseller Danielle Steel is an emotional drama about a mother and her four daughters and The Affair that brings the family together.
Rose McCarthy is a successful editor for top fashion magazine, Mode.
She spends her days making tough decisions and spends what little free time she has with her four daughters and their families.
Athena, Venetia, Olivia and Nadia are all fortunate in their own careers and lives but when Nadia’s husband has a very public affair with a famous young actress the family bands together to support her.
Heartbroken Nadia leans on her sisters and mother and they all spend more time with each other and come to the realisation about what matters most in life.
I am a long time reader of her books but unfortunately this is definitely one of her worst.
I understood what I was getting into when I picked this up to escape and have an unwind read.
Her books of late have been average with the occasional above average one and at times a good one.
This one was rather repetitive and very disappointing.
Most of the characters you just want to jump in the book and shake.
Bad decisions and unrealistic situations are in abundance here.
I think you get the message and I won’t go on but if you want to read a good Danielle Steel plot, go for her older ones and avoid this one entirely.
May I give Danielle a polite recommendation: hire an editor!

[Ренета Кирова · Rating 1 out of 5]

ПРЕДУПРЕЖДЕНИЕ! Моля, феновете на авторката да не четат отзива ми!
ВЪЗМОЖНО Е ДА СЪДЪРЖА СПОЙЛЕРИ!
Тази книга ме вбеси и за първи път щях да оставя непрочетен роман, но реших от любопитство да продължа. Авторката ме вкара в сюжет с изневяра от страна на мъжа с известна артистка. Медиите с наслада поемат пошлата история и двамата са на кориците на всички списания и вестници. Съпругата на Никола научава от тях новината за забежката му. На всичкото отгоре младата любовница е бременна с неговото дете, а Надя се чуди дали да се развежда. Никола се развява между двете и моли съпругата си да изчака детето да се роди, а той да се върне при нея ни лук ял, ни лук мирисал. А миличката Надя го обича много и се терзае как ще му даде развод. Спирам дотук, краят не ме удовлетвори, макар да е „щастлив“. Не мога да приема такова малодушие от една жена и егоцентричност и манипулативност от един мъж, замаскирани под формата на обич.
Стилът на написване за мен беше ужасен, с много повторения, преповтаряния на душевното състояние на героите. А миличките думи колко обича съпруга си, въпреки неговите забежки и че не иска да го напуска и неговите милички думи да го изчака той да се наживее с новата любов и да се върне при нея, ме тушираха изцяло.

[M]

I can't rate this book...it's well written but it was a bit wierd...the h's husband, who was essentially an idiot child, was asking her for another chance while he was still living with his mistress, who was pregnant with his child, whom he was still intimate with and sleeping with and vacationing with and was wildly and passionately attracted to..not to mention he was pretty happy about this affair baby even though he wanted his wife back...and the wife went along with this for months before finally putting her foot down and kicking him out..and then she takes him back. Does this happen in real life? It seems pretty far fetched

In the h's own words near the end.."I’m going to marry my husband, whom I accidentally divorced, while we christen the baby he had with his mistress, who was the reason for the divorce in the first place. In America, they put you in psychiatric hospitals for this.”

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for a arc copy for a honest review.

This was one of Danielle Steel’s book The Affair that I wasn’t that crazy about I was undecided what to rate it I’m giving this book 3 star ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Happy Reading

Lisa

[Blessings Bookshelf · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was a mixed bag for me. Danielle Steel wrote this book beautifully and captured my attention however the ending for me was a massive let down for me its like she completely erased the character growth that Nadia had gone through and validated Nicholas because he didn’t do much to gain forgiveness or to change.

We are introduced to the main characters through the eyes of Rose, the family matriarch. I loved the dynamic between the four sisters as well as the dynamic between the sisters and their mom. The relationship between them was just beautiful, they were supportive of each other and the genuine affection between them was very clear as well as the strong relationship with Rose, their mother.
I loved the fact that Nadia did not rush to decisions that she weighed how each choice would affect her and her children which I felt was a responsible thing for her to do. This is juxtaposed with Nicholas’ rash decision to find short term, selfish, cheap pleasure with Pascale who kept pushing away any thought of consequences and the effect of his actions on others close to him (ahem…his wife!!!)

Don’t get me wrong I loved the beginning of this book but I was really unhappy with how it ended I don't think that Nicolas just deserves to get back with Nadia I mean he was this selfish asshole, who just took everything for granted. He left and went and lived a cosy life with Pascale, his mistress, until the baby was born and when he realised that Pascale was an immature, immoral and selfish person who didn’t want a long term relationship who couldn’t meet his needs, he turned round and went back to his wife like she was the perfect backup plan if anything went wrong.

Nicholas was a spoilt person who was given no real punishment for his actions. Despite being a wonderful and attentive father to his two children and eventually the baby He did not seem to understand the emotional pain that her was forcing Nadia to go through.

This began as a very nuanced portrayal of a complicated relationship and how an affair affects a marriage and a family but I felt that by the end the author was trying really hard to have the two back together to emphasise forgiveness. But for their to be forgiveness I fell that the person who needs forgiving needs to be at least apologetic which Nicholas isn’t. He never apologised properly nor showed evidence of him changing to be a better man, husband and father
I’m sorry if this review seemed a bit ranty but this book rubbed me the wrong way.

[Monique Laurie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I've just finished this book and put it straight in the rubbish bin. I was concerned someone might see it on the shelf and waste their time reading it!

I seem to remember reading Danielle Steel books when I was younger and finding them predictable but interesting with enjoyable characters. A guilty quick read set in a fantasy world of the rich and famous. This however was not that!

Apart from a spoilt, immature French man having an affair there is absolutely no plot. There is however pages and pages of repetition about everyone's feelings about the affair, interspersed with pages and pages of repetition about four rich sisters and their mothers vacations. And I mean extreme repetition down to the exact same wording about the exact same topic and feelings, sometimes in the same chapter!

There was no reality to any of the characters who were one dimensional and shallow. How often can we hear about what they are eating, what plane they are catching and what fashion they are wearing.
It's hard to warm to any of the women, even the protagonist Nadia who is so caring by giving all of her heart to people to make them happy through her work.....she is highly paid interior designer for the filthy rich, doing up their European holiday homes. She is wonderfully successful, extremely beautiful and an adoring mother and wife. Luckily she also has a house keeper, endless money and access to seemingly endless holidays and holiday homes!

Not to mention the stern, cold mother and the physically 'larger' than the other sister who is the only one who didn't graduate, lives an alternative life (because she's not married despite having a partner) and dresses her dogs up in tutus! Really!

This was an incredibly rubbish read with a disturbing end. What happened to having a strong female character, or at least one that is greater than pathetic!

[Read Rest Recharge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Election Day 2020 and I needed something to get my mind off the pending results. What else would be the perfect escape, but a romance novel by Danielle Steel. Her latest, “The Affair” did not disappoint, and thankfully I can say the same about the election results.
The book opens focusing on an older woman, however, as I continued to read, I soon learned that this matriarch of a family with four daughters was not the main character. It was her youngest daughter who is an interior designer married to writer/film producer and director and lives in Paris. As the title indicates, someone has an adulterous affair. You would think based on that, the story would be pretty cliché, right? And hasn’t the author included plenty of adulterous affairs in her previous books?
This story felt different and ended differently than I expected. Yes, there was a knight in shining armor character, but don’t let that fool you. This story felt more heartfelt and went a little deeper than the usual Danielle Steel books. The heroine didn’t quite feel as helpless and was definitely more in control of her situation, which I happy so see.
As always, there was plenty of glitz and glamour spread amongst the characters and they four sisters and their mother lived all very charmed lives. However this one felt just a little more down to earth. It was enjoyable and distracting. I definitely give this book my vote!
Thanks to Edelweiss, Penguine Random House and Delacorte Press for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest, unbiased review.

[Jennifer Chamaillard · Rating 1 out of 5]

I hated this book. First of all it is so repetitive, throughout the entire book. Second of all I can’t stand books where women are made to look like fools and make stupid choices. What woman in her right mind would take her husband back after he has an affair and flaunts it all over and impregnates her?? The fact that she had to even think about separating from him or divorcing him infuriated me ....and then to cave to him after he kisses her once, after all these months of decision making and getting back to her old self? Just throws that all away after one kiss for a lying cheating husband.

[Jeanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Typical Danielle Steel -- lifestyles of the rich and famous, but let's throw in a French husband who has an "Affair" with a young, aspiring actress. What IS beautiful about this story is the love shared between 4 sisters and their Mother, and how they come together to hold each other up, no matter what. 6 out of 10.

[Dee B · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Affair follows the lives of a successful career woman and her four adult daughters. There’s a lot of focus on one daughter in particularwhos husband embarks on a long public affair.

I have been reading Danielle Steel books for around 20 years and have read all her books. I have always found them to be easy reading complete with hero’s and happy endings. The last five years or so I have began to feel more uncomfortable with elements of her more recent story’s. I’ve picked up on fat shaming, misogyny, the focus that in order to be happy you have to be thin an ‘beautiful’ and ideally have a business that makes you a lot of money, oh and own a big house and be in a relationship. Regardless of how poorly you are treated. I’m not sure if these elements have always cropped and I’ve changed my mind set or if Danielle Steels format has changed. I think I prefer her books that are not set in the current day as the way she writes about women as inferior characters does not represent women in today’s society.

With regards to this book in particular I thought the fact that Rose was this ‘strong’ woman, editor of a major magazine yet she can’t put her foot down on who gets to be on the cover? All these women have these busy lives, big careers kids yet they have plenty of flexibility to drop everything when necessary. Two affairs, both glossed over with little acknowledgment of the consequences and impact and it’s ok because they are all good people. I found Nadia be a weak character who was exploited and treated poorly. And the jibes about Athena and her husbands weight was uncomfortable. The non beautiful people also got the smallest portion of the word count.

As I said I feel Ms Steels old fashioned writing style works better with books set in the past where as a reader I can acknowledge the faults of the characters but also appreciate it’s realistic for the time frame. I’ve gone two stars as inspite of the criticisms I still find her books easy to read and get involved in.