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Second Act

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As the head of a prestigious movie studio for nearly two decades, Andy Westfield has had every conceivable professional luxury: a stunning office on the forty-fourth floor, a loyal assistant who can all but read his mind, access to a private jet and company cars. The son of Hollywood royalty, Andy always put his career before his marriage, and now, besides his daughter and young grandchildren, it’s the only thing he truly loves.

But then Andy’s world is upended. The studio is sold, and the buyer’s son demands the top seat. Out of a job and humiliated, Andy spirals. When his head clears, he decides to get as far away from Los Angeles as possible until the dust settles and he can find a new way forward.

Andy signs a six-month rental agreement for a luxurious home in a tiny, forgotten coastal town two hours from London. When he arrives, he hires a local woman to help get his affairs in order. A former journalist, Violet Smith is at a crossroads as well, and this temporary job is exactly what she needs to tide her over. But when Violet leaves the manuscript of her unfinished novel behind after work one day, Andy lets his curiosity get the best of him and is captivated by a story that begs to be adapted for the big screen. Could this be the miracle they’ve both been looking for?

In Second Act, Danielle Steel presents a heartening tale of how challenging times give way to opportunities and an original outline does not always contain the perfect ending.

272 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 3, 2023

1761 people are currently reading
8298 people want to read

About the author

Danielle Steel

911 books16.8k followers
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

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5 stars
5,854 (46%)
4 stars
3,719 (29%)
3 stars
2,144 (17%)
2 stars
534 (4%)
1 star
211 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews
1 review1 follower
October 14, 2023
won’t be reading Steel again

This is the last Steel book I’ll be reading. How many times can she say the same thing over and over? In different ways or the same way. How can the editor not take out what makes these books twice as long without changing the story. I can pretty much read every other page and not miss anything. Plot too predictable with no drama or twists. Sorry Steel, you’ve lost it.
Profile Image for Tim.
2,497 reviews329 followers
January 5, 2024
A selfish, wealthy socialite mongrel with little care for his wife and daughter... What's not love? The end does not make it worthy. 2 of 10 stars
Profile Image for Sherri Thacker.
1,677 reviews373 followers
August 14, 2023
Second Act, Danielle Steel’s latest book is my 50th book I’ve read of hers! I’ve been reading her books since the 70’s and I can’t wait to read her next book when it comes out. This book is all about second chances of life and you should grab them and hold onto them. I really enjoyed it from beginning to end. Thanks to NetGalley for this early release in exchange for my honest review. To be published October 2023.
Profile Image for Amy A.
68 reviews3 followers
October 10, 2023
I’ve read or tried to read many of Danielle Steel’s books over the years. Back in the 70’s, when I was a teen and working as a lifeguard, I loved her books. Working with a bunch of other girls, we all devoured her books but now, as a 59 year old woman, I think the storylines sound great but her writing style, to me, is just awful. She writes as if she’s a high school junior, writing a 750 word essay and needing to write word salads to make the word count. How many ways can she say how lost Andy finds himself? Or how devoted Francis has been? Or how fragile but strong Violet appears? I know,I know. People love her books and every one of them winds up on the best seller charts. And as I mentioned, I do enjoy her story lines, including this one-hence the three stars. If I were to rate solely based on writing, I’d give it a 1 star.
Profile Image for Loren.
136 reviews41 followers
October 15, 2023
Another beautiful, impossible to put down novel from Danielle Steel. Andy Westfield, a high powered Hollywood CEO loses his position as head of Global Studios in LA. He then leaves for England to lick his wounds and finds love and a more meaningful but much less prestigious career as a screen writer.

This like most of Steel's books involves making life choices - the roads that we follow. The lesson I received is that we are not defined by the jobs we perform - making a living is not making a life.

4.25 stars!
Profile Image for Kaye.
4,341 reviews71 followers
August 30, 2023
(3.5 Stars) If you put the picture of the path to the Seven Sisters Cliffs on the cover of a book I’m going to read it. That the book is a new release from Danielle Steel makes it all the better. The main character is Andy Westfield. He is the son of Hollywood royalty and starting his career as a screenwriter. For the last 19 years he has been head of a major movie studio. He enjoys his wealth and power but knows it cost him his marriage and time with his only child who is now grown. He is blindsided by with the sell of his studio and finds himself without a job. To get away he rents a large house in a tiny coastal town in England. There he meets Violet Smith. Violet was a journalist and takes a job temporarily doing secretarial work for Andy. She has her own past that she is recovering from.

This is great if you are a fan of Steel. Her style of writing is unique as she plows through the story, telling more than showing as the action takes place. Both characters are in need of a second chance. Their situations are different. Andy has money and never needs to work again. But his work is his life more than family or friends. She needs to rebuild her world and writing gives her purpose. Of course the shortish timeframe for them to accomplish what they do seems a little fantastical. Overall an enjoyable story.

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group, Ballantine, Delacorte Press and NetGalley for the ARC and I am leaving an honest review.
30 reviews
November 3, 2023
Appallingly bad writing. About once every two years, I pick up one of Steel's books, thinking "This one will be better." Her writing is trite, repetitive, and on a third grade level of comprehension and emotional maturity. What drek!! I have read that she works on FIVE books at once. Maybe concentrate on only one at a time, take the time to really write, and not insult the intelligence of your readers.
Profile Image for Marles Henry.
945 reviews58 followers
October 29, 2023
After reading my first Danielle Steele novel, I can see why she is popular with so many people. A writer of “happy ever afters” is how I would describe this type of writing, and this book. As I read this I could easily predict what was going to happen – someone with a lavish and opulent lifestyle going through a mini crisis to meet some and sweep them off their feet in the end. It’s a very wordy and repetitive book, always reminding the reader about the anguish of Andy’s life and the resilience of Violet. I found myself flying through it. It actually felt like an abridged story, like they used to print in the back of a Women’s Weekly magazine. Like a Cinderella story. Or in a Sweet Dreams romance book on an adult scale.



All that being said, I can understand how she has become popular and why her formula works for the masses: this is not literary fiction but more general translatable stories balanced with aspiration. Her consistency is the key to her numerous readers, and from her sales its clear it works and she knows it. There wasn’t such substance in Second Act, and after reading this and exploring Danielle Steele’s work a bit more, I can see that it fit the rinse-copy-repeat format that Steele has perfected over time. Definitely would not read anything by this author again, but at least I gave it a go. Thanks @panmacmillanau for the #gifted copy and taking a change on a non-Steele reader.
Profile Image for Deb .
1,816 reviews24 followers
April 19, 2024
The only decent thing about the book was the basic plot. It was so poorly written that I started focusing on how many times the same pieces of information were stated - Andy lost his identity when he lost his job, Andy lost his power and was lost, Andy was suddenly a nobody, Andy WAS his job, and on and on and on.

This could have been a great story but it read like an outline or plot summary. I had no engagement with any of the characters because there was no effort to connect the reader to the characters.

I should have known better than to check this one out of my library.
Profile Image for Lisa Weber.
711 reviews4 followers
December 19, 2023
OK. It's clear to me that I don't like Danielle Steele's writing. Not a bit. The story arc was not terrible but not very interesting. I think a really good writer could have done something with it, but in her hands this was very dull.
Some of the items I take issue with:
-She seems to over-explain and then re-explain even when nothing much is going on (He had trouble making a decision. He thought of the pros and cons of the decision. He told his friend about his debate. He told his girlfriend his same thoughts. The narrator tells us more about his thoughts. They're still the same. On it goes.)
-She seems to have missed the "show, don't tell" class every fiction writer learns in school. Much of the book reads like a dull summary of things that have happened. The characters don't act much on their own, instead Steel narrates to us how they feel, what they are doing. There is so much narration I think I was nearly 30 minutes into the audiobook before there was a single word of actual dialog spoken by a character. Everything had simply been laid out in a boring narration. It read like a summary. The few times there are any emotions, the author explains them very clearly. He's happy because. She was sad because. The characters don't show us how they feel, the narrator tells us.
-As a reader, my emotions were never engaged, my intelligence was never challenged by wondering about what might happen or why. Everything was laid out, explained, re-explained. There was no real conflict, nothing to be interested in. There was nohinng for me to think about.
-The sappiness, ugh! It ran like honey. When he was sad, he was very sad. Feel bad for him. Life is hard. Most things were happy. Happy, happy! The film crew was happy. The dinner was lovely. She looked lovely. The family was lovely. The party was lovely. There's not a bit of realty here, no sense of real life. No conflict. No emotions, but love ran thick all over the place.
-And don't get me started on the old fashioned double standard inherent in her writing.

I like the topic. I wouldn't mind learning more about the movie industry. But I would give this milksoppy piece a miss any time.
Profile Image for What Angie Reads.
845 reviews17 followers
November 19, 2023
I truly could not stand this one! I couldn't be the only one who gagged every time the age was mentioned of Andy.

He loses his job (but given three year severance so ya no need to feel sorry for him) and goes on a bender. We are supposed to feel sorry for this rich guy who has a mansion, cars, woman, and money.

I hated him instantly. I hated him falling in love with some random woman he hires instantly. I hated that she just happened to leave a novel she wrote laying around.

So so predictable all around.
Profile Image for Ann Gandolph.
49 reviews1 follower
June 23, 2024
This book was anything but, “I couldn’t put it down!” Very little substance and a whole lot of fluff. I read the last 1/4 of the book just by reading what was in guotes. And quess what? I still knew how it would end. I gave it 1 star because I finished it and the other because it caught my attention at the beginning. But it was downhill from there.
Profile Image for Deacon Tom (Feeling Better).
2,636 reviews243 followers
January 10, 2024
A lovely story that had me engaged from beginning until the end. The characters were full of emotions and feelings.

Terrific plot that kept me interested.

I highly recommend.
Profile Image for Amanda - Mrs B's Book Reviews.
2,231 reviews332 followers
January 10, 2024
*https://www.instagram.com/mrsb_book_r...

2.5 stars

🏞Famed author Danielle Steel presents Second Act, a 2023 contemporary fiction and romance publication. With success, power, loss, reinvention, fulfilment and achievement leading the way, Second Act is another life affirming tale from the prominent author.

🏞This time around, Steel has selected a male narrator to head the events of her new publication, which was a little different from the norm for this formulaic writer.

🏞From the onset, it seems as though the main character Andy Westfield has the world at his feet with his powerful and lucrative position as a studio head in the film industry. I had the feeling very quickly that all this was going to come crashing down in spectacular fashion, which it did. The fallout from Andy’s job loss results in a sea change of sorts, whereby he moves to a gentle and quiet seaside retreat in the UK. This particular part of Britain is close to where I lived during my teenage years, so it felt very comfortable and familiar reading these segments of Second Act. This was the only aspect I liked about the novel! The lead wasn’t particularly likeable and his lover Violet didn’t capture my heart. I actually felt frustrated rather than sorry for Andy following the demise of his marriage and relationship with his daughter. The rejuvenation process that occurs following Andy’s job loss is just okay, nothing is overly remarkable. Steel includes a few hidden messages about happiness, being true to yourself, hope, aspirations, peace and picking up the pieces of tour life at a mature age. I’m sure these sentiments will appeal to many fans and readers of Steel’s work.

🏞Overall this new direction slash alternative life plans read was a mostly tolerable story that got me through the stress of the lead up to Christmas. Turn to this one if you want a few free hours of pure escapist reading that is predictable and undemanding.
1,157 reviews13 followers
May 25, 2025
Second Act by Danielle Steel
This book got off to a slow start for me, but after the first several chapters, it really took off. It is about a man who was on top of the world one minute and fired from his job the next. He is completely devastated and goes to England to live in a small beach community to find himself and to get over his devastation. The rest of the book is about the second act in his life which turns out to be a pretty amazing one.
Profile Image for Alison.
43 reviews2 followers
March 26, 2024
It’s been a LONG time since I’ve read anything by this author but, oh my, this was SO bad. The writing was amateurish and pretentious at the same time. The plot was ridiculous. I kept waiting for some tension or conflict to develop.. for something interesting to happen but it never did. Everything was “perfect”, “incredible “…both words so overused it was laughable. Gah….8 hours of my life gone forever!
Profile Image for Craig and Phil.
2,231 reviews131 followers
October 22, 2023
Thank you Pan Macmillan for sending us a copy to read and review.
Second Act is an escapism story about a successful man whose life is at a crossroads when a life curve ball is thrown at you.
Andy Westfield is the CEO of a very busy and profitable movie company.
He is a workaholic, his job cost him his marriage and a better relationship with his daughter.
But one day it all comes crashing down.
Andy is let go from his position and his world is turned upside down.
Escaping to England and a peaceful seaside town, he rents an untended mansion, enjoying his anonymity.
There he meets Violet Smith, a woman with a secretive and dark past.
She ends up coming to work part time for Andy and has been working on a book of her tragic life.
Soon love blossoms and secrets arise.
Can they both find what they are looking for in each other……
Danielle has gone and put a male lead in her latest story and while this is slightly new and interesting, it isn’t enough to save the novel as a whole.
The male protagonist come across as shallow and not very likeable at all but he does mellow as the tale progresses and at time becomes a little pleasant.
The usual lack of substance, repetitive writing and lack lustre characters are still there.
The setting is a little whimsical and the cover is charming and appealing.
An easygoing, drama free and dreamy read.
If you looking for a relaxing read, a bit of armchair escape and something the brain cells don’t need to work overtime, then pick up a Steel and getaway.
Profile Image for joanne torres.
37 reviews10 followers
October 4, 2023
This is why Danielle Steel is a top selling author. Powerful CEO of a top Hollywood movie studio Andy has it all. He’s held the industry in his hands for 19 years, until he doesn’t . Following the ups n downs of this fickle life, Andy finds himself at a crossroads and needs to decide. Traveling to England to make sense if his life he meets Viola and slowly he makes his way back. As Danielle Steel only can, you feel Andy’s emotions and you become invested to see just how this man’s “Second Act” turns out.
22 reviews
April 23, 2024
It started off good. A male lead - no love interest. But then they added Violet and she had this just AMAZING script that he just had to produce and they did it in less than a year? Could that have happened? Maybe.....
It seemed weird to me that they would do the movie first, then the book. I understand why he would suggest that, but she seemed to go along with it so easily.

In typical Danielle Steel fashion, they meet, fall in love in a month and live happily ever after. Same story as always.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Terry.
706 reviews18 followers
October 27, 2023
This Steel novel was set in the movie industry. A top executive of a major movie studio is let go after 19 years when a new company takes over. Andy is very upset and humiliated. He leaves LA to rent a house in a small beach town in England. He meets a woman who is writing a book and he decides to help her get her story made into a movie. Of course, they end up falling in love.
Profile Image for Laura A.
612 reviews93 followers
July 10, 2023
Thanks Netgalley for allowing me to read this book. Andy is at a crossroads in his life. He is unsure of what direction will make him happy. He visits France for a change of pace. And meets a woman who will change his world in many ways. I loved the characters in this book and can't wait to read her next book.
Profile Image for Melanie McGrade Davidson.
457 reviews57 followers
Want to read
October 25, 2023
The characters and style in this new Danielle Steel novel intrigued me most. Both are not her usual style but I found everything about this novel to be warm and cozy, a comfortable and relaxing read. It has a feel of a series you would binge watch on TV, one with characters that are enticing and interesting enough so that you want to see what will happen next, and ones that you don’t get sick of. The writing style flowed easily and demonstrates the usual talent displayed by Steel. This is one of my favorite ones written by her I think.
Profile Image for Debbie Gill.
355 reviews65 followers
March 17, 2025
4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ This is a nice story of unexpected opportunities made out of challenging times. Andy Westfield is a high class CEO of a movie studio in Los Angeles and is happy as a clam for 19 years in his position. Everyone and everything is at his beck and call. Until it isn’t… Studio sold, and he is out on his butt…Escorted out of the building without warning. He always knew it could happen but the top executive job was worth the risk.
Now, humiliated he leaves for London to hide out for 6 months. The story takes off from here when he hires Violet Smith to help him part time with his correspondence and getting his neglected affairs in order.
As the story unfolds, we find Violet is writing a manuscript that is golden. Her writing is exquisite! Andy as a past screen writer encourages her to make a movie. This becomes a heartwarming story of two enchanting people working together and the inviting opportunities that are opening up for them. If they maneuver through challenging times and protect their relationship they may have a binding love to last. Will Andy learn from his past mistakes in life and chart his course better?
1,430 reviews2 followers
November 18, 2023
Liked this a lot. Even though some of the writing was redundant, and in some places sounded like someone in creative writing class in school, it was good. If you know me, then you know that I wish some of it had been written differently, but we don’t get everything we want. Really good storyline, and had this one figured out before it ended. Love when that happens, although it didn’t take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion that I did. I wish, for one thing that they had gotten married long before the ending. We can assume that they eventually would. Who knows in this world how things will go in a book or in real life. CathyR
Profile Image for Lynn Gambardella.
149 reviews3 followers
July 21, 2024
My go to when I need something light and fluffy! No surprises, just a good, simple love story with characters you admire !
16 reviews
November 20, 2023
Same Old Stuff!

Boy meets girl, they fall in love in three days, later something bad happens, but they still love each other and, so, another happy ending! I'm really getting tired of these "plot" lines! I've been a Danielle Steel fan for over 40 years and have bought all of her books, but I may have to stop buying them. It makes me wonder if she is actually writing these books or if someone else is! Her older books were SO much better!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews

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