The Whittiers: The heartwarming new novel about the importance of family from the billion copy bestseller

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In every family, each member has their own personal struggles. The Whittiers are no exception. Lyle is successful but has an unhappy marriage. Gloria is a genius on Wall Street but lonely. Twins Caroline and Charlie work all hours on their growing fashion brand, but have no time to enjoy life. Benjie has personal challenges and requires additional support. And rebellious Annabelle has fallen in with a bad crowd. Now the children must come together and be there for each other while dealing with their own personal demons. Connie and Preston Whittier raised their six children in a once-grand Manhattan mansion. The children are now adults, but the house remains the heart of the family and somewhere they all love to return to, particularly in times of stress. But on Connie and Preston’s annual skiing holiday in Europe, an avalanche hits their resort, resulting in tragedy. Living in a Manhattan mansion, it’s always been the heart of family gatherings and where they all meet up for regular dinners and events. Brothers and sisters Lyle, Gloria, Benjie, Annabelle. and twins Caroline and Charlie, are all at different stages of life personally and professionally. I was captured by the way they faced their individual situations while dealing with moving forward as a united family in the midst of anguish. I appreciated this touching and emotional look at family dynamics, grief, and sibling bonds written in Steel's special style.

As the beautiful cover indicates winter is special. Every year after Christmas, Preston and Connie go on a trip ~ the children call it their Parent’s “Wintermoon”! This year they went skiing in France ~ unfortunately there was a deadly avalanche. The entire purpose of the book seemed to have a political agenda to it, but not enough to convince the reader or get the reader to fall in love with the characters. If I had to rate it out of five stars, I would give it one. Set in present-day New York, The Whittiers is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, home and being true to yourself, from the world’s favourite author Danielle Steel. As excellent and well known Danielle Steel is as an author, in my opinion her latest novel "The Whittiers" is not one of her best works. The main idea of the book was ambitious but not all that well developed. To summarize, the story follows a total of six siblings and their various storylines in the aftermath of a tragedy (respectfully, I won't divulge the details any further than this for those who decide to read the book).Many thanks to Delacorte Press | Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read The Whittiers in advance of its publication. The Whittiers is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, home and being true to yourself, from the world's favourite author Danielle Steel.

I do believe this author has potential, because something about the writing seemed like it could be interesting, I just wish there was an interesting plot as well. I see the author has written a ton of books maybe that's the problem I don't know. There may be some spoilers but it's not like anything substantial happens in this book so whatever: Annabelle has fallen in with a bad crowd. The future of the family - and also their home - is now in question. The house is a refuge providing comfort . . . but each of them will learn that to move forward and face their challenges, they must be true to themselves and come together to support one another. As with many of Steel's novels, "The Whittiers" revolves around characters who are wealthy and live charming lives. However, what sets this book apart is its focus on family dynamics and the unexpected challenges they face. The Whittier siblings find themselves divided on how to handle major family issues, but their love and loyalty to one another shine through, making this a heartwarming story. In The Whittiers, Danielle Steel delivers an inspiring story about the everlasting bonds of one unforgettable family.

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The eldest four are forced to put aside their personal issues and their grief to keep the family together and support each other and their two youngest siblings. Selling the house, along with all the memories that live in its walls, feels like yet another devastating loss. Could there be another way, as unconventional as it seems? The Whittiers is a heartwarming story about the importance of family, home and being true to yourself, from the world’s favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel.