NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Danielle Steel’s epic new novel, the lives of four generations of women in one family span fortune and loss, motherhood, tragedy and victories. From the glamorous San Francisco social scene of the 1920s, through war and the social changes of the ’60s, to the rise of Silicon Valley today, this extraordinary novel takes us on a family odyssey that is both … odyssey that is both heartbreaking and inspiring, as each generation faces the challenges of their day.
The Parisian design houses in 1928, the crash of 1929, the losses of war, the drug culture of the 1960s—history holds many surprises, and lives are changed forever. For richer or for poorer, in cramped apartments and grand mansions, the treasured wedding dress made in Paris in 1928 follows each generation into their new lives, and represents different hopes for each of them, as they marry very different men.
From inherited fortunes at the outset to self-made men and women, the wedding dress remains a cherished constant for the women who wear it in each generation and forge a destiny of their own. It is a symbol of their remaining traditions and the bond of family they share in an ever-changing world.
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A beautiful generational saga as only Danielle Steel can do it!
Such a wonderful epic story! The highest of highs and the lowest of lows of four generations of this family spanning almost a century.
Beginning in the height of the 20s, Eleanor Devereux is having her lavish debutante debut and then her even more lavish perfect wedding to the man of her dreams. But for that wedding she must have the most perfect wedding dress ever. Specially made for her in Paris, she is the most beautiful bride ever. Her wedding day is perfect but while on her honeymoon in Italy the stock market crashed sending the country into the Great Depression. Her family and her new husband have lost almost everything.
Building their lives from nothing, we follow on with her daughter, her daughter’s daughter and her great-granddaughter.
It’s a beautiful, heartwarming and heartbreaking journey through this family’s generational timeline. And the life of this beautiful wedding dress.
I loved it so, so very much!! Have tissues ready…your eyes may leak while reading this.
(I was fortunate enough to receive a complimentary copy of this fabulous book from NetGalley.)
The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel is one of those stories that lingers with you long after you finish it. Danielle Steel is a wonderful storyteller and I was not disappointed with this novel. We go from 1928 which is the beginning of our tale and taken down through the generations. We see how each generation lives and how the wedding dress fits into their story. Each character goes on a journey and we see how they turn out as well as how their decisions impact the family. I thought the characters were realistic and relatable. The authors vivid descriptions brought the scenes alive. I especially enjoyed reading about the gorgeous wedding dress. It all begins when Eleanor Deveraux meets Alex Allen at her coming out ball in San Francisco. After they become engaged, Eleanor and her mother travel to Paris to commission her couture wedding dress. Unfortunately, the stock market crashes in October of 1929 while they are on their honeymoon. They must weather the changes and find a way to move forward. The special wedding dress, though, is kept protected so it will be available for the next generation. This special gown represents love and hope. Alex and Eleanor face different challenges in their life as do their descendants. We get to join them on their journey to see how they handle life’s tribulations. I found The Wedding Dress to be a touching story. I was transported into the book and reluctantly left when the story ended. The Wedding Dress is a wonderful escapist novel which is what we need during these uncertain times.
A story about a family wedding dress that passes down through different generations. It is a good story of the ensuing marriages and the various people in the family. This story is written in the third person, which I am not a fan of. I find it feels more impersonal to me and thus harder for me to relate to the characters when the story is written in third person. I received an ARC from NetGalley for my honest review.
I enjoyed The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steel as I do all of her books, but I will be reading instead of listening from now on. Just didn’t like the audio, even though I could listen while doing chores! Too humdrum for me, I rather put my own spin on reading the words!
The storyline was great. The wedding dress handed down through the generations from the first daughter in the mid 1920’s, who purchased the dress from a top designer, to the great, great granddaughter who wore the dress last. From the depression era, through World War II, to the 1960’s, the wedding dress is awed by each daughter in the family, showing the happenings of each woman in love and what transpires to them before and after their weddings. A very enjoyable storyline that kept me interested throughout the book!
The Wedding Dress by Danielle Steele
Starts in 1928 San Francisco and Eleanor’s about to come out at the debutante ball.
She meets Alex at that party and over the weeks and months of having dinner they plan to wed. Love hearing of the wedding dress design work in France.
Eleanor comes down a cold and Alex panics because he had lost his wife to be 5 days prior to their marriage, Spanish flu which is similar to the virus we are suffering from in the world today.
Love hearing how they struggle and survive the years of depression, no money and war. Like hearing of their daughter and how strong Eleanor is with her family and parents.
Teen years, what a struggle there and she doesn’t want to go to college or go to the coming out party or get married or have kids. She has her own mind and she knows she’s good at what she does.
Love hearing how her dreams come true and give the family a nice living…
Like hearing where the dress goes after so many generations….tragic and great moments throughout the book, so strong and some are so weak.
Glad all the others really saw what was going on and stopped the support. Things just aren’t fair.
I received this book from National Library Service for my BARD (Braille Audio Reading Device).
Loved this book
Very fun to read!
4 1/2 STARS!
A novel by Danielle Steel is always sure to please and THE WEDDING DRESS is no exception. A family rich in depth and character falls into despair during the crash of 1929 just after their only daughter wore the Parisian designed wedding dress of her dreams to marry the love of her life. Hard times hit them all for many years as they slowly learn to live a different life than they dreamed of, but prosper in their own way none-the-less. The story lines sees us through the lives of all of these characters into several generations to come as this wedding dress is the start of several marriages.
I recommend this book to anyone who loves a family rich saga that shares both ups and downs of life as the story delves deeply into each character. Through love and hate, dreams and nightmares, riches and the simple things in life we follow the lives of the families. There’s a lot to comprehend along the way, but I really enjoyed it.
Danielle Steel doesn’t disappoint! My favorite author!
This was the story of a couture wedding dress that was created before the big crash of 1929 and continues being used by generations of women in the same family. Something Danielle Steel is good at is writing romances and she created not one but three love stories. Each of the women endures trials and tribulations finding true love as the decades go by from the stock market crash of ’29 to the age of computer whizzes and house-flippers. This is a good one. I highly recommend it.
I have been reading some pretty heavy books lately so it was nice to read a love story with a happy ending or many happy endings. This book about a wedding dress, designed in Paris, for Eleanor about to marry the love of her life Allen. They meet in 1929 at her debut ball, have a fairytale wedding and during their idyllic honeymoon in Europe the market crashes. Eleanor’s father and Allen, who are both bank presidents, lose everything. A great deal of the book that follows is how these two couples deal with the loss of almost everything on their lives without losing each other or their love. Love and the Parisian wedding dress are the constants in this story.
The reason I gave this book 4 stars is because it was a tad too pat and it felt rushed. I felt it was a great story and there could have been 3 or 4 books created out of this one book. Charles and Louise, Eleanor and Allen the early years and the great depression and the war years, Eleanor and Allen the later years, Ruby and Zach, Kendall and Ross, etc. I just wanted to know so much more about the charectors. The book was too short. I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read and review this book.
Great book
This is the first author I read when I first started reading novels back in the late 1980s.I was hooked . I have read everyone of her books and movies that were made from her books.
I haven’t read it yet
Loved it!
How do generations of a family intertwine.
Another wonderful Danielle Steel Books! I could not put it down, It starts out in the 1920’s with a young girl and her coming out party. She meets an older man that she likes and eventually marries. For the wedding she must have a wonderful wedding dress. The story continues through other generations of the family and the struggles they face and the strength that they have.
1928
Charles and Louise Deveraux and their daughter, Eleanor, are very wealthy residents of San Francisco. Charles is the owner of a very successful bank. When Eleanor has her come out ball, her dress is made by the House of Worth in Paris. At the ball, she meets Alex Allen who also owns a highly successful bank. They soon become engaged and Eleanor’s dress is made by Jeanne Lanvin of Paris. It is an exquisite dress that cost an enormous amount of money. While they are on they honeymoon in Europe, they received word of the stock market crash that has ruined many people. But they bravely carry on by getting jobs and living in a tiny apartment. Charles and Louise move to a small house in Lake Tahoe. Louise has insisted that many items be stored in a large barn on the property which also contained Eleanors wedding dress. After many disappointments, Eleanor and Alex are finally blessed with the birth of a daughter, Camille, who is the light of their lives. But when war is declared, Alex insists on enlisting and hoping for a desk job.
This book follows this family through the war and its aftermath. We see the birth of Eleanor and Alex’s daughter, Camille, and her own daughter, Ruby. The trials of life are beautifully described here as it leads up to the conclusion. The wedding dress plays a part as well. I loved how the author obviously researched this time period and how she brought all of the storylines together. I have read a number of her books and I can honestly say that this one is her best by far. It’s one of those books that one wishes they could award more than 5 stars. Wonderful book full of history. Don’t miss it!
Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Steel has not written a book like this in years and I, for one, an certainly glad she came back “home”. Love, debutante balls, economic collapse – what more can you ask for in a great book? Her writing continues to be amazing and her characters have panache and gumption. This story being out the importance of family and love and loyalty. Highly recommended. Enjoy!
A engaging read that is easy to lose yourself in. I really enjoyed this well-written trip through history. Loved the generational look at families and the ties that bind them.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC received via NetGalley.