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All That Glitters
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In Danielle Steel’s dazzling novel, a young woman must overcome tremendous adversity in her quest to find herself and achieve real happiness.Nicole “Coco” Martin is destined to have it all. As the only child of doting and successful parents, she has been given every opportunity in life. Having inherited her mother’s stunning beauty and creativity, along with her father’s work ethic and diligence, she has the world at her feet. Her graduation from Columbia is fast approaching, and with it the summer job of her dreams working at a magazine. Between work, leisurely weekends at her family’s home in Southampton, and spending as much time as possible with her best friend, Sam, life couldn’t be better—until tragedy strikes. Coco’s beloved parents are killed in a terrorist attack while on vacation in France. Now devastated and alone, Coco must find a way to move forward and make her way in the world without the family she loved. Determined to forge her own path and make her parents proud, Coco pursues her dreams, dazzled by exciting opportunities that come her way. Her goals are to think outside the box—and always play by her own rules. As she finds herself drawn to charismatic, fascinating men, each relationship will teach Coco new lessons, some delightful, some painful. She will come to realize what matters, and how strong she truly is—and in the end, she will discover herself. Richly exploring one woman’s poignant journey through life, All That Glitters is a compelling tale of challenges, heartbreak, discovery, and triumph, a powerful reminder that all that glitters is not the essence of life. And what is truly worth having was right there in our hands all along.
281 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 17, 2020
3493 people are currently reading
4510 people want to read
About the author
Danielle Steel
872 books16.4k 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 791 reviews
December 19, 2020
I think this might be my last by Danielle Steel.
It wasn't bad, it was just really not my kind of story.
This story follows Coco as she deals with life following the sudden death of her parents. She's been left their massive inheritance at only 22 so she's super naïve, but thankfully she has her best friend Sam supporting her along the way.
Now, for a book that's less than 300 pages, this is a long story. It covers a good ten years or more, and basically Coco spends that entire time making terrible decisions. It's very frustrating.
I was really hoping for some rich kid drama but this is all about how naïve Coco gets taken in by guys we can spot as bad a mile away. There's not really a lot of scandal, because you can see it all coming, and the money doesn't really add a lot of fun to the story. Coco is dull and safe and gets taken in by losers in a cycle that's already old by the second guy. Meanwhile her and Sam keep telling the other that they're making a mistake so you kinda just spend the whole book waiting for them to hook up.
The story is described rather than allowing us to ever really sit in how it makes us feel, so the reader is essentially a bystander watching Coco's life pass in one disastrous decision after another. It's hard to really feel anything other than frustration. All of the characters are deplorable so reading this story was kind of like watching a car crash where all the drivers are speeding and doing stupid car tricks thinking they'll be fine. It seems like every cliché of a bad relationship is here and there are some seriously cheesy moments spelled out just in case we don't pick up on what's happening. Here's an example:
Basically, this book treats you a bit like an idiot.
While it wasn't my cup of tea at all I enjoyed that overall idea that life is unpredictable, and sometimes we do make stupid mistakes. I can see how this will appeal to people less critical than I - those people will appreciate watching Coco's growth from a naiive 22-yr old and the gradual unfolding of her life.
There's a simplicity to this story that will appeal to romance lovers looking for a book that will be a quick and easy read. If you're after something a little deeper, this may miss the mark, however it does have some interesting reflections on life to still get the mind wandering.
With thanks to Macmillan for an ARC
It wasn't bad, it was just really not my kind of story.
This story follows Coco as she deals with life following the sudden death of her parents. She's been left their massive inheritance at only 22 so she's super naïve, but thankfully she has her best friend Sam supporting her along the way.
Now, for a book that's less than 300 pages, this is a long story. It covers a good ten years or more, and basically Coco spends that entire time making terrible decisions. It's very frustrating.
I was really hoping for some rich kid drama but this is all about how naïve Coco gets taken in by guys we can spot as bad a mile away. There's not really a lot of scandal, because you can see it all coming, and the money doesn't really add a lot of fun to the story. Coco is dull and safe and gets taken in by losers in a cycle that's already old by the second guy. Meanwhile her and Sam keep telling the other that they're making a mistake so you kinda just spend the whole book waiting for them to hook up.
The story is described rather than allowing us to ever really sit in how it makes us feel, so the reader is essentially a bystander watching Coco's life pass in one disastrous decision after another. It's hard to really feel anything other than frustration. All of the characters are deplorable so reading this story was kind of like watching a car crash where all the drivers are speeding and doing stupid car tricks thinking they'll be fine. It seems like every cliché of a bad relationship is here and there are some seriously cheesy moments spelled out just in case we don't pick up on what's happening. Here's an example:
He was a bad guy, and always had been, just great in bed. [...] He lived in the fast lane, and had run over her like a bus. She was surprised to find that her heart wasn't broken but her pride was badly bruised.
Basically, this book treats you a bit like an idiot.
While it wasn't my cup of tea at all I enjoyed that overall idea that life is unpredictable, and sometimes we do make stupid mistakes. I can see how this will appeal to people less critical than I - those people will appreciate watching Coco's growth from a naiive 22-yr old and the gradual unfolding of her life.
There's a simplicity to this story that will appeal to romance lovers looking for a book that will be a quick and easy read. If you're after something a little deeper, this may miss the mark, however it does have some interesting reflections on life to still get the mind wandering.
With thanks to Macmillan for an ARC
August 19, 2023
Long time best friends support each other through tragedy, disappointment, bad relationships, familial pressure, distance and time. There's quite a bit of back story to characters that never develop, but it all ends in a HEA and wraps up nicely with a blended family.
July 27, 2021
All That Glitters by Danielle Steel is yet another romance from this long standing author. Anyone following my reviews has probably heard me say before that I’ve been picking these new books from Danielle Steel probably more out of nostalgia than anything else as her style never changes and it isn’t exactly my favorite but sometimes I find a winner in the story she has crafted too.
All That Glitters introduces readers to Nicole “Coco” Martin who was raised by wealthy parents and given all the opportunities in the world. Coco is a bit naive but with a good work ethic despite being raised with wealth. Just as Coco is about to graduate college and begin her career she gets a phone call that rocks her world. Coco’s parents were killed and now she is alone in the world. Coco’s left with a trustee handling her new wealth and set out to begin her career and perhaps find love.
The first thing I always warn readers after finishing one of Danielle Steel’s novels is that she has a style that can feel a bit like an info dump to speed through introductions or time jumps in a story. I’ve gotten used to this style and hope that the characters, settings and situations will win me over because I do find that sometimes I do love them, this time was a bit up and down while reading. Coco makes some really dumb moves as she navigates her new life but I was also engaged in finding out how her story would turn out. In the end I would stay this latest romance rated at about three and a half stars for me, worth the read but not a favorite.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
All That Glitters introduces readers to Nicole “Coco” Martin who was raised by wealthy parents and given all the opportunities in the world. Coco is a bit naive but with a good work ethic despite being raised with wealth. Just as Coco is about to graduate college and begin her career she gets a phone call that rocks her world. Coco’s parents were killed and now she is alone in the world. Coco’s left with a trustee handling her new wealth and set out to begin her career and perhaps find love.
The first thing I always warn readers after finishing one of Danielle Steel’s novels is that she has a style that can feel a bit like an info dump to speed through introductions or time jumps in a story. I’ve gotten used to this style and hope that the characters, settings and situations will win me over because I do find that sometimes I do love them, this time was a bit up and down while reading. Coco makes some really dumb moves as she navigates her new life but I was also engaged in finding out how her story would turn out. In the end I would stay this latest romance rated at about three and a half stars for me, worth the read but not a favorite.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
November 9, 2020
Reminiscent of early Danielle Steel this one is a really nice weekend read. Coco was supposed to have it all in her world until her parents are killed by terrorists. Sam, her best friend has been by her side since childhood and is there for her now as well. Business partner of her father Ed decides it's a good time to try to start an affair with the 30 years younger Sam. Has she done the right thing?
August 22, 2020
I needed a different kind of book instead of a psychological thriller which is what I’ve been reading lots of lately. The newest book by Danielle Steel “All That Glitters” was perfect for me right now! It’s been a rough week for our family as we said goodbye to our son’s best friend who was like a part of our family. This book helped me escape! And I want to thank this brilliant author for that! This is my 32nd book by DS. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.
January 12, 2023
"To be, or not to be," I believe Shakespeare said it best to describe life, love, and happiness!
Coco, the main character went through so much growing up in a short time. The story sets off with love, happiness and heartbreak. The family Coco knew was stripped from her at a very young age, and she needed to find her inner most adulthood earlier than anyone wants to. I believe growth comes from experience, so the earlier it is set, the longer you have to enjoy "life." we can not choose how it comes, but when it does, it is a hypothetical slap in the face. "Only the strong survive;" as if life and reality are always setting us up for natural selection.
We never make it out alive, and Coco realized that sooner than she wanted. However, sometimes we realize what family and happiness are through others we surround ourselves with. Coco has an amazing friend, support and family in Sam. What it is thought to come of a true romance novel left me excited, sad, enthralled and engaged throughout the entire book. The roller coaster of "life" and the "flash" of it became an exciting trend in this romantic, heartbreaking, dramatic fairy tale (non) ending.
It is not the fairy tale that Disney wrote, but it is the one every young adult writes at the beginning of their childhood adolescence. What is love? What is life? What is family?
"(Friends)hip challenges unconditional love, and true family to its fullest." - Jeremy Perrault
"To be, or not to be." To be in love, to be in happiness; is to not be in love, happiness, or in life. If you always are; are you alive, or are you just living?!?!
Amazing read! One of the best so far from miss Danielle Steel. I was skeptical after my first novel from her, but this one sealed the deal to her brilliance that she is known for. I am glad i did not give up so soon. I am excited to read more of her works. I will leave you with my favorite quote from the book!
"[ Ian; (writer; author; "Flash")]." "He was a phantom of the opera, hiding his darkness, and he had let her see beneath the mask."
Coco, the main character went through so much growing up in a short time. The story sets off with love, happiness and heartbreak. The family Coco knew was stripped from her at a very young age, and she needed to find her inner most adulthood earlier than anyone wants to. I believe growth comes from experience, so the earlier it is set, the longer you have to enjoy "life." we can not choose how it comes, but when it does, it is a hypothetical slap in the face. "Only the strong survive;" as if life and reality are always setting us up for natural selection.
We never make it out alive, and Coco realized that sooner than she wanted. However, sometimes we realize what family and happiness are through others we surround ourselves with. Coco has an amazing friend, support and family in Sam. What it is thought to come of a true romance novel left me excited, sad, enthralled and engaged throughout the entire book. The roller coaster of "life" and the "flash" of it became an exciting trend in this romantic, heartbreaking, dramatic fairy tale (non) ending.
It is not the fairy tale that Disney wrote, but it is the one every young adult writes at the beginning of their childhood adolescence. What is love? What is life? What is family?
"(Friends)hip challenges unconditional love, and true family to its fullest." - Jeremy Perrault
"To be, or not to be." To be in love, to be in happiness; is to not be in love, happiness, or in life. If you always are; are you alive, or are you just living?!?!
Amazing read! One of the best so far from miss Danielle Steel. I was skeptical after my first novel from her, but this one sealed the deal to her brilliance that she is known for. I am glad i did not give up so soon. I am excited to read more of her works. I will leave you with my favorite quote from the book!
"[ Ian; (writer; author; "Flash")]." "He was a phantom of the opera, hiding his darkness, and he had let her see beneath the mask."
September 4, 2020
I was looking for an easy, mindless read, but instead I got something that enraged me on every page. Again, Danielle Steel writes about a gorgeous, thin, white woman, except she’s brunette this time! But wait, she has a Jewish best friend who happens to be Orthodox but doesn’t like being observant. I get that! But the trope of a nagging Jewish mother started to anger me. Then I find out a sister is named Sabra, like the hummus. Yes, it’s an Israeli word for a prickly person, but what reader would know that? Then, the main character’s wife was “boring, dull and unexciting” and all she cared about was having children.
I’m not going to go into more detail because I’ll give it away, but her characterization and descriptions of Jewish characters was just horrendous. I recommend Danielle to not only look at her internal misogyny when describing a skinny white Christian woman, but also her latent views about Jews.
•••
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for this advanced copy!
I’m not going to go into more detail because I’ll give it away, but her characterization and descriptions of Jewish characters was just horrendous. I recommend Danielle to not only look at her internal misogyny when describing a skinny white Christian woman, but also her latent views about Jews.
•••
Thank you Net Galley and Random House for this advanced copy!
January 12, 2021
3 Stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Well, this was not one of my favorites by Steel. You never really know which way her books are gonna go with the newer releases.
The main character - Coco Martin, a lovely young woman who was raised by wealthy parents, lived a very charmed life. When tragedy strikes her family, she must find herself, make her own way and learn who (and how) to trust.
I found Coco to be a very naive woman when it came to life and men. After moving to London, she meets the “man of her dreams”. He introduces her to an extravagant lifestyle filled with parties and the social elite. However, he is not who he seems. He was my least favorite character and Coco falling for his crap over and over produced lots of eye rolls from me. It annoyed me that she was a constant doormat. Her oldest friend - a man named Sam was always trying to tell her to get a clue, to no avail.
The ending was super predictable, but that isn’t uncommon in Danielle Steel books.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine and Danielle Steel for my advanced copy to read and review.
Well, this was not one of my favorites by Steel. You never really know which way her books are gonna go with the newer releases.
The main character - Coco Martin, a lovely young woman who was raised by wealthy parents, lived a very charmed life. When tragedy strikes her family, she must find herself, make her own way and learn who (and how) to trust.
I found Coco to be a very naive woman when it came to life and men. After moving to London, she meets the “man of her dreams”. He introduces her to an extravagant lifestyle filled with parties and the social elite. However, he is not who he seems. He was my least favorite character and Coco falling for his crap over and over produced lots of eye rolls from me. It annoyed me that she was a constant doormat. Her oldest friend - a man named Sam was always trying to tell her to get a clue, to no avail.
The ending was super predictable, but that isn’t uncommon in Danielle Steel books.
Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Ballantine and Danielle Steel for my advanced copy to read and review.
September 17, 2020
Let me start off by saying I am a huge DS fan.
This book started out as one I wanted to rush though because I was enjoying it but then wanted to stop and savor it. I got to the end of a few chapters and just had to take a deep breath before turning the page as I knew what the next page would say.
The friendship between Coco and Sam, is one many dream of, it was so nice to see them always there for each other, regardless of their backgrounds and all that life threw at them.
This book focused mainly on Coco and her life, her perfect life changes with a phone call and how she lives the next many years, finding 'flash' in men and figuring things out in the US and Europe.
My struggle with this one was I really wanted to a book about a great friendship that didn't after all those years turn to love, it was just a little unrealistic to me.
Solid 3.5 stars
This book started out as one I wanted to rush though because I was enjoying it but then wanted to stop and savor it. I got to the end of a few chapters and just had to take a deep breath before turning the page as I knew what the next page would say.
The friendship between Coco and Sam, is one many dream of, it was so nice to see them always there for each other, regardless of their backgrounds and all that life threw at them.
This book focused mainly on Coco and her life, her perfect life changes with a phone call and how she lives the next many years, finding 'flash' in men and figuring things out in the US and Europe.
My struggle with this one was I really wanted to a book about a great friendship that didn't after all those years turn to love, it was just a little unrealistic to me.
Solid 3.5 stars
April 13, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this book because of the full circle it took in Coco and Sam’s lives. It spans years but they are some eventful years that readers can get caught up in. For such a small book, it really has a lot of story and a wide range of characters. A fantastic, quick read but has a lot of entertainment.
January 2, 2021
Nicole "Coco" Martin is destined to have it all. As the only child of doting and successful parents, she has been given every opportunity in life. Having inherited her mother's stunning beauty and creativity, along with her father's work ethic and diligence, she has the world at her feet.
Her life couldn't be better--until tragedy strikes. Coco's beloved parents are killed in a terrorist attack while on vacation in France.
Now devastated and alone, Coco must find a way to move forward and make her way in the world without the family she loved. Determined to forge her own path and make her parents proud, Coco pursues her dreams, dazzled by exciting opportunities that come her way.
Along her journey, she will face both ups and downs and, in the end, she will discover herself.
Being a huge Danielle Steel fan, I eagerly wait to read her books mainly because of her portrayal of strong female characters whose journey through the plot tend to be inspiring. Unfortunately for me, that was missing in this book.
I could not relate to the main character, Coco. And rather than feel sympathetic I felt annoyed at her actions. Initially, I felt that her immature behavior was due to the sudden tragedy of losing both her parents unexpectedly.
But, as the plot progresses, she repeatedly keeps on making the same mistakes. She goes from one bad relationship to another but not being affected much thanks to her inheritance.
I was more interested in Sam’s struggles and how he faced them. And the bond of friendship between Sam and Coco was something special.
The ending was on predicted lines but it did take several mistakes and lessons to reach there!
Her life couldn't be better--until tragedy strikes. Coco's beloved parents are killed in a terrorist attack while on vacation in France.
Now devastated and alone, Coco must find a way to move forward and make her way in the world without the family she loved. Determined to forge her own path and make her parents proud, Coco pursues her dreams, dazzled by exciting opportunities that come her way.
Along her journey, she will face both ups and downs and, in the end, she will discover herself.
Being a huge Danielle Steel fan, I eagerly wait to read her books mainly because of her portrayal of strong female characters whose journey through the plot tend to be inspiring. Unfortunately for me, that was missing in this book.
I could not relate to the main character, Coco. And rather than feel sympathetic I felt annoyed at her actions. Initially, I felt that her immature behavior was due to the sudden tragedy of losing both her parents unexpectedly.
But, as the plot progresses, she repeatedly keeps on making the same mistakes. She goes from one bad relationship to another but not being affected much thanks to her inheritance.
I was more interested in Sam’s struggles and how he faced them. And the bond of friendship between Sam and Coco was something special.
The ending was on predicted lines but it did take several mistakes and lessons to reach there!
July 25, 2021
Full disclosure - got about 100 pages in before I just couldn’t take it anymore so I didn’t finish the book.
That being said, this was AWFUL. I’ve never read Danielle Steel before, so maybe this is on me for not doing my research but DEAR GOD. Like, I generally prefer young adult novels/series which can sometimes have questionable writing but this was so much worse. The sheer amount of redundancy and choppy sentences was remarkable. The main character’s parents literally die in the first couple chapters and it stirred ZERO emotion.
I could go on forever but I won’t. Obviously, I don’t recommend this book lol
That being said, this was AWFUL. I’ve never read Danielle Steel before, so maybe this is on me for not doing my research but DEAR GOD. Like, I generally prefer young adult novels/series which can sometimes have questionable writing but this was so much worse. The sheer amount of redundancy and choppy sentences was remarkable. The main character’s parents literally die in the first couple chapters and it stirred ZERO emotion.
I could go on forever but I won’t. Obviously, I don’t recommend this book lol
November 30, 2023
Great
Wow! What a fantastic book. So many twists and turns and a surprise ending. This had e everything I Enjoy, great characters, plotline challenges and a fast read
I highly recommend
Wow! What a fantastic book. So many twists and turns and a surprise ending. This had e everything I Enjoy, great characters, plotline challenges and a fast read
I highly recommend
July 17, 2020
I recently read that anxious people tend to rewatch a lot of television shows because they know what is going to happen and it brings them a sense of safety and comfort. This is how I feel about books by Danielle Steel. And this one definitely feels similar to some of her earlier books. But that is not a bad thing!
We start with Coco, short for Nicole, living a beautiful life with her parents in New York City and almost immediately, tragedy strikes when they are unexpectedly killed. Coco, makes some unwise choices in her life, but meanwhile still lives pretty glamorously. And of course, there is a happy ending.
I may sound cynical, but I’m not. I know exactly what I am getting in these books and that is why I choose to read them. I will continue to do so, and have a smile on my face the entire time.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
We start with Coco, short for Nicole, living a beautiful life with her parents in New York City and almost immediately, tragedy strikes when they are unexpectedly killed. Coco, makes some unwise choices in her life, but meanwhile still lives pretty glamorously. And of course, there is a happy ending.
I may sound cynical, but I’m not. I know exactly what I am getting in these books and that is why I choose to read them. I will continue to do so, and have a smile on my face the entire time.
Thanks to Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine, Delacorte Press, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
December 16, 2020
This one really glittered! I went into this with lowered expectations after the last few Steel books were lacking for me. But she delivered here! This was reminiscent of her older novels and caught my attention from the beginning and held it until the last page. Amazing read!
December 5, 2020
Nicole “Coco” Martin was blessed with wonderful parents. Her father’s success provided her with a charmed life. But more importantly, she grew up seeing a happy couple very much in love. Sam, Coco’s best friend since childhood, has always been there for her and when tragedy strikes and she loses her parents, he’s the one she turns to.
Coco finds herself seeking the type of love her parents had yet is swept up by the attention of men who offer extravagance and glamour. Sam, on the other hand, is bound by his parents’ desire for him to follow the family tradition and marry a woman within their Orthodox Jewish faith and have lots of children. Their lives go in very different directions yet they remain committed to being there for one another. This unbreakable friendship is the core of All That Glitters.
This is a Danielle Steel novel so there are no great surprises or plot twists. Coco is the heroine and will experience pain on the road to happiness. That’s not a spoiler because after 160+ novels, there’s only one way Steel’s books end. And what a comfort to have her books to curl up to when you need an escape. Great literature? No. A quick, easy, enjoyable read? Yes. No one describes the life of the uber-rich better than Danielle Steel. The clothes, the yachts, the artwork. Ahh. Take me away.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Coco finds herself seeking the type of love her parents had yet is swept up by the attention of men who offer extravagance and glamour. Sam, on the other hand, is bound by his parents’ desire for him to follow the family tradition and marry a woman within their Orthodox Jewish faith and have lots of children. Their lives go in very different directions yet they remain committed to being there for one another. This unbreakable friendship is the core of All That Glitters.
This is a Danielle Steel novel so there are no great surprises or plot twists. Coco is the heroine and will experience pain on the road to happiness. That’s not a spoiler because after 160+ novels, there’s only one way Steel’s books end. And what a comfort to have her books to curl up to when you need an escape. Great literature? No. A quick, easy, enjoyable read? Yes. No one describes the life of the uber-rich better than Danielle Steel. The clothes, the yachts, the artwork. Ahh. Take me away.
Rated 3.75 stars.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
August 10, 2023
"All That Glitters" by Danielle Steel takes readers back to the era of the 1990s, reminiscent of Steel's classic works. This novel is both fun and addictive, with a lead character who is charming yet prone to making horrible decisions. Despite this, I couldn't help but love it.
On the surface, Coco Martin appears to be the quintessential romance heroine. She possesses beauty, wealth, and an apartment to die for - all trademarks of a Danielle Steel protagonist. Steel ensures that we never forget these attributes, reminding us every five pages. However, what makes Coco's story truly interesting is not the tragedies that befall her, but rather the mistakes she makes and the lessons she learns from them.
Coco's life choices are nothing short of disastrous, often leaving me screaming, "Baby, don't do that!" It's not a good look for her, but it adds a layer of excitement and suspense to the narrative. As expected, there are the typical Danielle Steel disasters, such as an airplane crash when a character's parents are on board or a random terrorist attack in Paris.
One of the highlights of the novel is Coco's best friend, Sam. He is a great guy who provides unwavering support and acts as a surrogate family for Coco. In fact, Sam might just be one of my favorite heroes in Steel's books in a long time. His presence adds depth and warmth to the story, making it even more enjoyable.
"All That Glitters" is filled with more drama than an episode of "Days of Our Lives." It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions that kept me hooked until the very end.
"All That Glitters" is a classic Danielle Steel novel that transports readers back to the 1990s. It is addictive, fun, and filled with a charming yet flawed protagonist. While the story may contain some typical Steel disasters, it is the mistakes and growth of the lead character that truly make it compelling. With the addition of a wonderful supporting character like Sam, the novel becomes a delightful and dramatic read.
On the surface, Coco Martin appears to be the quintessential romance heroine. She possesses beauty, wealth, and an apartment to die for - all trademarks of a Danielle Steel protagonist. Steel ensures that we never forget these attributes, reminding us every five pages. However, what makes Coco's story truly interesting is not the tragedies that befall her, but rather the mistakes she makes and the lessons she learns from them.
Coco's life choices are nothing short of disastrous, often leaving me screaming, "Baby, don't do that!" It's not a good look for her, but it adds a layer of excitement and suspense to the narrative. As expected, there are the typical Danielle Steel disasters, such as an airplane crash when a character's parents are on board or a random terrorist attack in Paris.
One of the highlights of the novel is Coco's best friend, Sam. He is a great guy who provides unwavering support and acts as a surrogate family for Coco. In fact, Sam might just be one of my favorite heroes in Steel's books in a long time. His presence adds depth and warmth to the story, making it even more enjoyable.
"All That Glitters" is filled with more drama than an episode of "Days of Our Lives." It's a rollercoaster ride of emotions that kept me hooked until the very end.
"All That Glitters" is a classic Danielle Steel novel that transports readers back to the 1990s. It is addictive, fun, and filled with a charming yet flawed protagonist. While the story may contain some typical Steel disasters, it is the mistakes and growth of the lead character that truly make it compelling. With the addition of a wonderful supporting character like Sam, the novel becomes a delightful and dramatic read.
November 7, 2021
Oh my, I really enjoyed this book! Coco Martin is a typical Danielle Steel heroine, with looks, money, and a lifestyle to die for. But what makes her story so interesting is that it's not so much about the tragedies that happen to her but the mistakes she makes and how she learns from them. Yes, there are some typical Danielle Steel disasters. I mean, you can always count on the Titanic to sink when a girl's parents are on board -- or if not, there's always a random terrorist attack at some posh Riviera bistro. And when a Steele girl gives birth to an adorable baby girl, you can always assume that any disease the tyke gets will be a lot more serious than measles, mumps, rubella, or varicella.
But here's the thing about Coco Martin. She's not a saint. She suffers, but she also enjoys life. And sometimes, she has sex with the wrong guy. Or the wrong guys. And sometimes the sex is fabulous! But this isn't a romance novel. In a romance novel, fantastic sex always equals true love. But Danielle Steel won't settle for that. She captures how exciting the wrong guy can be, while showing all the reasons why Coco has to learn the hard way and move on. At the end, not only did I respect Coco more than any heroine I'd met in a long time, but I could actually feel better about some of the mistakes I've made in my own life. That's such a wonderful gift for an author to give a reader!
But here's the thing about Coco Martin. She's not a saint. She suffers, but she also enjoys life. And sometimes, she has sex with the wrong guy. Or the wrong guys. And sometimes the sex is fabulous! But this isn't a romance novel. In a romance novel, fantastic sex always equals true love. But Danielle Steel won't settle for that. She captures how exciting the wrong guy can be, while showing all the reasons why Coco has to learn the hard way and move on. At the end, not only did I respect Coco more than any heroine I'd met in a long time, but I could actually feel better about some of the mistakes I've made in my own life. That's such a wonderful gift for an author to give a reader!
February 7, 2021
I usually enjoy Danielle Steel for light reading, but this book did not meet expectations at all. Even worse, it’s quite obvious that she did not do much research into Orthodox Judaism. She might’ve watched a popular Netflix show, and then combined it with her knowledge of Reform Judaism. Let’s just say that the character Tamar would never have shaved her head, and most likely never would’ve worn a terrible wig such as Ms. Steel described. Another character going somewhat comfortably between orthodoxy and reform Judaism is completely unrealistic. Never mind the daughter named Sabra. It’s just all so bad.
December 7, 2020
I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an unbiased review.
All That Glitters…..as the aphorism says is not gold. The title says explains my experience reading this book. It seemed to have so much potential but was ultimately just okay.
Nicole “Coco” Martin was a 21 year old year journalism major at Columbia University when her parents were tragically killed by a terrorist attack while in France. Coco had missed the annual trip as she was hired as a summer intern for Time magazine. In the aftermath of their death, Coco’s life is shattered as her life revolves around her loving parents, Tom and Bethanie.
Fortunately, her best friend from childhood, Samuel Stein, is always a source of support for her. His strict Orthodox Jewish parents want him to marry an Orthodox Jewish girl and have babies. He is focused on his studies and tries to encourage Coco not to abandon her college dreams.
Coco is so distraught that she cannot return to school and is unable to meet her intern commitment at Time. Her father’s married business partner Ed is made trustee of her inheritance. He begins an inappropriate relationship with her which just further traumatizes her when she naively thinks he is leaving his wife for her.
After the disaster of a relationship with her trustee, Coco accepts an internship in the London Time office. She feels traveling abroad would provide some distance and allow her to move forward from her grief. It isn’t long before she falls for Nigel a Time employee more interested in partying and running up the social ladder than a successful career. He says and does all the things that Coco wants to hear even s her drugs her down a rabbit hole.
Her close platonic relationship with Sam does nothing to dissuade her from making one bad decision after another. He knows her and has only the best intentions for his friend. It was frustrating to understand how Coco could continue to ignore his valid concerns for her safety. Coco expresses her concerns for Sam’s future to a “solid” Orthodox Jewish girl with whom he had been dating for over a year. She feels he should marry for love and not obligation to please his family.
I wanted to enjoy this story more than I did. The characters were dull without much dimension making it hard to invest in their story. There were so many moments when I thought, Oh, no, Coco!” A true example that money does not buy happiness and all that glitters is not gold.
All That Glitters…..as the aphorism says is not gold. The title says explains my experience reading this book. It seemed to have so much potential but was ultimately just okay.
Nicole “Coco” Martin was a 21 year old year journalism major at Columbia University when her parents were tragically killed by a terrorist attack while in France. Coco had missed the annual trip as she was hired as a summer intern for Time magazine. In the aftermath of their death, Coco’s life is shattered as her life revolves around her loving parents, Tom and Bethanie.
Fortunately, her best friend from childhood, Samuel Stein, is always a source of support for her. His strict Orthodox Jewish parents want him to marry an Orthodox Jewish girl and have babies. He is focused on his studies and tries to encourage Coco not to abandon her college dreams.
Coco is so distraught that she cannot return to school and is unable to meet her intern commitment at Time. Her father’s married business partner Ed is made trustee of her inheritance. He begins an inappropriate relationship with her which just further traumatizes her when she naively thinks he is leaving his wife for her.
After the disaster of a relationship with her trustee, Coco accepts an internship in the London Time office. She feels traveling abroad would provide some distance and allow her to move forward from her grief. It isn’t long before she falls for Nigel a Time employee more interested in partying and running up the social ladder than a successful career. He says and does all the things that Coco wants to hear even s her drugs her down a rabbit hole.
Her close platonic relationship with Sam does nothing to dissuade her from making one bad decision after another. He knows her and has only the best intentions for his friend. It was frustrating to understand how Coco could continue to ignore his valid concerns for her safety. Coco expresses her concerns for Sam’s future to a “solid” Orthodox Jewish girl with whom he had been dating for over a year. She feels he should marry for love and not obligation to please his family.
I wanted to enjoy this story more than I did. The characters were dull without much dimension making it hard to invest in their story. There were so many moments when I thought, Oh, no, Coco!” A true example that money does not buy happiness and all that glitters is not gold.
June 9, 2023
Another solid story by one of my favorite authors. This book encompasses all things Danielle Steel … glitz, glamour, the elite and wealthy, exciting cities and places. It also has tragedy, family ties, differing religions and beliefs and of course the many circles of love as the main character Coco experiences over and over the “flash” as her and best friend Sam call it as she is attracted to the very wealthy jet set types of men who continually disrupt her life and purpose. Read this compelling story “ a powerful reminder that all that glitters is not the essence of life … what is truly worth having was right there in our hands all along.” Ahh, so true.
November 25, 2023
weer een prachtig verhaal
March 13, 2024
Not worth it, sorry
November 18, 2020
In All That Glitters, Coco and Sam have been best friends forever, and are drawn together even more strongly as they grow up and experience triumphs and tragedies in their lives. They were enjoyable characters and I liked reading about their relationship and their various experiences.
I found the writing to be a little bit redundant in places....the author would say something and then say the same thing, slightly differently, in the next sentence or paragraph. It was a bit distracting but did not interfere too much with my enjoyment of the story.
This was an easy read and an enjoyable one. Reading about the experiences of the characters over the years took me away from my present circumstances and was a pleasant escape.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I found the writing to be a little bit redundant in places....the author would say something and then say the same thing, slightly differently, in the next sentence or paragraph. It was a bit distracting but did not interfere too much with my enjoyment of the story.
This was an easy read and an enjoyable one. Reading about the experiences of the characters over the years took me away from my present circumstances and was a pleasant escape.
Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Read
December 30, 2020AUTHOR Steel, Danielle
TITLE All That Glitters
DATE READ 12/29/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE Coco Martin, officially Nicole, was a striking young woman w/ dark hair and green eyes.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH Fiction/2020/library/278 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal/192/120
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE Present/NY & London
CHARACTERS Coco and Sam
COMMENTS A pleasant read. Coco and Sam grow up together but he is from an orthodox Jewish background and Coco is not… they are close friends and have supported each other through various adversities. Coco leaves for London, marries, and starts a career. Sam stays in NY to assist his father in their accounting firm. It seems that Sam is staid and following a bland course while Coco is attracted by the Flash -- the appearances to some extent … she finds out these are often superficial and the glitter wears away quickly.
TITLE All That Glitters
DATE READ 12/29/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE Coco Martin, officially Nicole, was a striking young woman w/ dark hair and green eyes.
GENRE/ PUB DATE/FORMAT/LENGTH Fiction/2020/library/278 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal/192/120
GROUP READ
TIME/PLACE Present/NY & London
CHARACTERS Coco and Sam
COMMENTS A pleasant read. Coco and Sam grow up together but he is from an orthodox Jewish background and Coco is not… they are close friends and have supported each other through various adversities. Coco leaves for London, marries, and starts a career. Sam stays in NY to assist his father in their accounting firm. It seems that Sam is staid and following a bland course while Coco is attracted by the Flash -- the appearances to some extent … she finds out these are often superficial and the glitter wears away quickly.
November 28, 2020
I love DS books however this one just annoyed me. Coco just seemed weak and I didn't really enjoy her character or any of the men she hooks up with. Right from the beginning you knew Sam and her would get together. This book was predictable and hopefully her next one won't be as bad.
June 26, 2022
Annoying
September 14, 2020
All That Glitters, by Danielle Steel, is a beautiful and breathtaking story about two best friends and the trials and triumphs they experience while living widely different lifestyles thousands of miles apart. Coco and Sam’s bond is an example of how friendships can be strengthen by the differences of two people, and not necessarily their similarities. All That Glitters stood out as a modernized story because it went beyond the traditional love story of a woman and a man meeting, falling in love, overcoming obstacles, and forming a stronger relationship as a result. The reality is that people don’t always get it right the first time, and sometimes not even the second time. It was refreshing to read about a character who was flawed, and had to make a lot of mistakes along the way before finding true love and success. Coco learns that a mistake is only a failure if you don’t learn from it and find the strength to pick up the broken pieces and move forward in life.
Coco and Sam have been best friends since a young age, and have more differences than similarities. Despite their differences, they formed an unique unbreakable friendship and stood by each other through pain, loss, suffering, heartache, and mistakes. They freely gave advice to one another, but did not try to stifle each other when they made mistakes along the way to finding happiness. Although they don’t always agree,, there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for one another. The strength of their friendship is tested more than once, but nothing ever lessens their powerful bond.
Sam is part of a devout Jewish family and his mother has strict beliefs about following the traditions and standards of a Jewish family. She was never comfortable with Sam and Coco’s friendship because she always worried that their friendship would turn into more. That would have been unacceptable in her eyes because it was highly important that Sam marry a Jewish woman and continue the tradition and legacy Sam was born into. Although his father has a less intense approach to following the religion to perfection, he does have very high expectations of Sam working in the family business.
Coco’s parents were somewhat more free spirited in their beliefs. They encouraged Coco to be cautions, work hard, and follow her dreams. When the die tragically while Coco is working as an intern and nearing the goal of earning her college degree, she is understandably grief stricken. Sam, loyal as ever, does everything he can to try to help her get through it. As the days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months, he can tell that the is moving farther and farther away from the goal they shared of finishing college. Despite the inheritance from her parents, Coco has always had a strong work ethic so Sam is surprised that she has chosen to remain holed up instead of attempting to return to the world of the living. It takes the encouragement from someone older and wiser than Coco to coax her our of her shell of depression, but she learns the hard way that people don’t always have the best intentions. Facing heartbreak and feeling lost all over again, she calls the business of her previous internship and asks if they have available positions. Surprisingly they have an available position in England. Determined to work hard and make her own success, Coco is grateful for her inheritance, but only sees it as a means to help her get closer to accomplishing her goals and has no intentions off of living indefinitely off of their money. She quickly realizes ow much she likes her job in England, and forms a good friendship with her boss Leslie. When Leslie invites her to a house party she feels obligated to go. She is surprised to meet such a welcoming and charismatic man, Nigel, at the party and Is instantly drawn to him. Nigel seems to know everything about everyone and broadens her horizons by introducing her to the most magical places and experiences possible. Although he is open and honest with her from the very beginning, she has a lot to learn about him and realizes that perhaps she should’ve listened to Sam’s advice.
Still living in America, Sam is following in his father’s footsteps at the family business and is miserable. More than ever he feels obligated to life a lifestyle that his mother wants for him since his siblings have rebelled and have caused such tension within his family. Coco urges him to follow his dreams and find something and someone that make him happy because she feels like he is simply settling when he could and deserves so much more. In contrast, Sam warns Coco that sometimes simplicity, comfort, and reliability are more important than the flash and the highly passionate lifestyle she leads. They both agree that they feel too young to get married and have babies, so at least that’s one thing they still have in common.
While Coco continues to make mistakes, she grows up learning from harsh experiences and becomes a better and stronger person from it. She makes poor decisions that threaten to destroy her stability, but at least realizes that she has to stand strong if she really wants her dreams of love and success to come true.
Feeling pressured from his family in America, Sam makes decisions to please the highly respected people in his community, and most especially by his mother. Admittedly his life isn’t what he wanted, but he at least feels like he’s honoring his family. When they are both surprised by finding out they were going to be parents at a much earlier age than either of them had planned, they still remain supportive of the choices they have each made in their own lives.
When tragedy strikes Coco and her child, Sam is right by her side to try to help her survive another potential disaster. Although Coco wasn’t finished making poor decisions yet, at least she feels like she’s starting to make better decisions. Just as Sam supported her in her grief and tragedies, she was also there for him when an unexpected death and other decisions threaten to destroy him as well.
Through the best and worst choices that each of them made, their friendship never faltered, and they were their for one another to help them each learn the truth and find the happiness they both longed for.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House and a division of Penguin Random House, LCC), and Netgalley for allowing me to read All That Glitters. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion. I sat at home all day and read it in one sitting because it was so engrossing that I couldn’t put it down!
Coco and Sam have been best friends since a young age, and have more differences than similarities. Despite their differences, they formed an unique unbreakable friendship and stood by each other through pain, loss, suffering, heartache, and mistakes. They freely gave advice to one another, but did not try to stifle each other when they made mistakes along the way to finding happiness. Although they don’t always agree,, there isn’t anything they wouldn’t do for one another. The strength of their friendship is tested more than once, but nothing ever lessens their powerful bond.
Sam is part of a devout Jewish family and his mother has strict beliefs about following the traditions and standards of a Jewish family. She was never comfortable with Sam and Coco’s friendship because she always worried that their friendship would turn into more. That would have been unacceptable in her eyes because it was highly important that Sam marry a Jewish woman and continue the tradition and legacy Sam was born into. Although his father has a less intense approach to following the religion to perfection, he does have very high expectations of Sam working in the family business.
Coco’s parents were somewhat more free spirited in their beliefs. They encouraged Coco to be cautions, work hard, and follow her dreams. When the die tragically while Coco is working as an intern and nearing the goal of earning her college degree, she is understandably grief stricken. Sam, loyal as ever, does everything he can to try to help her get through it. As the days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months, he can tell that the is moving farther and farther away from the goal they shared of finishing college. Despite the inheritance from her parents, Coco has always had a strong work ethic so Sam is surprised that she has chosen to remain holed up instead of attempting to return to the world of the living. It takes the encouragement from someone older and wiser than Coco to coax her our of her shell of depression, but she learns the hard way that people don’t always have the best intentions. Facing heartbreak and feeling lost all over again, she calls the business of her previous internship and asks if they have available positions. Surprisingly they have an available position in England. Determined to work hard and make her own success, Coco is grateful for her inheritance, but only sees it as a means to help her get closer to accomplishing her goals and has no intentions off of living indefinitely off of their money. She quickly realizes ow much she likes her job in England, and forms a good friendship with her boss Leslie. When Leslie invites her to a house party she feels obligated to go. She is surprised to meet such a welcoming and charismatic man, Nigel, at the party and Is instantly drawn to him. Nigel seems to know everything about everyone and broadens her horizons by introducing her to the most magical places and experiences possible. Although he is open and honest with her from the very beginning, she has a lot to learn about him and realizes that perhaps she should’ve listened to Sam’s advice.
Still living in America, Sam is following in his father’s footsteps at the family business and is miserable. More than ever he feels obligated to life a lifestyle that his mother wants for him since his siblings have rebelled and have caused such tension within his family. Coco urges him to follow his dreams and find something and someone that make him happy because she feels like he is simply settling when he could and deserves so much more. In contrast, Sam warns Coco that sometimes simplicity, comfort, and reliability are more important than the flash and the highly passionate lifestyle she leads. They both agree that they feel too young to get married and have babies, so at least that’s one thing they still have in common.
While Coco continues to make mistakes, she grows up learning from harsh experiences and becomes a better and stronger person from it. She makes poor decisions that threaten to destroy her stability, but at least realizes that she has to stand strong if she really wants her dreams of love and success to come true.
Feeling pressured from his family in America, Sam makes decisions to please the highly respected people in his community, and most especially by his mother. Admittedly his life isn’t what he wanted, but he at least feels like he’s honoring his family. When they are both surprised by finding out they were going to be parents at a much earlier age than either of them had planned, they still remain supportive of the choices they have each made in their own lives.
When tragedy strikes Coco and her child, Sam is right by her side to try to help her survive another potential disaster. Although Coco wasn’t finished making poor decisions yet, at least she feels like she’s starting to make better decisions. Just as Sam supported her in her grief and tragedies, she was also there for him when an unexpected death and other decisions threaten to destroy him as well.
Through the best and worst choices that each of them made, their friendship never faltered, and they were their for one another to help them each learn the truth and find the happiness they both longed for.
Thank you Danielle Steel, Delacorte Press (an imprint of Random House and a division of Penguin Random House, LCC), and Netgalley for allowing me to read All That Glitters. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion. I sat at home all day and read it in one sitting because it was so engrossing that I couldn’t put it down!
January 31, 2021
All That Glitters follows a character named Coco. Coco lives a life of privilege, provided for her by her parents' hard work and passion. So while she's privileged, she also has a human sense of the world. Coco's best friend is Sam, an orthodox Jewish man-- they have been friends since childhood.
Coco's parents die tragically in a terrorist attack while away in Paris shortly after Coco's first year of college. Bereft by the death of her parents, she falls into a depression for a year... while simultaneously having an affair with the (married) trustee of her estate. Coco eventually ends the relationship, but this book follows her various relationships with other men who enter and exit her life. All she wants is a love like her parents.
Meanwhile, Sam handles taking over his family business, being pushed into marriage to a girl he's dating, and falling into the lifestyle his parents expected him to live, despite wanting something different for himself. Coco is his one connection to the life he wants to live vs the life he has.
I thought this book was a wonderfully lighthearted read, and short to boot! I loved following Sam & Coco's friendship throughout their lives. I wasn't surprised by the ending, since it seems pretty clear her mission to find love is the primary plot... yet enjoyable nonetheless.
Coco's parents die tragically in a terrorist attack while away in Paris shortly after Coco's first year of college. Bereft by the death of her parents, she falls into a depression for a year... while simultaneously having an affair with the (married) trustee of her estate. Coco eventually ends the relationship, but this book follows her various relationships with other men who enter and exit her life. All she wants is a love like her parents.
Meanwhile, Sam handles taking over his family business, being pushed into marriage to a girl he's dating, and falling into the lifestyle his parents expected him to live, despite wanting something different for himself. Coco is his one connection to the life he wants to live vs the life he has.
I thought this book was a wonderfully lighthearted read, and short to boot! I loved following Sam & Coco's friendship throughout their lives. I wasn't surprised by the ending, since it seems pretty clear her mission to find love is the primary plot... yet enjoyable nonetheless.
March 5, 2021
Very disappointed in this book. I like her earlier books, but this book took me by surprise in that it repeated the same things over and over, like it was an early grade reading book. The story line could have been wonderful. I finished it because it was a quick read, although boring.
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