Review: Second Act

Second Act by Danielle Steel
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

 Expected release date: October 3, 2023.

The first third of this book deals with the raw deal Andy gets when a new corporation takes over the movie studio he heads, and you know all this just by reading the book's synopsis!

 But what you might not know, but guess at since this trope is one of Steel's favorites, is that Andy is going to be spending much of the first third of the book lamenting his life and angsting over what a perfect life it was.  Just generally being an annoying, bleak,  "poor me" type of character.

But never fear; after all, this is a Daniell Steel novel, and a happily ever after is coming for Andy in the shape of one Violet Smith and a career change.

I hate to say it, but you can tell most of Violet's secrets by paying attention to the book. It's obvious.

You learned quite a bit about the movie-making industry, which was interesting. 

There is the traditional bump in Violet and Andy's lives at the end of the book, but don't despair; there is a HEA! Naturally, or it wouldn't be a romance, now would it?

*ARC supplied by the publisher Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Delacorte Press, the author Danielle Steel, and NetGalley.

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SYNOPSIS: "In this gripping novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Danielle Steel, a top Hollywood executive seeks a new beginning when his career takes an unplanned turn.

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."