In this heartwarming novel, adult siblings find their way back home—and back to each other—after loss.
Preston and Constance Whittier have built a happy life together, with a brood of six children raised in a beautiful historic Manhattan mansion. Now, with a nearly empty nest, it’s easier than ever for the Whittiers to maintain their tradition of a solo romantic “Wintermoon” ski trip.
But with this year’s trip comes tragedy, and suddenly the Whittiers’ adult children find themselves reuniting in the family home without their parents for the first time ever. The oldest, Lyle, is reaching a breaking point in his marriage and must decide whether a divorce would be best for him and his two children. Gloria’s big job on Wall Street has kept her single at thirty-nine, and growing ever more cynical. The twins, Caroline and Charlie, moved out long ago to start a fashion business that may now be faltering. Benjie, with special needs, is hit hard by the loss of his parents and needs his siblings’ help. And Annabelle, the youngest, drops out of college and starts to spin out of control.
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?
In The Whittiers, Danielle Steel delivers an inspiring story about the everlasting bonds of one unforgettable family.
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"The Whittiers is an absolute must-listen for fans of Danielle Steel! The story follows the journey of the Whittier family as they experience heartache, joy, and adventure through a series of difficult and life-altering decisions. I was blown away by Steele's captivating writing style, which is made so real with Alexander Cendese's immersive narration. Every second of this audiobook is filled with emotion and drama that sucked me in and kept me enthralled until the very end. The characters are wonderfully crafted, each with their own unique story arc that allows them to develop throughout the novel. The strong themes of love and family, alongside beautifully descriptive writing, made it easy for me to connect with the characters on a deep level - something I don't often experience in audible fiction. This audiobook was a stunningly beautiful exploration of relationships between family members and a truly mesmerizing listening experience. From its captivating writing to Alexander's masterful performance as narrator, The Whittiers is definitely one of Danielle Steel's best works yet and I highly recommend giving it a listen!"
— SaraStone44 (5 out of 5 stars)
“Steel pulls out all the emotional stops…She delivers!”
— Publishers Weekly, praise for the author“Steel is one of the best!”
— Los Angeles Times, praise for the author" Good yarn, at times a bit soppy, but intriguing nevertheless "
— kate, 4/17/2023" I loved the book, I just didn't want to stop listening to it. "
— Deb, 4/3/2023" I really wanted to like this audiobook but unfortunately it fails to deliver an engaging experience. Although the narrator's voice is pleasant, his tone lacks the emotion necessary for the story. Also the pacing is slow and it also doesn't help that some of the dialogue sounds stiff and unnatural. Furthermore, the plot is underdeveloped with much of the story taking too long to unfold. While this audiobook may appeal to some fans of Danielle Steel, I imagine that many will find it unengaging and would be better off listening to something else. "
— RG67, 2/15/2023" Danielle Steel is known for her wonderful books that draw the reader in with their emotional depth, and The Whittiers is no exception. It tells the story of a family spanning generations with strong characters that you easily connect with. The plot is an emotional rollercoaster with moments of joy, sadness, love and loss as the characters go through life's tragedies and struggles together. Alexander Cendese does an incredible job narrating the audiobook; his voice has a soothing quality that really helps elevate the story's excellent writing. Every character has his or her own unique tone which really makes it feel like you're there experiencing it all first hand. From beginning to end I found myself completely immersed in this beautiful journey, making me laugh and cry at times but always leaving me. If you're looking for an emotionally captivating story with a satisfying finish then The Whittiers audiobook should be on your reading list! "
— KelleyP, 2/5/2023" Danielle Steel's latest novel, The Whittiers, is a captivating story of one family's journey through life that I greatly enjoyed passing the time with on a recent trip. With its strong characters, vivid descriptions and relatable plot points, this is certainly an audiobook worth listening to. The audiobook's narrator brings a level of depth and emotion to the text that really elevates the storytelling experience in my opinion. His skillful articulation really makes the story shine. All in all, The Whittiers is an enjoyable and engaging listen that I would highly recommend. With its mix of drama and pathos, it's sure to please fans of Steel's works as well as those new to her writing style. Give it a try – you won't be disappointed! "
— Whitney26, 1/28/2023" I recently listened to Danielle Steel's new book "The Whittiers" read by Alexander Cendese. I have to say that it wasn't as great as I was expecting — it was just okay. The story is largely predictable, with characters that never really develop beyond their initial traits and don't have a whole lot of depth. Given how much I've liked previous Steel books this was disappointing. The narration is good in general, but there are a few moments where Cendese falls into a monotone cadence; overall it feels a bit flat. It's not terrible, don't get me wrong, but not good enough either for me to recommend it. "
— ArielA, 1/15/2023" This Danielle Steel audiobook is an excellent experience in my opinion. Narrator Alexander Cendese brings Danielle Steel's wonderful writing to life with his excellent voice acting, and the characters truly feel fully fleshed out and 3 dimensional. The plot is gripping with a fair amount of surprises - taking us through a roller coaster of emotions with a satisfying conclusion. The production value is top-notch, and the dialogue between characters feels natural and believable, allowing readers to become fully immersed in the world of the Whittiers. Overall this audiobook is an absolute must-listen for all fans of Danielle Steel's work (like me!) or audio books in general. With its engaging story, top-quality production values, and superb narrator performance, it's one audiobook experience you won't want to miss out on! "
— AliciaD, 1/4/2023" The Whittiers is an amazing audiobook and I enjoyed it quite a lot. This enthralling story follows the life of an American family dealing with the tragic loss of their parents. The narration by Alexander Cendese is superb; he captures the essence of each character with expertly timed inflections, doing an impeccable job of bringing the story to life. His delivery also conveys emotions perfectly, allowing listeners to feel what every character is feeling in any given moment. It's also worth noting that this book is well written; it has a strong plot that always keeps you interested throughout. For all these reasons and more, I highly recommend The Whittiers audiobook to anyone looking for an entertaining and engaging read. "
— Sammi38, 12/12/2022Danielle Steel has been hailed as one of the world’s most popular authors, with almost a billion copies of her novels sold. Her many international bestsellers include many acclaimed novels. She is also 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; 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.
Alexander Cendese is a New York–based actor and narrator whose credits include roles on and off Broadway, in films, and on popular television shows, including Law & Order: SVU and All My Children. He holds a BFA from the Carnegie Mellon School of Drama.