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Quick answer: If you like Danielle Steel, read Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark, Judith Krantz and Sidney Sheldon. All write easy, absorbing novels of glamour, love, family and reinvention.
Danielle Steel is one of the best-selling authors in history, writing dozens of novels of romance, family drama and resilience, often with glamorous settings and strong heroines. Her readers like the comforting pace and emotional stories. The books below offer similar glamorous, emotional reading for fans of big-hearted fiction.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern Lights | Nora Roberts | Adult | romantic suspense |
| Where Are the Children? | Mary Higgins Clark | Adult | classic suspense |
| Scruples | Judith Krantz | Adult | fashion and ambition |
| Master of the Game | Sidney Sheldon | Adult | family empire |
| A Woman of Substance | Barbara Taylor Bradford | Adult | rise of a tycoon |
| Hollywood Wives | Jackie Collins | Adult | glitzy drama |
| Circle of Friends | Maeve Binchy | Adult | Irish friendships |
| The Shell Seekers | Rosamunde Pilcher | Adult | family saga |
| Firefly Lane | Kristin Hannah | Adult | best friends for decades |
| The Notebook | Nicholas Sparks | Adult | enduring love |
| Whitney, My Love | Judith McNaught | Adult | historical romance |
| Twenty Wishes | Debbie Macomber | Adult | friendship fiction |
| Summer People | Elin Hilderbrand | Adult | island summer |
| My Sister's Keeper | Jodi Picoult | Adult | family dilemma |
| Me Before You | Jojo Moyes | Adult | emotional romance |
1. Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
A former Baltimore cop becomes police chief in an Alaskan town and finds an old murder. Atmospheric.
Best for: romantic suspense.
2. Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark
A woman whose children vanished faces the same nightmare again. A model of the genre.
Best for: classic suspense.
3. Scruples by Judith Krantz
A shy woman builds a Beverly Hills boutique. Fun and lavish.
Best for: fashion and ambition.
4. Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon
A family builds a diamond empire across generations. Fast and glamorous.
Best for: family empire.
5. A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford
Emma Harte rises from servant girl to business tycoon. A long and satisfying saga.
Best for: rise of a tycoon.
6. Hollywood Wives by Jackie Collins
Wives and mistresses scheme in Hollywood. Racy and fast.
Best for: glitzy drama.
7. Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy
Two friends grow up in an Irish village and then in Dublin. Warm and old-fashioned.
Best for: Irish friendships.
8. The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
An elderly woman reflects on her life and her three children. Gentle.
Best for: family saga.
9. Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah
Two girls become best friends in the 1970s and stay close through every change. Warm.
Best for: best friends for decades.
10. The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
An old man reads a love story to a woman with dementia. Sweet and sad.
Best for: enduring love.
11. Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught
A spirited heiress is forced to marry an English duke. Dramatic and classic.
Best for: historical romance.
12. Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber
Four widows share a list of wishes. Warm and uplifting.
Best for: friendship fiction.
13. Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand
A group of friends and families spends a Nantucket summer. Breezy.
Best for: island summer.
14. My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult
A girl sues her parents for control of her body. Emotional and thought-provoking.
Best for: family dilemma.
15. Me Before You by Jojo Moyes
A quirky young woman becomes a carer for a man who has given up on life. Unforgettable.
Best for: emotional romance.
How to Choose
For more Steel choose Nora Roberts, Mary Higgins Clark or Judith Krantz. For glamorous sagas pick Sidney Sheldon, Jackie Collins or Barbara Taylor Bradford. For gentler family fiction read Maeve Binchy, Rosamunde Pilcher or Kristin Hannah. For tear-jerkers try The Notebook or Me Before You. Steel's novels are quick and comforting, so these picks suit readers who like emotional drama. Danielle Steel is known for writing at an extraordinary pace, with several new novels published each year. Her fans enjoy a steady supply of new books, and her novels are widely stocked in libraries.
Related: Danielle Steel Books In Order Printable List In Chronological Order · Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond: Summary and Key Takeaways
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Danielle Steel known for?
Best-selling romance and family drama novels.
Where should I start?
Many readers start with The Promise or Palomino; check current listings for her recent titles.
How many books has she written?
More than 190. Check current listings.
Are her books standalone?
Mostly, yes.
Are they explicit?
They are generally mild and focus on emotion.
Who is similar to Danielle Steel?
Nora Roberts, Judith Krantz and Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Are there audiobooks?
Yes, for many titles.
What should I read next?
Try Firefly Lane or A Woman of Substance.
Which book here is best for family empire?
Try Master of the Game by Sidney Sheldon, which suits readers looking for family empire.
Which book here is best for Irish friendships?
Try Circle of Friends by Maeve Binchy, which suits readers looking for Irish friendships.
Which book here is best for enduring love?
Try The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks, which suits readers looking for enduring love.
Which book here is best for island summer?
Try Summer People by Elin Hilderbrand, which suits readers looking for island summer.
Which book here is best for classic suspense?
Try Where Are the Children? by Mary Higgins Clark, which suits readers looking for classic suspense.
Which book here is best for rise of a tycoon?
Try A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor Bradford, which suits readers looking for rise of a tycoon.