The Whittiers by Danielle Steel

 The Whittiers

Book Summary

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.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading The Whittiers by Danielle Steel.  Preston and Constance Whittier go on a “wintermoon” each year.  Unfortunately, this one was their last.  We see how their six adult children cope with the loss of their parents.  I was drawn into the story.  I like the author’s writing style which is relaxed and friendly.   The story moved along at a fast clip.  There are quite a few characters to keep track of.  I found it easier as I got further into the story. I liked that the characters were not perfect.  Each character had something happening in their lives (life is messy).   Benjie is the youngest son, and he is at the high end of the autism spectrum.  The family soon learns just how much their mother did for Benjie.  The family will need to step up to fill the gap.  Benjie provides many of the uplifting and funny moments in the book.  Annabelle is the youngest child, and she was on a downward spiral before her parents’ death.  After the parent’s death, Annabelle’s life quickly spirals out of control.  The four older siblings are needed to handle the parent’s estate and help their youngest siblings.    There are many moving moments in this emotional story.  I found myself staying up late to finish The Whittiers.  It is a story that will leave you with a smile on your face.  My one negative is the repetition of backstory details.  It is a trait found in all of this author’s books, and I really wish she would discontinue doing it.  The Whittiers is a feel-good story with grief, regret, love, humor, and family.  I enjoyed seeing the family came together after such a tragic event.  The Whittiers is a touching tale with a terrible tragedy, a dreadful divorce, an unrestrained sister, dear dogs, a captivating Italian, cute kids, and a happy house.

The Whittiers is available from Amazon* along with other major retailers.  Danielle Steel will have Without a Trace coming out January 3, 2023 and Worthy Opponents on March 7, 2023.  You can find Danielle Steel's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope that you have a very Happy Thanksgiving.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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