Palazzo by Danielle Steel: Book Review

ByMary Emmer Updated on
cover of the book palazzo by danielle steel

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Palazzo by Danielle Steel is a glamorous family drama set between Italy and France, filled with luxury, romance, difficult family loyalties, and one very determined woman trying to hold everything together.

Cosima Saverio is running her family’s prestigious Italian leather business while also preserving their centuries-old Venetian palazzo and dealing with the very different needs of her siblings. Add in a handsome French businessman, a reckless brother, and a serious financial crisis, and Danielle Steel has plenty to work with.

This was another very fast read for me, and once again, Steel managed to give me exactly the kind of emotional, escapist story I wanted.

My Take: Palazzo was pure Danielle Steel comfort reading for me: beautiful settings, family drama, business complications, romance, and a strong woman trying to protect the people and legacy she loves. I especially enjoyed the Italian and French settings and the luxury-fashion backdrop. My Verdict? Read. This was warm, glamorous, and very easy to get swept up in.

Summary of Palazzo by Danielle Steel

Cosima Saverio has spent years carrying the weight of her family’s legacy.

After losing her parents at a young age, she takes over the family’s prestigious Italian leather company, helps care for her siblings, and works to preserve their centuries-old palazzo in Venice.

Her sister Allegra is still living with the aftermath of the family tragedy, while her brother Luca has developed a taste for gambling, parties, and expensive trouble.

Then Cosima meets Olivier Bayard, a successful French businessman in the luxury handbag industry. Their connection introduces the possibility of both personal and professional change, but Cosima’s carefully controlled world is threatened when Luca’s gambling debts become impossible to ignore.

Suddenly, she is forced to choose between protecting the family business, preserving the palazzo, and rescuing a brother who may have finally gone too far.

Palazzo by Danielle Steel – What I Liked

There was a lot to enjoy here, but the setting was one of my favorite parts.

This book had me imagining life in Italy and France almost immediately. Between the Venetian palazzo, the family leather business, and the French luxury-fashion world, Palazzo has the kind of glamorous backdrop that makes it very easy to disappear into the story for a few hours.

I also liked Cosima from the beginning. She is capable, loyal, practical, and deeply committed to protecting both her family and the business she inherited. She has spent years putting everyone else first, which makes her personal journey especially satisfying.

The family dynamics also worked well for me. There is love, grief, loyalty, responsibility, resentment, and plenty of frustration, particularly where Luca is concerned. Those relationships gave the book more emotional weight than the glamorous setting alone would have provided.

And then there is the romance. It never overwhelmed the family story, but it added warmth and gave Cosima something in her life that was finally about her rather than everyone else.

Overall, this was one of those Danielle Steel novels that combines family drama, romance, business, beautiful settings, and a satisfying emotional payoff in exactly the way I hoped it would.

Palazzo by Danielle Steel – What I Didn’t Like

There really wasn’t anything I disliked about this book.

If I had one complaint, it would simply be that I would have happily spent more time with these characters and in these settings. The book moved very quickly for me, and I wouldn’t have minded if it had been longer.

I would remove the old comparison to Going Home from this section. It distracts from the review and belongs better in a Danielle Steel roundup or author post.

Palazzo by Danielle Steel – Read, Reread, or Reconsider?

And now for my 3 Rs of book reviews – should you read, reread, or reconsider reading Palazzo by Danielle Steel?

Read!

Frequently Asked Questions About Palazzo by Danielle Steel

Is Palazzo by Danielle Steel part of a series?

No. Palazzo is a standalone novel.

What does “palazzo” mean?

“Palazzo” is an Italian word generally used for a large or grand building, especially a palace or impressive historic residence, especially in Italy.

Is Palazzo a romance?

There is a romantic storyline, but I would describe Palazzo more broadly as contemporary women’s fiction or family drama with strong romantic elements.

Do you need to read Danielle Steel books in order?

No. Danielle Steel’s novels are generally standalones, so you can read them in any order.

Is Palazzo by Danielle Steel Worth Reading?

Yes. If you enjoy Danielle Steel’s mix of family drama, strong women, romance, beautiful settings, and difficult choices, Palazzo is absolutely worth reading.

The luxury-fashion setting gives this one a little extra sparkle, but the family relationships are what give it heart. Cosima’s determination to protect both the people she loves and the legacy she inherited kept me invested from beginning to end.

For me, this was another easy Danielle Steel read: warm, emotional, glamorous, and satisfying.

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Mary Emmer is the founder and primary author of Looks Like Books, where she helps readers discover new books, explore different genres, and celebrate the joy of reading. A lifelong book enthusiast and entrepreneur, she also brings a unique perspective shaped by four decades in the travel industry. More about Mary.