Past Perfact

Title : Past Perfect

Author : Danielle Steel

Published date : 7 November 2017

Genres : Romance / Contemporary Fiction with a touch of Magical Realism (time-slip family drama) 💕⏳🏡.

Length : 288

Favorite Character : Sybil Gregory 💕.

Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Summary

💫 Past Perfect by Danielle Steel is a story that feels like stepping into a dream where the past and present meet under one roof 🏡. Blake and Sybil Gregory, along with their kids, leave behind the fast-paced life of Manhattan 🗽 and move to a grand old mansion in San Francisco 🌉. What they don’t expect is that the mansion already has “residents” — the Butterfield family 👒🎩, who lived there during the glittering Gilded Age more than a century ago. Instead of fear or ghostly chills 👻, what follows is something truly magical ✨.

As the Gregorys and the Butterfields learn to share the same space, their lives begin to intertwine in the sweetest ways 💞. From laughter-filled family dinners 🍽️, Christmas celebrations 🎄, and even guiding each other through heartache 💔, both families discover that time doesn’t limit love, friendship, or lessons. The Butterfields bring wisdom, tradition, and elegance from the past 🕰️, while the Gregorys bring modern warmth, understanding, and hope 🌷. Together, they remind us that no matter the century, family and love are what truly last 💖.

What makes this book so special is the way Danielle Steel mixes history, magic, and heartfelt emotion 🪄. It’s not just about two families sharing a house — it’s about how we all carry pieces of the past with us, and how those memories can comfort us in the present 🌸. Reading this feels like sipping a warm cup of cocoa on a winter night ☕❄️ — comforting, nostalgic, and full of love.

My Thought

Honestly, I really didn’t enjoy Past Perfect by Danielle Steel 😕. At first, I thought it would be this magical, heartwarming story — a modern family meeting a family from the past sounded super intriguing 👻⏳. But as I kept reading, I just… didn’t feel anything. The story dragged, the plot felt predictable, and nothing really grabbed me.

The characters didn’t feel real to me. Sybil seemed too perfect, Blake was kind of bland, and even the Butterfields, who should’ve been interesting because they’re from another century, didn’t leave much of an impression. I couldn’t connect with anyone, and honestly, I didn’t really care what happened to them 💭.

The “magical” element of the past and present meeting never felt exciting — it was barely used, and the story just felt like a slow, polite family drama. I kept hoping for a twist or something emotional to make me care, but it never came. By the end, I was just glad it was over 😅.

If I’m being real, this isn’t a book I’d ever reread, and I probably wouldn’t recommend it. It felt forgettable, safe, and honestly kind of boring for me 💤.

My Review

Honestly, Past Perfect by Danielle Steel was such a letdown for me 😕. I really wanted to enjoy it because the concept seemed so intriguing — a modern family moving into an old mansion, only to discover it’s already “inhabited” by a family from the past. I thought it would be magical, emotional, and full of surprises ⏳🏡. But from the beginning, the story just dragged. The pacing felt slow, and the plot quickly became predictable. I kept waiting for something exciting, a twist, or a real conflict, but it never came.

The characters were another issue for me. Sybil, who is supposed to be the heart of the story, felt almost too perfect — always calm, understanding, and a little too idealized 💭. Blake was flat and forgettable, and even the Butterfield family, who should have been fascinating because of their old-world charm 🎩👒, didn’t feel real or engaging. I couldn’t connect with anyone, which made it really hard to care about the story.

The “magical” element of the past and present intersecting was barely used and never felt exciting or meaningful ✨. Instead, the book focused on endless family dinners, polite conversations, and little everyday moments that didn’t add any drama or tension. I wanted emotional depth, big moments, or something that would make the story memorable, but it just didn’t happen. By the time I finished, I was left feeling underwhelmed and kind of bored 💤.

Overall, Past Perfect felt flat, safe, and forgettable. It’s not a book I’d ever reread, and personally, I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone looking for a strong story, engaging characters, or something magical. For me, it just didn’t click at all 😕📖.

✨__Firdos_Abdul__✨