Quiz Never Say Never Danielle Steel

Never Say Never Quiz: 20 Questions to Test Your Knowledge

Welcome to the Never Say Never quiz, a companion for readers who want to revisit Oona Webster’s journey from betrayal to new love. The questions below span the entire novel, mixing multiple-choice and short-answer formats. After you finish, check the answer key to see how well you remember the story. For deeper discussions, visit the main book page, the questions and answers, or the ending explained guide.

Plot and Sequence Questions (8 questions)

  1. On which holiday does Charles choose to reveal his affair with Roberto and that he is gay?
    A. Thanksgiving
    B. Christmas
    C. New Year’s Eve
    D. Easter

  2. After Charles leaves, Oona travels to which country for her cancelled anniversary trip?
    A. Italy
    B. France
    C. Spain
    D. England

  3. What is the name of the historic house Oona rents in France?
    A. Château de la Mer
    B. Belle Vue
    C. La Belle Florence
    D. Maison du Roi

  4. What animal does Oona rescue from bushes in Chapter 5?
    A. A cat
    B. A rabbit
    C. A stray white dog
    D. A horse

  5. Where does Ashley Rowe have to return for work at the end of Chapter 9?
    A. New York
    B. Los Angeles
    C. London
    D. Paris

  6. Which character dies of COVID-19 in Chapter 12?
    A. Charles
    B. Roberto
    C. Gail
    D. Ashley

  7. What life-threatening illness does Will experience in Chapter 13?
    A. Pneumonia
    B. COVID-19
    C. Influenza
    D. A heart condition

  8. At the end of the novel, Ashley surprises Oona by bringing her family onto which type of vessel for Christmas?
    A. A private jet
    B. A chartered yacht
    C. A cruise ship
    D. A sailboat

Character Motivation Questions (5 questions)

  1. Why did Charles keep his sexuality a secret for so many years?
    (Short answer)

  2. Why does Oona initially resist a romantic relationship with Ashley?
    A. She doesn’t find him attractive
    B. She is still in love with Charles
    C. She fears the age gap, his fame, and getting hurt again
    D. She wants to focus only on her career

  3. What motivates Charles to quit his job after Roberto’s death?
    (Short answer)

  4. Why does Oona finally decide to travel to Los Angeles and commit to Ashley at the end of Chapter 13?
    (Short answer)

  5. What does Ashley intend to do with La Belle Florence after renting it with an option to buy?
    A. Turn it into a hotel
    B. Give it to his children
    C. Offer it as a possible wedding gift to Oona
    D. Use it as a film location

Theme and Symbol Questions (4 questions)

  1. What does the miniature painting of Florence de Montmarrin symbolize for Oona?
    A. Her lost career
    B. Hope for reunion and a blessing on her love with Ashley
    C. The danger of trusting men
    D. Her desire to become a queen

  2. How does the COVID-19 pandemic function as a backdrop in the novel?
    (Short answer)

  3. What does Oona’s decision to drop her husband’s surname signify?
    A. She wants to impress Ashley
    B. Rebirth, reclaiming her identity, and starting over
    C. She is angry at her children
    D. She plans to change careers

  4. In what way does the early theme of “order vs. chaos” appear in the story?
    (Short answer)

Synthesis Questions (3 questions)

  1. Compare Oona’s and Ashley’s journeys from betrayal to new love. What is one common obstacle they both face?
    (Short answer)

  2. How does the novel illustrate the idea of “never say never” regarding second chances?
    (Short answer)

  3. Analyze the role of La Belle Florence as a setting. How does it influence the characters’ emotional growth?
    (Short answer)

Answer Key

Plot and Sequence

  1. A – Thanksgiving. In Chapter 1, Charles tells Oona of his affair with Roberto after the children depart from Thanksgiving dinner.
  2. B – France. Oona flies to France to stay at La Belle Florence, the house rented for her cancelled anniversary trip (Chapter 3).
  3. C – La Belle Florence. The historic house is named after the king’s young mistress who was poisoned (Chapter 6).
  4. C – A stray white dog. Oona finds her in bushes and names her Florence (Chapter 5).
  5. B – Los Angeles. Ashley accepts a starring role in a new L.A. series and must leave in a week (Chapter 9).
  6. B – Roberto. Charles calls Oona in grief saying Roberto died of COVID after a brief illness (Chapter 12).
  7. B – COVID-19. Will contracts COVID-19, is hospitalized in ICU for a week, and recovers (Chapter 13).
  8. B – A chartered yacht. Ashley surprises Oona by bringing Meghan, Will, and Heather onto a yacht sailing to Tobago (Chapter 14).

Character Motivation

  1. He had repressed his sexuality since college, fearing judgment and the life he believed he was meant to lead (Chapter 1).
  2. C – She fears the age gap, his fame, and the risk of heartbreak after Charles’s betrayal (Chapters 8–9).
  3. He wants to spend his final career years working for a foundation with global impact instead of a meaningless job (Chapter 13).
  4. After Will’s recovery, she realizes she must have the courage to live a full life with Ashley and stop hiding from herself (Chapter 13 evidence).
  5. C – Ashley intends the house as a possible wedding gift for Oona (Chapter 14).

Theme and Symbol

  1. B – The miniature gives Oona comfort and represents hope for reunion and a blessing on her relationship with Ashley (Chapters 10–11 evidence).
  2. The pandemic isolates characters, accelerates their intimacy, forces them to confront loss, and spurs life changes (e.g., job loss, relocation, reordered priorities).
  3. B – Dropping Charles’s surname marks her rebirth and reclaiming of her own identity (Chapter 6).
  4. Oona’s orderly, predictable life is shattered when Charles reveals his secret, introducing chaos that forces her to rebuild (Chapter 1).

Synthesis

  1. Both Oona and Ashley face the obstacle of trusting a new partner after betrayal: Oona was cheated on by Charles; Ashley’s divorce from Claire left scars. They also must overcome the fear of blending families and public scrutiny.
  2. Oona never imagined she would love again after Charles, yet she opens her heart to Ashley. Charles, at sixty, embraces his true sexuality. The title’s message is that it is never too late for change and second chances.
  3. La Belle Florence provides a safe haven during the pandemic where Oona heals from her divorce and career loss. Its tragic history of forbidden love mirrors her own story and gives her courage to embrace a new relationship. The house becomes a symbol of rebirth and the possibility of lasting love.