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3.9k reviews for:
Flowers in the Attic / Petals on the Wind / If There Be Thorns / Seeds of Yesterday / Garden of Shadows
V.C. Andrews
3.61 AVERAGE
3.9k reviews for:
Flowers in the Attic / Petals on the Wind / If There Be Thorns / Seeds of Yesterday / Garden of Shadows
V.C. Andrews
3.61 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This book is a slow burn, which works for the story. The tension builds in the creepiest way, and it had me flipping pages while muttering “what is wrong with these people?”
The grandmother? Absolutely vile. But the mom… oh, the rage I felt toward that woman. It’s been a long time since a fictional character made my blood boil like that. I wanted to shake her.
Here’s the thing: this book gets shelved as “young adult” and I just cannot understand why. Teen me probably would’ve read it too, but adult me wants to yell, “PLEASE CHECK THE CONTENT WARNINGS!” It’s disturbing, twisted, and way heavier than it gets credit for. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. If you’re going to read it, go in knowing it’s dark. Like, really dark.
The grandmother? Absolutely vile. But the mom… oh, the rage I felt toward that woman. It’s been a long time since a fictional character made my blood boil like that. I wanted to shake her.
Here’s the thing: this book gets shelved as “young adult” and I just cannot understand why. Teen me probably would’ve read it too, but adult me wants to yell, “PLEASE CHECK THE CONTENT WARNINGS!” It’s disturbing, twisted, and way heavier than it gets credit for. Honestly, I wouldn’t recommend it to most people. If you’re going to read it, go in knowing it’s dark. Like, really dark.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Incest
dark
slow-paced
Good book. However, it’s a slow read.
Sub-par parenting.
Grossed out yet empathetic yet grossed tf out like ew but sad
Grossed out yet empathetic yet grossed tf out like ew but sad
Every so often, a book comes along that completely consumes you—heart, mind, and soul—and Flowers in the Attic has undoubtedly been that book for me in 2025. I can say with my whole chest (and heart) that this has been my favourite read of the year so far, and I’m honestly a little bit in awe of how deeply it’s gripped me. This is not just a book—it’s an experience, one that lingers with you long after you’ve turned the final page.
I was recommended this novel during a nostalgic conversation with a colleague, where we found ourselves reminiscing about the books we grew up reading. Despite being from different generations, we shared a love for those hauntingly memorable stories that leave a lasting impression. Flowers in the Attic came up as one of those “you had to be there” kind of reads, and though I somehow missed it in my younger years, I am so incredibly grateful to have discovered it now. I only wish I had found V.C. Andrews’ work sooner, because her storytelling is unlike anything I’ve encountered in a very long time.
From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. The premise alone is chilling and strangely poetic, and Andrews writes with such raw emotional intensity that you can’t help but be pulled into the world of the Dollanganger children. The atmosphere is rich with suspense and a haunting sense of claustrophobia that mirrors the physical and emotional entrapment the characters face. It’s beautifully devastating—lush in language and imagery, yet painfully tragic in its content.
The characters are so complex and richly drawn. Each of them feels heartbreakingly real, especially Cathy, whose voice carries such strength, vulnerability, and quiet resilience. Her emotional journey is nothing short of harrowing, and yet there is a fire in her that refuses to be extinguished. The sibling dynamics, the betrayals, the hope, the fear—it all weaves together into a tapestry of human emotion that is as dark as it is moving.
One of the things that struck me most was the way the story unfolds like a mystery, peeling back layers of secrecy and trauma. It forces you to question what you might do in the same situation, how you might cope, survive, protect the people you love when the world has turned its back on you. As the oldest sister in a family of six children, this book strangely resonates with me on a deeply personal level. It’s had me looking at everything from an entirely different perspective—wondering what I would do if I were ever in Cathy’s shoes. The responsibility, the fierce need to protect, the confusion of growing up too fast… it all hit so close to home. It truly is one of those books that leaves a mark on you, and I know it’s not going to leave me for a very long while.
I genuinely haven’t been able to put the book down, and as I write this, I’m already halfway through Petals on the Wind, the second book in the series. That’s how deeply this story has taken hold of me. I can’t get enough. It’s addictive in the way only the best stories are—where you crave answers, justice, healing, and yet you brace yourself for more heartbreak.
If you’re someone who loves old-school drama, psychological tension, and stories that linger in your thoughts long after you finish them, Flowers in the Attic is a must-read. It’s a story of survival, of love twisted by circumstance, and of children forced to grow up far too soon. This is one of the most spectacular, emotional, and unforgettable reads I’ve had in years—and I’ll be singing its praises to anyone who will listen.
I was recommended this novel during a nostalgic conversation with a colleague, where we found ourselves reminiscing about the books we grew up reading. Despite being from different generations, we shared a love for those hauntingly memorable stories that leave a lasting impression. Flowers in the Attic came up as one of those “you had to be there” kind of reads, and though I somehow missed it in my younger years, I am so incredibly grateful to have discovered it now. I only wish I had found V.C. Andrews’ work sooner, because her storytelling is unlike anything I’ve encountered in a very long time.
From the very first page, I was utterly captivated. The premise alone is chilling and strangely poetic, and Andrews writes with such raw emotional intensity that you can’t help but be pulled into the world of the Dollanganger children. The atmosphere is rich with suspense and a haunting sense of claustrophobia that mirrors the physical and emotional entrapment the characters face. It’s beautifully devastating—lush in language and imagery, yet painfully tragic in its content.
The characters are so complex and richly drawn. Each of them feels heartbreakingly real, especially Cathy, whose voice carries such strength, vulnerability, and quiet resilience. Her emotional journey is nothing short of harrowing, and yet there is a fire in her that refuses to be extinguished. The sibling dynamics, the betrayals, the hope, the fear—it all weaves together into a tapestry of human emotion that is as dark as it is moving.
One of the things that struck me most was the way the story unfolds like a mystery, peeling back layers of secrecy and trauma. It forces you to question what you might do in the same situation, how you might cope, survive, protect the people you love when the world has turned its back on you. As the oldest sister in a family of six children, this book strangely resonates with me on a deeply personal level. It’s had me looking at everything from an entirely different perspective—wondering what I would do if I were ever in Cathy’s shoes. The responsibility, the fierce need to protect, the confusion of growing up too fast… it all hit so close to home. It truly is one of those books that leaves a mark on you, and I know it’s not going to leave me for a very long while.
I genuinely haven’t been able to put the book down, and as I write this, I’m already halfway through Petals on the Wind, the second book in the series. That’s how deeply this story has taken hold of me. I can’t get enough. It’s addictive in the way only the best stories are—where you crave answers, justice, healing, and yet you brace yourself for more heartbreak.
If you’re someone who loves old-school drama, psychological tension, and stories that linger in your thoughts long after you finish them, Flowers in the Attic is a must-read. It’s a story of survival, of love twisted by circumstance, and of children forced to grow up far too soon. This is one of the most spectacular, emotional, and unforgettable reads I’ve had in years—and I’ll be singing its praises to anyone who will listen.
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A true 6 star! I collected all of VC Andrew’s books way way back in the day and I thought for sure it wouldn’t be as good now. I forgot so many major details it was almost like reading it for the first time. Holding off on Petals on the Wind so I can get some sleep. These are can’t put down books!
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
