haleyp898's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
raeanne's review against another edition
Well, that was quick and disturbing. At least it didn't try to play us for stupid about the big secret of Roanoke girls for long.
afwyt's review against another edition
5.0
This book is so much more than some fucked up story with triggers left and right.
It reminds me of the way we care about and love people who sometimes don’t deserve it (or don’t deserve it at all)...how we can’t change the way we feel, even if it’s a conflicting feeling all the time. How some of us are wired to see the good in the people we care about even though they hurt us, intentionally or not. How we look past their flaws because we know the intention in their heart, even if they don’t have or show a willingness to change. Even if they can’t understand that what they’re doing is wrong, and even if they never will.
5 easy stars. For the reason above, for Cooper and for the whole dark tone of the book (reminded me of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, probably the small home town theme).
It reminds me of the way we care about and love people who sometimes don’t deserve it (or don’t deserve it at all)...how we can’t change the way we feel, even if it’s a conflicting feeling all the time. How some of us are wired to see the good in the people we care about even though they hurt us, intentionally or not. How we look past their flaws because we know the intention in their heart, even if they don’t have or show a willingness to change. Even if they can’t understand that what they’re doing is wrong, and even if they never will.
5 easy stars. For the reason above, for Cooper and for the whole dark tone of the book (reminded me of Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn, probably the small home town theme).
heatherli25's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
brittany_tellefsen's review against another edition
4.0
Rating 4.5
Dark. Disturbing. Devourable. This was the book my twisted little soul was craving and I am not even sorry.
After her mother commits suicide when she is just 15 years old, Lane is sent to live on the Kansas estate of her grandparents, people she has never met and never even knew existed.
There, over one summer, she and her cousin, who is also in the care of her grandparents, live the enviable life of being a rich Roanoke girl. But it doesn't take long for Lane to realize that there are some dark secrets being held at Roanoke. A secret that has caused other Roanoke girls before her to flee or die.
Now, a decade later, Lane has escaped the suffocating Kansas estate but is called back when Allegra goes missing. And she is forced to confront the darkness she fled so many years ago.
Holy. Fucking. Cow. Y'all... I cannot even explain to you how quickly I tore through this Southern Gothic nightmare that you cannot help but be sucked into, for better or for worse.
Full of deeply flawed and unlikeable characters, this warped tale was so beautifully and enchantingly told that I could not help but be charmed despite the horrid subject matter.
I will definitely need to pick up more of Engel's work in the future.
Dark. Disturbing. Devourable. This was the book my twisted little soul was craving and I am not even sorry.
After her mother commits suicide when she is just 15 years old, Lane is sent to live on the Kansas estate of her grandparents, people she has never met and never even knew existed.
There, over one summer, she and her cousin, who is also in the care of her grandparents, live the enviable life of being a rich Roanoke girl. But it doesn't take long for Lane to realize that there are some dark secrets being held at Roanoke. A secret that has caused other Roanoke girls before her to flee or die.
Now, a decade later, Lane has escaped the suffocating Kansas estate but is called back when Allegra goes missing. And she is forced to confront the darkness she fled so many years ago.
Holy. Fucking. Cow. Y'all... I cannot even explain to you how quickly I tore through this Southern Gothic nightmare that you cannot help but be sucked into, for better or for worse.
Full of deeply flawed and unlikeable characters, this warped tale was so beautifully and enchantingly told that I could not help but be charmed despite the horrid subject matter.
I will definitely need to pick up more of Engel's work in the future.
readingwithhippos's review against another edition
4.0
Anytime I see a book claiming to be about a “family with a dark secret,” my mind immediately goes to one thing, and I bet yours does too. And not only is The Roanoke Girls about just such a family, it’s set in Kansas, my home state! Finally, we shall be known as more than just the home of Dorothy and Toto!
Seriously, Everyone Who’s Not From Kansas (including that New Jersey-accented TSA agent, you know who you are), please kindly shut your trapholes about the flipping Wizard of Oz. No one here cares. I’m not saying I’m excited to be associated with, but I’m just about to the point where I’d take that over another crack about the stupid brick road. And your little dog, too!
Anyway, The Roanoke Girls is so addictive to read. It’s somehow super-trashy in subject matter and quite well-written at the same time, which is confusing because I couldn’t tell how much to judge myself for loving it. Is this like a V.C. Andrews novel I should hide under my proverbial mattress and never confess to having read, or is it a sensitive literary exploration of the damaging love of a seductive patriarch? Am I a perverted weirdo showing up for the shock value, or am I a gentlewoman and a scholar?
Eh, forget the analysis, both literary and psycho-. I don’t care what it says about me that I really, really liked The Roanoke Girls. I clucked my tongue and fluttered my fan at every twisted revelation.
With regards to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale March 7!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
Spoiler
(It starts with “I” and rhymes with “blincest.”)Seriously, Everyone Who’s Not From Kansas (including that New Jersey-accented TSA agent, you know who you are), please kindly shut your trapholes about the flipping Wizard of Oz. No one here cares. I’m not saying I’m excited to be associated with
Spoiler
rhymes-with-blincestAnyway, The Roanoke Girls is so addictive to read. It’s somehow super-trashy in subject matter and quite well-written at the same time, which is confusing because I couldn’t tell how much to judge myself for loving it. Is this like a V.C. Andrews novel I should hide under my proverbial mattress and never confess to having read, or is it a sensitive literary exploration of the damaging love of a seductive patriarch? Am I a perverted weirdo showing up for the shock value, or am I a gentlewoman and a scholar?
Eh, forget the analysis, both literary and psycho-. I don’t care what it says about me that I really, really liked The Roanoke Girls. I clucked my tongue and fluttered my fan at every twisted revelation.
With regards to Crown Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy. On sale March 7!
More book recommendations by me at www.readingwithhippos.com
nerdyrev's review against another edition
4.0
I will state when I requested this book from Blogging for Books, I just knew it was a mystery. Past that, I had no idea what The Roanoke Girls was about. I didn't read one review and went into the book cold. Boy howdy was it a trip.
At the heart of the book, we have two cousins- Lane and Allegra living in rural Kansas. Lane is taken in by her grandparents to live with her cousin after her mother's suicide. We also have their boyfriends from the past.
I write that because the book takes place along two timelines- Then- in the past when Lane arrives in Kansas and lives, dates, and has fun with her cousin. The other timeline is Now- Lane has run away from Kansas, but is forced back because Allegra has disappeared. Allegra's old boyfriend is now married and the head of Allegra's disappearance. Lane's old boyfriend shows up too and healing begins as they reconnect.
I will warn you, do not read too many reviews on this one. In fact, the first review on Amazon spoils within the first paragraph the big secret about the Roanoke Girls. It isn't a difficult secret to figure out, in fact you will figure it out from some of the interludes contained within the book about other girls in the family, but go in a bit cold.
I found this to be a page turner that dips in pace quite a bit, but I kept reading and reading. It moves quickly, even in the slower parts. This might be considered a good beach read or stay in while raining outside type of read.
The two girls at the heart of the book are the draw. The fact that Allegra has disappeared can be for any number of reasons as she isn't the most stable of characters. One moment she can fly into a rage at Lane while a few minutes later will be begging for forgiveness and tells Lane she loves her. She can take off in a moment's notice and runs on pure id, so to speak. So, her "Now" mystery is what is the draw as the "then" portions build the characters.
As stated though, be ready. This is not a nice read. There is a darkness that haunts this family. While one can figure what that darkness is very quickly, it is never graphic. I appreciated that. It could have gone really dark really quickly and it takes its time.
I am not going to say this was a great book, but it was a fun and good read. I am in the midst of reading heavy non fiction, so it was the perfect palate cleanser.
I gave this one 3.5 stars.
I want to thank Blogging for Book for a copy of the book. I received it for free in exchange for an honest review.
At the heart of the book, we have two cousins- Lane and Allegra living in rural Kansas. Lane is taken in by her grandparents to live with her cousin after her mother's suicide. We also have their boyfriends from the past.
I write that because the book takes place along two timelines- Then- in the past when Lane arrives in Kansas and lives, dates, and has fun with her cousin. The other timeline is Now- Lane has run away from Kansas, but is forced back because Allegra has disappeared. Allegra's old boyfriend is now married and the head of Allegra's disappearance. Lane's old boyfriend shows up too and healing begins as they reconnect.
I will warn you, do not read too many reviews on this one. In fact, the first review on Amazon spoils within the first paragraph the big secret about the Roanoke Girls. It isn't a difficult secret to figure out, in fact you will figure it out from some of the interludes contained within the book about other girls in the family, but go in a bit cold.
I found this to be a page turner that dips in pace quite a bit, but I kept reading and reading. It moves quickly, even in the slower parts. This might be considered a good beach read or stay in while raining outside type of read.
The two girls at the heart of the book are the draw. The fact that Allegra has disappeared can be for any number of reasons as she isn't the most stable of characters. One moment she can fly into a rage at Lane while a few minutes later will be begging for forgiveness and tells Lane she loves her. She can take off in a moment's notice and runs on pure id, so to speak. So, her "Now" mystery is what is the draw as the "then" portions build the characters.
As stated though, be ready. This is not a nice read. There is a darkness that haunts this family. While one can figure what that darkness is very quickly, it is never graphic. I appreciated that. It could have gone really dark really quickly and it takes its time.
I am not going to say this was a great book, but it was a fun and good read. I am in the midst of reading heavy non fiction, so it was the perfect palate cleanser.
I gave this one 3.5 stars.
I want to thank Blogging for Book for a copy of the book. I received it for free in exchange for an honest review.
mellove's review against another edition
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
I just hated the MC and just didn’t believe any feeling in the work there was no build up
ktxx22's review against another edition
4.0
Wowza!! This book was a dark, twisty, wild, sick ride.... soooo messed up, but still really excellent! This book slapped me in the face early on with the crazy stuff, and I think the ending was mildly predictable, but not bad! I really enjoyed the conclusion of the book. I'm gonna give it 4/5 because I did really enjoy it, I liked the layers of all the characters even if it was more fucked up than anticipated, and the ending was a little predictable.
bethersjayne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5