amberweirdo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
4.0
This ghost story would have done just fine without the ghost, I think. It has sympathetic characters, a solid plot and some heartfelt social commentary. The two storylines, one in the past, one in the present, intertwine nicely. Much better than expected.
cici_sadie's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
carrie562's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
3.5
There was too much going on in this book and it just didn’t hang together well. I liked the 1950s plot line; I thought the boarding school girls were well drawn and their stories felt real and poignant. Unfortunately, the 2014 storyline did not work well at all. I couldn’t understand Fiona’s motivation — it didn’t make sense that she was continuing to investigate her sister’s murder even though the perpetrator had been convicted. Oh, but we don’t know exactly *how* he did it, so mysterious. I mean, it just serves as this incredibly flimsy foundation for the mostly unnecessary twist, and the resolutions of the 2014 mystery and the 1950 mystery were entirely unrelated, leaving me feeling like… what was the point of all that? And the less said about the romance plot, the better—those scenes were just painful to read.
storytimewithemily's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
mharvie's review against another edition
5.0
“The people are where you find things. Like those records you just found. The people are the ones who keep the memories and the records the powers that be would rather erase.”
Fiona Sheridan is a Vermont journalist fixated on solving the details of her sister’s murder two decades before. She is told that the abandoned school where her sister’s body was found is set to be renovated and opened again. This discovery sends Fiona into an emotional spiral and motivates her to discover the secrets of the Idlewild Hall grounds. She sets off to interview anyone who could help her solve the mystery.
This was my second book by Simone St. James and it was another winner! The story kept me engaged as layers of each character’s personality were revealed. The Broken Girls was just what I was looking to read this time of year. Looking forward to reading even more from this author.
intothewoods's review against another edition
medium-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
2.5
gabbyduncan's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
3.5