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My Sweet Audrina / If There be Thorns / Petals on the Wind / Flowers in the Attic
A mystery thriller from the author V.C.
Andrews. What is the secret everyone
knows except Audrina? What is the
secret of the room containing only a
rocking chair? This is a story of deceit, betrayal, and terrible family
secrets.
Andrews. What is the secret everyone
knows except Audrina? What is the
secret of the room containing only a
rocking chair? This is a story of deceit, betrayal, and terrible family
secrets.
- GenresFiction
403 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1982
About the author
V.C. Andrews
369 books9,414 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
March 18, 2019
If yah love that 0 to 10000 and hate stairs this the book for you. I legit enjoyed reading how Audrina uncovers her past and that everything is a fucking lie!! Also Vera ooo child all she wanted was to be loved but she did it in every fucked up way possivle. All these characters need intense therapy LIKE INTENSE THERPAY going 2 times a day and shit. In the end I knew Audrina couldnt leave because the fucked up shit will always follow you. Any way obvi not the best reviewer but here is my emoji review 🤨🙄😡😡😨🤔🤨.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 23, 2025
Not at all what I thought it was Going to be. Storyline was meh. I like the Victorian-esc aspect.
May 4, 2019
What a book, twist and turns at every corner. This book will grab you and not let you go. It is a book that has Gothic horror Tones. My sweet audrina will not disappoint you the sequel is whitefern and it has some twists and turns as well.
February 8, 2023
I read this book when I was a teenager and I really enjoyed it. V.C Andrews is one of my favorite authors. It is so sad that she died before I was born. Her books are creepy but beautiful. They fascinate me.
May 30, 2020
First book i ever read for fun.
Great plot and Twist.
Great plot and Twist.
May 18, 2023
I read this book twice years ago. I loved it!
December 18, 2025
VC Andrew’s best work, totally unpredictable, highly disturbing, and fantastic writing.
January 7, 2019
Such a great book. I love the way V.C. Andrews and her writers can weave a dark story. I hadn't read this in about 20 years, and it was great to visit The First & Best Audrina again.
December 27, 2015
My Sweet Audrina
by V.C. Andrews
This is a dark tale as dark as any of the Flowers in the Attic books. Audrina is world disjointed confused and full of wholes in her memory. She can not seem to figure out what is happening. Time seems to wander speed up and slow down without rhythm or rhyme. As she pieces together her mind and grows into adulthood her home because a place of confusion and fear. Her family has many secretes that seem to be eating at the base of her foundations. The greatest test toward her resolve is beyond her capacity to accept what has happened. The calamity of her past will haunt her until she is forced by death to face the reality of her childhood.
Petals on the wind (dollanger #2) by V.C. andrews
A dark sequel to Flowers in the Attic. Cathy, Carrie and Chris had survived three years, four months and fifteen days in the attic of a sadistic grandmother who tortured them for the sins of their mother. Their freedom which cost them their youngest brother, cost them more then they ever thought. They were haunted by their childhood, locked in the Attic. Carrie most of all haunted by the rejection of their mother, and loss of her twin brother. Chris worked hard built on his practice and became the doctor he wanted to be. Chris always believed that his mother was in someway innocent of their treatment. This drove Cathy, from love to love, good to bad situations always trying to reject Chris, and the unnatural love they shared. Cathy drove herself so close to her dreams only her bad choices cost her everything. The compounding nature of her mistakes seemed to balance out her hatred of her mother. When she returned to Foxworth Manner seeking her revenge she would never expect what it cost her.
Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1)
by V. C. Andrews
having seen the 1987 movie edition of this book i am lost in the pages of the story seeing the characters sharing the longing and wishing with cathy for freedom, love and understanding... surprised by the depth of pain of betrayal and loss she suffers. this is a wonderful psychological thriller and book about love sacrifice responsibility and suffering.
by V.C. Andrews
This is a dark tale as dark as any of the Flowers in the Attic books. Audrina is world disjointed confused and full of wholes in her memory. She can not seem to figure out what is happening. Time seems to wander speed up and slow down without rhythm or rhyme. As she pieces together her mind and grows into adulthood her home because a place of confusion and fear. Her family has many secretes that seem to be eating at the base of her foundations. The greatest test toward her resolve is beyond her capacity to accept what has happened. The calamity of her past will haunt her until she is forced by death to face the reality of her childhood.
Petals on the wind (dollanger #2) by V.C. andrews
A dark sequel to Flowers in the Attic. Cathy, Carrie and Chris had survived three years, four months and fifteen days in the attic of a sadistic grandmother who tortured them for the sins of their mother. Their freedom which cost them their youngest brother, cost them more then they ever thought. They were haunted by their childhood, locked in the Attic. Carrie most of all haunted by the rejection of their mother, and loss of her twin brother. Chris worked hard built on his practice and became the doctor he wanted to be. Chris always believed that his mother was in someway innocent of their treatment. This drove Cathy, from love to love, good to bad situations always trying to reject Chris, and the unnatural love they shared. Cathy drove herself so close to her dreams only her bad choices cost her everything. The compounding nature of her mistakes seemed to balance out her hatred of her mother. When she returned to Foxworth Manner seeking her revenge she would never expect what it cost her.
Flowers in the Attic (Dollanganger, #1)
by V. C. Andrews
having seen the 1987 movie edition of this book i am lost in the pages of the story seeing the characters sharing the longing and wishing with cathy for freedom, love and understanding... surprised by the depth of pain of betrayal and loss she suffers. this is a wonderful psychological thriller and book about love sacrifice responsibility and suffering.
December 5, 2014
one of the best, most loved series/authors of all time. V.C. Andrews books are something so easily recognizable and new books continue to evolve to go with the times and bring in a whole new generation of loving readers
November 29, 2014
v.c. andrews books are all absolutely amazing and very easily distinguishable from any other authors. i love the darkeness, secrets, lies, very addicting, i have almost every single book!
September 3, 2016
great book.. wonderfully written.
great story telling.
great story telling.
April 3, 2017
Unbelievably intriguing...sort of like a train wreck. You can't look away!
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews