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Orphans #3
Brooke
All she wanted was a mother's warm embrace...
Brooke was an orphan, abandoned long ago by a mother she barely knew. And though her new family seemed to offer the promise of a new beginning, a dark voice in her heart told her that she was now more alone than ever...
Brooke was an orphan, abandoned long ago by a mother she barely knew. And though her new family seemed to offer the promise of a new beginning, a dark voice in her heart told her that she was now more alone than ever...
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 1, 1998
About the author
V.C. Andrews
372 books9,459 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 - 30 of 80 reviews
July 16, 2012
I gave this short novel, the third in Andrews' "Orphans" mini-series, 4 stars rather than my customary Andrews 3 because it had some of the most over-the-top, crazy, offensive moments that made me laugh out loud, and it all focused around this darling character who was constantly wondering, "Why the hell am I in this stupid book?"
Brooke is thirteen, has grown up in an orphanage, and is a talented athlete. She is adopted by the fabulously wealthy Thompsons, Pamela and Peter, and is enrolled in a posh boarding school called Agnes Fodor. First of all, Brooke is forbidden by batshit Pamela to speak of her beginnings, because apparently being an orphan (which as a term makes me think of 19th century London) is like the red ring of social death. She joins the softball team, loves her coach and friends, and has a decent time, but there is one problem- her new mommy is insane.
Pamela is obsessed with looking perfect, and she smothers Brooke with new clothes, makeup, and beauty routines. She wants to make Brooke a perfect mini-Pamela by teaching her proper etiquette and enrolling her in beauty pageants. She also has these horrific, laughable sexist one-liners, like:
"You shouldn't be proud when you beat men at a sport, you should be proud when they praise your beauty!"
"You're too muscular, like an Amazon! I need to take you to the doctor for some feminine growth supplements."
And a VC classic:
"I'm not one of those LIBERATED women!"
THE HORROR! When was this written, 1960? I know Pamela is supposed to be this over-the-top caricature of a villain, but she was just laughable. The best part was at the end when she literally swooned because Brooke cut her hair, then they brought her to a foster home. Andrews seriously knows nothing about the system- you can't just dump kids off when they make you mad! Seriously!
This wasn't the worst VC book I've read, in fact, I liked Brooke as a character and I liked how she stood up to her new mother, unlike the girls in the previous novels. There was also no love interest in this book, which is refreshing. I like each book in this series more and more...they are just so deliciously BAD.
Brooke is thirteen, has grown up in an orphanage, and is a talented athlete. She is adopted by the fabulously wealthy Thompsons, Pamela and Peter, and is enrolled in a posh boarding school called Agnes Fodor. First of all, Brooke is forbidden by batshit Pamela to speak of her beginnings, because apparently being an orphan (which as a term makes me think of 19th century London) is like the red ring of social death. She joins the softball team, loves her coach and friends, and has a decent time, but there is one problem- her new mommy is insane.
Pamela is obsessed with looking perfect, and she smothers Brooke with new clothes, makeup, and beauty routines. She wants to make Brooke a perfect mini-Pamela by teaching her proper etiquette and enrolling her in beauty pageants. She also has these horrific, laughable sexist one-liners, like:
"You shouldn't be proud when you beat men at a sport, you should be proud when they praise your beauty!"
"You're too muscular, like an Amazon! I need to take you to the doctor for some feminine growth supplements."
And a VC classic:
"I'm not one of those LIBERATED women!"
THE HORROR! When was this written, 1960? I know Pamela is supposed to be this over-the-top caricature of a villain, but she was just laughable. The best part was at the end when she literally swooned because Brooke cut her hair, then they brought her to a foster home. Andrews seriously knows nothing about the system- you can't just dump kids off when they make you mad! Seriously!
This wasn't the worst VC book I've read, in fact, I liked Brooke as a character and I liked how she stood up to her new mother, unlike the girls in the previous novels. There was also no love interest in this book, which is refreshing. I like each book in this series more and more...they are just so deliciously BAD.
January 20, 2013
This was in a word: dysfunctional and fucked up.
And, yes, I enjoyed it. V.C Andrews is my ultimate guilty pleasure at the moment. :D
Also the first book where I encountered a "Krystle" (okay it's spelled Crystal, but still).
YAY!
And, yes, I enjoyed it. V.C Andrews is my ultimate guilty pleasure at the moment. :D
Also the first book where I encountered a "Krystle" (okay it's spelled Crystal, but still).
YAY!
May 7, 2019
I loved this book, but I felt the ending was *way* too abrupt. I mean, everything was moving along more or less as expected: Brooke was acclimating to a privileged lifestyle, making friends, learning how to click with the people in her school... then fights with her mom, cuts her hair, and bam - she's on her way back to an orphanage. End of story.
I slapped my Kindle.
I slapped my Kindle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 14, 2014
Brooke is one of five books in The Special Orphan Series. Brooke was written by V.C. Andrews. This novel is about a young girl named Brooke. Brooke is an intelligent, ambitious high school athlete with straw blonde hair. Brooke was abandoned as a baby by her a mother she never knew. She felt that being adopted by the Thompsons was her golden opportunity at a new life. This was her cloud nine with a silver lining but it changes to a storm cloud as she has to choose between living her life trying to live up to Pamela’s image of perfection. Or will she choose to be herself. She was an orphan.
In the beginning of the novel, Brooke is adopted by a woman named Pamela Thompson and her husband Peter. Pamela is a selfish woman in the sense that she didn’t want to have children of her own because it would ruin her perfect image. When she adopts Brooke, she tries to turn Brooke into a younger version of herself. She sends Brooke to an extremely expensive and prestigious private school, and when Brooke comes home she has etiquette lessons. Her etiquette lessons take place in their huge dining room of their enormous mansion with Pamela, and last until her piano lessons. Brooke is expected to look perfect all the time “because life is a pageant” and live up to Pamela’s expectation of perfection. She is forced to give up sports because they “make her look like a boy.” She is expected to devote all of her life trying to live up to Pamela’s expectations of perfection, which includes always looking perfect, always sounding perfect, and always being perfect. Pamela stresses her to give up what she loves, sports, to be a beauty queen.
Pamela’s husband, Peter, is a good-natured man who only wants to make Pamela happy. He uses his connections to make her happy: like at the adoption, “someone will be out to interview you in a week or so, Mrs. Thompson,” she said. “If you’ll step back into my office and complete the paperwork.” “A week or so Peter?” she wined. “Mrs. Talbot may I sue your telephone, please?” she stared at him. “I think I can cut to the chase.” He loves Brooke like a father should love his daughter. He even persuaded Pamela to let Brooke play softball. But Peter Thompson is a businessman and often has to go on business trips leaving Brooke at home alone at the mercy of Pamela.
The author uses a realistic plot. All of us can relate to not being able to live up to our parents’ expectations. Even though we try our very best, when it comes down to it we have to be ourselves. Parents want the best for their children. They want their lives to be better than their own, and like Pamela, sometimes they put too much stress and pressure on them, like Brooke. We break down just like Brooke did in the story.
In the beginning of the novel, Brooke is adopted by a woman named Pamela Thompson and her husband Peter. Pamela is a selfish woman in the sense that she didn’t want to have children of her own because it would ruin her perfect image. When she adopts Brooke, she tries to turn Brooke into a younger version of herself. She sends Brooke to an extremely expensive and prestigious private school, and when Brooke comes home she has etiquette lessons. Her etiquette lessons take place in their huge dining room of their enormous mansion with Pamela, and last until her piano lessons. Brooke is expected to look perfect all the time “because life is a pageant” and live up to Pamela’s expectation of perfection. She is forced to give up sports because they “make her look like a boy.” She is expected to devote all of her life trying to live up to Pamela’s expectations of perfection, which includes always looking perfect, always sounding perfect, and always being perfect. Pamela stresses her to give up what she loves, sports, to be a beauty queen.
Pamela’s husband, Peter, is a good-natured man who only wants to make Pamela happy. He uses his connections to make her happy: like at the adoption, “someone will be out to interview you in a week or so, Mrs. Thompson,” she said. “If you’ll step back into my office and complete the paperwork.” “A week or so Peter?” she wined. “Mrs. Talbot may I sue your telephone, please?” she stared at him. “I think I can cut to the chase.” He loves Brooke like a father should love his daughter. He even persuaded Pamela to let Brooke play softball. But Peter Thompson is a businessman and often has to go on business trips leaving Brooke at home alone at the mercy of Pamela.
The author uses a realistic plot. All of us can relate to not being able to live up to our parents’ expectations. Even though we try our very best, when it comes down to it we have to be ourselves. Parents want the best for their children. They want their lives to be better than their own, and like Pamela, sometimes they put too much stress and pressure on them, like Brooke. We break down just like Brooke did in the story.
August 13, 2013
Summary: Brooke has never met her parents but her dream has always been that one day her real Mother would show up at the orphanage and tell her how sorry she was for ever leaving her and then her Mother would whisk her away and they would be happy together forever.
Just about the one thing that makes her happy other than day dreaming about her Mother's rescue is her involvement in sports. It's when she feels as though she can truly be herself and she is also good at just about any physical activity.
One day Pamela and Peter Thompson show up to take her home with them. They are very wealthy and promise her lots of fancy things. Pamela used to be a model and she wants to enter Brooke in pageants and make her to appear to be her clone. Brooke doesn't really like the idea of this, but they seem nice and she has always wanted a family.
They enrol her in a fancy private school where they warn her not to reveal the fact that she has been adopted. But the children find out and treat her differently. Brooke is very unhappy, but she is excelling in her softball practices ad is offered a spot on the National team's championship.
Peter is interested in Brooke's life, but all Pamela is worried about is making sure Brooke looks perfect and wins her beauty pageant. Then Pamela devastates Brooke when she calls her school and forbids her involvement with any school activities. Pamela is afraid it will get in the way of her goal to create Brooke in her own image.
Brooke has had enough and cuts off all her hair, ruining all her chances of becoming the winner of the spagent and causing Pamela to suffer a mental breakdown.
Peter explains how sad he is to have to send her back to an orphanage but Brooke is too upset and angry to care. They send her to a nicer place and while there she meets some really nice girls that seem to share her troubles.
Crystal and Raven introduce themselves to Brooke upon arrival and instantly she feels they all share a bond. Maybe she will have people to trust after all.
Just about the one thing that makes her happy other than day dreaming about her Mother's rescue is her involvement in sports. It's when she feels as though she can truly be herself and she is also good at just about any physical activity.
One day Pamela and Peter Thompson show up to take her home with them. They are very wealthy and promise her lots of fancy things. Pamela used to be a model and she wants to enter Brooke in pageants and make her to appear to be her clone. Brooke doesn't really like the idea of this, but they seem nice and she has always wanted a family.
They enrol her in a fancy private school where they warn her not to reveal the fact that she has been adopted. But the children find out and treat her differently. Brooke is very unhappy, but she is excelling in her softball practices ad is offered a spot on the National team's championship.
Peter is interested in Brooke's life, but all Pamela is worried about is making sure Brooke looks perfect and wins her beauty pageant. Then Pamela devastates Brooke when she calls her school and forbids her involvement with any school activities. Pamela is afraid it will get in the way of her goal to create Brooke in her own image.
Brooke has had enough and cuts off all her hair, ruining all her chances of becoming the winner of the spagent and causing Pamela to suffer a mental breakdown.
Peter explains how sad he is to have to send her back to an orphanage but Brooke is too upset and angry to care. They send her to a nicer place and while there she meets some really nice girls that seem to share her troubles.
Crystal and Raven introduce themselves to Brooke upon arrival and instantly she feels they all share a bond. Maybe she will have people to trust after all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 30, 2016
In ‘Brooke’, young Brooke is adopted by Peter and Pamela who are incredibly rich and good-looking. Impressed by their opulent home and high-class lifestyle, her joy is short-lived when all too soon she realizes that Pamela is hell-bent on making sure she wins an upcoming beauty pageant. Can Brooke fulfil her high expectations?
Although I found Brooke to be quite boring as she lacked personality, I felt sorry for her due to how she was treated like a potential prize winner rather than a daughter. Every day, she had to focus on perfecting her appearance which involved spending lots of time applying make-up, wearing the right clothes and using ample beauty-enhancing products. In addition, she had to learn to walk like a beauty queen and behave like one too. As if those weren’t terrible enough, Pamela forced her to take up piano lessons though she struggled in every lesson.
Meanwhile, her love for sports and her amazing achievements went unnoticed for the most part. The only time those got any attention from Pamela ended up with her being disgusted and upset that Brooke was supposedly developing more manly muscles and ruining her skin playing her favourite sports. Peter was more supportive but he was always absent due to work and there was no doubt that Pamela always got her way. Reading about how Brooke did her best to please them while pursuing her own interests was certainly interesting but apart from being athletic, I wouldn’t be able to describe her actual personality.
If you’ve read the previous installments in this series, you’d know the ending even before you begin this book. Overall, ‘Brooke’ was a decent, quick but forgettable read as the characters weren’t fleshed out and several key moments weren’t fully delved into.
Although I found Brooke to be quite boring as she lacked personality, I felt sorry for her due to how she was treated like a potential prize winner rather than a daughter. Every day, she had to focus on perfecting her appearance which involved spending lots of time applying make-up, wearing the right clothes and using ample beauty-enhancing products. In addition, she had to learn to walk like a beauty queen and behave like one too. As if those weren’t terrible enough, Pamela forced her to take up piano lessons though she struggled in every lesson.
Meanwhile, her love for sports and her amazing achievements went unnoticed for the most part. The only time those got any attention from Pamela ended up with her being disgusted and upset that Brooke was supposedly developing more manly muscles and ruining her skin playing her favourite sports. Peter was more supportive but he was always absent due to work and there was no doubt that Pamela always got her way. Reading about how Brooke did her best to please them while pursuing her own interests was certainly interesting but apart from being athletic, I wouldn’t be able to describe her actual personality.
If you’ve read the previous installments in this series, you’d know the ending even before you begin this book. Overall, ‘Brooke’ was a decent, quick but forgettable read as the characters weren’t fleshed out and several key moments weren’t fully delved into.
July 3, 2012
VC Andrews has always been a favorite of mine since my childhood days. I have read (and re-read) all of her books, and although I am much older now and find that some of her work is better than others, I still enjoy the twists and turns, strangeness and mystery that continues to captivate my interest.
With that being said - it might also explain why I find the ghostwriter's quality of work lacking and less memorable than Andrews true writing, especially with the newer, more modern series.
If your looking for a quick read that you can probably finish than give it a shot, but if you're looking for a timeless piece of work that will make your heart race and leave you speechless - read VC Andrews' original stories.
With that being said - it might also explain why I find the ghostwriter's quality of work lacking and less memorable than Andrews true writing, especially with the newer, more modern series.
If your looking for a quick read that you can probably finish than give it a shot, but if you're looking for a timeless piece of work that will make your heart race and leave you speechless - read VC Andrews' original stories.
December 7, 2010
Brooke was the spoiled, sort of rich orphan. I truly didn't understand what she had to complain about until I realized how it would be if I was in that situation.
I thank V C Andrews for Brooke, since she is the one who's problems really do ride deeper under the surface. The other girls all were raped or abused physically, where as Brooke's scars run a more emotional / psychological course. This was a really great book to read.
I thank V C Andrews for Brooke, since she is the one who's problems really do ride deeper under the surface. The other girls all were raped or abused physically, where as Brooke's scars run a more emotional / psychological course. This was a really great book to read.
November 3, 2015
Finished it sometime around 2am last night! pretty good.
September 22, 2020
I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick fast read which is exactly what I needed.
The story starts out with a girl, Brooke who is an orphan. A rich, young couple come in, inspect her, and pull her out of the orphanage. Immediately Brooke notices that her new "mom", Pamela is a little too self-absorbed. She is constantly comparing herself to Brooke and others as well as speaking and practicing the most bizarre health and beauty regimens known to man. She intends to have Brooke be exactly like her physically and mentally. She even wants Brooke to win beauty competitions such as she had when she was younger. With Brooke being a 13 year old she doesn't try to do what is asked by her new parents, but ultimately having such a strong will which she has does not help Pamela at all.
The story and writing style was fitting for the time period in which it had come out. The author did not fail at all when it comes to writing such a disturbing tale.
The story starts out with a girl, Brooke who is an orphan. A rich, young couple come in, inspect her, and pull her out of the orphanage. Immediately Brooke notices that her new "mom", Pamela is a little too self-absorbed. She is constantly comparing herself to Brooke and others as well as speaking and practicing the most bizarre health and beauty regimens known to man. She intends to have Brooke be exactly like her physically and mentally. She even wants Brooke to win beauty competitions such as she had when she was younger. With Brooke being a 13 year old she doesn't try to do what is asked by her new parents, but ultimately having such a strong will which she has does not help Pamela at all.
The story and writing style was fitting for the time period in which it had come out. The author did not fail at all when it comes to writing such a disturbing tale.
November 4, 2019
I read these books for the first time when I was a young teenager (around age 13) and at that point I did enjoy them.
However, rereading them as a an adult I have realized that every book written under the V.C. Andrews banner follows the same formula.
However, I still think that young teens will enjoy this book.
I rate this book as 3 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
However, rereading them as a an adult I have realized that every book written under the V.C. Andrews banner follows the same formula.
However, I still think that young teens will enjoy this book.
I rate this book as 3 out of 5 Stars ⭐⭐⭐
Read
March 10, 2023The unhinged women are fantastic. The questioning a 12-yr old’s virginity was gross then and is gross now, but god help us, incest and sexual abuse is the hallmark of this crap. Sometimes I can gloss over it, sometimes no, but this time I kept on referring to the first page when the main character confirmed they were TWELVE, then grimacing. It’s not cute.
July 20, 2026
J’ai bien aimé l’histoire de Brenda dans sa nouvelle famille d’accueil .Je trouve que la mère exagère à vouloir faire participer Branda à des concours de beauté .La mère est un étrange oersonnage ,qui frôle la folie ,de faire vivre à sa fille adoptive ses propres rêves de jeunesse .
February 23, 2025
I think half price books put this in the wrong section. This was in the horror section but this is a middle grade book that's closer to a coming of age story with no horror elements.
April 22, 2021
That was short and sweet.
I like that Brooke didn't give in or have some sort of break down like some other characters in this series. She just stayed defiant. Pamela was way too obsessive.
Notes in updates
I like that Brooke didn't give in or have some sort of break down like some other characters in this series. She just stayed defiant. Pamela was way too obsessive.
Notes in updates
February 5, 2018
So proud to Brooke she's independent. but the story is like the same they're not free to do anything they want.......
October 20, 2014
I have read Butterfly, Crystal and Brooke. I beleave that by the time I read the Third Novel I already new what was going to happen to Brooke. It is a given fact that all the girls are going to end up in the same place by the Fourth novel. So realy all the guess work in these books are gone. They all seem to have the same kind of story. New mother needs the Orphan to be just like her. Something goes wrong and they are sent to the same home. So read this book if you want a nice intresting story to read. It is a little similar to the first book Butterfly but they were both good so don't mess with success right! Besides Brooke was much more head strong than Butterfly so eventhough there circumstances were similar there seperate personalities caused different outcomes in the stories. So in conclusion read Brooke and enjoy it!
January 3, 2012
Super fast read that took me about 2 hours to read start to finish. Poor Brooke just wants her mom to come back and get her from the orphanage. Instead she gets swept up into a world of unbelievable wealth by a couple who can give her everything she could ever desire except what she wants most....love. Her new "mom" only adopted her because Brooke looked like a younger version of herself and she wanted someone to sculpt and control and make into the perfect pageant girl. This is a sad story about a girl who just wants to be loved and ends up forced into a mold that does not fit and is not her at all. Had not read it in years but decided to re-visit the V.C. Andrews books again am enjoying them all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 16, 2013
I noticed some differences in this book from Butterfly and Crystal...and most of the Gemini series. The characters in Butterfly, Crystal and Celeste from the Gemini series have no backbone and just take whatever delusional thoughts come from their parents mouths. Brooke, the main character in this novel, actually stands up for herself and has some lady-balls.
I just have to say that Brooke is different from the usual "just take it" mentality. It was refreshing to see that, because I haven't seen any strong characters in these later Andrews novels.
Overall another VERY quick read. After Raven, I'll be anxious to see what happens once they are all together.
I just have to say that Brooke is different from the usual "just take it" mentality. It was refreshing to see that, because I haven't seen any strong characters in these later Andrews novels.
Overall another VERY quick read. After Raven, I'll be anxious to see what happens once they are all together.
November 21, 2014
When I read these novels back in the day I would have given them 3-3.5 STARS and now would say about one Star
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
February 9, 2013
Sports are Brookes' thing. She loves them, excels at them. The Coach at her new private school is overjoyed that there is now a 'rich-kid' who can actually play ball for the school team. Brooke's adoptive mom is less that happy that she plays sports, living with the believe that sports build muscles that make you look manly. She wants Brooke to learn how to be a woman, to be a beauty queen, model and find a rich husband. She forces Brook to do photo shoots and enter pageants. Will Brooke do what she needs to please her new mom or will she follow her heart and play ball?
June 1, 2008
Quick read, I'm not used to such small books & I read it in a day. This book was better than I thought it would be. But, just not what the V.C. Andrews books where before the miniseries. It was good enough to peak my interest in the other 4 books in this miniseries though & especially in the novel Runaways which, the back of this book says, brings the girls from the miniseries books (they're all orphans) together.
October 10, 2010
Brooke has been adopted by a wealthy ex model/beauty queen who wants to remake Brooke into her image. Brooke is really into sports, not fashion. It all comes to head when Brooke's all-star game is scheduled the same as her first beauty pageant. When Brooke refuses to do the pageant she is sent back. She goes to live at Lakewood House where the girls from the first 2 books are living. Just have to read about one more girl, Raven and then all four girls will be brought together in Runaways.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 23, 2014
Same basic story
You either like the format of V.C. Andrews or you don't. The formula is similar while the names and situations change. This is short and abruptly ends, like the previous books in the series. I hope they all time together in the last book, but I have to read Raven before I get there. One other comment: these books are over-priced. The set should be offered for $10-15.
You either like the format of V.C. Andrews or you don't. The formula is similar while the names and situations change. This is short and abruptly ends, like the previous books in the series. I hope they all time together in the last book, but I have to read Raven before I get there. One other comment: these books are over-priced. The set should be offered for $10-15.
August 2, 2016
Brooke was happy to have a family, home, a life of her own, at last. But her foster mother really just wanted a smaller version of herself, and her foster father was just too involved with work, to help her out.
This along with all the others; I just enjoy reading V.C. Andrews's book. This was book 3 other the 4 orphans and I am just so excited to move closer to the book that being all the orphans together; Runaways!
This along with all the others; I just enjoy reading V.C. Andrews's book. This was book 3 other the 4 orphans and I am just so excited to move closer to the book that being all the orphans together; Runaways!
January 6, 2014
the story of brooke who gets selected by a wealthy couple.the mother use to be a model and is really in to her beauty she wants brooke to enter pagents teaches her how to perform but brooke is more interested in her sports and not being rich and going to a private school it has a real surpise ending.....
December 19, 2009
I just finished crystal and i am now going to start brook. the third book in the mini orphan seris.i am currently still reading this book and it is getting really good. Ps i only read it n school so thats why im not done. it is 9:52 at night and i am so excited i finnally finished this book.
March 1, 2008
Loved it, like every other book that is part of the series.
April 22, 2008
This book was really good.
May 20, 2009
And now it gets more trashy... the blurb kind of says it all, really! And yes I totally ate these books up.
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