What do you think?
Rate this book
Eden #2
Little Paula (Center Point Platinum Fiction
Faith Eden’s brief foray into motherhood is marked by tragedy. Distraught that her baby was ripped away from her, she is determined to get little Paula back from the wealthy family who adopted her. Her brother, Trevor, is also anxious to get the baby back and will do anything necessary to do so. But when the dark truth comes to light, this twisted family will stop at nothing to keep outsiders out and secrets in — no matter the cost.
368 pages, Library Binding
First published February 7, 2023
87 people are currently reading
7125 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
371 books9,158 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
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
May 1, 2023
V.C. Andrews has been one of my go-to authors since the age of thirteen. When I read the first book I was ever given of hers, Ruby, in the bathtub, I was slightly a teen and, ever since that bath, her books have been a big part of my life (and my own version of a waterworld, lol). While I must admit that later, in my early twenties and, at times, in my thirties, I didn’t read several of the books that were released, anyone that can say that they have read every V.C. Andrews books is an uber fan indeed. Cause I know how big a fan I am and I couldn't even keep up at one time or another in my life.
When I picked up the new release, Little Paula, I didn't realize it was the second in the Eden series. Usually, I would say to best enjoy a V.C. Andrew's book you want to start with the first in a series but, as this was the first time I ever read out of order, I was still able to easily deduce enough that happened in the first to thoroughly enjoy this book. Not to say that when I am finished, I don’t plan to go back and catch up. I do. However it was nice to know that I could err, pick up the second in a series, and still enjoy it. As that is not something that can be done with every author, series, it was nice. And, while I love to read books that continue, after the first, sometimes it's nice to know you can pick a book up and not have to worry that you're out of order and won't be able to read what you want to read right at the moment.
True to V.C.Andrew form, Little Paula fits right into the world of books I read as a young teen and, as I grew into the adult I am. There seem to be no other authors and books out there akin to these, as I have searched many times, on search engines, sites, whatever and V.C.Andrews...there are no other authors and books when I ask. And to all the other many books I have read, the V.C. Andrews style books are unique. This particular series deals with an adopted brother and sister and their very disturbing adoptive mother who instilled in them, as all the tyrannical mother figures in the Andrews books do, oddities in life, the children are to follow. It seems in Little Paula, the adoptive mother wanted the brother and sister to have a child together. And somehow, in some way, this child would bring their family together.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, for this scenario, the adoptive mother has died, leaving the brother and sister her home and money, despite the fact she has a husband and he, their father. However readers get the gist (just like the adoptive mother did), that had the adoptive mother not left the home and money to the children, the father likely would have left them in the lurch somehow, as he is not much a part of their little world. After all, he moves a girlfriend in right after their adoptive mother dies, Gabby, as she is in the home when the book opens, very much a part of the pregnancy of the sister of the pair, Faith.
After the birth, when Little Paula disappears, Faith and her brother begin to unravel what happened and who has her. Despite being young the duo very much want the child their adoptive mother wanted for them, they are both very spiritual minded, especially Trevor (the brother), when it comes to their connection, still, with her. Little Paula, for these reasons and more, is very wanted by the brother and sister no matter how good the home may be where she now is.
True to Andrews form, delving into the worlds created by her, where children are abused, parents are wicked or acting a part, children are sold, punishment always seems to come back around and get those who deserve it (whether it is a child getting back at a parent or an accident that makes someone less able in life) and inheritances may reign on a child when they never see it coming, family never turns out to be the way the child needs or wants them to be and strength never comes easy, a V.C. Andrews books is a genre in itself, one that if you have yet to experience, you need to read at least one.
But, unlike me, if you haven't read the first book, start there. Not that you're not going to want this one, you will, but I would have loved to see what the adoptive mother was like, from the start in Eden’s Children. Because I could never be sure of the adoptive mother’s motives in getting the children she adopted to have a child together, what those were. Regardless of the fact that she died, why adopt two children and want them to have a child together, so young? Poor kids, right? Did she have a desire to raise a baby and was using them to get one? Regardless of the fact they can speak and are older, children having children is never a good or healthy idea. But, V.C. Andrew’s parents and guardians usually never do have any of those… ideas. And definitely never good ones. You are more likely to find a child parenting an adult in a V.C. Andrew's book.
Find out all this in the Eden Series, starting with Eden's Children and the newest release, Little Paula. Had my grandmother never purchased that first V.C.Andrews book for me when I was young I might never have read the author, one of the very few that carried over to be read as an adult. This is a hint to all those parents out there who would love to inspire their child with a book, an author and series they can read for a lifetime, as I did. Certainly there are enough books to last that long published now, and hopefully, they will continue. At least I hope to think they will always be there. They are also great books for the avid teen reader as I was, at the time, when I was given my first. Sadly, as an adult, I haven't had the time to read them as they were released each year, as I used to wait, in angst for the newest. But, that makes it even better when I feel the need for one and now I have a little to catch up!
Happy Reading to all V.C. Andrews old and new fans! I hope to inspire someone who has never read her to give one a try…let me know, if you get the time, what you thought!
When I picked up the new release, Little Paula, I didn't realize it was the second in the Eden series. Usually, I would say to best enjoy a V.C. Andrew's book you want to start with the first in a series but, as this was the first time I ever read out of order, I was still able to easily deduce enough that happened in the first to thoroughly enjoy this book. Not to say that when I am finished, I don’t plan to go back and catch up. I do. However it was nice to know that I could err, pick up the second in a series, and still enjoy it. As that is not something that can be done with every author, series, it was nice. And, while I love to read books that continue, after the first, sometimes it's nice to know you can pick a book up and not have to worry that you're out of order and won't be able to read what you want to read right at the moment.
True to V.C.Andrew form, Little Paula fits right into the world of books I read as a young teen and, as I grew into the adult I am. There seem to be no other authors and books out there akin to these, as I have searched many times, on search engines, sites, whatever and V.C.Andrews...there are no other authors and books when I ask. And to all the other many books I have read, the V.C. Andrews style books are unique. This particular series deals with an adopted brother and sister and their very disturbing adoptive mother who instilled in them, as all the tyrannical mother figures in the Andrews books do, oddities in life, the children are to follow. It seems in Little Paula, the adoptive mother wanted the brother and sister to have a child together. And somehow, in some way, this child would bring their family together.
Unfortunately, or fortunately, for this scenario, the adoptive mother has died, leaving the brother and sister her home and money, despite the fact she has a husband and he, their father. However readers get the gist (just like the adoptive mother did), that had the adoptive mother not left the home and money to the children, the father likely would have left them in the lurch somehow, as he is not much a part of their little world. After all, he moves a girlfriend in right after their adoptive mother dies, Gabby, as she is in the home when the book opens, very much a part of the pregnancy of the sister of the pair, Faith.
After the birth, when Little Paula disappears, Faith and her brother begin to unravel what happened and who has her. Despite being young the duo very much want the child their adoptive mother wanted for them, they are both very spiritual minded, especially Trevor (the brother), when it comes to their connection, still, with her. Little Paula, for these reasons and more, is very wanted by the brother and sister no matter how good the home may be where she now is.
True to Andrews form, delving into the worlds created by her, where children are abused, parents are wicked or acting a part, children are sold, punishment always seems to come back around and get those who deserve it (whether it is a child getting back at a parent or an accident that makes someone less able in life) and inheritances may reign on a child when they never see it coming, family never turns out to be the way the child needs or wants them to be and strength never comes easy, a V.C. Andrews books is a genre in itself, one that if you have yet to experience, you need to read at least one.
But, unlike me, if you haven't read the first book, start there. Not that you're not going to want this one, you will, but I would have loved to see what the adoptive mother was like, from the start in Eden’s Children. Because I could never be sure of the adoptive mother’s motives in getting the children she adopted to have a child together, what those were. Regardless of the fact that she died, why adopt two children and want them to have a child together, so young? Poor kids, right? Did she have a desire to raise a baby and was using them to get one? Regardless of the fact they can speak and are older, children having children is never a good or healthy idea. But, V.C. Andrew’s parents and guardians usually never do have any of those… ideas. And definitely never good ones. You are more likely to find a child parenting an adult in a V.C. Andrew's book.
Find out all this in the Eden Series, starting with Eden's Children and the newest release, Little Paula. Had my grandmother never purchased that first V.C.Andrews book for me when I was young I might never have read the author, one of the very few that carried over to be read as an adult. This is a hint to all those parents out there who would love to inspire their child with a book, an author and series they can read for a lifetime, as I did. Certainly there are enough books to last that long published now, and hopefully, they will continue. At least I hope to think they will always be there. They are also great books for the avid teen reader as I was, at the time, when I was given my first. Sadly, as an adult, I haven't had the time to read them as they were released each year, as I used to wait, in angst for the newest. But, that makes it even better when I feel the need for one and now I have a little to catch up!
Happy Reading to all V.C. Andrews old and new fans! I hope to inspire someone who has never read her to give one a try…let me know, if you get the time, what you thought!
February 13, 2023
This book surprised me. Book 1 was absolutely terrible. Flat characters, badly written. But this book I genuinely enjoyed. The characters had more colour and the drama that unfolded was very well built. Small hints, lots of buildup. Only to make me gasp at the end. I wonder if we get a third book. Honestly leaving it here would also work, but still.
Does this mean the ghostwriter has redeemed itself?
Does this mean the ghostwriter has redeemed itself?
February 6, 2023
Little Paula is the story about an adoptive brother and sister force my ma’am to become pregnant but shortly after little Paula is born the baby is sold to a rich local family.
This not only was my first book by V.C. Andrews, but the beginning of the book was a true page turn. Without reading the 1sr book in the series I was able to follow the story line and get pulled in right off the bat.
I found this book completely disturbing and not in a good way. I feel like I need therapy for just reading this book, but each of those characters do. Their lives are messed up.
I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in the psychological concept/development of children. I don’t personally recommend this book, but I’m curious on the other books written by the author. 🪦
Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Wish I could provide a more positive review, but it’s a honest one.
This not only was my first book by V.C. Andrews, but the beginning of the book was a true page turn. Without reading the 1sr book in the series I was able to follow the story line and get pulled in right off the bat.
I found this book completely disturbing and not in a good way. I feel like I need therapy for just reading this book, but each of those characters do. Their lives are messed up.
I would recommend this book to someone who is interested in the psychological concept/development of children. I don’t personally recommend this book, but I’m curious on the other books written by the author. 🪦
Thank you NetGalley for the arc! Wish I could provide a more positive review, but it’s a honest one.
July 23, 2023
This shouldn’t be allowed to be published under VC Andrews name. I only checked this out of the library as I thought she’d written it.. very disappointed when I found out it had been cobbled together after her death. Reading another review on here made me sad to think her name is being exploited for cash. No depth, totally flat characters, dull storyline.
April 17, 2023
I haven’t finished it but it’s not worth reading . The fact the mom wanted the brother and sister to have a baby since she saw them made me sick to my stomach( also this isn’t a spoiler u learn this in the first 3 pages ). It’s like they tried to reuse story lines or parts from old Vc. Andrews books and make it seem like her writing style that way but it isn’t . The writing is confusing and doesn’t really flow well . The first paragraph of the book was okay but after that it just was a no . I forced myself to page 33 and idk if I can finish it honestly. I feel bad for being harsh because the plot would be interesting if it was written about the adopted girl who’s baby was stolen and she tried to get the baby back by nannying or working for the baby’s new family — like yeah if you write it right it could work but this idk the way they describe things like this girl is only like what 14 or 15 — and her being that age and they describe the rendezvous with the neighbor and the description gave me the ick . Also when they talk about what happened when the mom locked her in the room . I felt sick even though they just hinted at stuff . Also the way they described the mom dying was so quick and unrealistic — the book seems rushed . If I continue reading I’ll update my review but as of now I can’t . I wanted to give this book a chance even though it wasn’t the real vc.andrews but I hoped it would feel atleast kinda like her writing but it doesn’t
February 21, 2023
If it weren't for receiving an ARC, I would have stopped reading midway and thrown the wretched thing in the garbage, exactly where it belongs. Little Paula is by far the worst novel I've ever read in terms of writing. I have no idea how this book got the "greenlit" in the first place. There is no storyline at all. "Zero-dimensionality"—is there such a thing? If so, I would sum up every character in that way. All the voices sounded identical, and I couldn't tell who was speaking unless a character got mentioned by name. I should be able to distinguish between characters as a reader; instead, I read each page several times to find out who was who.
Neiderman has lost the ability to give a narrative a Gothic feel. No, I don't mean a setting must be Victorian when I refer to Gothic. Instead, I'm referring to the environment, and in the case of Little Paula, it's set in an enormous old house that Neiderman never describes. The characters should have been the supporting cast, with the home as the central protagonist. (I'm hoping everyone here understands what I just said.)
I'm unsure of the book's demographics—young adults or adults. The readers interested in Little Paula are likely adult fans of either V.C. Andrews, Andrew Neiderman, or both. The weak writing and blatantly juvenile prose will quickly turn off casual readers. ╌★✰✰✰✰
Neiderman has lost the ability to give a narrative a Gothic feel. No, I don't mean a setting must be Victorian when I refer to Gothic. Instead, I'm referring to the environment, and in the case of Little Paula, it's set in an enormous old house that Neiderman never describes. The characters should have been the supporting cast, with the home as the central protagonist. (I'm hoping everyone here understands what I just said.)
I'm unsure of the book's demographics—young adults or adults. The readers interested in Little Paula are likely adult fans of either V.C. Andrews, Andrew Neiderman, or both. The weak writing and blatantly juvenile prose will quickly turn off casual readers. ╌★✰✰✰✰
September 15, 2023
Impulse read from the library...took me forever to get through! It would have made an entertaining short story but it dragged and dragged making the ending a relief rather than a revelation.
February 13, 2023
This book could be a drinking game. Every time Faith makes an unnecessary reference to her breasts, drink. Every time the scene changes because she has to "go pump," drink. Every time any character makes reference to "Little Paula," drink. On second thought, don't. I don't want to be responsible for anyone's alcohol poisoning, thanks.
This book is definitely in-line with other "VC Andrews" books, although I really believe they should just let the woman rest in piece. Beautiful protagonist? Check. Incest? You betcha! Although the ghost-writer pulls some punches by making them foster siblings. I guess some things are too skeevy even for them. Handsome guy who completes the circuit - i mean, love triangle? Yep. He's here. Characters that are mostly cardboard with little to no back-story? Uh-huh. Completely unrealistic evil stepmother? OF COURSE! This book is MUCH more true to the VC Andrews legacy than others I have read.
The most cardboard character is, ironically, Little Paula. Faith waxes poetic about the baby, but only to say she misses her. The baby is absent for nearly the entire book, which is to be expected because Dad sold her, but when she does appear, she is a prop. I don't even know what she looks like. How big is she? What does she like to play with? The goal of the book was to get her back, but once she's back, she's basically put into a drawer rarely to be interacted with again. She reminds me of Jonayla in Jean Auel's books. She's there, but not really, nothing more than a prop.
Unfortunately, they also retain VC Andrews' ableism. The absolute WORST THING the author/publisher/editor can imagine is being paralyzed from the waist down? What are readers who are also wheelchair users supposed to do with that?! And notice I said "Wheelchair user." Not "confined to a wheelchair," like the author does. Good grief. It is 2023. Any decent human being should KNOW THIS. They were so careful to say that he was paralyzed from the "waist down," like they needed to make sure we knew it wasn't, like, even WORSE! He could have been paralyzed from the CHEST DOWN or NECK DOWN, and gosh, they don't know what to do with a character like THAT.
Here's the thing. It's like the writers want their reader to pick up the book and feel like it was writtein in 1979. The problem is, the books are set in the new century. If the characters have access to the internet, it would be a safe assumption that the author does, as well. So the inaccuracies (no doctor declares "He is permanently PARALYZED!" until after at least several days of steroids to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord. Faith is the "woke" character, but even she uses ableist language as she scolds family regarding THEIR use of ableist language. This is 2023. We KNOW better. DO better.
I would like to see this franchise fade away. The author has been dead for decades, and if the ghost-writers aren't going to be expected to do better than this, what is the point of keeping it around?
I picked up the book because I wanted a trashy, drama-filled tome. I'd have rated it accordingly, not comparing it to War and Peace because that's not fair. I'd have rated it based on my expectations. And that's actually what I did. The writing, as far as sentence structure goes, is fine. The content is trashy and ridiculous enough to satisfy the sweetest brain-candy tooth. I'd have given it 4 stars. But the ableism and the lazy writing gives it 2 stars.
I am done with this franchise. If editors don't expect better, then it's just not worth my time.
This book is definitely in-line with other "VC Andrews" books, although I really believe they should just let the woman rest in piece. Beautiful protagonist? Check. Incest? You betcha! Although the ghost-writer pulls some punches by making them foster siblings. I guess some things are too skeevy even for them. Handsome guy who completes the circuit - i mean, love triangle? Yep. He's here. Characters that are mostly cardboard with little to no back-story? Uh-huh. Completely unrealistic evil stepmother? OF COURSE! This book is MUCH more true to the VC Andrews legacy than others I have read.
The most cardboard character is, ironically, Little Paula. Faith waxes poetic about the baby, but only to say she misses her. The baby is absent for nearly the entire book, which is to be expected because Dad sold her, but when she does appear, she is a prop. I don't even know what she looks like. How big is she? What does she like to play with? The goal of the book was to get her back, but once she's back, she's basically put into a drawer rarely to be interacted with again. She reminds me of Jonayla in Jean Auel's books. She's there, but not really, nothing more than a prop.
Unfortunately, they also retain VC Andrews' ableism. The absolute WORST THING the author/publisher/editor can imagine is being paralyzed from the waist down? What are readers who are also wheelchair users supposed to do with that?! And notice I said "Wheelchair user." Not "confined to a wheelchair," like the author does. Good grief. It is 2023. Any decent human being should KNOW THIS. They were so careful to say that he was paralyzed from the "waist down," like they needed to make sure we knew it wasn't, like, even WORSE! He could have been paralyzed from the CHEST DOWN or NECK DOWN, and gosh, they don't know what to do with a character like THAT.
Here's the thing. It's like the writers want their reader to pick up the book and feel like it was writtein in 1979. The problem is, the books are set in the new century. If the characters have access to the internet, it would be a safe assumption that the author does, as well. So the inaccuracies (no doctor declares "He is permanently PARALYZED!" until after at least several days of steroids to reduce the pressure on the spinal cord. Faith is the "woke" character, but even she uses ableist language as she scolds family regarding THEIR use of ableist language. This is 2023. We KNOW better. DO better.
I would like to see this franchise fade away. The author has been dead for decades, and if the ghost-writers aren't going to be expected to do better than this, what is the point of keeping it around?
I picked up the book because I wanted a trashy, drama-filled tome. I'd have rated it accordingly, not comparing it to War and Peace because that's not fair. I'd have rated it based on my expectations. And that's actually what I did. The writing, as far as sentence structure goes, is fine. The content is trashy and ridiculous enough to satisfy the sweetest brain-candy tooth. I'd have given it 4 stars. But the ableism and the lazy writing gives it 2 stars.
I am done with this franchise. If editors don't expect better, then it's just not worth my time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 6, 2023
I received this book to review by netgalley. This is the second book of the Eden series. I also read/reviewed the first in November. I didn't have super high hopes for this one after the first but I wanted to be wrong. I sadly was correct. This book felt all over the place even though there were no time jumps. This book also felt very unrealistic for this day and age (in which it was written). It was very hard to believed that a story could unfold like this in 2022 or 2023. It was a quick and entertaining read however.
February 6, 2023
I received this book to review by netgalley. This is the second book of the Eden series. I also read/reviewed the first in November. I didn't have super high hopes for this one after the first but I wanted to be wrong. I sadly was correct. This book felt all over the place even though there were no time jumps. This book also felt very unrealistic for this day and age (in which it was written). It was very hard to believed that a story could unfold like this in 2022 or 2023. It was a quick and entertaining read however.
April 15, 2023
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this one. For me, it definitely read like a V.C. Andrews book, and I felt like this book was better than the first one. I do think that some of it seemed off base for the modern time setting, but I really enjoyed reading it and read it in one sitting. I can see where this could be an ending to this series or could lead into another book, but it did leave me with it feeling finished enough to end it and not have more questions.
I'm still not quite sure how I feel about this one. For me, it definitely read like a V.C. Andrews book, and I felt like this book was better than the first one. I do think that some of it seemed off base for the modern time setting, but I really enjoyed reading it and read it in one sitting. I can see where this could be an ending to this series or could lead into another book, but it did leave me with it feeling finished enough to end it and not have more questions.
February 2, 2023
Trevor's Plan
Faith Eden's baby, Paula, has been stolen and sold to a wealthy family. Trevor, Faith's brother swears he will get Paula back. Faith is very sad and wants her baby back with her. Yet she has conflicting feelings about being sixteen and being a mother but wondering what it would be like to be a normal teenager with school. She wonders about her attraction to the nephew of the neighbor Lance.
Faith and Trevor have a secret...a secret plan they are sure their dead mother would approve of. They plan together to get Paula back. She is their family and family must stay together.
Will they get Paula back or is she lost forever. What part will their father play in it all and will he help them or betray them?
This second book of the series is a bit better than book one. It is not as good as the first few series I read, but it was a good story. If you like V.C. Andrews books you will like this one.
Thanks to V.C. Andrews for the story, Gallery Books for publishing it, and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
Faith Eden's baby, Paula, has been stolen and sold to a wealthy family. Trevor, Faith's brother swears he will get Paula back. Faith is very sad and wants her baby back with her. Yet she has conflicting feelings about being sixteen and being a mother but wondering what it would be like to be a normal teenager with school. She wonders about her attraction to the nephew of the neighbor Lance.
Faith and Trevor have a secret...a secret plan they are sure their dead mother would approve of. They plan together to get Paula back. She is their family and family must stay together.
Will they get Paula back or is she lost forever. What part will their father play in it all and will he help them or betray them?
This second book of the series is a bit better than book one. It is not as good as the first few series I read, but it was a good story. If you like V.C. Andrews books you will like this one.
Thanks to V.C. Andrews for the story, Gallery Books for publishing it, and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.
April 10, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC copy of Little Paula. Getting approved for it, I learned about the ghostwriter for V.C. Andrews and was intrigued by the story as I was unaware of this fact. The writing is good however the story seems very outdated, as I found it very difficult to tell what time period it was taking place. The characters mannerisms and speech as well as the setting gives a very Little House on the Prarie feel but it didnt take away from wanting to keep reading and know what happens. There are a few twists to it, nothing really jaw dropping but it does bring attention to mental health and handling traumas. Overall it was a good quick read with an interesting and enjoyable story. Probably just not what most are looking for from a typical V.C. Andrews style we all were used to if you grew up with her books.
February 3, 2023
*Thank you to Gallery books, V.C. Andrew's and Netgalley for providing me with an E-ARC of "Little Paula" in exchange for an honest review.*
This really wasn't for me unfortunately. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
This really wasn't for me unfortunately. I had a hard time connecting with the characters.
March 3, 2023
Big disappointment after reading the first book. This was way too predictable, where as I liked book 1; 'Eden's Children'. Skip it.....unless you MUST read it just because it has Andrews' name on it.
2.5 ehs
2.5 ehs
July 16, 2023
I listened to the audiobook. Legit nothing happened at all, it was incredibly boring and Faith was very annoying
October 29, 2025
Book 118 of 2025. October. Paperback.
I flew through the first half of this book—there’s so much domestic trauma and tension that it really pulls you in. The second half, though, started to unravel a bit, with a few plot points and character arcs that felt hard to believe. Overall, it’s still a quick and engaging read.
I flew through the first half of this book—there’s so much domestic trauma and tension that it really pulls you in. The second half, though, started to unravel a bit, with a few plot points and character arcs that felt hard to believe. Overall, it’s still a quick and engaging read.
February 9, 2023
I was really happy to have the opportunity to be able to read more about the Eden family. Little Paula is the second book in the new V.C. Andrews series following up after Eden’s Children. This book picks up right where the other left off. Andrew Neiderman is the ghost writer for Virginia Andrews following her death and he writes gothic type stories with the same sick and twisted evilness, usually along incestuous lines, that Virginia did. I love them! This story goes on to tell what life was like for the family after the mother, Paula Eden, falls to her death on the stairs. Her sick, demented and sadistic teachings were really ingrained in her children, especially in Trevor. I really enjoyed reading this and I hope that this is not the end for this series. I would love to know what the future holds for Faith and her baby and see if Lance fits into it somehow. I’d like to thank Gallery Books and NetGalley for accepting my request to read and review this title. I own the entire V.C. Andrews collection and will be purchasing this book when it’s released. I am a big fan and recommend everyone give these books a try. I’m giving this a 4 star rating and look forward to reading more by this author as they are released.
September 15, 2025
all about nothing 😔
February 18, 2023
This is a typical VC Andrews book. However for some reason I am drawn to keep reading these books. I guess they are my guilty pleasure.
February 25, 2023
Loved Flowers in the attic as a teen so had high hopes for this one. It was odd, forced and not what I was hoping for.
February 20, 2023
#netgalleyarc This was just okay. It’s not the worst of the books written from the V.C. Andrews world but’s it also not the best. I did like this one a bit more than the first one from this series and I’m curious to see if this series continues. Not a book that I’ll purchase for my high school library but a fun read for me.
February 19, 2023
Little Paula is the second book in the Eden series .
Faith and Trevor wake to find out that baby Paula is missing and quickly learn that their father had sold the baby to someone thinking it would make their life easier. While they are still processing this , their father gets in a horrible accident that leaves him in a wheelchair and needing a lot of help. Faith & Trevor learn how to deal with all of the new adjustments while trying to find a way to get their baby back.
This was a quick read and is pretty typical for a V.C. Andrews type story. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.
Faith and Trevor wake to find out that baby Paula is missing and quickly learn that their father had sold the baby to someone thinking it would make their life easier. While they are still processing this , their father gets in a horrible accident that leaves him in a wheelchair and needing a lot of help. Faith & Trevor learn how to deal with all of the new adjustments while trying to find a way to get their baby back.
This was a quick read and is pretty typical for a V.C. Andrews type story. Thank you Netgalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.
June 24, 2023
Absolutely hated it!
The premise at the end of the previous book *had* some promise, but this one was made of so much drivel, I practically had to speed through it to get to the good part, which wasn't even that great. Even the culprit of the truck accident (which wasn't even an accident) did not shock me.
Please skip this series if you can (or if you have a masochistic vein like me, please go ahead, p!irate it, and bang your head at how can a story be so terrible)
The premise at the end of the previous book *had* some promise, but this one was made of so much drivel, I practically had to speed through it to get to the good part, which wasn't even that great. Even the culprit of the truck accident (which wasn't even an accident) did not shock me.
Please skip this series if you can (or if you have a masochistic vein like me, please go ahead, p!irate it, and bang your head at how can a story be so terrible)
January 6, 2023
I won the advanced readers edition through a Goodreads Giveaway. My hopes were low after reading the first book in this series, Eden’s Children—-and rightly so. This book is a mess, and seemed—pointless? Nothing made sense, especially in present day. I kept forgetting that this book takes place in there here and now, not in the past where some of it would have been slightly more believable. The ghostwriter for VC Andrews needs to go ahead and hang it up. 2 generous stars. 🥴
September 30, 2023
This book was really difficult to get into. Most of the time I could not keep up with what was going on with the characters or the storyline, perhaps it was me. I thought this was the original VC Andrew’s which is my bad. You can tell this is not her original writing. All over the place and just no real story line or character development. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 11, 2023
Little Paula by V.C. Andrews
I loved this author and all she wrote since I was a teen that said, this book just wasn't for me. It is so much like the other series that it just didn't seem original or different. It was well wrote and characters were fleshed out it just felt repetitive. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and leave my opinion.
I loved this author and all she wrote since I was a teen that said, this book just wasn't for me. It is so much like the other series that it just didn't seem original or different. It was well wrote and characters were fleshed out it just felt repetitive. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this and leave my opinion.
May 1, 2023
Picked this up because I, like many 50yo women, remember the thrill of Flowers in the Attic way back when. So this one is much the same—creep incest family plot. Honestly can’t believe I finished it, except the weather was pretty crummy.
August 27, 2023
Um. If you can get past how disturbing it is they are all okay with "Daddy" raping her. I kept reading because I needed to know if they got the kid back but honestly felt dirty reading it. I did not read the first book. Didn't even know it existed. Glad I didn't after reading the reviews.
July 27, 2023
Boring! Should have been combined with Edens Children as one book. Might have been better that way.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews