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Bittersweet Dreams
From V.C. Andrews, bestselling author of Flowers in the Attic (the first in a series of Lifetime movie events about the Dollanganger family), comes the tale of a gifted teenager who finds that mastering high school is much easier than mastering her heart.
Mayfair Cummings is young, beautiful, and brilliant. But her intelligence makes her the outcast of both the private school she attends and the broken family she hopes to salvage. When she catches the eye of both a popular senior and her handsome English teacher, not even her brilliant mind can help her navigate the explosive new relationships she is forming, or a scandal that is brewing…
Mayfair Cummings is young, beautiful, and brilliant. But her intelligence makes her the outcast of both the private school she attends and the broken family she hopes to salvage. When she catches the eye of both a popular senior and her handsome English teacher, not even her brilliant mind can help her navigate the explosive new relationships she is forming, or a scandal that is brewing…
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published October 1, 2015
160 people are currently reading
2313 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
371 books9,151 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 136 reviews
July 2, 2016
1.75 stars...
...............Houston? We have a problem.
This book was s**t.
I am tempted to just leave my review like that, but to be fair, I don't think the actual V. Andrews wrote this book. Since she passed away a "ghost writer" has taken over for what I gathered. That's maybe a relief since there are a few books by her I would like to check out (truly written by her I mean..)
Now, the first 100 pages of this book are basically to explain to you, in painful details, how smart Mayfair (the protagonist) is. Yeah, ok, we got that the first 10 pages, no let's move on....
When we do move on is just to learn how awful and mean her stepmother is. Honestly, she was not so bad. I mean with a stepdaughter like that, I would probably have been nastier than Julie actually was.
Mayfair was insufferable (which per se would be fine, we can like a book even if there are unlikable characters in it, right?) but all that rage she had inside and towards the stepmother was, in all honesty, a little bit overdone in my opinion.
If you read the back of this book you think this book is about a girl with a high IQ that one day changes her appearance and starts to attracts the attentions of boys...Maybe there is even a love triangle involved..... Well, that cannot be farthest from the truth.
This is not a love story, there is no love triangle and true to be told Mayfair well knows that she's attractive even before putting on nice clothes.
Nope, this is the story of a very annoying "I know it all" girl that one day put on nice clothes hoping to relate more with her peers and gets into some "shady" one night adventure with a boy and then all plot changes into a pathetic attempt of revenge that is not exactly clear if it is against such douche boy or the "evil" stepmother.
I wouldn't know how to describe the plot overall cause it had no much sense. I mean what was the point of this book?
Showing us that bullying is a bad thing? You did a terrible job at that.
Showing us that just changing clothes doesn't mean you will be accepted? Well, duh?!
Showing us that boys can be real duchebags and use us and then ignore us? Well, hello. Come on in, it's the 21st century.....
Showing us that revenge can come back to bite you in the ass? That having a high IQ doesn't mean shit because you will still be ending up being a horrible human being that does a lot of silly stuff growing up?
I prefer to think that this book had no hidden message because otherwise, I would have to lower the rating even more. The writing was ok, you read it fast, let's stay positive and say that this book was about a girl you won't like, a plot that won't make much sense and an end that will leave you thinking: "Thank God it's done. What's next on my tbr list?"
...............Houston? We have a problem.
This book was s**t.
I am tempted to just leave my review like that, but to be fair, I don't think the actual V. Andrews wrote this book. Since she passed away a "ghost writer" has taken over for what I gathered. That's maybe a relief since there are a few books by her I would like to check out (truly written by her I mean..)
Now, the first 100 pages of this book are basically to explain to you, in painful details, how smart Mayfair (the protagonist) is. Yeah, ok, we got that the first 10 pages, no let's move on....
When we do move on is just to learn how awful and mean her stepmother is. Honestly, she was not so bad. I mean with a stepdaughter like that, I would probably have been nastier than Julie actually was.
Mayfair was insufferable (which per se would be fine, we can like a book even if there are unlikable characters in it, right?) but all that rage she had inside and towards the stepmother was, in all honesty, a little bit overdone in my opinion.
If you read the back of this book you think this book is about a girl with a high IQ that one day changes her appearance and starts to attracts the attentions of boys...Maybe there is even a love triangle involved..... Well, that cannot be farthest from the truth.
This is not a love story, there is no love triangle and true to be told Mayfair well knows that she's attractive even before putting on nice clothes.
Nope, this is the story of a very annoying "I know it all" girl that one day put on nice clothes hoping to relate more with her peers and gets into some "shady" one night adventure with a boy and then all plot changes into a pathetic attempt of revenge that is not exactly clear if it is against such douche boy or the "evil" stepmother.
I wouldn't know how to describe the plot overall cause it had no much sense. I mean what was the point of this book?
Showing us that bullying is a bad thing? You did a terrible job at that.
Showing us that just changing clothes doesn't mean you will be accepted? Well, duh?!
Showing us that boys can be real duchebags and use us and then ignore us? Well, hello. Come on in, it's the 21st century.....
Showing us that revenge can come back to bite you in the ass? That having a high IQ doesn't mean shit because you will still be ending up being a horrible human being that does a lot of silly stuff growing up?
I prefer to think that this book had no hidden message because otherwise, I would have to lower the rating even more. The writing was ok, you read it fast, let's stay positive and say that this book was about a girl you won't like, a plot that won't make much sense and an end that will leave you thinking: "Thank God it's done. What's next on my tbr list?"
December 20, 2015
For the first 80 or so pages of the book it was a yawn fest. Very hard to get through. A lot of repetition, and going over what had already been said. It seemed like the ghost writer was just trying to make the book go further. If that's the case, he did it in the wrong place, as the good parts of the books seemed rushed and the end was dead. It went nowhere.
Mayfair is an interesting character in that you want to like her and feel for her like every other character from V.C. Andrews, but you can't. Not only is she dealing with hormonal issues, but she's so intelligent that she's always in her own head. She can't seem to get out enough to fathom anyone else's feelings besides her own. Unless it's paranoia over "them against her" scenario's.
I liked the fact that it was hard to like Mayfair, however, I feel the ghost writer failed miserably at getting the idea onto paper where it wouldn't bore the crap out of the readers. So in the end, I could only rate it a three. Even if it was refreshing to see something somewhat different come out of the V.C. Andrews dynasty.
Mayfair is an interesting character in that you want to like her and feel for her like every other character from V.C. Andrews, but you can't. Not only is she dealing with hormonal issues, but she's so intelligent that she's always in her own head. She can't seem to get out enough to fathom anyone else's feelings besides her own. Unless it's paranoia over "them against her" scenario's.
I liked the fact that it was hard to like Mayfair, however, I feel the ghost writer failed miserably at getting the idea onto paper where it wouldn't bore the crap out of the readers. So in the end, I could only rate it a three. Even if it was refreshing to see something somewhat different come out of the V.C. Andrews dynasty.
December 2, 2015
I received this book for free through a goodreads firstreads giveaway, for an honest review. I really liked this book. It was full of twists and turns so to speak. A lot of suspense and surprise. I read it in 3 days. I didn't want to put it down. It was easy for me to feel genuinely invested in this family of charecters. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen with Mayfair Cummings and her family. After loosing her mother at a young age she had a lot to deal with. And the twists and turns in the story kept me very interested. I did not like her step mother at all. The jealousy was crazy. And her father basically choosing his wife over her...wow. I felt for her. I can't wait to read what comes next. I love V.C. Andrews's books!
January 20, 2016
If there was an option to give this book 1/4 of a star, that's what I would do. I love VCA and generally her ghost writer as well but this book was the most dreadful, run on, bore I have come across. Mayfair is a genius, the first 100 pages are so dead flat I felt like j was reading a dictionary and not a novel. Finally 180 pages it picks up and she hooks up with her teacher, 4 pages later it's back to being dead flat again because Mayfair is just such a genius she clearly in unable to have any friends to talk with. 260 pages in the story picks up again when she thinks her sister hooked up with the same teacher so she convinced her she had to tell the school what happened. I'm still trying to figure out what one of those acts was so awful she had to be sent away to a school we know nothing about because she doesn't get there until 8 pages later and from what I gathered it's more like a psych ward for the intelligent than a school. Also, how can this book description really say she caught the attention of popular senior Carlton?! They had all of 4 paragraphs out of 371 pages, and he was more dared by his friends than anything. She dressed up for 1 day, I highly call that a total makeover.
I think a better description for this book with be : Genius Mayfair is off the charts smart, living her life is like living inside a dictionary. The girls at school tease her, like all high school girls do cause they are bitches if you aren't in the "popular group" however everything changes for a day when Mayfair dresses more like the popular group and hooks up with her teacher. She realizes that drinking too much alcohol makes you unable to say no, and unable to see that a teacher making sexual advances is wrong. No relationship forms at all, after he sleeps with her and is clearly upset when he thinks she wasn't a virgin before he avoids her and never speaks to her again.
This book possibly could have been better if it was written in her and Allison's perspective. But I'm not sure that could have saved it either. It may just have been better that it never have been written.
A better title would have been The Drama Between a Teen and her new Stepmom.
I think a better description for this book with be : Genius Mayfair is off the charts smart, living her life is like living inside a dictionary. The girls at school tease her, like all high school girls do cause they are bitches if you aren't in the "popular group" however everything changes for a day when Mayfair dresses more like the popular group and hooks up with her teacher. She realizes that drinking too much alcohol makes you unable to say no, and unable to see that a teacher making sexual advances is wrong. No relationship forms at all, after he sleeps with her and is clearly upset when he thinks she wasn't a virgin before he avoids her and never speaks to her again.
This book possibly could have been better if it was written in her and Allison's perspective. But I'm not sure that could have saved it either. It may just have been better that it never have been written.
A better title would have been The Drama Between a Teen and her new Stepmom.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 6, 2015
It was ok. I am used to VC Andrews books being a lot more intense and interesting.
December 7, 2015
I wish I could give the book 5 stars but a lot of it was pretty uninteresting and I couldn't really like Mayfair as much as I wanted to. I found some things ridiculous like how many words Alison didn't know the meaning of that were pretty basic knowledge and anyone in high school would surely know (Like clone for example, really she wouldn't know what a clone was? Come on.) The most interesting parts of the book were the whole Mayfair/Alison/Alan Taylor thing that went on and it took most of the book to get there. I was hoping I would really like this book since Flowers in the Attic was so great. I had figured since Neiderman was picked to ghost write he must be able to mimic Andrews' style but I guess this is what you get when you have a man writing as a woman writing the story of a teenage girl.
Disclaimer: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The opinions I expressed are entirely my own.
Disclaimer: I received the book for free through Goodreads First Reads. The opinions I expressed are entirely my own.
November 9, 2015
this is a stand alone book. the story of mayfair who has a high intelligence and when her father remarries after her mother dies she get a stepmother from hell and a new sister.they never seem to get along with anything.while mayfair has no friends and wants none.when a teacher takes a intrest in her things start to go bad exspessily when he shows the same interest in her younger sister.....
June 2, 2018
DNF. So we have Mayfair, "I'm so smart, I'm so pretty, blah blah blah." Like the entire first two chapters repeating the same thing over and over again. I had to quit. I also think I have to quit reading "V.C. Andrews". The books have become mundane and repetitive. I'm tired of forcing myself to read the new books, just because I've read every one of "her" other books.
November 27, 2015
Didn't expect much from this book either. The author went on and on for to long on how high the characters IQ was. Another fail.
Read
May 19, 2016This book was not worth the V.C. Andrews name.
June 9, 2016
I kinda hated the book. Had to emotional connection with the characters at all. Boring with no real plot.
August 6, 2020
After half way through, not worth the read. I had to skim a lot because it was so horrible.
October 4, 2017
Bittersweet Dreams (Mass Market Paperback)
by V.C. Andrews
After reading Corliss and Donna reading Bittersweet was a more intricate and detailed back story of a character entering Spindrift school. This tale of the foils and faults of astronomical intelligence in young children is a great warning and something schools should study in an attempt to understand the flaws in the education system. My brother was a gifted student, he was required/requested to conduct self study in the library because he was above the level of the teachers teaching him and surpassing his classmates. He did not succeed because he was not self motivated despite his intelligence. There has been many occurrences of this throughout the educational system. The problem is that gifted students are another problem for over burdened teachers. Their adaptation to lessons is sometimes above the focus of grade level teachers, and when they do not have the resources to get challenging material. Another aspect that this book looks into is how society views the remarkably intelligent. The idea because they can study and understand academic material above their chronological age does not mean they are capable of handling the mature and pit holes of adult life. Mayfair is beautiful, intelligent and engaging, young woman taken advantage of by her teachers, her stepmother and her school. They spent more time bragging about her intelligence than really protecting her or guiding her. The failing of her father to be her advocate, because he was overwhelmed is a warning to all parents. Don’t let compromise be the downfall of how you handle your children. This book is a great warning for parents, teachers and administrators, and example to society exploitation of the young, the intelligent and the gifted.
by V.C. Andrews
After reading Corliss and Donna reading Bittersweet was a more intricate and detailed back story of a character entering Spindrift school. This tale of the foils and faults of astronomical intelligence in young children is a great warning and something schools should study in an attempt to understand the flaws in the education system. My brother was a gifted student, he was required/requested to conduct self study in the library because he was above the level of the teachers teaching him and surpassing his classmates. He did not succeed because he was not self motivated despite his intelligence. There has been many occurrences of this throughout the educational system. The problem is that gifted students are another problem for over burdened teachers. Their adaptation to lessons is sometimes above the focus of grade level teachers, and when they do not have the resources to get challenging material. Another aspect that this book looks into is how society views the remarkably intelligent. The idea because they can study and understand academic material above their chronological age does not mean they are capable of handling the mature and pit holes of adult life. Mayfair is beautiful, intelligent and engaging, young woman taken advantage of by her teachers, her stepmother and her school. They spent more time bragging about her intelligence than really protecting her or guiding her. The failing of her father to be her advocate, because he was overwhelmed is a warning to all parents. Don’t let compromise be the downfall of how you handle your children. This book is a great warning for parents, teachers and administrators, and example to society exploitation of the young, the intelligent and the gifted.
February 8, 2016
Nothing beats a good VC Andrews book. I haven't read in awhile and this is the year I am going to get back into it. I am glad I was able to start the year off with this book.
Bittersweet Dreams held my interest from the beginning starting out with a highly gifted teenage girl who's a slight outcast but doesn't care and holds her head high and challenges individuals regardless of who they are or their title in life.
Throughout the book I feel sorry for her. It seems she wants to fit in, she wants to be normal but not stupid just to fit in. She often thinks that if she thought different she would be more accepted but she's not going to compromise herself or her standards to fit in.
She spends her time doing what she wants which is a lot of reading and researching. She is in highschool but thinks at an advanced college student level. She is befriended by a few individuals but each relationship holds its own complications.
A good book to see through the eyes of a gifted student trying to fit in. I could easily place myself in her shoes and understand what she was going through and although her otions were buried so deep we can appreciate how strong she tried to be.
Bittersweet Dreams held my interest from the beginning starting out with a highly gifted teenage girl who's a slight outcast but doesn't care and holds her head high and challenges individuals regardless of who they are or their title in life.
Throughout the book I feel sorry for her. It seems she wants to fit in, she wants to be normal but not stupid just to fit in. She often thinks that if she thought different she would be more accepted but she's not going to compromise herself or her standards to fit in.
She spends her time doing what she wants which is a lot of reading and researching. She is in highschool but thinks at an advanced college student level. She is befriended by a few individuals but each relationship holds its own complications.
A good book to see through the eyes of a gifted student trying to fit in. I could easily place myself in her shoes and understand what she was going through and although her otions were buried so deep we can appreciate how strong she tried to be.
March 22, 2016
I was disappointed in this book.
I'm under no illusions when it comes to the difference between VC Andrews and her ghostwriter, but I usually still enjoy Neidermans stories... However this one left a lot to be desired.
With what seemed like an excellent plot, I had high hopes and actually found the main character Mayfair Cummings very likeable, but the story had no climax at all, left a lot to be desired and frankly felt like I was reading the first draft rather than final edit.
What could have been a great story and exciting read was ruined by dwelling on the wrong things, and things that were completely unrelatable like Mayfairs father making no fuss or issue after her confession of what happened between her and her teacher.
The prologue showed great promise, so much so that I anticipated it becoming a favourite, but the book was a let down... As a self proclaimed "super fan" I was more disappointed than the average reader might be! My advice for other super fans is to simply not read it. It's not worth the let down!
I'm under no illusions when it comes to the difference between VC Andrews and her ghostwriter, but I usually still enjoy Neidermans stories... However this one left a lot to be desired.
With what seemed like an excellent plot, I had high hopes and actually found the main character Mayfair Cummings very likeable, but the story had no climax at all, left a lot to be desired and frankly felt like I was reading the first draft rather than final edit.
What could have been a great story and exciting read was ruined by dwelling on the wrong things, and things that were completely unrelatable like Mayfairs father making no fuss or issue after her confession of what happened between her and her teacher.
The prologue showed great promise, so much so that I anticipated it becoming a favourite, but the book was a let down... As a self proclaimed "super fan" I was more disappointed than the average reader might be! My advice for other super fans is to simply not read it. It's not worth the let down!
December 30, 2015
I gave this book 3 stars simply because of the ghost writer. I absolutely thrived as a youth reading his books (& still have one of my favorites of his on my shelf) but hands down I was deeply disappointed. 100 pages in was more then enough of background on Mayfair's background (I think that was entirely too much) & it really didn't motivate the story. I kept reading thinking the juicy parts where going to happen. I loved the snarkiness of Mayfair's come backs to her evil stepmother, Julie and her comical description of the "3 bitches of Macbeth" but I am just dumbfounded by what the heck happened?
June 12, 2016
I have been a fan of V.C. Andrews since I was in high school. I have not read any of her books for a few years. I have not enjoyed her books as much since her family hired other writers for them. However, this book was a little more true to her style of writing.
I gave this a three star rating because it took way too long to find out what happened to Mayfair and what she had done at school to be sent away. I read almost half this book before I was truly hooked and didn't want to put it down. It was a very slow read from the beginning. Once I hit the halfway point the pace picked up.
If you are a V. C. Andrews fan I recommend this book.
I gave this a three star rating because it took way too long to find out what happened to Mayfair and what she had done at school to be sent away. I read almost half this book before I was truly hooked and didn't want to put it down. It was a very slow read from the beginning. Once I hit the halfway point the pace picked up.
If you are a V. C. Andrews fan I recommend this book.
April 1, 2018
I've never had a bad thing to say about V.C. Andrews books while she was alive & I still don't have anything bad to say with other writers that have taken over since her death. I'm still so into these books. The stories are written so well that you feel you're living the characters life.
April 7, 2016
I really did not care for this book!!!
November 27, 2016
I really hope there's a book 2 in the works, the ending felt like it was missing something.
December 16, 2017
Good book.
May 6, 2025
it’s like if miller’s girl (my favorite movie) had been (poorly) ghostwritten by a man, which is a shame since mayfair had a lot of potential as an unlikable/controversial fmc
July 18, 2017
This book was terrible! I have never had to force myself to get through a book. I didn't even read the whole last chapter...I have never done that. It was so boring...we get it the girl is a genius. I don't even know the main point...awful. Very disappointing. I wish I could have given it no stars.
July 8, 2017
I have to be honest, I haven't read a V.C. Andrews book since I was in high school. So, when I was approached to read a new series of hers with prequels, I was definitely intrigued about diving back into a beloved author.
After reading Corliss - one of four prequels (Bittersweet Dreams, Corliss, Donna and more to come), I couldn't wait to dive into (what I thought) was the main story that prompted the prequels. With that being said, unbeknownst to me, Bittersweet Dreams is also a prequel per se'. Yep you heard me right, it's basically an extended prequel. These books explain how the characters end up at an uber private school for the profoundly gifted known as Spindrift.
Ok so now that you know about these "prequels", realize that each story is a standalone story unto own. None of these books are connected right now but will somehow, someday become connected in the future. So, each can be read as a standalone albeit with a bit of a cliffy.
So, for Bittersweet Dreams, the main character we are following is Mayfair Cummings whom is too smart for her own good. She's to the point she's almost a robot. I'd venture to say she's beyond autistic in how she sees and interacts with the world. Now throw in a newly blended family, a school full of stupid teachers and a newly blended family who doesn't know how to deal with her but at its heart, it's a story of sisters. The two unlikely sisters might not be of blood but Mayfair has found possibly her first ever friend and wants to be a big sister to the only girl that has ever been nice to her. Luckily, her opportunity has arrived to step up and find out why her sunshiny little sister has suddenly turned gloomy. Through these twists and turns, we will also find out how Mayfair is set on the path to the super-secret Spindrift school.
Alright, so first, it took me awhile to figure out what was going on. I was expecting a whole different story. I was expecting that the Girls of Spindrift prequels were leading me to Bittersweet and that I'd find all the characters in this book but that's not what this was. This was basically another prequel, so once I got over my initial confusion I could enjoy it a bit better.
Once that happened and I knew how to approach the book, it made it more palatable. The story is told from Mayfair's POV. Mayfair is very robotic in how she views the world and how she interacts with it. So, you're in the head of a teen "know it all" the whole time, someone who struggles with empathy and who knows she is smarter and prettier than anyone she comes across. Yep, it's a hard pill to swallow and probably why the reviews have been so mixed with this book.
With all that being said, it's definitely a YA read with some spice. There's not only the teen angst of the "fish out of water" trope but it also has teen crushes, blending family drama, sisters, adults are too stupid to live and a forbidden taboo. And parents be warned, there are some triggers and language. This is not a sunshine and roses book or HEA.
Lastly, for fans of V.C. Andrews, even though the cover says "The Forbidden" it has nothing to do with her "The Fobidden" series.
I honestly think that this book and the Girls of Spindrift books should be repackaged and that Bittersweet Dreams in particular should be added to the Girls of Spindrift group of books but preface them as prequels, so rather then the upcoming 4, there should be 5. This way, it's more clear to the readers where these books sit in the V.C. Andrews world and the purpose of the books in particular. Yes they are technically standalone books but they all end on a cliffy with the girls on the path to the mysterious Spindrift.
After reading Corliss - one of four prequels (Bittersweet Dreams, Corliss, Donna and more to come), I couldn't wait to dive into (what I thought) was the main story that prompted the prequels. With that being said, unbeknownst to me, Bittersweet Dreams is also a prequel per se'. Yep you heard me right, it's basically an extended prequel. These books explain how the characters end up at an uber private school for the profoundly gifted known as Spindrift.
Ok so now that you know about these "prequels", realize that each story is a standalone story unto own. None of these books are connected right now but will somehow, someday become connected in the future. So, each can be read as a standalone albeit with a bit of a cliffy.
So, for Bittersweet Dreams, the main character we are following is Mayfair Cummings whom is too smart for her own good. She's to the point she's almost a robot. I'd venture to say she's beyond autistic in how she sees and interacts with the world. Now throw in a newly blended family, a school full of stupid teachers and a newly blended family who doesn't know how to deal with her but at its heart, it's a story of sisters. The two unlikely sisters might not be of blood but Mayfair has found possibly her first ever friend and wants to be a big sister to the only girl that has ever been nice to her. Luckily, her opportunity has arrived to step up and find out why her sunshiny little sister has suddenly turned gloomy. Through these twists and turns, we will also find out how Mayfair is set on the path to the super-secret Spindrift school.
Alright, so first, it took me awhile to figure out what was going on. I was expecting a whole different story. I was expecting that the Girls of Spindrift prequels were leading me to Bittersweet and that I'd find all the characters in this book but that's not what this was. This was basically another prequel, so once I got over my initial confusion I could enjoy it a bit better.
Once that happened and I knew how to approach the book, it made it more palatable. The story is told from Mayfair's POV. Mayfair is very robotic in how she views the world and how she interacts with it. So, you're in the head of a teen "know it all" the whole time, someone who struggles with empathy and who knows she is smarter and prettier than anyone she comes across. Yep, it's a hard pill to swallow and probably why the reviews have been so mixed with this book.
With all that being said, it's definitely a YA read with some spice. There's not only the teen angst of the "fish out of water" trope but it also has teen crushes, blending family drama, sisters, adults are too stupid to live and a forbidden taboo. And parents be warned, there are some triggers and language. This is not a sunshine and roses book or HEA.
Lastly, for fans of V.C. Andrews, even though the cover says "The Forbidden" it has nothing to do with her "The Fobidden" series.
I honestly think that this book and the Girls of Spindrift books should be repackaged and that Bittersweet Dreams in particular should be added to the Girls of Spindrift group of books but preface them as prequels, so rather then the upcoming 4, there should be 5. This way, it's more clear to the readers where these books sit in the V.C. Andrews world and the purpose of the books in particular. Yes they are technically standalone books but they all end on a cliffy with the girls on the path to the mysterious Spindrift.
July 14, 2016
I think I'm pretty forgiving when it comes to books, but this one was really quite awful. The writing was horrible. The plot was not that exciting. I didn't like any of the characters. I can't really say anything to recommend this book.
The main character, Mayfair, was selfish and not a very good person. I spent half of the book feeling sorry for her stepmother, despite the author's attempts to tell us repeatedly what a shallow person Julie was. I didn't really see the evidence of that. There are so many writing no-no's in this novel...I don't even know where to start. The whole book seemed to be one big "telling"...we're in Mayfair's head constantly. Not only does the author describe every thought and feeling, but does so REPEATEDLY. You read about something she feels then the next paragraph states the same thing only with a little bit different words. Sometimes it might even happen again. The foreshadowing was horrible. Cliches are abundant. The characters are not well-rounded and not always consistent behavior. There were a lot of unbelievable moments, and they were not well done enough for me to suspend disbelief. Like this one - we are supposed to believe that this girl is ignored and outcast all this time and so one day she puts on some makeup and does her hair and she has men all over her, and Because she did her hair? Not buying it. Mayfair is supposed to be a genius but I felt the author did a poor job of having the voice of a genius. The writing to me was also like an older person writing about modern teenage technology. It also had the feel of a man writing from a woman's perspective (poorly). I can't imagine what the editor was thinking. I think the only reason that this novel was even published is b/c they could put VC Andrews name on it. Which is a real shame.
Despite all of that...I did shed a few tears at the end.
The main character, Mayfair, was selfish and not a very good person. I spent half of the book feeling sorry for her stepmother, despite the author's attempts to tell us repeatedly what a shallow person Julie was. I didn't really see the evidence of that. There are so many writing no-no's in this novel...I don't even know where to start. The whole book seemed to be one big "telling"...we're in Mayfair's head constantly. Not only does the author describe every thought and feeling, but does so REPEATEDLY. You read about something she feels then the next paragraph states the same thing only with a little bit different words. Sometimes it might even happen again. The foreshadowing was horrible. Cliches are abundant. The characters are not well-rounded and not always consistent behavior. There were a lot of unbelievable moments, and they were not well done enough for me to suspend disbelief. Like this one - we are supposed to believe that this girl is ignored and outcast all this time and so one day she puts on some makeup and does her hair and she has men all over her, and Because she did her hair? Not buying it. Mayfair is supposed to be a genius but I felt the author did a poor job of having the voice of a genius. The writing to me was also like an older person writing about modern teenage technology. It also had the feel of a man writing from a woman's perspective (poorly). I can't imagine what the editor was thinking. I think the only reason that this novel was even published is b/c they could put VC Andrews name on it. Which is a real shame.
Despite all of that...I did shed a few tears at the end.
November 18, 2016
I rate books on how much I enjoy them than whether or not they're "good" books so this one gets 2.5 stars instead of the one star it probably deserves. I generally have low expectations of the V.C. Andrews and read them whenever I'm craving brain candy so this one's pretty on par with the other ghost written books. Although, I would consider this one more of a YA book than Flowers in the Attic. It's probably the tamest V.C. Andrews book I've ever read....which isn't a bad thing? Don't get me wrong, similar tropes were used like the 'Bitchy-for-no-reason' mother figure, the inappropriate relationships, and the classic 'everyone-hates-main-character-for-some-reason'that one always sees it V.C. Andrews books. Interestingly enough with the last trope is that other characters sort of have a good reason to dislike the main character Mayfair and it's interesting because the main character is aware of and mostly understands why no one likes her. Usually, the past V.C. Andrew's heroines I've read are initially clueless about why people are dicks to them so this was more fun to read in that sense.
My major complaint with this book would be how the minor characters are all written. I understand the author wanted to show Mayfair as more intelligent than everyone else but dumbing down all the other characters was a poor way to go about this. I'm pretty sure most people know the definition of the words 'vulnerable' and 'clone' for example. Also, how old was her step-sister Allison suppose to be? At first I thought she was suppose to be 13/14 but as I read on I started to wonder if I misunderstood and the character was actually 8/9 from the way her dialog was written.
My major complaint with this book would be how the minor characters are all written. I understand the author wanted to show Mayfair as more intelligent than everyone else but dumbing down all the other characters was a poor way to go about this. I'm pretty sure most people know the definition of the words 'vulnerable' and 'clone' for example. Also, how old was her step-sister Allison suppose to be? At first I thought she was suppose to be 13/14 but as I read on I started to wonder if I misunderstood and the character was actually 8/9 from the way her dialog was written.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 26, 2016
I read the Dollanganger Series when I was younger and even though the are a little sick and weird the first 3 books are one of my favorites. I enjoy her writing and attention to detail, so walking around the library I saw her new book, but it was a saga, so I decided to get this one, that is a single book and I like her writing. Ok so, enough background, I'll get to it...
The cover was good and intriguing, but the book sucks, it started kind of good, with a "strong" character, but you realize soon that she is kind of lame, after a few pages the story starts to get interesting, that is why I kept going just to know what happened, but the characters were still lame and, as the main character would say, vapid. It had a few good moments, especially the fact that the super smart girl does not know how to handle her feelings and how hard would it be for someone who is able to know and control everything, it made me think about my own emotions and how I never question them.
Anyways, it starts telling you that she did something really bad that is why she is going to a different school, that is how you get hooked, to know what happened, then the plot starts to get really interesting, but for 20 pages, before the end everything starts to be so boring and the end is so boring that you realize that what she did to get sent away was not really that bad and it is just bad parenting.
I do not recommend this book, however I am willing to read something else from her and just think that this is a bad book for a great author instead of thinking the Dollanganger Series are 3 really good books from an OK writer.
The cover was good and intriguing, but the book sucks, it started kind of good, with a "strong" character, but you realize soon that she is kind of lame, after a few pages the story starts to get interesting, that is why I kept going just to know what happened, but the characters were still lame and, as the main character would say, vapid. It had a few good moments, especially the fact that the super smart girl does not know how to handle her feelings and how hard would it be for someone who is able to know and control everything, it made me think about my own emotions and how I never question them.
Anyways, it starts telling you that she did something really bad that is why she is going to a different school, that is how you get hooked, to know what happened, then the plot starts to get really interesting, but for 20 pages, before the end everything starts to be so boring and the end is so boring that you realize that what she did to get sent away was not really that bad and it is just bad parenting.
I do not recommend this book, however I am willing to read something else from her and just think that this is a bad book for a great author instead of thinking the Dollanganger Series are 3 really good books from an OK writer.
March 31, 2016
Being the first time I've read V.C. Andrews since Flowers in the Attic, I was pleasantly surprised at how alluring this story was. I was drawn into it so thoroughly that I was shocked when only a couple of hours after reading, I found the left side of my reading far heavier than the right; I was already nearing the end. Although I was really very disappointed that the story wasn't more focused on the gifted school where Mayfair would be attending, the drama that she went through in this story was intriguing. I especially felt connected to her character because of how being so gifted made her feel alienated from everyone around her in highschool. Admittedly, I felt that way in school too and I think my daughter is very intelligent and already feels that way sometimes. Of course, we're nowhere near genius level but it spoke to the nature of intelligent people always made to feel they are on the outside or weird and how other people can assume that they don't have feelings like everyone else because they're so analytical. I love the relationship between Mayfair and her stepsister. I completely DESPISED her father for never seeing her; really seeing her and supporting that despicable stepmother (poor excuse for a human). Great story. It kept me emotionally invested the entire time.
August 11, 2016
I am a huge fan of V.C Andrews and have read every book published. I must say the new stuff has taken a huge dive! I miss the old style of writing.
95% of this book is the main character taking about how smart she is, how pretty she is and being an ungrateful condescending person to everyone around her. I didn't feel bad for her once, maybe if her attitude was different I would have sided with her.
I felt that I didn't have to read the first 7 chapters to understand what the book was about, I often skipped whole paragraphs and didn't miss anything important. There was hardly a story line .... the "Main Event" was only half a chapter long, and 1 chapter to resolve the issue. There wasn't even any build up to this event! The rest of the story was just her reflecting on her life as a genius.
The premise of the book had so much potential to be an amazing V.C Andrews book. I think I can say, without a doubt, I will never pick up another V.C Andrews Book. I will keep re reading the old ones and hope that maybe, one day they will hire another writer who can capture the same magic that V.C Andrews had.
95% of this book is the main character taking about how smart she is, how pretty she is and being an ungrateful condescending person to everyone around her. I didn't feel bad for her once, maybe if her attitude was different I would have sided with her.
I felt that I didn't have to read the first 7 chapters to understand what the book was about, I often skipped whole paragraphs and didn't miss anything important. There was hardly a story line .... the "Main Event" was only half a chapter long, and 1 chapter to resolve the issue. There wasn't even any build up to this event! The rest of the story was just her reflecting on her life as a genius.
The premise of the book had so much potential to be an amazing V.C Andrews book. I think I can say, without a doubt, I will never pick up another V.C Andrews Book. I will keep re reading the old ones and hope that maybe, one day they will hire another writer who can capture the same magic that V.C Andrews had.
October 9, 2019
Long sigh. I picked up this book because I was obsessed with VC Andrews in middle school, and was curious if some of the newer stuff would hold up. I will say, I liked the premise of this book. Mayfair was a difficult character to like (as a profoundly gifted teen, she had trouble not looking down on ppl), but I could have let that go IF the book had handled Mr. Taylor's story better. Spoilers below.
He's a sexual predator. That much is clear. Mayfair thinks she's immune to being taken advantage of because of how smart she is, but she's not. Yet, ultimately, him not being punished tells us she is. Victim blaming. Not okay. Worse, what happened to her stepsister is also dropped. This guy is not punished and is "redeemed" by him giving some lackluster apology to Mayfair wherein he basically says, I considered having a relationship with you but realized it wasn't viable. Sorry. Have a good life.
WTF?
Bottom line, this book was irresponsible. I held out and kept reading because I wanted to believe the book would either give the girls justice, or blatantly condemn the lack of justice. Neither happened.
He's a sexual predator. That much is clear. Mayfair thinks she's immune to being taken advantage of because of how smart she is, but she's not. Yet, ultimately, him not being punished tells us she is. Victim blaming. Not okay. Worse, what happened to her stepsister is also dropped. This guy is not punished and is "redeemed" by him giving some lackluster apology to Mayfair wherein he basically says, I considered having a relationship with you but realized it wasn't viable. Sorry. Have a good life.
WTF?
Bottom line, this book was irresponsible. I held out and kept reading because I wanted to believe the book would either give the girls justice, or blatantly condemn the lack of justice. Neither happened.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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