What do you think?
Rate this book
Cutler #4
Midnight Whispers
An alternative cover for this ISBN can be found here
Soon to be a Lifetime limited series! Christie, Dawn’s daughter, searches for her own happiness and break the cycle of darkness that has plagued her family for generations in this book in the Cutler series from #1 New York Times> bestselling author V.C. Andrews.
Having grown up surrounded by love and safety, there’s no real reason for Christie Longchamp to feel that a cloud hovers over Cutler’s Cove—a cloud with origins in her family’s troubled history. But when Christie discovers the truth about her uncle’s unbrotherly love for her mother Dawn, she’s desperate to get away. Fleeing to New York City, she finds her real father—a pathetic, helpless has-been. Desperate and heartbroken, she turns to Gavin, her Daddy Jimmy’s young and handsome stepbrother. In his arms, Christie finds a refuge from her painful memories. But all too soon, she is torn from Gavin’s embrace and as black storms of evil gather around her, Christie must do what it takes to defy the curse that has haunted Cutler’s Cove for generations.
Soon to be a Lifetime limited series! Christie, Dawn’s daughter, searches for her own happiness and break the cycle of darkness that has plagued her family for generations in this book in the Cutler series from #1 New York Times> bestselling author V.C. Andrews.
Having grown up surrounded by love and safety, there’s no real reason for Christie Longchamp to feel that a cloud hovers over Cutler’s Cove—a cloud with origins in her family’s troubled history. But when Christie discovers the truth about her uncle’s unbrotherly love for her mother Dawn, she’s desperate to get away. Fleeing to New York City, she finds her real father—a pathetic, helpless has-been. Desperate and heartbroken, she turns to Gavin, her Daddy Jimmy’s young and handsome stepbrother. In his arms, Christie finds a refuge from her painful memories. But all too soon, she is torn from Gavin’s embrace and as black storms of evil gather around her, Christie must do what it takes to defy the curse that has haunted Cutler’s Cove for generations.
448 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1992
117 people are currently reading
3648 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,075 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 128 reviews
July 6, 2009
This was a decent book, and in my opinion, better than the 3rd in the series. Fast forward and Christie is getting ready for her 16th birthday celebration. Jimmy and Dawn have a 9 yr. old son, Jefferson. Philip and Betty have twins, a boy and a girl both 12 yrs. old. Everyone is happy and then of course, tragedy hits.
The kids come home from school to discover the hotel on fire. Jimmy and Dawn are the only casualties. Philip, Betty and the twins swiftly move into Dawn's house since they lived in the hotel and now it has to be completely rebuilt. Their twins are a bit twisted, they are their only friends and they do everything together, even bathe. Aunt Betty finds this normal. The twins do all they can to get Jefferson into trouble and PHilip has an unhealthy attachment to Christie, until one night he comes into her room and rapes her.
She then takes Jefferson and flees to NY to find her real father. He's nothing but a washed up drunk who tells her to go back home and come back when she gets her inheritence. She then calls Gavin, Jimmy's half brother. HE comes to NY and they head to The MEadows. Aunt Charlotte is the only other family she knows, as Fern is nothing but a girl who runs around with any man she can attach herself to. At the Meadows, Charlotte and Luthor take them in and they are happy until Fern arrives and makes their lives hell, once again with her threats to turn them in, even after finding out Christie was raped by Philip.
In the end, Jefferson becomes ill as he cuts himself on a rusty nail. Philip is called and comes to take them home and return Gavin to his parents. Once home, Christie is again attacked and runs to her grandmother's husband for help. All turns out well in this book. Finally, a happy ending for the main character. The next book that follows is a prequel that involves the evil grandmother lillian. Looks like it'll be interesting.
The kids come home from school to discover the hotel on fire. Jimmy and Dawn are the only casualties. Philip, Betty and the twins swiftly move into Dawn's house since they lived in the hotel and now it has to be completely rebuilt. Their twins are a bit twisted, they are their only friends and they do everything together, even bathe. Aunt Betty finds this normal. The twins do all they can to get Jefferson into trouble and PHilip has an unhealthy attachment to Christie, until one night he comes into her room and rapes her.
She then takes Jefferson and flees to NY to find her real father. He's nothing but a washed up drunk who tells her to go back home and come back when she gets her inheritence. She then calls Gavin, Jimmy's half brother. HE comes to NY and they head to The MEadows. Aunt Charlotte is the only other family she knows, as Fern is nothing but a girl who runs around with any man she can attach herself to. At the Meadows, Charlotte and Luthor take them in and they are happy until Fern arrives and makes their lives hell, once again with her threats to turn them in, even after finding out Christie was raped by Philip.
In the end, Jefferson becomes ill as he cuts himself on a rusty nail. Philip is called and comes to take them home and return Gavin to his parents. Once home, Christie is again attacked and runs to her grandmother's husband for help. All turns out well in this book. Finally, a happy ending for the main character. The next book that follows is a prequel that involves the evil grandmother lillian. Looks like it'll be interesting.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 17, 2009
This book was so much better than the previous one in the series. Christie was no whiner, thank goodness. After Dawn and Jimmy's death, many things happen all at once: Phillip and his family move into Dawn's home, Jefferson is forced to share his room with his absolute monster of a cousin. All of the things that happened to Christie in this book really made me feel for her. Of course, Fern appears in it a few times and once again does nothing to drive the plot. Her existence in this novel served only to disgust me, as her only purpose seems to be to shove sex in the reader's face. However, the reappearance of Charlotte and Luther is rather comforting because not only are they endearing characters, but it was fun to see how they had managed to enjoy their lives after Emily's death. Although things seemed to get worse and worse for Christie after her parents' deaths, she faced down each new crisis and every time she came out on top, I could rejoice with her. The only thing I wished I could have seen more of was the relationship between Christie and Gavin, who is just a really sweet guy. A pretty good read.
October 19, 2023
Best YA books ever a true must read by all.
I loved this series. must read series, best YA Author ever!!!
I loved this series. must read series, best YA Author ever!!!
April 16, 2013
Midnight Whispers isn't a bad book, but it isn't the best in the Cutler series either. In this volume, the perspective changes from Dawn to her daughter Christie who is now sixteen years old. The rest of the Cutler gang are back (sans Grandmother Cutler, Clara Sue and Randolph,) and are in fine form. Well, except for Laura Sue who is suffering from an unnamed aliment that seems suspiciously like Alzheimer's. Philio is still unhappily married to a woman that he has tried to clone into Dawn and now has two bratty kids and Fern has grown up to be a total slut but is anyone really surprised? Christie's love interest comes in the form of Gavin Longchamp, the half-brother of her stepfather. (The incest thing really got done to death in the early books by Neiderman.)
Anyway, tragedy befalls the family when a fire breaks out at the hotel, killing Dawn and Jimmy. Christie and her little brother are orphans. Instead of going to live with Bronson (the most sensible adult in the series,) they are forced to stay with Philip and his wife. Christie's short stay with Philip is an unhappy one (I won't go into details but fans of V.C. Andrews novels will know what I mean,) and she and her brother eventually run away. And then the novel pans out telling their adventures, Christie's reunion with her biological father (who is still a prick,) and a visit to the Meadows, where Christie was born. The ending is a bit disappointing, though I'm happy to say that at least one character finally gets their just desserts.
Anyway, tragedy befalls the family when a fire breaks out at the hotel, killing Dawn and Jimmy. Christie and her little brother are orphans. Instead of going to live with Bronson (the most sensible adult in the series,) they are forced to stay with Philip and his wife. Christie's short stay with Philip is an unhappy one (I won't go into details but fans of V.C. Andrews novels will know what I mean,) and she and her brother eventually run away. And then the novel pans out telling their adventures, Christie's reunion with her biological father (who is still a prick,) and a visit to the Meadows, where Christie was born. The ending is a bit disappointing, though I'm happy to say that at least one character finally gets their just desserts.
July 23, 2024
This was probably the most frustrating book in this series so far. I can see what people mean when they say storylines do start to be repetitive, but that wasn’t even an issue for me here. I found the reused tropes to actually add something to this story. Certain characters behaved similarly to past ones or similarly to past versions of themselves and I liked that.
What I didn’t like was Christie.
Dawn was such a compelling character. Impossible not to root for, always eager to prove herself, but also she grew into her backbone and became a woman I enjoyed reading about so so much. Her daughter has a lot of similar characteristics to her. She’s plucky and positive and quite naive to the world. But I found it was that back bone that Dawn had that Christie was lacking, and because of that she became a hard character for me to root for through the whole book. This book too me much longer to read because of that.
Even still, I liked it. This brand of horror is so new to me and so refreshing from what I have read beforehand, and the characters remain just as wacky and weird as ever. There’s only one more book on my journey with the Cutler family…and I’m probably most excited for that one!
(3.5 stars)
What I didn’t like was Christie.
Dawn was such a compelling character. Impossible not to root for, always eager to prove herself, but also she grew into her backbone and became a woman I enjoyed reading about so so much. Her daughter has a lot of similar characteristics to her. She’s plucky and positive and quite naive to the world. But I found it was that back bone that Dawn had that Christie was lacking, and because of that she became a hard character for me to root for through the whole book. This book too me much longer to read because of that.
Even still, I liked it. This brand of horror is so new to me and so refreshing from what I have read beforehand, and the characters remain just as wacky and weird as ever. There’s only one more book on my journey with the Cutler family…and I’m probably most excited for that one!
(3.5 stars)
November 5, 2016
I never finished this book, I read the first couple chapters and found myself disinterested. I do feel like I should pick this one up and the following book just so I can complete the series. Although I'm sure that is going to happen any time soon.
August 24, 2025
Cutler Ailesi serisinin dördüncü kitabını da bu ay içine sıkıştırarak üç günlük bir deniz tatilinde tamamladım. Bu yılın içinde önceki kitapları okuyup, ister istemez Dollanganger Ailesi ile kıyaslayıp onlar kadar tatmin olmamış olsam da yine de bu yazarın notlarından derlenen başka bir seriyi daha okumak, serüven açısından fena bir deneyim olmadı benim için. Zaten hali hazırda üç kitabını geride bıraktığım için ve bu kitap da aslında bir devam kitabı olduğu için olaylara ve kişilere birinci elden hakimdim. Bu kitapla da aslında bu olaylar zincirine bir nokta koymuş oluyoruz.
Bu kitap ile birlikte anlatıcımız Dawn'un kızı Christie oluyor. Önceki kitapta küçük bir çocuk olan Christie, bu kitapta annesini tanıdığımız yaşlarda. Kendisi adına 16. yaş gününe özel olarak otelde bir parti veriliyor ve tüm aile, akrabalar ve çevre bu partiye katılıyor. Partide yaşanan bir takım olaylardan sonra serideki alıştığımız eski Yeşilçam filmleri draması ardı arkası kesilmeden devam ediyor. Otelde çıkan yangın ile birlikte tüm hayatı değişen Christie ve kardeşi Jefferson, kendilerini hiç ummadıkları yerlerde buluyorlar. Biz de bu iki çocuğun değişen hayatlarını ve bu hayatlarıyla olan mücadelelerini okuyoruz. Kitap için ne yazsam spoiler olacağından dolayı çok bir şey anlatamıyorum, bir de zaten devam kitabı ve önceki kitaplarda yaşanan bir takım şeylerin sonucu buralara da çıktığı için artık şok edici şeyler yaşanmıyor gibi. Yani yaşansa da artık bu kadar etki etmiyor çünkü seriyi okuyan birileri mutlaka bu Yeşilçamvari dramaya alıştığı için artık bir yerden sonra kabak tadı vermeye başlıyor maalesef. Benim en çok dikkatimi çeken kısım ise Christie'nin yaşadıklarının annesininkiyle benzer şeyler olması hatta onun lokasyon sırasını takiben yaşadığı şeyler olması. Bu, muhtemelen bilerek yazılmış ve annenin kaderinin kızı ile aynı olduğu durumu gösteren bir durumun sembolü belki de. Bu noktayı fark ettiğimde karışık duygular hissettim, hem önceki kitaplara biraz nostaljik bir şekilde yaklaşmış olduk hem de bir yandan da aynı olayı ısıtıp ısıtıp önümüze koymuşlar gibi de hissettim.
V.C Andrews'ün dili ve onun notlarıyla derlenen kitaplar her ne kadar benzer konulara sahip olsa da reading slumptan çıkaracak düzeyde. Sizi çok yormaz ama travmatik olaylar barındırır içinde, artık bu duruma bu yazarın dokuzuncu kitabını okumuş biri olarak alıştığımı söyleyebilirim. Her ne kadar bu seri yazarın kendi elinden çıkma değil de notlarından derlenmiş ve bir ghostwriter'ı tarafından yazılmış olsa da Dollanganger Ailesi için de bildiğim şeyler burası için de geçerli. Başrolümüz Christie olunca, kitapta bazı şeyleri tahmin ettim ama bazılarını da etmedim. Yine de travmatik şeyler bu kitapta da yaşanmaya devam etse bile beni şoke etmedi çünkü dediğim gibi; yazarın diline ve kurgusuna alıştığım için beni çok sarsmıyor, hatta dümdüz şeyler olsa bitse beni daha çok şaşırtırdı muhtemelen. Bir noktadan sonra da bu yüzden o kadar da etki bırakmıyor. Yine kötü şeyler ve olaylar vardı burada, gerçekten okurken rahatsız etti ve artık yeter diyesim geldi. Bunları okuyor olmak zaten rahatsız edici ama sürekli benzer şeyleri anlatmak da artık kabak tadı vermişti açıkçası. Final kısmı çok hızlı bir şekilde geldi ve geçti. Bu kadar anlatılan durumlara daha geniş bir son beklerdim, çok özensiz ve düzensiz geldi bana açıkçası.
Serinin her ne kadar son kitabı bu olmasa da bu olayların kronolojik olarak olup bittiği son kitaptı. Bundan sonraki kitap ise tüm bu olayların öncesini anlatıyor, tıpkı Dollanganger Ailesi'nde olduğu gibi. Muhtemelen akabinde de o kitabı okuyup artık Cutler Ailesi'ne de sonsuza kadar elveda edeceğim gibi görünüyor. Bu kitap benim için artıları ve eksileriyle akıcı bir tatil okuması olsa da ortalama bulduğum bir kitap oldu ve bence seriye zayıf bir final kitabı olarak katıldı.
Bu kitap ile birlikte anlatıcımız Dawn'un kızı Christie oluyor. Önceki kitapta küçük bir çocuk olan Christie, bu kitapta annesini tanıdığımız yaşlarda. Kendisi adına 16. yaş gününe özel olarak otelde bir parti veriliyor ve tüm aile, akrabalar ve çevre bu partiye katılıyor. Partide yaşanan bir takım olaylardan sonra serideki alıştığımız eski Yeşilçam filmleri draması ardı arkası kesilmeden devam ediyor. Otelde çıkan yangın ile birlikte tüm hayatı değişen Christie ve kardeşi Jefferson, kendilerini hiç ummadıkları yerlerde buluyorlar. Biz de bu iki çocuğun değişen hayatlarını ve bu hayatlarıyla olan mücadelelerini okuyoruz. Kitap için ne yazsam spoiler olacağından dolayı çok bir şey anlatamıyorum, bir de zaten devam kitabı ve önceki kitaplarda yaşanan bir takım şeylerin sonucu buralara da çıktığı için artık şok edici şeyler yaşanmıyor gibi. Yani yaşansa da artık bu kadar etki etmiyor çünkü seriyi okuyan birileri mutlaka bu Yeşilçamvari dramaya alıştığı için artık bir yerden sonra kabak tadı vermeye başlıyor maalesef. Benim en çok dikkatimi çeken kısım ise Christie'nin yaşadıklarının annesininkiyle benzer şeyler olması hatta onun lokasyon sırasını takiben yaşadığı şeyler olması. Bu, muhtemelen bilerek yazılmış ve annenin kaderinin kızı ile aynı olduğu durumu gösteren bir durumun sembolü belki de. Bu noktayı fark ettiğimde karışık duygular hissettim, hem önceki kitaplara biraz nostaljik bir şekilde yaklaşmış olduk hem de bir yandan da aynı olayı ısıtıp ısıtıp önümüze koymuşlar gibi de hissettim.
V.C Andrews'ün dili ve onun notlarıyla derlenen kitaplar her ne kadar benzer konulara sahip olsa da reading slumptan çıkaracak düzeyde. Sizi çok yormaz ama travmatik olaylar barındırır içinde, artık bu duruma bu yazarın dokuzuncu kitabını okumuş biri olarak alıştığımı söyleyebilirim. Her ne kadar bu seri yazarın kendi elinden çıkma değil de notlarından derlenmiş ve bir ghostwriter'ı tarafından yazılmış olsa da Dollanganger Ailesi için de bildiğim şeyler burası için de geçerli. Başrolümüz Christie olunca, kitapta bazı şeyleri tahmin ettim ama bazılarını da etmedim. Yine de travmatik şeyler bu kitapta da yaşanmaya devam etse bile beni şoke etmedi çünkü dediğim gibi; yazarın diline ve kurgusuna alıştığım için beni çok sarsmıyor, hatta dümdüz şeyler olsa bitse beni daha çok şaşırtırdı muhtemelen. Bir noktadan sonra da bu yüzden o kadar da etki bırakmıyor. Yine kötü şeyler ve olaylar vardı burada, gerçekten okurken rahatsız etti ve artık yeter diyesim geldi. Bunları okuyor olmak zaten rahatsız edici ama sürekli benzer şeyleri anlatmak da artık kabak tadı vermişti açıkçası. Final kısmı çok hızlı bir şekilde geldi ve geçti. Bu kadar anlatılan durumlara daha geniş bir son beklerdim, çok özensiz ve düzensiz geldi bana açıkçası.
Serinin her ne kadar son kitabı bu olmasa da bu olayların kronolojik olarak olup bittiği son kitaptı. Bundan sonraki kitap ise tüm bu olayların öncesini anlatıyor, tıpkı Dollanganger Ailesi'nde olduğu gibi. Muhtemelen akabinde de o kitabı okuyup artık Cutler Ailesi'ne de sonsuza kadar elveda edeceğim gibi görünüyor. Bu kitap benim için artıları ve eksileriyle akıcı bir tatil okuması olsa da ortalama bulduğum bir kitap oldu ve bence seriye zayıf bir final kitabı olarak katıldı.
April 21, 2023
I can’t rate this book well because I took 5 weeks to finish it (blame my obsession for The Sims) but I didn’t like it. It wasn’t really strong and the plot felt empty.
July 28, 2019
I keep finding that when we get to the daughters story in these family sagas, several of the characters seem to undergo a personality change. Dawn, who hated that her life was a lie and things were kept from her, refuses to talk to Christie about her real father. The twins, who Christie was obsessed with in the last book, have grown up cold and indifferent to her. Aunt Bet, who was sweet in the last book, is now a mean control freak. It doesn't make any sense.
I read the ‘Casteel' saga not long ago and I've found lots of plot points are the same as the daughter book in that series. There is a big sixteenth birthday party to show you how perfect the main characters life has been, then we have the tragic death of both parents, then she is stuck with a rapey family member. I ended up getting a bit bored during these events as felt like I had read them recently. I would recommend reading Andrew’s family sagas far apart.
I liked the part at The Meadows. Aunt Charlotte is lovely. However it did annoy me that she kept telling Christie that her baby was taken away because it had a hoof shaped birthmark. In ‘Secrets Of The Morning' Dawn is repeatedly told it is because the baby had pointed ears.
This was another typical Andrew’s book. Sticking to the tried and tested formula. It was okay but nothing stand out
I read the ‘Casteel' saga not long ago and I've found lots of plot points are the same as the daughter book in that series. There is a big sixteenth birthday party to show you how perfect the main characters life has been, then we have the tragic death of both parents, then she is stuck with a rapey family member. I ended up getting a bit bored during these events as felt like I had read them recently. I would recommend reading Andrew’s family sagas far apart.
I liked the part at The Meadows. Aunt Charlotte is lovely. However it did annoy me that she kept telling Christie that her baby was taken away because it had a hoof shaped birthmark. In ‘Secrets Of The Morning' Dawn is repeatedly told it is because the baby had pointed ears.
This was another typical Andrew’s book. Sticking to the tried and tested formula. It was okay but nothing stand out
November 21, 2014
When I read these novels back in the day I would have given them 3-3.5 STARS and now would say about one Star
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
I started reading VC Andrews books in the 1991 and stopped about 2003.
I have read:
-Dollanganger Series
-Casteel Series
-Cutler Series
-Landry Series
-Logan Series
-Orphans Series
-Wildflowers Series
-Hudson Series
-Shooting Stars Series
-DeBeers Series
-Broken Wings Series
As a preteen reading these novels was a rebellion and the gothic theme also seemed cool. I stopped reading this author because the novelty wore off, the novels are too formulaic that I could not tell one book from another and gothic aspect was lost.
August 11, 2011
This is the fourth book in the Cutler Series and by far the most boring. Christie, Dawn's 16-year-old daughter tells the tale. When her parents are killed, she takes her little brother and flees. Here is where I was expecting some excitement. Nope. Ran straight to the rundown Meadows to hang out with some old people. A lot of people hate Fern, but at least her appearance made it easier for me to get through this. Oh, and Christie gets it on with her "uncle" Gavin, because there are no other attractive young men around her age. Philip's obsession with Dawn is over the top.
September 30, 2011
WOULD HAVE GIVEN THE BOOK A 5 STAR RATING IF PHILIP WOULD HAVE SUFFERED. AS WELL AS HIS WIFE. I KNOW IT IS MAINLY HIS FAULT IN TRYING TO HAVE HIS WIFE TURN INTO A DAWN CLONE, BUT SHE WAS SO MEAN TWARDS CHRISTIE. BY THE TIME I HAD READ THIS BOOK I WAS HOPING THAT V.C ANDREWS (OR WHOM EVER TOOK OVER AFTER SHE DIED) THAT SHE WOULD STOP HAVING THE CHARACTERS THAT ARE RELATED FROM FALLING IN LOVE WITH EACH OTHER.
March 2, 2015
VC Andrews has always been a favorite of mine since my childhood days. I have read (and re-read) all of her books, and although I am much older now and find that some of her work is better than others, I still enjoy the twists and turns, strangeness and mystery that continues to captivate my interest. (even some of the ghostwriter's work)
March 25, 2016
I'm actually a little bit on the didn't like it side. I found Christy irritating. I wasn't much of a fan of her. I think part of my annoyance also was how this one had many aspects done in other V. C. Andrews books. If I had read this series prior to the other books it may have been different.
Does anyone know who is imaged on the Cutler Covers (Insert Cover)?
Thanks,
Does anyone know who is imaged on the Cutler Covers (Insert Cover)?
Thanks,
July 14, 2008
I Know, I KNOW, V. C. Andrews is trash, but it's a guilty pleasure.
February 24, 2024
This “conclusion” of the Cutler family saga took Dawn’s daughter Christie on a journey in her mother’s footsteps after tragedy befalls over Dawn and Jimmy. In no way did Dawn deserve the ending she got. Like at all. I could blame her for choosing to run behind Jimmy over thinking of her kids first but it is what it is.
With Dawn gone, Christie went into the clutches of her Uncle Phillip….Aunt Beth…cousins…Aunt Fern and basically the world. Like this girl was a walking target for everyone and everything.
Reading this was depressing 90% of the way. There’s trial and tribulations in life, but this was long suffering like for no reason.
I don’t understand why some characters were evil with no redeemable qualities. Maybe if things were read from their POV and got understanding my feelings about the book would change. But at this point, I’m just glad things are over for the girl and her brother for now. Even the complacency of Jimmys father angered me because he could’ve helped these children out more or reached out but that’s neither here or there.
I was supposed to read the final book of the series soon based on Grandmother Cutler. I gotta push it back. I need a break from tragedies.
With Dawn gone, Christie went into the clutches of her Uncle Phillip….Aunt Beth…cousins…Aunt Fern and basically the world. Like this girl was a walking target for everyone and everything.
Reading this was depressing 90% of the way. There’s trial and tribulations in life, but this was long suffering like for no reason.
I don’t understand why some characters were evil with no redeemable qualities. Maybe if things were read from their POV and got understanding my feelings about the book would change. But at this point, I’m just glad things are over for the girl and her brother for now. Even the complacency of Jimmys father angered me because he could’ve helped these children out more or reached out but that’s neither here or there.
I was supposed to read the final book of the series soon based on Grandmother Cutler. I gotta push it back. I need a break from tragedies.
January 26, 2024
There are some parts of this book that I really enjoy, like when Christie, Gavin, and Jefferson are at The Meadows with Charlotte, Luther, and Homer. The chapters there were interesting and enjoyable. And those are the chapters that keep me reading these books. But the rest of the story just makes me sick to my stomach. Like almost every other V.C. Andrews book, this one was full of mean and nasty adults who treat the main character like garbage, a tragic death to the good characters, and a creepy family member that r*pes the main character. I have one more book in this particular series and then I’m definitely taking a break from finishing the rest of my V.C. Andrews collection.
June 20, 2024
this was definitely the best one out of the entire series and it's the next generation lol. Christie isn't the pushover her mother was that's for sure.
I will say, why can't there be a love interest in these books where the characters are not technically related 😭 ffs I grew up in the backwoods in Maine and it wasn't even this bad lmao
I will say, why can't there be a love interest in these books where the characters are not technically related 😭 ffs I grew up in the backwoods in Maine and it wasn't even this bad lmao
April 25, 2024
Good Lord I thought Dawn was dumb in the first three books, but she's at her most stupid here and she doesn't even last 100 pages, again due to her own stupidity. As the formula of these books goes book four follows the daughter of our former main character except for Dollanganger cause Cathy had sons and they got book three instead. Maybe if VC Andrews had lived to write these herself the third book would've continued to be about the kids, but we'll never know. Christie is about to turn sixteen and like most teenage girls she's excited for a party. Her mother runs the Cutler's Cove hotel now, her step dad Jimmy helps with the maintenance, and then we come to our first dumb move for Dawn, Phillip his stepford wife Betty (I hate that that bitch shares a name with my late mother) and their twins Melanie and Richard all live in the hotel too. Melanie and Richard I pictured as being like the twins from The Shining and the hotel setting was a nicely added touch. Phillip you may remember raped his sister Dawn in book one, continues to lust after her and also has made creepy advances on his niece so the fact that a now rich powerful Dawn let him and his creepy weird ass family continue to live there and associate with her is moronic, but it gets better. After a successful party, Christie her brother Jefferson, and the creepy twins are returning from school only to find the hotel in flames. A boiler blew up, Jimmy was trapped, Dawn went to rescue him not thinking of her two children being left orphan, idiot move number one. They both die in the fire which brings us to idiot move two, the dumbest thing ever, Dawn made Philip the guardian of her children. Not the man she thought of as a father all her life, not her stepfather who seems and turns out is a reasonable rational person, no the man who raped her and is now drooling over her daughter. Wow, you truly can't fix stupid. At first things are sad but not that bad, the Laura Sue, who either has dementia or is just completely bonkers, it's hard to tell, dies which pushes Phillip into a deeper crazy than he already is and of course he goes into Christie's room thinking she's Dawn and you can guess what happens. Christie and Jefferson runaway first to New York, then to the Meadows, where they find some happiness until Fern shows up. Fern is the token bad girl, there's Vera, Fanny, Clara Sue (until she got bumped off in the last book) Fern treats everyone horribly, Jefferson cuts himself on something rusty is rushed to the hospital which leads to Phillip coming to take them home again. So besides Dawn's utter stupidity it was a better book than the first three from my adult perspective. Christie shows some intelligence a lot more than her mother ever did. Of course her love interest is a step brother or step uncle? I can't figure out these weird family trees. Does anyone in these books fall in love with someone they didn't have a family relationship with. I mean Cathy and Chris was trauma from abuse, and being locked up for years, Troy and Heaven didn't know they were related, neither did Paul and Ruby, but seriously if I found out my brother wasn't really my brother I would never think, hey cool now we can get married! It's just so weird and I never quite realized how bad it was until I started rereading these. As soon as the ghostwriter took over it's like he felt he had to carry on with the incest theme not understanding the reasons the real VC Andrews had those themes in books she wrote herself. As an adult I notice these books seem a lot more shallow then the original books were, the ghostwriter was given a five book formula and he stuck pretty close to it. I can only imagine how great these books would've been had VC herself written them, I somehow doubt she would've carried on the sketchy incest theme and also would've had a better understanding of rape victims, because the scenes between Christie and Gavin just felt false to me. One more left in the Cutler series, it'll be interesting to see if it's any better.
July 3, 2017
Alors, je me demandai comment cette fois la fille de l'héroïne allait perdre ses parents et je dois admettre que pour le coup, cette mort est une des plus atroces que j'ai lue jusqu'à présent. Ceci étant, j'ai beaucoup aimé ce tome, surtout la manière dont Betty Ann va prendre en main la vie de Christie et de son petit frère Jefferson. Cette bonne femme est odieuse tout comme ses affreux jumeaux . Quand à l'oncle Philippe... Pauvre Christie ! Je me demande même comment elle a pu s'en remettre aussi vite (la façon dont elle termine dans les bras de Drake aussi vite en lui demandant de lui faire oublier me semble ...peu crédible). En revanche, j'ai apprécié la décision de Christie de fuir à New York pour retrouver Michael (qui s'est révélé très décevant ). Ensuite, le départ pour la plantation m'a ravi. J'ai adoré lire ce que Charlotte en avait fait après la mort d'Emily et j'aime le couple qu'elle forme enfin avec Luther.
Par contre, j'ai trouvé l'intervention de Fern un peu too much et j'avoue que j'ai du mal à comprendre les motivations de cette dernière.
La fin du tome m'a beaucoup plu et surtout... la manière dont Christie a réussi à tenir tête à Betty Ann et j'avoue même avoir eu un peu pitié de Philippe à la fin (même s'il est odieux)
Ce que j'aime : Toute la partie à la plantation, voir Charlotte enfin heureuse, le personnage de Christie
Ce que j'aime moins : Fern était un peu too much
En bref : Encore un bon tome où les derniers secrets de famille éclate et où Christie réussit à s'imposer
Ma note
8/10
Par contre, j'ai trouvé l'intervention de Fern un peu too much et j'avoue que j'ai du mal à comprendre les motivations de cette dernière.
La fin du tome m'a beaucoup plu et surtout... la manière dont Christie a réussi à tenir tête à Betty Ann et j'avoue même avoir eu un peu pitié de Philippe à la fin (même s'il est odieux)
Ce que j'aime : Toute la partie à la plantation, voir Charlotte enfin heureuse, le personnage de Christie
Ce que j'aime moins : Fern était un peu too much
En bref : Encore un bon tome où les derniers secrets de famille éclate et où Christie réussit à s'imposer
Ma note
8/10
September 30, 2019
This was my favorite book in the Cutler series as a teenager and I’m pretty sure that will always be the case. I love Christie. I’d forgotten just how courageous and smart witted she could be. Dawn and Jimmy’s accident actually brought tears to my eyes.
Things get sinister with the addition of Christie’s uncle Philip, aunt Bet, and their “perfect” twins, Richard and Melanie. I found myself constantly feeling outraged right along with Christie and her younger brother, Jefferson, as horrible things were being done for them.
I’m a sucker for books with a runaway type story as well and I liked the way this one handled it. Mistakes were made. I liked that this book returns to where everything started—The Meadows.
Charlotte and Luther are a complete delight and Gavin is one of my favorite VCA love interests. I’d forgotten just how awful Aunt Fern is. This book was just as fun to read as before, though some things hit me a lot harder as an adult, such as the excusing away certain things (which is realistic, especially given the time, but still very frustrating). I did find myself rolling my eyes at some of the dated expectations for young women.
I thought the climax and overall ending wrapped up the series nicely. It was especially hard to put this one down once I was 75% through.
4.5 stars!
Things get sinister with the addition of Christie’s uncle Philip, aunt Bet, and their “perfect” twins, Richard and Melanie. I found myself constantly feeling outraged right along with Christie and her younger brother, Jefferson, as horrible things were being done for them.
I’m a sucker for books with a runaway type story as well and I liked the way this one handled it. Mistakes were made. I liked that this book returns to where everything started—The Meadows.
Charlotte and Luther are a complete delight and Gavin is one of my favorite VCA love interests. I’d forgotten just how awful Aunt Fern is. This book was just as fun to read as before, though some things hit me a lot harder as an adult, such as the excusing away certain things (which is realistic, especially given the time, but still very frustrating). I did find myself rolling my eyes at some of the dated expectations for young women.
I thought the climax and overall ending wrapped up the series nicely. It was especially hard to put this one down once I was 75% through.
4.5 stars!
August 25, 2012
This story is told by Dawn's daughter, Christie, who is now 16. Dawn and her husband, Jimmy, die in a fire shortly after her birthday, destroying the hotel. Christie and her brother Jefferson are treated unfairly when their Aunt Bet, Uncle Philip, and their twins move into their home. Christie and Jefferson run away after Philip rapes her, and they stay a short time at The Meadows with Aunt Charlette and Luther. Aunt Fern comes to threaten her she will tell Philip where they are. But it doesn't matter when Jefferson gets tetanus and has to be rushed to the hospital. In the end, Philip gets taken away when he tries to rape Christie again, and Christie and Jefferson go to live with Bronson, the husband of Christie's late grandmother. Fabulous book!
May 23, 2022
The 4th book in the series but this time the POV is from Christie since Dawn dies. Dawn dies at a very young age along with Jimmy and we get to see just how sick Phillip is. The good part about this book is we got to see Charlotte, the loving aunt more. But I'm only rating this as a four out of five because again Christie is being like Dawn again who is " helpless " and doing whatever anyone asks of her. Gavin is also like Jimmy and basically this is just like a retelling of the first book with Fern acting like Clara.
December 30, 2011
I bought this book at the thrift store and I didn't know I was a series book. Much less the 4th in a series. But I found I could understand what was going on in this book without reading the others. I liked his book a lot. I could connect with the main character well. It was a very well paced book. I never felt like some parts were more interesting then others. It kept me wanting more. To be honest I have no interest in reading the other books in this series, this one was enough.
August 5, 2011
The cutler series is a wonderful drama series by vc andrews. she knows how to twist a tail of deception lies lust love drama sadness fear and many other emotions. you will know the main character as if she was you... quite enjoyable!
May 10, 2012
i really enjoyed this book but it was so sad that christie lost her parents and what her Uncle did to her was terrible and as for her Aunts te were just horrible.
I really liked Gavin, Charlotte and Luther as well as Jefferson and also Bronson.
I really liked Gavin, Charlotte and Luther as well as Jefferson and also Bronson.
January 2, 2014
really like this series and the way she writes you want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.this book had some really shocking things happen.i once again could hardly put it down.cant wait to read the next and last book in the series.
August 21, 2014
This book frustrated me. I really hate the character of Dawns psycho half brother... and his wife is a crazy one as well. So are their children come to think of it.
I was so happy with the ending of this book!
I was so happy with the ending of this book!
December 5, 2014
one of the best, most loved series/authors of all time. V.C. Andrews books are something so easily recognizable and new books continue to evolve to go with the times and bring in a whole new generation of loving readers
April 17, 2016
The 4th book in the series and I actually preferred this one to the previous one. I've only given the book 3 stars though because even though I liked it, it's the same old thing and I'm getting bored with it. Always a bit of incest going on!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 128 reviews