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Celeste
He was her mirror image. Now the mirror has cracked.
Celeste and her twin brother, Noble, are as close as can be—until a tragic accident takes Noble's life. It's a loss that pushes their mother, a woman obsessed with New Age superstitions, over the edge....
Desperate to keep her son "alive," Celeste's mother forces her to cut her hair, wear boys' clothes, and take on Noble's identity. Celeste has virtually disappeared—until a handsome boy moves in next door, and Celeste will risk her mother's wrath to let herself come back to life.
Celeste and her twin brother, Noble, are as close as can be—until a tragic accident takes Noble's life. It's a loss that pushes their mother, a woman obsessed with New Age superstitions, over the edge....
Desperate to keep her son "alive," Celeste's mother forces her to cut her hair, wear boys' clothes, and take on Noble's identity. Celeste has virtually disappeared—until a handsome boy moves in next door, and Celeste will risk her mother's wrath to let herself come back to life.
405 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
83 people are currently reading
2967 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
370 books9,111 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 126 reviews
May 27, 2008
Seriously. This guy has got to quit writing this crap. If he's going to continue writing it, he should use his own name. This more recent stuff bears no resemblance to Flowers in the Attic or Heaven, and probably has V. C. rolling in her grave.
January 17, 2012
I came across this title as I was cleaning up the V.C. Andrews' Goodreads page. A V.C. Andrews series that was not five books long? The premise also sounded very different from her other sagas.
Celeste and Noble are twins whose mother believes she can speak to spirits. After their father dies, their mother keeps them isolated on their farm and homeschools them, until the day Noble has a terrible accident and dies. Celeste believes it was her own fault and tries to appease her mother when she tells Celeste that she needs to take Noble's place. Mother cuts Celeste's hair and makes her behave like Noble. But not even crazy mothers can stop a young girl from blossoming into a woman and getting raped by the teenage pervert next door.
After a certain point (the point where Celeste hits puberty), this started to sound like all the others. Crazy mother, wealthy and isolated family, big dirty secrets, and a little rape and an illegitimate child to top it off. So many things were wrong here. It's only natural for twins to play the "show me yours" game; there's nothing wrong with watching your sister masturbate and getting excited; all girls want to wear make up and brush their hair, and naturally all girls are promiscuous and like to shove their bosoms at people. And Mommies always love their sons best.
Sadly, I kind of want to read the next book in the series. It sounds like the mother, if not Celeste herself, is insane and one or both of them will end up in a mental hospital. That's my kind of story!
Celeste and Noble are twins whose mother believes she can speak to spirits. After their father dies, their mother keeps them isolated on their farm and homeschools them, until the day Noble has a terrible accident and dies. Celeste believes it was her own fault and tries to appease her mother when she tells Celeste that she needs to take Noble's place. Mother cuts Celeste's hair and makes her behave like Noble. But not even crazy mothers can stop a young girl from blossoming into a woman and getting raped by the teenage pervert next door.
After a certain point (the point where Celeste hits puberty), this started to sound like all the others. Crazy mother, wealthy and isolated family, big dirty secrets, and a little rape and an illegitimate child to top it off. So many things were wrong here. It's only natural for twins to play the "show me yours" game; there's nothing wrong with watching your sister masturbate and getting excited; all girls want to wear make up and brush their hair, and naturally all girls are promiscuous and like to shove their bosoms at people. And Mommies always love their sons best.
Sadly, I kind of want to read the next book in the series. It sounds like the mother, if not Celeste herself, is insane and one or both of them will end up in a mental hospital. That's my kind of story!
June 28, 2014
UGH!!!! After I read the book I ripped it to pieces and threw it away! Horrible book! Can't believe she goes back to living as a boy! And that her mother took her baby from her! Would NOT recommend this book. Won't read it again!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 25, 2017
...
I. Am. PISSED.
This book went from a solid 3-star to a 1-star real fast.
...
"How?" you ask.
Well, it started out kinda decent
It's a "VC Andrews" book but it's really the ghost writer that writes under her name (a man). Basically, the MC is a twin and when her brother dies, her mother makes her take over her brother's life and pretty much tries to erase the fact that she ever had a daughter. The character has to wear binding for her breasts, cut her hair short, etc. They live that way for years.
Then when the character is 15 (brother died when she was 9), a 16 year old boy moves next door. He thinks she's a guy. They become friends! They hang out, and he even tries to take her on a double date with him (with a girl, seeing as he didn't know)
Theeeennnnnn there's the part where he finds out she's a girl. And, while I didn't really love this book, I thought it was okay...until NOW
Y'all wanna know what happens when he finds out she's a girl? (Keeping in mind that he respected her as a guy and they were friends until this point)
Well...
.
warning: gets graphic from here on out (these are fragments of paragraphs, not the full thing)
.
"He leaned forward to push me down. I tried to push him off of me, but he was too strong...He slowly brought his lips to my nipples. He kissed and sucked, and then he lifted his head and smiled."
"I continued to resist. 'Stop it,' he commanded, 'or I'll tell the whole world what I discovered.'"
"He brought his hands to my breasts and fondled them."
"He leaned back, still sitting on my stomach, and began to undo his belt buckle."
"'You better not get mad,' he said, 'I'll go right from here to the phone and tell the whole world what I have seen.'"
"He turned me over so I was on my back again, and then he lifted my legs and put himself comfortably between them.
'Feel that?' he asked. 'That's what you pretended you had,' he said and laughed.
I shook my head.
'Don't do this,' I pleaded.'"
...
Y'all get the point. The scene plays out. Then when it's OVER he says there's going to be a next time. She says no, he says "Oh trust me, there will be."
THEN HE FUCKING RAPES HER AGAIN THE NEXT DAY ****AND**** MAKES HER PAY FOR IT ($100 to be exact)
And I just.
I'm not against offensive plotlines if they're done well and not meant to, yknow, GLORIFY anything. The Kite Runner, Flowers in the Attic, Thirteen Reasons Why, are all some of my favorite books. They don't glorify shit.
But this...
And the fact that he RESPECTED HER when he thought she was a boy...
...
...
...
I just
Bye.
Throw this book in the fucking trash.
I. Am. PISSED.
This book went from a solid 3-star to a 1-star real fast.
...
"How?" you ask.
Well, it started out kinda decent
It's a "VC Andrews" book but it's really the ghost writer that writes under her name (a man). Basically, the MC is a twin and when her brother dies, her mother makes her take over her brother's life and pretty much tries to erase the fact that she ever had a daughter. The character has to wear binding for her breasts, cut her hair short, etc. They live that way for years.
Then when the character is 15 (brother died when she was 9), a 16 year old boy moves next door. He thinks she's a guy. They become friends! They hang out, and he even tries to take her on a double date with him (with a girl, seeing as he didn't know)
Theeeennnnnn there's the part where he finds out she's a girl. And, while I didn't really love this book, I thought it was okay...until NOW
Y'all wanna know what happens when he finds out she's a girl? (Keeping in mind that he respected her as a guy and they were friends until this point)
Well...
.
warning: gets graphic from here on out (these are fragments of paragraphs, not the full thing)
.
"He leaned forward to push me down. I tried to push him off of me, but he was too strong...He slowly brought his lips to my nipples. He kissed and sucked, and then he lifted his head and smiled."
"I continued to resist. 'Stop it,' he commanded, 'or I'll tell the whole world what I discovered.'"
"He brought his hands to my breasts and fondled them."
"He leaned back, still sitting on my stomach, and began to undo his belt buckle."
"'You better not get mad,' he said, 'I'll go right from here to the phone and tell the whole world what I have seen.'"
"He turned me over so I was on my back again, and then he lifted my legs and put himself comfortably between them.
'Feel that?' he asked. 'That's what you pretended you had,' he said and laughed.
I shook my head.
'Don't do this,' I pleaded.'"
...
Y'all get the point. The scene plays out. Then when it's OVER he says there's going to be a next time. She says no, he says "Oh trust me, there will be."
THEN HE FUCKING RAPES HER AGAIN THE NEXT DAY ****AND**** MAKES HER PAY FOR IT ($100 to be exact)
And I just.
I'm not against offensive plotlines if they're done well and not meant to, yknow, GLORIFY anything. The Kite Runner, Flowers in the Attic, Thirteen Reasons Why, are all some of my favorite books. They don't glorify shit.
But this...
And the fact that he RESPECTED HER when he thought she was a boy...
...
...
...
I just
Bye.
Throw this book in the fucking trash.
Read
November 27, 2024No rating because I skipped through the whole thing in disinterest. I read the book just for the sake of finishing it, maybe I should read the stuff written by the real V. C. Andrews instead.
PS: I did read the sequel and think it's mostly okay 😁😅
PS: I did read the sequel and think it's mostly okay 😁😅
July 18, 2011
I started to read Virginia Andrews books about 10 years ago when I was a teen, I can remember stealing them off my mother's bookshelf and reading them within a day! However, I've found that the newer books that have been ghostwritten after Andrew's death are mainly a disappointment compared to the older books she wrote herself.
Celeste had a good start as I liked the angle of supernatural powers being passed down through generations, but I found that many pages would rattle on with the same hopes/worries about these "powers" so that I really didn't care if they were real or mental illness by the end.
The book was very reminiscent of my favorite VA's book Flowers in the Attic,(selfish mother that keeps children isolated) but did not have the suspense or emotion that made that book to enthralling. I honestly feel that these newer books after VA's death do her name and previously excellent storylines a disservice. As they seem to be a poor re-hashing of original ideas.
I'm still deciding if I'm going to bother reading the squeals to this story, if I do it wouldn't be for a while and I would only look for them at my local secondhand bookstore - not worth buying new.
Celeste had a good start as I liked the angle of supernatural powers being passed down through generations, but I found that many pages would rattle on with the same hopes/worries about these "powers" so that I really didn't care if they were real or mental illness by the end.
The book was very reminiscent of my favorite VA's book Flowers in the Attic,(selfish mother that keeps children isolated) but did not have the suspense or emotion that made that book to enthralling. I honestly feel that these newer books after VA's death do her name and previously excellent storylines a disservice. As they seem to be a poor re-hashing of original ideas.
I'm still deciding if I'm going to bother reading the squeals to this story, if I do it wouldn't be for a while and I would only look for them at my local secondhand bookstore - not worth buying new.
October 2, 2016
[TW: rape, physical and emotional abuse]
I've read quite a few V.C. Andrews books in my time, and I'm confident in saying this is the worst so far. It has all the markings of true V.C. Andrews trash: hints at incest, fatal car accidents, a pivotal scene where the protagonist gets her period for the first time, rape, child abuse, a psychopathic matriarch... the list goes on. Although it seems strange to say a book containing ANY of those themes could have even an ounce of charm, but there is a kind of nostalgia linked to some of V.C. Andrews' books, and this one lacks any sort of charm whatsoever.
The story revolves around Celeste and her twin brother Noble (wtf is that name), who dies suddenly in a freak accident near their house. Now, the twin's mother vaguely comes across as a bit of a weirdo from the start of the book, but after Noble's death she forces Celeste to take on his persona - fully cementing her froot-loop status. She cuts Celeste's hair off, throws out all of her belongings, forces her to do hard manual labour to toughen herself up, and goes so far as to tape down Celeste's breasts when she starts to develop into a young woman.
The whole book is completely bizarre, and although the synopsis hints at a "handsome neighbourhood boy" moving in and shaking up Celeste's life with romance; what actually happens is he repeatedly rapes her once he discovers she is in fact not a boy but a vulnerable young woman. Oh, and he robs her too. Celeste falls pregnant and mother proceeds to steal her baby, dye its hair, and raise it as her own. The ending leads into the next book in the series, which I 100% will not be reading. I was tempted to 'DNF' this, but I gave it a go and it was a huge waste of time.
I've read quite a few V.C. Andrews books in my time, and I'm confident in saying this is the worst so far. It has all the markings of true V.C. Andrews trash: hints at incest, fatal car accidents, a pivotal scene where the protagonist gets her period for the first time, rape, child abuse, a psychopathic matriarch... the list goes on. Although it seems strange to say a book containing ANY of those themes could have even an ounce of charm, but there is a kind of nostalgia linked to some of V.C. Andrews' books, and this one lacks any sort of charm whatsoever.
The story revolves around Celeste and her twin brother Noble (wtf is that name), who dies suddenly in a freak accident near their house. Now, the twin's mother vaguely comes across as a bit of a weirdo from the start of the book, but after Noble's death she forces Celeste to take on his persona - fully cementing her froot-loop status. She cuts Celeste's hair off, throws out all of her belongings, forces her to do hard manual labour to toughen herself up, and goes so far as to tape down Celeste's breasts when she starts to develop into a young woman.
The whole book is completely bizarre, and although the synopsis hints at a "handsome neighbourhood boy" moving in and shaking up Celeste's life with romance; what actually happens is he repeatedly rapes her once he discovers she is in fact not a boy but a vulnerable young woman. Oh, and he robs her too. Celeste falls pregnant and mother proceeds to steal her baby, dye its hair, and raise it as her own. The ending leads into the next book in the series, which I 100% will not be reading. I was tempted to 'DNF' this, but I gave it a go and it was a huge waste of time.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 20, 2015
Initial review was four stars, but with my growth, upon reflecting on the book some, I have realized it is really only deserving of 2.5 stars. I'm going to round it on up to 3.
As a teenager, I really did like this book. Or, I wanted to. So badly. The premise of a daughter being raised as a son intrigued me. Partly because I'm a trans*boy, partly because gender is a very interesting topic to me. This could have been a really good book. It could have even addressed the issues of gender and how we raise children to meet gender roles really, really well. Except. Of course it didn't. Because the ghostwriter follows the same basic formula.
Before I get into what I did and didn't like about the book, let me point out said formula:
[x] Crazy mother, so character has "mommy problems".
[x] Death of father, because obviously women have to have "daddy problems", too. Unlike their counterparts, they can't have just mommy problems.
[x] Weak female protagonists who can't seem to do anything for herself. Is usually incredibly naive.
[x] Either rape or incest (two checks if it has both).
[x] Stronger male characters than females. Because. Well, obviously.
The V.C. Andrews formula is so antifeminist thinking about the fact that I actually do enjoy some of them makes me want to weep. Because yeah. I do enjoy some of them. Not because of the cliches, nor because of the weak writing of the ghostwriter, but because very few people are willing to go there. V.C. Andrews proved that she was with Flowers in the Attic, and proved it again with My Sweet Audrina. Neiderman, bless his heart, tries to match the style of Virginia, but he seldom comes close. His writing is full of purple prose, weak female characters (as much as Cathy in FitA angered me, she was a pretty strong character), and everything is always mommy's fault. And of course, Mommy only goes crazy because Daddy died. Because, obviously. Freud would be proud of Neiderman.
This book presents that basic formula. Celeste's dad is dead. Her mom loses it after her dad dies. This book adds an extra element that all the past books lacked. A twin brother. I don't remember if it ever says whether they were identical, but judging by the premise of the book they must be. For if Celeste was to pass as Noble for so many years, she must have looked exactly like him. Except, this is not possible. Identical twins are identical in every aspect, not just appearances. They have pretty much the same genetic makeup. Meaning, they are always the same biological sex. Now, they may not be the same gender (one could be transgender, hypothetically, though there's a high chance if one is both would be), but their parts are always the same. Knowing that, the entire premise of the book becomes completely unbelievable. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book.
My reasons for enjoying Celeste were personal. Being a trans*boy, the idea that "passing" as a boy was so easy was intriguing. It captivated me. But that's the thing: it isn't easy. I suppose the mother must have realized that on some level, to hide Celeste. But even when Celeste meets outsiders, they believe it. Now, we transmen go through a lot to look like the men we identify as. Even when I do "pass" (I really do hate that word, but it seems the only accurate one for this review), I look like a 12-16 year old boy. The distinct lack of facial hair would make Celeste look twelve. Yet, nothing is ever mentioned about her mother making her fake facial hair (there are ways). Nothing is every mentioned about her mother teaching her to look more masculine outside of binding (dangerously, she would not last long with the way the binding was done - fainting, breaking bones, none if this is ever addressed!!) and wearing clothes from the boy's section. I do believe her voice is addressed, but even that is hard to do. We literally have to think about our voice all the time. But here Celeste is, being forced to do it, and all the teenagers believe it?
Yeah. Okay.
The other thing that bothers me is the way he handles gender in the book entirely. Neiderman has proved time and time again that he probably thinks little of women, and this book solidified that for me. He assumes that all the things women do come naturally. Now, I will be the first to say, gender is part genetics... but it is also part environment and part social. Celeste was raised as Noble. How are we supposed to believe she would automatically have a desire to wear make up? She was shut away from the world. She would have had zero knowledge of these things. But of course he had to make her desire to. For a woman character to be feminine in Andrew's world she must be frail (check), dainty (check), and like makeup (and check). Yes. Celeste fits all of this.
Still, I did enjoy the book. I loved Noble's character, and I loved that the book was told from a kid's point of view for quite a long time. I loved the idea of the spirits, even though it's assumed the mother is experiencing psychosis (likely related to prolonged grief). The neighbor boy turning out to be a pervert was intriguing, and a bit different than the normal formula (in which they're presented as a love interest who has zero bad qualities... until the sequel, when he's abusive). Still, all the things I enjoyed, I feel bad for enjoying. The book, while an easy read for me, still had a lot of terrible aspects, and a lot of plot holes. Not to mention the female characters left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Sometimes I hate that I enjoy these books. A lot of the covers will say things like Not since Flowers in the Attic.... I have my own tagline.
Not since Flowers in the Attic has a V.C. Andrews book been good (with the exception of My Sweet Audrina)
As a teenager, I really did like this book. Or, I wanted to. So badly. The premise of a daughter being raised as a son intrigued me. Partly because I'm a trans*boy, partly because gender is a very interesting topic to me. This could have been a really good book. It could have even addressed the issues of gender and how we raise children to meet gender roles really, really well. Except. Of course it didn't. Because the ghostwriter follows the same basic formula.
Before I get into what I did and didn't like about the book, let me point out said formula:
[x] Crazy mother, so character has "mommy problems".
[x] Death of father, because obviously women have to have "daddy problems", too. Unlike their counterparts, they can't have just mommy problems.
[x] Weak female protagonists who can't seem to do anything for herself. Is usually incredibly naive.
[x] Either rape or incest (two checks if it has both).
[x] Stronger male characters than females. Because. Well, obviously.
The V.C. Andrews formula is so antifeminist thinking about the fact that I actually do enjoy some of them makes me want to weep. Because yeah. I do enjoy some of them. Not because of the cliches, nor because of the weak writing of the ghostwriter, but because very few people are willing to go there. V.C. Andrews proved that she was with Flowers in the Attic, and proved it again with My Sweet Audrina. Neiderman, bless his heart, tries to match the style of Virginia, but he seldom comes close. His writing is full of purple prose, weak female characters (as much as Cathy in FitA angered me, she was a pretty strong character), and everything is always mommy's fault. And of course, Mommy only goes crazy because Daddy died. Because, obviously. Freud would be proud of Neiderman.
This book presents that basic formula. Celeste's dad is dead. Her mom loses it after her dad dies. This book adds an extra element that all the past books lacked. A twin brother. I don't remember if it ever says whether they were identical, but judging by the premise of the book they must be. For if Celeste was to pass as Noble for so many years, she must have looked exactly like him. Except, this is not possible. Identical twins are identical in every aspect, not just appearances. They have pretty much the same genetic makeup. Meaning, they are always the same biological sex. Now, they may not be the same gender (one could be transgender, hypothetically, though there's a high chance if one is both would be), but their parts are always the same. Knowing that, the entire premise of the book becomes completely unbelievable. Nevertheless, I did enjoy the book.
My reasons for enjoying Celeste were personal. Being a trans*boy, the idea that "passing" as a boy was so easy was intriguing. It captivated me. But that's the thing: it isn't easy. I suppose the mother must have realized that on some level, to hide Celeste. But even when Celeste meets outsiders, they believe it. Now, we transmen go through a lot to look like the men we identify as. Even when I do "pass" (I really do hate that word, but it seems the only accurate one for this review), I look like a 12-16 year old boy. The distinct lack of facial hair would make Celeste look twelve. Yet, nothing is ever mentioned about her mother making her fake facial hair (there are ways). Nothing is every mentioned about her mother teaching her to look more masculine outside of binding (dangerously, she would not last long with the way the binding was done - fainting, breaking bones, none if this is ever addressed!!) and wearing clothes from the boy's section. I do believe her voice is addressed, but even that is hard to do. We literally have to think about our voice all the time. But here Celeste is, being forced to do it, and all the teenagers believe it?
Yeah. Okay.
The other thing that bothers me is the way he handles gender in the book entirely. Neiderman has proved time and time again that he probably thinks little of women, and this book solidified that for me. He assumes that all the things women do come naturally. Now, I will be the first to say, gender is part genetics... but it is also part environment and part social. Celeste was raised as Noble. How are we supposed to believe she would automatically have a desire to wear make up? She was shut away from the world. She would have had zero knowledge of these things. But of course he had to make her desire to. For a woman character to be feminine in Andrew's world she must be frail (check), dainty (check), and like makeup (and check). Yes. Celeste fits all of this.
Still, I did enjoy the book. I loved Noble's character, and I loved that the book was told from a kid's point of view for quite a long time. I loved the idea of the spirits, even though it's assumed the mother is experiencing psychosis (likely related to prolonged grief). The neighbor boy turning out to be a pervert was intriguing, and a bit different than the normal formula (in which they're presented as a love interest who has zero bad qualities... until the sequel, when he's abusive). Still, all the things I enjoyed, I feel bad for enjoying. The book, while an easy read for me, still had a lot of terrible aspects, and a lot of plot holes. Not to mention the female characters left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Sometimes I hate that I enjoy these books. A lot of the covers will say things like Not since Flowers in the Attic.... I have my own tagline.
Not since Flowers in the Attic has a V.C. Andrews book been good (with the exception of My Sweet Audrina)
July 16, 2019
Loved it!
This was a good and original story! Good job, ghostwriters for keeping it as true as Virginia would have! Must read!
This was a good and original story! Good job, ghostwriters for keeping it as true as Virginia would have! Must read!
January 29, 2013
This book was amazing for me and it was a true vc andrews book: secrets and lies and horror.
Celeste Atwell lives with her mother, Sarah, father Arthur, and brother Nobel. Celeste's mother is clairvoyant: meaning she can speak to spirits and contact them. The family lives in an old family house where Sarah speaks to her dead relatives. The children's mother decides to protect them with amulets, but Arthur refuses (often telling the children "listen with half an ear"). When Arthur dies, she warns the children to heed the spirits. After this, Celeste "crosses over" after she sees her father's spirit.
Nobel and Celeste decide to go fishing one day even after their mother tells them not to, and Celeste and Nobel get into a fight. In the ensuing fight, Celeste pushes Nobel, causing him to fall against the rock. Celeste rushes home to tell her mother, and they collect Nobel's body. The next morning, Sarah calls Celeste "Nobel" (to her confusion) and she sees that Nobel has been buried in an unmarked grave in her clothes and amulet. Celeste faints and when she reawakens, she has her hair cut and is wearing Nobel's clothes. She is informed that she must become her brother. She tries to do this even as she enters womanhood, resulting in her budding breasts being strapped down. She wishes to become Celeste again, and years later, is desperate, as she becomes 15. Soon, she meets Elliot Fletcher, who tries to befriend her, but Celeste refuses, on her mother's orders. One day, when Celeste is naked sunbathing, Elliot catches her, and Celeste succumbs to his sexual advances. Later, Elliot dies after accidently drowning in the same stream Nobel drowned in, and Celeste discovers she is pregnant with Elliot's child. The baby is a girl, born with red hair that Sarah dies blonde, and the baby is named Celeste.
Celeste Atwell lives with her mother, Sarah, father Arthur, and brother Nobel. Celeste's mother is clairvoyant: meaning she can speak to spirits and contact them. The family lives in an old family house where Sarah speaks to her dead relatives. The children's mother decides to protect them with amulets, but Arthur refuses (often telling the children "listen with half an ear"). When Arthur dies, she warns the children to heed the spirits. After this, Celeste "crosses over" after she sees her father's spirit.
Nobel and Celeste decide to go fishing one day even after their mother tells them not to, and Celeste and Nobel get into a fight. In the ensuing fight, Celeste pushes Nobel, causing him to fall against the rock. Celeste rushes home to tell her mother, and they collect Nobel's body. The next morning, Sarah calls Celeste "Nobel" (to her confusion) and she sees that Nobel has been buried in an unmarked grave in her clothes and amulet. Celeste faints and when she reawakens, she has her hair cut and is wearing Nobel's clothes. She is informed that she must become her brother. She tries to do this even as she enters womanhood, resulting in her budding breasts being strapped down. She wishes to become Celeste again, and years later, is desperate, as she becomes 15. Soon, she meets Elliot Fletcher, who tries to befriend her, but Celeste refuses, on her mother's orders. One day, when Celeste is naked sunbathing, Elliot catches her, and Celeste succumbs to his sexual advances. Later, Elliot dies after accidently drowning in the same stream Nobel drowned in, and Celeste discovers she is pregnant with Elliot's child. The baby is a girl, born with red hair that Sarah dies blonde, and the baby is named Celeste.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2015
I liked this book but didn't exactly love it. Being locked away from everyone else is a horrible thing for children to be made to do. I totally get the fact that a child wants their parents to be proud of them but personally I felt Celeste should have refused to be her brother. She was her own person much like all twins. Being denied the information of what a menstrual cycle was reminded me of Carrie by Stephen King. I was concerned mainly with the fact her mother made her wear a modified corset. With it being as tight as it was, her ribcage could have been crushed from the pressure and messed her internal organs up. I was horrified that even though her brother's death was an accident that the mother believed it would draw attention to their name if the town found out. But, with the "disappearance of Celeste", they still brought attention to themselves. There was just so much the mother denied her daughter by doing what she did throughout the whole book. And no matter what, Celeste had a baby and if she wanted to see it then the mother shouldn't have denied her to take care of her. Albeit she was just a teen when she had a baby but at least show her how to take care of the baby without being an a-hole about it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2013
When I saw Celeste by V.C. Andrews on my local libraries book shelf, nostalgia flooded my heart. I haven't read her books since I was a pre-teen. Most people don't know, but Andrews died in 1986... A ghost writer, who Andrews selected prior to her death, has written 40+ novels under her name since, all in the style of Andrews writing. Celeste, like her other novels, did not disappoint.
Celeste and her twin brother Noble share everything, including a new-age obsessed superstitious mother who has built a spiritual wall around their home. One day there is a terrible accident. Unable to accept that her son has died, she dresses his deceased body in Celeste's clothing and forces Celeste to "become" Noble. As she grows and her body changes, it becomes more and more difficult to keep up the ruse... especially when a handsome new neighbor moves in next door.
An excellent start in the Gemini Series! I look forward to the next, titled Black Cat!
Celeste and her twin brother Noble share everything, including a new-age obsessed superstitious mother who has built a spiritual wall around their home. One day there is a terrible accident. Unable to accept that her son has died, she dresses his deceased body in Celeste's clothing and forces Celeste to "become" Noble. As she grows and her body changes, it becomes more and more difficult to keep up the ruse... especially when a handsome new neighbor moves in next door.
An excellent start in the Gemini Series! I look forward to the next, titled Black Cat!
November 30, 2016
This book keeps you reading to know what happens next. V.C. Andrews knows how to tell a story with mother's that are evil. Death and tragedy make this girl grow up with horrible secrets and follow all of mother's orders. The ending definitely has you wanting to read the next book in this series. If you enjoyed flowers in the attic you will enjoy this series.
October 9, 2009
I read this book because the title was my name.
I was very angry when I found out that the "handsome boy next door" turned out to be a perverted freak. Well, this book was slightly more disturbing than I was hoping for...
I was very angry when I found out that the "handsome boy next door" turned out to be a perverted freak. Well, this book was slightly more disturbing than I was hoping for...
July 1, 2020
Trigger warning: Depictions of sexual assault and child abuse.
I have tried repeatedly in the past to read and enjoy V.C. Andrews' books, and I have always failed. I've just never seen the appeal. I saw the trend repeating itself when I started this one, but as I got into it I actually found it fascinating. It's definitely not really an enjoyable read because it's fairly brutal, but the story definitely pulled me in and kept me needing to know what was going to happen. The ending seemed abrupt and a bit too loosely tied up for me, but it did leave me wanting to read the rest of the series.
I have tried repeatedly in the past to read and enjoy V.C. Andrews' books, and I have always failed. I've just never seen the appeal. I saw the trend repeating itself when I started this one, but as I got into it I actually found it fascinating. It's definitely not really an enjoyable read because it's fairly brutal, but the story definitely pulled me in and kept me needing to know what was going to happen. The ending seemed abrupt and a bit too loosely tied up for me, but it did leave me wanting to read the rest of the series.
October 2, 2011
Fucked up. Those are two words that I had to have thought at least a dozen times while reading this book; and not necessarily in a bad way either... It starts innocent enough. A family living on the edge of a town near some woods and a creek. The father is a hard working man and the mother is a former school teacher with an eye for the supernatual. While her husband works all day, she home schools her two twin children: her son, Noble, and her daughter, Celeste. Everything seems fine up to this point. The mother likes to go to spiritual and shamanistic shops, though while her husband disapproves, it is harmless enough. An incident occurs later on and, as most V.C. Andrews book follow, the father dies and they are left with their very dependent mother.. For a while, as the reader mourns with the family, it appears as if everything will eventual settle into normalcy.
Until Celeste's twin brother, Noble, dies in a horrible accident as well. Whatever thin thread of sanity that the mother had up till then was cut, and suddenly Celeste must be the one to have "died". She must be the one to take in her brother's spirit and become Noble... For her entire life, Celeste is made to masquerade as her own twin while the world believes her to be dead. While this is upsetting and hard at first, she eventually ables herself to do it with little qualms. Until, a handsome new neighborhood moves in from across the woods. Then the web of lies begin to crack... with devastating consequences.
Until Celeste's twin brother, Noble, dies in a horrible accident as well. Whatever thin thread of sanity that the mother had up till then was cut, and suddenly Celeste must be the one to have "died". She must be the one to take in her brother's spirit and become Noble... For her entire life, Celeste is made to masquerade as her own twin while the world believes her to be dead. While this is upsetting and hard at first, she eventually ables herself to do it with little qualms. Until, a handsome new neighborhood moves in from across the woods. Then the web of lies begin to crack... with devastating consequences.
July 4, 2013
I found the idea of the novel to be interesting, but the execution has gone downhill the more books come out. The ghostwriter might just need to stop with V.C. Andrews. I don't want to be mean about it but I think it might be time for him to throw in the towel.
As the series continue to be published, I notice more and more typos. And its like does he not have an editor? I don't know, but it's been getting on my nerves, it also happened in the De Beers series a lot.
The back of the book claims that Celeste and Noble are very close, but in the book they do not seem close at all to me, Celeste seems almost like she's superior to Noble and she knows it. And since Celeste is so perfect, why does the mom prefer Noble? Who knows? Because she's freaking crazy I guess.
Also: ELLIOT IS NOT WHAT THE BACK COVER SAYS. I just have to say that.
Though, this novel does have quite the mystery in it: the Spirits. Are they really just picky about when they show up or is Celeste's mom a complete nutcase? I wont tell here, but it might be somewhat worth it to read if you want something quick or something just to keep your mind off of things. Its not really anything special, and I might just donate them when I finish the series.
It still has the weird ideas of V.C. Andrews, just the execution has become very sloppy.
As the series continue to be published, I notice more and more typos. And its like does he not have an editor? I don't know, but it's been getting on my nerves, it also happened in the De Beers series a lot.
The back of the book claims that Celeste and Noble are very close, but in the book they do not seem close at all to me, Celeste seems almost like she's superior to Noble and she knows it. And since Celeste is so perfect, why does the mom prefer Noble? Who knows? Because she's freaking crazy I guess.
Also: ELLIOT IS NOT WHAT THE BACK COVER SAYS. I just have to say that.
Though, this novel does have quite the mystery in it: the Spirits. Are they really just picky about when they show up or is Celeste's mom a complete nutcase? I wont tell here, but it might be somewhat worth it to read if you want something quick or something just to keep your mind off of things. Its not really anything special, and I might just donate them when I finish the series.
It still has the weird ideas of V.C. Andrews, just the execution has become very sloppy.
April 4, 2011
Celeste, the first novel in Andrews' Gemini Series starts out quite a bit different than her previous novels, with a family of four whose mother who believes she literally sees and speaks with the spirits of her deceased ancestors. However, soon the familiar conventions we've come to expect from this author rear their tiresome heads. Daddy dies and Mommy gets crazy(er). The twins are kept at home, never attending school or making any friends, forced to focus almost all their time on trying to see the spirits as well. Then, even more tragic, the boy twin who is Mommy's favorite dies and Celeste is forced to pretend she's him for pretty much ever. One day, when she's like 16, a boy moves in next door, and if you've ever read anything by V.C. Andrews before you know what happens after that. I pretty much skimmed the last hundred pages because it was so predictable. However, I do enjoy that sort of storyline and this premise is different enough that I'm interested enough to read the rest of the series. My biggest question, and one that is not answered in this first volume, is whether crazy Mom can "really" see spirits (as some fictional characters can) or if she's an untreated schizophrenic. I'm leaning towards mental illness myself.
May 16, 2014
Since my college days, I have pretty much read all of V.C. Andrew's books, even those that the ghostwriter penned. While many of them are not as good as Andrews' own penned novels, many of his earlier books are great quick reads and this is one of them. The book revolves around our main character Celeste, the identical twin to her brother Noble who lives with their wealthy parents just on the outskirts of town. After her brother's death, things take a turn for the Gothic and the supernatural obsessed mother forces Celeste to assume the identity of her now deceased brother and further continue to isolate themselves from their community. Years later, new neighbors move next door which threatens Celeste's already small world.
While certain aspects of the novel are not well defined (such as the mother's affinity to shower praise and love to Noble while delivering "tough love" to Celeste), this first book in the Gemini series is close to what made readers become fascinated with V.C. Andrews' earlier family sagas. The ending is perfect cliff hanger and I will eagerly be reading the next book Black Cat.
While certain aspects of the novel are not well defined (such as the mother's affinity to shower praise and love to Noble while delivering "tough love" to Celeste), this first book in the Gemini series is close to what made readers become fascinated with V.C. Andrews' earlier family sagas. The ending is perfect cliff hanger and I will eagerly be reading the next book Black Cat.
August 21, 2014
I've had this book for years but only just got around to reading it. I have to say it is probably one of the most bizarre Virginia Andrews books I have read so far.
**Spoiler Alert**
Celeste Atwell lives in an isolated home with her father, mother and twin brother. Tragedy strikes twice and she ends up alone with her mother and things go from strange to downright bizarre. When her brother dies her mother forces Celeste to dress and act like a boy and essentially become her brother. She even manages to find a way to officially kill off Celeste so that the community don't ask questions.
The whole story is strange, the main issue I have with it is that usually in Virginia Andrews books the main character gets away from their tormentor by the end of the book and then the following books have new dramas in them. This one though doesn't have that and the ending is a let down. On to the 2nd book to see what happens next.
**Spoiler Alert**
Celeste Atwell lives in an isolated home with her father, mother and twin brother. Tragedy strikes twice and she ends up alone with her mother and things go from strange to downright bizarre. When her brother dies her mother forces Celeste to dress and act like a boy and essentially become her brother. She even manages to find a way to officially kill off Celeste so that the community don't ask questions.
The whole story is strange, the main issue I have with it is that usually in Virginia Andrews books the main character gets away from their tormentor by the end of the book and then the following books have new dramas in them. This one though doesn't have that and the ending is a let down. On to the 2nd book to see what happens next.
December 28, 2014
I hadn't read a V.C. Andrews book since I was a teen, so when I picked up Celeste I was really looking forward to diving into one of her books again. Years ago when I read the Flowers in the Attic series I was so engaged I could hardly put it down; I expected the same from this book, but it didn't deliver. While Celeste has the type of creepy storyline you would expect from V.C. Andrews, it doesn't contain nearly the same level of suspense and excitement. Come to find out this book was written by a ghostwriter after V.C. Andrews died. No wonder it isn't as good as her others -- she didn't write it! I felt kind duped and definitely disappointed when I read that in the fine print at the front of the book. Having said all that, it wasn't a horrible novel by any means and I'm going to read the next one in this series. It's a decent, 3-star novel, it's just not V.C. Andrews caliber. Set your expectations accordingly and it's a pretty good book.
April 22, 2009
A haunting book that makes you root for the main character Celeste. In review of this book, Celeste has a twin brother Noble, who dies at the age of 8 in a tragic accident by the river. Celeste's "crazy" mother, has such a hard time dealing with the death of her favorite child, she decides that Celeste should've been the one to die, therefore, Celeste would now be known as Noble and act exactly like him. The mother is crazy, she believes her dead relatives walk the house they live in and the land they live on. Celeste is home-schooled, (their father deceased) and never has the chance to interact with other children, or go into town and act as a normal child would.
This is a good book, that makes you want Celeste to leave the house and her mother. Two books follow, and they're both just as good. It keeps you wanting to know more.
This is a good book, that makes you want Celeste to leave the house and her mother. Two books follow, and they're both just as good. It keeps you wanting to know more.
September 6, 2011
This book was just okay to me. The story of a girl pretending to be her brother was an intriguing one, but it dragged after a while. I would have liked it so much better, if the handsome boy next door would have became concerned and caring, rather than a pervert who took advantage of her situation. I kept hoping he'd be the one to eventually give her the courage to fight back even as he fell in love with her. He could have stood by her and helped face anything against that crazy mother who should have been locked up at the end of the book. This book could have been ended with this story alone rather than turn into a series. It could have been a very romantic read instead of what it was. I would still recommend it if you want some entertainment read.
A.M Torres author of Love Child
A.M Torres author of Love Child
February 16, 2012
This book was good. The premise of the book was interesting, and it was different from most of her other books. However, I found myself constantly yelling at the book. Yelling at Celeste and how she blindly obeys her mother and just screaming "How are you this weak and pathetic?". I found it hard to understand, but that was an interesting challenge for me.
I tried to understand the characters, and how they have such a strong belief in each other and these 'spirits'. I found that at the end of it I was exhausted and angry. The mother is evil, and I so wanted something bad to happen to her, but my desire was not satisfied.
I give it 4 stars because it was an interesting read despite all the annoying characters.
I tried to understand the characters, and how they have such a strong belief in each other and these 'spirits'. I found that at the end of it I was exhausted and angry. The mother is evil, and I so wanted something bad to happen to her, but my desire was not satisfied.
I give it 4 stars because it was an interesting read despite all the annoying characters.
March 24, 2012
All throughout the book, I kept thinking this mother is pyscho and as I kept reading I kept thinking "wow she can´t get any more pyscho" but then she did!!! I just thought the book was ok because I really hated all the characters. The mother was pyscho, the father was oblivious, Noble was selfish and favored by the pyscho mother, and Celeste wouldn't stick up for herself. Then to have the spiritual beings tied into the story didn't really do much except make me think the mother was more pyscho. I really don't know if I want to continue with this series because I can see from the first book how much I am going to be screaming in my head if I continue the series.
September 15, 2014
I wanted to read Flowers In The Attic but decided to read this book instead.
Celeste is definitely a different book, and I just found it very entertaining.
What interesting characters Mommy and Celeste are. I expected Mommy to be a lot worse than she is. Obviously she did some pretty messed up things, but nothing that terrible. At two points in the book I was thinking wtf, and I guessed the big surprise as soon as the second happened. The ending disappointed me, I wonder how this whole story plays out in the other books.
Celeste is definitely a different book, and I just found it very entertaining.
What interesting characters Mommy and Celeste are. I expected Mommy to be a lot worse than she is. Obviously she did some pretty messed up things, but nothing that terrible. At two points in the book I was thinking wtf, and I guessed the big surprise as soon as the second happened. The ending disappointed me, I wonder how this whole story plays out in the other books.
August 10, 2015
This book was the typical strange story by this author. Even though the mother in this story is obsessed with the spirits of dead ancestors and even her immediate family, it is so well written, you hardly think how unbelievable this story is! After her husband and son die unexpectedly, a mother brainwashes her daughter, Celeste, into becoming her dead twin brother, Noble. The plan seems to be working until Celeste meets a new neighbor, Elliot, and he finds out who she really is. The book ends with a new beginning...Celeste gives birth to a daughter, but her mother immediately takes over, naming the baby Celeste, hiding her from the world, and the older Celeste becoming Noble once again.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2016
Typical trifecta in a V.C. Andrews book; violent death, tragedy at every turn and mental disorders that go undiagnosed. Being ghostwritten, I was hoping that it was going to be different somehow, just this once. Flowers in the Attic lite, since there wasn't incest with the twins. Maybe because the boy died before they were old enough, otherwise that probably would have come about too.
Also, it irritated me beyond measure that the boy/girl never stopped calling the mother "Mommy" no matter how old he/she got. Good grief. 400 pages wasted, I'm going to throw this one in with some newspapers to be recycled.
Also, it irritated me beyond measure that the boy/girl never stopped calling the mother "Mommy" no matter how old he/she got. Good grief. 400 pages wasted, I'm going to throw this one in with some newspapers to be recycled.
September 12, 2010
disturbing/chilling. Celeste's twin brother Noble dies when they were young. Her mother couldn't handle the death of her favorite and made Celeste take on her brother's life and as far as outsiders were concerned the family only had a son Noble (and Celeste is home schooled, reducing the chances of people finding out). I had hoped that new neighbors would have been Celeste's cavalry instead things get much worse ( in a sickening but I have to finish the book way). I did finish it but Celeste's story was a bit too disturbing for me to read the other books in the Gemini series
December 30, 2014
Well I actually really liked this story and its premise. Some pretty scandalous stuff. It did have some flaws though. The biggest one for me being, that I didn't understand why the mother favored Noble since he was such a brat. So it would have been better if his character was made to be a bit more likable. A few other issues too but they weren't bad enough to take away from the story. I think this is a very amazing story once you get into it, some really interesting, semi-weird things happen (mainly when creepy Elliot shows up). So, a good read.
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