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The Orchid Girls
'Now we are bound forever,' she says, her eyes determined. 'I will never tell anyone, I swear. This is between you and me. Now you swear too.'
They called them the Orchid Girls.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day, three became two – and no one knows the truth. What really happened that summer?
The Orchid Girls is a breathless, gripping and twisty story of love, obsession and dark secrets. Fans of K.L. Slater, The Wife Between Us and Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train – read this one with the lights on…
They called them the Orchid Girls.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day, three became two – and no one knows the truth. What really happened that summer?
The Orchid Girls is a breathless, gripping and twisty story of love, obsession and dark secrets. Fans of K.L. Slater, The Wife Between Us and Paula Hawkins’ The Girl on the Train – read this one with the lights on…
368 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 13, 2018
782 people are currently reading
1065 people want to read
About the author
Lesley Sanderson
12 books118 followersLesley Sanderson spends her days writing in coffee shops in Kings Cross where she lives and also works as a librarian in a multicultural school. She has lived and worked in Paris and speaks four languages.
She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.
Follow Lesley Sanderson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleysande...
She attended the Curtis Brown Creative novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
Lesley discovered Patricia Highsmith as a teenager and has since been hooked on psychological thrillers. She is particularly interested in the psychology of female relationships.
Follow Lesley Sanderson on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lesleysande...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 159 reviews
September 22, 2019
I found The Orchid Girls to be an okay psychological thriller, though it dragged on a bit. Three teenage girls are hanging out for the summer in Dorset, yet one day one of the girls. Charlotte, doesn't return home. Her friends, Grace and Molly, claim they left her in town, though this is clearly untrue. Other than that they're saying nothing. Fast forward 16 years and we find Grace is a successful social media star, with her husband running for Mayor of London, whereas Molly is a lonely alcoholic. Yet the two women find their lives drawn together again, with the past threatening to catch up with them. What happened on the cliff? What really happened to Charlotte?
The going in this book was so slow, it really missed out on creating a chilling atmosphere. Where suspense should have been building, I found my interest waning. This book is about 100 pages too long. It's a passable book, and lovers of the genre will probably like it, even if it is a bit transparent at the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The going in this book was so slow, it really missed out on creating a chilling atmosphere. Where suspense should have been building, I found my interest waning. This book is about 100 pages too long. It's a passable book, and lovers of the genre will probably like it, even if it is a bit transparent at the end.
My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 27, 2020
EXCERPT: I rip the takeaway menus off the cork noticeboard on the wall to make space for a Grace collage. The dark images from outside her flat and the light ones from the brightly lit department store. There's room for plenty more.
I wonder what she'll think of my photos. But my collection isn't ready yet. I want to win her over first before I surprise her with my work and she sees how good it is. I thought she might be in touch after seeing me this morning, but my phone stays silent. I'll give her a bit more time and if I don't hear from her I'll send another photo to stop her forgetting me. The photo board looks good on the wall, makes the flat look more like home. Grace's eyes follow me around the room, warming me inside. The adult Grace has taken over from the teenager who used to live in my head, whose face I was afraid of forgetting. My favourite photo is the one where she looked up and saw me this morning. When our eyes met across the room. I've captured the haunted look that flitted across her face.
I won't stop haunting her until she gives me what I want.
ABOUT 'THE ORCHID GIRLS': They called them the Orchid Girls.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day, three became two – and no one knows the truth. What really happened that summer?
MY THOUGHTS: This is not the 'breathless, gripping and twisty story of love, obsession and dark secrets' that the promotional blurb promises, at least not for me. Initially I felt that there was a more palpable air of menace present than in this author's most recent book, The Birthday Weekend, which I read last week. But the story quickly becomes slower and quite repetitive. There is a distinct lack of suspense, and at times the writing appears quite disordered.
The plot holds great promise, and had the author been able to inject some suspense into her writing, and organize her thoughts a little better, this could have been a really good read. There are certainly some interesting concepts that could have been better developed.
The story is told over two timelines, 2002, and the current day from the points of view of Molly and Grace. This is interspersed with extracts from the diaries of all three girls, and newspaper reports.
I honestly didn't feel that the diary extracts added much, if any value, to the story. They felt like filler. The newspaper reports were far more informative.
I loved The Woman at 46 Heath Street, but the other books I have read by this author have failed to live up to it. I hate to say it, but I think that my reading relationship with this author may be at an end.
⭐⭐⭐.2
THE AUTHOR: Lesley attended the Curtis Brown Creative 6 month novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 The Orchid Girls (then On The Edge) was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
I wonder what she'll think of my photos. But my collection isn't ready yet. I want to win her over first before I surprise her with my work and she sees how good it is. I thought she might be in touch after seeing me this morning, but my phone stays silent. I'll give her a bit more time and if I don't hear from her I'll send another photo to stop her forgetting me. The photo board looks good on the wall, makes the flat look more like home. Grace's eyes follow me around the room, warming me inside. The adult Grace has taken over from the teenager who used to live in my head, whose face I was afraid of forgetting. My favourite photo is the one where she looked up and saw me this morning. When our eyes met across the room. I've captured the haunted look that flitted across her face.
I won't stop haunting her until she gives me what I want.
ABOUT 'THE ORCHID GIRLS': They called them the Orchid Girls.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day, three became two – and no one knows the truth. What really happened that summer?
MY THOUGHTS: This is not the 'breathless, gripping and twisty story of love, obsession and dark secrets' that the promotional blurb promises, at least not for me. Initially I felt that there was a more palpable air of menace present than in this author's most recent book, The Birthday Weekend, which I read last week. But the story quickly becomes slower and quite repetitive. There is a distinct lack of suspense, and at times the writing appears quite disordered.
The plot holds great promise, and had the author been able to inject some suspense into her writing, and organize her thoughts a little better, this could have been a really good read. There are certainly some interesting concepts that could have been better developed.
The story is told over two timelines, 2002, and the current day from the points of view of Molly and Grace. This is interspersed with extracts from the diaries of all three girls, and newspaper reports.
I honestly didn't feel that the diary extracts added much, if any value, to the story. They felt like filler. The newspaper reports were far more informative.
I loved The Woman at 46 Heath Street, but the other books I have read by this author have failed to live up to it. I hate to say it, but I think that my reading relationship with this author may be at an end.
⭐⭐⭐.2
THE AUTHOR: Lesley attended the Curtis Brown Creative 6 month novel writing course in 2015/6, and in 2017 The Orchid Girls (then On The Edge) was shortlisted for the Lucy Cavendish fiction prize.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
November 8, 2018
The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson is the story of three friends, Grace, Charlotte and Molly. Fifteen years ago Charlotte had gone missing the Grace and Molly the last to see her alive and when she was found dead they were cleared of the crime burying the secrets of just what happened that day.
Now Grace is on top of the world about to launch her new book with a husband and booming career. Molly however has struggled with the demons of the past and is a struggling alcoholic. With Grace in the media Molly finally tracks down her old friend looking to her for answers and comfort of what happened all those years ago.
The Orchid Girls was a slow burning mystery/thriller read that is told by alternating the point of view between the characters. The story also has flashes back into the past and newspaper articles and journal entries to build what had happened that fateful day long ago.
Now without saying too much I’d like to just mention I appreciate what the author was trying to do with the sign of the times angle of the book. However, to me this one was a pretty straight forward shot at an outcome. Perhaps it’s due to reading hundreds of books each year or others may feel the same but I felt this lacked the twist and turns of a true thrilling read to rate too high but with nice writing I do believe it was an Ok book overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Now Grace is on top of the world about to launch her new book with a husband and booming career. Molly however has struggled with the demons of the past and is a struggling alcoholic. With Grace in the media Molly finally tracks down her old friend looking to her for answers and comfort of what happened all those years ago.
The Orchid Girls was a slow burning mystery/thriller read that is told by alternating the point of view between the characters. The story also has flashes back into the past and newspaper articles and journal entries to build what had happened that fateful day long ago.
Now without saying too much I’d like to just mention I appreciate what the author was trying to do with the sign of the times angle of the book. However, to me this one was a pretty straight forward shot at an outcome. Perhaps it’s due to reading hundreds of books each year or others may feel the same but I felt this lacked the twist and turns of a true thrilling read to rate too high but with nice writing I do believe it was an Ok book overall.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
October 27, 2018
I received a free e-copy of The Orchard Girls by Lesley Sanderson from NetGalley for my honest review.
The Orchard Girls is a psychological thriller that had me hooked immediately. This is a story of three girls (Charlotte, Molly and Grace) who were all friends, until one day when Charlotte is found dead. Molly and Grace were the last to see Charlotte alive but there wasn't any evidence ever found to connect them to the murder. This split Molly and Grace's friendship apart.
Years later, Molly, is struggling with being an alcoholic and a very bad relationship. Grace is an internet celebrity (clean eating queen) with a husband named Richard who is a politician who expects her to be perfect.
The girls are forced to re-connect after all these years when they hear of another girl who has disappeared in Richard's home village and the incident is almost exactly like the incident with Charlotte.
So many lies and so much deceit but who is the killer?
The Orchard Girls is a psychological thriller that had me hooked immediately. This is a story of three girls (Charlotte, Molly and Grace) who were all friends, until one day when Charlotte is found dead. Molly and Grace were the last to see Charlotte alive but there wasn't any evidence ever found to connect them to the murder. This split Molly and Grace's friendship apart.
Years later, Molly, is struggling with being an alcoholic and a very bad relationship. Grace is an internet celebrity (clean eating queen) with a husband named Richard who is a politician who expects her to be perfect.
The girls are forced to re-connect after all these years when they hear of another girl who has disappeared in Richard's home village and the incident is almost exactly like the incident with Charlotte.
So many lies and so much deceit but who is the killer?
March 26, 2021
Grace Molly & Charlotte are the Orchid Girls!!
One is in love, the other is a liar the other dead
Grace & moly were best friends bonded by a secret they both share set in Dorset England a terrible event happened that fatal day on the cliffs in August 2002, now 17 years later Molly is trying to find out what really happened to Charlotte Green after Molly & grace were last seen walking along the cliffs.
Moly decides to look up Grace who is now married to Richard Sullivan the mayor she is happy living a lifestyle she enjoys being a food blogger has a book coming out soon, but when Molly starts stalking Grace tensions rise Grace doesn't want to remember her past but Molly will not let it go as she thinks it was her fault that Charlotte is dead.
Molly & grace have a tattoo on their arms of an orchid to remind themselves of their group but when reporter Alex Foster offers Molly big dosh for her story she cannot resist. But some secrets are to remain hidden.
MY THOUGHTS
i enjoyed this book but worked it out quickly the reveals about Grace & Molly were quite hard to read the timelines run in the past & present. The plot was told by two POV"s Molly & Grace each girl had a diary which i thought was interesting it kept my interest to the end the reveals did my head in all in all was enjoyable.
One is in love, the other is a liar the other dead
Grace & moly were best friends bonded by a secret they both share set in Dorset England a terrible event happened that fatal day on the cliffs in August 2002, now 17 years later Molly is trying to find out what really happened to Charlotte Green after Molly & grace were last seen walking along the cliffs.
Moly decides to look up Grace who is now married to Richard Sullivan the mayor she is happy living a lifestyle she enjoys being a food blogger has a book coming out soon, but when Molly starts stalking Grace tensions rise Grace doesn't want to remember her past but Molly will not let it go as she thinks it was her fault that Charlotte is dead.
Molly & grace have a tattoo on their arms of an orchid to remind themselves of their group but when reporter Alex Foster offers Molly big dosh for her story she cannot resist. But some secrets are to remain hidden.
MY THOUGHTS
i enjoyed this book but worked it out quickly the reveals about Grace & Molly were quite hard to read the timelines run in the past & present. The plot was told by two POV"s Molly & Grace each girl had a diary which i thought was interesting it kept my interest to the end the reveals did my head in all in all was enjoyable.
November 9, 2018
The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson tackles some tough subjects even in 2018. The main characters all have their flaws and are not especially likeable at times but it all makes for a great read. It was a bit slow to begin with, the story from the past being drawn out very slowly. The pace does pick up and by the end I didn't want to put it down.
Childhood friends Molly, Grace and Charlotte were known as the Orchid Girls. One summer, Charlotte dies on a Dorest cliff edge. Molly and Grace are haunted by this the rest of their lives. 15 years later Molly is an alcoholic and Grace is married to a famous politician and is about to release her first book. The 2 get back in touch and secrets are dying to be told. A photo threatens to destroy them - what will they do.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
Childhood friends Molly, Grace and Charlotte were known as the Orchid Girls. One summer, Charlotte dies on a Dorest cliff edge. Molly and Grace are haunted by this the rest of their lives. 15 years later Molly is an alcoholic and Grace is married to a famous politician and is about to release her first book. The 2 get back in touch and secrets are dying to be told. A photo threatens to destroy them - what will they do.
Thanks to Bookouture and Netgalley for my advanced copy of this book to read and enjoy. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased.
November 11, 2018
The Orchid Girls, previously entitled On The Edge, is Lesley Sanderson's debut novel, and as the author has alluded to in her biography, she has a fascination with the psychology of female relationships in particular. This is what she explores in this book with the friendships between the three main characters - Grace, Charlotte and Molly and what binds them all together is a major part of the plot. Sanderson also makes the time period in which it is set one of the standout features. This is a "sign of the times" novel, saying more will spoil it for potential readers.
There are some sound concepts here, but unfortunately, it was very, very slow going, I honestly didn't think I would make it to the end! It certainly drags in places, however, those who enjoy slow-burners may appreciate it. I also felt that 100+ pages could've been cut without losing anything and it would've only lead to improvement in that it would be more suspenseful and less tedious. It did seem as though there was quite a bit of padding. There was a distinct lack of twists and turns that are essential in a genre such as this, and I found everything rather predictable. I certainly wouldn't label it as thrilling or gripping or anything with similar meaning.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
There are some sound concepts here, but unfortunately, it was very, very slow going, I honestly didn't think I would make it to the end! It certainly drags in places, however, those who enjoy slow-burners may appreciate it. I also felt that 100+ pages could've been cut without losing anything and it would've only lead to improvement in that it would be more suspenseful and less tedious. It did seem as though there was quite a bit of padding. There was a distinct lack of twists and turns that are essential in a genre such as this, and I found everything rather predictable. I certainly wouldn't label it as thrilling or gripping or anything with similar meaning.
Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 2, 2021
A book that is part of #busting my backlist.
I was really looking forward to this. The premise sounded ‘right up my street’. Alas, it didn’t meet my expectations of a thriller.
It was interesting, well written, fair plot but it really didn’t move an emotion one way or another.
Each girl had an Orchid on her arm relating to a promise they made some time ago.
Because I liked the style of the writing I’d certainly give this author another try.
I was really looking forward to this. The premise sounded ‘right up my street’. Alas, it didn’t meet my expectations of a thriller.
It was interesting, well written, fair plot but it really didn’t move an emotion one way or another.
Each girl had an Orchid on her arm relating to a promise they made some time ago.
Because I liked the style of the writing I’d certainly give this author another try.
March 14, 2019
A relatively enjoyable character-driven crime thriller. A little predictable and it was clear how this was going to end, which is always a bit disappointing. Molly, Grace and Charlotte are the central characters but they are a little irritating/annoying. The value of the read is in how the author tackles teenage bullying, the impact of how children deal with and interpret secrets and lies.
November 20, 2018
They called them The Orchid Girls.
Molly,Charlotte and Grace.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day - three became two. Two who swore an oath never to tell anyone what happened on that summers day on the cliff overlooking the sea.
But how far is one of them prepared to go to protect herself and stop the truth from being uncovered?
This is a compelling tale of secrets,lies,manipulation,obsession,first love,addiction,denial,friendships and relashionships. It's told in chapters that mainly alternate between the points of view of the adult versions of two of the girls. One has changed her name,is a food blogger,has just had a book published and is married to a MP who is in the running to be the next Mayor Of London. The other is struggling to hold down a job,lives in a dingy flat and is a alcoholic due to her guilt over what happened all those years ago. Interspersed throughout the book is extracts from the three girls diaries that give the reader an insight into their lives,interactions and thoughts before,during and after that terrible summer's day. There is also newspaper articles about the disappearances of two teenage girls,one case set in the past and one in the present both of which bore striking similarities to each other. My favourite character was Ellis,the other main characters were not very likeable and didn't have any redeemable qualities. The author's descriptions of the alcoholic character`s daily battle to not have a drink were realistic. Both the main female characters refusal to accept the truth about certain things in both their lives was frustrating but perfect examples of how people both in fiction and in reality refuse to accept what is right in front of their own eyes.
This is a well written,gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked in and totally enthralled from the very first page. The author keeps the reader guessing and speculating about the shocking truth of what happened on that summers day until not far from the end of the book. Amazing book,highly recommended and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
Molly,Charlotte and Grace.
One of them is in love.
One of them is a liar.
One of them is dead.
One day - three became two. Two who swore an oath never to tell anyone what happened on that summers day on the cliff overlooking the sea.
But how far is one of them prepared to go to protect herself and stop the truth from being uncovered?
This is a compelling tale of secrets,lies,manipulation,obsession,first love,addiction,denial,friendships and relashionships. It's told in chapters that mainly alternate between the points of view of the adult versions of two of the girls. One has changed her name,is a food blogger,has just had a book published and is married to a MP who is in the running to be the next Mayor Of London. The other is struggling to hold down a job,lives in a dingy flat and is a alcoholic due to her guilt over what happened all those years ago. Interspersed throughout the book is extracts from the three girls diaries that give the reader an insight into their lives,interactions and thoughts before,during and after that terrible summer's day. There is also newspaper articles about the disappearances of two teenage girls,one case set in the past and one in the present both of which bore striking similarities to each other. My favourite character was Ellis,the other main characters were not very likeable and didn't have any redeemable qualities. The author's descriptions of the alcoholic character`s daily battle to not have a drink were realistic. Both the main female characters refusal to accept the truth about certain things in both their lives was frustrating but perfect examples of how people both in fiction and in reality refuse to accept what is right in front of their own eyes.
This is a well written,gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked in and totally enthralled from the very first page. The author keeps the reader guessing and speculating about the shocking truth of what happened on that summers day until not far from the end of the book. Amazing book,highly recommended and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.
Many thanks to Bookouture for a arc of this book via netgalley in exchange for a honest review
November 14, 2018
What is your life was built on lies? You had to worry every day about your secrets being revealed. Is it possible to escape your past and never look back? Or will your past come back to haunt you no matter how hard you try to hide it?
I loved this debut novel by Lesley Sanderson! She knocked it out of the park. She managed to create a suspense filled read that had me captivated the entire time. Three 14 year old girls hanging out together. What could go wrong? Plenty can go wrong....
The blurb for this book sums it up perfectly. Three girls deemed The Orchid Girls by the media. One is dead, one is a liar and one is in love. Were the remaining Orchid Girls the last to see the dead girl? Even if they were, does it necessarily mean they know anything about it?
Fueled by jealously, lust and lies this is one suspense filled read. I flew through the chapters at the edge of my seat wondering when we would learn who really was lying. Someone must know what happened that day. The question is did the Orchid Girls really know the answer?
The majority of the story we got to see it through Molly and Grace's eyes in chapters from the present day highlighting their point of view. Each girl took a totally different path in life. It was intriguing to see how each chose to deal with their troubled past. We also got a glimpse into all three of the girls past from diary entries filled with their thoughts and feelings. Were these three girls really as close as the media and public thought? Were they capable of killing someone? I was not really sure who to root for, I struggled to decipher the truth from the lies. So many secrets, all revealed in good time.
What a fantastic debut! I am excited to see what this author has in store for us next!
I loved this debut novel by Lesley Sanderson! She knocked it out of the park. She managed to create a suspense filled read that had me captivated the entire time. Three 14 year old girls hanging out together. What could go wrong? Plenty can go wrong....
The blurb for this book sums it up perfectly. Three girls deemed The Orchid Girls by the media. One is dead, one is a liar and one is in love. Were the remaining Orchid Girls the last to see the dead girl? Even if they were, does it necessarily mean they know anything about it?
Fueled by jealously, lust and lies this is one suspense filled read. I flew through the chapters at the edge of my seat wondering when we would learn who really was lying. Someone must know what happened that day. The question is did the Orchid Girls really know the answer?
The majority of the story we got to see it through Molly and Grace's eyes in chapters from the present day highlighting their point of view. Each girl took a totally different path in life. It was intriguing to see how each chose to deal with their troubled past. We also got a glimpse into all three of the girls past from diary entries filled with their thoughts and feelings. Were these three girls really as close as the media and public thought? Were they capable of killing someone? I was not really sure who to root for, I struggled to decipher the truth from the lies. So many secrets, all revealed in good time.
What a fantastic debut! I am excited to see what this author has in store for us next!
October 20, 2018
I so enjoyed this book. It had me intrigued right from the start and I ended up reading it in one day as I had to know how everything was going to end.
The story flicks between the two main characters, Molly and Grace. We are also taken from past to present so we can understand more about things that surrounded the death of their friend Charlotte.
Both women couldn't be more different. Where as Grace is really living the high life, doing well in her work and personal life, Molly is pretty much at rock bottom. Whatever happened in the past, Molly is certainly struggling to deal with and now that she has found Grace again, all her emotions have come back to the forefront and she is desperate to rekindle the relationship they had back when they were kids.
I actually quite liked both women. They both have this vulnerability about them that made me want things to work out okay for them both. I knew though I had to know just what had happened years before and what secrets were waiting to be divulged.
There are certainly a few red herrings that threw me and I really thought I knew where the story was going only to be completely wrong. For me this is what a psychological thriller is all about. A wonderfully dark read that messes with your head.
The Orchid Girls is an enthralling read that hooked me in and didn't let go. I loved the build up of suspense throughout the novel and it's one that readers will definitely struggle to put down. Fabulous read, loved it.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The story flicks between the two main characters, Molly and Grace. We are also taken from past to present so we can understand more about things that surrounded the death of their friend Charlotte.
Both women couldn't be more different. Where as Grace is really living the high life, doing well in her work and personal life, Molly is pretty much at rock bottom. Whatever happened in the past, Molly is certainly struggling to deal with and now that she has found Grace again, all her emotions have come back to the forefront and she is desperate to rekindle the relationship they had back when they were kids.
I actually quite liked both women. They both have this vulnerability about them that made me want things to work out okay for them both. I knew though I had to know just what had happened years before and what secrets were waiting to be divulged.
There are certainly a few red herrings that threw me and I really thought I knew where the story was going only to be completely wrong. For me this is what a psychological thriller is all about. A wonderfully dark read that messes with your head.
The Orchid Girls is an enthralling read that hooked me in and didn't let go. I loved the build up of suspense throughout the novel and it's one that readers will definitely struggle to put down. Fabulous read, loved it.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
October 1, 2020
Le chiamavano le “ragazze orchidea”.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
Una di loro mente.
Una di loro è innamorata.
Una di loro è morta.
Una sinossi che ha catturato la mia attenzione e fortunatamente non ne sono rimasta delusa.
Una trama interessante già dalle prime pagine, soprattutto per me che amo quando vengono analizzati due periodi temporali ben distinti e pian piano, con l'avanzare del passato che si avvicina al presente, diventa tutto più chiaro. Delle tre "ragazze orchidea" menzionate nella sinossi, è la vita di due di esse che viene analizzata nel presente. Grace, che ha molto da perdere: un marito che aspira ad essere il sindaco di Londra, una carriera avviata per se stessa nel settore foodblogger. Molly,che invece da perdere non ha nulla. È un'alcolizzata, senza alcuna relazione stabile, intrappolata in un passato che non riesce a lasciare andare.
Un bel thriller psicologico che punta l'attenzione anche su diversi disagi sociali e di come, la mente umana, possa esserne condizionata. Il bigottismo e il timore di essere giudicati che portano a non vivere serenamente la propria sessualità.
Una suspense crescente e una buona caratterizzazione dei personaggi rendono il romanzo mai noioso e trascinante. Un'autrice sicuramente da seguire.
Grace. Charlotte. Molly.
Una di loro mente.
Una di loro è innamorata.
Una di loro è morta.
Una sinossi che ha catturato la mia attenzione e fortunatamente non ne sono rimasta delusa.
Una trama interessante già dalle prime pagine, soprattutto per me che amo quando vengono analizzati due periodi temporali ben distinti e pian piano, con l'avanzare del passato che si avvicina al presente, diventa tutto più chiaro. Delle tre "ragazze orchidea" menzionate nella sinossi, è la vita di due di esse che viene analizzata nel presente. Grace, che ha molto da perdere: un marito che aspira ad essere il sindaco di Londra, una carriera avviata per se stessa nel settore foodblogger. Molly,che invece da perdere non ha nulla. È un'alcolizzata, senza alcuna relazione stabile, intrappolata in un passato che non riesce a lasciare andare.
Un bel thriller psicologico che punta l'attenzione anche su diversi disagi sociali e di come, la mente umana, possa esserne condizionata. Il bigottismo e il timore di essere giudicati che portano a non vivere serenamente la propria sessualità.
Una suspense crescente e una buona caratterizzazione dei personaggi rendono il romanzo mai noioso e trascinante. Un'autrice sicuramente da seguire.
Read
November 14, 2018Friendship. Forbidden love. Obsession. Murder.
Three girls and a secret so explosive that it leads to the death of one of them. Two of the girls were acquitted of premeditated murder but never spoke again. Sixteen years later...life has gone on and one of the girls has changed her name, moved away from Dorset and has married and developed a successful food blogger business while the other is living in drunken squalor. Lies and guilt have kept them apart but now all is about to come out as a journalist is doing an expose of the case. NO SPOILERS.
This is a psychological drama focusing on female relationships and sexuality. What lengths will one go through to keep truth hidden especially after completely reinventing oneself. This is a debut novel and though it bogs down quite a bit with lots of internal angsting and little action it was entertaining and I'd definitely be interesting in reading more by this author. Although I didn't care for any of the characters in this messy tale, and though I didn't find any unanticipated twist in the story, the narrative shifts in point of view and the diary entries provided good development to the plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
Three girls and a secret so explosive that it leads to the death of one of them. Two of the girls were acquitted of premeditated murder but never spoke again. Sixteen years later...life has gone on and one of the girls has changed her name, moved away from Dorset and has married and developed a successful food blogger business while the other is living in drunken squalor. Lies and guilt have kept them apart but now all is about to come out as a journalist is doing an expose of the case. NO SPOILERS.
This is a psychological drama focusing on female relationships and sexuality. What lengths will one go through to keep truth hidden especially after completely reinventing oneself. This is a debut novel and though it bogs down quite a bit with lots of internal angsting and little action it was entertaining and I'd definitely be interesting in reading more by this author. Although I didn't care for any of the characters in this messy tale, and though I didn't find any unanticipated twist in the story, the narrative shifts in point of view and the diary entries provided good development to the plot.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for this e-book ARC to read and review.
March 29, 2023
Another excellent book by this author!
November 23, 2018
The Orchid Girls is a well-written psychological thriller by a new author, about enduring obsessive love and the damage done by terrible secrets. It’s written mostly in first person present, which I normally don’t like but is actually necessary here, with some diary entries and newspaper reports.
Summer 2002, a small beachside Dorset town, and three fairly awful teenage girls are mired in lust, jealousy, resentment and frustration, but then one of them dies in suspicious circumstances and the other two are separated by their families. Fourteen years later, Grace has successfully reinvented herself as a stylish food blogger and married a rising politician, Richard, while Molly is a barely functioning alcoholic with a married girlfriend, still yearning for her formative relationship.
When another young girl goes missing in Richard’s constituency, under similar circumstances, Molly loses control and begins to stalk Grace, determined to reestablish their love affair. Grace, trapped by her perfect online image as the ‘Queen of Clean Eating’ and terrified that her past will be revealed to inquisitive journalists, is torn between her future and her past, but what really happened to Charlotte?
While I agree with others that this dragged a bit as two very unlikeable women agonise about their problems, refusing to tell their supposed loved ones anything, and use orthorexia and alcohol to suppress their misery, the mystery was well done and I didn’t predict how it would turn out.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Orchid Girls is available now.
Summer 2002, a small beachside Dorset town, and three fairly awful teenage girls are mired in lust, jealousy, resentment and frustration, but then one of them dies in suspicious circumstances and the other two are separated by their families. Fourteen years later, Grace has successfully reinvented herself as a stylish food blogger and married a rising politician, Richard, while Molly is a barely functioning alcoholic with a married girlfriend, still yearning for her formative relationship.
When another young girl goes missing in Richard’s constituency, under similar circumstances, Molly loses control and begins to stalk Grace, determined to reestablish their love affair. Grace, trapped by her perfect online image as the ‘Queen of Clean Eating’ and terrified that her past will be revealed to inquisitive journalists, is torn between her future and her past, but what really happened to Charlotte?
While I agree with others that this dragged a bit as two very unlikeable women agonise about their problems, refusing to tell their supposed loved ones anything, and use orthorexia and alcohol to suppress their misery, the mystery was well done and I didn’t predict how it would turn out.
My thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Orchid Girls is available now.
November 12, 2018
Here's the thing - when you use the phrase like "a completely gripping psychological thriller" next to the title of a book, it better darn well deliver. I even saw The Orchid Girls compared to The Wife Between Us, which did indeed wow me. This one didn't even come close. It does have a couple of moments, but for the most part, the story is extremely slow and way too drawn out to be anything close to gripping. After several stops and starts, I did push through and finish, more in hope of finding some big twist than anything else. Maybe it's me and I missed the mark, but try as I might, I didn't find that twist. It's all pretty straightforward and goes exactly where I expected it to go. Trimmed down and tightened up, this could probably be an okay sign of the times story, but as it stands, it is just too easy to set aside for something else.
December 10, 2018
3.5 stars
The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
Charlotte and Belinda used to bully Molly in grade school, until one day when their bullying went a little far. As teenagers, Charlotte meets up with Molly and her friend Grace, and it seems all is forgiven, and they become The Orchid Girls, each donning a tattoo of the flower on her inner wrist. But their relationship is full of teenage angst, jealousy and hormones. When Charlotte goes missing, only Molly and Grace know what happened.
Fourteen years passed. Molly has never forgotten Grace, even though they lost touch after Charlotte disappeared. She finally finds her, and craves the relationship they once had. Molly is down on her luck, an alcoholic with a girlfriend who only comes calling when she is bored with her real girlfriend. Molly is going to win Grace back.
Grace is an Internet success, posting pictures of healthy food that she creates. She is about to publish her first cookbook. Her husband Richard is running for politics, hoping to be the next Mayor of London. They are both endeavoring to create the perfect life, and must show the world only perfection. Grace has changed her name and hid her past. Not even Richard knows where she really came from.
When Molly finds her, Grace freaks. She wants nothing to do with Molly, and wants the past to stay buried, and their teenage romance to remain hidden. But Molly’s love for her has never died, and she is sure that she can convince Grace to ditch Richard and resume their relationship. She is going to get sober and make sure that happens.
When a young girl goes missing in Richard’s constituency, it brings back the memories of another time. Both Molly and Grace are haunted by the secret that they have kept. But now a reporter is sniffing around, and Molly’s sobriety is making her re-think the past.
My Opinions:
This was a good book. It is about friendship, about young love, about how attitudes between same-sex couples continue to evolve. It is also the story of secrets, and lies, and the affect they have years later.
The story is told from different perspectives, including Molly, Grace, and from their old journals. This makes the reader see the different points of view quite clearly.
Unfortunately, I felt the book moved very slowly to start, and I didn’t really like the characters. Eventually things grew more engaging, and the pace picked up.
As her first psychological thriller, this book was good, and I’m looking forward to what Lesley Sanderson shows us next.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
The Orchid Girls by Lesley Sanderson is a psychological thriller.
First, let me thank NetGalley, the publisher Bookouture and of course the author, for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
My Synopsis:
Charlotte and Belinda used to bully Molly in grade school, until one day when their bullying went a little far. As teenagers, Charlotte meets up with Molly and her friend Grace, and it seems all is forgiven, and they become The Orchid Girls, each donning a tattoo of the flower on her inner wrist. But their relationship is full of teenage angst, jealousy and hormones. When Charlotte goes missing, only Molly and Grace know what happened.
Fourteen years passed. Molly has never forgotten Grace, even though they lost touch after Charlotte disappeared. She finally finds her, and craves the relationship they once had. Molly is down on her luck, an alcoholic with a girlfriend who only comes calling when she is bored with her real girlfriend. Molly is going to win Grace back.
Grace is an Internet success, posting pictures of healthy food that she creates. She is about to publish her first cookbook. Her husband Richard is running for politics, hoping to be the next Mayor of London. They are both endeavoring to create the perfect life, and must show the world only perfection. Grace has changed her name and hid her past. Not even Richard knows where she really came from.
When Molly finds her, Grace freaks. She wants nothing to do with Molly, and wants the past to stay buried, and their teenage romance to remain hidden. But Molly’s love for her has never died, and she is sure that she can convince Grace to ditch Richard and resume their relationship. She is going to get sober and make sure that happens.
When a young girl goes missing in Richard’s constituency, it brings back the memories of another time. Both Molly and Grace are haunted by the secret that they have kept. But now a reporter is sniffing around, and Molly’s sobriety is making her re-think the past.
My Opinions:
This was a good book. It is about friendship, about young love, about how attitudes between same-sex couples continue to evolve. It is also the story of secrets, and lies, and the affect they have years later.
The story is told from different perspectives, including Molly, Grace, and from their old journals. This makes the reader see the different points of view quite clearly.
Unfortunately, I felt the book moved very slowly to start, and I didn’t really like the characters. Eventually things grew more engaging, and the pace picked up.
As her first psychological thriller, this book was good, and I’m looking forward to what Lesley Sanderson shows us next.
For a more complete review of this book and others, please visit my blog: http://katlovesbooksblog.wordpress.com/
November 13, 2018
This is the first psychological thirller by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. There are different kinds of thrillers : past paced ones that make your head spin straight from the start or those that take off a bit slower, but where you have the feeling of being dragged into a whirlpool towards the end. This story is one of the latter.
The author gives us the chance to see the story from the point of view of 2 of the main characters alternated with flash backs. Although I had an inkling about how it would turn out partially, I did not feel like it diminished the reading pleasure.
It goes without a doubt that the author knows how to keep the reader hanging by only stepping on the gas pedal at the very last moment. Make sure your seat belt is fastened.
A good book with a subject of which you would have thought it should have been accepted a long time ago. Well, apparently not. 4 stars.
Thank you, Lesley Sanderson, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
The author gives us the chance to see the story from the point of view of 2 of the main characters alternated with flash backs. Although I had an inkling about how it would turn out partially, I did not feel like it diminished the reading pleasure.
It goes without a doubt that the author knows how to keep the reader hanging by only stepping on the gas pedal at the very last moment. Make sure your seat belt is fastened.
A good book with a subject of which you would have thought it should have been accepted a long time ago. Well, apparently not. 4 stars.
Thank you, Lesley Sanderson, Bookouture and Netgalley.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
November 17, 2018
This book had Friendship, Forbidden Love , Obsession and Murder! Three girls a secret so explosive it leads to the death of one of them. Two of the girls were acquitted of premeditated murder after the trial but they never spoke or saw each other again. Flash forward to sixteen years later life has moved on and one of the girls has changed her name , moved away to Dorset and her husband is about to become governor and she’s developed a successful food blogger business, while the other is a drunk barely getting by. The lies and guilt kept them apart but now everyone is going to know who they are and what secrets they buried in their past when a journalist decides to write an expose of the case. This book was full of psychological drama focusing on female relationships and sexuality and how far will one person go to keep the truth hidden, especially when they went to such great lengths to reinvent herself. This was the authors debut book she really dived deep into what the characters were feeling and the emotion aspects of certain areas. I enjoyed the past diary entries and that helped with understanding the characters. Thank you netgalley and bookouture for the ebook ARC.
November 23, 2018
I was in the mood for a mystery novel, and I love ones set where the book has them at a younger age and often has flashbacks of life in the past and present. Years ago when the main characters were 13/14 - three left that day, and only two returned home. Molly, Grace, and Charlotte all went to hang out, and just Molly and Grace returned home. The next day, Charlotte was found dead, and there wasn't enough evidence to accuse Molly and Grace of Charlotte's murder. Molly and Grace who were inseparable were then split up after the incident, and we learn years later that Grace was shipped off to her aunt's in Paris while Molly stayed behind. Fast forward years later, another girl has gone missing, and the girl is the spitting image to Charlotte. This act causes a chain reaction in the book between the characters as Molly seeks Grace out. Grace has tried to move on and is now married to a Politician whereas Molly's life has not turned out as excellent and she flips from relationship to relationship and has no stability. When the girls get together eventually, we learn that they had a close relationship that reminded me a bit of the Heavenly Creatures murder with Honoria Parker and Juliet Hulme that happened in NZ. During the book too, Grace reaches out to her father and learns that he had hidden secrets from that time and now with the recent missing girl it has caused all those memories to be dredged back up. We learn that Grace's husband's family also have a connection to the latest missing girl. With years of built up secrets and hidden truths? Will Molly and Grace ever be able to learn what happened to Charlotte and find the current missing girl?
Find out in this Brit Lit Mystery "The Orchid Girls."
Find out in this Brit Lit Mystery "The Orchid Girls."
September 27, 2020
Recensione in anteprima a cura di Kaori
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October 6, 2018
I just finished #TheOrchidGirls and what a crazy messed up ride! I was hooked from first few pages and it only got more intense! I super love books where grown women have secrets from childhood that threaten to ruin their now perfect grownup life and marriages. I know, that’s messed up but it makes for a really fun psychological thriller, am I right?!!!
Perfect Grace with her perfect Mayor husband and her perfect Instagram and “Queen of Clean” celebrity.
And Molly. Ohhhhh Molly. Drunk and disorderly Molly.
Put Molly and Grace back together again after years of no contact and we have D R A M A and secrets and twisted lies on lies on lies. And the end made me gasp win twisty delight. Delighted because a final twist was delivered with a thunderous boom!!!
#Bookouture ALWAYS picks the best thrillers and this one is gonna be hot!
Thank you to the publisher #Bookouture the author and #NetGalley for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Five stars!!!!!
Perfect Grace with her perfect Mayor husband and her perfect Instagram and “Queen of Clean” celebrity.
And Molly. Ohhhhh Molly. Drunk and disorderly Molly.
Put Molly and Grace back together again after years of no contact and we have D R A M A and secrets and twisted lies on lies on lies. And the end made me gasp win twisty delight. Delighted because a final twist was delivered with a thunderous boom!!!
#Bookouture ALWAYS picks the best thrillers and this one is gonna be hot!
Thank you to the publisher #Bookouture the author and #NetGalley for my free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
Five stars!!!!!
April 7, 2021
Recensione a cura di Nemesi per Feel the Book
Tre nomi che si ripresentano dall’inizio alla fine del libro: Grace, Molly, Charlotte.
Tre adolescenti che, anni addietro, sono state alla ribalta della cronaca locale del Dorset col soprannome di Orchidee. Ci sono voluti anni perché il clamore su quell’appellativo si smorzasse ma, per uno scherzo del destino, quel nome così ambiguo per delle adolescenti, tornerà a tormentare i giorni di due di quelle ragazzine, diventate ormai donne.
Molly e Grace sono legate l’una all’altra da un evento tragico e da una promessa.
Anni dopo Grace è andata avanti, ha voltato pagina lasciandosi il passato alle spalle ed è una celebre food blogger, sposata con un parlamentare che aspira a diventare sindaco di Londra; Molly invece è vittima di quel passato, vive ai margini della società e rimane ancorata alle sue dipendenze, trascorrendo le giornate persa in un perenne stato di ubriachezza. Le loro vite non potrebbero essere più diverse eppure hanno ancora il passato in comune. Un passato che sta tornando a perseguitarle.
“Orchidee” è definito un avvincente thriller psicologico, e lo è, ma è anche molto di più. È avvincente per quanto riguarda la parte thriller, è enigmatico nella parte psicologica, ma è anche profondo nel trattare alcuni fenomeni sociali.
L’autrice, infatti, affronta varie questioni chiave in questo libro, non ultimo il tema dell’essere diversi e la lotta interiore per accettarsi. Riesce anche a ritrarre l’alcolismo con abilità e sensibilità, dando profondità a Molly, consentendo al lettore di relazionarsi con lei e far provare non pietà per la sua condizione, ma tenerezza ed empatia.
Grace è, a modo suo, impeccabilmente imperfetta. Si nasconde dietro la facciata di Regina della Sobrietà, cercando disperatamente di nascondere il suo vero io. Anche lei è un personaggio incredibile, composto da varie sfumature.
In ultima Charlotte, un personaggio che si definisce piano piano, vittima e carnefice, che ci viene presentato attraverso le pagine del suo diario.
Un romanzo completo, che indaga perfettamente la psicologia delle tre protagoniste, che porta il lettore a sentirsi continuamente confuso delle sue idee, e lo incuriosisce pagina dopo pagina.
Editing a cura di Ash.
Tre nomi che si ripresentano dall’inizio alla fine del libro: Grace, Molly, Charlotte.
Tre adolescenti che, anni addietro, sono state alla ribalta della cronaca locale del Dorset col soprannome di Orchidee. Ci sono voluti anni perché il clamore su quell’appellativo si smorzasse ma, per uno scherzo del destino, quel nome così ambiguo per delle adolescenti, tornerà a tormentare i giorni di due di quelle ragazzine, diventate ormai donne.
Molly e Grace sono legate l’una all’altra da un evento tragico e da una promessa.
Anni dopo Grace è andata avanti, ha voltato pagina lasciandosi il passato alle spalle ed è una celebre food blogger, sposata con un parlamentare che aspira a diventare sindaco di Londra; Molly invece è vittima di quel passato, vive ai margini della società e rimane ancorata alle sue dipendenze, trascorrendo le giornate persa in un perenne stato di ubriachezza. Le loro vite non potrebbero essere più diverse eppure hanno ancora il passato in comune. Un passato che sta tornando a perseguitarle.
“Orchidee” è definito un avvincente thriller psicologico, e lo è, ma è anche molto di più. È avvincente per quanto riguarda la parte thriller, è enigmatico nella parte psicologica, ma è anche profondo nel trattare alcuni fenomeni sociali.
L’autrice, infatti, affronta varie questioni chiave in questo libro, non ultimo il tema dell’essere diversi e la lotta interiore per accettarsi. Riesce anche a ritrarre l’alcolismo con abilità e sensibilità, dando profondità a Molly, consentendo al lettore di relazionarsi con lei e far provare non pietà per la sua condizione, ma tenerezza ed empatia.
Grace è, a modo suo, impeccabilmente imperfetta. Si nasconde dietro la facciata di Regina della Sobrietà, cercando disperatamente di nascondere il suo vero io. Anche lei è un personaggio incredibile, composto da varie sfumature.
In ultima Charlotte, un personaggio che si definisce piano piano, vittima e carnefice, che ci viene presentato attraverso le pagine del suo diario.
Un romanzo completo, che indaga perfettamente la psicologia delle tre protagoniste, che porta il lettore a sentirsi continuamente confuso delle sue idee, e lo incuriosisce pagina dopo pagina.
Editing a cura di Ash.
October 29, 2018
Not Completely Gripping. Not really Gripping at all.
Honestly, this took a long time to capture my attention. In fact, I almost stopped reading it.
Then we got to a book sighing that piqued my interest and I was good for a few more chapters. And then I lost interest again. Some chapters later? It picked up.
I did finish it.
While the author did a pretty good job of explaining why everything happened, the attitude behind everything was still distasteful to me – actually, both distasteful and old fashioned. In this day and age, much of what happens here should not be a scandal!
An okay read. I was curious enough to finish the book, but I can’t say I really liked it.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
Honestly, this took a long time to capture my attention. In fact, I almost stopped reading it.
Then we got to a book sighing that piqued my interest and I was good for a few more chapters. And then I lost interest again. Some chapters later? It picked up.
I did finish it.
While the author did a pretty good job of explaining why everything happened, the attitude behind everything was still distasteful to me – actually, both distasteful and old fashioned. In this day and age, much of what happens here should not be a scandal!
An okay read. I was curious enough to finish the book, but I can’t say I really liked it.
*ARC Provided via Net Galley
November 14, 2018
A very well-written psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat as it races to a stunning climax.
Grace is at the beginning of a brand new chapter in her life. She is the queen of clean eating with thousands of fan followers on social media. Her husband, Richard, is the favored candidate for the post of mayor, and together, they are the hottest new power couple in London. Things had never looked better, but as always, fame has a price. Molly is back, raising difficult questions and bringing with her lots of unwanted memories. Also, the recent disappearance of a schoolgirl in Richard’s constituency bears too many similarities to what happened to Charlotte years ago, reigniting the public’s interest in the Orchid Girls.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Grace is at the beginning of a brand new chapter in her life. She is the queen of clean eating with thousands of fan followers on social media. Her husband, Richard, is the favored candidate for the post of mayor, and together, they are the hottest new power couple in London. Things had never looked better, but as always, fame has a price. Molly is back, raising difficult questions and bringing with her lots of unwanted memories. Also, the recent disappearance of a schoolgirl in Richard’s constituency bears too many similarities to what happened to Charlotte years ago, reigniting the public’s interest in the Orchid Girls.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.
January 9, 2019
Thanks to Netgalley for my copy.
This was likened to The Wife between us and for fans of KL Slater. If you are promising that then the book needs to live up to the hype. Sadly this didn't. The pacing is quite slow and the characters are shallow and unlikeable.
This was likened to The Wife between us and for fans of KL Slater. If you are promising that then the book needs to live up to the hype. Sadly this didn't. The pacing is quite slow and the characters are shallow and unlikeable.
November 13, 2018
This is a really well-written book, with vivid descriptions and well rounded characters. It's a slow burner as the author weaves in the clues and builds up the characters with an intriguing story-line of obsession, manipulation and deceit, building to the perfect storm of an ending.
I think the cleverness in this book is how you come to empathise with the two main characters, Molly and Grace, as the story flips between the dual narrative, peppered with diary entries to fill in the gaps and plant little clues as to the truth of what happened all those years ago, when the women were teenagers.
I think the cleverness in this book is how you come to empathise with the two main characters, Molly and Grace, as the story flips between the dual narrative, peppered with diary entries to fill in the gaps and plant little clues as to the truth of what happened all those years ago, when the women were teenagers.
November 14, 2020
Recensione di LaManu
Questo libro parla di come ingenuamente tre ragazze segnano la propria vita in modo indelebile. Grace, Molly e Charlotte sono tre adolescenti nel pieno della loro tempesta ormonale e nel pieno della loro invidia e cattiveria. Siamo nel Dorset, una contea dell'Inghilterra dove solo a pensarci mi vengono i brividi per l'umidità che ne scaturisce ed è proprio perché è il luogo da dove comincia tutto.
Molly, ingenua, ossessionata, plagiata, cresce con un peso nel petto, un dolore, un rimorso incancellabile che la porta, ormai da adulta a restare incollata ad una bottiglia dal mattino fino a quando, talmente stordita, non si addormenta.
Grace, classica ragazza perfettina all'apparenza ma l'opposto quando invece vuole mostrarsi.
Charlotte, oh! Di lei si può dire ben poco se non che avrebbe dovuto tenere la bocca un pochino più chiusa e forse...
Charlotte e la sua combricola continuano a prendere in giro Molly, riccioluta dai capelli rossi ma, solo con l'arrivo di Grace le cose cominciano a girare come si deve. Grace e Molly instaurano una bella, bellissima amicizia che col tempo (forse per una più dell'altra) si tramuta in amore.
Molly è follemente innamorata di Grace e quest'ultima ricambia l'affetto seppur mantenendo un certo atteggiamento per “non far parlare la gente” e, anche se non siamo nel Medioevo, una storiella d'amore di due quattordicenni farebbe molto scalpore soprattutto perché una di queste è la figlia del pastore.
Passano i giorni e arriva l'estate e con lei inizia tutto. Molly e Grace sono sempre più vicine tanto da destare sospetti a Charlotte (e non solo) così quest'ultima un giorno decide di seguirle e lì vede. LE vede. Cominciano i ricatti e i litigi e accade quello che forse Molly non avrebbe mai voluto nonostante gli atteggiamenti meschini che subiva ma... Grace sì! Grace lo voleva? Molly e Grace hanno fatto una promessa. I genitori decidono e le ragazze vengono volutamente allontanate.
Grace, dopo essere cresciuta in Francia con la zia, ritorna a Londra dove vive con Richard suo marito che tanto spera (o almeno lui) di diventare il futuro Sindaco.
Grace cresce, cambiando persino cognome, in un mondo di agi, di persone colte e altolocate, sempre in mostra, cibo sano, niente alcool e niente fumo. Crea un blog di cucina, dove ogni giorno posta foto sui cibi da lei cucinati e per i quali riceve moltissimi like. E' ormai un personaggio noto a tutti.
Molly è cresciuta nel modo opposto. Sempre alla ricerca di un qualcosa che nemmeno lei sa, sempre ubriaca e con lavori pessimi. Anche lei adesso è a Londra. Grace ancora non lo sa.
E' tornata perchè dopo tutti gli anni passati a rovinarsi per un qualcosa che in realtà non ha mai saputo, detto, fatto ora, vuole sapere la verità.
L'orchidea è un fiore meraviglioso ed ha un significato molto forte e ad ogni colore viene attribuito un significato. E' proprio da qui che voglio cominciare perchè leggendo notizie su questo fiore ho capito che proprio come lui anche le tre protagoniste hanno significati differenti, caratteristiche differenti e persino colori.
Iniziamo da colei che fa confondere innanzitutto il lettore e poi anche chi le sta intorno.
Grace ha un carattere inquieto, non sincero o almeno è quello che percepisco tra le righe perché vive una vita che non le appartiene, vive una vita solo per l'apparenza, per il marito e per sotterrare il suo passato ma, sicuramente quello che lei vorrebbe non è di certo questa vita.
Molly, devo essere sincera...all'inizio l'ho addirittura odiata poi ho cambiato idea! Questo suo atteggiamento da “spocchiosa e menefreghista” di tutto e tutti persino di se stessa non è simpatico da leggere. Si rovina pensando a cose che non sono mai esistite e per un amore che anche dopo tutti questi anni ancora la tormenta. Non riesce a tirarsi su se non con l'alcool. Oh! Molly che spreco, tu per me sei la vera orchidea!
Charlotte non mi ha lasciato molto, è la classica adolescente che vuole prevaricare su tutte pensando di essere la migliore. In questo libro ci sono anche altri personaggi di margine, il padre di Grace, il pastore, una figura meschina e fredda e se proprio vogliamo dirla tutta anche manesca. Davanti agli altri un uomo per bene e distinto poi tra le mura di casa...un classico! La mamma di Molly, una creatura che vive solo perchè deve, una creatura che ha sofferto molto per la figlia e che col tempo però viene ripagata.
La storia viene raccontata in modo altalenante, giri pagina e ti trovi a leggere un diario che racconta per filo e per segno le giornate della loro adolescenza e poi di nuovo nella realtà e così via. Ho potuto rivivere certi momenti di quando anche io ero adolescente (quanto vorrei tornare indietro nel tempo!)
Tra amiche nascono delle dinamiche che possono diventare bombe ad orologeria.
Tra donne va tutto bene fino a quando non viene fatto o detto qualcosa di diverso rispetto al “gruppo” altrimenti entrano in gioco la gelosia, l'invidia, la cattiveria e iniziano i pettegolezzi, dietro le spalle ovviamente.
Io, alle ragazze o donne ho sempre preferito i maschietti, sin da piccola, trovo che loro abbiamo quell'ingenuità così genuina, loro quando stanno insieme si divertono e basta.
Ed è quello che bisognerebbe fare quando si è amici, certo ci sono poi le situazioni che richiedono serietà ma, in generale è così.
Trovare l'amica vera e sincera oggi è davvero una cosa rara e preziosa perchè se trovi quella giusta, la complicità che s'instaura è assolutamente magica e indiscutibile.
Anche Molly ci credeva.
Questo libro parla di come ingenuamente tre ragazze segnano la propria vita in modo indelebile. Grace, Molly e Charlotte sono tre adolescenti nel pieno della loro tempesta ormonale e nel pieno della loro invidia e cattiveria. Siamo nel Dorset, una contea dell'Inghilterra dove solo a pensarci mi vengono i brividi per l'umidità che ne scaturisce ed è proprio perché è il luogo da dove comincia tutto.
Molly, ingenua, ossessionata, plagiata, cresce con un peso nel petto, un dolore, un rimorso incancellabile che la porta, ormai da adulta a restare incollata ad una bottiglia dal mattino fino a quando, talmente stordita, non si addormenta.
Grace, classica ragazza perfettina all'apparenza ma l'opposto quando invece vuole mostrarsi.
Charlotte, oh! Di lei si può dire ben poco se non che avrebbe dovuto tenere la bocca un pochino più chiusa e forse...
Charlotte e la sua combricola continuano a prendere in giro Molly, riccioluta dai capelli rossi ma, solo con l'arrivo di Grace le cose cominciano a girare come si deve. Grace e Molly instaurano una bella, bellissima amicizia che col tempo (forse per una più dell'altra) si tramuta in amore.
Molly è follemente innamorata di Grace e quest'ultima ricambia l'affetto seppur mantenendo un certo atteggiamento per “non far parlare la gente” e, anche se non siamo nel Medioevo, una storiella d'amore di due quattordicenni farebbe molto scalpore soprattutto perché una di queste è la figlia del pastore.
Passano i giorni e arriva l'estate e con lei inizia tutto. Molly e Grace sono sempre più vicine tanto da destare sospetti a Charlotte (e non solo) così quest'ultima un giorno decide di seguirle e lì vede. LE vede. Cominciano i ricatti e i litigi e accade quello che forse Molly non avrebbe mai voluto nonostante gli atteggiamenti meschini che subiva ma... Grace sì! Grace lo voleva? Molly e Grace hanno fatto una promessa. I genitori decidono e le ragazze vengono volutamente allontanate.
Grace, dopo essere cresciuta in Francia con la zia, ritorna a Londra dove vive con Richard suo marito che tanto spera (o almeno lui) di diventare il futuro Sindaco.
Grace cresce, cambiando persino cognome, in un mondo di agi, di persone colte e altolocate, sempre in mostra, cibo sano, niente alcool e niente fumo. Crea un blog di cucina, dove ogni giorno posta foto sui cibi da lei cucinati e per i quali riceve moltissimi like. E' ormai un personaggio noto a tutti.
Molly è cresciuta nel modo opposto. Sempre alla ricerca di un qualcosa che nemmeno lei sa, sempre ubriaca e con lavori pessimi. Anche lei adesso è a Londra. Grace ancora non lo sa.
E' tornata perchè dopo tutti gli anni passati a rovinarsi per un qualcosa che in realtà non ha mai saputo, detto, fatto ora, vuole sapere la verità.
L'orchidea è un fiore meraviglioso ed ha un significato molto forte e ad ogni colore viene attribuito un significato. E' proprio da qui che voglio cominciare perchè leggendo notizie su questo fiore ho capito che proprio come lui anche le tre protagoniste hanno significati differenti, caratteristiche differenti e persino colori.
Iniziamo da colei che fa confondere innanzitutto il lettore e poi anche chi le sta intorno.
Grace ha un carattere inquieto, non sincero o almeno è quello che percepisco tra le righe perché vive una vita che non le appartiene, vive una vita solo per l'apparenza, per il marito e per sotterrare il suo passato ma, sicuramente quello che lei vorrebbe non è di certo questa vita.
Molly, devo essere sincera...all'inizio l'ho addirittura odiata poi ho cambiato idea! Questo suo atteggiamento da “spocchiosa e menefreghista” di tutto e tutti persino di se stessa non è simpatico da leggere. Si rovina pensando a cose che non sono mai esistite e per un amore che anche dopo tutti questi anni ancora la tormenta. Non riesce a tirarsi su se non con l'alcool. Oh! Molly che spreco, tu per me sei la vera orchidea!
Charlotte non mi ha lasciato molto, è la classica adolescente che vuole prevaricare su tutte pensando di essere la migliore. In questo libro ci sono anche altri personaggi di margine, il padre di Grace, il pastore, una figura meschina e fredda e se proprio vogliamo dirla tutta anche manesca. Davanti agli altri un uomo per bene e distinto poi tra le mura di casa...un classico! La mamma di Molly, una creatura che vive solo perchè deve, una creatura che ha sofferto molto per la figlia e che col tempo però viene ripagata.
La storia viene raccontata in modo altalenante, giri pagina e ti trovi a leggere un diario che racconta per filo e per segno le giornate della loro adolescenza e poi di nuovo nella realtà e così via. Ho potuto rivivere certi momenti di quando anche io ero adolescente (quanto vorrei tornare indietro nel tempo!)
Tra amiche nascono delle dinamiche che possono diventare bombe ad orologeria.
Tra donne va tutto bene fino a quando non viene fatto o detto qualcosa di diverso rispetto al “gruppo” altrimenti entrano in gioco la gelosia, l'invidia, la cattiveria e iniziano i pettegolezzi, dietro le spalle ovviamente.
Io, alle ragazze o donne ho sempre preferito i maschietti, sin da piccola, trovo che loro abbiamo quell'ingenuità così genuina, loro quando stanno insieme si divertono e basta.
Ed è quello che bisognerebbe fare quando si è amici, certo ci sono poi le situazioni che richiedono serietà ma, in generale è così.
Trovare l'amica vera e sincera oggi è davvero una cosa rara e preziosa perchè se trovi quella giusta, la complicità che s'instaura è assolutamente magica e indiscutibile.
Anche Molly ci credeva.
Want to read
March 30, 2019DNF
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