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Umbrella #2
Out of the Rain
Following the events of The Umbrella Lady, young Saffron Faith Anders searches for family and love in this spine-tingling gothic fairy tale from the New York Times bestselling author of the Flowers in the Attic series and Landry series—now popular Lifetime movies.
After escaping the trauma of the Umbrella Lady’s home, thirteen-year-old Saffron Faith Anders is determined to find the father who abandoned her all those years ago. But when she finds him in a nearby town, Saffron is shocked to discover that he has married a woman he clearly had been involved with before her mother’s death. Worse, her father insists Saffron pretend to be his niece so he can continue to con his new wife’s family. Desperate for her father’s love, she goes along with the farce, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps it is better to face the world alone than trapped in a toxic and potentially dangerous family.
After escaping the trauma of the Umbrella Lady’s home, thirteen-year-old Saffron Faith Anders is determined to find the father who abandoned her all those years ago. But when she finds him in a nearby town, Saffron is shocked to discover that he has married a woman he clearly had been involved with before her mother’s death. Worse, her father insists Saffron pretend to be his niece so he can continue to con his new wife’s family. Desperate for her father’s love, she goes along with the farce, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps it is better to face the world alone than trapped in a toxic and potentially dangerous family.
291 pages, Paperback
First published October 5, 2021
77 people are currently reading
7893 people want to read
About the author
V.C. Andrews
371 books9,167 followersBooks published under the following names - Virginia Andrews, V. Andrews, Virginia C. Andrews & V.C. Endrius. Books since her death ghost written by Andrew Neiderman, but still attributed to the V.C. Andrews name
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
Virginia Cleo Andrews (born Cleo Virginia Andrews) was born June 6, 1923 in Portsmouth, Virginia. The youngest child and the only daughter of William Henry Andrews, a career navy man who opened a tool-and-die business after retirement, and Lillian Lilnora Parker Andrews, a telephone operator. She spent her happy childhood years in Portsmouth, Virginia, living briefly in Rochester, New York. The Andrews family returned to Portsmouth while Virginia was in high school.
While a teenager, Virginia suffered a tragic accident, falling down the stairs at her school and incurred severe back injuries. Arthritis and a failed spinal surgical procedure forced her to spend most of her life on crutches or in a wheelchair.
Virginia excelled in school and, at fifteen, won a scholarship for writing a parody of Tennyson's Idylls of the King. She proudly earned her diploma from Woodrow Wilson High School in Portsmouth. After graduation, she nurtured her artistic talent by completing a four-year correspondence art course while living at home with her family.
After William Andrews died in the late 1960s, Virginia helped to support herself and her mother through her extremely successful career as a commercial artist, portrait painter, and fashion illustrator.
Frustrated with the lack of creative satisfaction that her work provided, Virginia sought creative release through writing, which she did in secret. In 1972, she completed her first novel, The Gods of the Green Mountain [sic], a science-fantasy story. It was never published. Between 1972 and 1979, she wrote nine novels and twenty short stories, of which only one was published. "I Slept with My Uncle on My Wedding Night", a short fiction piece, was published in a pulp confession magazine.
Promise gleamed over the horizon for Virginia when she submitted a 290,000-word novel, The Obsessed, to a publishing company. She was told that the story had potential, but needed to be trimmed and spiced up a bit. She drafted a new outline in a single night and added "unspeakable things my mother didn't want me to write about." The ninety-eight-page revision was re-titled Flowers in the Attic and she was paid a $7,500 advance. Her new-generation Gothic novel reached the bestseller lists a mere two weeks after its 1979 paperback publication by Pocket Books.
Petals on the Wind, her sequel to Flowers, was published the next year, earning Virginia a $35,000 advance. The second book remained on the New York Times bestseller list for an unbelievable nineteen weeks (Flowers also returned to the list). These first two novels alone sold over seven million copies in only two years. The third novel of the Dollanganger series, If There Be Thorns, was released in 1981, bringing Virginia a $75,000 advance. It reached No. 2 on many bestseller lists within its first two weeks.
Taking a break from the chronicles of Chris and Cathy Dollanganger, Virginia published her one, and only, stand-alone novel, My Sweet Audrina, in 1982. The book welcomed an immediate success, topping the sales figures of her previous novels. Two years later, a fourth Dollanganger novel was released, Seeds of Yesterday. According to the New York Times, Seeds was the best-selling fiction paperback novel of 1984. Also in 1984, V.C. Andrews was named "Professional Woman of the Year" by the city of Norfolk, Virginia.
Upon Andrews's death in 1986, two final novels—Garden of Shadows and Fallen Hearts—were published. These two novels are considered the last to bear the "V.C. Andrews" name and to be almost completely written by
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 136 reviews
July 25, 2022
This is a Fiction, and this is the second book in the Umbrella series. This took me awhile to get into this story, but I found it interesting once I was pulled in. I did find this book had no closer at the end, and I felt the story went no where. I found that this book had no point. I wanting it to go somewhere and solve some of the suspense that was built up through out this book. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Gallery Books) or author (V. C. Andrews) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.
January 10, 2023
I hoped for so much more. Saffron's inner monologue was way too much and her Dad forcing her too lie and doing it with a smile was really degrading. Unfortunately not a very good start or ending. I have a feeling there will probably be a book 3 which will tell Saffron's adult story.
August 5, 2021
Reading V. C. Andrews is a singular experience. It is rare to find an author that writes Gothic horror/family sagas quite like she does. Her plots are both mundane and moody; commonplace and creepy; unremarkable on the surface and yet unsettling the deeper you go. She often focuses on family secrets and cruel twists of fate and doesn't shy away from taboo topics (has anyone at this point not read what Flowers in the Attic is about?). There is a "car crash" quality to her writing and plotting that has you both cringing and craning your neck to get a better look.
Now that I'm done waxing poetic about Andrews, let me get straight to the point: this novel has none of Andrews' (black) magic. On the surface, this book contains the same themes as a classic V. C. Andrews (family secrets, sibling dynamics, rivalry, jealousy, abandonment, betrayal), but somehow it presents it all in a very dull package. Whereas Andrews could give a trip to the grocery store a dark twist, this book makes even the most outwardly "creepy" scenarios a snoozefest. The bigger transgression in my mind is that there are so few instances of the moody, unsettling tone I've come to love in an Andrews book. Mind you, before I come off as an Andrews historian here, I should mention that I've only read the Dollanganger series. Although, the tone, subject matter and style in that series was very consistent and gave me a good idea of what I could expect from an Andrews book moving forward. Out of the Rain, sadly, comes up short.
Out of the Rain is the second novel in The Umbrella series (the first book being The Umbrella Lady). I did not realize that it was the second book in a series before picking it up (which was my fault), and I was left feeling a bit confused throughout. I felt like I was missing something, and once I figured out that it was the second book in a series, I realized why. Even so, the feeling that I had throughout the book could be described as "missing something," and I don't think it can all be attributed to me reading this book out of its series order.
Out of the Rain follows, Saffron, a young girl who after the events of the first book, seeks out her father for the first time in years only for him to demand she act as his niece rather than his daughter for "reasons". The father has married into a rich, powerful family, and Saffron's very existence threatens the idyllic life he's built for himself. The majority of the novel follows Saffron navigating life with her father and his second family: Ava, the wife; Karen, the half sister, and Garson, the baby half brother. They believe she is related to the father, but they don't know the full extent of their relationship...which turned out to be pretty ineffective as a tension builder. It wasn't clear what would happen if Saffron was revealed to be her father's daughter (rather than his niece). Ava would get upset and tell her daddy? And? The stakes weren't that high.
There were a lot of missed opportunities here in terms of characterization, tone and plot. The father was a chameleon that changed his reaction to things depending on the needs of the scene. Ava could have been so much more threatening/domineering. It would have raised the stakes surrounding Saffron's "secret". Karen was so annoying and childlike. Garson was a literal baby. He couldn't have spiced up the plot if he wanted to. Tone (a specialty of Andrews) was constantly changing. There were times where the book veered off into contemporary YA territory (the party scene and any interaction with the high school basketball player, Tommy) and then suddenly remember that it was supposed to be a Gothic horror novel and throw in a suspicious glance or creepy turn of phrase. Almost nothing happens in this book. I was confused about why I was following Saffron's day to day life. It's like watching a reality show about an aggressively average person. I couldn't shake the feeling that there would be something much more interesting happening next door. If you find yourself wanting to read about the neighbors rather than your main character, something's gone horribly wrong.
The writing and dialogue is also very stilted and awkward at times:
"Another drop of suspicion trickled out of her eyes like invisible tears."
"Oh. That's sad."
"Just another in a long list of bad memories, most that would give you nightmares."
"Huh?"
"So what's the school like?" I asked.
"Huh?' I thought and uttered."
And internal questions happen at an alarming rate:
"Had my father gone there and fetched it? When? Had he had it sent to him? Why? Did he want me to feel more at home? Was that why he did it?" (There are two more questions after this, I just can't bring myself to write them.)
Hard pass. Might go back to read Andrews work in the 80s but likely won't pick up any more of Neiderman's work using Andrews' pen name. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
Now that I'm done waxing poetic about Andrews, let me get straight to the point: this novel has none of Andrews' (black) magic. On the surface, this book contains the same themes as a classic V. C. Andrews (family secrets, sibling dynamics, rivalry, jealousy, abandonment, betrayal), but somehow it presents it all in a very dull package. Whereas Andrews could give a trip to the grocery store a dark twist, this book makes even the most outwardly "creepy" scenarios a snoozefest. The bigger transgression in my mind is that there are so few instances of the moody, unsettling tone I've come to love in an Andrews book. Mind you, before I come off as an Andrews historian here, I should mention that I've only read the Dollanganger series. Although, the tone, subject matter and style in that series was very consistent and gave me a good idea of what I could expect from an Andrews book moving forward. Out of the Rain, sadly, comes up short.
Out of the Rain is the second novel in The Umbrella series (the first book being The Umbrella Lady). I did not realize that it was the second book in a series before picking it up (which was my fault), and I was left feeling a bit confused throughout. I felt like I was missing something, and once I figured out that it was the second book in a series, I realized why. Even so, the feeling that I had throughout the book could be described as "missing something," and I don't think it can all be attributed to me reading this book out of its series order.
Out of the Rain follows, Saffron, a young girl who after the events of the first book, seeks out her father for the first time in years only for him to demand she act as his niece rather than his daughter for "reasons". The father has married into a rich, powerful family, and Saffron's very existence threatens the idyllic life he's built for himself. The majority of the novel follows Saffron navigating life with her father and his second family: Ava, the wife; Karen, the half sister, and Garson, the baby half brother. They believe she is related to the father, but they don't know the full extent of their relationship...which turned out to be pretty ineffective as a tension builder. It wasn't clear what would happen if Saffron was revealed to be her father's daughter (rather than his niece). Ava would get upset and tell her daddy? And? The stakes weren't that high.
There were a lot of missed opportunities here in terms of characterization, tone and plot. The father was a chameleon that changed his reaction to things depending on the needs of the scene. Ava could have been so much more threatening/domineering. It would have raised the stakes surrounding Saffron's "secret". Karen was so annoying and childlike. Garson was a literal baby. He couldn't have spiced up the plot if he wanted to. Tone (a specialty of Andrews) was constantly changing. There were times where the book veered off into contemporary YA territory (the party scene and any interaction with the high school basketball player, Tommy) and then suddenly remember that it was supposed to be a Gothic horror novel and throw in a suspicious glance or creepy turn of phrase. Almost nothing happens in this book. I was confused about why I was following Saffron's day to day life. It's like watching a reality show about an aggressively average person. I couldn't shake the feeling that there would be something much more interesting happening next door. If you find yourself wanting to read about the neighbors rather than your main character, something's gone horribly wrong.
The writing and dialogue is also very stilted and awkward at times:
"Another drop of suspicion trickled out of her eyes like invisible tears."
"Oh. That's sad."
"Just another in a long list of bad memories, most that would give you nightmares."
"Huh?"
"So what's the school like?" I asked.
"Huh?' I thought and uttered."
And internal questions happen at an alarming rate:
"Had my father gone there and fetched it? When? Had he had it sent to him? Why? Did he want me to feel more at home? Was that why he did it?" (There are two more questions after this, I just can't bring myself to write them.)
Hard pass. Might go back to read Andrews work in the 80s but likely won't pick up any more of Neiderman's work using Andrews' pen name. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.
June 14, 2021
This is the 2nd book in the series about Saffron, following "The Umbrella Lady". The last book ends when h Saffron finds letters from her father and figures out where he is. This book starts with her going there and showing up on his doorstep, only to be told that they have to pretend that she is his niece instead in order to keep the piece with his wife's rich and powerful family.
Saffron is likeable and the book is easily readable, but nothing really happens. There is a little bit of a twist at the end (presumably setting us up for the 3rd installment) but there really just isn't much action through the rest of the book. I felt the exact same way about the first book.
Overall, if you like new VC Andrews, you'll probably like the book, but this series doesn't contain the kinds of shocking revelations that I came to love from the original author back in the 1980s. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Saffron is likeable and the book is easily readable, but nothing really happens. There is a little bit of a twist at the end (presumably setting us up for the 3rd installment) but there really just isn't much action through the rest of the book. I felt the exact same way about the first book.
Overall, if you like new VC Andrews, you'll probably like the book, but this series doesn't contain the kinds of shocking revelations that I came to love from the original author back in the 1980s. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 21, 2021
Out of the Rain picks up where The Umbrella Lady left off. Saffron Anders now known as Saffron Dazy has left the confines of her grandmother’s home in search of her father, Derick Anders. Derick abandoned Saffron at a train station many years before, leaving Saffron frightened and confused.
Years have passed and now at a crossroads due to Saffron’s grandmother’s death, Saffron uncovers correspondence that point to her father’s new place of residence.
After arriving at Derick Anders’ splendid home, Saffron discovers that Derick has remarried and now has two children with his new wife. Shocked at the surprise visit by his daughter, Derick concocts a plan to conceal Saffron’s true identity, thus securing his position in a financially secure family. A family rich beyond his dreams.
Being that Out of the Rain is the sequeal to The Umbrella Lady, it cannot be read as a stand alone. To get the feel and flavor of the story, one must read The Umbrella Lady to understand the background of Saffron and Derick Anders. In Out of the Rain, readers are introduced to several new characters so a fundamental knowledge of the prior characters is essential for the enjoyment of the story. Personalities, and motives are revealed in the sequel which really add to the intrigue.
The plot is a little convoluted as Derick’s intentions, though honorable, is laced with selfish and self-centered motives. The reader will wonder whether Derick’s means justify the ends.
Out of the Rain is a spine tingling novel that will give new meaning to the word sinister. Four stars — only because of the open ended finale which begs the question of whether there will be another installment, or if readers are to draw their own conclusions.
I received a digital ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Years have passed and now at a crossroads due to Saffron’s grandmother’s death, Saffron uncovers correspondence that point to her father’s new place of residence.
After arriving at Derick Anders’ splendid home, Saffron discovers that Derick has remarried and now has two children with his new wife. Shocked at the surprise visit by his daughter, Derick concocts a plan to conceal Saffron’s true identity, thus securing his position in a financially secure family. A family rich beyond his dreams.
Being that Out of the Rain is the sequeal to The Umbrella Lady, it cannot be read as a stand alone. To get the feel and flavor of the story, one must read The Umbrella Lady to understand the background of Saffron and Derick Anders. In Out of the Rain, readers are introduced to several new characters so a fundamental knowledge of the prior characters is essential for the enjoyment of the story. Personalities, and motives are revealed in the sequel which really add to the intrigue.
The plot is a little convoluted as Derick’s intentions, though honorable, is laced with selfish and self-centered motives. The reader will wonder whether Derick’s means justify the ends.
Out of the Rain is a spine tingling novel that will give new meaning to the word sinister. Four stars — only because of the open ended finale which begs the question of whether there will be another installment, or if readers are to draw their own conclusions.
I received a digital ARC from Gallery Books through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
December 18, 2021
I have been reading V.C. Andrews books since the first one published when I was 13 years old. I have read ALL of them. Some better than others as in this case, the first book in the series was better than this one. Do I wish it was the original author publishing them? Yes, of course but since a ghost writer has taken over for her books his writing style is similar but I do notice differences. I do believe you either read V.C. Andrews books or you don't it's like a following.
After reading this book I have unanswered questions which I am hoping will be answered in the next book, I do not like cliffhangers. This book is about a family trying to survive life with everything filled with lies which just lead to more lies. I think we will see more of the grandfather in the next book, he seems like the only reasonable one in the bunch.
Pub Date 01 Dec 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
After reading this book I have unanswered questions which I am hoping will be answered in the next book, I do not like cliffhangers. This book is about a family trying to survive life with everything filled with lies which just lead to more lies. I think we will see more of the grandfather in the next book, he seems like the only reasonable one in the bunch.
Pub Date 01 Dec 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.
November 16, 2021
This is book 2 of the Umbrella series and it picks up where book 1 left off. Saffron has left her grandmothers home after she passed away and heads to find her father, Derick. Derick had abandoned Saffron many years ago and Mazy took her in. Upon Mazy’s death, saffron finds letters from her father that give her an idea of where to find Derrick so she decides to go to him and get him to take her in, as she has no where else to go. When she gets there, he agrees to take her in on the condition that she claim him as her uncle and not her father, as his father has built his new life and family upon a house of cards. Saffron finds life stressful living with all the lies but doesn’t know how she can do anything else. Once she meets her new grandfather figure, she gets some ideas of what she needs to do.
While some books in a series can be read as a stand-alone, I don’t really think that can be said of this one. You really need the background of the characters that is laid out in th first one. And the ending of this one leaves me thinking that there will be a third book to come.
Thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
While some books in a series can be read as a stand-alone, I don’t really think that can be said of this one. You really need the background of the characters that is laid out in th first one. And the ending of this one leaves me thinking that there will be a third book to come.
Thanks to Gallery Books and Netgalley for this Arc in exchange for my review.
July 13, 2021
Saffron, is a girl/woman, who as a child was abandoned by her father after her mother was killed in a fire.
Mazy was the Grandmothers name. Saffron had no idea, as a little girl, who mazy was.
Her father left her at a train station with a coloring book and a ticket. She thought her father would return for her.
Surprize, the father was having an affair and had gotten the mistress pregnant.
When Mazy died, Saffron found letters from her father to Mazy with his address. So Saffron sits out to either reunite with her father or continue on her way. She was only in high school and knew following Mazy's death Social Services would come for her and place her with a family she didn't know.
From here Saffron learns that her father married into a wealthy family with a lot of power and that her father had never told anyone about having a daughter.
And so the lies begin.
It is a great story and making choices, and then living with those choices. But at what cost.
Mazy was the Grandmothers name. Saffron had no idea, as a little girl, who mazy was.
Her father left her at a train station with a coloring book and a ticket. She thought her father would return for her.
Surprize, the father was having an affair and had gotten the mistress pregnant.
When Mazy died, Saffron found letters from her father to Mazy with his address. So Saffron sits out to either reunite with her father or continue on her way. She was only in high school and knew following Mazy's death Social Services would come for her and place her with a family she didn't know.
From here Saffron learns that her father married into a wealthy family with a lot of power and that her father had never told anyone about having a daughter.
And so the lies begin.
It is a great story and making choices, and then living with those choices. But at what cost.
April 14, 2022
This book is my first book ever from V.C. Andrews. I have to say the first two chapters are extremely hard to get into. If you make it to chapter 3 then you might get sucked in. Once I got sucked in the story seemed to be very interesting, but about halfway through the book become repetitive. The main character rarely makes any progress throughout the book and constantly complains about the same thing. Storyline didn’t move at all throughout the book maybe to like the half point of a story line.
The ending?
Oh. My. Gosh. The ending was HORRIBLEEEE!! I feel like there was no ending, the book felt as though the author finished the chapter and realized the deadline was the next day and simply said “welp looks like that’s got to be the end” truly a disappointment.
Would I recommend? Eh probably not, but if you had nothing else to read I would say to try this book out🤷🏻♀️
The ending?
Oh. My. Gosh. The ending was HORRIBLEEEE!! I feel like there was no ending, the book felt as though the author finished the chapter and realized the deadline was the next day and simply said “welp looks like that’s got to be the end” truly a disappointment.
Would I recommend? Eh probably not, but if you had nothing else to read I would say to try this book out🤷🏻♀️
December 15, 2021
V.C. Andrews was an incredible Gothic author. In the beginning, Andrew Neiderman tried his best to mimic Ms. Andrews's writing style and succeeded in continuing the Casteel series. Unfortunately, the quality of his novels has slowly deteriorated over the last few years. Long gone are grand family Gothic epics. Instead, we get unnecessary prequels and sequels with loads of continuity errors and the occasional boring standalone novel. 2021 began with the release of The Umbrella Lady. I gave it a 3 out of 5. Neiderman's writing had improved, but I still had issues with the dialogue and lack of descriptions. The story itself was intriguing, and at the time, I thought it was a decent start to a new series. Well, that is until I read the sequel Out of the Rain.
Where should I begin? Hmm. The dilemmas of writing a review can be mindboggling at times. LOL.
Let's start with the narration. The narration is in the point-of-view of a sheltered thirteen-year-old girl, and she sounds nothing like her age. Not for one second did I believe a thirteen-year-old was telling the story. If anything, the narration sounds more like an older person. Oh, wait a minute. I forgot for a second that the author is an eighty-one-year-old man, so I guess that does make sense. (FYI - I have nothing against elderly authors. I'm just being sarcastic.)
There is absolutely no plot. There's an intriguing setup with Saffron having to pretend she's her father's niece, so his wife and daughter (Yep, he has another kid.) won't know he was previously married. (What a great dad!) Nothing else of any importance happens. There's just the same ole same ole filler that Neiderman has used countless times. The outcast protagonist goes to school and tries to live a normal life until the family's dark secret comes out of the closet. Yeah, I've already heard this story.
Overall, Out of the Rain is a lackluster sequel. Saffron, the protagonist, is likable, but her thoughts and dialogue don't match her age. What little plot there is, is cliched as it can get. There's a light ending twist, but all it's there for is to set up a possible third entry. It's not the worst out of the recent ghostwritten books, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Where should I begin? Hmm. The dilemmas of writing a review can be mindboggling at times. LOL.
Let's start with the narration. The narration is in the point-of-view of a sheltered thirteen-year-old girl, and she sounds nothing like her age. Not for one second did I believe a thirteen-year-old was telling the story. If anything, the narration sounds more like an older person. Oh, wait a minute. I forgot for a second that the author is an eighty-one-year-old man, so I guess that does make sense. (FYI - I have nothing against elderly authors. I'm just being sarcastic.)
There is absolutely no plot. There's an intriguing setup with Saffron having to pretend she's her father's niece, so his wife and daughter (Yep, he has another kid.) won't know he was previously married. (What a great dad!) Nothing else of any importance happens. There's just the same ole same ole filler that Neiderman has used countless times. The outcast protagonist goes to school and tries to live a normal life until the family's dark secret comes out of the closet. Yeah, I've already heard this story.
Overall, Out of the Rain is a lackluster sequel. Saffron, the protagonist, is likable, but her thoughts and dialogue don't match her age. What little plot there is, is cliched as it can get. There's a light ending twist, but all it's there for is to set up a possible third entry. It's not the worst out of the recent ghostwritten books, but I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
August 20, 2021
I must preface this review by saying that this is my first V.C. Andrews (or ghostwriter as V.C. Andrews) novel so I do not have the full context of the author's other works. However, I do not believe my opinion of the novel would be much altered if I had read previous books. If anything, I might have been more disappointed.
The teaser on the back of my ARC describes the novel as "spine-tingling." Not only did my spine never tingle, but I also found myself in a constant state of needing more as I progressed through the story. Saffron, a supposed 13-year-old, returns to the town she was born in to find a father who abandoned her and created a new family without her. Rather than welcoming her with open arms, her father enlists her to exist in a web of lies concealing that she is his real daughter in order to not rupture his new family. Will Saffron live in a lie? There it is. That's the whole book. 291 pages of Saffron deciding if she can live in a lie with small pinches of an underdeveloped romance, a shallow teenage stereotype, and hints at other characters' backgrounds and personalities that are never expounded upon. I don't know what happens at the end of this book. Not because it didn't tell me, but because I did not understand it. I closed the back cover with a feeling of utter confusion.
Though this is a minor issue within the book, I found myself distracted by Saffron's age throughout my reading. She is supposed to be 13 but in Grade 10 due to being an exceptional student but her sister/cousin is younger than her but in Grade 9. Doesn't add up. Additionally, Saffron speaks in proverbs and calculates others' actions not in the way of a mature 13-year-old, but in the way of a character whose age was forgotten about as she was written.
Despite being tempted by a one-star rating, "Out of the Rain" earned a second star due to the writing itself. Despite the utter flaws in the plot and characters, I did not need to power through this book; literarily, it read smoothly.
Thank you to NetGallery for my Advance Reader's Edition.
The teaser on the back of my ARC describes the novel as "spine-tingling." Not only did my spine never tingle, but I also found myself in a constant state of needing more as I progressed through the story. Saffron, a supposed 13-year-old, returns to the town she was born in to find a father who abandoned her and created a new family without her. Rather than welcoming her with open arms, her father enlists her to exist in a web of lies concealing that she is his real daughter in order to not rupture his new family. Will Saffron live in a lie? There it is. That's the whole book. 291 pages of Saffron deciding if she can live in a lie with small pinches of an underdeveloped romance, a shallow teenage stereotype, and hints at other characters' backgrounds and personalities that are never expounded upon. I don't know what happens at the end of this book. Not because it didn't tell me, but because I did not understand it. I closed the back cover with a feeling of utter confusion.
Though this is a minor issue within the book, I found myself distracted by Saffron's age throughout my reading. She is supposed to be 13 but in Grade 10 due to being an exceptional student but her sister/cousin is younger than her but in Grade 9. Doesn't add up. Additionally, Saffron speaks in proverbs and calculates others' actions not in the way of a mature 13-year-old, but in the way of a character whose age was forgotten about as she was written.
Despite being tempted by a one-star rating, "Out of the Rain" earned a second star due to the writing itself. Despite the utter flaws in the plot and characters, I did not need to power through this book; literarily, it read smoothly.
Thank you to NetGallery for my Advance Reader's Edition.
October 6, 2021
Her Father's Secrets
A story of Saffron, a young girl from the book "The Umbrella Lady". At the age of fourteen the young girl's grandmother with whom she was left dies and Saffron is free from her over protective grasp. She finds letters her father sent and knows where to find him.
Saffron sets off on the train with her backpack in search of the father that abandoned her seven years ago when she was eight. When she finds him she is told to pose as his niece and must make up stories about her life. She finds the whole family is nothing but lies and there in no honesty or truth in their household. Everyone is an actor and she is not very good at it.
It is a story of a young girl yearning for the love of her father. Instead of finding that love she finds out secrets about her father that she did not want to know. The secrets go back to the fire that took the life of her mother. She is devastated by what she finds.
She decides that it isn't worth it to live a life of lies even if it is a life of luxury. The book ends in a cliffhanger rather abruptly leaving me with a lot of questions. I really hope there is a book three so I will know the rest of Saffron's story.
The book was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to V.C. Andrews, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
A story of Saffron, a young girl from the book "The Umbrella Lady". At the age of fourteen the young girl's grandmother with whom she was left dies and Saffron is free from her over protective grasp. She finds letters her father sent and knows where to find him.
Saffron sets off on the train with her backpack in search of the father that abandoned her seven years ago when she was eight. When she finds him she is told to pose as his niece and must make up stories about her life. She finds the whole family is nothing but lies and there in no honesty or truth in their household. Everyone is an actor and she is not very good at it.
It is a story of a young girl yearning for the love of her father. Instead of finding that love she finds out secrets about her father that she did not want to know. The secrets go back to the fire that took the life of her mother. She is devastated by what she finds.
She decides that it isn't worth it to live a life of lies even if it is a life of luxury. The book ends in a cliffhanger rather abruptly leaving me with a lot of questions. I really hope there is a book three so I will know the rest of Saffron's story.
The book was a good book and I enjoyed reading it.
Thanks to V.C. Andrews, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy for my honest review.
November 21, 2021
#2 in the Umbrella series and my review is the same as book 1
I read all V. C. Andrews books (even though they are ghost written now) and have to say this is the first one in a long time that completely held my interest. A very quick easy read with a slow build but not to slow to have you lose interest. I look forward to the next in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery books and the Author V.C. Andrews for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I read all V. C. Andrews books (even though they are ghost written now) and have to say this is the first one in a long time that completely held my interest. A very quick easy read with a slow build but not to slow to have you lose interest. I look forward to the next in this series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery books and the Author V.C. Andrews for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2021
VC Andrews has been one of my go-to authors since my early teens. I read everything that comes out but I am definitely enjoying this particular story. Both books have held my attention and it’s been a good story so far, my guilty pleasure
January 26, 2022
Loved it!! I just started reading V.C. Andrews books in the last couple years and have enjoyed all the ones I have read! This one was so engrossing and absorbing that now I have to read the first in this series!!
June 1, 2025
This was the answers and outcome I needed after book #1. This was the first “modern” VC Andrew book and it kept throwing me off when the author spoke of phone and computers. However it still had that gothic literature tone and that’s what I love most about this author.
April 14, 2022
Couldn’t even finish this one. I had no idea it was the second book in a series and just found the whole story to be too depressing and boring.
October 14, 2023
Endless teenage angst, even if warranted. I'm too old I guess.
January 12, 2022
Much like the first book in this series, this book was predictable in a way that you hope you are wrong and something major happens, then you find yourself with 10 pages (I’m my case, 10 minutes of an audio book) left and realize the “something major” will never come. It wasn’t the worst thing I’ve ever read, which makes it worse because it gives you hope at every turn. You don’t connect with the main character, so there’s really no one else you can connect with. With no emotional connection, you hope that the story will provide you the oohs and aahs but it just… doesn’t. With so many books to read out there, I would recommend you to skip this one. 🤷🏻♀️
October 4, 2021
After losing her mother and her home to a deadly house fire, Saffron sets off with her father to their “new home.” Except she takes a huge detour when her dad leaves her on the bench at the train station and NEVER COMES BACK. Lucky for Saffron, he made prior arrangements with the grandmother Saffron never knew to come find her at the train station, raise her for the next five years and never mention she was her grandmother. Until the end of the first book, I thought Grandma Mazy was a crazy kidnapper. Unfortunately, Grandma turned out to be not only the good guy, but also she died.
This book, the second in the series, starts out with Saffron off to find her dad in his new house with his new family. No phone calls. No heads up. The plan is just to show up. Conveniently, Dad answers the door and without so much as a “good to see you,” sends Saffron to stay at the hotel down the street. The next day, he shows up, says “Hey, I’m rich now, but the money all belongs to your new step-mother (who, btw, doesn’t know you exist). We don’t want to piss her off, so let’s tell everyone I’m actually your uncle.”
What.
And on it goes. I’m honestly not sure what the point of the book was.
The only thing I liked about the book was the main character. Saffron is a sweetheart and I just loved her. Grandma Mazy grew on me towards the end of the first book. Every other character in this book, with the exception of a couple minor characters, is an absolute twit.
This one comes out on November 2, 2021, but unless you have some sort of VC Andrews collection and you just have to have this book, there are better options to spend your money on.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.
This book, the second in the series, starts out with Saffron off to find her dad in his new house with his new family. No phone calls. No heads up. The plan is just to show up. Conveniently, Dad answers the door and without so much as a “good to see you,” sends Saffron to stay at the hotel down the street. The next day, he shows up, says “Hey, I’m rich now, but the money all belongs to your new step-mother (who, btw, doesn’t know you exist). We don’t want to piss her off, so let’s tell everyone I’m actually your uncle.”
What.
And on it goes. I’m honestly not sure what the point of the book was.
The only thing I liked about the book was the main character. Saffron is a sweetheart and I just loved her. Grandma Mazy grew on me towards the end of the first book. Every other character in this book, with the exception of a couple minor characters, is an absolute twit.
This one comes out on November 2, 2021, but unless you have some sort of VC Andrews collection and you just have to have this book, there are better options to spend your money on.
Thanks to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.
October 5, 2021
***3.5 Stars***
Brief Synopsis: After the death of her grandma, thirteen-year-old Saffron Anders finds herself orphaned again and is determined to find her birth father who abandoned her years ago. She is shocked to find that he is married with children, one of which is her own age. In order to keep his previous life under wraps, her dad asks Saffron to pretend to be his niece. With nowhere else to go, she ultimately agrees. Saffron is learning to adjust to her new life, while trying to untangle the web of her father’s lies. Will she be able to keep up with the charade?
Thoughts: Though this is a follow-up to another book, it can be read as a standalone novel with no issues. The story is well-written and easy to follow, but it can be super slow at times. In addition, I didn’t feel much suspense or emotion from the text. With the exception of the dad, all of the characters and their actions/personalities are believable. Saffron is a likable, witty main character. I know that the dad’s character was not meant to be likable, but I didn’t feel much of a believability factor towards him. In fact, his narrative felt repetitive and juvenile. I felt closure from the ending, but it’s also setup in a way that another book could follow.
Thank you to V.C. Andrews, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Overall it was a good, light-themed read. Take a few extra minutes to review the author’s notes at the end, it definitely added value to the book for me.
Brief Synopsis: After the death of her grandma, thirteen-year-old Saffron Anders finds herself orphaned again and is determined to find her birth father who abandoned her years ago. She is shocked to find that he is married with children, one of which is her own age. In order to keep his previous life under wraps, her dad asks Saffron to pretend to be his niece. With nowhere else to go, she ultimately agrees. Saffron is learning to adjust to her new life, while trying to untangle the web of her father’s lies. Will she be able to keep up with the charade?
Thoughts: Though this is a follow-up to another book, it can be read as a standalone novel with no issues. The story is well-written and easy to follow, but it can be super slow at times. In addition, I didn’t feel much suspense or emotion from the text. With the exception of the dad, all of the characters and their actions/personalities are believable. Saffron is a likable, witty main character. I know that the dad’s character was not meant to be likable, but I didn’t feel much of a believability factor towards him. In fact, his narrative felt repetitive and juvenile. I felt closure from the ending, but it’s also setup in a way that another book could follow.
Thank you to V.C. Andrews, Gallery Books, and NetGalley for a copy of this book. Overall it was a good, light-themed read. Take a few extra minutes to review the author’s notes at the end, it definitely added value to the book for me.
July 13, 2024
It is interesting how rich people think everyone has unlimited money, most don't think about other people's struggles when it comes to money
February 2, 2023
Why do I continue to read garbage novels?! When will I learn that these books haven't been good since VC Andrews died.
June 14, 2024
DNF at page 40 and I never DNF…
December 29, 2023
⭐️⭐️1/2
“Mazy used to say that some motels and hotels are nothing more than human storage. I never understood what she meant until this moment. I had been put on a shelf until there was a decision about what to do with me.”
Synopsis✨
After escaping the trauma of the Umbrella Lady’s home, thirteen-year-old Saffron Faith Anders is determined to find the father who abandoned her all those years ago. But when she finds him in a nearby town, Saffron is shocked to discover that he has married a woman he clearly had been involved with before her mother’s death. Worse, her father insists Saffron pretend to be his niece so he can continue to con his new wife’s family. Desperate for her father’s love, she goes along with the farce, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps it is better to face the world alone than trapped in a toxic and potentially dangerous family.
Thoughts✨
I will preface by saying I did not read the first book in the series “The umbrella lady” as I originally thought this was a stand alone.
I have been reading V.C Andrews books since my teen years and I will typically read any of these books as they are quick reads and usually involve an air of mystery.
I found this one promising but a bit lacklustre. The story is good but the inner monologue of the main character Saffron is clearly written by someone who is very out of touch with being a teenage girl( yes I’m aware it’s penned by an 80 something man) It is just not believable that this character is a 13/14 year old girl who is dealing with loss/ betrayal and extreme confusion surrounding her family ties.
The book was left open ended so I have to believe there will be a follow up to let us know if Saffron stays with the father she no longer trusts and his new family and keeps up the facade or stays true to herself and leaves the estate to branch out on her own. While I wasn’t enthralled by this novel I will likely read a follow up just for the closure to the mystery.
“Mazy used to say that some motels and hotels are nothing more than human storage. I never understood what she meant until this moment. I had been put on a shelf until there was a decision about what to do with me.”
Synopsis✨
After escaping the trauma of the Umbrella Lady’s home, thirteen-year-old Saffron Faith Anders is determined to find the father who abandoned her all those years ago. But when she finds him in a nearby town, Saffron is shocked to discover that he has married a woman he clearly had been involved with before her mother’s death. Worse, her father insists Saffron pretend to be his niece so he can continue to con his new wife’s family. Desperate for her father’s love, she goes along with the farce, but it soon becomes clear that perhaps it is better to face the world alone than trapped in a toxic and potentially dangerous family.
Thoughts✨
I will preface by saying I did not read the first book in the series “The umbrella lady” as I originally thought this was a stand alone.
I have been reading V.C Andrews books since my teen years and I will typically read any of these books as they are quick reads and usually involve an air of mystery.
I found this one promising but a bit lacklustre. The story is good but the inner monologue of the main character Saffron is clearly written by someone who is very out of touch with being a teenage girl( yes I’m aware it’s penned by an 80 something man) It is just not believable that this character is a 13/14 year old girl who is dealing with loss/ betrayal and extreme confusion surrounding her family ties.
The book was left open ended so I have to believe there will be a follow up to let us know if Saffron stays with the father she no longer trusts and his new family and keeps up the facade or stays true to herself and leaves the estate to branch out on her own. While I wasn’t enthralled by this novel I will likely read a follow up just for the closure to the mystery.
July 26, 2021
Thanks to NetGallery for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Anyone following V.C. Andrews for any amount of time will be aware that as Virginia Andrews herself passed away in 1986, her estate has employed a ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman (author of Pin and Devil's Advocate to name a few) to carry on in her stead. These ghostwritten books vary in quality, with a heyday of the 90s with series like Dawn and Ruby and in recent years have tapered off in quality. I've been a devoted fan since childhood first and foremost of the original, gothic books of the original VC (Flowers in the Attic and Heaven) but I do have a soft spot for the oddness of Neiderman VC.
Out of the Rain (and the first book The Umbrella Lady) feels like a step in the right direction from some of the more recent ghostwriting work. It's not the original author, not even like the same ghostwriter of the 90s, but it isn't the exact same formula we have been given over and over.
Telling the story of Saffron, she journeys to find her father after he abandoned her and is made to pretend to be his niece. There isn't a huge amount of action in this book but there is a clearly set up follow up based on the ending. I think this book was interesting because of the cliffhanger from the first book alone. There is some originality I didn't expect. You can really see the family dysfunction and a lot of the characters are aware of it and that is refreshing. More than ever in recent ghostwritten VC books, I wanted to see what would happen and continue to do so. I want the secrets to be revealed and want everything to come crashing down around her father.
I think this is a series worth sticking around for---I'll read the third book when released to see how this all plays out.
Anyone following V.C. Andrews for any amount of time will be aware that as Virginia Andrews herself passed away in 1986, her estate has employed a ghostwriter Andrew Neiderman (author of Pin and Devil's Advocate to name a few) to carry on in her stead. These ghostwritten books vary in quality, with a heyday of the 90s with series like Dawn and Ruby and in recent years have tapered off in quality. I've been a devoted fan since childhood first and foremost of the original, gothic books of the original VC (Flowers in the Attic and Heaven) but I do have a soft spot for the oddness of Neiderman VC.
Out of the Rain (and the first book The Umbrella Lady) feels like a step in the right direction from some of the more recent ghostwriting work. It's not the original author, not even like the same ghostwriter of the 90s, but it isn't the exact same formula we have been given over and over.
Telling the story of Saffron, she journeys to find her father after he abandoned her and is made to pretend to be his niece. There isn't a huge amount of action in this book but there is a clearly set up follow up based on the ending. I think this book was interesting because of the cliffhanger from the first book alone. There is some originality I didn't expect. You can really see the family dysfunction and a lot of the characters are aware of it and that is refreshing. More than ever in recent ghostwritten VC books, I wanted to see what would happen and continue to do so. I want the secrets to be revealed and want everything to come crashing down around her father.
I think this is a series worth sticking around for---I'll read the third book when released to see how this all plays out.
July 26, 2022
Well, what do you want me to say.....? It was just like the first book in this trilogy(? because this had no ending) it picks up where 'The Umbrella Lady' ended. And nothing really happens in this one at all.
When Saffron Anders loses her mother when she is very young, to a house fire, she is dropped off by her father at a train station, and she hopes he is coming back to get her.....nope.
This story takes place almost 8 or 9 years later, and Saffron Anders, (now by the last name as Dazy) is on her way to find her father to live with him. She finds him in a small town, and when he picks her up at the local diner he tells her that if she thinks and wants to stay with him and his new family....she has to play the role of his Niece. What the hell?! Yes, she has to pretend that her now deceased Mother was her fathers' sister, and they were not on speaking terms.
When she starts the new private school where EVERYONE that goes here is either very rich, (but NOT as wealthy as Saffron's 'Step Mother's family is) and or very snobby. Now the kids know that Saffron is from California so they immediately think the she comes from 'Where all the Movie Stars live'. What they find out thru her half sister Karen is that she was quite poor, and did not have the luxuries and pleasures that they were all born with in their hands. The book was a very easy book to listen to, however the narrator made it very easy to want to stay listening. Do not expect this to be as good as 'The Umbrella Lady' and nothing ever really happens. I don't know if this has another book coming or not. Just okay. Would recommend to those only who like Andrew Neiderman's type of 'family dramas'.
3 ☔☔☔
When Saffron Anders loses her mother when she is very young, to a house fire, she is dropped off by her father at a train station, and she hopes he is coming back to get her.....nope.
This story takes place almost 8 or 9 years later, and Saffron Anders, (now by the last name as Dazy) is on her way to find her father to live with him. She finds him in a small town, and when he picks her up at the local diner he tells her that if she thinks and wants to stay with him and his new family....she has to play the role of his Niece. What the hell?! Yes, she has to pretend that her now deceased Mother was her fathers' sister, and they were not on speaking terms.
When she starts the new private school where EVERYONE that goes here is either very rich, (but NOT as wealthy as Saffron's 'Step Mother's family is) and or very snobby. Now the kids know that Saffron is from California so they immediately think the she comes from 'Where all the Movie Stars live'. What they find out thru her half sister Karen is that she was quite poor, and did not have the luxuries and pleasures that they were all born with in their hands. The book was a very easy book to listen to, however the narrator made it very easy to want to stay listening. Do not expect this to be as good as 'The Umbrella Lady' and nothing ever really happens. I don't know if this has another book coming or not. Just okay. Would recommend to those only who like Andrew Neiderman's type of 'family dramas'.
3 ☔☔☔
October 13, 2021
I just finished reading Out Of the Rain by author V.C. Andrews and have to admit I enjoyed it immensely. I have been reading other peoples reviews and am seeing a lot of negativity. I personally don’t understand this. I have enjoyed this authors work right from the beginning and still do to this day. And yes, I’m fully aware that after Virginia’s death, a ghost writer by the name of Andrew Neiderman has taken over. I still enjoy these stories and am proud to say I own every single book in the collection! That being said, Out Of the Rain picked up right where The Umbrella Lady left off. These stories are written in series so at the end you are left hanging and have to wait for the next books release to find out the continuation of the story. I only wish the author could write a little faster! This book tells about what happens to Saffron after the death of Mazy Dazy, her maternal grandmother, also known as The Umbrella Lady. It shows just how lying and deceitful her father really was. It’s a story of greed and deceit and proves just how twisted some people can be. I enjoyed it so much I finished it in record time. If you’ve never read a V.C. Andrews book, I recommend you start with this series. I believe I prefer it over some of the authors previous work. If you’re into gothic style stories where the characters lives are sometimes twisted with deceit and perhaps even a little incest thrown in, then you’re sure to like these books. I wonder what that says about me? Oh well, I love reading them and am giving this book a 5 star rating! I’d like to thank author Andrew Neiderman and Gallery Books for accepting my request and NetGalley for the arc to read, review and enjoy.
December 8, 2021
Out of the Rain picks up where The Umbrella Lady left off. Saffron Anders now known as Saffron Dazy has left the confines of her grandmother’s home in search of her father, Derick Anders. Derick abandoned Saffron at a train station many years before, leaving Saffron frightened and confused.
Years later, after the death of her grandma, thirteen-year-old Saffron Anders finds herself orphaned again and is determined to find her birth father who abandoned her years ago. After arriving at Derick Anders’ splendid home, Saffron discovers that Derick has remarried and now has two children with his new wife. Shocked at the surprise visit by his daughter, Derick concocts a plan to conceal Saffron’ s true identity, thus securing his position in a financially secure family. A family rich beyond his dreams. Will it work?
Most of the characters, are fairly well developed but not a lot happens in the story. There is not a lot of suspense or emotion from the text. Saffron is a likable, witty main character.
Being that Out of the Rain is the sequel to The Umbrella Lady, it cannot be read as a stand alone. To get the feel and flavor of the story, one must read The Umbrella Lady to understand the background of Saffron and Derick Anders. In Out of the Rain, readers are introduced to several new characters so a fundamental knowledge of the prior characters is essential for the enjoyment of the story. Personalities, and motives are revealed in the sequel which really add to the intrigue.
I received an ARC from Simon & Schuster through Goodreads. My review is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Years later, after the death of her grandma, thirteen-year-old Saffron Anders finds herself orphaned again and is determined to find her birth father who abandoned her years ago. After arriving at Derick Anders’ splendid home, Saffron discovers that Derick has remarried and now has two children with his new wife. Shocked at the surprise visit by his daughter, Derick concocts a plan to conceal Saffron’ s true identity, thus securing his position in a financially secure family. A family rich beyond his dreams. Will it work?
Most of the characters, are fairly well developed but not a lot happens in the story. There is not a lot of suspense or emotion from the text. Saffron is a likable, witty main character.
Being that Out of the Rain is the sequel to The Umbrella Lady, it cannot be read as a stand alone. To get the feel and flavor of the story, one must read The Umbrella Lady to understand the background of Saffron and Derick Anders. In Out of the Rain, readers are introduced to several new characters so a fundamental knowledge of the prior characters is essential for the enjoyment of the story. Personalities, and motives are revealed in the sequel which really add to the intrigue.
I received an ARC from Simon & Schuster through Goodreads. My review is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
June 11, 2022
Well, we've figured out why Saffron's father left her at the station, and it's not very good. The whole book was kind of bad, actually. It was worse than the first book. No one here talks or acts like a real person. I don't think VC Andrews' ghost author has been outside or spoken to a teenager since the 1930s. Everyone acts so wooden and strange that I couldn't immerse myself in the story. I don't know if this is because Andrew Neiderman is trying to emulate VC Andrews' style or what. I'm actually considering trying one of his novels that wasn't written under his name just to see how he normally writes.
Towards the end there's a reveal that Saffron was reported missing in her last hometown, but this isn't resolved. Saffron exposes her lies to Amos Saddlebrook at the end of the story, but none of it seems to make a difference. There aren't any consequences for anything that happens in the story. There could've been a lot of opportunities for the secret to be revealed and for Saffron to navigate the fallout. That would've been interesting! Instead it just drags on.
I kept reading and reading waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it just didn't happen. I'm unsure of what happened at the very end, too. Did Saffron just decide to go home and continue living out her lie? But she asked for an umbrella which makes me think she decided to leave home? I don't understand. I'm guessing all these questions and frustrations I have will be answered in the next book, but do I really want to subject myself to any more of this?
Towards the end there's a reveal that Saffron was reported missing in her last hometown, but this isn't resolved. Saffron exposes her lies to Amos Saddlebrook at the end of the story, but none of it seems to make a difference. There aren't any consequences for anything that happens in the story. There could've been a lot of opportunities for the secret to be revealed and for Saffron to navigate the fallout. That would've been interesting! Instead it just drags on.
I kept reading and reading waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it just didn't happen. I'm unsure of what happened at the very end, too. Did Saffron just decide to go home and continue living out her lie? But she asked for an umbrella which makes me think she decided to leave home? I don't understand. I'm guessing all these questions and frustrations I have will be answered in the next book, but do I really want to subject myself to any more of this?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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