This book was not good. This ghostwriter continuously disappoints. At this point, V.C. Andrews reputation has been so tainted, that I don't think it can recover. Her gothic romances were amazing when she was the writer, filled with gothic romance, suspense, horror and memorable characters. With her lazy ghostwriter now, we have been "treated" to a litany of thoughtless junk. RIP V.C. Andrews.

I was able to read this book thanks to NetGalley. I very much enjoyed this series when I was a teenager so this book made me feel quite nostalgic. I enjoyed though the originals will always have a special place in my heart. Thanks again to NetGalley!

On one hand I wanted to enjoy getting a glimpse of some of the previously unexplored history of this series but on the other hand this book didn't really match the tone and feel of the original series for me. I am not sure what to think about a story set in 1890 that seems to reference things that wouldn't have existed in that time frame. I didn't quite finish the whole book because it just started to feel like the author wasn't even trying to deliver a book worthy of the V.C Andrews name and I was no longer interested in investing my time into reading this one.

DNF

I’m pulling the plug even though I’m not done with the first chapter. This is not the story for me. I loved the original stories. This was just off putting. The love Corrine has for herself and her looks is so over the top that’s it’s unbelievable and if there are truly people like that then I don’t want to read about them. I’m not well versed in history but I cannot imagine women of this time period acting this way...

Thanks to NetGalley for a copy in exchange for a review.

This was not what I was hoping for, as far as a continuation of the original story. It pales in comparison by a lot.

I've always enjoyed VC Andrews books. I was a little disappointed to learn that since her passing, the family has employed ghostwriters to continue her writing. While this book does do her justice, it was a very good read. If you like her writing, definitely give this book a read.

Beneath the Attic
by V.C. Andrews
The franchise wants to take the story back to the beginning. The authors writing under then name of V.C. Andrews help bring some of the mystery to the forefront of the books. How was the family formed? What memories of Foxworth hall influence the original story? The author of this book actually humanizes the characters that have been dehumanized in the prior books. The story does a great job of introducing Foxworth hall and its legacy.

I have been a fan of Flower in the Attik since I first read it in High School. Going back to the story has been very fun and nostalgic, even if VC Andrews did not write it herself. However the same feeling I had in the past while reading was not there, thus my low rating. I did not fell any connection with the characters and instead of being pleasantly disturbed I was just a little bored and creeped out. Getting through this book has felt like work, I began reading the ARC in the end of July and it is now October and I cant seem to be able to finish it. And this is not me trolling on the ghost writter because I truly enjoyed reading Delias Crossing, this book was just not it for me.
Thank You to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review.

Review featured at www.books-n-kisses.com

I am on the fence about this story. First it was interesting to take a trip into the family of the Dollanganger family. I grew up reading that series and was looking forward to understanding why the grandmother became who she was -- nuts!

But hence comes the fence. This book didn’t seem to tell us anything about Corrine that we didn’t already know. There seemed to be very little insight into her life. I think there was more about the house than Corrine.

As a fan of the series it might be interesting to read but then again you can’t go in expecting too much.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I have voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this title given to me via NetGalley. This book was just amazing. I just lost myself in this story and didn’t want it to end. It was really well written and just drew in you into these characters lives. I look forward to seeing what’s next from this author.

V. C. Andrews was the first author I became obsessed with (understandable, right? I was 12 or 13 and every girl in my school was toting around Flowers in the Attic). Even today, the story still sticks with me. After Ms. Andrews' early death in 1986, I continued to read some of the Andrews books by the ghostwriter until I found other authors to follow.

When I heard about Beneath the Attic, I knew I had to give it a shot because Ms. Andrews never revealed much about the Dollanganger children's paternal great-grandmother, the infamous Corrine, other than Garland Foxworth was desperately in love with her and she ran off with someone else, leaving him and their son Malcom bereft. So even though the beloved V.C. didn't pen this, I was still interested in reading some Dollanganger back story.

This is where it gets painful. Firstly, I thoroughly disliked Corrine for much of the book. I get that she's supposed to be a tween and then teen but she was disgustingly annoying. Somewhat similar to her future granddaughter (and namesake) Corrine and her great-granddaughter, Cathy (she of Flowers in the Attic), she is blessed with gorgeous blonde hair and oh-so-blue eyes. She's beautiful and she knows it, y'all. And like her granddaughter and great-granddaughter, that beauty is clearly going to cause her nothing but problems.

Speaking of, those problems were . . . well, boring. Original recipe Corrine comes from a well-to-do family; she's an only child with a father who adores her and a mother that either attempts to helicopter-parent her before it's trendy (the book mostly allegedly takes place circa 1890) and/or is envious of her daughter. The friends she has seem to be of a purely shallow, superficial type -- and they were quickly dropped and forgotten once Corrine meets Garland Foxworth. In fact, the friendships appear to be social occasions in which Corrine can stress to the other girls how pretty she is, make herself feel good about it, and tell tall tales about how much she knows about boys and sex (hint: very little.)

Again, that it until she meets Garland Foxworth. This may be my biggest problem with Beneath the Attic. In all previous Dollanganger sagas, Garland was portrayed as a good, decent man who was deeply in love with his first wife and devastated by her betrayal. I guess no Andrews book, whether by V.C. or the ghostwriter, is complete with at least one rape scene, regardless of the parties involved. Garland is utterly unrecognizable in this incarnation, between taking advantage of the flighty and somewhat stupid Corrine and then his 1890s version of ghosting, which only seems to change due to Corrine's father's interference. And would Mr. Dixon be so calm over Corrine's situation? I'm thinking not. It was 1890, not 1990.

Regardless, I kept turning the pages, hoping not only for the story to pick up and get interesting but also hoping for some insight into characters the public was first introduced to in 1979. If you're looking for that, as I was, sorry, folks. You will be disappointed.

Not only does Beneath the Attic not give any real insight into either Corrine or Garland but the "story" ends before Corrine and Garland even marry - - despite the book synopsis mentioning that Corrine is now the mistress of an estate. She is not. Sure, we know they marry but the ending felt rushed and it was totally set up for another book or books.

I hate to say this but Beneath the Attic comes off like a cash grab, hoping to entice fans of Flowers, the Dollangangers, and V.C. Andrews. The Andrews name does still guarantee book sales, and the Dollanganger connection certainly doesn't hurt but the story is so flimsy, I can't recommend this book. It's a shame too because the original Corrine's story could have been a fascinating one, had the character been given any depth.

While it was nowhere as good as the books actually written by V.C. Andrews, I got exactly what I expected when I began reading it. It's a mildly entertaining story giving more background on the infamous Dollanganger family. I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point for those new to V.C. Andrews, but it's worth a read for hardcore fans wanting more from the saga.

Corrine was a narcissistic, materialistic girl who fancied herself a woman of the world and learned the hard way that she was a gullible fool. "It was simply my destiny to draw the admiration and desire, most assuredly the lust of every man who stepped within the radius of my beauty. I had the power, the glow. To pretend I could stop it or even moderate it was as silly as pretending I could prevent the sun from rising"
A bit over the top with her delusions of grandeur? Yes. Do I think this is the Corrine the real V.C. Andrews would have written about? most likely not. Quite honestly I was in the mood for something mindless and trashy that wouldn't take long to read and that I didn't have to give a whole lot of thought to and this fit the bill.

This follow up book leaves some more to the imagination in this amazing series!! I love everything VC Andrews! This gripping and heart stopping story will leave you wanting more like always! hank you Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review! A must read!

3-4 stars. This book was a good, fast paced read; but from what I can remember I did not enjoy it nearly as well as I did Flowers in the Attic. I do think anyone that has a love for the original series should read this one, since it does give glances of characters and lives prior to Flowers and is definitely a fast paced, good, and disturbing read!
Will make sure I buzz it up and get those Attic fans to grab a copy!

V.C. Andrews is one of my favorite authors so I was very happy when Netgalley approved me for this book. Even if I had just finished reading a physical copy of it the day before I got the approval email. It meant I now have an ebook version I can read again anytime.
This book focuses on the great grandmother of the children from her first series Flowers in the Attic. It takes the reader back to how everything started with a 16 year old girl playing at being a grown up before she was fully ready. How she met Garland Foxworth and the events that led her to the Foxworth mansion.
I enjoyed this book although I was a bit disappointed with where they decided to end this book. There isn't really an ending or a cliffhanger it's more like the author wrote one long book and just haphazardly cut it in half to turn it into two books. One thing readers will be a little happy about is the ghost writer doesn't seem to change any big points from the original series. The three diary books before this have made some readers angry with one giant change he made. I won't say what he changed cause I hate spoilers but I was also a little upset with that change. Thankfully this story happens before that so the change doesn't effect it.
I would recommend this book just know the ending just kind of happens. So hopefully the next book has a more fulfilling ending then this one does. Netgalley provided me a free ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Although I did buy myself a physical finished copy of this book and read it before I was approved for the ebook.

#NetGalley #Beneath the Attic #Gallery, Threshold, Pocket Books

I enjoyed the Flowers in the Attic series by VC Andrews. I was excited to read this and to learn more about the family history and Corinne's grandmother also named Corinne.

I finished the book, but it was not very good. I dislike giving poor reviews, but I truly do not have the words to thoroughly describe my disappointment in this book.

Andrew Neiderman has destroyed V.C. Andrews' legacy.

Beneath the Attic is riddled with inaccuracies and the lack of research or even thought that went into the novel is absolutely disgraceful. There was obviously no editorial oversight and that is to the detriment of the novel, the reader, V.C. Andrews, and the books that Andrews wrote herself. The books that Neiderman first wrote under Andrews' name, when working with Andrews' original editor, were of far higher quality. Since they have parted ways, we are left with what can only be described as trash.

The book is set in 1890, but although that is stated, there seems to be no effort to actually adhere to the time period of 1890. Corrine visits her former nursemaid at home--which she owns herself and where she lives alone--and the nursemaid opens the door fresh from a shower, dressed in a robe, while drying her hair. When visiting her aunt, her aunt's elderly, long time servant, presumably previously enslaved, speaks with her familiarly and addresses her as Corrine, not Miss Corrine. Corrine and her mother, although wealthy, fix their own meals and do not appear to employ any servants themselves. At one point, Corrine comes downstairs in the morning, clad only in her robe, and fixes herself some scrambled eggs. None of this would have happened in 1890!

The most glaring mistake of all, Corrine compared to herself to Scarlet O'Hara from Gone with the Wind. This book is set in 1890. Gone with the Wind was published in 1936. FFS do a modicum of research!

The opening chapter has Corrine spending so much time fixated on her beauty that I had to set it down and walk away multiple times. Even a narcissist would have been embarrassed. Then Corrine's "womanly talks" with the neighbor girls where she educates them about sex--absolutely ridiculous. Again, ill suited to the time period. Any time period, really. The opening chapters only served to make Corrine hateful. The only purpose those could possibly serve was to make it seem as if she "deserved" to be raped when Garland drugged and raped her. For a man who writes books for a primarily female audience, it is apparent that Neiderman is not a fan of women.

This is lazy writing and an insult to his readers. This is not the polished result of a craft that is honed and perfected. This is something that was banged out for a paycheck. V.C. Andrews did NOT write this book, regardless of what the blurb for this book might say. This is not from the same person who wrote the Flowers in the Attic books. End of discussion.

It has been many years since I read "Flowers In The Attic" by V.C. Andrews so, when I heard about "Beneath the Attic", telling us more of the history of the Dollanganger family I thought it looked interesting. I found Corrinne Dixon to be a young woman definitely ahead of the times in her thoughts on relationships and how a woman should act. She wanted a say in her life and in her personal relationships with a man, not depending on her parents to find her a husband. At a gala one evening, Garland Foxworth walked in and she was intrigued. Who was he? Where was he from? Why was he noticing her? Her interest sets her on a path with no turning back. One evening leads to a rushed wedding and leaves Corrinne wondering if she even knows who she is marrying.
If you enjoyed the Dollanganger family saga over the years, then you need to read the back story on Corrinne Dixon Foxworth. It was not my favorite book but, it was an interesting read.
Thanks NetGalley and Gallery Books for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is difficult. Pushing my way thru reading it, but not enjoying at all at this point. There are so many issues with the book- the time in history is stated, but not reflected anywhere in the story. Interactions, mannerisms, house set ups....some historical accuracy would enrich this so much more. Instead, the inaccuracies are hindering the story. Which let's talk about this story. SO many people will flock to grab this book because of the original series, and they will be disappointed. The writing is elementary in it's feel, and underdeveloped. As a prequel to a series, one expects that to provide further insight to the character and what got them to the point in other books. This will leave you feeling detached and disinterested. Maybe the rest of the book will pick up, but this is a struggle to finish. I do think because of the author name, the series it continues, back history you will get sales for this book. But not sure how many of our customers will ever pre order this author's books again after reading it.