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The Roanoke Girls: 'the most addictive thriller of the year'
The Roanoke Girls: 'the most addictive thriller of the year' | Amy Engel
**A Richard & Judy Bookclub pick 2017** 'ONE OF THE MOST UNSETTLING AND THOUGHT-PROVOKING BOOKS I'VE READ... STUNNING AND GRIPPING' - Lisa Cutts THE ROANOKE GIRLS is a provocative, compulsive thriller about the twisted secrets families keep, perfect for fans of Into the Water, He Said/She Said and The Girls. 'Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die.' The girls of the Roanoke family - beautiful, rich, mysterious - seem to have it all. But there's a dark truth about them that's never spoken. Lane is one of the lucky ones. When she was fifteen, over one long, hot summer at her grandparents' estate in rural Kansas, she found out what it really means to be a Roanoke girl. Lane ran, far and fast. Until eleven years later, when her cousin Allegra goes missing - and Lane has no choice but to go back. She is a Roanoke girl. Is she strong enough to escape a second time? *** 'Fans of The Girls will love this' - RED 'A must-have' SUNDAY EXPRESS 'Remarkably assured' THE SUNDAY TIMES 'A provocative thriller' TELEGRAPH 'Darkly sexy' HEAT 'Twisting and revelatory' WATERSTONES 'Addictive' LISA HALL 'Utterly captivating' KATERINA DIAMOND 'SO compelling' CLAIRE DOUGLAS 'Not for the faint-hearted' PRIMA 'Haunting and riveting' LAURA MCHUGH 'Deeply, darkly twisted' SARAH HILARY
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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“You can't outrun what's inside of you. You can only acknowledge it, work around it, try and turn it into something better. I may not know exactly where I'm headed, but this time I'm choosing my own destiny.”

#SummerSpecial
#CousinsDay

Loved this dark, gothic, creepy, twisted tale 🖤

**lots of trigger warnings

TheLudicReader Loved this book. And her book The Familiar Dark is also excellent. 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheLudicReader I have that one, but haven‘t read it yet! 1y
TheLudicReader It‘s devastatingly good, @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 1y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheLudicReader I‘ll have to move it up 🖤 1y
69 likes2 stack adds4 comments
review
Rachiiebookdragon
Mehso-so

I listened to this one via audiobook,
as cba to read via e book...

I found it ok.. but please be aware of the subject matter,
overall its just kind of ..boring and sad.

Read for reading challenges.

3.5/5

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TheSpineView
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#Movie2BookRecs @klou
Prompt: The Quiet

Klou Awesome! 2y
44 likes1 comment
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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We're all fucked up, Lane, one way or another. It's only a matter of degree.”

Dark, twisty, icky, suspenseful, and I loved it!! 🖤😳😱🖤

#CousinDay
#JulyJam

TheLudicReader I also loved this one. 2y
Eggs Great choice! 2y
79 likes5 stack adds3 comments
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Butterfinger
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Mehso-so

If you like V. C. Andrews and dysfunctional families with evil grandparents, this may be for you. Very dark. Very gothic. The chemistry between Lane and Cooper made it a good read. #NewYearWhoDis @monalyisha @BookishBelle

40 likes2 comments
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Reading_With_MrsB13
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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What the actual F did I just read 🤯 Perhaps one of the most twisted books I‘ve read in a long time, but I just couldn‘t stop reading. There are a few parts where I definitely felt uncomfortable reading it, but it was a good read.

12 likes1 stack add
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FelinesAndFelonies
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Pickpick

⚠️Trigger warning. This book discusses incest, child abuse, substance use. Despite the underlying sexual abuse issues, I thought this book was good overall. It reminded me a little of Mexican Gothic in the taboo sexual relationships. While the subject matter is tough, it is not graphic. A solid discussion of how trauma creates lasting effects while recognizing the lengths many of us will go to to be loved. ⭐⭐⭐💫 3.5

85 likes1 stack add
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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#missingpersonday
#LovePrevails

“Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die.”

I enjoyed this book, but it has lots of trigger warnings...

Eggs Well done m‘lady 👏🏻👍🏼❤️ 4y
bookful Omgosh I got the exact same copy I pay $1.00 found it at dollar tree,usually find good books like this for a buck 😅I may be only one shop for books at dollar store,sometimes I go hunting for books 📚 no joke here .💙 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @bookful I do the same thing!! Some days I luck up and find great ones! 4y
86 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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IheartYA
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Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐
An odd, dark book full of characters you love to hate. I was occasionally grossed out to the point of shivering, but it doesn't take much to gross me out. There was nothing spectacular about this book; it was decently mediocre.

60 likes1 stack add
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Ginamm
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Starting The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel. I‘ve owned this book for a while now. Time to read it! 📚

4 likes1 stack add
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WillWork4Books198097
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
Pickpick

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Jenken1998
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Pickpick

Whew. That was twisted. Lane returns to the family she ran from to help look for her missing cousin. Dark secrets resurface. Predictable but good. #deweysreadathon

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Jenken1998
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Up next while #audiocleaning my house. I hear this is a good one. #deweysreadathon

sharread I really liked this book, but a lot of teenage romping around. 🤣😅🧡 4y
56 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
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#HorrorSeason @Klou
Day 7: Hereditary

Klou Sounds very good!! 4y
64 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Chelsea.Poole
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Mehso-so

Feeling rather meh about this one. It was very Gillian Flynn to me but less intriguing somehow. Would have appreciated more on former Roanoke girls.

78 likes1 stack add
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TheSpineView
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#3Books ... that made me uncomfortable.

@OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

OriginalCyn620 📚😬📚 4y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I agree with The Roanoke Girls, but I oddly liked the book 🤷🏼‍♀️ 4y
TheSpineView @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I did like it and yet it was disturbing. That must have been what the author was going for. 4y
78 likes3 comments
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Michellesibs
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Mehso-so


It took me a while to get into this, I was almost at 30% before it got my attention and even then so much happens off page that the 'gripping thriller' tagline just fell flat for me. If a book is going to have a disturbing trope, like this one does, i want to see it, feel it, otherwise it washes over me and in a thriller I expect to see everything first hand in at least one of the time lines.

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Suet624
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Pickpick

This was a little bit My Dark Vanessa and a little bit Gillian Flynn. There‘s a missing person, a messed up family, and a whole lot of shady dealings. The story grabbed me and I was glad to be quarantined because I couldn‘t put it down. The characters were well developed and the structure of the novel kept me involved. Thanks to the Dollar Tree and the September #bookspin selection for getting me out of my own head for a bit.

LeahBergen I hope you are all doing well. ❤️❤️ 4y
Suet624 @LeahBergen Thank you, Leah. So far no one close to my son has received a positive test result. I had my test yesterday and I‘m assuming mine will be negative too. Max is sick but slowly getting better and somehow he even managed to score a fantastic job while convalescing. 🥰 4y
TheAromaofBooks Yay! Great progress, and glad everyone's health is going the right direction!! 4y
Suet624 @TheAromaofBooks thank you, Sarah. 4y
LeahBergen Oh, good to hear! 👏🏻 4y
57 likes1 stack add5 comments
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Lisas.Library
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Pickpick

5 stars
highly addictive
I read this book in two days. Easily could have read in one day if I didn‘t have responsibilities. It had some pretty twisted stuff going on but I was fascinated as to how it would all play out. I loved it!

TheLudicReader One of my favourite reads this year. 4y
Lisas.Library @TheLudicReader ~ yes it‘s in my top 5 for the year 4y
70 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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TheSpineView
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#AboutAugust @Eggs
#Avoidance

Characters in this story are avoiding the truth of some very ugly and shocking truths in this family.

Eggs 🤗📚👏🏻💕 4y
70 likes5 stack adds1 comment
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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The Roanoke Girls
Riley Sager
Ridiculousness 😂
Rob Thomas ❤️🔥 🎹
Rest Stop

#ManicMonday
#LetterR

@ElizaMarie @Bklover @magyklyXdelish ❤️❤️❤️

ElizaMarie Hmm.. R....
All I can think of is Rainbow Connection as a song! Ha ... I do like Riley Sager too! I can't think straight to play along fully! But I will think on it!
4y
54 likes2 comments
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Thousand-Lives
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Pickpick

This book was truly disturbing and yet I couldn‘t put it down. Reminded me a bit of Gillian Flynn‘s Sharp Objects.

TheSpineView I felt the same way about it 4y
Thousand-Lives @TheSpineView I‘m glad it wasn‘t just me! I felt like, why do I like something so icky!? 😬 4y
TheLudicReader One of the best books I‘ve read this year. Loved it. 4y
60 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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Gizmo86
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Pickpick

Wow! What a book! Completely not what I thought it was going to be about but it was fantastic. Super twisted and dark but what a storyline. Sinister, creepy (not in thriller way) and addictive. I couldn't put it down. The characters were well developed and had little quirks that made them seem real- even Yates! Loved Lane, loved Cooper and loved Allegra. Its a book I'm sad is finished and I'll miss reading. You absolutely have to read this!💖📖🤓

Caroline2 I enjoyed this book too. 👍 4y
16 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Kappadeemom
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Reading with the #dorkie.

41 likes2 stack adds
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Gizmo86
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Glad I'm inside as the thunder and rain starts.... ☔⚡🙄☕

20 likes1 stack add
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Gizmo86
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Yeah... No kidding! 🙄

LinesUponAPage So true! 4y
16 likes1 comment
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Gizmo86
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My newest read- not quite what I thought it was going to be but I can't put it down. Great book so far 🧐🙄🤨

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TheLudicReader
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@squirrelbrain #nutsaboutbooks

1. I have actually read some excellent books this year, but I am going to say the tagged book because it was such an unexpected surprise and hit so many of my reading kinks.
2. Impossible to say...maybe something by David Joy. I just read his novel Where All Light Tends to Go and it was fabulous.

Congrats on your litsyversary and hitting the Litfluence milestone.

squirrelbrain Thanks for playing! I loved The Roanoke Girls too! 4y
16 likes1 comment
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TheSpineView
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I see what you did there!! Great book!! 4y
OriginalCyn620 Cool cover! 4y
66 likes3 comments
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BookishBelle
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Pickpick

Just finished this #lmpbc pick! It was really good! Definitely dark and twisty and something I wouldn‘t have chosen myself but I couldn‘t put it down! @Kappadeemom @Victoriahoperose @phatsallylee

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved it!! 🖤 5y
37 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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BookishBelle
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Starting this #lmpbc read. I‘m excited to dig in! Thanks for the postcard @phatsallylee !

@Kappadeemom @Victoriahoperose

Kappadeemom Hi Amy - Can you please check the tracking for the May book? i haven‘t received it yet. Thanks! 5y
BookishBelle Hey @Kappadeemom ! My apologies, I haven‘t been on in a few days. I checked the tracking number and it says it‘s still in transit. It was supposed to get to you by May 2nd and the last update on the tracking is May 8th. I hope that doesn‘t mean it‘s lost! I‘m going to hold out hope that it‘ll get to you! Maybe call your local post office and see if they can track it down for you? 5y
BookishBelle I‘ll email you the tracking number. @Kappadeemom 5y
See All 6 Comments
BookishBelle @Kappadeemom Did you get the last #lmpbc book I sent? I checked the tracking and it says it was delivered on the 16th. 🤔 4y
Kappadeemom @BookishBelle hi Amy - I did get it but not until this past weekend. Hopefully I get it sent out before the end of the month! Thanks! 4y
BookishBelle @Kappadeemom I‘m so glad it made it to you! I‘m done with the next one and need to send it soon. You‘ve got plenty of time if it takes as long to get to you as the last one! 4y
18 likes1 stack add6 comments
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BookishBelle
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Victoriahoperose Hope you enjoy it!! 5y
14 likes2 comments
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TheLudicReader
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Pickpick

I have been on a total roll the past few days. I couldn‘t put this book down. The story of a family with dark secrets, and the impact of those secrets over three generations. Strong female protagonist, beautiful writing, utterly gripping. Totally my jam. #covid19readathon

Victoriahoperose Yes!!! Agree so much. I was super surprised and happy with how great this book was!! 5y
TheLudicReader @Victoriahoperose it had everything I love in a book. I will totally read more by this author! 5y
22 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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“You can't outrun what's inside of you. You can only acknowledge it, work around it, try and turn it into something better. I may not know exactly where I'm headed, but this time I'm choosing my own destiny.”

Allegra is the #wildchild in this gothic page turner!! I really enjoyed this one!!

**trigger warnings

#AcrossApril

Lesanne Love your Funko Prince!! 💜 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Lesanne thank you!! He too was a #Wildchild 💜💜 I miss him 💔 5y
Mariposa_Bookworm I have the same Prince Funko!!! I miss him too! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Eggs 🤴💜🤴 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Mariposa_Bookworm @Lesanne he was a gift from the awesome @CoffeeNBooks 💗💗💗 5y
97 likes2 stack adds6 comments
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Victoriahoperose
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Pickpick

Wow! That was intense. I hope my group likes it. Mailing it tomorrow!!! #lmpbc @Kappadeemom @phatsallylee @BookishBelle

phatsallylee I'm hoping to mail mine tomorrow as well 5y
42 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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NatalieR
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Pickpick

About halfway through this book is when I started to enjoy it. Initially there was so much ambiguity and teenage angst I couldn‘t get into it. Once the family secrets started to make sense and more pieces of the puzzle started to fit together I got sucked into the story. Overall, a very intense but great book. #MountTBR

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Victoriahoperose
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Hey everyone. Has anyone read any of these? Or have a preference? Any Man by Amber Tamblyn, Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel, Days of Awe by Lauren Fox, or Her Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado. #lmpbc #groupw

phatsallylee I haven't read any of these! All of them sound great. 5y
BookishBelle I haven‘t read any of them. I‘m most interested in Roanoke Girls and Days of Awe but would be happy reading any of them. 5y
Kappadeemom I‘m good with any of them! 5y
Victoriahoperose @phatsallylee @BookishBelle @Kappadeemom I‘ll go with Roanoke girls! I hope it‘s a good one 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 5y
33 likes4 comments
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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
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“Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die.”

#Disappear
#ReallyRandomFebruary

Lane returns to her grandparents home to search for cousin, Allegra who has disappeared. She feels guilty for leaving her cousin after learning the dark secrets surrounding the family.

Lots of trigger warnings ***

AmyG I read this. Definitely trigger warnings. Decent story. 5y
Sleepswithbooks I liked this one - certainly different. 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Stacypatrice so did I! I wouldn‘t mind reading it again at some point! 5y
See All 11 Comments
Come-read-with-me Stacked! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Come-read-with-me it‘s creepy good!! 5y
Come-read-with-me @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I love a creepy good read! Now I‘m looking forward to it even more!! 5y
OriginalCyn620 👍🏻📚😳 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Come-read-with-me Have you read Behind Closed Doors and Behind Her Eyes? 👀 soooo good!! 5y
Come-read-with-me @Stacypatrice I haven‘t but they now officially stacked! Thank you for the recommendations! 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Come-read-with-me you‘re welcome!! Oh and 🤣🤣 so good!! 5y
94 likes4 stack adds11 comments
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Djspens
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Pickpick

I spent most of the weekend reading! I've read 3 books so far this year, and this was one of the good ones. It gets a little disturbing but that seems to be the books I like 😁

kyraleseberg I picked up a copy at Dollar Tree the other day! I'm excited to get started soon. 5y
Djspens @kyraleseberg I hope you like it! 5y
51 likes4 stack adds2 comments
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Tracey3
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Pickpick

Wow! This book has been on my wishlist since the summer based upon a recommendation. I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I could not put this book down. If you were ever a fan of V.C. Andrews, this book is for you. It was so wrong, yet it was so good.

9 likes1 stack add
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MumWhoLovesToRead
Pickpick

Great read one of my favourites for 2019

LitsyWelcomeWagon Welcome to Litsy! Here are links to #Litsytips: http://bit.ly/litsytips and #LitsyHowTo videos: goo.gl/UrCpoU. There‘s lots of fun things to do: book exchanges, buddy reads, photo challenges and more! #litsywelcomewagon 5y
Eggs Welcome to Litsy 🤗👏🏻🎉 5y
StillLookingForCarmenSanDiego Hello & Welcome 💖📚💖 5y
9 likes3 comments
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Heatherfeather
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Pickpick

DARK. And yet I blew through it in like 2 days.

20 likes1 stack add
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Caroline2
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Pickpick

Ohhh, I really enjoyed this dark and twisted thriller. I stayed up way too late reading it last night; I just had to know how it all ended! The writing style reminded me of Gillian Flynn (it‘s a bit like sharp objects - but better!!) highly recommend! 4.5 stars. 👍🏻

Cathythoughts Sounds like a good one 👍🏻stacked 5y
106 likes6 stack adds1 comment
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Myhusbandhatesreading
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Pickpick

Topic a little disturbing but a really good, well written, fast paced book.

51 likes3 stack adds
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Addison_Reads
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Mehso-so

This was a recent audiobook, and I'll admit, at times I had to step away due to the subject matter. This book follows a family with a dark, disturbing secret that shapes the lives of not only the girls involved, but those closest to them.

I liked the switch between different girls in the past and present. It gave a nice depth to the story, but sadly I didn't like any of the characters.

Fulfilled #Kansas for #ReadingUSA2019 @Librarybelle

Librarybelle I have this on my to read list! 5y
24 likes1 comment
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Bookgirl
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Mehso-so

Ugh. Ok here‘s what‘s good...pacing, readability, one of the book‘s subplot mysteries. Here‘s what is bad...main plot, unbelievable characters and situations, and a completely gross underlying thread. Expect over the top shock value - I continually thought ok sure this could happen but then also THIS AND THIS?!?! I debated even finishing the book but did and while it was readable, I‘m not able to really recommend it and feel good about myself 😂

Bookgirl I kept thinking it‘s VC Andrews but even more twisted. 6y
57 likes1 comment
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3CatsAndABook
Roanoke Girls | Amy Engel
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Pickpick

Although the subject matter was just wrong on every level the story sucks you in and you can't put this book down until the last page. ☀️🌬️
#bookphotography

91 likes3 stack adds
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JillR
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Pickpick

As I think everyone else has said this is dark, disturbing, twisted, unsettling, nasty, but...also incredibly compelling. And awful. Couldn‘t put it down. Despite the difficult subject, it was bizarrely not a difficult read. Although having said that I think I‘m ready for a break from books about incredibly dysfunctional families!

minkyb Great review! 6y
47 likes1 stack add1 comment