Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
Broken Girls
Broken Girls | Simone St James
A breakout suspense novel from the award-winning author of The Haunting of Maddy Clare. Vermont, 1950. There's a place for the girls whom no one wants--the troublemakers, the illegitimate, the too smart for their own good. It's called Idlewild Hall. And in the small town where it's located, there are rumors that the boarding school is haunted. Four roommates bond over their whispered fears, their budding friendship blossoming--until one of them mysteriously disappears. . . . Vermont, 2014. As much as she's tried, journalist Fiona Sheridan cannot stop revisiting the events surrounding her older sister's death. Twenty years ago, her body was found lying in the overgrown fields near the ruins of Idlewild Hall. And though her sister's boyfriend was tried and convicted of murder, Fiona can't shake the suspicion that something was never right about the case.When Fiona discovers that Idlewild Hall is being restored by an anonymous benefactor, she decides to write a story about it. But a shocking discovery during the renovations will link the loss of her sister to secrets that were meant to stay hidden in the past--and a voice that won't be silenced. . . .
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
ShelleyBooksie
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

A spooky, atmospheric page-turner!

blurb
Eggs
Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

“…but behind Katie‘s tilted, dark-lashed eyes lurked a restless intelligence that sometimes looked for trouble.”

#BoardingSchool

#SchoolSpirits

@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one 🖤 2mo
Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 🙌🏻🙌🏻 2mo
46 likes2 comments
blurb
CoffeeNBooks
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! 🖤 2mo
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
blurb
SilversReviews
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

#SCHOOLSPIRIT
@Eggs
@AlwaysBeenALoverOfBooks

TODAY‘S PROMPT: BOARDING SCHOOL

Murders, an old boarding school, corruption, and an awesome story line await the reader.  And...how about that cover?  A great indication of what is inside.  

ENJOY when you read THE BROKEN GIRLS during daylight hours.

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/3j9z5hty

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one! I think it‘s my favorite SSJ book! 2mo
SilversReviews @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I agree. Thanks for your comment. 2mo
SilversReviews @Eggs 😀😀 2mo
28 likes4 comments
blurb
IndoorDame
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one 🖤🖤 3mo
IndoorDame @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks it‘s hard to pick, but I think it‘s my favorite of hers! 3mo
Eggs Yes, difficult to pick 🙌🏻 3mo
42 likes3 comments
review
batsy
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

One of the better books I've read in this genre; a mix of supernatural & crime that's written with skill, with a strong plot that builds up convincingly and doesn't rely on any type of ridiculous big reveal or twist. I thought the tension & mystery were really well done, the horror believable. The dual timelines intersected well & powered the narrative forward. Plus it's well-written with interesting characters. Want to read more by St. James!

lazydaizee Sounds like my sort of book, I will have to look out for it. 8mo
KathyWheeler This is my favorite St. James book. 8mo
batsy @lazydaizee Please do! And I hope you enjoy it. 8mo
See All 10 Comments
batsy @KathyWheeler It's good! I'm keen to read a couple of others. Have you read her latest one, Murder Road? 8mo
KathyWheeler @batsy I‘m reading it now. So far it‘s good. 8mo
batsy @KathyWheeler That's good to hear 👍🏾 8mo
Cathythoughts Great review. I thought this might be a series, but seems like stand a lone ?! Stacked 👍🏻❤️ 8mo
batsy @Cathythoughts Thank you! 😘 Yes, it's a standalone which is great. I'm so bad at keeping up with a series 😆 8mo
RohitSawant I‘d stacked this one a while back. Definitely moving this up my TBR after your review! 7mo
batsy @RohitSawant It's a good one, and one I think you'll like! 7mo
93 likes1 stack add10 comments
review
JessieKB
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

My 2024 has started a little slow on the reading front, but finally finished this one! An old run down home for girls and the never quit journalist Fiona, who has personal ties to it. An intersecting of two stories made for a good ghosty thriller. #ReadAway2024

dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 10mo
15 likes1 comment
blurb
DHill
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

1. Yes! A beverage is a must at all times. LOL
Morning reading with coffee, afternoon reading with Diet Coke, evening reading with hot tea or room temperature water.

2. Currently, tagged with water.

@TheSpineView #Two4Tuesday

Hey @THill wanna play?

TheSpineView Thanks for playing!❤️📖📚 10mo
25 likes1 comment
blurb
JessieKB
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

☕️Yes! I almost always have some kind of beverage, but my only guaranteed reading time is early morning so I always have my coffee.
🌙The Broken Girls.
Happy Tuesday!!

blurb
mom2bugnbee
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

I read a lot of 4⭐ in August 2023, but no 5⭐. I did discover both Simone St. James and Lucy Foley, so a good month. #12booksof2023 @Andrew65

Andrew65 Love The Broken Girls. 10mo
20 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Gissy
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

This was last month author for the #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville but with this challenge I‘m trying to read books that I own by that author, no matter if I read it after that month. I want to continue reading books by this author.
I really enjoyed this one, the mystery, the characters and the ending. Not too complicated, fast read. 3.8/4⭐️ Love the cover too😍

42 likes3 comments
blurb
Bookwormjillk
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

1) I really enjoyed the tag and am looking forward to reading more by the author
2) Whatever Louise Penny writes next
3) I love a gritty woman detective

@RaeLovesToRead

Andrew65 Love this book. 11mo
RaeLovesToRead Ooh, yes! 💯 11mo
30 likes1 stack add2 comments
review
BookwormAHN
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

This was a reread that happily was even better the second time. Fiona is obsessed with the place her sister died, and when the old haunted girl's school is scheduled to be reopened, she does a deep dive into the history of the place 💙🐈‍⬛💙
#BlackCatCrew #Scarathlon #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville #20in4 #Rushathon @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES #31By31 #Readathon @Catsandbooks #LittenListen @aperfectmjk #Falling4Books @Read4life

TheSpineView Fabulous! 12mo
DieAReader 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
See All 6 Comments
Read4life 🍁👻🎃 12mo
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🦇🧡 12mo
Andrew65 Well done 👏👏👏 I love this book. 12mo
44 likes6 comments
review
SomedayAlmost
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

Part eerie tale of ghost Mary Hand, part story of 4 “throwaway girls” surviving a Gothic boarding school, & part compelling modern crime drama, this novel is a wonderfully spooky page-turner. As a writer, I am impressed St. James pulls the threads together so we‘ll at the end. Even has enclosed book group questions. Highly recommend! (Finished during Scarathalon sprint.) #Scarathlon #TeamWhoYaGonnaCall #Scarathlonsprint #31by31 #Spookoween

Laughterhp Oo I loved this book! 12mo
RaeLovesToRead Hello cat friends! 12mo
GondorGirl Pretty kitties! 🥰 12mo
See All 6 Comments
rubyslippersreads 😻😻 12mo
TheSpineView Fantastic!😻😻😻 12mo
Catsandbooks Cute kitties! 💜🐈‍⬛ 12mo
30 likes6 comments
blurb
DHill
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Catching a few spare moments reading my AuthorAMonth book selection and hoping I‘ll finish before the end of the month.

review
CSeydel
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Mehso-so

This was ok, a little underwhelming when all was said and done. I enjoyed the back and forth between the 2014 and the 1950 plot lines, but I wished the two stories had been linked better. There was plenty of suspense but the payoff never really comes. The 1950 story was excellent and the characters very well drawn, but the 2014 story really didn‘t make a lot of sense if you think about it. And the romance scenes were just painful to read. #AAM

TheLudicReader I agree. The stuff at the school was very atmospheric. The modern stuff, I just didn‘t buy it. 12mo
CSeydel @TheLudicReader Glad it wasn‘t just me! I started to think maybe I wasn‘t understanding something, because nobody‘s actions ever rang true. (edited) 12mo
54 likes2 comments
blurb
CSeydel
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Both my #AAM books came in from the library! Which one should I read first?

TheBookHippie Broken Girls! 13mo
Bookwormjillk I‘ve only read Broken Girls but it was really good. 13mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks You can‘t go wrong!! 13mo
Jess I just finished Sun Down Motel and really liked it. 13mo
33 likes4 comments
review
Bookwormjillk
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

Thankful for #AuthorAMonth for bringing me a new set of books to binge! I loved this @Soubhiville

Once I figured out the characters and the timelines I was really invested in the story of this boarding school for unwanted girls set in the 1950‘s and the reporter who wants to learn more in 2014.

63 likes4 comments
blurb
Bookwormjillk
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Still in bed reading this ghost story and now even shy Mr. Oliver has joined me. But he‘s not getting too close.

Jari-chan Hi, Mr. Oliver! 😸 13mo
AnnCrystal 😍😻💝. 13mo
71 likes2 comments
blurb
DHill
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Saturday with the girls.

#AuthorAMonth

ShelleyBooksie Adorable!!! 13mo
dabbe Hello there, gorgeous gals! 🖤🐾🐾🖤 13mo
43 likes2 comments
blurb
Bookwormjillk
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Once Daisy settles down and stops trying to eat my book and drink my tea I plan on staying right here for the next couple of hours with my ghost story.

Jari-chan 😸😸😸 13mo
ShelleyBooksie Daisy ♡ 13mo
AnnCrystal 💕😻💝. 13mo
dabbe Hello there, Darling Daisy! 🖤🐾🖤 13mo
67 likes4 comments
review
TEArificbooks
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

Read for #authoramonth. Has all the elements and good execution and that made it a solid read. I have a feeling though that this won‘t be my favorite of hers. #scarathlon #blackcatcrew #spookoween #31by31 #falling4books #scarathlonAtoZ #Fridaythe13 #pumpkinspicereadathon @BookwormAHN @TheSpineView @Catsandbooks @Read4life @Texreader @Emilymdxn @Soubhiville

2305 pts

TheSpineView Well done! 13mo
SilversReviews It was good. 13mo
BookwormAHN Yay 🐈‍⬛️ 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Read4life 🍁👻🎃 13mo
Catsandbooks 🙌🏼🦇🧡 13mo
FlynnDewey Dang it, now I'm hungry again. 13mo
54 likes6 comments
blurb
SomedayAlmost
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Have I mentioned how good this is? 2 murders and a ghost at a boarding school for “throwaway girls?” My kind of tale! Getting in an extra readathon hour in the park while wee boy has coding & robotics. #Scarathlon #readathons #TeamWhoYaGonna Call

FlynnDewey Ugh, reading in the park is such a nice time. Except when it's really windy. 13mo
21 likes1 comment
blurb
SomedayAlmost
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Word choice is key! Loving this Gothic crime novel, (with a ghostly legend) but the Scarathlon word search game reminds me how often this author uses the word “dark.” While she uses dark humor and searches for a murderer in the darkness, lol. Good, creepy story, though. #Scarathlon #wordsearch #pumpkinspicereadathon #creepy #murder @Emilymdxn @FlynnDewey

TEArificbooks Dark definitely is the word of the month. Sometimes I find it 50+ times in a book. 13mo
25 likes1 comment
blurb
Bookwormjillk
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

This book sounds like it involves a small town murder. Looking forward to finding out for #AuthorAMonth soon. #AutumnPlease

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one!! 13mo
Eggs It‘s so goood 😳 13mo
Bookwormjillk @eggs @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks I really want to get to this soon, but I've been so tired that every time I sit down with my current read I am out cold 😵 😴 😵 😴 13mo
mom2bugnbee This one was really good! 13mo
Eggs @Bookwormjillk oh sorry to hear about your fatigue! Hope you can get some rest 😴 13mo
58 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
Larkken
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

The Broken Girls was my favorite listen from last week. I like St James' lightly romantic suspense and complicated leading ladies and thought the supernatural elements are integrated well in this one. #aam #scarathlon #SpookyGhostClub book 3; 140 (!!!) word search words. Again, I'll add Readathons in comments.

Clwojick Great job! 13mo
26 likes1 comment
blurb
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

☠️🖤📚💀

#Bones
#AutumnPlease

Such a great book for the spooky season!! 👻

TheBookgeekFrau Great photo! 💚 13mo
IamIamIam Loved this book!!!! Your skull kicks ass!! ☠️ 13mo
Eggs 💚💀🖤 13mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @IamIamIam thank you ☠️🖤 13mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @TheBookgeekFrau thank you 🖤☠️🖤 13mo
64 likes5 comments
review
Jas16
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

A boarding school, murdered girls, and a ghost-perfect October read. This was about as creepy a ghost story as my scaredy cat heart can handle but the story of Mary Hand really worked for me and I kept wondering what every character who encountered her saw. It ended up my my favorite part of the book and convinced me to try another book by the author. I enjoyed the mystery as well although the ending felt a little too neat. #authoramonth

kspenmoll I loved this book, my first introduction to the author. Keep on reading her books. 13mo
KathyWheeler My first introduction to St. James was The Sundown Motel which I really liked. I‘ve read several more but The Broken Girls is my favorite. 13mo
39 likes2 comments
review
Addison_Reads
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Mehso-so

#Scarathlon @Clwojick #SpookyGhostClub #AuthorAMonth @Soubhiville

Not my favorite that I've read by this author. It was an okay thriller with a good mix of mystery and supernatural. This book doesn't have any twists that will shock you; it's just a straightforward mystery with historical fiction mixed in.

It's one of those reads I enjoyed while reading, but now, even just a few days after finishing it, there isn't really much that stands out.

Soubhiville Good review 🙂. I just started this. 13mo
Clwojick Well done! 👻 13mo
31 likes2 comments
review
Amiable
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Mehso-so

It could be my mood — I‘ve been in a bit of a reading slump. But this one was … just OK. The mystery part was decent enough but I could have done without the ghost story aspect. And the resolution seemed both far-fetched and a bit too pat. Onward to the next #AuthorAMonth pick.

Megabooks This wasn‘t my fave either. 🤷🏻‍♀️ liked this much more 👍🏻👍🏻 13mo
Amiable @Megabooks I picked the one by this author that was available on Libby! 😀 I‘ll have to head to the library to find this other one. 13mo
55 likes2 comments
blurb
DHill
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Heading into spooky season with this #AuthorAMonth pick.

@Soubhiville

Soubhiville Nice! I‘m planning to read this one too 🙂. 13mo
kspenmoll Fabulous book! 13mo
49 likes2 comments
blurb
Kshakal
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

I don‘t like spooky books but I remember being creeped out by the broken girls! #sundayfunday @BookmarkTavern

BookmarkTavern I‘ve heard good things about this one! Thanks for sharing! 13mo
22 likes1 comment
review
Jari-chan
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

What a perfect book to start into autumn with! It has all the vibes. It has ghosts. It has murder. It has investigation. It has a nice couple. And it's a true page-turner. The chilly atmosphere fits into the season and made me shiver. Loved the spooky school as well, even though I felt terrible because of what happened there...

#roll100 @PuddleJumper

PuddleJumper 👻👻 13mo
Deblovestoread Great review! It is my October #AuthorAMonth choice! 13mo
Jari-chan @PuddleJumper 👻👻😁 13mo
See All 6 Comments
Jari-chan @Deblovestoread Thank you! And I hope you'll enjoy the book as well 😊 13mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Loved this one 🖤 13mo
Jari-chan @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks ❤️❤️❤️ 13mo
33 likes6 comments
review
Havinghope10
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

I enjoyed this immensely! Pretty straight-forward guessing without any big plot twist to an avid mystery reader, but had a great balance of mystique and paranormal! Good for a long-weekend read without too much brain power.

review
JanuarieTimewalker13
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
Pickpick

I greatly enjoyed this book. Especially the 1950 timeline…it runs two timelines 1950 and 2014. It had been on my TBR for a few years and I‘m happy I listened to it. I think it‘s best to go in with no idea of what it‘s about…try it, you‘ll like it!
Is anyone else having trouble posting a photo? This my second post where I can‘t post a photo.I don‘t understand why. #CanadianAuthor #Vermont

JanuarieTimewalker13 I had only one problem with this book. She must have used the word “detritus” about 10 times…it became annoying. Lol 1y
31 likes1 comment
blurb
Jari-chan
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

And another author I wanted to read more of. The Broken Girls is my #roll100 for September and it's kinda fitting, right? Spooky season is coming!

@PuddleJumper

review
Robotswithpersonality
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

The real horror is injustice.
So glad I picked this up on a day where I had the time to read it almost non-stop beginning to end.
I might not be a straight thriller fan, but this mix of supernatural horror, good ol' haunted place, mixed with investigative suspense really works, especially with a dual time line, to keep you turning the pages, and getting all the chills. 1/?

Robotswithpersonality On the not so fun side, as if I needed more reason to loathe the social mores and bloody conflicts of times past, this story does deal with some heartbreaking themes: man's inhumanity towards man in war, violence against women (by men and women), the miscarriage of justice and the historic prevalence of victims and minors, particularly female ones, not being believed, or provided any type of mental health care/therapy post-trauma. Just be aware, here be darkness. 2/3 1y
Robotswithpersonality 3/3 I am grateful to the ending, for all the ways it sets out to try to make things right.
⚠️ SA, suicide attempt, PTSD, attempted filicide, discussion of WW2 concentration camps
1y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Excellent review!! I loved it! 1y
5 likes3 comments
quote
Robotswithpersonality
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

From an information management perspective, this book is uniquely horrifying!

quote
Robotswithpersonality
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Well, if I didn't already think this boarding school was a dystopian hell, that clinches it!

6 likes1 stack add
review
Acoleman
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

So good. One part murder mystery, one part ghost story, swirl in some historical fiction and an unlikely romance.

review
starlight97
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

Another exciting and creepy paranormal/crime/mystery novel by St James. I loved The Sun Down Motel and this one was almost as good.
#paranormal #gothic #thriller

32 likes1 stack add
blurb
BookishMadHatter
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

Work last night was hard ... For a while I didn't see anyone and had to read to fill the quiet 😏🤫

Elizabeth2 Really liked this one! Suspenseful and creepy, but touching at the same time. Enjoy! 1y
BookishMadHatter @Elizabeth2 based on what I've seen others say about it, I thought the book would ve spookier and/or more suspenseful than I thought it to be, but I still enjoyed the story 1y
12 likes2 comments
blurb
IndoorDame
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

My favorite book by one of my favorite authors 💙💙💙#TitleStartsWithB #MarchMagic @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

KathyWheeler This is my favorite of hers as well. 2y
Eggs 💙💙💙💙 2y
67 likes3 comments
review
Elizabeth2
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

Suspenseful, creepy, and touching at the same time. Ghost stories usually aren‘t my thing, and this book was hard for me to get into, but once the story began weaving together it gripped me. Told in two timelines, one from the past and one from the present, two different mysteries unfold surrounding the foreboding Idlewild property. The ending is perfection. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

This was my #bookspin for February. @TheAromaofBooks

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!!! 2y
28 likes1 comment
blurb
Elizabeth2
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image

This is my #bookspin for February. ❤️📚

review
jen_hayes7
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

I‘m still sick (ugh) so I sat and read this today. A veeeerrrrry old #botm choice. 😳 It was good! I can see why Simone St. James is so popular. Sometimes when thrillers have two timelines I like one more than the other and find myself flipping ahead. That didn‘t happen with this one.

kspenmoll Fabulous book by a fabulous author! 2y
Bren912 Hope you feel better!! 2y
jen_hayes7 @Bren912 Thank you ever so much!! 2y
16 likes3 comments
blurb
BeeMagical
Broken Girls | Simone St James

@ 31% I just couldn‘t get into the audio book🤷🏻‍♀️

I usually love St James so I think I‘ll try to pick this up as a physical book instead.

review
LiteraryinPA
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
post image
Pickpick

@Kayla.Adriena @Mccall0113 @shellleigh33 Once I finally picked up this read for #lmpbc I finished it in 24 hours! I really liked it and especially liked reading the margin comments from the previous readers. This book had a lot of elements that I tend to like, such as multiple timelines and chapters from different POVs. A good ghost story and I‘d totally read more by this author! @shellleigh33 This will go out in the next couple days!

Mccall0113 I‘m so far behind. I promise to get one I. The mail next week! 2y
Leftcoastzen 😻 2y
LiteraryinPA @shellleigh33 I mailed this to you this morning! 2y
85 likes3 comments
review
Romancegirl
The Broken Girls | Simone St James
Pickpick

I loved this book! The multiple mysteries, dual timelines, strong female friendships, and the so sad ghost story was all spot on. Highly recommend this book and this author. I read The Sundown Motel first, and I think I still like that one more than this one, but this one is a very close second.