If There Be Thorns
316
Novel • Fiction
California • 1980s
1981
YA
18+ years
In If There Be Thorns by V. C. Andrews, half-brothers Jory and Bart live with their mother, Cathy, and her husband, Chris. The boys befriend their new neighbor, an enigmatic woman named Corrine, who begins manipulating Bart. As family tensions rise, Bart's increasingly erratic behavior leads to a dangerous climax involving deeply buried family secrets. Sexual violence and incest are present.
Dark
Mysterious
Unnerving
Melancholic
Emotional
53,511 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
If There Be Thorns by V. C. Andrews is a gripping continuation of the Dollanganger series. Readers praise its dark, twisted storyline and complex character development, though some find the plot melodramatic and over-the-top. The psychological depth and evolving family dynamics keep readers engaged, despite occasional pacing issues and implausible twists.
Readers who appreciate V. C. Andrews' If There Be Thorns typically enjoy dark, psychological family dramas rife with secrets and complex characters. Fans of Gillian Flynn's Sharp Objects or Kate Morton's The Forgotten Garden will likely find this novel engaging, as it delves into twisted family dynamics and suspenseful narratives.
53,511 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
If There Be Thorns is the third book in the Dollanganger series by V. C. Andrews, first published in 1981.
A TV movie adaptation of If There Be Thorns was aired on the Lifetime network in 2015, starring Heather Graham and Jason Lewis.
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V. C. Andrews originally envisioned the Dollanganger series as a trilogy, with If There Be Thorns serving as its intended conclusion before subsequent books were written by a ghostwriter.
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316
Novel • Fiction
California • 1980s
1981
YA
18+ years
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