Books like If There Be Thorns by V. C. Andrews
If There Be Thorns, published in 1981, is the third novel in the Dollanganger series and is set in 1982. The story is narrated by the half‑brothers Jory and Bart Sheffield. Jory, handsome and talented, dreams of a ballet career like his mother Cathy, while Bart feels eclipsed and struggles to find his place within the family.
Cathy and her common‑law husband Chris conceal their past by claiming to be siblings. Unable to have more children, Cathy secretly adopts Cindy, the daughter of a former dance student who died in an accident. As the family adjusts, Jory and Bart encounter an elderly neighbor who reveals herself to be Jory’s grandmother. Bart becomes close friends with her, and she offers him gifts in exchange for keeping their relationship a secret from his mother.
First publish date: 1981
Genre: Horror/Psychological Horror
Authors: V. C. Andrews
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Books similar to If There Be Thorns (15 similar books)
Flowers in the Attic, V. C. Andrews’ first Gothic novel, follows the Dollanganger siblings through Cathy’s first‑person voice.
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Petals on the Wind, released in 1980, continues the Dollanganger family saga after their escape from the attic in 1960, chronicling their trials and secrets through 1975.
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My Sweet Audrina is a 1982 stand‑alone novel by V. C. Andrews, set in a 1960s‑70s Mid‑Atlantic Victorian mansion by the fictitious River Lyle, where a fragile daughter faces death, betrayal, and hidden secrets.
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Penelope Keeling reflects on a bohemian childhood, wartime romance, and a priceless family portrait as her children debate its future.
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The final Dollanganger novel chronicles Cathy’s life from age 52 to her death, exploring family secrets, revenge, and lingering trauma.
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In her wealthy Boston home, Heaven Leigh Casteel longs for a fresh start, yet hidden family secrets threaten to unravel her newfound hope and peace of mind.
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A comprehensive anthology of Edgar Allan Poe’s classic short stories—such as "The Tell‑Tale Heart" and "Murders in the Rue Morgue"—and iconic poems including "Annabel Lee" and "The Raven", showcasing his mastery of horror, mystery, and lyrical verse.
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The Collected Tales of Edgar Allan Poe is a collection of short stories and tales by the renowned American author Edgar Allan Poe.
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A tale of the petticoats between sisters and the haunting secrets of the dollager family, this novel will keep you on the edge of your seat with its psychological tension and spine-tingling plot twists.
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The Dollanganger Family Series: A Thriller with Family Secrets and Unpredictable Villains
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A trio of V. C. Andrews novels—Dawn, Heaven, and Ruby—each exploring family drama, domestic tension, and suspenseful twists that reveal the darker side of parent–child relationships.
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