Happy Thursday, all! Today I am super excited to share my review of an alluring and haunting ghost story, The Broken Girls by Simone St. James, in celebration of its paperback release from Berkley Pub!
My Thoughts:
The Broken Girls started off with a bang and with a dynamically engaging prologue! Was there a ghost right from the start?
If you think you do not enjoy ghost stories, I have to say, this one is executed well. Spooky is done with a light hand, not overdone, even feasible if that’s possible for a ghost story?! The atmosphere is perfectly staged with an old school building featuring “tooth-shaped windows.”
In Vermont in the 1950s, there’s a home for wayward “throw-away” girls at Idlewild Hall. The local town has rumors that Idlewild is haunted. Four girls are sharing a room, and they forge a deep bond that continues to grow until one friend disappears.
Also in Vermont, but in 2014, Fiona Sheridan is a journalist obsessed with events around her sister’s mysterious death. Twenty years prior, she is fond in the fields of Idlewild Hall.
It turns out that Idlewild is being restored by someone who does not want to be named, and Fiona decides to write a story about it. Fiona discovers something that links her sisters death to other secrets…and something you’d never expect.
Told in dual story lines, past and present, that later converge, I found the past timeline slightly more interesting, which featured a boarding school in Vermont for “wayward” girls in the 1950s. I enjoyed the present storyline with Fiona, too, but the former held me captive. The girls in the school were each so interesting and likable.
Overall, this was a well-written, atmospheric, spooky ghost story, and one I enjoyed immensely. It’s the perfect read for this time of year, to cozy up with a blanket and fall into a story.
Thanks to Berkley for the complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Synopsis:
A 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. . . .
Check out these reviews by the other Book Besties:
Berit at Audio Killed the Bookmark
Mackenzie at PhDiva
Have you read The Broken Girls, or is it on your TBR? Do you have any favorite spooky reads? Happy Reading! ~ Jenni THR
A ghostly review, Jennifer. I love your picture. You make this mystery sound so exciting that I cannot wait to read it. Happy Reading! 💕📚🌹🕵️♀️
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Thanks, Virginia! It was a creepy, atmospheric read, and I hope you enjoy it too! 💕
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Beautiful presentation, Jennifer! Yes, this one is on my TBR (on audio) and I’m determined to get to it in 2019.
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Thanks, Jonetta! I cannot wait to hear how it is on audio. I think that could really add to the atmosphere!
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I enjoyed this one too!! Love the pic and so glad you all read this one ❤
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Thanks, Holls! It was a great, haunting read! ♥️
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I really liked this book as well. It had a wonderfully atmospheric feel to it. Terrific book and review!
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Thanks, Marialyce! The setting really did add something to this one.
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Great review Jennifer! I’m with you, I loved this book too!
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Thanks, Heather! I’m happy you are a fan, too! ♥️
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This was such a good one!!! Glad you enjoyed reading this one too :). Hope to see more from this author soon :).
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Thank you, Kendall! I hope we do see more books from her soon, too!
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Great review, Jennifer! It is the perfect time of year for this type of atmospheric read. 😊
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Thanks, Darinda! It really is the perfect time of year!
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Beautiful pictures and awesome review Jen! Sounds like you all loved this one! Happy Thursday!😁💕
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Thanks, Sus! I miss those pretty leaves! I hope your Thursday was wonderful! ♥️
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Great review and love that picture! ❤
I'm pretty intrigued and may even read this even tho it kinda feels like half historical fiction 😀 But it does sound good actually!
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Thanks, Norrie! It doesn’t have much if any historical events included if that makes it safer? It’s just that part of it takes place in the past. This author is really popular for her ghost stories! ♥️
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It’s odd – although I love older ghost stories, especially Victorian, I rarely find a modern ghost story that works for me. This does sound spooky though! I used to work in a school for boys with behavioural difficulties – modern euphemism for ‘wayward’, I think – and it was rumoured the school was haunted! Frankly, I didn’t see how any ghost could be scarier than the boys on a bad day… 😂
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I know, I don’t like the “wayward” and other terms because it implies it’s all something within, and it’s usually a few things going on and not that simple. I loved hearing about your spooky school! It’s hard to find ghost stories that work- I completely agree.
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Fantastic review!
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Thank you, Nicki!
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Love this book and love your review! I am really shocked at how much I just fell in love with this amazing story!💕💕
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Thanks, Berit! It was a wonderful story! ♥️
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Wonderful review, Jennifer!!! You describe the spooky atmosphere perfectly—I totally loved this book and the chill surrounding Idlewild Hall! 💕
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Thanks, Mack! Yes, there was definitely a chill surrounding the hall! ♥️
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With the spooky atmosphere, this is definitely one I would consider reading in the fall!
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It’s great that this was so well executed! Awesome review!
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Thank you! It was nice for a change of pace!
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I’ve had my eye on this book for a year now! Every review has made me more excited to read it 😀
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I look forward to what you think, Annie! This author has several ghost story books, and I think I’ve scooped them all up now!
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My sister keeps telling me I need to read this book, so I’m thrilled to see you gave it high marks as well. I’m hit or miss when it comes to ghost stories but this does sound like one I could get into.
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I really hope you enjoy it when you get to it, Suzanne! I’m planning to read more from her backlist and was able to buy them all from Book Outlet.
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This one might be a little too spooky for me!
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It was a haunting story, LP! 😊
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Sounds perfect for this time of year Jenni! Glad you enjoyed this one and as always, fab review 🤗
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Thanks, Beth! It truly was- creepy and cozy! ♥️
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I don’t usually like books that jump back and forth between eras, but this one was a real page turner for me.
Here’s a little aside about Simone St. James, the author of The Broken Girls. I had more than 200 books on my TBR list on Goodreads.com. As soon as I added The Broken Girls to my list, I received a thank you note from Ms. St. James! Of all those “want to read” books, she was the first author to acknowledge that I had added one of her books to my list. As busy as authors are, it really impressed me that she took the time to write me.
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I’m so happy you enjoyed this one, too, Janet, and I LOVE that the author wrote to you. So special! Thanks for telling me about that.
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Wonderful review! And I felt the same: the older storyline was much more intriguing than the later one. The story of the girls at Idlewild Hall had a very gothic feel to it that pulled me in straightaway. Moving forward to Fiona’s bit actually broke that spell a little. If only it could have held onto that gothic feel in the later story as well. Regardless, it was a great read.
P.S. Happy New Year!!!
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Thanks, Myndi! You worded that well. It may have even been better with a single timeline. Happy New Year to you, too!
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