Revenge, Trauma, and Petals on the Wind 

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Me holding all my pins 🤏 🤌 👁️👄👁️ 🤛 🤜 🤏 🫳

“Put a pin in that” I AM RUNNING OUT OF PINS 😭😭😭

I hated how every man Cathy came in contact with constantly blamed her for the way they felt towards her. Especially the doctor that took them in.

The saddest moment to me was when they find Cory’s body hidden in a different part of the attic the kids didn’t know about. To me that proves that’s Corrine was lying, she hid her son’s body away like a dirty secret before and after he died.

Paul broke my heart. That's when I realized this series was definitely a horror series.

Rereading this book as an adult was agony. SO much went over my head when I was younger. Henny and Carrie were the only characters who weren't incredibly toxic. Paul was not the good man I remembered him as. He took advantage of and basically groomed a traumatized, very mixed up young girl. And tried to act like SHE was preying on him. "How dare you parade around in a skimpy nightgown that I myself bought you because that's not odd or creepy at ALL!" 🤦 Whewww, VC Andrews. I love these books but they are a LOT!

Thank you for continuing this! I really appreciate that you didn’t write off this series as “ewww the incest books” and are able to view it as a story of trauma told from the perspective of an unreliable narrator whose views of the people and world around her are shaped by that trauma.

The trigger warnings for POTW are longer than a CVS receipt 😅 this author goes hard. Thanks for the vid ❤

I have been waiting for this since the Flowers video!

I remember crying when Carrie died and bein so angry with Corrine. I consumed so many VC Andrews books between age 12 and 14, I eventually became annoyed by the same tropes with the female protagonists and their groomer/rapist storylines.

This book series was the original Series of Unfortunate Events I swear 😭😂

New hour-long video about one of my niche interests just dropped, big day for me

Looking forward to your review! The thing that makes the character of Paul so sad, because it’s so realistic, is that he wasn’t 100% evil. He did very good things, he puts Chris through medical school, he treats Henny well, he provides Carrie a “normal life”(but he sends her to boarding school for room to creep on Cathy), he married Cathy to protect her baby- but he’s a creep and a predator. No way could she consent to anything with him. It’s just sad that after all the trauma Cathy went through Paul is a “safe” option. That’s the tragic part!!

I’ll never believe any explanation from Corrine even if we didn’t have the confirmation from the other book!!!!

I think Flowers in the Attic comes around every 20-ish years. It’s due. and thus we are many!

I watched the movies as a kid and had no idea there was books so now that im 18 i decided to read the books mostly i skipped the first book and went straight into the second and omg this book sent me into a spiral where i was just in crisis for what was happening! everything felt so sick.. the way Julian was guilt tripping Cathy when they went on there first date and they were in the car and he tried to force himself and Cathy told him no and to take him home and he kept saying she was childish and just a kid like uh yea dude SHES 15?! and ur like 19.. omg and then when Paul was explaining how he forced himself onto his wife it felt so sick because it felt like he was trying to pity himself and kept trying to say to cathy he tried his best being a good husband and then when Cathy went on to say hes a good man and stuff it made me even more sick and then Chris forcing himself onto Cathy and then talking about her breasts growing in the attic felt so sick too its just jesus i just want Cathy to be alone! why does she need a man to support her when all of these men have caused her trauma and agony I wish the ending had her leaving Chris and just trying to raise her kids by herself and letting herself heal.. i felt like she was never given the time to heal BY HERSELF and not have to jump in one relationship to the next

I have had a D&C related to heavy periods, I 100% very definitely did not have a miscarriage. So it's possible. But when I read this in 8th grade, I definitely thought she'd had a miscarriage.

I read these books obsessively throughout my teens (I'm Gen X). I accepted VC Andrews books with unreserved naivete 😂😂😂. now I'm in my 50s and it just tickles me so hard to see how the books hit you as a Gen Z, it's great! Yeah that while Paul debacle IS outrageous, at the time that relationship read as fully consensual (even tho it is so so icky!) Thank you for your fresh take on my old favorites 😂

As a teenager when these books came out, THANK YOU for this! There was so much I didn't get as a 14 year old that I needed to hear now.

“I will, in fact, heal in hell.” That’s a line I’m using! That’s good!

55:00 Did we forget about how corrine had to be talked into taking corie to the hospital? It was never a question if her version of events was true. If it was, she would have jumped at the chance of getting him out of the house.

These kinds of stories really disturb me on a deeper level since becoming a mother. My baby came out of my body. How the mother in this story behaves so selfishly that she is just EVIL is beyond me.

I gave you an automatic follow as soon as I saw your Flowers in the attic. I struggle to put in words how much these books impacted me and changed me and changed my life to people who havent read them. The struggle, the pain that was reading these and always wanting to know more and more. And back then internet wasnt a thing for me I had to look on libraries for all the books to know what came next. Just enthralled. Please keep going while I mentally prepare myself for the next one and the prequel as they hit the hardest, and also would you consider talking about House of the dragon?

Cories death being the most important moment in the series, then we flash forward to Andrew Neiderman writing Christopher's Diary Series and ruining it all, RUINING IT, ABSOLUTELY RUINING IT ALL, and if you keep this series going, I will gladly watch all of them, and also, god the way Andrew Neiderman just ruins this series good lord, fckng good lord he undoes EVERYTHING

AH! i thought of GOT during your last video because of the constant comparisons to porcelain dolls and Sansa being told she goes from porcelain, to ivory, to steal

Screaming crying throwing up i love you for this series

❤ Pleeeease part three!!!! I am reliving so much of my teenhood with your brilliant story telling. Great job! I need more on this haunting series!!!!

The Dollenganger Series is the very definition of a guilty pleasure for me. It's a good continuation of the orginal.book but I honestly have take breaks from POTW because of how over the top dark it gets; I mean does Cathy know *any* man that doesn't want to or has SAed her or someone else? Besides that did anyone else notice that Cathy has a bit of an obsession with the female body and form? The amount of times she narrates about hips, legs, and especially breasts; even Yolanda has her personality compared to her bosom. I am sure there is something to say about Cathy's psychology on all this with her trauma with sexuality and even in relation to physicality being a dancer but it can be hard to think critically when a character always has their figure and bosom described in finite detail.

Honestly I don’t even care they are siblings at this point cause these bitches went through too much and they deserve to be happy.

I would die to hear your take on My Sweet Audrina. That was my first taste of VC Andrews (Dawn being next) and it sincerely twisted my mind and affected my reading journey forever.

i have literally been waiting for this video WITH BAITED BREATH!!! i have always wanted an analysis on these books. THANK YOU - i’m watching RIGHT NOW❤

just watched your first video on Flowers in the Attic and i was instantly hooked to your channel

I enjoyed this take on flowers of the attic so much that i brushed up on the second book to get ready for this

Hurrayyyy I've been waiting for this video Fyi, for anyone interested, there is a saga telling the story from Chris' perspective. They are questionable, to say the least, but they give the insight of the med school

As a fan of AOSIAF, VC Andrews, and gothic horror (who also thinks incest is very bad), it can be difficult to engage in analysis both in and outside of the fandom. Thank you for making this series. I don't know much beyond the first novel. It was marketed as a "forbidden romance" to my teenage self on tumblr. It's actually just deeply sad. Real horror and tragedy happens within our homes and families. Something not talked about is the horror that comes with looking like an abuser to thanks for highlighting it. I think Andrews is written off at large as a soap opera "trashy" novelist. As outrageous as some plots get, there's truth. A lot of everyone's actions make sense when you consider their traumas. Anyway, I can't wait for more videos from you

Hey the second part dropped! Edit: man Bart out here having one HECK of a Christmas party

*Grabs keys and heads to Staples to buy a new box of pins"...BECAUSE I'VE RUN OUT OF PINS!!!!!!!!!! I can't stop watching you videos.

god bless you for doing this series on behalf of all the middle school VC Andrews fanatics

Oh, I think Cathy DEFINITELY got pregnant with Bart's baby on purpose. I LOVE that scene where she tells him while she's casually knitting baby booties. And when he tries to make her stop and talk to him for real, she's all "You're unraveling it!" A comedy QUEEN.

Iread the series far too young, and reread it as an adult, so I thought I was reasonably familiar with it. But apparently I completely blocked out Paul's two headed souvenir. I can't describe the sound I made when you hit that, but there was definitely a horrified laugh mixed in. Andrews didn't miss a horror!

I absolutely love this series!! Please do the movies too! This is the only analysis on these books that feels calm and appropriate for all the trauma and drama written. It’s such a good listen thank you!

I related to Cathy because she struggled to process the trauma and abuse she endured and manage the all internal changes when you lost belief in the world as safe and the symptoms that abuse left. What the VC Andrew Flowers series taught me is the cost to a person who chooses to pursue punishing an abuser. You can achieve your goal of ruining those people who abused you. However, it doesn't erase the past abuse or lessen the unprocessed pain and trauma. Instead, the time and energy could've been used on learning how to manage her and Chris's emotional co-dependence and enmeshment that led to an incestuous pair bonding between them. Cathy was a very observant and intelligent young woman who had no idea how to set boundaries with anyone but strangers, especially learning how to identify and defend herself from predatory "protectors" and accepting that none of the abuse she and her brothers and sister suffered before or after was their fault. I forgot to mention that incest can occur in cases of extreme social isolation, plus the Grandmother's unhealthy focus on Chris and Cathy's relationship, and her extreme abuse put them in the position of defending each other from her. However, Olivia's worst example of her obsession with her twisted fanatical piety is discussing and projecting all her disgusting ideas on all her grandchildren being predestined to be evil because they were born of incest. In fact, the grandmother's fire and brimstone lectures on sexuality and atonement backfired. One thing I always believed was although Olivia had twisted fanatical beliefs about Christianity she was absolutely sincere and devoted to a fault about her twisted interpretation. I've wondered recently if she knew what she put her grandchildren through created not only incestuous emotional enmeshment which caused Chris and Cathy to act out their enmeshment with one another physically? Oddly Olivia reminded me of Cersei Lannister in the books, she had people spying on Margery and Loras because she was convinced they were incestuous even though she knew Loras was gay! There is a hilarious line in the book about Cersei's point of view about her suspicions at Joffery's and Margery's wedding as she observes Margery and Loras dancing together, she compares Lora's sexuality akin to preferring ale to drink, it wouldn't stop one from drinking wine if no ale was available. Cersei was determined to learn if it was true. So I've wondered would've Olivia had another stroke over the incest or felt vindicated in her fanatical piety? I will always believe Corrie married her half-uncle in part as a way of giving the finger to her mother for her heretical fanatical religious piety.

Some better phrases you could maybe use would be: instead of Paul having feelings he has "an inappropriate attraction to Kathy" and instead of them getting together they "began an inappropriate relationship." There are several concise synonyms that emphasize the wrongness with sensitivity that I see a lot of true crime RU-vidrs use. Loving this series, I'm hooked ❣️

Heavens. I remember this as my favorite of the first 3 books and I was glad that Cathy got Bart from her mom. When I got to book 3 and the Bart/zipper question.... it finally hit me. All of it. I noped out of the series so hard at that point. However, grown up me is really enjoying your take on all of these books.

I squealed when I saw this !!!! I’m so happy that you are continuing this !!

I've never read the books but grew up knowing the infamy of the first book and seen the old movie. So it's super interesting to hear it all (and fun to listen to while gaming). I really appreciate how you frame a lot of the most messed up parts as tragic because really it truly is. It is quite dark and tragic in a way. So much of the awful stuff is a result of trauma and abuse. There's so much... uh... low comprehension (misunderstandings?) I guess, in some people now that many assume certain conflicts in stories are there because the author must think it's hot/sexy/okay and is romanticizing it, and I realize now that maybe in many of those cases they're only reacting to the fact that the bad thing happens without considering or giving the context. And regardless it is still really messed up. Like. Jesus. And it got a lot worse in this holy damn. But I guess that's part of what makes it intriguing, like watching an horrible accident unfold in front of you.

I am so so glad you did this review. I read the first book and was grossed out and weirded out, but I trudged through. I only made it about 16th of the way through the second book before putting it down and not picking it up again, so I really appreciate you doing this and seemingly taking one for the team so I could know what happened without actually having to read the book. Thanks again great content.

As horrific as the book is, your coverage and break down was great. Thx amazing job well done

Hi ~ I read this series around 1979. I remember loving it, but had forgotten most of it. How fun to revisit! Thank you so much for this enjoyable summary !!

I have come back to petals the most out of any book in the series! It truly has it all and is very memorable I think

VC Andrews has so many great series, would love to hear your take/synapses of all them lol you’re very well spoken and you do the work justice, which, as a fan, is invaluable. Wishing you continued success 🫶

IM SO HAPPY!!!!!!!! I loved your first discussion so much. I reread the first book right after and the second in prep for this!! feels like a lil book club.

So excited to see that you posted the second part of this series! I read the first one a while back and never got around to finishing the rest. I’m excited to see how the saga ends.

Thank you for these! I'm one of the many Gen Xers who read these in my teens. Revisiting them in adulthood is really eye-opening (I remember thinking Paul was one of the good guys in my initial reading, for instance). Thank you for taking these books seriously. I would be very interested to learn what you think about Andrew's ghostwriter and his impact on her legacy.

Woop woop! Part 2! Thanks for bringing back my favorite part of the original videos. All 👏 the 👏 men 👏 in 👏 Cassies 👏 life 👏 are 👏 trash As I said it lives rent free in my head. Really excited for part 3.

This is my favorite book in the series. So much happens in a small amount of time.

Thank u soooo much for continuing this saga!!

Trashy novels sometimes illuminate social problems better than serious case studies do. (Example: Valley of the Dolls, which actually was a stinging portrait of the toxic and destructive effect of male beauty standards on women). Petals on the Wind is a detailed case study of the long-trail effects of abuse - crushed self-esteem, feeling isolated from peers, getting in one toxic relationship after another. Cathy stays with Julian because part of her believes she deserves no better. Honestly, it’s hard to say which of Cathy’s men is the worst, though I have to say the nod goes to Paul, the groomer. (I do wonder if this was the first time that Henny, sweet as she was, accidentally ended up being Paul’s Ghislaine Maxwell.)

47:59 this bit is so sad because it’s almost word for word what Olivia says in Garden of Shadows to herself when the children come to Foxworth Hall.

I always wanted to read the series,but really didn't want to at the same time. Thank you for the unanswered questions without the gory details.

I’ve been waiting on this since hearing the first books summary. I haven’t read any of these. Love your story telling ability

I'm so enjoying this series! Thank you. Long time fan of these books

Clicked immediately! Great commentary, this series is so dark and I love your recap of it, thanks!

Good timing for me, just finished the Flowers in the Attic video. I hope you cover all the books. I have such a soft spot for this series even though I couldn’t finish it because it got too much.

I always thought the two-headed embryo was her miscarriage from chris

❤ I was looking for this video from you after i finished your video on "Flowers in the Attic" and I am so happy to have this to enjoy tonight! Thanks for making this video!! ❤

So glad I found your channel! Love your break down of these books! I’m here for any series you do :)

I am really liking this series. I remember watching Flowers in the Attic on Starz one day in my early twenties. I kept thinking something was off. I quickly went out and bought the books. Keep up the good work.

My Sweet Audrina was a great standalone that had ONE male figure that was non toxic. Mostly.

Ive been obsess about your last video! I was so afraid you wouldnt narrate the sequels. This is such a haunting story and you are a great narrator. Can't wait!!!!

This is amazing. Please continue with the other sequels! I've read these books several times, but I feel that VC Andrews novels sometimes drag out scenes longer than they need to be. Your consolidation of these novels shows that the story behind this- and many of her novels- portrays generational trauma. You should do a whole series of her books!

Thank God I read this during college when my psych professor recommended this to our class.

Yes! I’ve been waiting for this video! So glad I found this channel

You’re doing such a good job. It’s like I’m expiring the books all over again.

I think the horror of these stories, these childrens trauma, is how realistic and relatable it is. Like everyone remembers being a child in an adult world with unpredictable adults dictating their lives and limited their freedom, and most people experienced some form of bullying that they can relate that feelings how these kids felt. Even children lucky enough to be raised by loving and well rounded parents still had to juggle managing teachers, extended family, friends parents. Every child knows an adult bully in one way or another. And more over, even as children, most of us instinctively knew not all adults were safe. Let alone the children who did suffer direct and malicious familial abuse. Basically everyone can relate in some way to what those children went through and how life dealt them hard blow afrer another. And the fact that such experiences as Chris, Cathy and Carrie are so universal, so well known to happen in the real world behind closed doors but unknown until someone speaks out about it, is the root of the horror for stories like these. Not just that abuse goes on, but that it goes on so easily and it so hard to see around us most of the time because it happens behind closed doors or byaster manipulator who can twist people against the abused.

IM SO EXCITED FOR THIS!!!!!!!!! I’m so glad I found your channel, Stephanie ❤❤

Thanks sooo much for this series! I loves Flower in the Attic as a child and never knew of the continued story.

I read these books about 27 years ago, in middle school, and I'm so glad you're talking about them! Thanks. Will definitely look out for if there be thorns.

This is like an adult version of my book and record sets when I was little lol! I love it and it even has witty commentary about the story! And a lot of pins. ❤😂🎉 I think I first read Flowers in the Attic the summer before seventh grade. I remember thinking I wasn’t really sure about wanting to become an adult if this is what it was going to be like. Thank you for your work on this!

I've been waiting for this, thank you 🙏🙏🙏

Will you please do the 'My Sweet Audrina' duology? Flowers in the Attic always gets talked about because it's the most popular VC Andrews series but those two books are really crazy too.

You have no clue how excited I was to see this pop up in my sub box

i was waiting for you to post this!!!

Thank YOU for the videos, really glad I discovered your channel! It's perfect for during office work.

YES TYSM FOR DOING BOOK TWO! I loved your first video

Thanks for this!!! I read the series when I was way young to understand everything and how incredibly toxic it is, I question the sanity of my family when they let me read this but I remember I loved it, now… wellllll let’s just say I’m in kind of a shock but I reeeeeaaaalllly like your videos!!! Keep up!!!

I found these books during my teens and loved them. Thank you for making this series.

Great video! I like the way you delved deep in to this book and can't wait for the rest of the series. You've found your stride and can't wait for the next series you start. Would love to hear Game of thrones series (even though it's not complete)

IVE WAITED TOO LONG FOR THIS PART TWO AHHH

Lifetime did this book so bad. I had forgotten and watched it again after this review. They completely cut the story of Paul out, what!!!!

I started reading this series when I was 12 because my mom thought it was a story about some kids and bought it for me at a flea market for 25 cents. I never really stopped thinking about it and reread it every now and then. I have them all on audible now but those old paperbacks are still on my bookshelf. I thought it was funny that in the movie adaptation of POTW, they found the Paul storyline so problematic that they blew right past it and started the movie with his funeral lol.

Please do the rest of this series. I havent read these books since high school, i devoured so much V.C Andrews that year ❤

I was waiting for this since I saw your FITA review last week! I read the book in high school and hadn’t read it in years and years, I forgot how bad it really was omg.

Oh I have been WAITING for this!

Omg I am so happy you're doing this series! Please do the Casteel family saga at some point!

Thank you continuing the series

I literally started reading the series of Flowers in the Attic because of your video on the first book and now it is my current hiperfixation. I'll patiently wait for your next video! I kinda feel like the third book jumps the shark....

Love your take on these books! I read them around middle/high school age and didn’t pick up on a lot of this at the time. Looking forward to your next video

I really like your content. Reading this book as an adult was a revelation...