The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel

"Roanoke girls never last long around here. In the end, we either run or we die."

 

July17 book for Poison Apple Book Club

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"After her mother's suicide, fifteen year-old Lane Roanoke came to live with her grandparents and fireball cousin, Allegra, on their vast estate in rural Kansas. Lane knew little of her mother's mysterious family, but she quickly embraced life as one of the rich and beautiful Roanoke girls. But when she discovered the dark truth at the heart of the family, she ran fast and far away.

Eleven years later, Lane is adrift in Los Angeles when her grandfather calls to tell her Allegra has gone missing. Did she run too? Or something worse? Unable to resist his pleas, Lane returns to help search, and to ease her guilt at having left Allegra behind. Her homecoming may mean a second chance with the boyfriend whose heart she broke that long ago summer. But it also means facing the devastating secret that made her flee, one she may not be strong enough to run from again.

As it weaves between Lane's first Roanoke summer and her return, The Roanoke Girls shocks and tantalizes, twisting its way through revelation after mesmerizing revelation, exploring the secrets families keep and the fierce and terrible love that both binds them together and rips them apart." (goodreads)

I was so invested in Lane's story and finding out what happened to Allegra. The mystery surrounding the Roanoke family was something that came out in between the lines earlier in the story than I expected. I believe the real mystery was knowing that adult Lane knew the secrets and the anxiety of waiting to find out how younger Lane was going to uncover the secrets of Roanoke. This story is a twisted and morbid one, but it's also one that you cannot look away from. I enjoyed Lane's character, she made lots of mistakes and she was a difficult person to like at times, but the more you learned about her the more you can begin to understand her. Allegra on the other hand I couldn't not love if I tried, but she too also made some huge mistakes in her life. She was outgoing and dramatic and reading the past chapters was like meeting a ghost. It's almost painful knowing where she will end up and not knowing if she really is alive or dead. Was there someone responsible for her disappearance? Lane must be very careful who she trusts as she is dragged back into the family, friendships and relationships she left behind so many years ago. Lane knows Allegra better than anyone, and her alone is the key to uncovering Allegra's past and finding out what happened to her and where she might be.

I really enjoyed this book, as messed up as it was. The Roanoke Girls has it's twist and turns but nothing can keep up with the snowball once younger Lane uncovers the secrets of Roanoke. The secrets a family can keep is frightening, and the lengths people are willing to go to protect those secrets are even scarier. As messed up as Lane is herself, she has no idea the dangers she is putting herself in and who could be wishing when she had disappeared all those years ago, she should have just stayed gone.

 

My Rating: 4.5/5 Stars