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This was truly a great thriller. I loved the suspense created by the author. I really felt for these characters who were well rounded and intriguing. I don’t want to give any spoilers but the charming first part of the book quickly changes and the reader is pulled in to a web on “who done it and why”.
Please read this exceptional thriller so you can find out for yourself The who and the why.
Thank you to C.A. Wittman and goodreads for the opportunity to enjoy this wonderful book.

I read it in one day

I loved this trilogy! There was so much detail to every character and every part of the story that it felt like each book in the series was a true life story. I would love if the author decides to expand from a trilogy into more books as the girls continue to get older etc.

This book was so twisty and kept me guessing. Every time you think you figure something out you get a curve ball. Parts really broke my heart as a mother.

This book was absolutely engrossing. A fascinating story written with economical prose that vividly painted the strange world the author has experienced. I hope there is a sequel that picks up where this finished!

Ms. Wittman has written a bold, courageous and intensely intimate memoir about her childhood torn between her father's family in Los Angeles' African American South Central community and the radical Synanon cult in Northern California, where she was taken by her mother. This memoir is not your ordinary coming-of-age story. Nor is it an ordinary I-was-kidnapped-by-a-cult tale. It's much better and much more. It's beautifully written, a true pleasure to read, and it intertwines deeply felt themes of childhood and motherhood with the dramatic, suspenseful story of a child's life in a truly bizarre cult. Highly recommended.

Wittman does another wonderful job of placing one in the setting as a voyeur. We find that life without Synanon is a challenge and many changes take place. This book is well penned and very philosophical in many places. I found it to be an excellent recounting of not only transitioning from Synanon, from girl to a woman whom she decided to be.

It's an impressive autobiography, and I fully recommend it. I don't do spoilers, so I will leave it thusly.

I’d recommend this book. It provides a detailed description of the author’s journey from childhood to young teenager. As a result of bouncing around between different social settings including cults and various family member’s homes, she gained a unique sense of self at a young age. I really wish there was a trilogy to learn more about her journey into adulthood.

I wasn't sure about this book at first. It is hard to relate to the ultra wealthy but these characters have stories to tell.There are a lot of lines to follow and every single character has some dirt. The poor woman ends up paying for her "crimes" but they were all complicit in something.I loved it. I loved the drama.

This book was truly unlike anything I’ve ever read. Twisty, and turny, and some dark themes that brought out a few triggers I didn’t even know I had, but I was there for it. With so many characters and plot lines, I almost wish I had a cork board with some red string to follow along, but the author did an excellent job of making you care about each arc, and brought them together beautifully and cohesively. Another aspect I appreciated, was that the main characters weren’t even ultimately likeable at some points, but they were so very human- flawed and relatable that you still manage to care about their story.

Astonishing story. I am so sad it's over. I loved this book so so much. I purchased a hard copy and gave two friends lined up to read it already. Wonderful book.

This is an amazing book! Not at all what I expected. A group of girls that are in that in between stage. They haven't blossomed yet and low self esteem thinking they are ugly. They all have very different home lives and that plays a big factor in this story of coming of age and the tragedy that strikes the group. I was surprised how the murder mystery played out and who was behind it all and why. I can not praise this author more for touching on some very important issues that plague our tens today. This book is a must read!

Such a wonderful book that kept me hooked with every page. Couldn't put it down. I was a little annoyed at all the words I didn't understand and the way some of the "spoken" English was written phonetically, made it a little bit more difficult to read. But the story as such was really good! The ending was too abrupt. Seems there will be a second book by the looks of it...

Very suspenseful; kept me up late reading. Setting added a lot of interest, especially the Hawaiian cultural context. Characters were realistic and multifaceted. Great story!

This short story is packed with an awesome plot & believable characters. What would you do if you woke up in the prime of your life? I won't ruin the story with spoilers! Just read it!

This book has a heavy, Gothic feel, which I definitely enjoyed, especially against the backdrop of Hawaii.
I found it very suspenseful and intriguing. It's a very unique story.
The characters were developed well, along with the setting.
I love that the author tried to create a new version of a traditional “monster”.
I found the story very creative and the cousins were very creepy.
I recommend giving this one a go.