“You can't outrun what's inside of you. You can only acknowledge it, work around it, try and turn it into something better. I may not know exactly where I'm headed, but this time I'm choosing my own destiny.” I'm not really sure how to write a review for this, I can honestly say this book broke me. It's not every day that a book can make me feel so many emotions - I was angry, disgusted, happy, and sometimes crying. "Roanoke girls never last long around here... in the end, we either run or we die." The Roanoke Girls by Amy Engel is a very powerful and disturbing book that deals with a subject matter most people don't want to talk about. Engel tackles this taboo subject very cautiously, with gentleness and care, keeping the reader in mind every step of the way. Clearly, because of the content, this book is not for everyone, which is completely understandable. I kept asking myself, "why can't I stop reading this book?". I was mesmerized and shocked at how addicted I was to turn each page. At one point I was even mad at myself for liking the book. I guess that's confirmation to the author's brilliant writing style. Engel definitely has a new fan in me! In the end, I loved this book, but I'm not sure if I can recommend this book to everyone, I guess it's up to you to decide if you should pick it up or not. *I won a copy of The Roanoke Girls from the LibraryThing giveaway. (read less)

“You can't outrun what's inside of you. You can only acknowledge it, work around it, try and turn it into something better. I may not know exactly where I'm headed, but this time I'm choosing my own destiny.” I'm not really sure how to write a review for this, I can honestly say this book broke me. It's not every day that a book can make me feel so many emotions - I was angry, disgusted, (read more)

This is a well written story about family dysfunction. On the wall are photos of the Roanoke Girls, each one with a tragic end of either suicide or accidental death. Two young teenaged Roanoke Girls remain. One who has lived in the mansion Roanoke home all her life. Her grandfather and grandmother live with her. The other, flees New York to visit Roanoke after the suicide of her mother. While other Roanoke family girls have rapidly fled, one remains. When her cousin visits, she finds a kinship. Because of their childhoods, they never know how to form solid relationships. Affection from a man other than their grandfather seems more than awkward and game playing with the emotions of other men is the norm. As the book progresses the reader wonders if the remaining Roanoke girls will transcend the swirling miasma of their grandfathers unhealthy attention, and will somehow, unlike all the other Roanoke girls who are dead, or mentally burdened, make it through with a healthy, steady life away from the money, a cold, hardened grandmother and the ever beguiling, controlling handsome grandfather. After a summer visit, the one flees while the other keeps her promise to remain. Called back to Roanoke when word comes from her grandfather that her cousin is missing, it appears only one Roanoke girl now remains to find all the puzzle pieces and hopefully rescue her cousin in the hope that she has not met the fate of the previous "Roanoke Girls." I highly recommend this one. Four Stars! (read less)

This is a well written story about family dysfunction. On the wall are photos of the Roanoke Girls, each one with a tragic end of either suicide or accidental death. Two young teenaged Roanoke Girls remain. One who has lived in the mansion Roanoke home all her life. Her grandfather and grandmother live with her. The other, flees New York to visit Roanoke after the suicide of her mother. (read more)