Flowers in the AtticFlowers in the Attic
Score Classic
What it's about
After their father dies, four beautiful children are taken by their mother to her wealthy parents' mansion in Virginia. To win back her inheritance from her dying father, who must never know they exist, she hides the children in a locked attic, promising it will only be for a few days. The days stretch into years, and the children are forced to grow up alone.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of the best-selling books ever and was voted onto both PBS's Great American Read and the BBC's Big Read. It's a notorious gothic page-turner.
You'll love it if you liked
The Thirteenth Tale
Room
RebeccaGood to know
It includes incest between siblings, child abuse, rape and poisoning. It's the first of a series.
By the numbers
- Readers19 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Bestseller74 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #48 of the 86 horror books we rank
- #548 of the 762 classics we rank
- #1914 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
Dark, Gripping
If you like this, read next
The Stand
It
The Shining
Different Seasons
Misery
The Picture of Dorian GrayExplore the best-of lists
All 36 best-of lists →
Quick answers
Is Flowers in the Attic worth reading?
Yes. It's one of the best-selling books ever and was voted onto both PBS's Great American Read and the BBC's Big Read. It ranks #1,914 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 64.7 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is Flowers in the Attic about?
After their father dies, four beautiful children are taken by their mother to her wealthy parents' mansion in Virginia. To win back her inheritance from her dying father, who must never know they exist, she hides the children in a locked attic, promising it will only be for a few days. The days stretch into years, and the children are forced to grow up alone.
How long does it take to read Flowers in the Attic?
About 10 hours (399 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after Flowers in the Attic?
If you liked it, try The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield, Room by Emma Donoghue or Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier.