Friday, June 8, 2012

Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch

Breaking news: I am happy to report that I have found it!  Sorority Sisters, by Claudia Welch, is the book I have been looking and waiting for.  Let me explain...every year beginning in May I start looking for 'THE' summer read.  It needs to have great 3-dimensional characters, a memorable (and believable) plot, and in general be a fun read.  As the weather gets warmer I like to plant myself outside with a book as I work on saying 'Bon Voyage' to my pasty skin.  I always search for a fun summer read to lose myself in as my daughter plays in her sandbox and my feet dangle in her kiddie pool.  My hopes began rising as I started reading Sorority Sisters.  It only took me a chapter or two to realize that Claudia Welch had delivered my Summer 2012 read.   Thank you Claudia!

Sorority Sisters begins in 1975 and follows four diverse University of Los Angeles students.  For various reasons, strangers Karen, Ellen, Laurie, and Diane decide to pledge and join the Beta Pi Sorority.  In turn they form strong and loyal friendships with each other that last a lifetime.  The women are there for each other through hookups, breakups, midterms, and family strife.  They may not be blood related, but the four Beta Pi's form bonds closer than that of their own families. 

Each chapter is told in the view point of one of the girls.  It is through these different first person points of view that the reader is shown the inner workings of each character.  They may put up a barrier to the world but it is through their thoughts that you can see the depth of Karen's neediness, Ellen's sarcastic personality, Laurie's backwardness, and Diane's insecurities.  Welch did an excellent job in her smooth chapter/character transitions.  I was never in a Sorority but after reading Sorority Sisters I feel like I have a good understanding of how they work.  Claudia Welch took her readers through pledging, Rush, and sorority life in general.  I'm kinda sad I missed out! 

Sorority Sisters doesn't stop when the four graduate.  Instead, the novel continues on through marriages, divorces, and motherhood.  Let me stop right here and say that I LOVED this about Sorority Sisters.  Too many books focus on one point in its characters life.  Childhood, or young adulthood, or 'the best time of their lives.'  Sorority Sisters follows Karen, Ellen, Laurie, and Diane through life.  It was so rewarding for me as the reader to watch them grow and mature, all the while being there for each other.  I laughed with them and even cried with them.  The story concluded in 2001 in a VERY fitting way that tied everything together. 

I wholeheartedly recommend Claudia Welch's Sorority Sisters.  I give it 2 thumbs up...if I had 4 thumbs I would rate it that!  If there is only one book you read this summer, please let it be this one.  Trust me, it will not let you down! 
  
Berkley Books and BookPleasures.com has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, Sorority Sisters, for the purpose of review.



26 comments:

  1. I stopped by your awesome blog and followed you via GFC!
    Feel free to come by my blog at:
    http://katierox4you.blogspot.com/

    xoxox
    Katie
    The Random Life

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Katie, I am following you!
      Thanks for stopping by,
      Candace

      Delete
  2. That actually sounds really good! I love books like this! They are the perfect escape!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This really was a great book to escape for a few hours! It really was an entertaining read!

      Delete
  3. Sounds interesting :) I think I'll be giving it a try. But thanks for sharing :)
    xoxo, Mariam @Book-A-Holic
    new follower <3

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Mariam, I will make sure to follow you as well!

      Delete
  4. Excellent review and congrats on finding THE summer read of 2012. I'm intrigued that the book follows their lives after graduation and would like to read this. I'm now a follower. Oh, and I'm a Buckeye too! I'm from Cincinnati and live in Columbus. It looks like you enjoy mostly paranormal books but if you're into Romantic Suspense we can chat about getting you a review copy of one of my novels (Adult or Young Adult). Happy reading, Jen

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Jennifer, YAY for a fellow Ohioan! I have followed your blog as well. I love all Romance novels (both Young Adult and Adult) so I would be delighted to review one or more of your print books! You can e-mail me at Gabrielals@aol.com with more information.

      Thanks!
      Candace

      Delete
  5. Yay for those perfect summer books! Will have to add this to my endless tbr pile. Thanks for following my blo and I returned the follow.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow and thanks SO MUCH for the helpful e-mail!!!! =) I appreciate it!

      Delete
  6. It sounds like a good book! Great review! :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. This sounds like a good read. I've not read any books in about a year since I finished my MBA program...it's time to get on the bandwagon. First time visiting, hope you'll stop by and would you like to follow each other?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hi Candace, bless you for this review. I'm heading over to Amazon immediately to get this book. It's my kind of book. I'm reading the last chapter of "Wednesday Letters" by Jason Wright and I can't wait to read this. Thanks for joining us at Get Connected Tuesday Blog Hop. Hope you made new friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Nekky for the kind words! I really think you will enjoy this book! And I will have to check out 'Wednesday Letters,' I haven't read that one yet!

      Candace

      Delete
  9. Thanks for dropping by Happy Hour Projects, returning the follow! I will have to check out your other reviews, this one doesn't sound like my favorite genre, but I love to hear about new books - I'm sure to find something here!

    Adrianne
    www.happyhourprojects.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Adrianne, I hope you find something you will like!

      Delete
  10. Lovely summer read! I just LOVE stories with well-crafted characters, it makes things so much more interesting :)

    I'm now a proud new follower of your blog, do drop by mine @ bookaworld.wordpress.com too!

    -Alicia
    bookaworld.wordpress.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks Alicia! I will be sure to drop by and follow your blog!

      Delete
  11. Really enjoying all your book reviews, now I know where I need to go. Found you through the blog hop, and am your most recent follower. Would love if you could visit my blog and follow back.

    One Chic Mom
    http://www.facebook.com/OneChicMom

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for dropping by Iva! Considered yourself followed =)

      Delete
  12. Hi Candace, Thank you for following me, I'm your newest follower! Let me know if you want to follow each other on any other social media network.

    Francy

    http://www.fancy-francy.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I needed a summer read! This sounds right up my alley. I just read a book called Zeitoun and it was a real page turner...good stuff. Happily following you back.

    Jen
    sunnyvanilla.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the follow! I am going to have to check out 'Zeitoun,' I haven't read it yet!

      Delete