Sometimes you just need so mind candy in book form—something more engaging than TV but a bit lighter than “War and Peace.” This summer, that book for me was “Sorority Sisters.”
By following the story of four college freshman girls from sorority rush until they’re old enough to have daughters of their own, I was taken back to the time I spent in a sorority, especially since I, like the author, graduated from the University of Southern California. Anyone who’s ever taken a tour of the USC campus will instantly recognize the thinly disguised landmarks of Welch’s fictional University of Los Angeles (Bovard, Doheny, and the 9-0 all make an appearance), which only adds to the fun.
And yes, there are the stereotypical party scenes complete with booze and boys—everything you’d assume there’d be just by reading the title—but the depth of the bonds formed between the characters and their less-than-perfect circumstances make the book relatable even if you’ve never been a part of Greek life.
The relationships between Karen, Ellen, Laurie, and Diane illustrate the point that as you grow older, family has less to do with whom you’re blood related to and more to do with whom you choose. It’s the late nights spent giggling at horrible television and the conversations share over margaritas and the tears cried over some jerk who just broke your heart that solidify the bonds of sisterhood.
These are cliché situations, to be sure, but they’re clichés because they’re real and relatable to so many women. And Welch ties them together into an enjoyable, easy-to-read novel. It won’t change your life or even become your all-time favorite book, but it’s 100% perfect for beach reading, a pre-bedtime ritual, or a quick escape from your daily grind.
You can find Sorority Sisters by Claudia Welch at Amazon.com.
rachel grice 