Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Many years ago while I was still an undergrad (okay, it was not that long ago, but it was closer to when this book was released and before the movie was released!), a co-worker recommended Divine Secrets to me. I remember reading the book and enjoying it. In fact, I was interested enough to pick up the prequel, Little Alters Everywhere. I remember thinking that I enjoyed this prequel more than its more popular follower (though I will also be the first to admit that I cannot recall much of the first book).

Anyways, back to Divine Secrets . . . I recently picked this book up again for my personal book club. Since I first read the book, I have personally matured and feel that I am looking at the book with totally fresh eyes. From my own life experiences in particular, I have a new appreciation for my fellow female friends . . . my own personal sisterhood(s). Sometimes these relationships make no sense to others on the "outside," but to me they have been precious, especially in times of need and great stress. Also, I have become a mother myself since the first read, and I begin to wonder how these relationships will be seen and experienced through my own daughter's eyes.

Beyond just the relationship between a mother and daughter or even among a circle of friends, I believe that this book is also one of growing up. It's about dealing with our own issues experienced throughout our own childhood before moving onward and upward with our own lives. Personally, I tend to think that this is the most important story that came from Wells' novel.

In the end, I enjoyed the book. It is far from one of my favorites, but it is still worth reading, if not for the reminders discussed above being brought to the forefront of my mind, but just for the great story of the Ya-Ya's Sisterhood!