Rating: 
Summary: I'm glad I used my library card for this book.
Review: The author has talent and I liked her Southern style: descriptions of emotions, inner thoughts the characters are having & not telling the others, and the balmy bayou scene. Read this book for entertainment purposes only. The women portrayed here are shallow, drunks and unrealistic. That's why the friends laugh so much, they are ripped! I was glad I used my library card when choosing to read this book. It would not be worth buying, in my opinion...and I read a lot of books ladies, believe me. There are better ones out in print, such as: "Deep End of the Ocean", "The Bean Trees", "Vinegar Hill", or "Lake Wobegon Stories". Buy any of the above books and enjoy them, not this one...it's not a "keeper", although it was a fun read at times.
Rating: 
Summary: Divine Story
Review: Loved this book, great story about lifelong friendships between women and how these friendships can sometimes be the most powerful things in their lives....the book transcends cultural and geographic borders, relevant worldwide....I highly recommend this to other women....definitely a Girl's book...
Rating: 
Summary: The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood
Review: Rebecca Wells tale of four Southern women growing up in rural Louisanna starting in the 30's and reaching into the 90's is a powerful picture of women at their best and worst. The dynamics between these women and the world is a ride into every woman's fanatasies and nightmares. The central character, Sidda, the oldest daughter of one of the Ya-Yas, brings home all the emotions wrapped up between a mother and daughter. If you have ever had a best friend or been a mother or daughter this book will make you laugh and cry. All of these woman are true role-models because they are perfect and they are sinners. In a word they are human, in all their glory and horror. Undoubtedly one of the best books I have read in ages. It was a joy to find out at the end that Ms. Wells had written another book about these characters. I rushed right out and bought it too. Congrats to Ms. Wells for a charming, well rounded tale about women.
Rating:
Summary: Sisterhood Is Powerful
Review: Women of today forget so easily the social dictates with which women of yesterday had to live. This is a phenomenal book of what happens when wild women couldn't be all that they wanted to be. It is utterly filled with feminine energies and issues. I loved every word in this book. It made me wish I had a childhood group of friends with whom to grow old. I heartily recommend this book to women of all ages. Sisterhood IS powerful.
Rating:
Summary: YAYARIFFIC!
Review: This novel reminded me of the reason I enjoy reading. It's fun! and so is the Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya sisterhood. Most women will be able to relate or at least giggle along with the ya-yas in their adventures from childhood to old age. I give this novel a well-deserved A+
Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Novel That Sheds Tears and Bursts of Laughter
Review: If you are looking for a hilarious book that is as comedy, drama, and romance all rolled into one, Rebecca Wells's fiction novel, The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood is your best bet. It begins unlike usual stories by blasting off with a fight between daughter, Sidda and mother, Vivi. An article has been published in The New York Times, with input from Sidda, which has horribly offended Vivi. Vivi, an extremely stubborn woman, keeps her foot firmly planted to the ground when asked to be forgiven by her daughter. Vivi states that she is extremely mad at Sidda and wants to have nothing to do with her. Sidda already being the confused girl that she is additionally has a problem with her mother as well as confusion about the decision of marriage to Connor McGill. Sidda also takes on the career of a playwright in Lake Quinalt, while the rest of the family resides in Thornton, Louisiana. Her newest play is entitled Women on the Cusp and desperately needs input from her mother, queen of sisterhood. Vivi belongs to the "tribe" of the Ya-Yas, which had started back when she was just a little girl. She and her three best girlfriends (Necie, Caro, and Teensy) were the "last survivors" of the tribe and are now blood sisters. Vivi made a scrapbook of the memoirs of the Ya-Yas, and Sidda desperately yearns to learn about some of these "divine" secrets. After weeks of letters, the scrapbook was mailed to Sidda from her mother. While flipping past pages of memories, Sidda learns more about herself, the other Ya-Yas, and even her own mother. I thought this book was fantastically written. It shows the contrasting personalities of four best friends, a struggling relationship between mother and daughter, and reconciliation of problems for a confused girl. The book is full of hilarious moments, with its share of suspense and shed tears. I highly recommend this book, and I can't wait to read the sequel, Little Altars Everywhere, which won the Western States Book Award.
Rating:
Summary: warm, funny and wonderful
Review: You can almost smell the home cookin' in this novel about family and the bonds a girl has with her mother. Sidda, the central character learns of her mothers childhood and her bond with the Ya-Ya's (her group of friends). It is a wonderful and touching look back at all that we forgot or never knew. While Sidda did not always have a perfect childhood we laugh with her and cry with her. I usually read mysteries but this was a great change. I ran out to buy Little Altars Everywhere and I devoured that as well. I am eagerly awaiting Ms. Wells next book. I originally wrote this review on September 14, 1998 but I just re-read it and still love the Ya-Ya's!
Rating: 
Summary: I don't get it
Review: I can't understand the affection for this book. It is not badly written but it is about nothing but bad behavior and weak women. We need to teach our daughters and friends that women are capable of wonderful things, not self-indulgent, childish behavior. The characters are unbelievable and the plot stultifyingly slow. Do southern women want to be thought of like this?
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing passionate characters, except the lead
Review: The Ya Yas are the bestest of best friends. Everything about their lives is exponential, from the love to their tragedies. Its this passion for living that makes them so fascinating. The only disappointment is the lead character, the very boring daughter of Ya Ya Vivi, Siddalee Walker. Oh well, you'll get past her like I did and revel in all the glories of the Ya Yas.
Rating:
Summary: Pick this over Little Altars
Review: I could be wrong, but I wonder if Little Altars Everywhere was once a part of this book. Little Altars and Divine Secrets seem to be the same story. Divine Secrets is not a collection of monologue essays like Little Altars, but a complete story. Wells does a great job with the mom character. You can't help but pity her, even love her, despite her abuse and pushiness. This book finally does something with all the characters created in Little Altars.
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