Reviews

Little Altars Everywhere by Rebecca Wells

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mbenzz's review

4.0

Well, this book was not at all what I expected! It's so much darker than I thought it would be. I thought the Ya-Yas were a fun-loving, happy-go-lucky kinda group (I'm basing this on the few previews I saw of the movie)...but no...not at all. I didn't expect constant drunkenness, child abuse, and cruelty. It did make for a very entertaining read though...as awful as that sounds.
I couldn't put the book down! The messed-up world of the Walker family is funny, tragic, happy and sad all in one. I really recommend this book. I've just picked the 'Divine Secrets', and I am really looking forward to what more this family can get themselves into!! Definitely, a must-read!

book_concierge's review

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5.0

tophat8855's review

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3.0

I read Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood a couple of years ago and it didn't leave a huge impression on me so I'm not upset about learning negative things about the characters in this one- that's how people are. Even people you think are great can be abusers. It's how they get away with the abuse.

It's good if you want to read about intergenerational relationships of southern white women in the second half of the 20th century. I know this book started as a short story and I'm curious what event in the book that short story was based on. I think the book is generally realistic in how alcoholism affects families.

I listened to the audiobook via Hoopla.

sannebanana's review

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

evberry's review

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2.0

Super disappointing. I was excited to read more about the Ya Ya Sisterhood after loving the Divine Secrets. I’m so glad I read The Divine Secrets first, because this book absolutely undercuts the nuanced relationship Vivi has with her kids. She changes from a broken woman who is earnestly trying her best and desperately wants to be a good mother to her children while constantly messing up, to a straight up evil narcissist who cares about no one but herself and sexually assaults her own children. I adored her and her relationship with the Ya Yas in the other book, but in this one, they are all pretty much evil. This isn’t the same Vivi who took Sidda to ride the elephant or brought her kids their birthday cake in bed. The Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood had intense and sad moments, but it handled generational trauma with a lot of nuance and wit. I found it incredibly charming. This book is simply depressing. It lacks everything that made me love the other book. I think it takes away from the story established in the other book, as well. I don’t want Sidda to reconcile with this Vivi. I am so glad I read The Divine Secrets first.

jgintrovertedreader's review against another edition

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3.0

Probably my least favorite Ya-ya book. It was a little harder to like Vivi in this one. I don't think there was a whole lot of explanation for why she was the way she was.

belanna2's review

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fast-paced

3.25

This book backpedals profusely from its predecessor in the issues and conflicts brought up by the protagonist's character...it seems like it hit a little too close to home for the "real" people this book was based on; whitewashing the flaws, and abuse that was doled out in divine secrets. Vivi is an acholic narcissist, who is self-absorbed and jealous of her own daughter.