Ya-Yas in Bloom is the last book in the series, and I liked it only slightly more than Divine Secrets. Wells opts to change up the narrators again, bouncing between the Ya-Yas and the Ya Yas Petites, as they jump from past memories to present states discussing religion, parties, antics, and relationships. This book is also shorter than the last two at just 258 pages, making it seem to me a much quicker read.

In the last of the series, the Ya-Yas and their children are delving into more stories from the past, including how the Ya-Yas first met, Sidda's first directing 'gig', Baylor's Buckaroo debut, and more crazy Ya-Ya moments that pull the families together. It's all clever writing, funny moments paired with somber moments, in a way that makes you feel more like the narrator is conversing the memory to you at a kitchen table.

Now, overall, to sum up the Ya-Ya trilogy, I'd have to say that Little Altars Everywhere was my favorite. I devoured it. But the other two felt repetitive because many stories from Altars were delved into with more detail in the following books. I liked learning more information about the stories, but my imagination was pretty close to the written information in the second and third books, and therefore it really slowed the pace of the books down. That was the biggest turn off for me. I also had a hard time with Siddalee, who happened to be a prominent character as the eldest Walker child, and key observer of the Ya-Ya antics. She tended to beat a dead horse about the relationship problems with her mother- she loved her, she resented her, repeat. I understand her wounds ran deep, but the complicated relationship was very tiresome.

I'd also like to note that the movie inspired by the books is very different. They cut out a lot of the melodrama, and added more humor. I would say, if you were interested in this series, read Altars, skip the rest of the books, and then watch the movie. You'll get the gist.

I do love the way Rebecca Wells writes; however, her charm was not enough to elevate this book to five-star status. Her newest book, The Crowning Glory of Calla Lilly Ponder, easily surpasses this one, easily! Whereas that novel had a substantial plot, this one felt more like a collection of vignettes lacking cohesion. Additionally, there are THREE generations of characters in this Ya-Ya world: the Ya-Ya's parents in the 30s (I was most interested in them and this time period, actually), the Ya-Yas themselves in the 60s, and the petite Ya-Yas in the 90s. To me, this is confusing, especially when going back and forth.

No, I haven't read the other Ya-Ya books...should I? I skimmed over the last fourth of this "story" because I was so, so ready to be finished. The first half is better.

Read Crowning Glory--not this.

Ya Yas in Bloom is the sequel to Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells. It doesn’t read like a sequel, however, but more like an expansion of what we learned about the Ya Yas and the Petites Ya Yas in Divine Secrets. The narrative jumps between Vivi’s early youth and the Ya Yas first encounter in 1930, through to Sidda’s youth in the 1960s and on to the 1990s. Different events in the lives of the Ya Yas, Petites Ya Yas and Trés Petites Ya Yas are told from the viewpoints of Vivi, Sidda, Baylor, Myrtis Spevey and her daughter Edythe, although only Sidda’s and Edythe’s recollections are told in the first person. We learn a lot more about the characters’ lives, and I found both Sidda and Vivi more likeable in this book than in Divine Secrets. Whilst Baylor was a minor character in Divine Secrets, his recollections in this book form a major part of the narrative. Wells touches on racism, catholic guilt, nuns and religious fervour, Alzheimer’s and mental illness, guns and hunting. There are plenty of laughs and some very moving moments. Whilst not a great deal happens, the Ya Yas do spring into action during a family crisis and save the day. While the Christmas Pageant was fun, the description was a little tedious as the litany of family names was recited. Better than Divine Secrets.

Where do I begin?

First, I know this has nothing to do with the actual story, but I needed a place to vent my frustration. I also know that I shouldn't be so superficial nor should I judge a book by it's cover, but I have to say a serious, okay maybe not significantly so, but still, a distraction was the author's "glamour shot" on the back cover. Those ultra short, choppy bangs and drawn in eyebrows turn what would otherwise be an okay face into an old lady who looks like she is trying way too hard. She kind of looks like an alien. I wished I had a book cover so no one would associate me with the "Mary Kay" looking cheesiness of this woman. Despite this photo, I do like Wells . . . as a writer.

Her first book of the Ya-Yas was quite amusing--much better than the movie version. I am not someone who affiliates herself with anything Southern- like (even though my husband insists I can fall into a distinctly Nevadan accent that could be confused as less Northern), but Wells writing made me really appreciate that setting and the characters therein. She really does a good job of describing places and people.

Unfortunately, that's mostly what makes this book good. Ya-Ya's in Bloom really lacks plot. If you're looking for this in a story, and most are, you will surely be disappointed. She does do a good job of highlighting other characters from the first book, and I LOVED the "Pilgrimage" chapter where we see how Sidda falls in love with the Beatles. That alone earned an extra star from me. The rest of the story gives other glimpses into the lives of YaYa offspring, and Wells writing continues to be descriptive and entertaining, but the overall connection isn't really there.

"Your voice is soothing, but the words aren't clear
You don't sound different, I've learned the game.
I'm looking through you, you're not the same"

-The Beatles

Worst. Book. Ever.
What felt so cheap was the glaring disregard of continuity, as in the film biz type where a scene in a later take Must match the scene in a previous take.
Here, we have Caro serving the kids chili and cornbread, and on the Facing Page, fer Krisesakes, one of the kids snatches another slice of garlic bread. !
Another glaring lapse: Vivi learns about the Globe, pours herself a gin and tonic, downs it, fixes another and takes it to the guest house where Baylor is playing with it. She becomes so upset she can't finish her drink, but " why waste a perfectly good bourbon and branch water?".

The book is an obvious rush job, insultingly mediocre, and just plain bad.

3.5 stars

"Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood" is one of my favorite books, so it was fun to revisit those characters! The backstories of the Ya-Yas and their kids and grandkids were sometimes humorous, sometimes heartbreaking, and always entertaining.

There was really no point to this book, other than to provide more background on the Ya-ya's if you still want any after reading "Little Altars" - which I didn't but I am a completionist....so here we are.
There was no plot to this book and the one plot that the entire book should have been centered around came at the very end and was all resolved very quickly and with a bow on top.
I don't know, I just don't feel like these women are really what sisterhood of your own choosing is about, at best they are enablers and at worst they are all complicit in abuse. You don't always have to like characters, I get that, but for a book series that peddles itself as sisterhood-it is not a great example of sisterhood at all.
For something better try "The Red Tent" my all time fave.

Great summer read. The crazy YaYa sisters definitely entertain.

I think that I enjoyed this one the best out of the series.

This book was awful. Beyond description. I will never get that time back.

This was ok, Not at good as the first Ya, Ya book.