Zeta or Omega?

Three unique girls find themselves going to the same college and meet during Rush Week. Roni wants to leave the society world behind. Jenna wants to put the "Sick Jenna" image behind her forever. Lora-Leigh can't wait to get into FIT, but she's promised her parents she'll spend one year at LU. Together, they brave the introductions to the different houses and share their dreams and disappointments. Each has her own reason for rushing, for looking at different houses. As the week continues and they become closer, they must ask themselves a key question. Now that they've met - do they really want to part? Will they be accepted into the houses of their dreams, or will their college social life be forever ruined? I loved this book and can't wait to read the next one. It stands out in my mind for two reasons: because it's targeting older teens and also because the main characters are normal girls. It's written by Marley Gibson (Kate Harmon = pen name) and she's part of the Books, Boys, and Buzz blog, home to several great authors. Reviewed by: Jennifer Rummel

Three girls, Jenna, Roni, and Lora-Leigh are all headed to Latimer University to start their freshmen year - but all with different ideas of what freshmen year should be. Lora-Leigh has lived in Lattimer, Florida all her life and despises that her parents are making her stay another year before she can finally go off to a fashion school. Roni wants to get away from the rich snobbiness of her parents and their friends and to finally do something for herself. Jenna wants to meet lots of cute guys while hiding the fact that she is diabetic. These three different girls find themselves becoming unlikely friends during sorority recruitment, but they must make their individual decisions as to with what new "sister" they're going to spend the rest of their college careers with. When I started reading the first of the Sorority 101 series, I expected there to be alcohol and wild frat parties because it was about girls going to college. However, as the bright and innocent-looking cover might suggest, it is nothing like that. Each of these girls is only trying to find out where she belongs in life and among the different sororities. Reading this novel actually made me really want to join a sorority, because even though the decisions are tough, you make lifelong friends. I really love how Zeta or Omega? conveys its messages through a fun story. Each main character is well-developed; however I did feel that some minor details were snuck in. I recommend the Sorority 101 series to any girl, and I really like how the content is not too mature for younger readers. Zeta or Omega? is a fun book for anyone looking for a fast yet enjoyable read.

Let's go for a trip on my thoughts at different stages of the book: Beginning: I wasn't impressed. The story seemed generic, and even though I eagerly hoping for something heartwarming and cute so much that my disposition to like this book was that much higher, nothing really grabbed me. The reader is immediately thrown into the heart of three perspectives in third person limited, which can get confusing at first when you're trying to build each girl's identity in your mind. The three girls are supposed to be interesting, but nothing they did, said or thought intrigued me. By page thirty, I, in all honesty, didn't understand exactly what the point was. It was apparent they'd all be joining the sorority recruitment at Latimer, even if not all of them were especially accepting of that fact. So what? Why was I supposed to care what they did? Bearing this in mind, I read on expecting to find out the answer. There are two books in this series (so far), so I assumed it was going somewhere, and getting there fast. I can't tell you where my opinion of this book changed, or how, or why. One moment, my mind was doing this: What do I put in my review? There isn't a problem per se--the writing is lovely, the characters are likable (and by this time, I had a clear sense of who each one was and they were beginning to interest me), but this book is based more on a situation than a plot. Which is fine when you've got compelling characters who lurch the reader forward, but while these characters were sweethearts, they weren't the prime examples of human interest pieces. It's all here, but it needs more synchronizing... Or something to that effect. The next, my internal analysis shut the hell up and I fell into the rhythm of the story. My mind went something like: ... Which means I read and didn't judge. Which means I forgot to judge. Which means Kate Harmon did a bona fide job of making this reviewer forget about the problems she'd encountered thus far and focusing on the rest. My final verdict, without scrutinizing too much, is: The plot is predictable throughout (and if you have a copy of this, the cover gives away a lot), but the "point" (or, more aptly, the objective) of this novel does come across and is an event unto itself. The writing is great through and through. Characters--especially Jenna and Lora-Leigh--are relatable and for the most part real. We don't get to know all of the girls in nitty-gritty details because the main focus of the novel is the sorority recruitment, which is basically set up for the rest of the series, I'm guessing. But that's fine--you get to know enough for now. (Though I hope the next book dives deeper!) Something Kate Harmon did particularly well was capture these characters' emotions and expose the genuine thrill and importance of sorority recruitment. If nothing else, you do feel their emotions pulsing through you as they get ready to find out what sororities they're in and how much it matters to them. The suspens

Lora-Leigh (whose t-shirt that reads: "If You're Looking for Trouble, You Found It" says it all), Roni (a well bred Bostonian), and Jenna (a sweetheart with a big secret) have different backgrounds, talents, personalities, and reasons for rushing sororities at Latimer University. As Bid Day gets closer, the three freshmen get to know each other and their true selves. Reading "Zeta or Omega" is like going through rush without having to get dressed up. I thoroughly enjoyed Kate Harmon's sparkling and suspenseful debut and have already picked up "The New Sisters."

Jenna, Roni, and Lora-Leigh couldn't be more different. But when these three girls arrive on the campus of Latimer University, one thing will pull them together: sorority recruitment. Roni has been looking forward to it for months and knows which one everyone expects her to belong in. Jenna decided to try it on a whim, but is worried that if she does, everyone will discover the secret she is desperately trying to keep hidden. Lora-Leigh is doing it just to please her mom, but will she find that sororities are more than just superficial groups of girls? Throughout the recruitment process these girls will become friends, defy expectations, and learn to decide for themselves what they truly want. Zeta or Omega? is a satisfying and wholesome read. Jenna, Roni, and Lora-Leigh have a sense of realness about them that will make them instantly likable and entertaining characters. Harmon has a real knack for capturing the fun, exciting, nerve-wracking, and overwhelming feeling of those first few weeks of college. This pleasurable read will abolish any of those preconceived notions that sororities are just full of shallow girls who like to party, and will be sure to reel in countless readers.