Ever wondered what it would be like to join a sorority and be part of a sisterhood of loving girlfriends? That's what it looks like to the outside world but once you are in the facade of a HEA is wiped away as you enter those dark doors and pledge your life, you become one of them, one of those who can't turn your back now as you know all their secrets and sometimes the only way out is death which this book includes as Jill never wanted to rush and be one of "those girls," but she was talked into it by her friend. She rushes and gets in and soon their social calendar's and lives are filled with rules and strange occurrences happening. Is this sorority more than your usual ones as it has secret rooms, robes, and bloody hands? When one of their members goes missing during a hazing, Jill jumps on the case along with Hannah, a new fellow pledge to try and get to the bottom of it all. Handpicked's plot jumps about, and in places, I found it a tad confusing. I was hoping for more of a mystery feel than I got but overall if you love the sorority life and their inner-workings then Handpicked by Dani Oden is for you. As a New Zealander, I feel we don't have the greek frat/sorority system like the states, so it had always fascinated me and one of my favorite parts when I visited America was when my friend Nina and I walked down Greek row at Vanderbilt University in Nashville and saw the different sorority houses and sizes.

Handpicked is like a Scooby-Doo episode for a Y2K generation. It focuses on Jill, college freshman who is rushing a sorority but when spooky things start to happen she, along with friends Hannah and Lindy, begin to wonder if the sisterhood is really for them.


Handpicked is a really easy read. It is one of those books that you can get lost in but not feel overwhelmed by. You don’t feel guilty when you put it down to deal with real life stuff. Personally, I felt that it was a little anticlimactic but as it is the start of a series I am willing to forgive that. If you’re not into heavy literature and you just want a book to brighten your day then Dani Oden could be your next favourite author.

Handpicked (The Pledged Series, Book One) by Dani Oden is available now.

For more information regarding Dani Oden (@MsDaniOden) please visit her Twitter page.

Already reviewed and feedback sent. Not sure why these are duplicating. But please find review content at my archived blog www.behindonbooks.wordpress.com

- Thanks! Sorry this is a little haphazard.

DNF at 40%

Books with schools for story plots can either be a hit or miss. This one is definitely a miss, though the premise was intriguing with college fraternities and sororities the backdrop. What didn't work out for me was the main character herself, as well as the rest because they were just so immature.