A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions

Written by Sheena Boekweg

Narrated by Chelsea Stephens

Throughout history, Anonymous has been a woman.

Behind every powerful man is a trained woman, and behind every trained woman is the society. It started with tea parties and matchmaking but is now a countrywide secret. Gossips pass messages in recipes, spinsters train to fight, and women work together to grant safety to abused women and children. The society is more than oaths—it is sisterhood and purpose.

In 1927, seventeen-year-old Elsie is dropped off in a new city with three other teenage girls, who have each trained since childhood to become the wife of a powerful man. And when they learn that their next target is earmarked to become president, their mission becomes more than just an assignment; this is a chance at the most powerful position in the society. But as these ambitious girls compete for the heart of a boy who has been given everything, Elsie starts to wonder what would happen if the name on that future ballot was hers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Blackstone Publishing
• Release date: Oct 2, 2021
• ISBN: 9798200706150

Sheena Boekweg

Sheena Boekweg, author of Glitch Kingdom, grew up reading books with tree branches peeking over her shoulder. Her novels feature plus-size girls with ambitions, love stories, and sometimes battle axes. She is a contributor to the body-positive anthology Every Body Shines, and believes that beauty is intrinsic, worth is unquestionable, and that you can’t solve every problem with food, but it can always help. She is well loved by a tall man with a great beard, their three kids, and the world’s most spoiled puppy.

Reviews for A Sisterhood of Secret Ambitions

[fromthecomfychair · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What if Abigail Adams, who was famously remembered as instructing John Adams, the second President, to "remember the ladies," what if she took it upon herself to create a secret society to make sure the "ladies" would have a voice in government?

That is the premise of this YA novel, set in the late 1920's. Cassie and her friends are members of this secret society. She has been chosen to someday become the wife of a powerful man. Others in the society become Mothers to powerful men, or Spinsters, who are actually warriors, or Gossips, who are spies. The society, through grooming young women for important, though background roles, has helped steer the country in a fairer, more moral direction.

The story revolves around the competition for the love of "Priority 1" a young man who has been chosen by the society to someday become President. Elsie is keen on winning this role, though she has the nagging feeling she'd rather be the President than be married to him.

Interesting premise. A few historical references.