Sisterhood Above All

by Kathleen Barber, Amayah Shaienne

Any girl would kill to be a Gamma.

Being a Gamma at Southern State University means belonging to the most desirable, exclusive sisterhood there is. For Ava, it means even more—it’s the last connection she has to her beloved late mother, and she’ll do anything to wear the Gamma letters.

But the Gammas didn’t become the best house on campus by letting just anyone in, and every prospective pledge is expected to earn her spot. As president, Madison is the ultimate gatekeeper, and she has a special test for Ava.

Rival sorority Theta is nipping at the Gammas’ heels for the top spot on campus, and president Shay is proud they’ve gotten there by rising above the hyper-competitive gamesmanship that consumes other houses. She knows she’s made some enemies in her quest to change the Greek system from the inside, but she can’t imagine the depth of Madison’s resentment for her … or how far Ava will go to become a Gamma.

The sisterhood, the parties, the elite status—and the connection to her mother—are what Ava has always wanted, but she never guessed the cost of membership would be so high. Three women, two houses, one dead rush has never been this messy.

“Barber and Shaienne’s juicy, sexy, vicious collab is like America’s Next Top Model stitched with The Art of War. You’ll be equally riveted by the reality TV-level drama and the raw authenticity of the characters in this sure-to-go-viral sorority rush thriller.”—Layne Fargo, bestselling author of The Favorites and They Never Learn

Genres: Mystery, Thriller, Fiction

336 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

About the author

Kathleen Barber’s first novel Truth Be Told (formerly published as Are You Sleeping) is the inspiration for the Apple TV+ series of the same name, produced by Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine and starring Octavia Spencer and Aaron Paul. Kathleen was raised in Galesburg, Illinois, and is a graduate of the University of Illinois and Northwestern University School of Law. She lives in Washington, D.C., with her husband and son. Follow Me is her second novel.

Reviews

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book laden with twists and catty girls. If you like girl energy and mean vices this book is for you. It's witty and entertaining. Not my usual read, but it totally engaged me.

[Evan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I won an advanced copy of this book in a giveaway and I must say I LOVED it. I could not put it down. This was a quick read, but so well written. I loved the different perspectives. It kept me guessing the whole time. The dynamic built between the characters and the mood shifts were enthralling and allowed you to form a connection with each one. I felt like I was connected to the characters and could see the story playing out in my mind. The details were so well crafted to make you feel like you were there. Every detail was so well placed and tied the whole story together. It was a read that when I finished it was one of those happy moments where you could have had more, but you're happy with how it ended too. I do wish it encompassed a little bit more at the end to bring to light the other crimes and answer some lingering questions. I am however content with the ends. I would highly recommend this book. It's one that is just an all around good read.

[Tayler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purely picked this up because If you’re anything like me and are chronically online, you know what Bama Rush is and it probably has graced your fyp like mine.

What I definitely did not expect was how dark this book got and really fast. I was not mad at it. I love a good thriller. What I am deeply curious about is what input amayah had on this book because a certain character definitely reminded me of a certain Bama Rush influencer and I’m curious if I’m right.

If you like fast paced thrillers and want something in between books. Highly recommend this

[Valarie Sharki]

This book was absolutely incredible and had me in a chokehold. I had the time of my life reading this. (I even stayed up late to read it, which I never do anymore.) Anything that you can imagine that is related to college and college life will be found in this book. That includes some sexual things and a lot of attitude and drama. I would LOVE to have more of this in the future if it's possible!!

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my totally and completely unbiased opinion, I love this book and you will too! If you like dark stories about ambitious, hyper-competitive women and toxic friendships, all set within the pressure-cooker atmosphere of sorority rush, this is the book for you. Ava, Madison, and Shay were so much fun to write, and I hope you love (or love to hate) them as much as I do. S2A 🖤

[Andrea Bartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

With biting wit, tons of tension, and more twists than an artful updo, SISTERHOOD ABOVE ALL is the perfect poolside read. Like its fascinating cast of characters, it's smart, gossipy, and impossible to ignore, blending soapy campus drama with knife-sharp commentary on envy, competition, and just how far we'll go to belong.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was gifted an advanced reader's copy of this book, and boy am I glad about that! This book was surprisingly good--to the point that I could not put it down! The twists and turns, as well as the different perspectives, really captured my attention. It was also a really light read, which I found to be refreshing.

I enjoyed the progression and development of the plot. There were no points at which I felt like the plot was too rushed or moved too slowly; it had a nice, even pace. I also thought that the three different perspectives were done well. The perspectives were different enough that they did not feel redundant, but also worked well together to create a seamless story. I really liked how each girl had a unique personality that you could see shining through their perspective; it helped keep things interesting.

My only qualm with the book was the sex scenes. I am not a huge spice/smut reader, so it is more of a personal preference, but I felt that the book could have been fine without them or with them fading to black (as it did for some explicit scenes between other characters). I get that it showed more of Madison's personality and helped us understand how her mind works more, as well as establishing her kind-of-not-really boyfriend as a bigger character, but some of it was just a little too much for my taste.

Overall, this book was a really fun and thrilling read!