The 12th Girl in Heaven

by R.J. Conte

Macy Bandele’s goals are get good grades, don’t make waves at the university, and find some place to belong. The mysterious princess sorority, Rho Lambda Tau, seems like the answer to her problems. If only the handsome Dillan Noughton didn’t keep challenging her way of thinking. What sinister plans do the sorority hide? And can Dillan help save her from herself?

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2015

About the author

RJ Conte has kissed only one boy in her entire life - and she married him - inspiring her to write about sweet or powerful love stories ever since. She writes issue-driven fiction that explores human nature and the depths of the soul while pointing readers to their Creator.

She writes a blog on parenting, publishing, painting, and perorating at http://blonderj.wordpress.com/

Reviews

[Laura A. Grace]

4.5 stars

This was a surprisingly quick read. Though I've never been part of a sorority or know much about them, I could strongly relate to Macy. She greatly reminded me a lot of my own insecurities I struggled with in high school.

I also didn't expect for this story to hit on such a real-life issue. It painfully brought strong awareness about something that readers like me aren't truly aware of. I admired Macy for being brave at the end and fighting fear to fight the wrong justice that was happening.

Lastly, Dillan was such a sweet guy! There was only one scene that he sort of shocked me because it seemed so unexpected. However, even when that shock factor passed, I still really liked him.

A great and quick read for those who like stories on real-life issues with a relatable heroine.

(I love how this cover really captures the story as an FYI! Fits so perfectly.)

[Krista Wagner]

This is a dark tale by RJ Conte that made me fear for Macy the whole time she's engaged with the sorority. Their behaviors and the things they have her do are scary, but it's Macy and the reader knowing that something far worse lurks behind all of this that brings a more serious layer of fright to the story. Macy is quickly caught up in her "sisters" world and she starts behaving oddly. The question becomes why? How much power does the sorority have? Conte is a gifted writer and it shows here with the smooth story plot and the well-crafted characters. We are easily pulled into Macy's world which is why I empathized with her so much and why I feared for her--it gave me chills. The only problem is that the story ends too abruptly. I would have liked a more gradual unraveling to follow the twist.

[Angelique Anderson]

I've read other books by this author, and this short thrilling read was different than anything she's put out thus far. Macy is a relateable girl who just wants to fit in with the most longed after sorority in college. When she is accepted it's like a dream come true. The Dream quickly turns to a nightmare, and I was sucked right along for a heart-pounding ride! I only wish I hadn't waited so long to read it, as it's a quick read, and a great story!

[Rachel Olson]

Awesome 🤩

A great read! I recommend for anyone looking to read a good book! Wish there was a sequel to this one 😊

[Lydia Thomas]

I give The 12th Girl in Heaven 4 out of 5 stars.

The 12th Girl in Heaven is a is a modern twist on a truly haunting fairytale, and she manages to insert a powerful message not only about trafficking but the deception of certain lifestyles as well. While there’s a distinct moral to this story, it’s definitely not preachy.

There were many times where I was literally on the edge of my seat wondering what was going on (in a good way). Through it all, there’s a tender love story, which would ordinarily be out of place in such a tense and chilling plot, but it is really well done in this case.

I think the characters are among Conte’s best, and I’ve been reading her since her first book, Dashwood Avenue. (Dill Pickle was a nice throwback. You either get it or you don’t. Sorry.) I especially enjoyed Gidget’s complex character, but I thought Macy’s motivations made her an interesting character as well. Of course, Dillan is every girl’s dream, and it doesn’t hurt that he’d be approved by most fathers, too.

As you may have guessed from the synopsis, a large portion of The 12th Girl in Heaven takes place in a sorority. While I didn’t personally rush in college (my Greek letters were of the academic honors variety), I know girls who did, and I watched all four seasons of Greek, so I’m familiar with the process. While I’m certain the aspects of hazing that this story went into were accurate, at times, early on in the story, the rushing and pledging aspects were muddled and somewhat inaccurate, and that may be off-putting to young women who have actually rushed and pledged sororities.

Overall, however, I found The 12th Girl in Heaven to be an easy story to settle into and the pages kept turning once I did. Go get it.

*I received a free copy of this book in exchange for hosting RJ on my blog. There was no expectation of a review, but I review everything I read, so...