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aposthuma's review against another edition
3.0
I have a lot of thoughts about this book. First of all, I don't think it can truly be classified as a retelling, because it basically picks up toward the end of Little Women but sets everything in the modern age. I can tell the author was trying to take great care to do each character justice, some of which she succeeded, and some not so much. This book was filled with Laurie slander (who went by TREY), and Friedrich Bhaer (who went by ERIC) was a very one-dimensional character despite how much time we spent with each, since half of the book was in Jo's POV. I liked Meg's storyline about finding herself and realizing it's okay to ask her husband for help, but overall the whole thing fell a bit flat for me.
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
4.0
Definitely more of a holiday book, but still a great and realistic story about sisterhood and family
amyreadsandsails's review against another edition
5.0
Two stories, two sides of love
Ugh, this book was wonderful! So nostalgic...Little Women was one such an influential book when I first read it and I loved this modern retelling. Meg is married, working through all the trials and reaffirming her love, while Jo deals with Trey (aka Laurie) and her handsome chef boss. I LOVED the things Eric said to Jo, and the tweak of the parents’ relationship. Such a lovely read.
Ugh, this book was wonderful! So nostalgic...Little Women was one such an influential book when I first read it and I loved this modern retelling. Meg is married, working through all the trials and reaffirming her love, while Jo deals with Trey (aka Laurie) and her handsome chef boss. I LOVED the things Eric said to Jo, and the tweak of the parents’ relationship. Such a lovely read.
schray32's review against another edition
3.0
Cute modern day adaptation of Little Women.... not really the same but I love the idea and will read the next one too.
kdurham2's review against another edition
4.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
Have you ever wondered how the March sisters from Little Women would be in our current day? This book answers that question, but with the addition of great little nods to the original work.
Focusing on the two older March sisters, Meg and Jo, they take turns narrating the book as they deal with many of the ups and downs that a family goes through. Meg is the oldest and has always been the reliable one that stayed close to home and is raising a family while also being the one to pick up the pieces. Jo is in NYC and trying to write while also work in a kitchen and life isn't what she expected it to be.
Have you ever wondered how the March sisters from Little Women would be in our current day? This book answers that question, but with the addition of great little nods to the original work.
Focusing on the two older March sisters, Meg and Jo, they take turns narrating the book as they deal with many of the ups and downs that a family goes through. Meg is the oldest and has always been the reliable one that stayed close to home and is raising a family while also being the one to pick up the pieces. Jo is in NYC and trying to write while also work in a kitchen and life isn't what she expected it to be.
kdjackson's review against another edition
4.0
well done
The original “Little Women” is one of my all time favorites. I was apprehensive about this modern retelling because they can either way. I feel the she did it justice. Virginia Kantra transformed this beloved story into the modern era. I believe that if someone were to read this without prior of knowledge of the classic they’d have no idea it’s a redo. Well done!!
The original “Little Women” is one of my all time favorites. I was apprehensive about this modern retelling because they can either way. I feel the she did it justice. Virginia Kantra transformed this beloved story into the modern era. I believe that if someone were to read this without prior of knowledge of the classic they’d have no idea it’s a redo. Well done!!
lbouwman's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
brandypainter's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
I'm giving this four stars because I love Kantra's writing style so much and for the parts of the book that resonated so deeply. Tackling a much beloved classic is never easy. You are not going to be able to please everyone who loves the original. There were some things I loved about this. Some things that were just fine. And a couple things I didn't like at all. The things I'm not crazy about though are more of a concern for the next book and didn't stop my liking this one.
What I Loved:
Meg.
John.
Meg and John.
John and Meg
Color me surprised that Meg's story would be what kept me turning the pages. I felt her struggles on a deep, personal level though, and I feel Kantra did a fabulous job of depicting what a good marriage hitting the rough patch of new parenthood, bills, and family crisis looks like. Meg's struggles to ask for help or even take it when offered was highly relatable.
I also loved what Kantra did with the girls' father. Louisa May Alcott's father was like this, but she softened him for her book. Kantra did not feel the need to do that. Bravo.
Their mother is amazing.
Kantra maintained the heart of the sisterhood story and that is what is most important.
What I Also Enjoyed:
Jo and Eric.
I wish this had been developed a little more, but I do think Jo's quarter life crisis with her job landing her in this relationship made sense. I don't particularly love the way it resolved just because that is one of my least favorite tropes, yet it was a satisfying story to read.
What I Have A Problem With:
Laurie's name in this book is Trey. Trey. And this may just be me, but I hear that name and it automatically goes into the Brad/Kyle/Chad category. All my instincts scream, "RUN! DUDE BRO AHOY!" Trey is the name of the guy who plays Lacrosse while drunk and then tries to roofie some poor girl's drink at the frat party. WHYYY???? He runs his grandfather's car dealership guys. Ugh. I know that his character will be developed more in the second book, but from the glimpses we got here, I don't care. You cannot tell me that Louisa May Alcott's emo, angst-ridden musician Victorian boy would be an average run-of-the-mill small town player. There is so much potential for moving Alcott's creation to a guy who would have been a teen in the 2000s. You will never convince me that boy wasn't writing Jo's name in cursive in his room while listening to My Chemical Romance and shopping at Hot Topic to piss off his grandfather. There should be a scene in the next book where Trey (blech) turns on The Black Parade for old times sake and then has a crisis over his account books when Disenchanted comes on because he has become THAT GUY. His love and passion for music wasn't even mentioned as far as I can remember. Like what even. 2000's Laurie would have been so jealous of Brendan Urie. Fight me. I know I'm right. But heaven forbid a romantic hero be artsy. And I needed to get that off my chest, but I'm not really letting it affect my enjoyment of this book even if it's raising my concerns for the next.
Beth is apparently going to be involved in the country music business. (At least she won't be dead? Maybe? I don't know which is worse?) OH NO! It just occurred to me that Trey is a perfect dude-bro country music name. His musicality better not suddenly manifest itself in that direction too. My emo Victorian boy would NEVER.
Obviously I'm well aware my distaste for country music does not reflect on the quality of the storytelling. I'd just rather not have to deal with it, and I've lived in the south most of my life. I just can't with country music (especially the current trends in it).
I'm upset about Trey from a story telling aspect though. Like, there's a reason Timothee Chalamet and pre-Batman Christian Bale were chosen to play Laurie in the movies. He's a super soft art boy. And that can be HOT. Generations of girls have thought so.
Anyway, I do recommend Meg & Jo even if I'm wary of where Beth & Amy is going to take this.
I'm giving this four stars because I love Kantra's writing style so much and for the parts of the book that resonated so deeply. Tackling a much beloved classic is never easy. You are not going to be able to please everyone who loves the original. There were some things I loved about this. Some things that were just fine. And a couple things I didn't like at all. The things I'm not crazy about though are more of a concern for the next book and didn't stop my liking this one.
What I Loved:
Meg.
John.
Meg and John.
John and Meg
Color me surprised that Meg's story would be what kept me turning the pages. I felt her struggles on a deep, personal level though, and I feel Kantra did a fabulous job of depicting what a good marriage hitting the rough patch of new parenthood, bills, and family crisis looks like. Meg's struggles to ask for help or even take it when offered was highly relatable.
I also loved what Kantra did with the girls' father. Louisa May Alcott's father was like this, but she softened him for her book. Kantra did not feel the need to do that. Bravo.
Their mother is amazing.
Kantra maintained the heart of the sisterhood story and that is what is most important.
What I Also Enjoyed:
Jo and Eric.
I wish this had been developed a little more, but I do think Jo's quarter life crisis with her job landing her in this relationship made sense. I don't particularly love the way it resolved just because that is one of my least favorite tropes, yet it was a satisfying story to read.
What I Have A Problem With:
Laurie's name in this book is Trey. Trey. And this may just be me, but I hear that name and it automatically goes into the Brad/Kyle/Chad category. All my instincts scream, "RUN! DUDE BRO AHOY!" Trey is the name of the guy who plays Lacrosse while drunk and then tries to roofie some poor girl's drink at the frat party. WHYYY???? He runs his grandfather's car dealership guys. Ugh. I know that his character will be developed more in the second book, but from the glimpses we got here, I don't care. You cannot tell me that Louisa May Alcott's emo, angst-ridden musician Victorian boy would be an average run-of-the-mill small town player. There is so much potential for moving Alcott's creation to a guy who would have been a teen in the 2000s. You will never convince me that boy wasn't writing Jo's name in cursive in his room while listening to My Chemical Romance and shopping at Hot Topic to piss off his grandfather. There should be a scene in the next book where Trey (blech) turns on The Black Parade for old times sake and then has a crisis over his account books when Disenchanted comes on because he has become THAT GUY. His love and passion for music wasn't even mentioned as far as I can remember. Like what even. 2000's Laurie would have been so jealous of Brendan Urie. Fight me. I know I'm right. But heaven forbid a romantic hero be artsy. And I needed to get that off my chest, but I'm not really letting it affect my enjoyment of this book even if it's raising my concerns for the next.
Beth is apparently going to be involved in the country music business. (At least she won't be dead? Maybe? I don't know which is worse?) OH NO! It just occurred to me that Trey is a perfect dude-bro country music name. His musicality better not suddenly manifest itself in that direction too. My emo Victorian boy would NEVER.
Obviously I'm well aware my distaste for country music does not reflect on the quality of the storytelling. I'd just rather not have to deal with it, and I've lived in the south most of my life. I just can't with country music (especially the current trends in it).
I'm upset about Trey from a story telling aspect though. Like, there's a reason Timothee Chalamet and pre-Batman Christian Bale were chosen to play Laurie in the movies. He's a super soft art boy. And that can be HOT. Generations of girls have thought so.
Anyway, I do recommend Meg & Jo even if I'm wary of where Beth & Amy is going to take this.