Reviews with content warning for War - Great or Nothing

Oh my freaking god… that book was the best I have ever read.

I didn’t read the original little women book, my first experience was with the musical. I knew that it was about 4 girls and one of them died but that’s all I knew. That was until I was an ASM on the musical back in 2020 and I fell in love with the story immediately. With Jo’s drive to write, Megs motherly nature, Amy’s child like demeanour and Beth’s pureity and love for her sisters.

As soon as I found out that there was going to be a world war 2 reimagining with 4 different authors as the sisters I absolutely freaked. I knew I was going to love this book but not as much as I do. I love how they made subtle changes to the book that make it work and how we still get the same characters but somehow perfectly fit as if it was always meant for them to be like the way they are in this version.

Jo’s story with her being a factory worker living in a boarding house was so fitting and when we find out that was because Beth’s passing caused her to stop writing all made sense.

Then we meet Charlie… the love interest Jo was literally confirmed to be with. There is not a straight bone in her. And how they were both writers and Charlie is able to get Jo writing again is just so heartwarming

Then Amy with

stealing a girls papers to join the Red Cross, just changing the vision status was such a bold and Amy move. Wanting to make a fresh start in life after losing Beth and a difficult fight with her sisters left her feeling worthless. We meet all her friends who she works with and LAURIE! I was wondering how/if they were going to do the Amy and Laurie love story and I’m so glad they did because that was just pure wholesome and fluff. As soon as the letter Laurie wrote to Marmee about ratting her out came along I knew this was going to be the end of her journey and I’m so glad she came home to be with Meg. I love how sisterly that reaction was to her being on the front step.

Meg

as an English school teacher and John being a maths teacher…. THATS TOO FUCKING PERFECT! The whole love story and everyone that we get to know wow Meg works at the school it’s just so nice because we get to see characters like Doro who we get so many lovely moments with iand we get to see how much of a role model Meg is not just for her sisters. When you’re knocking door came I was getting scared because we have just had this moment with Laurie being wounded I didn’t wanna think about to die so when the door opened and John were standing outside of it I almost cried it was so beautiful and we feel so happy for her that she’s finally getting to see her partner and we are fine we get to see them kiss and Darrows Little Whistle as soon as I saw those two together just sent me but when the most heart felt moment was when she had that very vulnerable moment with Marmee And she’s reassured that she has a lot of emotions cause she’s human and doesn’t have to be the perfect old eldest child all the time

And finally with Beth’s parts written in prose, we get to know Beth’s voice and opinions reflecting on each chapter, proving that she is always watching her sisters and family especially when it mentions

that she “sits with Laurie every time he is in the plane so he is not on his own” especially after the moment when Amy and Laurie kiss is the reassurance we need that he is going to be ok

Overall this is now a huge comfort read for me and secured my love for little women more than ever

Content Warnings

catladyreads's review

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adventurous emotional sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Reviews tagging 'War'

Great or Nothing by Jessica Spotswood, Caroline Tung Richmond, Tess Sharpe, Joy McCullough

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