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Little Women
In Little Women; or Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, four sisters learn of love, identity, sacrifice, and generosity in a coming-of-age story cherished by generations of readers.
American writer Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) based her fictional March family and their home on her own childhood in Concord, Massachusetts. An instant success, Little Women has often been adapted for stage and screen. More than 150 years after its initial publication in 1868, Alcott's novel continues to invite reflection and reimagination from modern readers.
American writer Louisa May Alcott (1832-1888) based her fictional March family and their home on her own childhood in Concord, Massachusetts. An instant success, Little Women has often been adapted for stage and screen. More than 150 years after its initial publication in 1868, Alcott's novel continues to invite reflection and reimagination from modern readers.
- GenresClassics
554 pages, Hardcover
Published September 21, 2023
36 people are currently reading
79 people want to read
About the author
Louisa May Alcott
4,086 books10.6k followersLouisa May Alcott was an American novelist, short story writer, and poet best known for writing the novel Little Women (1868) and its sequels Good Wives (1869), Little Men (1871) and Jo's Boys (1886). Raised in New England by her transcendentalist parents, Abigail May Alcott and Amos Bronson Alcott, she grew up among many well-known intellectuals of the day, including Margaret Fuller, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Henry David Thoreau, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
Alcott's family suffered from financial difficulties, and while she worked to help support the family from an early age, she also sought an outlet in writing. She began to receive critical success for her writing in the 1860s. Early in her career, she sometimes used pen names such as A.M. Barnard, under which she wrote lurid short stories and sensation novels for adults that focused on passion and revenge.
Published in 1868, Little Women is set in the Alcott family home, Orchard House, in Concord, Massachusetts, and is loosely based on Alcott's childhood experiences with her three sisters, Abigail May Alcott Nieriker, Elizabeth Sewall Alcott, and Anna Bronson Alcott Pratt. The novel was well-received at the time and is still popular today among both children and adults. It has been adapted for stage plays, films, and television many times.
Alcott was an abolitionist and a feminist and remained unmarried throughout her life. She also spent her life active in reform movements such as temperance and women's suffrage. She died from a stroke in Boston on March 6, 1888, just two days after her father's death.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 23, 2025
To love a book so much that you have tears of joy while reading it—this is what this book did to me each time I picked it up. It feels like coming home, a comforting embrace that stays with you long after you finish.
What makes this book so special is not just the beloved March sisters, but also the wisdom and warmth of their mother, Marmee. She embodies the epitome of motherly love, offering guidance and tenderness that resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever longed for someone to hold them through life’s trials.
I found pieces of myself in Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and each of their journeys felt so real and relatable. The way they navigate love, loss, and personal growth is something I’ll never forget.
I’m honestly sad it’s over, but I know I’ll come back to it again and again. It’s the kind of story you never truly leave.
What makes this book so special is not just the beloved March sisters, but also the wisdom and warmth of their mother, Marmee. She embodies the epitome of motherly love, offering guidance and tenderness that resonate deeply with anyone who’s ever longed for someone to hold them through life’s trials.
I found pieces of myself in Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and each of their journeys felt so real and relatable. The way they navigate love, loss, and personal growth is something I’ll never forget.
I’m honestly sad it’s over, but I know I’ll come back to it again and again. It’s the kind of story you never truly leave.
January 8, 2026
It took me a few attempts to really get started on this book, but once I pushed through..... Yup. This is now one of my favorite classics, especially for girls/women. So many chapters suffice as little parables of encouragement and exhortation to young woman struggling with sin and striving for godliness. The characters are easily beloved and unforgettable. My current pregnancy hormones notwithstanding, I was moved to tears during Beth's story, even though I knew what was coming from media adaptations. The ending also really touched me. I cannot wait to share this with my daughters!
November 3, 2025
3.5⭐️
This is one of those classic books that I’ve always wanted to read because of how much people cherish it. Unfortunately, this didn’t really hit for me like I had hoped.
I think maybe a part of that might have to do with who may be the intended audience is for this book which I believe is young ladies or teenagers who can relate more to these sisters and the trials and lessons that they learn through growing up together. To be perfectly honest, I found this mostly boring and really had a hard time staying with it. I did enjoy and appreciate the ending much more. That may be because I had an easier time relating to them at that point.
On the other hand, my 12-year-old daughter is also reading this book and so far she seems to enjoy it immensely so do with that what you will. It definitely is an easy classic to read and get through, and I did find myself caring for the different sisters. I enjoyed reading to see where their stories would end up and how they would find happiness. I also enjoyed the parallels that were drawn with the Pilgrims Progress.
Overall, it is a very heartwarming story with very little plot and isn’t terrible… It just wasn’t my cup of tea lol
This is one of those classic books that I’ve always wanted to read because of how much people cherish it. Unfortunately, this didn’t really hit for me like I had hoped.
I think maybe a part of that might have to do with who may be the intended audience is for this book which I believe is young ladies or teenagers who can relate more to these sisters and the trials and lessons that they learn through growing up together. To be perfectly honest, I found this mostly boring and really had a hard time staying with it. I did enjoy and appreciate the ending much more. That may be because I had an easier time relating to them at that point.
On the other hand, my 12-year-old daughter is also reading this book and so far she seems to enjoy it immensely so do with that what you will. It definitely is an easy classic to read and get through, and I did find myself caring for the different sisters. I enjoyed reading to see where their stories would end up and how they would find happiness. I also enjoyed the parallels that were drawn with the Pilgrims Progress.
Overall, it is a very heartwarming story with very little plot and isn’t terrible… It just wasn’t my cup of tea lol
September 14, 2024
4.5 stars!
Absolutely loved Alcott’s imagery and ability to so precisely put you in each setting. Her descriptions left me not needing to wonder where the girls lived and played or how they felt. A true coming of age story that reminds us that family, love and individuality are timeless.
My only regret was not reading this for the first time as a young girl!
Absolutely loved Alcott’s imagery and ability to so precisely put you in each setting. Her descriptions left me not needing to wonder where the girls lived and played or how they felt. A true coming of age story that reminds us that family, love and individuality are timeless.
My only regret was not reading this for the first time as a young girl!
February 8, 2024
Young ladies should read this book, and see which of the four sisters they can best relate too. I love this classic
March 18, 2025
wholesome, comfy, reminded me of the feeling i got from the secret garden, probably really enjoyable as a well done audiobook (i feel like most books arent)
March 26, 2025
🌷✨🌿Ce livre a fait du bien à mon cœur 🌿✨🌷
April 16, 2025
A wonderful reading. I will miss spending time with characters!
July 3, 2024
Was a bit of a hard read because of the nature of the book, but fully loved and appreciated it! Loved all of the individual stories of the girls and going through different seasons of their lives!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews