The Other March Sisters

by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker

Giving all the “Little Women” the stories they deserve at last, this imaginative historical novel and companion to the much-loved classic draws Meg, Beth, and Amy March from behind the shadow of Jo – Louisa May Alcott’s alter-ego and the “author” of Little Women – as vibrant and unforgettable characters grappling with societal strictures, queer love, motherhood, chronic illness, artistic ambition, and more.

A riveting reimagining for readers of March by Geraldine Brooks, Sarah Miller’s Caroline and Maggie O’Farrell’s Hamnet.

“An intriguing take on some of the most beloved—yet, paradoxically, overlooked—characters in fiction. ” —Shana Abé, New York Times bestselling author of An American Beauty and The Second Mrs. Astor

I’m sure you believe you know their story from reading that other book, which told you an inspiring tale about four sisters. It told you a story, but did it tell you the story?

Four sisters, each as different as can be. Through the eyes and words of Jo, their characters and destinies became known to millions. Meg, pretty and conventional. Jo, stubborn, tomboyish, and ambitious. Beth, shy and good-natured, a mortal angel readily accepting her fate. And Amy, elegant, frivolous, and shallow. But Jo, for all her insight, could not always know what was in her sisters’ thoughts, or in their hearts.
 
With Jo away in New York, pursuing her dreams of being a writer, Meg, Beth, and Amy follow their own paths. Meg, newly married with young twins, struggles to find the contentment that Marmee assured her would come with domesticity. Unhappy and unfulfilled, she turns to her garden, finding there not just a hobby but a calling that will allow her to help other women in turn.
 
Beth knows her time is limited. Still, part of her longs to break out of her suffocating cocoon at home, however briefly. A new acquaintance turns into something more, offering unexpected, quiet joy.
 
Amy, traveling in Europe while she pursues her goal of becoming an artist, is keenly aware of the expectation that she will save the family by marrying well. Through the course of her journey, she discovers how she can remain true to herself, true to her art, and true to the love that was always meant to be.
 
By purposefully leaving Jo off the page, authors Liz Parker, Ally Malinenko, and Linda Epstein give the other March sisters room to reveal themselves through conversations, private correspondence, and intimate moments—coming alive in ways that might surprise even daring, unconventional Jo.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical, Retellings, Audiobook, LGBT, Young Adult

357 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 25, 2025

About the author

Linda Epstein lives in the Hudson Valley in upstate New York. She writes fiction for children, teens, and adults, and poetry for adults. Linda has an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from The New School and is also a literary agent at Emerald City Literary Agency. Her debut middle grade novel, Repairing the World (Aladdin/Simon & Schuster), came out in 2022. Her debut adult novel, The Other March Sisters (Kensington, 2025), is in bookstores now. Her adult poetry chapbook, re: can only be purchased directly from the author. Find Linda online at lindaepsteinauthor.com and @lindaepsteinauthor on Instagram.

Reviews

[ashlyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I originally won this book in a giveaway back in November, and I’ve tried (and failed) to finish it three times because it kept putting me in a slump. I figured maybe the audiobook would help, so I gave it one last shot with the ARC… and nope. I made it to 30%—which is the farthest I’ve ever gotten—and I’m DNFing it for good.

This might be the worst book I’ve ever read. I hate the characters, I’m bored out of my mind, and half the time, I have no idea what’s even happening because the story doesn’t flow properly. It just feels like a mess.


Thank you Kensington Publishing for the ARC but, this one was not for me.

[Desiree Reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

Can I give it negative stars? Gross misrepresentation of Louisa May Alcott’s legacy.

And, should have been disclosed as an LGBT book on the back cover or front inside jacket of the physical book.

Movin’ on. 🪂 🔥

- Desiree Reads
The Bookish Birder
February 16, 2025
See more book recommendations at:
https://bookshop.org/shop/TheBookishB...

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Women has long been a favorite book of mine, so I always enjoy reading books that are inspired or based upon it. This story about Amy, Meg, and Beth was beautifully written. I enjoyed the way each sister had her own voice and her own story to tell. Amy’s journey to discovering what she wanted and who she was well written. Meg’s drive to carve out her own path and do something for herself outside of being a wife and mother was inspiring. Watching Beth grapple with her illness and anger was heartbreaking. Laurie was charming and dashing and showed up at the right moments. For me, in the beginning I struggled to connect with Amy because of her thoughts about Jo, but once I reminded myself that it was her story, her feelings I was able to sink into her character. The plot was well paced and held my interest. Yes, I knew the tone and the scope of the story because of the original but I enjoyed the nuance these authors brought to their story. I also appreciated the queer representation because as the authors mentioned in the authors note: queer people have always been here and will continue to be. The ending came quickly because of how invested I was in the story and characters. I do feel like the way the authors ended it was perfect for the characters.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The authors, inspired by their admiration for Little Women tell us a little more about Meg, Beth, and Amy and the women that they wanted to be. Future readers, please know that the authors are drawing more from the real-life Alcott sisters than their fictional counterparts. I wholeheartedly recommend going right to the back and reading what the authors tell you about their writing process before reading.

What I liked:

✅Meg's story I re-read Little Women not too long ago and the marriage of Meg and John had me thinking differently about the way her character was written. Why did we as readers believe that Meg who enjoyed going to balls and wearing pretty things was so willing to marry a man of little income like John Brooke? I appreciated the exploration of that very question, Meg's relationship with her mother and finding her sort of happiness within her family.

✅ Marmee- I suppose thanks to Hollywood, Marmee, has become this beloved mother figure but the matriarch of the Alcott clan was very active in securing good marriages for her daughters and now I realize she was very instrumental in the books in steering all of her daughters this way.

✅ Beth- I always felt sorry for this character and I think the authors of this book do a good job of giving her a fuller storyline.


Things I didn't like
✅ Amy- her chapters open and close the book for us, but I didn't really "discover" anything I didn't know about Amy or Laurie for that matter. When reading her chapters, I almost dnf'd the book but as you can see, it was worth it to see how all the March women were portrayed. I just have never been an Amy fan. 🤷‍♀️
✅There were letters all through the book and I COULDN'T READ A SINGLE ONE. They were in 4 font or something and despite trying to enlarge the text, the fonts of the letters never increased. I do understand that I was reading an ARC but it still dampened my reading experience.
✅ There is no Jo March in the book and I know that Little Women is sort of her story BUT I missed her as much as Beth missed her.

The book as a whole just never rose above the 2-star rating for me as a reader. I have listed things that I enjoyed, but even they couldn't make my writing go higher.


#TheOtherMarchSisters #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 25/02/25
Goodreads Review Date 22/02/25

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

We all know the famous LITTLE WOMEN books penned by Louisa May Alcott featuring her family. In those stories the sisters all had talents but only Jo (the writer) came across as a rebel. In this clever retelling we glimpse a different side of the remaining March sisters - Amy honing her artistic talents and husband shopping in Europe, Meg who finds herself with twins and a desire for a purpose outside of the home and Beth who from an early age has felt less than due to illness and impending death. Three writers give voice to a sister adding a fresh perspective while keeping true to the original. Feminist thoughts, doubt about one's worth, hidden desires and the many complicated forms of love come together in this story of young women trapped in the tight corsets of polite society. This would be the perfect companion to the original LITTLE WOMEN or for readers of MARMEE by Sarah Miller.
My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

[Mallory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued to this imagining into the lives of the other March sisters as I enjoyed Little Women. Maybe it was the wrong time for it (I’m not in the mood for stories surrounding women lacking civil rights), but I had a really hard time getting into this one. I liked Meg’s story the best as I found myself struggling to set the book down for her pages. Beth wasn’t bad, but I really struggled through Amy. I like that this book looked at themes from the original but also showed some diversity with LGBTQA+ representation which was nice. The writing was pretty good throughout but I think my vast difference in preferring one character’s story over the others is also to do with this book having three authors so I’m not sure it flowed together as well as it could have. Overall it was interesting, but not a favorite of mine.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved The Other March Sisters! This novel takes a fresh and captivating look at the lives of the March sisters, weaving a beautifully developed plot that kept me engaged from start to finish.

The character growth in this story is truly wonderful. Each sister's journey is distinct yet intricately connected, allowing readers to witness their personal struggles and triumphs. The author does an incredible job of exploring themes of identity, family dynamics, and the complexities of sisterhood.

The writing is both lyrical and poignant, bringing the characters to life in a way that feels intimate and real. I found myself rooting for each sister as they navigated their individual paths, making choices that resonated deeply with me.

Overall, The Other March Sisters is a remarkable read that not only honors the original characters we know and love but also expands their world in a meaningful way. I highly recommend it to anyone looking for a heartwarming and thought-provoking story. This book deserves all five stars!

[The Library Lady · Rating 1 out of 5]

From the Reader's Questions:
How did you feel about the inclusion of queer charaicters in this book?

The same way I do about "color blind" casting. It's history according to Walt Disney, history made pretty to make it more comfortable for us today. It is insulting to the people who had to live through it for real. We squirm at how people were treated, but that doesn't mean it didn't happen that way. Cleaning it up for the 21st century keeps us from looking at where we have been, asking why it was so, and talking about how we can make things better. Because we still have a long way to go.


As for this book, written by three different authors, including one who only read the REAL Little Women in order to write this book(!), it reminds me a lot of the worst of fan fiction, both in the quality of the writing, and in its attempt to promote the way things should have been. And were not.

If this book had been called "The Other Sisters," and had not been clearly sold as a Queer re-imagining of Little Women, it wouldn't have gotten published.
.

[Stella · Rating 1 out of 5]

I'm very precious about Little Women. It's been my favorite book for almost my entire life. I'm a harsh judge on retellings/reimaginations/continuations of most of my favorites (Little Women, Jane Eyre, Rebecca) because the books are classic for a reason. I understand the desire to expand worlds and give other characters a voice, but I don't think it's necessary.

The Other March Sisters is the story of the March sisters while Jo is in New York. The source material is skimmed (at best), and the authors have used that time period to expand the world of Meg, Beth, and Amy. Each author took liberties and drew inspiration from the real-life Louisa May Alcott and her sisters.

Well, buckle up.

Meg - I hated that this author decided to push the storyline that Marmee manipulated Meg into marriage and that Meg did it for spite. Meg's whole thing was that she loved John. She could have married for money, many times over, but instead, she married for love. The storyline of Meg becoming an herbalist was great and really showed the potential that Meg had. All of it felt out of character overall for everyone else. Marmee in this storyline was TERRIBLE. And I only just NOW learned that the writer of this section just read Little Women...so there wasn't that deep-engrained love built-in.

Beth—we all know poor old Beth's fate. This Beth was angry and full of angst. Not that I doubt Beth wasn't full of these things, but Beth is the sweet, morale sister. She's full of goodness and love. This Beth... just... no to all of this.

Amy—I in no way believe that Marmee only pushed Amy to marry into wealth. Marmee wanted her women to be happy, to marry for love, and to live their own lives. Amy's adventures with her cousin and Fred Vaughn were fun to read about, but the Laurie stuff could and should have happened in a better way. I did feel that the author took more from the most recent Little Women film than the actual source material. Also, this writer really likes 'cornflower blue'.

Here's my BIGGEST issue - Laurie. Oh, Teddy.
The way that he talked about the proposal to Jo being a giant misunderstanding and the implications of Jo's sexuality made me insanely angry. The ENTIRE storyline about his sexuality and relationship with Frank Vaughn felt like an agenda was being pushed down my throat.

OBVIOUSLY, queer people have always been around. Of course, Jo was probably queer. I..I just expect more. I need someone who truly loves and respects characters/people. This felt like a giant grad school experiment.

I read this with an open mind, willing to see where this went. I should have known better.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really sweet story exploring the lives of Meg, Amy & Beth (the other March sisters)

I thought each story was incredibly sweet, I love the original so much and this just added to their stories. I loved how each sister finally got a bit more voice, a bit more narrative and personality. Beautifully written!

Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honestly review

[MissBecka Gee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alright, so Little Women was just okay for me.
Don't come for me.
I only watched the movie because I was obsessed with Winona Ryder, not because I loved the book.
So I went into this with realistic expectations.
Did I like it?
I adored Meg & Beth's stories and was completely invested. Watching them find their place in the world was wonderful!
Amy's story added nothing to this for me.
This would have been a 5 star read for me if Amy's chapters had been left out.
Meg was by far the best part of this book and I want more!
Thank you NetGalley & RBmedia for my ALC.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Little women is one of my all-time favorite books. Perhaps I did not read the description carefully enough, but this was not just retelling Little Women from other point of views. It completely changed who everyone was. I can't and won't recommend it.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an Advance Readers Copy through Goodreads giveaways. This is my review. There are spoilers.

First and foremost, if you LOVE the original, be prepared for your ideals to be smothered. This is a feminist and LGBTQ+ retelling with entirely too much insertion of modern culture, language, and themes. It’s almost as if the authors have no grip whatsoever on the culture of 1860s Protestant life for New England’s high society women. In fact, one of the authors did not even read Little Women until it came time to write this book - and it shows. There is also seems to be a misunderstanding of the language of the time. Gay and queer as used in Little Women means merry and eccentric, respectively, in 1860-speak.

It reads like a fanfic, with the authors weaving their own fantasies about the characters into their story. The characters, especially the minor ones, are given entirely different personalities.

I think Amy was well written. She enjoyed the finer things in life. She was always polite and knew how to behave in high society. Even her naivety was captured appropriately. Amy’s story is the only reason I even gave this book two stars. I feel like it was an accurate reflection of her character.

Meg’s story was almost acceptable but there were some major flaws. Becoming an herbalist is not unheard of; however, John Brooke would NOT have been supportive - to think he would have been is delusional at best. In Little Women John strictly forbid help from her parents, and she absolutely would not have had time to pursue herbalism while the twins were young. It was to the point that in modern terms we would say he was abusive for cutting her off from her family! So this story line just cannot hold water. And given her religious beliefs she would not aid a friend in aborting a pregnancy.

Beth’s story is the most unrealistic of the entire book. She was the most devout reader of Pilgrims Progress out of the sisters. Their family were devout Protestants. Despite being suffragists and abolitionists, their religious beliefs would have been extremely conservative in nature. As a result the romance towards another female would not have happened. I also think the author underestimates how decimating scarlet fever and the following rheumatic fever is. Beth really WAS that fragile and would have not faired well enough in winter to interact with guests (the season in which her story takes place). Beth was also too shy for her storyline to play out as written. Also what happened to Hannah’s accent?

And if suggestions of Beth and Jo being in the closet aren’t enough, let’s add Laurie in there too. Yes I agree queer folks existed in 1860, but not half the main characters of the book. Especially higher society Protestants who WERE devout to their religious views. Yes the family were feminists, but first wave feminism still did not include sexual orientation.

This simply just didn’t meet the mark, and quite frankly I’m glad I didn’t pay for it.

[Emily | emilyisoverbooked · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Liz Parker for the gifted ARC and Recorded Books for the gifted ALC!

Okay. I am neither a lover of classics nor a regular historical fiction reader... BUT I do love Liz Parker, so I read this... in two sittings! I absolutely loved it, and would've read it in one sitting, but kids. I loved following the stories of Amy, Meg, and Beth. They had such distinct voices and I was truly engaged all the way through the book - the storyline was cohesive, familiar to the classic, and flowed very well. While this is a fresh take, the authors really took the time to do their research and make these characters representative of their times, struggles, and desires. While I haven't read the books listed as comparative reads in the synopsis (Hamnet, March, Caroline), this did remind me a bit of Weyward, and I think readers of that would appreciate this book!

I really enjoyed listening to this on audio, as narrated by Laura Knight Keating, Taylor Meskimen, & Rachel Botchan. It was nice to have a voice for each perspective! 

Please check trigger warnings for this book before reading.

[Sophie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Out for publication on February 25th, 2025.

Let’s be honest, if you’re going to rewrite Little Women, you’re walking straight into a literary minefield. The original has been dissected, debated, and reimagined more times than we can count, and yet, The Other March Sisters sets out to do something undeniably intriguing: give Meg, Beth, and Amy their own fully realized narratives. No Jo. Just the “other” sisters finally stepping into the spotlight. It’s a bold move, and one that lands somewhere between compelling and frustratingly uneven.

The Good:
✅ Meg, Beth, and Amy get depth beyond Jo’s biased narration. For once, Amy isn’t just a vain brat, Meg isn’t reduced to a domestic prop, and Beth, oh sweet Beth, gets a moment beyond her usual ethereal suffering. The book peels back layers of these women’s lives, showing their struggles with identity, societal pressure, illness, and ambition.

✅ A fresh, modern take on familiar themes. The story leans into themes of queer love, unfulfilled motherhood, artistic independence, and the harsh realities of 19th-century womanhood. It doesn’t feel like a Little Women knockoff; it has its own voice and vision.

✅ Beth gets to live (at least a little). This alone might make the book worth reading. Giving Beth a storyline beyond “saintly girl who dies gracefully” is refreshing, and her quiet defiance is one of the book’s best elements.

The Not-So-Good:
❌ Marmee, what have they done to you? In this version, Marmee feels overbearing and even manipulative, particularly in how she pushes Meg into an unfulfilling life. While some might argue this adds realism, it also feels like the author’s own baggage bleeding onto the page rather than a natural extension of Marmee’s character. It’s a choice, but not one that sits well.

❌ The flow is choppy. With three authors behind the scenes, it sometimes feels like the story is switching between voices rather than maintaining a smooth, cohesive narrative. Certain sections shine, but others drag, making for an uneven reading experience.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍.

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This Little Women retelling went into the story of Beth, Meg and Amy.
I am definitely the target audience as a millenial female who loved Little Women when I was a kid.

I connected so much with the stories of love, finding yourself and motherhood. Meg's story in particular for me hit like that punch in the gut about being lost in motherhood and the societal expectations on mothers.

I enjoyed how it was written in 4 parts following each of the characters. I did at the end, even though we know the ending of the book, feel like it wasn't quite finished yet. The authors did note that that was the point but left wanting MORE which is so good to have at the end of a book (not wanting it to end).

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the eARC of this book and congratulations to the authors on their book release.

[Chelsylynn91 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 ⭐️

Releases 2/25:

I really did love this story. It was very sweet but also sad. It had beautiful LGBT+ representation which I feel is really important right now. The different points of view and the way certain characters regard other characters was really interesting and addeyd a lot of nuance to the story that I hadn’t considered before. I think it’s really beautiful that a story that was considered progressive in its day was able to have an even more progressive makeover in this tale. I think Louisa May Alcott would have been proud.

[aila ✧.* · Rating 4 out of 5]

LETS GO LESBIANS 🗣️ i was not expecting queer beth but I LOVE IT and maybe now i need to reread little women teehee ྀིྀིྀིྀིྀི
even though i technically didn’t read this before the release date, i’m so grateful for this ARC!! thank you to netgalley and the publisher 🫶
full rtc when i catch up on my reviews 😭 help

[Corinne Rodrigues · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a deeply imaginative reimagining of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women, giving long-overdue voices to Meg, Beth, and Amy March. The novel offers a fresh, modern take on these beloved characters, stepping out of the long shadow cast by Jo March, the original novel's central figure and Alcott’s own alter-ego. By excluding Jo from the narrative, the authors shift the spotlight onto the other three sisters, transforming them from supporting roles to vibrant, independent characters, each grappling with their own struggles and desires.

The result is a beautiful and thought-provoking novel that explores themes of queer love, motherhood, artistic ambition, chronic illness, and societal expectations.

One of the greatest strengths of The Other March Sisters is how it reclaims these women as more than the stereotypes often assigned to them in Little Women. Meg, typically portrayed as the quintessential domestic figure, is given a more complex and nuanced arc as she confronts the dissatisfaction of her married life. Struggling with unfulfilled dreams and the suffocating expectations of womanhood, Meg’s journey into gardening—a symbol of her quiet rebellion and path to self-discovery—feels poignant. This portrayal of Meg reflects modern concerns about motherhood and personal fulfillment, challenging the notion that domesticity alone can satisfy a woman’s ambitions.

Beth, often relegated to a tragic symbol of purity and goodness, is given a story that allows her to live, rather than simply die. The authors handle Beth’s terminal illness with sensitivity, showing how, even in the face of death, she yearns for moments of freedom and joy. Her connection with a new acquaintance, leading to unexpected and tender moments of love, gives her character a depth that was missing in the original novel. The exploration of queer love in Beth’s storyline is both touching and powerful, adding layers to a character who, in the original, was defined by her inevitable demise.

Amy’s transformation is perhaps the most radical, as she steps away from the “elegant, frivolous” girl many readers remember. Here, Amy is an ambitious artist struggling to balance her desire for personal fulfillment with her family’s expectations. Her journey through Europe is not just about finding a rich husband, but about discovering her own worth as an artist and a woman. Amy’s evolution into a more complex, self-aware character, torn between duty and passion, brings new meaning to her original story. Her quest for authenticity, both in her art and in her relationships, is handled with grace and a keen understanding of the pressures that women faced in the 19th century—and still face today.

By leaving Jo “off the page,” the authors of The Other March Sisters achieve something truly remarkable. Without Jo’s voice dominating the narrative, Meg, Beth, and Amy emerge as fully realized individuals with their own unique experiences, thoughts, and dreams. Using private correspondence, conversations, and intimate moments gives readers a deeper look into their hearts, allowing these women to speak for themselves in ways that feel organic and deeply personal.

For someone who enjoyed the original Little Women, this book was a remarkable new look at the story. The authors stay true to the essence of Little Women while offering fresh perspectives that resonate with contemporary readers.

[Jeni—Bookish.Bestie.909 · Rating 4 out of 5]

My opinion on this book may differ from a lot of other readers. I read Little Women for the first time in preparation to read The Other March Sisters. I do not have the lifelong love for Little Women like most, so I was not put off with changes made to the March Sisters stories like others were. I really enjoyed this queer reimagining.
Beth’s story was special since we didn’t get much at all from her perspective in the original text. I loved being in her head and getting to imagine a path I wouldn’t have considered for her.
I also really loved digging into Meg’s struggles in married life more. I loved the book In the Shadow Garden by Liz Parker, which was why I wanted to read this book she co-authored. It was clear Meg’s story was written by her. I loved Meg rediscovering her passions with gardening and helping other women.
Amy’s story was my least favorite, but still interesting. Overall this was such a unique take on a well loved classic. It won’t be for everyone, but I enjoyed it!

((Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for access to the audiobook))

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giving life to The Other March Sisters, we get to see more of Amy, Meg, and Beth. 

Through four parts, Amy, Meg, Beth and back to Amy, we get to learn more about the three sisters and journey with them through their lives while Jo is away in New York.

With themes including motherhood, love, queer identities, chronic illness, and ambition, the audience gets to explore topics that even still can be considered taboo.

Thanks to NetGalley, Publisher, and Authors for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Maureen · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is entirely possible that I viewed this more favorably because of the 50+ years since I read Little Women, when I was just in 3rd grade, and I don’t care to reread, but I guess I will have to now. Bottom line, it was entertaining, quickly paced and engaging. I kept making excuses to read more, finally getting up at 425 this am and knocking it out. It struck me though as rather simplistic, maybe best classified as for new adults, or coming of age. While Jo struggles as a writer in NYC, Meg, Beth and Amy each navigate life changing events/decisions. The accompanying angst, particularly in Beth’s, case got to a be little much.

I enjoyed Amy’s storyline the best, she had the most fun of anyone flitting about Europe, and I least liked how Marmee was portrayed. Once I reread Little Women I could change my mind. Tied with Marmee though were the bits about sexuality of characters other than Jo. It felt like a bit of an agenda, a bit out of time perhaps for the sisters’ reactions.

Readers who idolized Little Women and/or reread it a few times might not be the best audience, because the author’s don’t claim to faithfully pick up where Little Women ended and carry on in imitation of Alcott’s work. This isn’t Jo’s story, it’s theirs. The book does stand alone if you haven’t read it before, and I did have fun reading it. Thanks Goodreads for the ARC.

[Emily | booksandbedtime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I remember reading Little Women when I was about 12 years old, and though that’s been decades, it’s a story that has stayed with me surprisingly well.

Short Synopsis:
THE OTHER MARCH SISTERS brings voices to the the three other main characters of The Little Women - Amy, Meg and Beth. The authors have pulled from the original text but also quotes, journals and articles from the characters real life inspiration and gave them a voice in all the things Jo couldn’t possibly know.

My Thoughts:
It’s no secret here that historical fiction is generally not my genre of choice. But I was captivated from page one. I loved reading about Amy and her finding herself and chasing her own happiness. And Meg doing her best to not lose herself in a marriage in the 1800s while also finding ways to aide others. And then there’s Beth, with her outwardly sweet disposition but her intrusive dark thoughts she keeps hidden to make her family more comfortable.

It was such a well-written, beautifully thoughtful novel, and one that I will carry with me for awhile.

What You’ll Find:
📖Little Women reimagining
3️⃣Multi-POV
📚Historical Fiction
❤️‍🩹Chronic Illness
🌿Herbalism
🎨Women Artists
🫶Queer Love and characters

[Adia⭐️(losing my mind) · Rating 1 out of 5]

Louisa May Alcott is rolling in her grave. As a lifelong Little Women fan this was not only disappointing but disrespectful.
also, the attempt at queer representation here was not great. it didn't land for me and it felt like it was just shoved in there for the sake of it rather than for added foundation to the story. very unfortunate because i always felt a strong kinship with Jo as a kid (she was probably queer, i will stand by this), so i was hoping for a lot more with the nuance of her character. in the end it failed and i need to read Little Women again to heal my pain.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been sitting on this for days trying to figure out how to write a review for this book that will do it justice, and I really don't think I can. Probably my favourite read this year and I can't wait for next February when I can have a copy on my shelf that I can revisit as often as I do the source material 🥹

Thank you to the authors and Kensington Publishing for providing an advanced copy via NetGalley

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book! The individual stories told in the perspective of Amy, Meg, and Beth were absolutely captivating. It inspired me to grab my copy of Little Women from my library and give it another read to hang on to this wonderful story from long ago that I so loved. Thanks publisher for the ARC copy.

[Nikki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this as an ARC from Netgalley (audio) and actually won a copy from Goodreads in exchange for my review.

I want to preface that I'm not a diehard Little Women fan. I read the book once a few years ago and never have seen any film adaptation (I know). So, I think this book wasn't entirely for me the way all of the various Pride and Prejudice adaptations are.

With that said, I did enjoy the book. It starts off very slow with Amy going off about a bit of soot in her eye. It really throws you right into the book and I have to say I didn't follow at all what was going on with that abrupt start. However, I got more into it as the book got more into Amy's travels around Europe and the courting of Fred. Every section of the book is about a different sister and has a different author/ narrator but Amy's was my favorite, and her part of the Little Women story came back to me the easiest.

Next up we had Meg. The only thing I remembered about her was how busy she always was with the twins and that's definitely a major part of her story here as well. As a mom with young kids, I really appreciated her portion of the book and how lost one can feel when you're a mom, especially to babies. Her section of the book was probably the most powerful.

And then we have Beth. The beloved and meek Beth. This chapter helps give her a little bit of a voice despite her struggles. I found this one to be the most difficult because I identify the least with this character and the section also struggled on how to approach telling the story from the perspective of someone who dies, while not being able to say that outright since that character won't be able to talk about it from their perspective.

Lastly, it circles back around to conclude with Amy. I appreciated that since I liked her story the most. It would have been good to use this chapter for more closure on Beth. Even though we know what ultimately happens to her, the book felt lacking for not including this part.

These three (/fourish) sections were all really independent from eachother. I think the book would have flowed better if the sections were more intertwined and we alternated from each perspective character more instead of having roughly 1/3 of the book for each. If you struggled with a particular perspective, that would leave you stuck for a big portion until you got to the next person. I saw a lot of DNF and perhaps those people would have enjoyed the Meg or Beth parts of the book more.

[Rita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I lost count of how many times I tried to start this book. Every attempt ended with me feeling stuck in an opening, and I kept putting it aside. But I really loved the premise, so I gave it one last shot - and I’m glad I did.

Retellings of classic stories are everywhere these days, and for good reason. There’s something fascinating about revisiting familiar characters from a new perspective. This book, written by three authors, reimagines Little Women through the eyes of the sisters who were often overshadowed - Amy, Beth, and Meg. What made it even more intriguing was that the authors drew inspiration from real-life stories and letters from Louisa May Alcott’s own sisters.

I particularly enjoyed Meg’s section, which explored the price of motherhood, and Beth’s, which captured that feeling of “running out of time” (to borrow from Lin-Manuel Miranda). Seeing their lives fleshed out gave me a much better appreciation for their struggles and choices, even if their sections were relatively short. The letters between the sisters were also a nice touch.

Amy’s story, on the other hand, didn’t really work for me. I struggled with the writing style in her section, which might explain why I had such a hard time getting into the book. It did redeem itself slightly toward the end, but it was my least favourite of the three perspectives.

Despite my slow start, I think this was a successful attempt at giving more depth to the “other” March sisters. I’d recommend it to Little Women fans or anyone who enjoys retellings.

3.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Kate Cedras · Rating 2 out of 5]

Because of my love for little woman I think I had a majorly huge expectation for/from this book. It was disappointing and kind of fell flat for me unfortunately. I was hoping for more from the characters and the story and it just wasn’t there.

[Mary Nolan-Fesmire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting take on 'Little Women'. I enjoyed the different perspectives from the 3 sisters, but sadly missed Jo. Since the book was giving the sisters perspectives, I thought she should have been included. Overall I enjoyed the book from a fresh perspective.
3.5 ARC from NetGalley