St. Louis Sisters: A 1970s Retelling of Little Women

by Carly Berg

In this grown-ups' version of Little Women, the March family falls on hard times, after Mr. March goes away under murky circumstances. The four daughters are left to reach adulthood under very different conditions from the cushy life they were used to.

Wise-cracking but fiercely protective Jo takes over as the man of the house, at the beginning of the story.

Older sister Meg starts out struggling with a fixation on status and overdependence on her mother. Beth is sweet but troubled. She has crippling fears and still plays with dolls at fourteen. And sassy Amy is far too savvy for a twelve-year-old.

The adults aren't always as wise and pious as in the original, either. The mother, Mooms, is doing strange things and seems a bit too friendly with the wealthy older gentleman next door. Things get really weird when a shocking surprise appears under the tree on Christmas morning.

341 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 28, 2024

About the author

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Reviews

[June Schwarz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Little Women retelling

I really liked how consistent Jo’s voice was throughout this retelling of Little Women. It was fascinating to see what Carly Berg would do with the March sisters and how she retold a story I know so well (and am also writing about) in a way I’d never have imagined myself.

[Sandy]

Did not finish

[Sotto Voce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Disclaimer: I haven't read the original book, so this could be a clueless review or a fresh perspective; take it the way you need it.
(Spoiler: I know Beth dies, thanks to Rachel Green).

In a first-person view, we follow the protagonist, Jo, telling tales about the life of a complex family.She has three sisters, an adoptive brother, a missing father, an overwhelmed mom, a rich, unlikeable aunt, Miss Hannah, who stays with them, and Miss Avon (which is a smart reference for people who were alive around the setting time).

The time span of the story sometimes feels very fast, a lot of things happen along the way, but then it hasn't been gone that far because baby... is still a baby. Deaths, run-away, new babies, nose job, graduation, perhaps marriages. It's possible, of course, in real life to have so much going on, it just muddles my timing a bit.

Jo starts off as a typical teenager who is independent because she has to. While I resonate a lot with her, in terms of being a middle child and 'weird,' it's a bit challenging for me to like her character at first as she is constantly looking down on others and her potty mouth, which I am not sure where she picks it up from. She doesn't have an easy life but navigates well enough, and she slowly grows up to be a mature and better person, but I wish I hadn't read another word of 'corrupt' to describe people around her.

The writer pokes many buttons that a modern audience would have no difficulty picking something to be offended by. While I find some unnecessary, it's a breath of fresh air and daringly hilarious. I am getting sick of people being afraid of words and of mediocre works that try hard to please all audiences, so kudos for that.

Overall, it's an enjoyable read; I just wish to experience everything beyond a few sentences at a time.

4 snail trail out of 5 nose jobs.

[Lorraine Tosiello]

In this "1970s retelling of 'Little Women'" the March sisters have gone awry. Jo is a foul-mouthed doobie smoking whirlwind, Meg is a social climber with low self esteem, Beth a psychological mess and Amy a petulant sex-crazed adolescent. And though this might seem an insurmountable stretch from the original beloved classic, it had me thinking. Louisa May Alcott was a progressive rabble-rousing author who wrote the very first novel for adolescent girls. She made sure that each girl had a distinct flaw, a talent and a goal for her future. It was revolutionary. Maybe if LMA were writing today she would concoct something like this to have the same shock value.

Unlike other "retellings" that have four sisters and a boy and are done with the similarities, the first half of this book adheres rather closely to favorite episodes in the book. I kept reading to see if Amy would get to Europe, if Beth would die.

It was the second half of the book that highlighted rather improbable bad behavior from the adults in the room that felt essentially inauthentic to the original. I like to think of it as 'Little Women' meets 'A Confederacy of Dunces'. If you like the almost slapstick meltdown of that classic, you will enjoy the way this book plays out. I haven't found many people who are fans of both of these books, though. If you are, this is the book for you.

[Pallavi Sareen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read Louisa May Alcott's 'Little Women', though I really think I should finally pick up the book now. But do know from Rachel Green that one of the characters dies in the story, which scared Joey enough to put the book in the refrigerator. Needless to say, the classic has inspired a few retellings, and my research has revealed that they mostly tend to have three sisters and a male friend. However, where Carly Berg's 1970s retelling stands out, in my opinion, is that although the plot has superficial similarities (I had to check the plot of the original for comparison), the characters in this retelling don't feel like ghosts—they are very real people.

I liked Jo and her narrative style. She is an eccentric person at odds with her femininity, which is something I could easily relate to.

"I heard Sambo’s is hiring. It’s kind of a dump, but maybe they’d let me wear pants there, since they seem to have a hard time keeping any employees at all, from what I heard. I’m not wearing a goddamn skirt or dress, even if I’d make twenty bucks an hour. Well, maybe then."

At the beginning of the story with her father out of the picture, she is considered the "man of the house".

Another trait I could relate to was her life as a young and aspiring authoress. It's brilliant how relatable her thought process was when it came to deciding what to include in her stories. She is also eccentric in her asexuality—as a proud LGBTQ+ community member, I could relate to her struggles against the heteronormative norms of our society.

"I don’t understand why people always seem to put their boyfriend or girlfriend first, in general. It’s like if you’re not someone’s boyfriend or girlfriend, you’ll always be a distant second to that person, no matter what you do for them. But the boyfriends and girlfriends are usually the ones who come and go. Close friends and family are much more likely to stick around, if you ask me."

Later, when she comes to terms with the idea:

"Now, I’ve finally got it through my head that Larry and I will never be partners. I would love to find my special person, soulmate, whatever you’d call him. But to me, that does not include sex, because the whole idea of sex makes me want to throw up. But me and my dream partner would still be each other’s number one person in life, just like any other couple."

The book has many adult elements, but it is, at heart, the story of what it means to have a family—to forgive and help each other and to excuse each other's "ten percent of pure evil," as Jo calls it. Jo's sister destroyed the notebook in which she had written short stories, and she tried to stay angry at her—honestly, I might have just killed her. However, she couldn’t help worrying for her when she nearly drowned. Jo was somewhat less forgiving toward her parents, but that is understandable. I found it inexcusable how they ignored Jo's higher education.

Carly Berg did a good job of making her characters flawed while still ensuring they remain likable:

"The younger March girls don’t understand the concept of age. Beth thinks she’s five, and Amy thinks she is twenty-five."

I know that Jo's behavior toward Beth may seem downright cruel, but I could understand that too. When she tried to destroy Beth's dolls or said cruel things to her, she was trying to care for her in her own emotionally clumsy way.

"We all needed to start treating Beth like a regular teenager before it was too late. I decided to treat her the same way I’d treat Meg or Amy if they were getting on my nerves. I whispered in Beth’s ear, ‘You better watch it, bitch. Don’t even think I won’t kerplop you.’ I felt a little sorry for her when her face reddened up, but it was for her own good."

The last and oldest sister, Meg, is most affected by the family's fall from fortune at the beginning of the story. She ends up being a sort of social climber—to the extent of trying to be in an abusive relationship. Jo says it best:

"Getting so upset about what other people might think seems exhausting and painful. She’s still a bitch, though."

The parents and other older characters are imperfect too. There are a couple of deaths over the course of the novel, but to be honest, those chapters felt too rushed.

I can't say how your experience of reading the book will be affected if you have read the original. However, I want to say that some parts (especially Jo smoking a doobie) made me think of 'That '70s Show'. Highly recommended for everyone.

You may have guessed from the quotes I've already listed that Jo is a formidable narrator, and there are many moments, particularly with Larry, in the story that had me laughing hard:

"He blurts out, ‘I look in your windows, you know.’ I sit up straight. ‘What? You weirdo. You fucker. What the hell?’
...
‘If you promise not to call me any more names.’
‘Okay, fuck-face.’
...
‘You can look in my windows any time. You’re my favorite pervert.’"

***

"Then we go over to the woods and stick a couple of plastic skeletons on Jeremy’s tent, thinking ourselves hilarious, since we’re high as kites, and put the skeletons in sexual positions."

****

"But by then, she’s already on to talking about the old farmer who died and how they hang out in his old farmhouse, and about the old dirty postcards they found there, one with a topless girl who had a donkey’s thing in her mouth. I open my mouth to start lecturing her about how dangerous both of these adventures are, but what comes out of my mouth is, ‘Can I come?’"

[Michelle Kimber · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this story. Little Women is my favorite classic and this take on the beloved novel was a joy to read. I found it well written and the rendition of each FMC was a fun exploration. A book to check out.

[Jayme · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF. I got 47% through and just had to stop. LMA is rolling in her grave.

I love Little Women, and I had such high hopes for this book. But oh my gosh is the writing rough. It’s written like it’s for middle school YA, except for drug use and language. Mooms isn’t even remotely similar to her original character (yes, I get that it’s a retelling… but it should be somewhat similar!). The timing is weird, and things seemed rushed and then drawn out.

The final straw? Two-fold: I could brush past it when there isn’t much of a deal about Amy destroying Jo’s manuscript. But there is maybe a 2 paragraph mention of Jo cutting her hair, and it’s to see her father in prison…
And this exact line from Mooms after she begins dating Larry’s grandfather: “Well, I’m off to go see my boyfriend next door. Isn’t that cute, you and I dating a grandson and grandfather?”

Louisa May Alcott is rolling in her grave, God help her.

[Kristine · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF! If you loved the original Louisa May Alcott Little Women, I don't think this is the book for you. Having read that book more than once over the years and seeing the different movie adaptations, I thought I would enjoy this retelling. However, there is too much of this book that is too different from the original. If it is a retelling, it should simply be a modern version of the original story. The characters were crass, foul mouthed and the author portrayed the family in a completely different context than the original. There was nothing about this book that was enjoyable and I couldn't finish after a few chapters.
I read the original book as a child and later on as an adult and I enjoyed it the same even as I matured. This is not only not a retelling, but is told in a sloppy, immature writing style, even if it was written as a YA book.

[Diane Hatz · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Louis Sisters tells the story of the March family from the viewpoint of Jo, one of the teenage daughters and an aspiring writer. There are sibling rivalries, babies, come-of-age antics, prison time, and general craziness one can find in many families.

The novel is a slice-of-life kind of story. It's not an action-packed thriller but more like an intricate tapestry that you need time to look at and admire. Berg's writing is rich and full of depth while also being irreverent and real.

I haven't read the original book it's based on, so I'm not sure how closely or loosely this storyline follows it, but if you like finding yourself immersed in moments of time with other people's lives, this might be the book for you.

[Nat · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF at chapter three, I love the idea, but the execution needs work. See below for full review:

I am torn on this one. It is an awkward piece to rate because it is written in the voice of a preteen, so the writing comes off as juvenile. But as it is from the PoV of a young girl, that does make sense. The downside is it makes the writing at time stilted, awkward, and an unpleasant read for adults. Which wouldn't be a downside except that adults are the target audience and, as an adult, I couldn't finish the book.

There is potential for this as a YA book for ages 10-14, which was the audience for the original Little Women as well, but the swearing and use of slurs (which were, in the author's defense, used with literary purpose) makes it currently unsuitable for that demographic. I found it an awkward but interesting read, and I am curious how accurate it is as a historical fiction piece for 1970s St. Louis.

I would love to see it rewritten, either as a YA book by removing the unsuitable-for-young-people parts, or for adults by improving on the writing. As an aside, Mom being called "Mooms" was a little awkward and I couldn't find anything online explaining that it was relevant to 1970s St. Louis. I think it might be the author's attempt at the equivalent of Little Women's "Marmee," which was relevant to the time period of the original book.

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read Little Women but have seen several adaptations. I thought I knew what to expect and some of that did come about but other details didn't.

I have decided to try reading genres or books that I normally wouldn't and that's why I entered to win a copy of this book. If I hadn't won a copy I probably wouldn't have finished it, it just wasn't for me. I don't care for characters who smoke lots of pot or ones who cheat on spouses and both were portrayed here.

If you are interested in alternate versions of familiar stories and can roll with completely different versions of known characters than you might enjoy this story.

[P.L. Tavormina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I grew up not too too far from St. Louis in the 70s, and this book was a so cool to stumble across. Fantastic storytelling, loved the Little Women angle (*loved* that), loved the snippets of nonfiction Berg snuck in before the chapters. Easy and delightful to read.

For a nostalgic, midwest, female-centered romp, grab a copy of Carly Berg's 'St. Louis Sisters.' The snark and personality, with a touch of slang, will hook you from page one and never let go.

Five stars. This book is my new favorite.

[Ela Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

St. Louis Sisters is an unfiltered, heartfelt look at family life through the eyes of teenage Jo. It touches on relationship struggles, finances, health, and growing up in, what one might call, a dysfunctional household with humor and warmth. The sisters are each unique, and their dynamics feel real and relatable. It’s not overly dramatic, just an honest, often funny portrait of a family trying to get by. Though outside my typical genre, it was a good, down-to-earth read.

[Samantha Spitler · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC won. I really hate leaving a poor review on a new book, but I really just didn't get into this retelling. I will confess that I was not alive in the 1970s so may have missed some nostalgia points. Every character was just incredibly unlikable and immature. I just didn't get it, I guess. Sorry.

[Annazetta Henderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dysfunctional

I don't know anything about "Little Women", but this book is a Prime example of the dysfunctional family and how they have loved and Lost, but still managed to stay a family

[Lynette · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not my cup of tea

I tried to like it. I really tried. Yes, it’s satirical. Yes, it’s based on one of my favorite stories. This isn’t it. Something is truly just blah about this book.

[Emily Hunot · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you’re from St. Louis, this book is a must read. If not, it’s still pretty funny and witty. It’s definitely more of an adult version of the original. It follows a similar plot line and has a lot of the same character names as the LMA version.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed the storyline and narrative ofthis book

[Susan · Rating 1 out of 5]

I won a Kindle version of this book. I was so disappointed. I loved Little Women however after only a few chapters I could tell this was not a book for me. Too much foul language!!

[Chani Kynes]

DNF

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fresh new look at an American classic.

[Faye Ridpath · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book for free from Goodreads.

I really enjoyed this retelling of Little Women.

Jo was an excellent narrator.

I would love to read more by this author.

[Joann · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about 4 sisters and their lives together. Relationships with one another and their parents in the 1970's. A good, interesting read.

[Dan Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo is a force to be reckoned with. Hilarious!

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚📚📚📚📚