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Beth Is Dead
A New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller!
Sunnie Reads’ Inaugural Book Club Pick—Sunnie Select!
Four starred reviews!
Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this “brilliantly snappy…electrifying” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.
Sunnie Reads’ Inaugural Book Club Pick—Sunnie Select!
Four starred reviews!
Beth March’s sisters will stop at nothing to track down her killer—until they begin to suspect each other—in this “brilliantly snappy…electrifying” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) debut thriller that’s also a bold, contemporary reimagining of the beloved classic Little Women.
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Beth’s perspective told in flashback unfolds next to Meg, Jo, and Amy’s increasingly fraught investigation as the tragedy threatens to rip the Marches apart.
Audible Audio
First published January 15, 2026
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About the author
Katie Bernet
1 book140 followersKatie Bernet is an author living in Dallas, Texas. She’s an award-winning creative director, a long-standing member of the DFW Writer’s Workshop, and the director of the 2025 DFW Writer’s Conference. The oldest of three sisters, she’s a diehard fan of "Little Women."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,137 reviews
January 18, 2026
a favorite read of 2025🩵
beth is dead is my new favorite ya reimaginings of one of the most beloved (and MY most beloved) classics — little women.
beth is dead completely stole my heart, and our author katie bernet does a phenomenal job of expanding the characters of all four march sisters in a contemporary setting that pays homage to their mannerisms from the original novel.
and for our murder mystery plot?! — i truly could not figure out who the killer was! i was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
not to mention that cover is to DIE for👀
beth is dead is my new favorite ya reimaginings of one of the most beloved (and MY most beloved) classics — little women.
beth is dead completely stole my heart, and our author katie bernet does a phenomenal job of expanding the characters of all four march sisters in a contemporary setting that pays homage to their mannerisms from the original novel.
and for our murder mystery plot?! — i truly could not figure out who the killer was! i was on the edge of my seat the entire time.
not to mention that cover is to DIE for👀
January 18, 2026
જ⁀➴ 4 stars
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Katie Bernet, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Beth is Dead is out now!
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
This was a refreshing, modern take on Little Women, but with a deadly twist! This book was a wild ride from start to finish, and I'm genuinely shocked that this was a debut. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't believe a YA thriller was the most recent thriller I've read that has kept me on my toes.
The March sisters—Beth, Jo, Amy, and Meg— were living a peaceful life until their father published his viral, overnight sensation of a book speaking about the intimate details of his daughters' lives. The sisters are suddenly in the spotlight while their father takes the heat, and when Beth is found dead in the woods after a New Year's Eve party, they're thrust into the spotlight even more as investigators—and their family—race to find out who could've killed Beth. There's many suspects, including the sisters themselves, so who really killed Beth, and why?
I want to be transparent and say that I haven't read Little Women, so I can't necessarily speak on the accuracy of the characters' personalities. I went into the story knowing the bare minimum about the story, like the storyline between Jo and Laurie, for example, and how Beth...well, really did die in the actual book. With that said, my rating on the book will not necessarily focus so much on the accuracy of those details compared to the actual book, but rather on the plot development and my enjoyment of the story.
This was one of the first thrillers in quite some time where I felt like I couldn't stop turning the pages. The chapters are extremely short and we rotate through each of the sisters' perspectives, alternating between the past and the present from the moment their father's book gets published all the way up until present day when Beth is murdered and the murder investigation is ongoing. Although I haven't read the actual book, I can tell at the very least that each sister has her own motives and distinct personality, and none of them were written in a way that felt one-dimensional. None of them were purely good or purely malicious, and I would make the argument that all of them were written as morally gray characters in their own right.
Once you add in the other side characters from each of the sisters' personal lives, the story quickly becomes complex with many twists and turns as each sister sets off on her own to track down the killer. There's many layers to peel back once we keep getting more context as to what happened leading up to Beth's death, and I honestly had a lot of fun reading this because every time I had my own theory about who did it, I would find out another piece of information that would change my perspective on everything and I'd change my theory....again.
That's NOT a bad thing! I WANT the thrillers to read to keep me on my toes. I want to be proven wrong. I don't want a thriller where I can predict the ending by the 50-60% mark of the book like I usually do. This was the first thriller in a while where I couldn't predict who murdered Beth by the halfway mark. However, once everything clicked, it CLICKED. Did I find the ending a bit predictable? Yes, and I don't think I can shut my brain off from trying to put all the pieces together to find out what actually happened while I'm reading a thriller at this point, but there were so many twists and turns that I feel like this'll have many readers second-guessing themselves until the very last page.
The one thing I took a star off for was the fact that there were so many chapters and so many POVs with flashbacks from the past and then back to the present. Although it was a unique part of the book, I feel like it was also its own weakness, to some extent. Having so many chapters where we would get flashbacks and then switch back to the present, it made it hard to follow at first and the fact that sometimes it would be one sister's present day POV and then the next chapter would be a flashback of a totally different sister's POV made the flow feel disrupted at times. I can see how it works in the sense that you'd get different pieces of the puzzle at different times and then you have to figure out how all of them fit together, but I can also see the perspective on how it would be difficult and confusing for readers to follow at times, especially young readers who could be reading this as their very-first YA book.
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller to keep you on your toes and you're also a fan of Little Women, look no further than this debut novel! I can't wait to see what Katie Bernet has in store for the future; this was a strong debut!
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Book 3/75 of 2026 and guess what…it’s another ARC! I’ve strayed away from thrillers in the second half of 2025 because I felt like I was guessing the ending to them correctly way more than I felt like I should’ve, but I want to try to get back into them this year! I think a modern retelling of Little Women would be super cool to read so here’s hoping it delivers🤞🏼🍀💌
Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Katie Bernet, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. Beth is Dead is out now!
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
This was a refreshing, modern take on Little Women, but with a deadly twist! This book was a wild ride from start to finish, and I'm genuinely shocked that this was a debut. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I can't believe a YA thriller was the most recent thriller I've read that has kept me on my toes.
The March sisters—Beth, Jo, Amy, and Meg— were living a peaceful life until their father published his viral, overnight sensation of a book speaking about the intimate details of his daughters' lives. The sisters are suddenly in the spotlight while their father takes the heat, and when Beth is found dead in the woods after a New Year's Eve party, they're thrust into the spotlight even more as investigators—and their family—race to find out who could've killed Beth. There's many suspects, including the sisters themselves, so who really killed Beth, and why?
I want to be transparent and say that I haven't read Little Women, so I can't necessarily speak on the accuracy of the characters' personalities. I went into the story knowing the bare minimum about the story, like the storyline between Jo and Laurie, for example, and how Beth...well, really did die in the actual book. With that said, my rating on the book will not necessarily focus so much on the accuracy of those details compared to the actual book, but rather on the plot development and my enjoyment of the story.
This was one of the first thrillers in quite some time where I felt like I couldn't stop turning the pages. The chapters are extremely short and we rotate through each of the sisters' perspectives, alternating between the past and the present from the moment their father's book gets published all the way up until present day when Beth is murdered and the murder investigation is ongoing. Although I haven't read the actual book, I can tell at the very least that each sister has her own motives and distinct personality, and none of them were written in a way that felt one-dimensional. None of them were purely good or purely malicious, and I would make the argument that all of them were written as morally gray characters in their own right.
Once you add in the other side characters from each of the sisters' personal lives, the story quickly becomes complex with many twists and turns as each sister sets off on her own to track down the killer. There's many layers to peel back once we keep getting more context as to what happened leading up to Beth's death, and I honestly had a lot of fun reading this because every time I had my own theory about who did it, I would find out another piece of information that would change my perspective on everything and I'd change my theory....again.
That's NOT a bad thing! I WANT the thrillers to read to keep me on my toes. I want to be proven wrong. I don't want a thriller where I can predict the ending by the 50-60% mark of the book like I usually do. This was the first thriller in a while where I couldn't predict who murdered Beth by the halfway mark. However, once everything clicked, it CLICKED. Did I find the ending a bit predictable? Yes, and I don't think I can shut my brain off from trying to put all the pieces together to find out what actually happened while I'm reading a thriller at this point, but there were so many twists and turns that I feel like this'll have many readers second-guessing themselves until the very last page.
The one thing I took a star off for was the fact that there were so many chapters and so many POVs with flashbacks from the past and then back to the present. Although it was a unique part of the book, I feel like it was also its own weakness, to some extent. Having so many chapters where we would get flashbacks and then switch back to the present, it made it hard to follow at first and the fact that sometimes it would be one sister's present day POV and then the next chapter would be a flashback of a totally different sister's POV made the flow feel disrupted at times. I can see how it works in the sense that you'd get different pieces of the puzzle at different times and then you have to figure out how all of them fit together, but I can also see the perspective on how it would be difficult and confusing for readers to follow at times, especially young readers who could be reading this as their very-first YA book.
If you're looking for a fast-paced thriller to keep you on your toes and you're also a fan of Little Women, look no further than this debut novel! I can't wait to see what Katie Bernet has in store for the future; this was a strong debut!
₊✩‧₊˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊ ˚౨ৎ˚₊✩‧₊
⋅˚₊‧ ୨ 𝒫𝓇𝑒-𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹: ୧ ‧₊˚ ⋅ Book 3/75 of 2026 and guess what…it’s another ARC! I’ve strayed away from thrillers in the second half of 2025 because I felt like I was guessing the ending to them correctly way more than I felt like I should’ve, but I want to try to get back into them this year! I think a modern retelling of Little Women would be super cool to read so here’s hoping it delivers🤞🏼🍀💌
December 20, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
When Beth March is found dead on New Year’s Day, everyone who has ever known her is a suspect. The March sisters scramble to find out who killed their sister, finding new leads that always lead to dead ends. But each of the sisters is hiding a secret that involves Beth–would Meg, Amy, or Jo ever stoop to murdering their sister? They can’t trust anyone as they search for the truth of what happened that fateful night.
Beth has and always will be my favorite March sister from Little Women. I relate to her so much, like it’s not even funny how similar we are, and I’m not saying that to toot my own horn. 😂 So when I saw my GR friend, DianaRose, recommended this book, I knew I had to read it not only for the cover (because look at it, it's stunning) but because I love a good mystery. And when my request was accepted, I was over the moon because I just had to know who would be low enough to kill Beth.
And, ladies and gentlemen, this one got me. I did not know who it was, and I was shocked yet not completely taken aback by who killed Beth. But still, like ho-ly cow, I was not expecting that! 😱 I hang up my title of being able to sniff out a suspect because I could not guess who it was for the life of me. I mean, I had my suspicions, but no, there’s no way around the fact that I was wrong. 😂
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the similarities and differences between this story and Little Women (which happens to be one of my favorite books of all time). The plot kept me guessing and intrigued the whole way through. The writing was easy to read yet wonderfully descriptive, and the dialogue flowed well, reminding me of Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of the novel. The only thing that I didn’t really like and made me take away half a star was the sisters. I thought they were really selfish (especially Amy. She pissed me off so much 🙄) and annoyed me most of the time, but hey, humans are selfish, and they weren't horrible sisters, so I’ll cut them some slack. 😏
Overall, I recommend this book, especially if you love fun mysteries, a quick read, and the world of Little Women. I will say, though, that if you are not into YA, this might not be for you because the dialogue and writing have that tone. Just a heads up. ☺🫶🏼
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, and an adult male making advances at teen girls.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing and mentioning hooking up. (🌶/5)
#BethisDeadBook #NetGalley
When Beth March is found dead on New Year’s Day, everyone who has ever known her is a suspect. The March sisters scramble to find out who killed their sister, finding new leads that always lead to dead ends. But each of the sisters is hiding a secret that involves Beth–would Meg, Amy, or Jo ever stoop to murdering their sister? They can’t trust anyone as they search for the truth of what happened that fateful night.
Beth has and always will be my favorite March sister from Little Women. I relate to her so much, like it’s not even funny how similar we are, and I’m not saying that to toot my own horn. 😂 So when I saw my GR friend, DianaRose, recommended this book, I knew I had to read it not only for the cover (because look at it, it's stunning) but because I love a good mystery. And when my request was accepted, I was over the moon because I just had to know who would be low enough to kill Beth.
And, ladies and gentlemen, this one got me. I did not know who it was, and I was shocked yet not completely taken aback by who killed Beth. But still, like ho-ly cow, I was not expecting that! 😱 I hang up my title of being able to sniff out a suspect because I could not guess who it was for the life of me. I mean, I had my suspicions, but no, there’s no way around the fact that I was wrong. 😂
I really, really enjoyed this book. I loved the similarities and differences between this story and Little Women (which happens to be one of my favorite books of all time). The plot kept me guessing and intrigued the whole way through. The writing was easy to read yet wonderfully descriptive, and the dialogue flowed well, reminding me of Greta Gerwig’s film adaptation of the novel. The only thing that I didn’t really like and made me take away half a star was the sisters. I thought they were really selfish (especially Amy. She pissed me off so much 🙄) and annoyed me most of the time, but hey, humans are selfish, and they weren't horrible sisters, so I’ll cut them some slack. 😏
Overall, I recommend this book, especially if you love fun mysteries, a quick read, and the world of Little Women. I will say, though, that if you are not into YA, this might not be for you because the dialogue and writing have that tone. Just a heads up. ☺🫶🏼
Thank you to Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own.
❗Content Warnings❗
Death, murder, blood, and an adult male making advances at teen girls.
Swearing: Yes
Spice: No–only kissing and mentioning hooking up. (🌶/5)
#BethisDeadBook #NetGalley
January 7, 2026
Did you love Little Women with your heart, body, and soul? Well, I’ve got just the book for you to read. You see, Beth Is Dead was an astounding reimagining of the March sisters’ story—only set in the modern world. Starting off with a bang when Beth ends up…well…dead, this YA tale of metafiction was an edge-of-your-seat read from beginning to end. With natural dialogue, complex characters, and plenty of well-layered mysteries to mess with your head, it was impossible to guess who the killer actually was. After all, with a narration that was told from all four sisters’ POVs over dual timelines, the story took on a life of its own and I found myself glued to the twist-filled pages. None of that, though, was even the strongest piece to this epic debut of toxic friendships, devious gaslighting, and delicious dark secrets.
So what was the best part of this book? That had to be how it brought the March sisters to life in modern times. Maintaining the feel that they had in the classic but giving them themes to contend with from our current world, it was awe-inspiring to say the least. Exploring feminism, social pressure, and exploitation through their father’s novel, it was not only immensely entertaining but also thought-provoking as well. Add in how nuanced it all felt, and you have an utter slam dunk. A murder mystery for anyone who loves a little—or a lot—of suspense along with their classic retellings, it was everything I look for in a dynamite read. After all, between the fast pace and twisty plotting, the short, addictive chapters made this into a book perfect for both new and old fans of the Marchs. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Thank you to Katie Bernet, Sara Barley Books, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 6, 2026
Content warning: murder, toxic friendship, physical abuse, stalking, gaslighting, blood, addiction, rape, sexual content
So what was the best part of this book? That had to be how it brought the March sisters to life in modern times. Maintaining the feel that they had in the classic but giving them themes to contend with from our current world, it was awe-inspiring to say the least. Exploring feminism, social pressure, and exploitation through their father’s novel, it was not only immensely entertaining but also thought-provoking as well. Add in how nuanced it all felt, and you have an utter slam dunk. A murder mystery for anyone who loves a little—or a lot—of suspense along with their classic retellings, it was everything I look for in a dynamite read. After all, between the fast pace and twisty plotting, the short, addictive chapters made this into a book perfect for both new and old fans of the Marchs. Rating of 4.5 stars (upgraded).
SYNOPSIS:
When Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year’s Day, her sisters vow to uncover her murderer.
Suspects abound. There’s the neighbor who has feelings for not one but two of the girls. Meg’s manipulative best friend. Amy’s flirtatious mentor. And Beth’s lionhearted first love. But it doesn’t take the surviving sisters much digging to uncover motives each one of the March girls had for doing the unthinkable.
Jo, an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers. Would she kill her sister for the story? Amy dreams of studying art in Europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt—money that’s always been earmarked for Beth. And Meg wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister…but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
Despite the growing suspicion within the family, it’s hard to know for sure if the crime was committed by someone close to home. After all, the March sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters. Beth could have been killed by anyone.
Thank you to Katie Bernet, Sara Barley Books, and Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 6, 2026
Content warning: murder, toxic friendship, physical abuse, stalking, gaslighting, blood, addiction, rape, sexual content
January 22, 2026
I think that the more you like Little Women, the less you’ll like this book😀 It’s almost like the author wanted to put as much disrespect towards the og sacred text as possible💖
This is a YA thriller that explores the murder of Beth March, all set in modern day Concord. The author clearly wanted everyone in the book to be a suspect, so NO ONE was likable. It takes a lot to ruin the characterization of every single character, but…..give her a trophy! Jo is a social media influencer who is also a really bad feminist so…Not My Jo™️
The concept is intriguing and I had high hopes that it would be a fanfic-esque, silly / fun time. But to be fair, Little Women is my favorite book in the entire world and I was going to be extra picky no matter what. I am declaring WAR on this book. The March parents are absent and apathetic, Laurie is BARELY IN THE BOOK, the sisters tear each other down constantly and Beth’s life and story are completely belittled and misunderstood. Each of the sisters’ individual storylines exude gross, icky and dishonest energy. Couldn’t possibly hate it more😍
This is a YA thriller that explores the murder of Beth March, all set in modern day Concord. The author clearly wanted everyone in the book to be a suspect, so NO ONE was likable. It takes a lot to ruin the characterization of every single character, but…..give her a trophy! Jo is a social media influencer who is also a really bad feminist so…Not My Jo™️
The concept is intriguing and I had high hopes that it would be a fanfic-esque, silly / fun time. But to be fair, Little Women is my favorite book in the entire world and I was going to be extra picky no matter what. I am declaring WAR on this book. The March parents are absent and apathetic, Laurie is BARELY IN THE BOOK, the sisters tear each other down constantly and Beth’s life and story are completely belittled and misunderstood. Each of the sisters’ individual storylines exude gross, icky and dishonest energy. Couldn’t possibly hate it more😍
Currently reading
February 24, 2026💋𝓼𝓸𝓵𝓿𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓶𝓮𓂃🖊 (major spoilers!)
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
💋𝖘𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖔𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖘💋
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
𝙢𝙚𝙜 ~ oldest sister, mature, responsible, sensible
𝙟𝙤 ~ second oldest, impulsive, hot-tempered, attention wh*re
𝙖𝙢𝙮 ~ high school rebel, immature, impressionable, secretive, annoying b*tch
𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝 ~ musical, sensitive sweetheart 💗
🩸𝖒𝖚𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖘𝖚𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖘🩸
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
33% & i cannot do this anymore...
here's my guess...
beth went to sallie's, fought with amy about plumfield/vaughn/money, felt bad & cried in sallie's room, hitched ride with john back home but then went to laurie's, confrontation about book & pushed out of window by...laurie/florence/ned??? who is also the book protestor/stalker paid by sallie
𝙢𝙚𝙜
"𝓨𝓮𝓼, 𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓼𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝔂 𝓰𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓽. 𝓘𝓽’𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂. 𝓘 𝓼𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ called beth, mad about book, secretly back with john @ piano bar, defends sallie even though treated poorly, hides secret activity with sallie from john, blackmailed by sallie?, ghostwrote essay for sallie, some pact w sallie $$$
motive ~ wants to be rid of sallie, to be sallie, get $$$
alibi ~ was @ harv / piano bar w john
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙟𝙤
"𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻. 𝓐𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ suspected of staging recording device, likes attention from the book, defends dad, jealous of beth
motive ~ gain attention
alibi ~ witnessed scene of crime, favored beth
suspected of...killing beth to gain attention?
testimony ~
not "i'll find the suspect"...interesting...
𝙖𝙢𝙮
"𝓘’𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓲𝓭𝓮."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸 (maybe triangle with laurie & beth?)
suspicious activity ~ fought with beth!!! (about plumfield), didn't see beth right next to laurie's when walking home, withheld info from detectives, disappears from bathroom, mean to & jealous of beth
motive ~ jealous of beth going to plumfield, to get aunt's money to go to art retreat
alibi ~ witnessed scene of crime, was @ laurie's (jo's ex), backing out of vaughn's
suspected of...depressed beth in order to take her place @ plumfield?, painted KILLER across the house, got aunt march to not let beth go to plumfield so that she could go to art retreat
testimony ~
plausible, but too predictable
and then it goes badly or she has to blackmail beth...
𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝
“𝓜𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓸 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽.”
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ being killed off in book, fought with sister, cried with sallie, hitched a ride with john, went home unnoticed
motive ~ depressed because of book?, jealous of amy & laurie?, wants to end up like in book?, feels bad for amy?, blackmailed by amy? didn't like sallie treating meg badly, to let amy get $
alibi ~ was going to plumfield
suspected of...S or faked? went to laurie's to find amy, attacked there??? by sallie???
testimony ~
suspicion that the vogue quote was out of context / faked
𝙙𝙖𝙙
“𝓗𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓮 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓼. 𝓜𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓱.”
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ writing beth's death!!!, leaving the girls instead of staying with them in order to "protect" them
motive ~
alibi ~ was camping
suspected of...conspiring with protestor to kill beth as per his book?
testimony ~
𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ beth hated her, told detectives beth was like her sister, fake vigil & eulogy, weird secret activity with meg, blackmailed meg?, 2nd floor window open, essay on feminism despite no jane austen books, potentially admitted w bribe, laurie's jacket under (planted? or amy & laurie were hiding there), co-written essay (jo's dad?) by MEG, some pact w jo $$$
motive ~ attention?, to shut beth up about the bribe, get money back $$$
alibi ~ beth cried into her shoulder, was @ party
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ didn't see beth right next to house, secret relationship w amy, lied to jo about sallie's
motive ~ get jo back
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
"I thought I knew Laurie down to his bones, but he’s been lying about the night Beth died."
𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ found address, vandalized "KILLER", planted recording device
motive ~ book
suspected of...collaborating with someone to murder beth as per the book?
testimony ~
𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ accused jo of staging recording device
motive ~
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙮
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ hacker
motive ~
alibi ~ @ work
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ unexplained "fender bender", saw beth, secretly with meg, lost temper @ beth bc of plumfield, allegedly drove beth home, "fired" from instructing beth
motive ~ cover for meg?
alibi ~ piano bar with meg
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ being glad that beth dead
motive ~ to go to vaughn's, to be a march sister
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
less suspicious suspects
aunt march
vaughn
sallie's parents
ned
dad's editor
henry's grandpa
mom
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
🕵️♀️𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖎𝖈𝖘 𝖑𝖆𝖇🕵️♀️
vandalism
recording device
"killer" vandalism
THE book
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
────────────୨ৎ────────────
💗💌💋𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭💗💌💋
⊹₊˚‧︵‿₊୨ᰔ୧₊‿︵‧˚₊⊹
💋𝖘𝖎𝖘𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖉𝖔𝖘𝖘𝖎𝖊𝖗𝖘💋
⏔⏔⏔ ꒰ ᧔ෆ᧓ ꒱ ⏔⏔⏔
𝙢𝙚𝙜 ~ oldest sister, mature, responsible, sensible
𝙟𝙤 ~ second oldest, impulsive, hot-tempered, attention wh*re
𝙖𝙢𝙮 ~ high school rebel, immature, impressionable, secretive, annoying b*tch
𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝 ~ musical, sensitive sweetheart 💗
🩸𝖒𝖚𝖗𝖉𝖊𝖗 𝖘𝖚𝖘𝖕𝖊𝖈𝖙𝖘🩸
꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦
33% & i cannot do this anymore...
here's my guess...
beth went to sallie's, fought with amy about plumfield/vaughn/money, felt bad & cried in sallie's room, hitched ride with john back home but then went to laurie's, confrontation about book & pushed out of window by...laurie/florence/ned??? who is also the book protestor/stalker paid by sallie
𝙢𝙚𝙜
"𝓨𝓮𝓼, 𝓘 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝓘 𝓼𝔀𝓪𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓶𝔂 𝓰𝓾𝓲𝓵𝓽. 𝓘𝓽’𝓼 𝓶𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂. 𝓘 𝓼𝓲𝓶𝓹𝓵𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓵𝓮 𝓲𝓽 𝓫𝓪𝓬𝓴."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ called beth, mad about book, secretly back with john @ piano bar, defends sallie even though treated poorly, hides secret activity with sallie from john, blackmailed by sallie?, ghostwrote essay for sallie, some pact w sallie $$$
motive ~ wants to be rid of sallie, to be sallie, get $$$
alibi ~ was @ harv / piano bar w john
suspected of...
testimony ~
She’s managing her pain by churning out theories, but I can’t take it. Especially not when her theories involve my mistakes.
John can’t get involved, can’t find out what Sallie and I are doing
𝙟𝙤
"𝓑𝓾𝓽 𝓶𝔂 𝓬𝓾𝓻𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓵𝓲𝓽𝔂 𝔀𝓸𝓾𝓵𝓭 𝓶𝓪𝓴𝓮 𝓪𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓭𝓲𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴. 𝓐 𝓶𝓾𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓻. 𝓐𝓷 𝓲𝓷𝓿𝓮𝓼𝓽𝓲𝓰𝓪𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ suspected of staging recording device, likes attention from the book, defends dad, jealous of beth
motive ~ gain attention
alibi ~ witnessed scene of crime, favored beth
suspected of...killing beth to gain attention?
testimony ~
and it’s not Amy’s fault, I know it’s not, but it can’t be mine. I need someone to blame. I’ll find someone to blame.
not "i'll find the suspect"...interesting...
𝙖𝙢𝙮
"𝓘’𝓶 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓸𝓷𝓮 𝔀𝓲𝓽𝓱 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓶𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓸 𝓱𝓲𝓭𝓮."
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ fought with beth!!! (about plumfield), didn't see beth right next to laurie's when walking home, withheld info from detectives, disappears from bathroom, mean to & jealous of beth
motive ~ jealous of beth going to plumfield, to get aunt's money to go to art retreat
alibi ~ witnessed scene of crime, was @ laurie's (jo's ex), backing out of vaughn's
suspected of...depressed beth in order to take her place @ plumfield?, painted KILLER across the house, got aunt march to not let beth go to plumfield so that she could go to art retreat
testimony ~
"Aunt March handed an opportunity to the wrong sister. Beth hides from life. I’m ready to reach out and take it by the throat."
Aunt March handed an opportunity to the wrong sister. Beth hides from life. I’m ready to reach out and take it by the throat.
“I told her she didn’t deserve it.”
“What if she jumped? What if she jumped because of what I said?”
plausible, but too predictable
An idea. A prickle of electricity. Aunt March didn’t give me the opportunity to audition for Plumfield. But maybe she’d give me this. Maybe I just need to ask.
and then it goes badly or she has to blackmail beth...
What if Beth went to hang out with them because I told her she’d never done anything exciting?
it feels sick to live the dream that might’ve led her to death.
𝙗𝙚𝙩𝙝
“𝓜𝔂 𝓼𝓽𝓸𝓻𝔂 𝓮𝓷𝓭𝓼 𝓲𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓫𝓾𝓽 𝔀𝓪𝓲𝓽 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝓼𝓮𝓮 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓘 𝓭𝓸 𝓷𝓮𝔁𝓽.”
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ being killed off in book, fought with sister, cried with sallie, hitched a ride with john, went home unnoticed
motive ~ depressed because of book?, jealous of amy & laurie?, wants to end up like in book?, feels bad for amy?, blackmailed by amy? didn't like sallie treating meg badly, to let amy get $
alibi ~ was going to plumfield
suspected of...S or faked? went to laurie's to find amy, attacked there??? by sallie???
testimony ~
Dad didn’t kill all four of us. He killed me. Just me. I’ve tried to ask him why, but I can’t find the words. I guess I’m afraid to hear his answer. Afraid he’ll say that I’m flat and lifeless, that he couldn’t envision a future for me.
“She wanted to back out of Plumfield.”
But she would have hated being the center of attention. At least that much is true.
suspicion that the vogue quote was out of context / faked
𝙙𝙖𝙙
“𝓗𝓮 𝔀𝓻𝓸𝓽𝓮 𝓽𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓫𝓸𝓸𝓴, 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓮 𝓽𝓾𝓻𝓷𝓮𝓭 𝓲𝓷𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓹𝓮𝓬𝓽𝓪𝓬𝓵𝓮𝓼. 𝓜𝓸𝓼𝓽 𝓸𝓯 𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓑𝓮𝓽𝓱.”
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ writing beth's death!!!, leaving the girls instead of staying with them in order to "protect" them
motive ~
alibi ~ was camping
suspected of...conspiring with protestor to kill beth as per his book?
testimony ~
𝙨𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙞𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ beth hated her, told detectives beth was like her sister, fake vigil & eulogy, weird secret activity with meg, blackmailed meg?, 2nd floor window open, essay on feminism despite no jane austen books, potentially admitted w bribe, laurie's jacket under (planted? or amy & laurie were hiding there), co-written essay (jo's dad?) by MEG, some pact w jo $$$
motive ~ attention?, to shut beth up about the bribe, get money back $$$
alibi ~ beth cried into her shoulder, was @ party
suspected of...
testimony ~
She died after my party.
At once I’m sure. Sallie didn’t host this vigil for attention. She’s trying not to look guilty.
“Maybe not, but if something happened at her party, she might cover it up.”
“What if she’s afraid? What if there was some kind of accident? A fight? What if she’s a witness?”
“What if Beth confronted Sallie about your unbalanced friendship?”
I’m gonna fucking kill you.
“She came home hating Sallie, acting like she didn’t deserve to go to Harvard. I don’t know.” I pause. “Beth was an observer, a listener. What if she overheard something that ended up getting her in trouble?”
“If this gets out, Sallie’s family will protect her. They have lawyers, money, but you’ll be in trouble.”
she’s been anxious lately, insisting that I never work on
her papers at the library or the coffee shop across from our apartment. “Only at
home,” she said. “Only in private.”
𝙡𝙖𝙪𝙧𝙞𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ didn't see beth right next to house, secret relationship w amy, lied to jo about sallie's
motive ~ get jo back
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
"I thought I knew Laurie down to his bones, but he’s been lying about the night Beth died."
𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠 𝙥𝙧𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ found address, vandalized "KILLER", planted recording device
motive ~ book
suspected of...collaborating with someone to murder beth as per the book?
testimony ~
𝙙𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ accused jo of staging recording device
motive ~
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙝𝙚𝙣𝙧𝙮
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸
suspicious activity ~ hacker
motive ~
alibi ~ @ work
suspected of...
testimony ~
𝙟𝙤𝙝𝙣
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ unexplained "fender bender", saw beth, secretly with meg, lost temper @ beth bc of plumfield, allegedly drove beth home, "fired" from instructing beth
motive ~ cover for meg?
alibi ~ piano bar with meg
suspected of...
testimony ~
No matter what he does, he can’t tell the detectives that he and Beth discussed Plumfield just hours, maybe minutes, before she died. If he does, he’ll have a motive.
𝙛𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
level of suspiciousness ~ 🩸🩸
suspicious activity ~ being glad that beth dead
motive ~ to go to vaughn's, to be a march sister
alibi ~
suspected of...
testimony ~
“I’m sorry, but it’s true. Beth was never ambitious, but you and I have real
dreams.”
“They matter more than ever.”
...she’s told me time and time again that she wishes she could be
one of us. The fifth March sister.
“We’ve worked too hard to give up now.”
less suspicious suspects
aunt march
vaughn
sallie's parents
ned
dad's editor
henry's grandpa
mom
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
🕵️♀️𝖋𝖔𝖗𝖊𝖓𝖘𝖎𝖈𝖘 𝖑𝖆𝖇🕵️♀️
vandalism
recording device
"killer" vandalism
THE book
⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️
────────────୨ৎ────────────
💗💌💋𝓹𝓲𝓷𝓴 𝓿𝓪𝓵𝓮𝓷𝓽𝓲𝓷𝓮 𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓭💗💌💋
January 11, 2026
A reimagining of Little Women, a book that has been often duplicated, but never as perfect as the original.
Imagine the four March sisters living in the modern world, except Beth is found murdered, and anyone can be a suspect.
This is a YA murder mystery, two things I would never normally read, but having loved Little Women when I was much younger, thought I’d give it a try.
While it’s definitely a mystery, the main elements are of four sisters navigating their way in the world, without having to depend on each other as they become adults and eventually find their own path in life. There are moments where I didn’t like their specific actions and attitudes, not sure if that was intentional by the author.
Regardless, this is a decent book that should help take away the horrors that happened this week all in part of a certain fascist authoritarian clown, who needs to disappear in the same way someone is alone in a dark jail cell drinking his own piss to survive. One can only pray so hard.
Imagine the four March sisters living in the modern world, except Beth is found murdered, and anyone can be a suspect.
This is a YA murder mystery, two things I would never normally read, but having loved Little Women when I was much younger, thought I’d give it a try.
While it’s definitely a mystery, the main elements are of four sisters navigating their way in the world, without having to depend on each other as they become adults and eventually find their own path in life. There are moments where I didn’t like their specific actions and attitudes, not sure if that was intentional by the author.
Regardless, this is a decent book that should help take away the horrors that happened this week all in part of a certain fascist authoritarian clown, who needs to disappear in the same way someone is alone in a dark jail cell drinking his own piss to survive. One can only pray so hard.
January 17, 2026
Really painful
January 2, 2026
I really enjoyed this book! The audio book was incredible with all the different actors. The story was good, the twist and turns were good. I did predict the ending but how it all played out was really good!
January 15, 2026
A heartbreakingly gripping, murder mystery reimagining of Little Women. That delivers a searing and emotional exploration of grief, ambition, sisterhood and adolescence (in the age of social media) that had me completely hooked.
Despite knowing this was a contemporary YA Little Women reimagining, I found it even more emotionally complex and suspenseful than I first anticipated.
Navigating dual timelines and each sister’s unique perspective (both past and present.) Katie Bernet skilfully pieces together the events leading up to Beth March’s death and the differing ways each of her sisters viewed and understood her.
But what floored me the most was getting to actually explore Beth’s POV (via flashback scenes) and fall in love with the patient, kind and complex person she was. Resolving family conflicts and sacrificing her own wants and ambitions (without complaint) to keep everyone around her happy.
Seeing how much she genuinely wanted to be seen (yet was always overlooked) was honestly heartbreaking and did make me tear up during her chapters. Especially her last one (which I honestly didn’t think I’d recover from.)
Though, the poignancy in Meg, Jo and Amy’s chapters, especially once they realise this about Beth (and how much they wilfully ignored her) made me pretty emotional as well.
Obviously, this is primarily a mystery so there’s plenty of clues, red herrings and suspects to keep you guessing.
But with themes encompassing social media, public scrutiny and ethics surrounding who gets to tell a story, Bernet also offers us a thought provoking coming of age narrative. With timely commentary on the challenges of growing up in the digital age, where public scrutiny and exploitation for entertainment (even of people’s grief) has very real, and lasting consequences.
Overall, an incredible read that stole my heart, emotionally wrecked me and got me thinking of my own sisters. I’ll be carrying this one with me for a good while to come!
Also, thanks to Scholastic & Tina Mories for the amazing proof!
Despite knowing this was a contemporary YA Little Women reimagining, I found it even more emotionally complex and suspenseful than I first anticipated.
Navigating dual timelines and each sister’s unique perspective (both past and present.) Katie Bernet skilfully pieces together the events leading up to Beth March’s death and the differing ways each of her sisters viewed and understood her.
But what floored me the most was getting to actually explore Beth’s POV (via flashback scenes) and fall in love with the patient, kind and complex person she was. Resolving family conflicts and sacrificing her own wants and ambitions (without complaint) to keep everyone around her happy.
Seeing how much she genuinely wanted to be seen (yet was always overlooked) was honestly heartbreaking and did make me tear up during her chapters. Especially her last one (which I honestly didn’t think I’d recover from.)
Though, the poignancy in Meg, Jo and Amy’s chapters, especially once they realise this about Beth (and how much they wilfully ignored her) made me pretty emotional as well.
Obviously, this is primarily a mystery so there’s plenty of clues, red herrings and suspects to keep you guessing.
But with themes encompassing social media, public scrutiny and ethics surrounding who gets to tell a story, Bernet also offers us a thought provoking coming of age narrative. With timely commentary on the challenges of growing up in the digital age, where public scrutiny and exploitation for entertainment (even of people’s grief) has very real, and lasting consequences.
Overall, an incredible read that stole my heart, emotionally wrecked me and got me thinking of my own sisters. I’ll be carrying this one with me for a good while to come!
Also, thanks to Scholastic & Tina Mories for the amazing proof!
January 27, 2026
• Adjusted Rating: 4.5 stars!!
• POV: 1st Person / Multiple / Dual Timeline
• Book Spice: None
• Notes: Reimagining of Little Women (I still need to read that book 🫣 it’s on my physical TBR)
• Content Thoughts:
Okay, this genuinely surprised me.
I don’t naturally gravitate toward mystery/thriller books in my day to day reading, but I was given both the digital and physical ARC of this and knew I’d eventually give it a chance. I’m really glad I did.
I ended up really liking this book. The multiple POVs worked so well to move the story along, and the overall structure of the mystery was handled extremely well.
As more information was revealed, some things did start to feel predictable, but only in a way that made sense with what I had learned.
Even then, I was still shocked by how everything unfolded.
I was constantly pointing my finger at people, making accusations, and fully convinced I had things figured out… only to realize I didn’t.
I was engaged from start to finish and completely invested in figuring out the who, what, and how of it all.
This was a fun, engaging read that kept me guessing, and that’s exactly what I want from a mystery.
Great job to the author, and I’ve already started recommending this one to others 🤭
Thank you Simon Teen for the eARC and physical ARC in exchange for my honest review!
• POV: 1st Person / Multiple / Dual Timeline
• Book Spice: None
• Notes: Reimagining of Little Women (I still need to read that book 🫣 it’s on my physical TBR)
• Content Thoughts:
Okay, this genuinely surprised me.
I don’t naturally gravitate toward mystery/thriller books in my day to day reading, but I was given both the digital and physical ARC of this and knew I’d eventually give it a chance. I’m really glad I did.
I ended up really liking this book. The multiple POVs worked so well to move the story along, and the overall structure of the mystery was handled extremely well.
As more information was revealed, some things did start to feel predictable, but only in a way that made sense with what I had learned.
Even then, I was still shocked by how everything unfolded.
I was constantly pointing my finger at people, making accusations, and fully convinced I had things figured out… only to realize I didn’t.
I was engaged from start to finish and completely invested in figuring out the who, what, and how of it all.
This was a fun, engaging read that kept me guessing, and that’s exactly what I want from a mystery.
Great job to the author, and I’ve already started recommending this one to others 🤭
Thank you Simon Teen for the eARC and physical ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 15, 2026
the way i read this in a few hours because i was hooked from start to finish. it was a wild time trying to figure out whodunit and it was a debut??? so good!!!!! i couldn’t put it down!!! i was sat the entire time trying to solve the mystery 🔎
this is a young adult retelling of little woman but set in modern times with a murder mystery.
what happened?
beth is found dead in the woods and her three her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. the march sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters and in the story, one character doesn’t make it.
suspects:
the neighbor who has feelings for two of the girls.
meg’s manipulative best friend.
amy’s flirtatious mentor.
beth’s lionhearted first love.
but that’s not all, it doesn’t take the sisters much digging to uncover motives and realizing each one of them had motive.
jo: an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers.
amy: dreams of studying art in europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt, money that’s always been for beth.
meg: wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
tropes: YA whodunit, multiple povs, dual timeline, little woman retelling, modern setting, mystery/thriller, debut book
🤫📖🔎🖼️💔
this is a young adult retelling of little woman but set in modern times with a murder mystery.
what happened?
beth is found dead in the woods and her three her sisters vow to uncover her murderer. the march sisters were dragged into the spotlight months ago when their father published a controversial bestseller about his own daughters and in the story, one character doesn’t make it.
suspects:
the neighbor who has feelings for two of the girls.
meg’s manipulative best friend.
amy’s flirtatious mentor.
beth’s lionhearted first love.
but that’s not all, it doesn’t take the sisters much digging to uncover motives and realizing each one of them had motive.
jo: an aspiring author with a huge following on social media, would do anything to hook readers.
amy: dreams of studying art in europe, but she’ll need money from her aunt, money that’s always been for beth.
meg: wouldn’t dream of hurting her sister but her boyfriend might have, and she’ll protect him at all costs.
tropes: YA whodunit, multiple povs, dual timeline, little woman retelling, modern setting, mystery/thriller, debut book
🤫📖🔎🖼️💔
did-not-finish
December 13, 2025The fact that this is a YA novel and already in the first few chapters multiple characters have talked about their alcohol consumption and have dropped profanity, including the F word, means this is not going to be a book I can recommend.
February 4, 2026
.ೃ࿔:･ 2/5 stars 🌟༚ out of 5 .ೃ࿔:･
“beth is dead” by katie bernet
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ ⚰️ ₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ first thoughts ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ that was painful.
⤷ i cannot be bothered to write an in-depth review because this book did not earn that level of effort from me.
⤷ the entire reading experience felt like a test of endurance rather than enjoyment. beware of spoilers ahead!! ⚠️
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🩸₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ characters ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ all the sisters were unbearable except meg. she was the only one i could tolerate.
⤷ jo pissed me off the MOST. why did girlie feel the need to blame someone new every page?
⤷ everyone else had no depth and blended together. i’m already forgetting names.
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🔍 ₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ plot ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ the ending was very predictable. i guessed it was henry very early on, then convinced myself i had to be wrong because of how obvious it was - i thought, ‘surely it wouldn’t be that bad, right?’ wrong. it was that bad. the clues just got more and more obvious until the reveal which honestly felt more like subtitles than a shock. note: it’s always the boyfriend.
⤷ the writing also felt very juvenile? like guys why are we calling this young adult because i just KNOW i could be half my current age and still find this too ‘kiddy.’ katie i hate to break this to you but adding a bit of ‘suggestive’ content or whatever doesn’t make your book any more adult. this felt like what a primary school student would write. maybe i’d have enjoyed this book more if i were a little kid. and blind. and had no taste.
⤷ i haven’t read little women yet, but this book honestly seems to be an insult to the original classic.
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🥀₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ overall ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ predictable, irritating, and actively unfun to read.
⤷ meg deserved better.
⤷ I deserved better.
⤷ moving on to my next read and never looking back.
“beth is dead” by katie bernet
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ ⚰️ ₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ first thoughts ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ that was painful.
⤷ i cannot be bothered to write an in-depth review because this book did not earn that level of effort from me.
⤷ the entire reading experience felt like a test of endurance rather than enjoyment. beware of spoilers ahead!! ⚠️
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🩸₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ characters ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ all the sisters were unbearable except meg. she was the only one i could tolerate.
⤷ jo pissed me off the MOST. why did girlie feel the need to blame someone new every page?
⤷ everyone else had no depth and blended together. i’m already forgetting names.
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🔍 ₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ plot ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ the ending was very predictable. i guessed it was henry very early on, then convinced myself i had to be wrong because of how obvious it was - i thought, ‘surely it wouldn’t be that bad, right?’ wrong. it was that bad. the clues just got more and more obvious until the reveal which honestly felt more like subtitles than a shock. note: it’s always the boyfriend.
⤷ the writing also felt very juvenile? like guys why are we calling this young adult because i just KNOW i could be half my current age and still find this too ‘kiddy.’ katie i hate to break this to you but adding a bit of ‘suggestive’ content or whatever doesn’t make your book any more adult. this felt like what a primary school student would write. maybe i’d have enjoyed this book more if i were a little kid. and blind. and had no taste.
⤷ i haven’t read little women yet, but this book honestly seems to be an insult to the original classic.
༘⋆𐙚｡⋆˚₊‧ ✩ °｡⋆⸜ 🥀₊˚⊹
﹒₊˚✧ overall ✧₊˚﹒
⤷ predictable, irritating, and actively unfun to read.
⤷ meg deserved better.
⤷ I deserved better.
⤷ moving on to my next read and never looking back.
January 6, 2026
oh how I do love me a retelling, and Little Women? my favourite classic and Greta Gerwig film ever? yes x10 million please
this was so fun and silly, i loved the idea of rewriting a classic to fit the 21st century, and it worked so well. I found the writing to be quite simple - but I mean it’s YA so what else is there to be expected. And I did guess the twists but it truly hooked me from the first page to the last.
my only criticism is that the characters didn’t ring 100% true, there could’ve been more depth and Amy was HORRIBLE ??! I felt like Mr March was done so dirty too !! that poor man
Beth, I’m sad you died in all three (Mr March’s edition of Little Women included) books. you are and will always be the people’s favourite March sister
huge huge thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
this book will be released on 15th Jan and I implore you to read it!!
this was so fun and silly, i loved the idea of rewriting a classic to fit the 21st century, and it worked so well. I found the writing to be quite simple - but I mean it’s YA so what else is there to be expected. And I did guess the twists but it truly hooked me from the first page to the last.
my only criticism is that the characters didn’t ring 100% true, there could’ve been more depth and Amy was HORRIBLE ??! I felt like Mr March was done so dirty too !! that poor man
Beth, I’m sad you died in all three (Mr March’s edition of Little Women included) books. you are and will always be the people’s favourite March sister
huge huge thank you to NetGalley and Scholastic UK for a copy of this eARC in exchange for an honest review
this book will be released on 15th Jan and I implore you to read it!!
February 1, 2026
4.5 stars. Really enjoyed.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I'm so happy I decided to go with the audio for this one. The full cast narration was excellent and so entertaining. Each character was perfectly portrayed. This is a reimagining of Little Woman. Beth March is found dead in the woods on New Year's Day and her sisters vow to solve her murder. There are many people that they suspect, but then…..they all start to suspect each other. They each could have a reason to have wanted Beth dead. These characters can be unlikable, but this plot had me guessing until the end. This was such a fun YA debut and I was really into it. Definitely recommend it if you enjoy YA thrillers.
Thank you to the publisher and librofm for the gifted book and Audiobook. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and librofm for the gifted book and Audiobook. All opinions are my own.
December 28, 2025
Such a “fun” read for fans of Little Women, and a solid mystery/thriller for those who are unfamiliar with Louisa May Alcott’s classic tale. It’s funny and heartfelt with convincing moments of intensity during arguments between the sisters and other situations. The characters felt vibrant and alive as they struggled with coming-of-age issues and trying to solve Beth’s murder. Bernet does a wonderful job of honoring Alcott's story and characters while re-creating the March sisters for a modern audience. YA but an engaging read for all adults.
January 14, 2026
Reimagining of classics is often a great way to attract new readers or celebrate stories known for generations, for this reimagined classic I feel it let Little Women down. Whilst the premise does bring intrigue, and even I found myself continuing to read on, each page only confirmed that further research, writing and editing was needed.
Beth is Dead follows the father of the March family being a successful author, though he received backlash for writing about his daughters lives and titling it Little Women. The backlash shakes the family, causing a wide spread of problems and possibly explains the death of Beth March. In the aftermath of Beth’s death, all of thrown into question and can the remaining sisters be deemed innocent?
With multiple POV’s and tenses, all the characters become jumbled and there is no distinct separation between them, something that Louisa May Alcott did achieve in writing Little Women. On top of each character blurring together, each character felt to be a portrayal of the 2019 Little Women movie adaptation, rather than from the original text, for example, Meg March seems more of a play on the actress Emma Watson playing Meg March. Further more, whilst mystery is important in this genre, a lot of the plot points that led to you questioning each character was skated over rather quickly, removing the depth of these implications.
The authors writing at times seemed too simplistic, and that of an early draft, rather than a finished novel. If they had focused on telling the story purely from Jo’s perspective, there could have been more grounding and the questioning of each characters over Beth’s murder to be made more believable. Further more, due to the lack of weight with key characters, for example Aunt March, and introduction of new characters, this novel overall could have just been an original idea, with marketing only linking it to Little Women. Having the whole novel be an adaptation, feels more a ploy in marketing and sales to sell copies, rather than honour Louisa May Alcott.
For someone wanting a quick easy travel/holiday read, this will pass the time but if you want something to pull you in and become your next favourite read, then I would recommend any other book.
Beth is Dead follows the father of the March family being a successful author, though he received backlash for writing about his daughters lives and titling it Little Women. The backlash shakes the family, causing a wide spread of problems and possibly explains the death of Beth March. In the aftermath of Beth’s death, all of thrown into question and can the remaining sisters be deemed innocent?
With multiple POV’s and tenses, all the characters become jumbled and there is no distinct separation between them, something that Louisa May Alcott did achieve in writing Little Women. On top of each character blurring together, each character felt to be a portrayal of the 2019 Little Women movie adaptation, rather than from the original text, for example, Meg March seems more of a play on the actress Emma Watson playing Meg March. Further more, whilst mystery is important in this genre, a lot of the plot points that led to you questioning each character was skated over rather quickly, removing the depth of these implications.
The authors writing at times seemed too simplistic, and that of an early draft, rather than a finished novel. If they had focused on telling the story purely from Jo’s perspective, there could have been more grounding and the questioning of each characters over Beth’s murder to be made more believable. Further more, due to the lack of weight with key characters, for example Aunt March, and introduction of new characters, this novel overall could have just been an original idea, with marketing only linking it to Little Women. Having the whole novel be an adaptation, feels more a ploy in marketing and sales to sell copies, rather than honour Louisa May Alcott.
For someone wanting a quick easy travel/holiday read, this will pass the time but if you want something to pull you in and become your next favourite read, then I would recommend any other book.
January 6, 2026
Beth March, yes of Little Women, is murdered and her sisters try to figure out what happens to her while playing the blame game against each other a lot of the time.
I'll start with a positive. I thought the core four March sisters felt pretty true to themselves from Little Women and I could see the things that I love about each of them and make them special. I also liked that there were some moments that were callbacks to the book, like burning Jo's manuscript and mentions of the plays they'd put on.
Now for the negative. This book really frustrated me. It wasn't fun to follow because the girls were very obviously amateur detectives and they were blaming everyone in sight, including each other, with little to no evidence to go on. They were just looking for someone to point fingers at. Especially Jo.
I didn't know who the killer was for most of the book, so I will give it some props for that. But in hindsight it actually feels pretty obvious and like I should've sent it coming from a mile away. The mystery of what happened to their dad as well. It should've been obvious.
I will add I also wasn't the biggest fan of the way their parents were written. I understand some things need to be changed for a retelling but in this form they didn't feel all that nice or loving to the girls and that's a very polar opposite contrast.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.
I'll start with a positive. I thought the core four March sisters felt pretty true to themselves from Little Women and I could see the things that I love about each of them and make them special. I also liked that there were some moments that were callbacks to the book, like burning Jo's manuscript and mentions of the plays they'd put on.
Now for the negative. This book really frustrated me. It wasn't fun to follow because the girls were very obviously amateur detectives and they were blaming everyone in sight, including each other, with little to no evidence to go on. They were just looking for someone to point fingers at. Especially Jo.
I didn't know who the killer was for most of the book, so I will give it some props for that. But in hindsight it actually feels pretty obvious and like I should've sent it coming from a mile away. The mystery of what happened to their dad as well. It should've been obvious.
I will add I also wasn't the biggest fan of the way their parents were written. I understand some things need to be changed for a retelling but in this form they didn't feel all that nice or loving to the girls and that's a very polar opposite contrast.
Thank you to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the ARC to honestly review.
January 24, 2026
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet is a modern day reimagining of the classic Little Women and I ate it up! I didn’t know what to expect but it didn’t disappoint and it held me gripped throughout. What a debut!
This was a suspenseful who done it YA thriller that is full of sibling vulnerability and rivalry. I found it enjoyable and highly entertaining. The plot is twisty and clever.
Sweet Beth March is killed off in the first chapter. The sisters vow to find Beth���s murderer, they are all suspects! I loved the sister’s characters, Amy, Meg and Jo who will stop at nothing to find her killer. Fans of the classic will fall in love with this creative modern day twist.
Highly recommended read.
Publication Date 06 January 2026
Publisher Penguin
Thank you so much Penguin Books Ausralia & Penguin Teen Australia for a copy of the book and promo pack.
Beth Is Dead by Katie Bernet is a modern day reimagining of the classic Little Women and I ate it up! I didn’t know what to expect but it didn’t disappoint and it held me gripped throughout. What a debut!
This was a suspenseful who done it YA thriller that is full of sibling vulnerability and rivalry. I found it enjoyable and highly entertaining. The plot is twisty and clever.
Sweet Beth March is killed off in the first chapter. The sisters vow to find Beth���s murderer, they are all suspects! I loved the sister’s characters, Amy, Meg and Jo who will stop at nothing to find her killer. Fans of the classic will fall in love with this creative modern day twist.
Highly recommended read.
Publication Date 06 January 2026
Publisher Penguin
Thank you so much Penguin Books Ausralia & Penguin Teen Australia for a copy of the book and promo pack.
January 26, 2026
First, thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the arc. I will admit I have not read Little Women yet, but I enjoyed and devoured this reimagined thriller of the classic. I loved that the chapters rotated between the sisters and were the perfect length, allowing me to understand the characters' personalities without getting bored or wanting to switch perspectives. The pacing felt natural, and I never felt lost when the chapters switched between past and present. My only gripe is that the buildup made me want more at the end, and I felt like the climax was a bit rushed. Overall, I enjoyed this retelling and loved the strong bonds between the March sisters.
January 11, 2026
A brilliant, can’t-put-down-able, debut novel from Katie Bernet! This was the perfect cocktail of whodunnit, multiple-POV, time jumps, and sisterhood. Not to mention a whip-smart modernization of the beloved classic, “Little Women.” I gratefully lost a whole weekend to this book. I can’t wait to see what classic retelling Katie does next.
“Wait and see what I do next.” – Beth March
Special thank you to Katie Bernet, Sarah Barley Books, and Simon & Schuster for the ARC copy.
“Wait and see what I do next.” – Beth March
Special thank you to Katie Bernet, Sarah Barley Books, and Simon & Schuster for the ARC copy.
February 24, 2026
For a YA murder mystery, that was good - it felt a little rushed in spots (the girls being so quick to blame every man and their dog was a bit icky) but overall it was a good story.
October 20, 2025
Thank you SimonTeen for the eARC. I’m a huge Little Women fan so when I saw this I absolutely had to read it. I loved the way characters from LW are included in different ways. Bringing the story to modern times was also so fun. The mystery was great, it had me going in all different directions thinking I had it solved so many times.
Justice for Beth!
Justice for Beth!
November 10, 2025
✨ARC REVIEW✨
If you’re a fan of Little Women and murder mysteries, you’re gonna love this.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I loved the callbacks from the OG and I really liked all the plot twists.
Personally, I was getting a tad confused between all the flashbacks and POVs. I think that’s where most of this lost me a bit. I feel like if we didn’t have the same names as the original Little Women, I wouldn’t be trying so hard to connect the two stories while also trying to figure out whodunnit.
I also felt like because we get a POV from each sister, their personalities were starting to blend a little and it was getting hard for me to tell them a part. Maybe this was a me thing? I don’t know.
I do think for a debut, this was done super well. It had enough suspense to keep me interested and I really did like how this ended. I liked that each new clue led to a flashback that gave us more insight.
Again, if you’re an OG fan then you’ll appreciate this. If you’re a murder mystery fan, you’ll like the twists and turns.
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the e-arc copy!
If you’re a fan of Little Women and murder mysteries, you’re gonna love this.
I really enjoyed the concept of this book. I loved the callbacks from the OG and I really liked all the plot twists.
Personally, I was getting a tad confused between all the flashbacks and POVs. I think that’s where most of this lost me a bit. I feel like if we didn’t have the same names as the original Little Women, I wouldn’t be trying so hard to connect the two stories while also trying to figure out whodunnit.
I also felt like because we get a POV from each sister, their personalities were starting to blend a little and it was getting hard for me to tell them a part. Maybe this was a me thing? I don’t know.
I do think for a debut, this was done super well. It had enough suspense to keep me interested and I really did like how this ended. I liked that each new clue led to a flashback that gave us more insight.
Again, if you’re an OG fan then you’ll appreciate this. If you’re a murder mystery fan, you’ll like the twists and turns.
Thank you so much to Simon Teen for the e-arc copy!
February 8, 2026
Actual Rating 4.5
Thanks to the Simon Teen for this gifted copy
I haven’t read Little Women and don’t have the slightest clue about the story. So I can’t speak about how true the characters or storylines are to the original.
Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy are sisters, and their father is an author. He was never really famous until he published Little Women, a controversial book that discussed the lives of his daughters without their permission. It is a blow to their privacy, and the book became a public scandal, readers don’t want to hear about women from a man. In the midst of this chaos, Beth’s body was found in the woods on New Year’s Day. The story is about sisters trying to uncover the killer. As the story unfolds, we get to see long-held secrets, jealousy, resentment, betrayel and all of the other humane emotions everyone has been hiding that is also a test of their bonds and trust.
The writing is really engaging, and the pacing is just perfect to keep you hooked. The story is character-driven, which is a win in my eyes, especially in the mystery genre. Chapters were short and from multiple POV, another positive. Each sister’s voice feels distinct, and the rotating perspectives kept me hooked, and suspecion keep shifting from one character to another. I especially appreciated how the author made me constantly change my opinions about sisters throughout the story. Each one of them had believable flaws and motives that made them feel human. Their sister bond felt so real, and their emotions felt raw. Mystery was unpredictable to me, every time I thought I might have figured it out, a new clue changed everything.
The thing that annoyed me was also the character. Some characters felt like they got off the hook too easily, and a few others were simply unlikable (in a way that didn’t always feel intentional, or maybe it was). Police inspectors seemed really incompetent, and the constant blame game got repetitive at times. Overall, this was a really strong debut. I loved how it explored human nature in all its messy, nuanced ways without ever feeling over the top. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far.
Thanks to the Simon Teen for this gifted copy
I haven’t read Little Women and don’t have the slightest clue about the story. So I can’t speak about how true the characters or storylines are to the original.
Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy are sisters, and their father is an author. He was never really famous until he published Little Women, a controversial book that discussed the lives of his daughters without their permission. It is a blow to their privacy, and the book became a public scandal, readers don’t want to hear about women from a man. In the midst of this chaos, Beth’s body was found in the woods on New Year’s Day. The story is about sisters trying to uncover the killer. As the story unfolds, we get to see long-held secrets, jealousy, resentment, betrayel and all of the other humane emotions everyone has been hiding that is also a test of their bonds and trust.
The writing is really engaging, and the pacing is just perfect to keep you hooked. The story is character-driven, which is a win in my eyes, especially in the mystery genre. Chapters were short and from multiple POV, another positive. Each sister’s voice feels distinct, and the rotating perspectives kept me hooked, and suspecion keep shifting from one character to another. I especially appreciated how the author made me constantly change my opinions about sisters throughout the story. Each one of them had believable flaws and motives that made them feel human. Their sister bond felt so real, and their emotions felt raw. Mystery was unpredictable to me, every time I thought I might have figured it out, a new clue changed everything.
The thing that annoyed me was also the character. Some characters felt like they got off the hook too easily, and a few others were simply unlikable (in a way that didn’t always feel intentional, or maybe it was). Police inspectors seemed really incompetent, and the constant blame game got repetitive at times. Overall, this was a really strong debut. I loved how it explored human nature in all its messy, nuanced ways without ever feeling over the top. Definitely one of my favorite reads of 2026 so far.
December 30, 2025
Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet
Thoughts: Beth Is Dead is most anticipated read for 2026, and it did not disappoint. I loved this reimagining of Little Women, and Katie did a fantastic job bringing each character to life. I was gripped from the very first chapter, and every time I thought I had the killer figured out, I was completely wrong. The twisty plot kept me guessing, while the parallels to the original Little Women added an extra layer of enjoyment. This was a clever, character driven YA mystery thriller that I highly recommend it to lovers of classic retellings with a twist.
Publication Date: 6th January 2026
Thank you Penguin Australia and NetGalley for the gifted eARC of Beth Is Dead in exchange for an honest review!
Synopsis: Beth March has been murdered, and all her sisters are suspects . . .
After a New Year’s Eve party, Beth is found dead.
All the March sisters wonder who could have killed their sweet little sister. And – why?
The March sisters have always been close, but will Beth’s murder bring them closer together, or tear them apart?
As each of the girls’ motives are uncovered, it becomes clear that Meg, Jo, Amy – and even Beth – might not be quite as sweet as they seem
Please check the content/trigger warnings prior to reading this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thoughts: Beth Is Dead is most anticipated read for 2026, and it did not disappoint. I loved this reimagining of Little Women, and Katie did a fantastic job bringing each character to life. I was gripped from the very first chapter, and every time I thought I had the killer figured out, I was completely wrong. The twisty plot kept me guessing, while the parallels to the original Little Women added an extra layer of enjoyment. This was a clever, character driven YA mystery thriller that I highly recommend it to lovers of classic retellings with a twist.
Publication Date: 6th January 2026
Thank you Penguin Australia and NetGalley for the gifted eARC of Beth Is Dead in exchange for an honest review!
Synopsis: Beth March has been murdered, and all her sisters are suspects . . .
After a New Year’s Eve party, Beth is found dead.
All the March sisters wonder who could have killed their sweet little sister. And – why?
The March sisters have always been close, but will Beth’s murder bring them closer together, or tear them apart?
As each of the girls’ motives are uncovered, it becomes clear that Meg, Jo, Amy – and even Beth – might not be quite as sweet as they seem
Please check the content/trigger warnings prior to reading this book.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
December 13, 2025
Such a good YA mystery book, I devoured this one! I was so intrigued by the concept of a Little Women reimagining and this was such a cool take on the story. In this book, Beth dies at the start of the book and her sisters are all trying to figure out what happened to her. It was fast paced and had me doubting all of the characters - kept me on my toes right till the end. Such a good book to binge or to pull you out of a slump!
Thank you so much to Penguin for the gifted advanced reader copy!
Thank you so much to Penguin for the gifted advanced reader copy!
January 9, 2026
It got a little long at the end but still a fun read a twist on the classic Little Women
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