All Grown Up: A hilarious and heartwarming new novel inspired by Little Women, perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Jojo Moyes

by Daisy Buchanan

'What a gorgeous book! Such a charming, warm, optimistic read. Just beautiful.' Marian Keyes

After thirty long years, Louisa’s daughters can finally look after themselves … or so she thinks.

Because suddenly, they’re back – apparently for good. Meg’s second-guessing her marriage. Jo’s career hangs in the balance. Amy has inexplicably quit university. None of them empty the dishwasher.

Louisa knows it’s time for some life lessons. She adores her girls, but if she’s ever going to get her (sex) life back, they’ll have to grow up – and go.

But maybe they’re not the only ones with lessons to learn… And Louisa might just discover that her daughters have something to teach her about being an adult too.
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PRAISE FOR ALL GROWN UP . . .

'Funny, tender & relatable at every level... quite simply, wonderful' Jennie Godfrey

'Wonderful, complex, bruising, rewarding... I snaffled it like cake on a rainy day, and enjoyed every morsel!' Amanda Prowse

'An absolute delight - impossibly funny, astute, candid and moving... brilliant.' Rosie Walsh

'Riotously funny, achingly tender... a book to treat yourself to.' Julia Raeside

'A warm hug of a novel that is going to make thousands of people both happy and tearful (in the best way)' Claire Daverley


'Truly fresh, wildly funny and completely charming... some of the most perceptive writing on motherhood I’ve ever read. I adored it.' Lauren Bravo

'Funny, moving, and wonderfully tender... a joyful reminder that growing up never really ends.' Louise O'Neill

‘Gorgeous from the first page to the last. . . Emotional, funny & chaotic.’ Georgina Moore

‘Lots of books are described as comforting but this book brought me genuine, genuine the perfect blend of familiar and the contemporary. It takes one hell of a writer to take on Little Women, but Daisy is one hell of a writer.’ Caroline Corcoran

Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 4, 2026

Reviews

[Katy Wheatley · Rating 5 out of 5]

What would happen if Little Women were set today, somewhere not far from Manchester? This book is what would happen and it is an absolute triumph. This is brilliant. The main focus of All Grown Up is Louisa, the girls' mother and I couldn't be happier about it. In the original book Marmee is so good as to be slightly sickening and yet you know that a woman bringing up four girls alone while a civil war rages is no milksop, and to bring up such independent, strong and vibrant women, she must be something special herself, yet you never find out - until now. I love the character of Louisa and even though she is transposed to modern times, you can always feel the thread between the original book and this one in a way that allows you to trust Daisy to do what needs to be done for these beloved characters, who for a while in my childhood seemed real to me. This is brilliant. It's funny and smart and wise. The characters are fully realised and the men give them centre stage without becoming thin themselves. It made me laugh, it made me cry. I couldn't stop reading it and I didn't want it to end. One of my top ten books of 2025. I can't wait for it to come out next year so I can press a copy into the hands of everyone I know who ever loved Little Women.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m calling this as Daisy’s best yet (and that’s saying a lot because I’ve loved all of her books)! This is the most joyful and uplifting contemporary take on Little Women, and the writing and humour reminded me of Marian Keyes. Obviously there were moments I sobbed (I may not have read Little Women in a long time, but you never forget the loss of Beth), but mostly I laughed and grinned like an idiot. Also, the men are pretty damn dreamy and the ending is SO satisfying.

Loved it!

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you ever read a book and think I wish I’d thought of that? That’s exactly how I feel about this one, it was absolutely amazing 🥹 it’s not often at all that I cry at books but this one definitely got me. It was so nice to feel like I was getting to know the March women again & I now definitely want to read little women again immediately. I could not recommend this book more.

[KathVBtn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love love love everything about this book! Daisy Buchanan has taken a literary classic and completely made it her own with her witty and emotional update.
When I wasn’t reading it, I was thinking about it. I’m actually really sad that it’s finished and I have to go back to real life.

All Grown Up brings the Little Women sisters into the modern day. The girls have all left home and their harassed mum Louisa is looking forward to her first solo Christmas in 30 years. But oh no, who’s that knocking on the door? Not one, not two but three adult daughters are all moving back in with their physical and emotional baggage all around.

It’s like they’ve never gone away, the girls reverting back to their teenage selves and Louisa trying to resolve arguments and bickering that she thought she’d left behind. And Laurie is back too, fresh from New York to stay with his uncle Mr. Lawrence. He’s also brought a handsome colleague 🥰 to bring some extra romance into the mix.

The book is so funny, uplifting, a joyous celebration of families and sisterhood with a brilliant modern day revamp. I loved the sisters’ connection and loyalty mixed with their need to annoy and pester each other. It is such an easy read and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it too so we can squeal in excitement at just how good it is!

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

After thirty long years, Louisa’s daughters can finally look after themselves … or so she thinks.
Because suddenly, they’re back – apparently for good. Meg’s second-guessing her marriage. Jo’s career hangs in the balance. Amy has inexplicably quit university. None of them empty the dishwasher.

Louisa knows it’s time for some life lessons. She adores her girls, but if she’s ever going to get her (sex) life back, they’ll have to grow up – and go. But maybe they’re not the only ones with lessons to learn… And Louisa might just discover that her daughters have something to teach her about being an adult too.

A charming re-telling of Little Women set in the current day. The sisters' grief over losing Beth is really poignant but the way they slip back into their childhood selves is very funny. Their mother Louisa is looking forward to an empty house and some 'me time' when all three daughters land on her doorstep expecting her to be delighted to see them which leads to some highly amusing dialogue. The only fly in the literary ointment is Meg's character which irritated me beyond belief; I just wanted to slap her. Despite this (which is obviously my personal issue) it was a very enjoyable read.

My thanks to NetGalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for an advance copy in return for an honest review.

[janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

This felt like a modernised version of Little Women.

Louisa is looking forward to a solo Christmas, her first in 30 years. Her three girls all have their own families and their own plans so she can finally have that Christmas day she's been dreaming of. A luxurious soak in the bath, a bottle of wine and silence, doing whatever she wants to do without pleasing any others... until one by one, the girls arrive back 'home'.

With their relationship problems, family lives, and work drama, Louisa is back to just being Mum again.

Whilst it was an easy enough read, I couldn't honestly say that I really enjoyed it. I didn’t find a lot of the comedy particularly funny, and at times, it felt a bit of a slog to get through, but I definitely think that was more about me, not the book. Maybe I wasn't in the right mood 😕.

I really enjoyed just how perceptive the author was, and her writing style was sharp, poignant, and heartwarming.

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House UK, Cornerstone for the ARC.

[S A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me read this book.

The premise of the book based on the blurb makes you think that the story is going to be narrated by Louisa, the mother throughout. Based on the March family from Little Women living in Northern England in the modern day.

Initially I found the book entertaining, with narration of Louisa as an empty nester witty. However, when her three girls all return home the narrator kept changing. This plot device doesn’t usually bother me but I found that it did in this book. There was a strong start which then meandered for a significant amount of the middle section of the book.

Three quarters of the way through there was a shift in tone within the book that refit me engaged again. There is an emotional element with the family dealing with grief that made me cry.

This is why I’ve found this book confusing. It started strong, meandered with me really disliking most of the March girls and then in the final act hooked me back in again emotionally.

[Agi · Rating 5 out of 5]

My absolute favourite - I adored this book! It read like one of Caroline Hulse's novels and it had just the right dosis of sad, weird, embarrassment and fun. Welcome to adulthood - but also with a bit of pinch of salt.

At first I though I was going to have problems with the three daughters but in the end I fell in love with all of them and I could totally understand where they were coming from. I also adored Louisa - she was simply great and her one - liners were one of the best.
There were so many feelings and emotions in the characters and they were all so wonderfully and convincingly and compellingly written. They were wise and smart and absolutely brilliant and the male characters were to die for without being too sugary. Writing style was just perfect, the pace was just right, there were moments that I wanted to bang the characters' head on the wall or to give them a hug and point them in the right direction - living vicariuosly through the characters, no?

It is this kind of book that you'd want to read again and again but for the first time - so good it is.

[Andreea Ispas · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Grown Up – Heartfelt, funny, and real

This book beautifully captures the chaos of adult kids returning home — and honestly, it made me want to go spend some time with my mum.

The story dives deep into mother–daughter relationships, and the character development is wonderfully written. Everyone feels so real, which made it easy to connect with each of them in different ways.

I also loved the way the family dynamics were portrayed. The tension, love, and unspoken understanding between the characters felt authentic and familiar. It shows how family can drive you absolutely mad one moment and make you feel completely supported the next — that perfect mix of frustration and affection that makes families so special.

The book also explores themes of grief and loss, but it never feels forced. Instead, those moments add depth to the characters and enrich the story as a whole.

I would definitely recommend reading this book.

[C Walton · Rating 5 out of 5]

All Grown Up is a lovely story about the relationships between mothers and daughters. I enjoyed the link with a well-loved classic novel, which was set in the United States during the nineteenth century. It was an interesting contrast how the author set All Grown Up in England during the twenty-first century. I found that any preconceived ideas I had about how the characters would behave were wrong. I was pleasantly surprised by the direction this book took as I thought it would mirror the original novel. I think All Grown Up could be enjoyed by a range of ages. Middle aged women will relate to the theme of their grown children struggling to make their way in the world and the conflicting feelings of wanting to support them, but also wanting them to be independent. Younger readers will relate to the issues facing women in their twenties. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

[Liv Rutherford · Rating 5 out of 5]

The synopsis of this book intrigued me. Having being a big fan of Little Women, and feeling like I was Jo March as a teenager, I decided this book would be right up my street and I was not disappointed.

I loved the book from the very 1st chapter, as a mum, whose birds havw all flown the nest, I absolutely related to Louisa (aka Marmie) 100%.
Told from differing POVs, te writing style inter-mingles the threads of each characters storyline.

The writing style flowed, there was humour, and sadness and celebrations.
This book haa you rooting for each character and their challenges.

When I finished the book, it left me wanting to know more about the characters, I didnt want the book to end.
Absolutely amazing.

Thank you to Netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.olut

[Marcia Ingram · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and love the way the author writes, reminding me of Marian Keyes. The family is named after the Little Women and the characters are well developed and believable. The male protagonists are also well rounded and make you want to root for them. The mum of the family was starting to develop an independent life for herself when all her adult daughters return home to live for varying reasons. She was however struggling with a mountain of debts and had been instructed to see the family home by her feckless etc husband. All the characters are trying to come to terms with the untimely death of one of the sisters which gives it extra meaning. I would definitely recommend reading this .

[Rev Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took a while but once I was in I was hooked!
To start with this novel's mirroring of little women felt clunky and a bit odd. I was unsure about the author taking on such gargantuan characters and taking them into a new space, time and story. I persevered and I am glad I did, like all relationships and all changes it took time to adjust but I fell in love with them and belonged in the story alongside them.
Hidden within the narrative were deep themes of love, loss, identity, belonging and family. I cried, I laughed I kept turning the metaphorical Kindle pages. I recognised characters, I got angry at injustice, and sad at society. I went all in!
Thank you for inviting me to take a new journey with the little women who are All Grown Up. [pre publication Netgalley copy for review]

[Anne-Marie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this light humorous read, with its nod to Little Women. Louise looks forward to some “me time’ on her first solitary birthday in years, as her daughters have all left home. However, one by one they all troop back with their emotional baggage, revert into their childhood roles and do nothing around the house!

As their stories unfold, they need the comfort of home to recalibrate their lives, after the loss of their sister. It is a story of getting waylaid on your path and finding support in family and community to set you back off on the right trajectory. If this were a movie, it would be a romantic comedy.

It is the perfect holiday read for summer 2026! Many thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

[Jackie Murrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Louisa is looking forward to having her life and home to herself again now her three daughters are adults and have all moved out. Yet here they are, all back and with grown-up problems- relationships, jobs, where there lives are going- and Louisa finds herself back in the thick of messy family life. This light and humourous account will strike a chord with many as the phenomenon of adult offspring moving back home becomes increasingly common. Warm and perceptive about mothers and daughters, and the worry and concern that doesn’t end for parents when childhood does, this is a pleasant but undemanding read loosely based on the classic “Little Women.”

[Farah G · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most mothers dread empty nest syndrome, but would they really be much happier to realise that their chicks have a ton of growing up left to do?!

Louisa discovers that the answer to that is far from simple when her daughters present with a series of existential questions related to marriage life, education, and careers. In otherwise, they are questioning pretty much everything!

What is she going to do now? And when does Louisa get to live her own life? This is a delightful, warm, big hearted story that earns 3.5 stars with ease.

I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Louisa March is a single parent living in Manchester with three grown up daughters Meg, Jo and Amy, and a daughter Beth who died.
Her elderly neighbour Mr Lawrence has a grandson Laurie, who has been living in America.
If this sounds familiar, it should – it’s a jolly, emotional, loving story of what could have happened next if the March girls were actually English, and it was the present day.
Lovely life-affirming story!

Thanks to Netgalley and Random House, UK, Cornerstone for the opportunity to read this book.

[Nicola Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I will preface my comments by saying that "Little Women" is one of my favourite books. I was looking forward to reading this modern retelling of the classic set in Manchester. However, despite having the same names and some character similarities this is a very different story. Louisa is looking forward to spending Christmas by herself now that her girls have grown up and left home. However, her solitude is broken by the arrival of each of her girls and thus her life is once more turned upside down and she must face up to the mounting bills and her lack of a love life. The story develops over several months and each "woman" has to face up to her problems but there are happy endings and a resolution to the dilemma that Louisa has been grappling with.

I found it difficult to warm to the characters in this book who all seemed rather self-absorbed. This book just wasn't for me but will probably appeal to younger readers. With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

[Rachel Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh I loved this book!

Thanks to the author and to NetGallery for the advanced copy!

I laughed and I cried- enjoyed every chapter.
I fell in love with the loveable characters right from the start. I also loved how it was set close to Manchester and talked about bookshops in town, some of which I go too!

A heartwarming and funny book that was wonderful to read. A modernised version of Little Women (set in Manchester).

[Sally Tyrer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I havnt read a Daisy Buchanan book for ages so was excited to read all grown and it certainly didn’t disappoint! I loved little women as a child and found this modern day take on it enchanting and nostalgic.
I love a good family saga and this book had it all, as a mother myself of adult children I could relate to the myriad of emotions Louisa felt in her menopause addled body just as she had her home to herself and time on her hands to do the things she wanted,then wham bam her three daughters all came back home with a multitude of emotional baggage! And large grown up problems!
The overriding sense of family, love and the ties that bind us was portrayed so well and demonstrated the all encompassing love we have for our offspring no matter how old they are and what a privilege it is to be part of a family .
A really lovely read full of fun humour and love
Thank you NetGalley fir this early read

[Cassie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this a difficult read. Trying to move Little Women into modern life it felt very contrived. The writing of the main characters was meant to be amusing but it was too cliched. Perhaps I just wasn’t in the mood for this book.

I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley in return for an honest review

[Sue Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

A modern day take on Little Women set in Manchester - charming, uplifting, sad, funny and moving in equal measure. An absolute delight and one of my best reads of the year.
I am grateful to NetGalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this highly recommended book.

[julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable, entertaining and non demanding book with themes that many readers will identify with. An enjoyable modern day version of Little Women. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the review copy.

[Beck Fraser · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found All Grown Up funny, tender, and genuinely relatable. Following a mum as her adult daughters move back home felt chaotic but full of love. It’s warm, charming, and emotionally rich, balancing humour with heartfelt reflections on motherhood, identity, and personal growth at any age.

[Lucy Skeet · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fantastic read, thanks so much to Century for my copy!

[Emma Johns · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really loved this book. It felt so real and relatable, especially the way it shows that messy stage of life where you’re trying to grow up and stand on your own two feet. There were so many little moments that reminded me of what it was like being at home myself, which made the story feel even more personal. The characters were likeable, funny and flawed and I loved how much they grew and changed throughout the book. The character development was one of my favourite parts, because it made the story feel real and honest. It’s one of those reads that feels comforting but also hits you with the occasional emotional punch. I found myself hooked, really enjoyed this one.