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emmabeckman's review against another edition
3.0
Jo’s parts had some of my favorite tropes. Meg’s parts were really boring and had some of my least favorite tropes. It’s a fairly true retelling, but it doesn’t add much of anything to the original story. Still, I’m definitely going to continue into Beth & Amy because how else am I going to get the whole picture?
aejohnson85's review against another edition
2.0
As a longtime fan of the original Little Women, this book was not for me. It is touted as being a “modern retelling”...but I didn’t recognize much from the original, other than the characters sharing names. In my opinion, the author is using the popularity of the original and these beloved characters to sell books. I have a hard time believing it would be much of a seller without the March sisters names. It is a fairly uneventful book without the inclusion of the Marches.
A few things that really rubbed me the wrong way: For some reason, the setting has been changed from New England to North Carolina, Professor Eric Bhaer is now a chef(?)...Jo is a glorified line cook who writes a food blog (?), Laurie (sorry, he’s Trey in this *eyeroll*) has little point and is more a “bro” than the Laurie of Alcott’s original book...and Beth? Beth is (first of all, alive...) an aspiring country singer. Yes. You read that correctly. Shy, reserved Beth is on tour with a country singer....we don’t get much of her storyline but I suspect that is due to the follow up sequel based on Beth and Amy. I will certainly not be picking this one up.
This is certainly not a retelling and I find it hard to even believe it is based upon Little Women, other than character names. If you love the original as I do, don’t waste your time.
A few things that really rubbed me the wrong way: For some reason, the setting has been changed from New England to North Carolina, Professor Eric Bhaer is now a chef(?)...Jo is a glorified line cook who writes a food blog (?), Laurie (sorry, he’s Trey in this *eyeroll*) has little point and is more a “bro” than the Laurie of Alcott’s original book...and Beth? Beth is (first of all, alive...) an aspiring country singer. Yes. You read that correctly. Shy, reserved Beth is on tour with a country singer....we don’t get much of her storyline but I suspect that is due to the follow up sequel based on Beth and Amy. I will certainly not be picking this one up.
This is certainly not a retelling and I find it hard to even believe it is based upon Little Women, other than character names. If you love the original as I do, don’t waste your time.
proxima09's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 45%. I'm so sorry for the scathing review, but I don't think Virginia Kantra read the same Little Women that I did. The characters were way off from what they were in the books, and there was just problem after problem with only clinical hopes of resolution. The characters face tons of problems in the original too, but ultimately it is the love between them and the way they care about each other that allows them to get through the problems and persevere. That affection between the sisters and the people in their lives was shockingly absent. On top of everything, it was honestly just boring. Kantra kept reiterating the same problems over and over again with very few new development or solutions. Do not read this if you liked Little Women. I'm on my way to reread the original to cleanse my palate of this nonsense.
Some things I especially hated:
1. Why the heck is Laurie named Trey in this book??
2. Jo's boyfriend is a chef, but he reads as an undercover therapist. He's constantly spouting philosophy that only makes sense if you tilt your head sideways and squint.
3. I want to know what in the world inspired her to make Mr. March the way he is in this book. He's an awful person and doesn't seem to care about anyone in his family at all. I took it personally that the author wrote Mr. March as basically hating his wife when Marmee still obviously cares about him and respects him very much. It added nothing to story and was completely pointless, much like most of this book.
4. Jo just seems completely defeated and desperate for any success and recognition. Also, why is she a chef? Why is she chasing after her boss when there's no real emotional connection between them? Why doesn't she try literally anything at all to save her career when she clearly cares about it so much? Jo March would be appalled by the way she is written in this book.
5. John Brooke. Honestly, I couldn't make heads or tails of this character. In the original, he was a poor but loving man who cared deeply about Meg. In this book, he's just poor and bad at communicating. They're not even that poor tbh. Who knows what was going on with this character. I thought he was cheating on Meg at one point and then that wasn't carried through at all. At least if he had, something of substance would have happened.
6. WHY IS MEG FLIRTING WITH EVERY MAN THAT CROSSES HER PATH? Does she even like John?? Why are they together??
Some things I especially hated:
Spoiler
1. Why the heck is Laurie named Trey in this book??
2. Jo's boyfriend is a chef, but he reads as an undercover therapist. He's constantly spouting philosophy that only makes sense if you tilt your head sideways and squint.
3. I want to know what in the world inspired her to make Mr. March the way he is in this book. He's an awful person and doesn't seem to care about anyone in his family at all. I took it personally that the author wrote Mr. March as basically hating his wife when Marmee still obviously cares about him and respects him very much. It added nothing to story and was completely pointless, much like most of this book.
4. Jo just seems completely defeated and desperate for any success and recognition. Also, why is she a chef? Why is she chasing after her boss when there's no real emotional connection between them? Why doesn't she try literally anything at all to save her career when she clearly cares about it so much? Jo March would be appalled by the way she is written in this book.
5. John Brooke. Honestly, I couldn't make heads or tails of this character. In the original, he was a poor but loving man who cared deeply about Meg. In this book, he's just poor and bad at communicating. They're not even that poor tbh. Who knows what was going on with this character. I thought he was cheating on Meg at one point and then that wasn't carried through at all. At least if he had, something of substance would have happened.
6. WHY IS MEG FLIRTING WITH EVERY MAN THAT CROSSES HER PATH? Does she even like John?? Why are they together??
jennrittenhouse's review against another edition
1.0
There's writing a "retelling" of a classic story and then there's "let's write a Hallmark story about 4 sisters and their names will be the only thing we keep from the original. We'll also make all the characters we loved in the original suck." Just write a new book, don't call it a retelling.
genthebookworm's review against another edition
3.0
I ended up enjoying the modern tale of family, work, love, and siblinghood but I struggled when comparing it to Little Women itself. For me, this story was entertaining as a stand-alone contemporary fiction novel, but it just didn’t work with its goal of retelling of Little Women.
A lot of this is just coming from my own personal preferences but I struggled to connect and didn’t love the changes to the storyline that happened. I also fully admit that I have rarely enjoyed a retelling(I am talking to you, Eligible, by Curtis Sittenfeld!), so maybe I am just not a good candidate for these types of novels! I do have to say, I admire anyone that takes on the retelling of a classic and I enjoyed Virginia Kantra’s writing style very much.
So the book was totally fine…I liked some of the characters more than others (which often happens for me with family life fiction) but I just didn’t love this because of what I was hoping it would be.
A lot of this is just coming from my own personal preferences but I struggled to connect and didn’t love the changes to the storyline that happened. I also fully admit that I have rarely enjoyed a retelling(I am talking to you, Eligible, by Curtis Sittenfeld!), so maybe I am just not a good candidate for these types of novels! I do have to say, I admire anyone that takes on the retelling of a classic and I enjoyed Virginia Kantra’s writing style very much.
So the book was totally fine…I liked some of the characters more than others (which often happens for me with family life fiction) but I just didn’t love this because of what I was hoping it would be.
kelly_inthe419's review against another edition
4.0
First, I have to admit that I've never read Little Women. I'm not sure if that matters as Meg & Jo worked perfectly fine as a stands alone. In fact, I wonder I if not having read it is better because I didn't know what might happen to both Meg and her sister Jo, or their family.
This is a modern retelling of the Louisa May Alcott classic and it follows two of the March sisters as they navigate personal relationships and family struggles. I definitely thought Jo's story was more modern as a down and out writer in NYC struggling to get by working in 5 star restaurant and as a food blogger. When she becomes involved with the restaurant's owner and head chef, the fireworks fly.
Meg on the other hand is a stay at home mom with twins and uncertain where her relationship with her husband is headed. I could definitely relate to Meg's feelings that she had to do everything for everyone herself. It isn't always possible but you only learn that hard way. When the sisters' mother, Abby, becomes ill and then needs surgery, Meg is further burdened with the family farm operations and finances.
I enjoyed Meg and Jo's relationship, which felt close and believable. I would have liked to have seen more of Amy and Beth who played minor roles here, but are getting their own book next year. Some of the male characters however were less real or likable. Of all of them, Chef Eric was definitely the best. He treated Jo with respect and love and tried to let her work things out on her own. This was enjoyable story of family coming together and working through some difficult times. I would definitely recommend it and can't wait to read what's in store for Amy and Beth.
I received the eBook ARC of Meg & Jo from NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the chance to read and review honestly. Thank you!
This is a modern retelling of the Louisa May Alcott classic and it follows two of the March sisters as they navigate personal relationships and family struggles. I definitely thought Jo's story was more modern as a down and out writer in NYC struggling to get by working in 5 star restaurant and as a food blogger. When she becomes involved with the restaurant's owner and head chef, the fireworks fly.
Meg on the other hand is a stay at home mom with twins and uncertain where her relationship with her husband is headed. I could definitely relate to Meg's feelings that she had to do everything for everyone herself. It isn't always possible but you only learn that hard way. When the sisters' mother, Abby, becomes ill and then needs surgery, Meg is further burdened with the family farm operations and finances.
I enjoyed Meg and Jo's relationship, which felt close and believable. I would have liked to have seen more of Amy and Beth who played minor roles here, but are getting their own book next year. Some of the male characters however were less real or likable. Of all of them, Chef Eric was definitely the best. He treated Jo with respect and love and tried to let her work things out on her own. This was enjoyable story of family coming together and working through some difficult times. I would definitely recommend it and can't wait to read what's in store for Amy and Beth.
I received the eBook ARC of Meg & Jo from NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for the chance to read and review honestly. Thank you!
mindthebook's review against another edition
3.0
Vad händer om vi placerar 1800-talssystrarna March i vår tid. Amy har internship på Louis Vuitton och whatsappar från Paris. Meg är småbarnsförälder och jobbar på bank. Beth är på turné och trendar även på YouTube... ganska roligt, non? Den stora besvikelsen är Jos moderna öde, matbloggare. Önskar att hon kunde fått en mindre kvinnligt kodad och mindre traditionell syssla. Varför inte t.ex. skateboardbloggare.
Minus för all ovidkommande dialog, inklusive transkriberat barnspråk - det är verkligen inte gulligt. Särskilt sista tredjedelen är full av romcom-troper.
Såg att det så klart finns en andra bok, Beth & Amy. Kommer jag att läsa den? Antagligen.
Minus för all ovidkommande dialog, inklusive transkriberat barnspråk - det är verkligen inte gulligt. Särskilt sista tredjedelen är full av romcom-troper.
Såg att det så klart finns en andra bok, Beth & Amy. Kommer jag att läsa den? Antagligen.
dufflepud_hop's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
5.0
lmwrites's review against another edition
4.0
I will always love a good Little Women inspired story, and this one lives up to the original. I love a modern setting giving a fresh spin on things, but still keeping the core of the characters true to Alcott's writing. Already checked out the next book from my library!