A Modern Version of the classic story Little Women, Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra features the lives of the two older sisters. Beth and Amy are also part of the book, but their stories aren’t as prominent.

In this retelling, Meg has it altogether. The perfect house, the perfect husband, the perfect kids, and yet something is missing. Jo, stubborn as ever and determined to be a writer, is trying to make it in New York City as an undercover food blogger. When their mother gets ill, all four sisters return home to help keep the farm running. For Jo, it’s a chance to get her life together and start fresh. For Meg, it’s about changing her old-fashioned ideas of marriage, and understanding that it is OK to ask for help.

I really enjoyed this book. It was entertaining to see some of my most beloved characters in the modern world. I love that the author kept the theme of family, sisterhood, and togetherness strong throughout the book.
I also really enjoyed the character development. Both Meg and Jo grow so much from the start of the story to the end of it. Both learn important lessons and a lot about themselves by the end. I really connected with Meg’s character. The mom who does it all with two kids in tow. I felt her stress and tiredness right through the pages.

Overall, a fun retelling, and I would recommend it to anyone, whether you have read the classic Little Women or not. Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for an advanced ecopy, and the opportunity to offer a review.

Even if you haven’t read Little Women, this book is great and can be read as a stand alone. It follows the 4 sisters in their adult life. The challenges they now face: marriage, relationships, work, finances, family drama. It was nice to see them grow As well. Meg is married with kids and has always stayed close to home and feels she needs to always be there to help everyone. Jo has followed her passion of writing into a restaurant or hen where her passion shifts to her boss/chef of restaurant. The four sisters come together during the holidays when their mom falls ill. They explore their relationship with their dad as well. Amy and Beth will be a sequel so read this one and be ready for that 😉.

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 love Little Women so much, and this book kind of missed the mark for me. While it included a lot of elements from the original, it lacked the spirit in the original that I really loved. But, I think it works well as a modern romance.

Virginia Kantra writes an enjoyable retelling of Little Women. Very interesting story of 4 sisters. Jo is the responsible one living in North Carolina where she grew up. Meg lives in New York City and due to down-sizing she has lost her job as a journalist and is currently working in a restaurant as a sous chef and has an anonymous food blog. The two younger sisters are trying to find their way in an adult world of fashion and entertainment. But a family emergency calls them all home. Meg and Jo begin to question their lives and their life plan. Discovering that their parents aren't who they thought they were, they must decide what is best for their mother as well as for themselves. Wonderful story. I would definitely recommend.

Meg and Jo is a story about sisters coming together in tough times to realize how special their bond is. When I read that it is inspired by Little Women, I knew it would have to live up to a great story. I didn't want to rate this book based on how it related to the original so I vied Meg and Jo on its own.

I enjoyed reading Meg and Jo. It particularly focused on Meg and Jo and I loved getting to read from each one's perspective. Meg is the more put-together sister who seems to have a perfect life. Jo is the complete opposite. She is spontaneous, a risk-taker, and doesn't like to plan too much. They are so unique which makes the March sisters so interesting.

Their mother is sick and they really need to lean on each other to make it through a difficult time. Their mother's illness makes me become more vulnerable and I liked that I could feel that shift as a reader. Decisions meant more and spending more time with family started to become a priority.

I didn't particularly like the men in this story. The most interesting to me was probably Eric. Josh and the March sisters' father is for lack of a better word, useless. He seems to have no compassion and selfish. Meg's husband is okay at times, but I didn't really feel the chemistry between the two. Their relationship felt a little bit forced.

As a whole, I think the story could have had more depth and involved more family members properly instead of just adding them in unnecessary dialogue.

I give Meg and Jo 3.5 stars. It's a good read that portrays a good sisterly bond. I'm excited to see what's next for these two.

***3.5 STAR RATING***

It took sometime for me to get into it, but this was a nice and refreshing take on a beloved classic. the book is told from dual perspectives of the two oldest March daughters through alternating chapters. It's also important to note that the author is releasing a book focusing on the younger two sisters, Beth and Amy.

I enjoyed the growth of Meg's character as she starts to let go some control a little and work on making her marriage a real partnership—with the kids, communication, and household duties. There were some times when I just wanted to scream at Meg trying to do everything, to keep the image of her perfect family.

I loved Jo's chapters, however I thought she was a little passive at times. We all know Jo to be fiercely independent and a real spitfire. I feel like she kind of rolled over when it came to her relationship with Eric. They fell into such an insta-love that felt very much out of character. I was looking for a more electric connection between the two.

Speaking of out of character, Mr. March was the worst! He didn't care about his family at all, not even will an ailing wife. Also, the bits we read about Beth definitely felt different from the original story. Maybe because there was no focus on her storyline, there was no connection. 

Overall, I did enjoy this book and thought it was well paced. I'll definitely pick up the spin-off when available.  

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A quick and easy read; somewhat predictable and trite. The author reimagines the March sisters into the modern era, with their father having left in their youth to become a army chaplain during the Iraq war. Now Amy, Beth, Jo and Meg are grown women, and living lives spread far fro home. Over the course of a few months, they return home for holidays and illnesses, and learn that they have all grown and changed, their typical family roles are reversing and changing. Agin, predicatble in many ways, but enjoyable.

I went into reading this one completely separate from Little Women after all it's a modern day retelling. I think Virginia Kantra put her own spin on the March sisters grown up in modern times that fans of the classic will enjoy. Even readers who've never read Little Women before will enjoy Meg & Jo.

I do love the various nods and character traits of the March sisters that the author makes in her writing.

The book obviously focus on Meg & Jo, the rest of the March family is involved in the story but not the sole focus which is nice in making this a quick read & of course there are also new characters.

Even if you haven't read Little Women I think you'll enjoy reading Meg & Jo especially if you enjoy a good book about family & navigating adulthood.

This is an excellent retelling & I look forward to reading more about the March family in future books by Virginia Kantra.

A modern day retelling of Little Women but just about Meg and Jo (Amy and Beth's story is to come!). I have never read Little Women, but know the story. I enjoyed this story of the two sisters.

Jo left North Carolina for New York City, working as a line cook in a fancy restaurant and as a food blogger. She starts a relationship with Eric, the chef at the restaurant, which conflicts with her blogging.

Meg is the oldest and the one most like her mother. She is married to a perfect man, John, who left his teaching/coaching job for more money at a car dealership so that she could stay home with their twins. When their mother falls ill, Meg is the one who has to step up and help out on the farm. She's the sister who stayed in their hometown. Their father is portrayed as an unemotional man and pastor who seems to care more for others than those in his family. His portrayal really bothered me and I hope he is redeemed in the next book. I liked that the sisters and even her mother addressed his behavior. I enjoyed this book, but of the two storylines, I enjoyed Jo's better. He relationship with Eric was exciting and fresh.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Meg & Jo starts with a fantastic premise and goes downhill. From the title you might think that this book focuses mainly on Meg and Jo, and you'd be right. But the synopsis made me think this book was going to focus on all of the sisters. So before you embark, just know that it is going to primarily focus on Meg & Jo and you won't know too much about Amy and Beth. Since I haven't read Little Women I'm not sure if this is true to the original or its strength as a retelling.

That being said, what stuck with me was that people's marriage is not what you think. That's an easy thing to say because whose marriage is exactly what you say, but it's more than just the realities of everyday, it's also the ways our flaws stop us from being a great partner. In some ways, this is incredibly realistic because not only does it talk about this image we have of our parents, but also what it takes to bridge this gap. But I gotta say that most of the men in this story frustrated me and the ones that didn't, didn't have enough depth.

I must start this review by stating I've never read Little Women (I know, gasp), but I have purchased a copy with the intention of reading it 😂. Because I have not read the first book I had the advantage of not comparing the two while reading this one. I enjoyed Kantra's ability to write completely flawed, but still enjoyable characters that a wide variety of readers will be able to relate to. I read this as part of a buddy read and that's the only reason it took me two sittings to finish this one.

What I loved about this book:

1. I loved that this family drama portrayed a family with real issues and imperfect characters. I found how deeply the sisters loved and cared about each other heartwarming even if they found each other annoying. They each found a way to follow their own dreams while supporting one another.

2. This story covered a lot about learning to forgive yourself and those who have hurt you.

3. I loved how Meg and John's marriage was depicted. Even if you have the perfect husband, a great home, and delightful kids things can still be overwhelming. Marriage is hard and requires you to be open and honest with your partner. This book showed that even if you have the best intentions your partner may misunderstand or misinterpret your actions.

I really enjoyed this book and I'm so excited to read the next book that follows Beth and Amy! This book publishes Dec 3rd so make sure to preorder your copy today!

Thank you Berkley and Netgalley for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.

Have you ever wondered how the March sisters from Little Women would be in our current day? This book answers that question, but with the addition of great little nods to the original work.

Focusing on the two older March sisters, Meg and Jo, they take turns narrating the book as they deal with many of the ups and downs that a family goes through. Meg is the oldest and has always been the reliable one that stayed close to home and is raising a family while also being the one to pick up the pieces. Jo is in NYC and trying to write while also work in a kitchen and life isn't what she expected it to be.

I completely adored this book. I loved how easily this book felt in the current time, but the little things that easily transferred from the original work were just neatly put in this book. I don't want to spoil these moments for other readers, but this book made me want to go re read the original just to see if I had missed any of the easter eggs.

I may go read it soon because there will be another book on the way that focuses on Beth and Amy and I can't wait to see where the book goes with those two.

As a big fan of the classic "Little Women" I wasn't sure I would like a re-imagining of the beloved story - I was pleasantly surprised - I loved it! Virginia Kantra has taken the characters from Little Women and brought them into the twenty-first century. Meg is a mother of twins, married to John Brooks who was a high school wrestling coach. He now works for Laurie (Theodore LaurenceIII, known as Trey in this version) at a fancy car dealership so he can bring in more money and Meg can be a stay-at-home mother to the twins. Jo has moved to New York City, lost her job at the paper and broke up with Laurie for the hundredth time. Now she is working at a hip new restaurant run by Chef Eric Bhaer. She's learning to be a prep cook under Eric's kind tutelage that turns into much more than that. Unfortunately Jo writes a food blog and Eric is a self professed blog-hater. Once the secret is out emotional turmoil erupts and Jo returns to Bunyan, North Carolina where Meg and Marmee can make her feel better. In this incarnation it is not Beth who gets sick, but Marmee. Marmee ends up in the hospital with a horrible infection and its up to the girls to keep the family goat farm running, sell the farm cheese at Bunyan's farmers market and try to return the farm to a profitable endeavor. Beth is pursuing her music at college in Greensboro and shyly performing on stage with a hot country singer. Amy is in Europe doing an internship with Louis Vuitton while all this is going on. Meg and Jo rely on each other and learn a lot about life and expectations as they help their mother through her surgery and try to figure out why their father is more intent on helping war veterans than his own family.

Virginia Kantra took great care with the story and the characters. It was fun to imagine the young women and their friends and family in modern times, and see how they react to modern pressures while maintaining their love for each other and their strength and character. The sex scenes were tasteful without being crude or raunchy so young adults could read this as well. Best of all, the story will continue with "Beth and Amy." Other characters join in the fun like the cranky Aunt Phee, Meg's good friend Sally Moffett, and Old Man Laurence. Anyone who loves to read will enjoy this book. The holiday setting makes this a perfect gift for book lovers. There is an excerpt at the end of the book. Kantra also includes excellent discussion questions for "Meg and Jo" that help make this a great book club read.

This modern retelling of a classic I hold in high esteem was better than I expected. Kantra is taking her time--giving us a book focusing on two girls at a time. Of course, all four girls are still a part of the narrative. Meg and Jo tell this story. Beth and Amy will get their turn next. I loved having our favorite supporting characters like John, Teddy (now Trey), Hannah, Professor Baehr (now a world-famous chef), etc. in their new roles. Having Jo write a food blog was a fun, modern twist. As a die hard fan, I found myself disappointed by a handful of plot decisions including the lack of abstinence (especially considering this is a pastor's family) and Father March's lack of emotion and investment in family decisions. When a modern romance author takes on a classic like "Little Women," this is what you get.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received a complimentary egalley of MEG & JO by Virginia Kantra. Thank you to Berkeley Publishing and Netgalley for the chance to read and review!

MEG & JO brings the March sisters from LITTLE WOMEN into the modern day. The book opens with one scene with the girls as children talking to their father who is off to war, but then quickly jumps to modern day with the girls all grown up and out of the house. The book focuses in on Meg and Jo, but there are appearances from Beth and Amy and other Little Women characters as well.

Meg has married John and is raising twins. She has stopped working to be a full time wife and mother, choosing to do everything herself. She is just starting to think about taking on something more, but is struggling to juggle everything.

Jo has left town and made her way to New York to be a writer, but after losing her job at the paper she is now working as a prep chef in a restaurant while writing a food blog on the side. When her relationship status gets complicated, she isn't sure what her next steps are. Her mother's illness gives her reason to head back home to evaluate where things stand.

I really enjoyed this LITTLE WOMEN retelling, especially so soon after finishing the original. It was interesting to see where the author translated things into the modern day and how she did so. I especially connected well with Jo. (She's a blogger and someone who enjoys cooking, what's not to love?) I think her story translated well to a more modern day setting. Of course she was the most independent and outspoken of the sisters in the original as well!

I didn't connect as quickly with Meg. In the beginning she has an outlook on life and family that felt a bit outdated to me. She struggles to let her husband participate at all in caring for their children and while I think this was true to the original Meg, it was a little harder to wrap my head around in a modern setting. That said, she does have a lot of growth over the course of the novel and I felt much more favorable toward her at the end. She is a great daughter and sister for sure!

Overall MEG & JO was a fun read and I do recommend it. It will work as a standalone book, but having some knowledge of LITTLE WOMEN certainly wouldn't hurt!

Links will be updated with blog and Instagram posts once live.

In this homage to the classic novel, LITTLE WOMEN, the March sisters, Meg, Jo, Amy and Beth are modern young women who are immersed in life’s struggles, complexities, and triumphs. Meg is the perfect uber mom who takes care of not only her toddler twins, a busy husband, but also the family farm after their very strong and capable mother falls ill. The girls’ mother runs a goat farm with little to no help from a frequently absent father, Ashton March, who seems to put his career and everyone else above his own family. Meg loves her family and her life; however, having it all and taking responsibility for what seems like the whole world means some things might fall by the wayside including Meg and her husband, John’s, relationship. We see much of her quotidian life which many will be able to relate and understand especially regarding the numerous thankless jobs of raising a family.

Jo went to New York to live out her dreams of being a journalist but when her career path is downsized, she gets by writing a food blog and working for a Michelin starred chef. Jo’s life goals have not panned out; however, with all that is going on at home, she realizes it is time to reassess and maybe help where she is needed. Jo is torn in more than one direction having her heart in two places including a relationship with Eric, her boss, and chef from whom she has been keeping her food blogging a secret. Added to the mix for Jo and her sisters are all the extra emotions and busyness that comes with the holidays.

As the title indicates, this story focuses mainly on Meg and Jo, their lives and relationships plus all the family dynamics of four sisters whose personalities add color and drama. Ms. Kantra makes this well-loved tale her own updating the setting and crafting the characters’ lives in her skillfully unique way while carrying the flavor of the originals. While this book may be categorized as Women’s Fiction, there is enough romance and less of the frequently used elements of darker themes and angst making this reader very pleased. This story is a blend of the best elements of both genres. I very much look forward to the continuation of this story with Amy and Beth’s book.

cute and fun but not really what i wanted or expected from a retelling of little women. the characters felt off to me, but the homage is appreciated and explored so well

Thank you to Berkley and Netgalley for the copy in exchange for a review.

Little Women is one of my favorite books, so when I heard there was to be a modern retelling, I was so excited! The book focuses on the stories of Meg and Jo March, but in the USA in modern times. There were several parallels to the original book, which I loved finding. I liked matching up characters and events, and seeing how the author made them fit her version of the story.

I found the plot entertaining and I liked the ending. However, I did not enjoy any of the male characters in the story. The dad was the worst, and I don't remember him being like that in the original. Meg's husband irritated me, Jo's Eric was ok, but frustrating...Theo was whiney...UGH.

Anyway, I am pleased to find out there will be a sequel about Amy and Beth, and will definitely read it!

Little Women is a childhood class that I am sharing with my daughter, and I was thrilled to receive an arc of Kantra’s new novel, Meg + Jo. I was even more thrilled that it kept me up late into the night, wanting to know how it ended! This novel is a modern take on this timeless classic, and as the title implies, the focus is on Meg and Jo, who are living two very different lives, bound on a path that will most certainly find a way home, as only sisters can.

Jo loves her own space, lives, writes, and moonlights in the kitchen of Gusto, a famous restaurant in NYC. Meg is living her best life as a stay-at-home mom to twins, married to her sweetheart of a husband, and resides in their small hometown.

This light-hearted novel, traverses Jo’s struggles with her identity as a writer, a blogger, and an insider amongst the food industry. Her struggle continues, as she shares some of her background and history with Chef Eric.

Meg has a great business mind, yet has chosen to spend her time with her children as they grow. It has only recently become problematic when her mother becomes ill and requires additional care- care that Meg is of course willing to give immediately! Meg watches as the lives of her friends swirl around her, seemingly in a vortex of affluence and happiness, while she is “left out” of the fray. As we all know, this isn’t the source of love or happiness, and her husband John is willing to patiently and kindly wait on her to come to all of these realizations through her own experiences.

Beth + Amy, the other two sisters do make appearances, have no fear, and I am excited to learn there is a follow-up novel in the works from their perspectives. Kantra did a great job of creating lovable, modern characters- Meg + Jo, with relate-able struggles readers can stay up late reading!