I consider myself an expert of Little Women adaptations and the Virginia Kantra series is one of my favorites. She absolutely nails the modern version and I loved it!

This was such a lovely take on Little Women! Ever since the 2019 remake came out, I've been adamant to get my hands on all the Little Women retellings. Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra did not disappoint -- it has all the charm and sisterly-wholesomeness that comes with the original story.

In this sequel to Meg & Jo, about the older two March sisters, Virginia Kantra focuses on the two younger ones from Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women.

Beth has reached adulthood and is a talented singer and songwriter. Amy is a designer of handbags, and her New York business, Baggage, is taking off.

Amy has been in love with Theodore James Laurence III, the rich boy next door, since she was a child. Trey, of course, had always been in love with Jo. But three years ago, when she ran into Trey in Paris after he and Jo had broken up, Amy and Trey shared one passionate night.

Now Jo is getting married to her love, chef and restaurateur Eric Bhaer, and everyone is coming back to North Carolina, where Amy is sure to run into Trey again.

Beth has been touring with country star Colt Henderson, for whom she wrote a couple hit songs. The two are now a couple, though the self-absorbed singer does not notice that Beth dislikes the spotlight. In fact, she has been throwing up. Colt suggests she go home for Jo’s wedding and then take time off and rest up.

Kantra’s books are a delight for readers who grew up with Little Women, as she reimagines modern romances for the sisters, whose love for each other abides.

I unfortunately have not read Meg & Jo, but now I feel like I probably should. I loved Beth & Amy so much. As a huge Little Women fan, I jumped at the chance to read this book and I was not disappointed. I love the writing style, it gripped me from the beginning. This book brought tears to my eyes a few times. I loved both of the storylines, but I preferred Beths over Amy’s. But Amy was never my favorite March sister.

It was very entertaining, I couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the twist in these modern versions of Beth and Amy, Virgina Kantra made them very relatable.

Virginia Kantra never fails to impress with her mastery of character, plot and emotion. Beth and Amy is a gorgeous and heartfelt read.

Beth and Amy was the perfect addition to The March Sisters series, a contemporary retelling of Little Women! In fact I’d have to say I loved it even more than the previous book, Meg and Jo. There was just something special about this one.

Of course with a retelling, the biggest thing to do going into it is to remember to let go of any preconceived notions you might have for how you see that the storyline and characters could play out as the book strays from the original based on the author’s creativity. If you do that, you’ll be just fine here! I will say though, I actually loved how believable this book was for a retelling, which just goes to show how strong of a skill this authors has for writing and storytelling. I could see the authors competent connections to Little Women and who these characters were at heart, and needless to say I was left impressed. It was also really fun to see Meg and Jo appear again in this story. These sisters are just so lovely to come alongside and I especially appreciated how well developed Beth and Amy’s characters were in this one. The background characters were also a highlight for me and delight to come to know. As can happen in a book with dual POV’s, I did feel that I tended to enjoy Amy’s storyline more as if felt more compelling and I just loved how strong her character was. Both were very enjoyable though!

This book was just so absolutely enjoyable from start to finish as a Little Women lover! The story had so much to offer. Dealing with sisterhood, familial and outside relationships, growing and changing careers and life situations, this book full of heart and emotion. It brought both tears to my eyes and laughter.

I can safely say this is one I will once again highly recommend, just like Meg and Jo!

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the gifted e-copy!

WHY DID I LISTEN TO BETH & AMY BY VIRGINA KANTRA?
I really loved Virginia Kantra’s Meg & Jo, so I knew I had to continue via audiobook with Beth & Amy. As it turns out, Beth & Amy has different narrators than Meg & Jo. Still, they did a fine job bringing Kantra’s sequel to life. I came back for resolution and because I was hooked and had to see how things would play out with the other two March sisters.

WHAT’S THE STORY HERE?
As you can tell from the title, Beth & Amy by Virginia Kantra follows Amy and Beth March. Amy is a designer who was living in France but has come back to North Carolina in the wake of her mother’s illness but also because she has some terms to meet in order to obtain a loan from her rich aunt. Beth was living in Branson and working with this up and coming country star named Colt writing songs for him. She’s not feeling well, so she’s home to recover. AND! AND! It isn’t in the title, but we get chapters from Abby’s perspective. Abby is the March matriarch, the mother! I loved it! Anyways, so we get to see Amy navigate her relationship with Trey while also feeling guilty about it considering his history with Jo. We also get to see Beth recover and start to believe in herself a little more. Plus we get glimpses of what Jo and Meg are up too — all the March sisters are in North Carolina.

WHAT DID I THINK OF BETH & AMY?
I may be the rare duck, but I loved this sequel. Kantra does such a great job bringing the March sisters to life in a contemporary style. It turns out I had so much empathy for Amy. Like, it seems that with the original we aren’t supposed to want Amy and Laurie to get together. With this book I was perfectly happy and fine with Amy and Trey getting together — it just fit and worked. As for Beth, I love that she’s not dead. The way her story plays out is realistic and heartfelt and vulnerable. And ya’ll, with Abby, I just wanted to throw her husband out. However, they get a second chance and he learns to be less useless and more tuned into his family. There’s lots of lessons to be had by the March family and I was here for it.

HOW’S THE NARRATION?
The audiobook of Beth & Amy is actually shorter than Meg & Jo. It clocks in at 11 hours and 8 minutes unabridged. You know me and how I like to listen to these books sped up, so I listened to this one at 2x speed. I lost absolutely nothing in comprehension or understanding as to what was going on. That’s because the three narrators were right on point. They were Janet Metzger, Brittany Pressley, and Catherine Taber. All three read their chapters to perfection. At first I was kind of sad that the same narrators from the first book were not coming back, but as each March sister (and mother) is unique, this turned out to be such a good choice. So yeah, friends, if you are looking for a good audiobook to pick up, grab this duology it is SO SO good.

If you read Meg & Jo -- then you know what to expect from this amazing book!! Virginia took a classic like Little Women and made it so much fun for now.

Let me tell you -- this book does not ruin the original which I know I was worried about -- it actually makes you smile with all of her references and she does it so beautifully!!

I think what Kantra has done that is so clever is taken the girls and the tropes they fell into and made them deeper than that. It's a good re-telling, true to the story but also a new, fresh take.

CONFESSION: I’ve never read Little Women or seen any version of the movie. I know...I can’t believe it either!

I don’t have the nostalgia of Little Women to compare to the modern day retelling that is Beth & Amy (and Meg & Jo before it), but that didn’t stop me from loving it.

I highly recommend for those who love stories about family, love, and hope. (I also recommend reading them in order!)

Big thanks to @virginiakantra @berkleypub @berkleyromance @letstalkbookspromo for the opportunity to read this early. I will be buying a copy for my shelf!

The difficulty with reading/reviewing a book that is a modern telling of a classic is that it will never be the same as the original. Yet that is exactly what it is designed to be - a different, more modern story with some of the same situations and characters. So instead of comparing, I really like to think of modern retellings as a new book. Just to be enjoyed on its own.

I really enjoyed this story of sisters Beth and Amy. This story is told in alternating voices, which gave great insight into each characters’ motivations, inner-dialog and outlook. The book also includes the older March sisters Meg and Jo, as well as their Mother and Father who have separated. Meg and Jo take a back seat in this book, but are still pivotal in bringing the story to life. The marriage struggles they watched their parents face also plays a big part in the story. Their inability to communicate with one another filtered down into the younger generation.

Amy’s storyline was my favorite of the two. She was a strong female lead who had a dream that she was working hard to achieve. Being the youngest of 4 girls had a lot to do with her drive. She was driven to stand apart as her own person. Being from a large family, I totally identify with striving to find a way to stand out from your sisters. Looking to be noticed for what you have accomplished, not just for being one of the sisters. Amy still saw herself as the tag-along “baby” of the family. She worked hard to forge her own path and along the way found success, but also found that her family was equally as important as her success.

I am not usually a fan of classic retellings but Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra, book two to the Little Women series beginning with Meg and Jo, was so sweetly different and unique. I read this and loved it and found it to be a great read! Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Pub for a copy of this book for review!

Ah, Little Women. It is a story that always gives my heart a big hug each time I read it. This modern retelling is a feel-good, Hallmark-perfect version of the beloved classic. I have NOT read the first book in this series, so forgive me if anything I mention was touched upon there and I missed it. I felt this was enough of a stand alone novel that I didn’t need to reference the first book.

✨ Beth & Amy are side characters to Jo’s vivacious life in Little Women, but in this new romance published on May 25, they, along with their mother, Abby, steal the show with their complicated romances and contemplations. There is a lot to like about the story such as that beautiful sisterly support the March family always delivers and how the author modernized each character, giving them enriching lives in the fashion and music industries.

✨ However, the author did stick very close to the original characteristics of the March sisters. Little Women was a novel idea at the time it was published; This feminine world where women create, act silly, have adventures, and most of all have unique thoughts and aspirations for their lives. Now, while still beloved, it’s not glass-shattering material. I felt this story painted them too old-fashioned by today’s standards. I would have loved to see a lot more diversity. Though there is a silver of ethnic diversity, they never dove deep enough to understand cultural diversity. There was no 🏳️‍🌈 diversity that I caught on to, which paired with the location of the novel and the Christian roots, led me to believe these characters chose not to pay attention to “that kind of thing”. It was a bit disappointing. I feel there were missed opportunities. I also found the action repetitive and subdued. Like most readers will, I knew what was going to happen, which kept me waiting on an interesting twist to steal the show, but instead we are given the tiring thoughts of Beth & Amy which just became too boring by the end.

✨ Overall, this romance is a sweet story for those who love a country romance, Hallmark, and love that lovely March family.

⭐️⭐️⭐️(3/5)

When Meg & Jo was originally released I was so excited to have a modern Little Women retelling (but also, terrified we were getting a modern retelling). I loved reading Meg and Jo’s storylines the most in my original read and knowing this book centered around the two sisters had me excited!⁣
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I never ended picking it up (hashtag life), so when @berkleyromance gifted me an early copy of Beth & Amy, I dove right on it!⁣
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Let me just say, as far as modern retellings that hold true to the original, all while being it’s own true work of art, these books take the prize!⁣
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The March sisters grew up in NC and while Meg stayed in their hometown and became a SAHM, Jo moved off to NYC to become a good blogger and works in a restaurant. When their mom becomes sick (not Beth, thank goodness) all four girls come home to care for her and the farm. Meg is struggling with wanting to have independence for herself while also caring for her family and Jo is struggling to find her voice while also reeling from a new love that is in shambles.⁣
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While Meg & Jo was enjoyable, I found Amy’s storyline in Beth & Amy to be my favorite!⁣
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The second book takes place almost three years after the end of the first book, and Amy is getting a second chance with her childhood crush!⁣
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Meanwhile Beth is home from a major tour around the country with her Country Music superstar boyfriend. But not everything is okay in her life and her sisters start to notice. TW: mental health and anxiety and MAJOR use of eating disorders as a plot device.⁣
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If you haven’t picked these up, but have been missing the March sisters since Dec 2019’s movie, absolutely give these a try! They were quick satisfying reads and both really gave me the heart warming moments the original story always provided!⁣

*Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the free eARC and finished copy in exchange for my honest and unbiased review! All opinions in this review are my own!*

I couldn’t wait to read this book after finishing Kantra’s first book, Meg & Jo. I love modern retellings - especially of Little Women. Expanding on Amy’s and Beth’s stories in adulthood is an exciting and thoughtful choice. This novel is entertaining and relatable. I enjoyed it from start to finish.

Thank you so much for the opportunity to review! This is the link to my post.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CPJhU9UrY-a/

Are you a fan of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women? I received my first copy from my mom when I was 10 years old, and I'm not exaggerating when I say I've read it at least 8-10 times! This book (and all of the movies!) played such a big role in my childhood and my reading journey, and I'm so glad my mom (who also loved Little Women as a young girl) passed on her love of this story to me.

When Greta Gerwig updated the film last fall, I fell in love with the March family all over again, and the same thing happened when I read Virginia Kantra's contemporary retelling, Meg & Jo.

Well friends, get ready to add another favorite book to your Little Women collection, because just like Meg & Jo, this book will capture your heart and won't let go.

As a huge fan of Little Women herself, Kantra pens her retellings with thoughtful, poignant prose, respecting the original story while interweaving her own personal touches. This heartwarming, sensitive and propulsive story preserved the ever-important bonds of sisterhood and family, but also allowed the readers to see the hopes, dreams, heartaches and challenges Beth and Amy (an aspiring singer/songwriter and an up-and-coming fashion designer, respectively) each faced in the modern world.

I personally loved how Kantra into this book more too, dedicating some chapters to her perspective in addition to Beth's and Amy's. Catching up with Meg and Jo was wonderful, as well, and while there were some heavier topics in this story (eating disorders, depression, anxiety, and PTSD), Kantra handled them with grace and sensitivity.

As Kantra explains in her author's note, "I wanted to tell the sisters' story in a way that reflected my changing, grown-up perspective. I wanted to make it relatable for modern readers who aren't familiar with the original. So I aged the sisters up ... and took all my love for Little Women, and what it meant to my life, and brought that to my story."

Virginia, you have done exactly that.

Thank you so, so much for sharing your story with the world; as a lifelong fan of Alcott's classic, you've made me a lifelong Virginia Kantra fan too. Thank you for re-introducing me to some of my favorite women, and for helping me re-visit my childhood.

A huge thank you also goes out to Berit @berittalksbooks and @letstalkbookspromo for my gifted e-galley and the opportunity to participate in this wonderful buddy read.

It had been awhile since I read Meg & Jo so it took me a minute to jump back into the story. But, once I did, it all came together nicely. It was good to be back with the March family.

Amy and Beth return home to Bunyan, North Carolina for Jo's wedding to Eric. Both sisters have secrets (of course). Amy slept with Trey, Jo's ex--the only boy/man that Amy has ever loved. She has some major guilt over it and she will be seeing him back in her hometown. Amy needs some financial help with her business and asks her aunt for help. Her aunt will help if she moves her business and herself back to Bunyan. Can she do that and see Trey?

Beth has been on tour with a country superstar, Colt, who is also her boyfriend. She doesn't like the limelight and her health has been deteriorating. She is living a life that she doesn't enjoy anymore and has been getting some serious pressure from, Colt. She takes a longer break at home to rest and realizes that she needs to change some things.

I enjoyed this story and liked being back with the March family. I loved getting the March matriarch, Abby's chapter's, too, and to see her story resolution.

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

I highly enjoyed Kantra’s first book Meg & Jo, so I was very excited to start reading the follow up, Beth & Amy. Once again, Kantra did not disappoint. This book starts a few years after the first book left off, but this time focusing on younger sisters Beth and Amy. The chapters switch off between Beth and Amy’s POV and I was surprised to find myself enjoying Amy’s plotline more as she was my least favorite character in the previous book. I even grew to love Trey – who I found annoying in the first book. It goes to show how your feelings can change when a character is fully developed.

I became completely invested in the characters and their stories thanks to Kantra’s beautiful storytelling. Beth’s storyline focused on her loss of identity and struggle for control in her life. Through Beth’s inner-monologue, Kantra shows the reader why Beth has such a lack of self-love and confidence. I think her spin on Beth’s fatal illness (trigger warning) and how she handled the taboo topic of eating disorders was done with a great sensitivity and understanding. Amy’s storyline focused on her drive to stand out from her sisters and make something of herself. Of course, we get to know what happened between her and Trey in Paris… and where they stand now. We also get some chapters told through Mrs. March’s perspective which was a welcome treat. I loved peeking into her marriage, as well as seeing the girls through their mother’s eyes.

Similar to the first book, you have to go into it thinking of it as a new book, rather than as a “modern retelling” of Little Women. While the sisters generally take on characteristics of their characters from the original Little Women, they’re products of their time and Kantra expertly evolved them into the 21st century. Overall, this was another entertaining read.