This was an enjoyable retelling of the Little Women, specifically the lives of sisters Beth & Amy.

I have to admit that I didn’t care for Amy at all in the original Little Women. I wasn’t prepared to like her in this retelling either. However, the author did such a great job with Amy’s story that I have forgiven her spoiled behavior in Little Women.

Beth is also given a compelling storyline, dealing with living in the spotlight while battling a physical and mental health condition. I was rooting for both characters, wishing for the HEA they both deserve.

The biggest surprise to me was that this book is set in North Carolina instead of Massachusetts.

All in all this is a creatively reimagined life of the March family set in the present day. Fans of Little Women will enjoy this book as well as people who enjoy reading about sister/family relationships.

I read Meg and Jo a few years ago and was excited to see that a second book was coming out. I really love Little Women and enjoy this modern take on the story. I liked getting to see more of Amy and Beth's stories as they both are trying to figure out their lives, their loves, and navigate their family at the same time.

The chapters go back and forth between the two of them (with a few chapters of mom thrown in there as well). I liked the similarities of Beth and Amy that are shown as they are both trying to get out of the shadow's of their sisters, but also how different they both are.

This is a great book for any Little Woman fan and I love the way it expands the story that many of us already know.

This sequel to Kantra’s MEG AND JO begins with. Amy, flourishing NYC bag designer, setting aside her lingering feelings for Trey (Jo’s best friend) in order to come home for Jo’s wedding. When Amy and Trey reconnect, she still wonders if Trey is looking for a replacement for her sister, Jo, or if he really loves her.

Meanwhile, Beth comes home from touring with her country music star boyfriend for the wedding, but stays when her jerky boyfriend doesn't invite her to continue the tour with him. She has written him hit songs in the past, but now she is struggling to write again, and, even worse, she's hiding a dangerous secret from her family and herself.

This retelling of LITTLE WOMEN was as enjoyable as the first, with another look at who the March family might have been today. Amy is given worth and credibility missing from the original telling, and her relationship with Trey feels genuine and not just a matter of convenience as might have been the reality during the original work.

The story also enhances our realization of Marmie, too. It was a great, thoughtful read! Whether you’ve read Little Women or not, the March Sisters is enjoyable! (Advanced copy read courtesy of #Netgalley and @PenguinRandomHouse.)

*Note, this book does include storylines involving eating disorders and PTSD which some people may find triggering.

Beth & Amy was a perfect, modern retelling for the younger March sisters that don’t always get the recognition they deserve. The author stayed true to the characters while incorporating new storylines and making their problems more relatable for the 21st century. I loved this book and will definitely be rereading! I thought the author did an amazing job putting Little Women into modern times, and thus making the entire story relatable for a new generation! This is a timeless classic, and I fell even more in love with the story by reading this modern retelling. Thank you so much for the advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a sequel to Meg & Jo, Virginia Kantra's modern-day retelling of Little Women. I highly recommend that people read that before reading Beth & Amy, as a lot of backstory introduced in the first book is incorporated without much context in the second.

That being said, I also believe I wouldn't have enjoyed this if I hadn't read the first book. It's told in a dual perspective by both Beth and Amy, but the narrative breezes over their relationship and keeps emphasizing that they're not that close. This feels odd for storytelling purposes, and while some of the writing is beautiful, the plot is a little bumpy and distracting.

I absolutely loved this spin on "Little Women"! I've always been an Amy fan, and I feel like I finally got to see inside her head the way I always wished I could.

A modern twist on the classic characters, Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy March are sisters in different phases of their lives. Finding and seeking success in various arenas, they handle heartbreak, disappointment, and the changing world around them by leaning on one another, and keeping secrets. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves "Little Women," or to anyone who just wants to read a book about four strong females.

TW: There is significant talk of anorexia in this book.

Beth & Amy is the second Little Women modernization by Virginia Kantra, and these are such wonderful stories. Kantra does a great job at bringing the March sisters into the modern world, appealing to nostalgia, and making it all feel comforting and warm. Beth and Any aren’t always the most popular March sisters, but Kantra made me care about them more than I ever have before.

•Book Description:

“Amy March is more like her older sister Jo than she’d like to admit. An up-and-coming designer in New York’s competitive fashion industry, ambitious Amy is determined to get out of her sisters’ shadows and keep her distance from their North Carolina hometown. But when Jo’s wedding forces Amy home, she must face what she really wants…and confront the One Big Mistake that could upend her life and forever change her relationship with Jo.

Gentle, unassuming Beth grew up as the good girl of the family. A talented singer-songwriter, she’s overcome her painful anxiety to tour with country superstar Colt Henderson. But life on the road has taken its toll on her health and their relationship. Maybe a break to attend her sister’s wedding will get her out of her funk. But Beth realizes that what she’s looking for and what she needs are two very different things.…

With the March women reunited, this time with growing careers and families, they must once again learn to lean on one another as they juggle the changes coming their way.”

•Thoughts: I loved Meg & Jo, and anyone that did will rejoice that the second book and the other half of the March sisters are finally getting their turn in the spotlight. Anyone that hasn’t read the first book, but loved Little Women, please give this series a chance. You’ll want to start on the first book before reading this one, but both books are like slipping into a warm bath- a soothing balm, and the family strife might break your heart, but in the most beautiful way.

•Rating: Definitely a five star read for me.

**Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are my own.**

This is the second in the series of an update of Little Women. The first book was about Meg and Jo. This time we get to learn more about Beth and Amy. We find Beth, a song writer, struggling to make it in country music. In a relationship with a hot country star, things should be going great for her. So why is that every time she performs she suffers from nerves? All she really wants to do is go home to North Carolina and be with her family, but the timing is never right. Meanwhile, Amy is building a fashion empire in New York but still carrying a torch for Trey, who still lives at home, caring for his grandfather and running the family business. On a trip back home she and Trey move into a new phase of their relationship. Meg continues to be the rock for the family, while Jo and her husband renovate a mansion and turn it into a high-end dining establishment. We learn more about the March family parents and learn that not all is going well with them. Or is it?

In this follow up to "Meg and Jo" the plot essentially picks up shortly before where we left off previously. This time, we learn about the ongoing lives of the (extended) March family through the viewpoints of Beth and Amy, and occassionaly Abby (Marmie), their mother. The relationship between Trey(Laurie) and Amy is further developed as is the source of Beth's ilness/stress. A nice follow up, a quick and enjoyable read.

Beth and Amy is Volume 2 of the March Sisters series - a modern retelling of Little Women. In this version, Beth is a country singer/song-writer with crippling anxiety issues. She finds herself in an abusive relationship and must turn to her family to become well again. Amy is a fashion designer who moves away from home with very little regret. When she returns for Jo's wedding, she has to face Laurie again - her one true love. Surrounded by friends and family and caught up with wedding plans and each other, Amy and Beth come to terms with their problems. and their relationships with their sisters and each other. Virginia Kantra writes an entertaining, interesting novel. It was fun to visit old friends in new settings and Kantra stays true to the characters. As somone who always wonders what happens to the people after the novel ends, I was thrilled to get more info. Thanks so much to Net Galley for the ARC.

"Sometimes the more you feel, the harder it is to say anything."

I was waiting for this one.

After finishing Meg & Jo by Virginia Kantra last year, I found myself immediately wanting to read more of the modernized March sisters and their continued journey. Truth be told, I am wistful over the fact that I just turned the final pages of Beth & Amy and that the series is over.

I've been a Little Women fan for as long as I can remember and have countlessly re-read it at different points of my life. Virginia Kantra's modern re-telling left me satisfied, emotional, and complete.

Beth & Amy continues with the story of the two younger March sisters. There is a sense of definite familiarity in terms of temperament when it comes to the original characters as intended by Louisa May Alcott. There are many scenarios that women would not have encountered that Kantra has reimagined in this version.

The author does a great job of seamlessly evoking feeling from the original version while keeping the reader guessing about what happens to Beth and Amy March in modern day. Without giving up any spoilers, there are some twists and surprises that I was not expecting but welcomed with open arms.

The pace of this book was on the medium to slow side for me but overall, I loved the way the author wrapped up this series. In the original version, it has always been clear to me that the story centers around Jo. Over the years, I have been curious about the other sisters on a deeper level as well. This may be a completely different time period, but it still answered a lot of questions that I have been pondering for a long time.

I loved this book and series. It warmed my heart to curl up with characters I have seemingly known for most of my reading life.

Thank you to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for this advanced review copy. Beth & Amy by Virginia Kantra is set to be released on May 25th, 2021.

DNF. I really liked the premise but the writing did not work for me at all. It wouldn't be fair to the book if I finished reading and gave it a low rating.

Hmmmm. It's a solid 3 stars. If you like Little Women but often find yourself wondering what the March sisters would be up to in our year of the lord 2019, wonder no more! This story is a contemporary update and seems pretty accurate to how the sisters would actually act today. There's lot of heavy personal and family drama, an eating disorder features heavily, so be warned that this is a huge component of the plot.

Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantor is another wonderful, heartwarming modernized retelling of Little Women. Previously, I did enjoy the story of Meg and Jo, and now we get to see Beth and Amy’s story.

Amy works in New York with a successful start as a fashion designer of handbags, Baggage. She is going home to attend her sister Jo’s wedding, and dreads meeting up with Trey (Jo’s former boyfriend), whom she has always had a crush on; as well as keep the secret that she and Trey had sex a few years ago. Has she gotten over her feelings for Trey?

Beth is a singer, who writes her own songs, which has won awards; she is part of a band, with Cole, the lead singer. Beth has anxiety issues, and struggling to maintain control of her fears. She also goes home to attend her sister’s wedding, and the family worries about her being too thin, though Beth ensures them she is fine. But is she really?

We also get a few POV’s on the March mother, Abby, who runs the farm, and always watches over her daughters; especially with the father never around. With the family gathering, the father does come back and plans to stay, much to Abby’s discomfort.

Amy secretly begins to see Trey again, though he is not ready for a permanent relationship. Amy plans to go back to New York, but she needs financial help to allow her to hire more people, since the orders have risen drastically. Aunt Phee is willing to offer her help, but she has conditions for Amy, who must decide if she will accept the offer.

The family becomes concerned when Beth becomes sick and faints, though she says she is fine. When she is ready to go back to the band, Beth will suffer a collapse and the family learns the truth about her condition, which she will need to change her life for the better; especially her anxieties.
As I did in the first book, I really loved both Beth and Amy, as they both had their own issues, but it was great to see all the girls, as the sisterhood between the 4 girls was awesome.

Beth and Amy is another heartwarming and enjoyable story of family, loyalty, daily family problems and the sisterhood we came to love. Though most of the story centered on Amy and Beth, it was also great to see Meg/John and Jo/Eric wonderful relationship. Beth and Amy is a sweet, realistic and fun story that was very well written by Virginia Kantor.
Beth and Amy, as well as Meg and Jo, were both wonderful books that were fun, enjoyable, warm, loving stories. I suggest you read both books in order, as Virginia Kantor gave us a fabulous modernized version of Little Woman.

Beth and Amy is a wonderful read. Last year I read Meg and Jo and I was disappointed by the characters but Beth and Amy was a completely different story. I loved this retelling. The author did an excellent job of letting Beth and Amy shine in this book. Amy March is hard character to like but I loved her in this story. I was pleasantly surprised by the charming and witty nature of the characters in this story. I loved getting to know the girls in a modern setting. I honestly loved this book so much and I would totally read it again and again!

I cannot get enough of Virginia Kantra's modern retellings of "Little Women." She took a classic novel, gave it some spins and made me fall in love with the March sisters all over again.

Check out the links to my full review on my book blog and my mini review on my bookstagram page for more information.

Virginia Kantra concludes her contemporary retelling of Little Women. Now it's the younger sisters' turn. Amy is a gifted, confident, up-and-coming NYC designer, but still heartbroken over a tryst with boy-next-door Trey, who may still be hung up on her older sister. Beth is a shy singer/songwriter who's on tour and in a relationship with country's hottest superstar. When the March family gathers at home in North Carolina for a wedding, old secrets and new revelations come to light.

Kantra takes more license with the characters of the two younger sisters, and thank goodness. Amy was always my least favorite March, but here she's given more sensitive treatment and I even felt some sympathy for her. And Beth is allowed to come into her own as a woman with her own wants and dreams. Marmee herself gets a story, too, as Abby narrates some chapters and finally speaks the truth of what she wants and deserves from life. I was sad to leave this world behind at the end of the book.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Little Women is a classic book that I believe everyone should read before they die. Virginia Kantra takes a whole new spin and focuses on their older lives when they go their separate ways and reuniting together for Jo's wedding. I have read Meg and Jo and having them come into their own and loved Kantra's concept and language used throughout the book. I was happy she continued down that same path now with Beth and Amy. Amy comes in line as challenges her relationship with Jo but she later realizes and accepts that they are more alike than they seem. Beth gets the opportunity of a lifetime and battling a chronic illness finally catches up with her and escaping to home might be what the doctor ordered. Reading the original novel and seeing the movie at first made me confused when I read both books but after I finished Beth and Amy, it is good to read that they lived full lives and were happy remembering what is really important in life and that will always be family.

We will consider adding this title to our Fiction collection at our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

In the world of Little Women adaptations, many authors/screenwriters get caught in what I'm going to start calling the "Beth trap". In the original, Beth is the "good" sister, which often means she's seen as the "boring" sister, so adapters try to make her more "interesting" (usually while still having her die). Kantra does not avoid the Beth trap, but in her sure hands, Beth is able to be a full character, and a full member of the sisterly quartet (and she doesn't die, either). I shouldn't have doubted Kantra, whose first book, Meg & Jo, was was far and away the best written adaptation I've come across.

Once again, Kantra has embodied the spirit of the original, while bringing the March sisters into the modern era. In this book, Beth and Amy share the spotlight, and we even get some insight into the question of how Jo, Amy, and Laurie (in this book, Trey) all manage to reconcile their erstwhile love triangle. Once again, Kantra handles this deftly and elegantly; everyone's feelings are respected and the reader gets a satisfying resolution too.

Once again, Kantra has given us a good book and a good adaptation, although this one perhaps stands less on its own without Little Women than did Meg & Jo. Certainly, one should read Meg & Jo first. But Little Women fans will enjoy this book alongside readers who have no familiarity with the original. It's sweet, and light without being too light, and generally wonderful.

Little Women has never been a favorite of mine. I have watched the films and tried to read the book without success. When Virginia Kantra first released Meg & Jo the first book in the series I was surprised by how drawn I was into the modern day version of the classic novel. I have eagerly been awaiting Beth and Amy and I was not disappointed. What I think Kantra does wonderfully is still retain the classic elements of the original novel while making it fresh and interesting for modern day audiences. I especially love what she did with Beth and Amy's characters in making them as fully realized as their sisters. Highly recommended.