This is a pitch-perfect retelling of Little Women / Good Wives set in the modern US. The characters feel very true to Alcott's original, and I really liked the way we see how the pressures of being 'the good one' and 'the pretty one' play out for Beth and Amy.
My full review will appear on Smart Bitches, Trashy Books, closer to the publication date.

Another winner for Virginia Kantra.
Beth and Amy concludes Kantra's modern take on Little Women. Kantra gave me everything "more" that I wanted and needed from Amy and Trey in the original. We understand them better, love them more.
Beth's story arc was heartbreaking and yet perfect in Kantra's setting.
And the bonus romantic arc for the elder Marches was too sweet.
A wonderful conclusion to a beloved story. A must-read for all the classic lovers.

Absolutely so pleased with this companion novel to Kantra's Meg & Jo - it's as sweet, fun, fresh and does an equally fabulous job of giving Little Women fans an idea of what the sisters would be up to in contemporary times! As someone who's identified as both Jo and Amy in the original, I always struggled with the Laurie factor and how that would *really* play out between sisters. Here, we get into Amy's mind and heart, and the complex feelings she has for the modern 'Laurie' - named Trey in this imagining. We also get Beth as an adult, still holding on to her innocent and naive position among the sisters, but trying to stand on her own two feet. I was surprised to find chapters from Mom's perspective, too! If you're looking for a satisfying tale of a family that feels familiar thanks to the threads of "Little Women" weaved throughout, look no further.

TW: eating disorders

Cute sequel to Meg and Jo! It had all the feels of the original novel, but updated in a relatable way. Beth's plot was hard to read and can be triggering to those who have struggled with eating disorders to major CWs there for that.

Review also published to blog: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com/

Revisiting my favorite characters is like coming home. Reading “Beth & Amy” - the modern take on the story of two of the March Sisters from Louisa May Alcott’s “Little Women” felt exactly like that.

Last year, I had the pleasure of reading the first book in this series, “Meg & Jo” and it made me feel all warm and gooey inside, just like biting into a brownie, fresh out of the oven. “Beth and Amy” gave me that same feeling.

Admittedly, if I'm being honest, Amy has never been my favorite March sister. If you’ve read “Little Women” - you all know why: mischievous, jealous, and spoiled, making Jo’s life difficult was a favorite past-time (or so it seemed). Beth on the other hand was known for being kind, shy, and gentle. A talented musician, her family has always been extremely important to her.

All grown up in “Beth and Amy”, these two sisters are like night and day, and yet, their love for each other shines through, as does their love for their family. Amy is a successful New York handbag designer who can’t fight her unrequited feelings for Jo’s ex. Beth is a successful singer, songwriter who is battling her own secrets, while desperately longing for home.

Abby March has taken care of her daughters her entire life while putting her own life on hold. Now, however, it’s time to let them spread their wings, give advice only when asked, and finally put herself first.

A wonderfully heartfelt, modern retelling of Little Women and specifically of Beth & Amy’s story, Virginia Kantra’s writing, made me smile, feel cozy and warm, and brought me sheer happiness. If you loved Little Women, I hope you’ll consider reading this series by Virginia Kantra, it stole my heart and I think it will do the same for you.

Big thanks to Elisha at Berkley Publishing Group (and NetGalley) for the arc.

Published on Goodreads, Twitter, and Instagram on 3.2.21.

I'm so grateful for these Little Women modernizations, what a treat! Virginia Kantra took the most boring March sister and the most hated March sister and gave them the best stories, all while staying true to the classic characters. I appreciated the Marmee love, too. Looking forward to adding a copy to my home library when this is published.

This is a very cute read and easily identifiable since most of us are very familiar with Little Women. It's an easy and fun read. I have not read the companion book that the author wrote entitled Meg and Jo, but now I'm very tempted to do so. If you wonder what Little Women would be like in modern day times, this is your book!

This is a great book to recommend to readers who love Little Women -- be it the book or the film versions. The second in a series (the first concentrated on Meg and Jo), this book focuses on Beth and Amy and reimagines their stories in contemporary times. The author remains true to the spirit of the March sisters and their family and friends, yet is very creative with their stories. Really enjoyed this and look forward to seeing more.

I read both this book and Meg and Jo, and as a big fan of the original, found both delightful. The author’s ability to maintain the premise but make it work so well in modern day is impressive. I was most pleased with the change in Ash. Well done all around!

Second in the series of an update of Little Women this story focuses on Beth and Amy. Beth is struggling to make it in country music. Her song has won accolades but every time she performs she suffers from nerves and worse. Plus she's keeping a secret. Is this really the life she wants? But she doesn't want to disappoint anyone. Amy is building a fashion empire in New York but still yearning for Trey. She needs financing to expand but the money comes with strings. Could she be happy moving back home or will she always be in the shadow of her older sisters? Plus the March parents are having problems of their own. Will the sisters find a way to make the life they want?

I've always been a huge "Little Women" ever since childhood, and when I heard Virginia Kantra wrote a modern retelling of it in "Meg & Jo," I knew I'd like it just as much, which I did. Now, that I've finished her follow-up, I'm even more besotted with the lives of the March sisters than ever before, and here it's Beth's and Amy's turns in the spotlight to share their stories. After I devoured and loved "Meg & Jo," I was stocked to read this follow-up, which I can now report that I loved even more.

This book is all about Beth's and Amy's coming-of-age stories. Amy's an ambitious up-and-coming handbag designer in New York, whereas good girl Beth is a singer-songwriter working to overcome her anxiety and stage fright on tour with country superstar Colt (from the previous book). When they both return home for Jo's wedding, they must confront their lives and what they actually want it to be. As a reader who's enthralled with the March sisters, while we all adore Meg and Jo, who doesn't secretly love Beth and Amy? So, it's exciting to see their perspectives and get inside their heads as they grow up, especially since in the original novel, they were children.

This story alternates between the point of view of the two sisters, much like "Meg & Jo," but also includes chapters focus on Marmee/Momma/Abby's sides too, which is another intriguing perspective to understand. True to form, Kantra's novel features rich storytelling and language to draw you in. Set three years after "Meg & Jo," I loved seeing Beth and Amy shine, expressing vulnerability and complexity in both past and present timelines. As expected, I really dug this book and just didn't (and couldn't) want to put it down. All in all, I think I did like this more than "Meg & Jo" because it's partially a new story with previously hidden depths and vulnerabilities of these former minor characters that I loved so fiercely.

Disclaimer: I got this ARC in exchange for an honest review from @NetGalley.

I'm a huge fan of Little Women and this book was so good! I loved that this one had a modern take on it and there was more to beth's story. Amy's personality shines throughout this book and I have to admit after seeing the movie I don't hate her as much as I used to. In this book, readers will also get a glimpse into Abby's perspective. I loved this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of Virginia Kantra's books!