I was curious and a little apprehensive to read The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker since Little Women is my favorite book. I was worried that the authors would put too much of a modern slant on each sister’s tale. I was disappointed that the authors drew inspiration from Louisa Mae Alcott’s sisters instead of the fictional characters. The author’s note explains their writing process. Amy’s story opens and closes The Other March Sisters. I did not feel that the author provided any new information on Amy (or Laurie). I wanted to quit reading soon after I began the story (but I kept persevering). The author’s slant on Meg was not in line with the character, her religion, or her husband. Meg’s husband, John, would not have supported the idea of Meg becoming an herbalist (he did not want help from Meg’s family, and he would not want his wife working especially since they had the twins). I was shocked that the author wrote about Meg supporting a friend who was getting an illegal procedure. I cannot see a devout Protestant like Meg having anything do to with this (my mouth dropped open). I was shocked by the author’s portrayal of Beth. I believe the author underestimated how devastating scarlet fever and rheumatic fever could be especially for someone as fragile as Beth. The author not only had Beth “in the closet,” but she also included Jo and Laurie (I hope it was a walk-in closet). I did not like how sweet Marmee was portrayed as a manipulative villain. One author did not read Little Women until before she began to write her story, and it showed. The authors did not use the correct language for the time period (an example is gay meant lighthearted and carefree in the 1860s). As you can tell, I did not enjoy The Other March Sisters (sorry). To me, it seemed that the authors of The Other March Sisters were not fans of the heartwarming Little Women.

Absolutely enjoyed this! Such a lovely addition to the March sister’s stories. The writing was solid and I loved the letters throughout.

Goodness knows that I have tried - on multiple occasions to read this book, but it's official - I have decided to DNF at 20%.

Little Women is one of my all time favorite books and I typically LOVE retellings and twists on the modern tale but this one just seemed far too out in left field and nothing flowed or worked together. From what I read everything felt disjointed and I'm not sure if that would have come together or not, but it was more than I could take. I also couldn't stand any of the characters - instead of loving them all, I found myself bored and unable to really care.

I really loved the queer representation and wish that I had been able to really read and enjoy it!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Little Women is the book that made me a reader and probably means more to me than any other book. And while I adore Jo, I am equally fascinated by her three sisters. So I was delighted to discover this book that revolves around the lives of Meg, Beth and Amy. We see their struggles and triumphs outside the shadow of their dynamic sister. In fact, Jo’s voice is absent allowing her sisters to take center stage.

We see Meg, overwhelmed by the pressures of marriage and motherhood struggling with her loss of self and trying to find her identity and something that belongs just to her. A dying Beth’s quiet placidity hiding an inner rage and attempt to find acceptance. And Amy, struggling to figure out who she is and wants she wants from life.

I enjoyed this book and I didn’t miss Jo at all. It is written by three authors which ensured that each of the sister’s stories seemed unique and totally their own. They were individuals. Their inner struggles, hopes and ambitions fleshed out and given more depth, I fell in love with and connected with each one in different and unique ways. I recently did a reread of Little Women and while this book certainly stands on its own, I think it would make a great companion read and enhance that beloved classic.

Thank you to @netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for this arc.

The Other March Sisters is an exploration of the other leading ladies from Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, Little Women - Meg, Beth and Amy - and what happened while Jo (the protagonist of the original novel) was absent.

Each character is written by a different author and explores the concepts of feminism, filial duty, sexuality, and social responsibility all framed within the 19th Century world these women inhabit. We first meet Amy, away on a tour of Europe and being courted by Freddie Vaughn, with whom she has little in common but is entertaining because of the pressure from home to "marry well". Next we met Meg, who married for neither love nor money, and is feeling trapped in a role she didn't want. And finally Beth, the invalid, who is treated as a placid child, a "house angel" as her parents called her, but filled with fire and rage for the hand life has dealt her.

I don't want to give away spoilers, but each woman faces a pivotal moment where they choose between what they "should" be doing and what spurs their passion.

The authors seamlessly blended their voices with Alcott's, allowing for a far deeper exploration of the March family and their world at the time, however at the same time there is a distinctly 21st Century frame to these characters. The March family were already reasonably progressive for their time - this book explores the further progressive thinking in their daughters, and the subversive ways in which they are able to express these while socially constrained.

A fascinating book, and a wonderful sequel to Little Women.

~This is a NetGalley title. All opinions are my own~

This novel includes three stories: those of Amy, Beth, and Meg of Little Women fame. These were stories well told, but they definitely have a leftist bent. If you will be happy with that, you'll really like this book. If not, you might want to take a pass on this novel.

Amy's story, set in Europe, tracked the recent movie version of Little Women that came out recently. For this reason, the story seemed familiar but didn't impress me as much as the others. The novel really takes off when Meg gets her turn at telling her story. This part of the novel had depth of both character and story. I enjoyed this portion of the novel best.

Beth's story seemed forced and intent on fulfilling an agenda. Without giving away spoilers, this story just didn't seem as authentic and true to the characters as the others. Also, it seemed to look at this time period from a decidedly twenty-first century point of view. I personally didn't care for it, but other readers might.

Overall, I'll give this a 4, mostly because Meg's story was so good.

The Other March Sisters shares insight to what was going on with Meg, Beth, and Amy while Jo was in New York, a part of the sisters lives that was heavily glossed over because Jo wasn't around to really write about it. It's written in sections, so you read about Amy's life, then Meg's life before moving to Beth, then finally back to Amy. The book does rely on you having some background level of familiarity with the overall story, but I would say watching the movies would work if you've not read the book. I have read the book, but it's been too long, honestly.

Essentially, we're reading about Amy in Europe being courted by... Frank? Fred? One of them, for sure. She's also engaging in her art and trying to learn as much as she possibly can. Then she hears from Laurie and he's upset about something that went down with Jo. Her story takes us around Europe with Amy trying to figure out if she's going to do what Marmie wants her to do and marry well or if she's going to choose herself and pursue her art. I liked Amy's section, though I didn't always love her narrator. I had to adjust to her narration style both times as we both start and end with Amy.

With Meg, her section was hands down my favorite. I could have read an entire book about Meg and what her plot line has her pursuing. Basically, we start out with her being really unfulfilled by her life as a mother to twins and a husband who basically just keeps going to a friend's house after work and who got super mad at her for spending money on a dress. She still has her best friend who gifts her a book about herbs and a nice dress and somehow this turns into Meg starting to garden and make things from the herbs that she's growing there. She also gets into an argument with Marmie that really changes how you wind up thinking about Marmie, alongside what Amy's storyline entails. I absolutely adored Meg's section.

Then, with Beth, we're following her while she's still at home, without her sisters. Her health is still very up and down, but there's a new woman in town and Beth is immediately fascinated by her. This winds up with the sweetest sapphic love story between them that I absolutely adored. Also, Beth is angry, but tries so hard to still be sweet and I really enjoyed seeing that side of her too.

Overall, I think that this book does a truly fantastic job at what it set out to do, but I found myself truly just wanting an entire book about Meg along these lines, which sort of interfered with my enjoyment of the entire book. But if you're a Little Women fan, you should definitely pick this one up! And then come back and share with me your thoughts. As for whether or not you should read it with your ears or your eyeballs, I think my solution of doing a mixed read was a great solution because some of the narrators worked better for me than others. But as always, I love the ease of reading with my ears so I did mostly listen and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have done so.

This was such a well-written exploration of the sisters we didn't get to see fully in Little Women. I especially loved Beth's POV and her portrayal as being angry at her situation, and I also loved that she was queer, I think it does fit her character very well.
I also loved that the writing really felt similar to the original work, it felt so cozy and descriptive. You could tell a lot of research went into the writing, and I really liked that the authors incorporated the personalities of the sisters that inspired each character.

An absolutely stunning extension of Louisa May Alcott's iconic classic Little Women. Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko and Liz Parker phenomenally match Alcott's voice in their exploration of the other March sisters.

Following Beth, Meg and Amy- the aforementioned other March sisters- as they have their own experiences and come into themselves individually. I appreciate the candor in the exploration of each sister grappling with real struggles like racism, sexual identity, classism, women's rights and many other topical issues. There were moments of joy, friendship, love intertwined with grief, loss, hardship that made for a beautiful, authentic tale of womanhood throughout the ages.

I truly could not put this book down! The care that went into this book is evident, and it has quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year.

A huge thank you to Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker, Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC <33333

I have loved Little Women since I was young - first falling in love with the 1994 movie, and then reading the book. This was a beautiful dive in to the lives of the other March sisters. I found so many poignant, beautiful moments...my feelings ranged from sadness, to hope, to happiness, and everything in between. I appreciated Meg's story the most, though I found Amy's enlightening (TBH I was quite betrayed by Amy and Laurie when I was 8). Beth's story was heartbreaking, but I think she found a lot of inner strength.

Pacing throughout the book felt perfect. I like the way the narration switched from Amy, to Meg, to Beth, and back to Amy.

Overall this was a fantastic read. It does lean a little heavier on the LGBTQ+ side, but it didn't feel forced.

This was such an interesting take on Little Women! When I initially heard of and requested this book, I thought it must be a modernized version of the classic, and it was fascinating to see the queer and feminist themes play out in the historical setting. The characters’ actions and views at times seemed a little incongruously modern, although reading the authors’ note about how they drew some inspiration from Alcott’s sisters was more convincing. There were things that didn’t fit my personal conception of and attachment to the characters—particularly the characterization of Marmee. I think it could have been more nuanced and believable, giving more dimension to a beloved character without turning her into a villain. But that is a tricky aspect of writing a book based on already-beloved characters. Long story short—I didn’t love or resonate with every aspect of this telling, but I did find it interesting, and I’m glad I read it.

Thank you to Netgalley for the arc. If you enjoyed the story Little Women, you would like this. As its of the four March sisters, but a different story, not the original. I loved this version and thought it was very well written.

The original Little Women written in still held up as a classic for young girls over 100 years later. I read it as a child in the 1960's and it was one of my favorites. I still have that copy on my book shelf. That is why I wanted to read The Other March Sisters so much. I love retellings. Sometimes a fresh viewpoint can add to a story and sometimes, they make you want to cringe. If you look at other reviews, you will see both reactions. I prefer to judge the book for itself and not so much in comparison to the original.

The premise of the book is that Louisa May Alcott's Little Women is Jo's version of the events. But each woman has her won story to tell. Three different authors each wrote the story for one of the sisters. This division of labor helped to give each character a unique voice. It is well known that Little women was autobiographical fiction. The characters are idealized versions of the author and her sisters. The authors of this book have woven together research about Louisa May Alcott's and her sisters, passages from their own writing including some of their letters and passages from the original books. After adding their own imagination to the mix, the result is three fantastic narratives. Each woman is so much more than the one dimensional idealized little woman. All three stories include detail that breathe new life into the women. I loved this book.

The story takes place during the time when the girls have grown up. Jo is in New York, Amy in Europe, Meg is a mother of young twins and Beth is the "house angel". Each story is told primarily in letters from one of the sister's to another. I actually alternated between an electronic advanced copy and the temporary audiobook that I received from the publisher. This is one of those times when I can enthusiastically recommend the audiobook. The publishers have not only used three authors but used separate narrators as well. Each one did a fantastic job telling her story. I only have one problem with the audiobook, it does not include the afterward with the authors' notes. These author notes were very important. And these notes were very important when explaining some of the liberties that were taken with the story. Although the book description does not include the fact, potential readers do need to be aware that there is a strong LGBT storyline throughout this novel. The character of Jo eventually marries in the end of "Little Women" despite claiming throughout that she would never marry. But Alcott never did. The creators of the book state in the afterward that LGBT people have always existed throughout history. and so these characters appear in all three stories. While it makes perfect sense to address Jo's sexuality, she always refers to herself as their brother, adding these qualities to some of the other characters and including the topic in all three stories almost seems to be a bit excessive. Some of my favorite recent books were actually LGBT love stories. But it is not everyone's cup of tea. Especially for many Alcott fans, so there really should have been some mention in the blurbs or back cover.

Overall, I loved this book. If you enjoy a retelling with a fresh viewpoint, you will too.

I lost count of how many times I tried to start this book. Every attempt ended with me feeling stuck in a dry opening, and I kept putting it aside. But I really loved the premise, so I gave it one last shot - and I’m glad I did.

Retellings of classic stories are everywhere these days, and for good reason. There’s something fascinating about revisiting familiar characters from a new perspective. This book, written by three authors, reimagines Little Women through the eyes of the sisters who were often overshadowed - Amy, Beth, and Meg. What made it even more intriguing was that the authors drew inspiration from real-life stories and letters from Louisa May Alcott’s own sisters.

I particularly enjoyed Meg’s section, which explored the price of motherhood, and Beth’s, which captured that feeling of “running out of time” (to borrow from Lin-Manuel Miranda). Seeing their lives fleshed out gave me a much better appreciation for their struggles and choices, even if their sections were relatively short. The letters between the sisters were also a nice touch.

Amy’s story, on the other hand, didn’t really work for me. I struggled with the writing style in her section, which might explain why I had such a hard time getting into the book. It did redeem itself slightly toward the end, but it was my least favourite of the three perspectives.

Despite my slow start, I think this was a successful attempt at giving more depth to the “other” March sisters. I’d recommend it to Little Women fans or anyone who enjoys retellings.

3.25/5 ⭐

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This story about Amy, Meg, and Beth was beautifully written. I enjoyed the way each sister had her own voice and her own story to tell. I love the Little Women story and I love how this take on a classic is so well done. The ending came quickly because of how invested I was in the story and characters. I do feel like the way the authors ended it was perfect for the characters. The characters were so well developed and I found myself caring about what happened to them.

Would I have thought Little Women was an unfinished story if this book didn’t show up on my radar? Not necessarily. But I am so grateful to the authors for providing more content in the Little Women universe, so to speak, and for letting Amy, Beth, and Meg’s stories shine. This book was very cozy and sweet without being cloying. I think the tone read appropriately for a Little Women pastiche, particularly the correspondence between characters that was included. I loved reading Amy’s story the most, as I’ve always thought she was a misunderstood character. The authors did their best with Beth’s story, which did feel unfinished but I suppose that can’t be helped. Meg’s story felt the most unexpected. While not necessarily out of place, it did feel like the authors took some liberties.

One thing I did not love was how bitter the sisters all seemed toward Jo and how much she was left out of this story. Although Little Women is from Jo’s perspective and the point of this book was to show the other sister’s perspectives, it just felt like the whole thing swung a little far in the other direction. And the resentfulness extended to their mother as well. I just felt that even more than the queer representation and progressive choices made by the sisters which other readers have taken issue with, their attitudes about their sister and mother felt a bit forced and modern, like the authors were creating something that wasn’t there to begin with.

Overall I’m so pleased to have had the chance to delve into these stories and spend a little extra time with the other March sisters!

This story takes place throughout the second half of Little Women, otherwise known as Good Wives. Amy is in Europe, Meg is finding her place as a mom and wife & Beth is dealing with her sickness. Each character is finding herself and trying to break out of the societal expectations, especially those put on by Marmee.

Little Women was a childhood favorite and has become a comfort read and for me this book did a good job expanding on and filling in moments from the story. We get a sense for how Meg, Amy and Beth are dealing with their lives and what they ultimately want for themselves. As I got older and reread the story I wanted to be the mom Marmee is to her girls. This story gives a different perspective on Marmee.

The story is written in four parts. Amy's life starts and ends the story, with Meg and Beth's sections in the middle. Each part is the whole story for each character. It is easy to follow and parts of the original story are woven in.

I do recommend having some knowledge of Little Women going into this story as it will make more sense. This book will not be for everyone, but I did enjoy how each author presented their own version of the characters.

This book does include a storyline of abortion in one character's section. It isn't graphic, but the character needs to decide to help out a friend in a safe way.

Thank you NetGalley for opportunity to read and review this book.

Thanks so much to Kensington for the gifted ARC!

Okay. I am neither a lover of classics nor a regular historical fiction reader... BUT I do love Liz Parker, so I read this... in two sittings! I absolutely loved it, and would've read it in one sitting, but kids. I loved following the stories of Amy, Meg, and Beth. They had such distinct voices and I was truly engaged all the way through the book - the storyline was cohesive, familiar to the classic, and flowed very well. While this is a fresh take, the authors really took the time to do their research and make these characters representative of their times, struggles, and desires. While I haven't read the books listed as comparative reads in the synopsis (Hamnet, March, Caroline), this did remind me a bit of Weyward, and I think readers of that would appreciate this book!

I really enjoyed listening to this on audio, as narrated by Laura Knight Keating, Taylor Meskimen, & Rachel Botchan. It was nice to have a voice for each perspective!

Please check trigger warnings for this book before reading.

We’re all familiar with Louisa May Alcott’s classic Little Women, which highlights the talents of the March sisters, with Jo standing out as the rebellious writer. In this creative retelling, The Other March Sisters, we get to see new dimensions of the other sisters. Amy focuses on developing her artistic skills while navigating European society in search of a husband. Meg, now a mother of twins, grapples with her desire for a life beyond domestic duties. Beth, whose life has been overshadowed by illness and her mortality, struggles with feelings of inadequacy. Each sister is given a voice by three different authors, offering a fresh take on their characters while remaining true to the essence of the original story.

Themes of feminism, self-doubt, unspoken desires, and the complexities of love intertwine in this tale of young women navigating the constraints of their time.

I was really excited about this new release because I really love Liz Parker's writing style. I didn't think it would matter that I'm not familiar with Little Women, but I think that would have really helped my experience with understanding the nuances of each character.

It's really hard for me to review this book because at the end of the day. I think I'm just not the right reader for it.