Thanks to Kensington Publishing for sending me this ARC free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I really enjoyed reading this book, the prose was lovely and enticing, each author poured their heart and soul into their recreations of each character. I really liked how much they took from the real Alcott sisters to inspire a deeper look at the March sisters.

However, I think it lacked ambition somewhat. It only takes place while the March sisters are adults and separated not giving much time for character development; Amy became the most developed character as she had two parts of the book all to herself but I would have loved more from Meg and Beth!

I felt the length of the novel did not do justice to the characters, they needed more space. Not to mention framing Jo and Marmee as the antagonists of the piece felt like a slap in the face to those who truly loved the original but i feel I could have accepted it with more depth and more words on the page to explore it!

A lot of the history was researched very well but something about the tone felt anachronistic for the time particularly in regard to sexuality and reproductive rights there was a definite modern tone.

Overall, I think it’s a great character study of beloved literary sisters and it only fell down due to its limitations if they had only been more ambitious with the length it would have been a fast favourite. I think I will definitely seek out more work by these authors though as I loved their prose.

This book dances between heartbreak and hope, weaving together distinct voices to reimagine a classic tale. Each perspective offers a fresh look at sisterhood, resilience, and self-discovery.

Little Women is one of my favorite books: it’s a masterpiece of storytelling presented as slice of life in historic Civil-War era New England, following four very different sisters through their teenage years into young adulthood, guided by the moral compass of a kind father (off soldiering) and a warm and loving mother. Impoverished and still happy and charitable, their good deeds are noticed by a kind and wealthy neighbor, and they are befriended by his grandson, who falls for one sister and marries another.

I named my daughter Josephine in part for irrepressible, invincible Jo March, the central figure of the famous novel. Unfortunately, Little Women is a book that is still dismissed as domestic fiction and women’s issues, when it should be required reading and part of the American canon. The characters of Little Women are based on Louisa May Alcott and her three sisters, their home in Concord, Massachusetts, and Louisa’s passion for becoming a writer. Famously against marriage herself, the story goes she was directed to marry off all the sisters in her novel. It’s only in recent years there has been much speculation about Louisa, her sexuality, her gender-bending, and her choice of spinsterhood.

In The Other March Sisters, Jo is off writing in New York, and she and her three sisters and their friends and companions are examined with a modern lens: Beth, Jo, and Laurie are cast as queer, bringing to light a full spectrum of sexuality that was no less likely to exist in the late 1800s than today. I loved this revisioning.

Authors Epstein, Malinenko, and Parker retell Little Women from the points of view of a rtist Amy, abroad and shopping on the marriage mart for the match that will get the family out of poverty; motherly Meg, struggling with a marriage that feels more like a machination by her mother every day; and dear Beth, wasting away from scarlet fever complications and challenged by a new friend to do something with her one precious life. Characterizations are vivid, in spite of the short space alloted. These revamped characters are more heavily influenced by their real-life counterparts, with Beth less sweet and more angry (true to Lizzie’s persona, due to her chronic illness, pain and suffering); Meg more introspective about her marriage and desirous of real work and a real life; Amy more industrious and less silly and annoying.

The authors strive to give happier endings to all: Amy gets the art experiences she wants, Meg finds a lucrative hobby in herbalism and love for her husband, and Beth gets a love interest. The novel reflects on women’s rights, gender, queerness, abolition and abortion, but mostly in very surface-level ways.

I love reading reimaginations of Little Women, from Mrs. March to Great or Nothing to The Spring Girls to Jo & Beth, Meg & Amy, and own several different formats, editions and retellings. As someone who has read Little Women at least thirty times, if not more, I found this narrative to be overfull of references to the original. New scenes are seeded in, with Beth as a piano instructor, Meg tending a garden of medicinal weeds and assisting with an on-the-page abortion, and Amy touring Europe as an artist. Meg’s story is the most compelling and timely, for sure. Each sister gets less than 100 pages, so there is not a lot of space for depth–this might have worked better as a three-book series, and the writing is good, I just wanted more. Marmee’s presentation as a villain didn’t work for me. The reimagining of what happened when Jo was not center stage is refreshing and true enough to character, but overall, the writing feels more like a too-brief retelling through a new lens, without Louisa’s magnificent prose, the New England sensibility, and the Puritan work ethic and strong spirituality. It’s a must-have for fans, still.

This doesn’t come out for three months, but it’s getting enough buzz I wanted to get my review out.

I received a free advance reader’s review copy of #TheOtherMarchSisters via #NetGalley courtesy of Kensington Publishing.

I read Little Women so many times. It was fun to read a different take on the trajectory of the sisters' lives. I think some reviewers were upset about some of the themes in the book, but I loved that these were addressed. Even though LGBTQ+ wasn't discussed much in literature in the time period, it most definitely was in existence at the time. I appreciated the way they were presented in the novel.

I loved Little Women - such a treasured childhood read for me, I have huge fondness for it. In hindsight I probably shouldn’t have requested this book as it was never going to slot in seamlessly.
It was too jarring and didn’t fit with how I feel about the original.

I was looking forward to this book as Little Women, Little Men, and Jo's boys played a big part in my boring, hot summers in Texas. I read these multiple times during my childhood for the warm cozies they filled me with. I cannot say the same for The Other March Sisters, a collection of short stories by Linda Epstein, Ally Malineinko, and Liz Parker. I wanted to like this book as a sequel to the original. The premise is good, yet something is lost in the transition to the page.

The sisters, Beth, Amy, and Meg--(no Jo)-- have separate stories that are supposed to enlarge on some events in the original novel, adding LGBTQ themes. A lighter touch would have worked better in the historical timeframe, instead it reads like there are splashes of contemporary behavior with modern phrasing. Perhaps a contemporary setting would have been a better fit.

Meg's story was good, I liked that she portrayed emotions not uncommon to worn-down new moms. She struggles to help herself and others within the strict social rules of her era. The dark side of her tale left me cold because it maimed a favorite character from the original work. That said, it was my favorite of the three stories. Though this book did not resonate with me, those readers who have not read the original book, or did not love it, will probably enjoy it.

Excellent book, love it! Looking forward to more from this author! Apologies for the lateness of my review

Little Women was my favorite book growing up and I always love going back to this story. The idea that we are getting the -real- story was fun to me. I liked how the Amy/Laurie plot was expanded, but one “twist” felt super forced. The Marmee slander took this book down a star. The moment she was hateful to Meg shattered a piece of my soul. I saw that the author who wrote that part had never read the book…maybe that’s why it was so jarring. The concept of this book was good and the bones of the stories were there, but it dragged on in some parts and some character choices didn’t make sense.

I have tried to read this book for several months now, but I can't get into it. Sadly there's nothing fresh about this story.

This book felt like a warm hug, in that same endearing way Little Women does.

While Amy and Beth’s stories were compelling, the pages spent with Meg were my favorite. I felt seen: the mother who feels like the woman she was before is lost in the day-to-day parenting tasks. The way she blossomed, rediscovering herself beyond mothering was delightful to witness. Also, the way Meg and John navigate this period in their marriage was so well-written.

All three sisters expanded into their dreams and it was a joy to be along for it. It was refreshing to see these three sisters through a modern lens.

The Other March Sisters comes out February 25th next year. Be sure to pre-order or request your library purchase a copy!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was looking forward to this book because Little Women is one of my favourite books. Unfortunately, Meg and Amy's sections were both so repetitive and one note. Beth's was interesting.
Books like this don't have to be written exactly as the original but when there are characters that say "I feel seen" or other 21st century idioms, it pulled me right out of the story.
I won't even mention some of the plot changes! 😳 I think this would have been far more successful if they had set it in modern day.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy


"The Other March Sisters is a collection of short stories by four contemporary writers who reimagine the characters of the March sisters from the classic novel Little Women. Each story offers a fresh perspective on the lives of the characters, focusing on their challenges, experiences, and dreams. The book perfectly captures the spirit of the original, but at the same time gives a modern twist to the problems women face today. While reading, you feel a strong emotional connection with the characters, their determination and vulnerability. This is an interesting interpretation of the classic that emphasizes the relevance of the themes and the depth of the characters.

This Little Women retelling went into the story of Beth, Meg and Amy.
I am definitely the target audience as a millenial female who loved Little Women when I was a kid.

I connected so much with the stories of love, finding yourself and motherhood. Meg's story in particular for me hit like that punch in the gut about being lost in motherhood and the societal expectations on mothers.

I enjoyed how it was written in 4 parts following each of the characters. I did at the end, even though we know the ending of the book, feel like it wasn't quite finished yet. The authors did note that that was the point but left wanting MORE which is so good to have at the end of a book (not wanting it to end).

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of the eARC of this book and congratulations to the authors on their book release.

Little Women has always held a special place in my heart, so when I came across The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker, I couldn’t resist diving in. It’s a reinterpretation that shines a light on Meg, Beth, and Amy, the sisters who often take a back seat to Jo.

I had high hopes for this reimagining, but I was underwhelmed by Meg and Amy’s narratives. A lot of what was supposed to be fresh about their stories felt too familiar from the original story. On the other hand, Beth—who's often overlooked—really stood out to me here. Her character arc was a highlight, and it was fascinating to see her given more depth and strength. While it didn’t completely capture my heart, I did appreciate seeing a more assertive side of Beth, a woman rising above her struggles.

The concept of the book had so much promise, but ultimately it fell a bit short for me. The language was also more modern than I expected, which pulled me out of the historical setting at times. There was one intriguing thread that came up near the end that I wished the authors had explored more, but everything felt rushed to fit the timeline, making some of the storylines feel a little implausible. With that said, it was a nice way to revisit the world of Little Women, even if it didn’t fully meet my expectations. It’s always interesting to reflect on books from our youth through an adult lens—new details stand out in unexpected ways.

Little Women was and is a favorite. I loved reading about Jo and her sisters. I’ve visited Concord Massachusetts and imagined it snow covered as described. When I saw that this gave voice to the other sisters, I couldn’t resist. All of us with a sister know that while our sisters know us better than anyone else, if we each told our OWN stories, they might be a little different. I enjoyed each sisters story and getting to know them through their “own” words.

🍃I love little women by louisa May Alcott ,so much that i was sceptical before reading this book , should i read or not ,will this book captivates my attention and add the important details about the life of sisters and yes this book is what we need a perfect read about historical ,social, and the Sisters individual life.

🍃Authors has done an amazing work by weaving the sister's individual journey with delicate words and strong plot . Every individual has depth in their character and love how the story unfolds about AMY, MEG and Beth ,true to the story of little women but Authors has given a new perspective about the lives of sister.

🍃Recommending this book to everyone who wants to read about the journey of sister's with a twist and a new perspective.

💐Read if you like

💜LITTLE WOMEN
💜LGBTQI+
💜Feminist
💜Historical

I requested this one on a whim from NetGalley. Little Women (and Little Men, and Jo's Boys) are some of my favorite "classic" reads. I read them in my teen years and loved them. Several years ago, I enjoyed revisiting the characters again in the book Jo and Laurie by Margaret Stohl. So, I was intrigued by another book set within the Little Women canon but told from the perspectives of the other March sisters.

First, what worked for me: I enjoyed revisiting these beloved characters. Meg's storyline, in particular, felt very believable. Also, there were a lot of good lines to highlight!

What didn't work as well for me was Beth and Laurie's storylines. They are "What if..." storylines explored in rather clunky ways.

Still, I give the book 3 stars for allowing me to return to the world of Little Women. It is interesting to return to books that you loved when you were younger to consider from an adult's perspective some of the things that you didn't pay attention to when you read them earlier in life.

I would recommend this book to any other diehard Little Women fans. You're probably going to have some opinions about what the authors did with the March sisters (and spouses), and that is what makes reading fun.

Big thanks to the publisher for granting my Netgalley request for this one!

I was so excited about this book due to the fact that for a very long time I wanted to see a reinterpretation of the "Little Women" where I would have the opportunity to learn more about the other sisters. Unfortunately, I found Meg and Amy's stories to be very bland... most of their character traits that were meant to be developed in their separate stories I had already deduced from the original book, but I really enjoyed Beth's transformation, one of the most neglected sisters in terms of character development in Alcott's book.

My desire to get to Beth March's story made me continue reading this book... for about 3 weeks I was stuck on Meg's story because the first part, Amy's, already disappointed me. But now I managed to finish the book, and even if I didn't like it completely, I'm glad that I was able to see another side of the dear and not so fragile Beth, a woman reborn from her own ashes who defends her opinions and ideas and who is no longer afraid to voice her thoughts.

Little women is one of my favourite books so I was so excited to have the opportunity to read this book. Sadly it wasn’t for me, though there were parts I enjoyed. looking into the lives of the sisters from their points of views was at times fascinating but generally I was disappointed with how they were portrayed!

The thing is I like the idea of this book, and I wanted to like this book, but in the end I really don’t like it.
This is supposed to be a telling of some of the events of Little Woman from the other sisters perspective. It takes place starting from when Amy is in Europe and ends before she has to return for Beth.
I found the writing of the girls inner thoughts to be incredibly cyclical. They all get one overarching theme and then it is just hammered to death. I found some of the language choices to be incredibly modern to a point where it was jarring. The one interesting avenue that I wish was explored further was basically a footnote at the end of the book. The authors picked a very tight timeline to squeeze a lot of new plot into and it winds up feeling rushed and implausible. They miss the mark on giving characters that I would care more about. There is also some reinterpretation of events of the original novel that had left and worked with could have really strengthened the points they were trying to make.
Thank you to @netgalley @kensingtonbooks for letting me have a copy of #theothermarchsisters for review.
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