4.5☆
Having read "little women" quite recently, I wouldn't have thought that this unique take on Meg, Amy, Beth and even Laurie was everything I ever needed to conclude the main story. It was easy to breeze through this book, thanks to the fact that it has short chapters, and while the story has a playful air, it discusses current topics such as feminism, misogyny, abortion, trauma, family expectations, motherhood, and finding one's sexuality.
This novel takes us through the eyes of Meg, struggling with her new, married life and trying to find herself in the process, Amy which feels the expectations of her family to marry someone rich but still wanting to pursue an artistic career and Beth who's trying to stop being defined by the labels her family assigned her.

In the end, all three women come to the conclusion that being authentic is the one quality that guarantees a fulfilling and happy life:
Meg, while unearthing a different, more demanding side of her mother, is able to stand her ground and transform her love for gardening in a useful and profitable tool, having alongside her the support of her friends and even her husband.
Amy, grown now in a mature, patient and dedicated woman, navigates society by adhering to the rules and finding comfort in them. While her beauty is a trademark noticed by everyone, she acknowledges that life has more to give her than an advantageous marriage, and chooses to follow her heart.
Beth, though influenced greatly by her illness is facing her fears and is finding out that a stranger understands and sees more of her than her family ever did. Bit by bit she learns to believe that she is enough and is not defined either by her past or her illness (and that perhaps she's got a little bit of genius in her:])
My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I'm one of I think two people remaining in the world who have not read Little Women, so there was a lot of this that was probably lost of me. No fault of the author that I'm less than well read as far as the classics go. I thought this was a very well told story. I also think it would have had more impact on me had I read the original.

I loved Little Women as a kid and read and re-read the book many times, saw the films (all of them) as a teenager and as an adult. I was excited and a little trepidatious to read this novel, filling out the stories of Amy, Meg and Beth. A baseless fear.

The three authors give us fresh, feminist takes on the constraints of women during that time. Amy in Europe, balancing her desire to be an artist and the obligation she feels to marry money for the family to shore up their future. Meg, struggling with her twins, her husband and discovering how being a herbalist can afford her and her friends freedom. Beth, aware of her impending death, but showing her steel and that she isn’t a doormat. Certainly the portrayal of Marmee isn’t as a saint, but it felt real and absolutely wasn’t a detraction.

Highly recommended for those who like me love Little Women.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the authors for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

As a fan of Little Women, I was super excited when I received an advance reader copy of The Other March Sisters and let me tell you- it did not disappoint. This is a must read for all Little Women fans. It was so delightful to read new stories based on the beloved characters of Little Women. I will be rereading this book again asap!

I loved Little Women as a kid and read and re-read the book many times, saw the films (all of them) as a teenager and as an adult. I was excited and a little trepidatious to read this novel, filling out the stories of Amy, Meg and Beth. A baseless fear.

The three authors give us fresh, feminist takes on the constraints of women during that time. Amy in Europe, balancing her desire to be an artist and the obligation she feels to marry money for the family to shore up their future. Meg, struggling with her twins, her husband and discovering how being a herbalist can afford her and her friends freedom. Beth, aware of her impending death, but showing her steel and that she isn’t a doormat. Certainly the portrayal of Marmee isn’t as a saint, but it felt real and absolutely wasn’t a detraction.

Highly recommended for those who like me love Little Women.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing and the authors for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

I am a huge fan of Little Women, and also recently read March by Geraldine Brooks, which takes us into Mr. March's POV, so I was thrilled to get the chance to read this one. And there's a lot that work. Taking the "other" sisters away from Jo allows them to more fully explore their own identities and hobbies, mostly to the benefit of the story. I felt like the authors had a firm grasp on each of the sisters and I did enjoy the paths their stories took.

That said, I found that the rewriting (or reimagining) of Marmee and Jo was quite harsh and unfair, particularly in Marmee's case. The original work does hold Jo up for (rightfully deserved) critique. Going even further in this one felt a little unkind and also took away from the spirit of the book and the family. And perhaps I am biased as a mother myself (albeit to younger kids), but I felt like placing the blame for all of the bad things to happen to the girls on Marmee's shoulders - without interrogating the time period and societal expectations - was a cheap shot.

Overall, it's definitely worth the read, despite my misgivings on certain elements. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the ARC. 3.5 stars.

The Other March Sisters is an extraordinary reimagining of a classic story, bringing new life to the beloved characters of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Written by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker, this novel explores the untold stories of the March sisters, weaving together a tapestry of emotion, resilience, and sisterhood.

I absolutely love this book! The authors have done a remarkable job of capturing the essence of each character while adding fresh perspectives and layers to their personalities. The narrative is both heartwarming and poignant, offering a deep dive into the lives of the March sisters that feels both familiar and entirely new.

What amazed me most was how seamlessly the authors blended their voices to create a cohesive and compelling story. The emotional depth, the rich character development, and the beautiful prose made this book an unforgettable read. Whether you're a longtime fan of Little Women or new to the story, The Other March Sisters is a must-read that will leave you enchanted and inspired.

Linda Epstein; Ally Malinenko; Liz Parker, The Other March Sisters, Kensington Publishing, February 2025.

Thank you, NetGalley, for providing me with this uncorrected proof for review.

Liz Parker, Ally Malinenko, and Linda Epstein have woven a story that rejects the importance that Louise M. Alcott gave to Jo March and the sisters’ mother, Marmee. The authors have used Alcott’s sisters as their inspiration, giving them voices independent of Jo, based on herself. They also take a largely feminist approach, as well as rejecting the heterosexuality given to the sisters and their friend Laurie in the original novel. This is made most apparent in the case of Beth but is also suggested in the newly drawn characters of Jo and Laurie. The freshly honed stories and characterisations therefore have all the elements that, while maintaining a perspective that fits with the period in which Little Women was set, acknowledge the way in which sexism impacted the lives of the little women and their friends. So many aspects of the novel provide a feminist approach to the way the young women and their activities are depicted, and this is to be valued. However, there are also some very disappointingly sexist attitudes on display.

Turning to those first. Unfortunately, in giving Meg, Beth and Amy their own stories, the criticism of Jo and Marmee is overwhelming. Marmee, in particular is given a negative image, fitting so well with the sexist approach to a woman whose background and life experience has impressed upon her the need for at least one of her girls to marry well. As is familiar in Austen’s Bennet household, where Mrs Bennet is desperate to marry her daughters off, because that is what society demands, this necessity is depicted as disagreeable and as the action of Mrs Bennet alone. Although the writers of The Other March Sisters acknowledge Mr March’s role in the family’s impoverishment, it is Marmee who takes the brunt of the criticism for trying to rectify the situation. In addition, Jo’s behaviour is emphasised as being dismissive of her sisters and their aspirations. A more nuanced approach to Meg, Beth and Amy finding their own paths would have sat more comfortably with the feminist ideas this novel attempts to portray.

The strongest parts of the novel are where Meg, Beth and Amy follow their own pursuits successfully. They could have stood alone without reference to Jo or Marmee, and it is worth reading them as such as there are some wonderful examples of the sisters’ interweaving their aspirations with the social demands of the day. Meg and her medicinal garden, Amy and her artistic successes and Beth’s recognition that she can and must have a life beyond the domestic angel role urged upon her because of her physical infirmity raise so many issues outside the bounds imposed upon them by reference to Jo and Marmee. These stories weave independent thought with courageous action, intelligent use of history, and social commentary. It is clear that the March sisters, in this iteration of Little Women, were women of talent and strength. It is this that I take away from the work despite the misgivings I have noted.

-First of all, thanks to the authors for letting me read the ARC of this book.

-I didn't know any of these three authors who joined to write this beautiful retelling. Their writing is beautiful. Each author adds a new perspective to the story we are familiar with.

-I really liked seeing the life of the March sisters from a point of view that is not Jo's. This let you to empathize better with Amy, Meg and Beth. I was happy since we can see a little more beyond one of my favorite characters: Amy March, as well the letters that the sisters sent to each other.

-I liked the representation about Laurie that he came out as bi but he doesn't say anything because it's not accepted.

-But not everything is rosy and what I didn't like was that I felt that Marmee had some negative attitudes towards their daughters, and for me it wasn't as if I was seeing the supportive Marmee.

-Finally, I liked how they addressed the issue of abortion, which they addressed well, and I loved seeing women supporting other women. I recommend this book if you like Little Women.

I loved the concept of this book, diving into the perspectives of the other March sisters. It's a great idea, truly. I did love how Amy's chapters shared more about how Laurie and Amy ended up together. However, overall I found this book rather slow and hard to trudge through many times. It also twists the characters of the original Little Women that I loved and remembered growing up. Marmee is now a controlling, overbearing mother causing conflict with all the daughters. Beth is now a lesbian as she is dying slowly. Meg's love story is flipped around so now she's struggling in a loveless marriage, has postpartum depression, and becomes an herbal healer aiding in abortion (the process was detailed, so trigger warning there). I know these are real women's issues both now and in this time period, however, I found it difficult to readjust my perspective of the original beloved characters.

So, if you are a conservative Christian, this book is likely one you won't enjoy and will rub against your morals and beliefs. If you lean more feminist and liberal, you may find this new perspective interesting.

Usually, I am not a fan of books that tackle a classic novel, however this one worked for me. Granted, the authors took liberties, but I enjoyed the ride and, honestly, I did not miss Jo at all. I felt that Amy's story was the strongest. Meg's was interesting, and Beths was alright. But honestly, what can one write about Beth? She is dying, after all. I'm going to buy this book for our library.

The Other March Sisters
by Linda Epstein; Ally Malinenko; Liz Parker
Pub Date: Feb 25 2025

I’m sure you believe you know their story from reading that other book, which told you an inspiring tale about four sisters. It told you a story, but did it tell you the story?

Four sisters, each as different as can be. Through the eyes and words of Jo, their characters and destinies became known to millions. Meg, pretty and conventional. Jo, stubborn, tomboyish, and ambitious. Beth, shy and good-natured, a mortal angel readily accepting her fate. And Amy, elegant, frivolous, and shallow. But Jo, for all her insight, could not always know what was in her sisters’ thoughts, or in their hearts.

With Jo away in New York to pursue her literary ambitions, Meg, Beth, and Amy follow their own paths. Meg, newly married with young twins, struggles to find the contentment that Marmee assured her would come with domesticity. Unhappy and unfulfilled, she turns to her garden, finding there not just a hobby but a calling that will allow her to help other women in turn.

Beth knows her time is limited. Still, part of her longs to break out of her suffocating cocoon at home, however briefly. A new acquaintance turns into something more, offering unexpected, quiet joy.

Amy, traveling in Europe while she pursues her goal of becoming an artist, is keenly aware of the expectation that she will save the family by marrying well. Through the course of her journey, she discovers how she can remain true to herself, true to her art, and true to the love that was always meant to be.

Purposefully leaving Jo off the page, authors Liz Parker, Ally Malinenko, and Linda Epstein draw inspiration from Alcott’s real-life sisters, giving the other March women room to reveal themselves through conversations, private correspondence, and intimate moments—coming alive in ways that might surprise even daring, unconventional Jo.

I think it's really interesting to see the different directions that adaptations and reimaginings can go. I enjoyed the focus on the other sisters in this, but it felt like something was missing to me. It's worth looking into for fans of the original work.

I have read Little Women years ago, it was my favorite book. Very rarely do I enjoy another version of a classic. Not this time. This time I truly enjoyed a fresh perspective of Meg, Amy and Beth. We see them with different eyes, enjoy them in a new way and now, as an adult, I can look at them with a different POV. I will probably read the original novel while thinking of this edition. My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

While I acknowledge the creative attempt, this one didn't work for me as it invents new stories for Jo's sisters Meg, Beth, and Amy March. I will not be posting my review elsewhere, to give other readers a chance to make up their own minds.