First off, let me start by saying I’m OBSESSED with Little Women. I love it. So naturally I was super excited for this book!! It’s split into four parts, the first and last are Amy’s story and then the middle two are Meg and Beth. I LOVED Meg’s story about finding something that brings her joy after becoming a mother. It was so good. And Beth’s story was also so beautiful, trying to be strong while being ill and discovering herself. But Amy’s were just not it for me. Amy still seemed snobby and traveled all over Europe, but still seemed to whine about everything. It also felt like Meg’s story was just written more beautifully. Overall, it was fine.

A reimagining of the sisters Meg, Amy, and Beth March of "Little Women" with some modern twists. While I thought the style of writing was very similar to Louisa May Alcott's, I never saw any 'queer' elements in "Little Women" any of the times I read it in my youth. While I am not homophobic and have many gay friends, I did find it a bit unsettling to have the sexuality of Jo, Beth, and Laurie put in a different light.

2.5 Stars | I love Little Women and have since I was young. I had high hopes for this book because I always hoped for more from “the other March sisters.”
The problem with this was it all fell flat, the characters seemed so far off from their originals that they were hard to connect with.
Things felt forced into modern conversations. Also Marmee?! Her character was utterly ruined in this and nearly made me DNF.

Little Women holds a special place in my heart. It was the first “real” book I read. I was eight. And admittedly I skimmed a lot of the dialogue, particularly as the sisters grew to adulthood. But I’ve read it many times since and have always loved it.

So I was excited to get this ARC. This novel reimagines the other three sisters. Little Women does heavily focus on Jo, the sister most like Alcott herself. And by necessity, then, the other three sisters (who are based on Alcott’s own sisters) are viewed through Jo/Alcott’s eyes. This novel gives them main character energy and shows a different per on their stories. It’s is also fully LGBTQ embracing and reads between the lines on some of the characters to give them relationships that would not have been acknowledged at the time.

Although each sister’s story is written by a different author, they flow seamlessly together. And the slow pace definitely mimicked the original book.

I loved each sister’s story. Meg grappling with the mundanity of housework and childcare. Amy discovering her passion and talent for art. And Beth raging against the inevitability of her death. The authors really fleshed these characters out. I thought it interesting to, their portrayal of their mother, or Marmee. They really highlighted her inconsistency in leading the fight for women’s equality while also encouraging traditional feminine roles and virtues in her daughters.

I really liked this book, and it enhanced my enjoyment of the beloved classic, Little Women.

Thank you to @Netgalley and @kensingtonbooks for the chance to review this ARC.

I wanted to love this, but I didn't. I'm a massive fan of Little Women but I couldn't click with this at all and sadly it was a DNF for me. Thanks to the publishers for sending me a copy.

Each of these three authors breathes life into one of the other March sisters, Meg, Beth, and Amy from her own perspective while Jo is off in New York writing. These four sisters are completely different from each other.

Unlike in Little Women, Meg’s marriage to her poor schoolteacher husband was not so much her own choice as it was a machination by Marmee, which leads to a blow-out between Meg and her mother. But she and John do come to love each other once Meg develops a passion as an herbalist/healer.

We follow Amy through the European marriage mart with her aunt, uncle, and cousin, Florence, where she and Laurie do eventually get together as in the original, but in a far more interesting and pleasantly meandering way.

And then there is “poor Beth,” who harbors quite a bit of rage about the illness she knows will shorten her life and prevent her from finding her true potential through her music and her special friendship with Florida, a young Black woman who is the daughter of abolitionists. While Jo is absent through most of the book, of course there are many references to her.

The authors used primary sources to try to fill in the details and contours of these semi-fictional sisters. Richly imaginative and captivating.

Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington, and the authors for providing me with an ARC.

<b>Out for publication on February 25th, 2025. </b>

Let’s be honest, if you’re going to rewrite Little Women, you’re walking straight into a literary minefield. The original has been dissected, debated, and reimagined more times than we can count, and yet, The Other March Sisters sets out to do something undeniably intriguing: give Meg, Beth, and Amy their own fully realized narratives. No Jo. Just the “other” sisters finally stepping into the spotlight. It’s a bold move, and one that lands somewhere between compelling and frustratingly uneven.

The Good:
✅ Meg, Beth, and Amy get depth beyond Jo’s biased narration. For once, Amy isn’t just a vain brat, Meg isn’t reduced to a domestic prop, and Beth, oh sweet Beth, gets a moment beyond her usual ethereal suffering. The book peels back layers of these women’s lives, showing their struggles with identity, societal pressure, illness, and ambition.

✅ A fresh, modern take on familiar themes. The story leans into themes of queer love, unfulfilled motherhood, artistic independence, and the harsh realities of 19th-century womanhood. It doesn’t feel like a Little Women knockoff; it has its own voice and vision.

✅ Beth gets to live (at least a little). This alone might make the book worth reading. Giving Beth a storyline beyond “saintly girl who dies gracefully” is refreshing, and her quiet defiance is one of the book’s best elements.

The Not-So-Good:
❌ Marmee, what have they done to you? In this version, Marmee feels overbearing and even manipulative, particularly in how she pushes Meg into an unfulfilling life. While some might argue this adds realism, it also feels like the author’s own baggage bleeding onto the page rather than a natural extension of Marmee’s character. It’s a choice, but not one that sits well.

❌ The flow is choppy. With three authors behind the scenes, it sometimes feels like the story is switching between voices rather than maintaining a smooth, cohesive narrative. Certain sections shine, but others drag, making for an uneven reading experience.

𝑻𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒔𝒐 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒕𝒐 𝑵𝒆𝒕𝑮𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑲𝒆𝒏𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒐𝒏 𝑷𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒅𝒗𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒄𝒐𝒑𝒚 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒏𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒍.

Was this book necessary? Nope
Was it delightful? YES!! (kinda)

Oh how nice it is to meet your favorite characters again and read more about their story, almost as if you asked them to tell it yourself.
Loved Amy's and Beth's POVs the most. Meg's chapters fell flat for me as she wasn't my favorite in the original also, but mostly I hated the villainization of Marmee. That was unnecessary, imo.

While I don't think Jo's 'interpretations' of things and problems in Little Women were too far off, it was still nice to get more insight into the March sisters' stories. Missed Jo though still...

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC.

I've loved Little Women since I was a child. Both the novel and the 90s film were huge parts of my life growing up. When I had the opportunity to read a novel delving into the other three March sisters, I was very excited to dive in.

While I liked being able to see more of depth to Beth and her situation and a better view of Amy and Laurie falling in love, the Meg story line was very troubling to me. While I could see Meg stepping up to help women in ways she was able, making Marmee essentially a villain was so out of left field to me. While Marmee did lean on propriety, I could never ever see her behaving the way she did in this book. It really took me out of the story.

I wanted to like the novel more than I did. Maybe people who aren't as invested in the original work may be able to set aside issues I couldn't help but focus on. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley, Kensington and Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko and Liz Parker for the opportunity to read and review The Other March Sisters.
This is a clever historical fiction novel continuing into the lives of Meg, Beth and Amy March. The author of Little Women, Louisa May Alcott was inspired by her own sisters’ lives. Now we have voice and depth to Meg, Beth and Amy. I found each one fascinating and felt the March family story was explained and more complete. My only complaint is I want more! The sisters feel more more human and I want to continue immersed in their lives.
I don’t want to spoil any details but each sister has unique qualities that I admire. Giving Beth a love story made her more than her illness. She was
human, angry and a bit snarky which makes sense.
Meg found purpose in her life and marriage. She truly made an impact on the women in her community. I’m so glad Amy made the decisions that were right for her. So impressed she traveled the world for her art.
Each sister is more developed, more human and more likable. I thoroughly enjoyed this story and am curious if these authors will work together again.

While Little Women centers on Jo’s perspective, this story shifts the focus to the three other March sisters, revealing their unique struggles and dreams. Each sister longs for a fulfilling life but feels held back by societal and financial pressures—or their own self-doubts.

Beth’s perspective was the most heartbreaking for me. Weakened by scarlet fever, which has permanently damaged her heart, she has no hope for a cure. Can she still find a way to live a meaningful life?

I would have loved for the authors to dive deeper into the story of the Black family in the novel. Their struggle with racism felt underexplored and deserved more attention.

This is a quiet, introspective novel with little plot but rich character exploration. I especially loved the heartfelt letter writing between the sisters—it added such a personal and tender touch to their stories.

Thanks to Kensington for the advance review copy.

This reimagining of the beloved story of four sisters offers a fresh, nuanced perspective that goes beyond Jo’s well-known narrative to explore the inner lives of Meg, Beth, and Amy. With Jo away in New York chasing her literary dreams, the sisters forge their own paths, revealing struggles, passions, and unexpected joys. Meg’s journey of self-discovery through her garden transforms her sense of purpose, while Beth’s fleeting romance offers a tender reprieve from her fragile existence. Amy’s travels through Europe bring a deeper understanding of art, love, and identity as she balances familial expectations with her own aspirations. Richly layered and deeply human, this story redefines what it means to truly know these iconic characters, weaving a tale as inspiring as it is heartfelt.

Thank you so much to Kensington Publishing for the ARC of The Other March Sisters in exchange for an honest review!

I am a huge fan of Little Women, and have both read the book and consumed just about every form of media related to these four indelible sisters I can find. So I was delighted to find this new entry into the March sister pantheon. Promised as a reimagining that allows Jo’s three sisters to shine, The Other March Sisters is an ambitious and refreshing new exploration of sisterhood, and of characters we’ve mostly loved from the perception of another. With Jo off in New York, we spend time with Meg, Beth and Amy in an attempt to deepen and broaden our understanding of the other March girls. I loved that the authors used Louisa May Alcott’s sisters as inspiration, and to add authenticity to the work.

The Other March Sisters succeeds most when it focuses on Amy, a character who was brilliantly expanded by Greta Gerwig’s 2019 film, and gets more attention here too. Amy is the most like Jo, not a carbon copy, but certainly chafing at the constraints often placed on her. Perhaps more traditional, but equally as loud. While I know it’s not attempting to be entirely faithful to the source material, there were some parts that rubbed me the wrong way, such as the characterization of Marmee and the main storyline of Meg. It’s not unfathomable that Amy would feel societal pressure to marry well, but I don’t think it would be coming from her parents in this case. Additionally, while Meg’s happily ever after may not always be sunshine and rainbows, she made her choice out of love and a preference for a more conventional life. Ultimately, I tend to have a “the more the merrier” mindset with Little Women. Not every retelling might be perfect, but each one adds something new, which really lets us marvel at the greatest gift of all: that Alcott created something we’re still talking about, exploring, and finding new ways to connect with over a hundred and fifty years on.

As I am a huge fan of Little Women, my expectations were high. But there was a part of me that wondered whether the authors had read the book or are just basing this on the general movies (not that the movies aren't amazing). There wasn't the magic of the original story that I was hoping for.

Thank you #NetGalley #LindaEpstein #AllyMalineko #LizParker #KensingtonBooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Prefacing with this is a Fan Fiction of Little Women and I have not read Little Women so I did not have the attachment to the characters going into the book that some may have.

Also noting that the amount of reference work that must have gone into this book to name and describe all the places of travel did not go unnoticed. However, the description that would transport you to these places was somewhat flat.

The premise behind this book was perfect! I felt the telling of Meg and Beth was really good. I wanted to keep reading. I felt the telling of Amy drug on in places (most likely in areas tying it back into Little Women in which I did not get due to not having read Little Women) and did not go into enough detail in others. I would have loved to hear more relationship developments and a less art development. She’s an artist and it’s important to her, we get it.

I was also a little disappointed that the just mentioned Jo and never really developed her character.

I am a huge fan of the classic, “Little Women” and loved this concept of the story from the other sisters. However, I felt a disconnect and some of the characters felt flat to me.

The Other March Sisters, co-written by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker and given to me as an ARC thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing, takes us into the day-to-day lives of Amy, Meg, and Beth and reveals who these women are outside Jo's gaze. Women living in the late 19th century in a world that is very much shaped by gender roles and the image of women as the perfect wifes.

We travel with Amy to the European continent, where she discovers her true purpose in life as she tries to find a husband to ease her family's financial burdens; we enter Meg's marital life, where she finally finds love for her husband and herself as she discovers her natural medicine skills; and we visit the March home through Beth, who finds a glimmer of hope amid her illness in piano teaching and a person she didn't expect to steal her heart.

The Other March Sisters is a beautiful story, the first of 2025 to which I have given 5 stars, that talks about the difficult relationship that women found between family duty and personal growth and the barrier that gender stereotypes bring to a truly full life (because yes, there are queer characters in this novel because yes, they have existed since the world has been a world). A story that I recommend and that has captivated me from the beginning to the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advanced copy of The Other March Sisters. Unfortunately, I decided to set this one aside before finishing.

As a fan of Little Women and retellings, I was excited about exploring new perspectives in the story, but this book didn’t work for me. The storyline about Marmee and Mr. March pressuring Amy to marry to secure the family’s financial stability, which is mentioned in the book blurb, ended up being a much heavier focus than I expected. This felt like a significant departure from their values in the original, and it was repeated so often that it became off-putting.

The final straw for me was a long letter presented as small images which were difficult to read on. Between that and my difficulty connecting with the character changes, I realized this wasn’t the right fit for me.

DNF.
Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc of this book in exchange of an honest review.
I don’t think this is a bad book, that is not the reason I DNF it, and I want to make that completely clear because I don’t want to discourage people from reading it.
The truth is, Little Women is one of my favorite classics of all time, I hold that book and its characters so close to my heart, and I understand that is difficult to fulfill my expectations when it comes to adaptations or new works of fiction based on it.
I have to admit I was a little bit bored, specifically because I didn’t feel like I was learning anything new about the characters, which was the main reason I was so excited about this book. Maybe I will give it another chance moving forward in the year, we will see.

This is a lovely book for fans of Little Women. It is set out in four parts, each following the lives of Jo, Amy and Beth as imagined by the author. All of them set on different paths, but writing letters to each other to keep each other up to date and seek solace in each other as they find their way through life. The final part ends back with Amy, closing the story we began in part 1.

Overall, this is a really enjoyable book, gentle, loving, and very soothing.

My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review.