My problems with this novel probably have less to do with the novel and more to do with me. Had I realized that Kantra was a Romancer author, I probably wouldn’t have picked this up, because I am not particularly fond of romances, and that’s definitely what this is. Fans of the Hallmark channel will love this book, with its nostalgic retelling of one of the most beloved American children’s books, Little Women. Kantra takes the March family out of 19th Century New England and plops them down in the 21st century North Carolina. Beth is taking a break from school to perform in Branson, Missouri. Amy is in Paris on an internship with Luis Vuitton. Meg is married and the mother of twins, living in her small hometown. And Jo, having lost her job as a journalist, is trying to make it in New York as a food blogger, paying the bills by working in the kitchen of the up and coming Chef, Eric Bhaer. Kantra’s retelling is not particularly imaginative, but follows the original plot and character outline of the original fairly closely. Mr. March has a more significant role than in the original (does anyone even remember the girls father?), though even here he is depicted as both physically and emotionally distant. Both Meg and Jo must come to grips with their troubling relationship with their father. Readers looking for a literary exploration of the themes of independence, family, and love that Alcott probed in her book may be disappointed, but readers wanting a heart-warming love story that reminds them of a favorite book from their youth will eat up this modern retelling of a classic.

This book is inspired by Little Women -- reimagined in the present day, with Jo as an aspiring writer and chef, Meg as a married mother of twins and a part time accountant, Beth a musician with a gig in Branson (yay, Beth is alive and well in this book -- I'm still getting over that trauma twenty years after reading the original!), and Amy an artist, interning with Louis Vuitton in Paris.. All the other characters are here in one form or another -- Mr. and Mrs. March (he is a dedicated founder of a non-profit that aids veterans, she runs the family goat farm), Laurie and Mr. Laurence, Aunt March, and Professor Bhaer, all in somewhat reimagined roles. This is a really fun book -- probably not for the serious student of American Literature, but a wonderful, quick and entertaining read for anyone who enjoyed Little Women and would enjoy a fun, light romance. Recognizing the similarities between this and the original adds to the enjoyment of reading this book, but even if you haven't read Little Women or seen any of the films, it stands on its own.

I like Little Women a lot, and I love that it seems to be perennially popular, with each new generation rediscovering it. With several new film adaptations, I was in a Little Women mood, and was pretty excited for this new retelling; I've really enjoyed a number of recent retellings of Jane Austen's novels and was curious about how the author recreated the March girls' stories for the 21st century. Unfortunately, I couldn't get past the first chapter, which is rare for me! It seemed written too simplistically, and followed the original story too closely. I just couldn't get into it.

A modern spin on Little Women set in rural North Carolina. Fans of the original will enjoy revisiting their favorite characters as they struggle to find fulfillment in today’s world and maintain close family ties.

This is a great re-telling of Little Women in the modern age, and, here, featuring Jo in New York and Meg, a wife and mother in their hometown. I was skeptical, but it worked. I'm looking forward to the author's take on Beth and Amy in her next book.

I liked the set up for this book and was excited to read a modern retelling of Little Women. I always appreciate a dual perspective as well. I felt that it was too long of a book and some of the back and forths could have been cut down to get the point across. Overall a charming book though, super cute cover and loved the family drama and relationships.

This book was received as an ARC from Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have always loved Little Women and wanted to know what went on after all that has happened with the March women and how there lives were shaped to be. I did enjoy Virginia Kantra's adaptation on the sequel but there were a few factors according to Little Women that did not add up. Throughout the story there was no indication that the story was flashing back to when the girls were young because as we remember from Little Women, Beth had passed away from Scarlett Fever and was not around for the future. Meg did get married and had two boys but now they are toddlers and from when the setting of the story, they should be much older. However, I was intrigued by the story of how the March sisters learned the important life lesson of family when they are forced to move back home to take care of their mother and the strong bond they have of sisterhood and nobody learned that better than Meg and Jo. Not only did they take care of their mom, they took care of each other. A heartwarming sequel of a classic book reimagined. This will definitely have a place in our library collection.

We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection in our library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.