Little Women is my favorite book of all time (I even named my daughter Meg) so I was thrilled to get the opportunity to read this. I wouldn’t classify this as a retelling, instead I’d say that it’s an expansion to the world of LW.
The exploration of “what could’ve” happened along side Jo’s version of events is a fabulous concept. It adds new light and depth to Meg, Beth, and Amy. I always came away from LW feeling sad for Beth, of course, neutral on Meg, and kind of negatively of Amy. Seeing these expansions of their lives added so much to Alcott’s original. I loved the strength that Meg gained from finding usefulness within her life as a wife and mother. It made me so happy to see Beth have a tender relationship in her time, and Amy was completely redeemed as a person seeking inspiration and love, not just money. Amy’s letters (to and from) throughout the book helped to see their relationships entwined.

This has earned a spot on my Little Women shelf!

This book is a reimagining of Little Women in which we get to know the point of view of Amy, Meg and Beth, who in the original work are somewhat relegated due to Jo's vision of them.
In fact, the story begins after Amy goes to Europe, Meg has her twins and Beth is trying to recover from her illness.

and I must say that this book gave me everything I needed without knowing it👌🏻✨... I don't know if you knew it but Little Women is one of my favorite stories although I must admit that I didn't like how the ending turned out for the sisters and with The other March Sisters I was finally able to see the characters in a more human and empathetic way 💖

I think the authors did a great job giving life to the March sisters adding feminist themes and with queer love 💘

At the moment it is only available in English but I feel that it uses a very friendly vocabulary for those who are just starting to read in this language (although I hope they bring it to Spanish one day 🤞🏻)

As a lover of all things Little Women I was excited for this retelling. I am not such a purist that I wasn't ready for some other dialogue and possibilities among the March sisters, but I feel like the author (as have many before her) got a checklist of all the hot button topics of society in 2025 and checked them off one by one for this book. I was definitely expecting some women's liberation thinking and talk...and this truly was becoming somewhat of an issue in the day Little Women was written since we know Marmee was a proponent of women's suffrage. But scoffing at a mother in those days seeking marriage for her daughters is ridiculous. It was a necessary pursuit for most whether good or bad. Just a bit of accurate historical context would be good...or else just write a contemporary novel. Does every character in the story really face the issues of abortion or homosexuality or interracial relationships or ___ (insert item from social checklist)...and equally approve of all of them without realizing the repercussions of the time period?
Rather than being pleased at the possibility of some alternative choices for relationships, it was kind of just sad to see that what Alcott started wasn't embellished upon, but rather muddied, in my opinion. Jo's absence was palpable in the story, but even ones you might have hoped to hear more about (Amy and Laurie, for example) fell apart.
I really do enjoy classic lit retellings but would recommend instead going with Caroline, Marilla of Green Gables, Mr. Rochester, Death Comes to Pemberley and Marmee to name a few.
Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC. All opinions are mine.

Was “Little Women” one of the first books you read and fantasized what happened to the other March sisters? This book, written by three different authors, have done just that based upon research of Amy, Beth and Meg. It’s a delightful read taking you through various European cities, finding one’s self in a yard of nettles and friendship and worth through an unlikely friend.
Please read the authors notes and acknowledgment. This would be great for a book club as it also includes Discussion Questions. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for an ARC of this book; the opinions expressed are my own.

Happy Publication Day to Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker on the release of their new book entitled The Other March Sisters.

The Publication Date for The Other March Sisters is today: February 25, 2025.

If you know anything about me and my reading history, you are aware that I have three literary loves that ignited my passion for reading. I fell in love with The Secret Garden when I was a young child (my mom would read to me every night). And, I fell in love with Little Women and Pride and Prejudice when I started reading on my own accord. I see so much of my independence in Jo March and in Lizzie Bennett. Let’s just say that I’m an obstinate headstrong woman.

The concept of The Other March Sisters is to focus on the lives of Beth, Meg, and Amy without the influence and mentorship of Jo. This point of view allows the reader to learn more details about the sisters' lives after Jo left to become a journalist in New York. Although the adventures of each sister are not all that surprising, it’s interesting to read with more of a focus on each.

In my opinion, I believe that Meg and Jo could live without Jo just fine but I do wholeheartedly believe that Jo helped tremendously with Beth’s anxiety. It would have been nice to see a tad bit of Jo’s influence in small visits or letter writing from Jo.

Little Women is a classic on the shelves and in my heart. I am so grateful for the opportunity to read this adaptation which I enjoyed very much. I certainly recommend it to other lover’s of Little Women and Louisa May Alcott.

1.5 stars

As someone whose favorite book growing up was Little Women, I've always been critical of retellings and adaptations. Unfortunately, this book missed the mark for me.

I found the book to be convoluted and the mischaracterization of the March sisters to be shallow. Subsequently, I could not emotionally connect to this book as much as I had hoped. I would have adored a deeper exploration of the March sisters in line with the original book, instead of storylines and plot changes being shoehorned in. I disliked how they represented Marmee in such a malicious light and made her the antagonist of Meg's story. It felt disingenuous. However, I did like the premise; its just the execution that needs refinement.

Thank you to Kensington Publishing and Netgalley for this arc.

This was a delightful read taking the reader back to Alcotts original of Little Women. One major difference - the story bypasses the fiery Jo and concentrates on the mild Beth, the conformity of Amy and the routines of Meg.

Meg in a loveless marriage. A partner John who has only just realized what Meg is going through and tries very hard to be supportive and understanding. Meg feels that she was manipulated into the marriage by her mother (and it was cleverly done). Trying to come to grips with the situation as it is, also overcoming an over bearing mother is not easy for the always obedient Meg. We have Beth, sick and looked on as an invalid without a mind of her own. Beth now wants to make her own decisions even in the confined space of her home. Mother has to find a way to deal with that. Then we have Amy’s story which forms the major part of this story.

Amy is on the tour of her dreams in Europe. Painting, copying and sketching throughout Europe. She is also having a suitor, and she does understand that the entire purpose of this tour is to make an advantageous marriage and redeem the family, the appearance of Laurie, the boy next door makes her confused, and her feelings veer between the safe Fred and the unpredictable Laurie.

Shades of LGBT very much evidenced in the story, handled well according to the dictates of the time. Feelings of all three girls also very descriptive and gives one a view of the character and strength of each young lady.

The Other March Sisters invites readers to a world familiar and yet new. The characters you may remember have fresh depth and motivation.
With a modern twist, the author gives you something new to love about this classic.

Well this one had me sobbing in my bathtub because I finished it when I was trying to have a relaxing soak, but no, big emotions. Puffy eyes and lots of tears. But also completely worth it.

Like generations of women before me, I grew up with Little Women. It's the first book I ever cried over, it was something I bonded with my mom over reading both the book as well as watching many versions of the movie, and it remains a touchstone in one of my lifelong friendships. Which March sister are you is a valid question when meeting people. I've read Little Men and Jo's Boys, as well as Invincible Louisa by Cornelia Meigs. I was the audience for this book.

And what a story, taking the remaining three sisters in new directions with a more contemporary lens of what their lives truly could've been like. Expanding Meg from a mother into a gardener, into a woman who supports women in more ways than demanding suffrage, and who gets to fall in love in a time when love marriages weren't the norm. Amy and all of her experiences with courting, with her complicated feelings for Laurie and the gentle loss of her naivete around him and his lifestyle, of her having a great understanding for Jo than Jo probably had of herself yet. And Beth...a weakened body and a sharp mind, a great talent and a loving heart, who is at once aware of her limitations and feels trapped by them, and who is also constantly dealing with the trauma of the Hummels and her illness and is utterly alone inside that nightmare...but her story is also the sweetest, the happiest, when she finds a true connection outside of her family, and we hope that she got to experience these big important emotions before she's lost.

Yeah, you're going to cry. Almost all of these stories have a hint of queerness, if not an outright mentioning and accepting of queer identity. Queer people have always been here, and to have the truth of their existence in this beloved world felt absolutely right.

The Other March Sisters is a reimagining of Louisa May Alcott's classic Little Women, focusing on the narrative of Beth, Meg and Amy March. It offers a fresh perspective by delving into the lives and aspirations of the three sisters who often stood in the shadow of Jo.

Meg is a woman grappling with the confines of domestic life and societal expectations. Her journey reflects the tension between personal desires and familial duties.

Beth is exploring her inner world and the challenges she faces due to her chronic illness. Her story is one of resilience and the pursuit of meaning against adversity.

Amy is a determined artist striving to carve out her own identify. Her story addresses artistic ambition, societal constraints, and personal growth. It also explores her relationship with Laurie.

If you loved Little Women you may appreciate the fresh perspectives and the depth given to characters who were less prominent in the original book.

The Other March Sister offers an interesting twist on the beloved Little Women story, focusing on a lesser-explored perspective. Retellings are always tricky, but this one delivers an easy, entertaining read with a modern flair. While the story is engaging and well-paced, die-hard fans of the original classic might find some creative liberties hard to embrace. Still, it’s a fun and refreshing take for those open to seeing the March sisters in a new light.

The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein; Ally Malinenko and Liz Parker was a creative take on the stories of the other March sisters, Amy, Beth and Meg. In this book, the authors give the three sisters a fresh feminist perspective and giving the readers a fresh take on the other sisters. Each sister’s journey is unique and not completely different from the one provided by Jo in Little Women. We have Meg who marries John Brooks but the reason for and reality of doing so is discussed. Amy goes to Europe, although not with Aunt March but instead different relatives and we see glimpses of Theodore Lawrence and learn his perspective of what happened with Jo. With Beth who loves music and was weakened by scarlet fever, we learn how it feels to be the sister left behind.

Would recommend this book for any fans of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women. Thank you to the publisher Kensington Publishing, NetGalley and the authors for an eARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up less than an hour from the Little Women house, I have always known “Little Women”: From Louisa May Alcott’s book to Winona Ryder’s Jo, to Florence Pugh’s Amy. So I was excited to read this book, giving voice to the lesser explored March sisters while Little Women carries the voice of sister Jo.

The other March Sisters gives Meg, Beth, and Amy a voice, expanding on their stories using the outline of Little Women. My chief concern being that it relies heavily on the reader’s memory of Alcott’s novel (which honestly has been 25+ years since I’d read it), so highly recommend a refresher… it is not quite stand alone. On the other hand, the expanded narrative for each of the sisters is an interesting perspective that explores familial dynamics and sisterly bonds, as well as exploring the reality from which Ms Alcott drew her original story.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was so good! I am obsessed with all things March sisters! The cover is super cute and the story was excellent from beginning to end. I will definitely be looking for more books by this author!

"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?"

Little Women is one of my favourite classic novels from my own childhood. I loved this story about sisterhood and what it meant to grow up and be a strong, self-assured, independent woman. I have always loved Jo's story, and related to her deeply, as a person who loves books and would love to be a writer someday. The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malieneko and Liz Parker is a retelling of this beloved classic from the point of view from the other sisters. The reader gets to experience the stories of Amy, Meg, and Beth from their own perspective.

I enjoyed The Other Marsh sisters immensely! The elements of Little Women remain just enough that it feels deeply connected to the original. There is still an inherent love of Jo, but it is felt through the female experiences of her sisters. Through this story, I felt more connected to my own sister and resonated deeply with all of the sisters feelings of responsibility for themselves, and for their family; the responsibility that society puts on woman to be a certain way. I really felt connected to their experience with their mother, as in the original story Marmee felt superhuman, and nurturing but through this story she felt real, and the complicated relationships between mother and daughter felt even more real. Each story was relatable, as a woman, and even in short sections, each of the sister's character, thoughts, perceptions and feelings deepened my understanding of them.

The Other March Sisters is a must read for any fan of Little Women!

I wanted to enjoy this but it really just messed with my head and sort of tainted my memory of Little Women.

I wasn’t sure how I would feel about seeing Little Women through the eyes of the sisters, but it was a lot of fun! The authors did a really good job of hitting the right mood and dialogue, and giving a side of the story we missed by seeing it through Jo’s eyes!

This was an enjoyable read. One could tell that Epstein had lived with these characters for a long time and was excited to add to their stories. I have read a lot of reimaginings of classics lately and find them to be a reflection of our time and not that of the original authors. Maybe this is an attempt to make the classic story more relevant, but they don't need to be made more relevant, a true classic is relevant because of its universal themes. That being said, Epstein did a wonderful job of creating side quests for the marginalized March sisters that flowed with so much plausibility I began to wonder why Joe got so much attention when obviously the others were living far more interesting lives. I hope she continues their stories, maybe with individual books for each of the sisters.

When I saw that there was a new book that got its inspiration from Little Women I had to read it. I really enjoyed Little Women and this book takes us behind the pages into what the March sisters were really like, based on the authors’ ideas. Each of the sisters had their own section where readers are immersed in their lives. It is from their points of view and this gives them a voice that makes the story their own rather than being as Jo views them. I found that it allowed the sisters to be real and live lives that were messy and full rather than being the perfect ideal. Their relationship with Marmee and her expectations was also explored. Included were letters between the sisters and I enjoyed how these shared details and further exhibited the relationships between the sisters. If you enjoy a story that goes behind the pages of beloved books I recommend this one.

I love Little Women and by extension, books based off it or inspired by it. This book is no exception to that. I loved this book and the writing style as well is pretty good. I love how the other March sisters are given their own voice and story to tell.