Wow, I loved this queer retelling of Little Women, exploring the lives of the other March sisters. I also loved the deep dive the authors did on the life of LMA and her sisters, and drew inspiration from their journals and letters!!

I read Little Women years ago, and also made my mum buy the other books written by LMA 🤭 I didn’t revisit these books before reading this one, and I don’t think it matters that I didn’t. Now that I’ve been made aware of all the queer references in LMA’s writing, I will have to be more intentional when revisiting the books!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC!

DNF @ 10%

I have to admit, all I know about Little Women is from the Greta Gerwig movie, which I watched years ago and barely remember. I tried to read the original, but quickly put it down as the writing style was not to my taste. I found that to be the case for The Other March Sisters. If you enjoyed the writing style of the original book, you would probably like this as well. If I had more of an attachment to the characters, I might have tried to push on, but I don't, so I didn't. Anyway, this really just wasn't for me, but if you are a fan of Little Women, you might like this!

📖 +🎧: The Other March Sisters-a standalone

✍🏾 Authors: Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker

📅Publication date: 2-25- 25 | Read 2-22-25

📃 Format: eBook 304 pgs.

🗣️Narrators: Laura Knight Keating, Taylor Meskimen, and Rachel Botchan voice all the characters with standouts from Amy, Fred, Meg, and Beth. The reading style brought the text to life, and the authors and narrators worked together perfectly. The pacing and flow allowed me to get lost in the story. The narrators paused and announced new chapters and there was a table of contents which helped me follow along.

🏃🏾‍♀️‍➡️Run Time: 12:15

Genre:
*Historical Fiction
*Women's Fic

Tropes:
*retelling- Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women
*feminism/women's suffrage/abolitionists
*societal restrictions/expectations
*chronic illness
*artistic ambition
*LGBTQIA+ rep

👆🏾POV: 3rd person, multiple

⚠️TW: abortion, meddling parent, grief, racism

Summary: The four March sisters have been written about with Jo at the forefront. Now Amy, Meg, and Beth tell their own stories of life and love.

👩🏾 Heroine: Amy March-18, a copyist painter studying in London and Paris. Looking to marry well to help support her family financially.

👩🏾 Heroine: Margaret "Meg" March- Brooke- 23, pretty and conventional; newly married with young twins, struggles with domesticity. Unhappy and unfulfilled, she turns to her garden, finding a calling that will allow her to help other women.

👩🏾 Heroine: Beth March-shy & kind; plays piano/loves music; contracted scarlet fever and never fully recovered. She knows she's dying but wants to break out of her comfort zone. A new acquaintance turns into something more, offering unexpected, quiet joy. Closest to sister Jo

🎭 Other Characters:
* Fred Vaughn-rich from a good family, courting Amy
* Theodore "Laurie" Laurence- 21, visits Amy in Europe
* Jo March-Amy's sister, a writer in NY; stubborn, tomboyish, and ambitious
* Sally Moffat-Meg's friend that helps her start her business
*Mr. Laurence-befriended Beth and gave her a piano.
*Florida Ronson- a black girl who meets Beth because her parents are abolitionists like Beth's parents

🤔 My Thoughts: I loved Little Women, and the re-imaging of their stories was great. Amy, Meg, and Beth got their own stories of love, ambition, and family. Meg's married life and motherhood was not what she hoped until she discovered her true purpose in healing. I enjoyed Beth's tale most because illness and death defined her character. Playing piano, loving music and meeting Florida gave such a better version of her.

Rating: 5/5 ✨

🙏🏾Thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing, RB Media| Recorded Books, and Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker for this ARC and ALC! I voluntarily give my honest review, and all opinions are my own.

Read this if you like:
•Little Women
•Queer love
•Strong female characters

Little Women is one of the only classics I’ve read and enjoyed. It has a special place in my heart. I loved getting to read a retelling inspired story with the background in the other sisters. Meg, Amy & Beth are such wonderful people and I’m glad their stories are being told. This story was beautiful! Thank you Kensington for the eARC!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.

The authors, inspired by their admiration for Little Women tell us a little more about Meg, Beth, and Amy and the women that they wanted to be. Future readers, please know that the authors are drawing more from the real-life Alcott sisters than their fictional counterparts. I wholeheartedly recommend going right to the back and reading what the authors tell you about their writing process before reading.

What I liked:

✅Meg's story I re-read Little Women not too long ago and the marriage of Meg and John had me thinking differently about the way her character was written. Why did we as readers believe that Meg who enjoyed going to balls and wearing pretty things was so willing to marry a man of little income like John Brooke? I appreciated the exploration of that very question, Meg's relationship with her mother and finding her sort of happiness within her family.

✅ Marmee- I suppose thanks to Hollywood, Marmee, has become this beloved mother figure but the matriarch of the Alcott clan was very active in securing good marriages for her daughters and now I realize she was very instrumental in the books in steering all of her daughters this way.

✅ Beth- I always felt sorry for this character and I think the authors of this book do a good job of giving her a fuller storyline.


Things I didn't like
✅ Amy- her chapters open and close the book for us, but I didn't really "discover" anything I didn't know about Amy or Laurie for that matter. When reading her chapters, I almost dnf'd the book but as you can see, it was worth it to see how all the March women were portrayed. I just have never been an Amy fan. 🤷‍♀️
✅There were letters all through the book and I COULDN'T READ A SINGLE ONE. They were in 4 font or something and despite trying to enlarge the text, the fonts of the letters never increased. I do understand that I was reading an ARC but it still dampened my reading experience.
✅ There is no Jo March in the book and I know that Little Women is sort of her story BUT I missed her as much as Beth missed her.

The book as a whole just never rose above the 2-star rating for me as a reader. I have listed things that I enjoyed, but even they couldn't make my writing go higher.


#TheOtherMarchSisters #NetGalley.
Expected Publication Date 25/02/25
Goodreads Review Date 22/02/25

A provocative retelling for three of the beloved quartet of March sisters.
Each of the authors took a snippet of Amy, Meg, and Beth’s lives and reworked their stories to show a different angle.
I’ve read Little Women numerous times and have read a lot of retelling of their story.
No matter how she’s repackaged I still don’t like Amy, never have and never will.
I found Meg’s story to be the most compelling as she found her own groove. I enjoyed her telling the often insufferable and sanctimonious Marmee a few things.
Beth is always fragile bit it was good to see some spunk ignite in her.

A modern view of Little Women, The Other March Sisters shows the struggles that women go through life to open new paths, follow their hearts and fighting against prejudice to build a career. Even though the story takes place in the beginning of the 20th century most issues remain the same in some countries where women are still expected to be mothers and stay home supporting their husbands and quite often in arranged and loveless marriages. In other places life is easier but not as one would like. Beautifully written this book provides good entertainment for a few hours.
I thank the authors, their publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC.

Little Women is one of my all time favorite books, so when I heard about The Other March Sisters, I knew I had to read it. And I’m so glad I did. Delving back into the lives of Meg, Beth and Amy felt like a homecoming, the authors do such a great job of capturing the same atmosphere created by Louisa May Alcott, while giving each sister their own individual voices.

The character growth of the sisters both from the original book and within this story is so nicely done. I loved reading their stories beyond what happened in Little Women and how things transpire to end up where they do.

Overall a wonderfully entertaining read. I think if you’re a fan of Little Women, you will enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for providing an advanced copy of this book.

The first page opened and brought me Lady Whistledown vibes, and if you know me you know I’m here for it.

The Other March Sisters was an amazing, heart warming read that gives fans of Little Women the opportunity to learn more about sisters, Amy, Meg, and Beth. I loved the fact that the story included LGBTQ representation, had characters I both loved and HATED (I’m leaving this spoiler free, but you know who you are).

The Other March Sister’s made me laugh, think about the society we currently live in, reminded me of my love for art and art history, and I was able to recognize myself in some part of each of the sister’s stories. I never wanted the book to end and at the same time couldn’t read it fast enough. Halfway through the novel I was already adding it to my “books to buy list” and noting on Goodreads it was going to be a 5 star read for me, and it did not disappoint. I will be working on doing a tandem read with Little Women and The Other March Sisters because I’m so excited to read them side by side.

I was so skeptical about reading this book as “”Little Women” is a most-beloved classic for me. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed it.

It is definitely not going to be for everyone as LGBTQ storylines are very prevalent in the story and I am sure people are going to be up in arms about that.

The only thing I have to say I didn’t like about it was the portrayal of Marmee. I can see why she was portrayed this way as it definitely added more drama to these stories but I don’t think she was that pushy and domineering in the original.

I found the storytelling to be imaginative and not at all take away from my love of the original. I was definitely able to keep the two separate and enjoy my time with these characters extended story.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

“Little Women” is one of my all time favorite books, so I was intrigued to read this interpretation of the other March sisters. What I loved about this book:

1. Meg, Beth and Amy’s point of view about their lives, not just Jo’s interpretation. Meg had always been my least favorite of the March sisters, but her story showed her intelligence, strength and determination to make her life mean something. Beth’s story I enjoyed because it made her more “real” and not just the sweet, sickly sister we all adored. Amy, always one of my favorites, became even more so as she embraced her talent and chose herself over family expectations.

2. The authors researched the lives of the real Alcott sisters to create their stories.

There are many controversial topics in this book and some may not like the paths that these beloved characters go down. While I did feel some parts were added for shock value, I respect the authors and their interpretation of the March sisters. “The Other March Sisters” was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Interesting to see these authors' interpretation and imagination of the other March sisters. As someone who's always loved Beth compared to the rest, I find this quite enjoyable. Though I have to quite disagree on some parts, like how the mother is painted like some kind of "evil" in this book. Nonetheless, if you are a fan of Little Women and miss the characters, wishing you could see more of the lives they lead, it wouldn't hurt to check this out.

This is my favorite quote,
"Death is haunting ... Grief is both a wide black storm that fills your sky and also a smoky invisible thing that seeps inside you. When it grabs hold, there is little to do but try to ride it out."

Described as a companion to the original classic, this book focuses on the March sisters minus Jo. The plot follows the lives of Meg, Beth and Amy, giving the reader an opportunity to imagine and discover what the sisters life experiences were from another perspective.

A book I wanted to enjoy, but sadly didn’t.

Not sure LMA would have considered this worthy of being a companion read to her much loved classic.

For an author(s) to write for us mere mortals should be celebrated and to give a negative review is hard. However there is little to like in this offering.

The writing is ok, though at times more instructive of what the reader should know rather than story led.

The misrepresentation of the proposal, Meg’s marriage, Amy’s continued declaration of her parents instruction to marry for money to save the family, etc., etc., are difficult to comprehend. No one cares if Jo and Beth are gay, if Laurie is bi, but to pull apart beloved Marmee is a step too far!

Whilst an update to any classic will be received with mixed opinions and can be highly emotive, sometimes a more modern view is welcome. Unfortunately, for me, not in this instance.

I’m sure this will be loved and enjoyed by many. As much as the original? I’m not so sure!

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing.

This novel offers a refreshing and imaginative take on the characters from Little Women. Each sister has her own struggles and story to tell which make them feel more human and relatable. A delightful read.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

*Thank you to NetGalley & Kensington Publishing for providing a digital copy to review*

I haven’t read Little Woman yet, but I have seen both movie adaptations and the feelings I get from watching them are like a warm hug. This book gave me the same feeling and allows us to get to know Amy, Meg, and Beth more, as told by them and not their sister Jo.

The book is broken up into sections with each giving a snapshot into the lives of the sisters. Amy is traveling around Europe with the goal of finding a husband. Meg is trying to find herself, separate from being just a wife and mother while Beth is trying to find some purpose in her life.

I love seeing their lives through their own eyes. Seeing their worries and desires and each of them finding something that brings great meaning and joy to their lives. Each sister’s story is so heartwarming and we get to see them have some happiness.

If you love Little Woman this is a great addition and just made me want to rewatch the movie adaptations again.

A fantastic nostalgic yet fresh take on Little Women! This novel beautifully reimagines the stories of all of Jo’s sisters, offering a deeper look into their lives and perspectives.

One of the highlights for me was how this book made me fall in love with Meg, Beth, and Amy all over again. The inclusion of diverse representation, including DEI and LGBTQIA+ themes, added depth and modern relevance to the beloved classic.

It’s clear that the authors poured immense love, research, and thought into this project, making it an even richer reading experience. As an older sister myself, Meg’s journey resonated deeply with me. Her struggle with losing herself in motherhood and marriage—only to rediscover her passions—was incredibly moving and relatable.

Overall, The Other March Sisters is a must-read for Little Women fans looking for a fresh yet faithful expansion of the story we know and love.

We all know the story of Jo March, but what about her sisters’ stories? Meg, Beth and Amy were compelling characters in Little Women, but they were secondary.

This new book explores the March family from their points of view, with their own lives, loves and disappointments.

***
Little Women is one of my favorite books, so I was excited to read this re-imagining of the March family.

I was intrigued at the idea of hearing Meg, Beth, and Amy tell their own stories. But as I read, I just couldn’t get into it.

What I liked: the pacing was good and the short chapters kept the story moving. I also liked how Jo and Marmee weren’t portrayed as perfect saints. They had real flaws, and the sisters reacted to their experiences realistically.

What wasn’t for me: the style was self-consciously formal. I understand why it was written that way, it just felt stilted and unnatural. There was a lot of repetition; yes, Amy, we know you feel pressured to marry for money. It honestly felt like lazy characterization.

I DNFed this, so I’m not sure if the story picked up. I might pick this book up again and give it a try at another time.

Check out this book if you’re a die-hard Little Women fan.

The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker

Thanks to @netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was intrigued when I first saw this on NetGalley, so I had to request it! This book focuses on Jo’s other sisters, Amy, Meg, and Beth, and provides deeper insights into their lives. I did enjoy this book and seeing each of their stories, did we need this? Probably not.

"Little Women" is one of my favourite classic novels. While it doesn't require any additional stories, this particular one enhances the character development of the other sisters. The author did a fantastic job, and her writing is brilliant. If you're looking for something heartwarming and thought-provoking, then this is the story for you!

Thank you to Netgalley for my ARC.

I enjoyed that this was a fresh and unique take on Thr Little Women. It was nice to see the other three sisters through their own lenses rather than just Jo’s biased perspective. The issues they had to deal with were handled well. I did have some issues with the pacing and flow of the writing itself.

While Little Women explores the lives of four sisters, it is Jo’s story and character development that is central. In a The Other March Story story the authors pull at threads that Louisa May Alcott hinted in her characterisation of the sisters. They play with the light and shade of their possible stories, drawing in part from the lives of Louisa May Alcott’s real life sisters.

The speculative aspects of the story were intriguing. Some chafed - I’m not sure I can fully embrace this version of Marmee, and Laurie’s retelling of his falling out felt a leap too far considering the way the original story was otherwise woven through. Others resonated strongly - the commentary on relationships, gender and sexual identity in times when these elements of identity were hidden from view

I dreaded reading Beth’s story, but instead was deeply moved by this bittersweet musing of what her life might have been. Overall this was a thought provoking and nostalgic read, perfect for fans of Little Women looking for a new twist on this timeless original work. 4.5⭐️

Thank you Kensington Publishing for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.