The Other March Sisters is a different take on well loved classic, Little Women. Three different authors collaborate to provide a voice to three of the March sisters; Amy, Meg and Beth. As an audiobook, I think it works well. The narrators are very good at capturing the voice of each sister distinctly and bringing them to life for the listener. On the whole, I enjoyed the book but I found the pace very slow and that detracted from my enjoyment.
I have seen some mixed reviews for this book. Some have found it a refreshing take on a classic, others felt it's too far removed from the original characters. If Little Women holds a special place in your heart, pick up The Other March Sisters, either read or listen to the book yourself and form your own opinion.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a chance to review an advanced copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is a really good book telling the story of the March sisters, after they have grown up. Really well told and the characters are greatly brought to life.
I had the audio version and the narration is wonderful!

First of all thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy! I was so excited to that this book covered the 3 originally de-emphasized March sisters—Meg, Beth and Amy—and did so with 3 different writers and narrators to give them each a clear voice. I have read a lot of reviews that say that this book didn’t need to exist. I disagree. I feel that this book was very much necessary. I have always felt like we only really get to know Jo in the original. (Shoutout to Greta Gerwig for getting us closer to a more balanced take on the March family in her recent adaptation.) TBH it felt like this book was what was owed to Meg, Beth and Amy and even Laurie! Especially considering the sisters were based on LMA’s own sisters. It did have slow and repetitive moments that made me impatient with the book. And there were also a few things sprinkled in there that I didn’t think made any sense (like Florida saying Beth was funny? Love Beth, but I didn’t really see the humor tbh.) Still, I recommend and feel that Little Women should be accompanied by this piece for future generations.

I've never read Little Women, only seen the movies, so I enjoyed this more than I think people who have read the original will. I love the focus on the other March Sisters and that literally Jo is not in at all, even through letters. It really helped center the other sisters. I enjoy that with each sister we got a different side of them. Amy has always been my favorite sister so I loved seeing a more mature side of her in this book, exploring Europe and art, I loved her and Laurie and how the Jo incident was talked about. Meg finds herself raising twins in a life she never imagined for herself, so she finds comfort in her garden and a way to make money of her own. I really liked her story but I was sad that she married John out of spite and not love, that just seemed to far removed from the original, but it was beautiful seeing their love bloom. Beth's was perhaps my favorite store to read though because you really see her deal with her anger over getting sick and being the one stuck at home while all her sisters go off and live their lives. She a very sweet romance with a woman that I just adored! The one thing that bugged me though was how Marmee was handled, she really seems quite villainous, especially in Meg's story and that was just wayyy too hard for me to believe. I think it would've been great to see the sisters have issues with Marmee and how they were raised or treated but within the bounds of what her character was. I felt as though she was an unflattering caricature of her original self.

A beautiful oude to Alcott's classic, The Other March Sisters tells the story of Little Women from the perspectives of Meg, Beth, and Amy. Each author gives their character a unique voice and stays close enough to the original work that it feels like a natural extension of the story. I really loved this book and the depth it added to a beloved story.

I have a confession to make, I’ve never actually read Little Women. That being said three movies and Pop culture I mean, who doesn’t know the story of little women, Jo and her sisters.

But I do love a story about the underdogs so I was fascinated to see this continuation of the March sister story after Joe moves on to New York to pursue her ambitions, leaving Meg Beth and Amy to find their own paths forward .

This book was fascinatingly put together by three authors telling three stories and it works wonderfully. I loved reading all three sisters adventures and trail aisles, and also seeing them interconnect.

I had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook with narration provided by Laura Knight Keating, Taylor Meskimen, Rachel Botchan. The three narrators each told one of the sister stories and did a great job, creating a unique atmosphere for each sister and bringing each character to life. The narrator was different. They had a harmonious feel and vibe that meshed well for the cohesiveness of the book as a whole.

Overall, I loved this interpretation of life after for the remaining three March sisters .

4⭐
The story of THE March Sisters, tackling social norms, motherhood, LGBTQ relations, chronic illnesses & more.

If you loved "Little Women" you'll definitely enjoy this!

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The March sisters are back, and this time, they are telling their own stories. With Jo away in New York, Meg, Beth, and Amy are carving their own paths. Meg finds her calling after feeling unfilled as a wife and mother. Beth longs for life outside of her bedroom. Her time is limited, but she makes a connection that brightens her life. Amy feels the pressure to marry and to marry well, but art is her true heart’s pursuit, and she has some decisions to make while stuying in Paris.

Jo is mentioned, but she told her story, and the authors give the other sisters their turn in this book.

I love retellings/continuations of beloved stories, and I think the authors did a great job further developing these characters and doing deep dives on women’s hearts, minds, and story arcs. Thoroughly enjoyed this read.

I received an advanced listener copy of The Other March Sisters. I enjoyed this book. It was fun to hear a different take on a beloved classic. The LGBTQ representation was an interesting take on a classic story!

Thank you NetGalley and Recorded Books for this ARC Audio Copy!

When I saw this was a book with characters from the Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, I knew that I would have to read it.
A retelling with the lesser-known sisters, Amy, Meg, and Beth. It was really interesting how each sister was written by a different author; it really gave each of sisters a unique voice.

Thank you to the author, publisher, & Net Galley for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I liked learning about the lives of Amy, Meg and Beth. I think the book moved a little slow. I would have liked to have seen a reunion with all the sisters. If you loved Little Women then you will like reading about the sisters.

I really enjoyed this audiobook that details the perspectives of the other March sisters from Little Women, Amy, Meg and Beth. They share their secret hopes and dreams and aspirations as well as fears through interactions with friends and family as well as through letters to each other. The narrators for the audiobook were engaging and gave unique voices to each of the characters. The characters' stories touch on many timely, relevant topics such as women's bodily autonomy, career/life choices, choosing who to love or share your life with. These are often thought of as "modern" ideas, but they have actually been experienced throughout time, but often with less openness or discussion or acceptance depending upon the cultural norms of the period or place. It seems relevant this period as when at the time, the sisters were discussing women's right to vote and their mother was involved in the movement. The only piece I felt was missing from this telling was a bit from Jo--how was she faring in New York? What did she think of her sisters' choices? How was her relationship with her mother? I wish there had been a glimpse through correspondence with the sisters and Jo. I do appreciate that the story ended with a glimpse of the other sisters' futures and life directions, ending on a satisfying note.

See Amy, Meg, and Beth March -- the sisters of Louisa May Alcott's fictional self, Jo March -- as never before with this speculative continuation/counterpart of the the Little Women story. Art student Amy seeks true happiness while studying abroad. Meg finds fulfillment outside of marriage and motherhood, in her garden. Beth strives to be more than the "house angel" despite the lingering effects of illness.

I was leery going into this audiobook. Little Women is one of my all-time favorite books and I feared I would either end up hating it or this alternate take on it, or both. Ultimately, I think The Other March Sisters is, at best, giving Jo's siblings the happy endings (or as close to HEA as they can get) that they deserve. Out of all the sisters, I always thought that Beth got the short end of the stick, not just because of her fate in Little Women but because she's portrayed as meek and mild and perfect. Her character was so underdeveloped in Alcott's descriptions. So to see her chasing her bliss in this book was really cool. Amy, too, deserved better. I didn't really like her at all in Little Women, and she gains so much depth through this story. I appreciated seeing too what Meg might have been up to after she married and had children. The characterization of Marmee shocked me, but not necessarily in a bad way. Just a more realistic one.

Some might think this is too progressive a work of fiction to flesh out the other March sisters, but Little Women itself was pretty ahead of its time. So, bravo to the trio of authors who attempted it. My only complaint might be that it started slow with Amy hob-knobbing with a bunch of society people.

All three narrators did excellent work voicing their characters.

Trigger warnings: a scene involving abortion and a brief mention of SA.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Like millions of other readers, I love Little Women. It was one of the first novels I read as a child and I know these characters inside and out. I have read other books and reimaginings of these characters and their quality has been gread to not so good. This one is definitely in the middle. I like the basic concept of what was happening to the three lesser known March sisters while Jo was away in the city. Meg's story in particular was interesting and I wish we had more time with that plotline. Amy's story was rather forgetable although I think we spend most time with her. She was in her head more than anything and it wasn't especially interesting there. Beth's story really felt like Beth's voice only amplified and I thought that was intriguing. I can believe that inside she was wanting to have more for her life than being the kind, sick sister. The problem may be in that this was written by three different authors. Marmee felt like a different character in each of the three stories. There is an LGBTQ+ theme woven throughout which is great and I love to see it, however when 3/5 of the main characters from the original book are a part of that community, it causes a horrible suspension of belief. Jo, yes, I think we all can agree that she was bi/gay or even ace. The other sister in particular felt out of left field and it just didn't feel honest to the original story at all. 3.5 stars.

This is a delightfully fun reimagining of one my favorite stories (Little Women), told in the perspectives of Amy, Meg, and Beth. Is it 100% accurate as to how Louisa May Alcott would have told the story or even how I imagine the stories of these three women playing out? Of course not! Readers will be sorely disappointed if they go into this read expecting it to be precisely as Louisa May Alcott would have written it. Instead, that is the charm and appeal of The Other March Sisters. It takes the characters, setting, and story that has captivated so many, and adds new (and sometimes modernized) aspects.

I especially loved the retelling in Amy’s perspective. As a huge Jo fan, I still always felt the Amy/Laurie side of Little Women was not properly explained or fully developed in Little Women, so it was very satisfying and fun to read this reimagined filling in of those gaps. The authors captured the characters very well, making for an enjoyable and cozy read.

Thank you to Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, Liz Parker, Kensington Publishing, RB Media, & NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

I absolutely love a retelling of a classic story or novel. And this one absolutely did not disappoint.

It gives the reader a lot to think about going through Beth and Beth and Meg's possible story lines. I love that the reader kept with historical and characters while instilling a modern Twist on the very real possibilities of these little women. The storytelling was excellent and made me love these classic characters even more.

The Other March Sisters by Linda Epstein, Ally Malinenko, and Liz Parker is a reimagining of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, focusing on Meg, Beth, and Amy March, who often remain in the shadow of Jo, the protagonist of the original novel. This historical fiction novel gives each sister her own voice and story, exploring themes of societal expectations, personal ambition, and identity.
The book delves into Meg's struggles with domesticity and her rediscovery of purpose through gardening, Beth's quiet longing for independence despite her illness, and Amy's journey in Europe as she balances her artistic aspirations with familial expectations. By leaving Jo off the page, the authors allow the other sisters to shine, revealing their complexities and inner lives through intimate moments and correspondence.
Praised for its imaginative storytelling and emotional depth, The Other March Sisters offers a fresh perspective on the beloved characters of Little Women. If you're a fan of historical fiction or enjoy exploring untold stories of familiar characters, this book might be a captivating read. Have you read Little Women or other retellings inspired by it?

Thank you Netgalley for the audio ARC of this novel. As a fan of "Little Women" I was immediately intrigued by this new story about the March sisters. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. I was expecting the authors to follow the story of the sisters, but with a few imaginings of their own, not a complete and total change of the characters and who they were in the original. I guess I should have done more research into the authors themselves and the agenda they had in mind. I would not recommend this for anyone who loved the original story by Louisa May Alcott.

I read Little Women as a teenager and it has always been my favorite classic, so I was really excited about this one. Sadly, I was disappointed. While I completely get that this is not the same story and it is told from a completely different point of view from the original (hence, the title), the tone and the mood was just way too different for me. I didn’t feel like it honored Louisa May Alcott’s work the way it should have. I wanted to love it, but it just fell short. Thank you to NetGalley and to RBmedia for the opportunity to listen to this free advance recording of The Other March Sisters.

I got this as an audio arc on Netgalley an it has since come out. Very good narration but even better story. Have you ever wondered what it would look like to queer up Little women and change perspectives. Cause that is this book and it is good. This book shows that who is telling the story matters.