Little Woman in Blue

May Alcott was the youngest sister of Louisa May Alcott and the inspiration for Amy, the youngest of the March sisters in Little Women. May was so much more than that though. In this novel, May progresses from a fledgling artist and painter to an accomplished one who has had her works displayed in Europe and America. In and age where women were expected to settle down, May traveled throughout Europe and followed her dreams. While this is May's story, it is also a story of family, sisters and friendship. Little Women was one of my favorite books growing up and this book provided some insight into how similar and dissimilar the March sisters were with their real lives counterparts.

Thanks She Writes Press and netgalley for this arc.

So much happens in her life! May had a hard life but a eventful one also. She never gave up her dreams. Loved how Atkins made May come alive.

I spent hours reading Little Women as a child and loved all the characters except spoiled Amy. In this story readers hear from the real Amy, or May. In real life, May was horrified to read her sister’s depiction of her as the vain and selfish Amy. The only similarity was May’s love of art. During the Civil War, May worked making shirts for Union soldiers, dreaming of a life filled with true love and her aspirations to became a great artist. After the book is published, May plans to leave her home in Massachusetts and move far away to accomplish her goals and prove her famous sister wrong. A fascinating peek at one of literature’s most maligned characters

4 stars!
Wow, this book really took me back. I read Little Women and Little Men back when I was a teenager. What good books they were, and they weren't required! I got a little thrown when the character names were different, then I realized this was a true book about the real Alcott sisters (well, from what the author could find through research) and how the books got published and how their life really was. It was also confusing me, because I didn't remember the dad ever being around, I always thought he was off to war to or something.

It was nice to reminisce as I loved those books growing up and to see how the sisters, well some of them, really lived and grew up.

I think the author wrote a nice story, I'm not sure how much is real and how much is fiction, but I liked it all the same. I was thoroughly entertained and found the story to be very enjoyable. I would definitely recommend the book!

Thanks She Writes Press and Net Galley for providing me this free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.

I can only recognize love when it disappears….Artist and writers. We only see the meaning or shape of things when they’re over.

I came into this book without ever reading Little Women by Louisa Alcott and I was captured by the dreams of Louisa and her sister May. With one sisters burden with fame and the other seeking fame, tension is sure to abound. During the Alcott’s time in history, women were not captured by a dream of being a writer or an artist’s so it was a delight to see how a dream can bring hope and determination.

The relationship between the two sisters was a pendulum at times but one that remained faithful. I may have to see now what all the fuss is about Little Women for myself.

A Special Thank You to She Writes Press and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Jeannine did a wonderful job on this one. Did not disappoint her fans.