May 25, 2021

Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra

Genre/Categories: Women’s Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Retelling

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary:

Thanks #NetGalley @BerkleyPub #BerkleyWritesStrongWomen #BerkleyBuddyReads for a complimentary eARC of #BethAndAmy upon my request. All opinions are my own.

Beth & Amy, a modern retelling of Little Women, is the sequel to Meg & Jo. For full reading satisfaction, I recommend reading them in order.

In this modern retelling, Amy March is a fashion designer in New York and Beth. a talented singer and song writer, is touring with a country music super star. The family reunites for Jo’s wedding and the March sisters once again appreciate the love and support of family as well as the strong bonds of sisterhood.

My Thoughts:

Family Loyalty and Commitment: Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy are both enjoyable, easy reading stories with likable characters and a few substantial themes. The girls have left their comfortable childhoods, live in different areas of the country, and are pursuing their dreams. Even though their living circumstances have changed, their commitments to each other and family loyalty have not. Family is at the heart of these stories.

Characters: As with the original Little Women, the four lively sisters exhibit strong personalities while they explore their own unique gifts, skills, and dreams. If you’ve read Little Women, you have probably declared which sister you identify with. In case you like to take online quizzes, here’s one (of I’m sure many) that will help you identify which sister you are most like

TW: There is a trigger warning for an eating disorder that I’d like to specifically note in my review. This story line is a significant thread throughout the story (in other words, not just a mention). I’m honestly not qualified to address how this was dealt with in the story. I’m sure that everyone who has experienced an eating disorder, has a different story to tell and experience to relate. It seemed to me that it was sensitively and realistically handled and accurately described in this story, but I’d love to hear from an “own voices” reviewer in this area (please link your review in comments). In addition, there is one portrayal of a toxic romantic relationship.

Genre: If you’re looking for gentle reading women’s fiction with a serving of (closed door) romance and no objectionable language, you will like these stories. There is an abundance of HEA (Happily Ever After) or at least the hopes of an HEA. Retellings are tricky and I think of this as more of an imagining inspired by Little Women.

Themes: Even though Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy take place when the girls are young adults enjoying divergent interests and careers, you can depend on poignant themes of family, mother/daughter relationships, and sibling bonds in a Little Women retelling. Other important themes include second chances, mental health concerns, relationships with food, healthy romantic relationships, friendship, and compassion.

Recommended: I recommend Meg & Jo and Beth & Amy for fans of Little Women, for readers who love retellings, and for those looking for light women’s fiction.

My Rating:  3 Stars

Beth & Amy Information Here

My Star Rating: 3 Stars

Which movie adaptation of Little Women is your favorite?
Have you seen the most recent?

Related Reviews: Meg & Jo; More to the Story (a Paskistani-American retelling of Little Women)

Meet the Author, Virginia Kantra

New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is the author of more than twenty novels. Her stories have earned numerous awards including two Romance Writers of America’s RITA (R) Awards, ten RITA nominations, and two National Readers’ Choice Awards. Carolina Dreaming, the fifth book in her Dare Island series, won the 2017 RITA (R) Award for Best Contemporary Romance – Midlength and was named one of BookPage’s Top Ten Romance Novels of 2016.

Virginia is married to her college sweetheart, a coffee shop owner who keeps her well supplied with caffeine and material. They make their home in North Carolina, where they raised three (mostly adult) children. She is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love. Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.

Her favorite thing to make for dinner? Reservations.

For excerpts and more, visit her at http://virginiakantra.com.
And on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VirginiaKantraBooks

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QOTD:

Is Beth and Amy or Meg and Jo on your TBR or have you read them?

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