I was already obsessed with this book before reading the first look. When I read Little Women, I was devastated that Jo denied Laurie’s proposal. I was so upset that I had to Google the ending- I HAD to know that everything was going to be okay. After all, how could Jo NOT wind up with Laurie? When I realized that Jo was never going to be with Laurie, I could hardly make it through to the end of the book. In the end, I am glad I did not give in to my disappointment and finished the book because the ending turned out to be pretty amazing, but still… I have always wondered “What If”. This is the book that I have been waiting for and I am so excited that Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz decided to write it.
They did a wonderful job of bringing Little Women back to life in a new, reimagined way. I cannot imagine a better way to “retell” the ending of Little Women. Instead of pretending that the second half of the original story did not take place, this story takes place in between the writing of the two parts of Little Women and brings into a play an entirely new dimension. The March family we know from Little Women is ever so slightly different from the March family of Jo & Laurie- because in Jo & Laurie we are seeing the “real” March family, opposed to the family portrayed within Jo’s publication of Little Women (aka Little Women as we know it). While both families are very similar, there are some differences. While a potentially risky method, I feel as if the authors of Jo & Laurie pulled it off WODNERFULLY.
I am not used to writing reviews without including spoilers, so I am afraid to say too much. I will just say that the original March sisters carry over into this new “world” beautifully. I love the paths they take and how it compares to the paths they took in Little Women. While many Little Women fans may disagree and oppose this book simply because it alters the “classic” they have loved for so long, I feel as if this book only adds to the magnificence that is the world of Little Women. It leaves the original story intact while providing a new dimension.
I had won an ARC copy from BookishFirst back in April, but because of COVID-19, my copy did not arrive until after the book was already in bookstores. Every time I went into my local bookstore, I would see this book on the shelf with its beautiful, perfect cover and tell myself to be patient… I am just so happy that Jo & Laurie did not disappoint and was completely worth the wait. After recieving this book, I devoured it within 48 hours. I recommend to any Little Women fan, regardless of how they may initially feel, to give this book a chance.
They did a wonderful job of bringing Little Women back to life in a new, reimagined way. I cannot imagine a better way to “retell” the ending of Little Women. Instead of pretending that the second half of the original story did not take place, this story takes place in between the writing of the two parts of Little Women and brings into a play an entirely new dimension. The March family we know from Little Women is ever so slightly different from the March family of Jo & Laurie- because in Jo & Laurie we are seeing the “real” March family, opposed to the family portrayed within Jo’s publication of Little Women (aka Little Women as we know it). While both families are very similar, there are some differences. While a potentially risky method, I feel as if the authors of Jo & Laurie pulled it off WODNERFULLY.
I am not used to writing reviews without including spoilers, so I am afraid to say too much. I will just say that the original March sisters carry over into this new “world” beautifully. I love the paths they take and how it compares to the paths they took in Little Women. While many Little Women fans may disagree and oppose this book simply because it alters the “classic” they have loved for so long, I feel as if this book only adds to the magnificence that is the world of Little Women. It leaves the original story intact while providing a new dimension.
I had won an ARC copy from BookishFirst back in April, but because of COVID-19, my copy did not arrive until after the book was already in bookstores. Every time I went into my local bookstore, I would see this book on the shelf with its beautiful, perfect cover and tell myself to be patient… I am just so happy that Jo & Laurie did not disappoint and was completely worth the wait. After recieving this book, I devoured it within 48 hours. I recommend to any Little Women fan, regardless of how they may initially feel, to give this book a chance.