While I was very excited to read this book, I was also a bit nervous. The original Little Woman is definitely a cherished thing in Western culture, so the idea of a spin-off was slightly off-putting (even if it did promise something I'd always wanted in the original). However, as I began reading, I simply found myself enjoying the story--not really worrying about its relation or possible "slander" of the original. I mean, there are plenty of spin-offs for classics like Sherlock Holmes or Pride and Prejudice--which toy with ideas of romance not present in the original. What makes this story any different? To me, nothing. Its simply a nice story written by fans of the original, imagining a different path the original story might have taken. Overall, it was a very sweet and enjoyable read.