I really enjoyed Jo and Laurie, a retelling of Little Women. I went into this book having no bias about what should happen since I have not read or seen Little Women. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this one.
The writing took a bit to get used to since it seemed a little clunky and I eventually got used to it.
Oh, Jo. She was so stubborn. At times I just wanted to knock some sense into her and tell her to quit letting fears control her. Yet at the same time, I really enjoyed seeing her toss them aside and take control.
So overall, I would recommend this book to the dreamers who hoped for Jo & Laurie and those, like me, who just want a taste of Little Women.

Rating: 4.5/5
Language: d*** used frequently throughout
Romance: a non-detailed kiss
Spiritual: N/A
Violence: N/A

*I received a copy of this novel for review purposes. All thoughts are my own and a positive review was not required.

Quotes:

"You know, Miss March, that's the second time a beautiful woman with your name has hit me with a fan tonight," Laurie said lightly. "So I suppose I am either doing something very right or something very wrong."

"Happiness is a trait not much desired in one's ancestors, I've found." With a nearly imperceptible sigh, he leaned forward to scratch a fingernail lightly against the portrait of a pale-skinned burgher in an enormous white ruff. "The more miserable the better, in fact. Something about money not being able to buy happiness, and all that." "The Marches must tbe the happiest family you've ever met, then," Meg said wryly. He laughed, his melancholy entirely forgotten. "Positively giddy." ( )

Christopher Columbus!

Margaret Stohl and Melissa De La Cruz team up to write a charming retelling of Little Women. Set in between Louisa May Alcott’s volume one Little Women and volume two Good Wives, Stohl and Cruz create an alternate ending for Jo and Laurie. Jo March has just finished her first book loosely based on the lives of her family, but now her publisher wants more. Specifically, an ending where all the March sisters are happily married. Except Jo’s life has not progressed that far yet, and now she stuck with writers block, filled with turmoil. She cannot imagine a story without Beth, her sisters married, or Laurie gone. Jo must come to terms with her quickly changing future before she can finish her book.

Stohl and Cruz create an interesting angle on the classic Little Women’s story by making it Jo’s own book. One that quickly became very popular. The reader then finds that Little Women was not actually accurate to Jo’s real life. As Meg has not met John yet, they do not call their mom “Marmee”, and other such changes. Which for fans of Little Women might not enjoy, especially since Good Wives is made fun of by its own characters. Her family faces the challenge that readers see Jo’s book as their real lives, and not a work of fiction. While Jo struggles not being able to write adventure novels, but forced to write a fiction of her life that has yet to happen. Laurie is also struggling with a future of a collage he does not want to attend, and his unnoticed affections for Jo. Together they go on a bit of an adventure to find what they really want in their lives.

All of Jo’s quirks and strong personality are well written in this book. Though, her writing process is interesting, her writer’s block is not. Jo has several valid personal reasons to not be able finish her book. As all books in a personal nature are extremely hard to write. It just takes her a long time to face those reasons, and come to terms with how they affect her own life story. Including Laurie’s confession of love. Whether Jo and Laurie are meant to be is up to the reader. As this book has an alternate ending to the original. This is a great book for those who love Jo and Laurie, and the wonderful nostalgia of classic American literature. ( )

4.25

Rather enjoyable, and well thought out and researched re-imagining. I do feel the authors used great care in crafting this, it was fairly well written, entertaining, and reflective of the time period. AS a huge fan of both alcotts writtings, and feminism, I thoroughly approve. ( )

What about Bhaer???



Also, “Girls write to ask who the little women marry, as if that was the only aim and end of a woman’s life,” Alcott wrote in her journal after the publication of the first volume of Little Women. “I won’t marry Jo to Laurie to please anyone.” Source.

*POTENTIAL SPOILERS*

Before I begin my official review I just want to clarify that I really don't like fanfiction.

Fanfiction, for those who don't know, is when someone takes a story already written by another author and changes something about it. Or sometimes they just continue on the story in a way that they like. I, personally, am not a fan of anyone adding to or altering the original authors story.

Now, for my review of the book itself.

The authors both write very well and I did enjoy some of their add-ins. For most of the book, I really felt like they captured the personalities of the character really well. But, there were some things that definitely had too mushy of a feel. Or even too modern.

Two of the characters in the book decide to take a trip to New York unaccompanied by a chaperone and unwed. While, thankfully, nothing scandalous happens, the point is that didn't happen back then. The trip itself would have been a huge scandal.

There were also quite a lot of scenarios that felt to fake to be real. Like instant falling in love, and going from barely ever talking to jumping into each other's arms.

I think the reason some of the lovey dovey stuff bothered me is because it reminded me soo much of a Hallmark movie (which I hate, there's literally no originality in them).

I really loved Little Women, the book this was based off of, but I don't feel, personally, like this story held up to the same standard.

Now, for those of you who love sappy romances, you would definitely enjoy this book! But, if you're like me, and prefer fantasy and sci-fi, I'd recommend passing over this one. ( )