OMGILOVEDTHISBOOK.
*deep breath* Ahem. Sorry. But, seriously, guys. I absolutely adored Meg and Jo.
I’m a huge fan of retellings, particularly ones that modernize classic stories (see Eligible), but this is the first retelling of Little Women that I’ve read. That being said, expectations were high when I started reading – and I’m so happy to report that Virginia Kantra’s reimagining completely surpassed everything I could have hoped for.
Spoiler alert: If you’re interested in reading Meg and Jo, I’m going to assume you’ve read, or are at least moderately familiar with the plot of Little Women. Semi-spoilers will abound in this book review, but only as it pertains to what happens in Alcott’s classic novel; I won’t reveal any new twists thrown into Meg and Jo by the author (and believe me, there are quite a few that I really enjoyed!).
Now, if you’re continuing with me, here we go:
Meg and Jo is a wonderful mishmash of nostalgic flashbacks to the March sisters’ childhood and glimpses of Meg and Jo as they move through their adult lives. Kantra masterfully weaves modern interpretations of classic Little Woman scenes with new twists and turns that have sprung entirely from her imagination: Jo and Laurie’s complicated friendship becomes even further complicated with the addition of sex, as most men-and-women friendships do in this day and age; Amy still loves art, but she errs more toward fashion than oil paintings, and even lands a Paris internship with Louis Vuitton (of course she does); and old Aunt March is still a cranky fusspot, but now she drives around in a blingin’ Mercedes with a miniature dog stuffed into her purse.
I mean, can’t you just see this?? It works. It all works.
And, remember Professor Bhaer? Yeah, Jo’s eventual love interest in Meg & Jo is way better than the original version. Way better. I guess I wasn’t the only one scratching her head about why Jo ends up with a rando, old German dude instead of loveable Laurie.
Unsurprisingly, Meg and Jo focuses mainly on the two eldest March sisters. Kantra really fleshes out Jo’s romantic life in this retelling, and you completely get why Professor Bhaer—or, Chef Eric Baehr, in this case – wins her heart, despite the age and cultural differences between them. It’s a believable and soulful relationship, and you completely buy their love story in a way that you never really do in Little Women.
Admittedly, it doesn’t hurt that Eric is really hunky chef/European sex god instead of a stodgy philosophy professor. It’s a good change, Kantra. Good change.
And, for the Meg fans among us, her story is just as deeply explored. Little Women doesn’t show us too much about her life after she marries John Brooke and has kids, so Kantra really takes free reign with her story and draws upon the popular theme of modern-day housewives everywhere: trying to “have it all” by being SuperMom and SuperWife, all while wondering why her “happily ever after” isn’t as happy as she thought it would be.
I liked Meg’s story, but I didn’t appeal to me as poignantly as Jo’s did, for obvious reasons (not a mom; am aspiring author). However, I think a ton of overworked moms and wives will get all the feels from Meg’s struggle to balance the perfect life with what actually makes her happy.
If you’re a fan of Little Women, you’ll definitely want to pick up this sweet treat from Kantra and introduce yourselves to the modern Meg and Jo March. I guarantee you’re going to love them.
And, Kantra is publishing Beth and Amy in May 2021, so we’ll get answers to all our burning questions about their lives soon. (What makes Laurie fall for spoiled, bratty Amy? Does Beth still die? Does Beth still die?!?)
Have you read any other retellings of Little Women? I’d love some recommendations!
And be sure to check back in for my book-inspired recipe: Smothered Chicken and Roasted Broccolini!
