Review for Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra

 

Beth and Amy  by  Virginia Kantra 

Paperback, 352 pages

Publication: May 25th 2021 by Berkley Books

Genre:  Fiction, Romance, Retellings, Contemporary, Adult Fiction

 

From Goodreads…Four sisters face new beginnings in this heartfelt modern take on Little Women by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

Amy March is more like her older sister Jo than she'd like to admit. An up-and-coming designer in New York's competitive fashion industry, ambitious Amy is determined to get out of her sisters' shadow and keep her distance from their North Carolina hometown. But when Jo's wedding forces her home, she must face what she really wants...and confront the One Big Mistake that could upend her life and forever change her relationship with Jo.

Gentle, unassuming Beth grew up as the good girl of the family. A talented singer-songwriter, she's overcome her painful anxiety to tour with country superstar Colt Henderson. But life on the road has taken its toll on her health and their relationship. Maybe a break to attend her sister's wedding will get her out of her funk. But Beth realizes that what she's looking for and what she needs are two very different things....

With the March women reunited, this time with growing careers and families, they must once again learn to lean on one another as they juggle the changes coming their way. 

My Thoughts…Little Women is such an amazing book so when I saw that Beth and Amy March were getting a retelling of their stories, I could not be more excited to read it.   I had already read Meg and Jo (the first book in this series) and love it so I was sure I would not be disappointed.   I am happy to report that Beth and Amy is just as wonderful and heartwarming.  

I really enjoyed how real Virginia Kantra kept the characters real.   Beth has an illness and the way it was handled was with care and tenderness while still showing how serious it could be.  The March family gathered around, protected their own, and showed her the love that they always have for each other. Amy is struggling to make it in New York and knows that the next step will be a big one.   Looking for funding she looks towards her aunt who gives her an ultimatum.  Her relationship with Trey was fun but had many serious sides.   I loved how strong Amy was, she stood up for herself, protected her family, and did what she must just to get where she wants to be.   

The March family is still wonderful.  Abby, the mother, is still the backbone of the family keeping everyone in line but now that they have grown she realizes that sometimes she must step back and let them live their lives.   Ash, the father, has a large part in this story and I love how he was portrayed and the choices that he was making. 

Whether you have read Little Women or not I recommend buying your own copy and meeting the strong, loving, and family orientated March women.  

Add to your MUST-READ list on Goodreads

Meet Virginia Kantra…New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is the author of thirty novels. Her stories have earned numerous awards including two Romance Writers of America's RITA (R) Awards, and two National Readers' Choice Awards.

Her work includes the popular Dare Island series, the Children of the Sea series and, in e-book format, The MacNeills stories.

Meg and Jo, a contemporary novel inspired by Little Women, received starred reviews from Publisher's Weekly and the American Library Association's Booklist and was praised by People Magazine.

Married to her college sweetheart and the mother of three (mostly adult) children, Virginia lives in North Carolina. 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.

A popular speaker, Virginia regularly offers workshops to writers' groups and has participated in Winston Salem's Bookmarks Festival; the North Carolina Literary Festival; and Duke University's "Unsuitable" event series hosted by the Forum for Scholar and Publics. She loves talking with readers.

Follow Virginia Kantra on BookBub, Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook