I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Little Women became one of my all-time favorite reads when I was around fifteen. I spent three days holed up in my bedroom devouring it after my first real breakup. I cried, I laughed, and ultimately left my bedroom in a much better place than I was in when I started reading the book. Since then, I’ve read it countless times, and it never ceases to amaze me the things I pick up during the rereads. Meg and Jo by Virginia Kantra doesn’t just live up to the original, but creates a new timeless classic for readers of all ages to enjoy. Told in dual POV from the two eldest March sisters, Meg and Jo is a contemporary retelling of the classic and, like the classic, follows the girls through life’s joys and hardships.

Jo March has hit rock bottom, or she believes she has, after losing her job as a journalist at a New York newspaper. Living a double life as a food blogger and prep cook in one of NYC’s top restaurants, Jo gets to enjoy two of her biggest loves: writing and food. However, her jobs are barely paying the bills. Something has to give because she refuses to give up on her dream and move home.

Meg is struggling to maintain her dream life. She has everything she could ever ask for: a loving husband, adorable twin toddlers, and a home. When her mother becomes sick, Meg quickly realizes that while everything looks good from the outside, she is crumbling on the inside. Her marriage isn’t what she thought it would be. She’s barely keeping up with the house chores and keeping up with the kids, now she’s trying to take care of her mom and the family farm.

I loved the dynamic of this story. Seeing the girls grown up gave a different perspective to the story and modernizing it makes it relevant to today’s problems. Adding in Marmie’s illness creates conflict for the sisters, forcing them out of their comfort zones and to fight for what they want in life. I absolutely adore Meg and John. They are a sweet couple who have hit a rough patch in their marriage. Not because they don’t love each other, but because that is life as parents, a constant adjustment to the age your kids are in. It’s hard, and I love how Kantra makes them a team. Jo’s Chef is amazing. I liked this twist. In the original, Chef is a professor, but here he is still her mentor, someone she looks up to and easily falls for, even if she resists it.

Overall, I loved Meg and Jo and cannot wait to dive into the sequel featuring the younger March sisters. Kantra did a fantastic job of staying true to the original story while also bringing her own style and narrative to the sisters. If you enjoy contemporary romance, family drama, and a heartfelt story, Meg and Jo is sure to please.