Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra – a Review

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Description:
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.

Review:

Beth and Amy by Virginia Kantra is another wonderful, heartwarming modernized retelling of Little Women.  Previously, I did enjoy the story of Meg and Jo, and now we get to see Beth and Amy’s story. 

Amy works in New York with a successful start as a fashion designer of handbags, Baggage.  She is going home to attend her sister Jo’s wedding, and dreads meeting up with Trey (Jo’s former boyfriend), whom she has always had a crush on; as well as keep the secret that she and Trey had sex a few years ago.  Has she gotten over her feelings for Trey?

Beth is a singer, who writes her own songs, which has won awards; she is part of a band, with Cole, the lead singer.  Beth has anxiety issues, and struggling to maintain control of her fears.  She also goes home to attend her sister’s wedding, and the family worries about her being too thin, though Beth ensures them she is fine. But is she really?

We also get a few POV’s on the March mother, Abby, who runs the farm, and always watches over her daughters; especially with the father never around.  With the family gathering, the father does come back and plans to stay, much to Abby’s discomfort.

Amy secretly begins to see Trey again, though he is not ready for a permanent relationship.  Amy plans to go back to New York, but she needs financial help to allow her to hire more people, since the orders have risen drastically.  Aunt Phee is willing to offer her help, but she has conditions for Amy, who must decide if she will accept the offer.

The family becomes concerned when Beth becomes sick and faints, though she says she is fine.  When she is ready to go back to the band, Beth will suffer a collapse and the family learns the truth about her condition, which she will need to change her life for the better; especially her anxieties.

As I did in the first book, I really loved both Beth and Amy, as they both had their own issues, but it was great to see all the girls, as the sisterhood between the 4 girls was awesome.  

Beth and Amy is another heartwarming and enjoyable story of family, loyalty, daily family problems and the sisterhood we came to love.  Though most of the story centered on Amy and Beth, it was also great to see Meg/John and Jo/Eric wonderful relationship.    Beth and Amy is a sweet, realistic and fun story that was very well written by Virginia Kantor.

Beth and Amy, as well as Meg and Jo, were both wonderful books that were fun, enjoyable, warm, loving stories. I suggest you read both books in order, as Virginia Kantra gave us a fabulous modernized version of Little Woman.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher