North Carolina, 1863. As the American Civil War rages on, the Freedmen's Colony of Roanoke Island is blossoming, a haven for the recently emancipated. Black people have begun building a community of their own, a refuge from the shadow of the old life. It is where the March family has finally been able to safely put down roots with four young daughters:
Meg, a teacher who longs to find love and start a family of her own.
Jo, a writer whose words are too powerful to be contained.
Beth, a talented seamstress searching for a higher purpose.
Amy, a dancer eager to explore life outside her family's home.
As the four March sisters come into their own as independent young women, they will face first love, health struggles, heartbreak, and new horizons. But they will face it all together.
Promise me one thing; read this whole review before you react, please.
I think this would have been better if it weren't a retelling.
It's an amazing story, but for me, knowing that it's a retelling of Little Women meant I was constantly trying to guess who characters were based off, what situations were coming up, which plot point this was. Now, maybe that wouldn't matter to you, but for me it distracted me from a story that absolutely could have stood, and been very powerful, on its own.
The only thing I know about Roanoke is the fate of its original colony, the Croatoan mystery. I didn't know it had housed a freedman colony - I didn't even know that freedman colonies were a thing! It's a fascinating part of history and I'll be reading more about it, trying to understand it as best I possibly can.
I really enjoyed this read, and I'd love to read more of these characters if it was possible. I just feel that a book this powerful and raw shouldn't have to rely on a loose link to another book to get traction. I Really hope this does as well as it absolutely deserves to.
So Many Beginnings publishes on the 7th September, 2021. I received a free copt and am giving an honest review.
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