Friends with ARCs | Not the Girl You Marry + Meg and Jo

I had high expectations for Not the Girl You Marry, as it was pitched as being a gender-swapped version of one of my favorite romantic comedy films How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days. Overall, it was a diverting enough read to distract me on a long plane ride… but it otherwise failed to leave a lasting impression. There’s no doubt about this one being a romantic comedy, complete with the touchstones of that genre - over-the-top funny scenarios, a budding romance between two unlikely individuals tossed together by fate, a slew of secondary characters that make the story more colorful, the dramatic event that tears our couple apart. Hannah and Jack were an adorable couple, and their story held my attention the whole way through. But the more time that passes since I read it, the more I realize it was a middle-of-the-road read – enjoyable at the time, but forgettable overall. I’d still say it’s worth checking out if you like rom-coms and need a quick, diverting read, but it’s more of a borrow than a buy. 

What's your favorite romantic comedy? I love rom-coms, so this was a truly difficult question to answer! The one I've probably rewatched the most is Sweet Home Alabama, a story I find truly delightful and also surprisingly relatable. But if you want more recommendations, feel free to ask!

Not the Girl You Marry was released on November 12, 2019 by Berkley. 

I received an ARC at ApollyCon. 

When I learned that Meg and Jo was a modern tale inspired by Little Women, I knew immediately that I needed to read it. I grew up reading (and rereading) Little Women, drawn to the story of the March sisters and their lives, so I was interested to see how Virginia Kantra would draw inspiration that informed her own novel. I’m happy to report that this was a delightful read! Kantra pulls character traits and plot points from the original, and successfully transposes them into a modern setting. I found the actual plot of both Meg and Jo’s narratives very compelling, but what really made this book such a win was Kantra’s portrayal of the titular characters. While they do fit properly into the idea readers will have of their characters based on Little Women, these two also felt a touch more relatable because of the more modern conflicts they face. I also particularly liked that Kantra didn’t portray just their strengths; she’s unflinchingly honest about her portrayal of their flaws too (which could get frustrating but was also relatable). Meg and Jo surprised me in a good way, and I would certainly recommend picking it up whether you’ve read Little Women or not (though you might find some fun details to enjoy if you have). And there’s going to be a companion novel (Beth and Amy), which I’m definitely picking up! 

Which March sister do you relate to the most? Jo and I have a lot in common, and I've always imagined myself to be most like her. But if we're being completely truthful, I'm actually a lot more like Meg.

Meg and Jo will be released on December 3, 2019 by Berkley. 

I downloaded an e-galley from Netgalley for review.