The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott

A very well written, must read, for all Little Women fans.

In a sentence: I adored this book! I can still remember sitting in the back seat of my parents' car when I was twelve years old, driving to North Carolina for my first look at snow. I was consumed with Little Women - I knew from that moment that I would always love reading. Jo's character was so admirable to me: strong, smart, focused, independent. She was everything that I could see myself wanting to be. The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott provided a spectacular glimpse at the author that brought me Jo. The view of Alcott's hometown, the family that shaped her life, and an opportunity to move away and become the writer that she wanted to be was breathtakingly real. I enjoyed the way that the author provided background to Alcott's home life, including her father's transcendentalist lifestyle to which he dedicated all of his focus, despite the ill effects that it may have on his family. Louisa's relationship with Joseph Singer was stunning and heartbreaking. Louisa's character was so strong and determined to follow her dreams of writing that she was not looking for the love that she found with Joseph. The descriptions of their romance were lovely and real. I felt as if I was reading a novel from the 19th or early 20th century and liked how McNees did not feel the need to give in your face descriptions of the love affair, but provided just enough to let your heart imagine their affection. I highly recommend The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott. McNees has created a wonderful love story and an empowering story for women that was worthy of Louisa May Alcott's life.

In The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott, we are introduced to a 22 year old Louisa, who is moving to Walpole, New Hampshire with her family due to financial difficulties. While there Louisa struggles with the desire to be a writer and duty to her family. Love and marriage are not options she is willing to consider. She would like nothing more than to go to Boston, live alone and be a writer. Then she meets Joseph Singer. Louisa finds herself smitten and confused. Is there room for love, family and writing? Kelly O'Connor McNees captures the essence of the Alcott family beautifully. I felt that the way the family was depicted was in line with things I have read or seen about the Alcott family. Louisa was just a I had imagined her to be and reminded me of Jo in Little Women. I enjoyed this book immensely! I can't recommend it enough. Just like when I read Little Women as a young girl, I didn't want this story to end! I'm looking forward to seeing what Kelly O'Connor McNees writes next.

I couldn't help it. The entire time I was reading this book, I had the soundtrack to Little Women (1994) running through my head. You can't help but compare this fictional version of Louisa Alcott's life to her own novel based on her personal life. It's too uncanny to not see the resembles between the two sets of sisters. I love historical fiction and Louisa Alcott is like the American version of Jane Austen so I was really eager to read this book. The core of this book, like Little Women itself, is family. The sisters in the book are very close and you feel a real kinship with them. I did get annoyed at Bronson Alcott and how he kept making his family suffer just because of his philosophical whims. It would be one thing for him to do it by himself, but then to force his wife and children was just wrong. The thing that got on my nerves the most was his refusal to work for money even though his family was almost destitute. Luckily, his wife is just as strong as Marmee March and provides the stability that her daughters need that they cannot get from their father. The sisters are all very close and provide the closeness and friendship each young woman needs in her life. Louisa is very much like Jo, as she's headstrong and a writer. However she doesn't see herself getting married because that would deter her from fulfilling her lifelong dream. Her relationship with Joseph complicates all this and she finds herself at odds with whether to follow her heart or her dreams. I have to admit, I was a bit shocked at what happened in the middle of the book. Maybe it's because I kept picturing Jo, but what Louisa and Joseph did rather surprised me. Mind you, it's nothing overly graphic or even descriptive but just the implications made me raise my eyebrows. Also I'm a bit slow because it wasn't until near the last chapter where it dawned on me where the name Josephine might have come from. I can't believe I went through almost the entire book and didn't realize it. This book also reminded me very of the movie Becoming Jane, where again another famous author is fictionalized about a romance that inspired one of her heroines. While it's not a direct duplication, there are lots of similarities that made me think of the other. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book. As I stated earlier, I love historical fiction and I really like reading fictionalized accounts of famous historical figures as long as they are kept in character and not become too modern. This book wonderfully blends the true nature of Alcott with the hope of what could have been. This is a wonderful debut from McNees and I'll be looking forward to reading future books from her.

"The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott" is well written and expertly paced: a lovely book from beginning to end. Fans of historical fiction will be thrilled with the exquisite details that pop up throughout this debut novel by Kelly O'Connor McNees, while followers of Louisa May Alcott will feel as if they've been re-introduced to an old, dear friend. Anyone who loves a good story will find that they simply can't put this book down.

This novel was an easy read yet set an intriguing plot that allowed the reader to imagine what might have happened one summer in the life of Louisa May Alcott. The author set the stage for the 1800's time frame and gave the reader a feel for what life was like in the small town of Walpole, New Hampshire. It also gave true insight into the dynamics of the Alcott family, the access the girls had to education and the hardships they endured from their father's philosophy. The heart of the story was the on again, off again romance between Louisa May and Joseph Singer. The experience definitely could have been life changing for the two. The final chapter did catch the reader up and answered many questions that came to mind from reading the story. The use of book quotes at the start of each chapter was a nice touch and reminded the reader of many great works that they might want to read again. This book is a must read for any Louisa May Alcott fan.