Beth is Dead breathes new life into Louisa M. Alcott's timeless classic 'Little Women'.

This is not your regular retelling. Beth is Dead shifts your perspective and expands your thinking about the four young ladies, central to the story. While paying tribute to the style and themes of Alcott's version, Katie Bernet adds a new dimension. Again, we get glimpses into the perspectives of Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, and it jumps back and forth in time: the events before Beth's death and the commotion thereafter. This makes it clear how the seemingly 'naïve, optimistic, and silent' Beth is actually the heart of the family. Moreover, it shows the strength of sisterhood despite their differences and occasional conflicts.

The portrayal of the original book, the characters, and the themes is brilliantly done. This time, the father has written about his daughters' lives, bringing up to question who has to right to tell your story, especially in our current time where consent, feminism, and liberal freedom are getting more recognition. I do not want to spoil too much, but let's say that this is a critical and entertaining reflection on modern society.

Now that Beth is dead, tensions grow among friends and family. Sisters and close friends are being investigated, and Alcott's characters are further developed. They are more than the stereotypes people most often associate them with, more sophisticated than those personality quizzes online.

The pacing was perfect, and the shifts in time and perspectives were easy to follow. Moreover, each chapter gave enough information and relevant context to lead to the main investigation. If I should describe it in one word, that'll be: Sensational

Now I might be a bit biased, because Little Women is my all-time favourite classic. Nevertheless, I do think that Katie Bernet did a perfect job in reviving the core of the story and placing it in today's context. Additionally, she touches upon themes of social media, privacy, femininity, exploitation, and social pressure. I just love the juxtaposition of uniqueness and uniformity in the four sisters. They show that it's okay to (don't) have ambitions, to (don't) want, and to (don't) love something/someone.

Thanks a million to Katie Bernet, Scholastic UK, and NetGalley, for an early e-copy of this wonderfully thrilling book!

My most anticipated book and it hit the spot 👏🏻
Using already existing characters from another book can sometimes not work as they don’t have the same voice as the original but Katie has cracked it in this. From having Jo’s unrelenting passion in life to Beth’s quietness and her tender-hearted devotion to everyone around her, it works perfectly as a reimagining.

Thank you for the arc, so excited for everyone to read

This is an absolutely brilliant debut. Not only was this difficult to put down, I was on the edge of my seat, and I wanted to read alll night long. I’ve been in such a reading slump and this was like a cure.

I suspected the ending, but I love how it was reached!

I had such high expectations for this modern day murder mystery adaptation of Little Women and it didn't disappoint. The murder mystery was cleverly constructed, taking the reader down different paths, only for us to discover that all was not as we thought. With everyone a suspect, it was satisfyingly dufficult to uncover the true identity of the murder. I loved how it also mamaged to stay true to the characters of the story, capturing all their good qualities and flaws whilst bringing them into a modern day reality. This is definitely a book I will be recommending to my murder mystery loving students.

Beth is Dead is a powerful, unsettling, and emotionally rich read that completely exceeded my expectations.

From the very first pages, the atmosphere is tense and immersive, pulling the reader into a story that is both deeply personal and haunting. The writing is sharp and intentional, balancing emotional weight with a creeping sense of dread that never lets up. Every scene feels purposeful, and the pacing keeps the tension tight without ever feeling rushed.

What truly sets this book apart is its emotional depth. The characters feel real, flawed, and painfully human, and their grief, guilt, and unraveling are portrayed with striking honesty. This is a story that lingers — not just because of its twists, but because of the questions it raises and the emotions it leaves behind.

A gripping and memorable read that I highly recommend.

This got me hooked from the very first page. I wanted to know what happened, but also felt there was a lot to this story. The feel of the drama was instant and intense.

And that intensity stayed on. When I hit the first time jump, a whole other story folded out before my eyes and I wanted to know that story as well in that instant.

This book is highly addictive! It is an interesting story in itself, I have high respect for the author in conjuring this up. But to also plan to tell it the way it is told in this book, it's VERY well done.

This is hype-worthy. This is intense, this is insane, and I loved every page and every turn of the plot of it.

The vibes feel very Pretty Little Liars, and that is one of the biggest compliments I can give a story because that series is a personal favorite of all different types of stories I've consumed over the years.

I cannot believe I have written this much about this book already without mentioning the classic aspect of it, its link with Little Women. Because I love my classics and I love my modern retellings and books that connect with them. That is what first sparked my interest in this book.

I love how all the sisters feel like they have the same characteristics as the ‘original’, but it feels completely modern. You don't have to know anything about the original to be able to enjoy this book, but it does add charm to be able to spot all the nods and winks.

The story kept me hooked until the very last page, I loved every bit of it!