BOOKS

I loved the original Mother-Daughter Book Club (where they read Little Women), so I was ready to dig in. First Jo March, then Anne Shirley. Sign me up.

Much Ado About Anne, by Heather Vogel Frederick, is a fairly simple read. Each chapter is written from the perspective of one of the girls—Emma, Jess, Cassidy, and Megan. But in this book, mean girl Becca and her overbearing mother have joined the club. The general consensus is “ugh,” but when Megan and Becca start hitting it off once again, the group struggles to find common ground. But when Jess’s farm is in danger of being sold, the group HAS to work together, even though it isn’t always easy.

The girls are in seventh grade in this novel, and boys are beginning to come into the picture. The sweet hints of blossoming love are just enough to keep the romantic in me happy, without overpowering what is the true center of the book—the friendships between the girls. Anyone with a group of girlies will totally relate to how different they are, but how well they fit together. It’s like they are each other’s missing pieces. OK, I have to go call my BFF now…

by Amanda Forr | 2/1/2016