Standalone

Belittled Women

"The characters’ snappy repartee is both biting and affectionate, and the premise’s cheeky inventiveness—a remix within a remix that both enacts and interrogates the source material—buoys this playful jaunt."

Publishers Weekly

"This lived-in take on Little Women explores the tribulations of sisterhood trapped within the confines of a classic novel while offering a mix of teen angst, love triangles, and Alcott quotes galore."

Booklist

"I found the story itself wildly entertaining and packed with fun.... I think fans of Emma Mills or Emma Lord will enjoy this one."

The Story Sanctuary

"Belittled Women perfectly captures the disorienting maze that is coming of age. Expect hilarity on nearly every page, with room still for tender moments—also featuring a love triangle and crushing expectations! Whether you love Little Women or you love a great book, this one’s for you."

Mary, bookseller at Raven Bookstore

"With a little grit and a lot of wit and humor, Amanda Sellet dives deep into what it means for a teen to both live up to and strain against expectations, while navigating the challenges of forging one’s own path in life. Jo’s experiences manage to be delightfully outlandish yet perfectly authentic. Belittled Women is a pitch-perfect homage to the messy-yet-loving chaos of family life."

Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy

"Belittled Women is not just for fans of Little Women—it’s also for those of us who love a book featuring a rebellious, smart protagonist, a rustic, charming setting, and prose that makes us literally laugh out loud. Jo is a lovable and hilarious heroine, and readers will also fall in love with her family, her hometown, and her journey to figure out exactly who she is and what she wants."

Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, author of Pura Belpré Award–winning How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe

"If Nora Roberts wrote a YA Little Women retelling, this would be it. Brimming with effortless banter set against a satisfying slow-burn romance, Belittled Women is the very definition of a romantic comedy. Hilarious from page one, Amanda Sellet draws us into Jo Porter’s waking nightmare: the never-ending carousel of life in a literal Little Women reenactment at her mother’s roadside Kansas attraction. Living under the weight of her alternate life portraying “Book Jo” and her family’s expectations, our Jo can’t wait to bust free, but what’s holding her back might be what’s been holding her together all this time."

Sarah Henning, author of Throw Like a Girl and It's All in How You Fall

"I loved this wry, witty, raucous take on Little Women. Sellet nails the absurdity, love, and occasional brawls of sisterhood. The Porters are a boisterous delight."

Jessica Spotswood, author of Great or Nothing

By the Book

“In this refreshing first novel, Sellet manages the large cast of characters well, while portraying the protagonist’s big family, her small circle of friends, and her first romance with considerable wit and insight. As Mary struggles with the practical and emotional troubles arising from her many mistakes, her rueful, self-deprecating narrative is sometimes impossible to read without laughing out loud. A smart, engaging romance.”

Booklist, Starred Review

“Debut author [Amanda] Sellet delightfully portrays Mary's large, chaotic family [...] A sweet story with a focus on family and friendships.”

Kirkus

“The main and secondary characters are authentic, witty, and compelling [...] Put in the hands of readers who love a smart and precocious cast of characters, reminiscent of Amy Heckerling’s film Clueless.”

School Library Journal

“I loved every minute of this story, from the dollar-a-word vocabulary (Jejune! Forwent! Insouciance!) to Mary’s dramatic introduction to Nicholas Sparks. Amid the brief diary entries and opulent prose, Sellet manages to hide a clever and biting social commentary in Mary’s point of view. One doesn’t need intimate familiarity with the classics to enjoy BY THE BOOK, but the more you know, the more you’ll laugh. I, for one, cackled out loud!”

NPR

“[A] YA novel that celebrates young love and the love of books in equal measure.”

BookPage

“Everyone, even non-classics lovers [should] pick up this book for the warm, happy, wholesome vibes.”

The Young Folks

“This fun, quirky romance story that is just as much about friendships as it was about the ultimate romance […] BY THE BOOK is a must read.”

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