Book: The Spring Girls

Author: Anna Todd

Summary: The Spring Girls – Meg, Jo, Beth and Amy – are a force of nature on the New Orleans military base where the live. As different as they are, with their father on a tour in Iraq and their mother hiding something, their fears are very much the same. Struggling to build lives that they could be proud of and lift them out of their humble station in life, one year will determine all that their futures can become.

The oldest, Meg, will be an officer’s wife and enter military society like so many of the women she admires. If her passion-and her reputation-don’t derail her.

Jo just wants out. Wishing she could skip to graduation, she dreams of a life in New York City and a career in journalism where she could impact the world. Nothing could stop her- not even love

Beth, the workhouse of the family, afraid to leave the house, is afraid she will not figure out who she really is.

And Amy, the youngest, is watching all her sisters, learning how they could handle themselves. For better or for worse (Anna Todd).

Review: This story was incredibly well written, especially when it came to character development. The book explored both misogynistic and feminist attributes, which was very interesting. With Jo wanting to be something out of her small town in New Orleans and build something out of her life, I found myself inspired by the story. All the inter-character relationships were thoroughly developed, such as the sisterly connection between Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy. The only thing lacking was the ending because it was open-ended and didn’t conclude the characters’ emotional journey on a high note.

Book Club Starter Questions: 

1. When Meredith describes each girl in the beginning of the book, what is revealed about each of their personalities? 
2. Throughout the story, what is revealed about military life and the impact it has on family members and friends?