Three years after the close of Little Women, the March girls, four of the most beloved young women in American literature, are young adults carving out their futures. John Brooke is home and planning a life with Meg, despite his modest financial situation. The other girls see promises of fulfillment ahead as well, as they grow and develop a certain amount of independence. Along the way, they all face painful trials, from Jo's struggle with her writing career to her friend Laurie's heartbreak in a love tragedy. Eventually, each of the girls finds happiness, but not always in the ways that they expect.