I actually liked Alcott's Rose series much better than the Little Women series.

This book still hurts my feelings

I would have rated this 5-star but for the fact that I do not believe in cousins marrying. It is a beautiful story, however, and one I would definitely read again.

3.5 stars

I only ever reread this book following a reread of Eight Cousins, so in that sense, it isn’t unexpected that my lowered rating for the former is followed by the same for the latter.

The whole first cousins falling in love thing gives me the heebie-jeebies and I feel rather disconnected as a reader during those parts of the story.

Rose in Bloom is a beautiful gem of a book, penned by the same hand which authored the time-honored novel Little Women. This is the sequel to the charming volume entitled Eight Cousins. A more "grown-up" Rose Campbell returns to her family clan after travelling around the world with her friend Phebe as companion.

I love this book because Rose in independent, yet desires to serve others. Suffice it to say, she is a good role model for girls. I found her to be very much selfless. Even though Rose possesses personal wealth, she wishes not to shower herself with glories but to disperse it to those less fortunate. Creating a lifestyle considered progressive for a woman (especially in the 1800s), Rose in blooming into a mature woman of society with tender confidence.

Since I cannot describe Miss Rose Campbell as well as the author once did, here's a direct picture of our blossoming heroine:

"Not a remarkably gifted girl in any way, and far from perfect; full of all manner of youthful whims and fancies; a little spoiled by much love; rather apt to think all lives as safe and sweet as her own; and, when want or pain appealed to her, the tender heart overflowed with a remorseful charity which gave of its abundance recklessly. Yet, with all her human imperfections, the upright nature of the child kept her desires climbing toward the just and pure and true, as flowers struggle to the light; and the woman's soul was budding beautifully under the green leaves behind the little thorns." (Chapter 3, Rose in Bloom)

With her seven male cousins surrounding her, along with the odd assortment of various aunts and uncles, there are many who desire to see Rose grow. They cherish her presence among themselves and attempt to flatter her at every turn. Advances in love flourish as Rose once again settles among the people she knows best in the world.

Phebe Moore, Rose's befriended maid, too is experiencing her own way of making it into society -- only through a different course. Her life has always been destined to contrast Rose's, as her place on the social ladder started out on a much lower rung. Quickly she is learning how to climb higher though, and soon wins the heart of a familiar face, without intended design. However, the social implications simply couldn't converge for a winning marriage. So what can a girl do?

As usual, Louisa May Alcott has written another charming book. The story contains many good life lessons. As Rose tries life out on her own, sometimes becoming a bit too daring or risky with her choices, she soon makes her way back and settles into routine. In essence, the reader learns much of Victorian idealism and traditions of young adults during that time. I did so enjoy getting to catch glimpses of what all of those Eight Cousins became as they turn into adults.

In closing, enjoy some advice on life from dearest cousin, Mac Campbell ("the Worm" was always my favorite of Rose's cousins anyway):

"I have my dreams and aspirations, and some of them are pretty high ones. Aim at the best, you know, and keep climbing if you want to get on." (Chapter 2, Rose in Bloom)

Liked almost every bit of it and, yes, it may be a bit preachy, but I don't think anyone would be the worse for it, in fact, they would be greatly improved by it, with such models as only Louisa May Alcott could have contrived to help them. There are some things I found bothersome, such as the ending which felt too factitious, made only to suit the plot and give Phoebe a warm welcome (poor dear I love her so, and Archie too<3) and Rose a husband:)) But the plot and the experiences and the wisdom are really good, solid stuff which I greatly appreciate.
On to another dose of Ms Alcott of whom I seem not to get enough.

I read this book once when I was younger and apparently my earlier rating of 2 stars tells you some of how I felt then. But my current rating of five can tell you how I feel now.

I remember thoroughly disliking this book before because I was so mad at Louisa for  killing Charlie and I could not forgive her for that dreadful deed for a very long time.

However, on reading it as an adult and having a friend who spoke highly of Mac, I decided to give the book another try and look more closely into Mac's character. And dear friends, I was not disappointed. First off, I have no idea why I adored Charlie so much because he isn't even that amazing in Eight Cousins and yet somehow, I think I worshiped him as a girl. I guess it just goes to show that your childhood hero could be a complete jerk. Anyway, I found very little to admire about Charlie, though I do blame most of his downfall on a lack of good parenting. I really disliked the way he tried to woo Rose and I was a little annoyed with Rose and how she put up with it to some extent, not that she actually loved him, but it seemed she entertained the thought merrily out of pity and because she hoped it would make him a better man.

So quite from being mad at his demise, I almost found it a relief. I do think there could have potentially been redemption for him, but I guess with his hopeless love for Rose maybe his end was necessary. And I confess that I almost wished it had come sooner so we could get Rose on past him and on to greener pastures.

And then there is Mac.

Ahh! He is such a dear fellow! Even the way he tries to help Charlie because he thinks Rose loves him just shows his self-sacrificing life and in all a true kind of love. And he was just such a dear, especially after Charlie is gone and even more so when he realizes he is in love with her and says so. In fact, I wanted to shake Rose at first for her not seeing just how remarkable he was, but then it became rather amusing how hard she tried to be obstinate and instead gave him hope anyway. There are just too many perfectly adorable and sweet Mac gestures that you need to read the book to see for yourself.

So all in all, it was a great success to read this book again. And I can now be a thoroughly Mac fan.

I don't know if any book could be more delightful to read than this one. While very simple and understated, it carries so many truths and great quotes that anyone could glean from them. The main character, Rose, carries such an inward beauty as she works hard to care for others and aid in making thier lives better. In this story Rose goes from being a girl into women in character, same with her boy cousins becoming men in character. It leaves such a great taste of womanhood and manhood. Such a very inspiring story as Louisa (the author) shares so much wisdom throughout the book. You will end this book refreshed and sad to say good bye to such a delightful book.
One helpful tip is that reading this book outloud (esp. in an accent) made the book really fun to read.

Sweet little moralistic story.
Spoilers:
I thought Charlie was a little hard done by, author be like-no I won’t reform this one bye bye RIP.
Hard to enjoy a cousin romance first it was cousin Charlie but he was weak -RIP, then cousin Mac, I wonder if there had been another book another cousin would step in lol.

Well, what can I say? Instead I'll quote Miranda's fist diary entry from The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever, "Today, I fell in love." since it was the first thing that crossed my mind after I finished reading this book.

FYI, I've never had a fictional crush before, no matter how perfect the heroes are I still didn't feel anything for them. I'm not crushing on the perfect Mr. Darcy, and I am definitely annoyed with a certain vampire-you know who-out there instead of squealing at the mention of his name.
The perfect ones are only exist in books and movies (I'm talking about personality here, not just the outer look). Therefore while many women and girls are seeking for their "Mr.Darcy" I'm 100% certain that I will not find my "Mr. Darcy" anywhere. I just can't believe that such a man exist in this world, so what's the point of crushing on him?

But it's an entirely different story with Mac. In Eight Cousins I just like him, nothing more. As I watch him grow in Rose in Bloom I can't help it but fell for him.
He is a book worm, not good looking, awkward, and absent-minded sometimes, he is far from perfect. But those humanly flaws are what make him real, make me think that I can find someone like him out there. Simply put, I have found everything that I'm looking for in a man within Mac. Now I know for sure what my criteria of a perfect man is. Yea, pathetic and shocking as it is, but it seems that all this time I myself didn't know what I've been looking for..

And now about the rating. True, the story itself is not something so amazing or incredible, but since I've always love this kind of stories (it's heartwarming, sweet and nostalgic) and of course because of Mac, I'll give this one 5 stars (without him it will be four like the prequel).

In my somewhat limited experience, all Alcott's main characters are exactly the same. I swear you couldn't tell them apart. I also swear that one of the matronly women in this book had the same line regarding her children as Jo did in that peasant festival Jo's Boys.

But regardless of the lack of originality, I gave up trying to like this book when the rich and nearly perfect and naturally gorgeous and abysmally dull Rose has multiple men literally throwing themselves at her.

Just as a note, I detest the idea that good and moral characters are automatically dull, but sometimes they actually are, and that would be the case here.

As a twenty-year-old who read Bridget Jones's Diary not too many months ago, Rose in Bloom contained some serious culture shock. It’s been ages since I read Little Women or Eight Cousins, and I had completely forgotten how Alcott is so very… pure. The narrator’s moral judgment is unassailable. Though Alcott’s forward claims “there is no moral to this story,” the moral just can’t help itself: Alcott’s views on morality, education, and character soak through every fiber of the story. She has very firm, dare I say, old-fashioned ideas about women: nearly every time a female character does a good deed, it is straightaway expounded upon as a virtue “common to womankind.” Get used to a bouquet of words like “pleasant,” “honest,” and “wise” every few pages. While the sentiment is innocent (and there is plenty of it), there are a number of generalizations I disagree with. But I can’t fault Alcott for what she is: her assumptions are perfectly natural for a woman writing after the Civil War, when women were idealized as angelic helpmeets. Alcott’s older female characters are somewhat L. M. Montgomery-esque in their foibles, but as far as Rose goes, Alcott is far from anachronistic. Although I put the book down in consternation more than once, I kept going because the straightforward emphasis on principles was kind of refreshing. (That and the love triangle, of course—who does Alcott decide is worthy of Rose?).
If this isn’t your cup of tea, save yourself from infuriation and stay clear. As for the book’s eventual effect on me… I honestly do feel like going to live my life honestly and cheerfully.