The sweetness of a new marriage of two soulmates, surrounded by dear old friends and new kindred spirits. Followed by the bitterness of beloved young men marching off to war. Followed by my cry of “Why, oh WHY, did the author choose to end this lovely and heart-warming series on such a sad note in a minor key?”

I just need ONE MORE book in the Betsy-Tacy series. Because I love Joe, you see, and I need to know that he and all his friends are coming home from the battlefield in one piece.

Tib dropped her head forlornly on Betsy’s shoulder. “Liebchen,” she said, “you’re lucky to have a husband like Joe.”

“I know it,” Betsy answered soberly. “He really loves me.”

“Ja, and he respects you. He confides in you, listens to your opinions, asks your advice. He thinks your work [as a writer] is important. He thinks you are important–as a human being, not just as a girl.”

Betsy hugged her, wanting to cry.

Maybe adding another book to the series would have made it even more sad. Maybe Joe comes home from the Great War a different person, broken and shell-shocked and bitter. Probably so. But this is a work of fiction, and I would have loved a happily-ever-after for Joe and Betsy. *sniffle*

4.5

These later Betsy books are just oh so delightful and wholesome. The Ray family is so welcoming and friendly yet principled and faithful. The parents are both approachable and wise. I hope that one day, the young people will want to hang about my home for Sunday night supper and sandwiches!

Betsy is more interesting as a child than a grownup

I probably wasn't old enough when I read this one as I was in elementary school. I enjoyed it, but wasn't as delighted as I was by the ones more akin to my own age.

It’s nice reading this now that I’m actually married. Gives it an even more familiar feeling.


I could've sworn this book ended with Betsy telling Joe she was pregnant... Oh well, I guess that's just my overactive imagination filling in the blanks. ;)

9/2015 stet

9/2012 Such a perfectly crafted book to end the series! There's just enough hearkening back, just enough tidying up, just enough looking forward. And I don't care what the rest of you say, Sally Day is a perfectly lovely child. Perfectly lovely.

12/2009 I meant to luxuriate in this, the last book of the Betsy-Tacy series. But I was drawn in as deeply as ever. Joe topples mountains and swims seas for Betsy's love, and Betsy is still making lists and trying to be a better person. I hope it's not a spoiler to say that Betsy gets married in this book, titled as it is. Her struggles as a young wife are endearing, especially that poor meat pie she tries so hard to make. She's still a little diffident for my taste, too dependent on the men in her life, even given the times- compare and contrast the earlier Jo March- but she's who she is and I love her in spite of her girlishness. The crowd dances through this book, and the sentimental, happy ending strikes just the right tone for the end of the series.

Great ending to a series!

This is the only book that could possibly make me okay with being an adult now. I want to hangout with Betsy’s crowd of newlyweds!

I am sad to have reached the end of this series, as L and I have lived for months with Betsy. Her world is both familiar and unfamiliar, and we've done a little research to understand America before World War I. But, oh, Minnesota.

The first thing to say about this book is that I am really not a fan of the cover. Betsy doesn't look like the Betsy as portrayed by Lois Lensky at all. It may have some resemblance to Maud Hart Lovelace? It really bothered me!

On to the book, and it's a great one. Betsy is home from the great wild world and we see her embark on this new life with Joe before WWI really takes over the United States. It's such an endearing marriage, too.

I am not like others who find Betsy too dependent on the men in her life. I find her perfectly content to be who she is - an author and a wife at this point - and determined to be the best version of that self that she can be. It isn't as if she's gone and married Rocky! She's married to Joe, someone who cares for her and is eager to help her be the best version of herself, too.

All in all a lovely way to wrap up the series.

8/08: I love this book. It's the little details about the start of their marriage that just ring so true. I also love seeing Margaret all grown up - she became one of my favorite characters in this series. I would have loved to seen Betsy's Bettina written, though - I want more Betsy-Tacy!

The "where did they go?" section at the end was awesome and fascinating. Some of the changes Maud made were very interesting - like Bick didn't marry Charley until 1920, which was ten years after high school and three years *after* Maud and Delos and Midge and Charles. Marked contrast to the books, where Tacy got married a handful of years out of high school, several years before Betsy, who was married a few years before Tib. I really need to track down Companions to this series and read more of the real events!