annika_de 's review for:

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery

3.0

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When I was 13, I saw the play based on this book on Prince Edward Island. It was beautiful and romantic and the reason I read Anne of Green Gables for the first time all those years ago. I never read past the first book, so I couldn’t wait to read this book and relive all the emotions I felt when I saw the play. Unfortunately, this book really disappointed me. The story is wonderful in theory, but the execution is lacking. The romance that readers are looking forward to feels forced and tired by the end of the book. Montgomery’s writing style doesn’t use a great deal of dialogue, and I think this book really suffers as a result. As a reader, I felt disconnected from Anne, as well as all of the other characters. Part of this is intentional – one theme in the book is how growing older can strain relationships (honestly, this book can be a bit of a bummer). While I appreciated the realism of the situations, it wasn’t realism that drew me into this series. As the novel progressed, Anne started to feel like a stranger to me, and it was like losing a friend. For those who choose to read this series, I would recommend stopping after Anne of Green Gables if you want to avoid disappointment and/or facing the realities of adulthood.