5.0

1. [b: Anne of Green Gables|8127|Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1390789015s/8127.jpg|3464264]
The original, the classic. I feel like I know every word in this one but it was no less magical in its rereading.

2. [b: Anne of Avonlea|77390|Anne of Avonlea (Anne of Green Gables, #2)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1305545757s/77390.jpg|63845]
It picks up nicely after the first one with Anne teaching school in Avonlea after Gilbert gives up his post for Anne so she may remain with Marilla and they might keep Green Gables. The arrival of Davy and Dora brings welcome levity after the sad ending of the previous book.

3. [b: Anne of the Island|77392|Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables, #3)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435829564s/77392.jpg|535245]
Still rooting for Gilbert. It was heartbreaking watching Anne with Roy. I loved the moment before her graduation from Redmond when she decides to carry Gilbert's lillies instead of Roy's violets. Gilbert's Christmas gift of a pink enamel heart was a sweet throwback to their childhood days.

Ruby's death was just heartbreaking. Diana's wedding was also heartbreaking in a different way. It reminded me of how much growing up can hurt in all its exhileration.

The ending, with Gilbert and Anne in Hester Gray's garden is beautiful and so fitting an end to their old chum days while being a beginning to their courtship.

4. [b: Anne of Windy Poplars|65840|Anne of Windy Poplars (Anne of Green Gables, #4)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1348613064s/65840.jpg|2946564]
My least favorite, as most of it is in letter-form from Anne to Gilbert. I love Anne and Gilbert and wished I could see more of the courtship but Gilbert hardly appears here and doesn't even speak. I wish LM Montgomery hadn't omitted Anne's "love letter" pages!

5. [b: Anne's House of Dreams|77394|Anne's House of Dreams (Anne of Green Gables, #5)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1442471048s/77394.jpg|1133797]
Finally, Anne is Gilbert's bride! A beautiful wedding and they're off to their beautiful house of dreams. I love the new characters introduced: Miss Cordelia, Leslie Moore, Owen Ford, Captain Jim. The Dick/George Moore sideplot is interesting.

Anne's loss of her first baby is sobering but the joy of her second, successful pregnancy makes up for it. I kind of wish "Jem" had been named Matthew James just because I'm partial to dear, sweet Matthew. I'm so glad Marilla and Mrs. Lynde come to visit the little house of dreams. It wouldn't be the same without them. It was especially heartwarming to see Marilla mothering Anne.

6. [b: Anne of Ingleside|77391|Anne of Ingleside (Anne of Green Gables, #6)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1285712495s/77391.jpg|1404690]
This one started to drag a bit because it's much more focused on the kids than Anne. When the last book closed she had one kid, now she has 5 and then 6 when Rilla is born. I just don't like grown-up Anne as much as growing-up Anne, I guess.

Aunt Mary Maria and Christine Stuart are two "new" characters, though we did meet Christine in passing in [b: Anne of the Island|77392|Anne of the Island (Anne of Green Gables, #3)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1435829564s/77392.jpg|535245] but she's more fleshed out here. Fleshed out to be annoying, that is. She flirts with Gilbert far too much. I wanted to slap her for Anne. The resolution of the book, with Gilbert reassuring Anne, made laugh because whenever my own husband gets quiet or distant I assume he's plotting how to leave me.

Aunt Mary Maria is intolerable. She's like the anti-Aunt Josephine. Aunt Josephine seemed to be cold and easily angered at first but she thawed quickly. Mary Maria never does. Poor Susan. I don't know if I would have been able to hold back from telling her off and I'm pretty non-confrontational.

7. [b: Rainbow Valley|77395|Rainbow Valley (Anne of Green Gables, #7)|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1403192556s/77395.jpg|7071165]
Just when I was going to give up on the series because of all the kids, this one redeemed it. Lovely.

8. [b: Rilla of Ingleside|36995187|Rilla of Ingleside|L.M. Montgomery|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1512701837s/36995187.jpg|58803169]
I picked this up again and I'm glad I did. Rilla reminded me so much of Anne I now want to get the other post-series books.