Member Reviews

anne of green gables is a classic for good reason. i’m not sure how many times i’ve read it, or had it read to me, but i love it just as much now as i did as a child. anne is a remarkably timeless character, and revisiting her in green gables and avonlea feels like coming home.

and the older i get, the more i appreciate marilla.

there is nothing i can say that hasn’t been said before, but this is one classic i think everyone should pick up at least once in their lives.

Was this review helpful?

Love the story and story pattern of this book. A beautifully written masterpiece. I would recommend this if you’re looking for a cute small town family story. Hardships to go from and through but end up being okay. 100% recommend!

Was this review helpful?

I grew up reading and watching Anne of Green Gables so this was a pleasure to read! Barbara Heller’s inclusion of handwritten letters and mementos from the characters adds a personal touch to the story of Anne Shirley, making the reading experience more immersive than ever. Each letter feels as though it’s been plucked right from the pages of Avonlea, adding richness to Anne’s whimsical world and her relationships with those around her. The attention to detail in this edition honors the charm and spirit of the original while offering a fresh, interactive experience for both longtime fans and new readers. Thank you Barbara Heller, L. M. Montgomery, NetGalley, and Chronicle Books for this ARC!

Was this review helpful?

I could gush about this book until there are no words left in my brain or air left in my lungs. Anne Shirley, with her Raspberry cordial, puffed sleeves, love of Octobers, and loyalty to her kindred spirits, left an indelible mark on my soul.

I got an ebook copy of this edition from #NetGalley, and it has just made me want to order the physical book for my collection.

If you're not familiar, this is the fourth book in a set curated by @barbarahellerletters. These editions come with ephemera tucked away that truly bring the story to life. I hesitate to describe any of the ephemera because reading through the book and seeing what would be included where was an absolutely delightful treasure hunt. I wouldn't want to rob anyone of that opportunity.

I'll provide a short excerpt of the description below:

The must-have volume for Anne of Green Gables fans: This special edition invites readers inside the beloved story with gorgeous replicas of the characters' letters and mementos.

Anne of Green Gables has been treasured by generations of dreamers and free spirits. For those who love to indulge in flights of fancy, Anne’s world offers escape and inspiration. Now, your imagination can take tangible form with this deluxe edition of L. M. Montgomery’s classic novel, the latest volume in the swoon-worthy Handwritten Classics series curated by Barbara Heller.

#anneofgreengables #anneshirley #NetGalley #ephemera #bookswithletters #kidlit #classics #nostalgia

Was this review helpful?

I must admit, I watched the show before I picked up this book. The book is clearly better, and the show absolutely did it justice. The writing is beautiful and my heart warmed with each chapter. I love this story! The writer throws a lot of names at you, but does well to keep you from getting any of it confused, which is not always easy. I really enjoyed this read! The character development is very, very well done! This book made me a little misty eyed more than once! If my TBR wasn’t so long, I would likely pick this book up again!

Was this review helpful?

Requested and got this for a review from Netgalley!

I love this story always and forever! And also can not get enough of it. Anne of Green Gables
and Alice in Wonderland both in my childhood heart!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6797566130

Was this review helpful?

As someone who grew up with Anne, I didn't think I could love anything more than the classic paperbacks. This edition is a MUST for any Anne of Green Gables fans. The handwritten letters/notes included throughout the book help immerse the reader into the story. I've never added something to my A wish list so fast in my life!

Was this review helpful?

This review is solely about this particular edition of Anne of Green Gables, not the classic itself. Also, Goodreads only lists the hardcover version of this book, but I am reviewing the e-ARC.

When I first requested this e-ARC, I was excited to see Barbara Heller’s rendition of the character letters and mementos alongside the original story. However, upon receiving the e-ARC, I was disappointed to find that none of those aforementioned special features are included; instead, there are just blank spaces for where the mementos would be upon publication. I even flipped through every single page of the book to double check. Therefore this is a DNF for now since I can’t provide as accurate of a review as I would’ve liked.

With that being said, the reason why this isn’t a 1 star (like my typical DNFs) is because I have confidence that the hard copy publication is as stunning as I imagine it would be. (And you can’t go wrong with a story as beloved as Anne of Green Gables.) So I would go out and peruse a hard copy of this book to see for yourself.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing this e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Anne of Green Gables: The Complete Novel, Featuring the Characters' Letters and Mementos, Written and Folded by Hand by Barbara Heller; L. M. Montgomery is available now.

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful new edition of a beloved classic story ! This is one I plan to buy for my friend for her birthday next year as I think it will be a great addition to her collection

Was this review helpful?

This edition of the beloved classic will be a gift to true lovers of the red headed young orphan. As the cover promises, in addition to the novel, this volume includes character’s letters and mementos, written and folded by hand. What a treat! I will need to purchase the book as these special additions are not in the e galley.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

I've seen so many of these special editions before so I was excited when I saw this edition of Anne of Green Gables available as a digital arc. I was really hoping they would have some of the special letters and mementos available to look at in the arc but they didn't. I did like the list in the back of all the special items that would be in the physical edition. I know this is going to be a beautiful edition to add to my collection of Anne of Green Gables books so I can't wait for it to come out! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc of this edition!

Was this review helpful?

This version of Anne of Green Gables has been republished with the lovely addition of little extras. While I wasn't able to see the extras in their final forms, understanding what they are and how they have been curated adds an additional layer to the story and I can see how they would add depth and bring the story to love. If I were to buy this book for someone going forward, I would definitely look for this specific version to gift.

Was this review helpful?

My kids loved this book! It's super cute and wholesome and kept their attention the whole time during reading. I highly recommend this book and will purchase a physical copy.

Was this review helpful?

The lovely illustrations add to the charm of this delightful book. This is the second book I've enjoyed which Barbara Heller's illustrations have benefited, and I want to add these lovely editions to my physical shelf (not just digital).

Was this review helpful?

Such a lovely edition of a classic story. I loved the replicas of personal mementos. They added so much to an already wonderful story!

Was this review helpful?

I will admit it: I had never read Anne of Green Gables before. I have seen the different television series. I have read about the author in a Smithsonian Magazine article. I am creating a quilt of classic children’s writers and L. M. Montgomery is on it. It was about time I rectified my omission!

Anne of Green Gables is about an orphan girl taken in by an older brother and sister living on Prince Edward Island in Canada, changing their lives for the better.

I was delighted to discover the book is hilarious, heart warming, and quite forward thinking. Yes, it promotes 19th c Christian values. Anne’s antics and michiefs result in lessons learned.

I’ve learned a new and valuable lesson today. Ever since I came to Green Gables I’ve been making mistakes and each mistake has helped cure me of some shortcoming. Anne in Anne of Green Gables

This quote makes me think of advice told to my son: Make all the mistakes you can; you learn from mistakes. Perhaps Anne’s mistakes warned readers, but the novel also offers understanding that our mistakes don’t define us.

Marilla, unmarried, uptight, and strict, mellows as she see that Anne means well and has a good heart. She just needs time to grow up. Her vivid imagination distracts her from her duties. She even indulges in novel reading! Marilla was raised in a time when women’s reading novels was frowned upon.

Anne makes a bosom buddy and reading about their make believe play acting brought back warm memories of my own best friend and our own play. (We were orphans living in Scotland, riding horses and solving mysteries!)

Marilla supports Anne’s educational aspirations. “I believe in a girl being fitted to earn her own living whether she ever had to or not,” Marilla explains. Anne later states that women would make good ministers. Such radical notions!

Montgomery’s writing about the land and seasons is beautiful.

The novel’s bulk is about Anne’s childhood, but we see her mature in the end. She loses her champion, Marilla’s brother. She forgives a boy who once teased her. She gives up a dream, taking on responsibility to care for Marilla as she was cared for. She is a young adult.

This edition of the novel includes inserts, ephemera representing items from the novel that help bring Anne’s world alive. A map, period reproductions of print items, recipes, notes and letters, a greeting card, programs, and the ‘pass list’ for the Normal school. These were not included in the egalley I read, only the descriptions. I am sure that they would make this edition special.

Thanks to the publisher for a free book through NetGalley.

Was this review helpful?

Growing up I always loved Anne of green gables. It was neet to read this again along with the character letters!

Was this review helpful?

Anne of Green Gables is one of my favorite novels of all time. I truly appreciate the care that Barbara Heller put into this beautiful edition. I am reviewing an advance copy, so I did not have access to all of the replicas that will be added in the final print version, BUT Barbara took the time to explain her research and what each item will look like. The research and historical context for each item is exciting, and I can't wait to see what the finished copy will look like.

This collector's edition would be great for new and old Anne fans, and I will definitely be keeping an eye out for it when it is published. Thanks to Barbara Heller, Chronicle Books, and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this e-copy. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book is amazing. Fans of Anne of Green Gables will truly enjoy this book!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Ironically, I didn't read Anne of Green Gables when I was young and now I've read it several times as an adult. It's so easy to love these people and this community. This book is text only, but has some wonderful additions. I especially loved the story about L.M. Montgomery and how she came to write such a character as Anne. I think other people will enjoy this addition too. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this.

Was this review helpful?