Anne of a Different Island, Virginia Kantra (Review by Elizabeth Burchfield)

Diving into Anne of a Different Island was like reconnecting with a long-lost kindred spirit! As a fan of Anne of Green Gables, the fresh spin on a familiar character took me on a walk down memory lane. I flew through the book as a spicy new story line and subtle nods to the original Anne married perfectly together. Kantra effortlessly captured the spirit of Anne (with an E) in a modern, post-pandemic world. Anne was still the carefree and stubborn character I loved as a child and experiencing her in a new world was like reconnecting with a part of my past I forgot. Throughout the book, I was transported between Chicago and the far away land of Mackinaw Island. An interest piqued in me, similar to how I was so interested in Prince Edward Island, a place that seemed too idealistic to be real. Mackinaw Island intrigued me with its tight-knit community, no vehicles, and the impact it had on shaping Anne’s strong character. It resonated with me how Anne was so desperate to escape the small island and somehow it kept calling her home. The strong themes throughout the book, including the importance of family, a first love, and the feeling of being home resonated with me as they echoed the original Anne of Green Gables. As Anne was not meant to be Anne of Green Gables, but rather a fan of the series, she was met with new challenges and navigated her fairy tale ideals and plans in the real adult world. Romance echoed throughout the book and was quite a bit spicier than the original Anne, but a welcomed refresh of a familiar favorite. Being a fan of Anne of Green Gables only deepened my appreciation for this novel, it was great even without the thoughtful ties to a classic.