I mostly enjoyed this story about Ana the orphan moving from LA to Northern California to live and work in a farm. I liked the characters and the small town but I was a bit annoyed by Ana herself for reasons I can't entirely put my finger on.

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I have not read [b:Anne of Green Gables|8127|Anne of Green Gables (Anne of Green Gables, #1)|L.M. Montgomery|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1390789015s/8127.jpg|3464264] growing up. I had other books and, frankly, other interests. There is a lovely translation serenading me from the shelves, so I may read it yet.

There is too much going on in the book. And it feels flat and lifeless and ultimately hollow.

I cannot in good conscience recommend this to anyone.

FINAL VERDICT: Please, do yourself a favour and avoid it. PLEASE? ( )

I found this clunky in a number of ways. Ana's use of language didn't really make sense to me for someone of her background, and Abbie's change of heart seemed unmotivated. Ana unreflectively makes some very poor choices that don't make sense to me based on who she is. I was interested enough in the story to finish reading but all in all I found it disappointing. ( )

I tried very, very hard to read this as a stand alone book...

As its own book, it is fun and interesting and I will look forward to other works from this author. For books like this I always wish goodreads had a 3.5 star rating because it is closer to 4 stars that 3 stars but maybe still not there. A good story...there is just a lot...a lot of story...which is usually good but I think characters need a little more charm to carry off a story like this. That charm is almost there...

In comparison to the original Anne of Green Gables...well, there really isn't a comparison. The enchantment, the loveliness of the original is missing. I love the change in characters and the heavier tone in this book but it isn't enough. Despite the deeper nature of this book, the original characters are more compelling and touch you in a much more profound way. Even with their more simple natures, Anne, Matthew, Diana, Gilbert, Marilla, and Rachel Lynde resonate on a deeper level. I even missed Moody and Josie... ( )

A touching and original reworking of Anne of Green Gables. What kept this from being a 5-star book was the love story. Stuff and nonsense, as Marilla might say. Cole Brannon, you are no Gilbert Blythe. ( )