Anne Shirley’s journey from a orphan mistakenly sent to Avonlea (and met with distrust) to a successful author, teacher and pillar of the Avonlea community is an epic story of resillience, imagination and personal growth.

Anne is our heroine because her charm, inventiveness and creativity lead her to overcome all obstacles (even her own pride, which stands in the way of her relationship with Gilbert Blythe).

There is a million reasons we all love the story...but what happens when you turn the final page? If you want to linger in Anne of Green Gables' world of Avonlea, we've got some other classics and newly written books that will give you the same beloved feel. 

Classic Book Recommendations

If you want to stay historical with complex female characters who grow and succeed, these classics are essential reading. Plus we've got all these picks shopable on our site!

• Little Women by Louisa May Alcott: Explores the lives, loves, and struggles of the four March sisters. Written only 20 years before Anne of Green Gables and like it, Little Women focuses heavily on character growth and the enduring bonds of female friendships. Both books celebrate determined young women who resist conforming to the conventional restrictions on women during the period with wit and charm. 
• The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett: Mary Lennox, much like Anne Shirley, is an orphan sent to live in a new, unfamiliar place. As she finds brings a neglected garden back to life, she also heals herself and those around her. This leans more young adult than Anne of Green Gables, but is a cozy and noistalgic read. 
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy must overcome their mutual bad first impressions and misunderstandings to discover love amid the social pressures of Regency England. Like Green Gables, it features a charming off-beat and witty heroine who refuse to compromise her values for social convention and manages to find love.

Contemporary Books Recommendations

If you prefer a modern setting but crave that same energy and cover the topic of finding one's place in the world there are plenty of contemporary books similar to Anne of Green Gables to explore:

• The Penderwicks by Jeanne Birdsall: This delightful series follows four sisters and their father on a summer holiday. It is overflowing with the same lively spirit that Anne Shirley brought to her escapades.
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows: This post-WWII novel introduces a cast of eccentric, lovable characters who formed a book club to survive the German occupation. It is a brilliant example of finding hope in community.
• The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune: This beautifully written fantasy celebrates kindness, acceptance, and the joy of finding where you belong.

Follow us for more book picks dropped every few months, as we review favorites self-proclaimed book drunkards like Lucy Maud Montgomery will love.