Anne of a Different Island - by Virginia Kantra (Paperback)

About the Book

"A woman must learn to take responsibility for her own dreams in this heartfelt novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra. Anne Gallagher believes in love-the kind of love that exists in fairy tales and romance novels and-most of all-in her favorite book of all time, Anne of Green Gables. Growing up on isolated Mackinac Island, Michigan, she imagined herself as Anne Shirley. There's the name, right? And her hair is red-well, reddish. And while Mackinac is no Prince Edward Island, it does have a tiny island school and horse-drawn carriages on a main street lined with Victorian houses. She dreams of becoming a teacher and a writer, just like her fictional role model. Everything is falling into place for Anne, who is getting ready to graduate from Northwestern University and has already lined up a job at a pricey private school north of Chicago. She's also dating her very own Gilbert Blythe-a selfless medical resident named Chris, whose rich family used to vacation on Mackinac in the summers. But then Anne's beloved father dies from a heart attack while working on a roof, and a dispute with her new principal leads to a leave of absence. Now she must return home to Mackinac, which means confronting all the strained relationships she left behind. With nothing but time back on the island known for its beauty and charm, Anne has a chance to reconsider her decisions and decide for herself what she wants out of life..."--

Book Synopsis

A woman learns to be the heroine of her own life in this heartfelt novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables by New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra.

She believed life could follow a plotline--until the story she was living unraveled.

Anne Gallagher has always lived by the book. Anne of Green Gables, that is. Growing up on Mackinac Island, she saw herself as her namesake: the same impulsive charm, the same wild imagination, even the same red hair (dyed, but still). She followed in Anne Shirley's fictional footsteps, chasing dreams of teaching and writing, and falling for her very own storybook hero.

But when a string of real-life plot twists--a failing romance, a fight with the administration, and the sudden death of her beloved father--pulls her back to the island she once couldn't wait to leave, Anne is forced to face a truth no story ever prepared her for. Sometimes, life doesn't follow a script.

Back in the house she grew up in, Anne must confront her past and the people she left behind, including Joe Miller, the boy who once called her "The Pest." It's time to figure out what she wants and rewrite her story to create her own happy ending. Not the book version. The real one.

Review Quotes

"Virginia Kantra's masterful reenvisioning of beloved novels from our youth will have readers cheering. Fresh, delightful, and funny, the perfect, contemporary homage to Anne of Green Gables."--Kristan Higgins, New York Times bestselling author of Look on the Bright Side

"Full of wisdom, love and longing, Anne of a Different Island is the perfect tonic (or cordial!) for readers seeking romance and hope, and a wonderful homage to the spirit of Anne Shirley herself."--Natalie Jenner, USA Today bestselling author of Austen at Sea

"This charming modernization of a children's classic is sure to suit readers of Kristan Higgins or Carly Fortune and should have nostalgic appeal for Anne of Green Gables fans."--Library Journal

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Virginia Kantra is the author of almost thirty novels. She is married to her college sweetheart, a coffee shop owner who keeps her well supplied with caffeine and material. They make their home in North Carolina, where they raised three (mostly adult) children. She is a firm believer in the strength of family, the importance of storytelling, and the power of love.