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Quick answer: If you love Anne of Green Gables as an adult, try Emily of New Moon, The Blue Castle, Jane of Lantern Hill, Daddy-Long-Legs, Little Women and I Capture the Castle. They share Anne's imagination, warmth and strong sense of place.
L.M. Montgomery's classic is one of those books people reread as adults, because Anne's wonder and stubbornness hit differently at 40 than at 12. The books below include Montgomery's other novels, classic heroines of the same era, and cozy stories that capture the comfort of Avonlea. All are suitable for adult readers.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emily of New Moon | L.M. Montgomery | Adult | readers who want Montgomery's other heroine |
| The Blue Castle | L.M. Montgomery | Adult | adults who want a romance |
| Jane of Lantern Hill | L.M. Montgomery | Adult | readers who love the island setting |
| Rilla of Ingleside | L.M. Montgomery | Adult | fans who have finished Anne |
| Daddy-Long-Legs | Jean Webster | Adult | readers who like letters |
| Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm | Kate Douglas Wiggin | Adult | readers who like old-fashioned charm |
| Little Women | Louisa May Alcott | Adult | readers who love sisters |
| I Capture the Castle | Dodie Smith | Adult | readers who like a young narrator |
| A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Betty Smith | Adult | readers who want depth |
| The Secret Garden | Frances Hodgson Burnett | Adult | readers who need comfort |
| Pride and Prejudice | Jane Austen | Adult | readers who love romance |
| The Enchanted April | Elizabeth von Arnim | Adult | readers who want escape |
| Cold Comfort Farm | Stella Gibbons | Adult | readers who like satire |
| The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society | Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows | Adult | readers who like letters and book clubs |
| Persuasion | Jane Austen | Adult | readers who like second chances |
1. Emily of New Moon by L.M. Montgomery
Orphaned Emily goes to live with her stern aunts and dreams of being a writer. Montgomery's own favorite, and darker than Anne.
Best for: readers who want Montgomery's other heroine.
2. The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery
Valancy, a lonely 29-year-old, learns she has little time left and decides to live boldly. Her only adult novel and a joy.
Best for: adults who want a romance.
3. Jane of Lantern Hill by L.M. Montgomery
Jane, raised in Toronto by a controlling grandmother, spends a summer on Prince Edward Island with her father. Warm and healing.
Best for: readers who love the island setting.
4. Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery
The last Anne book follows her youngest daughter during World War I. Moving and often overlooked.
Best for: fans who have finished Anne.
5. Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster
Judy Abbott, an orphan, goes to college funded by a secret benefactor and writes him letters. Funny and sweet.
Best for: readers who like letters.
6. Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm by Kate Douglas Wiggin
Rebecca Randall goes to live with her aunts in Maine and charms everyone. A gentle classic.
Best for: readers who like old-fashioned charm.
7. Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
The four March sisters grow up during the Civil War, and Jo dreams of being a writer. A beloved classic about family.
Best for: readers who love sisters.
8. I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith
Cassandra Mortmain writes in her journal about life in a crumbling English castle. Funny, warm and romantic.
Best for: readers who like a young narrator.
9. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith
Francie Nolan grows up poor in Brooklyn and finds hope in books. A heartfelt American classic.
Best for: readers who want depth.
10. The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Mary Lennox, a lonely orphan, discovers a locked garden and brings it back to life. Healing and calm.
Best for: readers who need comfort.
11. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Elizabeth Bennet meets the proud Mr. Darcy in Austen's wittiest romance. A perfect pairing for Anne fans.
Best for: readers who love romance.
12. The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim
Four women rent an Italian castle for a month and are transformed. A restful, funny book.
Best for: readers who want escape.
13. Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
Flora Poste goes to live with her relatives and sets about tidying up their lives. A hilarious parody.
Best for: readers who like satire.
14. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
Juliet Ashton exchanges letters with islanders who formed a book club during the German occupation. Warm and bookish.
Best for: readers who like letters and book clubs.
15. Persuasion by Jane Austen
Anne Elliot gets a second chance with the man she once refused. Quiet and mature.
Best for: readers who like second chances.
How to Choose
If you want more Montgomery, start with Emily of New Moon or The Blue Castle. For letters and diaries, pick Daddy-Long-Legs or I Capture the Castle. For comfort, choose The Secret Garden or The Enchanted April. For romance, choose Pride and Prejudice or Persuasion. These books are slower than modern novels, so read them in the evening.
Related: What Age Is The Diary of a Young Girl (Anne Frank) Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide · Printable List of Anne Rice Books
Frequently Asked Questions
What else did L.M. Montgomery write?
She wrote the Emily trilogy, The Blue Castle, Jane of Lantern Hill and many other novels and stories.
Is Anne of Green Gables for adults?
It is a children's classic, but many adults enjoy it for its humor and warmth.
Which book is closest to Anne?
Emily of New Moon and Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm have the most similar heroines.