Anne of a Different Island

By Virginia Kantra

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.

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Published Jan 20, 2026

368 pages

Average rating: 8

1 RATING

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Community Reviews

Andréa
Aug 11, 2026
DNF’d at 50% When I read the words “a contemporary novel inspired by Anne of Green Gables,” I was instantly drawn in. And Mackinac Island—my absolute favorite vacation destination? It sounded so dreamy and so perfectly suited to me. At least, I thought so at first. Unfortunately, this ended up being nothing like the Anne-inspired story I was hoping for. The author took the “contemporary” element much further than I expected, with quite a bit of spice, raunchy sexual content, open-door scenes, language, and LGBTQ themes. For my personal reading preferences, all of that felt completely at odds with the wholesome, charming, timeless spirit I associate with Anne of Green Gables. I’m genuinely so disappointed. I went into this one incredibly excited, especially because of the Anne inspiration and Mackinac Island setting, and I really tried to stick with it. But by the halfway point, I realized I simply wasn’t enjoying the experience enough to continue. Such a bummer, because the premise had me completely sold. 😭 Authors, please stop breaking my Anne-loving heart! 🍃😭

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