Keep the author, meet somebody new
Finishing an Anne book need not mean either leaving Montgomery behind or buying every book with her name on the cover. A useful next choice depends on what you want to keep from the experience. Do you enjoy following a character over several volumes, or would you prefer one self-contained story? This guide compares two routes beyond Anne rather than attempting a complete bibliography.
Emily of New Moon: begin a different trilogy
Emily Starr becomes an orphan after her father’s death and goes to live with relatives at New Moon Farm on Prince Edward Island. The publisher identifies Emily of New Moon as the first book of the Emily trilogy. It offers another young heroine, but Emily is a separate character with her own relationships and circumstances. Approach her with curiosity rather than expecting Anne with a different name.
If the writing life interests you
The publisher’s description of Emily Climbs places Emily’s desire to write at the centre of her next stage. That makes the trilogy an interesting possibility for readers who are curious about creative ambition. As you read, notice what encourages a young person to keep making things and what makes that harder. You do not need to be a writer yourself to have experienced the wish to take an interest seriously.
The Emily reading order
Read Emily of New Moon, then Emily Climbs, then Emily’s Quest. This is a separate three-book sequence; none belongs inside the Anne reading order. When shopping for a collection, check that all three titles are included and that the text is complete. If you are unsure whether Emily suits you, start with the first novel rather than treating a boxed set as a required commitment.
The Blue Castle: one novel and a different stage of life
Valancy is twenty-nine and lives with an overbearing mother and aunt. She finds escape in books and in her imagined Blue Castle. The publisher’s description centres on her decision to change how she lives. We leave the trigger and later developments for the novel. Consider this route if a grown woman’s choices appeal more than beginning another childhood-to-adulthood sequence.
Which route fits your next reading mood?
Choose Emily if you want to meet a new young heroine and have the option of following her through a trilogy. Choose The Blue Castle if you want a standalone story and are interested in the tension between family expectations and individual wishes. Neither choice requires you to finish the Anne series first. These are reading-fit suggestions based on the premises, not a claim that one book is universally gentler, better or more suitable for every age.
Three questions to take into either story
What makes a place feel like home? When is imagination an escape, and when can it help somebody act? How do other people’s expectations affect the choices a character thinks are available? Write a short answer before reading and return to it afterwards. You may find the two books give you different ways to think about the same question.
If you want the author’s own story instead
Our author-biographies guide also includes The Alpine Path, Montgomery’s account of her writing journey. Keep the distinction clear when choosing: a novel introduces fictional people, while an autobiographical account presents an author’s own perspective. You do not need background reading to enjoy the fiction. It is simply another route for somebody whose curiosity has moved from the characters to the person who created them.
Choose an edition deliberately
Search with both the title and L. M. Montgomery’s name. Check whether a listing is the full novel, an adaptation or a study guide. Ebook collections can be useful, but look for a clear contents list rather than assuming that a large number on the cover means the books you want are present. For print, readable type and a comfortable binding are worth considering alongside the cover design.