Anne of a Different Island, Virginia Kantra
Anne of a Different Island, Virginia Kantra
List: $23.00 | Sale: $16.10
Club: $11.50

Anne of a Different Island

Author: Virginia Kantra

Narrator: Will Collyer, Kathleen McInerney

Unabridged: 10 hr 54 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Published: 01/20/2026


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.

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.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Dab on August 09, 2025

4.5 stars A heartwarming and comforting retelling. Exactly what I was hoping for. I would classify this book more as women’s fiction than romance. There is a romance, but it’s not exactly the main focus. And probably not for die-hard “safety readers.” Anne has a teaching job that she enjoys and a hands......more

Goodreads review by Riley (runtobooks) on January 03, 2026

this was so incredibly mid. our main character was pretty insufferable the entire book, and the author just couldn’t pull off the ‘anne of green gables’ vibe to make it work. disappointing, this was such a highly anticipated read for me! pre-read review: the canadiana this is giving!!! foaming at the......more

Goodreads review by Di on January 12, 2026

This is the story of Anne (with an E) who grew up on Mackinac Island. Now she is an English teacher in Chicago but seems to be at a crossroads in her life. While she wanted to be like the famous Anne of Green Gables, she always felt she wasn’t “enough”. A young woman lacking self-confidence, always......more

Goodreads review by Lyon.Brit.andthebookshelf on November 22, 2025

Book Report: Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra Anne Gallagher always believed life could follow a plot line…preferably one straight out of her beloved Anne of Green Gables. But after a breakup…trouble at work and the sudden loss of her father…she’s pulled back to Mackinac Island the place......more

Goodreads review by itsallaboutbooksandmacarons on July 21, 2025

Anne’s return to the island after her father’s death threw her into a whirlwind of emotions she wasn’t ready for. She’s so genuine—talkative, struggling with her teaching job, and trying to make sense of everything that’s falling apart inside her. That honesty grabbed me from the start. Her fiancé lo......more


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