Anne of the Island

I’ll admit, I approached *Anne of the Island* with skepticism—could Anne’s charm survive the jump from pastoral Prince Edward Island to a stuffy college setting? The answer is a resounding *yes*, though not without a few stumbles. Montgomery’s knack for dialogue shines here, especially in Anne’s prickly dynamic with her snobbish roommate or her delightfully awkward encounters with Roy Gardner (a love interest so perfectly insufferable you’ll root for Gilbert even harder). But the real surprise is how *modern* Anne’s struggles feel: her panic over exams, her cringe-worthy first publishing attempt, and her stubborn refusal to admit she’s in over her head. It’s a masterclass in writing a flawed but endearing protagonist. Beth Kesler’s narration is the audiobook’s secret weapon. She avoids the trap of making Anne sound like a caricature—her voice is youthful but not childish, and she nails the shift between Anne’s dramatic monologues and her softer, vulnerable moments. That said, the production isn’t flawless. Kesler’s male voices (particularly Gilbert’s) occasionally veer into stiff territory, and the lack of distinct tonal shifts for side characters like Phil or Stella can make their scenes blur together. The pacing also drags slightly in the middle, when Anne’s poetic musings start to feel repetitive. Still, the final act—with its bittersweet graduation and Gilbert’s long-overdue confession—lands with emotional precision. If you’re a fan of audiobooks that feel like a warm hug with a side of sharp wit, this one’s worth the listen. Just maybe speed it up to 1.25x during the poetry-heavy chapters.