Anne’s House of Dreams (1917) by L.M. Montgomery is the fifth installment in the beloved Anne of Green Gables series, marking a poignant transition in Anne Shirley’s journey from spirited orphan to a young bride navigating the joys and sorrows of adulthood. Now married to Gilbert Blythe, Anne moves to the idyllic seaside village of Glen St. Mary, where the newlyweds settle into their first home—the eponymous “House of Dreams.”
While the novel retains Montgomery’s signature charm and lush descriptions of Prince Edward Island’s landscapes, it delves into mature themes: marital love, friendship, loss (including a heartbreaking stillbirth), and the quiet struggles of neighbors like the tragic Captain Jim and the mysterious Leslie Moore. The story balances Anne’s radiant optimism with deeper emotional currents, showcasing her growth into a compassionate woman who learns to hold space for others’ pain.
A bridge between Anne’s youthful adventures and her later role as a mother in Anne of Ingleside, this installment is cherished for its lyrical melancholy and nuanced portrayal of community.
