This Summer Will Be Different

This Summer Will Be Different is a modern romance novel by Carley Fortune that is set on Prince Edward Island. The book was published in 2024 by Berkley Romance, an imprint of Penguin Random House.

I read the novel over Christmas vacation. It's a breezy, happy, and light read, well suited for a summer holiday. Each part of the novel begins with a quote from L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables series.

Along with being a love story, Fortune explains that her novel is also a love letter to Prince Edward Island and the land of Anne. Lucy Ashby, the main character shares her name with Lucy Maud Montgomery. When we first meet Lucy, she's dressed as a modern Anne with her hair braided and wrapped as a crown around her head. Lucy thinks,

"When I planned my holiday wardrobe, I thought the dress was appropriately pastoral—an off-the-shoulder number in oversized red-and-white gingham. Anne Shirley with a modern twist. But maybe the puffed sleeves were a little on the nose."

Lucy's romantic interest, Felix, is an Island boy like Gilbert Blythe. She shares a closeness with her best friend Bridget like that between Anne and Diana. During the course of the story, Lucy and Felix visit Green Gables Heritage Place and walk along Lover's Lane, and through the Haunted Wood. They have fun quoting lines from the novel to one another. The characters also talk about Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables miniseries and the magic of Jonathan Crombie.

At the end of the book, Carley Fortune elaborates on her novel saying,

"I've known that I wanted to set a book on PEI since I began writing fiction. It's a truly special place, and of course, I have a deep love of Anne of Green Gables, both the book and the CBC movies, starring Megan Follows, Jonathan Crombie, Colleen Dewhurst, and Richard Farnsworth. When my husband and I began dating and he told me he'd never seen them, I went straight to the video store to rent the first. He applauded at the end, and in that moment, I knew he was the man for me. There is no improving upon Anne and my writing cannot compare to Lucy Maud Montgomery's, but I liked being able to look at the island through a contemporary point of view. I also got a kick out of writing my steamiest romance in the place famous for such a wonderfully chaste one."

I thought it was fun to read a book set on PEI by an author who loves Anne Shirley and Lucy Maud Montgomery's works.


Here is the description of the book:

THE INSTANT #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

A glorious and tantalizing new escape from #1 New York Times bestselling author Carley Fortune.

This summer they’ll keep their promise. This summer they won't give into temptation. This summer will be different.

Lucy is the tourist vacationing at a beach house on Prince Edward Island. Felix is the local who shows her a very good time. The only problem: Lucy doesn’t know he’s her best friend’s younger brother. Lucy and Felix’s chemistry is unreal, but the list of reasons why they need to stay away from each other is long, and they vow to never repeat that electric night again.

It’s easier said than done.

Each year, Lucy escapes to PEI for a big breath of coastal air, fresh oysters and crisp vinho verde with her best friend, Bridget. Every visit begins with a long walk on the beach, beneath soaring red cliffs and a golden sun. And every visit, Lucy promises herself she won’t wind up in Felix’s bed. Again.

If Lucy can’t help being drawn to Felix, at least she’s always kept her heart out of it.

When Bridget suddenly flees Toronto a week before her wedding, Lucy drops everything to follow her to the island. Her mission is to help Bridget through her crisis and resist the one man she’s never been able to. But Felix’s sparkling eyes and flirty quips have been replaced with something new, and Lucy’s beginning to wonder just how safe her heart truly is.

ISBN: 978-0593638880

Image credit:
Book cover of This Summer Will Be Different.

Purchase and read This Summer Will Be Different:


Created January 23, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Broadway-Aimed Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical Acquired by Broadway Licensing

Broadway Licensing has added Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical to its catalogue. The musical is a contemporary adaptation of L.M. Montgomery's novel Anne of Green Gables by Matte O’Brien and Matt Vinson. Broadway Licensing Global plans to bring the musical to Broadway and to introduce the show to audiences worldwide.

In a press release, Broadway Licensing Global announced the following:

Broadway Licensing, the dedicated musical imprint of Broadway Licensing Global, proudly announces its acquisition of Matte O'Brien and Matt Vinson's Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical. Also home to play imprints, Dramatists Play Service and Playscripts, BLG is currently represented on Broadway by Oh, Mary, recently featured by Water for Elephants, and soon to be represented by the highly anticipated productions of Eureka Day and John Proctor is the Villain.

L.M. Montgomery's, Anne of Green Gables, is one of the best-selling books of all time, with more than 50 million copies sold in over 50 languages. The definitive classic follows the imaginative and fiercely independent Anne Shirley, whose life takes an unexpected turn when she is sent to live with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert at their farm, Green Gables. Anne navigates her place in this close-knit community, ultimately learning what it means to truly belong. With a clever book and a contemporary score, O'Brien and Vinson faithfully adapt this beloved story for today's modern landscape of theater.

"Our entire team is captivated by this vibrant and new adaptation" says Ted Chapin, Chief Executive Officer of BLG. "Welcoming Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical into our catalogue allows us, alongside lead producers Eric Cornell and Jack Sennott of Cornice Productions, to introduce this exciting new piece to audiences worldwide."

Christopher Arnott of the Hartford Courant calls Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical, "a sharp re-thinking of a timeless coming-of-age tale." In kind, Ariana Straznicky-Packer of BroadwayWorld raves that the musical exudes, "the sharp wit and stylistic speed of Gilmore Girls, nods to award-winning Broadway musical favorites Wicked, The Bridges of Madison County, The Drowsy Chaperone, and more; all blended together into something entirely new and exciting."

"There is genuine excitement for a new stage adaptation of Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical and we have already received a number of licensing requests. We are thrilled to strategically partner with Broadway Licensing to meet this demand as part of our Broadway, touring, and international planning," says Cornell.

Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical was originally produced and presented as a World Premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in 2022. It was earlier developed and produced by Justin Nichols and The Rev Theatre Company (Brett Smock, Producing Artistic Director) in 2018. A Concept Recording was released in 2020 on Broadway Records.

"Anne Shirley has always been a 'Different Kind of Girl' and ahead of her time," Chapin adds. "At BLG, 'different' is our specialty."

Follow Anne of Green Gables on all social media channels: @aoggmusical or visit www.aoggmusical.com for more information. The Concept Recording can be found on Spotify.

Learn more at: broadwaylicensing.com.

ABOUT BROADWAY LICENSING GLOBAL

Broadway Licensing Global and its family of imprints (Dramatists Play Service, Playscripts, Stageworks, and Broadway on Demand) is the global leader in theatrical licensing and distribution. Representing an astonishing 40 Tony Awards® and 49 Pulitzer Prize-winning iconic works, BLG titles epitomize the greatest collection of authors, composers, lyricists, and underlying rights holders across the globe, including Stephen King, Alan Menken, Arthur Miller, Lynn Nottage, Elvis Presley, Paula Vogel, Tennessee Williams, the Beatles, the Bee-Gees, and Harry Potter Theatrical Productions.

MEDIA CONTACT & ASSETS
For Broadway Licensing Global:
Hannah Thulin & Lindsey Rathjen | Account Director, Interdependence | broadwaylicensinggroup@interdependence.com

Official Site:
Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical

Image Credit:
Cast of Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical (Goodspeed Musicals, 2022) featuring Juliette Redden as Anne Shirley. Photo by Diane Sobolewski.

References:
Logan Culwell-Block. (December 10, 2024). Broadway-Aimed Anne of Green Gables Musical Joins Broadway Licensing Catalogue: The adaptation of the L.M. Montgomery book made its world premiere at Goodspeed Musicals in 2022. Playbill. Retrieved from: https://playbill.com/article/broadway-aimed-anne-of-green-gables-musical-joins-broadway-licensing-catalogue.

Broadway-Aimed Anne of Green Gables: A New Musical Joins Broadway Licensing. (December 10, 2024). PR Newswire. Retrieved from: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadway-aimed-anne-of-green-gables-a-new-musical-joins-broadway-licensing-302325776.html.

Created January 8, 2025.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Jill Tew on Anne of Green Gables

Last week, I read an interview with author Jill Tew in which she talked about being a fan of Anne of Green Gables. Jill Tew's debut novel, The Dividing Sky was published this past fall by Joy Revolution, Penguin Random House. The Dividing Sky is a dystopian romance set in the year 2364, and it's about a teenager who sells memories and takes on a mysterious assignment.

In an interview with Jesse Davis of Memphis Magazine, Jill Tew talks about her "first-ever favorite book," which was Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. In describing Anne Shirley, Tew says, “People around [Anne], as much as they loved her, often encouraged her to get her head out of the clouds, but she was able to hold onto that and infuse her own world with a little bit of magic.” Tew continues to reflect on Anne of Green Gables saying, “I was a little girl at the time and felt similarly. I saw magic and fairy tales in everyday life, and it was nice to see a character live that on the page unapologetically, and I think in doing so, bring magic to the people around her.”

I love Jill Tew's description of Anne's ability to infuse her world with magic and bring magic to others. As an author, Jill Tew brings her own creative magic to her readers. The Dividing Sky sounded so inventive and compelling that I checked the novel out from my library. I'm looking forward to reading it.

Image credits:
Left: Photograph of Jill Tew from her website.
Right: Painting of Anne of Green Gables by Ben Stahl.

Reference:
Davis, Jesse. (December 19, 2024). Future Fiction: Bold New Worlds: Jill Tew’s debut YA novel is a surprisingly inspiring dystopian story. Memphis Magazine. Retrieved from: https://memphismagazine.com/culture/future-fiction-bold-new-worlds/.

Created December 26, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Green Gables Gets a New Roof

Green Gables, the home that inspired L.M. Montgomery to write Anne of Green Gables, is in the process of getting a new roof this month. The $50,000 renovations will replace the roof and repair the eaves and gutters on the historic building. The work will be done by the end of this year, so Green Gables will be ready for next season's visitors.

Learn more by watching this video by CBC News.

Image credits:
Screencapture of the story from CBC News.

Reference:
A new roof for Green Gables. (December 20, 2024). CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6564840.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Apply to be the Anne of Green Gables Imitator for Parks Canada

There are several student and youth jobs available at Parks Canada for summer 2025, including the Anne-Imitator position. The Anne-Imitator plays the role of Anne of Green Gables and engages with visitors at the Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, P.E.I.

Here's the job description from the Prince Edward Island Employment Journey website:

The Anne-Imitator portrays the character “Anne of Green Gables” at Green Gables Heritage place in full costume. “Anne” will engage visitors, pose for photo opportunities, and participate in interpretive activities such as old-fashioned games and races, ice-cream making and other potential demonstrations.

Skills required: the ability to deliver presentations as the character “Anne Shirley” using effective dramatic techniques, to work with the public, and to work as a team. This is a bilingual (English and French) position.

There are also student positions open for Park Communicators, Janitorial Students, and Heritage Communicators. To learn more about these opportunities, Parks Canada is holding a recruitment visit at UPEI that is taking place on January 28, 2025.

Image credits:
Image highlighting job opportunities from Parks Canada.

Reference:
Riley, Heidi. (December 12, 2024). Student and youth positions available at Parks Canada. Prince Edward Island Employment Journey. Retrieved from: https://employmentjourney.com/student-and-youth-positions-available-at-parks-canada/.

Created December 23, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

The 2024 World of Anne Shirley Gift Guide

Here's a list of gift ideas for the Anne Shirley fans in your life.

1) For a future kindred spirit - The Anne of Green Gables Complete 8-Book Box Set (pictured above) is the perfect way to introduce a friend to Anne Shirley.



2) For fans of the adaptations - These days, we rely on streaming subscriptions, and we rarely own copies of our favorite films and TV series. I think that when you love an adaptation, it's really nice to own it and to be able to watch it anytime instead of renting the right to watch it. You can purchase Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables miniseries collection set on DVD and buy the Anne with an E television series in HD as a gift for a loved one, and they'll be able to enjoy watching Anne Shirley for years to come.



3) For a puzzle lover - This 1014-piece Anne of Green Gables puzzle is sure to please and provide hours of enjoyment. It features artwork inspired by the 1979 anime Anne of Green Gables series. I received this special gift for Christmas and posted about it previously. There are several other Anne puzzles available, including one with Anne Shirley reading a book in front of Green Gables, one with Anne and Diana running through the birch woods, and one with Matthew and Anne's carriage ride through the White Way of Delight.



4) For an art lover - These silhouette prints of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley by Sealhouette on etsy are so charming and romantic. They're perfect for a library or reading nook containing a collection of L.M. Montgomery's books.



5) For an L.M. Montgomery fan - The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album by Kevin McCabe is a gorgeous coffee table book filled with photos and articles to explore Montgomery's life.



6) An Anne-inspired stocking stuffer - This Anne of Green Gables Christmas ornament is an decoration I love to hang on my Christmas tree each year. I bought one when I visited PEI years ago.


Image credits:
Images of the Anne of Green Gables Complete 8-Book Box Set, Sullivan Entertainment's Anne of Green Gables Miniseries DVD Set, Anne With an E DVD set, Anne of Green Gables puzzle, The Lucy Maud Montgomery Album, and Anne Shirley Christmas ornament from amazon. Image of silhouette prints of Gilbert Blythe and Anne Shirley by Sealhouette from etsy.

Created December 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

Riley Keough on Anne of Green Gables

Today, I ran across another fan of Anne of Green Gables. It's Riley Keough, the American actress and producer known for her roles in Daisy Jones & The Six, Mad Max: Fury Road, and The Good Doctor. She is the daughter of Lisa Marie Presley and the granddaughter of Elvis Presley.

Riley Keough took part in a Lit Check, a new collaboration between Reese Witherspoon's book club and Apple Books to share some of the books she loves. She shared seven of her favorite books in this video, and among them was Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery.

Here are Riley Keough's book recommendations:

1) Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid - Riley Keough plays Daisy Jones in the Amazon Prime television miniseries based on this book.
2) Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - a book she loved as a little girl.
3) Little Women by Louisa May Alcott - She loved this book when she was younger and enjoyed figuring out which character she related to.
4) Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown - Keough reads this classic children's story with her daughter.
5) Looking for Smoke by K.A. Cobell - a YA book written by an indigenous woman.
6) Know my Name by Chanel Miller - a powerful memoir.
7) From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough - Lisa Marie Presley's memoir, which Riley Keough wrote with her mother.

In discussing why she selected Anne of Green Gables as one of her book picks, Riley Keough says, "My second pick, Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery. I just loved this when I was a little girl. I just was like obsessed with her and just like wanted to live her life."

So many Anne of Green Gables fans agree.

Image credits:
Left: Screencapture of Riley Keough from Lit Check with Riley Keough & Apple Books | Reese's Book Club.
Right: Photograph of Megan Follows as Anne Shirley in Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel © Sullivan Entertainment.

Created December 12, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com

December had remembered that it was time for winter...

"But on this particular day it seemed as if December had remembered that it was time for winter and had turned suddenly dull and brooding, with a windless hush predictive of coming snow."
-L.M. Montgomery
Anne of Avonlea

Read more quotes by L.M. Montgomery.

Image credit:
Photograph by World of Anne Shirley.

Purchase and read Anne of Avonlea and the Anne of Green Gables series:



Created December 11, 2024.
© worldofanneshirley.com