The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

Miss Montgomery, already well known for her "Anne" books, has here attempted something different — a romance for older readers, and she has succeeded admirably. The story of Valancy Stirling, a repressed spinster of twenty-nine who rebels against the tyranny of her family and goes to live her own life in a cottage in the woods, is told with a wit and a tenderness that are very winning. The Canadian setting is described with the author's usual charm, and the characters are drawn with a keen eye for the absurdities of small-town life. The hero, Barney Snaith, is a figure of genuine romance, and the love story is handled with a delicacy that never descends to sentimentality.

Miss Montgomery has written many charming stories, but we think this is her best. The heroine's transformation from a cowed and colourless nonentity to a woman of spirit and independence is handled with a psychological insight that is far above the level of the ordinary romance. The humour is delightful — especially in the scenes depicting the Stirling family, a collection of self-absorbed mediocrities whose petty tyrannies are drawn with a satire that is the more effective for being good-natured. The love story is satisfying without being mawkish. A thoroughly enjoyable book.

I wanted to love this more than I did. Valancy herself is great and the romance with Barney is lovely but her family is so over-the-top awful it became comical. Like nobody is THAT mean and clueless in real life. Also the whole "she has a year to live" setup kinda disappears halfway through. Still a fun read just not her best work.

Forget Anne of Green Gables — this is L.M. Montgomerys best work and i will die on that hill. Valancy is such a relatable heroine. Getting a terminal diagnosis and deciding to actually LIVE? Yes please. The romance is sweet, the family dynamics are hilarious (and frustrating), and the muskoka setting is just gorgeous. Ive read this 4 times now.

I stumbled on this book by accident and im so glad i did. Valancy is 29 and "on the shelf" when she gets some shocking news. What she does with her remaining time is so empowering. The Blue Castle of the title is just beautiful. My only complaint is that it ends too soon! Montgomery really knew how to write a satisfying love story.