About The Book

“If it had not rained on a certain May morning, Valancy Stirling’s whole life would have been entirely different...”

One day, Valancy Stirling, a quiet, shy old maid, decides to stop listening to her nosy, small-minded relatives and start doing exactly as she pleases.

Over the next year, Valancy’s choices will transform her life, outrage her family, confuse the entire town of Deerwood - and bring her into close contact with the mischievous, mysterious, violet-eyed Barney Snaith.

This is a heartwarming romance with a bold, contemporary message - a life spent appeasing other people is a wasted one - from the beloved author of the Anne of Green Gables series.

Why We Love It

"I've been trying to please other people all my life and failed...After this I shall please myself."

Originally published in 1926, The Blue Castle by L.M. Montgomery stands out as one of her few novels distinctly written for an adult audience.

The story follows Valancy Stirling, a 29-year-old woman from a respectable, middle-class family in the fictional town of Deerwood, Ontario. After an unexpected shock (no spoilers!), Valancy decides to break free from the stifling expectations of her family and defy societal conventions, setting out to live life on her own terms.

Although the story takes place in early 1900s small-town Ontario, it's Valancy's longing for just a single hour of pure, unconditional happiness that keeps the novel feeling so very relatable even today.

L.M. Montgomery has created such an amazing character with Valancy, which is not wholly unexpected if you're a fan of Anne of Green Gables - Valancy is funny, smart, kind and like Anne, exactly the kind of person you'd want as a friend.

My heart broke for her loneliness at the beginning of the book and by the end, I was in tears! Her journey of self-discovery throughout the book and fierce quest for independence kept me cheering for her throughout.

While it is at times genuinely funny, there is an edginess to the story too - the book shines a light on just how few options women had at that time and how easily their reputation and social standing could be compromised or shattered by one wrong word or foolish action.

Despite being almost 100 years old, The Blue Castle is an incredibly easy read, well-paced and accessible even to a modern reader. Although nowhere near as well-known as Anne of Green Gables, it is every bit as wonderful and not to be missed!

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