Anne of Green Gables may be L.M. Montgomery’s most famous series, but my favorite is the Emily of New Moon series. These three books about Emily and her friends captured my imagination from a young age. The story begins with Emily moving in with her aunts after her father dies. She keeps a secret diary—or letters to her father—where she records everything that happens around her. Emily has a sense of adventure and a bit of psychic ability, which makes her life pretty exciting. The books take us from her childhood all the way to adulthood, and we finally breathe a sigh of relief when she finds true love.
The three “Emily” books are Emily of New Moon, Emily Climbs, and Emily’s Quest. I always felt more connected to Emily than to Anne, maybe because Emily’s storylines are a bit darker. Her adventures often come with a touch of sadness. For instance, she discovers her best friend’s mother’s body in a well and nearly dies from blood poisoning. The tone of these books is much different and drew me in completely. Even now, revisiting them feels like a trip down memory lane.
Every book in the series is packed with adventures and deeply emotional moments. Emily is expressive, charming, and passionate about the world around her. While some adventures might seem similar to Anne’s, these books have a unique supernatural element—Emily has a slight sixth sense—and lots of tragedy, making the emotions raw and real.
There’s even a romantic subplot reminiscent of a Catherine Cookson novel, where an older man waits for Emily to grow up. This kind of storyline wouldn’t appear in the Anne books. Despite the darker moments, there are plenty of uplifting scenes, like when Emily finally gets her novel published. This moment is the fulfillment of the main theme of the books. While Emily’s quest to become a writer is central, the real heart of the story is her romance.
Emily and Teddy (also known as Frederick) brought me to tears as a kid. Their romance is messy yet glorious. Anne and Gilbert fans might have waited a long time to see their love declared, but at least their story continued afterward. Teddy and Emily fans, however, suffer longer. The two are kept apart for so long it’s almost unbearable. They are soulmates, but pride and circumstances keep them from being together. They even come close to marrying other people. Teddy is literally at the altar, until his bride leaves to be with another man. Despite everything, I kept rooting for them, and romantics will be pleased to see everything finally fall into place.
The Emily of New Moon series feels like a darker counterpart to Anne’s life, yet they are still amazing and capture the heart of readers, young and old.
The Emily books were adapted into a TV show in Canada, but I wasn’t very impressed. It seemed like the creators didn’t quite know what to do with the source material. I think a remake with better actors and writers who understand the books could be great. There was also a Japanese anime adaptation.
Overall, Emily of New Moon is a series that might be less sunny than Anne of Green Gables, but it holds its own charm and emotional depth, making it a beloved story for many.
