Hi y’all!

Happy almost summer to you! We are in our list week of school for the year and I come oscillating between excitement for less structure and heartbreak to end a truly fantastic year.

Today I am so excited to share my review of Jane of Lantern Hill by L. M. Montgomery. I read this as part of my Classics Club list #2 and absolutely loved it!

I started my second Classics Club list with several Montgomery novels not part of the Anne series and I have loved reading more of her books. They have a unique charm and beauty to them which I love. There is something so magical and cozy about reading a book by LM Montgomery. A blogger friend recommended this one, and it was absolutely fantastic!

Book Summary: “For as long as she could remember, Jane Stuart and her mother lived with her grandmother in a dreary mansion in Toronto. Jane always believed her father was dead until she accidentally learned he was alive and well and living on Prince Edward Island. When Jane spends the summer at his cottage on Lantern Hill, doing all the wonderful things Grandmother deems unladylike, she dares to dream that there could be such a house back in Toronto… a house where she, Mother, and Father could live together without Grandmother directing their lives — a house that could be called home.”

Jane is a protagonist that is easy to cheer for and love. I enjoyed her journey to finding herself and happiness. I felt her pain as she lived under her grandmother’s tyranny, her deep love for her mother, and her joy living at Lantern Hill. The little house on the island because such a lovely little home for her. Jane thrives as she keeps house for her father and learns all the skills needed for that. I love seeing her so happy. Meeting her new friends and seeing her connect with the Island was lovely. From the descriptions of her experiences at the sea to the little church and running through the fields with her friends, each moment helps us get to know Jane a bit better. I loved seeing her blossom and thrive on Prince Edward Island and how her relationship with her father shaped her life.

As always, the descriptions of Prince Edward Island are incredible. The sea is an old friend, the flowers have personalities and life there just seems a bit brighter. It continues to be one of the places I most want to see for myself one day. I loved picturing Jane’s garden outside their home, the many trees she loves, and the different rooms in their Lantern Hill house. I loved descriptions of Jane cooking and baking and cleaning their little home, of her father reading the bible on the sand by the sea, of the little church she attends, of the magic in the house and grounds. I felt like Jane — longing for more time on the Island especially when she had to go home to Toronto and her tyrannical Grandmother’s home. The contrasts are stark between the two houses and it’s clear where Jane’s heart lives.

The plot is both unique and relatable. Jane’s parents, she learns early in the story, do not live together and she is shocked by that. As she pieces together the details of her own history and her parents relationship, Jane finds joy and sorrow. I found it fascinating to learn about this type of marital separation at this time period. It was not very common and often hushed up. I was intrigued as we learned the details from each side and learning why things weren’t working out between her parents. Her contrasting worlds are so interesting and I loved that she is able to have a relationship with both of her parents despite their differences.  The ending is intense and so satisfying. I love the way everything comes together and was relieved to learn a few truths about her father in particular.

This book is full of magic, beauty, cozy details and characters that feel like friends. A fantastic read!

What are some of your favorite Montgomery novels?
Which authors do you recommend for fans of Montgomery?

This is my 4th classic finished on my 2nd list for The Classics Club!
Check out my full list here. To see my completed first list, click here. For more info on the club, click here.