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If you love Anne of Green Gables and you want to read the rest of the books in this series, you have come to the right place. However, figuring out how to read the Anne of Green Gables books in order can be somewhat confusing. Don’t worry; I’ve got you covered.
Anne of Green Gables is one of my all-time favorite books. (If you haven’t read it, what are you waiting for??)
In 2025, I decided I wanted to read through the entire series, and I finished it in March 2026.
I went into this with some uncertainty. The first book is so good that I just wasn’t sure the rest of the series could live up to it. My conclusion: the whole series is excellent, and I’ve been sad ever since I finished it.
I knew, of course, that I would love reading more about Anne, but the second half of the series explores other characters in the town of Glen St. Mary, where she and Gilbert settle after they get married. I didn’t expect to fall in love with the characters there and the town as much as I did. (I think I might like it more than Avonlea.)
I loved all the books so much, and I know I will return to this series again in the future. I’m confident that if you love the first book, you will also love the rest of the series.
However, it can be a bit confusing figuring out how to approach this series. This is because the order in which the series was published and the order in which they chronologically don’t match up.
I was pretty agnostic about how to approach it, but in my opinion, there’s really only one way to read this series, and that is chronologically. I will explain more below.
Let’s dive in!
Anne of Green Gables Books in Order: How to Read the Series
It isn’t the first time the publication order of a book series doesn’t match the chronological order. You see this with other series, too, such The Chronicles of Narnia.
But that doesn’t mean you should necessarily read the books in chronological order. There may be reasons why an author may want to write a prequel to help you understand a character better. But is that the case here?
I will go over both options, explain the pros and cons of each, and, at the end, give you my personal recommendation.
The Anne of Green Gables Books in Publication Order
While this is the order in which the Anne books were published, I do not recommend reading them in this order. After reading through the series, I can see how Montgomery recognized gaps in Anne’s story that needed to be filled in.
However, if you want to read the books in publication order, this is the order in which you will read them:
- Anne of Green Gables (1908)
- Anne of Avonlea (1909)
- Anne of the Island (1915)
- Anne‘s House of Dreams (1917)
- Rainbow Valley (1919)
- Rilla of Ingleside (1921)
- Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)
- Anne of Ingleside (1939)
The Anne of Green Gables Books in Chronological Order
The downside to reading them in publication order is that the timeline skips around A LOT. Book six is actually written from the point of view of Anne’s children, and the following two books return to Anne and her marriage.
Here are the books in chronological order, and the order Montgomery recommended reading them.
(In both lists, the first three books are the same; the variations come in the last five books. )
These are the books in chronological order:
- Anne of Green Gables (1908)
- Anne of Avonlea (1909)
- Anne of the Island (1915)
- Anne of Windy Poplars (1936)
- Anne’s House of Dreams (1917)
- Anne of Ingleside (1939)
- Rainbow Valley (1919)
- Rilla of Ingleside (1921)
How You Should Read the Anne of Green Gables Books: My Recommendation
I recommend reading the books in chronological order. (As mentioned above, I think this really is the only way to read them.)
Here’s the simple reason: it makes more sense. (And I think this is the reason Montgomery recommended reading the books this way.)
For example, Anne of Windy Poplars takes place after the book where Anne and Gilbert get engaged, but before they are married. (It is essentially the time in between.) This book very nicely fills in that gap, and it would almost seem awkward to come back and read about this after the fact.
Anne of Green Gables Books in Chronological Order
Below, you will find summaries of the Anne of Green Gables books in chronological order.
01
Anne of Green Gables
Anne of Green Gables is the first book in the series. It begins with Matthew Cuthbert going to pick up an orphan that he and his sister have decided they want to adopt. Their understanding is that they are picking up a boy who can help Matthew on the farm since he is getting older. When Matthew goes to pick up the orphan, he is surprised to find a 12-year-old girl, whom he brings back to their farm,
Green Gables, which is near the town of Avonlea on Prince Edward Island. I think it’s safe to say that by the time Matthew arrives home with her, he is smitten, but Marilla wants to send her back because they need a boy to help on the Cuthbert’s farm. The book is the story about how Anne becomes the orphan they decide to keep and how she becomes part of their family and their community.
You know how God sometimes gives us what we need, not what we want, but in the end, we look back and are so grateful that it turned out the way it did. This is that story. I love found family stories, and I think that’s one of the reasons I love this book so much.
Anne is one of those characters who is flawed in so many ways but simultaneously so delightful. In this book, you will find many kindred spirits.
where to buy:
02
Anne of Avonlea
Anne of Avonlea details Anne’s life after Anne of Green Gables ends, when Anne is getting ready to start the job of teacher at her beloved Avonlea school. She goes into the school year with a mix of anticipation and some unrealistic expectations. She finds herself facing the challenging task of earning the trust and admiration of her students.
She is convinced she can educate her students without resorting to the typical corporal punishment that was common in those days. Anne would have gone to college this year, but she didn’t want to leave Marilla home alone after she developed problems with her eyesight that could lead to blindness. Marilla decides to take in two orphan twins, who bring both joy and challenges. Her relationship with her once-rival Gilbert Blythe also starts to blossom into more. There are also several happenings going on in and around the town of Avonlea throughout this novel as we get to see Anne grow into a young woman.
where to buy:
03
Anne of the Island
This might be my second-favorite book in the series after Anne of Green Gables. Anne of the Island is about Anne leaving Avonlea to attend Redmond College, where she has copious adventures and surprises. She receives a marriage proposal (not from Gilbert), she sells her first story, makes new and interesting friends, and she faces a painful tragedy. Anne and her friends find joy in an ornery black cat that lives at the house where they reside.
In the meantime, Anne is also trying to figure out where her heart truly lies. She receives a serious proposal from a suitor, and she isn’t quite ready to admit her true feelings for Gilbert Blythe. Is he just a friend or more? Gilbert is spending a lot of time with another woman, and Anne can’t figure out why this bothers her so much. I loved watching Anne grow in this novel. Beautifully done!
where to buy:
04
Anne of Windy Poplars
Anne gets the job of principal of Summerside High School in Summerside, where she soon finds out she was not the first choice of all of the residents there, especially the Pringles, who are considered “the royal family of Summerside.” While this bothers her, she also does such an amazing job of navigating this challenging situation.
She has some wonderful allies where she lives who help her navigate the town and people there. She slowly starts to win over the hearts of some of her worst critics. Anne and Gilbert Blythe keep their long-distance relationship going through lots of letters while he finishes medical school. Much of the story is told through these letters. It’s fun watching their relationship blossom as they start to dream of their life together. I was also impressed by how well this book was written. I thought it was so good!
where to buy:
05
Anne’s House of Dreams
In the fifth book in the series, Gilbert finishes medical school, and it finally happens — Anne and Gilbert get married, and they start their life together. They move into a house near Glen St. Mary on Four Winds Harbor, where they have new friends and new neighbors and all the problems and surprises that come with those changes.
This book really surprised me and might be one of my favorites in the series. It is very good! It is full of twists and turns I did not see coming. It’s also fun to watch Anne and Gilbert finally get to be together. They come across like one of those couples who genuinely have fun together. I also love the new characters introduced in this book and the roles they come to play in the lives of Anne and Gilbert.
where to buy:
06
Anne of Ingleside
Anne is a devoted mother, managing a lively home with her five children. Despite the bustling household, her excitement is multiplied as she anticipates the arrival of a new baby. However, her joy is slightly dampened by the presence of her less-than-welcome Aunt Mary Maria, who seems to have overstayed her welcome.
In this book, we begin to get to know her endearing children, other members of the household, and residents of Glen St. Mary.
While Anne loves her life in Ingleside, there is a hint of concern that creeps into her mind as she wonders if her husband, Gilbert, still holds the same affection for her. Determined to rekindle their love, Anne embarks on a journey to make Gilbert fall in love with her all over again, igniting the same passion and devotion they once shared.
where to buy:
07
Rainbow Valley
Anne and Gilbert’s six children are prominently featured in this book; it primarily focuses on another family — the Merediths. The Meredith children are made up of two boys and two girls. It’s called Rainbow Valley because that’s the name of their favorite spot where they like to play. Their father, John Meredith, is the local Presbyterian minister whom locals love for his preaching.
However, Rev. Meredith is a recent widow, and while they have an aunt living with them, the children are pretty feral. That being said, they are also all incredibly endearing, and I was rooting for them throughout the book. They get into a lot of trouble and realize they aren’t really being raised, so they come up with the idea to start disciplining themselves, which leads to a whole set of other problems.
There is also a fun love story developing throughout this book. I did not expect to like this book as much as I did. I am so attached to all of these characters!
where to buy:
08
Rilla of Ingleside
In this official last book in the series, Anne’s children are becoming adults, except Rilla. At nearly fifteen years old, Rilla is pretty self-centered and focused on attending her very first dance at the Four Winds lighthouse and anticipating her first kiss from the dashing Kenneth Ford. However, her life turns upside down when World War 1 breaks out, and she is forced to grow up fast.
As her brothers are called to fight in the war, Rilla finds herself taking on new responsibilities. While the book is told from Rilla’s perspective, it really focuses on the whole family and what they are going through during the war. I love Rilla! In a lot of ways, she reminded me of Anne when she was younger. But grab the tissue box for this one; this book is a tearjerker.
where to buy:
Additional Anne of Green Gables Books
There are also additional books Montgomery wrote about the characters of Avonlea:
- Chronicles of Avonlea (1912). Fun short stories about the quirky community of Avonlea.
- Further Chronicles of Avonlea (1920). This is a sequel to the Chronicles of Avonlea and follows in the same vein as that book.
- The Road to Yesterday (1942). Completed before the author died, this book comprises 14 entertaining stories about the small village of Glen St. Mary, where Anne and Gilbert Blythe settle down.
- The Blythes Are Quoted (1942). This book contains the same stories as The Road to Yesterday, but it also includes some poems. Some people say this book is the unofficial ninth book in the series, and I plan to read it soon.
If you have a Kindle, I found a volume that includes both the Chronicles of Avonlea, the Further Chronicles of Avonlea, and Uncollected Short Stories for $2.31 (at the time of this writing).
Anne of Green Gables Book Series Frequently Asked Questions
Do You Have to Read the Books in Order?
There are two ways to read the Anne of Green Gables books: in publication order or in chronological order.
L. M. Montgomery recommended that the books be read in chronological order, as they follow a more linear timeline that will be easier to follow and don’t jump around as much as they did when they were first published.
This is my recommendation as well as I don’t think the books would be quite as fun and momentous is moving the story along if read later.
Who Are the Main Characters in Anne of Green Gables?
While there are many characters in Anne of Green Gables books, here is a brief description of the main characters:
- Anne Shirley. Anne is the quirky orphan who comes to live at Green Gables with Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
- Marilla Cuthbert. Marilla lives at Green Gables with her brother Matthew. She is very strict with Anne, but her softer side starts to show through as the story develops.
- Matthew Cuthbert. Matthew is 60 years old when the story begins. He is Marilla’s brother. Together, Matthew and Marilla adopt Anne. Anne and Matthew have a very sweet relationship.
- Gilbert Blythe. Gilbert becomes Anne’s rival, whom she swears to never speak to after he teases her for her red hair. The rivalry cools by the end of the book.
- Diana Barry. Diana is Anne’s best friend who lives on the farm next to Green Gables.
- Rachel Lynde. Rachel also lives in a house near Green Gables. She is the town gossip. Marilla treats her with respect, but keeps her at a distance. They develop a friendship that is sweet but with a fair amount of strife.
How Many Books Are in the Anne of Green Gables Series?
There are eight books in the Anne of Green Gables series, plus additional collections of short stories and poems.
When and where was Anne of Green Gables set?
Anne of Green Gables is set in the 1880s on Prince Edward Island, which is located east of New Brunswick and north of Nova Scotia.
Who is L.M. Montgomery?
Canadian author L.M. Montgomery, Lucy Maud Montgomery, lived from 1874 to 1942. She was raised in Cavendish on Prince Edward Island, Canada, by her maternal grandparents after her mother died and her father left her in their care.
Prince Edward Island is located north of Nova Scotia and East of New Brunswick. It’s also where the fictional town of Avonlea is located. Avonlea is reportedly based on the town of Cavendish, and Montgomery’s work draws on her own experiences in many ways.
There are several parallels between Montgomery’s own life and Anne Shirley’s: she was raised by an older couple, and she learned to use her imagination to keep herself entertained through nature, writing, and reading books.
She published her first poem in a Prince Edward Island newspaper in 1890 titled “On Cape LeForce.”
Montgomery went into teaching school and taught for a brief time before deciding to do additional coursework in English literature at Dalhousie University from 1895 to 1896. It was very rare at that time for women to pursue higher education. It was also during this time that L. M. Montgomery started getting paid for writing.
In 1898, Montgomery moved back to Cavendish to take care of her grandmother after her grandfather died, where she lived for 13 years. It was also during this time that her writing career began to flourish, as she began to publish poems and stories in magazines in Canada, Great Britain, and the United States.
She wrote her first novel, Anne of Green Gables, in 1905, but it was rejected by all of the publishers she sent it to. She decided to try submitting it again in 1907, and Page Company of Boston, Massachusetts, decided to publish it. It was published in 1908 and was a bestseller right away.
Montgomery married Rev. Ewan Macdonald in 1911 and had three boys, one of whom was stillborn. They lived in Ontario, where her husband was a pastor, and Montgomery continued to write.
She died in 1942 in Toronto but was buried on Prince Edward Island.
[Source: L.M. Montgomery Institute at the University of Prince Edward Island]
How to Buy: Anne of Green Gables Boxed Sets
While you can certainly purchase each volume individually using the links above, several beautiful boxed sets are also worth purchasing if you’re planning to read the entire series or you’re looking for a nice gift for an Anne of Green Gables fan.
Note: Something to pay attention to is whether or not the set includes all eight volumes because not all sets do.
Here are some of your options:
Great on Audio!
If you love audiobooks, then you will love this version of Anne of Green Gables read by actress Rachel McAdams.
(For the other books in the series, I recommend those read by Barbara Caruso.)
Anne of Green Gables TV and Film Adaptations
We can’t talk about Anne of Green Gables without also talking about the TV and film adaptations.
If you love the books, you will also love some of the film adaptations, which I think are very well done.
When it comes to adaptations, you have a lot to choose from. There are films, radio dramas, television series, miniseries, stage productions, audio dramas, and web adaptations. You can find an exhaustive list here.
While the first adaptation was created in 1919, and several others were created after that, I’m going to primarily focus on the more recent adaptations.
Anne of Green Gables TV Mini-Series (1985)
The most popular Anne of Green Gables adaptation is the made-for-television mini-series, which first aired in 1985 on Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), PBS, and The Disney Channel. This rendition stars Megan Follows as Anne Shirley and Jonathan Crombie as Gilbert Blythe.
The adaptations include the following series:
- Anne of Green Gables (1985)
- Anne of Avonlea (1987)
- Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story (1998)
- Anne of Green Gables: A New Beginning (2009). This film stars Barabara Hershey as Anne Shirley
The same producer (Kevin Sullivan) who created the original TV adaptations also created a spin-off series called Road to Avonlea, which is also based on some of Montgomery’s other books and short stories, including the following:
Anne of Green Gables (2016)
This rendition of the story features Ella Ballentine as Anne Shirley, Martin Sheen as Matthew Cuthbert, and Sara Botsford as Marilla Cuthbert.
There were also some sequels created:
- L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables: The Good Stars (2017)
- Anne of Green Gables: Fire & Dew (2017)
Anne With an “E” (2017-2019)
Netflix and CBC released “Anne with an E” in 2017, starring Amybeth McNulty as Anne Shirley and Lucas Jade Zumann as Gilbert Blythe. I think this adaptation offers a bit more of a realistic version of what an orphan would be like in those days while still remaining faithful to the books.
Three seasons were released before the show was canceled, even though the series was widely popular.
You can still watch the series on Netflix.
Anne of Green Gables Merch
One of the things I’ve fallen in love with in recent years is all of the Anne of Green Gables merch that is out there. It’s simply too much fun NOT to share!
Stickers
T-Shirts
Art
Canldes
Home decor
totes
What Anne of Green Gables Book Are You Going to Read Next?
I would love to hear what Anne of Green Gables books you’ve read, and which books you plan to read next!
Wow! That is an incredibly in depth article! I love it. I listened Anne of Green Gables for the first time last year. I loved it! Looks like I need to get busy on the rest of the series. Thanks for the article.❤️
I loved watching the series Anne of Green Gables. I have never read the books so thanks for putting this in order. I think this would be a great read since I loved the series. I also saw Annie with an E.
You definitely should!
A really good list and great information. Thank you.
I just love the Anne series so much! I came here to suggest that folks who love the Anne series might also love the prequel Marilla of Green Gables. It isn’t written by Montgomery, but is written with great care to match the style and care of Montgomery. It’s by Sarah McCoy. It just gives you a little more of a beloved story.
Thank you so much for the recommendation! Sounds interesting. I love getting firsthand recommendations like that. I will definitely check it out.