2,5/5 Trigger warning: child loss I’m honestly really disappointed. The book starts out like a hopeful new chapter for Anne and Gilbert, but it quickly turns heavy and kind of depressing. Anne completely loses her character. She’s no longer the strong, dreamy, passionate person she used to be. She feels like a side character in her own life. Instead of following her story, the focus shifts to annoying neighbors, tragic side plots, and the loss of her child. But it’s all told in such a distant way, it barely hits emotionally. And Gilbert? Totally bland. There’s no depth, no real conversations between them. He’s just... there. The writing is still beautiful at times, but the magic of the earlier books is gone. It just doesn’t feel like Anne anymore. It feels like a story trying to force her into an outdated idea of womanhood. And honestly, that hurts to read.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first part of this book, particularly the moments when the familiar characters from previous books made appearances, reflecting the significant changes Anne was making in her life. The wedding of Anne and Gilbert filled me with happiness and excitement. However, as the story progressed, I found myself feeling a sense of sadness as I encountered new characters who, personally, didn't captivate me as much, with the exception of Leslie. I struggled to fully connect with Captain Jim, mainly due to the comments he made about women, which created a barrier between us. Additionally, I felt that the length of the novel was somewhat condensed, especially when Anne experienced the loss of her child and swiftly moved on to welcoming her new son in just a single chapter. This rapid progression felt slightly rushed. Overall, the book possessed the endearing charm that I've come to expect from this series, and Anne will forever hold a special place in my heart. However, I do wish that the characters in the subsequent book were more relatable and likable.