Month: August 2018

Resounding ‘Bravo!’ for Marilla of Green Gables

Across the nation, booksellers and trade reviewers are raving about Marilla of Green Gables in advance of its October 23 release. 

“Sarah McCoy doesn’t disappoint fans of “Anne with an E” in this Green Gables prequel. She’s spot on with the language, setting and sensibilities of her characters. Bravo!”
—Trish Brown, One More Page Books, Arlington VA

“Marilla of Green Gables is the addition to the Anne cannon you didn’t even know you needed. This beautiful book explores a much-beloved character’s backstory in an effortless and moving way. It’s packed full of nuggets that Anne Fans will recognize and love and is an ode to women everywhere who live unconventional lives.”
—Lindsay Crist Lawson, Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Cincinnati OH

“I love a well-executed great idea! Sarah McCoy has written a wonderful back story for the formidable but loving caretaker of Green Gables – Marilla Cuthbert. The novel covers the developing then faltering relationship between her and young John Blythe (Gilbert’s father), her friendship with Rachel Lynde, Matthew’s reticence around women, Marilla’s political points-of-view and her social awakening. Here we get to know and love the Marilla and Matthew who eventually welcome Anne Shirley into their lives. Anne of Green Gables fans will find much to enjoy.”
—Shirley Freeman, Bookbug, Kalamazoo MI

“Great for lovers of Anne who need more Avonlea in their lives. This book was very well done in the style of L.M. Montgomery that I had to remind myself that it wasn’t actually written by her and wasn’t *actually* Marilla’s backstory. Felt like there was one part of the story that was inconsistent with who Marilla is as an adult, however. But I enjoyed it because I love Anne of Green Gables.”
—Alison Frenzel, Fabled Bookshop and Café, Waco TX

“In Marilla of Green Gables, Sarah McCoy brings literary history to life with exquisite detail that immediately transports readers to Prince Edward Island and the Green Gables of their childhood. Watching Marilla navigate life after the sudden loss of her mother is anything but ordinary as she eschews tradition and braves life beyond Green Gables to find her own destiny in an ever-changing world. Fans of the original series and those entering this landscape for the first time will be captivated by the complicated family dynamics, timeless friendships, budding romance, and pivotal moments in history that shaped this iconic character.”
—Beth Seufer Buss, Bookmarks, Winston-Salem NC

“A rich, historically intense life for Marilla… McCoy weaves in fascinating historical details of Canada’s religious and political tensions of the mid-19th century… fashioning Marilla as a flawed hero of her times is a lovely tribute.”
—Kirkus Reviews

“Anne aficionados will get a kick out of seeing Avonlea’s eccentric cast in their youth… McCoy captures the magic of Prince Edward Island, describing the changing seasons in lovely prose… [fans] will appreciate the way she reexamines characters they thought they knew so well.”
—Booklist