The Blue Castle by Lucy Maud Montgomery is one of her only books written for an adult audience. She is the author of the Anne of Green Gable's Series. I loved this book so much that it made it onto my top 10 list of favorite books. The book is about a girl named Valancy who is no beauty, lives with her mother and aunt and at age 29 is afraid she will never fall in love. Her family is suffocating and dull - set in their traditions and what they deem "respectable behavior". My favorite description of this is when Valancy's Mother gets after her for sneezing in public. Heaven forbid. She is having some heart issues at this time and goes to a heart specialist for some answers. He rushes off in the middle of her appointment to help his son and mails her a diagnosis that says she will not live to see another full year. She decides from that point on she will do and say exactly what she feels like. She leaves her mother's home to nurse her consumptive friend and begins spending time with "jailbird" Barney Snaith. As she learns to love herself and experience new things, Valancy undergoes a transformation, discovering a new world of love and happiness.
Tip for if you do read this book: don't read the introduction first - it will spoil everything. :)
