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Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation
Growing up is never easy. It's even harder when you have a mother who doesn't understand, a nagging sense of self-doubt, and a secret crush you can't confess...not even to your bosom friend. L. M. Montgomery's timeless classic, Anne of Green Gables, has been reimagined from the perspective of Diana Barry, Anne's best friend and kindred spirit. As Diana and Anne navigate the path from childhood to their grown-up lives, parents, schoolmates, and Anne's well-meaning blunders contrive to keep them apart. But two girls destined for lifelong friendship can't be separated so easily...can they? With the sweet charm and dreamy atmosphere of Montgomery's original story, Diana of Orchard Slope is sure to delight Anne fans, historical fiction readers, and lovers of the Jane Austen Fanfiction genre.
300 pages, Paperback
First published October 13, 2017
13 people are currently reading
280 people want to read
About the author
Libbie Hawker
38 books496 followersLibbie was born in Rexburg, Idaho and divided her childhood between Eastern Idaho's rural environs and the greater Seattle area. She presently lives in Seattle, but has also been a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah; Bellingham, Washington; and Tacoma, Washington. She loves to write about character and place, and is inspired by the bleak natural beauty of the Rocky Mountain region and by the fascinating history of the Puget Sound.
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
After three years of trying to break into the publishing industry with her various books under two different pen names, Libbie finally turned her back on the mainstream publishing industry and embraced independent publishing. She now writes her self-published fiction full-time, and enjoys the fact that the writing career she always dreamed of having is fully under her own control.
Libbie's writerly influences are varied, and include Vladimir Nabokov, Hilary Mantel, Annie Dillard, George R. R. Martin, songwriter Neko Case, and mixed-media storyteller Chris Onstad, to name but a few.
She previously wrote under the pen name L.M. Ironside (historical fiction).
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
October 18, 2018
While of course not quite as close to my heart as L.M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables will ever be, Libbie Hawker's Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation is surprisingly readable, approachable and above all, it totally and delightfully captures the spirit and style of L.M. Montgomery's penmanship without being simply a mirror image and carbon copy. Libbie Hawker has fleshed out and added to Diana Barry as a character, has rendered her in Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation to be oh so much more than just Anne Shirely's sidekick and sounding board (as we read about life at Green Gables and at Orchard Slope from Diana's perspective and realise that being best friends with someone as sparkling, as imaginative and obviously also as seemingly popular with many of the Avonlea schoolboys as Anne Shirley is not always all that easy and without potential barriers, although personally, I do think that the author has tended to carry Diana's issues regarding in particular her envy and jealousy of Anne a trifle too far and has also kind of taken the easy way out in so far that Anne Shirley is portrayed as often being rather clueless in so far that she never does seem to even remotely be aware of Diana Barry's potential envy of her).
However and the above mild criticisms having been said, I have definitely truly enjoyed Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation, I have very much appreciated being taken by Libbie Hawker into Diana Barry's imagined life and world, into a life that indeed could in my opinion have actually been penned by L.M. Montgomery herself, into an existence and portrayal of 19th century Prince Edward Island girlhood and teenager-hood that reads for the most part realistically and historically accurately (except perhaps that Mrs. Barry's apology to her daughter, to Diana, might indeed be a trifle too modern sounding and wishful thinking). And indeed, I actually do hope that the author, that Libbie Hawker might even consider continuing with more novels on and about Diana Barry (and later Diana Wright, of course, after she marries Fred), as I for one have always felt that after Anne of Green Gables, Diana was rather unceremoniously dropped by L.M. Montgomery and relegated to a sadly substandard character status (even when Anne and she are together during Anne's vacations from university and teaching or later, when a married Anne makes occasional visits to Green Gables and spends time with Diana).
However and the above mild criticisms having been said, I have definitely truly enjoyed Diana of Orchard Slope: A Green Gables Variation, I have very much appreciated being taken by Libbie Hawker into Diana Barry's imagined life and world, into a life that indeed could in my opinion have actually been penned by L.M. Montgomery herself, into an existence and portrayal of 19th century Prince Edward Island girlhood and teenager-hood that reads for the most part realistically and historically accurately (except perhaps that Mrs. Barry's apology to her daughter, to Diana, might indeed be a trifle too modern sounding and wishful thinking). And indeed, I actually do hope that the author, that Libbie Hawker might even consider continuing with more novels on and about Diana Barry (and later Diana Wright, of course, after she marries Fred), as I for one have always felt that after Anne of Green Gables, Diana was rather unceremoniously dropped by L.M. Montgomery and relegated to a sadly substandard character status (even when Anne and she are together during Anne's vacations from university and teaching or later, when a married Anne makes occasional visits to Green Gables and spends time with Diana).
December 8, 2017
I'm a bit leery of Anne retellings since the TV series "Anne With an E," but because I've really liked some of Libbie Hawker's other novels, I decided to give this one a try. The author does a great job of interweaving L.M. Montgomery's writing with her own and revealing Diana as more than just a sidekick.
What Green Gables Variation would I like to see next? How about Josie Pye?
What Green Gables Variation would I like to see next? How about Josie Pye?
August 22, 2021
I'm rounding up.
I was pleased to find this book, as it had never occurred to me that there might be "variations" on the Anne of Green Gables series. If this author has written others, I might read them as well.
The premise of the book, aside from its being from Diana's point of view, involves two plausible if not inevitable deductions about Diana's attitudes and mental states. These are dwelt on, over and over, throughout, to the point that it becomes a little wearisome. But I enjoyed revisiting the story and its settings. Hawker does a lovely job of recreating the descriptive style of the original.
I was pleased to find this book, as it had never occurred to me that there might be "variations" on the Anne of Green Gables series. If this author has written others, I might read them as well.
The premise of the book, aside from its being from Diana's point of view, involves two plausible if not inevitable deductions about Diana's attitudes and mental states. These are dwelt on, over and over, throughout, to the point that it becomes a little wearisome. But I enjoyed revisiting the story and its settings. Hawker does a lovely job of recreating the descriptive style of the original.
December 13, 2020
If you love Anne of Green Gables, this book is an interesting take on Diana's point of view. Its like reading the classic story, but as told through Diana's eyes. I felt like it went a little overboard with the descriptions which is why I gave it 4 stars.
September 6, 2025
A lovely look at growing up on Prince Edward Island. As Anne of Green Gables’ dearest friend, Diana Barry finds growing up in her shadow not the easiest place to be. An enjoyable read for any fan of LM Montgomery’s series. It isn’t perfect (found a few typos and inconsistencies - fare should have been far in one place and another that I can’t id at the moment and Diana says very late in the book that she had never seen Aunt Josephine’s home yet the 1st chapter was devoted to her father picking her up from a visit to the Aunt and specifically mentioning the color of a vase of her Aunt - a better editor would have picked these up) but overall I enjoyed it and would recommend to true Anne fans. I can’t wait to go back to PEI!
July 5, 2020
I got this book for Christmas in 2018 and have been reading it on and off since. I finally finished it. I'm not saying this book isn't good, I loved it. I'm just easily distracted, have other books that call to me, and kept misplacing my copy. It'd go missing for months at a time. It was nice to get the story for Diana's pov.
August 26, 2020
Libbie Hawker pays homage to L.M. Montgomery's classic Anne of Green Gables with a retelling from Anne's bestfriend Diana's point of view.
The prose is reminiscent of Montgomery with just enough of Hawker's syntax to make this fan fiction her own (There are scenes pulled from the classic as well as original material).
Much like Hawker I devoured the worlds L.M. Montgomery created as a young adult. But did Diana's story really need to be told? I don't think so.
Nothing new is really offered to change how Diana is protrayed in Anne of Green Gables. I think if the story had encompassed more on how the different expectations for Anne vs Diana beyond the confines of the first book, now THAT would have brought something new to the beloved classic.
The prose is reminiscent of Montgomery with just enough of Hawker's syntax to make this fan fiction her own (There are scenes pulled from the classic as well as original material).
Much like Hawker I devoured the worlds L.M. Montgomery created as a young adult. But did Diana's story really need to be told? I don't think so.
Nothing new is really offered to change how Diana is protrayed in Anne of Green Gables. I think if the story had encompassed more on how the different expectations for Anne vs Diana beyond the confines of the first book, now THAT would have brought something new to the beloved classic.
February 29, 2020
It was an easy read and a delightful concept, but I was hoping for a little more variety. As another reader pointed out, it was a story I had already known as I’d read the original. I liked that Diana was shown to be just as intelligent as Anne. However, I found that the relationship between Diana and Miss Stacey didn’t quite feel genuine, and Diana’s on again off again jealousy of Anne was a little tedious.
May 18, 2018
I was very disappointed! I LOVED Anne of Green Gables and was looking forward to reading this. Unfortunately, they were the same stories I had already read.
January 13, 2020
I really enjoyed this revisit to a beloved favorite... with the twist of alternate viewpoint.
February 20, 2025
3.5 stars
A “re-telling” of one of Lucy M. Montgomery’s stories.
This is told through the eyes and voice of Diana Barry, known to many readers as “kindred spirit” to Anne Shirley. Anne-with-an-e, the feisty, verbose, red haired orphan from the novel “Anne of Green Gables”; that Anne! Those who have devoured that book, and the ones that follow it, will be sure to enjoy Anne’s and Diana’s adventures together, through a different lens.
A “re-telling” of one of Lucy M. Montgomery’s stories.
This is told through the eyes and voice of Diana Barry, known to many readers as “kindred spirit” to Anne Shirley. Anne-with-an-e, the feisty, verbose, red haired orphan from the novel “Anne of Green Gables”; that Anne! Those who have devoured that book, and the ones that follow it, will be sure to enjoy Anne’s and Diana’s adventures together, through a different lens.
May 28, 2021
It didn't bring anything new to the story of Anne, just from a different perspective. I would have rather had it follow Diana after Anne went off to college. To see Diana's life from that perspective. Maybe have her have her own adventure or two before marriage.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews