Emily's Quest (Emily #3)

 Synopsis

Emily knows she's going to be a great writer. She also knows that she and her childhood sweetheart, Teddy Kent, will conquer the world together. But when Teddy leaves home to pursue his goal to become an artist at the School of Design in Montreal, Emily's world collapses. With Teddy gone, Emily agrees to marry a man she doesn't love . . . as she tries to banish all thoughts of Teddy. In her heart, Emily must search for what being a writer really means . . . 

Loved

• The romance!! Ahhh, this romance just about killed me- in the best way. L.M. Montgomery painstakingly strings out the suspense, miscommunication, heartache, and uncertainty of this romance across the whole book- and span of quite a few years- and I could barely handle it! I could not stop listening to this to try and get the romance resolved, but every time I thought it would start moving forward, another obstacle pushed Teddy and Emily further apart. (PS- I don't feel like this is a spoiler because when has L.M. Montgomery ever split up a childhood romance?? :) Teddy and Emily's relationship reminded me a lot of Anne and Captain Wentworth's in Persuasion, in that they become so distanced and things are so awkward and painful between them that the readers can barely stand it. Imagine that combined with a little flavor of Anne and Gilbert, and you've got this romance-- SO good.

• Emily. While Anne Shirley will always be my literary best friend, Emily Bird Starr is not far behind. Although Emily is frustratingly proud and ignorant at times, she really develops in this third book as she experiences heartbreak, disappointment, and years of unfulfilled dreams. The Emily from the first of the book is a very different girl from the Emily on the last page, and seeing that journey was frustrating and painful, but also sweet and fulfilling.

• The suspense. This story isn't suspenseful in that you feel like something is going to jump out at you and eat you, but it sure had my heart pumping. We watch Emily experience awful misfortunes and a few bad foolish decisions- and it's painful to watch the consequences and Emily's suffering over them. I kept thinking things would get better for Emily in the next chapter, and then they just kept getting worse, which riveted me to the book because I was dying to know how everything resolved. 

• The relatability. One of my very favorite elements of L.M. Montgomery's writing is that she makes her characters, emotions, and situations so relatable that it feels like we are experiencing it. This Emily book is not as sunshiney as the Anne books, and Emily does suffer quite terribly through much of it. Although it's not explicitly mentioned, it seems that Emily experienced quite a bit of depression in this story, which gives L.M. Montgomery's world a little deeper and tiny bit darker side behind the whimsy and charm. 

Didn't Love

• My only complaint is that I wish so much we had more resolution for the romance! The romance rakes us over the coals with suspense, miscommunication, heartbreak, and jealousy-- and for all that suffering we only get literally one page of resolution. I was so happy with the ending, but had to imagine out how more of it would have played out since we only get a tiny little conversation and tidbit to resolve all the years of uncertainty and loneliness.

Content

• Language: 
• Occasional use of "ass," but in an old-fashioned way, not the contemporary usage.

• Sexual content: 
• Isle talks about kissing boys, not in detail.
• Scandals talked about, such as going out on a car ride with another boy the night before the wedding, etc.

• Violence
• None.


• Other themes:
• Strong Christian themes: Emily and her friends/family talk a lot about God. She prays and addresses Him frequently, and asks a lot of questions about Him.

Overall Thoughts

I did not expect to be so emotionally tied to this series, and this last book just had my heart wrapped in its pages. I loved this entire series, but this last book was so gripping in its painfully drawn-out romance, Emily's depression and years of misfortune, many almost-romances, and Emily's refining as she experiences years of loneliness. As mentioned before, this story has as tiny bit deeper theme of suffering than the other books of L.M. Montgomery's world, and it takes years for things to work out for Emily. While still delivering the whimsy, charm, quirkiness, and appreciation for beauty of her world, Montgomery explores deeper issues and more serious character development than we usually get from her novels. Although the Anne of Green Gables series will always be my first love, the Emily series is right behind with wit, whimsy, quirky and lovable characters, coming of age themes, and a romance so slow burn that it nearly consumes readers as they long for the resolution :) If you're an Anne fan, don't miss this series!