Of course, a happy ending to The Blue Castle is never really in doubt- this is a humorous novel after all, not a tragic one. The only question was how Montgomery was going to get Valancy out of her fatal diagnosis of heart disease, which I think she did rather neatly, all things considered. The real fun of the novel- and it is a lot of fun (with some serious/heartwarming scenes thrown in for good measure)- is found in the memorable characters, such as Roaring Abel and "Doc" Redfern, the situations they get themselves into, and the frequently laugh-out-loud funny dialogue. Valancy is a down-to-earth, relatable protagonist who, despite her ghastly family- or perhaps because of them- manages to overcome her inner fears and feelings of inadequacy and take steps to dramatically change her life, working for her dreams (represented by her fantasy Blue Castle). Barney is an attractive, slightly mysterious counterpart for Valancy; it's fun and endearing to see their relationship unfold and deepen, without the drama and angst that so often occurs in so-called romances. You never have to wonder what Valancy and Barney see in each other; they laugh at the same things and enjoy spending time together whether hiking through the surrounding woods, reading in front of the fire, or just sitting together in companionable silence. They genuinely like each other, and that liking gradually, naturally, develops into love.
All in all, The Blue Castle is one of my favorites of LM Montgomery's works. Even when the plot is a little contrived, it's done so well and so enjoyably that you don't mind- you're just glad to be along for the ride. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a feel-good, funny, well written novel to curl up with on a cold night.