The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #2

by Beth Brower

“I was sitting at my desk reading, with a cup of tea, my windows flung open, when I heard The Tenant enter his garret, just on the other side of the wall from myself.”

THE YEAR IS 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighborhood of St. Crispian’s. But Emma’s plans for a charmed and studious life are sabotaged by her eccentric Cousin Archibald, her formidable Aunt Eugenia, and the slightly odd denizens of St. Crispian’s.

Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

Listeners have compared Beth Brower's writing to Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and L. M. Montgomery.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Audiobook, Fiction, Historical, Romance, Humor, Book Club

Audible Audio

First published November 5, 2019

About the author

Like many of my siblings, I would sneak out of bed, slip into the hallway, and pull my favorite books from the book closet. I read my way through the bottom shelf, then the next shelf up, and the shelf above that, until I could climb to the very top shelf, stacked two layers deep and two layers high, and read the titles of the classics. My desire to create stories grew as I was learning to read them.

Subsequently, I spent my time scribbling in notebooks rather than listening to math lectures at school.

I graduated with a degree in literary studies, and have spent several years working on the novels that keep pounding on the doors of my mind, as none of my characters are very patient to wait their turn. I currently live in Orem, Utah, with my wonderful chemist husband, and books in every room of the house.

Reviews

[Brady Lockerby]

I can't help but fall in love with Emma the more and more I nose my way into her witty and hilarious journals!! onto book 3 :) - will rate the series as a whole at the end!

**spoiler alert - definitely going to be 5 stars**

[Janssen]

So far my re-read has made me love Pierce MORE not less.

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

So far so good. I resent reading popular modern fiction but hey, there is a Rabbit Room in this book.

Jane Eyre makes an appearance.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the audio on this third read. Genevieve Gaunt is so good.

So many cliffhangers and mysteries! I did myself a favor when I bought all the volumes currently available. 😂 The Tenant is rather dreamy. I surprisingly enjoy Roland. And what’s with the Roman? Islington is so intriguing. And so is Jack! What is he up to?? I love Emma. And Agnes. And Tybalt. Beth Brower is brilliant at giving us hints of the characters’ backgrounds in such a tantalizing way. On to the next volume!

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

SOMEBODY better buy Emma some books 🗣️ Also, Emma is the only person that loves Jane Eyre as much as me

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

———
4.25/5 ★

I just love the world of Emma M. Lion.

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading the first volume, I wasn’t sure if I would keep reading the series or if I liked it enough to continue. My thoughts upon finishing the second volume are different. I need to know what is going to happen now, and I think I’m hooked!

Emma is such a lovable but unique, witty, and eccentric character. I live for the messes she gets herself into. I found myself laughing out loud at several parts. I can’t wait to read the next one!

Content: 5/5: similar to book one, there are one or two d-words but used in a realistic context, not necessarily as expletives.

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am quite entertained by this series. This time period has me in a choke hold🤪

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are just so fun!!! A must read for Bridgerton lovers

[Meagan (Meagansbookclub) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Onto book 3! I’m finding myself a tiny bit obsessed with this novella series.

[Hallie (thecommonroomshop) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dare I say new favorite series?!??! Emma is such a soul character for me and I’ll never get over how this story exudes magic, springtime and whimsy. This has all the feelings of Little Women, but if it was set in England and had all the banter of an Emily Henry book💞🍊☕️🐈‍⬛🍃🕯️🖋️🧶🌸

[Booksblabbering || Cait❣️ · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is difficult to review because it’s so short. It didn’t really move the plot forward in a massive way and blended into what I remembered from book one.🤷🏼‍♀️

Emma starts a note-passing friendship with "The Tenant" living on the other side of her wall who you might suspect of being the love interest, unless you take into account the other eligible gentlemen who seem drawn into her orbit.

I adore how clever, witty, and funny Emma is. Especially when she manages to toe the line of proper etiquette and manners against her impatience and plucky independence.

I’m definitely someone who prefers longer books to sink my teeth into, but I know there are many volumes to go and they get longer as you go.

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[Reggie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 hehehe these are so fun

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not even a review. I already know reading the volumes currently available to us mere mortals will all be a binge blur.

This is the one where the Ton antics begin, The Tenant goes epistolary, The Incident occurs, the Janes convene, the Duke of Disdain makes his entrance, and the shipping starts to make me spiral. Also Emma fake dates for a deal with the devil. Sorta.

It’s all lovely, and charming, and gloriously random and layered.

[Paris (parismaereads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

FULL REVIEW ON MY BLOG

My Quick Takes:
- 4.25/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
- Language 🤐 one use of mild
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 none
- Content 🤔 past death of family/friends

The delightful chaos builds and I’m throughly enjoying the whimsical life Emma M. Lion leads. Readers learn more about the friends and acquaintances and eccentricities of Emma M. Lion in this short novel.

[Lindsay L · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 amazing audiobook stars!

I loved this book even more than book 1!

It is 1883 and this story continues to follow the daily journals of Emma M. Lion. She is a twenty year old orphan who has moved back into her family home after gaining its title on her twentieth birthday. She resides in her family estate with her miserable and conniving cousin Archibald due to a family promise that she needs to uphold. In this instalment, Emma gains some financial knowledge and information that gives her some power to gain independence and freedom (which I loved).

This series instalment digs deeper into the new Tenant that is renting a room in the family home and it introduces a feline friend in the mix who is brought in to rid the house of mice. A few extra secondary characters are also added, each offering a new, enticing layer to the charming, witty and fun storyline. There is a secretive letter sharing element that I absolutely adored.

I laughed throughout this book at Emma’s snark and inner thoughts. Being in her head/journal is true entertainment! Emma is a witty, sarcastic, honest, loveable main character who I love shadowing as she goes about her days in the small London village of St Crispian’s.

I am immediately jumping into Volume 3!

🎧 Audio rating: 5+ stars! Incredible audio performance! Outstanding! The audio narrator greatly enhanced my connection, investment and enjoyment! The perfect choice to perform this series!

Thank you to my lovely local library for the audio loan!

[abigailscupoftea · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is like a little lavender cream matcha: sweet as springtime and absolutely delicious to devour. and once it’s been consumed, you wish you could enjoy it all over again. 🍵🪻☁️💫

[Lala BooksandLala · Rating 4 out of 5]

so glad I decided to continue in the series!

[Alisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as amazing the second time through, if not more so. If all other books were spirited away from my library and it was graced only with the works of Beth Brower, I would be just fine.

Original review, December 2022:
Every single one of Emma Lion's male contemporaries is an absolute enigma, and I am here for it.
I literally laughed out loud a couple of times-- and very few books catch me by surprise enough for that to happen. So delightful, and I have no idea what is going to happen next.

[Whitney Newby · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I said before, this is my second time through the first three books of this series... but this time, I'm in a better headspace and really soaking it in. Loving these more and more! Can't wait to read vol. 3 again, then dive into new territory.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I have found that on occasions of high absurdity, one either discovers a great friend or someone to never speak with again."

The second volume of The Unselected Journals by Beth Brower, and what a great improvement when compared to the last book when it comes to pacing!

Emma M. Lion's shenanigans continue, and with them include new faces. There is Roland, who I already like immensely, and there is the Duke of Islington, who I'm warming up to, and Mr. Pierce, who is quite interesting.

I'm looking forward to the next book in the series.

[Amanda (The Little Book Spot) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Goodness. I absolutely adore Emma! She is a joy. Laughed all throughout reading.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's truly a pleasure to read a book, set in the 19th century, where the characters are in love with JANE EYRE and not PRIDE & PREJUDICE. Austen is given her due, of course, but the significance of JANE EYRE to Emma and her fellow sufferers at Fortitude: A School For Young Ladies, truly delighted me!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as wonderful as Volume 1. I need to get my hands on Volume 3 post haste!

2/27/25 - Reread
I love how much advancement in the plot and in Emma’s acquaintances we get in this entry. From Roland to Islington to Mr. Penury, the characters just leap off the page. I have decided, going forward, to keep a list of all the literary references in the Emma books. There are so many and I think it would be fun to have a complete list - sort of like the list of Emma’s personal library at the end of each volume.

[Ashley Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charm, charm, charm.

“Your sins are simply marvellous.”

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Officially sending up the bat signal on this series.

[4.5 stars, which is just a formality until I inevitably decide to bestow five stars upon every single book]

[Madisyn Lowe · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.75
i really wish i understood the hype behind these books😭 there’s nothing i actively dislike about them i just find myself bored a lot. by the end i started to really know who everyone was and that made me enjoy it more. i feel like there’s just so many male characters being introduced and i don’t know if they’re supposed to be love interests or what but it feels like that? i can’t keep them all straight (there’s 4 in here i think).
i know this is a very beloved story/cast of characters so i’m really trying to love it! i may continue reading, i may not.. we’ll see how i feel!
🔥NO SPICE🔥
🤐NO STRONG LANGUAGE🤐

[Joseph Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne of Green Gables pathos. Pride and Prejudice logos. Bridgeton ethos.

[Kyleigh | alltheroseyreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once again, it was more enjoyable than the first time I read it and I want to keep reading! Progress!

[Allison E · Rating 4 out of 5]

These are just utterly delightful but, and I cannot stress this enough, not overly done delightful. Like the humor feels just right while still maintaining a level of “realistically could happen maybe.”

These also feel so genuine period piece regency Jane Austen vibes just touched up a bit for a modern reader. This must be what cozy fantasy readers are on about (there’s no fantasy yet, but I imagine the emotions evoked are the same).

The most “I want to go to there” series ever. Audiobook adds 5 million cherries on top.