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The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #1-8
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Complete 8 Book Set Vol 1-8
What I Want Me to Know is a thoughtfully designed guided journal created to support teenagers on their journey of self-reflection, personal growth, and emotional awareness. This single-volume collection offers a safe and structured space for everyday writing, helping young readers explore their thoughts, experiences, and goals in a meaningful way,
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 1
9780998063614
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 2
9780998063621
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 3
9780998063638
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 4
9780998063645
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 5
9780998063652
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 6
9781957492001
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 7
9781957492018
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 8
9781957492032
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 1
9780998063614
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 2
9780998063621
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 3
9780998063638
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 4
9780998063645
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 5
9780998063652
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 6
9781957492001
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 7
9781957492018
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Vol. 8
9781957492032
1908 pages, Paperback
Published November 27, 2024
About the author
Beth Brower
27 books6,861 followersLike 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
July 12, 2026
Yes, I read them all. They are fun reading when you need a diversion. #8 surprised me with its depth.
May 30, 2026
Guys I devoured this whole series in like 5 days. Super short, I love the characters, there’s some drama and it’s just so endearing I can’t say enough good things!! On the edge of my seat waiting for the next!
May 31, 2026
Loved these books. Light, fun, engaging—really can’t say enough good things about it. Only bad thing is that the author is going to make this a TWENTY FOUR BOOK series and it will take a “minimum of 10 years to finish the rest” -__-
July 11, 2026
Very good!!! Excited for more
August 2, 2026
Listened to all of these on audiobook for about three weeks straight. SO GOOD. Wish I could say I’ve gotten better at keeping a journal as a result. Still thinking about them a month+ later and can’t wait for the next one!
May 17, 2026
Someone should have let me know these books do not end with 8!! I am devastated. I stopped at 7 until 9 comes out. I need her to let me know how many there will be. I don't like waiting. :(
July 19, 2026
I really enjoyed the whole series- all three times I’ve read it so far. The first time I read the physical books and then I listened twice. I would love to be friends with Emma! She has some delightful escapades and is hilarious in telling them. I love that this series allows for so much speculation about the main characters. 5 stars!
August 3, 2026
I absolutely love these and can't wait for more!
August 4, 2026
The first volume only. Don’t think I’ll read more.
August 11, 2026
Interesting, fun, and bright. Loved this series, especially when needing a break from heavier topics. And one I recommend by audiobook. The narration is so engaging. I’m sad I can’t read what happens next for Miss Lion.
June 8, 2026
Just finished reading for the second time- first the kindle version, this time the audiobooks. Beth Brower is a remarkable writer- witty, sharp, and descriptive in a way that sits with me for a long time. I plan on purchasing the physical books- there are many turns of phrase I want to capture in my own journal!
August 7, 2026
Can't wait for the next set to be released! I love Emma!!
May 13, 2026
A fun little book series that seems more like listening to a tv show than a book. Set in the 1880s, Emma is a powerful force in a time where women were severely restricted in their choices. I loved her accounts of the holidays, festivals, etc. that took place in the different volumes. Great reads!!!
May 27, 2026
The best series on audio one could hope does. Please hurry out with volume 9!
February 1, 2026
Short books. By the end of book 2 it becomes your favorite series in a very long time!
Fantastic character development! I listen to ~3 audiobooks a month(all sorts of genres). My favorite series in many years! 8 books. Character development is off the charts! There hasn’t been an explicit scene yet ( I’m on book 7) and I’m now wondering why I ever thought that added anything that great unless the book was just boring needing a ‘wow cheat’ for a bit lol. These are SO not boring! Set in Jane Austin historic times but written recently with so much incredible cleverness!
If you need something clever, an escape from serious times, that gives great clever joy vibes. Then this is your series!
Fantastic character development! I listen to ~3 audiobooks a month(all sorts of genres). My favorite series in many years! 8 books. Character development is off the charts! There hasn’t been an explicit scene yet ( I’m on book 7) and I’m now wondering why I ever thought that added anything that great unless the book was just boring needing a ‘wow cheat’ for a bit lol. These are SO not boring! Set in Jane Austin historic times but written recently with so much incredible cleverness!
If you need something clever, an escape from serious times, that gives great clever joy vibes. Then this is your series!
July 31, 2026
Beth Brower has written a delightful set of short books called The Unselected Journals of Emma M Lion which can be enjoyed like a box of chocolates, some bitter and some very sweet indeed. Emma lives in the Victorian Age, and her social standing is high enough to be affected by her behavior, as was the behavior of any woman of means. Emma is hardly a woman of means these days, but she is a homeowner in the quirky but upscale St. Crispian section of London. Emma lost her mother and her father at the age of 18. She could not become the legal owner of Lapis Lazuli House until turning 21. For three years she was the caretaker for a very cranky relative, Matilde, whose son, Archibald Flat, was installed in her beloved home. Archibald, it turns out, has a passion for morning coats, and a rather nasty disposition, perhaps inherited. He has eaten through most of Emma's fortune, leaving her to live frugally upon reaching her twenty-first birthday.
However, Emma is gifted with a disposition that is philosophical, upbeat, undaunted, and magnetic. Emma wants to pursue an academic lifestyle. She wants to read every important book and learn all she can. Sadly, her father left his library to Archibald, who has locked the doors to the library and forbidden her to enter. She has only two books right now: the complete edition of Shakespeare with her father's notes and drawings and the Bible, although she isn't particularly religious.
Since Emma arrived at her house slightly before coming-of-age, she is denied access to her own room and sent to the garret. Over time she finds ways to turn the garret rooms into a comfortable and private space. Archibald has had a portion of the house partitioned off as a rental.
Here is a set of short books, pardon me, a set of addictive short books, featuring our plucky heroine who attracts near disaster and great companions, leaving her skating close to social ruin but exceedingly grateful and well protected. She must contend with her Aunt Eugenia Spencer, who is managing the Seasons of the lovely Arabella, leading to an advantageous engagement to a wealthy husband. Arabella to Emma's dismay is perfectly willing to marry for status and doesn't seem to believe in love. Because Emma's services are required by her aunt to make sure only the best suitors dance or speak with her daughter by blocking unsuitable applicants, Emma is treated to seasonal wardrobes from one of the best dressmakers in London, which is lucky break given her rather impoverished state.
When a talented war photographer, Niall Pierce, rents Lapis Lazuli Minor, and later rents space to make a studio, not only are Emma's fortunes uplifted, but so is her heart. Emma also has a cook and ally named Agnes, and her servant Parian is coming along nicely. A chance connection sees Emma befriended by the rather strait-laced Duke of Islington, a friendship that gives Emma a certain social cachet. Add in Young Hawkes, the ever-disappearing vicar, and Emma suddenly feels that she is part of a group of companions who seem to have what she calls "alchemy." It's easy to relate to the comfort she finds with these friends because many of us have experienced this happy phenomenon, an ersatz family.
These journals may remind you of the books of the Brontë sisters or of Jane Austen, but Emma is far less supervised than the women in those stories. Books 1-8 are now available, but I hope that Beth Brower will not stop where Book 8 ends. Read at the risk of destroying your schedule, or for using up those days when you are at your leisure. While there is plenty of happiness to be found in Emma's journals, there is also sadness, poignancy, and heartbreak making outcomes uncertain. Keep writing Brower. These journals are winners.
However, Emma is gifted with a disposition that is philosophical, upbeat, undaunted, and magnetic. Emma wants to pursue an academic lifestyle. She wants to read every important book and learn all she can. Sadly, her father left his library to Archibald, who has locked the doors to the library and forbidden her to enter. She has only two books right now: the complete edition of Shakespeare with her father's notes and drawings and the Bible, although she isn't particularly religious.
Since Emma arrived at her house slightly before coming-of-age, she is denied access to her own room and sent to the garret. Over time she finds ways to turn the garret rooms into a comfortable and private space. Archibald has had a portion of the house partitioned off as a rental.
Here is a set of short books, pardon me, a set of addictive short books, featuring our plucky heroine who attracts near disaster and great companions, leaving her skating close to social ruin but exceedingly grateful and well protected. She must contend with her Aunt Eugenia Spencer, who is managing the Seasons of the lovely Arabella, leading to an advantageous engagement to a wealthy husband. Arabella to Emma's dismay is perfectly willing to marry for status and doesn't seem to believe in love. Because Emma's services are required by her aunt to make sure only the best suitors dance or speak with her daughter by blocking unsuitable applicants, Emma is treated to seasonal wardrobes from one of the best dressmakers in London, which is lucky break given her rather impoverished state.
When a talented war photographer, Niall Pierce, rents Lapis Lazuli Minor, and later rents space to make a studio, not only are Emma's fortunes uplifted, but so is her heart. Emma also has a cook and ally named Agnes, and her servant Parian is coming along nicely. A chance connection sees Emma befriended by the rather strait-laced Duke of Islington, a friendship that gives Emma a certain social cachet. Add in Young Hawkes, the ever-disappearing vicar, and Emma suddenly feels that she is part of a group of companions who seem to have what she calls "alchemy." It's easy to relate to the comfort she finds with these friends because many of us have experienced this happy phenomenon, an ersatz family.
These journals may remind you of the books of the Brontë sisters or of Jane Austen, but Emma is far less supervised than the women in those stories. Books 1-8 are now available, but I hope that Beth Brower will not stop where Book 8 ends. Read at the risk of destroying your schedule, or for using up those days when you are at your leisure. While there is plenty of happiness to be found in Emma's journals, there is also sadness, poignancy, and heartbreak making outcomes uncertain. Keep writing Brower. These journals are winners.
June 28, 2026
Reviewing books 1-8 together. I listened to the audiobooks and they were wonderfully done! I was so entertained, it took me about 10 days to make it through. My yard has never looked so great, as I was looking for excuses to go work in the yard so I could listen.
I confess that for two whole weeks this series recommendation suffered an unfortunate fate in my hands, through no fault of its own.
On the first attempt, I can only conclude that my mood must have been far too reformed and my powers of concentration much too unreliable to proceed, for five minutes into the distressing circumstance that audiobook format was my available option, I abandoned ship entirely—a decision which now inspires in me a degree of self-reproach wholly disproportionate to the offense.
When another person recommended the series, I thought it only fair to revisit my former attempt, particularly as this second recommender is far from bookish, if only to better understand the sort of material they found worthy of their attention.
Imagine, then, my mortification when I discovered the enormity of my error in allowing two entire weeks to pass in ignorance!
I have now circled back around and, 8 published volumes in, find myself surprisingly and brilliantly entertained. It is a humbling and lovely thing to discover that one has denied oneself the acquaintance of so many intriguing people and so much clever dialogue merely because they arrived by way of headphones and encountered my own lamentable lack of fortitude.
In short, I am so grateful for caring book recommenders that know me better than I seemingly know myself. I have since been inspired to revisit Shakespeare, Whitman, and Emerson, in addition to dedicating myself more thoroughly to my own journals. I have started planning a book 9 launch party and look forward to discussing this series at great length with any interested parties—as all worthy subjects ought to be discussed.
I have purchased the beautiful paperback versions and am now reading (not audiobook) making notes in the margins, in my preferred style of reading.
I confess that for two whole weeks this series recommendation suffered an unfortunate fate in my hands, through no fault of its own.
On the first attempt, I can only conclude that my mood must have been far too reformed and my powers of concentration much too unreliable to proceed, for five minutes into the distressing circumstance that audiobook format was my available option, I abandoned ship entirely—a decision which now inspires in me a degree of self-reproach wholly disproportionate to the offense.
When another person recommended the series, I thought it only fair to revisit my former attempt, particularly as this second recommender is far from bookish, if only to better understand the sort of material they found worthy of their attention.
Imagine, then, my mortification when I discovered the enormity of my error in allowing two entire weeks to pass in ignorance!
I have now circled back around and, 8 published volumes in, find myself surprisingly and brilliantly entertained. It is a humbling and lovely thing to discover that one has denied oneself the acquaintance of so many intriguing people and so much clever dialogue merely because they arrived by way of headphones and encountered my own lamentable lack of fortitude.
In short, I am so grateful for caring book recommenders that know me better than I seemingly know myself. I have since been inspired to revisit Shakespeare, Whitman, and Emerson, in addition to dedicating myself more thoroughly to my own journals. I have started planning a book 9 launch party and look forward to discussing this series at great length with any interested parties—as all worthy subjects ought to be discussed.
I have purchased the beautiful paperback versions and am now reading (not audiobook) making notes in the margins, in my preferred style of reading.
Read
July 8, 2026I usually tune-out trendy titles, but I'm a sucker for diaries whether real or fictional, and number of people talking about Emma Lion - on podcasts, chat groups, book columnists - was positively outrageous last December. And Audible put the first seven volumes on sale for three bucks a piece, so
I didn't really have a choice.
Audiobook reader Genevieve Gaunt brings such life to Emma, she positively ensouls her. I daresay Genevieve embodies Emma - on audio - almost as much as Megan Follows embodies Anne Shirley on film.
It's no mystery that Emma brings Anne to my mind, because they inhabit to same realm of remarkable women, along with Jo March and Lizzy Bennett and my other Imaginary Best Friends! They would all likely be agast that I haven't read Jane Eyre, but I'll be rectifying that.
I love Emma and I love everything about the Three, the Reprobates, Agnes, the Roman ... even Aunt Eugenia. Cousin Archibald? well, he's too delightfully ridiculas to dislike!
I'll no doubt re-visit all eight volumes, probably before nine is even published. And I'll be buying the full set (what is it, 29 volumes expected?) on paper to keep me company in my old(er) age.
Unlike some Emma fans, I don't contemplate "casting the series." In fact, my greatest fear is that the books will be adapted for screen. I have no faith it could be done right. So far as I'm concerned, Beth Brower paints a wonderfully full picture of Lapis Lazuli House and St. Crispian's. The audio delivers perfection, and there is plenty enough opportunity to envision your ideal Pierce, Hawkes and Islington.
Comments: July 2026
Savored: December 2025 - May 2026
Audible
I didn't really have a choice.
Audiobook reader Genevieve Gaunt brings such life to Emma, she positively ensouls her. I daresay Genevieve embodies Emma - on audio - almost as much as Megan Follows embodies Anne Shirley on film.
It's no mystery that Emma brings Anne to my mind, because they inhabit to same realm of remarkable women, along with Jo March and Lizzy Bennett and my other Imaginary Best Friends! They would all likely be agast that I haven't read Jane Eyre, but I'll be rectifying that.
I love Emma and I love everything about the Three, the Reprobates, Agnes, the Roman ... even Aunt Eugenia. Cousin Archibald? well, he's too delightfully ridiculas to dislike!
I'll no doubt re-visit all eight volumes, probably before nine is even published. And I'll be buying the full set (what is it, 29 volumes expected?) on paper to keep me company in my old(er) age.
Unlike some Emma fans, I don't contemplate "casting the series." In fact, my greatest fear is that the books will be adapted for screen. I have no faith it could be done right. So far as I'm concerned, Beth Brower paints a wonderfully full picture of Lapis Lazuli House and St. Crispian's. The audio delivers perfection, and there is plenty enough opportunity to envision your ideal Pierce, Hawkes and Islington.
Comments: July 2026
Savored: December 2025 - May 2026
Audible
June 19, 2026
No, thanks to my Libby app, but many many thanks to the Hoopla app which had these books readily available one after the other as I devoured the whole series in about two weeks or less! Loved every word of the narration-done so well!
This series has been my favorite read in a very long time! So sad to come to the end waiting for the next book in great anticipation. They have everything that I miss reading about the classics which used to be my main staple. The genre, the conversations, the subtle and witty banter, the meaning behind the relationships that you have to discover as things are kept proper-the resistance of Emma to be kept in her place. The hilarious happenings of Emma as she does as she pleases… within reason. The 3 lovely gentlemen that adorn the pages! Islington, Pierce and young Hawkes. Love their bond, friendships and very entertaining daily lives. Beth if you are out there perusing reviews of your lovely books… please, please hurry up and write 8 more books!!
This series has been my favorite read in a very long time! So sad to come to the end waiting for the next book in great anticipation. They have everything that I miss reading about the classics which used to be my main staple. The genre, the conversations, the subtle and witty banter, the meaning behind the relationships that you have to discover as things are kept proper-the resistance of Emma to be kept in her place. The hilarious happenings of Emma as she does as she pleases… within reason. The 3 lovely gentlemen that adorn the pages! Islington, Pierce and young Hawkes. Love their bond, friendships and very entertaining daily lives. Beth if you are out there perusing reviews of your lovely books… please, please hurry up and write 8 more books!!
August 1, 2026
“Is it immoral to marry a man solely to gain a library? And if that man happens to be tremendously good looking, is it more or less a sin?”
Emma Lion arrives in London determined to maintain her independence and live life on her own terms. Unfortunately her cousin Archibald has mismanaged her money, her Aunt Eugenia already has her married off, and her nosy neighbors are watching everything.
These books are absolutely delightful! I adore Emma. This story is the best of Jane Austen, mixed with the fun of Sherlock Holmes era London, with a side cast of characters you would find on Gilmore Girls. Emma is quirky, determined, fierce, and unforgettable. Her journals will have you laughing out loud. You must read this series! Now to patiently wait for the next installment.
Emma Lion arrives in London determined to maintain her independence and live life on her own terms. Unfortunately her cousin Archibald has mismanaged her money, her Aunt Eugenia already has her married off, and her nosy neighbors are watching everything.
These books are absolutely delightful! I adore Emma. This story is the best of Jane Austen, mixed with the fun of Sherlock Holmes era London, with a side cast of characters you would find on Gilmore Girls. Emma is quirky, determined, fierce, and unforgettable. Her journals will have you laughing out loud. You must read this series! Now to patiently wait for the next installment.
April 25, 2026
I gave Volume 1 a 3* rating, finding it just a little "too cute." However, I needed something I could put on my Kindle for travel that would be an easy read, and volumes 2-8 fit the bill perfectly. I breezed through all 7 volumes in a few months that included a lot of travel.I think the books get better and better until about volume 7, and then I started to get weary of the unresolved plot issues. Yes, I like Emma, the main character, and the three (!) men who surround her, but enough already. Let's move on to some resolution. Volume 9 comes out in a few months. We'll see if anything new comes up.
May 31, 2026
Look, I don't know why I enjoyed these as much as I did, even as I was in the middle I was like why are these not annoying me, but I just liked them. A spunky, smart, beautiful, orphaned young woman is making her way in the world in a quirky corner of London in the late 1800s. Will there be romance, class tension, straining at and being constrained by Victorian mores, ballgowns, financial stress, and everything else you'd expect? Yes! But there is a sweet warmth to it all, a comfort, an element of whimsy. (Also they are squeaky clean, if that's important to you.) They're not Great Books but I needed an escape I supposed. And I guess there are more on the way? I recommend the audio!
July 17, 2026
Binge listened (as fast as the library holds would allow) to all 8 and now and starting again, listening slower. I kinda wanted to read but the audio book narrator is just SO damn good my own brain would never do it justice.
I agree that there is possibility for a little confusion and awkwardness in the first book due to the gymnastics needed in making this a journal - but it is worth it. An exploration of friendship & family, love, identity formation, societal rules/expectations, books & ideas. Likable & intriguing characters, witty dialogue, beautiful writing, and notes passed through a wall. Set in a magic London neighborhood with lots of walking and tea - WHAT could be better?
I agree that there is possibility for a little confusion and awkwardness in the first book due to the gymnastics needed in making this a journal - but it is worth it. An exploration of friendship & family, love, identity formation, societal rules/expectations, books & ideas. Likable & intriguing characters, witty dialogue, beautiful writing, and notes passed through a wall. Set in a magic London neighborhood with lots of walking and tea - WHAT could be better?
July 27, 2026
These were so enjoyable to read! I really loved them, I wasn’t always on the edge of my seat(like little women), just a nice vibe, enjoyable and made me laugh out loud at points and tear up at points. It filled my soul. Every now and then read a different book between these books but always would go back to them, I would often think about Emma and her life. It’s oddly addicting. It inspire me journal more. But I would fall asleep at times or space out/get distracted while listening to it. May not be for everyone but I actually enjoyed them all.
July 31, 2026
a binge read calls for a binge rating - 5 resounding stars for the world (so far!) that is Emma M Lion’s!!! Through Emma’s innermost thoughts, Brower has created a world that is all things wit and whimsy and found family.
I know waiting for Vol 9 will be brutal but I can’t possibly imagine executing restraint any longer than the seconds it took me to download between volumes 😅
if you’re not yet charmed by the first installment, give the second a chance and prepare yourself to be swept away. What what what!
I know waiting for Vol 9 will be brutal but I can’t possibly imagine executing restraint any longer than the seconds it took me to download between volumes 😅
if you’re not yet charmed by the first installment, give the second a chance and prepare yourself to be swept away. What what what!
August 4, 2026
It’s currently 114 degrees in Phoenix —perfect time to hunker down with a good read. I love, love, love Emma M. Lion. Living in 1880s London, Emma combines Bridget Jones with Elizabeth Bennet, quotes the classics, and has such witty repartee with all sorts of interesting people. There is romance, some pretty funny escapades, and lots of quirky neighbors and friends. For example, she convinces her vicar to officiate at the funeral of a sweet pea plant. I kid you not. Humor, romance, hi jinx, and sparkling writing. Each short book covers about two months. You will hate them to end.
April 30, 2026
By the 3rd or 4th book, I was completely hooked. They just got better and better, hence the 5 star. Yes, they include some romance, but are also full of Shakespeare, Coleridge, Whitman, and Plutarch, so don't discount. Delight characters residing in a quirky area of London in Victorian times. I listened to the audiobooks, but there was not an choice to specify. Excellent narrator. The books are just a joy!
June 11, 2026
Very, very few fiction books ever make it into my library, and only ones given as recommendations by trusted friends. I did not expect to enjoy these at all, but ended up finding the audiobooks utterly delightful, likely due to an excellent narrator. Brower excels at character development and the narrator adds an additional level of richness to each character. These were such a wonderful mental break for my brain that I’m actually looking forward to the next book release.
June 29, 2026
I want to be best friends with Emma M. Lion. I don’t often award 5 stars to fiction, but this series deserves it. It is light and witty read with great character development. A story of perseverance as Miss Lion meets every challenge with a positive attitude. And the way the author weaves in Scripture, literature, and poetry! Flawless. I shall wait with bated breath for the next installment, reading Whitman in the meantime.
July 8, 2026
Emma M. Lion is witty, charming, and completely addictive in the best way. I felt like I was living inside her world and never wanted to leave. These books are clever, funny, heartwarming, and just so easy to fall into. I flew through all 8 volumes and now I’ll be counting down the days until Volume 9 is released. If you love a smart, cozy, character-driven series with humor and heart, this one is such a gem. Highly recommend!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews