The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 3

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion #3

by Beth Brower

"It has been a day ordained by the fates, for how else could one explain the wholly cursed chain of events?" The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London Neighbourhood of St. Crispian's. But Emma's plan 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. Readers have compared The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion to Jane Austen, P.G. Wodehouse, L. M. Montgomery, and Jean Webster.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Audiobook, Romance, Historical, Humor, Victorian

229 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 25, 2020

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 LOVE THIS WOMAN!” - Michael Scott “
- Brady Lockerby in regards to a Miss Emma M. Lion

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

Onto book 4!

Pierce you better touch Emma’s hand so help me!!!!!!

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Continuing on, and while delighted, also a bit worried by sooooo many eligible men. Hope it doesn’t deteriorate to romance. Still trusting the plot will thicken.

[Elizabeth · Rating 5 out of 5]

9/3/25: Just finished listening to the audio and it does cause new things to jump out at me. I had forgotten that Islington is so very buttoned up. It was interesting to hear him talk about his sisters in light of Vol 8. Agnes's crush on Islington is hilarious! I wish we had a narrative from his point of view. I think Genevieve Gaunt's voice for Agnes is my favorite. She manages to make her sound very young and silly, but very endearing and competent at the same time. Emma is really smitten with Pierce in this. She's always very aware of him. There is definitely something about him with what Mariana says in Vol 8, some kind of charisma. I can't really think of anyone like that in my own life so it puzzles and fascinates in equal measure. I keep trying to wrap my head around it.

I adored the PG Wodehouse feel at the end of this volume during the very bizarre and yet very amusing dinner. Emma’s journals are sooo funny and yet there’s an underlying gravity to the story that is moving. I feel like I know all the characters so well but so much of their stories have yet to be revealed. Emma’s descriptions of Pierce are my favorite with his personal weather system. Their relationship has really grown. 😍 The scenes with Uncle Archibald are amusing and yet he’s such a villain! What ever will become of him? I’m so glad though that Emma is becoming more and more the mistress of Lapis Lazuli House. What’s going to happen with Jack, btw?? I must know! So many things I want to know!

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

———
4/5 ★

❝𝙸𝚏 𝙸 𝚠𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕, 𝙸 𝚠𝚘𝚞𝚕𝚍 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚏𝚎𝚕𝚝 𝚖𝚢 𝚑𝚎𝚊𝚛𝚝 𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚝𝚌𝚑, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚜𝚎𝚛𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝚠𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚜𝚎 𝚖𝚒𝚕𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚌𝚊𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚖𝚎 𝚝𝚘 𝚏𝚛𝚎𝚎𝚣𝚎, 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚜 𝚌𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚖𝚢 𝚎𝚢𝚎𝚜 𝚝𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚕𝚢, 𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚍𝚜 𝚜𝚑𝚊𝚔𝚒𝚗𝚐, 𝚏𝚎𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊𝚕𝚕 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚒𝚌𝚞𝚕𝚝 𝚌𝚘𝚛𝚗𝚎𝚛𝚜 𝚘𝚏 𝚕𝚘𝚜𝚜. 𝙱𝚞𝚝 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚗𝚘𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚊 𝚗𝚘𝚟𝚎𝚕. 𝙸 𝚊𝚖 𝚏𝚕𝚎𝚜𝚑, 𝚋𝚕𝚘𝚘𝚍—𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚎𝚗𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚘𝚗 𝚘𝚌𝚌𝚊𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚍𝚞𝚕𝚕 𝚎𝚍𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎𝚛𝚎, 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚊 𝚕𝚒𝚏𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚎𝚡𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚎𝚍, 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚠𝚘𝚛𝚜𝚝 𝚘𝚏 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚞𝚗𝚠𝚊𝚗𝚝𝚎𝚍.❞

[Chantel Reads All Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just an utter delight.

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sooo when are these going to be made into a tv series?

[Shea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Endlessly witty and entertaining, Emma’s journals are such a joy to read! The search for the Julius Caesar tickets in this volume was a highlight for me, as was the growth of Emma’s personal library. So well done.

Content rating: 5/5. A few (2 or 3) instances of d-ned and h-.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t binge read. I’m a full-time working mom of two small children. So if I read a series one after the other, and if I read a book in a day, that’s a big deal. I understand the hype. Emma is a spectacular character, and somehow the shenanigans don’t bother me? I kind of thought they would, hence the question, ha! Anyway, life is a lot right now, and this is providing a much needed escape. I was into from the beginning, but it took until this book to feel well and truly hooked. I don’t want to stop right now, but I do want to read Christmas books, so I will for now.

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

September 2025: This is a soul story FOREVER. I loved this even more the second time. The audiobook is PHENOMENAL. My reread easily took this from a 5🌟 to an infinity star!!!!

May 2025: ANOTHER PERFECT EMMA M. LION BOOK🥹 This made me laugh so hard, but it’s also so heartfelt at the same time. Basically it is everything good in the world. I genuinely love every volume more and more!!!!!

[Blessing Bloodworth (naptimereaders) · Rating 5 out of 5]

July 13, 2025
The way these turn from utterly ridiculous to achingly poetic with the flick of a wrist is astounding. And I love them all the more for it.

July 31, 2024
I am ravenously flying through these journals while simultaneously wishing they would never end.
As I read more from Emma’s hand, I have come to wish that it were possible for us to meet one day.
I would tell her that I admire her “natural pluck”, her ability to find happiness in the most mundane and unusual things, and her keen eye for discerning the deepest part of a person.
On the topic of her town, it does seem St. Crispian’s is a most unique and peculiar place. I wonder the origin of some of its superstitions and unusual happenings. A town-wide scavenger hunt in pursuit of exclusive tickets to an amateur Julius Caesar performance? Items that spontaneously disappear? A supposed ghost called The Roman? It’s altogether very unexpected.
But, I digress.
Back to Miss Lion.
I am very intrigued to hear her continue to share on the various gentlemen - dare I say eligible bachelors - in her acquaintance. Each possesses certain charm & unique characteristics. Is it too early to presume that she falls for one, for certainly she does.
But which one…

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hehehe it’s getting messy🤭

[N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have given up on trying to review this series. Rapid-fire highlights:

Clue capers to attend clandestine performances, extremely reluctant allies, tragedy befalls the villain, more grief processing, looking at photographs, taking photographs, Single Syllable Society, philosophical date nights, the studio salon opens for business. Niall Pierce as profoundly insightful, endearingly solicitous, and frustratingly mysterious as ever. Blind date with a book raffle. Summer-end soiree, aristocratic waltz, champagne dress witching hour almosts. Agnes and her squeaky tea cart. Ice and storm winds collide with Duke and Tenant in the same room. Emma sits with ten randoms—as if it wasn’t enough with Jack, Roland, and the Brookstone boys.

Several, several huffs of amusement from me, which is the equivalent of not so few belly laughs. Oh but, what fun!

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cousin Archibald achieves new heights of awfulness, but The Reprobates Ten might be the best thing in this book.

[Miriam Simut · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an absolute delight!! My favourite of the first three. I LOVED the last scene at Lady Trewartha's dinner/ball!!! It was magical.

[Jace · Rating 5 out of 5]

Team Pierce 🤭🫠

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

My quick takes:
- 5/5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
- Language 🤐 none
- Spice ❤️‍🔥 none
- Content 🤔 grief, toxic family relations

The quick witted, humorous Emma is a delight. The depth she plumbs in grief is introspective and familiar. I thoroughly enjoyed the thickening plot, friendships, and adventures this novel afforded.

The final entry in this book was just so good 🥹 love the found family that’s forming for one Miss Emma M. Lion 🫶🏼

[Joseph Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Telling my kids this was Bridgerton

[Courtney Hatch · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like Jane Austen, Gilmore Girls, or Anne of Green Gables, or basically witty well-read women, you will like this. I have laughed out loud so many times. Emma encountering Emerson for the first time made me so happy. Hawkes’s nine Cambridge friends are straight up a 19th century version of Gilmore Girls’s Colin and Finn and the Life and Death Brigade. The town has just enough whimsy and the men have just enough flirting with our female lead. It’s so fun.

[Hannah the book maiden · Rating 5 out of 5]

#teamislington #agnesgetsit

[Lauren (thebookscript) · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite book in the series yet...although I do have a feeling these are just continuously going to get better and better. I love that this almost feels like the written version of a BBC series...every "episode" has been a total delight and I have no intention of stopping here.

I was already chuckling from the first chapter as Emma's wit and deprecation of her "esteemed" cousin were too good. I loved how with each book we are coming to understand each of the side characters personalities and a deeper dive into Emma's desires of the heart as well. I adore each of the men...who we all know are pining for this ultimate catch of a woman. I might have a soft spot for a well spoken vicar and a mysterious brooding tenant.

There is just something so openly candid and heartfelt about reading these through journal entry. I love getting the redacted sentences and to almost live in these moments alongside Emma herself. These books are so light hearted and entertaining, but have just enough depth/emotional pull to keep you coming back.

I can't wait to see what book 4 has in store!

[Keri Stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such a delightful series, and I am loving getting to know Emma Lion and the people in her life. Life in 1883 London is slow by today’s standards, but Emma seems to get involved with all sorts of adventures. She’s independent and determined, and just so much fun.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

ok 2 things: the town-wide scavenger hunt is SO FUN and I felt FAR too seen by elements of this installment like get out of my head ms brower lolll

[Karin Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

On to number 4!💗

[Anne (In Search of Wonder) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Volume 3 just as good as the first two!

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

"What else is life but a string of outcomes beyond our control?"

The third book continues to maintain the series charm, but it also suffered a feeling of repetitiveness.

[Christine Woods · Rating 5 out of 5]

2021
Almost twice as long as the two previous journals and most certainly the best thus far. I am so enthralled with the way Emma is able to keep her wits about her and handle every situation in such a cleverly worded way.

Emma is however making me feel like such a heathen with some of her saintly ways. Shame on me, because one of my favorite paragraphs is;
“Upon recalling the moment, I cannot help but be impressed with the capacity of that man’s lungs while tumbling through the air. His screams raised the dead, I’m sure of it.”

2022
I am again finding Emma’s journals to be the highlight of my day. I look forward to each evening when I can take time to read a little. I am adding a new favorite laugh for me.

“Pierce, why are we going to the conservatory?” I whispered. “I suspect that is where we will find the altar upon which you will be sacrificed,” he replied. Islington overheard, for he glanced at Pierce. “Is Miss Lion being sacrificed on our behalf?” “For queen and country,” drawled Pierce. “The gods might wish for a more contrite soul,” Islington added. “Then you should climb atop yourself, Islington. I’m certain the gods would be most willing to take you.”

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

This series just gets better with each book! You can't not love Emma; she's got to be one of my favorite characters in a series. This book made me laugh so many times; there are so many great one-liners. I'm very invested and need to know what will happen next! I also would like to get to know Hawkes, Islington, and Pierce more... onto book 4!


Content discretions: a few words (d & h)

[Melanie (lemonyreads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is what I've been waiting for. I see the hype and it's real. Absolutely charming, emotional, smart, top tier writing and character voice.
I haven't laughed so much in a book in months. By far, the most delightful read I've had this year.

no notes. (Full review once I finish the eight published books)

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am so glad there are more books in this series. I enjoy Emma's wit and human observation. The Shakespearean Julius Caesar references and secret play in this installment were very entertaining.