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The Unselected Journals #2
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 2
鈥淚 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.鈥�
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian鈥檚. But Emma鈥檚 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鈥檚.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood of St. Crispian鈥檚. But Emma鈥檚 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鈥檚.
Emma M. Lion offers up her Unselected Journals, however self-incriminating they may be, which comprise a series of novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.
162 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2019
530 people are currently reading
2,387 people want to read
About the author
Beth Brower
18听books1,263听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 1,308 reviews
November 19, 2023
So many cliffhangers and mysteries! I did myself a favor when I bought all the volumes currently available. 馃槀 The Tenant is rather dreamy. I surprisingly enjoy Roland. And what鈥檚 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鈥� backgrounds in such a tantalizing way. On to the next volume!
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February 11, 2025So far my re-read has made me love Pierce MORE not less.
May 4, 2024
After reading the first volume, I wasn鈥檛 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鈥檓 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鈥檛 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.
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鈥檛 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.
February 5, 2024
Onto book 3! I鈥檓 finding myself a tiny bit obsessed with this novella series.
May 11, 2025
Dare I say new favorite series?!??! Emma is such a soul character for me and I鈥檒l 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馃挒馃崐鈽曪笍馃悎鈥嶁瑳馃崈馃暞锔忦煐嬶笍馃Ф馃尭
February 24, 2025
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.
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.
April 5, 2025
"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.
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.
February 14, 2025
I enjoyed this one a lot. What can I say? The charm of Emma has caught me too!
February 27, 2025
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鈥檚 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鈥檚 personal library at the end of each volume.
2/27/25 - Reread
I love how much advancement in the plot and in Emma鈥檚 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鈥檚 personal library at the end of each volume.
February 26, 2025
Goodness. I absolutely adore Emma! She is a joy. Laughed all throughout reading.
January 12, 2025
all I'm saying is that if emma decides she doesn't want roland or islington or hawkes I'll happily take any of them off her hands 馃し鈥嶁檧锔忦煠�
February 20, 2025
Another delightful read! I love the addition of Roland and the Duke. Oh, and a feline friend for Emma as well. I don't seem as fascinated by the Tenant as our heroine, but he may yet grow on me. I felt Emma overstepped the bounds of propriety too many times in this volume and am not sure high society would be as forgiving of her blunders as presented. Her behavior (showing up at the Duke's house uninvited or traveling with a strange man without a chaperone, etc) is amusing to more than one handsome gentleman of the aristocracy when in reality, Emma would be shunned for her actions. Despite these quibbles, I am eager to dive into the next volume and to see how Emma's clever mind can solve her financial dilemma.
January 22, 2023
Charm, charm, charm.
鈥淵our sins are simply marvellous.鈥�
鈥淵our sins are simply marvellous.鈥�
January 16, 2025
I鈥檝e been bitten by the Emma M. Lion bug
My Quick Takes:
- 4/5 stars 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍
- Language 馃 none
- Spice 鉂わ笍鈥嶐煍� none
- Content 馃 past death of family/friends
The delightful chaos builds and I鈥檓 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.
My Quick Takes:
- 4/5 stars 猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍猸愶笍
- Language 馃 none
- Spice 鉂わ笍鈥嶐煍� none
- Content 馃 past death of family/friends
The delightful chaos builds and I鈥檓 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.
February 7, 2025
4.5 stars!
What a delightful continuation! I can see why people binge this series and are obsessed with it. The comedy and humor are unmatched, and the plethora of potential love interests is going to RUIN ME.
Emma has one of the strongest voices I鈥檝e ever read, and I can tell we will become fast friends over the next few books.
The writing style continues to impress me. Beth Brower has a way with words.
THOUGHTS:
While this was lovely, it鈥檚 still technically a novella and as such, felt incomplete. I know its journal entries, but if it鈥檚 published on its own, I will be rating it as such. I鈥檓 excited to move onto book 3 and 4 in a few weeks.
OVERALL:
Absolutely delightful. I see they hype and it鈥檚 real.
What a delightful continuation! I can see why people binge this series and are obsessed with it. The comedy and humor are unmatched, and the plethora of potential love interests is going to RUIN ME.
Emma has one of the strongest voices I鈥檝e ever read, and I can tell we will become fast friends over the next few books.
The writing style continues to impress me. Beth Brower has a way with words.
THOUGHTS:
While this was lovely, it鈥檚 still technically a novella and as such, felt incomplete. I know its journal entries, but if it鈥檚 published on its own, I will be rating it as such. I鈥檓 excited to move onto book 3 and 4 in a few weeks.
OVERALL:
Absolutely delightful. I see they hype and it鈥檚 real.
January 7, 2025
It鈥檚 official: 饾棙饾椇饾椇饾棶 饾棤. 饾棢饾椂饾椉饾椈 饾椂饾榾 饾椇饾槅 饾榾饾椊饾椂饾椏饾椂饾榿 饾棶饾椈饾椂饾椇饾棶饾椆. With the wit of Oscar Wilde, the charm of Jane Austen, & the absurdity of Wodehouse, 饾槢饾槱饾槮 饾槣饾槸饾槾饾槮饾槶饾槮饾槫饾樀饾槮饾槬 饾槕饾槹饾樁饾槼饾槸饾槩饾槶饾槾 饾槹饾槯 饾槍饾槷饾槷饾槩 饾様. 饾槗饾槳饾槹饾槸: 饾槤饾槹饾槶饾樁饾槷饾槮 2 by Beth Brower delivers hilarity, heart, & a healthy dose of chaos. If you haven鈥檛 met Emma M. Lion yet, this is your official invitation to step into her world & stay for tea (or sherry, if that鈥檚 more your speed).
馃摉 饾棯饾椀饾棶饾榿 饾榿饾椉 饾椆饾椉饾槂饾棽:
鈥� 馃枊锔� Emma鈥檚 razor-sharp wit will have you crying tears of laughter.
鈥� 馃彔 Cousin Archibald鈥檚 obsession with morning robes & Lapis Lazuli Minor (you鈥檒l understand鈥攁nd laugh).
鈥� 馃拰 Notes exchanged with The Tenant鈥攔omantic tension, humor, & mystery all in one.
鈥� 馃拑 The Duke of Islington鈥檚 reluctant flirtation鈥擲WOON.
鈥� 馃幁 Sunday sermons featuring Shakespeare (yes, really).
馃攷 饾棫饾椉饾椊 饾棤饾椉饾椇饾棽饾椈饾榿饾榾 饾榿饾椉 饾棢饾椉饾椉饾椄 饾棛饾椉饾椏
鈥� 馃惐 Tybalt the cat: Here to terrorize everyone but especially Cousin Archibald (a public service, really).
鈥� 馃拰 Through-the-wall notes: The most romantic pest control solution EVER.
鈥� 馃摎 The Jane Eyre Society: If you鈥檝e ever wanted to attend a dramatic book club, this is it.
鈥� 馃暤锔忊€嶁檧锔� Wandering objects: Is it a ghost? A Roman? Or just Emma losing things?
鈥� 馃幁 Archibald鈥檚 drama: Proof that one person can be both repulsive and comedic gold.
鈥� 馃暣锔� The Duke of Islington: Adding mysterious suaveness and undeniable swoon.
鈥� 馃彨 Breaking into Fortitude School: Who knew Victorian rule-breaking could be this much fun?
馃槀 饾棯饾椀饾槅 饾棞鈥欚潡� 饾棦饾棷饾榾饾棽饾榾饾榾饾棽饾棻
Emma鈥檚 voice is unmatched鈥攅very page feels like sitting down with a hilariously sarcastic friend over tea. Beth Brower鈥檚 genius is in making the mundane feel magical. You鈥檒l laugh, swoon, and maybe even snort-tea-out-of-your-nose at Emma鈥檚 antics.
This series is the antidote to dreary days and reading slumps. It鈥檚 a quirky, clever masterpiece that will have you ordering the next volume before you finish the last page.
鈿狅笍 饾棖饾椉饾椈饾榿饾棽饾椈饾榿 饾棯饾棶饾椏饾椈饾椂饾椈饾棿饾榾: Mentions of parental loss and grief. A couple of mild expletives (e.g., 鈥渄鈥攚ord鈥�), used sparingly.
馃摉 饾棯饾椀饾棶饾榿 饾榿饾椉 饾椆饾椉饾槂饾棽:
鈥� 馃枊锔� Emma鈥檚 razor-sharp wit will have you crying tears of laughter.
鈥� 馃彔 Cousin Archibald鈥檚 obsession with morning robes & Lapis Lazuli Minor (you鈥檒l understand鈥攁nd laugh).
鈥� 馃拰 Notes exchanged with The Tenant鈥攔omantic tension, humor, & mystery all in one.
鈥� 馃拑 The Duke of Islington鈥檚 reluctant flirtation鈥擲WOON.
鈥� 馃幁 Sunday sermons featuring Shakespeare (yes, really).
馃攷 饾棫饾椉饾椊 饾棤饾椉饾椇饾棽饾椈饾榿饾榾 饾榿饾椉 饾棢饾椉饾椉饾椄 饾棛饾椉饾椏
鈥� 馃惐 Tybalt the cat: Here to terrorize everyone but especially Cousin Archibald (a public service, really).
鈥� 馃拰 Through-the-wall notes: The most romantic pest control solution EVER.
鈥� 馃摎 The Jane Eyre Society: If you鈥檝e ever wanted to attend a dramatic book club, this is it.
鈥� 馃暤锔忊€嶁檧锔� Wandering objects: Is it a ghost? A Roman? Or just Emma losing things?
鈥� 馃幁 Archibald鈥檚 drama: Proof that one person can be both repulsive and comedic gold.
鈥� 馃暣锔� The Duke of Islington: Adding mysterious suaveness and undeniable swoon.
鈥� 馃彨 Breaking into Fortitude School: Who knew Victorian rule-breaking could be this much fun?
馃槀 饾棯饾椀饾槅 饾棞鈥欚潡� 饾棦饾棷饾榾饾棽饾榾饾榾饾棽饾棻
Emma鈥檚 voice is unmatched鈥攅very page feels like sitting down with a hilariously sarcastic friend over tea. Beth Brower鈥檚 genius is in making the mundane feel magical. You鈥檒l laugh, swoon, and maybe even snort-tea-out-of-your-nose at Emma鈥檚 antics.
This series is the antidote to dreary days and reading slumps. It鈥檚 a quirky, clever masterpiece that will have you ordering the next volume before you finish the last page.
鈿狅笍 饾棖饾椉饾椈饾榿饾棽饾椈饾榿 饾棯饾棶饾椏饾椈饾椂饾椈饾棿饾榾: Mentions of parental loss and grief. A couple of mild expletives (e.g., 鈥渄鈥攚ord鈥�), used sparingly.
May 30, 2024
PROGRESSIVELY INTRIGUING.
||
For 160 pages, this did take me a lot longer to read than I was hoping for. BUT. I will say as things went on I became more and more involved. I think I鈥檓 starting to understand Emma鈥檚 voice in the story and the journal entries make for a quirky set-up.
I鈥檓 especially involved in the touches of potential romance throughout. I love the sprinkle of romance but I NEED MORE. I think Emma is flat out hilarious and I laughed many times throughout.
I鈥檓 excited to continue reading these as I love the narrator and how nice of switch up it is from whatever big books I鈥檓 generally holding. These are light, humorous and will definitely bring a smile to your face.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Fiction
- Language: none
- Romance: flirtations
- Violence: none
- Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of parents
||
For 160 pages, this did take me a lot longer to read than I was hoping for. BUT. I will say as things went on I became more and more involved. I think I鈥檓 starting to understand Emma鈥檚 voice in the story and the journal entries make for a quirky set-up.
I鈥檓 especially involved in the touches of potential romance throughout. I love the sprinkle of romance but I NEED MORE. I think Emma is flat out hilarious and I laughed many times throughout.
I鈥檓 excited to continue reading these as I love the narrator and how nice of switch up it is from whatever big books I鈥檓 generally holding. These are light, humorous and will definitely bring a smile to your face.
Overall audience notes:
- Historical Fiction
- Language: none
- Romance: flirtations
- Violence: none
- Trigger/Content Warnings: mentions of loss of parents
May 3, 2025
Brilliant! The more I read the Emma M. Lion books, the more I love them! I'm 100% addicted and I'm now dying to read the 3rd book. I could say more but, all I know is鈥攖hey're amazing and SO much fun to read. I've been searching for a book to cheer me up and I found it! The writing is so engaging, interesting, silly and awesome...and I don't have to put a lot of energy into it. I just sit there, move my eyeballs and ENJOY EVERY MINUTE! 馃槏
January 31, 2024
I literally never would鈥檝e picked these books out for myself but a friend lent them to me and i am so glad she did! They are so witty and fun and actually have me laughing out loud at parts! Would definitely recommend.
December 29, 2022
I don鈥檛 recall ever finishing a book as quickly as I did this one. Even better than the first. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion are books that I will read and then reread again.
January 27, 2025
There are too many charming men to pick from
March 24, 2024
I might be a little bit obsessed with these books!馃槉
June 10, 2024
2024 read-through:
So much happens in this volume! Vol. 1 sets up the world, but this one is where the series really starts to sing. The perfect read for a hospital room, or anywhere.
Second read-through:
This is the volume that had me ordering the entire set in hardcover for my girls. I love that Islington decided to sit in on the meeting of the Jane Eyres! If I were responsible for circulating a forbidden Bronte novel around my repulsive girls' boarding school, I would want Emma to be my Currer Bell.
First time:
Quite simply a delight.
So much happens in this volume! Vol. 1 sets up the world, but this one is where the series really starts to sing. The perfect read for a hospital room, or anywhere.
Second read-through:
This is the volume that had me ordering the entire set in hardcover for my girls. I love that Islington decided to sit in on the meeting of the Jane Eyres! If I were responsible for circulating a forbidden Bronte novel around my repulsive girls' boarding school, I would want Emma to be my Currer Bell.
First time:
Quite simply a delight.
December 31, 2024
"I am utterly taken." There's just so much dopamine and delight reading these because each sentence makes me smile. It is so satisfying. And it feels like such a jaunty pace even on the entries where "nothing" happens plot-wise.
November 28, 2024
Vol. 1 is great, but vol. 2 is where things pick up. These series bring in the greatest cast of characters, and I mourn that St. Crispian鈥檚 is not real.
March 16, 2025
Okay, so, reading this book series sometimes feels like playing the old board game 鈥淗eartthrob,鈥� in which you get to choose the dreamiest guy based on sweeping stereotypes: The Jock, The Brainiac, The Metal Head鈥�
Here we have a Duke, a former-nemesis-turned-hunk, an artistic tenant, a dead boyfriend, a vicar, a scallywag male escort鈥�
It鈥檚 somehow all okay, though, because Emma isn鈥檛 a Silly Girl. She鈥檚 a thoughtful, self-assured, spunky Bookworm. The subplots are interesting and the side characters are developing. Fine, I鈥檓 up for #3. Let鈥檚 do it.
Here we have a Duke, a former-nemesis-turned-hunk, an artistic tenant, a dead boyfriend, a vicar, a scallywag male escort鈥�
It鈥檚 somehow all okay, though, because Emma isn鈥檛 a Silly Girl. She鈥檚 a thoughtful, self-assured, spunky Bookworm. The subplots are interesting and the side characters are developing. Fine, I鈥檓 up for #3. Let鈥檚 do it.
May 15, 2024
I'm thankful my sister lent me both of the first two volumes so I could go straight to this one after finishing the first. And now I see I have access to all the others on Kindle Unlimited, so I'll definitely be getting to those soon here.
This is such a creative approach to writing a story. Sure, epistolary is nothing new, but this particular series sets itself above the rest. It's fresh and fun and I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far.
This is such a creative approach to writing a story. Sure, epistolary is nothing new, but this particular series sets itself above the rest. It's fresh and fun and I'm thoroughly enjoying it so far.
March 27, 2025
the last one was 3.75猸�, but this one is a solid 4. I didn't think I'd grow so fond of these little entries and the cast of characters. gives me some kind of fuzz feelings, definitely a comfort read so far. already looking forward to the next one.
December 27, 2024
4.5 猸愶笍
now i have to wait for amazon to deliver the next one 馃槶
now i have to wait for amazon to deliver the next one 馃槶
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