Book Review: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (vol 1)

Book #23 for 2025: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower, 4.5/5 ★
132 pages / published November 2019 / available here & more preferably, here

Goodreads Blurb: 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 novella-length volumes. Armed with wit and a sideways amusement, Emma documents the curious realities of her life at Lapis Lazuli House.

My Review: What an unexpected delight! A friend recently recommended (& loaned) this novella to me, insisting that it was worth my time. I thoroughly enjoyed the beginning of what appears to be a substantial and still-in-progress series. Emma is a truly likable protagonist – self-reflective, smart, witty, and someone who pushes the boundaries of polite society just enough. (Having also recently finished the Gwen St. James Affair series by Nicole McKeon and The Secrets of Ormdale series by Christina Baehr, I’d compare Emma to those leading ladies as well, though Lion’s story is so far more polite.) The rest of the characters are enjoyable as well and each colorful enough for me to be eager to see more of them through the series. While I don’t generally go for epistolary works, the snappy entries were more than sufficient for me to stay engaged. It's unclear why they've chosen to publish in so many short volumes, but I’ll happily move on to the next installment.