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

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

152 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 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!

[Brooke 𝜗𝜚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

———
4.25/5 ★

I just love the world of Emma M. Lion.

[Kennedy Larson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Mikayla Noel · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[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.

[Reggie Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 hehehe these are so fun

[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💞🍊☕️🐈‍⬛🍃🕯️🖋️🧶🌸

[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.

[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.

[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!

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

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

[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]

[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.

[Ashley Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charm, charm, charm.

“Your sins are simply marvellous.”

[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.

[Abigail McKenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 🤷‍♀️🤣

[Joanne | wellreadcoffeeaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this one a lot. What can I say? The charm of Emma has caught me too!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m all in. Someone described these as Anne of Green Gables meets Pride and Prejudice, and I couldn’t be more delighted to reported that’s exactly what they are.

[Melanie (lemonyreads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

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’ve 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’s still technically a novella and as such, felt incomplete. I know its journal entries, but if it’s published on its own, I will be rating it as such. I’m excited to move onto book 3 and 4 in a few weeks.

OVERALL:
Absolutely delightful. I see they hype and it’s real.

[Ellery Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Joseph Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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

[Patricia Rupell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm really enjoying this series. It has heart and banter and I am interested to see what happens next.

[Samantha | samanthakreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Re-read Feb 2026:
I'm re-reading the first 3 books as a refresh before I continue the rest of the series, and I love it! I'm listening to the audiobooks, and they're amazing, 10/10 recommend!

Initial review:
This was such a wonderful book! I loved getting to know more about Miss Emma M. Lion and her friends. She is a delight and had me laughing so much throughout the story! I already bought book 3, and I can just tell how much I'm going to love this series more and more as I read each volume.

[Jeannine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now we’re cooking! Three love interests, a charming villain, the idiot cousin who takes a backseat, and a ghost. Let’s gooooo!

[Whitney Newby · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a lot of fun! I don't feel "hooked" to these books like it seems the majority of my friends are, but I appreciate the incredible dialogue and fun story lines!

[Katja Labonté · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars. On this second book, I find myself the tiniest bit disenchanted. The writing style occasionally stopped me up short as I went "...well, that's not very 1800s of you..." and the whole Duke of Islington part, though he's amusing, just rang untrue. Honestly, though, I'm ready to accept it all because I enjoy the characters and story so much. Emma is still a hilarious delight, and so is her family. I loved the part where she went off with Jack—I can't help loving him, though he worries me—and Mr. Pierce is an excellent correspondent, besides being very intriguing. I can't wait to see what happens next in this series!

Content: ghosts mentioned (not proven); mention that hopefully a botanist thinks he only has to be in the same room as his wife for her to "germinate."