A Book Review of the Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion (Volume 1)

Happy November, you all! ^^ I truly can’t believe it’s the last month of autumn (where is time going??!?!?! *claws desperately at time*) and that next month is December, also known as the last month of the year and Christmas season! My plans for this month are really just to fill it with lots of middle-grade books and writing! Though writing has not been going very well, I hope to finish the first draft of this WIP by January (and I’d like to start working on Island Keepers again in January), however I do understand if that’s not really what turns out happening.

But one can hope!

And speaking of reading, this past October I was lucky enough to stumble on a fantastic series by Beth Brower which I’ve actually seen a few other people read (and read absolutely glowing reviews about it!). And seeing as said series was in Kindle Unlimited, I didn’t think it could hurt to just read book one!

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THIS SERIES IS FANTASTIC AND ONE OF THE BEST HISTORICAL FICTIONS OUT THERE!!!!

And it is quite rare for me to use all caps in one of these blog posts to rave about books!!!!! Said series is called The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, and it is such a brilliant series!!! I adored all the characters, the wonderful (rather odd) town this series takes place in, and how real everything felt to me by book two! Not to mention Emma’s personality and her wit!!! This is truly a wonderful historical fiction that reminded me somewhat of Anne of Green Gables for some reason (though the MC is much older and this takes place in London) that I think everyone from upper middle-grade to adult shall enjoy.

The blurb reads: “I’ve arrived in London without incident. There are few triumphs in my recent life, but I count this as one. My existence of the last three years has been nothing but incident.”

The Year is 1883 and Emma M. Lion has returned to her London neighbourhood 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.

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.

Again, such a brilliant historical fiction novel that I simply adore with a marvellous setting as well!

One thing I loved about this book was the format it was written in! As it’s title, The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, already says, it is written in this lovely journal format, which I simply adore!!! Emma’s voice really shines through in this format and it is as though she’s the one telling the story to you directly, with her own thoughts and opinions that she doesn’t hold back on. I loved getting to know her through her journal!

The characters are absolutely amazing as well! There is, of course, Emma, who is one of my favorite characters in this series. Her ever so terrible cousin, Archibald Flat, who I truly didn’t like but had to laugh at some of his antics later in the series. (And while, Archibald is described as a rather thin man in the book… but I fear in my head, this is what I pictured him as:)

I also sketched out a drawing of some Victorian/Edwardian lady with a fancy dress a little earlier this summer and looking back at it now, I do think this could be Aunt Eugenia! Tell me! Does it not look like her?

Aunt Eugenia-looking lady

I loved the plot of this book/this series! Volume 1 introduces us to Emma and St Crispian’s, and it follows Emma’s antics and her life as she meets new people (it gets particularly interesting by the middle of the series!). I adored the setting of St. Crispian’s as well — it truly felt like a real place and almost as if I were returning home each time I opened the pages of the book. I find those are often the best books to curl up with on a rainy day. 🙂

The book ends with a hint of what is to come (with the new tenant soon arriving at Lapis Lazuli Minor), and book two most certainly does not disappoint!

Overall, this is a fantastic historical fiction that I think teens and adults would enjoy reading! (Upper middle-grade readers might enjoy this series as well.) It’s especially perfect for fans of L.M Montgomery and Jane Austen, and in my opinion, it’s one of the best books to binge-read while cozied up on a rainy day!

Thoughts from Izzy, Charlotte, and Fuzzy Bee:

Izzy: (has eyes glued to the page) Me: (prods her) Izzy? Izzy? IZZY!!! It’s time for you to review this book!!! Izzy: (head snaps up) W – What?! No, no, no, no go away, Isabelle!!!! I’m on book eight I AM ENGROSSED. LEAVE ME ALONE. The drama of this series. The characters…. leave me alone till I’m done!!! (waves a claw in warning)

Charlotte: (shrugs) It was an alright book. But very… real-world-ish. Kinda boring. Where are the dragons??? The fire!!! The villain chases!!!! The evil presidents after this magical book that could bring the dead back to life! (Reference to The Book of Stolen Dreams by David Farr) Me: Charlotte, didn’t you just read Rooftoppers a little while back?? Charlotte: THAT had adventure!!! A quest across the rooftops of Paris!

Fuzzy Bee: (wings buzz excitedly) I simply adore this series!! Such a fantastic book!!! The writing style, the voice, the humor, the wit, the characters, the setting — all so wonderful!!! Beth Brower, if you are reading this, I am impatiently waiting for book nine!

It appears Izzy and Fuzzy Bee are absolutely delighted with this book! Charlotte appears to prefer her usual middle-grade adventures and magic and chaos. And while I do agree that middle-grade is simply the best age category ever invented, this is truly a wonderful book! It has actually inspired me to start writing my own journal!

Do let me know down in the comments what you thought of this review and if you’re a fellow Emma M. Lion fan!! I love hearing from y’all! (And also, if you are a fellow Emma M. Lion fan, who’s your favorite character?)

Till next time, and may you all have a wonderfully cozy week, filled with fluffy non-aggressive cats*,

-Isabelle

*why yes, this is a reference to what is going on in my real life at this moment. On my List of Things to Find are currently: a whistle (airhorn??), denim jeans, sneakers, and an umbrella. See if you can piece together what is happening in this neighborhood of mine.