The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower 4.8/5

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion is a series of novellas by Beth Brower set in Victorian England. Each novella is a section of Emma's journal that details her life as a middle to upper class socialite who has returned to her London home to discover that her cousin has wasted away the majority of her inheritance. The journals detail her everyday life, friendships, familial relationships, her tumultuous and grief stricken past and her hopes for the future. It truly feels like we as the reader are leaving Emma's life with her through the pages.

I didn't know exactly what to expect from this series as it is a bit different from my usual material but I have absolutely loved and devoured it. The subtle wit, honest reflections, and beautiful if unexpected relationships have kept me enraptured since the first page. I have laughed out loud and shed a tear over these pages.

At the time of my reading there have been eight novellas released by Beth. Each is the perfect length but I am already craving the next. Luckily, it seems that there could be as many as 25 books in the series once it is completed, broken down into seasons like a television show.

Pros: Beth Brower's writing style is perfect for this era. It feels organic and sophisticated. Her character building is thorough and I feel an intense connection to the books because of this. She gracefully tackles social issues of the time and the more personal topics of grief and growth. I also love the quotes and poems that are abundant throughout the text.

Cons: The journal entry style that Beth uses makes the flow of the books feel very predictable and sometimes a tad slow. I would approach this as being a read to soothe the soul.

Spice: So far Beth's focus is on building the relationships and characters. These books are very clean with no spice. It is quite refreshing and a great fit for someone who isn't into a ton of spice and prefers small special moments that build intimacy without explicit messages and descriptions. There are still mature themes in the book but a mature young adult reader who enjoys the more sophisticated writing style would enjoy the books.

Overall: I rate this series a 4.8/5 and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and the journal format of writing. The books are free to read on kindle unlimited which was a huge plus for me.