This has swiftly become one of my favourite books ever.
Emma M. Lion has returned to London after serving 3 years as a companion to her cousin Matilde. She has come back to claim the house that should be her's, but which, she has dutifully allowed Matilde's brother Archibald to reside in honour of his dead wife's will. They have promised her a tidy sum, in lieu of payment the last few years. But Emma soons discovers that she will have to put her incredible wits into ensuring that the awful pair have no more say in her life. Throw in a scheming aunt, a mysterious tenet, an enigmatic vicar, not to mention St Crispin's, the slightly magical community (no really) in which they all reside. Emma writes her diaries with so much wit, being dismissively glib, whilst overbrimming with heart. The cast of characters only grows as the diaries go on. They're genuinely perfect.

I got through this book in near one sitting! I absolutely loved it.

It was so effortless to read and I got wholly immersed. It keeps you in rapt attention, I loved how it was written and I quick got absorbed into Emma’s life. The historical vibes felt vivid and it wasn’t hard to be hanging off every page. I was enraptured and I’m now completely invested in her - volume 1 suggests more volumes to come so I’ll definitely and eagerly be on the lookout for those in the future!

Emma M. Lion is a delightful young woman, about to 'come of age', living in the early 1880s (my favourite historical period) in the fictional London neighborhood of St Crispins near Primrose Hill.

All the characters in her life are quirky or eccentric, and she is fearless and resilient, despite having lost her parents and her first great love.

Written as a diary, it is fast paced, and (I have now discovered - one of several novels already penned with a plan for 25), as I turned the page I was shocked to discover I had raced through it!

Although none of the plot is widely original, it is colourful and engaging, the words in the narrative express their intended time period well and are delicious to read, and I definitely want to know what happens next! Also, TV adaptation please?

Bloomsbury Publishing provided me with a complimentary copy of this book. (I would relish the opportunity to review further volumes!) Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This series may just be my newest obsession. Charming, witty and beautifully written, Emma M. Lion is captivating and agreeable. I can't wait to discover more, and I hope Cousin Archibald gets whats coming to him.

Downton Abbey meets Bridget Jones’s Diary!

“I should very much like to be sensible, but I fear it is beyond me.”

This was utterly charming and delightfully witty.
It completely won me over from the very first entry. Such a strong start to a series!


Pros

• Charming and witty voice - Emma’s narration is full of personality and dry humour. It felt natural, engaging, and genuinely funny throughout

• Intriguing side characters - They are introduced subtly through her perspective, which makes everything feel very real and grounded. It also leaves you itching to know more and we wait for Emma to interact with them again

• Addictive format - The journal entry style made this so easy to read. Each entry offers a glimpse into Emma’s thoughts, and her dry humour shines through. The writing feels natural and engaging, which made it very easy to keep reading. I kept telling myself “just one more entry” and suddenly I was at the end!

• Comfort read potential - This book has a cosy, nostalgic feel. It focuses on everyday moments rather than big dramatic events, which adds to its charm and makes it such a comforting read. This feels like a series I will come back to time and time again


Cons

• The only downside is that it is quite short, and I would have happilyyy stayed in this world for much longer.

Although it was short enough to devour in one sitting! I enjoyed it so much that I maaaay have gone straight out and bought volume 2!


Final Thoughts

This is such a warm, clever, and comforting read. The humour, the format, and tone all come together beautifully to create something that feels both memorable and special. I can already tell this is going to be a series I am going to treasure and revisit often, and I am very excited to continue with the next volume!



Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Anyone hiding under a rock for the last year or so might not be aware of Emma M. Lion’s unselected journals - but with over 75,000 reviews on Goodreads and upcoming UK publication via @bloomsbury - this is unlikely to be the case for much longer.

The author Beth Brower first published in 2019 and the slim volumes (we currently await vol 9) have spiralled into cult favourites - following the plucky yet disaster-prone Emma around a fictional neighbourhood in North London.

But the journals also have a deeper edge to them - touching on social issues like class, wealth, the patriarchy and grief, and absolutely brimming with literary easter eggs to keep the most ardent bibliophile happy.

The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion are also hugely readable, accessible and relevant without losing their place in time - full of Victorian detail and world building which is something I’m so glad Brower prioritised. The characters are also crafted with a surprising amount of care. I find myself fairly besotted with Young Hawkes - but all of Emma’s friends have something to offer the story and Emma’s journey to adulthood.

If anyone is stuck in a reading rut, has overdone the non-fiction or worthy tomes and is looking for something effervescent, charming and quick to devour, I urge you to give Emma a try!

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a gifted, advanced copy of the new edition in return for a review. Bloomsbury UK publish Vol 1 of Emma’s journals in paperback and ebook on 30th July - preorder a copy now!

The world of Emma M Lion is not one you will have encountered before in fiction.
Set in a fictional, very quirky neighborhood in London in the 1880s, it's a series that repays careful re-reading and has spawned numerous fan groups and endless theories. And with good reason. Emma's narrative voice is easy to fall in love with, as she takes turns between comedy and contemplation, but never taking herself too seriously.

Truly, the first volume of Emma M Lion's journals gives a glimpse of much delight to come! Consider this first volume as mostly setup (it's a very short installment), and go forth to read and enjoy all the subsequent volumes!

4.5 🌟

Delightfully unique. Emma's diary entries somehow manage to enchant and intrigue despite the contents being inherently mudane. I devoured this in one sitting and can not wait to pick up Vol.2. The audiobook is incredibly well done also, Genevieve Gaunt depicts the characters perfectly. Highly recommend to fans of Victorian and Regency media.

What a delightful book! It was a quick and easy read, being just over 100 pages. It was well written, with lovely descriptions and some beautiful poetic language which transported me to England, 1883.

It felt like an introduction to the main character, Emma, and some of her family and friends, with not much time for more to happen, but luckily there are (at the moment of writing this review) seven more books to enjoy in this series! I’m very much looking forward to reading more of Emma’s journals.

Thanks to Bloomsbury Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this review copy.

Thank you so much to Bloomsbury for an arc of this, I have seen so many amazing things about Beth & this series – which still someone exceeded my expectations!

After a few years serving as a companion to her cousin, Emma M. Lion returns to London to the house that should be hers. However, this was left to the brother of her cousin through the promise that she would be given a sum in large rather than payment over the last few years. Through her journal entries we see more of Emma’s personality (which is wonderful) as well as what she thinks of the people around her, she is such an entertaining main character, and I love the way she speaks about people like Archibald especially!

This book was absolutely demolished as I read it in one sitting, it does such a great job at entertaining and holding my attention to the point now where I cannot wait for the next volumes! A girl like Emma is so admirable after losing so many people that are important to her even at just 20 years old, I am really looking forward to getting further glimpses into her life & future as time goes on.

This is a very charming beginning and so it’s quite hard to rate on a story front. There is a lot of introducing and set up for the future instalments. However as I often don’t get on with the epistolary format I am very picky. Thankfully this proves to be one of the exceptions. The writing did a wonderful job of letting us learn who Emma is, you also don’t feel like you are missing out on important scenes. I think this is a must read for any fan of the historical setting. I cannot wait to continue on with Emma’s story.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.