The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion

[Anonymous]

Is anyone else reading or listening to these?

They are about a young Victorian woman who moves to London on her own and the people she meets and befriends there. They so charming, whimsical, and downright funny at times. I am absolutely immersed and obsessed. Gives me Gilmore Girls vibes in a way. It’s that sort of coziness. The audio version is perfection.

If you are a fan, who do you want her to end up with? My bookclub almost unanimously votes for Islington and I am the only Pierce holdout 🙈

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is anyone else reading or listening to these?

They are about a young Victorian woman who moves to London on her own and the people she meets and befriends there. They so charming, whimsical, and downright funny at times. I am absolutely immersed and obsessed. Gives me Gilmore Girls vibes in a way. It’s that sort of coziness. The audio version is perfection.

If you are a fan, who do you want her to end up with? My bookclub almost unanimously votes for Islington and I am the only Pierce holdout 🙈

I thought I was the only one reading this series. I sped through all 6 (or more?) journals while holed up during the big snowstorm. It is basically pure serotonin in book form--at least for the Jane Austin or PG Wodehouse fans among us. I'm actually a Young Hawkes fan in terms of shipping anyone but one thing I appreciate is how slow and secondary the romance has been through most of the tale.

[Anonymous]

I have seen a bookstgramer rave about these. They are on my list

[Anonymous]

Thanks PP- it's strange but my library (not in DCUMlandia) has a huge network but no printed copies. Just Libby. I guess I'll listen to it too! I'm glad you mentioned that the audio version is excellent.

[Anonymous]

I binged each when they come out.

The author has carefully paved the way for Islington is to be a brother of sorts to Emma, who sees her as a replacement for the sister and other girl he lost (it's true his feelings are a little confused, but I think it's tending in the brotherly direction); and for her to become more and more romantically entangled with Pierce, who is a drunkard with baggage and not, in my view, a nice suitor for her (the classic bad boy that naive girls pine for). The ever-so-remote and perfect Hawkes is in love with that silvery lady who was just introduced into society.

A good ending would be for Emma to come into independent wealth and decide she's not going to marry anyone just yet. I doubt it will happen.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I binged each when they come out.

The author has carefully paved the way for Islington is to be a brother of sorts to Emma, who sees her as a replacement for the sister and other girl he lost (it's true his feelings are a little confused, but I think it's tending in the brotherly direction); and for her to become more and more romantically entangled with Pierce, who is a drunkard with baggage and not, in my view, a nice suitor for her (the classic bad boy that naive girls pine for). The ever-so-remote and perfect Hawkes is in love with that silvery lady who was just introduced into society.

A good ending would be for Emma to come into independent wealth and decide she's not going to marry anyone just yet. I doubt it will happen.

SPOILER? Well, speculation at least...

I actually think Lady Silver is Hawkes' sister (the family is described as "having a son as well" or something and mysteriously no one knows where he is...). And Emma is Hawkes' end game (though I am second PP, so perhaps this is just my bias!)

[Anonymous]

Spoiler (just to be safe)

I think a new player entered the field in journal 8, but maybe I am only hoping. (I somehow thought journal 8 was going to be the last and that series was done at 8 when I was reading them. I now get wait and wait for the next journal). Pierce would certainly be more Bronte (fitting with the Janes).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I binged each when they come out.

The author has carefully paved the way for Islington is to be a brother of sorts to Emma, who sees her as a replacement for the sister and other girl he lost (it's true his feelings are a little confused, but I think it's tending in the brotherly direction); and for her to become more and more romantically entangled with Pierce, who is a drunkard with baggage and not, in my view, a nice suitor for her (the classic bad boy that naive girls pine for). The ever-so-remote and perfect Hawkes is in love with that silvery lady who was just introduced into society.

A good ending would be for Emma to come into independent wealth and decide she's not going to marry anyone just yet. I doubt it will happen.

SPOILER? Well, speculation at least...

I actually think Lady Silver is Hawkes' sister (the family is described as "having a son as well" or something and mysteriously no one knows where he is...). And Emma is Hawkes' end game (though I am second PP, so perhaps this is just my bias!)

PP you replied to. It did cross my mind that the elegant lady was Hawke’s sister but that can’t be right because they danced together at that masked ball and one of the rules of the era is to never dance with your brother.

[Anonymous]

I read them all so fast! I couldn't stop!

I'm going to reread them before the next one comes out. The symbolism is really striking to me, though I only picked up on it about halfway through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I binged each when they come out.

The author has carefully paved the way for Islington is to be a brother of sorts to Emma, who sees her as a replacement for the sister and other girl he lost (it's true his feelings are a little confused, but I think it's tending in the brotherly direction); and for her to become more and more romantically entangled with Pierce, who is a drunkard with baggage and not, in my view, a nice suitor for her (the classic bad boy that naive girls pine for). The ever-so-remote and perfect Hawkes is in love with that silvery lady who was just introduced into society.

A good ending would be for Emma to come into independent wealth and decide she's not going to marry anyone just yet. I doubt it will happen.

SPOILER? Well, speculation at least...

I actually think Lady Silver is Hawkes' sister (the family is described as "having a son as well" or something and mysteriously no one knows where he is...). And Emma is Hawkes' end game (though I am second PP, so perhaps this is just my bias!)

PP you replied to. It did cross my mind that the elegant lady was Hawke’s sister but that can’t be right because they danced together at that masked ball and one of the rules of the era is to never dance with your brother.

I've been reading recency era books for years. I have never come across that rule.

[Anonymous]

Pierce being a drunk and his outbursts repel me, so I hope he's not the endgame.

Islington and Emma together would mirror the relationship of Emma's parents (genders swapped).

Hawkes is my favorite, but the Irish connection makes me wonder if they are related in some way?

[Anonymous]

I skimmed these comments because I literally just purchased book 1 before I opened up this DCUM forum. I'm so excited to try these. If I like book one, my plan is to use a birthday gift card to buy the rest.

[Anonymous]

Spoilers!!!

OP here. I’m surprised everyone is so quickly turned off Pierce! Yes he has a drinking problem. He has ptsd. He has trauma. He has self loathing regarding his past. Those are all cons.

But on the pro side: he’s been on his own since six and is still so kind and compassionate. Several different characters make a point of telling Emma how “good” he is. He likes unconventional women and hates stuffy manners and propriety. This is a good thing for Emma in this time period! She could actually have some freedom in her life with him as her husband. He has an interesting job and comes into contact with interesting people (artists, poets, philosophers, museum curators, bohemian types). He invests in the American stock market, so we know he has some money. They could stay in her house (I don’t see how she could do this if she marries the Duke).

And most important, he and Emma already have a pretty deep emotional intimacy. They eat breakfast and dinner together, alone (a big no no in this time period). She told him about Maxwell and he helped her through those hard anniversaries. He constantly defends her to other people. When she told the boys about how she lost her private secretary job, Islington was disapproving but Pierce said “good for you.” They read books together and discuss them. The notes through the wall are unbelievably cute and sweet.

The author said she hopes to write 24 books in the series so we are only about a third of the way through. I hope she is setting Pierce up for a healing journey and eventual happy ending.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I binged each when they come out.

The author has carefully paved the way for Islington is to be a brother of sorts to Emma, who sees her as a replacement for the sister and other girl he lost (it's true his feelings are a little confused, but I think it's tending in the brotherly direction); and for her to become more and more romantically entangled with Pierce, who is a drunkard with baggage and not, in my view, a nice suitor for her (the classic bad boy that naive girls pine for). The ever-so-remote and perfect Hawkes is in love with that silvery lady who was just introduced into society.

A good ending would be for Emma to come into independent wealth and decide she's not going to marry anyone just yet. I doubt it will happen.

SPOILER? Well, speculation at least...

I actually think Lady Silver is Hawkes' sister (the family is described as "having a son as well" or something and mysteriously no one knows where he is...). And Emma is Hawkes' end game (though I am second PP, so perhaps this is just my bias!)

PP you replied to. It did cross my mind that the elegant lady was Hawke’s sister but that can’t be right because they danced together at that masked ball and one of the rules of the era is to never dance with your brother.

I've been reading recency era books for years. I have never come across that rule.

Never heard of that either! Would be quite un-Bridgerton to boot (the foremost historical authority on regency England )

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Spoilers!!!

OP here. I’m surprised everyone is so quickly turned off Pierce! Yes he has a drinking problem. He has ptsd. He has trauma. He has self loathing regarding his past. Those are all cons.

But on the pro side: he’s been on his own since six and is still so kind and compassionate. Several different characters make a point of telling Emma how “good” he is. He likes unconventional women and hates stuffy manners and propriety. This is a good thing for Emma in this time period! She could actually have some freedom in her life with him as her husband. He has an interesting job and comes into contact with interesting people (artists, poets, philosophers, museum curators, bohemian types). He invests in the American stock market, so we know he has some money. They could stay in her house (I don’t see how she could do this if she marries the Duke).

And most important, he and Emma already have a pretty deep emotional intimacy. They eat breakfast and dinner together, alone (a big no no in this time period). She told him about Maxwell and he helped her through those hard anniversaries. He constantly defends her to other people. When she told the boys about how she lost her private secretary job, Islington was disapproving but Pierce said “good for you.” They read books together and discuss them. The notes through the wall are unbelievably cute and sweet.

The author said she hopes to write 24 books in the series so we are only about a third of the way through. I hope she is setting Pierce up for a healing journey and eventual happy ending.

OMG, I had no idea. I enjoy the books a lot but this would require quite a commitment!

Although I suppose in a way the "journals" are very short and episodic--perhaps the story is supposed to have the feel of Dickens' serialized publications of his books, where each journal feels more like a monthly installment than a "novel"...