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

Listeners have compared Beth Brower’s writing to Jane Austen, Oscar Wilde, P.G. Wodehouse, and L. M. Montgomery.

After hearing so much hype about this novella series, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the first volume left me underwhelmed, and I couldn’t quite understand all the rave reviews. I genuinely wondered if I had missed something. That said, I knew I wasn’t alone in feeling this way, and many readers insisted the series improves after the first installment. So, I decided to stick with it and pick up volume two.

I’m really glad I did.

This second novella was a noticeable step up. We get a deeper look into Emma’s life, more time with the supporting characters, and, most importantly, a clearer sense of plot beginning to take shape. There’s even the start of a semi-love triangle, which immediately caught my attention. I’m a sucker for that dynamic, so I’m very curious to see how it develops in future installments.

Emma continues to shine with her signature sass, wit, and sharp banter, which was one of my favorite parts of the first book. This time around, though, it felt even more natural and entertaining. I found myself laughing more often and smiling throughout the story. Watching Emma stumble into a Faustian bargain and deal with the consequences added a fun layer of chaos to the story. It’s lighthearted, humorous, and wholesome, with no language and no spice.

I also found Emma more relatable in this volume. Her misadventures and the situations she gets herself into made her feel more grounded and endearing. It was much easier to connect with her this time, which made the story all the more enjoyable.

I’m so glad this series is starting to turn around for me. I’ll definitely be continuing on and am hoping for even more witty banter, entertaining moments, and maybe a bit more romantic development as the story progresses.

If you were like me and didn’t love the first volume, I’d encourage you to give the second one a chance before deciding to walk away. I’m really glad I stuck with it, and I have a feeling it’s only going to get better from here.