Goodreads Reviews: Dearest Josephine

Dearest Josephine by Caroline George

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was an interesting read. A romance and a mystery all told through letters, texts, e-mails, and an intriguing manuscript. When Josie de Clare tries to move on from a relationship (that never should have happened), she discovers several old letters and a half written novel from mysterious man who centuries before found himself in love with an equally mysterious woman named Josephine.

Elias Roach, the illegitimate son of an English gentleman has never belonged anywhere or to anyone for that matter. When he meets a lovely woman at a ball, he finds himself immediately drawn to her and her liveliness. However, all he receives from her is her name, Josephine Clare. Afterwards, Elias is determined to find this woman who changed his world in one night and by doing so, reveals an unexpected talent for writing.

The story goes back and forth between the 19th century and modern day. Josie's side is told through numerous texts and e-mails and Elias' through his letters to Josephine and his friends. Then of course, there is the half written novel that is written to try and bring the mystery of Josephine together.

While the story wasn't my favorite, due to historical inaccuracies regarding the modernized style of 18th century dialogue, the concept and how is was told in a hybrid epistolary form was fun to read. Josie gets as caught up with Elias and his story, just as much as Elias gets caught up with Josephine and wondering is she was real or an imagined women who was drummed up from a life on loneliness.

I especially enjoyed how personal the story got on Josie's side; just as you really getting into a good part of a letter or a novel, a text message shows up. Any book lover understands that annoyance! The ending was not what I was expecting, but it was a delightful conclusion that still leaves a little wondering and question asking.