I was… unsure of what to rate this book, which is why I’m giving it a 3-star rating. I didn’t particularly LOVE any of the characters, though Oliver and Faith were fun side characters. Josie herself, while I loved that she was finding herself and working through her grief after her father’s death, was just a bit obnoxious. “I’m in love with Elias” was the biggest case of instantly falling in love with someone you know nothing about that I’ve ever seen. Also… Elias and Josephine weren’t THAT great of a love story to be obsessed with. The writing style was also a bit confusing, alternating between letters, the novel, texts, and emails. Overall, still an enjoyable book but one I wouldn’t really recommend as a favorite.

Such an endearing story with a bit of romance and mystery. At first I was thrown by the structure of the story, which is told through letters, texts, and emails. But then I started to see that it made the story that much exciting to read. Josephine and Elias are two different characters from different time periods. There was a bit of a mystery as to why they were even connected, and I think this is what drove the story to an exciting end. Then we see these other characters thrown into the story, one being my favorite, Oliver, and filled the story with warm and sweet moments. The only thing I did not like was how long it was. I would also get annoyed when the letters would switch from perspectives. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I recommend it to those that like stories with a bit of mystery, romance, and historical fiction! Thank you to Netgalley for the copy in exchange for an honest review. 4 out of 5 stars

I've always liked a good epistolary novel since I first read Griffin and Sabine back when I was too young to understand what the story was about. When I began reading Dearest Josephine, I kind of knew what to expect. But I was wrong. I believed that this would be a romance told across time - and to an extent it was. However to me the true heart of the story was seeing that grieving isn't the same for everyone - and no matter the relationship, it is okay to feel grief. Josie and Elias are so lost in their grief and longing that in the beginning it was hard for me to connect with them. But as the story moves on and they begin to grow as individuals I grew to really care about them. My favorite character by far though is Josie's friend Faith. Her story is also very touching and the relationship between her and Josie is beautiful. I really enjoyed this book more than I thought I would and I would easily recommend this title to anyone looking for a story with good character growth.

Title: Dearest Josephine
Author: Caroline George

Ch: 29

Pg: 384

Genre: Dual time historical contemporary

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher: Thomas Nelson



I’m normally not a fan of books told through letters and emails. But Dearest Josephine I loved and I think that was because of the dual timeline of the novel. You have Josie De Clare in the present trying to figure out life without her dad. And then Elias Roch in the past.


Josie starts to fall in love with him through his letters when she meets Oliver McLaughlin a very real man in the present.


Josie was easy to relate to. Not the whole letter thing but the trying to fugue out life after losing a parent thing. Because it’s something that I’ve dealt with and in some ways still dealing with. All in all Dearest Josephine was an enjoyable read.






I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Dearest Josephine has all the components that should make me love it: a split-time epistolary, told through emails, text messages, letters, and a manuscript. But the more I read, the more questions I had--and the more concerned I was about the choice our heroine would make in the end. The writing itself was lovely, and the story even rather suspenseful, but I'm still trying to understand parts of the plot.

If you're not afraid of a bit of fantasy mixed in with your romance, and if you don't mind a tale where all the loose ends aren't tied up, Dearest Josephine is an epistolary you should add to your TBR. (And once you've read it, maybe we can chat about your thoughts and how kind and patient the real hero of the story was!)

(I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.)

A story told through letters. It was a sweet story that once into it I didn’t want to stop reading. Enjoyed it.
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy.

I really enjoyed this novel. It made me feel cozy, safe, and loved.

The novel is told through emails/texts, letters, and a manuscript. Each of these modes tells a different story that are also all kind of the same. I enjoyed this structure but also found it confusing at times. Occasionally, I mixed up the storylines because of the similarities. However, I read this book over the span of almost two months because of school; if I read it within a week or so, I don’t think I would have been as confused.

The novel is more of a historical fiction, so I found that it was slow and boring at times. Somehow the author still made me love the book and feel connected to it.

I loved all of the characters in this book— surprising, I know. The characters were all fleshed out and stood on their own. The author definitely could have gone a little deeper into each character; this would have made the novel more meaningful.

My biggest complaint is that there is no clear-cut explanation. It is hard to describe this without spoiling the book, so I’ll be vague. If you read the book, you’ll know what I mean. Maybe it was intentional? It’s just not my vibe; I prefer all the loose ends to be tied into a bow.

Overall, I loved this novel. You know when you love something but can’t really explain it? That’s me with this novel. I just feel a lot of love for it. If I’m honest with myself, I would probably give it four stars based on the actual novel, but I’m love brings it to five.

A well crafted novel told in various parts, through letters, a novel, text and email, about a young woman struggling to deal with the death of her father on the crossroads of life altering decisions. Josie discovers the letters of a young man named Elias Roch, who lived over 100 years ago, written to a woman who shares the same name as herself. Through the letters she falls in love with the writer, but can she love a man who lived over 100 years in the past?

A beautiful time slip novel that blends past and present, real life and fiction, that follows two people dealing with love and loss in different centuries. Smart, and well written, I loved the supportive friends that Josephine had around her, Faith and Oliver. It is an intriguing story with many twists along the way, and a wonderfully satisfying ending that I adored.

A thoroughly modern historical romance, and an utter delight to read. Perfect for people like me who wish that they could slip into the pages of a book, who love a well done period drama, and want to live in a different time period. A delightfully imaginative read, with truths that shine through.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

DNF. This book wasn't for me. The blurb drew me in, but I could not get into the story. I'm surprised, because the concept is right up my alley. Based on some of the 4 and 5-star reviews, I'm sure many other readers will enjoy it.

I love epistolary novels, so I really wanted to love this one! Sadly, I just could not get into this story. I struggled with the writing style and had a hard time connecting with the characters. Rarely do I DNF a story, but sadly, I just couldn’t finish this one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Dearest Josephine is a completely unique reading experience blending epistolary correspondence in contemporary times and the Regency era, along with a serialized novel interspersed throughout. All three concepts are intricately tied together and unite themes of hope, longing, LOVE, and acceptance.

My favorite part of reading this novel is how it respects and acknowledges the power of story and a reader’s connection to fictional characters. I experienced this connection to the story personally and through the character Josie’s eyes as she discovered the serialized novel and its mysterious ties to her life. Twists, turns, and unpredictable surprises lay ahead for Josie and the reader.

With the slightest hints of mystery and an absolutely endearing cast of characters, everything from modern humor, a nosy knitting club, society and setting of the Regency era, and layers of friendship and connection are depicted vibrantly and with skill. I’m looking forward to whatever Caroline George pens next, and I dearly hope she returns to the YA genre again!

I listened to the audiobook version of this novel and was delighted with the accents of the characters and unique audio cues for instant messages. ❤

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the review copy. This is my honest review.

This book was absolutely adorable and very creative. I was immediately drawn to the differing mediums used to tell the story and fell in love with Elias Roch pretty quickly. I was caught up in the mystery of the book and was equally surprised and pleased with the resolution. Josephine at times could be a bit broody but I appreciated her candor to admit her wrongs. Overall I look forward to enjoying a cup of tea and scones as I rethumb through my Austen and Bronte Novels.

It was very hard to put his book down. This novel combines writing that is full of emotion with a storyline that haunts. There is wit sprinkled throughout. Josie is a very strong character and I loved getting to know her. I also loved the letters.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Terrific historical fiction which kept me engaged and reading for hours on end to the detriment of housework :) I will be purchasing several copies for gifts this year.

Thanks to Thomas Nelson & NetGalley for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own. #DearestJosephine #NetGalley

I admit I was confused after finishing this novel, so this review will most likely also be confusing, as the story was told in a variety of styles: via letters written in 1820 from Elias Roche to Josephine De Clare, also via a novel written by Elias about the same 1820 characters, and through contemporary texts and emails to/from Josie De Clare to her friends in 2020. Even after finishing this novel, I was never sure what was real, what was imaginary, was time travel involved, or ghosts? Are Josephine and Josie the same person and if so, how can that be as they are separated by 100 years?

While I loved the book cover art, I can't firmly say whether I liked this book or not. I liked Josie, not Josephine. I liked Oliver, not Elias. I liked the friendship between Faith and Josie. I liked the spooky house Josie inherits from her father. I liked the conclusion of Dearest Josephine, and think it would make a great book club choice - guaranteed to provoke a stimulating discussion.

The cover of this book instantly caught my attention, so I decided to take a chance on a new-to-me author, Caroline George. The book summary grabbed my attention as well, and even though it wasn't my typical reading genre, I went for it. What I didn't realize was that the format of the book is a series of letters, texts, emails, and even excerpts from the fictional hero's novel. It had the potential to be confusing had the author not labeled each transition (thank you!), but Elias' reality vs the story told through his novel could get confusing. I enjoyed both Elias and Josie's characters, as they were both searching for love. Not just any kind of love, but the kind of love that is unconditional, accepting the flaws and quirks of one another. Throughout the novel I was drawn in by the way the two main characters complemented each other, but I had no idea what was going to happen or how things would work out. The unpredictability was great for the tension of the novel. I did find the ending very satisfying (there was closure...yay!), however, I was still left with questions. I'm still trying to decide if I'm ok with that or not...lol. Overall, I enjoyed Caroline George's style of writing with the mix of humor, mystery, and clean romance. I look forward to reading more of her work!


**I received a free copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinions, which I did.**

2.5⭐️

“If you are a ghost, then haunt me. If you are a figment I’d my imaginations, do appear once more, for I long to hear your voice.”

Josie De Clare recently lost her father to cancer and is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. She is determined to finish the final project left by her father, a rural manor home that has seen better days, when she stumbles across letters- ones addressed for a Josephine De Clare dated from 200 years ago. This is how she comes to know Lord Elias Roch. As the past and present merge, Josie is determined to solve the mystery around Eli’s and how navigate missing a person she’s never known, one who seems to know her more than she knows herself.

If you liked The Lake House, then chances are this is a book that you’ll enjoy and might even get swept up in. However, if you’re the type whose brain tries to put the pieces together and solve the ending before it happens: stay away. I spent most of my time reading desperately thinking “MAKE THIS MAKE SENSE”, and I never got that satisfaction. I just tried to describe this book to someone, and failed miserable simply because this book has too many convoluted things going on.

This story is told through letters, texts, emails, and a novel manuscript. It was a unique and interesting way to have a story unfold, but at times I felt like ping pong ball being batted around. The two main stories were swirling around each other in disjointed ways, and it made it confusing to try and follow the line of events.

This was a BIG IDEA plot. Elias and Josie are time crossed lovers, serendipitously meeting the other right in the moment when they needed someone to lean on. But the big downfall of this BIG IDEA plot lacked depth and was entirely too instalove-y to do justice for this big idea. There wasn’t enough emotion or connection developed for it to not only work, but to make sense. The story dwells so much on how they are soulmates who have the misfortune of living separate lives. Or perhaps more aptly, they are haunting each other from 200 years apart.

I think setting this book in the YA genre was also part of the problem I had with it. These characters are 18 year olds waxing and lamenting about “once in a lifetime” loves. There is a storyline with Josie’s best friend, Faith, where her family are pressuring her to get married and settle down with her longtime boyfriend as a freshman in college. Maybe if this had been a New Adult or Contemporary Fiction some of these storylines could have fit more, but within the context of this one it just didn’t work. It just came across as really childish and melodramatic to have these teens going on about such cliches such as “finding the missing piece of them they didn’t know they were missing”, etc.

This book so desperately wanted to be something more than it ended up being. It was just too big a premise to be done well, almost like it was doomed to fail regardless of what happens within the pages. Unfortunately, this one didn’t resonate with me.

“Our hearts are muscles, and muscles have memory. So, of course our hearts can’t forget. They remember what hurts them. They remember so they can grown strong.”

In all honesty, Dearest Josephine took some time to get going. It is a slow-paced read, which isn't necessarily bad, but I put it down a lot and elected to read other books instead of continuing with this story. That being said, when the plot picked up, I was hooked. Dearest Josephine may be the most romantic book that I have ever read. George, the author, writes in certain styles depending on which character is narrating, and it just comes together so perfectly. I highly recommend checking out this recently published title.

Overall this book wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. It is written almost completely in letters - sometimes between people in different time periods - which is a very interested premise and format, but made me feel more at a distance from the main character. This made the book a bit of a slower read, though for the format it uses it is done well.