The Second Journal of Lettice Moore – Book Review
Some of you may remember that I reviewed The Journal of Lettice Moore last year, and I am so happy to tell you the second book in this series is out now. The Second Journal of Lettice Moore returns readers to the quiet coastal town of Tidebury in 1905, where ordinary lives are woven from countless small moments. I am so excited to tell you all about this book in my spoiler-free review.
When I finished The Journal of Lettice Moore, I said I truly hoped she continued writing. So when I found out there was a second journal, I was thrilled. I couldn’t wait to return to Tidebury and spend more time with Lettice.
And I’m so happy to say this book gave me everything I was hoping for and more.
The Second Journal of Lettice Moore picks up right where the first book left off, bringing us back to the quiet coastal town of Tidebury in 1905. Lettice is still cycling from house to house with her basket of fresh fish, still greeting the familiar faces she’s known for years. On the surface, not much has changed. But as any good journal keeper knows, there is always more going on beneath the surface.
That’s what I love most about Jelina Bertow’s writing. She doesn’t need big dramatic moments to pull you in. The magic is in the small things. A conversation that lingers a little longer than expected. A friendship that quietly deepens. A moment where Lettice notices something about a neighbor that no one else seems to see. These are the moments that make this book feel so real and so special.
One thing that really stood out to me in this second journal is how Lettice is growing. She’s still the same observant, thoughtful woman we fell in love with in the first book, but there’s a new layer here. She’s starting to notice that not every person she meets is as open as they seem. Some people carry things they don’t show. And Lettice, with her quiet way of paying attention, begins to see those hidden burdens. It’s subtle, and Bertow handles it beautifully without ever making it feel heavy or forced.
Just like the first book, this one reads like discovering a real journal tucked away in an old drawer. Lettice’s voice is gentle and warm, but there’s a sharpness to the way she sees the world that keeps surprising you. She picks up on things most people would miss, and the way she writes about them makes you want to slow down and pay more attention to your own life.
The rhythm of village life in Tidebury is still one of my favorite things about this series. The harbor, the weekly routines, the familiar faces and their little quirks. Bertow makes it feel like a place you’ve actually visited. You know the streets. You know the people. And with each entry Lettice writes, you feel like you know them a little better.
If you loved the first journal, you will absolutely love this one. It has the same peaceful, atmospheric feeling, the same beautiful writing, and the same quiet wisdom that made the first book so special. But it also goes a little deeper, and I think that’s exactly what a good sequel should do.
I really hope there will be a third journal. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Lettice or to Tidebury just yet.
If you enjoy historical fiction with a gentle pace, rich characters, and the kind of writing that makes you stop and think, this series is for you. You can get The Second Journal of Lettice Moore on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions.
5 stars from me!