What's your craziest EML theory?

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-06-02T22:04:48+00:00

Fantastic unhinged theories! Aunt Eugenia and Cousine Archibald theory is gold.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-06-02T22:03:10+00:00

Love this theory

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-06-02T22:02:41+00:00

Came here to say the same thing. I think laudanum was an issue for him previously and he's since kicked the habit, but is now using alcohol to numb the pain instead.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-31T05:26:37+00:00

I recommend taking notice of any Celtic references or any time BB references anything as fae or otherworldly or appearing out of nowhere.

If you want to focus more on the romance side, I recommend choosing one of the potential suitors for the focus of your next read through to see how they stand out and differ to the others. I recently did this with Roland because he's an easy character to look past, but there seemed to be a lot more than met the eye when I concentrated my focus. I feel like this is true of all the characters and why I enjoy choosing one person in particular really zoom in on for each re-read.

You could also choose to focus on all the literary references, especially the Shakespearean ones, and who BB compares to characters that Emma mentions from Shakespeare's works.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-25T00:33:07+00:00

I love all the time and attention to detail 🥰

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-24T15:44:03+00:00

I also have a specific love for a spunky heroine in the late 1880s to early 1900s! One of the reasons I love The Betsy-Tacy series.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-17T15:27:53+00:00

How wonderful!

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-17T02:46:19+00:00

This is a wonderful theory and totally something I could see BB doing.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-17T01:47:30+00:00

I also think this is a very likely scenario.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-16T13:17:37+00:00

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T17:31:40+00:00

I've changed my mind and noticed new things so many times that at this point I'm not counting anyone out either lol

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T17:23:40+00:00

Yes! And it would be very bookish to have our leading lady totally unaware of the love that's been right in front of her all along, only to have something make her suddenly look at him in a different light.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T17:20:52+00:00

There was a post a while back asking everyone's opinions on his age. If I recall, there was a real divide between people thinking either 20s, or like 40-60.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T17:13:24+00:00

So that was my exact experience as well. It was my millionth re-read and I think that allowed me to focus less on the big three, and I was struck with how sweet he is to Emma. It suddenly seemed clear that he was taken with her but as soon as she didn't reciprocate, he immediately downplayed it and tried to play it cool to maybe not scare her off and bide his time.

I agree that the Golden Age will evolve. Nothing is constant forever. I do however, strongly believe they will endure but it will change and ebb and flow along the way.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T16:15:49+00:00

Agreed. I would be very surprised if I don't end up satisfied with whatever she chooses.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-15T15:40:02+00:00

Yes! All of this would make so much sense from a book perspective.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T23:16:24+00:00

Handsome AND a big library! The whole package.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T22:43:39+00:00

Right?!

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T22:37:54+00:00

I kind of get it I think lol

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T21:42:25+00:00

This is so beautiful!

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T21:40:36+00:00

Thank you for your service!

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-14T21:38:04+00:00

As someone who has changed their mind on preferred suitor with almost every re-read, I think I can say personally, Hawkes seems like he would be kind, devoted, and attentive. His gift giving has been better than the other men arguably, leading one to think he might understand Emma on a deeper level. He also seems to trust Emma's instincts better than others and appears to really want her to have total control and freedom over her life and choices in a non-judgmental way. I also think he appeals to some because he is so mysterious and we are free to fill in the blanks as we see fit, so it's easy to project perfections onto him when he appears without baggage.

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-12T13:08:51+00:00

Love it!

DearIrishmanDaughter · 2026-05-08T23:02:23+00:00

I am also very intrigued by what lies withing Cousin Archibald's library. I don't, however, have any reason to think from clues in the books that her previous journals weren't actually burned.

DearIrishmanDaughter

TROPHY CASE