Dear Bartleby (Meddle & Mend #4)

Dear Bartleby by Sarah Wallace

One of the things I've enjoyed about Wallace's Meddle & Mend series (and there are a lot of things I love about these books) is that she explores different narrative formats and voices. The first book, Letters to Half Moon Street, is epistolary, then we got a couple with regular prose, and now Dear Bartleby is in a journal format. I don't think I've actually read a book with this type of narrative voice in 15 or more years. And I was honestly surprised to find how much I still enjoyed it! Because regardless of the narrative style she chooses, Wallace has created wonderful characters that you can't help but root for.

So, Dear Bartleby is the story of Seb, a wayward prankster whose been kicked out of secondary school, and ends up being sent to live with his brother Gavin, and a whole flock of well-meaning siblings, in-laws and friends in Tutting-On-Cress, who are just older enough to help set him straight and still young enough to empathize with him. The further we get into the series, the more the 'Meddle & Mend' title makes sense because this is the most lovely group of meddlers that band together to create a beautiful found family by taking in anyone in their circle who needs their help.

Seb gets put to work assisting Bertie Finlington interview candidates for a court appointed royal magician. We get a lot more high level magic in this book as the candidates compete through the interview process, and as Seb gets to start his own training. One interesting observation is that none of the characters in any of the books thus far have come at training in magic in exactly the same way, and it's fun to see how their personality and learning style affects their approach.

This book has a bit more character self-reflection in it, by virtue of it's format as a journal, as well as Seb's process of self-introspection and growth. I enjoyed this read a lot, and I continue to highly recommend these books for anyone looking for cozy fantasy, gentle romance, inclusive historical fiction, or just stories of lovely characters finding belonging each in their own way.