Loved the story and characters and superb writing. Highly recommend for a clean romance with christian undertones.

love a good flashback to my theatre days. the angst that comes with the stage is a force to be reckoned with!!

"Positively, Penelope" was everything I was hoping it would be after falling in love with the main characters in "Authentically, Izzy." Although I have more in common with bookish Izzy than her fashionista thespian cousin, I found Penelope to be surprisingly relatable with her genuine sweetness and clumsy antics. My favorite thing about this book has to be all the Rambo references in honor of Pepper's late dad, who lovingly read all of her books and offered his feedback on how to fit in his favorite movie hero. I hope to see some more Rambo references in "Loyally, Luke." Some of my favorite quotes that capture the essence of Penelope:

"I can tell this is going to be a delicious mystery. My scalp is tingling at the possibilities."

"Sunshine and sugar have to be one of the best happiness combos in the world."

"I'd rather be hopeful and disappointed than to have tempered expectations. That just sounds like eating generic chocolate instead of the name brand."

"She painted the world with melodies and joy."

"And the perfection continued with laughter and flour."

And a perfect kissing quote that you will just have to read for yourself!

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

In a Nutshell: Quite similar to the first book of the series, in both good points and the not-so-good points. I liked the first one better for the bookish bits. A fun read, if you are okay with the never-ending emails and postscripts, and with the repeat of the formula from Book One.

Story Synopsis:
The youngest Edgewood sibling, twenty-three-year-old Penelope, has just landed on the beautiful island of Skymar for a three-month internship with the local Darling House Theatre. As a lover of musicals, she brings with her boundless energy and a tendency to burst into song, both of which are somewhat unnerving to the serious theatre owner, Matt Gray, though his brother Alec seems fascinated by the American whirlwind.
Penelope starts her venture with her whole heart, but deep within, she longs to be taken seriously, as most people around her seem to focus only on her clothes and her chirpiness instead of on her brain. To add to her woes, someone is stealing her marketing ideas. The only moral support she has locally, other than her dear family back at home, are Matt’s seven-year-old daughter Iris, and a mysterious GK - an online friend who is helping her resurrect the theatre. Will Penelope’s endless positivity be enough to sustain her spirits and get Darling House back on track?
The book comes to us mostly through various emails and text messages, exchanged across the Edgewood siblings (Penelope, Izzy, Josephine and Luke all reprising their roles from the first book), the online theatre group that GK and Penelope are a part of, and the Gray family.

You might get a sense of déjà vu from my review, but many of the points I have to cover here are the same as my feedback for the first book of this series, ‘Authentically Izzy.’ The two books make a perfect pair in terms of vibe, storyline, characters, and writing.

Bookish Yays:
😍 Penelope is a tough character to get right. She is THIS close to being over the top, what with her constant bubbliness, her habit of filling her messages with exclamation marks (and even CAPS at times), and her obsession with musicals. (She is also crazy about Julie Andrews, but I totally get that!) Her personality seemed to combine traits of Marianne (from Jane Austen’s ‘Sense and Sensibility’), Rebecca (from the Shopaholic series), and Giselle (from the movie ‘Enchanted’.) Why I still like Penelope is because of how the author wrote her with depth. She is considered an airhead by many other characters just because of her fondness for trivialities such as fashion and musicals, but she has brains and a keen understanding of character. She isn’t just a ‘spoonful of sugar’ but a barrelful of sugar accompanied with an equal amount of spice. Rarely do I love a character who has barely anything in common with me, but in this case, I did.
😍 The Edgewood sibling bond is evident even in this book, though the focus of the email interactions isn’t as focussed on them as the first time around. Josephine, Luke and Izzy still have the same strong personalities as they displayed in ‘Authentically Izzy’. I liked how the author didn’t give them any character makeovers but retained their spirit.
😍 Of the new characters, the most impactful are clearly Matt (loved his full name – Matthias! What a welcome change from the more typical Matthew!) and his little daughter Iris. Matt begins as the typical grump whose ice melts under the sunshine that is Penelope. But the reasons for his reserved nature is nicely sketched in the plot, unlike most romcoms where we don’t even know why the MMC acts so standoffish. Iris is the sweetest child, and I wish there had been more on her on page. The little we see of her is enough to show that she is a doll! The father-daughter connection between Matt and Iris is adorable.
😍 For a romcom with such a “positive” lead character, the book covers some intense themes such as grief, heartbreak, and childhood trauma. What I especially appreciate was how these were inserted naturally in the plot without them feeling like some kind of social agenda.
😍 Skymar still doesn’t seem fictional. (I think it is based on the Skye island in Scotland.) The portrayal of its natural features combined with its architectural landmarks and cultural heritage makes me wish it were an actual place.
😍 This time, I was prepared for the book to have Christian elements. Just as in the first book, I appreciated this kind of approach to Christian fiction, where faith is not imposed on readers through biblical verses and fire-and-brimstone homilies, but is a routine part of the characters’ conversation. Penelope also remarks on various ritualistic ideas such as going to mass and saying prayers in a practical manner. One thing I wasn’t prepared for, but I adored, is the inclusion of a divorced single dad as the main character. (I can see over-conservative believers protesting against such a character in this genre, but to me, these elements were a glorious depiction of true Christianity – accepting and non-judgemental.)
😍 The above obviously ensures that the romance is clean, except for a few kisses in the final quarter. (Penelope has a great rationale for kisses being acceptable in God’s eyes – I couldn’t help but laugh at her research!)

Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 The writing pattern is the same as the first book, so my experience is the same. The book begins with a barrage of emails across various characters, and after about one-third, it shifts to a mix of email communication and third-person narrative. I enjoyed the combo approach better, as the emails, with their overabundant PS and PPS and PPPS add-ons, began getting on my nerves after a while.
😐 One factor that I truly missed from the first book was its focus on books, courtesy Izzy’s work as a librarian and her passion for bookish quotes. This time around, Penelope is a theatre and musical lover, so all her character makes plenty of references to musicals. Thankfully, my knowledge of old Hollywood musicals is pretty strong, so the mentions of favourite movies such as ‘The Sound of Music’ and of stars like Gene Kelly and Julie Andrews made me nostalgic. But I have not seen ‘My Fair Lady’ (I know, I know!!!), so those trivia went above my head. I am not sure how these elements would work with any reader who isn’t so aware of old musicals.

Bookish Nays:
😒 Again, I find it unbelievable that family members would exchange so many emails in 2023. Of course, it is a tad more sensible this time because of the time and location difference. But seriously, don’t US residents use WhatsApp for family chats? (If my family members start emailing me so frequently and in such length, I’ll block them!)
😒 At 410+ pages, this is quite lengthy for the romcom genre. Thankfully, I was more prepared for the writing style this time, so I didn’t take as long to read the book. But many of the plot points could have been crisper.
😒 The love triangle, which was barely there tbh, was a dud even this time. As I have mentioned before, triangles make sense only when we feel the tug between the two competing characters. But when the resolution of the triangle is clear from the very first start, it is pointless and boring.
😒 The mystery of who is stealing Penelope's marketing ideas is not at all hard to guess. The clues are quite obvious, so it is tiresome to wait for the characters to realise what you already know.
😒 I think the book went a bit overboard on the fairy tale elements. A few plot developments seem to occur just to give Penelope an opportunity to depict her passion for fairy tales (and her obsession with occasion-appropriate fashion), even when they didn’t fit into the natural flow of the story.

All in all, despite the few issues I had, I enjoyed this story *almost* as much as the first book. The approach is quite similar, but Izzy’s bookish introversion made me connect more to her than Penelope’s bombastic positivity and fashion-passion. Still, the story is as promised, and will work nicely for a light read, as long as you are prepared for the epistolary style.

Though the two books are sequential, they work well as a standalone. But being the series freak that I am, I would obviously recommend you read both the books in the right order, as you get a wonderful introduction to the Edgewoods in the first book.

The third book is already in the works, and it will be focussed on Luke, who is the most sensible and sarcastic of the siblings. Considering my fondness for all things pragmatic, I can’t wait to see what awaits Mr. Logical Luke in the next work. The ending of this book has already laid the groundwork for his story.

3.75 stars. (Same official rating as the first book, but it’s more like 3.8 for that one and 3.7 for this one.)

My thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the DRC of “Positively, Penelope”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

This follow-up to Authentically, Izzy is another gentle romance told partly in an epistolary format. Penelope's optimism is a breath of fresh air, and the hints of mystery and intrigue that accompany the romance make this novel a real page-turner. It was really fun to return to Skymar and its people, and to follow the peaks and valleys of a budding grumpy/sunshine relationship. Just as the first book was littered with literary references, this one includes many allusions to musicals, which added another fun dimension. I didn't enjoy this one quite as much as the first, but it's still a great read for fans of wholesome romance stories where family plays a significant role.

The story makes justice to the name, Positively, Penelope shows us the bright and positive Penelope story, So different for Authentically, Izzy but still familiar, it totally makes sense for Penelope to end with a grumpy single dad. I love them and I would read their story 30x more.

This was such a charming read. I loved the texts and emails in the storytrelling. and thought it entered a different vibe to the story.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Delightful, fun, wonderfully written and precious! I loved this book and the unique way in which it was written! Pepper Basham creates worlds within her books that I want to live in! Definitely worth the read! This book was provided to me through Netgalley. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Penelope just radiates positive energy, she is very uplifting. Her energy spreads to those around her while working at the theatre. Matt and Izzy are a cute father daughter duo, their inclusion of Penelope into their lives was seamless and entertaining. Loved reading this book, great to see what Izzy and Brody are up to.

Positively Penelope is positively delightful, as we are transported once again Skymer, a fictional island that is a cross between Scotland and Switzerland.

Penelope is a dreamer that has personality that permeates the atmosphere around her. She is light, and hope and all the happy things that many in our world turn away from. Wanting nothing but the best for the people around her, Penelope moves, heaven and earth to make good things happen to the gray family and the darling House theater. I love how she refused to quit, no matter how many hiccups came her way in the revitalization of the old theater.

In the town where I live, we have an old vaudevillian theater that our area has watched flourish, then succumb to a fire, and be rebuilt better than it was before. So this entire story had a tender place in my heart also being a theater brat at one time, Penelope’s determination was heartwarming, and even made me feel like anything is possible.

Oh, Matthias, he was a delight to read. Seeing hints of a Scottish accent, played right to my Scottish heart. Watching his heart open up after a couple years of grief and turmoil was definitely the highlight. He is a passionate man that grieves as hard as he loves.

Their chemistry is positively perfect in every way.

Positively, Penelope
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Pepper D. Basham

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Penelope Edgewood is practically positive in every way, so when, fresh out of college, she is awarded a paid internship to help save a century-old theater on the island of Skymar, she jumps at the chance. After all, a crumbling theater needs the special touch of someone who reveres all things vintage and adores the stage.

Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems at Darling House Theatre. Finances are in shambles, the local theater group is disenchanted, and the two brothers, Matt and Alec Gray, can’t seem to see eye-to-eye about how to run their theatrical business. So, of course, it’s the perfect place for Penelope to shine her own personal brand of sunshine.

With a little help from GK, the person emailing her encouragement along the way, she puts all her heart into helping the Grays save Darling House. But between Matt’s ever-present skepticism, Alec’s tendency to treat Penelope a little too much like the “princess” she thinks she wants to be (until someone actually started treating her that way), a grandfather who is stuck in his grief, and a mysterious person stealing Penelope’s marketing ideas, she’s not sure her optimism is enough to make a happily-ever-after of her own story, let alone The Darling House’s.

Between an adorable little girl, a matchmaker, a sea monster or two, and a copious amount of musical references, can Penelope draw enough confidence from her faith, her family, and her adoration of all things Julie Andrews, to find the thief and save the theater . . . without getting her heart broken in the process?

My Thoughts: This book number two in the Skymar series. This is written as an epistolary novel, just like the first book in the series, “Authentically, Izzy,” focusing on emails, texts, chatting, and emails with some conversation mixed in. Not everyone will like this style of writing but it really works for this storyline. Penelope travels out of the county for an internship at the theatre, however, when she arrives, she sees that the theatre is in complete disarray, mainly because the two owners, also brothers, cannot agree on anything. As Penelope puts her heart and soul into saving the theatre, will it be enough? This follows the tropes of island living, grumpy v sunshine, and single dad.

Penelope is quirky, energetic, positive, and just infectious. Penelope is a fun character, easily liked, and more easily able to connect to. Mixed in to the romance is a bit of a mystery of who G.K. is. Matt is grumpy, a single dad, and has more grief than others, grief that he has not fully processed. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and creatively woven. The author’s writing style was complex, humorous at times, poignant at times, thought-provoking, and engaging. There is some faith interweaved with the grief that really grabs at your heart but then there is lighter banter that balances it out. So much singing and dancing, you could feel it through the pages. The author did an amazing job with detailing the island life of Skymar. It made me feel like I was there and definitely an island I would love to visit if it existed.

This novel is written differently than most in emails, chats, texts, and other communicative details, however, it is relatively easy to follow and know which voice is speaking. The conversations between the characters were the best. I loved the reference to the classic movies, some of which I grew up on. I highly recommend picking up this book.

Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham is a fun rom com. I am a huge fan of this author’s books. She is a talented writer and writes the best Christian romance. Here characters in this book were wonderful and the plot was good as well. I found the epistolary format of this book challenging, and this made it really hard to get into this book. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

The second book in Pepper Basham's Skymar series, 'Positively, Penelope" is a delightful sweet romance. I adore this little island country, but even more I enjoy the sarcastic but supportive banter of the Edgewood siblings. The first book, "Authentically, Izzy" was also a fun and lighthearted read, and I'm very much looking forward to book 3 for Luke's story.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the complimentary digital review copy of this title.

Pepper writes the best stories! I always know that if Pepper wrote it, I’m pretty much guaranteed to love it. Penelope is no exception to that rule. This story is charming and delightful and positively perfect! Penelope is impossible not to love and Mathias is pretty wonderful too. I also loved that at least one scene in the book reminded me a bit of one of my favorite movies ever “Enchanted.” I also loved grumpy Luke and all his Rambo references. There is one character that I wanted to completely throttle but I am hoping that we get his story and redemption at some point…so fingers crossed for that!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and also purchased my own Audible copy. All thoughts are my own.

I am a FAN of Pepper Basham's writing before reading Positively Penelope. However, I find this novel difficult to follow and unengaging, so much so that I don't care to finish it. So, this one is a miss for me.

It was fabulous returning to this family and the island of Skymar. I even come to love the side characters. I wouldn't mind a story on the other brother or sister from this book or for the sister of Brody from book #1. Pepper Basham creates characters you can really connect with, emphatize, understand even when not agreeing completely. Yes, even the villian in the end. The familial relationships and dynamics were wonderfully shown.
I enjoyed the nods to all the classic films. I loved the escapades Penny got herself into. She also had a bit of magic in her like a Mary Poppins yet she wasn't cheesy or cliche in anyway. I found the characters written as authentic which added to the flow and enjoyment of the story.
I appreciated the realistic challenges to their romance between the two main characters. I wouldn't classify this as a complete love triangle story. There is one brother who really sees her and this is more of a finding yourself and slowburn romance. I simply loved Penny's birthday outing scene/chapter. You just wanted them to be together but didn't know how. This was a great part of the plot. It was done well and really held this reader's attention. The ending was sweet with a grand yet simple gesture. A perfect ending for the character Penny. I really can hardly wait for Luke's story. He really is a great character. The sister Josephine Martin had even improved from book #1. I found her to be likeable when with the last one not so much. This was a pleasure to read and I reccomend the audiobook as well. The accents are fantastic.

3.75 stars! This was really cute. I loved the small town feel and adventures. Penelope was a very likable character. I loved the ending. Not to give anything away, but it wasn’t your traditional girl follows guy. I thought the premise of Penelope getting hired to help save a small theater and bring it back to life. I’m thinking book 3 will follow her brother Luke.

"Positively, Penelope" by Pepper Basham is a delightful romance novel that enchants readers with its heartwarming story. The book's endearing characters and charming setting come together to create a tale of love and growth. Pepper Basham's writing skillfully captures the emotions and nuances of relationships, making "Positively, Penelope" a feel-good read that leaves a smile on your face. This novel is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys a sweet and uplifting romance that reminds us of the power of love and second chances.

This was a super cute, fun, and fast read. With much of the book written as texts and emails, I read this in less than a day. It made this theater nerd's heart happy.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance digital ARC. All opinions are my own.

A cute clean Christian love story that felt a little cheesy at times, but was otherwise a sweet story. I’m not sure it was particularly memorable for me… but not every book is going to be a five star and that’s ok.