This is a sequel to Authentically Izzy, which came out last year. It follows the same epistolary tale structure, consisting mostly of text messages and emails between siblings who are separated by distance, but still near in heart. And while this one follows the life of the youngest sister, Penelope, it's every bit as romantic and captivating as Izzy's story was even though these two sisters couldn't be more dissimilar. (Izzy is introverted, while Penelope is a theater nerd who draws people to her as easily as most beloved fairy tale princesses do.)

While their stories were different, the people, places and locations were the same (or at least similar). And the story was laugh-out-loud hilarious at times, and tender at others. I thoroughly enjoyed it! Pepper Basham is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine.

If you like quirky characters, sibling banter, and romantic plot twists, I highly recommend checking out this story (after you read Authentically Izzy first--you'll get more out of it that way).

Thank you to Pepper Basham, Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

Dear Followers,

If you are in search of a five star read that will leave you with a smile on your face and song in your heart, then look no further than Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham!!!

Penelope, a recent college graduate, has accepted a marketing internship in Skymar. Her main objective is to revive the historic Darling House theater. While once a thriving staple of the community, the Darling House is on the cusp of closure. While Penelope is the perfect person for the job, her jaded employer Matthiases, mistakes her positive outlook for having her head in the clouds. Will Penelope be able to save the Darling House and win over Matthiases in the process? Or will she be forced to return home before finishing the job?

PS: Positively, Penelope is the second book in the Skymar series. It features everyone’s favorite glass is half-full cousin, Penelope Edgewood. I must admit that I was a little apprehensive going into this book because I connected so much with bookish Izzy from Authenticall, Izzy and have limited knowledge of musical theater. Luckily, Pepper Basham wrote a book that is not only accessible, but enjoyable for musical theater novices such as myself.

PPS: I highly recommend reading if you are fans of clean romances that are written in an epistolary format, and feature the grumpy-sunshine trope.

PPPS: Special thanks to Pepper Basham, Thomas Nelson, and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest feedback!

“Sometimes a girl just wants to be rescued now and again. Why is that so wrong?”

This story is one of the most charming and adorably sweet books I’ve read. I couldn’t get enough of Penelope’s “spoonful of sugar” personality, full of bright, vivid optimism and “Grumpy Gray’s” grumpy, cloudy demeanor, which he has good reason to possess.

“Sunshine and sugar have to be one of the best happiness combos in the world. And tea. And chocolate.” Penelope can brighten any corner of the room, or of the world, for that matter. I loved watching her take off across the ocean for a wonderful internship opportunity and see the magic she sprinkled around, the changes she made, and the lives she touched. But I especially loved watching her delve into new emotional territory.

Basham does a phenomenal job of engaging the reader and dropped me right into a beautiful story of love and healing, all through letters, emails, and messages, with several moments of in-person exchanges that completely melted me.

This is the perfect story for those who love grumpy-sunshine, Julie Andrews, theater, magic, single parent romance, and Audrey Hepburn, with a lovely setting in Skymar.

Positively Penelope is a delight in every way!

Content: mild romance

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

I am getting used to Pepper Basham's style of writing but I would recommend people start with Authentically Izzy . The book follows Penelope who is an optimist that works as a marketing intern at a theater. The theater is not what she was she was expecting as it is gloomy as the owners have experienced loss in their life. Not only does it focus on her adventure to save the theater but also a little competition , two brothers vying for her heart and finding her voice. It's quite an enjoyable read.

Positively, Penelope was my first book by Pepper Basham. Told mainly through emails, letters and text messages, this book had a different method to the usual romcom but I was all for it. I enjoyed listening to the audio while simultaneously reading along to the book. I'm keen to read the backlist of this series and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Positively Penelope is an absolutely charming "modern" epistolary novel. Follow along with Penelope's adventures through text messages and emails to save a theatre, the bits that makeup living life together, and even some romance. Witty and charming, this book is an enjoyable read perfect for curling up with a fav drink to sip. I anticipate this book to be especially enjoyed by those who follow friends on social media.

thank you Netgalley for this arc for an honest review.

"Prepare to be charmed by the delightful romcom 'Positively Penelope' by Pepper Basham. With a unique storytelling format through emails and texts, Basham weaves a heartwarming tale of love and self-discovery. Penelope's joyful and fairy-tale-believing personality shines as she works her magic not only on the struggling theater but also on the guarded and serious Matt. Their romance unfolds in a truly captivating and inspirational way, leaving readers with a warm and fuzzy feeling. Set in a unique backdrop, 'Positively Penelope' combines enchanting characters with a touch of whimsy, creating a truly delightful reading experience. This book is a must-read for fans of romantic, feel-good stories!"

Just when I thought I couldn’t love a book family more, along came Positively, Penelope. I absolutely loved Authentically, Izzy and this book is even better! Penelope’s character really stood out in the first book so I couldn’t wait to read her story.

Penelope is a ray of sunshine that we all need in our lives. She does everything with joy, is prepared for anything, loves big, and enjoys making others happy. Oh and did I mention she carries a huge “Mary Poppins bag” and loves hats and shoes?

This story is full of twist, hiccups, princesses, fairytales, tons of Julie Andrews and Gene Kelly references, family banter, friendship, and love. The first half of the story is told mostly through emails, texts, and occasional phone calls between the family members which are so fun. It really makes you feel like part of the family.

This book also has quite the troupe combo that includes a jaded grumpy hero & sunshine heroine,
single dad with an amazing little girl, workplace forced proximity, a bit of an age gap, he falls first, and of course a love triangle. Oh and that ending. Be still my heart!

I would definitely recommend this series to everyone and I can’t wait for the next book so we can see how Luke’s story develops.

I was provided a copy of the book from the author/publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.

Positively, Penelope by Pepper Basham is an absolute gem! This book captured my heart with its enchanting blend of romance and music. Pepper Basham has truly outdone herself, delivering a delightful and magical story that left me feeling uplifted and satisfied. The characters in this book are incredibly endearing, and the witty humor sprinkled throughout adds an extra layer of enjoyment. What's more, the author seamlessly weaves in beloved musical and pop culture references, making the reading experience all the more enjoyable. And just when you think you have it all figured out, a hint of mystery adds an intriguing twist.

Such a refreshingly fun and romantic story!

I enjoyed this book as much as I did the first installment of the series (Authentically, Izzy). This is also written mainly as an epistolary novel with texts, letters, emails, chats, etc. I appreciated with this novel, as with the first, that the written messages were realistic and not just long info dumps.

I adored Penelope, who has traveled to island of Skymar for an internship in the theater. She soon comes to realize that the theater is in trouble, both financially and because the two brothers, Alec and Matt, who run it, do not agree about anything. Penelope loves movies, theater, and has a deep adoration for all things magical and romantic. She wants to help save it, but there are so many things against them.

This novel is engaging from the first page and Penelope's jubilant, quirky personality is infectious. There's a bit of mystery (who is GK, the person with whom Penelope has been corresponding?), lots of singing, and captivating banter between all of the characters. There is a great deal of humor, but some very poignant and faith filled moments to balance out the lighter ones. The overarching theme of dealing with grief hit home so squarely with me, and the author's words brought tears to my eyes more than once. I know that the author has had some deep grief of her own and the way she conveys it on the page elevated this book for me beyond the usual rom-com.

What a lovely book, and I cannot wait for Luke's story! Mr. Cynical better watch out!

I had so much fun reading this book and just in time for its launch day. The characters were fun to reas, I laughed so hard and maybe cried a little, I enjoyed this one more than the last book of the series. I love Julie Andrews and the references in this book pertaining to her was what I needed!!!! And also Iri’s Mary Poppin’s bag??? Too funny and relatable.

Happy Pub day to the author and thank you Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I am smiling from ear to ear as I think about this book! The characters were so authentic and endearing and the story was filled with hope, humor, mystery, and romance. And can I just say that Pepper Basham writes the best kissing scenes! This was mostly an epistolary novel that took me a moment to jump into like coming into the middle of a conversation but it didn’t take long to get into the flow. I loved the banter between Penelope and her family members whose texts and emails gave the readers knowledge of what had transpired and lent some insight into Penelope’s feelings and inner thoughts. Penelope herself was so upbeat, kind, enthusiastic, courageous, hopeful, persistent and smart. She sprinkled sunshine and baked goods wherever she went sometimes to the chagrin of others including closed off and curmudgeonly Matthias who was in desperate need of her positivity. If you enjoy books that will leave you feeling good and wishing for more then this book is for you. I can’t wait for Luke’s story! I received a complimentary copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley and this voluntary review contains my honest opinions.

I loved this book. Penelope was quirky and delightful. She’s one of my favorite heroines ever. She doesn’t play games. She’s honest even when it could be embarrassing. She chooses to see the positive in things and in people. She’s full of pixie dust and fairy tales. She’s the perfect foil for Matthias who has been hurt and guards his heart.

I loved their interactions. Matthias’ sarcastic humor and the way Penelope responded was priceless. I didn’t want the book to end. I can’t wait to read about Luke and to see who could possibly win his heart. His text responses were so funny. I enjoyed it all from beginning to end.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for providing me with a free e-copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Oh, the fun and banter continued where it the readers were left after Authentically Izzy.

I loved every private joke, thoughts and friendships shared through the texts and emails, which was the majority method of how this story unfolded.

I loved Penelope’s love for all thinks Julie Andrews and specifically The Sound of Music, having watched that a few times.

But what I loved the most was the friendship development between bubbly Penelope and grumpy, more to the story Matt.

There was even a villain in this story (though I knew from the start who that was).

And little Iris and her love for all things princess was adorable.

I treasured the lesson of moving on after great loss, focusing on what you still have versus what you lost and to focus on your current blessings.

Can not wait for Luke’s story!

Penelope takes an internship in Skymar to help revitalize a historic theater during it's centennial celebration. A new big name studio has come to town and seems to keep stealing her ideas. Is there a mole at the theater? I loved this book and absolutely adored the characters that Pepper Basham created! Penelope is such a fun but relatable character and I really enjoyed how her bubbly self was able to break through the grief and sorrow of some of the characters and bring about change. This book is such a fun read. I enjoyed the fact that a lot of the story is told through texts and emails. Highly recommend for lovers of contemporary romance. Can't wait to read the next book in the series.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Positively, Penelope, by Pepper Basham, is “practically perfect in every way.” There is a sunshine / grumpy aspect to the story, and one of the most incredibly sweet romances imaginable. I absolutely love Penelope. She is all rainbows, princesses, glitter, and sunshine. I read Authentically, Izzy first and I thought it was an amazing book, but wow, Penelope’s story is even better, even if she has trouble finishing it at times. The sibling love and family aspect is one of my favorite parts of the book. Also, when reading the text messages and emails between everyone it seems like you’re part of the family too. I can’t wait to read Luke’s story next!

I was provided a copy of the book from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the eARC of this book!

Positively, Penelope follows Penelope (of course) as she gets her chance to go to Skymar and participate in an internship with a local theater, The Darling House. A theater that has seen better days, she determines to help the owners of the theater, the Gray family, bring it back to life. Problems arise when she notices that a rival theater company is somehow stealing her ideas for the Darling House. Plus, she has caught the eye of the two Gray brothers, businessman Alec and single father Matt.

First, I loved Penelope's character! She loves happy endings, she doesn't deny the troubles of the world, and she is kind. She is an overall likable character! Plus, it never hurts to have a love for the great Julie Andrews - I could relate with her in that regard! Granted, I have never met a person as positive as her, but I don't doubt there are people in the world like that. Also, I appreciated how the author balanced Penelope's super positive outlook with Matt Gray's somewhat pessimistic outlook on life. However, Matt learns as the story progresses that it's okay to dream and be positive again. Their relationship is a great example of the grumpy/sunshine trope, and I loved it. It was well done! I will say, as the story moved forward, the anticipation over Penelope and Matt's relationship had me thinking, 'Get together already!!!'

I enjoyed the progression of the story and the pacing was perfect, in my opinion. Compared to Izzy's story, it felt like there was more at stake in Penelope's. I enjoy plenty of conflict in the books I read (I blame my creative writing professor a couple of years ago for this haha).

Ultimately, should you read this book? YES! It is a sweet, easy read with complex emotions sprinkled throughout, most notably grief. If you haven’t read Authentically, Izzy yet and you’re beginning this one, I do think you could get away with it. However, some of the plot lines mentioned in this one won’t immediately make sense, so I’d recommend you read Authentically, Izzy before starting this one.

There was a lot to like about this book. That being said, I had a really hard time getting into the first half of the book. I didn't love that it was all told by text & email. It made it harder for me to figure out who all the characters were. I hadn't read the first one in the series and maybe I would have known the characters already had I read Authentically Izzy. The story itself stands alone though. At the same time, the texts/emails showed Penelope's personality really well and she is darling. I loved her adoration of Julie Andrews as well as other theater references and her choosing to be a positive person even in difficult circumstances.
Then, just as I had gotten used to the epistolary style of the book, it changed. We only got those texts/emails intermittently and we got to watch the rest of the story ourselves instead of hearing about it past tense. Truthfully, that is when I really got invested in the story. I had to stop reading for the night at a part that was obviously going to be a dramatic part of the story. I was so invested by that point that I dreamed about what would come next. I was dreaming the events so vividly that when I picked up the book again the next morning, I was confused because the place I left off was the beginning of my dream and I thought I'd be reading where my dream stopped. Seriously, I thought it had all happened in the book. So, even though I was slow getting into the story, I was very much into in the second half.
I liked the characters and I loved Penelope's quirkiness. She was adorable with Iris, who was also adorable. And Matthias was pretty dang swoony once he started dancing again.

Mild Christian theme
No sex, language or violence
*I received a complimentary ARC through NetGalley and voluntarily chose to review the book.

I would like to thank netgalley and Thomas Nelson for a free copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

I always enjoy these books, and can't wait for the next one.

Have you ever had a friend who is also a friend of everybody even when they just met? I did! And most likely they always bring laughter in a group. That is what I can imagine with Penelope. I actually read this book during a typhoon here in the Philippines, but this book brought sunshine to my life!

Positively Penelope is a bit different with Authentically Izzy. While the Author still wrote it in epistolary style, Izzy is for the reader in all of us (plus the frustrations we experience to find the love of our lives), and Penelope is to remind us of unforgettable friends and how they bought joy in our lives. I enjoyed reading all of their emails. Especially Luke’s witty and charming responses. I still believe that their relationship are friendship goals! Your can read my first review HERE.

I highly recommend this book to those who love watching movies that brings nostalgia and those that love the theater! It is full of fun and laugh out loud moments, and will charm its way into your heart.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion

P.s.

You can read this as a standalone but I recommend you start first with Authentically Izzy.

PPS.

I can’t wait for Luke’s book! *preordering a year in advance*