This was a fun story and I enjoyed the characters and the island / theatre settings. I'm a huge fan of musical theatre and could see some of myself in Penelope as I'm always singing too! I'll admit that I really struggled to stay engaged whilst reading the book in the email and text format. I acknowledge that this may well be great for some people but for people, especially when reading on the Kindle, it felt quite chop and change and I couldn't settle into the book how I wanted to. Overlooking that, a good read!

Positively, Penelope is the second book in the Skymar series, but I believe it could read just fine as a standalone.

I have to be completely honest... it took me a WHILE to get into this story. Seriously. I would start, read a bit, find myself unable to get into it, put it down and come back later to try again. That's pretty unusual for me in general, but particularly when I've really enjoyed Pepper Basham's books in the past. But honestly, there were points where I really wasn't sure I wanted to continue this one... For me, this definitely had little to do with the writing and the story and everything to do with the epistolary form it was written in. While some of my books as a child were written in that same style, I've found as I've gotten older, it's just not one I love as much as I personally find it harder to get into what is happening in the story. And so, it wasn't until around 30% or so into the story when it broke into more of a typical narrative (with emails and text still mixed in as well) that I really found myself drawn into and enjoying the story at last. Once that happened though, I found myself really glad I hadn't given up on it too soon! There were so many moments that had me laughing out loud and I really found myself finally enjoying these characters so much! I loved the text banter and the chemistry between Matt and Penelope was so good. Theater fans will also appreciate all the musical references throughout too. (There was a lot of Julie Andrews love, which was GREAT!)

If you're like me and you aren't sure about this story in the beginning because of the email format, I would highly encourage you to read on... in the end it was definitely worth it to do so! It was certainly a unique story, and one that I really enjoyed in the end!

**I received a complimentary copy for consideration. All opinions are my own.

Penelope travels to work at a theater in need of revitalizing and finds her very own grumpy boss.

Okay, here's the thing. This book didn't wok for me. It was slow and I wasn't a fan of how a majority of it was written (in the form of emails and texts). The story itself wasn't bad. It had a feel of Pride and Prejudice for me. The MMC was a single father who is the definition of grumpy. This classes immediately with Penelope who is a life-long sunshine. The two of them together had such cute interactions. She worked hard to thaw him! The setting was also cute. BUT, like I said, the way it was put together wasn't my thing. It will have a big audience though, especially for those that love a good grumpy/sunshine.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy. All of my reviews are honest.

Positively Penelope did not disappoint! I was so afraid that it would not be as good as the first book but it was. I laughed outloud and often found myself wishing I could be in Skymar with Penelope & Matt! Sweet friendships, theater, family and love all wrapped together in one amazing story. Pepper Basham, you did it again.

I found this book to be a mixed bag. Some moments I was swooning, others I was confused.

I struggled to get into this book. The first chunk only being in email and text form made it hard to get into a good flow. I had not read the first book so I felt very disconnected to the characters. I was tempted to stop. But I hate to do that so I continued reading. It wasn't until it went into story mode that I enjoyed it.

Penelope and Matt are very cute. The way they fall in love slowly while always being cognisant of past trauma and the realities of the challenges that face them was a breath of fresh air. I really enjoyed how important forgiveness and understanding were throughout the book.

But then the end awkwardly hit. We had the beautiful reunion of Penelope, Matt and Iris followed immediately by emails between the siblings. While on topic, these emails took me out of the previous moment. And then it just ended! I thought maybe I'd missed a few pages but I hadn't.

Overall, I *mostly* enjoyed this book but would recommend reading the first book first or a lot of conversations feel unnecessary

Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for allowing me to read the book early! I was not asked to give a positive review. All opinions expressed are 100% my own..

I started reading Positively, Penelope when I was offered the copy. I did not want to read it so far from the expected publication date, but I could not stop thinking about the characters. The Edgewood family enchants me, and I smile when reading these books.

Penelope Edgewood is in love with the theater. She has Cinderella, Princess, and Mary Poppins vibes down to her very being. When Penelope is offered a chance to work with the Skymarian Theater, she jumps in with both feet. She works closely with Mattias or Matt, the theater manager, along with his sister, Gwynn, brother Alec, his Grandfather, and his daughter Iris, who is precious in every way. Penelope soon finds that the theater is failing financially, and she gets to help the others save this theater.

Positively, Penelope is written in an epistolary style for most of the book, making the story so much fuller. I smiled so much at the conversations between Penelope, Izzy, and Luke. I urge you to snatch up this book immediately, as Penelope will surely bring you joy.

"Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

I fell headlong into this fine fun laugh-out-loud epistolary romance, one I did not want to end. I adored it as much as book one in the series, Authentically, Izzy: It helps to read it first but Positively, Penelope can be thoroughly enjoyed solo.

The author writes such fully fleshed characters, whose flaws just make them more endearing, and this time Penelope, Luke, Izzy, and Josephine -- along with the country of Skymar -- return again to the compelling pages. A must-read destined to become another fav from a versatile author who writes with such verve and wit that all her books will make it to your TBR list. Highly recommended!

Penelope is POSITIVELY charming. She’s a character who is full to overflowing with joy and zest for life and reads as a charming and effusive lead. If Authentically Izzy (1st book in the series) is for book-lovers, this is a story for classic-movie-lovers, as Penelope is a true admirer of icons like Audrey Hepburn and Julie Andrews. An admirer such to the point that it is a chief element of her personality.

I really enjoyed the balanced structure of epistolatory style emails and texts alongside narrative story in this sequel. And this book is a true sequel: the reader is thrust right back into the lives of the Edgewood family and the enchanting islands of Skymar that we were introduced to in Authentically Izzy. I loved the continued character building of the brother Luke and the fact that he called his sister “Penny-girl”.

This book focuses a little more on Penelope’s relationship and interaction with her family and seemed to skate over some of the romantic relationship building with her male lead. I found myself looking for a little more to the “happily ever after” of the story as the ending felt a bit condensed and rushed.

A truly enjoyable read! I found myself giggling and smiling to myself throughout the chapters. It would be the perfect book to mix it up if you’re looking for something that’s different in format.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC of this book!

Penelope Edgewood is very positive, seemingly always looking on the bright side of life. She earns the opportunity to work at a dying theater in Scotland, specifically on the island of Skymar, to help restore it and hopefully get the finances back up to where they used to be. She works with the Gray family, the owners of the theater that has been in their family for generations, and an anonymous person, "GK", to help revitalize the theater and add her unique touch to it.

Two of the brothers, Matt and Alec Gray, seem to have different ideas on how to revive the theater. Alec is a little more welcoming to Penelope while Matt needs a little more time to warm up to Penelope's positivity. Penelope has three months to figure out how to improve this theater. Is her positivity and hope enough to fulfill her goal?

I wanted to like this book. However, it could only garner 2.5 out of 5 stars (again, Goodreads does not allow its users to give half stars; I will keep addressing this until they fix it). I was hoping for an endearing story and looked forward to reading something similar to what was described as an "Elle Woods-like" character. Needless to say, I would watch "Legally Blonde" for the hundredth time rather than read this book.

I could forgive the awkward formatting considering this was an ARC and I was reading this on my Kindle. That being said, the details in the book were scattered, which is understandable considering Penelope's character (hopefully, the author intended to show this as a character flaw). Penelope's character bothered me too. She had her moments where her intelligence and theater acumen shined through, but in other cases, she was what I would describe as ignorantly positive or just positively ignorant. There were so many moments throughout the story that were painfully predictable too.

I also didn't like the formatting and sudden switching from e-mail and text messages to third-person narration. It happened abruptly and it was just a little awkward. I thought that the email exchanges and text messages took away from the understanding of each character. Some of the characters didn't seem fully fleshed out as a result.

I will be positive though and say that I enjoyed the banter between Penelope and Matt and wanted to find out when they finally get together. The romance aspect of this story between these two was pretty much the only thing that I enjoyed from this book.

While some of the parts were cute, most of it was just a little bit of a miss for me.

With many laugh-out-loud moments, readers will find Positively, Penelope is practically perfect in every way. This was just what I needed. A book that is filled with so many wonderfully delectable musical references and a heroine that couldn't help but worm her way into this reader's heart. Penelope has all of the positivity of Anne Shirley, yet a passion for musical theater instead of literature.

Ms. Basham has written another sweet romance with a delightful cast of characters, and an interesting plot that will keep readers entertained from the first to the last page. (I made sure I mentioned romance first, because Ms. Basham definitely writes what she personally calls 'kissing' books. Yet she definitely focuses on the sweetness of the romance that goes before the kiss, the courting and winning of hearts.)

Told partially as an epistolary, reader's will hear Penelope's and the whole Edgewood families' voice through texts and emails.This was a wonderful window into the Edgewood family dynamics. Yet I also enjoyed the story as it digressed from this format as well, allowing us to follow the plot or see another character's POV. Within the pages lurks a fantastic story of family and forgiveness, a story of finding joy and looking to the future with hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

** “The biggest dreams are the ones that take the most risk, but they’re worth it, Iris. You may just have to make it through the hard things first.” **

Pepper Basham delivers a delightfully lovely epistolary story with “Positively, Penelope,” billed as a standalone but companion novel to “Authentically, Izzy.”

Izzy’s cousin is set to travel to the captivating island of Skymar, where Izzy recently found love and purpose, to intern at an old family theater in desperate need of some marketing help. Penelope joins forces with the Gray brothers — hunky Alec and the enigmatic yet kind Matt — to incorporate new ideas to save The Darling House. But when a rival theater seems to keep stealing her ideas, she’s concerned her plans will be severely thwarted. Will she be able to save the theater, and sort out her feelings for two very different brothers?

Written mostly in letter form — emails and texts — “Positively, Penelope” is filled with both funny and romantic moments, as well as moments that will allow the reader to pause and evaluate their own dreams and desires.

Basham creates delightfully quirky characters readers will fall in love with, as well as filling “Positively, Penelope” with some great themes, like following one’s dreams; encouraging others; getting people to believe in themselves; rediscovering your joy, and we have to choose and even fight for joy; the magic and joy of creativity; the past and present can live in harmony; seeking love (“Love has a way of being much bigger than we imagine”); and the importance of home.

Fans of epistolary novels like “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” as well as authors like Katherine Reay will love this story, which is due out Aug. 1.

Five stars out of five.

Thomas Nelson provided this complimentary copy through NetGalley for my honest, unbiased review.

Thank you for the advance reader copy of this novel. This was a contemporary read that I just couldn't get into. Maybe another time.

#BookRevew: POSITIVELY, PENELOPE by Pepper Basham

“And when someone found hope and joy again after thinking all had been lost, that someone found a way to hold on to them.”

I was highly anticipating reading the sequel to Authentically Izzy, Positively, Penelope, and I was not disappointed. Penelope loves theater and all things Julie Andrews. She is so blessed to have an internship at a family owned theater in Skymar. I also think epistolary novels are a unique and special genre, and I'm glad I'm getting a hang of them.

One of the things I loved most about the book was the relationship between Penelope and her siblings, Luke and Josephine, and her cousin Izzy. They are so close and supportive of each other, and it was a joy to see them interact. I liked that the book explores the themes of family, friendship, love, faith and forgiveness in a heartwarming way. Penelope’s positive attitude was endearing to read and that also drew Matt and his daughter to her. I’d love to try some of her cookies too.

The slow burn and grumpy/sunshine romance between Penelope and Matt was sweet and heartwarming. They were both hesitant to open their hearts to each other, but they eventually found their way to each other.

If you enjoyed Authentically Izzy, I highly recommend checking out Positively, Penelope. It has an enjoyable clean romance with a touch of humor.

Rating: 4.5 stars
Series: Skymar Book 2
Pub date: 01 Aug 2023

Thank you Thomas Nelson--FICTION and #netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.

Positively Perfect!

This story had it all! I loved getting to visit Skymar again but meeting new and wonderfully charming characters.

We get the same feel from this book as we did from the first in the series, Authentically Izzy. Much of the story unfolds through written correspondence like emails and text messages. But we also get the third person point of view story telling. Ms. Basham blends these techniques so seamlessly that the reader gets carried along in the best way possible.

I was invested in what would happen from the first page to the very last! That doesn't always happen. Sometimes I get bored with an ending of a book but not this one!

I've been inspired to try to make chocolate éclairs now! I've even researched recipes. That's in my agenda for the weekend! If Penelope says they are surprisingly easy, I must give them a go!

The only thing that I can think of that would make this book better is listening to it! I hope to be able to do that once it is released. Izzy was so amazing on audio. I need to hear those accents again!

I do wish to thank Netgalley, Thomas Nelson and Pepper Basham. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

A cute book that turns out to be the second in a series; this definitely threw me off in the beginning of the book, the first third of which is told entirely in emails and texts. It probably would've helped to have read Authentically Izzy to introduce me to the Edgewood family and Skymar. Penelope is from a vague part of the Appalachians (I'm thinking North Carolina, but maybe Virginia?) and has gone to the fictional country of Skymar (which reads as being somewhat like Scotland, is in northern Europe somewhere and has its own monarchy) to be an intern at a theater.

It feels very very Hallmark movie--this is not a complaint. She meets the family that owns the theater, falls in love with Matt and his daughter, befriends the grandfather, participates in town events, and saves the failing theater. I really appreciated that Matt wound up being the one to move, not Penelope. I'm vaguely annoyed that she was ready to move to Skymar even after realizing her desire to stay near her family and that it was Matt who had to be like, "No, you shouldn't move here," but still. Basham did a good job laying the groundwork but I was still surprised that it worked out that way.

However, I wish I liked Penelope more. She's just completely over-the-top, in a way that's acknowledged in the book. She's constantly referring to musicals (and I LOVE musicals!) and old movies and talking about what vintage outfit or accessory she wants to wear for what particular activity and singing in the hallways and using exclamation points all over the place. Some of these are things I myself am guilty of. But Penelope is...a lot. It was helpful when the book shifted from epistolary to regular narration, because she became a lot more sympathetic. And I loved her awareness of--and frustration with--people constantly misjudging her because of her constant cheeriness. But it doesn't make her less of a Mary Sue, which she definitely is. I got irrationally annoyed when she found out Matt's full name is Matthias and was like, "So I am going to call him that!" I just...can't.

That said, I wouldn't mind reading the next book in the series, which focuses on Penelope's brother, Luke, who seems like a character I'd be able to much better tolerate. I found his voice throughout the book more enjoyable.

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

“The world could do with a little more kindness and positivity and random acts of singing, don’t you think?” —Penelope

Penelope practically oozes with positivity and creativity. And she’s channeling every ounce she can muster into saving The Darling House theater. With any luck, she just might bring an actual smile to a certain grumpy Mr. Gray’s face. But someone isn’t on board with Penelope’s plans. Mischief, mystery, and mayhem ensue—there’s even a kidnapping too! (Note: Though this book reads wonderfully as a standalone, readers will enjoy it even more after reading Authentically, Izzy.)

An epistolary novel written largely in the form of text and emails, Positively, Penelope is witty, charming, unputdownable, and practically perfect in every way!

*Thank you to @netgalley and @tnzfiction for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Thomas-Nelson Publishing, and I'm voluntarily leaving a review; all opinions are my own.

Genre: Romcom, Sweet Romance, Christian Romance, Proper Romance
Spice Level: Kissing
Format: Multiple POVs, Epistolary with emails and text
Trope: Grumpy Sunshine, Long Distance, He's got a Kid, kinda a May December romance

I'd never read a Pepper Basham novel, and this one was delightful.

I love how Penelope has had heartache but still chooses to be positive. She's often mistaken for being naive, stupid, silly, and basically a ditz. But she really is more.

This is a novel of conquering fear, being your true and best self, and even forgiveness. There are Christian themes and mentions of prayer, but it's a light representation.

The relationships of the characters are great. Luke (Penelope's brother) is one of my favorite secondary characters because he sounds exactly like a brother with snide comments and jokes. By the way, Penelope, who is obsessed with her sibling's twins reminds me of a neighbor—so that made me smile.

We see so much of the dynamic through the emails and texts, and I love this element. However, I still wanted a little bit more prose and dialogue in "real time" to ground me in the romance. This is a delightful romance and a deep dive into the world of Julia Andrews/theater/musicals.

I highly recommend this book!

Happy reading!

#PositivelyPenelope #NetGalley
This is a sequel to Authentically Izzy and the story would make more sense if you read both books in this series. Penelope was quirky and fun. I loved her fettish for Julie Andrews and the Sound of Music, her quotes from movies and that she loved to sing at odd times. Penelope comes to the country of Skymar to intern at a theater, and ends up finding out that it is close to closing down. Penelope decides to try her best to make it thrive. I loved the conversations back and forth between the siblings. How Luke loves to tease his sisters.

This was not the book for me. I liked the premise and the writing was fine but the characters seemed so young and one dimensional and the naivete was unbelievable. I wanted to root for Penelope but she seemed so ridiculous, I just could get past 25%. Maybe this just isn't the right book for me right now. I will try others by the author to give her another go.

I really enjoyed this story! Penelope was one of my favorite parts of Authentically, Izzie, the first book in the Skymar series, and I loved getting to know her better. She is just such a lovely character and I wished I had a friend, relative, neighbor, co-worker, etc.. just like her. I was really drawn to Matt from the beginning, even when he was extra grumpy. The story that was told between those two was an incredible journey (and the kisses 🤏🏻 of course!) I enjoyed seeing more of Luke (can't wait for his story 😍). And Iris and Grandpa Gray were the cherry on the top of a fantastic story! Highly recommend!

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