Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the arc audiobook!!

Um, how would I rate this.. I connected on such I high level with the grief in this book. I just couldn’t get into the romance in this book. Probably because it’s so drastically different from everything else I read in romance so I can’t hold that against the author.

I wouldn’t read again, but I don’t regret reading it.

I was excited to read Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham but was ultimately disappointed. The story felt repetitive, with Katie’s Edwardian experience, encounters with Graeme, and inner monologues dragging on. While I usually don’t mind religious themes, they felt forced here. Despite the promising Scottish setting, humor, and deeper themes like grief and broken families, the book lacked emotional depth. The slow pacing made it hard to stay engaged, and I often skimmed sections.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the ARC—my opinions are my own.

Well, hello, Graeme! Can we get a story told solely through Graeme’s POV?!? This Scot stole my heart with brogue that was a little bit Sean Connery, a little bit Stuart Martin, and a whole lot of swoons! In case you couldn’t tell I thoroughly enjoyed this audio narration, both POVs, but especially Joshua Mannings’s.

As for the story, this is classic Pepper Basham. If you love quirkiness, banter, iconic pop culture references, and endearing characters then this is a book for you. Pepper will have you havering and keening for your own Scottish romp. Some Like it Scot is a sweet, fun, and faith filled adventure with a Hateful Highlander and a Charismatic Katie.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson Fiction and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced listening copy. All opinions are my own.

If all rom coms were this amazing, I’d be reading a whole lot more of them. Basham has crafted a novel with the wit, humor, and romance I expected of a rom com, but the depth of the story and characters were a pleasant surprise that will keep me returning to the story.

Katie and Graeme were an incredible leading couple with their uniqueness and relatability combined with their protection of and care for those around them. As the story progressed, their growth felt natural, and challenged me to look at what lies I might be believing in my own life.

Accompanied by a cast of diverse, funny, and heart-warming characters, Katie and Graeme give us a glimpse of life in Scotland, with just the right amount of whimsy and hilarious experiences to make it memorable. This is a story I’ll be returning to again, both for the laugh-out-loud misadventures and the heart-warming truths about love and life.

The narrators are absolute perfection for this story as well, their voices capturing both Katie and Graeme perfectly, as well as doing a great job of immersing you in the world around them with their different voices/accents for the other characters in the story. I could listen to this on repeat.

Kate, known as Miss Mis-Adventures, has her dream job as a travel writer, and she's excited to find herself in Scotland, her ancestral homeland, filled with folklore and fairies. She will be enjoying an Edwardian experience during her stay at the MacKerrow residence.
Graeme, the hunky cantankerous Scottish man, is employed at the MacKerrow home, which she later discovers is actually his ancestral property that he owns.
This was a wonderfully swoon-worthy and sweet romance to read, even though both characters are dealing with loss. Graeme becomes the caregiver for his nephew and feels guilty for the loss of his sister and Kate's overbearing mother, who constantly compares Kate to her deceased sister, makes it hard for her to move on. Graeme finds himself drawn to Kate and her struggles, while Kate begins to feel a sense of belonging and home with Graeme.
The growth and development of both characters are profound and impactful; they truly complete each other. The supporting characters add a delightful touch, contributing to the laugh-out-loud moments, a sense of found family, and playful mischief.

Audio Review
New to me narrators, and I found both their voices very soothing and fun, bringing other characters to life. And who am I kidding? Anytime there's a Scottish accent, I'm in...

Some like it Scot

Pepper Basham’s Some Like It Scot is a charming contemporary romance that blends humor, heart, and just a dash of adventure. The audiobook narration, performed by Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen adds an extra layer of warmth and authenticity to the story. The narrators skillfully capture the distinct Southern and Scottish accents, bringing the characters to life in a way that enhances their personalities. The dialogue feels natural, and the emotional depth of the characters shines through in the performance. The themes of heritage, belonging, and trust are woven seamlessly into the story, making it more than just a love story, it’s also a journey of self-discovery. The scenic descriptions of Scotland add a magical quality, transporting listeners right into the misty Highlands. Would recommend to anyone who is looking for a cozy romantic read.

Some like it Scot
By Pepper Basham

I got this audiobook via @netgalley as ARC and heres my thoughts about it, which are all mine. Thank you also @tnzfiction this book!

This audiobook introduced me a new author, even I’ve seen her books online. So it was great surprise to read (or listen) how she wrote faith (and God) to this story. And it made many heavy topics that are in the book lighter - as it does in real life too. As person in faith I have been longing this kind of writing! It was well written there in the story.
About the book, as I said there were many heavy topics, but all them made the characters them. And the chemistry between MMC & FMC was written well. Book was placed in small island in Scotland, which worked very well.
About the narrators, it took few chapters me to understand MMC accent, but it worked perfectly to the book.

4/5

🎧 Book Review 🎧 If you could make your way to your ancestral home, where would you land? When travel writer Katie gets an assignment that sends her to Scotland, she steps into the adventure of a lifetime. It’s truly the stuff dreams are made of- lochs and highlands, bagpipes and tartans, shortbread and haggis (maybe not the haggis)…and of course the legendary Loch Ness Monster! Katie is a bit of a rolling stone that has gathered no moss so the chance to explore the place her ancestors called home allows for the chance to foster a unique connection. Three weeks in the beautiful Scottish countryside living the Edwardian/Downton Abbey dream with a side of a handsome Scotsman? Pepper Basham pens a romantically beautiful novel that whisks the reader along for this amazing journey. Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen hilariously bring the antics to life in this delightful and fun audiobook!

This was such a good book! A great story about finding your home and loving who you are flaws and all. I listened to the audio book and loved every bit of it!! I loved all the characters! The Scottish accents made it for me! I would read another book by this author!

I received this audiobook as an ARC. It is a love letter to Scotland! Please note that this book has religious themes that may make readers uncomfortable if they aren’t expecting it.

Accident-prone travel writer Katie Campbell’s new assignment is a weeks-long Edwardian experience at Craighill House on the Isle of Mull in Scotland. One of her accidents lands her atop Graeme, a grumpy Scotsman, and her misadventures seem to keep warranting his rescue. But as Graeme gets to know Katie, he finds his peevishness melting away—and she starts to like being rescued by him.

This was such a fun, sweet read! Man, poor Katie and her misadventures. 😮‍💨 I’m glad she was fictional for how often I giggled at the situations she found herself in.

For as much laughter as Pepper packed in this book, there was also immense depth. Grief from the loss of loved ones, resentment over romantic love lost, insecurity due to the harsh judgment of family—these all gave the characters so much depth. I loved seeing them wrestle through these tough emotions to pursue health and growth! And I enjoyed how a light faith thread was woven throughout.

If you’re looking for a read to make you laugh with charming Scottish scenery, endearing side characters, and MCs you want to root for, this is a great pick!

I received a complimentary ALC from the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC opportunity!

This was a fun cozy romance. It did start a little slow for me, but once it started moving and got its pace, it was really good.

The FMC is so likable and just a relatable person, in my opinion. I also really loved how she handled the Allison thing. Instead of flipping out and running away or not hearing him out, she handled it like an adult who had only known this man for 3 weeks and that was honestly so refreshing,

The MMC grew on me, but he is a grump so thats to be expected a little, i believe. This man tried so hard, for everyone but himself. And his family? No wonder she never had a chance.

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham and narrated by Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. Thank you to NetGalley, Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Audio and Thomas Nelson Publishing for providing me the opportunity to review an early copy of this audiobook. All of the thoughts and the opinions expressed are my own.

American travel writer and slightly accident prone Katie Campbell traveled to Scotland to take part in an Edwardian program at a manor house. There she met Graeme MacKerrow-by accident-literally. In a series of unfortunate (or fortunate) events, Katie and Graeme are continually in each other’s company. Katie begins to feel the pull of having a home. Graeme begins to feel the pull of having more than his limited life. Both characters have to make some decisions about their futures.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was quintessentially Pepper Basham. This book was brimming with fun and humor. It was very punny! Even with the humor there is an overarching story of dealing with grief. The underlying message was great as well. The message of the love of Christ shows through.

This is my second read/listen of this story. I read an ARC last year and loved it so when I saw it was available on audio I wanted to hear it. I knew the narration would be good. I was wrong! I think it was outstanding! Joshua Manning has the perfect Scottish voice and accent for this story. Stina does an amazing job as Katie. They mesh together beautifully. Their voices kept me engaged from the beginning and I stayed engaged throughout.

If you like clean, humorous love stories, then this will be a great story for you to pick up. If accident prone people and silly people get on your nerves, this may not be the book for you. If duel narrators, especially one with an accent, bothers you then maybe skip this one. #SomeLikeItScot #NetGalley

Narrators: Stina Nielsen, Joshua Manning - I like Stina as a narrator but I felt her voice was too 'normal' for Katie, the female main character. It needed more spunk and fun. The Scottish accents were pretty good and added authenticity to the story. I did prefer reading the text though.

A Pepper Basham rom-com will always be fun, swoony, and quirky in all of the best ways. Some Like it Scot has so much humour but it also has some very tender and important moments. Healing is another important aspect to this novel. And if you have a fondness for puns, well.... you'll find this extra punny!

I think most, if not all women, can relate to Katie. We all have our self-conscious concerns and we tend to worry about living up to the expectations of others. Katie, also has the biggest heart and a love for people, nature, and beauty. Graeme and her have a rather unusual and gruff start to things but they eventually become friends and sparks start sparking! The clean but potent chemistry and swoon factor will send your inner squeals afire!

Graeme and Katie share a sad commonality. They both lost a sister and they went through rather different grieving experiences; however, it ends up drawing them closer. Graeme's confidence and tenderness become like an antidote to Katie's need to feel she has a home to belong to. Likewise, Graeme's trust and loyalty also needs a soft place to land.

One of my many highlights from the novel: "It seems to me we need to pray you find home, Katie-girl, because every wandering heart needs a place to rest."

As I said before, there is comic relief in many forms: clumsiness, odd situations, awkwardness, sarcastic moments, the puns, etc. Yet there are equally wonderful and deeper moments that are so touching because they are so relatable.

Be ready for cheeky parrots, suspicious sheep, grumpy Highland cows, and all sorts of hi-jinx. The characters within this book are varied and the community will win you over. ANNNNNNND.... there are kilts. (Cue the bagpipes.)


>>> Huge thanks to the publisher, Thomas Nelson, and to Net Galley for providing me with a digital advance copy of this novel. My review is in my own words.

This was pretty cute and definitely funny, but it just didn't quite hit for me. I can't put my finger on it besides maybe they each had too much trauma which weighed down the story and didnt vibe with the hilarity of the rest of it.

4.25 stars, rounded down

Pepper Basham has created a beautiful story. Beautiful scenery, beautiful people, beautiful grief. *Extra bonus points for the audiobook accents*

This book does a great job of being light and fun while also discussing deep topics. Pepper describes this in the Authors Note by stating "this story is filled with little hints about finding home, or sibling grief, or self confidence." It's easy to see a little bit of each of us within Graham and Katie's story.

Heads up - this book does have mentions of Christianity. It does a great job of not being overly pushy about it, but it is present. Due to this, it also is not "spicy".

Quick and fun romance read. I appreciated how clean this was and would consider stocking in my classroom. I didn't love the historical play-acting characters were engaged in, but the overall vibe and romance were sweet & cute.

Thank you NetGalley for the advance reader audiobook! The premise of this book was really cute and I enjoyed listening to it. It was a book I knew would end a certain way but enjoyed the listen along the way. I would recommend it to anyone that wanted a nice easy read - perfect for the summer! Made me want to go to Scotland ASAP.

Katie Campbell is a travel writer who finds herself falling (quite literally) for handsome Graeme MacKerrow while on assignment in Scotland. Prone to hilarious mishaps, Katie has made her living by sharing her misadventures with readers all over the world and loving every minute of it. She has never had any real desire to settle down or stay put, so why does she find herself warming to the idea of finally finding "home" in Scotland? Perhaps it is because this idyllic little town calls to mind her Scottish grandparents, the only adults in Katie's life who had ever genuinely made her feel loved and cared for. Perhaps it is because her heart has been well and truly captured by the "Hot Scot" along with warm and doting Mirren, boisterous and witty Lachland, and a host of other lovable characters on the charming Isle of Mull.

This book is like a hot cup of tea and a warm hug from a friend. Pepper Basham brings a great mix of hilarity, heartwarming romance, and a healthy dose of faith to Some Like it Scot. I found myself falling in love with the idea of Scotland and this cast of genuine, good-natured people, and I was wholeheartedly rooting for Katie to find her home among them. Some Like it Scot is a Christian romance, so there is no profanity or explicit content. It is a sweet romance story with a little touch of faith sprinkled in. I loved the fact that Basham also included messages of body positivity and reassurance that we all need and deserve a place to belong. My heart is happy!

The audiobook version of Some Like it Scot was wonderful! Stina Nielsen and Joshua Manning truly brought this story to life for me. I appreciated the dialect so much more when I heard it spoken in a Scottish accent. I would absolutely recommend the audiobook version over the text copy. I now fully understand and appreciate Katie's obsession with hearing Graeme call her "lass" 😉

Some Like it Scot by Pepper Basham
4 Stars
✨🔥💙📖🏰💛🌿☕💫

💛Enemies to More
💛Found Family
💛Funny Heroine
💛Quirky Characters
💛#HotScot
💛Sweet Read
💛A Cute Kid and His Dog
💛A Kilt!
💛Scotland
💛Some Faith Elements

Once again, Pepper enchants you again with a heartfelt romance filled with a rich setting, witty banter and characters with depth! Set in the breathtaking country of Scotland, we follow travel writer Katie Campbell who embarks on a 3 week Edwardian experience. What begins as a professional journey turns into one of self-discovery, unexpected friendships and an irresistible connection with a BROODING SCOT! Sign. Me. Up!

Katie is a "wee bit lost", having spent her life bouncing from place to place, never really setting anywhere. She deep down wants a feeling of HOME and finds it here. Enter our handsome SCOT -- Graeme -- who is a great, hardworking family man and you have one great relationship that develops between the two. He is gruff, but an endearing, kind man helping raise his nephew after his brother passed away. The layer of grief experienced and explained in this book - is beautiful. Reading Pepper's author's note also added to the story because of her own experience writing this book. But "dinnae fash", Basham's signature humor shines through as Katie navigates the quirks of Edwardian living and the people who make this place feel like home.

The romance between Katie and her Scotsman is a sweet, slow burn that I really enjoyed, filled with many heartfelt and swoon-worthy brogue moments - with a sense of family that makes this story truly special.

Highly recommend this healing story as a love letter to Scotland, family, and the kind of love that doesn't ask you to change but rather to stay.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson for a copy of the eBook and audiobook to honestly read/listen to for review. (I have also preordered the book, so recommend you do too!) All thoughts and opinions are my own.