Positively, Penelope

by Pepper Basham

I wondered if Pepper Basham would follow up the very bookish epistolary novel Authentically, Izzy with another epistolary novel. If so, could it be as good, as fun, as the first? How do you write an epistolary novel in the twenty-first century anyway, a time when letter writing for personal reasons is rare? Basham continues her humorous style with Positively, Penelope told mainly in emails and text messages between Penelope who has taken a job as an intern helping the marketing team in the country of Skymar and her brother and two sisters who live in the Appalachians. There is also some third person narration thrown in.  As a drama major, a very dramatic teacher of elementary age children, and a lover of storytelling and princesses, I can identify so much with Penelope who attacks life with more gusto than I can dream of mustering!

Penelope is trying to rescue the dying Darling House, a theater whose owners and managers lost their spirit with the deaths of the mother and grandmother over a short span of time. Penelope with her positive attitude spreads joy wherever she goes with her smiles, singing, and creativity. Two brothers, Matt and Alec, are grumpy but could make romantic heroes in the story as they fall under Penelope’s spell along with their father, Grandpa Gray. Matt’s daughter Iris who has not been allowed to enjoy fairy tales blooms under Penelope’s friendship as they share a love of pink and princesses. While Penelope seems like cotton candy fluff, she is actually quite bright. Unfortunately, every idea she comes up with is stolen by a rival theater; it seems a mole has invaded the Darling House team.

Silliness, suspicion, fear of sea monsters, a cute seven year old, costumes, royalty, creativity, and clean romance make Positively, Penelope a fun novel; I’m packing my bag for Skymar right now.

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

Rating: 5/5

Category: Romance, Fiction, Christian

Notes: 1. #2 in the Skymar series. It could be read as a standalone, but I wouldn’t want you to pass up the very bookish first novel, Authentically, Izzy.

    2. a lot of humor as the siblings banter with each other

    3. Christian undertones woven subtly into the book

    4. #3 has already been published about the flannel wearing, bachelor brother in the family, Loyally, Luke 

Publication: August 1,2023—Thomas Nelson

Memorable Lines:

But no wonder he’s grumpy. Anyone who is against fairy-tale talk, singing in public, dancing on the sidewalk, and general hat-wearing has to be a sad sort of person.

Because story is the key to what we bring to the stage, how we present ourselves online, and even how we engage with one another. We all have stories, but in our hearts, we all LOVE stories (even if it takes some of us longer to admit it…kind of like a smile. Some people need more encouragement to smile than others, but you should really know a smile makes all the difference).

He came up to me, dismounted, and shot me this dazzling smile before saying, “I’ve always wanted to rescue a damsel in distress, but I never realized one would be so lovely in the rain.” Heaven HELP ME! Who says stuff like that? Only Skymarian men who ride on white horses in the rain????