Positively Penelope Review
Pepper Basham’s Skymar books are officially my comfort books. Reading them gives me all the warm and fuzzy feelings that make me so very happy 😊 Do you have a comfort book(s)? Let me know in the comments, I’d love to know. But carrying on with the review!
Summary
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? —blurb take from book
Evaluation
Pepper’s love for family is very evident and comes through her characters. The siblings and family characters love and loyalty for each other is inspiring and wonderful to read about.
Speaking of characters, I love how every character is unique from each other. In both books. I also love how the couple in this novel is different from the couple in the previous novel, Authentically Izzy (which I reviewed last August here).
I like Pepper’s style of writing in these books. Telling the story through emails and texts with narrative mixed in too, is unique and inspiring for my own writing.
And last of all, I adore all the musical references in this novel. It made this musical nerd very happy.
Conclusion
So in conclusion, I love this book. It’s a very easy 5/5 for me. If you like the grumpy/sunshine trope, single dads with an adorable daughter, musicals, love triangles, You’ve Got Mail vibes, or Dear Mr Knightley, then I recommend this novel to you! It was a true joy to read.
