This book was just not for me.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad book, it just grew very repetitive for me. The characters did not feel real the way they spoke just threw me off, the premise and the format of the book was enjoyable but not enough for me.


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

It pains me to say that I had to dnf this book.
The blurb sounded amazing and I couldn't be more excited to pick it up but the email/letter style of writing just wasn't for me.
I thought maybe the style will change but it didn't. Maybe someday I'll give it another try but it's not today.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Authentically, Izzy
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/15/22
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction
Pages: 352
GR: 3.80

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

My Thoughts: This story was told in a unique fashion, through a series of emails and texts. While I was not thrilled about it to begin with, it really grew on me. Izzy is a strong, quirky woman and lives life to the fullest, the perfect heroine. Brody was quiet and reserved but had this sense of humor that was entering, also a perfect hero. They really matched up quite well. This was a closed door Christian romance with a love for Lord of the Rings. The side characters, including the family members, loved to meddle and play matchmaker, which makes for an interesting story. The one con would be the love triangle in the beginning of the story, I do not want to give to much detail to not spoil for other readers. The characters were well developed with depth, witty banter, chemistry, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was unique, complex, creative, and engaging. I would recommend this book, it releases next week!

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

I think this might just be my favourite romcom read of this year. It’s everything a book lover could want in a story; romance, humour, loveable characters, witty banter, and a lot of bookish talk and quotes.

I loved that so much of the story was told through correspondence between the cousins discussing Izzy’s romantic failures and insecurities. You get to see the different personalities shine in a way that doesn’t always come across in other stories. The way the siblings chide each other, the fondness they have for their cousin, the ever-present guidance - not always helpful - that they offer her, it all makes for a fun story.

And of course there is the beautiful romance blossoming between our MCs. I can’t tell you how many times I sat there grinning while reading. Such fun characters with a wealth of literary knowledge. I adore them. And as a side note, I now want to visit Skymar and see this wondrous place for myself.

All in all, a fabulous read that I thoroughly enjoyed. Highly recommend.

Izzy is a librarian and a book lover. In her introverted way she loves fictional characters over real humans. She meets Brodie after her sister signs her up for a dating app. He loves books and even owns a book shop but he lives in Europe.

I’m not going to lie but this took me a while to get into. Izzy is fun and clever with tons of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones references but the format is difficult. I knew it is an expository book for the most part. So it is written in the form of letters and later texts. But when reading on my small device I sometimes couldn’t see easily who was writing or receiving the letter. I found myself back checking often until I got more use to the format.

This is a clean, (they are on different continents for a lot of the story), wholesome story. I enjoyed the humor but at times it felt drawn out. Also the angst moment didn’t seem that big of deal to me. Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The bookish community is going to fall head over sneakers for the authenticity and originality that is this unconventional tale.

I can’t say that I’ve read a lot in the epistolary style, but there was something delightfully quirky about this one (albeit a little overwhelming), with all the matchmaking, book talk, and the cutest long distance, online relationship transcribed predominantly through emails and text. This was a lighthearted and cozy read with a sense of family and found love at its heart that was lovely to see unfold from both points of view, especially for Izzy as she wrestled with her place in the Edgewood clan.

A tale of two hearts, twin passions, and meddling families, Authentically Izzy was fluffy and fun and such a book loving vibe. I laughed along with Izzy’s honest ramblings, grinning at all the puns and bookish content shared between her and Brodie, and Basham transported me with their enchanting portrait of the Skymar Islands in those few descriptive scenes in the second half. The writing was eloquent, and the characters were mostly charming as they boasted proudly of their distinct personalities and passions. And Brodie, a book lover's dream! I only hoped that there had been a little more narrative incorporated around the emails so that I might have fallen more in love with them in action. Otherwise, Brodie and Izzy have achieved for themselves that once-in-a-lifetime fairytale that we book lovers only dream of!

Packed to the brim with quirky characters, banter and humorous tangents, and a plethora of LOTR and other classic references, it was a pleasure to tagalong on this heartfelt journey with Izzy as she discovered, and fell in love with, her authentic self. Now, if we could be so fortunate to have a Luke story unfold next, I would be most thankful!

💋Online Dating / Long distance
💋 Epistolary Style
💋 Soulmate vibes
💋 Quirky, loveable characters
💋 Wholesome, Christian Romance

I received an advanced copy thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction, and I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

An epistolary novel about books and book lovers? Yes, please!

This delightful story centers around Izzy who has had less than stellar luck in her dating life, including being left at the altar. When her cousin sets her up on a dating site, Izzy is not impressed, yet she begins corresponding with someone who she finds very intellectually stimulating and who also loves books. Unfortunately, he lives on the other side of the world.

As Izzy and Brodie continue their digital relationship, they each open up more and the stirrings of something more begin.

I loved the banter between all of the characters in this book and I adored that so many of my favorite books were mentioned.

4/5 stars! Thank you NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for a honest review!

This was such a quick easy and fun read! Authentically, Izzy delivered an epistolary romance with the cutest characters. I loved reading along between Isabelle and Brodie's long distance relationship and how it translated in their emails! the emails and text messages were my favorite part because I felt so immersed in the character's life. it was hilarious, fluffy and romantic! Brodie was freaking adorable!! There is something about a book boyfriend that loves books that just melts my entire heart!! Brodie can literally QUOTE from Izzy's favorite books!!! I MEAN COME ON!!! Not mention his family owns a bookstore!!

This book was hard to really get into. I love this type of trope but the emails was a little overwhelming at times even though it was quirky and at times fun banter, I love fun banter. It was a quick read but I was unable to connect with the characters the way I really wanted to.

dnf 15% It’s not working for me. This book is entirely epistolary and I can’t connect with any of the characters because of it. I have read epistolary novels that have worked for me but I am struggling with this one. This is definitely a me problem but I’ve literally had to reread entire sections to follow who was writing to who and why. I may come back to it in the future but for now I need to just stop.

I absolutely loved this book! It’s style reminded me of the princess diaries (my favorites when I was a teenager) but it’s so much better! A bookish woman and bookish man who “meet” through letters and become friends (and more), what more could I ask for! I also loved all the Lord of the Rings references (literally my favorites)! This book had a perfect blend of humor, romance, light-heartedness, and character depth as well. This is one of my favorite reads of the year and I highly recommend it!

* I received an e-ARC copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.

I wasn't going to request Authentically Izzy for review because I'm not a Pepper Basham fan (and I know I'm in the minority in saying that). However, I am a huge fan of a good epistolary novel, so that was enough to twist my arm.

However, I read the first 20% and I'm not hooked enough by the characters or the tone to finish it.

I think this is because the plot is all about the relationship, rather than that being the subplot (e.g. in Dear Daddy Long Legs, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society, Dear Mr Knightley, or Things We Didn’t Say).

The other reason I found it hard to get into was because of issues was with the formatting. I know this is the e-ARC (the endless Thomas Nelson logos are a huge clue), but the dating website headers continually refer to the site as Heart to Hear (not Heart to Heart), and don't make clear which character is writing.

I therefore have to read for a couple of pages before I work out if the message is from Izzy herself, from one of her family, or from someone who has legitimately messaged her on the site (and if so, who?). That doesn't matter for a one-paragraph message when we can see the date, the message, and the sender all on the same screen. But it's impossible when the messages get longer, and that makes it hard to engage with the writing: I want to know who is speaking (writing) so I know whether this is a character I'm supposed to like or not.

I found it weird to think that there's anyone in the English-speaking world who hasn't heard of The Lord of the Rings (books or movies or the new TV series), or The Hobbit, in the same way I find it difficult to believe adults haven't heard of Fifty Shades of Grey or Game of Thrones. I can' believe that people haven't watched the movies or read the books, but they've surely heard of them whether we want to or not.

I would also point out that meeting a blind date at the restaurant rather than at the character's apartment isn't something to be mocked. It's sensible behaviour - no one should ever give out their home address to a blind date or some random person they met on the internet.

There was some excellent writing. But it wasn't enough to make up for the things I didn't like. Sorry, because I really would like to read more books like Dear Mr Knightley or Things We Didn't Say.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity. I'm sorry I didn't enjoy the story.

This is a sweet, cozy kind of romance for book lovers. I liked that it was told through e-mails and texts. It is a light, frothy read. Perfect for a gloomy day. Recommended for book and romance lovers. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

(DNF at 22%) I wanted to like this book, but it was really disappointing. The idea of having two characters fall in love through letters and bond over their love of books sounded so fun. I typically enjoy epistolary novels, but the letters in this book did not flow together smoothly, making it hard to read. Also, the characters were not engaging and were very two-dimensional. I usually love when books have references to other books, but the references to Lord of the Rings and other "nerdy" books were overwhelming and made reading the letters confusing. I couldn't engage with any of the characters or the plot, and I stopped reading after 22% of the book.

I absolutely loved this new contemporary novel by Pepper Basham!
This book is an epistolary romance, meaning that most of it is written in the form of emails and texts, and I enjoyed the format a lot!! The back and forth between the emails and texts made the story fast-paced and kept me hooked!
This story is very fun and lighthearted and made me smile a lot! I loved our bookish, introverted MC's and their hilarious families! (I especially loved Luke and I'm really hoping he gets a story!!) All of the book/movie/tv references were super fun too!

Read this book for:
-epistolary format
-online dating
-long distance romance
-sweet romance/kisses only
-'soulmates' vibe
-a fun, lighthearted read

* I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, Thomas Nelson.

I was really hoping for a cute and slightly quirky romance book about a book lover on a dating site. And essentially that’s what this book was. Unfortunately, it was not one that I enjoyed.

I didn’t realize that most of the book would be emails and texts back and forth (which I should have given the description on NetGalley, so that one’s on me!!) but there is no interaction between the characters outside of emails for most of the book, though we do get some regular style writing after part 2 and especially into part 3. The entirety of part one is rambling emails about how Izzy met Brodie over video chat and what they talked about. I would have much rather read about them actually meeting over video call and then reading some emails to her cousins. The emails were a pain to read because almost every one of them had a PS or (PPS or PPPS) which got really annoying really fast. They’re also filled with really “dorky” references to Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, which honestly given how many people read and watch those movies today, isn’t all that dorky anymore.

I also couldn’t stand Josephine. As a fellow Josie it didn’t feel great lol, but she is honestly rude and doesn’t listen to Izzy at all and she’s super demeaning about Izzy’s dreams until Izzy calls her out (over email, mind you) and then at the end Josephine is like “oh I’m sorry :(“. But the whole book its “oh I hope you’re having fun with your little …” (fill in the … with anything she’s doing). Izzy is talked to like she’s Josephine’s child (she’s 30!) and she’s constantly telling Izzy that Eli is the one for her, when everyone knows he isn’t!

Also, just a heads up: Izzy and her family are pretty religious so they talk about going to church and their faith a fine amount. Didn’t really bother me too much though.

Overall, this could be a good book for somebody but that somebody was not me this time.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

When her meddling cousin creates an online dating account for her, Izzy finds a man who might be bookish enough to win her heart.

My face hurt from reading this book because I could not stop smiling. It was sweet, adorable, touching, and very bookish. This charming and heartwarming tale won me over, and below are several aspects of the story that really made it a wonderful experience for me.

What I Liked

• I am a fan of epistolary novels, and I thought Basham did a nice job connecting me to the events I did not get to be part of in real-time as well as creating a cohesive narrative and helping me get to know all these fantastic characters. The exchanges between Izzy and Brodie were precious. Those two fit together perfectly, and the emails and texts between Izzy and her cousins were hilarious.

• So much book nerdy goodness! Classics readers will truly adore the bookish filled banter, but I think all book nerds will be able to lose themselves in the exchanges between Izzy and Brodie. They were some serious book lovers.

• I could feel the love and affection all these people had for each other. The relationships between Izzy, Brodie, and their family members were so warm and lovely. Izzy might have wrestled with her place in the Edgewood clan, but that came from inside her, not from her family who took her in after her parents passed away and fully claimed her as their own.

Packed with quirky and lovable characters, tons of humor, and a multitude of bookish references, I had a fantastic time getting to know Izzy as she fell in love, figured out her future, and discovered her authentic self.

I was hyped for this book based on the synopsis. I was turned off at the beginning due to the format. I thought too much if the dialogue was in email format. A little bit of that would have been fine, but it went on too long. Later in the book there’s texting format, which was also bothersome.
I simply couldn’t comment with the characters or the dialogue. I liked the description and Izzy wanting to open her own bookshop, but other than that, this book was a miss for me.

This was a great choice if you are looking for something a little different in the sweet romance category. The book is epistolary for most of it and it took me some time to get used to that format but once I did, the story flowed really well. I loved Izzy’s relationships with her cousins - especially Luke and the messages between her and Brodie were fantastic. The conflicts are a little predictable but honestly, it was such a cute read, I didn’t care and really enjoyed it. I wanted a little more in the happily ever after with an epilogue but otherwise this was a great read.

Romantic Content: Kisses

Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction for an early copy of Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. 🤍

It took me a while to get into this book. The email/SMS-only format of storytelling, along with the layout of the book on my kindle made it quite difficult for me to follow through the conversations, with the Thomas Nelson watermark occupying majority of the space for each page.

What I did love are the characters - Izzy is sweet and postively charming, Josephine was adorably annoying and Penelope was cute.

Rating Authentically, Izzy ⭐⭐⭐/5