Fake dating tropes are plenty, and I’ve read my fair share. I enjoyed this book more than I expected to!

Penelope has never felt like she fits into her family. She married young, only to split up. Heading to a long weekend get-together with her family ( with a possibility of a blind date waiting on site), Penelope runs into her ex. They share a car and she ends up claiming to have a boyfriend.

Penelope needs something from her father, something she does not think will be freely given. Thus begins a chaotic time which slowly compounds into a lot of pent up emotions coming to the surface.

I liked the people in the story. Everyone brings their own issues into the narrative, and it was almost easy to see everyone side as things start to come together for everyone. It is only when people finally clear the air that everyone is happy.

I enjoyed the writing style and would like to try other books by the author in the future. I would recommend this book to fans of the genre.

I received an ARC thanks to Netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

A saturn return book that somewhat hit the mark for me but ultimately might have a hard time standing up against some other heavy-hitting books I've read this year.

Oh my goodness. This book was perfection. I laughed out loud so much. I swooned. I was enamored with Penelope and her family. Definitely one of my favorite books of the year.

This was a moving and witty romantic comedy about the role of fate vs will in romance (the astrology aspect) and finding your own path in life. Also, the cover is just so beautiful!

This book is a light, funny easy read. I was so wrapped up in the fantastically written characters and family drama I couldn’t put it down. Love it!

Penelope In Retrograde is a hilarious and entertaining read. I couldn’t help but to root for Penelope, the protagonist, despite her messiness. Other reviewers noted that they found her to be annoying, but I did not feel the same way. The family dynamics highlighted in this story felt very real and I found myself quickly consumed with the story. I cannot wait to read whatever Abrams, the author, writes next!

4 stars!
A fun read! I could not say anything bad about this book. When we read, we get transitioned and lived the life of the character in the book and I felt like I was Penelope’s constant companion the whole time.
The humor was fantastic. I was literally laughing, chuckling, giggling and smiling and I can’t help myself from having such a good time all the way through.
The story was about Penelope who is a romance book writer. She went the opposite route of what her family planned for her to do. She dropped out of Princeton despite her Dad’s notable connections, she is a writer and not working at her family’s firm, she married and got divorced to her childhood neighbor that her parents disliked. Now, Penelope is coming home for thanksgiving but to some weird coincidence she will be in the same ride-share with her ex-husband on their ride home from the airport.
I love all the characters, most specially her Nana Rosie! I want to be as cool as her when I grow old. This book was a fast read, feel good, light and easy romance. Special thank you to Netgalley for gifting me e-arc in exchange of my honest review! I had fun and I highly recommend!

This was an interesting, fun, and at times comical look into the life of a strong, smart woman, who is just trying to find her path. Abrams did a great job of bring Penelope and all the people she has to see over the holiday to life. Her dysfunctional family, her ex-husband, and her father's colleague were all unique with their own quirks, but it was easy to imagine them as real people. I admit I giggled quite a bit while reading this, it was a wonderfully light-hearted read.

I was obsessed with this quick and witty story. Even at its shorter length I was completely brought in to care about the lives of each character right away. I want more from this family and would love a series to see what happens next. Or, I’ll just excitedly look out for what’s next from Brooke Abrams!

Absolutely love this! Penelope living in San Francisco made it even better for a reader who lives about 2 hours away from the city and frequented in my early 20s. This book was filled with fun, quirky emotions that were easy to relate to. I enjoyed the flashbacks of family holidays and get togethers and felt like I was living through them and was family. There aren’t many books that make me laugh out loud, but this one hit the spot. I will forever recommend this book to family and friends!

In this witty and heartfelt debut from author Brooke Abrams, a romance writer with a passion for astrology reluctantly travels home for Thanksgiving to make amends with her estranged family…and possibly manifest her own happily ever after. Romance writer Penelope Banks can write the perfect love story, but when it comes to family, all she’s got is a rough draft. Penny shelved the idea of fitting in with her high-achieving family years ago, but when her new business venture—a romance bookstore—is at risk of closing before its doors have opened, she’s forced to ask for help from the one place she never expected. Home. Penny’s prepared for the usual Thanksgiving her perfect sister, meddling nana, matchmaking mother, and workaholic father. The guest she didn’t anticipate? Her ex-husband, Smith. After an awkward rideshare with Smith leaves Penny questioning why the romance in her life exists only in her novels, Penny adds some fiction to reality and turns her father’s colleague into the perfect fake boyfriend. With only four days to mend damaged relationships, and her bookstore’s future at stake, all the stars must align for Penny to finally write a happily ever after for herself and her family.

This is a perfect cure to the winter blues. I feel as though I could relate to Penny. Will definitely recommend to those who love rom coms

I have to say I was looking forward to a book centered around Thanksgiving (there aren’t many!), but this one fell a little short for me. I was expecting more in the rom-com department I suppose. It was a fun read with some interesting characters, but the astrology tie-ins became a little much by the end.

This book was a pleasant surprise. Not a Christmas story like you would expect from a holiday read. It was one centered around Thanksgiving instead.

It's a second chance romance with lots of witty banter, family drama, laugh out loud moments, and a quick and emotional read.

I loved the flashbacks to when the main characters were kids. It really helped build their relationship and helped me, as a reader, fall in love with their relationship even more.

Another thing I loved was all the references to crystals and spirituality. This isn't a fantasy or magical realism. It's just someone who believes in the properties of crystals and the powers of manifestation.

This book didn't knock my socks off, but it was a perfect, cozy, holiday read. Plus, I'm a sucker for a second chance romance 💕

If you want something cozy and about the holidays but not necessarily Christmas, this one might be for you. Also if you just like a second chance romance story this one is perfect!

Romance writer Penelope Banks can write the perfect love story, but when it comes to family, all she’s got is a rough draft. Penny shelved the idea of fitting in with her high-achieving family years ago, but when her new business venture―a romance bookstore―is at risk of closing before its doors have opened, she’s forced to ask for help from the one place she never expected. Home. Penny’s prepared for the usual Thanksgiving lineup: her perfect sister, meddling nana, matchmaking mother, and workaholic father. The guest she didn’t anticipate? Her ex-husband, Smith. After an awkward rideshare with Smith leaves Penny questioning why the romance in her life exists only in her novels, Penny adds some fiction to reality and turns her father’s colleague into the perfect fake boyfriend.
With only four days to mend damaged relationships, and her bookstore’s future at stake, all the stars must align for Penny to finally write a happily ever after for herself and her family.

Thank you @netgalley and @aka.brooke.abrams for the ARC! This was a hilarious read full of heart and family drama. I love thanksgiving so the setting during thanksgiving was very enjoyable, and with Penelope spending the first holiday at home in quite some time, it also set the scene for some hilarious and dramatic family moments. The flashbacks to past thanksgivings helped set the drama as well. Penelope was a super relatable character, striving for perfection but always falling short of both her own dreams and her family’s wishes for her. She was earnest and was able to address her own shortcomings. I loved the reconciling that finically happened between everyone. And Nana’s character was hilarious. For as much as this book was felt with tender family moments, it was also laugh out loud funny. Quick and quirky read that I recommend! Penelope in Retrograde is available now!

I really really enjoyed this book! It hooked me in immediately. It was both light hearted and funny while also having depth and real emotion. The banter between the characters was so enjoyable. I laughed right out loud a few times which is not something a book can often make me do. The look into the dynamics and dysfunction of a family, especially around the holidays, was great. There were some parts that could have afforded to move along faster (the ride share chapter) and other areas that could have used a bit more developing, but overall I really liked this book and would definitely read future books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

How many ways can I express my love for this book? This book is superb! I stayed up far too late, waking my partner beside me over and over with my laughter, hoping that the story would end in a way that did the story justice. And - it did!

Penelope’s family and friends are perfectly written. I want to be part of this character group. I don’t often have that feeling when reading, but wow…Abrams crafted a book that is warm, loving, and sweet even when there is conflict. I did not want this book to end. I can’t wait for another. Five stars all the way!

"Penelope in Retrograde" is a delightful and heartfelt novel that takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster. The story follows Penelope, a romance author, as she embarks on a Thanksgiving visit to her family after years of being away. From a ride share with her ex-husband to facing her strict parents and indifferent twin sister, Penelope's three-day stay becomes a whirlwind of drama, humor, and life-changing moments.

I loved how the author was able to balance light-hearted fun with more serious moments. The author put together hilarious and heartwarming moments, keeping readers engaged from start to finish. There were many moments where the book had me laughing. Penelope's journey of self-discovery and personal growth is relatable, reminding us of the importance of family and the power of expected connections.

The characters are funny and real, each with their own quirks and complexities. Penelope herself is an endearing protagonist, navigating the challenges of her family dynamic with sarcasm and humor. The chemistry between characters, particularly the potential romantic setup her mom orchestrated, adds an extra layer of excitement.

Overall, "Penelope in Retrograde" will make you laugh, maybe cry, and definitely reflect on the complexities of family relationships. It was a quick and fun read that is a must read for fans of heartwarming and entertaining stories.

Content Warnings:
**Divorce
**Death of a parent
**Medical condition

I knew I was going to love this after just a few pages when Penelope's elderly dog, Ozzie, was introduced since I also have a geriatric mutt named Ozzy! Besides that, this is such a cute little rom-com. It gives off The Proposal with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds vibes but only as far as the fake dating and sassy grandma. Oh how I loved Nana Rosie's character in Penelope in Retrograde! I hope I'm half as cool as her when I'm in my nineties!

Fun, Bridget Jones vibes with an astrology theme. Interesting characters and fun focus on thanksgiving. Enjoyed the ride and will be looking out for future releases from this author!

Penelope is a romance novelist getting ready to head to her parents’ home for Thanksgiving. She’s had many ups and downs with her family, and this year she’s hoping for a smooth visit so that she can pitch a new venture she’s been working on. Everything starts to go downhill pretty quickly when she discovers that the man joining her in a rideshare from the airport is her ex-husband.

I can definitely relate to being worried about how a family gathering might turn out, especially having to explain life choices to family members who may not understand. Families can have such complex dynamics, and this is certainly the case with the Banks family. From Penelope’s dad’s high expectations, her mom wanting to set her up with someone from her dad’s office, and her relationship with her twin sister that has changed over the years. Some of the secondary characters (the smut coven and Sarah) felt a bit rushed, but I understand there was a lot going on to give them due time.

Over the course of a few days, Penelope learns a lot about showing up authentically and allowing her family to see her true self - without the sarcastic remarks, jokes, and drama. I enjoyed the flashbacks to key Thanksgivings prior to help set the stage for this current family dinner and dynamic. I also loved the hints of astrology, the moon and crystals. It was delightful to watch her romance with Martin unfold - what a gem.

Overall this was a lovely debut from Brooke Abrams!