Some Like It Scot by Pepper Basham
A delightful blend of romance, humor, and Scottish charm, Some Like It Scot is a heartwarming tale that sweeps readers into the rugged beauty of the Highlands. Pepper Basham crafts a story filled with witty banter, swoon-worthy romance, and characters you can’t help but root for. Perfect for fans of sweet, feel-good love stories with a touch of adventure!

[4.5 rounded up]

“Home. We’re all trying to find it. Sometimes it’s a place. Sometimes it’s a person. Sometimes it’s both.”

“The very real fear lay between wanting to believe in the beauty but seeing only the brokenness. Maybe that beauty was worth being brave for.”


When I realized that Check & Mate wasn’t going to be for me, I pivoted to a different rom-com— Some Like It Scot. I had not read anything by Pepper Basham but I knew this would be a clean rom-com which is more my speed.

If you prefer your romance to be spicy and graphic, you won’t find that in this book, but there were definitely sparks. And I’m not the ‘swooning’ type but I imagine many moments in this book would qualify.

The Scottish setting is a romantic one. Plus there’s just something about an accent right?


The premise is this:

Katie Campbell is in Scotland on assignment for her traveling social media page— Miss Adventure— to participate in what is called the ‘Edwardian Experience’. Two weeks in an old period mansion immersed in the Edwardian era dress, food, culture, and traditions. To really see what it was like during that time (early 1900s).

Along with several other influencers/ influential people, Katie’s job is to showcase the experience for her followers as advertisement.

Traveling has been her drug, her coping mechanism after losing a sister at a young age and dealing with an unstable family life.

“measuring up to a perfect sister was hard enough when she lived. Measuring up to a memory was impossible.”

Her grandparents (first generation Scottish Americans) were her home but have recently passed.

Being in Scotland has awakened in Katie many emotions and the potential ‘home’ that has seemed all too elusive.

Of course, the attention of a ‘hot Scot’ may have stoked that fire a little bit as well.



There were many things to like in this book, but I also have a few critiques.

I liked the setting. I haven’t been to Scotland (yet) but Basham did a good job of describing the atmosphere and cultural vibe. I did end up on a rabbit trail looking up Scottish slang words, but it was actually helpful because I was better able to read in my head the Scottish accent. It had a very cozy vibe that made me, even though I hate dreary, want to get caught in the rain and warm up by the fireplace.

I liked the found-family aspect and that as much as Katie liked Graeme (he’s the ‘hot Scot’), she was just as enamored with his mom and nephew. Stories often punctuate love within families that are at odds with one another or with the love interest, so I enjoy when the love interest fits into the family so well.

I thought it was an interesting premise to have the reason for Katie being there to have to do with a different historical period. It offered unique ways for the characters to interact as well as move the plot along. I will say, I’m not entirely sure if I grasped what the Edwardian era really was (though I looked it up and it’s the period AFTER the Victorian era because King Edward was Queen Victoria’s son and that’s why I kept picturing Victorian stuff; there was probably some overlap) and I did feel like the usage of the word ‘Edwardian’ and ‘Edwardian Experience’ felt a little overbearing (almost 100 times).

I liked the sweetness of the story. Basham showed that you don’t have to have two people ripping each other’s shirts off to have sexual tension and attraction and love. You get to see more depth in the characters and their emotional relationship. It was just a lovely story.

I liked that Katie and Graeme had both experienced the loss of a sibling and that Katie was able to see his family’s way of grieving in contrast to her own parents’ way of grieving and to recognize what is healthy and okay.

I really liked that when Allison showed up at Graeme’s house, when Katie was supposed to come over, it wasn’t the scene you would usually expect to have where Katie misreads the situation, thinking Graeme is still in love with Allison and runs away believing it’s all over. Basham writes this scene in a much better way and preferable way. “This is not a Hallmark miscommunication scene.”

I liked the notion of ‘lingering’, ‘tarrying.’

I liked that Katie was a tall girl. I’m not super tall but I suspect many tall females out there would love more representation.

For the most part I enjoyed the humor aspect of the book. It has a good title, and if you love puns, this will be a right up your alley. I have mixed feelings about puns, especially in written form as in a book because it feels like you have to do it just right to have the funniest effect. Some of the humor in this book seemed cheesy or trying too hard, but other times it hit right. I’m trying to figure out if we can get the humor of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood but in a cleaner story. This wasn’t quite there, but it was several steps in the right direction.


I didn’t particularly like that Katie’s main ‘thing’ was her clumsiness and propensity for trouble. It makes for a great social media page name, but beyond that, I just don’t like that kind of trope. It feels too obnoxious and performative to be a real trait. How does someone fall and spill so much?!

I’m also not super engaged with a character that has such a shockingly negative self-perception. I had to reflect on this several times because I was just like- how can she really think so low of herself in all these different situations? And I get that I don’t really understand what it’s like to be told you’re not enough over and over in different ways by your own parents and how that would have to shape your self-perception.

I just think I enjoy female characters with self-confidence more (not arrogance but a realistic view of themselves) and that know their strengths (and their weaknesses). It’s probably just more relatable to me. That’s not to say it was a bad choice for this book, and it’s good for me to think about the internal experience of someone different from me, but it’s just not my favorite kind of character. The constant- how could anyone love me?- seemed a bit too over the top.

I felt like the competition aspect with Mark started out good, but then Mark just kinda screwed himself over and found himself kicked out so the tension there really evaporated fast. I think if you’re going to introduce a rivalry like that that she should have finished it in a more full way. The focus shifted, as it should with this being a love story, but then the rivalry basically vanished instead of settling in a concrete way.

Another thing I didn’t like, but it’s also probably why I don’t typically love romance novels in the first place— so many comments about his shoulders and jawline! I mean I guess there could be worse body parts to name all the time, but still.



I looked at a lot of the negative reviews on Goodreads and the common thread (in almost every one) was that people were turned off that it was a Christian book or that it was too modest.

I guess they felt like the ‘religious’ aspect of the book should have been tagged more clearly in the book summary.

It is technically a Christian book. There are elements of Katie and Graeme’s faith interspersed throughout the book, but I wouldn’t say the faith aspect is the main point of the book. I think Basham’s goal was to write a clean rom-com that just didn’t try to hide faith. I didn’t find the faith references to be cheesy or too much.

However, I don’t know what it’s like to read a Christian fiction book when you weren’t wanting to so I can’t perceive how the story will come across to those who don’t typically like or want to read a ‘Christian’ book.

I think it’s tough to write romance these days when smut is so glorified. Modesty is seen as juvenile or laughable. Everyone has their own convictions on how much is too much spice but I will support and appreciate authors who are willing to hold the line on modesty because we need to normalize romance that is not illicit or graphic. Love does not need to be forbidden or steamy to be true and deep. Actually I think they are diametrically opposed.


Recommendation

There is definitely an audience who will probably not like this book, but I would say the reasons are preferential rather than qualitative. Those who want their romance to be smut, will not find that here. Those who do not want to read a book with any Christian references, might not like this book.

But if you are anyone else, I think you would enjoy this book! It’s a good, cozy, sweet rom-com with hints of humor and hints of faith. It draws on elements of finding family, finding yourself, and finding home. Plus who doesn’t love a Scottish setting for a love story?

When I’m in the mood for a rom-com, I’ll definitely keep Basham on my radar!


**Received an ARC via NetGalley**

I never expected to connect so deeply with a character, but Katie felt like a kindred spirit. From her faith and love of travel to her passion for writing (and let’s not forget the puns), I saw so much of myself in her. Her journey was captivating, and I couldn’t get enough—especially when it came to the “hot Scot” who completely stole the show.

Speaking of him… let’s just take a moment. Tall, brooding, and impossible to ignore, he had me hooked from the start. But what truly made him stand out wasn’t just his charm or the electric banter with Katie—it was his family. I adored them just as much and found myself wishing I could sit down with them for a cozy chat over tea.

If you love witty exchanges, swoon-worthy slow-burn romance, and a fair share of chaotic misadventures, *Some Like It Scot* is a must-read. Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early copy—this was such a fun ride!

Katie Campbell, a travel writer infamous for her misadventures, delves into a three-week Edwardian experience in Scotland to explore her ancestral roots. Surrounded by traditional foods and eccentric characters, including a surly Scotsman named Graeme MacKerrow, Katie's tendency for misadventures is highlighted. Graeme, focused on preserving his ancestral home, is thrown off balance by Katie's presence. As Katie navigates folklore and community, the overly detailed narrative sometimes drags, but the highlight is the way Katie and Graeme keep coming back to each other.

**Thank you NetGalley, Thomas Nelson Fiction and Pepper Basham for an eARC of Some Like It Scot.

Title: Some Like It Scot    
Author: Pepper Basham         
Genre: Christian, Romance    
Rating: 4 out of 5

Katie Campbell has traveled her entire life. As the daughter of an army chaplain, changing homes--or even countries--was commonplace, so when her wild childhood storytelling turned into a lucrative career as a travel writer, she thought she'd found her perfect match. But as she's nearly thirty with no real place to settle down, she's starting to wonder where "home" actually is. Her own family hadn't felt like home since her sister's death left them all limping through life.

When a lengthy project in Scotland promises to not only give her travel fodder for months but also a shot at a coveted editing position, she accepts and is sent to spend three weeks in the newly created Craighill House, a Scottish home redesigned to offer guests an Edwardian experience. But her entrance to Craighill introduces her to a quirky group of characters and a surly Scot who is helping refurbish the magnificent woodwork of the estate house.

As Katie attempts to live "Edwardian," she learns that all that glitters does not a comfortable lifestyle make . . . and surly Scots may turn out to be dashing and creative uncles raising their orphaned nephews. When a few escapades from the Downton era lead Katie on hunts for mermaids and dragons or to a fireside chat with a family who has grown stronger through tragedy, Katie begins to wonder if "home" looks a whole lot like rolling green hills, magnificent braighs, and a few extra "ayes" thrown in for good measure. But can her world-traveling lifestyle fit in with a Scot whose heart is double-knotted to home?

This was a cute, fun read, perfect for a weekend binge. Lots of comedic moments made it enjoyable. I liked Katie a lot, and her banter with Graeme was a lot of fun (okay, I love puns, but it did get a tiny bit excessive with them). Graeme’s family was wonderful, and I’d love to read more with them. I really wanted to  pack up and run away to Scotland!

Pepper Basham lives in North Carolina. Some Like it Scot is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Thomas Nelson in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 4/12).

The more I read this story, the more I fell in love with Katie and Graeme! I'll admit, there were moments when I struggled, but I’m so glad I stuck with it. As the story unfolded, I found pieces of myself in Katie, and Graeme reminded me so much of my own husband. Their journey felt real and deeply personal. I’m truly glad I read this!

I received a complimentary copy of the book from Thomas Nelson Fiction through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This book made me so happy!🥰 I LOVED Katie and Graeme! I loved the banter, the humor, the romance, the setting, and the faith.

I loved Katie’s character right from the start! We would most definitely be friends! I love that she’s described as taller than your average female, “sturdy” and “well-built”. As a taller female, I could totally relate. I loved her humor and kind heart.
I loved Graeme too of course! He was the perfect grump to Katie’s sunshine. They were perfect for each other and I could feel the chemistry on every page! From the meet cute to the rescues from misadventures, their story was such a sweet one! They had me snickering then swooning. It was a fun ride.😌

I loved the family dynamics in this story too. I loved Graeme’s family, especially his mother and nephew.
There was plenty of lighthearted moments but plenty of depth to the story as well which I absolutely loved.❤️ The faith content was wonderful!

In conclusion, I loved this book so much! I can always count on a Pepper Basham book to make me smile (and swoon!)
If you love contemporary books with
🗺️ a brooding, Scottish hero
🗺️ adventurous, influencer heroine
🗺️ the grump/sunshine trope
🗺️ faith
🗺️ family dynamics
🗺️ Scotland setting
I think you’ll love this one!

*Thank you to the publisher for sending me a complimentary copy to review! All opinions are my own.

We follow Katie Campbell, a popular travel writer and podcaster.
Katie never likes to stay in one place. She likes as her life goes as she is travelling and causing a few misadventures.
Katie always stays in one place for one week, never more. That changes when she gets a chance to attend a three-week Edwardian experience - well, she doesn't have much say in that regard, it's her boss's decision.
Our second lead is Graeme Mackerrow, a protective, stoic Scotsman who deeply loves his family.
Wish him luck so he can survive Katie and her clumsiness!
And before you read this book, remember it's a Christian romance novel - there are no explicit scene and a lot of talk about prayer/God!

As for my opinion, this book was very slow, at times even boring. Reading this book felt like a chore. I truly wish I liked it better, but the way this was written was not for me. I wish the MCs talked to each other more.

Some Like It Scot is an engaging blend of humor, romance, and vivid Scottish setting. Basham has an incredible ability to craft relatable characters and immersive storytelling. I appreciate the depth of the characters, stating that both protagonists are "perfectly imperfect" and made me laugh but also almost cry.
This book is a heartwarming tale that captures the essence of finding one's place in the world, set against the enchanting backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

I liked the blurb of this novel which is why I requested to review it, however I feel mislead as it’s not marketed as a novel with large aspects of religion and Christianity - it felt really forced and I personally feel took away from the joy of reading.

I don’t feel that this novel had a clear direction and the characters could have been fleshed out a lot more.

I’m a sucker for anything set in Scotland and the descriptions were great, just not the book for me.

An American travel writer, forever searching for a place to call home, and a reclusive Scotsman harboring a surprising secret, discover an unexpected bond when she steps into a Highlands manor house transformed into an Edwardian experience for three weeks.

Katie Campbell has spent her entire life on the move. As the daughter of an army chaplain, relocating—from different homes to entirely new countries—was the norm. Her wild childhood tales evolved into a successful career as a travel writer, seemingly the perfect fit for her wanderlust.

If you adore witty banter, swoon-worthy kisses, slow-burn romances, and grand adventures, you'll love "Some Like It Scot." This story is particularly remarkable, evoking laughter, tears, and every emotion in between. The characters are exceptional—Katie is hilarious and incredibly relatable, her struggles resonate deeply, while Graeme's many layers are a delight to uncover throughout the book.

When life repeatedly lets you down, you may start doubting everything, including God's plan and goodness, building walls around your heart and forging your own path. However, shying away from love, settling down, and taking that leap was never part of God's plan.

"Some Like It Scot" is more than just a romance. It promises both a physical and emotional journey as Katie navigates themes of belonging, grief, and love.

*Some Like It Scot* is an engaging romance with plenty of humor and Scottish charm. The story follows Katie Campbell, a spirited American travel writer, who takes part in an Edwardian experience at Craighill House. There, she meets the gruff yet lovable Graeme MacKerrow, sparking a playful and heartfelt connection.

Set against a backdrop of stunning Scottish scenery and rich folklore, the novel delivers delightful moments and witty banter. Katie’s amusing mishaps and the entertaining side characters make for a light, enjoyable read—even if some parts feel a bit predictable.

Overall, this book is a fun and charming escape that will leave you smiling. If you enjoy a slow-burn romance with a touch of humor and magic, *Some Like It Scot* is definitely worth your time.

Oh my heart…this book is endearing and lovely. It is also very funny; at the same time it is incredibly poignant. Katie has been wandering her whole life, looking for the place where she belongs; Graeme is a man who doesn’t leave his home; they are both a bit broken Can it be that when she meets him in the Highlands at his ancestral home, that she will finally find a home of her own? Can they patch the brokenness of each other? Those were the parts of this book that melted my heart, their emotions warring with old scars, at the same time healing those wounds. All the times Graeme proved that he was there for Katie, every time Katie made him smile and laugh at all her misadventures! There are also scenes that made me laugh out loud, as Katie lives up to her reputation of getting caught in awkward situations! I loved the other characters in the book as well, as they each showed Katie what it means to be part of a family and community—as they shared with her a place that she belonged. Katie and Graeme are more than characters in a book. To me, they represented all the ways you can love and be loved, all the ways you can fit in even when you stand out! I think they might even have filled some holes in my own heart. Thank you to the publisher for proving me an advance reader copy of this heartfelt novel.

Katie Campbell is Miss Adventure, a clumsy travel writer who has a tendency to get herself into odd or potentially dangerous situations then turns those adventures into stories for her readers. Her job and her past bring her to her ancestral home of Scotland where the mis-adventures begin with a rouge parrot, ladies in Edwardian dress and a very hot Scot.

I enjoyed the humor, the cast of characters (which I really wanted to see more of), vivid scenery and sprinkling of Scottish lore. Graeme and Katie have a fun, friendly chemistry with back stories that almost mirror each other in tragedy, but have opposite outcomes that draws one to the other in that respect. The book touches on grief, how different people process that grief, parental abuse, self-doubt, body image issues, self-discovery and religious themes. The love that is shown in family and community in the small Scottish town was done well and it was easy to imagine yourself in the story because of the scene descriptions. The humor from the mis-steps of the heroine was entertaining, puns were nicely done and the story wrapped itself up with a happily ever after.

This is a light easy-going read with no spice (it does have Christian author and mentions God/religion throughout the book quite a bit and is overly modest) and very little conflict. I don’t typically read religious fiction and I didn’t see this book marketed this way, so I do feel a bit mis-led on that aspect. I would also hesitate to call this a “romance” novel and more contemporary or women’s fiction. I would have liked to see some of the side characters flushed out more to introduce some real conflict aside from the mis-adventures, as I feel some were mentioned in order to bring the conflict then brushed aside and forgotten about or written off in a sentence to attempt to tidy a loose end. You have a vaguely cardboard- style cutout of a villain in Mark, but even the small amount of conflict he is threatening to bring to the story is washed away quickly and uneventfully. The character that could actually cause conflict and issues in the budding relationship between Katie and Graeme was even brought up but pushed aside as an afterthought. The whole reason why Katie was in Scotland was almost forgotten about as well, and very glossed over and tapered out by the time the book ended. The whole cast of characters in the Edwardian experience were more present in the beginning of the book then just became furniture by the end. Additionally, for how little I feel the main characters were actually together and did so little flirting over the 3 weeks this book took place, they sure jumped into forever on a whim. The relationship went to barely lovers who never really went on a date to I’m your forever person because we shared one kiss at almost the end of the book, so it would have been nice to see more of that love actually develop.

Overall I feel like there wasn’t a clear direction in the story the author wanted to hold onto beyond the subtle romance. Was it about processing grief? Finding your family/place of belonging? Following your dreams vs a career? The whole book left me a bit frustrated as I feel it has so much potential, but needs to be better flushed out. And while Christian fiction isn’t my cup of tea, with a solid direction, conflict and even closed-door or implied romance to keep in line with the religious aspect, I feel like it could be a solid story. Unlike the knitting circle ladies that have all of their strings tightly knotted, this story left too many loose threads dangling.

Tropes include grumpy/sunshine, meet-cute, glacial slow burn, Christian themes

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Publishing for the Advance copy in exchange for my honest review

This book follows Katie Campbell, a travel writer known for her adventurous spirit and frequent misadventures, as she participates in a three-week Edwardian experience at Craighill House in Scotland. There, she meets Graeme MacKerrow, a reclusive Scotsman dedicated to preserving his family's ancestral home. As Katie immerses herself in Scottish culture and history, her interactions with Graeme lead to unexpected personal discoveries and the possibility of finding a place, and person, to call home.

This is a cute story and the first book that I've ever read that takes place in Scotland. Great story about found family and what "home" really means - and the Christian elements of the story were well done without being corny or cringe, which I love. I'll be honest, the romance between Graeme and Katie didn't exactly wow me, but the whole grumpy-sunshine thing was still cute. I think that I was also a bit thrown off by the Edwardian drama bit - I don't think it added much to the story.

I'd read another book by Pepper Basham based on this book.

If you like contemporary rom-coms that check the boxes of travel, found family, historical costuming, and unsought quirky mishaps, this will be right up your alley.

For me, it wasn't a complete success because first-person dual point-of-view is always a hard sell for me. It also had a number of romance conventions that, while very common, don't land that well with me -- a lot of repetitive lingering over physical attraction and a fairly cardboard "villain" that didn't add much to the plot.

That said, it was clean and cute, and if you unreservedly enjoy the genre, this one will probably be a good choice.

Thank you to @NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for providing me the e-Arc in exchange for and honest review.
Some Like It Scot was a cute and wholesome rom-com. It there just wasn't enough spice for my liking. There were also parts that tended to drag for me, taking me out of the plot of the story.
I would recommend this story for readers who like wholesome romances without the spice.
#NetGalley #SomeLikeItScot

Cute banter, grumpy, Scotsman, and swoon worthy equals a cute romcom. My only complaint is that it lagged in some spots and sometimes the language was hard to understand therefore I was thankful I was reading on my kindle. Overall I really liked this though and the ending was perfect!

Did not see that this was a "clean" rom-com when I requested this ARC—meaning this was written by a Christian author and there was zero spice and the writing was very religious. The writing was also pretty clunky and juvenile... so it was probably meant for more of a YA audience—which I am not. But if a slow burn with no spice is more your speed go for it Christian girlies!

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Pepper Basham has done it again. She has written another delightful tale that will make you laugh and make you think and might make you cry…or even cry and laugh at the same time! The characters in this book are so rich and real-to-life that one might just wish you could be friends with them. I want to stroll through the countryside in Scotland and come upon Mirren’s shop so I can step inside and have a cuppa and a good chat with Mirren, and maybe meet the knitting ladies. I want to see this glorious estate house that belongs to the MacKerrow family. I want to go fishing or exploring with Lachlan and Wedge. It is simply a delightful tale. Frankly, if I could find a writer who wrote about people and peppered her writing with her own misadventures, I think it would be amazing and I might switch to reading travel writing instead of fiction. Seriously, I did enjoy this book so very much for the lightness and fun it brought. However, I also enjoyed the personal growth and learning that Graeme and Katie both experienced throughout the story. It brings to light a struggle many people have in life, which is listening to the inner monologue of self doubt or what others have projected and said about them, rather than focusing on the person God says they are and who He made them to be. I highly recommend this book. It is a delightful and thought-provoking read with all the usual fun, flair, and swoony moments that Pepper Basham brings to a tale.