I struggled with the pace and tone of the first half of the book. I almost DNF’d it. However, the second half of the book made the story for me and made it a 3 star! I ended up loving Katie & Graeme’s story. The characters are very well developed and have that tortured soul history that makes you root for the couple. It very much has grumpy-sunshine vibes. The pace is much better the second half of the book if you hang in there. There is wanderlust, travel, grief, self awareness, self discovery, and love. I think if the first half of the book was reworked so that the plot feels smoother, this could have been a 3.5 star for me!

An American travel writer takes on the assignment of her life, returning to her grandparents’ roots in Scotland. Never having had roots of her own with a rough family life & always moving around, Katie doesn’t know how to sit still. When she takes on the assignment at Craighill House, she meets the curmudgeonly Graeme, a burly Scottish man raising his nephew. Soon Katie’s walls begin to come down and she finds a home in the last place she expected.
I appreciate that this was a cozy and interesting romance without spice. It made it easier to focus on the storyline. The narrators for the dual POV were great!
Thank you to Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sweet story, loved the descriptions of Scotland and the characters were cute. This was a bit too religious for my taste. This is a very clean romance.

Narrators were fantastic. They did an excellent job and the accents were perfect.

I received an arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Some Like It Scot is the eighth book I have read written by Pepper Basham. Ever since reading Authentically, Izzy, Pepper Basham has become an instant read. I have absolutely loved everything I have read, and some Like It Scot was no exception. I was sucked in from the very start and could not put the book down.

The character development was good. I loved getting to know each character and learning more about each one. Katie was absolutely hilarious. I loved her clumsiness and knack for getting herself into predicaments. It made for the perfect rom-com. Graeme was the perfect grumpy character. I loved getting to see behind the façade and peel back the layers. There were a lot of side characters; at times, it was a little hard to keep them state in my imagination.

The storyline was so fun. I loved that it is set in this Edwardian Experience/B&B in Scotland. Katie being a travel writer, gets invited to experience it all. Little did they know she wasn’t the average girl. The book was very entertaining and funny.

The relationship between Katie and Graeme was sweet. One thing I know I am going to get from Pepper Basham is passionate kisses, and it was present in this book as well. Some scenes were a little on the border for me and my preference. (ie referencing imagining what’s under clothing) scenes can easily be skimmed over. Other than that, clean, low-spice, closed-door romance. I enjoyed the grumpy/sunshine relationship dynamic. It was a fun read for me.

There were faith elements intertwined throughout the novel.

*I received a complimentary copy from the author and voluntarily chose to review it. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, Pepper Basham and NetGalley for this audiobook ALC.

When Katie Cambell takes her "misadventures" to explore her heritage in Scotland, will she finally understand what home really means?

This story explored grief in a positive way and I appreciated the author's viewpoint on life after loss.

One area that left me wanting more was an update on the mannor house! Did they ever turn it into a wedding venue? Also, I would love to read more about Graeme's author brother.

Loved the narrators, especially Graeme's reader. Gotta love an accent when listening to an audiobook.
4/5 Stars

I’d like to preface this with I likely would not have requested this ARC had I looked into the author a bit more prior to the approval. I don’t believe she is a terrible person by any means, but I’ve gathered that we have some differing opinions and I typically avoid reviewing books when that is the case- however my review is based solely on the book and not on any of the authors social media posts!

This book was fine, I definitely enjoyed aspects of it, but I feel like it had more potential than was actually delivered on. I felt that the book was just too detailed to the point where there would be pages describing one thing or another that just wasn’t necessary to the plot. I would say this detail led to a bit of boredom on my end and to me it felt like it took away from the plot. One thing that reallllyyyyy bothered me was that there was a heavy focus on the FMCs body shape and her height because most of it was focused on it in a negative manner and it never really veered into her accepting and loving herself in a way that felt personal to the FMC and not based in other people complimenting her. Also I understand this is a Christian book, but calling her butt “bottom cello” and her breasts “top cello” was wild. This was consistent throughout the book and it made my eye twitch everytime. It is not inappropriate to use anatomical words.

I love a character with an accent and I love it even more when it’s an audiobook. Katie Campbell, the leading female character, has just enough quirk and sunshine to make her the perfect match for grumpy Scot (and lead male) Graeme MacKerrow. This was such a fun read, and my first from Pepper Basham. Thank you Thomas Nelson Fiction, Zondervan Fiction Audio, and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced audiobook copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!

*Some Like It Scot* by Pepper Basham**

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5 for narration, 4.5/5 for storyline and writing)

*Some Like It Scot* by Pepper Basham is a delightful, heartwarming romance that will sweep readers off their feet with its charming Scottish setting, lovable characters, and themes of family, self-discovery, and connection. The novel follows Katie Campbell, a travel writer sent to a remote Scottish village to write about an "Edwardian experience." But things take a humorous turn when Katie, with her characteristic clumsiness, falls straight into the arms of Graeme, the manager of Craighill House.

The story is filled with warmth and depth, expertly weaving together romance and personal growth. Katie and Graeme’s relationship evolves organically, with their distinct personalities creating a natural yet captivating dynamic. Graeme’s grounded, steady nature is the perfect foil to Katie’s quirky and endearing charm, leading to a romance that feels both genuine and heartwarming.

Pepper Basham’s writing shines with humor and emotional depth, making this more than just a romance. The novel touches on themes like family, loss, and self-discovery, which add richness and relatability to the narrative. The quirky cast of characters and some light-hearted shenanigans at Craighill House bring a playful, fun atmosphere to the story, balancing out the more serious undertones.

The dual audiobook narration by Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen is nothing short of excellent. Both narrators bring their respective characters to life, capturing the essence of the story and adding layers to the experience. Manning’s narration perfectly embodies Graeme’s grounded, calm demeanor, while Nielsen brings Katie’s warmth and humor to the forefront. Their performances bring the characters and setting to life in a way that truly enhances the emotional resonance of the book.

*Some Like It Scot* is an ideal choice for readers looking for a sweet, clean romance without all the spicy content. With its heartwarming themes, engaging characters, and perfect narration, this book is a must-read for fans of uplifting, feel-good stories.

Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys charming, heartwarming romance novels with a dash of humor and depth.

**Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

I DNF’d this book at 38%, finding it difficult to connect with the characters or the writing style. Katie and Scot's relationship lacked depth and chemistry, and there was no spark or sense that their connection might evolve over time. As someone who has enjoyed many no-spice books and Christian romances, I can confidently say that the lack of engagement wasn't due to the genre—it was the execution that fell flat. Unfortunately, the writing itself was unremarkable, and even listening to the audiobook ARC version didn’t help me feel more immersed in the story. I truly wanted to like this book, but it failed to hold my interest or draw me into the world it tried to create.

A woman with wanderlust takes a 3 week assignment in a small town in Scotland and (quite literally) falls for a delightfully grouchy Scotsman.

Sounds like the perfect book, right?

Some Like It Scot is a cute, sweet small-town traveling romance. I enjoyed the banter and snark between Katie and Graeme, and I loved the precocious Lachlan. 10/10 favorite character in this book. I also felt like I could picture the beautiful landscapes in Scotland.

There were, however, some things that didn't work for me. The main one being the emphasis put on Katie's shortcomings and body type, both by her and the other characters throughout the book. This came back around for a lot of different aspects and plot points and became a little redundant. I also feel like this suffered from what a lot of romance books do: There are major barriers to the main couple and those are just magically fixed by the end, one such instance really felt like it was thrown in to build tension, but so late in the book that it didn't have the desired effect.

Finally, this is a Christian romance. I feel that this would better find the audience it deserves if that was more widely advertised. I also think this piece of the plot was introduced so late in the book, it felt like a bit of whiplash and felt like it changed the tone of the story.

Overall, I thought this was a sweet, cute read for the right person.

Cute story, although not my usual cup of tea. I wouldn't recommend it in my usual book circles. I didn't realize it was in the Christian category when I requested it. I specifically listened to the audiobook version and I'm glad they had two narrators for the dual POV, although both voices were... fine. Not my favourite, but still decent. I find sometimes narrators can talk too slowly and the pace of this was pretty steady, so that was good. Overall, it was a cute read (or listen, I guess) but overall just not my taste.

The fun and quirky mis-happenings of Katie is so adorable and you can’t help but giggle. Especially if you’re a klutz like me.
The story starts with Katie, going to CraigHill house for her blog and she ends up meeting up with Graeme the “hot Scot”. I love how the author threw them together in so many hilarious ways. My favorite part is how the author goes between Katie’s perspective and then Graeme’s. It’s very engaging.
This is a good clean romance and I love that.
I listened to the audiobook as an arc and the Scottish lilts were fantastic.
I would highly recommend this book if you like, clean romance, Scotland, giggling, and happy endings.

4,5 ⭐️

“Love is always an act of faith, because we cannot see the future. But there are some leaps, that seem impossible and others that are not. What makes the difference? The strength of character of the lovers and the choices they are willing to make. If the two people are willing to make the hard commitment to each other and do the work love requires, the leap isn’t as far.”

I think this might be one of my favorite arcs I’ve ever read. This book plays in Schotland. I have to admit, I know absolutely nothing about Schotland other than that I’ve always been obsessed with the scenery. I for one, am not all too interested in the amount of rain there but I would absolutely love to visit someday! Pepper Basham sketched such a clear picture in my mind that I think I might be in love with Schotland now.

This book follows Katie. Katie is a travel writer who is widely known for her “miss adventures”. She therefore goes by the name of “Miss Adventure” It’s very safe to say that Katie just has extremely bad luck which usually ends up in funny scenarios but sometimes also dangerous. She loves to write and her readers love the laugh she brings to their faces when they read her articles. Katie’s character is build on a lot of childhood trauma. Her mother had been emotionally absent since her older sister passed away. Her father is not even in the picture to begin with. The only person who’s truly in her life that she can build on is her brother. Her brother who is happily married to his wife Jessica and who she loves through and through. She is so envious of what her brother has, but has a very bad self image and therefore thinks she’ll never find that type of love and even if she did, she wouldn’t deserve it. I felt so deeply for Katie. The way her mind works even though she tries so hard to always please everyone else and make other people a priority above herself.

Her job takes her to Scotland to write about her experience at Craighill House. A Scottish home designed for people to immerse themselves in the Edwardian lifestyle. Kn her first day falls into (literally) the arms of a tall and handsome Scottish man named Graeme. At first they despise each other but after spending more and more time together they slowly start to realize the others not so bad after all! They bond over shared trauma of the loss of a sister and slowly start to open up to each other. Katie uses humor as her coping mechanism which is very familiar to me. Katie is such a real character I felt a little emotional listening to this book. The characters are so pure and the found family is absolutely heartwarming. They both experience such growth in their characters and I just hope so bad they get to be happy together forever.

The amount of times I smiled and laughed out loud during this book is insane. the humor and the amount of puns are so amazing and make it just such a good time! I also love Lachlans character with all my heart. That boy experienced something no kid should ever have to go through and he’s dealing with it in such a wonderful way. I seriously adore this book! This will be on my mind for a long time!

This is a clean book with no spice and no curse words! An amazing palette cleanser if you need one.

“Some Like It Scot” by Pepper Basham is a contemporary rom-com that takes place in the Scottish Highlands.

I received and ALC from Thomas Nelson and Zondervan Fiction Audio via Netgalley.
The opinions from this review are completely my own.
What you can expect:
- Dual POV
- Very slow burn
- Christian romance
- Grumpy / sunshine
- banter

Katie is a travel writer famous for her misadventures. She taked a trip to her grandfather’s native land of Scotland where she finds a handsome Scot with a cute nephew.

This book got me engaged in the beginning, but it felt a bit to long and I lost interest after a while and took me longer to finish it.
The romance has a small part and the relationship develops very slow. There are some adventures that were interesting, but I would have liked more interractions between the main characters. Also, the loss of a sibling and the grief is an important part of the story.
The audiobook is narrated by Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen in dual style. Both of them did a good job and I liked the male narrator’s accent.

Overall, this is a cute book with funny, but also emotional moments.

Thank you netgallery and Thomas nelson fiction for the ARC copy + audio copy of some like it scot, the opinions expressed in this review are my Own.
Pre thoughts
- Adventure romance

post thoughts
- This was a lovely lighthearted read about a social media travel writer on her own adventure
- Katie and Graeme’s romance is quite wholesome
- The writing style was quite easy to read and the story had a great flow
- A good amount of humor
- The Audiobook is lovely, great narrators.

tropes
- closed door
- grumpy/ sunshine
- misadventures

3.5 stars rounded to 4

Thank you to Netgalley for this audio version of Some Like it Scot. I loved the accent and the vibe of the story. It was fun, funny, charming, and entertaining.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this wonderful book! I'm just a wee bit OBSESSED. ;)

There were so many elements to love in this story, from Katie's klutziness to Graeme's grumpy demeanor, from the antics of the "Edwardian experience" to the toe-curling chemistry. I also loved the shared vulnerability in grieving a sibling, and the differences in how they take on challenges. Katie flees the country and never stays still to avoid her mother's expectations and the grief of losing her sister, while Graeme stays close to home with the people he loves most in his own grief. Its truly a testament to the fact that everyone grieves differently, and THAT'S OKAY.

I also appreciated the elements of faith mixed in. I don't recall their ever mentioning any particular religion, but both characters are obviously God-fearing and seek God's counsel in directing their lives. I also loved Lachlan and Mirren(if that's how you spell it, I listened to the audiobook haha), and the family Katie found that she needed so desperately in her mostly-solitary life.

I've had access to the Ebook for a while now, but jumped on the chance to listen to the audiobook as soon as I saw it pop up on NetGalley. I am SO glad I listened to the audiobook, as it just made the Scottish accents and attitudes that much more tangible. The narrators did a wonderful job portraying the voices of Katie and Graeme, and making the latter sound like the "hot Scot" he's meant to be. ;) I cannot wait to return to this delightful story in the future! <3

“…let me be the home you always find your way back to”

4⭐️
Firstly, the narration was wonderful! Both narrators did an excellent job!!

Cute & humorous! This rom-com was full of puns and pining. I enjoyed the representation of a tall woman in romance - although I’m not considered tall at 5’7”, it’s nice that our tall girlies get some love! And the broody Scot MMC with a soft heart is always swoon worthy for me 🫠 The sprinkling of Scottish lore was fascinating and the small town vibe felt just right. In all, this was a cozy read that felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket. Oh, and most importantly, I loved the Scottish little boy that stole my heart with his cuteness - while the large Scottish man stole it another way 😉 (this is a clean romance, so any funny business was imagined in my brain lol)

Grumpy/Sunshine
Tall, Clumsy FMC
Small Scottish Town
Grief Rep
Scottish History/Folklore
Clean Romance

**Grief of losing a sibling is an important plot point, and although I think the author did a wonderful job writing it in, if it’s a trigger for you please read with care. I lost my dad a few years back and know firsthand the pain of reliving those feelings through books♥️**

This was a sweet charming romance read. I really enjoyed the audiobook narrators (Joshua Manning and Stina Nielsen). I don’t usually read books that fall into the religious category, but I’m a sucker for Scots and Irishman so that is why I wanted to listen. Lots of good character growth from both the FMC and the MMC. Sometimes you aren’t given the best family members, but finding family in others can be so freeing.

I picked this one up since I was intrigued by the location and dual narration. I liked the accents in the audiobook and loved the setting. I didn't realize it was Christian when I started it but the religious elements weren't too overbearing and didn't distract from the story. It was a cute little romance but very slow burn so be prepared to wait. I didn't really care about the side plots with the Edwardian reenactment group and the enemy writer and it just seemed dumb. I liked their chemistry and conversations and their growing feelings were believable.

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