Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham Review

 Good Morning Sweet Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I'm so thankful you've taken the time to drop on by The Preppy Book Princess today for another book review.

I'm Kirby, and I'm always excited to welcome you to my little bookish corner of the internet.

One of my all time favorite authors is Pepper Basham, and I always look forward to getting to read her new releases.

Today's review is for her upcoming historical fiction title that releases quite soon, and I can't wait to tell you guys all about it.

I hope you'll keep on reading down below, and join me for today's full review.

Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Publication Date: October 14th, 2025

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Synopsis:

In this clean Regency rom-com, a woman with a scandalous past (and an even more scandalous secret) swears off love—until the man who broke her heart needs her help. What could possibly go wrong? Perfect for fans of Tessa Dare and Eloisa James looking for a low-spice, witty Regency romance.

After two failed social seasons, her family may think the third time will be a charm, but Emmeline Lockhart just wants to survive with her dignity (and singleness) intact. She thought she'd found her perfect match in Simon Reeves--charming, handsome, a veritable hero from a novel—until he vanished from her life without so much as a "farewell" or "my deepest regrets" (or even a vague apology scribbled on the back of a calling card). Lesson never fall for a man known for his charm.

Fortunately, and unlike many of the other eligible young ladies of the ton, Emmeline has no need for a husband--because she's already found success in her scandalous (and very anonymous) profession as an author. Why bother with matrimony when she can make her own fortune and write men exactly the way she wants them?

But fate—or the misfortune of Simon's reckless patriarchs—has other plans. Simon's once-proud estate is in shambles, his family fortune has been gambled away, and the younger impressionable siblings in his care are running wild across his estate (and possibly across all of England). Simon is in desperate need of a wealthy, prestigious bride . . . and a friend.

Emmeline may not fit the role of heiress, but she can certainly be a friend. Just a friend. She'll help him find a suitable match, ensure his reputation remains intact, and keep things strictly platonic—no matter how dangerously appealing his new-and-improved sincerity and regret may be.

There's just one small the undeniable chemistry that still smolders between them. Can Emme play matchmaker for the man she's still in love with without losing her heart all over again? And is it possible that some love stories--especially the messy, inconvenient, impossible ones--are worthy of a rewrite?

Filled with lively banter, adorable children, a frog named Blast, and swoony kisses, Sense and Suitability is the clean Regency romance you've been looking for. Basham brings her signature humor to the Regency era where social strictures keep the tension tight but the stakes low in this second-chance, enemies-to-lovers romance.

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

This lovely story was exactly what I was hoping for when I picked up a Pepper Basham title. Full of her signature wit, hijinks and hysterics, and a swoon worthy romance, I adored this clean, regency romance that is definitely one of my favorite reads of the year.

In Sense and Suitability, we follow our lovely heroine Emmeline Lockhart, who was expecting a proposal from the man who stole her heart, and instead she's left devastated when he chooses a different direction, and leaves her on the path to spinster hood. When her bossy aunt decides to push her back into society at the hopes of making a match, Emmeline is stunned when Simon, the once object of her love and affection, is also suddenly reappearing in society in her small village. While it would have been tempting to see Simon as a scoundrel, the reader learns right along with Emmeline that there's so much more to him than meets the eye, and she soon finds herself volunteering to help him make the perfect match. 

What follows is a brilliant Jane Austen inspired story that showcases the author's talent for penning romances, and pulling readers into the heart of the story. Simon and Emmeline were truly adorable, and I adored watching their romance regrow into something real that could stand the test of time. Although, I have to admit that while I loved the romance and the comedic bits of the plot, my favorite part of the story ended up being Simon's adorable siblings, especially Sophia who was such a card with her pet frog named Blast.

I can't possibly recommend this heartwarming romance enough, and I can't wait to read it again in the future. If you're a fan of clean, regency novels, then this is one you are definitely not going to want to miss.

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Thomas Nelson for allowing me to advance read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Thomas Nelson) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)