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A Brewed Awakening
Not yet published
Expected 5 May 26Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival?
In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.
After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.
But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.
When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.
Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?
In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.
After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.
But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.
When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.
Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication May 5, 2026
17 people are currently reading
767 people want to read
About the author
Pepper Basham
44 books3,003 followersPepper D Basham has been telling tales ever since she was a little girl. When her grandmother called her a “writer” at the age of ten, Pepper took it as gospel and has enjoyed various types of writing styles ever since. A native of the Blue Ridge Mountains, mom of five, speech-language pathologist, and lover of chocolate, Pepper enjoys sprinkling her native Appalachian culture into her fiction wherever she can. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of the New River Valley in Virginia.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
December 9, 2025
✨🥰☕🥐 Heartwarming, witty and charming! A sweet small-town romance, with a beautiful community of people, and a fun sense of humour. The character's all felt genuine, kind, endearing and wonderful.
💬 The social media posts and conversations at the start of each chapter were highly entertaining, they gave you a glimpse into the whole community, and were one of my favorite sections of the story! They were filled with funny hashtags, gossip and flirty banter that always had me chuckling.
🍵🍺 The story follows Daphne, a local business owner who now has a rival business opening up next to hers - enter the dashing (decadently British) Finn Dashwood (aka Flynn "Smolder" Dashwood). He is new to town and opening a hearty pub restaurant next to Daphne's elegant tea shop and bakery. Suffice it to say that this book made me HUNGRY. It was filled with delightful foodie conversations, dishes, descriptions, and competitions. It honestly made me want to bake and cook all day. 😋
💕 The chemistry between Finn & Daphne was great in this one, I loved the teasing and banter - the romance was endearing and sweet. I loved how they challenged and inspired each other, and sparked creativity in their craft. Also, it was lovely to see their journey of finding hope again - and how they worked through their own fears, grief, and loss based on past experiences.
💞 I love the characters and family dynamics the author writes in her stories - they're always so genuine, kind and engaging. Finn was a single-dad to an adorable little girl, who had medical issues related to speech. Daphne's older brother Jack was protective and caring, and they had a great relationship.
🌀 I was not expecting the plot twist in the last 25% of the book and loved the sense of community it displayed, how everyone came together. It was also a nice change of pace to have an event like that take place instead of a regular third-act breakup or similar scenes. It felt more real and meaningful, and I felt the conclusion was better with the addition of the external crisis (that seemed to be based on experience as it felt very real).
🎧 I would love to hear this as an audiobook, it would be great with the Southern & English accents of the character's! Honestly, I'd love a movie too
One thing that could have been better:
The first 30% or so exaggerated the awkwardness, dialogues and dynamics between the character's. It didn't feel as natural in parts because it felt like it was trying too hard to establish a certain personality and characterization for them. Some scenes were dragged out a little longer than necessary with the internal analysis of the character's thoughts and perceptions about each other that I felt could have had more active dialogues and pacing. I think overall this section could have been more condensed. The rest of the story found it's groove and progressed more naturally.
Concluding Thoughts:
This is the second book I've read by Pepper Basham, the last one I had read was a historical fiction. She infuses many values and traits that bring the character's and communities to life in a well-rounded way. The romance is always delightful, having a charming and witty quality. She also touches upon the human experiences and emotions in a way that lends more weight to the fears and choices of the character's.
Overall, this was a lovely contemporary romance that was lighthearted, sweet and charming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary e-arc of this novel. All opinions expressed here are my own.
💬 The social media posts and conversations at the start of each chapter were highly entertaining, they gave you a glimpse into the whole community, and were one of my favorite sections of the story! They were filled with funny hashtags, gossip and flirty banter that always had me chuckling.
🍵🍺 The story follows Daphne, a local business owner who now has a rival business opening up next to hers - enter the dashing (decadently British) Finn Dashwood (aka Flynn "Smolder" Dashwood). He is new to town and opening a hearty pub restaurant next to Daphne's elegant tea shop and bakery. Suffice it to say that this book made me HUNGRY. It was filled with delightful foodie conversations, dishes, descriptions, and competitions. It honestly made me want to bake and cook all day. 😋
💕 The chemistry between Finn & Daphne was great in this one, I loved the teasing and banter - the romance was endearing and sweet. I loved how they challenged and inspired each other, and sparked creativity in their craft. Also, it was lovely to see their journey of finding hope again - and how they worked through their own fears, grief, and loss based on past experiences.
💞 I love the characters and family dynamics the author writes in her stories - they're always so genuine, kind and engaging. Finn was a single-dad to an adorable little girl, who had medical issues related to speech. Daphne's older brother Jack was protective and caring, and they had a great relationship.
🌀 I was not expecting the plot twist in the last 25% of the book and loved the sense of community it displayed, how everyone came together. It was also a nice change of pace to have an event like that take place instead of a regular third-act breakup or similar scenes. It felt more real and meaningful, and I felt the conclusion was better with the addition of the external crisis (that seemed to be based on experience as it felt very real).
🎧 I would love to hear this as an audiobook, it would be great with the Southern & English accents of the character's! Honestly, I'd love a movie too
One thing that could have been better:
The first 30% or so exaggerated the awkwardness, dialogues and dynamics between the character's. It didn't feel as natural in parts because it felt like it was trying too hard to establish a certain personality and characterization for them. Some scenes were dragged out a little longer than necessary with the internal analysis of the character's thoughts and perceptions about each other that I felt could have had more active dialogues and pacing. I think overall this section could have been more condensed. The rest of the story found it's groove and progressed more naturally.
Concluding Thoughts:
This is the second book I've read by Pepper Basham, the last one I had read was a historical fiction. She infuses many values and traits that bring the character's and communities to life in a well-rounded way. The romance is always delightful, having a charming and witty quality. She also touches upon the human experiences and emotions in a way that lends more weight to the fears and choices of the character's.
Overall, this was a lovely contemporary romance that was lighthearted, sweet and charming.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the complementary e-arc of this novel. All opinions expressed here are my own.
November 16, 2025
Pepper Basham writes EVERYTHING so well, and A Brewed Awakening is another winner! Sweet, romantic, with a yummy tea shop setting in a small Carolina town I'd love to live in. Plus characters you really come to care about. Loved it!
November 17, 2025
This romcom was so cute! One hot chef + a neighboring teashop owner = lots of flirtatious foodie banter.
In unique Pepper Basham style, each chapter starts with a social media post and comments that could be from Twitter or Threads. Everyone from the sheriff to the pastor chimes in from time to time, with local gossip, advertising, and #AllTheCreativeHashtags. I got such a kick out of the Wisteria General Store's creative merch!
At the heart of the novel is a single dad looking for a fresh start and a young woman who has loved and lost one too many times, surrounded by a rather colorful community of small-town Appalachian characters--and a celebrity or two. And there's one little girl with a lisp who loves pink and princesses.
But then comes the plot twist I didn't see coming. Written as only someone who has lived it can. That's when the tears came.
It's a romcom but if you look closely, you'll find some topics near and dear to the author's heart, too. And I think that makes this title extra special.
Note: A bit more kissing and flirting than the Skymar series, but still a clean read!
(Disclosure: I received a digital review copy from NetGalley.)
In unique Pepper Basham style, each chapter starts with a social media post and comments that could be from Twitter or Threads. Everyone from the sheriff to the pastor chimes in from time to time, with local gossip, advertising, and #AllTheCreativeHashtags. I got such a kick out of the Wisteria General Store's creative merch!
At the heart of the novel is a single dad looking for a fresh start and a young woman who has loved and lost one too many times, surrounded by a rather colorful community of small-town Appalachian characters--and a celebrity or two. And there's one little girl with a lisp who loves pink and princesses.
But then comes the plot twist I didn't see coming. Written as only someone who has lived it can. That's when the tears came.
It's a romcom but if you look closely, you'll find some topics near and dear to the author's heart, too. And I think that makes this title extra special.
Note: A bit more kissing and flirting than the Skymar series, but still a clean read!
(Disclosure: I received a digital review copy from NetGalley.)
November 17, 2025
After reading this book I think I found a new favorite romcom author. This book transformed me into a new "hallmark" world with a fun witty story about a chef and a teashop owner. I am a sucker of witty comebacks, banter, and adding in social media posts at the beginning of the chapters. This book was not only a romcom but it also mentioned tops that I believe a lot of readers can related to. Having the relatable topics is something that I appreciate that authors include as it feels more real.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Netgalley
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#Netgalley
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is the ultimate slow-burn romance between an English pub owner and a tea shop proprietor, involving two characters who couldn't be more opposite to each other. Despite their differences, sparks fly between Finn and Daphne from the onset, garnering an audience of local townspeople from Wisteria, North Carolina. With heavily hashtagged social media content following their every move (some posts really should be shared privately!), nothing brings a small town out for gossip-fueled drama like the cooking rivalry that heats up between refined food and comfort food. Foodies will appreciate the delectable meals and treats in this book, making it a chef's kiss for drumming up an appetite while reading.
I appreciate that when difficulties arise, Finn and Daphne realize they cannot lean on their own strength and instead trust in God to help them and their community. With several heated moments between the characters, it's a good thing that they are chaperoned by Finn's adorable daughter, Lucy, who is both brave and beautiful like her favourite character of Rapunzel. Readers who enjoy cutting but not cruel repartee amid a community truly coming together will find it worthwhile to see whether tea or coffee wins the day in A Brewed Awakening. Plus, you might be asking yourself, how does Jodie have so much merchandise and who is buying it all?!
Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
I appreciate that when difficulties arise, Finn and Daphne realize they cannot lean on their own strength and instead trust in God to help them and their community. With several heated moments between the characters, it's a good thing that they are chaperoned by Finn's adorable daughter, Lucy, who is both brave and beautiful like her favourite character of Rapunzel. Readers who enjoy cutting but not cruel repartee amid a community truly coming together will find it worthwhile to see whether tea or coffee wins the day in A Brewed Awakening. Plus, you might be asking yourself, how does Jodie have so much merchandise and who is buying it all?!
Review link: https://christianshelves.blogspot.com...
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson Fiction and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.
November 29, 2025
Charming, funny, and delightful, I loved it! I want to live in Wisteria. You do not want to miss this sweet enemies-to-lovers, and opposites-attract foodie rom-com set in the perfectly endearing small town.
Anglophile Daphne Austen, owner of Tea Thyme, meets the new owner of The Green Dragon Pub, and next door neighbor British Finn Dashwood while she is practically drooling over his English car (a Cabriolet like the one her grandma used to love). "There would come a day when she'd respond like a grown-up around handsome men. This was not that day." She's less than impressed with Finn despite his car.
Oh my goodness, the start of every chapter includes local town social media posts and hashtags that are a hoot!
A Brewed Awakening is about a town full of unforgettable characters, and main characters who have been through difficult losses, an adorable six-year-old daughter Lucy, highly entertaining banter, friendly competition, and lots of great food. Everyone in town pulls together during good times and difficult times. The author has created such a great place, I wasn't kidding when I said I'd like to live here, or spend a vacation here.
I highly recommend A Brewed Awakening for lovers of satisfying romantic comedy! Author Pepper Basham writes completely entertaining and delightful stories, and this latest one is wonderful.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson via Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
Anglophile Daphne Austen, owner of Tea Thyme, meets the new owner of The Green Dragon Pub, and next door neighbor British Finn Dashwood while she is practically drooling over his English car (a Cabriolet like the one her grandma used to love). "There would come a day when she'd respond like a grown-up around handsome men. This was not that day." She's less than impressed with Finn despite his car.
Oh my goodness, the start of every chapter includes local town social media posts and hashtags that are a hoot!
A Brewed Awakening is about a town full of unforgettable characters, and main characters who have been through difficult losses, an adorable six-year-old daughter Lucy, highly entertaining banter, friendly competition, and lots of great food. Everyone in town pulls together during good times and difficult times. The author has created such a great place, I wasn't kidding when I said I'd like to live here, or spend a vacation here.
I highly recommend A Brewed Awakening for lovers of satisfying romantic comedy! Author Pepper Basham writes completely entertaining and delightful stories, and this latest one is wonderful.
Thank you to Thomas Nelson via Net Galley for allowing me to read an early copy. All opinions are my own.
January 17, 2026
A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is, quite simply, her best work to date. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ This book gets all the stars, and it kept me smiling the entire way through.
📖 From the very first chapter, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com delivers charm, heart, and laugh-out-loud moments 😂. Daphne Austen, with her Jane Austen devotion, tearoom traditions 🫖, and love of order, is the perfect foil to Finn Dashwood, a pub-owning Brit serving pints 🍺, rock music 🎸, and second chances. Watching these two clash was pure joy.
The setting alone deserves applause. Wisteria, North Carolina has a cozy, Gilmore Girls–style hometown vibe that makes you want to move there immediately. Add in prank wars 🤭, chalkboard battles, and an utterly delightful hashtag rivalry (#BestRomComEver 😉), and the story becomes impossible to put down.
What truly elevates this book is the heart behind it ❤️. The characters are incredibly lovable, especially Finn’s adorable daughter, and the faith elements are woven in naturally and beautifully. This is a clean romance that still sparkles with chemistry, warmth, and emotional depth.
I laughed, I smiled, and I wished it would never end. I honestly wish I could gift this book to everyone. If you love witty banter, cozy settings, heartfelt faith, and rom-com perfection, go grab a copy today. You will not regret it!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
📖 From the very first chapter, this enemies-to-lovers rom-com delivers charm, heart, and laugh-out-loud moments 😂. Daphne Austen, with her Jane Austen devotion, tearoom traditions 🫖, and love of order, is the perfect foil to Finn Dashwood, a pub-owning Brit serving pints 🍺, rock music 🎸, and second chances. Watching these two clash was pure joy.
The setting alone deserves applause. Wisteria, North Carolina has a cozy, Gilmore Girls–style hometown vibe that makes you want to move there immediately. Add in prank wars 🤭, chalkboard battles, and an utterly delightful hashtag rivalry (#BestRomComEver 😉), and the story becomes impossible to put down.
What truly elevates this book is the heart behind it ❤️. The characters are incredibly lovable, especially Finn’s adorable daughter, and the faith elements are woven in naturally and beautifully. This is a clean romance that still sparkles with chemistry, warmth, and emotional depth.
I laughed, I smiled, and I wished it would never end. I honestly wish I could gift this book to everyone. If you love witty banter, cozy settings, heartfelt faith, and rom-com perfection, go grab a copy today. You will not regret it!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book and was under no obligation to leave a positive review. All opinions are my own.
January 4, 2026
A fun romance between two opposites set in a small Appalachian mountain town.
Contemporary romance fans will enjoy this one, full of witty banter between rival owners of eateries. The food references were droolworthy, they all sounded so good. Loved the funny 'tweets' from the community members that punctuated the story. There is a lot more going on beneath the surface of their back and forth escapades. Both main characters have had serious life experiences that they had to overcome and that continue to color their outlook on relationships. The addition of a sweet little girl brought out a tender side of both, complete with Disney princess references and songs. The plot turns a serious corner or two towards the end as a crisis brings the community together. The ending was less predictable than I'd imagined as a result and heartfelt. Definitely worth the wait.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a book with a clean romance and inspirational moments. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
Contemporary romance fans will enjoy this one, full of witty banter between rival owners of eateries. The food references were droolworthy, they all sounded so good. Loved the funny 'tweets' from the community members that punctuated the story. There is a lot more going on beneath the surface of their back and forth escapades. Both main characters have had serious life experiences that they had to overcome and that continue to color their outlook on relationships. The addition of a sweet little girl brought out a tender side of both, complete with Disney princess references and songs. The plot turns a serious corner or two towards the end as a crisis brings the community together. The ending was less predictable than I'd imagined as a result and heartfelt. Definitely worth the wait.
Recommend to readers who enjoy a book with a clean romance and inspirational moments. 4.5 stars
(An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
January 9, 2026
Adorable rom-com. Hallmark movie meets British bake-off competition with a small-town twist. And a natural disaster at the end that had me staying up late!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I was thrilled to get this book as an arc- I have been loving Pepper Basham as an author! This book was pretty good. I like how it picked up near the end the best though! I feel like she could have gone into a little more of the history of the characters a little more so we get to know them better, but you did get to know a lot of people in this little community. This book did make me want to eat a lot of food while reading! If I had a keyword for the book it would definitely be Hope. Hope in family, community, and God.
At the end of the book it didn't quite go the way I had thought it would but as I'm not sure if it's a spoiler or not, I'll just say it was a nice nod to the western North Carolinians.
At the end of the book it didn't quite go the way I had thought it would but as I'm not sure if it's a spoiler or not, I'll just say it was a nice nod to the western North Carolinians.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Oh my goodness this book! From about 36% when Lucy had her nosebleed and Daphne helped her and Finn, it just grabbed my heart and did not let go. And the ending! I don't want to say too much about it so as not to spoil anything, but it was a deeply meaningful event that I know was a very personal lived experience for the author.
4.5 stars rounded up - I didn't love Daphne and Finn's dynamic at first, but it was understandable given their life experiences. And at first I didn't love the social media (Twitter/X?) aspect that starts each chapter - although that grew on me! But those are my only small quibbles which are drowned out by the absolutely lovely last two-thirds of this book!! Also, just to put out there that there is no third act breakup.
Highly recommended!
4.5 stars rounded up - I didn't love Daphne and Finn's dynamic at first, but it was understandable given their life experiences. And at first I didn't love the social media (Twitter/X?) aspect that starts each chapter - although that grew on me! But those are my only small quibbles which are drowned out by the absolutely lovely last two-thirds of this book!! Also, just to put out there that there is no third act breakup.
Highly recommended!
November 26, 2025
#culinaryadventures #bashamfifteennotjustforfreshmen
#enemytolover #hashtagsandsocialmedia
#lovelylucy #fetchingfinn
#droolingisntjustforthefood #communityconnections
#neitherteanorcoffee
I'm not as creative as the author with my hashtags but this was such a fun book. The social media conversation at the beginning of each chapter was my favorite. The characters melded so well with each other--Finn, Daphne and Lucy were so memorable. I loved how the community came together throughout the book with love, humor and support. The book made me want to get in the kitchen and cook but I may have gained some weight just from reading this book!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
#enemytolover #hashtagsandsocialmedia
#lovelylucy #fetchingfinn
#droolingisntjustforthefood #communityconnections
#neitherteanorcoffee
I'm not as creative as the author with my hashtags but this was such a fun book. The social media conversation at the beginning of each chapter was my favorite. The characters melded so well with each other--Finn, Daphne and Lucy were so memorable. I loved how the community came together throughout the book with love, humor and support. The book made me want to get in the kitchen and cook but I may have gained some weight just from reading this book!
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.
December 27, 2025
Review coming closer to release date!
November 18, 2025
A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is exactly the kind of feel-good, small-town romance that reminds you why her books are such comfort reads. With Basham’s signature blend of humor, heartfelt emotion, and fully lovable characters, this story feels like a warm cup of coffee shared with your best friend.
The chemistry between the leads is both sweet and sparkling, the banter is pitch-perfect, and the community around them adds a rich coziness to the entire narrative. Basham excels at creating characters who feel real: flawed, hopeful, and easy to root for. I especially loved the gentle exploration of second chances, belonging, and finding courage to open your heart again.
If you're looking for a romance that's uplifting without being saccharine, tender without losing its wit, and infused with a dash of Basham’s trademark charm, A Brewed Awakening is a must-read. Perfect for fans of small-town settings, faith-touched narratives, and stories that leave you smiling long after the last page. Highly recommended!
I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.
The chemistry between the leads is both sweet and sparkling, the banter is pitch-perfect, and the community around them adds a rich coziness to the entire narrative. Basham excels at creating characters who feel real: flawed, hopeful, and easy to root for. I especially loved the gentle exploration of second chances, belonging, and finding courage to open your heart again.
If you're looking for a romance that's uplifting without being saccharine, tender without losing its wit, and infused with a dash of Basham’s trademark charm, A Brewed Awakening is a must-read. Perfect for fans of small-town settings, faith-touched narratives, and stories that leave you smiling long after the last page. Highly recommended!
I receive complimentary books from various sources, including NetGalley, authors, and others. I am not required to write a positive review, and I have not received any compensation for my thoughts.
November 22, 2025
This was such a fun, creative story about a tea shop owner and a single dad who is new to town and opening his own restaurant.
The banter was not just great between the two main characters but the entire town.
It took me a little while to get used to reading the posts in the book but once I did, it quickly became one of the things I enjoyed the most in this book. It just took this from a good rom-com to a great read that has hilarious banter and so much heart. This is the first book I have read from this author but it definitely will not be the last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC copy of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The banter was not just great between the two main characters but the entire town.
It took me a little while to get used to reading the posts in the book but once I did, it quickly became one of the things I enjoyed the most in this book. It just took this from a good rom-com to a great read that has hilarious banter and so much heart. This is the first book I have read from this author but it definitely will not be the last.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the eARC copy of this book. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
“’Food can be terribly persuasive, Ms Austen. I might just win you over with it.’”
Thank you NetGalley for this awesome book! My review is in no way influenced by NetGalley or the author and all thoughts contained herein are my own.
There might be a second queen of rom-coms in my heart (so you haven't been dethroned Katherine Center, you're just sharing!) Pepper Basham writes stories of faith, hope and grit that will leave you laughing, crying and believing that the world isn't so bad. And she writes a kiss that will make your knees weak and your face flush, without once entering the bedroom. A Brewed Awakening is classic Pepper Basham.
A Brewed Awakening follows Daphne Austen, who owns a Jane Austen themed teashop and Finn Dashwood, the sexy brit who opened a British style restaurant next door. He catches her ogling his car the first time they meet and it just gets better from there. Daphne loves all things British, Finn is VERY British, and very sexy. What could go wrong? His flirt filter completely malfunctions around her and she's terrified of having her heart broken again. When his young daughter, Lucy, gets attached to Daphne, Finn has no choice but to get closer to the woman, although he too is afraid of having his (and Lucy's) heart broken again.
A prank war ensues, along with soft moments where a concert is thrown, featuring Lucy and Daphne and a lot of Disney songs. Each moment of this book will have your heart in a gooey mess, while also making you believe that true love does exist. Not everybody leaves, and sometimes love stays. And it also shows how much community means, especially when disaster strikes.
After enduring so much loss between them, Daphne and her brother, Jack, are such kind people that you wouldn't say the world has tried to break them. We should all be more like that - leaning more on our faith than on our hurt, finding ways to let the light shine through our brokenness. I love the fact that Pepper Basham has such a soft way of leading her readers and her characters in faith, those quiet prayers we say when we're tired, or panicked or in a mess. The Lord hears them all and that's why we should never stop talking to Him.
Daphne, Lucy, Jack and Finn have my whole heart and this story captivated me in a way that few stories ever do. Nobody writes clean Christian rom-coms quite like Ms Basham!
A Brewed Awakening is perfect for people who love: prank wars between people who love each other and don't know it, perfect food pairings that are complete opposites, opposites attract, cute little girls who are tough and kind and funny, a huge crisis that brings everyone together, flirting and banter (lots of it!) and grace, love and faith. Also, see kisses that render you breathless!
“His grin took a slow journey from one corner to the other. Oh, he liked her. Her humor. Her grit. Her intelligence and kindness. He liked the way she didn’t let him off easy. But also – if he were being honest – liked the way she looked with the sun painting her cheekbones and that wild sparkle in her eyes when she laughed. She was sunlight and spice and everything nice, and she got under his skin that felt part fairy tale, part rom-com, and all permanent.”
Thank you NetGalley for this awesome book! My review is in no way influenced by NetGalley or the author and all thoughts contained herein are my own.
There might be a second queen of rom-coms in my heart (so you haven't been dethroned Katherine Center, you're just sharing!) Pepper Basham writes stories of faith, hope and grit that will leave you laughing, crying and believing that the world isn't so bad. And she writes a kiss that will make your knees weak and your face flush, without once entering the bedroom. A Brewed Awakening is classic Pepper Basham.
A Brewed Awakening follows Daphne Austen, who owns a Jane Austen themed teashop and Finn Dashwood, the sexy brit who opened a British style restaurant next door. He catches her ogling his car the first time they meet and it just gets better from there. Daphne loves all things British, Finn is VERY British, and very sexy. What could go wrong? His flirt filter completely malfunctions around her and she's terrified of having her heart broken again. When his young daughter, Lucy, gets attached to Daphne, Finn has no choice but to get closer to the woman, although he too is afraid of having his (and Lucy's) heart broken again.
A prank war ensues, along with soft moments where a concert is thrown, featuring Lucy and Daphne and a lot of Disney songs. Each moment of this book will have your heart in a gooey mess, while also making you believe that true love does exist. Not everybody leaves, and sometimes love stays. And it also shows how much community means, especially when disaster strikes.
After enduring so much loss between them, Daphne and her brother, Jack, are such kind people that you wouldn't say the world has tried to break them. We should all be more like that - leaning more on our faith than on our hurt, finding ways to let the light shine through our brokenness. I love the fact that Pepper Basham has such a soft way of leading her readers and her characters in faith, those quiet prayers we say when we're tired, or panicked or in a mess. The Lord hears them all and that's why we should never stop talking to Him.
Daphne, Lucy, Jack and Finn have my whole heart and this story captivated me in a way that few stories ever do. Nobody writes clean Christian rom-coms quite like Ms Basham!
A Brewed Awakening is perfect for people who love: prank wars between people who love each other and don't know it, perfect food pairings that are complete opposites, opposites attract, cute little girls who are tough and kind and funny, a huge crisis that brings everyone together, flirting and banter (lots of it!) and grace, love and faith. Also, see kisses that render you breathless!
“His grin took a slow journey from one corner to the other. Oh, he liked her. Her humor. Her grit. Her intelligence and kindness. He liked the way she didn’t let him off easy. But also – if he were being honest – liked the way she looked with the sun painting her cheekbones and that wild sparkle in her eyes when she laughed. She was sunlight and spice and everything nice, and she got under his skin that felt part fairy tale, part rom-com, and all permanent.”
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Rating: 3.8 rounded up to 4
At the heart of this story is belonging. Both characters have been uprooted in different ways, and the storytelling is masterful as it weaves together heartwarming moments with an exploration of loss. That may sound odd, or maybe it sounds familiar. Whatever the exact circumstances may be, loss and how we carry on is part of our own stories.
Lucy, Finn’s (MMC) daughter, is an inspiring character and is just the sweetest. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the family moments in this novel are something special, as is the way the connection between Daphne (FMC) and Finn is written. This is definitely a story where you can see the development of the relationship, the reader is not just told, and I love that. I felt the moments when Daphne and Finn realized that they could let down their guards.
There are light Faith themes, but personally I feel that they are overshadowed by several (albeit infrequent) references to Daphne’s d*ceased grandmother. Of these references, the most significant for me was when Daphne hopes for an answer from God or her d*ceased grandmother, whoever is faster (the exact word used is “quicker”). It hurt my heart to read that. As a result, I was pulled from the story, and this only improved after the 80% mark. Still, those words stayed with me. While I realize that Daphne is grieving, I would have preferred to see her leaning on God. I feel we can remember what someone taught us, the lasting impression they made, without moving into this territory.
Now, I want to mention the food — I loved that it plays such a big part of this story! It takes talent to make food feel like its own character when you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. 🩷 I also adored what the general store brought to the story alongside the social media comments, which added to the sense of community.
Overall, it’s a sweet story with surprising depth, and there’s definitely much that can be discussed about the book. One particular plot twist develops the themes from a new perspective, making you stop and consider what is important. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives. Sometimes we need the reminder to step back, take a breath, and serve instead.
🩷Some of my favorite moments:
☕️ Lucy’s wishlist
☕️ The banter
☕️ Biscuits
☕️ Made to create
☕️ Plumbing
☕️ Family moments
Content:
-Grief
-Traumatic event
-Parental loss and abandonment (before the novel starts) | Loss of loved ones (before the novel starts)
-Light Faith themes
-Brief references to the following: the universe; manifesting; talking to their (FMC and her brother) d*ceased grandmother; it seems to be implied that the FMC called on her grandmother for strength at some point; unrelated to her grandmother and no such event takes place, but the word “séance” does appear in the book; about halfway through, the FMC hopes God or her grandmother will answer, whoever is faster.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
At the heart of this story is belonging. Both characters have been uprooted in different ways, and the storytelling is masterful as it weaves together heartwarming moments with an exploration of loss. That may sound odd, or maybe it sounds familiar. Whatever the exact circumstances may be, loss and how we carry on is part of our own stories.
Lucy, Finn’s (MMC) daughter, is an inspiring character and is just the sweetest. I won’t spoil it for you, but I will say that the family moments in this novel are something special, as is the way the connection between Daphne (FMC) and Finn is written. This is definitely a story where you can see the development of the relationship, the reader is not just told, and I love that. I felt the moments when Daphne and Finn realized that they could let down their guards.
There are light Faith themes, but personally I feel that they are overshadowed by several (albeit infrequent) references to Daphne’s d*ceased grandmother. Of these references, the most significant for me was when Daphne hopes for an answer from God or her d*ceased grandmother, whoever is faster (the exact word used is “quicker”). It hurt my heart to read that. As a result, I was pulled from the story, and this only improved after the 80% mark. Still, those words stayed with me. While I realize that Daphne is grieving, I would have preferred to see her leaning on God. I feel we can remember what someone taught us, the lasting impression they made, without moving into this territory.
Now, I want to mention the food — I loved that it plays such a big part of this story! It takes talent to make food feel like its own character when you can’t see it, smell it, or taste it. 🩷 I also adored what the general store brought to the story alongside the social media comments, which added to the sense of community.
Overall, it’s a sweet story with surprising depth, and there’s definitely much that can be discussed about the book. One particular plot twist develops the themes from a new perspective, making you stop and consider what is important. It is so easy to get caught up in our own lives. Sometimes we need the reminder to step back, take a breath, and serve instead.
🩷Some of my favorite moments:
☕️ Lucy’s wishlist
☕️ The banter
☕️ Biscuits
☕️ Made to create
☕️ Plumbing
☕️ Family moments
Content:
-Grief
-Traumatic event
-Parental loss and abandonment (before the novel starts) | Loss of loved ones (before the novel starts)
-Light Faith themes
-Brief references to the following: the universe; manifesting; talking to their (FMC and her brother) d*ceased grandmother; it seems to be implied that the FMC called on her grandmother for strength at some point; unrelated to her grandmother and no such event takes place, but the word “séance” does appear in the book; about halfway through, the FMC hopes God or her grandmother will answer, whoever is faster.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham is AH-MAZE-ING! Do not be fooled by the sweet, colorful, cartoon-ish cover and the Contemporary Romance tag. Do not be fooled by the book description. This book is WAY more than a sweet and endearing romance filled with tomfoolery, hi jinks, and snarky banter. This story is layered and it absolutely wrecked me, and I loved every single, blessed moment.
As I read A Brewed Awakening, I noticed two distinct layers. So that is how I am going to review this book — by layers. Layer one is the romance between Daphne and Finn. It is classically Basham-great. When you read any Basham novel you’re guaranteed a wonderful, complicated, conflicted, relatable romance. A Brewed Awakening is no exception. In this story, readers are treated to a contentious “meet-cute,” a realistic slow-burn, a transformation from judgement to a deep friendship, and seriously swoony romantic tension you can cut with a knife. Oh yeah! Readers are also treated to the most delightful, adorable, sweetheart of a 6-year old probably ever written in all of fiction (perhaps a little hyperbolic, but maybe not. Lucy is genuinely awesome!). Daphne and Finn come with major, life-altering baggage. They are guarded, and rightly so. They have issues that need to be dealt with, and over the course of the story, they do deal. As far as the characters go, as far as the romance goes, Basham has written another spectacular and unputdownable story. But layer one is not what wrecked me.
Layer two gutted me. I mean totally sobbing, days later I still tear-up, sort of wrecked. I don’t want to give anything away, but I feel so full of emotions and I don’t know what to do with them. You see, layer two is a disaster narrative. There is a lot packed into this part of the story. For me, this part was my reckoning with fear and loss. When I say I was flooded with fear and tears and loss and anger, I am only partly being cheeky with my play on words. I was truly flooded. I know in my heart that this book is Basham’s cathartic moment — in no way do I want to minimize her emotions, feelings, fears, etc., after all she and her family and community have been through. But I need her to know that, at least in this reader, her story opened the floodgates and it landed me soundly at the foot of the cross. Watching how Basham’s characters move through tragedy is a beautiful example of how we all should act when life floods us with disaster and sadness and fear and hurts. I am so sorry for all Basham, her family, and her community went through, but I am so glad that Basham wrote this book. She illustrates beautifully what it looks like when you must rise from the ashes. This book has made a lasting impression on my heart. I will never forget these amazing characters and this deep, deep need for family, community, and God.
A Brewed Awakening is so much. It is so much good: good prose, good banter, good characters, good themes, and good heart. Whether you’re a fan of Contemporary Romance or not, I recommend everyone read this book. This is a story I don’t think anyone should miss!
I received an eBook galley copy of this novel from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley, in order to review. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
As I read A Brewed Awakening, I noticed two distinct layers. So that is how I am going to review this book — by layers. Layer one is the romance between Daphne and Finn. It is classically Basham-great. When you read any Basham novel you’re guaranteed a wonderful, complicated, conflicted, relatable romance. A Brewed Awakening is no exception. In this story, readers are treated to a contentious “meet-cute,” a realistic slow-burn, a transformation from judgement to a deep friendship, and seriously swoony romantic tension you can cut with a knife. Oh yeah! Readers are also treated to the most delightful, adorable, sweetheart of a 6-year old probably ever written in all of fiction (perhaps a little hyperbolic, but maybe not. Lucy is genuinely awesome!). Daphne and Finn come with major, life-altering baggage. They are guarded, and rightly so. They have issues that need to be dealt with, and over the course of the story, they do deal. As far as the characters go, as far as the romance goes, Basham has written another spectacular and unputdownable story. But layer one is not what wrecked me.
Layer two gutted me. I mean totally sobbing, days later I still tear-up, sort of wrecked. I don’t want to give anything away, but I feel so full of emotions and I don’t know what to do with them. You see, layer two is a disaster narrative. There is a lot packed into this part of the story. For me, this part was my reckoning with fear and loss. When I say I was flooded with fear and tears and loss and anger, I am only partly being cheeky with my play on words. I was truly flooded. I know in my heart that this book is Basham’s cathartic moment — in no way do I want to minimize her emotions, feelings, fears, etc., after all she and her family and community have been through. But I need her to know that, at least in this reader, her story opened the floodgates and it landed me soundly at the foot of the cross. Watching how Basham’s characters move through tragedy is a beautiful example of how we all should act when life floods us with disaster and sadness and fear and hurts. I am so sorry for all Basham, her family, and her community went through, but I am so glad that Basham wrote this book. She illustrates beautifully what it looks like when you must rise from the ashes. This book has made a lasting impression on my heart. I will never forget these amazing characters and this deep, deep need for family, community, and God.
A Brewed Awakening is so much. It is so much good: good prose, good banter, good characters, good themes, and good heart. Whether you’re a fan of Contemporary Romance or not, I recommend everyone read this book. This is a story I don’t think anyone should miss!
I received an eBook galley copy of this novel from the publisher, Thomas Nelson Fiction, via NetGalley, in order to review. I am under no obligation to leave a positive review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
📝 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲: Strangers-to-rivals-to-lovers • witty banter • small-town charm • faith woven gently throughout
💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
If you are even slightly a foodie, please refrain from reading this on an empty stomach. The food descriptions alone deserve their own applause. Every meal, cup of tea, and baked good felt so vivid that I found myself wanting to go to the kitchen more than once, stomach grumbling and cravings fully awakened. Reading this before bed was a mistake, but a delicious one.
What truly made this story shine was the community. The town felt like a lovingly prepared comfort meal. Warm, nourishing, and full of heart. The side characters were supportive, quirky, and genuinely invested in one another, which made the world feel alive and welcoming. I especially loved the dynamic between Daphne and Lucy. Their relationship added sweetness, depth, and emotional grounding to the story.
The chemistry between the leads was delightful, full of sharp banter and gradual softening, like letting dough rise slowly rather than rushing it. Pepper Basham’s signature humor was present throughout, and the way faith themes were woven in felt natural and unforced, more like seasoning than a main dish. Present, intentional, and never overpowering.
That said, I have a few quibbles: the opening chapters moved slowly for me, like waiting for water to reach a full boil. Once the story settled in, it flowed beautifully, but some readers may need a little patience at the start. I also noticed that the MMC’s handsomeness was mentioned quite frequently. This may work well for many readers, but for me personally, it felt a bit over-repeated, like being reminded of the same flavor note too often.
The ending surprised me. I understood the heart behind it and appreciated the message of community support. Still, it arrived so suddenly that it felt like an unexpected spice added at the very last moment. With just a bit more buildup, it could have landed even more satisfyingly.
Still, taken as a whole, this story felt rich, comforting, and full of care. You can tell it was written with intention, humor, and love for both characters and readers. And yes, I am very much hoping we eventually get Jack’s story.
❤️🔥 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
Witty banter and Pepper Basham’s humor
Cozy small-town vibes
Mouthwatering food descriptions
Strong sense of community
Side characters who feel like friends
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Abandonment and Grief
✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱/𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲: If you love Jane Austen–esque tension, British flavor, and stories steeped in tea, pastries, and community, this one feels like curling up in a cozy café on a rainy afternoon.
💬 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀:
If you are even slightly a foodie, please refrain from reading this on an empty stomach. The food descriptions alone deserve their own applause. Every meal, cup of tea, and baked good felt so vivid that I found myself wanting to go to the kitchen more than once, stomach grumbling and cravings fully awakened. Reading this before bed was a mistake, but a delicious one.
What truly made this story shine was the community. The town felt like a lovingly prepared comfort meal. Warm, nourishing, and full of heart. The side characters were supportive, quirky, and genuinely invested in one another, which made the world feel alive and welcoming. I especially loved the dynamic between Daphne and Lucy. Their relationship added sweetness, depth, and emotional grounding to the story.
The chemistry between the leads was delightful, full of sharp banter and gradual softening, like letting dough rise slowly rather than rushing it. Pepper Basham’s signature humor was present throughout, and the way faith themes were woven in felt natural and unforced, more like seasoning than a main dish. Present, intentional, and never overpowering.
That said, I have a few quibbles: the opening chapters moved slowly for me, like waiting for water to reach a full boil. Once the story settled in, it flowed beautifully, but some readers may need a little patience at the start. I also noticed that the MMC’s handsomeness was mentioned quite frequently. This may work well for many readers, but for me personally, it felt a bit over-repeated, like being reminded of the same flavor note too often.
The ending surprised me. I understood the heart behind it and appreciated the message of community support. Still, it arrived so suddenly that it felt like an unexpected spice added at the very last moment. With just a bit more buildup, it could have landed even more satisfyingly.
Still, taken as a whole, this story felt rich, comforting, and full of care. You can tell it was written with intention, humor, and love for both characters and readers. And yes, I am very much hoping we eventually get Jack’s story.
❤️🔥 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗙𝗼𝗿:
Witty banter and Pepper Basham’s humor
Cozy small-town vibes
Mouthwatering food descriptions
Strong sense of community
Side characters who feel like friends
⚠️ 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁: Abandonment and Grief
✅ 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱/𝗟𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗻 𝗜𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲: If you love Jane Austen–esque tension, British flavor, and stories steeped in tea, pastries, and community, this one feels like curling up in a cozy café on a rainy afternoon.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Do not read A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham when you are hungry.
Triggers: A precious little girl, mouthwatering descriptions of food and drinks, and all things British.
Daphne Austen is a small-town girl and proud of it. She owns a quaint tea shop in Wisteria, North Carolina, where she offers a lovely selection of teas and dainty treats. The shop, Tea Thyme, along with her love of all things British, was passed down to her by her grandma.
Into Wisteria strolls the epitome of all things British, Finn Dashwood. He’s tall, dark, has a smile that makes a girl’s knees weak, and an accent to match. Only, he rubs her the wrong way. He pokes fun at her tea shop and detests anything tea-related, firmly believing that his pub, with hearty English cuisine and strong coffee, is far superior. Let the battle of wits and swoon-worthy chemistry begin.
This story is full of Pepper’s delightful humor and heartwarming brand of romance. Daphne and Finn, beautifully written characters with flaws and depth, learn they’re better together. Their collaboration brings out the best in each other. The descriptions of their food creations literally made my mouth water. I would have loved to be in their kitchens as they worked out those amazing pairings. Honestly, I’m just a little sad I didn’t get to be one of their taste testers!
The cast of characters in A Brewed Awakening is a delight. Jack, Grammy D, Rosemary, and Finn’s sweet daughter, Lucy, just to name a few, are all wonderfully crafted and add so much charm and depth to the story. I truly hope this is just the first in a series of books set in Wisteria, North Carolina, because I want to spend more time in this sweet town.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Pepper Basham and Thomas Nelson Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Triggers: A precious little girl, mouthwatering descriptions of food and drinks, and all things British.
Daphne Austen is a small-town girl and proud of it. She owns a quaint tea shop in Wisteria, North Carolina, where she offers a lovely selection of teas and dainty treats. The shop, Tea Thyme, along with her love of all things British, was passed down to her by her grandma.
Into Wisteria strolls the epitome of all things British, Finn Dashwood. He’s tall, dark, has a smile that makes a girl’s knees weak, and an accent to match. Only, he rubs her the wrong way. He pokes fun at her tea shop and detests anything tea-related, firmly believing that his pub, with hearty English cuisine and strong coffee, is far superior. Let the battle of wits and swoon-worthy chemistry begin.
This story is full of Pepper’s delightful humor and heartwarming brand of romance. Daphne and Finn, beautifully written characters with flaws and depth, learn they’re better together. Their collaboration brings out the best in each other. The descriptions of their food creations literally made my mouth water. I would have loved to be in their kitchens as they worked out those amazing pairings. Honestly, I’m just a little sad I didn’t get to be one of their taste testers!
The cast of characters in A Brewed Awakening is a delight. Jack, Grammy D, Rosemary, and Finn’s sweet daughter, Lucy, just to name a few, are all wonderfully crafted and add so much charm and depth to the story. I truly hope this is just the first in a series of books set in Wisteria, North Carolina, because I want to spend more time in this sweet town.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from Pepper Basham and Thomas Nelson Fiction. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 26, 2026
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Tropes: enemies to lovers, small town, proximity-esque
A Brewed Awakening is a sweet rom-com perfect for fans of the Great British Bake Off and foodies everywhere.
Daphne Austen finds out there’s someone moving in next door - a British man named Finn Dashwood. His British pub is the complete opposite of Tea Thyme. The rivalry heats up even more between the neighbors as a celebrity couple has to choose between the two shops to cater their wedding.
I absolutely adored the juxtaposition between Daphne’s delicate tea and Finn’s pub food. It really set the rivals tone for me.
My favorite character was far and away Lucy. She was the cutest! I loved Basham’s way of writing her dialogue with the speech impediment. She was REAL to me. It was also easy to see Finn’s healthy parenting in their relationship and Lucy’s relationship with others. Plus girls who love dragons can also be princesses!
I’ll be honest, it did take me awhile to really get into the storyline. I wasn’t a fan of the social media posts at the beginning of each chapter, but that’s just not my cup of tea (ha, get it?)
I also really wish Nate and the Wisteria General Store had been incorporated more throughout the whole first part of the book, not just in the social media posts. It was a solid length of time before Nate was mentioned - and I wish there was more interaction with him. Maybe in another book?
Overall, a cute, sweet book that started with me not knowing what to think, yet still left me satisfied at the end. Kind of like a few of the food combos Daphne and Finn come up with!
3.5 stars rounded up to 4
Tropes: enemies to lovers, small town, proximity-esque
A Brewed Awakening is a sweet rom-com perfect for fans of the Great British Bake Off and foodies everywhere.
Daphne Austen finds out there’s someone moving in next door - a British man named Finn Dashwood. His British pub is the complete opposite of Tea Thyme. The rivalry heats up even more between the neighbors as a celebrity couple has to choose between the two shops to cater their wedding.
I absolutely adored the juxtaposition between Daphne’s delicate tea and Finn’s pub food. It really set the rivals tone for me.
My favorite character was far and away Lucy. She was the cutest! I loved Basham’s way of writing her dialogue with the speech impediment. She was REAL to me. It was also easy to see Finn’s healthy parenting in their relationship and Lucy’s relationship with others. Plus girls who love dragons can also be princesses!
I’ll be honest, it did take me awhile to really get into the storyline. I wasn’t a fan of the social media posts at the beginning of each chapter, but that’s just not my cup of tea (ha, get it?)
I also really wish Nate and the Wisteria General Store had been incorporated more throughout the whole first part of the book, not just in the social media posts. It was a solid length of time before Nate was mentioned - and I wish there was more interaction with him. Maybe in another book?
Overall, a cute, sweet book that started with me not knowing what to think, yet still left me satisfied at the end. Kind of like a few of the food combos Daphne and Finn come up with!
November 18, 2025
Daphne has inherited her grandmother’s beloved tea shop, Tea Thyme, and continues the charming English theme her grandmother began. A devoted Jane Austen fan, Daphne treasures her quiet, predictable life—until a genuine Brit moves in next door and turns her world upside down.
Finn Dashwood arrives in Wisteria, North Carolina, with his six-year-old daughter, Lucy, after heartbreak and betrayal leave him searching for a fresh start. His dream is to open an authentic English pub, but the perfect location happens to be right beside Tea Thyme. Daphne is less than thrilled with the noisy neighbor and his plans, though Finn quickly notices how deeply the townsfolk—and Lucy—adore her.
When a celebrity wedding is scheduled in their cozy mountain town, Daphne and Finn find themselves competing for the coveted catering job. The rivalry escalates into a town-wide contest, with each showcasing their best dishes. The stakes are high, but so are the sparks flying between them.
Pepper Basham delivers a charming tale filled with humor, heart, and unexpected twists. The endearing cast of characters will capture your heart, while the sweet romance and small-town warmth make this story impossible to put down. A Brewed Awakening is a delightful blend of wit, poignancy, and hope—a perfect read for fans of heartfelt, clean, contemporary romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Finn Dashwood arrives in Wisteria, North Carolina, with his six-year-old daughter, Lucy, after heartbreak and betrayal leave him searching for a fresh start. His dream is to open an authentic English pub, but the perfect location happens to be right beside Tea Thyme. Daphne is less than thrilled with the noisy neighbor and his plans, though Finn quickly notices how deeply the townsfolk—and Lucy—adore her.
When a celebrity wedding is scheduled in their cozy mountain town, Daphne and Finn find themselves competing for the coveted catering job. The rivalry escalates into a town-wide contest, with each showcasing their best dishes. The stakes are high, but so are the sparks flying between them.
Pepper Basham delivers a charming tale filled with humor, heart, and unexpected twists. The endearing cast of characters will capture your heart, while the sweet romance and small-town warmth make this story impossible to put down. A Brewed Awakening is a delightful blend of wit, poignancy, and hope—a perfect read for fans of heartfelt, clean, contemporary romance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
January 10, 2026
A Brewed Awakening
by Pepper Basham
I absolutely loved A Brewed Awakening. Daphne, the female main character, is incredibly relatable. She runs a tea shop that once belonged to her late grandmother, and her deep love for all things England comes from the stories and memories her Gran shared with her. Still navigating grief, Daphne’s quiet life is turned upside down when a new Englishman moves in next door and opens a pub.
Finn is starting over in North Carolina after being betrayed by his business partner and abandoned by his wife. A longtime family friend invites him and his young daughter to move to a quaint mountain town, where he plans to open a new restaurant. With his charm and playful sense of humor, Finn delights in throwing Daphne off balance—often through pranks and by showing up at the most inconvenient times. But beneath his lighthearted exterior, Finn is guarded. He’s not only protecting his own heart, but his daughter’s as well, determined not to let her be hurt again.
A Brewed Awakening truly hit it out of the park for me. I highly recommend it to romance lovers, especially those who appreciate faith elements woven naturally into the story. The references to Christ and church were beautifully done and added depth without overpowering the romance. The setting also felt authentic and heartfelt.
⭐ 4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read A Brewed Awakening.
by Pepper Basham
I absolutely loved A Brewed Awakening. Daphne, the female main character, is incredibly relatable. She runs a tea shop that once belonged to her late grandmother, and her deep love for all things England comes from the stories and memories her Gran shared with her. Still navigating grief, Daphne’s quiet life is turned upside down when a new Englishman moves in next door and opens a pub.
Finn is starting over in North Carolina after being betrayed by his business partner and abandoned by his wife. A longtime family friend invites him and his young daughter to move to a quaint mountain town, where he plans to open a new restaurant. With his charm and playful sense of humor, Finn delights in throwing Daphne off balance—often through pranks and by showing up at the most inconvenient times. But beneath his lighthearted exterior, Finn is guarded. He’s not only protecting his own heart, but his daughter’s as well, determined not to let her be hurt again.
A Brewed Awakening truly hit it out of the park for me. I highly recommend it to romance lovers, especially those who appreciate faith elements woven naturally into the story. The references to Christ and church were beautifully done and added depth without overpowering the romance. The setting also felt authentic and heartfelt.
⭐ 4.5 out of 5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read A Brewed Awakening.
November 16, 2025
Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
So, let me preface my review by saying that Pepper Basham has written three of my absolutely favorite books: "Authentically Izzy", "Positively Penelope", and "Loyally Luke". I own all three in ebook and audiobook format and have re-read and listened to them many times. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys witty, romantic, and heartwarming stories.
This current book just didn't do it for me. I couldn't connect with the two main characters and found Finn especially annoying. Also, I felt the presence of the author throughout the first third of the book as if she was using a rom-com trope checklist. There were flashes of Basham's wittiness but it mostly seemed forced. It kind of felt like she was trying too hard. I started to warm up to the story and the characters about 60% into the book but, overall, felt like I had to slog my way to the HEA.
Gah! I really dislike writing negative reviews! Anyway, my recommendation is to go out and buy Bashasm's "Skymar" series. It'll make you laugh, get choked up, and sigh with satisfaction.
So, let me preface my review by saying that Pepper Basham has written three of my absolutely favorite books: "Authentically Izzy", "Positively Penelope", and "Loyally Luke". I own all three in ebook and audiobook format and have re-read and listened to them many times. I highly recommend them to anyone who enjoys witty, romantic, and heartwarming stories.
This current book just didn't do it for me. I couldn't connect with the two main characters and found Finn especially annoying. Also, I felt the presence of the author throughout the first third of the book as if she was using a rom-com trope checklist. There were flashes of Basham's wittiness but it mostly seemed forced. It kind of felt like she was trying too hard. I started to warm up to the story and the characters about 60% into the book but, overall, felt like I had to slog my way to the HEA.
Gah! I really dislike writing negative reviews! Anyway, my recommendation is to go out and buy Bashasm's "Skymar" series. It'll make you laugh, get choked up, and sigh with satisfaction.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A Brewed Awakening
Pepper Basham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daphne Austen runs her late grandmother's tearoom in Wisteria, North Carolina, with a focus on tradition. From the teapot collection to the items on the menu, everything is part of her predictably comfortable routine. That is, until a new neighbor takes over the adjoining building.
Finn Dashwood left England looking for a fresh start for himself and his daughter. But his musical taste, or at least the volume of it, has started a war of words and pranks with the fussy teashop owner next door.
In signature style, Pepper created a community where her readers would want to live. A delightful romance was wrapped within a bigger story of people supporting people. Seamlessly, she wove into her story the catastrophic flooding in North Carolina caused from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Pepper was able to include heartbreaking details while focusing on the unwavering commitment of neighbors giving freely of their resources, time, and effort sometimes at their own peril. She highlighted hope in the future and moving forward in spite of fear and loss.
We received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley. This is our honest review.
Pepper Basham
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Daphne Austen runs her late grandmother's tearoom in Wisteria, North Carolina, with a focus on tradition. From the teapot collection to the items on the menu, everything is part of her predictably comfortable routine. That is, until a new neighbor takes over the adjoining building.
Finn Dashwood left England looking for a fresh start for himself and his daughter. But his musical taste, or at least the volume of it, has started a war of words and pranks with the fussy teashop owner next door.
In signature style, Pepper created a community where her readers would want to live. A delightful romance was wrapped within a bigger story of people supporting people. Seamlessly, she wove into her story the catastrophic flooding in North Carolina caused from Hurricane Helene in September 2024. Pepper was able to include heartbreaking details while focusing on the unwavering commitment of neighbors giving freely of their resources, time, and effort sometimes at their own peril. She highlighted hope in the future and moving forward in spite of fear and loss.
We received an advance copy of the book from NetGalley. This is our honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This author is so fun to read and I was excited to dive into her new novel. The setting is small town North Carolina and a tea shop. There is a lot of humor as one would expect and a dashingly handsome English man named Finn. He comes onto the scene and creates an enemies to lovers type trope. He is opening a pub next door to the frilly pink tea shop and you can imagine how that plays out. The tea shop sounds so fun and the way it is described made me feel like I was there sipping tea. The only negative I have with this book is there are a lot of references to appearance and how handsome and gorgeous they are with the abs and the legs and the eyes etc. It was too much and drove me a bit crazy and took me out of the story each time. Near the end of the book the author weaves in a bit of the reality of life and I actually thought the story really came alive in the last chapters. It was a solid ending and because of that I found it be overall an enjoyable read.
Four Stars.
"I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."
Four Stars.
"I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review."
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I love Pepper Basham's books. Whenever I see that she has a new one it is on my automatic, must buy list. A Brewed Awakening is an excellent example of Pepper's down home fun style of writing. I really enjoyed the witty word play between Daphne and Finn. The opposites attract plot portrayed by a tea drinking, scone baking, girl and a coffee drinking, steak and kidney pie pub owner who both agree on Faith, family and favorite cars! And speaking of family, be careful not to have anything in your mouth when you read anything Granny D has to say, " If you'd told me handsome was comin' to town, I'd have worn my good teeth.". I have to say at this point Daphne and Finn are among my favorite Basham characters, perhaps even second only to Freddie and Grace!
So brew up your tea,Team Daphne, or coffee, Team Finn, and settle back for a rocking good time in Wisteria that ends up with the town choosing sides!
I was given a copy of A Brewed Awakening by NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
So brew up your tea,Team Daphne, or coffee, Team Finn, and settle back for a rocking good time in Wisteria that ends up with the town choosing sides!
I was given a copy of A Brewed Awakening by NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book is a cute enemies to lovers comedy. It was enjoyable and sweet, but I didn’t really connect with the characters. It was really slow to start, but I liked the banter between them. I liked that it wasn’t really insta-love, or too much tension from the start. It built slowly between them.
I really loved Finn’s relationship with his daughter though! She was so cute.
The topics in the book were well-brought. I like when it’s not just about the romance, when it talks about serious subjects and personal hardships too.
I got a great sense of the setting; I love a small town romance! But I didn’t really like the social media addition. It’s a me-thing, really. I always feel like it doesn’t really add anything to the story and it’s a bit cringe (especially all the hashtags omg). I would’ve preferred more descriptions of the characters or the small town community instead
I would’ve also liked to see POV distinctions at the beginning of each chapter/part.
I really loved Finn’s relationship with his daughter though! She was so cute.
The topics in the book were well-brought. I like when it’s not just about the romance, when it talks about serious subjects and personal hardships too.
I got a great sense of the setting; I love a small town romance! But I didn’t really like the social media addition. It’s a me-thing, really. I always feel like it doesn’t really add anything to the story and it’s a bit cringe (especially all the hashtags omg). I would’ve preferred more descriptions of the characters or the small town community instead
I would’ve also liked to see POV distinctions at the beginning of each chapter/part.
December 6, 2025
Cute enemies to lovers/slow burn trope about a tea shop owner and a new British pub owner in small town North Carolina. I really liked how each chapter started with social media posts between the two shops throwing down and the towns folk commenting. The first half of the book was a little sluggish. There were some chapters that were just the “feuding”, but didn’t really move the story forward. The story picks up halfway through with a lot going on, including a natural disaster (that really did affect western NC). Per the author’s other books, this too is low spice (some kissing, flirtations and admiring) and rooted in faith. This is a good one to pick up.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Thank you, Thomas Nelson Fiction, for providing this book for review consideration through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are solely my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I always look forward to reading Pepper Basham’s books, and I have to say—this one is my favorite so far. The characters are unforgettable, and the setting descriptions are wonderfully vivid. The small town of Wisteria felt exactly like a small town should: full of charm, colorful personalities, good-natured teasing, and spunky elderly wisdom. And let’s not forget the food—gosh! I felt hungry just reading about it.
Settle into your quiet reading nook with your favorite cup of tea like Daphne Austen, or a scalding cup of coffee like Finn Dashwood, and enjoy their absolutely delightful chemistry, delicious food, and witty social commentary. This book was such a joy from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
Settle into your quiet reading nook with your favorite cup of tea like Daphne Austen, or a scalding cup of coffee like Finn Dashwood, and enjoy their absolutely delightful chemistry, delicious food, and witty social commentary. This book was such a joy from start to finish.
Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Nelson Fiction for the complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own.
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