Today for Fiction Friday I’m sharing my book recommendation for Some Like it Scot, Pepper Basham’s new romantic comedy set in Scotland that’s releasing on April 8, 2025.
Here’s the Book Description:
She lives her life on the fly. His heart is double-knotted to home. Can two different souls create a life together?
Popular travel writer and podcaster Katie Campbell roams the world collecting other people’s stories. She’s built a career as “Miss Adventure,” known for saying yes to anything new–country, food, or experience–and predictably finding those adventures taking a downward turn into misadventures.
Offered the chance to explore her ancestral roots through a three-week Edwardian experience, Katie finds herself immersed in the beauty and eccentricity of Scotland. In her period attire, with traditional foods and activities, the opportunities for misadventures are endless, especially with the presence of a maniacal macaw, a jealous co-worker, and an all-too-surly Scotsman.
Reclusive and protective Graeme MacKerrow doesn’t venture far from his island home. A stoic Scotsman, Graeme’s comfort zone has always been family, and after his sister’s death, he’s even more determined to save the MacKerrow ancestral home and keep those he loves close. The sudden intrusion of a six-foot-one American lass, famous for her traveling misfortunes, was far from his plan.
As this world of folklore, community, and woodworkers-in-kilts tempts Katie to discover her own story, could this one grand series of misadventures lead her directly to where she belongs? And would a settled-in-Scot ever risk loosening his grip on what’s familiar to allow a wanderlust writer a home in his heart? How could their very different worlds share the same page of life’s story when “home” is in two very different places? But maybe home–and the future–isn’t quite what either one imagined it would be. Maybe home is less about a place . . . and more about a person.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I enjoyed reading Some Like it Scot, a delightful romantic comedy set in Scotland. Katie is a jet-setting travel writer and podcaster from North Carolina who lands in Scotland for three weeks. She’s known for her hilarious misadventures and for finding herself in ridiculous situations. Her latest adventure on the Isle of Mull is an opportunity to immerse herself in an Edwardian Experience with Downton Abbey vibes. Katie has Scottish ancestry, courtesy of her late grandfather, and she’s fascinated by Scottish culture.
Graeme is a down-to-earth Scotsman and a talented woodworker. His family is close knit, and he cares for his late twin sister’s young son. Graeme guards his heart after being burned by his ex-fiance who left him to pursue her career goals.
Graeme’s family recently purchased their ancestral Scottish family estate that was sold a century earlier. The upkeep of the property is expensive, and they rent out their grand home for six months to an eccentric English couple who want to create an Edwardian Experience vacation destination.
The meet cute between Katie and Graeme is hilarious. They are from different worlds and Katie isn’t staying in Scotland. Or anywhere. Her work life is like one long vacation and she’s careful to avoid getting close to people or putting down roots. She discovers she can’t outrun her emotional baggage from her childhood and family situation.
I loved the many LOL moments in the story that draw Katie and Graeme closer together. Their romance is sweet and poignant as they deal with challenging situations and past hurts. Sometimes Katie edges close to moving into unreliable narrator territory as she wrestles with deep-seated issues. Graeme is her rock. He sees the real Katie, and her vulnerabilities, which are different from her happy-go-lucky and carefree public persona.
The quirky cast of side characters, and quite a few animals, create a charming Scottish village that I’d love to visit. I recommend Some Like it Scot to contemporary romance readers who like Scottish vacation romcoms with an Edwardian flavour that includes found family themes and a relevant faith element in the story.
Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.