Review: Sense and Suitability

This book has been on my radar ever since it was announced. Sense and Suitability by Pepper Basham not only appeals to the Janeite in me, but it is Christian fiction that deftly communicates the themes of loving others and denying oneself, all from the perspective of a female author writing about a female author. This Regency book can't come soon enough (October 14, 2025 is less than five months away now) 😄

Many thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Content to be aware of: mentions of ghosts

Book Synopsis

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 learned: 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 problem: 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?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

This is a book where hope defies all odds, bringing to life the dilemma of love versus duty in such a visceral manner. Sense and Suitability not only ripped my heart out while reading it, but it mended it right back up the more time I spent getting to see Emmeline and Simon in action. This captivating story is the most sublime second chance romance I've had the pleasure of reading where my emotions went along on the roller coaster between reality and dreams. Marketed as clean fiction, Christian readers will be delighted to know that there are powerful and overt themes about God as the Author of our lives, which translates well into how Emmeline and Simon need to look beyond themselves for solutions. At the same time, these two characters are the definition of what it means to keep doing the next, right thing in life, not sitting back as passive observers of their circumstances.

I love that Sense and Sensibility is heavily referenced, with much inspiration drawn from the characters of the book. There are also traces of Catherine Morland, Emma Woodhouse, and Fanny Price (including a funny misassumption) sprinkled throughout, with even more Jane Austen Easter eggs for the avid reader to find. More than anything, I feel like this book delves into Elinor Dashwood's heart with fine precision and in such a profound manner as to exemplify what sacrificial love looks and feels like. Readers who love Jane Austen will find that Sense and Suitability brilliantly captures the complex world of the Regency era by thoroughly examining the motivations of the heart versus the dictates of society. It's a wholly satisfying book that expounds on forgiveness, triumph, and character in the most suitable of ways.

Book Summary

• Format of book: 📱
• Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Recommendation: 👍