A Brewed Awakening Review

A Brewed Awakening Review

First the details:

A Brewed Awakening is a contemporary romance novel by Pepper Basham and published in 2026 by Thomas Nelson. There are 389 pages, but it is a quick and fun read. And it includes discussion questions for your book club needs.

My A Brewed Awakening Review

Fans of Jane Austen will love the flavor of Austen included in A Brewed Awakening and the many nods to her work. If (like me) you’re not an Austen fan, don’t worry. There’s still plenty to love about this book. While the author’s adoration of Austen is clear, it is not at all a distraction from the wonderful, fun, quirky, and heartfelt story Pepper Basham has created.

I love small town stories, and this one is no exception. This town has its downsides, as all small towns do, but the people are wonderfully caring about each other and their town. The author nods to the “rules” of small town life perfectly. And the twist of the Brit coming here instead of the other way around is a nice touch.

Daphne and Finn (love the name Finn, by the way), are opposites in almost everything. And they both have something they’re tightly holding onto, whether to preserve it or protect it. But they’re also both genuinely nice people, even if one does have to be gently reminded of that fact.

At its base, A Brewed Awakening is a laugh-out-loud funny rom-com about love, home, and found family. Each character makes you want to be part of that family. The setting and the people in it remind us why community matters. And the love story gives all the feels at all the right times.

But A Brewed Awakening ends up being so much more than a fluffy, entertaining rom-com. This story has so much heart hidden inside. When disaster strikes in ways the people never experienced or expected before, their heart comes shining through. This part of the storyline is made even more special because of the truth behind it. While Wisteria, North Carolina may be fictional, those living in North Carolina at the time of Hurricane Helene found themselves dealing with the aftermath in real life. Pepper Basham has written the courage, selflessness, and resilience of the survivors into the pages of Daphne and Finn’s story, and she’s done it in a beautiful way.

It’s a wonderfully written tribute hidden in a light-hearted rom-com, and it is a perfect five stars.

Purchase your copy of A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham.