Romance writer Penelope Banks can write the perfect love story, but when it comes to family, all she’s got is a rough draft. Penny shelved the idea of fitting in with her high-achieving family years ago, but when her new business venture―a romance bookstore―is at risk of closing before its doors have opened, she’s forced to ask for help from the one place she never expected. Home. Penny’s prepared for the usual Thanksgiving lineup: her perfect sister, meddling nana, matchmaking mother, and workaholic father. The guest she didn’t anticipate? Her ex-husband, Smith. After an awkward rideshare with Smith leaves Penny questioning why the romance in her life exists only in her novels, Penny adds some fiction to reality and turns her father’s colleague into the perfect fake boyfriend.

With only four days to mend damaged relationships, and her bookstore’s future at stake, all the stars must align for Penny to finally write a happily ever after for herself and her family.

Thank you @netgalley and @aka.brooke.abrams for the ARC! This was a hilarious read full of heart and family drama. I love thanksgiving so the setting during thanksgiving was very enjoyable, and with Penelope spending the first holiday at home in quite some time, it also set the scene for some hilarious and dramatic family moments. The flashbacks to past thanksgivings helped set the drama as well. Penelope was a super relatable character, striving for perfection but always falling short of both her own dreams and her family’s wishes for her. She was earnest and was able to address her own shortcomings.  I loved the reconciling that finically happened between everyone. And Nana’s character was hilarious. For as much as this book was felt with tender family moments, it was also laugh out loud funny. Quick and quirky read that I recommend! Penelope in Retrograde is available now!