Penelope in Retrograde

A Novel

by Brooke Abrams

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Pub Date 1 Oct 2023 | Archive Date 15 Oct 2023

Lake Union Publishing

General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction

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Description

In this witty and heartfelt debut from author Brooke Abrams, a romance writer with a passion for astrology reluctantly travels home for Thanksgiving to make amends with her estranged family…and possibly manifest her own happily ever after.

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.

In this witty and heartfelt debut from author Brooke Abrams, a romance writer with a passion for astrology reluctantly travels home for Thanksgiving to make amends with her estranged family…and...

A Note From the Publisher

Brooke Abrams lives in the Sonoran Desert with her husband, three children, three dogs, and cat. She’s quite literally never alone. Not even now. You can find her socials and writing-related news on her website at www.akabrooke.com.

Advance Praise

Praise for Penelope in Retrograde

“An ex-husband, a fake boyfriend, and a snarky, weed-growing grandma are just a few of the guests at the Banks’s family Thanksgiving that make Brooke Abrams’s debut unputdownable. Penelope in Retrograde will make you laugh a lot, cry a little, and want to call your dysfunctional family to tell them you’ll be home for the next holiday. Spice Girl’s Honor.” —Ali Brady, author of The Beach Trap

“Penelope in Retrograde sucked me in from the very first page! Abrams’s voice is a standout—she had me laughing on one page and tearing up on the next. With sparkling wit and characters I want to be best friends with, Abrams has crafted a story that cuts right to the heart of what it means to be a family, and she does it beautifully. This book is perfect for anyone who has ever struggled to find their place. Abrams has penned a brilliant debut, and I can’t wait to see what she does next!” —Falon Ballard, author of Just My Type

“Brooke Abrams’s Penelope in Retrograde is the ultimate feel-good novel. It’s utterly charming, laugh-out-loud funny, and interspersed with genuine, heartfelt moments. Abrams’s dialogue sparkles, and her characters come to life in all the best, most relatable ways. I loved it.” —Kathleen West, author of Home or Away

Praise for Penelope in Retrograde

“An ex-husband, a fake boyfriend, and a snarky, weed-growing grandma are just a few of the guests at the Banks’s family Thanksgiving that make Brooke Abrams’s debut...