Be aware that there is a significant difference between the reviews and recommendations on this blog. Just because I review a book, TV show, or movie does not mean I recommend it. I am simply analyzing the work and giving my honest opinion of it, as well as providing key points such as the plot summary, age appropriateness (if the reader should choose to read or watch it), and anything else that's noteworthy.
Authentically, Izzy by Pepper Basham is a newer Christian fiction novel that has delighted many readers in the past few years. This low-spice contemporary romance is the first book in the Skymar series and is full of humor and bookish fun.
Plot Summary
Isabelle Louisa Edgewood (a.k.a. Izzy) is content with her life, even thought it has more book characters than flesh and blood humans in it. Then her cousin Josephine signs her up for an online dating site in order to rectify Izzy's singleness. Through this site she meets bookish, introverted Brodie Sutherland, who appears to be perfect in every way ... except he lives on an European island called Skymar and she lives in North Carolina. As Izzy continues to correspond with him, she discovers it may be time for her to pursue her own adventure instead of just reading about them and begin living the life she was created to live.
Pros and Cons
Each character has an unique personality. The banter and wit between them made me smile and laugh. The world-building for Skymar was so well done, I thought it was a real place! (Sadly, Skymar is a fictional island.) Books are a central part of the story and any prolific reader can identify with the enthusiasm Brodie and Izzy have for stories. The romance contains little drama and any that does occur is quickly cleared up.
This is an epistolatory novel, with over half of the book containing emails and text messages, so if that is not your thing you may want to pass.
This is an epistolatory novel, with over half of the book containing emails and text messages, so if that is not your thing you may want to pass.
Notes
This book is best for teens and adults.
For those of you who have read Authentically, Izzy, what did you think of it? For those who haven't, would you consider reading it? Tell me in the comments below!
Recent
Archive
2025
February
March
2024
January
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
2023
January
April
July
9 Comments
I love this book (and the whole series)! Brodie and Izzy are so adorable, but so are Penelope and Luke! I agree that Skymar seems so much like a real place that I had to look it up and was disappointed to learn it's not real. I also made a list of several books I hadn't read based off Brodie and Izzy's bookish conversations :)
I made a list of books I hadn't read and checked if it was a real place, too! I enjoyed all the references I did know. I am hoping to read through the rest of the series. I absolutely loved how the author had the characters interact with each other in the first novel.
I loved this book. The series is great and so well done. You feel like the characters (and the island) are real!
It does feel like the island is real. I was disappointed when I found out it wasn't :(
I love this series!! The third book is my favorite but Authentically Izzy is hilarious!
It is hilarious; the wit in it is so entertaining.
I saw your post on The Wallflower Journal and got through a few of your suggestions. This is one of my top favorites from that list! I thought it was hilarious and sweet, but also touching some things that I needed personally. Thank you for the post! I am still working through some of the other suggestions, with other books on my TBR pile. Thanks again!
"One of the things I loved about it was how it contained so many truths, but wasn't at all preachy. That's the best kind of story, in my mind."
nI loved this about Izzy, and really all of Pepper Basham's books! "Hope Between the Pages" is another favorite of mine, as is her Blue Ridge Mountain series!
It thrills me that you were able to find new books to love from my article! Authentically, Izzy is a lovely, sweet story and I laughed so many times while I was reading. One of the things I loved about it was how it contained so many truths, but wasn't at all preachy. That's the best kind of story, in my mind.
"One of the things I loved about it was how it contained so many truths, but wasn't at all preachy. That's the best kind of story, in my mind."
nI loved this about Izzy, and really all of Pepper Basham's books! "Hope Between the Pages" is another favorite of mine, as is her Blue Ridge Mountain series!