A Brewed Awakening: A Hilarious, Clean, Enemies-To-Lovers Rom-Com

By Pepper D. Basham

Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival? Perfect for fans of Courtney Walsh and Emma St. Clair.

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.

After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.

But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.

When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.

Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

Fall headfirst into a romance that's as sweet as scones and as lively as a pub singalong. Early readers are raving about the laugh-out-loud humor, irresistible chemistry, and swoony, kisses-only romance that makes A Brewed Awakening impossible to put down. Grab your copy today and discover a charming enemies-to-lovers story brewed with heart, humor, and small-town magic.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1400351383
• ISBN13: 9781400351381
• Release Date: May 2026
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Length: 416 Pages

Customer Reviews

Charming, witty and great characters

A very cute hallmark movie feel. Starts off with the usual enemies to lovers type of trope, but then it changes and becomes more. I really enjoyed that change. While there is comfort in that usual way for a story to go, it becomes tired and you just end up skimming through the story. You don’t fall in love with any part of the characters, place where the story is.. it’s just time consumed by reading without the emotions involved. This had emotion. I love that these characters grow, change, become more. Not just because of one another, but because of the things and people around them. It’s a definite read. Also I loved the touch of modernization with the tweet-like posts. At times those were my favorite parts of the story. They have so much humor and are just joyful. An enjoyable story about finding family and home. Was an arc read

a fun romcom

"Even in the wreckage, hope found a way." Oh, man, Daphne and Finn made my day. Complete opposites in so many ways yet alike in foundational beliefs of faith, family and loyalty, they were the perfect complements in food and drink tastes, for life and love. I loved Daphne and her pink-wrapped sweetness serving gourmet tea and upscale baked goods. I also loved Finn and his down-to-earth personality serving up hearty savory English fare with ale and coffee. They both carried heartbreak, Finn hiding his pain behind his flirty facade and Daphne buckling down to continue her Grandma's legacy in the tea shop. Their banter was delightful and their pranks were funny even if they were juvenile. Lucy was wonderfully adorable and I loved being embraced by the small town community of Wisteria, NC. I am hoping for a sequel with Daphne's brother Jack and possibly another sequel with their friend and pastor Nate. If you enjoy fun and swoony romcom that will make you laugh and sigh in contentment, this is the book for you. I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Thomas Nelson via NetGalley and was under no obligation to post a positive comment. All opinions are my own.