Happy Friday! Today I’m sharing my book recommendation for the delightful romcom, Dear Henry, Love Edith by debut author Becca Kinzer. Elizabeth, Valerie, and I had the pleasure of chatting with Becca at StoryChats @ InspyRomance in the podcast/YouTube episode #104 that dropped this morning.
Here’s the Book Description:
He thinks she’s an elderly widow. She’s convinced he’s a grumpy old man. Neither could be further from the truth.
After a short and difficult marriage, recently widowed Edith Sherman has learned her lesson. Forget love. Forget marriage. She plans to fill her thirties with adventure. As she awaits the final paperwork for a humanitarian trip to South Africa, she accepts a short-term nursing position in a small Midwestern town. The last thing she needs is a handsome local catching her eye. How inconvenient is that?
Henry Hobbes isn’t exactly thrilled to have Edith, who he assumes is an elderly widow, dumped on him as a houseguest for the summer. But he’d do almost anything for his niece, who is practically like a sister to him given how close they are in age. Especially since Edith will be working nights and Henry works most days. When he and Edith keep missing each other in person, they begin exchanging notes—short messages at first, then longer letters, sharing increasingly personal parts of their lives.
By the time Henry realizes his mistake—that Edith is actually the brown-eyed beauty he keeps bumping into around town—their hearts are so intertwined he hopes they never unravel. But with her departure date rapidly approaching, and Henry’s roots firmly planted at home, Edith must ultimately decide if the adventure of her dreams is the one right in front of her.
Reminiscent of the beloved classic You’ve Got Mail comes a delightful new romantic comedy about mistaken identities, second chances, and finding love in unexpected places.
Narelle’s Thoughts:
I loved reading Dear Henry, Love Edith, a small town romantic comedy novel from debut author Becca Kinzer. When I first saw the title, I thought the book was a historical romance. Once I started reading, I found the mistaken identity trope LOL hilarious, especially because I’d made the same initial wrong assumptions as the main characters.
Henry has taken over the family painting and construction business and is struggling to live up to family expectations. He lives in a small town in Illinois, and his niece has promised a friend that she’ll provide accommodation in her home over the summer for a lady named Edith.
Edith is a nurse, and she’s filling in time in Illinois doing overnight volunteering at a women’s shelter while waiting for her passport to arrive. Edith’s grand plan is to follow God’s calling and embark on an overseas adventure by doing volunteer work in South Africa.
Henry’s niece’s kitchen unexpectedly floods, and she talks Henry into letting Edith stay in his home until the kitchen problem is fixed. When Henry learns Edith is a widow who’s temporarily in town doing volunteer work, he assumes Edith is a senior. Edith assumes that Uncle Henry must be a generation older than his niece, and Edith appreciates the opportunity to stay in his home.
Henry and Edith’s first meeting, as strangers in the town diner, is LOL hilarious. They’re drawn to each other, but they have no idea that they’re living in the same house because they’re like ships passing in the night. They start leaving notes in the kitchen that evolve into lengthy letters where they share deeper thoughts and feelings with each other.
I loved how the mistaken identity romance trope played out in the story. The cast of supporting characters in town were quirky and funny and created more misunderstandings for Henry and Edith as the story progressed. Edith’s late husband’s brother, Steve, is the villain who I liked seeing getting what he deserved in LOL situations. I appreciated the faith elements in the story that challenged the characters to move outside their comfort zones and touched on deeper issues.
I recommend Dear Henry, Love Edith to contemporary romance readers who like mistaken identity romcoms with a relevant faith element in the story. Many thanks to Tyndale and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy.
Learn more about Becca Kinzer and her books at her website.
Questions for you: Do you like reading romcoms? Are you a fan of the mistaken identity romance trope? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
This book sounds so cute and funny. Yes I enjoy rom coms. And mistaken identity can be really funny. Thanks for the review.
Hi Paula, You’re very welcome. It sounds like you’d enjoy Becca’s book, and I hope you’ll have a chance to read it. Thanks for commenting. 😊
This book sounds like fun especially as the mistaken identity doesn’t sound like it involves someone lying to continue the misunderstanding- that always irritates me.
RomCom’s are probably my favourite!
Hi Jeannette, yes, the mistaken identity trope had an unusual twist that was super fun to read. The misunderstandings were cute and funny because the quirky side characters, for the most part, kind of knew what was going on, but they didn’t join the dots that Henry and Edith were clueless. I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Becca’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
This book sounds like a really clever take on the mistaken identity trope! I do enjoy rom cons, although I don’t read that many, I don’t know why. This one sounds great though.
Hi Ruthie, yes, it’s a good twist of the mistaken identity trope, and I hope you’ll have a chance to read Becca’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I’ve already pre-ordered this. Can’t wait to read it!
Hi Dalyn, It’s releasing in a few weeks – not long to wait. Happy reading. 😊
This sounds like a good book. I have it on my book list to check out and read. I enjoy a light romcom now and again. I especially like faith filled books. This one sounds like a winner. Thank you.
Hi Bonnie, yes, this one is a winner, and I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read it. I enjoy reading faith filled romcoms. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I love mistaken identity stories, but I’m really not into RomComs, books or movies, or tv shows. I most definitely do NOT watch Hallmark, partly because I don’t get that channel, and mostly because I don’t like the shows on there, as I’ve watched with friends before. Just not my cup of tea!
Hi Trudy, Interestingly, one of my favorite romcom movies is a mistaken identity trope, and I tend to enjoy romcom CCR’s if the mistaken identity story set up is well done. We can’t get the Hallmark channel in Australia, and it’s hit and miss finding Hallmark movies on the streaming services available here. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I do like the mistaken identity trope, and it certainly suits a rom-com! This sounds like n interesting read, but I’m glad it isn’t all fluff and laughter, but has good values in it. After all, it’s the Christian element in the stories that makes them worthwhile.
Perfect!
Hi Margaret, yes, I really appreciated that it was a romcom with a relevant faith element in the story. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Becca’s book. 😊
sounds fun
Hi bn100, it’s a super fun story. Thanks for commenting. 😊
thank you for sharing. I love romance books, especially set in the west or historical (I am not talking about regency here) I really dont read contemporary. early last year I picked up a contemporary short series that said it was a rom com. oh my goodness. I fell in love with this authors writing. now I am on the look out for rom coms that are clean, fun and full of laughter
Hi Lori, Romcoms are popular atm, and I’m glad you’ve found contemporary books that you enjoy reading. I hope you’ll have a chance to read Becca’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I can see where the age could be mistaken Edith is an older name. Where in Australia Henry isn’t as old probably due to when Prince Harry was born. It also seemed to be popular here about 30 years ago or so and has come back in more recent years.
Of course I see Dear Henry Love Edith and I instantly think Dear Henry Love Libby. (cats)
I like Mistaken identity. Penny Zeller had a really good historical one with the same humour.
Rom-coms are hit and miss with me. I almost wish it wasn’t branded cos several I have read that are label and haven’t seen the humour in them. Where as reading a book where it happens without being promoted I think is more fun. Everyones humour is different. What is funny to some isn’t to others, also come things considered humour in some cultures or places can be insensitive or crossing the line for others.
Hi Jenny, yes, Prince Harry definitely made Harry/Henry a more popular name in Australia over the last 30 something years. I tend to agree, sometimes I’ll find the humor more hilarious in a CCR that’s not specifically being marketed as a romcom. The humor in the story feels like a bonus. I admire the authors who write romcoms because they’re not easy stories to write for the reasons you’ve mentioned. It’s almost impossible for authors to write humor and not inadvertently offend someone. I guess it’s no different to other CCR books that can include issues that may trigger readers, depending on their circumstances and life experiences. Thanks for commenting. :)
Narelle,
This sounds like a great romcom! Thanks for bringing it to my attention!
Hi Becky, you’re very welcome, and I hope you’ll have an opportunity to read Becca’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
Yes, I enjoy reading RomComs. I enjoy all the troupes. Thanks for sharing. God bless you. Happy New Year.
Hi Debra, Happy New Year! It sounds like you’d enjoy Becca’s book. Thanks for commenting. 😊
I don’t like rom com books at all because I thought they would be chessy. Now I enjoy rom com books after I read Camille Pagian book i think spell her name right.
Hi Jessica, I’m glad you’ve found romcoms that you’ve enjoyed. Camille Pagan is a new-to-me author, her books are available from my local library, and they are now on my wish list. Thanks for the recommendation. 😊