4.5 — okay, DEFINITELY my favorite one so far. I love the sweet growth of Penelope and Colin. I think knowing they get together since book ones epilogue helped create the build up that is their love. I love that this story focuses mostly on Penelope and her triumphs as a writer. I love that she is mostly in control of her own fortune and life and that she finds happiness and love with her wit and smarts. I love that Colin oh so instantly realizes that HE is the dumb one for not noticing her sooner and immediately realizes it is society that is missing out. I LOVE how he immediately is like “yup we are getting married!!”. The first three books were ~oh so tiring~ with the trope of the men getting pissy and running off from love for some dumb reason. I truly expected Colin to do this —but boy did he disappoint (thank god). Seriously the scene where Colin basically drags Penelope into her house to propose immediately and stands up to her mother was *chefs kiss*. I truly loved their relationship so much. There was so much respect, honesty, and trust that I felt was utterly lacking from the first three books. 

Also anything involving more relationships outside of the romance brings heights to any of these stories— Penelope and Eloise for one are one of the greatest triumphs of this book. Even Penelope and her sister, Francesca, is sweet and amazing. And characters like Hyacinth are much more rounded out compared to the previous novels — I felt the other books were lacking in how the minor characters played a part in the overall story. 

The only con I can think of is the same personality trait where the men talk about “owning” or “possessing” the women in some way — however it was mentioned MUCH less from Colin than from the other books in my opinion so was way easier to ignore. So far…i am a Colin and Penelope fan to death and am interested to see if anyone will top them.