As a busy working mom, I found Catch: A Love Story by Tracy Ewens to be a refreshing and heartwarming read that perfectly blends romance with self-discovery. The story centers on Jules Bartlett, a no-nonsense captain of the Branch Fishing boats who has long since stopped believing in fairy tales. While she expertly manages a crew of twelve and juggles the demands of raising her daughter, Bella, Jules is determined to navigate life on her own terms, especially after her divorce.

Ewens’s writing is engaging and relatable, capturing the complexities of single motherhood and the challenges of opening oneself up to love again. Jules is a strong, independent character whose journey of self-acceptance and newfound hope resonated with me, making her story all the more impactful.

Final Thoughts:
Catch: A Love Story is a delightful and inspiring tale perfect for moms looking for a mix of romance and empowerment. It serves as a beautiful reminder that while life may not always follow a fairy tale script, happiness can be found in unexpected places, making it a must-read for anyone in search of a feel-good story!

“Catch: A Love Story” by Tracy Ewens is a charming and whimsical romance that effortlessly captures the essence of friends-to-lovers trope with a refreshing twist. Set against a picturesque small-town backdrop, this novel centers around Jules, a strong-willed fishing boat captain, and Tyler, her brother’s best friend who has secretly harbored feelings for her for years.

Jules, having recently gone through a painful divorce, is not in the market for romance. Her character is relatable, embodying a mix of resilience and vulnerability that adds depth to her narrative. Tyler, on the other hand, is a swoon-worthy hero who has always been there for Jules, not just as a friend but as someone who genuinely cares for her and her daughter, Bella. His patience and kindness are particularly endearing, making him a standout character.

The slow-burn romance is a highlight, allowing readers to savor the development of their relationship. Ewens skillfully portrays the complexities of past hurts and personal growth, making the eventual romance all the more satisfying. The book’s focus on family dynamics and personal growth enriches the love story, adding layers to the characters and their interactions.

While some readers might find Jules’ initial attitude a bit challenging, her growth throughout the story is a testament to Ewens’ writing prowess. The book combines humor, emotional depth, and a heartwarming romance, making it a delightful read for fans of the genre.

Overall, “Catch: A Love Story” is a sweet and engaging novel that stands out with its endearing characters and heartfelt narrative. It’s a wonderful addition to any romance lover’s bookshelf, and I look forward to exploring more of Tracy Ewens' work.

Rating: 4.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this arc.

This was a fun whimsical story with a cute romance.

He loves her, she loves her daughter and she’s too busy trying to pick up all the pieces, and miscommunications ensue. Your sweet, average love story.

5 stars as self-pubbing is not easy.

This was really cute. It was such a fun romance. I didn't realize it was part of a series so I'm excited to go and read more by Ewens now.

So fun and whimsical! Really loved the journey the main character took us on. A story of growth and learning to hope and believe again.

A beautifully written story of two people who have had love sneak up on them. Neither one can see a future where life as friends can turn into a life lived together. A really SIGH worthy ending.

SO I really love this cover. I think it is so cute, and it made me a bit surprised by what was inside. I find myself empathizing with Jules, but honestly I got a little sick of her and it got to the point where it was hard to root for her and Tyler because to be honest if it was the other way around I would want to throw the whole man away. So all in all I will say that I liked this story and some of the characters, but I definitely did not finish it because I was rooting for the love.

I have really enjoyed this story. This is the story of Jules and Tyler, childhood friends who discovered that they want to be more. Jules is a strong independent woman, but who has had her heart broken by her ex husband and her so called best friend, and she is not in the right place for love. Tyler is a self made man with his own demon. He is a nurturer and a carer, but sometimes his caring nature seems to go against what Jules wants. Will they find common ground?
I really enjoyed the story and the writing.

It's been a while that a book has made me this giddy. I was sighing, gasping, and twirling around in my office chair. I wish I could read this for the first time again.

Jules is the captain of Branching Fishing boats and is living the life she expected, not the fairy tale that swept her off her feet. She is a loving mother, a strong and confident individual, but her failed marriage has her shunning romantic relationships. Her moments of self-doubt broke my heart. I despised her ex for what he did.

Tyler has been in love with Jules for nearly as long as he can remember. His difficult past and his friendship with her brother–along with being practically part of her family–have always felt like barriers too looming to overcome to pursue her. He is swoony in the best way possible and made even more appealing because of how much he adores Jules’s daughter Bella. I was utterly enamored with him throughout the book because of his patience and kindness.

Catch: A Love Story is Tyler and Jules’s chance at love with each other. Eren captures perfectly how the past still has a way of asserting itself even when you’ve worked hard to leave it where it belongs. I appreciated the switch in roles with Jules being the grump and Tyler more sunshine than not with this penchant for trying to fix things. The book requires some patience--it's a slow burn--but well worth it. The ending was more than I could ask for.

What a sweet read!! Great relatable characters. I love whitty banter. Will def read more from this author.

I didn’t read the other books in this series which was fine but I would love to go back and read more. I love small town romances where the characters grow. Jules and Tyler were great and well developed. Highly recommend.

This was cute! I liked it a lot and can't wait to see what more the author comes out with! A pretty cover and stunning characters make this beautiful book. Thank you to the publisher and author for providing this earc in exhange for a honest review.

There was something about this that just didn’t work for me. I have loved many of Ewens’ books, but meh on this

I enjoyed this book! A modern love story where our protagonist has to do some self reflection and get over herself to let herself (finally) be happy. This cozy romance isn’t complex, but our characters are affable and you’ll be rooting for them. If you like a romance trope, it’s a classic friends to lovers story.

Perhaps i was waiting for the right time because nothing else explains why i waited months to read this. This was outright adorable and a very enjoyable read , even if the female lead was bit on annoying side before she herself realises how wrong she had been in her blind pursuit of being independence. Tyler is such a perfect male lead and i loved him that he finally had the courage to say he is not sorry for his money because he earned it. I am so interested to read more about this small town and other characters around these two..

This was a cute romance between a fishing boat captain named Jules and her brother’s best friend Tyler. It’s a good friends to lovers trope, Tyler has been in love with Jules forever but has just about given up.
Good premise, interesting locale - all things I want in a book. The negative is Jules’ attitude. I couldn’t get past her negativity, 3 stars..
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This was my first Tracy Ewens book and y'all lemme tell you. When I was reading this, I related to the character sooo much. I was literally going through my own divorce situation and I was just wanting to get away, detach, read more characters that were like me. Like literally- we're in the same boat! (yeah that was a pun). Jules is newly divorced- she's given up on men (I was the same way) and then she met Tyler - now I wasn't too thrilled about his status. I don't like the whole falling in love with brother's best friend trope- but lemme tell yooouuuu!!! I might secretly love it cause I was shipping them so hard. I think this book was pretty ground breaking because as a young adult- I feel like divorce is so taboo when it comes to certain genres that it's not always a used trope. But if you're freshly divorced and got a not so happy outlook with love- this is the book for you! <3

I Received this novel as an advance reader copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This novel was a slow burn romance between friends which develops throughout the course of the novel and time. The characters have great chemistry and as a reader I found myself rooting for them to get things right.

Despite being very annoyed with characters like Jules, I fell in love with Tyler and Bella a lot and concluded the reading because of them. It was gratifying to see how Jules finally realized how silly she was being and rushed to resolve the romance between her and Tyler.