If you like cats, the most adorable love story mixed with hockey and lovable characters this one is for you! Helena Hunting has such a way of writing that makes you just root for all of the characters, even the supporting ones. I can’t think of a single character I disliked. Kitty and Miles are precious and I loved their witty banter. There was just the right amount of steam too. I loved how the book tackled some tough subjects too and focused on different ways of healing after grief. I definitely recommend it!

Perfectly cheesy, and honestly a few too many cat puns for my liking. And I say that as someone who loves puns and adores cats. It's the mispronunciation of words to make them cat pubs for me #EnglishMajorProbs. Not to mention the cutes-y innuendos got to be a but much for me.

Kitty (first bad cat pun) owns a cat sitting business in Canada. She gets a request to watch a cat for a short period of time while the owner is in the hospital. She meets the cat owner's son, of course he's hot, and chaos happens, sometimes literally. There wasn't a third act break up, which I appreciated because there wasn't a need for it. It felt a little shallow at times, but what can one expect from a contemporary romance.

Read "A Love Catastrophe" is you enjoy the following tropes:

- dual POV
- enemies to lovers
- opposites attract
- she loves cats & he loves dogs
- forced proximity
- awkward meet-cute
- extremely punny puns

However, I need y'all to know that I don't think any of those tropes worked well in this one. It was so chaotic. At times I felt secondhand embarrassment because some of the dialogue and interaccions between characters were just so cringe. There was a point where I felt as if I was reading 2 different books: book 1 is pun filled, over the top personalities with a rom-com vibe and book 2 was dealing with family issues like career growth, life altering allergies, parental death and dementia.

Need an example of the cringe? Our leading lady Kitty calls her … well ya know … her bingo button. What the hell? There’s no way 🫠

Again, I don't think this one works. Even if you're a cat lover like Kitty, who's entire personality is cat themed (that alone is bizarre, but to each their own, right?), this novel made me think this story was more for fun than a solid attempt at writing. Harsh? Maybe. But y'all it's bad.

A Love Catastrophe was very vanilla. Could be used as a palate cleanser. NO SPICE! Great opposities attract between a boho cat lover and a muscular hockey lover. Two people who find each other when both of their worlds are changing. They relate to each due to past tragic events and help the other overcome all the changes that are happening

Funny and unexpected! I enjoyed this romcom by the one and only, Helena Hunting. I wish there would have been a little more spice but I loved the concept and how many times it made me laugh.

4.5 stars
I have been a big fan of the author for many years and I have read all of her books.
A Love Catastrophe is a funny and light-hearted story. Kitty is a cat whisperer. She kitty sits for people and that is how she meets Miles. Kitty is a very sunshiney person. Miles, not so much.
Miles mom has been diagnosed with dementia and he is struggling to deal with it. His mom has a Sphynx cat that Miles has to take care of. He is not a fan of the cat, at all. He needs help so he hires Kitty.
Initially, Kitty isn't too impressed with Miles. How could she like someone who doesn't like cats? But she knows Miles needs her help so she sticks it out.
These two are so cute together. Kitty helps Miles deal with his mom's cat as well as helping him come to terms with his mom's illness.
Kitty's life has its own issues but these two make it work.
I really enjoyed this book.

A Love Catastrophe was super cute! I'm a cat person, so I loved Kitty and her love of all things cats.. I thought the chemistry between Kitty and Miles was great and really made me root for them. It was good to see the Kitty's growth finally dealing with her father's death while helping Miles with his mom while she transitions to assisted living with dementia. With a MIL with dementia, I see this as my future. I always love Helena Hunting's books and this did not disappoint.

This book was so sweet. Helena excels at writing quirky female leads and swoony male leads, and the plot centering around a crazy cat lady was a home run in my book. The transition of enemies to lovers was smooth, and I loved the chemistry between the leads. This is a perfect palate cleanser!

I don’t think I have even related so hard to both the main characters before. Not only do they seem to blurt out some of the most awkward things (100% relatable), but their growth through grief and change was extremely relatable.

This book was a bit emotional, but it centered more on grief and loss. I especially loved that these characters came together to deal with an outside drama and not internal relationships drama.

I’m definitely repeating myself but this book was relatable on so many levels. The author did an amazing job giving us an authentic feeling love story that really balanced grief and comedic moments.

CW: loss of family member, dementia, social media backlash

I am a huge Helena Hunting fan and I loved this one. The animal puns and shenanigans were classic and I love that Hunting always mixes some humor into her stories. At this point I fully expect it. I also thought this was really balanced and there were definitely some heavier topics, but the emotional conversations were just as important. I was laughing out loud at points which was so fun and I thought a cat sitter plot point was a delight. I also enjoyed how their Miles and Kitty's relationship developed throughout the story. I truly love reading Helena's books and her rom-coms are always so joyous and so good. Thanks to Forever Publishing for sending me an e-ARC to read and review!

A Love Catastrophe is a lighthearted romance filled with puns. SO many cat puns!! Kitty is the proud owner of The Kitty Whisperer, a pet caretaking business. She runs into Miles (quite literally!) and ends up taking care of his mother’s cat. Miles and Kitty initially seem like they don’t have anything in common, so why are they unable to stay away from each other?

This is a sweet, cheerful read. Miles and Kitty are a perfect match once they get past their mutual negative first impressions. However, it was a little jolting that serious topics such as dementia and life-threatening allergic reactions were interspersed with such lighthearted content. I also didn’t connect with how some of the more romantic scenes were written, but I think some readers will love them. Readers who love cats and dogs, Helena Hunting, and lighthearted romance definitely need to check this book out!

Thank you to Helena Hunting, Forever, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oxford Star is a fun enemies-to-lovers romance with a plus sized heroine. This book was a slow burn that kept me wanting to read just one more chapter.

What an absolutely adorable and cute animal lover story! Kitty and Miles are a match made in Heaven - seriously! They’re adorably cute and awkward that make them purrfect for one another. You never know what might come out of their mouths - making this laugh out loud hilarious too!

Kitty Hart has her own growing business as a cat-sitter that she’s dominating at, so well. Miles Thorn needs help taking care of his moms cat, Prince Francis, who is quite fickle from the start! But really he’s just a misunderstood kitty and Kitty Hart knows the way to not only Prince Francis’ heart but also Miles’ as well. *happy sigh*

Their love story is filled with compassion, understanding, and real world problems - such loss, grief, closure, and misconstrued social media videos. They’re mature and pure - I really couldn’t ask for a better couple that fits so well.

I’ve been left feeling all day on a happy cloud nine from finishing this amazing story. I just cannot love them enough - so I want you to love them too! But please know this is not an angsty book and will give you all the happy feels that a contemporary romance can ultimately leave you with. You won’t regret it!

I was lucky enough to get a copy of this book from NetGalley, and really enjoyed reading it.

Kitty and Miles are suddenly thrown together when Miles is in need of a cat sitter.

Miles has discovered his mom has early onset dementia and her beloved Prince Francis is in need of some care. Enter Kitty, the successful Kitty Whisperer. At first, they seem like total opposites, cat vs dog. Although they had some iffy first interactions, sparks start flying as they realize just how much they have in common.

I had a bit of a time reading about dementia, personally, but it was dealt with really well as a sensitive subject matter. The writing and flow felt very easy. Despite the emotional content, this book is lighthearted and a bit fluffy, and there is just a little spice. It all felt very wholesome.

A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting. Pub Date: June 13, 2023. Rating: 3 stars. I really enjoy other books I have read of Helena Hunting, so I was excited to read this new one! Sadly, it did not pack the punch that I love about Helena Hunting's books. This novel is based around a cat lady/cat sitter who befriends a man who works as an NHL analyst. His mother has memory care issues and the man needs help with his mother's cat situation. What unfolds is a lot of cheesy scenes, cute chemistry and a relationship. I liked this book, but did not love it and it took me longer to read because I did not feel as engaged with the story. Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review. #netgalley #alovecatastrophe

Decided to DNF @ 53%.
I can’t really pinpoint why this wasn’t working for me. It had me laughing from the start but then it just felt like I was forcing myself to keep going.

3.5 stars

This book was 100% made for all the cat lovers out there... I am not one of them so was a bit skeptical about it so heavily involving cats?

The FMC, Kitty who is a famous Kitty Whisperer and she doesn't curse.. she uses cat in it's place (i.e. oh my catness) and her best friend Kat owns a Cat Cafe. Shockingly, Kitty really grew on me throughout the book.

I loved her relationship with Miles, how they helped one another through their grief and were so supportive.

Thanks to NetGalley & Forever for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first one that I read by this author. I would recommend to others who like romance books. Helena Hunting writes the cutest books!

A Love Catastrophe is the next offering from Helena Hunting - due out June 2023 and I was lucky enough to score a copy early.

If you’re thinking Pucked vibes - then don’t, although the NHL is a bit of a backdrop as our MMC Miles is an analyst for an NHL team. There’s a bit said about Miles wanting to play through high school and college but not quite making it for various reasons. Miles meets our FMC Kitty, the cat whisperer when he needs her services to bring his mother’s Sphinx cat to order, when she’s in the hospital. Kitty and Miles’ meeting is far from the stuff of insta love but the pair soon bond over cats and dogs, an allergic reaction and their shared loss and grief.

This book is a gentle, wandering romantic journey. Sure there’s some occasional steam but there’s a quirky, gentle edge to it, befitting Kitty’s character particularly. She’s a little eccentric and caught in a bit of a bubble (she’s a little naive in the ways of the world, and as an unintended influencer takes things way too much to heart). She’s also stuck in the past but doesn’t really know it until she connected with Miles. Miles’ is a super nice guy, serious, analytical and responsible. He's quit the protector without the chest beating he-man vibes. It’s a romance born out of those kind, tender moments, about connection and empathy. As I said, there’s some steam but their romance is seemingly … well normal and right.

There’s a point of difference in the third act circumstances of this book (no spoiler) that’s also fitting for these two which brings the book to a nice conclusion.

For lovers of a good wholesome story and some tongue in cheek humour, this one will do it. It did for me.

What a paws-itively fantastic rom com.

So many fun cat puns & parallels between cat and dog people. I will admit - I'm 100% a dog person and some of the attributes Kitty gave dog people are spot on.

Kitty & Miles were adorable together and I loved the subtle influences of hockey and the NHL in their love story.

I love reading books with Canadian settings and this one just gave me lots of feels. I read in less than 24 hours.

Thank you Helena Hunting, Netgalley & Forever (Grand Central) Publishing for the ability to read this adorable book in advance in exchange for an honest review.