⭐️ ARC Review ⭐️

A Love Catastrophe
⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book was cute and quirky and mostly fun. I feel like the synopsis was a little misleading, but not intentionally and not very far off the mark (so it was most likely just an issue of finding the right wording). This is definitely a book aimed at an audience of cat lovers and/or those who appreciate pun-heavy books.

What I enjoyed
✔️ grumpy(ish)/sunshine
✔️ light-hearted tone
✔️ quirky, fun characters
✔️ Cats, dogs, and just furry (and furless) love in abundance

That said, I did struggle with this book a little. As a minor thing: the “grumpy” description for Miles implies a grumpy + sunshine trope when it was really sunshine + overwhelmed & bad first impressions. This isn’t a big issue; I just had to adjust my expectations slightly.

What was a bigger issue to me was the lack of trigger/content warnings for some heavy/serious topics and a synopsis that gave no indication that they would be tackled. I would not have requested this book at this time had I known there would be so much discussion of losing a sibling as a child (as this is something from my own life that I am currently processing in intensive treatment).

I think when a book is marketed as a quirky, light-hearted rom-com and then tackles the subject of grief (in several ways), it is a courtesy to readers to give them a heads-up.

⚠️ TW/CW
▪️ loss of a sibling/child (violently): off-page but discussed several times
▪️ Loss of a parent: off-page but discussed several times
▪️ grieving the loss of a living parent to dementia: on page

I recognize that my issues are not universal, and I think many people will really enjoy this book! I enjoyed quite a bit of it; I just got thrown off by the lack of CW.

Thank you to Netgalley, Forever Publishing, and Helena Hunting for a chance to read this cute and quirky romance

📖 I received a gifted e-book copy in exchange for an honest review ✍🏻

Read Dates: 04/13/2023- 04/16/2023
Goodreads Review Posted: 04/16/2023
Instagram Review Posted: 04/16/2023

Loved 𝑨 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒆. It’s fun, sweet, at times a bit heartbreaking, and simply a PURFECT read!

When Kitty Hart, the famous Internet sensation known as The Kitty Whisperer, meets cat hater Miles Thorn, the “fur flies”. . . she falls into him (literally) and he later tackles her to the carpet. . . over a water gun. Let the fun begin!

Miles is tasked with taking care of his mother’s Sphinx (hairless) cat Prince Francis, he calls the gremlin (among other things) and enlists Kitty’s services to help. Kitty is crazy over felines and her business is booming. But her personal life is nonexistent. Miles is a NHL data analyst nerd. He has no personal life. These two are definitely in the “opposites attract” category.

You don’t have to love cats to love this story. You’ll definitely love Kitty and Miles and you’ll root for them because both need a fresh start. Both have suffered family loss and are dealing with guilt over these losses. The build up to their relationship progressing beyond business is perfectly paced. Kitty begins to realize that Miles may not be the grumpy cat hater she originally thought, but instead, he just has some serious issues to resolve. And she wants to help. They bond over their losses.

Helena throws in some hockey characters, all of them adding more fun to the story. There are laughs, but this story also tackles some serious issues, all of it culminating in a heart stirring romance between humans and their fur babies.

𝑨 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝑪𝒂𝒕𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒆 releases 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟑𝐭𝐡 and you don’t want to miss this one!

A Love Catastrophe
Helena Hunting
4.5⭐️

This book was cute and so damn punny I couldn’t put it down! A Love Catastrophe was everything I want from a rom-com. Lovable & quirky characters, swoon-worthy romance, a disastrous meet-cute, and so much LOL humor! I am a complete sucker for pet characters, and Hunting gives us TWO adorable MC fur babies!

I loved Kitty and Miles. They were complete opposites, her the cheerful quirky cat lover to his grumpy pessimistic dog lover. While it clearly wasn’t love at first site, they were so much fun and their chemistry was palpable. I loved watching their relationship go from awkward to adorable. They way they start to open up, share their burdens that are holding them back, and support each other was so heartwarming. Hunting tackles some heavier topics (check TW’s) while keeping the story lighthearted.

As a pet owner (both cat & dog) I absolutely loved Prince Francis and Wilfred. Their antics had me cracking up so many times. I can understand though how this humor and the some what corniness of it may not be for everyone, but I was 💯 here fur it.

What I adored;
💛 Grumpy/Sunshine
💛 Opposites Attract
💛 The Puns
💛 No Third Act Breakup
😻 Prince Francis the Sphynx
🐶 Wilfred the Great Dane

Pub Date 6/13/23! Add this one to your TBR right meow.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Forever for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I will definitely be adding a finished copy to my shelves!

This one was just not for me... part of me wanted to give it more time to maybe get more invested but I just don't know if HH books are for me anymore. I ended up putting this aside at the 25% mark and probably won't pick it up again.

Thank you for the opportunity to read it early.

This book is hilarious..... I mean of all the things that happen these two people is crazy lol.... An original story that's for sure... Would read this book again....

Helena Hunting is the queen of romantic comedy! This book also includes dash of hockey! I really hope the squeal with Hattie and Josh! Miles just started a new job while dealing with his mother dementia diagnosis. He needs help caring of her cat. He calls on Kitty. They have truly disastrous first impressions. But soon their relationship begins to blossom! There is no third act breakup! It is a must read! Thank you for the arc!

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTR34LWEU/

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq6adsyvGVI/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I didn’t love A Love Catastrophe by Helena Hunting, but I’m sure there are others that would have.

I was able to finish it, but it didn’t really feel like a romance to me. The conversation between the two main characters seemed… off. I don’t quite know how to explain it. Like people don’t really talk like that to each other unless they’re a motivational speaker.

That was the other thing. This felt like it was more of a motivational book about dealing with grief over the loss of a loved one and parents with dementia. Both important topics, but it seemed to be the main focus of the book rather than the romance between Kitty and Miles. I liked Kitty and Miles separately, but I just didn’t feel their chemistry either, maybe because their stories were so overshadowed by the motivational speeches they were giving each other the whole book.

Also, there were no high stakes, no true conflict so it was just boring to me. The one thing that could have been a true conflict between the two characters, Miles’ severe allergic reaction, was kind of ignored for the whole book and then explained away in the last 3% which was kind of a shame.

All in all, I just didn’t feel invested in these characters or their romance throughout the book. I had similar feelings about Head Over Heels by Hannah Orenstein, so if you liked that one this book is probably a perfect fit for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for providing a copy of this ARC for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was a cute story with a well paced plot and a good mix of humour, romance and emotion. I liked the characters and, as a Canadian, liked the fact that the book was set in and around Toronto.

I love a good cat book and this book with the hilarious cat puns was pawsitively purrfect! A Love Catastrophe has everything I’ve come to love and expect from a Helena Hunting book - great characters, funny / quirky sexy moments, good character development with characters working through a past trauma or something holding them back, and of course some steam!

I also loved that this one took place in the greater Toronto area. Having the dual pov added to the story in this case so we could really learn the motivation of each character. Also super appreciated no third act breakup!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Helena Hunting, and Forever (Grand Central Publishing)

**3.5 Stars**

I was a bit hesitant when I saw this was about a cat sitter because a) I'm not much of a cat person and b) (I apologize in advance for any offenses I'm about to make...) the general cat lady idea makes me cringe. I have to say, that while I still cringed quite a bit, this one surprisingly didn't venture too far into the crazy cat lady arena. Don't get me wrong, it definitely had it's moments, but I didn't feel like Kitty was so deep into that she was letting them kiss her on the mouth or anything. bleh.

Kitty and Miles had a fun friendship turned relationship. I liked the progression and I liked how wary they both were of each other in the beginning. It made watching them come together even better.

This book was overall a cute and quick read. It's not going to make you cry or even get you too far up into your feels, but it'll make you smile and chuckle. If you're looking for something light with a touch of emotion, this is definitely the one for you!

This book was not my favorite of hers. Felt very cheesy many times. The characters were cute together though. Felt like it could have used more twists to keep it interesting.

Thank you for my copy in exchange for a fair review.

This book is a departure from the author's usual work, with a focus on physical comedy and a comedy of errors. However, it also deals with emotional topics such as guilt and regret stemming from personal life events, including the sudden loss of family members. The main characters, Miles and Kitty, are both likeable and well-developed, with Miles being a bit rough around the edges but ultimately overwhelmed with everything going on in his life. The story is easy to read and alternates between the two characters' points of view. While there is some sexual content, it is not overly explicit. The book is also filled with talk about cats and dogs, with the main character's love for cats being a recurring theme throughout.
Overall, this book provides a mix of humor and emotional depth, making for an enjoyable read.

● Book Review ●
Name: A Love Catastrophe
Author: Helena Hunting
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.25 🌟
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● Thoughts ●
This book itself was a cute fast read romance book! However, the romance aspect in the book felt a bit forced and out of place to me. In addition to that aspect, some parts of the book were cringey but I was okay with it! I love cats but the story plot was kinda awkward and the chemistry between Kitty and Miles was a bit lacking. Both Kitty and Miles are great characters but the romance scenes felt a bit forced so it fell a bit flat to me 😭😭
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● Appreciation ●
Thank you to @readforeverpub and Helena Hunting and @netgalley for this e-ARC in exchange for a honest review!!!
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● Tags ●
#helenahunting #bookreview #booktok #bookstagram #bookstagrammer #booklover #romancebooks #romancebookrecommendation #romancebookreview #alovecatastrophe #foreverpub

3.5 stars

I usually love Helena Hunting, but this one just wasn't the "cat's meow" for me. Pun intended. The dialogue seemed too stiff and the story didn't pack much punch. It was still a fun read, and I'll continue to read her books.
Thanks Forever/Grand Central Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

When I saw the blurb of a cat sitter meets hockey stat nerd, I was interested. I love all three: cats, hockey, and sports stats.
Unfortunately, this one just fell a bit flat for me. I felt like I was reading three books in one. One part an insta-lovey romance, one part a woman finding her own through grief and career setbacks, and one part a man struggling with his family situation. I was not aware nor prepared for the grief and dealing with aging parents, but please be aware that both are very prominent storylines.
As far as the writing, I am someone who loves a good pun, and this one had too many puns for me. I also felt like a lot of this book was telling versus showing. As well, the sex scenes were really cringe and felt more immature instead of sexy. I also took issue with some of the "cat tips and training" the author wrote about, as they were things that are considered harmful to cats and would be easily researched.
I will say, I did like that there was no third act break up, so if you're looking for something without that, this will fit that bill. I have heard that the author's Pucked series is completely different, so I am still considering starting that.

This is Paws-itively one of the worst books I’ve ever read.

I'm all for punny rom-com books, but this one was just too much. It tried to be a heavy book about grief and how to cope with an elderly parent with dementia while at the same time being a punny cat book about a girl named Kitty who is a Kitty Whisperer.

Did Kitty also have a best friend named Kat who loves cats and owns a Cat Cafe? I think you're getting my drift here with the fact that English not being my first language so many similar names become confusing.

This book also had like too many parts that were meant to be funny, but were cringe. Like for example, Kitty is gonna spray the cat with a water gun and Miles tackles her thinking it's a real gun. DO YOU REALLY THINK SHE WAS GONNA SHOOT A CAT SHE IS GONNA GET PAID TO FEED? oh no, then the next time they meet in person Miles is cleaning his mother's home and after months of being inside the house NOW he gets a really bad allergic reaction that he needs to go to the ER.

Just over dramatic, like then she has to stay at his house to make sure he is okay and doesn't have another allergic reaction. Did I mention that she touched the tip of his penis by accident trying to get the keys out of his pocket?

Can I share a quote I hated?

<I><b>Parker is a young, and very, very good on the ice. But he's also a Gen Z kid, and his entire life he's been. told he's amazing by his parents. It's like they showered him in fucking confetti every time he wiped his ass. he's always looking for praise, and constructive criticism needs to be layers carefully with a kid like him; otherwise, we can shoot his game to shit.</b></i>

Fuck the Gen Z hate, and I'm not Gen Z.

Honestly, felt forced and I did not like this book at all. Contains 2 Harry Potter references in the first 9% of this book. It just wasn't for me. (Make it 3 in total)

Honestly this book had some many other horrible quotes, like bingo button, private parts hugging and so on. The third sect was just awful, trauma bounding at its best. I’m giving you enough of a warning so you don’t read this.

I adore Helena Huntings writing style. I couldn’t put this one down. I love that the story takes place in and around Toronto because it’s a place familiar to me and I can picture certain aspects. This book has it all: laughs, awkward conversations, heartstrings being pulled, tears, concern and joy. My biggest challenge with this story is that I’m not a cat person. In fact, I’m very much allergic to cats so I couldn’t really relate to the obsession.

Not for me. When the cats got involved it just lost me. It was a cute read at first but I would’ve preferred more human interaction haha. I think this reflects more on me and not the storyline and book itself.

4.5 stars. What a cute read! It was a bit more cat focused than what I’d have wanted.. would’ve like to to be a bit more about the humans. Other than that, I liked it. Both characters really opened up and grew too. It was a likable, sweet and funny story. I loved the real subjects Helena wrote on too. I’d read it again!

I wanted to love this book so much, but sadly it just didn’t do it for me. The concept is so cute and it sounded like it would be such a good time. Don’t get me wrong, I definitely lol’d a few times while reading, but overall I ended up just kind of powering through it to reach the finish line. I think that if it would’ve been a bit shorter read I would have enjoyed it much much more than I did. The spice was right (besides the mention of a “bingo button” once 🥴🫣) BUT the never ending cat puns were just TOO much for me. Not to mention that both of the main characters were dealing with some pretty heavy family issues/illnesses throughout the entire book. I’m thinking that maybe this just isn’t my style of romance book and that’s ok 🤷🏽‍♀️ I definitely want to give other books by Helena a try because this one had so much potential to be a five star read for me.