3.5 stars!
This is quite literally a fish out of water story. MelanieInTheCity, a Boston fashion influencer, is lonely and alone. To reinvigorate her branded life, (and to escape her eleven-year-old stalker in her apartment building who has been mooning over her and creeping on her feed), Mel accepts an invitation for an all-expenses paid getaway at the Seaside Resort in Nova Scotia. Unfortunately, there’s a mix-up with the dates, and she has to find alternative lodging, stat, which is how she ends up at the dilapidated Whaler’s Inn in Cora’s Cove, known for it’s fishing, hiking, lighthouses, whales (and drunken sailors). Her last-minute unconfirmed reservation nearly gets her turned away by the surly proprietor until his cousin Lucy books her into a room–The Whaler’s Inn isn’t actually open to the public while the owners are feuding over it. Gruff lobsterman Evan, who immediately clashes with Melanie, is point person for the renovations. Luckily, Lucy, the manager, is more welcoming and gives Mel the scoop on the town, Evan, and sets up excursions for her, while Mel offers to help Lucy with the inn’s social media.

When Evan suffers a head injury from a boating accident that’s partly her fault (after saving her from lunging overboard after her tripod and camera, Evan gets whacked on the head and knocked into the drink by the trap hauler). After giving her a baleful stare for announcing the detail to the coast guard, Evan has a seizure, which lands him in the ICU, and to get to see him, Melanie declares herself to be his fiancée–and then his squabbling family shows up and believes her, a la While You Were Sleeping, which puts the fighting at bay. Evan doesn’t deny it, and Lucy begs them to keep up the ruse, for family peace. The only thing Mel and Evan seem to agree on it that’s it’s wrong to lie about a such a thing, but agree, and in exchange, Mel asks Evan for his help in creating content for her social media pages. Before they know it, an engagement party is in the works (a la The Proposal) A series of perfectly curated dates where they get to know one another, in part through playing games like Would You Rather, reveals depth of character for both, and their fears, griefs, and challenges. Evan, who moonlights as a musician, just keeps delightfully surprising Mel.

Aside from feeling like a mashup of Sandra Bullock rom-coms, this was a good, fast paced read: Amy Lea knows how to get a reader right into the story, and writes wonderfully descriptive narrative. Cora’s Cove is postcard perfect; quirky Lucy puts colors and patterns together like a toddler, and the hyperbolic writing is funny and clever. The banter between princessey Mel and grumpy Evan is Han Solo/General Leia level good, especially as they taunt one another with threats to remove stars from their host/guest Airbnb ratings and play a cutthroat game of Settlers of Catan. Evan’s protectiveness of Lucy and Mel’s relationship with her brother Julian, who suffers from depression, is caring and genuine. And, the feminist commentary on not diminishing things that women are interested in, including seemingly superficial things that make them feel good, like facial masks and eyelash extensions, is empowering. The young neighbor subplot is very creepy, though.

Mel's best friend Crystal is in touch constantly throughout the novel (spoiler: in spite of the loss of her dad, Mel is not alone as she feels, with loving friends, family and neighbors); Crystal's story is book one of this unnamed series, and it is not necessary to have read any of the previous books to enjoy this one.

I received a free advance reader’s copy of #TheCatch via #NetGalley, courtesy of Berkley, in return for a fair and honest review.

This was pretty disappointing and it’s sad because the concept was interesting. I just felt like there was no chemistry between the main characters and I didn’t care about their story.

This one was definitely my least favorite of the three books in this series. I didn’t hate it, but I definitely didn’t feel invested. The chemistry between the main characters was not entirely present for me. While there was attraction from our FMC, I’m not sure that we saw a ton coming from the MMC to make the transition fully believable. It wasn’t a bad read but it’s also not one that will be memorable for me.

This was another good one from Amy Lea. I really enjoy how she pulls you right into the story. This was a quick read for me and I enjoyed it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. The Catch by Amy Lea is the third book in the Influencer Series and I really enjoyed it! Mel and Ethan were such a fun “force proximity” and fake it til you make it romance to read through. There were multiple times while reading this book that I was laughing out loud because Mel is such a heartwarming character to Evan’s brooding and gentle soul character. This book has so many tropes and gave The Proposal vibes all the way through. This book is a fast paced romance that will having you cheering for their inevitable relationship all the way through! Great conclusion to the series!

4/5

Easily my second favorite book in Amy Lea's, The Influencers Series, The Catch is a dreamy romance between a fashion influencer and a hot fisherman that I did not know I needed. Lea manages to explore that classic grumpy x sunshine dynamic while building a romance that feels altogether fresh and unique. Amy Lea excels at cultivating her atmosphere with tropes as the bait to reel readers in (see what I did there). Fake dating has long been one of my favorite romance tropes but round up a grumpy fisherman, his complicated family, and throw a boat in the mix and I am already seated. Add to the fact that this is paying homage to my FAVORITE romance, While You Were Sleeping, and I was all the more excited to embark on this final chapter. This being the last in the series, I certainly wasn't rushing to say goodbye to this world nor its characters, but Lea pays homage through little cameos and a romance that highlights all the coziness and charm at the core of this series. Very much on the lookout for more romances from her and I will be returning to these books soon!

I have loved the other two books in this series so much more than I can possibly say, and I wanted to like this one but it fell flat, especially when held up to it's companions. There was nothing objectively bad but just no where near as dynamic and compelling as the couples before.

Precious!

Find me an Evan stat! I loved this grumpy sunshine/forced proximity/fake relationship romance. Mel is a social media influencer who mistakenly goes for a PR trip early and ends up at Evan’s inn that is under repair. This fisherman is not a ray of sunshine but he has a heart of gold when it comes down to it. I loved the family and side characters and the quaint town setting.

So cute and I can’t wait for another from Amy Lea!

Genre: Romance
Actual Rating: 5+ stars
Spicy Meter: 2 fire emojis
Content Warnings: Touches on tough topics like grief, family loss, family abandonment, and depression. Contains some explicit sexual content.

“The Catch” follows Melanie (Mel) Karlsen, a lifestyle blogger that feels like she’s losing relevancy, as she travels to Canada for a collaboration with a spa resort. But there’s been a mix up, they’re not expecting her until a week later. In a desperate attempt to survive in an unknown country, she books the only B&B she finds open and receiving guests. And in comes Evan Whaler, the stubborn and plaid-wearing local whose family owns said B&B. When Mel is mistaken to be Evan’s fiancée by his feuding family, they decide to play along in a last ditch effort to mend those broken ties—of course, in exchange of Evan helping Mel out with her content creation for the week. The last thing they expected was how the lines of this elaborate ruse would blend when you’re truly meant to be together.

This has to be my favorite read of 2024, without the shadow of a doubt. Amy Lea’s voice is so refreshing, I never get tired of it. Her characters are relatable and emotional and just plain interesting. I couldn’t wait to see how Mel’s and Evan’s story would play out.

If you’re a sucker for small-town romances (and burly and bearded fishermen), then Mel’s and Evan’s love will have you captivated—and just in time for Valentine’s Day! I can’t begin to recommend this book enough.

ARC provided by NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 13, 2024

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

The first two books in this companion series (SET ON YOU and EXES AND O's) are some of my favorites so I was super excited about this one. I really love how each book features a female influencer but that each story takes a deeper route rather than the "glitz and glamour" route of some other influencer-type stories (no hate--I just prefer this type of story!) This one felt quite different from the other two, in that it took place in a small fishing town rather than in a big city. The setting itself was a character and it was entertaining to read about.

This is the third book in The Influencer series and can be read as a standalone. We change up locations for this one and head to a more rural setting- a small town on water in Canada. Melanie is looking to revitalize her influencing and was supposed to go to resort in Canada. Unfortunately the dates got mixed up, and she ends up in Bed and Breakfast that has seen better days. She's definitely a fish out of water and tumbles into a fake dating scenario with Evan, part owner of the B&B. There's some grumpy/sunshine vibes as well as they get to know each other and themselves a little better. The side characters were a lot of fun. I enjoyed this one.

Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to @netgalley @berkleypub and @berkleyromance for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A Charming Small-Town Romance

The Catch is a delightful and heartwarming romantic comedy. Amy Lea has crafted a charming story set in a picturesque small town, filled with endearing characters and a delightful love story.

Mel, a spirited and independent woman, finds herself stranded in a quaint B&B, where she meets the grumpy but charming Evan. Their forced proximity and fake relationship lead to unexpected connections and heartwarming moments.

The author's ability to balance humor and heartfelt emotion is impressive. The pacing is perfect, and the characters are relatable and endearing. The small-town setting adds a cozy and nostalgic touch to the story.

Overall, The Catch is a delightful and refreshing read that will leave you smiling. It's a perfect escape into a world of love, laughter, and second chances.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #berkleyromance #berkleybuddyreads #berkelywritesstrongwomen #thecatch #amylea

The Catch by Amy Lea features the fake dating and enemies-to-lovers tropes, which usally intrigue me. This one, however, didn't meet my expectations. Melanie Karlsen's highly curated online persona is becoming irrelevant and as a last-ditch effort to save her brand, Mel heads to a quaint little fishing village in Canada. Evan Whaler is a grumpy B&B owner and local fisherman who isn't impressed by Mel in the least. But after an accident leaves Evan unconscious, Mel is mistaken for his fiancee by Evan's family (who are in a feud with Evan about the B&B). Of course Melanie decides to fake the engagement to help Evan out, in exchange for his help with her social media content.

While the premise of this book sounds great, it just fell flat for me. I didn't connect with either of the main characters. I didn't feel any chemistry between the two and thought that there was more tension/annoyance/bickering between the two than actual romantic feelings. I also feel like this one would have benefitted from a dual POV instead of lots of inner monologue from just Mel.

This is my first book in this series and my first by this author and I think that there are other romance authors that I connect with better. I'm sure if you're a die hard romance reader or loved the others in this Influencer series that you will enjoy The Catch - there are a TON of great reviews. So go into with an open mind!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This was such a delight read! Amy Lea has done it again. Her entire Influencers Series is such a breath of fresh air, and Mel's story wouldn't be different.

City girl meets small town boy. She's a lifestyle influencer. He's a fisherman. The tension and banter between these two is off the charts. From the get go, when Mel stumbles upon Evan's inn, we know we're in for a ride!

Evan's family was another delight. All of them have such unique personalities, and getting to know them felt like being welcomed in the family just like Mel was.

I highly recommend this one!

I was able to read an ebook arc of this thanks to NetGalley. I also had the opportunity to listen to the audiobook and really enjoyed it. A fun romance. Great read. Would read more by this author.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This grumpy/sunshine fake dating story had so much heart! Polar opposites, city girl falls for country boy but can they make it work despite all their differences? Seriously cute - I loved both our main characters. This author has me loving each of her books and I can't wait for more.

I was very excited for this book, as Amy Lea’s last novel still lives rent-free in my brain, but unfortunately, it didn’t hit the same. While it was a cute story, it felt a bit like an amalgamation of multiple other romances I’ve read. Additionally, I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters, and I felt the main couple was lacking in chemistry and banter. Overall, 3.5 stars because I still enjoyed it and was interested but had a fair few critiques.

Honestly, Evan made the whole book for me. The Whalers in general did. Melanie reminds me of book 1, where I just didn’t vibe with the FMC, but can’t ever bring myself to DNF a book.

We get enemies to lovers due to a fake engagement. Melanie finds herself in Canada for an all paid spa week to help promote a hotel, but there’s a booking issue. She ends up an hour away because it’s tourist season at an air b&b that’s technically not even open.

They agree to let her stay, but enter Evan: the grumpy lobster fisherman who also is helping his family renovate the inn. After a boating incident gone wrong with Mel the influencer, he ends up in a coma-like state from a seizure caused by a concussion that knocked him out and sent him overboard into the cold sea. She lies to the hospital and says they’re engaged because she can’t leave him alone in his state. And when the rest of his family gets there, his cousin convinces them to keep it going to promote peace in their family.

Mel was very stubborn, her way or the highway, and a total know at all. She deliberately went against Evan and lowkey caused him to hit his head, which then sent him overboard. She had me clenching my jaw so much throughout the book - but I think that was the point?? To show extensive character growth maybe??

This book was cute, I enjoyed the characters. Really liked the Whaler family dynamics. But I'm from Nova Scotia (where the book is set) and the kitschy and over-the-top stereotypical descriptions made me cringe and gave me a hard time reading and enjoying this book.