This book did not hit the spot for me. I thought I could look past the main character being an influencer, but alas I could not. I know the author was trying to show that she was a layered character and was more than what her profession portrayed her as but I still felt that she came across as superficial and I couldn't get on board with rooting for her.

The Catch by Amy Lea is a lot of fun! Each of her books in the influencer series gets better. This time around we follow Mellanie to Nova Scotia where her influencer trip to a luxury spa turns out not to be what she had planned. Instead she has to find a room and the only Air B&B available is in a small fishing town well off the main sights. There, she meets Evan, a grumpy lobster fisherman who likes his flannel shirts, but seemingly not much else. Queue romance to ensue!

Especially if you like small town, opposites attract, fake dating, large family topes, you will enjoy this books. Lea keeps it light and funny while still giving the characters enough depth to identify with them. Both Mellanie and Evan are faed with how they take on too much responsibility for their family's well being in different ways. This will be a great romance read for the spring. I can't wait for this one to hit the shelves. Don't miss it.

Thanks to Berkley Romance and NetGalley for access to an eARC of this book in exchange for a fair review!

When a vacation booking goes wrong, Melanie finds herself at the mercy of grumpy fisherman Evan who doesn’t much care for her big city rich girl attitude. Do opposites really attract or are Melanie and Evan’s differences irreconcilable? For fans of It Happened One Summer, The Catch is a charming small town fake dating romance with plenty of spice.

Thank you Net galley for the arc
I love Amy Lea, she’s quickly becoming a favorite. After reading this I want my own Evan, I want somone to see through me the way Evan does. Feel good hug in a book with a plot that does not stop

Enemies to lovers rom com, City meets country with grandma wearing fake eyelashes

Nothing to complain about here, but nothing exciting to report either. There is a cool grandmother character who is easy to like, but everyone is just so forgiving and understanding about everything...it's...fine.

I really loved Exes and O's by Amy Lea and immediately grabbed this one when I saw it.

I have to admit I had a hard time NOT comparing this to another similar story (It Happened One Summer). While there were a few clear differences to this story, there were a lot more similarities that were hard to get past and not think "that was done so much better there", and add in the fact that this wasn't half as entertaining as the other I found myself skimming quite a bit.

The build-up to this romance was kind of uninteresting and it just sort of happened. I missed any kind of tension. The fake dating trope and enemies to lovers (were they really enemies?) I just wasn't invested in either. The characters were fun (Lucy and Grandma) but I also feel like we only really got to know any of them very surface level.

This was a bit of a miss for me.

I was so excited to be able to read this! I loved the first two books in this trilogy and I was impatiently waiting to read about Mel since I read the teaser. It did not disappoint. I loved everything about it. It reminded me of the Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds movie, the proposal. So good! I cannot wait until it's released!

Amy Lea is an author that is a drop all other books for me. Since reading her debut, #SetOnYou , I’ve been obsessed with her work. #TheCatch is the final book in the influencer world and while it doesn’t come out until February, I just couldn’t wait.

Mel and Evan were exactly the five star grumpy/sunshine, fake dating, fish of water couple I needed and I loved every page of this book. I loved watching them peel back their exteriors and see each other for who they really were. @amyleabooks writes so well that these characters truly become friends you do not want to say goodbye to!

What a way to “end” summer! Amy Lea does The Proposal with IT HAPPENED ONE SUMMER undertones?! I’m here for it!!!!!!!

**Thanks Netgalley and the publishers for a free Advanced Reader's Copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**
This was a great read! Witty banter and sexy scenes, this stole my heart! The intricate feelings of the main characters played out well and did not seem too dramatized.

Another solid romance in the series, Amy Lea creates raw, loveable characters on the page that stick with you.

Melanie is an influencer and has spent her whole life crafting her image and not letting people get too close. Things have started to slow down for her and when she gets a partnership offer from a resort in Nova Scotia, she eagerly accepts. The only problem is, they seem to have mixed up their dates and she is there a week early.

With nowhere to stay and peak fishing season, she finds an air BNB an hour and a half away and jumps on it. When she arrives though, she's not sure she's in the right place. It's run down, looks nothing like the pictures, and she isn't sure it's actually open.

Evan has been in a fog of grief since the loss of someone close to him, when Melanie shows up at his family's Airbnb unannounced, he is ready to toss her out. They aren't open and she never actually confirmed the reservation. She begs him to stay and his cousin Lucy intercedes.

You can see where this is going... Small town country man meets fancy city girl... At first, I was unimpressed with the set up and felt let down. Really Amy? Just when I was thinking this sounds too familiar, I was quickly pulled in an entirely different direction and fell in love with the characters. So give it a chance and don't think you've read this one before, because it surprised me and I loved it!

🌶️🌶️Open door spice.

It wasn't my favorite book in the series, but definitely worth a read!

Enemies to lovers
Small town romance
Fake dating

If you like those tropes, you will enjoy it!


Thanks to netgalley for an eARC to review.

amy lea is 3 for 3 writing addictive romcoms for her influencer series!! grumpy fisherman x fashionista influencer is a pairing that will never get old. loved the cast of characters that elevated the story too!!

I had SUCH high hopes for Mel’s story but ultimately was let down. I’m surprised I didn’t like this book, considering I gave Set on You 4.5 stars and Exes and O’s 5 stars. This story felt like it was practically written by a different author or she just lost sight of her characters.

I didn’t fall for the plot or enemies to lovers storylines in this book. It was just lackluster and I was never convinced of Mel and Evan’s chemistry. It didn’t even really have enough Tara/Trevor or Crystal/Scotty cameos. At some points I found myself skimming the story because I was just so over the plot. This book really reminded me of It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey - so fans of that book will probably love it. Plus, you don’t even need to read the other two Influencer books to read The Catch.

Bottom line, this book was the weakest in the series and I found it disappointing as a conclusion and that it did not bring anything new to the romance genre. I wish it had been different! I hope I like Amy Lea’s next book better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Hilarious. Gave me shades of "While You Were Sleeping" but only in the best way. I love the opposites attract trope and would love to spend some time with the Whalers!

I believe this romcom formula is the ultimate recipe that no die-hard fan can resist its charm. Imagine "While You’re Sleeping" meets "The Proposal." I can practically hear all the Bullock fans joining in to chant with me in celebration of this wonderful tribute to her two iconic romcom stories. And guess what? We've got it all right here in this delightful package. My favorite tropes are neatly tucked into Amy Lea’s front pocket: enemies-to-lovers, grumpy meets the sunshine, opposites attract, forced proximity, and of course, the classic "fake-dating."

This book truly stands out as the crown jewel of the Influencer series!

Enter Melanie Karlsen, a woman in her late twenties who finds herself in a financial bind due to a decline in followers and partnerships, a nightmare for any powerful influencer. Then comes a golden opportunity: a partnership offer to promote Seaside Resorts in Nova Scotia, Canada. All expenses paid, a luxurious getaway in exchange for sharing her experiences and content on social media. Of course, she can't pass this up, even though leaving her younger brother during a tough time after their dad's passing feels a bit uneasy. Still, she trusts he'll be okay for the week she'll be away.

But her plans take a wild turn as soon as she arrives in the Canadian town. A mix-up with her reservation forces her to wait another week to check in. She's faced with a dilemma: fly back home at her own expense or find temporary lodging. With a lobster festival causing a hotel shortage, she miraculously lands an Airbnb listing for a B&B located an hour and a half away. However, when she arrives at the place, it's a dilapidated, haunted-looking house filled with taxidermies and eccentric decorations. Her hesitation is overheard by Evan Whaler, the handsome but brooding owner of the inn, who clearly despises everything she represents as a city girl and social media influencer. Her arachnophobia doesn't exactly help her case.

This is a classic tale of hate at first sight, or rather, a not-so-cute encounter with Evan. He's like a storm cloud of disdain for her lifestyle, job, and even her fear of spiders, which he finds rather amusing. Things take an unfortunate turn when a boating accident leaves Evan in a coma after trying to save Mel's life. Consumed by guilt, she fibs that Evan is her fiancé to stay by his side in the ICU. Things get complicated when Evan's family arrives, and in order to keep up the facade, she's roped into playing his fake fiancée to save the inn and resolve a long-standing family feud between her mother and aunt.

However, Evan's family takes things to another level, treating Mel like one of their own. They throw engagement parties, offer sweet treats, and even provide free horoscope readings. For someone who has battled loneliness for so long and struggled to maintain financial stability while raising her brother, this warmth and tight-knit connection feel like a dream come true for Mel. As she spends more time with the brooding fisherman, she discovers that there's more to him than meets the eye. He's a gentle soul hidden behind a rough exterior, and their growing attraction begins to dismantle the walls they've both erected. But with so much at stake, including the inn and her heart, they must navigate a tricky path.

Evan's risk of losing the inn and his family's trust is matched by Mel's fear of losing her heart to the entire Whaler family, who show her the unconditional love she's longed for. This heartwarming story showcases the power of family bonds and the transformative nature of love, all wrapped up in a package of pure entertainment.

Overall: This is highly enjoyable, heartwarming romance that you simply cannot afford to miss.

I extend my heartfelt gratitude to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for granting me access to this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Amy Lea's The Catch is going to be one of my favorite reads of the year.

Mel is an Influencer who hasn't gotten where she is based on luck alone. Flying to Nova Scotia to showcase a fancy hotel, she cannot wait to work with the company. Yet, the company accidentally booked her for the wrong week and she now needs somewhere to stay. Her solution? The one B & B left hosted by the grumpiest fisherman she has ever met and the sunshiney Lucy.

Mel sets her sights to make the best of her week at Coral Cove and help the Inn with their social media presence. When she gets into more than she bargained for and becomes Evan's fake fiancee, life gets turned upside down. She may be catching more than just photos in this sorta town.

I devoured The Catch in less than 24 hours and couldn't put my advanced copy down. I loved the witty banter and grumpy sunshine vibes between Mel and Evan. ALSO, who doesn't love a hilarious family reunion week?! Overall, this is my favorite of the series and a real delight!

Thank you Berkley Romance and Netgalley for my earc in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own!

I fell in love with Amy Lea's writing when I read Exes and O's, the second book in her Influencer series, earlier this year. She has such a fun voice that makes her books a breeze to read. I was so excited when I got approved to read The Catch early. I had so much fun with this story about fashion influencer Melanie and lobster fisherman Evan. It's full of While You Were Sleeping meets The Proposal vibes. It also reminded me a lot of Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer.

Melanie, who's in a bit of a rut as an influencer, heads to Nova Scotia to stay at a luxury resort and create sponsored content for her popular Instagram account. She gets the dates of the trip mixed up, and instead of flying home to Boston, she decides to stay in Nova Scotia. She needs to find last-minute lodging arrangements, but it's fishing and tourist season, so the only place available is an inn in a small town called Cora's Cove. When she arrives, the inn, which is owned by Evan's family, is nothing like the cute pictures she saw online. And she immediately gets off on the wrong foot with Evan, who's grumpy as hell.

When Evan takes Melanie on a whale watching excursion, he falls overboard trying to help her retrieve her camera after it falls in the ocean. (In case you're worried about this scene, they both have on life vests. Evan is injured, although not seriously.) An unconscious Evan is taken to the hospital, and Melanie pretends to be his fiancée so she can stay with him in the ICU. His entire family shows up to see him. Things snowball from there. For the sake of Evan's family and the strained relationship between his mother and aunt, who are arguing about whether or not to sell the inn, Melanie and Evan agree to keep up the ruse that they're engaged during the week she's there. In return, he'll help her with social media content.

Of course, things don't stay fake for long, and soon they're opening up to each other. Evan reveals himself to be tenderhearted and not much of a grump at all. Watching these two fall for each other was a joy. They fall fast considering the book takes place over two weeks, but I didn't mind. This felt like a slow burn because it took them a while to act on their attraction. But once they do, this book has a good amount of steam — I think it might be the steamiest of the series.

This is a fun ending to the Influencer series. I can't wait to read whatever Amy Lea writes next.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was not my cup of tea, I’m not a fan of how the enemies to lovers trope was handled but the writing flowed beautifully and it seemed to fit the conclusion well.

I’ve never read a book from this author before so I didn’t know what to expect going in. Admittedly, I requested this because it sounded like It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.. Anyway, I was surprised by how much I liked this, even though I felt like the relationship between Evan and Mel went way too fast.

Thank you NetGalley and Berkley for and ARC of The Catch!

This was solid. Overall I thought it was cute. Lowkey nothing really happened with the plot and it sort of felt unfinished. The fake fiancé trope was kinda unnecessary as well. But it was a fun quick read!