Special thanks to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is the third book in the Influencers series by Amy Lea. I have enjoyed reading through Lea’s books over the past year or so. Each book has the perfect touch of both romance and humor. The diverse themes and well-rounded character development allow these books to compete with top names for the most influential Rom-Coms. (See what I did there…)

This book follows Melanie, a fashion/beauty lifestyle influencer who struggles with letting people see the true version of herself. Every angle has to be just right and every photo filtered just so if she wants to grow her following. But, when the filters aren’t doing it anymore, it makes her doubt both her content and herself.

Insert Evan Whaler - a tall, plaid-wearing, surly fisherman and suddenly perspectives start changing. With men getting knocked off of boats, fake engagements, forced proximity, and feuding families, The Catch is sure to leave you holding onto your ribs; whether from laughing too hard or crying for the cast of lovable characters, I’ll let you decide.

The Catch is perfect for fans of Amy Lea’s other works: Set on You & Exes and O’s. Other recommendations would be Tessa Bailey’s, It Happened One Summer (Fisherman/Influencer vibes). Chloe Liese’s, The Bergman Brothers series (Specifically, With You Forever, due to the forced proximity/cozy family vibes.) Also, if you want more recs with the crazy (and I mean crazy) family vibes, try The Knockemout series by Lucy Score.

Thank you @berkleyromance and @letstslkbookspromo for my arc and the #BerkleyBuddyReads opportunity!

This was a super fun, entertaining rom com which is actually third in the series by Amy Lea. I didn’t read the first two but had no problem with this as a standalone in her “Influencer” series.
It’s set in Canada, when social media travel/lifestyle influencer Mel has a scheduling snafu. She’s delayed from her promotional resort stay and ends up stumbling upon an off the road bed and breakfast. Here she meets grumpy, burly lobster fishermen and inn owner Evan and his quirky, friendly cousin. She begs to stay for the interim week, ends up in a fake engagement with Evan and well, you can guess where this goes 😉

It’s cute, funny and charming as well as being heartfelt as Mel discovers what really matters is not found on what’s portrayed in social media posts.
The only downside to me was the plot being very true love/emotional and romantically focused but the transition into over the top, spicy sexual encounter descriptions - it didn’t feel authentic to the theme. But it’s still a great read and an enjoyable romantic comedy.

⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️

As the conclusion to this series by Amy Lea, this one just fell a little flat to me unfortunately. While I still enjoyed reading it, I struggled to connect with the characters or their storylines. Their chemistry never felt quite there to me. It didn't help how childish they both started out with their reactions to each other. And while I get the opposites attract trope, they just felt too opposite a lot of the time. I do always love when a MML is in touch with his emotions and can express himself, so I did appreciate that about Evan (and all the flannel wearing!). Mel being the typical influencer type and going to the wilderness and discovering that simple life can still bring her happiness felt unoriginal. I get that Lea was maybe trying to broach the topic of what people show online isn't always real or really how people are feeling or what they are going through, but again, Mel was a confusing character in that sense. She seemed to really really care about being an influencer and making it work one minute, and then totally lacking confidence and not even liking her job the next. It just felt out of sync with the other two books in the series. Also, I'm sure some people found Evan's family endearing, but I found them a little too involved and creepy.
Overall, not my favorite from Lea but I still look forward to her next book!
3.5 stars

I'm sad to see the Influencer series come to an end! I'm happy we got Mel's story and caught up with Crystal and Tara again. This was a swoony and cute enemies to lovers (with a fake enagement!) set in a charming small town in coastal Canada! Amy Lea has become one of my auto-buy romance authors and I can't wait until her next book!

I didn't realize this was the 3rd book, so maybe if I had read the first two it would have been better.

Like the current trend of "enemies-to-lovers" plots, the conflict between Evan and Melanie was entertaining to watch, but it was shallow and ultimately pointless. From the very beginning of the story, they were observing one another: from foes to lovers instalove. Their reunion after, what, four days? I was utterly bored for the remaining forty percent of the novel by that point. As if that weren't a warning, even the book's characters are suspicious that the couple is moving too quickly in their love.

Yeesh this was not my favorite. Primarily because the pacing is off so much and I don’t think we spend enough time with the two main characters getting to know each other. Their relationship isn’t believable and this would’ve been better achieved by a dual POV I think? Also Lea didn’t give us enough time with them as fake fiancés. Like it felt so short and rushed. And then you’ve got Evan being horribly rude for the first 45% and I’m supposed to be swooning over this guy and believe him when he says he’s been taken with her from the beginning???? Oof

I also just had a few not so great language issues: Melanie is supposed to be plus sized but says she “north of a size ten” which is still straight sized. The camping scene was so cringe and you can’t convince me she’d be in tip top sex shape within 2 days. Also the Ian kid was horribly creepy and idk why he was in so much of the book! Like talk about not understanding boundaries that’s horrifying.

*I started this review rating it at a 3 but keep going down and down lol*

Unfortunately this book just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

This is the third book in the series but can be enjoyed entirely as a standalone

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-m/f contemporary romance
-frenemies to lovers
-fake engagement
-small town romance
-opposites attract
-grumpy/sunshine

I just enjoy Amy Lea's writing so much. This was such a great story. Of two opposites who allow everyone around them to rely on them, but struggle to open up to others. Mel is an influencer always hustling to support herself and be a pillar her brother can lean on, while Evan is living with guilt after the loss of a family member, trying to keep his family together. ANd wiht a While you Were Sleeping Twist, these two who can't stand each other end up even more intertwined.

I adored the family aspect of this story, found and bilogical and just learning to fight for what you want too not just caring about others. Watching Evan and Mel open up too each other, become vulnerable, and just really see each other and appreciate each other for their differences was so sweet. I'm so dissapointed this series is over but i can't wait to read whatever Amy writes next.

This series is AMAZING and I can't wait to see what Amy Lea writes next. Everything she writes is flawless and easy to read, while also entertaining and heartfelt.

The final book in the Influencer series! I have been waiting for Mel's book. I loved the opposites attract & fake dating tropes. I think Evan was such a good grumpy fisherman character and though I don't normally like Influencer romances, Amy Lea does them right so I of course loved Mel's character. The whole book gave It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey vibes, though it was less spicy (still spicy but you know, not Tessa Bailey level).

I was not a fan of Evan's "you have to move here to be with me" attitude. Like right off the back he just assumed and didn't even consider thinking about him moving to Boston (I realize he wouldn't have his job, but still).

This is a personal thing but I have realized while I can get on board with a small town (especially a Canadian one), I do not like the quirky side characters that are usually part of said romances. Evan's family (apart from Lucy) bugged me, I was not a fan. Again I have realized that I don't like that plot point when it comes to small-town romances.

Thank you to Berkley for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I was entirely certain that this book would be three to four stars at the halfway mark because of Mel's bristley personality, but the antics and laughter caught up with me and it's now a very, very solid 5. This book is the perfect amalgam of everyone's favorite early 2000's romcoms and it reads like a warm hug. The family dynamics were realistic but hilarious and I am a sucker for a good fake-dating premise. There are so many sweet moments that had me sighing "awww" or shrieking with laughter like Mel shrieked every time she saw a bug. I wanted to jump into Evan's arms in the biggest bearhugs with every flex of his adorable thoughtfulness. He genuinely melted my cold, dead heart.

Everything flows easily and is fast paced, the writing style is relaxed and fun with a lot of self-deprecating jokes about the fake dating rom-com genre. Amy Lea writes like a veteran screenwriter in how well her banter and dialogue translates onto the page. The setting is realistic but unique and everything is easy to visualise playing out on a girl's movie night.

This was so sweet and fun and kitschy. It's irrational and illogical and love-at-first-sight -ey while delivering hefty doses of grand gestures and laugh out loud hijinks. Highly recommend.

This book is fun and witty, everything that I want in a Romance. A great escape from reality, I really enjoyed reading this.

First read of you love :
Grumpy X Grumpy
Nature has it out for me
Fake dating
Small town romance

It’s giving “it happened one summer” but grumpy x grumpy vibes (and I’m here for it) ALSO giving "While You're Sleeping" meets "The Proposal." (Seriously two of my favorite movies of all time)

Although i didn’t read the first two books in this series i honestly didn’t miss them(although i def plan on going back to read them) i love influencer vibes.

I really enjoyed this book, so much so that I found myself smiling a lot! I caught myself giggling at the banter between the two main characters. (We love some banter).
I loved the sleepy little coastal town in Canada that Melanie stumbled into and it made me long to be there. The grump fake dating trope with a meddling family was an added bonus. I really loved Evan and his family so I could see why Mel grew so attached to them.

There was some good spice 🥵
The soft sexy romance between these characters were *chefs kiss*

Again I’m sad i didn’t get to read the other books in the series first but i will def be going back to them.

I LOVED THIS!!!

Evan and Mel are so cute together. I loved their banter and how they didn't see eye to eye when they first met. They are the perfect mix of grumpy and sunshine plus there's fake dating!!! I am a sucker for these tropes and this book incorporated them so well.
Despite Evans grouchy exterior, he was so sweet to Mel in little ways that made my heart ache. They have such a warm relationship that I will think about probably a little too often...

4.5/4

More like 3.5 stars!

I will say I enjoyed this book. It was a very easy read, and was quite sweet/fun at times. I'm a sucker for small town romances and for grumpy x sunshine characters and this book delivered just that. Melanie was a lovable FMC. I personally loved that she was an influencer and I really enjoyed her backstory. And Evan? The perfect swoonworthy MMC. The quiet confidence of this man was electric. This book, for me, was what It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey was for others.

Which is both a good and a not-so-good thing. I wasn't a fan of IHOS so to find a book wiht a similar premise that I enjoyed was great. But there's also the issue of the premises being... very similar. A glam girl goes to a small seaside town, where she's a total fish out of water, meets a grumpy fisherman who develops a soft spot just for her and falls in love and decides she's ok with a small town life. Oh, and in the process helps to renovate a building. Like, the similarities are a bit eerie, no? Execution is very different, but still. This book also reminded me a bit of Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez as well (with the fake dating and one of the mothers being a sex therapist).

With the similarities to other books and the fact that this type of story has been done several times (and The Catch didn't do anything different), I was left a little disappointed and worn down by the end. The book takes place over the span of 2 weeks and the way things moved towards the end was just way too fast.

However, there's still a lot to love about this book and if any of the tropes in it are up your alley, you probably will enjoy it!

Thank you Netgalley and Berkley from providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

If you loved Tessa Bailey's 'It Happened One Summer', you will eat this up.

The Catch is the third in an interconnected standalone series. I thought this book was adorable, a little spicy and genuine. I'm a sucker for small town romances so I was excited that this was taking place in one. Mel is a really likable FMC and I appreciated that she had such a strong backbone with Evan. They reminded me a little of Jonah and Calla from the simple wild, but Evan is much sweeter!

- grumpy / sunshine
- city girl / small town guy
- small town
- forced proximity

3.75 stars!

This was an adorable read! I live for the grumpy sunshine! I was just expecting a little bit more to the plot. It seemed to stretch on a bit for the ending to be the way it was. Although still an enjoyable read! I enjoyed the characters so much and the charm of the family!

Thank you NetGalley for approving this ARC!

This is the first book I read by Amy Lea and it will definitely not be the last. I thought it was so cute & fun!

It was such an easy read and it had me giggling the whole time! Definitely a book you want to pick up when you need something light and uplifting. I really liked the characters and thought the pace of the book was enjoyable.

Thanks Berkley Romance & Netgalley for the gifted copy!

Amy Lea's The Catch is the third book in the The Influencer series. I have loved the last two book and was excited to read Mel's story.

What you can expect:
- fake dating
- grumpy x sunshine
- small town romance
- single POV

Mel and Evan's relationship happened within 2 weeks and it was kind of hard to believe. I wasn't able to connect or invest in their story as much as I have the other books in this series! I did love the cameos from the previous couple ngl!!

Thanks Berkley for the ARC!

This book is so cute! Sweet and spicy, funny, and hints of two of my fave rom com movies- While You Were Sleeping and The Proposal (can’t go wrong with Sandra Bullock movies!).

🦞 Melanie is an influencer. When there is an issue with her reservation at the resort she is supposed to review, she ends up at a small run down inn. In an attempt to help the owners, grumpy lobsterman Evan and his cousin Lucy, resolve some family disputes about keeping the inn, Melanie agrees to pretend to be Evan’s fiancée in hopes it will make the family members get along again.

I’m sure you can all guess what happens next 😂 😀 🥵 💖

🦞 This is the third book in Amy’s Influencer series. I loved book two Exes & Os last year, but still haven’t read book one. So I promise you can read them as standalone books.

The Catch includes these well-loved tropes:
• Vacation romance (in Nova Scotia)
• Forced proximity
• Opposites attract (spoiled influencer & grumpy fisherman)
• Fake engagement

Book 3 follows Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen, Crystal, and Tara’s best friend, as she travels to Nova Scotia for a sponsored getaway. But when there is a mix up at the hotel, Melanie finds herself stuck staying at a rural rundown bed and breakfast with grumpy innkeeper and fisherman, Evan Whaler.

Evan is not impressed by Melanie’s fancy clothes and snobby attitude; he doesn’t want her staying at the inn. However, when he gets in an unexpected boating accident and his family mistakes Melanie for his fiancé, they get wrapped up in a fake engagement in hopes of bringing his contentious family back together over the joy of their news.

This book was a combination of the beloved, It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey and a hallmark movie. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it; I ended up rating it 3 stars. Melanie and Evan both felt a bit one dimensional and I didn’t feel connected to either of their characters. Melanie read very stereotypical influencer and there was something about her I didn’t fully click with. I think the grief storyline was supposed to add more substance to her and the way she guards her heart, but it didn’t fully work for me. It also gave me insta-love vibes due to the very quick evolution of their relationship, from enemies to in love.

Things I enjoyed:
• The setting- a cozy, idyllic yet quirky coastal town \
• The Whaler family- endearing, welcoming and humorous
• The fake dating- give me all the jealous Mc’s even though it’s “fake”
• The Author’s note, specifically what Amy learned from each of her characters

Favorite quotes:
“I don’t know about you, but my relationship, fake or not, isn’t gonna be a barter system. I like to think I’d be more than happy giving my wife what she wants and needs without expecting shit in return.”
“You’re never alone in this world while I’m in it, Mel.”

TL;DR- Hallmark movie meets It Happened One Summer, a cute vacation rom-com.

Thank you to Berkley Romance for the free e-book; all thoughts are my own.