Member Reviews
Thanks to NetGalley for sending me the arc of this novel and being able to read it.
I really wanted to read this author, this is the first time, and unfortunately I think it will be the last, I don't think this book was for me.
It's a fairly short book, but I had a hard time reading it, I feel like I didn't connect with the story or the characters, or the pace of the book.
I think the main idea was super cute, a fisherman and a city girl, it was my cliche fav, and in the end I feel like the characters were too shallow, I just didn't get to see beyond them.
It's a shame that a book I was so looking forward to reading, has been such a sadness.
The drama at the end, totally unnecessary, I feel like Mel has no clue about anything and changes his mind in every chapter, and then Evan, "change your whole life for me because I can only live at sea" it was terrible to read this, it's just typical, always moving your life for a man, it's just that this guy from the beginning has had little things that creaked on me and I couldn't connect with him.
This was a really cute romance with a grumpy/sunshine and city/small town vibe - it was great for escapism.
The Catch by Amy Lea was full of great banter and spice make it another great romcom in her influencer series! Really enjoyed this book.
A great palette cleanser and I would say it delivered in that regard. It was easy enough to read without having to think too much and was a good break from heavier reads. Looking forward to seeing more from Amy Lea.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I've really enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this was my least favourite. I didn't really connect with Melanie's character (aside from her general fear of creepy crawlies) and the plot was almost completely the same as the movie 'While You Were Sleeping', which I found a bit jarring at times.
Honestly, my favourite parts were the ones where the characters from the previous two books were present. I read this in April and I cannot remember enough about the book to fully review it here. I found the family feud a bit silly. I thought the grandmother was quite funny.
This is book 3 and the final instalment in The Influencer series and the fingers are calloused!! I enjoyed how the series has history but can also be a standalone.
I loved the chapter layout, you know instantly it’s an Amy Lea! There were a few 🌶️🌶️ scenes.
If you enjoyed It Hapenned One Summer, this one is for you!
I 100% agree about meal splitting #GetYourOwn
ATE THIS UP. Amy Lea, the genius that you are.
This was one of this books where you read it at the right time for it to connect on a spiritual level completely.
The grief and loss throughout this book was something I wasn’t expecting going into it, but a topic I value being so perfectly portrayed, with a relatable struggle.
I loved Melanie and Evan and their romance felt so believable to me. It gave me the same 5 star vibes I felt when reading It Happened One Summer, despite having a different plot and actual premise, but I just connected to the characters and romance so much.
A top read of the year so far.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book.
Amy Lea's "The Catch" is a charming and refreshing contemporary romance that delivers both heart and humor. The novel follows a captivating love story where chemistry and connection take center stage. Lea's writing is engaging and witty, with well-developed characters who feel real and relatable. The plot is both delightful and immersive, weaving in moments of heartfelt emotion and playful banter. "The Catch" stands out for its engaging narrative and the genuine romance that unfolds, making it a must-read for fans of feel-good love stories. Lea's skillful storytelling ensures that "The Catch" is a memorable and enjoyable escape into romance.
This was my first read by Amy Lea and it certainly didn’t disappoint. I was hooked (😉) from the first page! All the characters were so loveable and relatable and I found myself laughing a long with them! Highly recommend for a quick read to get lost in
I absolutely love a small town romance and will gladly read any of them. This also has a couple of my favourite tropes.
It was a perfect lighthearted read which would be good for the summer!
Thank you for the opportunity to review.
Not only is this book full to the BRIM of tropes, fake engagement, forced proximity, grumpy x sunshine, haters to lovers - you name it it's probably written. But I very quickly fell in love with Mel's journey. A girl who usually puts her life on pause for those around her, who has worked overly hard to make a life for herself, with her Career of a social media influencer (which I loved) being the only thing she feels is truly hers. This book mentions grief, and boating accidents which are prewarned at the start of the book.
Amy has always written beautiful characters & it makes the book so easy to read & picture.
The relationship between Mel and the Whaler's warmed my heart as they were the perfect part of Mel's journey in the beautiful small coastal town of Cora's Cove in Nova Scotia Canada. The Found Family trope is one of my favorites and I can admit a few tears were shed on my end, with how much Mel deserved it. Various places were mentioned making me wish to take a trip to the town myself to watch live music at the Anchor & go on the Ferris Wheel at the Lobster festival.
This book is spicy in the best way, and I'm so sad that the series is over!
Thank you to Amy Lea, Penguin Random House & NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you to the publisher, author and Netgalley for this ARC. This is my favourite one in the series!
I read this back in March but forgot to post feedback on here despite posting my review on all my socials!
Cora’s Cove is somewhere I would want to visit if it was a real place. I also really want to try poutine now as well. I loved Evan as a love interest. Even when he “hated” Mel he was still respectful and was definitely what I look for in a “grumpy” MMC. You could tell he was just messing with her and wasn’t actually being a bad person. Another thing I liked was the found family aspect; the Whalers were adorable and I loved seeing them all come together. The overall pacing was good and I never felt bored.
My only issue is I never really warmed to Mel though. She really frustrated me and I felt like she kept reeling Evan in only to drop him when she got scared. A lot about her character also didn’t make sense to me. She grew up poor and is afraid of losing all her money but openly admits that she buys “random shit she doesn’t need”. Also why does her eleven year old neighbour have her number?
I had a great time overall reading this though and I recommend it to people who like a small town, grumpy x sunshine, enemies to lovers romance with vibes similar to It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey.
This book delivered exactly what it promised: a low-angst, meet-not-cute, fake dating romance between a city-slicker influencer FMC and a small-town lifer, fisherman, and boat captain MMC.
While that summary might sound negative, it was actually like reading a Netflix Christmas movie where the vibes are just fun. If you approach the book with that mindset, you'll definitely enjoy it!
Our FMC, Melanie, is a 29-year-old content creator down on her luck, struggling with engagement and inspiration for maintaining her "clean girl" aesthetic. She suffers from keeping up with the Joneses and has lost touch with who she truly is. Ironically, when she gets stuck in a small Canadian fishing town, her Instagram engagements go up, and she discovers her "new" personality. She also deals with what I am now calling "overbearing older sibling disorder", and it was satisfying to see her have a reality check moment, realizing she was suffocating her younger brother when he never asked her to be his replacement mother.
Our MMC, Evan, embodies the classic lumberjack vibes hero. He gets a brief POV snippet in the epilogue, but aside from blaming himself for a tragic event his family endured a few years ago, he doesn't stand out much.
That being said, Melanie and Evan have great tension and chemistry! Some might call this a grumpy-sunshine romance, but I disagree. Evan is the squishiest cinnamon roll, and Melanie isn't fully sunshine. However, I enjoyed how Amy wrote their budding romance, even if it meant Melanie being a bit of an idiot in the wilderness. Evan really encouraged her to find herself and stay true to that self, which was lovely.
*I received an arc copy of this book from Netgalley, all opinions are my own*
Set in an idyllic small village on the coast of Canada, this grumpy/sunshine romance had me turning pages. I loved the tension between the main characters. Cozy summer vibes!
Set On You was one of my favourite book of 2022 and Exes and Ohs was a fantastic read, so it really saddens me to say that The Catch was just okay... I generally love a small town romance or a Grumpy/Sunshine but this one left a bit of a sour taste in my mouth. I couldn't connect with Mel or Evan and that might be why I just didn't care about their romance. It was still enjoying to read, as Amy Lea's books always are, but the whole story felt rushed and disjointed. I will be reading any of the author's future books as I generally love her characters and writing style. Absolutely read it if you've already read the previous books of this series, but I wouldn't necessarily choose it as a standalone novel.
3.5/5 ⭐
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of my honest opinion
A brilliant read and one I really enjoyed. The characters are loveable. The plot is one that is engaging and I found myself completely drawn into the story and enjoyed the writing style.
Another fab book by Amy Lea! Lots of chemistry between the characters and I loved the story build up. I love how Amy builds her characters and the story unravels in a really timely way. I was just as excited for this as I was for Set on You
The Catch is a grumpy sunshine, fake dating, small town romance and if these are some of your favourite tropes then this book might be just for you.
Melanie, a fashion influencer, ends up at a run down inn in Coras Cove after her plans to stay at a luxury resort go askew. It is there she meets Evan, a lobster fisherman whose family owns the inn. Cue the romance!
I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first and I didn’t love the characters as much as I had hoped, but it was still a cute read.
Amy Lea never disappoints! This series is so much fun and one I’d happily spend all of my days in! Her characters are loveable and easy to get yourself invested in!