Member Reviews
A great read that gives summer vibes but also has important themes such as injury, recovery, depression and forgiveness.
✔️Second Chance
✔️Brother’s Best Friend
✔️Forced Proximity
Read Time ⏱️ 4 hours
*****
“…I know he wants to practice what he knows is right. The principle is malama kekahi i kekahi-the way we care for the ones we love and all those around us.”
“Anything for her. Anything.”
“Women are like flowers. Delicate, but also strong enough to withstand a storm. Each one unique in its beauty. Men are like coconuts.”
“I love you so much it breaks me. And then it puts me back together.”
Okay, wow this was so cute. Catch a Wave is the second chance, clean romance you need in your life. This sweet romcom focuses on the life of two professional surfers as they chase waves…and each other. After a devastating injury and subsequent heartbreak, these two find a way back to one another when they thought they’d never see each other again.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.
I’ll be honest up front, I was goin through some personal things while reading this book. And I know that has affected how much I liked this book and my overall feelings for it. So bear with me for this review.
I did like this book overall. It was fun to learn more about surfing and the Hawaiian culture. While I’m not particularly a fan of surfing and the beach lifestyle this book made me want to try it out, so I thought that was a huge plus.
Bodhi and Mavs story was sweet. I really, really enjoyed how they helped each other through their difficulties. They knew when to push and when to give space, and that was a great balance.
But I felt like they focused a lot on the physical aspect of their relationship. It was hard for me to feel/see their genuine connection because all they seemed to care about was looks and surfing. So that was a bit frustrating cause I think they could have been so solid, but I personally didn’t see that strong foundation.
Like I said, overall I did enjoy this book. And I am planning to reread it once I’m in a better place emotionally/mentally, so I can give this story a fair shot. I would still recommend this fun, summery book to anyone looking for a good, clean romcom.
Kalaine and Bodhi were the 'it' couple of surfing, until Bodhi broke Kalaine's heart. Years later Kalaine has a serious surfing accident at a major competition. she comes to stay with her brother Kai for a while. When she arrives, she is not expecting the person who answers the door. Will she forgive Bodhi for breaking her heart?
This is such a sweet, second chance romance I loved that the story involved surfing. Bodhi, is such a gentleman, giving Kalaine the space she needs to heal and figure things out - physically and emotionally. This is a story of forgiveness, and facing your fears, with a brother's best friend and forced proximity. Such a good book!
Super cute book. I like that it showed the characters growth and that mavs was able to be open minded into realizing that bodhi had shut down and shut others out when he got hurt. They knew their was nothing about the relationship but the injury and wanting the best for the other without communicating was very real.
Finishing this story felt like a warm hug, knowing that things were going to be not only simply “ok” for these two characters going forward, but that they had overcome some incredibly hard things and made it back to each other, stronger than they were before. This tale encompassed forgiveness and acceptance and moving forward rather than backward. It was a romance that was insta love in the flashbacks, but slow growing in its healing recovery during the present day portion of the story.
For most of the novel, I kept wondering what truly broke Bodhi and Kalaine (Mavs) up. I had an idea, and it was pretty close to what did happen, but the deeper truth of it all made what Kalaine’s brother, Kai, did for Bodhi by being there for him even more important. It showed how much Kai truly cared for his sister and best friend. I also have to say that I loved the “hunting for the dog” scene!
I loved the patience that Bodhi exhibited in trying to give Mavs the space she needed to recover, while also attempting to be a friend when he wanted so much more. The way they began to grow close again was perfect, with so many sweet and tender moments, as well as some funny ones, too! This story was deeper and more emotional than most romcoms, however, there were some super cute and laugh out loud moments to lighten the atmosphere, also.
I enjoyed this story so much and look forward to going back and reading the first two books in the series now.
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but ended up reading it in Kindle Unlimited. All opinions are my own.
Oooh Bodhi, how I love him. He is such a surf stud and I kind of want to climb him like a tree 🤣
This second chance romance was so great. I loved their story, the dual timeline and dual pov. I loved the periphery characters as well (some of whom you meet in the earlier books).
This book made me laugh and it made me cry and I really really enjoyed it.
The cover and premise of the book caught my attention. While I was eager to hear Mavs and Bodhi’s story and see how it played out, the book wasn’t my favorite. The writing was repetitive at times (as we heard from both characters) and it was a little too predictable. That being said, if you’re looking for a not spicy, easy summer romance read this definitely fits the bill. Bodhi is a dreamboat and perfect love interest.
Catch a Wave by Savannah Scott was just brilliant! Bodhi and Kalaine are so perfect together. Yes, they had their chance, but thank goodness for second chances! Learning more about their story and why things went down the way the did made me fall even harder for both of them. Love at first sight, check! Brother’s best friend, check. Forced proximity, check. Second chance, check, check, check! I actually really enjoyed how the story flipped from present to past and gave insights to their history. Not just them as a couple, but as an athlete and how they each got where they are today. I love the focus on family and friendships. Definitely an extra bonus that some previous characters in this series make an appearance, but completely stands on its own too. True to Scott’s style, there are plenty of tender moments, toe curling romance, and flat-out laughable moments. In my opinion, it checked all the right boxes for me.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are solely my own, freely given.
I dove into "Catch a Wave" without having read the first two books in the series, and I was pleasantly surprised at how well it functioned as a standalone story. The author does a fantastic job of weaving in backstory throughout the narrative, giving you all the context you need to understand the characters and their relationships.
For someone who isn't familiar with the world of competitive surfing, the book provided a clear and engaging window into that scene. I felt like I was right there on the beach, feeling the spray and the thrill of riding a wave.
There were just a couple of things that kept this book from being a perfect ride for me. First, I would have loved to see more of Bodhi and Kalaine getting back into competition. The build-up to that point was exciting, and it felt like it ended a little abruptly. Secondly, the ending felt a bit rushed. I would have liked a slower resolution to tie up all the loose ends.
Overall, "Catch a Wave" is a fun, engaging read. The characters are well-developed, the setting is vivid, and the story is full of heart. For a great summer beach read, definitely grab a copy! (4 out of 5 stars)
This second chance love story was such a beautiful story, and Kalaine and Bodhi are simply the sweetest. I'm not usually a fan of instalove, but the way these two cared for, supported, and encouraged each other from the very start was just wonderful. They put each other first and pushed each other to be better (while still loving each other unconditionally). These two really are couple goals (minus the whole break-up part, but no one's perfect right?)! And I can't not mention Shaka, who may just be my favorite character.
I loved getting to read both their love stories through the dual timeline. It really helped me get to know the characters better both individually and as a couple. I rooted for them more as a second chance couple since I got to see first-hand how good they were together the first time around.
As adorable and sweet as this story was, it didn't shy away from deeper topics of mental health and loss. And I can't express how much I love the parallel of Kalaine's relationship with Bodhi and her relationship with the ocean, and the healing she experiences after being hurt and betrayed by both. I found myself as excited for her to reconcile with the ocean as I was for her to reconcile with Bodhi.
So, if you want a sweet second chance romance with lovable characters, and real hurt and healing, I highly recommend this book! Now I just need to go back an read the two previous stories of the series.
Thank you to Netgalley, Victory Editing, and Savannah Scott for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I think that this is Savannah Scott's best book. The plot moved quickly, the dialogue was snappy, and the emotion was real. I meant to spend a few days reading it and ended up blasting through it in two days because I had to know what would happen. That's kind of funny because I don't always like second chance stories, mostly because I don't enjoy the angry conversations about what went wrong. But this book this cleverly arranged in flashbacks that tell us what happened without having to hear it all rehashed by the characters. Also, there isn't too much anger because Bodhi and Mia have had time to settle down and be fairly mature about things. They are focused on moving forward into the next phase of their lives and how to do it. I enjoyed this very much, and I am glad I read it.
.CatchAWave #NetGalley
A second chance romance. Bodhi is best friends with Kai and his surprised when Kai's sister shows up on their doorstep, Kahlaine is just as surprised to see her ex boyfriend at her brothers house as he is to see her. Kahlaine guards her heart and as no intention of being in a relationship with Bodhi. Will they give love a second chance?
We're back on Marbella Island and the love is still flowing strong, if only the ones in love would just open up their eyes and realize it! Our main female character has suffered a major setback physically and mentally in her chosen career and has come to the island to recuperate at her brother's home. However, her brother forgot to mention that he is sharing a house with her ex, the one that was supposed to be her happily ever after. This is a sweet second chances romance that will have you staying up too late and turning pages furiously as you can't wait to see what happens next. This book is slightly different than the previous books as the main characters have a past and we get flashbacks of the past to help explain how they came to be looking at a second chance today. This author creates characters that have extremely realistic personalities as well as quality humor along with plots that will have you tearing up in one moment and giggling the next. I absolutely can't wait to come back to the island to see whose story will be told next!
Catch A Wave is the third book in Savannah Scott’s Love Trippin’ series, which takes place on Marbella Island, California. It is a sequel to Are We There Yet? and A Fish Out of Water but can easily be read as a stand-alone. It also references characters from her Bordeaux series, and the Marbella Island location was used in A Not So Fictional Fall. Catch A Wave is a closed-door second-chance, older brother’s best friend romantic comedy. The story is told in alternating POV from Kalaine and Bodhi.
Kalaine Kalupe and her older brother, Kai, grew up in Oahu, Hawaii and became professional surfers. At the age of 20, Kalaine began dating Kai’s best friend and surfing buddy, Bodhi Merrick, against Kai’s wishes. Kalaine and Bodhi quickly became known as surfing's "it couple" due to their talent and looks. Until Bodhi had a serious accident and subsequently dumped Kalaine. Brokenhearted, she continued on the competitive surfing circuit and made a surfing community in Costa Rica her home. Meanwhile Bodhi appeared on Kai’s doorstep at a resort on Marbella Island and was hired in the equipment rental shop.
Two years later, Kalaine is badly injured during a surfing competition at the Mavericks in California. After a month-long hospital stay, she begs Kai to let her stay at his house while she continues to recover. She is now terrified of the ocean and is wondering what to do with the rest of her life. She is shocked when Bodhi answers Kai’s door, because she had no idea where Bodhi was or what he was doing with his life.
Kalaine still loves Bodhi and is hoping for a second chance at romance. The problem is that Bodhi has no desire to professionally surf and he doesn’t want to hold Kalaine back from a promising career. There is some angst as Kalaine waits on Bodhi to reveal why he broke up with her, and yearning as both characters try to figure out how to accomplish their future goals together. Kalaine’s lifelong best friend, Leilani, is prominent in the story and is romantically interested in Kai.
Catch A Wave and the Love Trippin’ series are best suited to New Adult readers due to the characters’ ages and maturity levels. Kalaine and Bodhi are well-developed, likeable characters, and the story moves along at a good pace. The author incorporates a lot of lingo in her books, which adds authenticity to each story. I definitely enjoyed Catch A Wave more than I did A Fish Out of Water, but I think the author’s Sweater Weather stories are the best for mature readers.
I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) from NetGalley and Victory Editing Co-op for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I loved being back on Marbella Island for this third book in the Love Trippin' series! Can I just say *Happy Sigh*!!!! Seriously all the love for this one. You'll feel all the feels and be hit with some emotions as well. Bodhi and Kalaine get their second chance in this book. I loved being able to see that happen. Bodhi is a fun lighthearted character that we see in book 2 and I was so happy we get to know his story here. And cue that happy sigh again!
Bo and Mavs are the nicknames for Bodhi and Kalaine so I'm going to use those when referencing these two for the rest of my review. Bo and Mavs are amazing surfers. I loved reading the scenes when they're in the water and catching waves. Made me want to be out on a warm sunny beach watching the surfers. But, as is normal with life, there are some major hang ups that happen. And these two have some things they have to work through. Individually and together. Cue the emotions that I mentioned above. Because yes, you will feel those emotions with these two. Savannah Scott did a fabulous job writing this story. The love and joy to the heartache and sorrow and back to the love and joy and even better than before! You're going to love it!!! (Well, I truly hope you will!)
And we get to see all the characters from the previous books. Such a great group of friends and ones that I'm hoping will all get their own story, because, well, I just think they're all great!!! And I love me book series with lots of characters all woven in together throughout the series!
Get ready to be craving being on the beach, or catching your own waves in the water!
Content: Clean. The characters have some accidents that leads to them needing to heal, mentally and physically. Some kisses but nothing further.
I received a copy from Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op, via NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions in the review are my own.
Happy Reading!!!
What I loved:
- second chance romance
- Pro-surfer couple
- Brother’s Best friend
- Forced proximity (roommates)
- Nicknames 💕
- Laid back lifestyle / island life
- Deep character development
- Shaka 💕
- “Kiss me, Bodhi” 😭😍
- The “invisible string” constantly pulling these two together
- Ride or die best friend, Leilani
- Bali 😅
- The epilogue 😭
- He takes care of her
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is my first book I’ve read by Savannah Scott and now I definitely need to read more. This book had me all in my feelings. The dedication and passion Bodhi and Kalaine (aka Mavs) have for each other and surfing is inspiring and heart-warming. Throughout the book, you get to learn about surfing culture and Hawaiian culture, which is so cool and I want more books like this!
Bodhi and Kalaine have a long history together but it has been damaged by a lot of trauma and miscommunication. I really, really enjoyed the use of flashbacks to explain the couple’s history. It gave so much more meaning and depth to what they were currently living through. I was constantly hoping for more details of their past and Savannah Scott did NOT disappoint.
I thought both MC’s POVs seemed very realistic and honest as they have intense feelings of hopelessness/loss of direction after major injuries. They both handled it differently but I think they Savannah Scott beautifully navigated writing about how different people heal from traumatic life and death experiences. She also sheds light on sometimes people think they are healed but are often still work-in-progresses. I appreciated the honest look into how different people navigate mental illness as well as how to communicate in relationships when one is struggling.
Bodhi and Kalaine’s chemistry is felt through the pages with their longing looks and unspoken communication with facial expressions. Every time she says “Kiss me, Bodhi” it’s perfect. I love the way this phrase came to be in their story and how it’s used throughout the book to show significant emotion 😭 it’s just too sweet.
I also appreciated that Savannah Scott acknowledges though her characters that in a relationship both people make sacrifices out of love and commitment to one another. It’s such an important reminder 💕
This is a clean romance with passionate kisses and longing looks. There is also no cursing.
Content warning: traumatic injuries while surfing, depression
Thank you so much to Savannah Scott for letting me read this e-ARC via NetGalley.
The songs I picked for this book were “skinny dipping” by Sabrina Carpenter, “she” by Jake Scott, “More than Yesterday” by Two Friends and Russell Dickerson, “the 1” by Taylor Swift, “Enchanted” by Taylor Swift, and “invisible string” by Taylor Swift.
Kalaine is at the top of her surfing game when she has a terrible accident that might be a career ender. She travels to California for her convalescence at her brother's house. When the door opens, she is surprised to find out her brother has a roommate... Bodhi, the man who slaughtered her heart two years before. Still in love but completely gun shy, the two begin a path to healing for their bodies and minds.
This book has:
✔️Big dreams
✔️Forced Proximity
✔️Second chances
✔️Celebrity romance
✔️World traveling
✔️Surfing
✔️Timeline hopping
🏄♂️ What I loved:
This second chance story has some BIG feelings in it from the very beginning. I was three chapters in before I absolutely had to know how it was going to end. The story is filled with tension for a good part of the book, but well-balanced with hope. I was enraptured by the past events leading up to Kalaine and Bodhi's break-up and reconciliation. The "dance" they do when Kalaine shows up unexpectedly is torturous and sweet. They are still one another's biggest cheerleaders and the things that made them great the first go-around are still there, but the second chance is where two people who have grown and matured in life and love really come together and it is magical.
The teeniest critique, which is really a personal preference, is that I wish the past events had been shared in an epilogue or perhaps even as flashbacks, woven in to the chapters rather than their own thing. It doesn't take away from the story, but it adjusts the momentum a bit as the story goes on.
I've already gone back and reread a few of my favorite scenes. Put this one on your beach read list ASAP!
Catching a Wave was such a delight to read. I laughed, I cried, I swooned and fell in love with Bodhi and Kalaine’s story. There was so much depth in this book beyond the second chance romance. The learning to overcome fear of ocean, surfing, relationships. I loved the surfing aspect of the story and the Hawaiian culture. It was such a beautifully written story. Told in a dual timeline between present time and various times in the past. I loved the flashbacks to earlier time periods helping explain the story. Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for the digital review copy of this novel. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is a love story that lingers like salt on sun-kissed skin. “Catch a Wave” by Savannah Scott is a delightful second-chance romance that sweeps readers off their feet and carries them on a sun-kissed journey of love, loss, and redemption. With its vivid coastal setting, relatable characters, and heartwarming moments, this book is a must-read for anyone seeking a sweet and passionate escape.
At the heart of the story is the magnetic attraction between Kalaine "Mavs" Kapule and Bodhi Merrick. Their initial encounter at the famous big-wave surf spot, Mavericks, sets the stage for a love story that transcends the ordinary. As Mavs watches Bodhi don his wetsuit, she feels an irresistible pull. It’s a connection that defies logic and draws them together like the tide to the shore. Their love becomes legendary in the surfing world, and they are dubbed the “IT couple."
Life has a way of testing even the strongest bonds. A twist of fate tears Mavs and Bodhi apart, leaving them with hearts bruised by loss. Two years later, Mavs finds herself seeking refuge on her brother's doorstep, only to be greeted not by her brother but by Bodhi himself. The man who once held her heart now stands before her, and the memories flood back. Everything from the sun-kissed days, the shared laughter, and the whispered promises.
Scott masterfully weaves flashbacks into the narrative, allowing readers to relive the intensity of Mavs and Bodhi's original love story. Their chemistry crackles off the pages, and their banter is both playful and poignant. As they navigate the complexities of their past, the tension between them is palpable. Can they overcome the hurt and find a second chance at happiness?
The setting of Marbella Island provides a dreamy backdrop for their reunion. The sun-drenched beaches, crashing waves, and salty air mirror the ebb and flow of their emotions. And as they share a living space once again, old wounds resurface, but so do the sparks of attraction. Bodhi, with his wavy hair and board shorts, is impossible to ignore. Mavs grapples with conflicting feelings because her heart still belongs to him, but can she risk it all again?
A closed-door romance that tugs at the heartstrings, Scott's prose is evocative, capturing the thrill of riding waves and the ache of lost love. The pacing is perfect, allowing readers to savour each moment. And while the passion simmers beneath the surface, it's the emotional depth that truly shines. Mavs and Bodhi's vulnerability is raw and real, reminding us that love isn't always smooth sailing, but it's about weathering storms and finding solace in each other.
As the story unfolds, secrets are revealed, forgiveness is sought, and healing begins. The supporting characters add layers to the narrative, creating a sense of community. And when the final wave crashes, leaving us breathless, we're rewarded with a sweet happily ever after that warms the soul.
Scott crafts a tale that celebrates love's resilience. Whether you're a seasoned surfer or a landlocked dreamer, “Catch a Wave” invites you to ride the emotional swell and believe in second chances. While it's part of the Love Trippin' series, it stands alone, making it a perfect beach read or a cozy escape on a rainy day. It’s a reminder that sometimes, love is worth catching, even if it means riding the biggest wave of your life.So grab your virtual surfboard, dive into the pages, and let the waves of passion carry you away.
Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for a temporary e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.