I was immediately pulled into this book—eyes glued to the page! Daley-Ward is a phenomenal writer and gets at complex subjects in such a digestible way. This is one of those books I’m gonna be thinking about for years to come. As someone who has grown through unconventional family dynamics, this book just pulls at a certain heartstring. If you love literary fiction, books about sisters, mental-health, generational cycles, the complexities of motherhood, self-actualization, identity, and a little bit of mind-bending—THIS IS FOR YOU!

3.75
This book is about Dempsey and Clara (unlikely twins) who got taken into foster care as kids after their mother disappeared.
Or did they?
Or did she?

I will admit that for a lot of this novel I had no idea what was going on, but also I was okay with that.
Because it is magical, and deep and a mind trip but maybe that doesn't matter.
Maybe it's just a well written book that will make you think a lot about what you know, how we perceive ourselves and alternative lives.

I struggled with the narrative lacking depth and empathy - so while Daley-Ward appears to plumb depths of thought, magical realism and possibility, the actual story was very superficial. Nor did I really care for any of the characters, who read more like caricatures, and this meant there didn't seem to be any 'pay off'. Daley-Ward's idea and ambition is compelling though and I think for many this will be an enjoyable read.

Another concern I do have is how some reviewers have latched on to the single mention of Borderline Personality Disorder in the book, and calling the characterisation representation as a result... Considering the narrative plays heavily with delusion and the romanticisation of abandonment and drug use, this seems somewhat harmful... And I do hope that wasn't the intention behind the mention of BPD. Although the story really didn't need the stray mention, so for me it does do people who live with BPD a disservice in that regard.

"The Catch" by Yrsa Daley-Ward has a beautiful, poetic writing style that really makes certain moments shine. I appreciated the themes of love and self-discovery, but I struggled to fully connect with the characters and their journeys. While there were some powerful, introspective moments, the pacing felt uneven, and parts of the story didn’t quite land for me. That said, if you enjoy lyrical storytelling, it’s still worth a read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Liveright for the opportunity to read and review this book in advance of its publication.
I was pretty thrilled with the writing and characterizations (real growth, delicately and thoughtfully portrayed…) On the other hand, the overall vibe felt a little mistifying. Like other reviewers have said (ha-ha), l too felt the need to read reviews before composing my own (thanks be to ye who come before me). Reading this book feels very close; like I’m so close to the character that it’s impossible to get any perspective outside of her. Kind of like leaving one’s own mind and experience and just fully assuming another’s. It feels precarious, like I there isn’t room to have thoughts that are my own. This is good writing, but I wouldn’t necessarily describe it as a pleasurable experience.
With all the buzz surrounding it, even 6 months out from publication, I expect The Catch will gain immediate popularity, which is lucky for me because I’m interested to hear what almost everyone thinks of this book. I’m still not sure if I liked it, but there’s no questioning its craft.

Borderline Personality Disorder representation!!!

Wow, this book was kinda crazy. I'll be honest, I didn't like the beginning. It felt way too cheesy and overdramatic, especially with that main character's book quote from a man with who she had slept. The introduction of the heroine through the "one-night stand" scene has been done too many times, and I rolled my eyes a few times.

However, I continued reading and very soon found myself really enjoying the book. With each new chapter, the plot got crazier and crazier, but slowly, with little details. I was amazed at how the author plays with the reality and delusions of the sisters. I was genuinely confused about what was real and what wasn't, but that kept me captivated until the end. The epilogue was an interesting choice - so many variations. It felt experimental, but I can't say I disliked it.

I also enjoyed the character studies. While not so many people may understand the plot, we can't deny that the characters' work was top-tier. The sisters were completely different in their traits and had unique perspectives. They were real, and I understood exactly why they had so much trauma and how it affected them both individually. They shared the same trauma - the abandonment of their mother - but it influenced them in different ways. I enjoyed how the sisters went from "we didn't even grow up together" to accepting each other. But the best was, that the author didn't tell us that, they showed.

Overall, I think this book has a pretty good chance of becoming a booktok's literary darling because it's a fresh and unusual exploration of growing up without a mother. However, I am afraid it will receive a lot of controversial reviews, and many readers might not understand and appreciate it. I personally had a great time with this book and I want to thank the author, the publisher and Netgalley for an arc.

When I finished this book I had to look up some reviews right away. Turns out I’m not the only one who unsure of what to think of this story.

Right from the start I wasn’t sure what to think of the writing style. The author writes lyrically and it turns out that’s because she’s a poet. Nothing wrong with that, in fact it makes the read interesting and unique.

My issue is that neither of the main characters was trustworthy so I was never sure what to believe and what to distrust. There’s a time travel element that I couldn’t quite decipher if it was truly happening or a product of mental illness.

I don’t want to over analyze the story for fear of running potential readers off. All I can say is that if you are interested you should give it a try.

A compelling magical realist story of two adult twins and the enigmatic woman they believe could be their resurrected dead mother. A strange and beautiful story which blends the boundaries of the surreal to make the impossible feel plausible. Rich, poetic prose and well-written characters.

I don’t know what I just read?? The writing was intoxicating but I had no idea what was happening at any point. I did enjoy Clara and Dempsey as main characters, but by the end I had no idea what was real and what was fake. There was a bit of fourth wall breaking, which only added to my confusion! But I still enjoyed this for the most part, despite my confusion.

The story was interesting and the writing was good but I struggled to keep reading to the end., just not a book for me sadly. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read it.

With apologies to the author, I made it halfway through and just couldn’t summon the interest to continue..

If this is your year of choosing yourself and digging into your shadow self, this book is for you. The characters force themselves and each other to hold up the mirror and interrogate their desires. I’ve heard the girls talk about “timeline jumping,” but this takes it literally. The whole time I was reading, I waited for “The Catch.” I’m still thinking about it…

this story was good! It was interesting and made you wonder about the characters and lies (or possible truths) they were told. I think the writing style was good, it kept me engaged throughout the whole read!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was such a fun reading experience. I do love the deeper commentary regarding the things that we are expected to do but also about the things that women (and specifically women of color) are expected to give up in order to do those things that are expected of us.

I know that this will be a hit. The prose was beautiful and the storyline was propulsive. I know so many people who I'm going to recommend it to because I know that they'll love it.

I feel like you can always tell when a poet writes a novel. The language is gorgeous, dense, and usually quite unique. I’ve read Yrsa Daley-Ward’s poetry collection “Bone” a few years ago and was drawn in by her use of descriptive language and beautiful visuals. Her novel writing is no different. This story centers on twin sisters living very different lives, when one of the sister’s sees a woman who looks exactly like their mother, who years ago seemingly drowned in the Thames, except this version of her has not aged and doesn’t have children. I think this is a good one to go into mostly blind. It’s a really beautiful character study, the dialogue is done in an interesting, propulsive way, and the world that the author creates is rooted in reality, but often feels mythical. The cover is also stunning, my god. I’ll be buying a hardcover of this for so many people in my life.