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beckyremillard's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Suicide attempt
breathehopebooks's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
I don’t think i gel with Amy Lea’s writing or characterization. HOWEVER, this book was based on two of my favorite romcoms of all time, so i HAD to pick it up. It did become a struggle for me and i made myself power through it, but it was delightful getting every single reference to While Your Were Sleeping/The Proposal. There were aspects of each of those films i’d change for the book. Basically, i’d do this mash-up differently. It also surprisingly was giving Tessa Bailey’s It Happened One Summer, because of the high-maintenance city girl & grumpy fisherman in a small town. All that together.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cursing, Sexual content, and Grief
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, and Injury/Injury detail
aepritchard's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
literaryintersections's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
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.
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.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
not_quimby's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
tenderbench's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Death of parent, and Injury/Injury detail
vickie0326's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Mental illness
paiges_on_pages's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Reel in this February release and mount it on your wall, because "The Catch" by Amy Lea gets five stars from this reader! Thank you to Berkley for this free copy in exchange for an honest review.
Melanie, a Boston influencer, dives headfirst into a quirky Canadian fishing village to rescue her brand after a scheduling mix-up. A boat mishap with the rugged fisherman Evan sets the stage for a hilarious fake engagement, complete with family feuds and wild chemistry in the charming chaos of Cora's Cove.
Amy Lea's storytelling skillfully balances humor, family dynamics, and unexpected romance. Mel and Evan’s chemistry is hotter than a fresh order of poutine, and while their need to take charge may seem immature, their deep talks with one another show how the sexiest trait in a partner is communication. I won’t give away the ending, but it’s the most realistic conclusion I’ve read in a while! I also love how the East Coast backdrop adds an extra layer of charm to the narrative, making it a perfect choice for anyone who loves a small-town romance.
If you're into romantic comedies that deliver laughs, swoon-worthy moments, and a dose of joy, this one's a winner. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death of parent
Minor: Abandonment
Mentions of spiders/insectsjennireadsmaybe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
While You We're Sleeping meets The Proposal in the best way in The Catch. Amy Lea is truly a forced to be reckoned with when it comes to having influencers in her books. Normally, I shy away from books with influencers because they feel very contrived, but each book in this series had me wishing the fmcs were real people I could follow. When Mel ends up stuck in an abandoned BnB with Evan and his cousin, she thinks her only chance at breathing life back into her socials is ruined. Evan is grumpy, judgmental, and hates her. Yet, after a boating trip goes awry she finds herself to be the only person there to make sure he's taken care of in the hospital. So what if telling hospital staff that she's his fiancée leaves the two stuck in a fake engagement arrangement?
Character wise Mel is very much a mirror ball girl. She is doing whatever it takes to keep herself relevant in a social world that is leaving behind her private nature while also worrying for her brother after the previous death of their father. She is a caretaker by nature; though, many don't look past her socialite seeming exterior. Obviously, I loved her.
Don't even get me started on the Mel x Evan slow burn romance!! I was obsessed from their meet cute. I love opposites attract especially in a small town setting. It's always so much fun, and Amy Lea definitely served up a tension filled, hot romance between the two. I also love that she made it clear that Evan liked Mel for who she was with her love for fashion and beauty. He liked seeing her dressed up! And obviously his feigned hatred for Mel was deliciously revealed to be a lie. Chef's kiss imho!!!
I love how Amy Lea demonstrated the different ways that grief can affect people. Grief isn't a clear cut, one size fits all scenario. This showed not only in Mel and her brother but Evan and his family. It made it all the more authentic when reading.
Another series I'm sad to say goodbye to :( But I know that big things are in store for Amy Lea and I can't wait to see them.
Character wise Mel is very much a mirror ball girl. She is doing whatever it takes to keep herself relevant in a social world that is leaving behind her private nature while also worrying for her brother after the previous death of their father. She is a caretaker by nature; though, many don't look past her socialite seeming exterior. Obviously, I loved her.
Don't even get me started on the Mel x Evan slow burn romance!! I was obsessed from their meet cute. I love opposites attract especially in a small town setting. It's always so much fun, and Amy Lea definitely served up a tension filled, hot romance between the two. I also love that she made it clear that Evan liked Mel for who she was with her love for fashion and beauty. He liked seeing her dressed up! And obviously his feigned hatred for Mel was deliciously revealed to be a lie. Chef's kiss imho!!!
I love how Amy Lea demonstrated the different ways that grief can affect people. Grief isn't a clear cut, one size fits all scenario. This showed not only in Mel and her brother but Evan and his family. It made it all the more authentic when reading.
Another series I'm sad to say goodbye to :( But I know that big things are in store for Amy Lea and I can't wait to see them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual content, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Death and Death of parent
allisonisbooked's review against another edition
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
3.75*
This book was super cute. A great finale to the Influencer series by Amy Lea. Mel and Evan may even be my favorite couple from the series.
I love the Grumpy x Sunshine trope. Evan is definitely grumpy. To the point where I was unsure that he actually did like her and I was a little blindsided from him professing his feelings towards Mel.
Calling his fake-fiancé his fiancée and being protective over her when they weren't even dating was too damn cute. I want someone to be obsessed with me like that!
I loved the town and subsequent secondary characters. They were all so well rounded and played their parts perfectly in the story. I need Lucy and Kyle to get their own happily ever after books.
Lea has a way of making you care about the people that Evan has made part of his life.
This book was recommended to me as
"perfect for fans of 'It Happened One Summer' by Tessa Bailey" and I agree completely.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book was super cute. A great finale to the Influencer series by Amy Lea. Mel and Evan may even be my favorite couple from the series.
I love the Grumpy x Sunshine trope. Evan is definitely grumpy. To the point where I was unsure that he actually did like her and I was a little blindsided from him professing his feelings towards Mel.
Calling his fake-fiancé his fiancée and being protective over her when they weren't even dating was too damn cute. I want someone to be obsessed with me like that!
I loved the town and subsequent secondary characters. They were all so well rounded and played their parts perfectly in the story. I need Lucy and Kyle to get their own happily ever after books.
Lea has a way of making you care about the people that Evan has made part of his life.
This book was recommended to me as
"perfect for fans of 'It Happened One Summer' by Tessa Bailey" and I agree completely.
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for giving me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, and Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Medical trauma, and Death of parent