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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, Abandonment, and Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
modock'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: Death of parent, Grief, and Abandonment
katrinaward's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Injury/Injury detail
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, Injury/Injury detail, Death of parent, and Grief
whatemilysreading's review against another edition
emotional
funny
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? No
4.0
Amy Lea is so obviously a contemporary romance fan - her writing is fresh, her characters are relatable, and the spice is 👍🏻👍🏻
I saw this book comped as The Proposal meets While You Were Sleeping, which really fit. The whole book felt like a walk through a quiet coastal town.
I liked Melanie and I thought most of us can probably relate to her struggles with social media and image. She an Evan had a great opposites attract dynamic. Their friendship and banter kept me hooked (sorry, it was right there).
Fake dating always requires a bit of suspended belief in my opinion, but I love it regardless and I thought the motives here were pretty well intentioned and believable.
This ended up being a 4-star read for me, and now that Amy has finished her Influencer series I’m excited to see what stories she writes next!
Thanks to Berkley for the advanced e-book!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
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: Death of parent and Grief
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: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Mental illness, and Grief
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: Abandonment, Sexual content, and Grief
Moderate: Medical trauma, Death, Death of parent, and Suicidal thoughts
anovelglimpse's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Note: This review is for an ARC and is my unbiased opinion.
Amy Lea is back with her The Influencer series and this time she's taking us on a trip to Nova Scotia. I had a great time reading this book and here's why:
* It was cool that this book left Boston for another location. It gave this book a fresh feel while still being connected to the first two books in the series. The new setting was so much fun! I loved the Canadian coastal town and the rundown inn. They were almost characters themselves.
* The meet-hate was awkward in the best way. I loved the irritation that simmered with chemistry that developed between Mel and Evan.
* The accidental fake relationship between them brought some big laughs along with the chance for a deeper connection between Mel and Evan.
* I liked learning about Mel and Evan's pasts and what shaped them into who they were. There was trauma to unpack and the way they shared it with each other and grew through it was special.
* The side characters were larger than life. Lucy was great. I would love for her to get her own romance. Evan and Lucy's family was hilarious. The feuds, the wackiness...pretty much everything about them added fun to the story. It was also nice to get a little Crystal and Tara as well.
* The spider, the slug, and the centipede.
* Lea did a great job mixing the big, tough emotions with uplifting, laughter filled moments.
There was only one thing that didn't work for me as well as I wanted it to...
* There was a big build up to the characters finally acting on their attraction, but somehow it still felt like instant love. It almost felt like it came out of nowhere when Evan was wanting Mel to stay his fiancée. It shouldn't have, but the only thing I could think of to maybe make it work better for me was having at least a few chapters in Evan's POV.
Other than that one thing, I loved this book. It was a lot of fun to read. I'm looking forward to reading whatever Lea wants to write next.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Amy Lea is back with her The Influencer series and this time she's taking us on a trip to Nova Scotia. I had a great time reading this book and here's why:
* It was cool that this book left Boston for another location. It gave this book a fresh feel while still being connected to the first two books in the series. The new setting was so much fun! I loved the Canadian coastal town and the rundown inn. They were almost characters themselves.
* The meet-hate was awkward in the best way. I loved the irritation that simmered with chemistry that developed between Mel and Evan.
* The accidental fake relationship between them brought some big laughs along with the chance for a deeper connection between Mel and Evan.
* I liked learning about Mel and Evan's pasts and what shaped them into who they were. There was trauma to unpack and the way they shared it with each other and grew through it was special.
* The side characters were larger than life. Lucy was great. I would love for her to get her own romance. Evan and Lucy's family was hilarious. The feuds, the wackiness...pretty much everything about them added fun to the story. It was also nice to get a little Crystal and Tara as well.
* The spider, the slug, and the centipede.
* Lea did a great job mixing the big, tough emotions with uplifting, laughter filled moments.
There was only one thing that didn't work for me as well as I wanted it to...
* There was a big build up to the characters finally acting on their attraction, but somehow it still felt like instant love. It almost felt like it came out of nowhere when Evan was wanting Mel to stay his fiancée. It shouldn't have, but the only thing I could think of to maybe make it work better for me was having at least a few chapters in Evan's POV.
Other than that one thing, I loved this book. It was a lot of fun to read. I'm looking forward to reading whatever Lea wants to write next.
You can find this review and others like it at A Novel Glimpse .
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment and Grief
kateflood's review against another edition
4.0
This was a heartwarming, cheesy, and fun read which really took me by surprise. I wasn’t a huge fan of Set on You by Amy Lea, so I hadn’t yet got round to reading Exes and O’s, but thought I’d give this one a shot and I’m so glad I did! I totally fell for both main characters - despite it taking me a little time to warm up to Mel I ended up finding I really related to some of the things she struggled with and she handled things in what felt like a mature way (I’m so bored of childish disagreements in romance books lmao)! Also, something about Evan just clicked for me, he felt much better developed than the male MC in Set on You which was my main issue with that book, and he was just perfect book boyfriend material IMO. The plot was a bit corny and unrealistic at times but this didn’t hinder my enjoyment of the book.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for letting me read an e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Mental illness and Death of parent
Minor: Injury/Injury detail
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