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A review by readandwright
The Catch by Amy Lea
adventurous
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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
5.0
Thank you Berkley for my copy of The Catch! All thoughts are my own.
If there’s one thing about me, if the book takes place in a coastal town, I’m gonna read it. Now add in the grumpy hero trope mixed with fake dating? It’s gonna be a knock it. I LOVED reading The Catch by Amy Lea. It was everything I loved about It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey (grumpy fisherman, influencer heroine, coastal town) but felt a little more grounded in reality, which is my preferred style of romance. While i didn’t love Set on You, Exes and O’s and The Catch have quickly become favorites. It was such a fun read and I look forward to the next phase of Lea’s writing career!
Synopsis:
“In a last-ditch effort to rescue her brand from the brink of irrelevance, Boston fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen finds herself in a rural fishing village on the east coast of Canada. The only thing scarier than nature itself? The burly and bearded bed-and-breakfast owner and fisherman, Evan Whaler—who single-handedly disproves the theory that Canadians are “nice.”
After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.
Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?” —NetGalley
After a boating accident lands Evan unconscious in the hospital, Mel is mistaken for his fiancée by his welcoming yet quirky family, who are embroiled in a long-standing feud over the B&B. In a bold attempt to mend family fences, Mel agrees to fake their engagement for one week in exchange for Evan’s help with her social media content.
Amid long hikes and campfire chats, reeling in their budding feelings for each other proves more difficult by the day. But is Mel willing to sacrifice her picture-perfect life in the city for a chance at a true, unfiltered love in the wild?” —NetGalley
What I Liked:
- The Setting—I LOVED being on the East Coast of Canada in this book. It was a stunning coastal setting that captured the feel of salt water spraying your face as you enjoy the view. Plus, it’s a perfect small town vibe.
- The Tropes—Fake Dating! Grumpy Hero! Small Town! Meddling Family! So many good tropes that still feel grounded in reality.
- The Characters—I fell in love with Evan and his family, so I can’t blame Mel at all for her attachments!
What Didn’t Work For Me:
- Opening Pacing—It took a little bit to get into the story for me, but right at 25% I became super invested! I think I would have liked the inciting incident to come a hair sooner, but it didn’t impede my overall enjoyment of the book at all.
Character Authenticity: 4/5 Spice Rating: 2/5 Overall Rating: 5/5