Catch Me

Unfix Me

by Emory Weste

As an openly gay Major League Baseball player in Georgia, Travis McKinney has built a life he's proud of. He fights against injustice, lives peacefully with his dog, and he has friends who are more like family. What else could he ask for?

That was before he met Roman. The enigmatic artist catches his attention from the moment they meet, and Travis finds himself making an offer that could jumpstart Roman's career. Little does he know that he's already bitten off more than he can chew, and Roman might prove to be a greater challenge than he could've imagined. Then again, Travis never could leave well enough alone, and he finds himself drawn to the anger and shame that lurk beneath the surface.

While Roman works on a commission for Travis' team, he fights to maintain years of carefully built walls, but despite his resistance, Travis starts to see more beneath the surface. Three weeks in the same house forces them both to confront Roman's repression, and it pushes them closer together. But old wounds cut deep, and the world outside of that house in Georgia isn't nearly as easy to navigate.

Roman's fears are the greatest threat to their connection, and he has to learn the hard way that one mistake can change everything, sending them both on a journey that requires patience and forgiveness. Can he convince Travis to take a second chance on him, or will he become the one that got away?

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Queer, Slow Burn

508 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 25, 2025

About the author

I am an 18+ MM romance author.

Reviews

[ash[hearts]angst]

Loss for words, truly. This was definitely the hardest read in the series and I didn’t think that was possible with Sen’s book being first.

This was raw, real and heavily emotional. It was perfect for Travis and Roman and I loved how uniquely theirs it was. Their little inside jokes, flour scenes and coconut oil. “Hey back” will always make me think of them. 💕

[Shrike · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm so here for the Roman redemption arc. Something about this stray cat of a guy got to me when I was reading Til and Brooks's story, especially how he uses anger as a shield.

Catch Me works through some dark subjects like familial trauma and internalized homophobia while maintaining an overall hopeful outlook. I especially liked the emphasis on chosen family and community. The road isn't easy but these boys have each other's backs.

I loved having all the guys together and was happy it rarely felt crowded. While Catch Me can be read as a standalone, I would recommend reading in release order to appreciate the history behind this beautiful mess of a friend group.

I'm so grateful for the chance to check out an advance copy. I'm leaving this review of my own accord.

[Sammi Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so freaking good like I know it would be good because all the others in this serious is beautiful but this one might be my favorite. Travis and Roman are absolutely precious and should be protected at all cost. They are both beautiful people. Travis is one of the sweetest guys I have ever read about even with his underlying anger and Roman might be a villain in someone else’s story but he in his story he going through so much and is just trying to make it through. This book is honestly so beautiful i got this as an arc and am posting an honest review voluntarily

[Brooke Greathouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

I contemplated going back and forth between 2 ⭐️ and 3 ⭐️.

This was just way too fucking long. So repetitive and way too much inner dialogue and regular dialogue that didn’t add much at all to the story. It just dragged on and on. There were so many times that the plot just sat stagnant. It didn’t progress at all. So then I started to skim to get to the god damn point.

Then at 60% (part 2) they were both just being petty ass bitches.

For example…Roman is trying to talk to Travis, maybe get him back, I don’t fucking know because this same shit has been going on for 13%. Anyway, Roman kind of just gives up, says he’s not going then goes to his room. Then Travis I think feels bad and sort of has a change of heart and goes to Romans room to get him to go. So then Roman acts like a little bitch and starts being a dick to Travis. Then Travis just gives up and leaves. Then Roman goes to catch his friends to go and Linc says “How many times are you guys gonna do this before you give in?” Roman: “I tried. Now I’m done.” Linc: “Want me to kick his ass?” Roman: “Even if you were serious, no. I guess we’ll just be stuck in the perpetual back and forth that never goes anywhere.” Linc: “Let him come to you.” Roman: “He won’t.” BITCH! LIKE, HE LITERALLY JUST CAME TO YOU AND YOU WERE A DICK!!!!!!

I can’t! There is still 200 pages left in this shit! Why is it still going????

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ooook. I love this group of guys Emory has created in this world. Travis and Roman are no exception! What a great pairing.

This book is filled with so much intense self-hatred and fear over accepting who you are after years of what you’ve been preached and taught by your father is wrong. Roman goes THROUGH IT! 🥹🥹🥹 Travis is an incredible man with a HEART OF GOLD. A fun extrovert, up for anything, tries to make anyone’s day better by giving them a break and a ledge up, and he has a golden retriever. Is there anything better than that? Oh and he’s an MLB pitcher. 😉

There is sooo much growth and self discovery that goes on in this book. Lots of close proximity and lots of friends sharing their wisdom and b.s. and group texts that are 👌! Highly highly recommend falling in love with Roman and Trav!

[Julia Toth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, this was such a journey! Roman and Travis went through so much together, but in their individual lives as well. Roman had to do so much work, especially to be able to accept himself and be at a point where he could be himself and happy. The story was emotional and I cried a couple of times, but it's such a great story. I loved Travis' advocacy, and strength, but I also really loved his boundless energy and golden retriever-ish vibes. I really enjoyed Roman's grumpyness and I loved his artistic side, and I loved how he saw the beauty in everything. It was so good to see Roman put in the work, but it was also great to see the support he got from his family and from Tilian and his friends. It was so great to see all of the characters from the previous books. Seeing them happy and thriving made me even more emotional, but also very happy. This is such a great friend group and I love how supportive they are.

This was such a great read and while Travis and Roman's story is a bit twisty, I feel like they needed that for things to work.

This is a book that will get you in your feels, but you'll be so happy when things come together. You'll feel all of the emotions, but I promise you that it's really worth it.

[Lupi_reads · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was sadly a miss for me for a plethora of reasons:

1-At this point, the author was just speed running how many disorders, labels, and orientations she can cram into 400+ pages. It felt like she had a checklist and was like "Hmm, what minority did I forget? Oh right, add three more.”
I mean, representation is cute, all for one and one for all, but this was starting to feel like Pokemon: gotta collect ’em all.

2- Roman, bro. My god. Peak asshole. Nothing good to say about this guy.
And the book really thought I’d start liking him after a millenia of pages of him trauma-dumping explanations about why he’s not actually an asshole. Your are.
Also, the math is not mathing: his dad is the bigot, yet he’s the one verbally drop kicking every gay person within arm’s reach? And we’re supposed to blame "repression"? Nah. Jail.

And don’t even get me started on the delusion. Man’s been hooking up with dudes since he was fifteen, keeping a girl as emotional furniture to try and "prove" he’s straight, and then having the audacity to melt down screaming "I’m not gay!" Honey, you need therapy and maybe a punch in the face, not a sympathy arc.

3- Travis is so aggressively nice he might as well sparkle. It skips past wholesome and lands straight into hallmark-movie cringe. I hate Christmas now.

4- If I see the words "nice" or "ungovernable" one more time, I will personally yeet myself out a window. Like please, there are dictionaries. Use them. Touch them. Love them.

5- Whatever this book was aiming for could’ve been handled in a tight 300 pages. Instead we got an extra 200 pages of Roman and Travis screaming at each other, then hooking up, then being toxic little all over again. Rinse and repeat. I could've watched groundhog day, would have taken less time.

6- Literally, everybody is gay? EVERYBODY. I'm pretty much sure Tessa the dog may be gay too.

[Sue B · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER - I received an ARC of this book. I am leaving this review 100% voluntarily. I am not getting any compensation of any kind for this review.

This book is the 4th book in a series, but the blurb indicates that each book could be read without reading the others. I had not read the previous three books when I started this one, and I didn't feel like I was confused or missing out. Based on that, I have no problems agreeing that yeah, it can definitely be treated as a stand-alone. To the best my recall, Emory Weste is a new-to-me author.

Roman Valdez lives in Chicago, and is currently finishing a University degree in Fine Art. He is the son of a ragingly homophobic father (with a special emphasis on rage) and a formerly closed-minded mother. After a sticky divorce, Roman's mother (Miranda) remarried to a man who had 2 kids. Tilian, a boy roughly the same age as Roman, came out as gay in his youth. The other step-sibling had started out as a sister but transitioned to a brother while still living the family home. Thus it was that Roman grew up in a progressive home, but still under the influence of his very REgressive father. Like many sons, Roman had always wanted his father to be proud of him. To that end, Roman felt he needed to at least try to share all of his father’s beliefs, and hate what his father hates. In consequence, Roman’s teen years included a LOT of ongoing conflict between himself and his step-brothers. That is, except in one specific way, which I'm not gonna give you the spoiler on.

Travis McKinley is a professional baseball player – a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He is gay, openly, out tries in his own way to be an official spokesperson for LGBTQ people, as well as an advocate for LGBTQ causes. He has a history of having been forced to got to a Conversion Therapy camp at the age of 15, and now with multiple emotional wounds related to that. He was only there for a portion of one summer, but it was long enough to leave its mark. Travis has long since rebuilt bridges between himself and his father, the one who sent him to Camp Dumont, but some scars still remain. For example, while Travis is open about his sexuality, he has a trouble opening his heart and life to people he doesn't know well. Another carryover is guilt. You see, on of Travis's good friends includes Sen, who Travis first met back in conversion therapy. Sen had been forced by his family to attend that hell hole for 3 consecutive summers. To this day Travis isn’t sure he fully has a right to acknowledge his own pain when others had more pain than he did.

As it happens, Travis is also friends with Roman’s step-brother Tilian and Tilian’s SO Brooks (who I suspect were MC’s in a previous book of the series). Travis appears to also at least have an acquaintance with Alex (Tilian trans brother). s As of Chapter 1 in this book, the World Series is about to start, and Travis (his team not having made it the Big Show) has rented a suite for himself, his friends, and some of his friends’ friends to watch the game. Since Tilian and Brooks are at a family event when the invite comes in from Travis, Momma Miranda (in hopes of getting the kids to end the family feud) convinces Tilian to extend the family invite to include not only Alex but also Roman. Game 1 of the series, in the suite, is how and when Travis and Roman meet.

During a lull in the game Travis sees Roman using his iPad to add some details to a drawing, and comes up with the idea of suggesting art done by Roman instead of the usual posed photos for the Atlanta Braves annual team calendar. Roman is enthused, as it would be a GREAT opportunity for him (not to mention a hefty commission fee), so over the next week or so Travis floats his idea to the Braves. They like the idea, and Roman is duly hired, meaning Roman will need to spend multiple weeks during his upcoming winter break down in Atlanta doing sketches and other preliminary work on the project. Travis offers Roman the use of his guest room rather than having to blow part of his potential earnings on a hotel.

Of the two main characters Travis is much more likable than Roman. In fact, at first Travis doesn’t like Roman, and Roman doesn't even really like himself. That friction and self-loathing provides the thrust behind the ongoing struggles the MCs go through. First Roman acts like an asshole (his word for himself, don’t shoot the messenger), and Travis reacts in-kind to Roman. Eventually Roman accidentally does something that hits one of Travis’ sore spots, and Travis closes down. You get the picture.

Roughly one-fourth to one-third of the book is the set-up I described above, and the first steps of the Travis/Roman romance. Then for roughly the middle one-half of the book is the ugly and hurtful emotional push/pull back-and-forth. After that the remainder of the book is the resolution. Emotionally, it was at times a hard read. Roman and Travis both wanted to be together. But at the same time, Roman didn’t want it because he he was afraid of what it would all mean, and then Travis was afraid of being hurt by Roman. And yet, even with ALL of THAT, I couldn’t stop reading it. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. It’s a good thing I was on vacation, because more than once I accidentally stayed up to the wee hours of the morning.

Bottom Line for me – 4 stars out of 5. The only reason I’m not giving it 5 is I felt the pacing was at times too slow. I do acknowledge that the emotional issues are VERY SENSITIVE though, so had things progressed a little faster/smoother it might have felt too easy. It’s hard to say, as it’s subjective and every reader would be likely to have his/her own opinion. Also, now that I’ve read this book (and thus know the backstories for some of the other characters), I probably will pick up the previous books in the series.

[Jessie J melka · Rating 4 out of 5]

{catch me}
Arc review by Jessie Melka
___________•___________

I Absolutely Absorbed This!!

Catch me is book 4 im this absolutely amazing series written by Emory weste this series goes through all the right ways of self discovery and growth and book 4 is no different
Catch me is the meatiest book in the series with a wobbling 600 pages and 76 chapters

it took me a while to gather courage to begin this i was afraid that it was going to be a bit long and not have that much meat to it but fear not my dear loves i was immediately sucked in these characters are so different from each other with so much pain in each their past, but yet they made such a great couple

when I started this, I had no idea. It was a second chance but trust me when I say the road to getting back together was so hard for both of them and it was such a beautiful story to read. I wish I could do it all again from the start with no memory.

I knew from the beginning that Roman was a character. I would begin to care for quickly not many people get that from the start because of his moodiness and self hatred and the previous description we got from tillian but let’s just say I got a thing for broken souls and I just knew he was gonna be such a sweet little one after his journey of self discovery and acceptance

In my opinion, each of the books can be read of standalones, but they are kind of interconnected to really get their friendships in relationships. I would recommend. Recommend you read them in a chronologically order also talking about friendships all the boys have such a beautiful friendship together they really know how to stick together and be there for each other throughout the whole series they might not start out as a different group but they will and it would be so powerful

There is a lot of real world problems and mental illnesses being discussed in this book among them is internal homophobia homophobia in general conversion therapy a lot of anger issues, depression, and ADHD all of this is being portrayed so carefully yet in such a beautiful way

Roman and Travis both have a lot of issues to work through even though it seems like Travis has a lot of things figured out he still deals with a lot of anger and Roman will. He has a lot of issues that he slowly dealing with among them is the fact that he’s afraid of his own sexuality And what the outside world might think of him, especially his dad who is in my own words I say a real piece of shit

Travis is a really outgoing people person with a big personality and a lot of joy even if he prefers to be at home with his dog he’s still such an outgoing person

Roman is a bit more holdback kind of guy he’s angry all the time and fearful but meeting Travis and getting to know him really opens him up like a flower in bloom

As I said before, this is a second chance and what was something I had a lot of trouble with was the way getting back together was handled so aggressively if you can say it like that I found that I thought Travis went in circles a lot with his emotions and that he didn’t really know how to feel about the situation While Roman was trying to show him that he could be there for him and he was sorry that he ran

on one side I get what Travis was going through having trouble with trusting Roman again but I still think he put a lot of blame on Roman and I’m not entirely a fan of the way Travis handled thing in the first place.

I know he said that he couldn’t be the one to fix him, but he could be there for him but only giving him seven days to figure everything out was a bit of a short period I mean in a typically romance story I guess you would say that the characters would do everything for each other and they would just jump into a situation if giving an ultimatum, but this is not one of these stories

I rated this book a 4 out of 5 stars. The book is heavily filled with a lot of angst, second chance romance and I would really recommend this entire series to you if you’re looking for a read with some angst and a lot of self-discovery this is something for you
but remember to form your own opinions and not just listen to me
Until next time, my loves…

Rating: 4/5
Spice: 2/5
Angst: 4/5
Would I read again: yes

(I received an advance copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily)


⚾️Golden retriever x Black Cat
✍️Second Chance
⚾️MM Romance
✍️lots of angst
⚾️baseball player x artist
✍️Mental health rep’s
___________•___________

[Carol (§CoverLoverGirl§) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Travis and Roman, such damaged souls and their pain leaps off every page. No matter the hurt they suffered early in their lives and the walls they’ve both built to protect themselves, they still manage to hurt each other.

Travis is preparing for his first ever World Series with the Atlanta Braves, now so happy in his life with his gorgeous dog friend, Tessa. He’s doing a lot for the LGBTQ as a spokesperson until his Team Owners warn him to step back in this role. He’s involved himself in a lot of local charities and helped so many individuals whenever he can. When Roman, an Art Student, popped into his life he was a bit wary, but he offered this grumpy young man an opportunity that would change and save his life in ways that neither of them foresaw.

While Travis is out and proud, Roman is buried in a closet so deep and dark that he is depressed and on medication. Over the course of a few weeks while doing Artwork for the Atlanta Braves, thanks to Travis’s help, Roman slowly accepts affection and support from Travis and so much more. Until he receives a call from his estranged, homophobic father. When he breaks his promise to Travis the outcome is heartbreaking as it unfolds over the many chapters that follows.

It took a good while to connect with Roman’s character, given his previous behaviour to his stepbrother, Tilian in a previous book. But watching him struggle so hard he just broke through to my heart and I shed tears for him

This was quite a long book, it has over 75 chapters, but each one is very worthwhile reading as we get a really in depth look at the lives of all their couple friends from the previous 3 books, all of which I’ve Read in chronological order, they are standalones, but best read in the order they were published. The whole beauty of this series is the relationship and support between the young men who start out as strangers and even enemies in some cases, and become each others lifeline and chosen family.

I think ‘Unfix Me’ Sen and Kai in Book 1 just pips the post in going for the emotional jugular and
‘Catch Me’ is a close runner up in its emotional impact.

I received an ARC copy of ‘Catch Me’ via BookFunnel and this is my freely given unbiased, honest review.

I’m looking forward to the next one, which is Dean and Oliver’s story, they featured in’Defend Me’ Brooks and Tilian’s book. The same theme runs through all of these books, families failing in their support of their children when they are struggling with their sexual identity.

Attention should be paid to the authors TW’s as there are some issues that might be upsetting to some readers, mention of conversion therapy, homophobic slurs, death of family members, homophobic parents, overbearing parents.

[Stacey T · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final installment of the “Becoming Us” series, and it delivers a powerful conclusion. Roman, an artist, confronts his turbulent journey with his sexuality, particularly influenced by his father's unyielding homophobic views. Roman is wrestling with his evolving beliefs as his father’s influence has led him to bullying and shaming others in the past. He knows his mother will accept him, but his fear of rejection from his father holds him back from fully embracing his identity as a gay man. On the other hand, Travis, a professional baseball pitcher, loves not only the game but also the platform he's built on social media to promote awareness and acceptance of the LGBT+ community. He presents Roman with an opportunity through his art, but worries that his grumpy demeanor might prove a mistake. Offering Roman a place to stay turns out to be a misstep initially, but over time, Travis begins to see a side of Roman that few others have witnessed. As promises are shattered and an unanswered ultimatum leaves both men hurt and confused, they must decide whether they can move past their struggles or if their old beliefs and pain will hinder a future together.
This last book in the series is the best yet. At first, I found Roman's attitude difficult to like; however, the story allows readers to understand his internal struggles. Travis, on the other hand, is instantly likable due to his generous nature and his drive to make a difference in the world, alongside his dog, Tessa. The entire friend group plays a crucial role in helping Roman and Travis navigate their issues and grow as individuals. Their humorous antics and heartfelt conversations add a wonderful dynamic to the story, showing the importance of a support network, even when the advice given is hard to hear. The camaraderie showcased is remarkable, as is the exploration of how parental views impact children and the repercussions that follow. This book emphasizes that sometimes a chosen family can be more supportive than blood relatives, and without the willingness to change and grow, neither individuals nor society can move forward. Overall, it's a fantastic conclusion to a great series, and I can't wait to see what the author has in store next! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me tell you how excited I was to learn that Travis was getting his own book. After reading Sen’s story and learning from other characters the awful things he and Travis experienced, I have been looking out for this one.

Travis is a professional baseball player that went through awful things at a conversion camp as a teenager. After getting out and working through his relationship with his father, he’s made a life for himself. He has a career he loves, a great home and an amazing dog. Reconnecting with Sen after all these years has also provided him with a new friend group, and it is through them that he meets Roman. We’ve met Roman before; he is Tilian’s stepbrother and has issues accepting his sexuality.

I’m going to pause here to mention that if you have not read the rest of these books, you will probably be okay for this one, but you are surely missing out. Reading this series in order is the best way to experience these stories, especially this one. Please, GO READ THEM ALLLLL.

This book was fantastic. I love authors that can bring in a character that you’re supposed to dislike and turn them around so that you’re rooting for them. This book made me actually dislike Tilian a little bit for maybe thirty seconds. But Roman really needed to work on himself, and I love that he did. That time jump was STRESSFUL but honestly not surprising. Travis has been through enough to be honest, and seeing him prioritize his own mental health after all that nonsense was on track for him. Frustrating, considering the time frame being dealt with, but I think the time apart was necessary.

Emory is so talented in being able to write character development. She took the most anticipated character (in my opinion) Travis, who deserves the world after what he’s been through, and one of the most disliked characters, and had them fall in love. Not only that, but the rest of the cast continued to develop around our two main characters. This found family grows together, and I cannot wait to see what road we are taken down next.

I received an ARC of this book and this is my honest review.

[Naito Diamond · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having devoured the first three books in Emory Weste’s series, I was eagerly waiting for the fourth installment—and Catch Me did not disappoint. I didn’t even bother reading the blurb before diving in, because I already trusted the author to deliver, and wow, she really did.

In this book, we meet two characters readers of the series will already recognize: Travis, the baseball player who first appeared in book one as the boy who Sen kissed at conversion camp, and Roman, the stepbrother of Til (the antagonist) from book three.

Their pairing is messy in the most authentic way. Travis is the quintessential good guy—so nice at times it made me want to shake him—always wishing to change the world so it would be nicer for the LGBTQ community. Roman, on the other hand, is a deeply flawed, complicated artist battling depression and struggling to accept himself. He lashes out, often coming across as a bigot, but underneath is someone desperate to change.

The setup—Travis offering Roman a commission gig for his team’s merch, which leads to forced proximity when Roman stays in his house—is a perfect storm of tension. The enemies-to-lovers arc bends into something both tender and hard-hitting. What I especially loved was the message at the core: that prejudice can be dismantled with patience, understanding, and acceptance. Travis may overstep, but his persistence is exactly the light Roman needs to fight through his darkness.

And while the romance is central, Catch Me is more than a love story. It’s about mental health, self-forgiveness, the limitations of being a public figure, and the quiet joys that tether us—like Travis’s golden retriever, Tessa, who completely stole my heart.

Emory Weste knows how to give her readers more than just swoons; she gives us characters who feel painfully, beautifully real.

Highly recommended, especially if you love your romances layered with struggle, healing, and genuine growth.

[sixteenpawssevenears · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️📚 Arc - Review 📚✨️


Travis & Roman


Rating: 5 ⭐️


- MLB Player x Artist
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Slowburn
- Forced Proximity
- Hurt/ Comfort
- Hard Earned HEA




This book was amazing.

Yes, I use the word often. Probably too often. But hey, I'm a mood-reader, and this is a great one.

I felt sad, angry, happy, and devastated.

And aaaall the other feels.

Travis is such a sweetheart, but, like in real life, layerd in his personality & not as one sided as some fictional characters sometimes are.

And so is Roman. He's as complicated as they come & anger is his default.
But Travis is just one of these people who won't accept that what you show on the outside has to be on your inside, too.

He pokes and shoves (gently, but still), until Roman begins to open up to him.

This is a story of love and loss and of never giving up fighting for yourself and others.

It is about being who you are, accepting yourself.
It's about supporting others through hard times.
It's about forgiveness.

This book is about love and life.

Even if it gets hard.

Emory Weste knows how to write feelings and things that sometimes hit too close.

But this is why I love these books. They make you cry and hope in equal measures.







Content Warnings:



- problematic language
- homophobia
- toxic masculinity
- childhood trauma
- explicit sexual content
- conversion therapy trauma
- self-hatred, internal shame
- disownment, parental rejection, and emotional abuse
- prejudice/ bigotry pertaining to sexual orientation
- shaming, manipulation, anger issues
- stereotyping (both joking and serious)
- depression, anxiety, some self-medicating, mild suicide ideation
- profanity
- some violence





Verse: No
HEA: Yes
POV: Duo/ Frist Person
Breakup: Yes
Cheat: No

[GreenwingReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think Emory is a very talented writer and for the most part, I have enjoyed her books. I didn't love the MCs of the last book and felt that it was too long, and a that same sentiment mostly carries over to this one. I actually liked Tillian less in his brief appearances in this book than I did in his book and I still didn't care much for Brooks. I did really like Travis and Roman in this book individually. Roman comes off as an AH most of the time and he makes it hard for others to like him. I liked how persistent Travis was in getting to know him. I found Roman really sympathetic and I felt like the people around him failed him as a kid, especially his mom, and that played a big part in who he was as an adult. I felt like his mom was a lazy parent, content to let Roman grow up to be a jerk, then blame him for it. She seemed pretty resigned to her only biological son being isolated and alienated. He didn't have any friends and his character to me read as pretty depressed. No one thought this kid might need therapy? His mom knew how awful his dad was and she didn't think to get him any help? That really frustrated me. Travis seemed like the only person to care at all about Roman, and it made me pretty sad to read. I was glad when he started to make friends outside of Travis.

I think the writing style is good and Emory certainly knows how to draw out emotions and write relatable characters. However, the story does seem to drag on too long. Some of it got repetitive after a while. I think the story could have been shorter. Overall, it was an enjoyable read and I will continue to read Emory's books.

[Christine Holter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catch Me by Emory Weste is the 4th installment in her book series starting with Unfix Me.

This is a brilliant series and the books should be read in order rather than as standalones. Catch Me continues the story started in Unfix Me about teenagers forced into conversion therapy.

Travis, who was in the camp briefly, is now a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. He is mostly content but hasn’t dated in years. He tries to support the LGBTQ+ community but gets pushback from the Braves’ organization. He is a true philanthropist and gives away large amounts of his money in the best of ways.

This golden retriever of a man has a chance encounter with Roman, an angry artist who is severely repressed about his own sexuality. Despite his snarky attitude Travis saw something in his artwork and got the Braves to hire him to draw pictures for team calendar and merchandise.

The two end up cohabiting for several weeks and eventually admit they have feeling for each other. Roman possessed great bravery to finally admit he was gay but it proved to be much for him in the face of the fears he had of disappointing his father.

The two men face many relationship hurdles in this lengthy book as they try to navigate through Roman’s anger and fear. The 600 pages never felt like too much and the story is beautifully written. I love all 4 books in the series but this is my favorite

Tropes:
Hurt/Comfort
Black Cat/Golden Retriever
Internalized Homophobia
External Homophobia
Conversion Therapy
Sports
Art

Book rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice:🌶️🌶️1/2

[Barbara Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me start right off and say it: this is tied for the best book I have read so far in 2025.

This book broke me into a thousand pieces a few times. It is so well done, and the mindset of each MC is written so clearly, the story is almost tactile.

Their struggles, their joys — I was along for all of it. It was as if I was witness to everything both between them and within their internal development.

I cannot say enough about how much I loved this book.

The trigger warning is real; please consider what is written there because this author is taking you on a journey, for better or worse.

Now for the usual notes: yes, there is spice! And it is the best kind of ‘teach me it’s my first time’ imaginable. There are also laughs and a laundry list of side characters. I loved the dads & moms — from supportive to villainous: we have a very real spectrum of rep here. The friend group is hilarious and now I need to read all the other books to catch up on their stories.

I did read this as a stand-alone, so it is possible.

Please, READ THIS BOOK. Unless the triggers are not for you — but otherwise this is a DO NOT MISS.

I wish I could give it a hundred stars.

I will be buying Catch Me and following this author for life.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Taylor Dawicke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was not expecting this to be so emotional! I know all of this series is heavy, but this one hit me harder than the others. I had also somehow forgotten who Roman was so when I remembered I was excited for his story. And getting Travis at the same time-YESSS!

Roman refused to accept himself, hated himself, and lashed out at everybody around him. He was told to believe he was wrong, fighting against that belief, he befriended Travis. Travis was kind to a fault- he was kind even when it wasn’t reciprocated. Kindness aside, Travis had his own anger constantly bubbling beneath the surface. He fully accepted who he was, not hiding for anybody, but his time at Dumont caused him to be angry and reactive at times.

The raw emotion in this book was heartbreaking. The anger, the pining, the angst, everything was so strong and hit right in the feels. The entire time I was internally screaming at my kindle, at Travis and/or Roman. They finally got their very hard earned HEA! I’m excited for the next book in the series.

Im so happy I read this book! I’ve waited (impatiently) since Defend Me. Thank you BookSirens and Emory Weste for an ARC of this.

[Crisana · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*. I think this is my favourite of the whole series but it dragged a bit on part 2. I get it, we need to see them slowly come back to each other but it was slow and a lot of back and forward. There was a bit of repeated inner thoughts as well. But the story overall was chef's kiss. The pacing of part one was really good, perhaps not for everyone but it worked for me.
I did like to see them together and how Roman slowly comes to terms with who he is. It took a long time but he's very young and the outside pressure did not work well with his mental health, and everyone has their own pace. He did make peace with the people he wronged and that felt like full circle in my opinion.
Travis was so sweet and like an overexcited puppy just like his dog, Tessa. He was so giving and wanted the best for the people surrounding him. However, and probably contrary to what the author was trying to achieve, I was team Roman after about 20%. Travis set some boundaries when he knew that Roman was not ready for it. And I get the emphasis on the 'promise' but to ask someone still so unsure about themselves to make that promise was very unfair.

[Erin Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the pleasure to beta read this story. This was a rollercoaster of a story, it was heavier in some ways than the others only because it took them longer to work through their baggage but it was still an amazing story and didn't take away from these characters experience and trauma they had to deal with. Their journey and love was still amazing and their chemistry was instant and I loved it. I still stand by the fact that I am immediately hooked to anything Emory writes. From the first words I was hooked and I stayed up all night reading this book. Emory has such a way with words and such a way of bringing these characters to life that I feel like I am literally there with the characters - experiencing their pain, joy and excitement. I loved that all the previous characters were very prominent in the book and it was very entertaining to see all their personalities shine. I absolutely can not wait for the next in the series, honestly I never want them to end. This book is another must read!

[Alia]

Thank you Emory Weste for creating such an amazing world within these books. This is book 4 in the series and each book is amazing. This one is Travis’s and Roman’s story. What a journey they went through. We first met Travis in book one and I just knew his story was going to uh at the heart strings and it really did. Roman had so much anger in him it was heartbreaking. Travis was a main and had to establish boundaries to protect himself but with those boundaries her also suffered. Even though they struggled they really did communicate so well. Their third act break up didn’t feel like one, they had to go through the pain so that Travis could learn to love himself before he could love another. This was beautiful.

Emory has such a way to bring real world tragedies and fears that people have to light and does it with care.

I cannot wait to see what’s next in this series. I’m in love with this world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[angie_bookrecs · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

I went into this book with my arms crossed, ready to hate Roman. But Emory? Yeah, Emory laughed at me and handed me one of the best, most emotional stories I’ve ever read.

Travis is his usual soft, steady, patient self, and watching him slowly chip away at Roman’s walls was everything. The pacing wasn’t rushed. The tension, the pain, the little sparks of hope...it all built up perfectly until I had no choice but to fall.

Roman’s journey hit harder than I ever expected. His shame, his fear, the way he’s spent years drowning under the weight of his own mistakes…it hurt to read. And yet, by the end, I wasn’t just rooting for him, I realized he’d become my favorite. The growth, the vulnerability, the way he learns to finally let love in…I’m still not over it.

If you’re like me and you went in convinced Roman didn’t deserve happiness, be ready to eat those words. Because this book will break you, mend you, and leave you clutching it to your chest like it’s oxygen.

Emory, you ruined me with this one. And I’ll say it proudly: Roman owns my whole damn heart now.

[✭ 𝖜𝖊𝖓𝖉𝖞✭ ｡^‿^｡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Catch Me
By: Emory Weste

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

~MM
~Coming out
~Found Family
~pro baseball
~Grumpy/Sunshine

If you liked For the Fans this story of a coming out will pull you right in. And you’ll cry and laugh along with it.
Travis is a very patient pro ball player. Who loves fast and hard. He gives everything in his heart to every task he does. His past has shaped his now and his forever.
Roman is angry. All. The. Time. And you just want to hold him and love him to his truth. To live his life as he’s meant to. This is their story and you get to meet some of their friends along the way.
I loved this story so much. I’m not a fan of a third act break up, however, I had to know their story. And it’s one you won’t want to miss.
This is my first book by this author, and I received it as an arc. I will be buying the book to have, as it is one I will read again.
Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

P.S these cover are the most stunning and eye catching I’ve ever seen. Reason alone to own the books

[Christine Holter]

Catch Me is Golden Retriever/ Black Cat at its finest. This is one of my very favorite tropes and it is done perfectly here.

Travis is more complex than he at first seems with anger and guilt lurking underneath his sunny persona.

As much as I loved Travis, it is Roman who stole my heart. He is so tormented by his inner demons he shutters his heart completely.

A chance encounter where Travis takes a chance on inviting Roman to do artwork for his MLB team allows them to connect and spend time together.

I loved the slow burn between them as Roman gradually comes out of his shell.

At 600 pages long, you know there will be some angst. I would say the angst level is perfect. It was difficult to read in some spots but to me that just means it was well written. All of my favorite books are angsty so this felt right to me.

Catch Me is my new favorite of this excellent series.

Rating:

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

🌶️🌶️1/2

[Amie]

I am a little torn over this book.

Part of it felt like it was so long, but I think that might have been because of the angst that was happening to and between the two main characters of Roman and Travis.

Weste does a great job of writing complex characters-they face their trials and tribulations and I like that not everything gets solved, just like how it happens in real life.

I did feel like the end was a bit rushed and the time jump was a bit jarring.

I, also, am of the opinion that you should read the first three books in the series before reading this one, as he refers heavily to the other characters and I was at a lost as to who was who, as I have only read the first book.

Overall though, I would recommend this book and I guess I need to go read the second and third book to see how the other guys got here.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a little torn over this book.

Part of it felt like it was so long, but I think that might have been because of the angst that was happening to and between the two main characters of Roman and Travis.

Weste does a great job of writing complex characters-they face their trials and tribulations and I like that not everything gets solved, just like how it happens in real life.

I did feel like the end was a bit rushed and the time jump was a bit jarring.

I, also, am of the opinion that you should read the first three books in the series before reading this one, as he refers heavily to the other characters and I was at a lost as to who was who, as I have only read the first book.

Overall though, I would recommend this book and I guess I need to go read the second and third book to see how the other guys got here.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[L H · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a huge baseball fan, a romance that focuses on a baseball player got my interest. This one is so much more than that. Travis is a solid character. He is an out professional baseball player and a really good and caring human being. Travis was a true cinnamon roll who wanted to take care of folk even when the folk he was trying to take care of did not appreciate his efforts. It as not like Travis did not have his own issues but he does a good job of managing them most of the time. And then there's Roman, an artist with a lot of issues. He is so prickly and he has so many things to overcome - he didn't like anyone including himself. Their friendship is a challenge from the start. It did not surprise me that theirs was a HEA that took a lot of work to get to. It was worth the journey to tag along as they got there.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Elodie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have no words to explain how much I loved this.
All the good in Travis' heart that he worked SO HARD to achieve.
All the darkness in Roman's heart that he's struggling to hold on to, while at the same time trying to become a better person.
These two were meant to be together.
My heart broke so many times. This series has been so relatable on so many levels.
Catch Me made me cry and laugh and rage and swoon. Did I mention, CRY.
I read this 600 page book in basically one sitting. The only regret I have is that now, it's over.
The characters we already loved from Unfix me, Resist me and Defend (all on ku) being so present just made the whole thing even better.

Emory Weste has been my author discovery of the hear, and I 100% recommend all her books. I am in love with the universe she's created and everyone who lives in it.

[Alia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Emory Weste for creating such an amazing world within these books. This is book 4 in the series and each book is amazing. This one is Travis’s and Roman’s story. What a journey they went through. We first met Travis in book one and I just knew his story was going to uh at the heart strings and it really did. Roman had so much anger in him it was heartbreaking. Travis was a main and had to establish boundaries to protect himself but with those boundaries her also suffered. Even though they struggled they really did communicate so well. Their third act break up didn’t feel like one, they had to go through the pain so that Travis could learn to love himself before he could love another. This was beautiful.

Emory has such a way to bring real world tragedies and fears that people have to light and does it with care.

I cannot wait to see what’s next in this series. I’m in love with this world.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Moon Side Sun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this to be the most emotionally intense book of the series. I appreciated how, at times, I felt frustrated with Travis and Roman. They both exhibited moments of immaturity and impulsiveness. I loved how their discussions often centred around anger; it seemed to be their primary emotion. Despite this, Travis and Roman made things work and ultimately found happiness.
While reading part II, I honestly thought they might not end up together, and I wouldn’t have been upset about it. It wasn't because they didn't fit, but rather because they were so similar that they needed time apart to grow individually. Roman specifically needed the space to discover who he is on his own.
This book was quite sad, or perhaps it was just that I was reading while it was raining. Regardless, that atmosphere felt perfect. Just as I was about to finish, the sun came out.