Catch Me If You Can

Chasing Hearts #1

by Ella Kit

When Caleb and Nathan (reluctantly) team up to win the heart of the same girl who came between them in high school, things don’t go exactly to plan. Old grudges, unresolved tension, and a few too many close calls make it hard to tell who they’re really chasing anymore.

Because somewhere between sticking to the mission and accidental flirting… catching feelings for each other starts to feel like the real plot twist.

Catch Me If You Can is a mature 18+ MM romance that explores themes of cheating (not between the main characters). This slow-burn story follows a best-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers arc, filled with love triangle chaos, emotional tension, and a powerful journey of self-discovery and awakening.

Genres: M M Romance, Romance, Friends To Lovers, Enemies To Lovers, LGBT, Second Chance, Queer

239 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 3, 2025

About the author

Ella Kit is a writer of LGBTQA+ romance novels who loves giggling and kicking her feet over charming characters, crying happy tears over love declarations, and celebrating those hard-earned happily-ever-afters.

Through her stories, she brings to life heartfelt romances that dive deep into love, growth, and self-discovery.

When Ella isn’t writing, you can find her reading, exploring new adventures, and chatting with readers who adore sweet love stories as much as she does.

Reviews

[Emna · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @23%
Someone stab me for picking this up. I deserve it.

[Isabella · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a cute little story! Absolutely loved it. I was able to finish it in a few hours because it was on the shorter side and it was largely unproblematic. At least in my opinion.

I am always down for a good best friends to enemies to lovers. These are my three favorite tropes combined into one. Best friends to lovers, enemies to lovers and second chance.

This author absolutely ate with her writing! It was genuinely so cute. I loved the main characters and the smut was nice! Not too much or too little!

I also loved the way she didn’t make Sarah into an awful person. A lot of the times with these mm books, the women are either on the back burner or just sl*t shamed beyond belief and this author made Sarah a decent human being.

Would recommend for anyone looking for these tropes and something short and sweet!

[moonlight ☾ [semi-hiatus] · Rating 4 out of 5]

“You spend so much time taking care of others, but who takes care of you?” I ask quietly. I mean it every word.
That gets his attention. He stands there, stunned. Honestly, I can’t believe I said them, either.
“What did you just say?” Caleb’s hands come up to grasp mine as I continue grazing his jawline with my thumbs.
“I asked - who takes care of you?” I look at him deeply now. His eyes dart between mine as he tries to come up with an answer.
“I-I don’t know.” He breathes.
[...]
“I’ve realized something these last few days,” I start. Oh my gosh, someone stop my word vomit. Now.
“And what’s that?” Caleb asks. I give him a gentle shove so he’s now sitting on the edge of the bed.
“I want to take care of you, too.” I whisper, looking into his eyes. Being so close I can see the dark ring of blue around the ocean color of his eyes. It’d put anyone in a trance. I think it put me in a trance years ago. “You deserve someone taking care of you too.” I clarify. His eyebrows pinch together while he bites his lip, like he’s been dying to hear those words.
~ ahhh i’m weak for scenes like this 🫠🫠

this was my brand of chaotic and messy 😭 but whenever Caleb and Nathan would be soft and vulnerable with one another? OH I JUST MELTED. i loved the praise kink omg. 🥹 i also loved how even though they do chase after the same girl at first, once they start to realize possible feelings for each other (and how, maybe, just maybe, the feelings have been there all along), that was simply it. no stupid/unnecessary drama needed but, instead, we get to see them just… be with each other. :’)

(thank you, marci, for putting this on my radar!! 😌)

[Shy Queens · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tik tok and their damn false advertisement 🙄.

[Alexreads · Rating 1 out of 5]

i cant even finish this shit
the characters are insufferrable, the writing is terrible and the whole book feels like it was written for wattpad
i hated caled because he was an asshole
i hated nathan because he couldnt grow a goddamn backbone like dude stop acting like a fucking pussy
and i hated sarah for obvious reasons
i dont recommend reading this headache of a book

[patrícia · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review | 3.5⭐ Release: june 3, 2025 | MCs: Caleb and Nathaniel (reluctantly)

🌈 Tropes & tags
Double awakening (gay x bisexual)
One bed
Second chance
Besties to rivals to lovers
Praise kink
Forced proximity

This was a wild, messy ride in the best way. Caleb and Nathaniel’s dynamic had so much tension, history, and emotional confusion—and I loved seeing how that evolved. What surprised me most was how strong their connection was once they let themselves explore it. The experimenting, the dirty talk, the chemistry—it all felt charged and real. Their scenes together, especially the more intimate and vulnerable moments, really worked for me. There was something deeply satisfying in watching two former best friends rediscover each other in such a raw, physical way.

The book is fast-paced and leans into the chaos of past mistakes and unresolved feelings. While I personally struggled to connect with some of the setup—especially the love triangle elements—I appreciated the story’s willingness to dive into complicated emotions and shifting dynamics.

At its heart, this felt like a story about finding clarity in confusion, and about two people who maybe needed a second chance to figure themselves out—and each other. If you're in the mood for a bold, steamy, emotionally tangled read, this might hit the spot.

I received a copy of this book from the author and this is my honest opinion

[Kiandra 🦋 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Truthfully, I don’t think hate is a strong enough word for what I feel towards Caleb. The audacity is actually insane. Nathan was a complete doormat and Caleb was not even slightly sorry. 😐

[Theodore · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF @ 22%

Would honestly give .25 stars of I could. What sort of story starts off with a supposed "best friendship" that Caleb was so easily able to abandon for some random chick? He literally had been saying that Nathan deserved better than Sarah (and anyone in the school for that matter) yet he's the one kissing his girlfriend??? Awful characterization.

Then we find out that Nathan had still been pining a whole FOUR ass years for the girl who literally cheated on him and he continued to be strung along? Grow a backbone my guy.

Maybe I'd have stuck around if there was actually non-annoying characters and the dynamic between the MCs was actually good, but I'm almost a quarter of the way through and Caleb and Nathan haven't had a single interaction post timeskip (angry or otherwise).

[lay ☽ · Rating 1 out of 5]

Out of respect for a small author I'll be refraining from saying all my thoughts about this book and the overall writing, but...jesus christ.

[Gaby · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Was it perfect? Maybe not, but still, I had a great time and wouldn't mind reading more books from this author.

I will say that I spent around 35% annoyed with Caleb because what he did was a super dick move, and he should have grovelled more instead of smirking left and right when they met again. Sarah was an unnecessary-necessary character, because she was a bitch for stringing them both along for 4 years! But also, maybe without her, those 2 dumb-dumbs wouldn't have acted on their feelings otherwise.

I liked that they spent a good part of the book in Toronto and found it pretty funny, and also a missed opportunity from the author to reference that Nathan's name was Nathan Phillips, and there is a very common tourist spot in Toronto called Nathan Phillips Square, where they could have gone during their Pride Parade tour. I mean, I'm sure Caleb would have found it funny too.

Caleb's dad's 180 change in attitude was nice but also weird. Their Love declarations were cute, but also, there was way too much Sarah happening all around LOL.

[Mascarade · Rating 1 out of 5]

The way I reactivated my Goodreads account to warn the public about this travesty…

I genuinely wanted to DNF this book like 3 pages in. These two are the most pathetic losers I’ve ever had the displeasure of reading about and I genuinely take offence to being recommended this.

They pine over the same girl for 4 years who cheated on both of them then strung both of them along and when SHE, not they, broke things off they acted like they were madly in love with her.

I tried really dang hard to be delusional and trust the book is gonna get better but there’s no fixing this nonsense.

Let me give you guys some lines from the book that made me regret learning English:

“I kinda just keep my head down, I’m pretty much invisible”
-truly so quirky, he’s not like other boys

“He flipped his black hair so it swept perfectly over his eyes”
-he’s an emo boy and that fact alone offends me

“I mean… I was just me”
-and the pope is the head of the Vatican :/

“You there, my young padawan”
-holy moly I wanted to throw my phone at the wall

“THE Sarah Lockwood”
-mind you they called her “THE” Sarah Lockwood like 12 times on the same page like WE GET IT!!!

“That night, my band—the airheads—was playing at our senior prom”
-you’re the only airhead here

“Why does your dad hate you so much”
-what a hell of a question brother but I doubt there’s much to love about him so I can’t even blame the man

“1. Stalk Sarah 2. Call Sarah 3. See Sarah 4. Cry 5. Repeat”
-ITS BEEN 4 YEARS!!! SHE CHEATED ON YOU WITH YOUR BEST FRIEND!!! GROW A SPINE

Mind you, these were all from the first 6 chapters.

Am I going to continue? Probably. Am I gonna hate every second of it? Definitely.

Edit: I just read the synopsis, yeah I’m done. 22% in, I’m not putting myself through this when I can instead put myself through thermodynamics. Genuinely, I don’t think I’m gonna pick up a book for a while.

Edit 2: I’m gonna torment myself a little more and read the epilogues to finish off this hell. I’ll include quotes for the sane people not wanting to read this:

“That was amazing,” I moan, sitting back on the couch.
“Right?” Caleb brushes his fingers over his plate and leans back into his seat. “Who needs sex when you have pizza?”
-the way this pissed me off more than the first 6 chapters…

“his V-lines pointing directly down to where I want to go”
-to hell? Please be my guest.

“He’s mine, and I am so his.”
-nobody wants him. For the sake of the greater good, you can keep him

“It’s weird. Last time we were here, you had a plan to propose to another woman,”
-okay first off, what???? Second off, they’re here on their anniversary (I think)

“I think it was more perfect this way. I was just playing the long game, baby,”
-mind you, I left it off when he got dumped by the girl he helped cheat on her boyfriend (his “best-friend”), and then proceeded to, supposedly, go on a quest with this best-friend to win her back after 4 years of on again off again.

“Is that a butt plug?”
-well that made my mouth fucking drop HAHA

Yea ok that’s enough. Goodbye.

[Naz.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75/5 stars 3/5 spice

This was such a cute story. I would have loved it if it were longer since the couple were so loveable. It sucked how Caleb did a really crappy thing just to show Nathan that he deserved better causing them to have a fallout.

I enjoyed the concept of them reuniting years later to chase after the same girl but ending up realising that they’ve always loved each other. It was sweet seeing them fall back into being best friends again, doing what they used to do back then.

This was very fun, easy, sweet read.

- Best friends to enemies to lovers
- Chasing after same girl
- Double queer awakening
- It’s always been you

[Nickyboy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was just disappointment after disappointment.

Not only did Caleb steal his friends (Nathan) GF (Sarah) he did not take accountability at all. Nathan was such a fucking doormat if I was him I would have left both of them in the past indefinitely.

The weird fucking dynamic between Caleb, Nathan and Sarah screams Wattpad. What was this author smoking to make them still be friends with the weird history they have. Maybe it’s the 21st century and people are more open minded but it really dilutes the chemistry between Caleb and Nathan.

Chemistry between Caleb and Nathan was like reading horse shit. I hated Caleb because let’s be for real he would have married Sarah if it wasn’t for the will of the universe to bring Caleb and Nathan back together in the same proximity.

I was going to DNF around 36% but I thought to myself I’m almost at the 50% mark might as well see it through and at 75% he’s trying to win back Nathan with the help of Sarah because let’s honest here at this point why not make them a throuple? This author failed miserably at writing a story capturing chemistry between Caleb and Nathan.

The book was basically Sarah’s book. I genuinely did not enjoy this book and it makes sense it has a 3.5 star rating. I came to read a MM book but instead was stuck reading about 2 cucks pining over one girl while fornicating with each other. It’s clear this book was fan service.

Hated Caleb and disliked Nathan. However Sarah needs to be humbled the stupid bitch.

[Bianca · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was... cute? Sure, maybe. I think I spent more time cringing than enjoying.

The fact that the situation with Sarah made it so that their friendship was destroyed made it mind boggling that both of them end up continuing some kind of relationship with her until they end up where they did. And then stay friends with her after all this!

Caleb's reasoning for doing what he did was complete bs. He was trying to be a hero? If that were even remotely true (ridiculous as it is), would he have proceeded to have this whole long relationship with her? Probably not.

I don't think Caleb does enough in the way of apologising for what he did. I get that they're in high school when it happens, but they were supposedly best friends.

Anyway, I would like to say the smut saved it? It was good, fun. But reading the words "woah" and "damn" the way they were used in these scenes just gave me the ick.

All this to say, this is why we don't read books recommended by TikTok.

[readingwithmiaa · Rating 4 out of 5]

4⭐️
3.25🌶️



Y’all, This Was My First Book By Ella And I Can Officially Say, This Book Is ABSOLUTELY Perfect To Read In Pride Month Next Month. Caleb And Nathan Y’all Were A Really Amazing Couple And The Chemistry Was Off The Chains. The Jealousy Scenes Were Also So Good😂 A Story About Two Guys Going After The Same Girl They Had Feelings For When They Were Young, But A Weekend Together Changes Everything? It Was Just Such A Great Concept And It Was Really Great. It’s Also About Finding Yourself And Owning Up To You And Being You And Not Letting Anyone Dime Your Shine And To Be Yourself, And That Message Is Just So Important And I Loved It. I Definitely Recommend Y’all Read This During Pride Month Because The Sentimental Message Here Is So Important And It Will Make Everyone Who Is A Part Of The LGBTQ Community Feel Seen In Some Way Shape Or Form. Ella, I Absolutely Love You So Much, The Kindest Of Souls Ever, And I Absolutely Cannot Wait To Read More By You Because You Are An Author Everyone Needs To Know About💕🫶




Thank You So Much Ella Kit For Sending Me The Arc. I Love And Appreciate You So Much. Check This Out On June 3rd Y’all You Do Not Want To Miss💕🫶

[Brittney Kane · Rating 4 out of 5]

“My love for him is overwhelming. Even after all this time, I still can’t believe he’s here with me right now. He chose me. And I’d choose him again and again.”

This was my first book by Ella Kit and it was a quick and easy read that I finished in one day. I would definitely read more by this author.

Caleb and Nathan were best friends in high school - til they ended up fighting over the same girl. Four years later, they both fly in Canada to chase that woman- but end up finding each other instead.

I loved Nathan - and just wanted to give him a hug. All he wanted was to be chosen. Caleb.. I had mixed feelings about at first. You could tell he was trying to ignore feelings but I don’t like how he went about handling certain things. You warm up super quickly to him though.
And the girl? Sarah? I have feelings about her. It was fucked up how she strung them both along but I did eventually end up liking her when she let them both go and helped the boys end up as endgame.

Caleb and Nathan were definitely meant to be and the spice between the two was flawless. This book wasn’t super angsty and I loved that you got a decent chunk of these two being happy and together.

What you’re getting:
Double awakening (gay x bisexual)
One bed
Second chance
Besties to rivals to lovers
Praise kink
Forced proximity
HEA
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

** ARC Review **

[Louisemgx · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️3.5
I read this book in just a few hours time. It was an easy read, nothing really dramatic happened and it was fairly enjoyable. I thought there was quite a lot of smut in the story, not always necessary to keep writing round after round in great detail, but it was fun to see the 2 friends getting to explore each other, learn to trust eachother again and just live their silly little dream of finally being together.
Sometimes I missed a bit of plot and useful content as, for me, everytime Nathan and Caleb were together, they were exploring eachother.. I would have loved to read more of their relationship outside of the bedroom.
I just needed an easy read and this book was perfect for it!✨

[Nikki]

DNF

I’ve never read a published book that felt exactly like a terribly written fanfic before but ig there’s a first time for everything 🤪

[Nichola · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unfortunately it misses the mark on a lot of stuff, not enough development of these characters in general let alone together. We got told about their chemistry rather than shown

[ashlee ❤ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nathan + Caleb

-mm
-friends to enemies to lovers
-trying to win the same girl
-“it’s always been you”

this was cute & had a good storyline…but it wasn’t what i thought it was going into it when i saw it promoted…by the author. it was literally promoted as “a book about a guy who gets with the guy his girlfriend cheated on him with” which makes me think it’s gonna be totally messy & a kind of petty revenge plot story…yet what wasn’t shown is: ****insert possible spoilers from here on****

that they were besties BEFORE this happened…had some kind of connection BEFORE the “cheating” (which idek if i’d really classify it as such cause it never explains the consequences of what happend) & then it like time jumps forward with both guys in some kind of casual relationship with THAT SAME GIRL the whole time…& then ending up reconnecting over the fact they were both GOING TO WIN HER BACK?? …i’m sorry but NONEEEE of that was anything like the hook of getting with the guy your gf cheated on you with...intentionally. which is what i was under the impression of. could have just been me tho🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️

[Kim Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 ⭐️

Gaaaah, this book was so cute. It made me feel so cozy, and at some point I was giggling and kicking my feet cause I can’t with those two cuties 🥰

Nathan and Caleb used to be best friends. They were inseparably and did everything together. But when someone enters their life, their friendship changes.

I cannot even say what I enjoyed most about this story since there is so much. I liked every side character, which honestly rarely happens and that made the whole book even better.

Nathan and Caleb were like perfectly made for each other 🤧🥹

[Emelie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Ugh!

Everything felt rushed except the sex scenes. Nathan was supposed to be this shy guy who blushed when sex was the topic and then, suddenly, he’s all dominant in the bedroom? Also, stop calling each other baby after five seconds, I beg of you!

I felt like there were things thrown at us from out of nowhere. Like Nathan’s parents?
Caleb’s dad was supposed to be an ass and then, he’s not. Like, at all? Okay??

A lot of spelling errors. A lot.
I skimmed the last 25% tbh.

“These hands I’ve grown used to” — since yesterday, you mean??
Nathan forgave both Sarah and Caleb way too fast too. They were both assholes and he just let them.

[Kora · Rating 1 out of 5]

fan service Wattpad vibes not my style

Was not a fan of this book. It’s a weird dynamic between Caleb, Nathan and Sarah.

The Chemistry felt non-existent and was more creeped out that this book was basically Sarah’s book disguised as a MM book between Caleb and Nathan.

The topic about Caleb betraying Nathan in high school was brushed off so quickly with not further content. And Nathan forgave them both so quick.

This book feels like it was written for girls who fantasise about being chased by 2 men only to end up together like so weird fetish.

This was also my first book from this author goodluck with future endeavours.

[Courtney Bickley · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.75 Stars ⭐️ This one started out promising from the description but turned frustrating real quick. I loved the angst in this one, but good lord did I hate Sarah. She was such an aggravating character, her motivations were so unclear and I hated how both Nathan and Caleb were so drawn to her at the expense of their friendship that they basically threw away because of her. I didn’t like how Caleb immediately betrayed Nathan without a second thought for four years and continued a relationship with Sarah. And I also didn’t like how Nathan forgave Sarah’s part in the betrayal so quickly and excused it and continued a relationship with her as well. It really bugged me that they were both in a on/off relationship with her for four years without the other knowing, I mean really?!

And when they finally meet again after four years and started talking about the incident that broke up their friendship they barely covered it and moved on.

The vibes were just off the entire time for me, there was too much out of character behavior for the situations they were in and it didn’t make sense. There were parts that I enjoyed and moments between Caleb and Nathan that I really liked, but as a whole it just didn’t work for me.

[gab_e_reading · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh, this story is so great! As you already know, I love „Friends to Lovers“, and this one is really good ❤️! I loved the two of them chasing each other - sometimes more and sometimes less consciously. But they never lost sight of each other. And then, when came together - that connection, wow, I literally got goosebumps reading that! And the Praise Kink, omg so well done, top 😳🔥👌🏼. I love this 😅❤️! This was my first book by Ella Kitt, but I hope not the last. Go and keep an eye out for this story!

Oh, diese Geschichte war so toll! Wie ihr bereits wisst, liebe ich „Friends to Lovers“, und diese hier ist wirklich gut ❤️! Ich habe es geliebt, wie die beiden sich gegenseitig jagten - mal mehr und mal weniger bewusst. Aber sie haben sich nie aus den Augen (Herzen) verloren! Und dann, als sie zusammen kamen - diese Verbindung, wow, ich habe buchstäblich Gänsehaut bekommen während des Lesens! Und der Praise Kink - omg, so gut gemacht, top 😳🔥👌🏼! Ich liebe das 😅❤️! Das war mein erstes Buch von Ella Kitt, aber ich hoffe nicht das letzte!

[Allison Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 could’ve been longer and a little more fleshed out but it made me feel like this 🤭 for most of the book so i liked it

[cosette · Rating 3 out of 5]

i kind of wanted the hate part to last longer :/ but i liked it

[Achievee · Rating 3 out of 5]

THE CHEMISTRY WAS INSANE!!!!
EVEN THO I WANTED TO STAB MYSELF CAUSE NONE OF IT MADE SENSE ( wdym?? Your gf cheated on you with your bsf but you’re still chasing her even after 4years😭) I LOVED IT!!!

[Midori010203 · Rating 2 out of 5]

There are so many things in this story that just don’t make sense.

1) What’s the point of hooking up with your best friend’s (or ex-best friend’s?) girlfriend just to prove she’s not a good person?

2) What’s the point of then staying together in some sort of open relationship after trying to prove that first point? Why? Like, “Oh, now that I know her better, she’s not that bad”? So what was all that for?

3) Why does the person who gets hurt by all this still stay in touch with the girl who cheated on him, without changing a thing? What was the point of step one, then?

4) How can you love someone who has absolutely no respect for you? Because that’s what it comes down to. If he were really a friend, he wouldn’t have done what he did.

Also, I’m not a big fan of stories where one guy is basically an angel incarnate — the pure embodiment of goodness — and the other is the stereotypical “bad boy.” But above all, why is being kind always portrayed as a lack of self-love? There’s a difference between being kind and being a doormat.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC Review

Catch Me If You Can was a pretty enjoyable read overall and quick - I read it within a couple of hours. I enjoyed Caleb and Nathan's story I just kept waiting for an emotional connection. The story starts in high school and then goes to 4 years later when they're both continuing to chase after the same woman - who I did not like. She led both these men on for YEARS and they were clueless.

I started this after two books that made me cry so it's a good pick if you want something light and quick as a palette cleanser. This is my second Ella Kit book and she's quickly becoming one of my faves.

Thank you to Ella Kit for adding me to the ARC team for this book. I can't wait to see what's next from you!