First Dates at the Cat Café

Cat Café Romance #3

by Rachel Rowlands

Love is in the air at the cat café... Will everyone find their purr-fect match?

☕🐈☕💘💘💘☕🐈 ☕

Grace adores her job as a barista at the café, but dreams of one day setting up her own matchmaking agency to help pet lovers find true love.

When Catpurrcino partners with a dating festival for the whole of August it seems like it is meant to be.

The last thing on Grace's mind is her own love life.

Until she is matched with musician Nathan, who is only at the festival so he can perform.

Grace knows from the very first moment that Nathan is not the man of her dreams.

But no one is going to take romantic advice from someone who can't even get through one successful date. So Grace and Nathan make a they will pretend to be smitten with each other until the end of festival.

The more time Grace and Nathan spend playing the perfect couple, the more Grace wonders if her fake feelings are becoming real... Could Nathan ever feel the same?

Get ready for a summer of first dates, fake dates and stolen kisses under a blanket of stars - with your favourite feline friend on hand for emotional support at all times! This romantic read is perfect for fans of Laurie Gilmore, Lucy Jane Wood and Sarah Morgan.

Tropes

🐈 Fake Dating
💘 Only One Bed
☕ Enemies to Lovers
🐈 Small Town
💘 Matchmaking


🐈☕💘 Readers adore the Cat Cafe novels! 💘☕🐈

'A delightful escape with plenty of warmth and charm... Will leave you with a smile on your face' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Purrfectly cozy and adorable... I devoured this book and couldn't get enough of it and read it in a few short hours' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'As cosy and heartwarming as a lap full of kittens!' M.A. Kuzniar 🐈

'I absolutely loved my visit to the cat café... For anyone that loves cats, coffee and romance' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'Fantastic read. Enjoyed this book so much it was read in one sitting, couldn't put it down... Great feel-good book' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'I absolutely loved it!' Donna Ashcroft 💘

'It will warm you from the inside, like a soothing mug of hot chocolate' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

'A fabulous read!... Can't recommend this book highly enough!' Reader review⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Genres: Romance

328 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication May 28, 2026

About the author

Rachel Rowlands lives in Manchester, England, with her husband and two cats. She grew up devouring any book she could get her hands on, and after earning her degree in English and Creative Writing, she built a career as a freelance editor while working on her own stories in her spare time. When she’s not writing or editing, she enjoys playing video games and crying over romance Kdramas. Follow Rachel on Instagram or join her newsletter for for book news, reading recommendations, and plenty of cat pictures!

Reviews

[Aisha Faisal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is in the air at Catpurrcino, and honestly? This book felt like being wrapped in a fluffy blanket while a cat naps beside you, and someone hands you a caramel latte.

First of all, thank you to Rachel Rowlands, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton, and NetGalley for the ARC. First Dates at the Cat Café is exactly the kind of story that wraps itself around you like a purring cat on a slow afternoon, comforting, a little mischievous, and full of unexpected sweetness. As the third installment in the Cat Café series (which works perfectly as a standalone!), It’s the ultimate literary pick-me-up.

🐾 The Plot in a Nutshell

Grace is a barista at Catpurrcino with a secret ambition: she wants to trade latte art for love matches by opening her own matchmaking agency. When her town hosts the Sundown Dating Festival in August, it feels like the universe is handing her a golden ticket. There’s just one snag to be a credible matchmaker: she needs to look like she knows what she’s doing in her own love life.

Enter Nathan, a brooding musician stuck working in his father’s music shop. He’s only at the festival to get his music heard, not to find a "purr-fect" partner. When these two are matched, the sparks don't exactly fly, at least, not the good kind. To help Grace’s reputation and Nathan’s career, they strike a classic bargain: The Fake Date.

✨ Why It’s a Must-Read

The Characters: Grace is so easy to root for. She’s a dreamer hiding behind an apron, trying to help everyone else find happiness while ignoring her own heart. Nathan provides the perfect foil, quiet, talented, and harboring his own uncertainties.

The Tropes: This book hits all the right notes for romance fans:

Fake Dating: Watching them "perform" affection until the lines start to blur is pure joy.

Enemies to Lovers: That initial "no thanks" energy makes the eventual payoff so much sweeter.

Only One Bed: Because what is a fake-dating romance without a little forced proximity?

The Feline Co-Stars: The cats at Catpurrcino aren’t just background noise; they are the emotional support (and occasionally the judgmental supervisors) we all need.

💘 My Final Thoughts

What I loved most was how the book balances lightness with sincerity. The transition from staged glances and "perfect couple" performances to genuine stolen kisses under the stars feels organic and warm. It’s hopeful without being overly saccharine, grounded by the real-world pressures Grace and Nathan face regarding their careers and families.

If you’re a fan of Laurie Gilmore or Sarah Morgan, or if you just need a story that leaves you smiling long after the final page, grab a tea and head to the cat café. This book is a warm hug in paper form.
Literally the definition of a comfort read.

This book is funny, soft, romantic, and genuinely uplifting. It’s the kind of story you read with a smile on your face the entire time. If you love cozy romances filled with slow-burn chemistry, summer festival vibes, stolen kisses under the stars, and cats silently judging everyone’s decisions, this one is 100% worth picking up.

A warm, charming romance full of heart, humour, and feline supervision, the purrfect escape for romance lovers.

Final Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Purr-fectly charming!

[B Gregory · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an early copy of this from Netgalley.

The plot: a barista at a cat cafe is trying to start her own matchmaking business catered to animal lovers when it is announced that a famous matchmaker is holding her annual singles festival in town. She decides to join the festival to try to talk to the director and as part of the documentary crew she is hoping to promote herself to start her business. During the festival she keeps getting paired with a local musician and they enter a fake dating situation to try to better their chances of looking good in the documentary to boost both of their careers.

This book fell flat to me. I thought that the premise was interesting and I love the fake dating trope but the follow through wasn't there. There was no depth to the characters and things were blown way out of proportion. For example, both characters had what they called nightmare parents but only one was really that bad. There was one point with the fmc talking to her cousin and one of them said "we hate the miscommunication trope" when that is what was actively happening in the story.

I read this after Project Hail Mary and that probably didn't give it a fair chance but this book was just not for me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The way the expression lit up her face, showed her teeth, the canines pointier than most people’s, making her look like a magical creature from a fantasy book. And the flower crown? It added to the effect. She was like a fairy tale.

‘Ooh, colour me intrigued.’ ‘Please stay that colour.This particular shade of downin-the-dumps doesn’t suit you.’

Like sunshine falling across the wheat fields, your light brings out gold.

Even up close, he’d been beautiful. Dark lashes, pinpricks of stubble she’d never really noticed from afar decorating his jaw and chin. The way he’d smelt like summer bonfires and swapped secrets.

Grace’s hands ached as if they wanted to reach out and study every inch of him by touch.

well, I don’t think achieving things makes you more lovable. Love should come without conditions.That’s something we all deserve.’

He was soft and warm and breathless and he tasted like something sweet and sugary. Like a favourite dessert she wanted to repeat.

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Dates at the Cat Café is exactly the kind of story that wraps itself around you like a purring cat on a slow afternoon—comforting, a little mischievous, and full of unexpected sweetness. Grace is such an easy character to root for: a barista with a dream bigger than her apron pockets, quietly matchmaking in her head while convincing herself she’s far too busy to think about her own love life.

The August dating festival at Catpurrcino feels like the perfect spark for her ambitions, and the setting is irresistible—frothy coffees, soft paws padding across the floor, and that gentle hum of possibility that comes when strangers sit down across from each other hoping for a spark. But the real charm begins when Grace is matched with Nathan, a musician who would clearly rather be performing than dating. Their first meeting has that wonderfully awkward energy that makes you smile because you know exactly where it could lead, even if they don’t.

Their decision to fake a romance for the sake of Grace’s credibility is playful and full of heart. Watching them lean into the act—shared glances, staged affection, stolen moments that start to feel a little too real—gives the story its soft, romantic glow. And the cats, of course, are always there to supervise, judge, or offer emotional support as needed.

What I loved most is how the book balances lightness with sincerity. Grace’s dreams, Nathan’s quiet uncertainties, the gentle unfolding of something genuine between them—it all feels warm and hopeful without ever tipping into saccharine. The summer nights, the star‑lit dates, the slow shift from pretending to feeling… it’s all handled with such charm.

A cozy, uplifting read filled with fake‑dating fun, feline sidekicks, and the kind of romance that sneaks up on you, First Dates at the Cat Café is perfect for anyone who wants a story that leaves them smiling long after the final page.

With thanks to rachel rowlands, the publisher and netgalley for the ARC

[Kaitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've been wanting to read this book for a while! I remember seeing Nutmeg being the one chosen as a winner to be added to the book, so I loved reading and knowing that this was someone's baby and how ecstatic it must have made the owner when they read the book! Nutmeg sounds adorable 💖

I could live in this cat cafe! The food and drinks sound amazing. I went to one that had cat shaped avocado toast once and they used carrots for the whiskers.

This was such a cozy read and I had a blast reading it! Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC of this book.

[Katie Awdas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a cat lover this book attracted me to it's title! It was a quick and light hearted read. I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters and had hoped the cats would feature more as it felt like they were just in the background (having 3 I know how their characters are all different and how they can help in stressful times). There were twists and turns that I didn't see coming that kept the reader engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for allowing me to read and review a preview copy.

[Sheila · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, First Dates at the Cat Cafe, by Rachel Rowlands, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is book three in the Cat Cafe Romance series. Grace makes coffee at the cat cafe, but really wants to be a matchmaker. Grace wants to find love for other people, when she has no one special in her life. This was a sweet read. Grace is a lovely character, her mother not so much.

[Book Obsessed Susanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though it was a romance without any spice in it, I really like this book 🤭! It might look like it will be a 'Hallmark' predictable story, but it absolutely wasn't. It was very well written, sweet, cute and fun.. No insta love, but falling for each other despite the struggles they have. I adored the cats in the book and loved both main characters a lot 😍. It's a perfect romantic palette cleanser!

[Sara (sarasbooksandcoffee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being a cat lover this book attracted me to it's title! Grace makes coffee at the cat cafe, but really wants to be a matchmaker. Grace wants to find love for other people, I didn't particularly warm to any of the characters and had hoped the cats would feature more as it felt like they were just in the background. The story had potential but ultimately felt underwhelming, and I struggled to connect with the characters, who seemed to lack depth.

[Eeoo · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a cozy, sweet, enjoyable read! I read Snowed In At The Cat Cafe last year and I really enjoyed it, so I was excited for the opportunity to check this out too. It was fun following along with the characters on their love journey and having a woven underlying theme of cats - who doesn't love cats! :) There's one more book in the series I haven't read yet; I'm looking forward to checking it out. If you like cozy romance then this is for you!

[Rissa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The story had potential but ultimately felt underwhelming, and I struggled to connect with the characters, who lacked depth. The writing also felt awkward at times, which made it difficult to stay engaged. Overall, this book wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a cat lover, I thought the cat café setting is adorable. If you want a light, cozy read then this is a perfect fit.