The Only Catch

by Jess Turner

She came to cook. Love was never on the menu.

After a public meltdown torpedoes her culinary career, chef Chloe Foster reluctantly agrees to a hush-hush job as private chef to Hollywood’s clean-eating heartthrob, Charlie Davis. But instead of sunny L.A., she’s shipped off to a remote island off the coast of Maine. In the dead of winter.

Stuck in a sprawling mansion with a moody A-lister who barely eats, Chloe's hoping to keep her head down, cook her heart out, and regroup. But Charlie turns out to be more complicated—and more tempting—than the tabloids suggest. Then there’s the rugged local lobsterman with a quiet strength and a wicked smile, who offers a different kind of heat.

With her career hanging in the balance and her heart pulled in two very different directions, Chloe must figure out what she really wants: the dream job that once defined her, or the messy, mouthwatering life that’s taking shape on the edge of the Atlantic.

The Only Catch is a delicious love story with a recipe for heartbreak, healing, and second chances—served with butter and a side of steam.

Genres: Romance

312 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 9, 2026

Reviews

[Callie T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.
Are you freaking kidding me?! A perfect romance read! And from a debut author!!! I think I smiled like a goofball for 50% of this book. Gorgeous writing—the food descriptions you could taste, the romance that felt real and hot at the same time, messy but likable characters! I hope everyone reads this book. It’ll be a perfect summer read (but somehow also a delightful cozy book for fall/winter)! If I’m pitching, I’d call it Gilmore Girls meets Top Chef with a dash of Northern Exposure and make it sexy.

[Cora · Rating 5 out of 5]

A polished, assured debut, with a vivid and relatable heroine who leaps off the page. I read this in one obsessed day, and enjoyed every minute of it. For fans of Sophie Cousens, Kristan Higgins, and Beth O’Leary, or anyone who wants a good book to read!

[September Withers]

The Only Catch is a warm, emotionally layered contemporary romance that blends career fallout, personal healing, and unexpected love into a deeply engaging and atmospheric reading experience. Jess Turner crafts a story that feels both intimate and cinematic, set against the isolated beauty of a wintery island that heightens both emotional tension and romantic possibility.

What makes the novel especially compelling is Chloe’s journey of rebuilding after professional collapse while navigating an environment that is as isolating as it is transformative. Her dynamic with the reclusive Hollywood star brings quiet emotional tension and slow-building connection, while the presence of the local lobsterman introduces a grounded, contrasting emotional pull that deepens the story’s romantic complexity.

The setting plays a powerful role in shaping the narrative, with the remote Maine island adding a sense of isolation, reflection, and emotional intensity. The cold, quiet atmosphere contrasts beautifully with the warmth of the developing relationships, allowing the romance and internal conflict to unfold in a natural and emotionally satisfying way.

Jess Turner balances romance, emotional recovery, and subtle tension with ease, creating a story that feels heartfelt, layered, and deeply human. Warm, romantic, and emotionally rich, The Only Catch is a standout contemporary romance that will strongly resonate with readers who enjoy love triangles, healing journeys, and slow-burning emotional connection.

[Amna · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had me craving food every five minutes!

✨ Cosy romance
🍰 Food-filled comfort vibes
💌 Love triangle
🏡 Small town atmosphere

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC of The Only Catch!

The overall vibe of this book was cosy and comforting. Think small-town romance, emotional character journeys, and food descriptions that will absolutely make you hungry while reading.

I’m usually not a huge love triangle person, but this one genuinely kept me guessing about who Chloe would end up with. Chloe, Ben, and Charlie all felt very real because of their individual struggles, and I appreciated how human and relatable they were.

One of my favourite parts was definitely Chloe’s recipes and all the food moments throughout the story. Everything sounded delicious. And honestly, I kept feeling bad for Charlie because he couldn’t enjoy most of it.

While the pacing was slower than what I usually gravitate towards, I still enjoyed the cosy atmosphere and immersive third-person storytelling. I personally wanted a little more emotional tension and drama to completely hook me, but I can definitely see this working well for readers who love slower, character-focused romances.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes maddening. Often delighted. Occasionally giddy. Always mouthwatering.

Does Chloe know what she wants in life? In love? In her career? Of course, because she's "Chloe F&*!ng Foster." Only, she can't even admit to herself that she may desire something and someone different than what she's always strived for. She puts her career as a chef above all else - except for the side dish that causes her job (and her life as she knows it in Chicago) to fall apart.

That's how Chloe finds herself on Deer Haven. In winter. Not exactly the most picturesque time of year to find yourself on an island off the coast of Maine. That doesn't stop Chloe from finding ways to keep herself warm. Charlie or Ben? (Those ways I mentioned she stays warm? Well, they come in the form of good looking men.) Chicago or Deer Haven or even LA? Full control over her own restaurant or the uncertainty of something completely different?

I maybe wanted to tell the author only a few times that Chloe should know better (and I might have once).

This story held my interest nearly all the way throughout and I found myself thinking about Chloe's next move even after I put the book down for a bit. A great read for summer and for fans of Elin Hilderbrand.

[caid · Rating 3 out of 5]

⠀
thank you netgalley for the arc to review! all thoughts are my own.

my review of the only catch ... 3.5⭐️

this book felt like summer and winter all wrapped up in one, and i think others would agree. it also reminded me of home, cape breton island, with it’s fishing season and snowy landscape. it even mentioned nova scotia! this book revolves around our main character, chloe, and her messy relationships. after leaving her job in chicago ( not by choice! ) she takes on a private chef gig in maine. there she meets a very handsome lobsterman and a movie star. it was super fun reading about her relationships with both of these men and seeing where it would lead. this book is jess turners debut novel, and i would 100% read more of her. ☺️

[Rita · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

This is one of those books where the well written descriptions of the food became the primary plot line… and the romance was an afterthought for me.

There was potential for Chloe to be a great main character in the beginning of the book. Sure, she messed up royally and had some major flaws, but she seemed endearing with her budding romance with Ben. And then she wasn’t. Her self sabotage was painful to read about and by the end of the book I started to think that Ben deserved a lot better.

I may have come for the romance, but I sure stayed for the food. This book makes me want to go back to Chicago AND Maine for their amazing food scenes and mouth watering dishes.

Thank you to NetGalley and City Owl Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Kelly Powell · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Only Catch was the perfect escape read. I’m not usually a third-person narration girlie, but I’m so glad I pushed through because the descriptive writing completely won me over. The food, OMG the food, I was drooling ha. The snowy coastal setting, the atmosphere, it all felt so real. And the love triangle? Messy, complicated, and absolutely delicious. This story served up heartbreak, healing, and romance, and now I’m craving lobster rolls and the lobsterman who catches them.

Thanks to the Author, City Owl Press and NetGalley for an eARC. All opinions are my own.

[Sara H · Rating 5 out of 5]

This love story had me absolutely hooked from the first
chapter to the last! With unexpected twists and turns, I enjoyed every page of this gorgeous writing about gorgeous food and gorgeous (but very real and relatable) people. If you love cooking, Maine, Chicago, Vermont, or just a great story - this is a must read. An extraordinary debut!

[Caroline Trussell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was the copyeditor for this book and I loved, loved reading it!