Chase Me If You Can

by Heather Frances

Two storm chasers find a love that could blow them away in this electric debut romance.

Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels might spend most of her year running after brides, but she lives for the six weeks each spring she chases tornadoes instead. When the prestigious magazine Nature Shots announces a cover contest, Sloane knows that winning could be the chance she needs to break up with taffeta for good and establish herself in landscape photography.

The last thing she needs is a distraction in the form of reckless “Wild Wes” Talbot. A legend among storm chasers, he’s been Sloane’s close, personal frenemy for the last decade and is the man to beat for the cover contest.

Sloane isn’t surprised when Wes gets in an accident that jeopardizes his season. But with an active weather pattern emerging, she doubles down on her need to beat Wes fair and square, and begrudgingly invites him to join her for the remainder of the season.

As they race through hail, high winds, and stormy skies, Sloane realizes that Wes might be more than the rich, flirty, Texas wildcard she thought she knew — and that the feelings blooming between them are more charged and dangerous than the storms they’re chasing.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Adult, He Falls First

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication June 23, 2026

About the author

Heather Frances is a writer, photographer, lifelong weather nerd and occasional storm chaser cleverly disguised as an adult with a day job in finance (though she really prefers writing kissing books). When not at home in New England drinking far too much coffee, you’ll find her somewhere with questionable cell phone service, camera in hand.

Reviews

[Liana Gold]

Ahh just look at the cover!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Heather Frances for an early eARC!

Publication date: June 23, 2026

[hailee]

I HAVE BEEN BEGGING ON MY KNEES FOR A STORM CHASER ROMANCE SINCE SEEING TWISTERS LAST JULY

[Mira · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was intrigued by this story even before this incredible cover existed—just from the synopsis! I haven’t read a plot like this before! The main characters are photographers and storm chasers. Sloane dreams of winning a contest and landing the cover of the prestigious Nature Shots magazine, but standing in her way is her longtime rival, “Wild Wes” Talbot. But when Wes gets into an accident and they end up in the same car, Sloane realizes he’s not who she thought he was.

This is an amazing debut! Heather Frances is a storm chaser herself, and it’s clear she knows what she’s writing about! It was so fresh, exciting, and informative—I could picture everything in my head like a movie! Heather gave us yet another perfect MMC! I fell in love with Wes; he cared so much for Sloane and helped her open up so that she could finally start putting herself first! The migraine scene with Sloane had me melting! And the banter and chemistry between them are incredible! You really have to read this yourself!

The author also touches on many important topics, like being a woman in a male-dominated field, self-sacrifice for others, and parent-child relationships. I devoured this book and now can’t wait for her new releases!

𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬:
✓ rivals to lovers
✓ he falls first
✓ road trip
✓ forced proximity
✓ storm chasers
✓ only one car/bed

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group (Berkley) for the eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[joni ౨ৎ - busy]

this looks SO good im truly so excited!!

[Annie K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers. Storm-chasing photographer edition. Think Twisters… but with spice 😉

When I saw the cover of this book, I knew I had to read it—and it did not disappoint. The storm-chasing aspect added adrenaline and thrill that’s atypical for a standard romance. The story moves fast, racing from storm to storm, making it captivating and edge-of-your-seat exciting. Wes’s wild tendencies made their enemies-to-lovers dynamic feel authentic without ever being rude.

I love an enemies-to-lovers done right—and this was done right. The banter was sharp, funny, and never crossed into being insulting, which is something I see too often in romance.

Once the romance took off… oooof, zing. Sloane and Wes were cute, flirty, and fun, and the story also delved into childhood trauma in a thoughtful way. The author balanced depth and fun perfectly. This is an action-adventure romance for sure.

Definitely one of my favorites this year—I’m even hoping to preorder a signed copy because I loved it so much!

Thanks to NetGalley, and as always a special thanks to Berkley for allowing me the privilege of an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[jill just reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS WAS EVERYTHING I WANTED OUT OF A DEBUT✨ I am absolutely enamored with Sloane and Wes and their story!!! I have never read a storm chaser romance before but now I am OBSESSED! If you liked the reluctant partners/reckless cowboy + Type A FMC aspect of “Twisters” (2024), you’re going to EAT THIS UP!! Bring back men who yearn and are pathetically in love with the FMC!!! (Aka Wes MF Talbot!!)

I adored Wes, he is a top tier MMC FOR SURE!! He’s such a sweet, caretaking, charming, broken, pathetic man and I love him so much. He has a masters degree in Yearn-ology with Sloane, omg this man is down clinically bad, and we love to see it!!! I heavily related to Sloane and was called out by her SO MUCH. I loved seeing them finally accept the love they both deserve!!!

I have literally no notes, this is a perfect book. It is a MUST READ!!!

[The Bern Book · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rating: ★★★½
ARC Review: Yes
I received an advance copy of this book from Berkley via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Standalone or Series: Standalone
POV: First Person, Single POV
Genre: Contemporary
Vibe: Adventurous
Pacing: Medium
Third-Act Breakup: Yes
Spice Level: 🌶️🌶️
Cliffhanger: No
Reread-worthy: Maybe

Tropes:
✵ Frenemies to Lovers
✵ Close Proximity
✵ He Falls First
✵ Road Trip / Forced Proximity


Synopsis: Two rival storm chasers team up in this debut romance! Sloane Michaels has established herself as a successful and highly reliable wedding photographer for most of the year, but she allows herself six weeks off every year to travel the country chasing the wildest of storms. When this year presents an opportunity to enter a prestige magazine photo contest, she jumps at the chance! This means no distractions and no reckless risks. But, when “Wild Wes” gets into an accident that almost jeopardizes his storm chasing season, she begrudgingly invites him to join her for the remainder of the season. As the two spend more and more time together trapped in the tight confinement of her car, she realizes that maybe she misread him all along.

My Thoughts: When I heard about this title, I jumped at the opportunity to read it. I loved the movie Twisters and have been dying for a book version that meets the same flirty and exhilarating vibe as the movie! Two rival storm chasers had my name all over it! I loved their flirty banter, and how Wes made his feelings known from the very beginning. Sloane kept putting off her feelings, but they were slowing burning deep down inside. Wes was such a hot storm chaser, and I kept picturing him wild and carefree in the wind. I loved his little side remarks and the way that he presented himself in such a casual way. He never took himself too seriously, despite his upbringing. Sloane had a lot on her plate with her home life, but I loved that she took the time for herself to do something she loved, even if it was just for a few weeks a year.

I think that this title would’ve done great as a dual POV. I would have loved to hear more of the thoughts that Wes kept to himself. I found myself very drawn to Wes and I would have loved a chance to be inside his head during a lot of these interactions. I was hoping this story would be a little more exhilarating and I really went in expecting the wild side of storm chasing, especially because of the way Wes was described and the fact that it was pitched as “Twisters with more kissing” in the Publishers Marketplace deal report. This book focused more on just taking photos of storms from a distance rather than actually being in the eye of a storm. It was still an amazing concept and I really enjoyed it, but I would have loved a little more adventure.

I still recommend reading this one!


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[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

This might be my favourite romance I've ever read. I read Chase Me if You Can over a day and a half, only begrudgingly stopping to sleep. I was hooked right from the start with Heather Frances's startling intro about lightning, and then I loved the way we meet "Wild Wes," clearly invested in Sloane even as he teases her at a wedding. We can see how much he wants her to be out in the field, chasing storms with him, even as Sloane just wants him gone.

As the story progresses, we get incredible storm chase scenes that I couldn't look away from, even just in text, meaningful relationships and friendships as a protective bubble from the sexism that Sloane faces as a female chaser, and a slightly heartbreaking and personal journey of a parentified eldest daughter still stuck in the patterns of taking care of her mother and younger brothers. These different elements weave together seamlessly as Sloane fights for her own happy place—time away from photographing weddings and managing her family to shoot storms instead—and for a chance to be the first female photographer ever on the cover of a nature magazine.

As readers, we can see from the start that there's more to Wes than Sloane thinks, even if he periodically confirms her beliefs by acting exactly like the reckless, thoughtless bro-dude she views him as. Their dynamic is electric right from the start, and as they are forced to spend more time together, we—and Sloane—see a deeper, more complicated side to him that shows how he was always, in fact, exactly the right match for her, with just a little growth and character development required, as we see towards the end.

Heather Frances's story is unusual and captivating, her descriptions of nature and storms are stunning, her characters and their relationships are entirely endearing, and her writing itself is absolutely superb.

I would recommend this book to absolutely every romance reader. You do not want to miss this book when it comes out in June 2026, and I can't wait for you all to get swept away alongside me.

[Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5
For fans of Twisters and boys who annoy you because they’re in love with you, you’re going to eat this up!!!!

Romance aside, this was so FUN!!!! As a weather geek the storm chasing aspect was such a great plot to follow and the romance was the icing on the cake.

And speaking of the romance, THIS is how you do rivals to lovers. There was the perfect amount of sparring with each other and sharing longing glances 🤭and even before they got together there was always an underlying respect between the two.

Thank you to NetGalley and Heather Frances for the arc all opinions are my own!

[Rachel Pologe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely devoured Heather Frances's stunning debut! Sloane is the type of strong, complex FMC that I love more than anything, and she's perfectly paired with charming, reckless Wes, who had me at his first "darlin'." As they reluctantly work together to level the playing field of a photography competition, Frances's reinvention of my favorite trope, only one bed, into "only one car" had me kicking my feet and giggling. Frances navigates heavier topics like family issues, being a woman in a male-dominated field, and the weight of being the eldest daughter with nuance and care, all within the exciting and dynamic setting of chasing storms. Also, the spice? Premium. This is a book I have not stopped thinking about for months. A must read!!

[jordan εїз · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars 🌟 this tornado chasing couple was toooo cute 🌪️📸🌈 i loved the years of yearning sloanewes had and how they fell into the relationship during the tornado season 🫰 you could really tell how much wes loved sloane and how hard he fell from those first few interactions! this reminded me a lot of the movie twisters (i def felt the glen powell inspo throughout this) 😇 all in all this was a pretty good debut!

a special thank you to netgalley and berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review

[bryanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the girls who grew up loving Twister— it’s our time to shine. READ THIS BOOK. Absolutely amazing. The banter, the spice, the twists (hehe).

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 lovvvvvvvved this i fear my twisters phase is restarting as we speak

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

LOVED! I absolutely inhaled Chase Me If You Can. I read it cover to cover in about 24 hours. I let my 3 year old “paint” our living room walls, so I could avoid parenting and continue to race through this book. What a blast!

This was exactly what I love in a romance novel:

A unique and exciting premise (the original Twister is a perfect movie. I was sold on the plot from the word Go)

Lovable but flawed characters that you wanted to root for. Sloane and Wes felt very real and fully formed.

A main male character who falls first, shows his devotion through small but meaningful acts of service, stands up for her in public, and is possessive but also knows that the she can take care of herself.

Delicious forced proximity.

Chemistry filled banter. Swoon.

And bonus points for feminist themes.

What really made Chase Me If You Can stand out was that, as a reader, I actually got to watch Sloane’s feelings for Wes develop. I can’t remember the last time I read a romance book where I didn’t feel like it was at least a little “insta love”-y. That is NOT the case here. Their connection is realistic and earned. We see Wes care for her and we see Solane’s opinion of him change. It is sooooooo refreshing.

I would have liked the will-they-won’t-they tension to last the tiniest bit longer, but that’s just me. But I’d probably have it last to the 90% mark of the book, so feel free to ignore me. I also never love a 3rd act breakup, but I do like the way everything was resolved.

I would rank this along side some of my all time favorite romance novels. I think it’s earned its place next to Chestnut Springs and Windy City. If you love those men, give Wes a try!

Plus, that cover!

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for letting me read an advanced reader copy!

[Emilie]

Chase Me If You Can was a strong debut! I really liked how the characters felt realistic and layered, especially Sloane. You could see how Sloane's family relationships shaped who she was, and I liked the moments where she started to realize that Wes wasn't like them. Wes was more than he initially appeared to be. I loved the way he took care of Sloane during her migraine and pushed her to stand up for herself. I liked his character and how he and Sloane interacted together. His shower selfies were super cute.  I enjoyed both characters and appreciated their maturity and communication style. Wes did make a dumb choice toward the end, but I liked how the author handled the aftermath. The sadness and longing between the characters were written well, and the final chapters were perfectly angsty. The side characters were okay, though I felt like we could have gotten more from Tracy's character. I thought the storm chasing storyline was neat, the writing was strong, and the characters were fantastic. Heather Frances is definitely an author to follow. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the ARC. 

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Are we sure this is a debut? Because this does not read at all like a debut and that is a credit to Heather and her fantastic writing. I could not wait to read this book as a storm enthusiast and as someone who watches storm chaser live streams, and I was blown away.

Sloane and Wes are both storm chasers and nature photographers, and have spent several storm chasing seasons in each other's orbits. This year though, Sloane is determined to win the Nature Shots magazine photo contest, and leave Wes in her dust. But just as the storm season is getting started, Wes ends up in an accident after getting to close to Mother Nature and Sloane offers to partner with him and chase in the same car.

There are so many elements to this story that just work. The storm chasing road trip, the forced proximity between Sloane and Wes, the rivalry and bantering, but most of all, the utter yearning from Wes. While Sloane has only seen Wes as the happy go lucky chaser who doesn't seem to care, he has been down BAD for Sloane for years. He fell so hard and the way he took care of her was perfection.

Throughout the story, there are also moment where topics like family relationships, self-sacrifice for others, learning to put yourself first and being a woman in a male dominated field and facing possible gossip in very tasteful and fantastic ways. Seeing Sloane and Wes face these moments and learn from each other as they grew put this romance as one of my favorite reads early in 2026.

Thank you so much to Heather Frances and Netgalley for an early copy of Chase Me If You Can!

What to Expect:
Forced Proximity
Dislike to Love
He Falls First
Storm Chasing MCs
Road Trip vibes

[callistoscalling · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a gifted copy; all thoughts are my own!

📖 Book Review 📖 Storm chasing is sexy again and I am here for it. While I would not grab my camera and spend six weeks living on the roads of Tornado Alley to capture the fury of these phenomenal tempests, I will happily binge-read Heather Frances’ swoonworthy novel. Chase Me If You Can is as atmospherically charged as the spinning cyclones rivals Sloane and Wes have been after for a decade. But this year an alliance is formed, creating close proximity in a high pressure situation and Frances delivers a stunning debut novel rich in both plot and character development. If you love romance and checking the weather several times a day (this is a no judgement zone), then this is the book for you!

[Maddy Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟

oh my GOODNESS I could not get enough of this book 🥹

First, thank you Berkley & NetGalley for the arc!!

From the start, I was hooked. I loved the plot - incredibly unique in the best way!! And of course we get a taste of their dynamic, both stubborn but having the best banter because of it 🙂‍↕️

I could go on and on about Wes alone. I LOVE HIM. He paid attention to every little thing & proved it to her again and again. Plus he was so considerate & thoughtful, PLUS HE SAYS “YES MA’AM” AND “EYES ON ME”???!!! I couldn’t get enough of him.

Their relationship was such so sweet - I could read a whole series just about them. Such a great read and I cannot wait to read more from this author!! 💗

[Danielle Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wanted this ARC because it combines two things I absolutely love - storm chasing and romance books. Let me tell you, it did not let me down! 


This story is so well written. The yearning that characters feel for each other mixed with the slow-burn spiral into each other had me blushing and kicking my feet. I adore a shameless flirt and Wes is definitely that.  I loved how real the characters felt. Like they could be people I know in my real life. The storm chasing aspect was done amazingly well. This book made me yearn for a long car ride with the windows down. 


I would recommend this book to anyone who watched Twister and thought, "I wish I knew the story of how Bill and Jo got together." Such an amazing read. 

[kayleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

the twister fanfiction i needed

[Bree · Rating 4 out of 5]

if you loved the movie Twisters, you’ll 100% love this book!!

[✿ capriella ✿]

WHO WAS GOING TO TELL ME THERE IS A BOOK VERISON OF TWISTERS COMING OUT!?! Please I need it now . I’m begging you🧎‍♀️😏

[Kaitlyn]

Oh this one looks FUN

[lucialeelibros]

okay i'm so excited to read this book bc the book cover and blur were amazing!!

[andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the advanced digital copy!

this book is out June 23rd, 2026.

--

chase me if you can by heather frances is, at its heart, a fun and affectionate storm season romance that understands exactly why people want to read about tornadoes, rivalry, and falling in love in close quarters. i went into this already half feral thanks to twisters being my comfort movie (though i think it should have been sapphic with katy o'brian at the helm, glen powell you menace). my expectations were calibrated toward kinetic chaos, high adrenaline, and at least one moment where someone grabs someone else and kisses them like the world is ending. this book gestures toward that energy, but ultimately plays things a little safer than i hoped.

the premise is undeniably appealing. sloane is a wedding photographer who carves out six precious weeks a year to chase storms and photograph nature on her own terms. wes is her longtime frenemy, a charismatic, reckless storm chaser with a reputation and a grin to match. when an accident sidelines him and forces them into the same car, the setup does exactly what it promises in terms of forced proximity and simmering tension. the romance itself is sweet and easy to root for, with a clear he falls first dynamic that works well for these two characters.

where the book diverged from my expectations was in its focus. this story is much more about photographing storms than storm chasing in a meteorological or high risk sense. there is awe and beauty in that, and frances clearly knows and loves this world, but i did miss the edge. i wanted more danger, more urgency, more moments where the weather felt like an active threat rather than a dramatic backdrop. the chase was there emotionally, but i was hoping for something more action filled on the page.

that said, i appreciated that the book took time to unpack wes' recklessness rather than romanticizing it outright. his behavior is interrogated, contextualized, and softened in a way that gives his character more depth than the archetypal wild boy storm chaser. similarly, sloane's relationship with her mother was one of the more compelling emotional threads. the way her mother weaponizes incompetence, relies on sloane as unpaid labor, and excuses her brothers from the same expectations felt painfully real. the book clearly understands the gendered nature of that dynamic, and those moments added texture and weight to sloane's internal conflict.

i do think those threads could have gone further. the emotional conflicts are present and clearly articulated, but they often feel a little underseasoned. i wanted more history, more specificity, more scenes that really dug into the long term consequences of these dynamics. the same goes for the friend group and storm chasing community. there are hints of rich relationships and shared history, but they mostly stay in the background when i would have loved to linger there.

despite those critiques, this was still a good time. the banter is solid, the romance is gentle and satisfying, and the setting is fresh enough to make it feel distinct within the contemporary romance landscape. chase me if you can may not fully deliver the chaos i was craving, but it offers a warm, enjoyable ride with thoughtful character work and an earnest love for storms. a little more danger and depth would have pushed it into standout territory for me, but even as is, it was a fun read that left me smiling and only mildly yelling at the sky for what could have been.

[Brittany Steminist Booknerd · Rating 5 out of 5]

STEM setting: storm chasing!
If you liked Twisters the movie but wished it was a romance, this is definitely for you.
Weather nerds unite! This book has so much meteorology in it, it's glorious! Growing up on the gulf coast where the weather may or may not be trying to kill us half the year, i'm already pretty comfortable with weather related jargon, but the author does a great job of explaining things without making you feel dumb or like you're in a lecture. you can tell the author has experience storm chasing from the level of detail and knowledge woven into the story. As a scientist, I really love reading STEM related books where i get to learn something new, and I got some new cloud formation terms out of this book!
Now on the the characters: although I'm not an eldest daughter (I'm an only child who has always been the mom of the friend group and parented her own teenage mother), Sloane's constant worry and responsible, cautious personality are incredibly relatable. she's super independent and type A, and I love her. Wes is sort of her opposite, at least on the outside, and he does the best he can to get her to let go a little bit of the grip she has on the control of life and everyone around her. I really loved seeing them together.
There is a chapter that absolutely deserves awards in the middle of this book! They have a mature, matter of fact conversation about dealbreakers, and it's beautiful. No mincing words, no judgement, no hiding, just bare honesty and genuine answers. It's glorious! Then Wes turns figuring out her spicy preferences into a game instead of requiring her to instruct him, and he's just what every woman needs in a partner. Perfection!
Side note: I absolutely hate Sloane's mom. You go, Sloane Coco! This book was so good! My only gripe came towards the end with Sloane and the third act conflict. She committed hard to that knee jerk reaction and everyone suffered because of it. It just felt so immature and regressive and a bit out of character for how far she had come in the book. Obviously this is a romance, so it all works out in the end, but I really wanted to shake Sloane and throw my kindle at the wall.
Extra bonus for me: childfree ending!! I am so excited to get book 2 whenever that one gets published! This book was well written, had a good plot and character development, and it was nice and spicy!
4.5 stars!

[Gabby (bookishandballgowns) · Rating 5 out of 5]

These two storm chasing photographers join forces when a mistake leaves one of them out of commission during a photography competition. “Wild” Wes has always been one to take risks during his chases but his luck runs out, leaving him stranded while he waits for his ride to be fixed. His unexpected heroine happens to be the one girl whose buttons he loves to push. Sloane and Wes have always been competitive, but Sloane wants to win this competition based on her own merit. Not because her rival Wes can’t compete anymore.

Cue me screeching with delight when Sloane invites Wes to ride along with her.

This review is going to be entirely biased because I simply love Heather so much as a human. When this book was posted, I was in my check NetGalley each morning like it’s the daily paper era. I was completely sucked in by the cover art and even more excited by the blurb. So you can bet your ass, that I requested this book the day it went up on NetGalley and what a delightful journey it’s been since then. Hundreds of unhinged DMs later, Heather is someone that I now consider a friend. The biggest thank you to Berkley for the eARC and Heather for putting up with my incessant chatter and providing a physical traveling ARC.

I am incredibly in awe of everything Heather poured into this book. Berkley as a debut is no easy feat and this was well earned. This book is so genuinely fun! The banter was adorable and there were many lines that left me giggling out loud. I think we all hope for someone like Wes in our lives. Someone who’s endlessly silly, but caring and loyal to the core.

Wes and Sloane are such precious characters that I wanted to protect with everything in me. I loved watching them grow throughout the book and was cheering for them so hard. They’re both so oblivious and I was squealing with delight each time they would finally acknowledge what they were feeling. Their passion for storm chasing was truly infectious, and had me debating a wild trip of my own.

This was an excellent debut and I’m so excited for what’s coming next. The sneak peek has me so excited for more!

[Lata Gleich · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chase Me if You Can, starts a week before the beginning of tornado season, Where Sloane Michaels is photographing a wedding wear the MMC Wes Talbot is a guest. From the start I love the back-and-forth banter. She basically rolls her eyes at him and thinks a little of him. Meanwhile, he is definitely giving off vibes similar to when a little boy pulls the pigtails of the little girl he likes.

I really liked all the detail into the storm chasing world, you can tell the amount of work the author has put into the story where she has not only has done her due diligence research, but seamlessly weaves it into the story in a way that doesn’t sound like a manual. Little details, weeded throughout the story, giving it a strong backbone throughout the plot.
Examples included…
All the gas stations stock ups for snacks, all the hotel stays and how each hotel is different at 40% in I am really enjoying the selfies from the showers and how each selfie shower is different and some better and some worse. I even love the small details like how she packs her trunk.

I also think that it was smart to show a different type of relationship between the main characters where they don’t just fall into love and then fall into bed immediately. This author really goes through the process of their journey and them experimenting together. I don’t however love the mom and her neediness but I will hold judgment until the end of the book, the FMC has two brothers one a lawyer and one who owns a car garage and only asks for six weeks to be there for their very needy mother and yet couldn’t even go one week, I do like that she starts to stand up for herself with them, and the MMC helps her learn how to do that.

The only thing that made this not a five star read it took me out of the book in mid conversation when they were talking about it was the fact that kids were a no go for them. While I understand, kids aren’t for everyone I include myself in this category. When I’m in my book world, my escape from reality there are certain conversations that can take me out of the book if not done correctly. I feel like this book would’ve been a real contender for a five star for me if they had just left that conversation out. Overall, though this is a story that if your a contemporary story lover this is definitely a book that I would add to my TBR!

Thanks to NetGalley, Berkley Publishing Group and the author, Heather Frances for an early eARC!

[Catherine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Holy shit, this book is everything I've ever wanted. I of course love romance novels, and even though I haven't done it myself, I've been interested in storm chasing for so long. This is a book I've always longed to read. Even though I don't have the technical knowledge of storm chasing, I knew enough to follow along with everything and it was just so engrossing reading about it. I could easily picture all the beautiful scenes described - the fierce, beautiful side of storms, the way storms look with all sorts of backdrops, I've seen those photos before and they are spectacular. Also the other side of it, how what storm chasers chase also ruins people's lives. The few more intense storm chasing scenes were enthralling, though I wanted more haha!

And as for the romance, the chemistry between Sloane and Wes was so so good! I love how it was shown how they got closer, opened up, shared vulnerabilities and gained intimacy slowly during their time together. Because nothing is more intimate than spending that many weeks in the car with someone and seeing more sides of each other, especially in stressful situations! The migraine scene was one of my favourites, how Sloane realized how it feels to be taken care of. I really love how her situation with her mom, her family, was written and how it made her who she is, her fears and why she had some reactions she did, it all made sense. I love when we learned about Wes, too. His reckless behaviour was interesting, and as he had a wake up call and learned to grow out of that thanks to Sloane was really great. I also want to mention I loved their communication - there was angst in between, but how they learned to talk about what they needed to was so good. I loved this book, and I know I’ll keep thinking about it!

Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘊𝘢𝘯 is an electric storm chasing romance debut!

Wedding photographer Sloane hopes to win the respect of her storm chasing colleagues by submitting the perfect photo to a magazine cover contest. She has a limited window of time to catch the perfect shot, and her season isn't what she expected when she helps fellow chaser, Wes, when he's injured in a chase on the side of a country road. As the pair chase together, she develops intense feelings for the man who has loved her for years.

What a strong debut! Heather pens an original, well-executed love story in an enjoyable voice. I was fully convinced of the romance, the tension between Wes and Sloane addicting from the first chapter. I loved the he falls first trope, too. 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘊𝘢𝘯 is an ideal blueprint for romance novels!

I've always been fascinated by meteorology and tornadoes, having seen one up-close myself, and Heather captured the contrasting intensity of the danger and beauty of such monstrous storms. This is the perfect book if you loved Twisters (but wish it had kissing scenes!).

Storm chasing aside, 𝘊𝘩𝘢𝘴𝘦 𝘔𝘦 𝘪𝘧 𝘠𝘰𝘶 𝘊𝘢𝘯 also features complicated characters that feel so full of life. They both have familial struggles, and Sloane and Wes form a bond over shared emotional trauma. Sloane faces growth in her career, in her relationships with her mother and brothers, and as she's forced to confront her misconceptions of "Wild Wes". She boldly breaks barriers within her profession, and I found it such an inspiration as a woman working in a male-dominated field. There's a lot to unpack in this story, but it's portrayed with care and precision.

Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for the advance reading copy!