Lexi Marlowe has spent years building her fashion brand from nothing, while carefully guarding the secrets of her past.
Then she meets Christophe Montclair – charming, sophisticated and heir to a fortune, he sweeps her off her feet with glamorous parties and his endless high-society connections.
When he gets down on one knee, Lexi barely hears the alarm bells ringing in the back of her mind. Is he too good to be true, or is she simply in love?
Their honeymoon period is soon littered with red flags. Christophe won’t talk about his past, claiming he values his privacy. Tense phone calls leave him looking over his shoulder. Then the police turn up with questions about a murder…
Lexi’s new husband is hiding something big. But he isn’t the only one who married a stranger…
A twisty, addictive psychological thriller for fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage and The Last Mrs Parrish.
Readers rave about Samantha Vérant’s psychological thrillers:
“Secrets behind closed and locked doors, deceit, manipulation, entitlement, money to burn and twists that keep you from putting this book down.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The story swept me off my feet and I raced along on this rapid river… the intrigues, the lies and the twists… I was shocked.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Readers will not put this book down until they know who wins… with twists at every turn, this gripping tale will take you on the ride of your life.”Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“I’m at a loss for words other than what a story! This book will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very beginning. If you are into a plot-twisting story… this book is waiting for you.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Tremendous… fast-paced, intriguing and wholly entertaining… characters that jump from the page and a narrative laced with caustic wit. A one-sit read for this reader who relished every single page.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A gripping thriller that will have you rapidly turning the pages until you reach the spectacular ending.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Wow! I was up through the wee smalls reading… Don't miss this gripping tale, sure to keep you up all night too. Brava.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This book gets so wild the more you read! I was totally hooked from page 1 and loved the different perspectives, how the characters evolved.” Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Samantha Vérant is a travel addict, a self-professed oenophile, and a determined, if occasionally unconventional, at-home French chef. Over the years, she’s visited many different countries, lived in many places, and worked many jobs— always on the search for the one thing that truly excited her. Then, one day, she found everything she’s been looking for: a passion for the written word and true love. Writing not only enabled her to open her heart, it led her to southwestern France, where she’s now married to a sexy French rocket scientist she met over twenty years ago, a stepmom to two incredible kids, and the adoptive mother to one ridiculously adorable Charteux cat. When she’s not trekking from Provence to the Pyrénées, tasting wine in American-sized glasses, or embracing her inner Julia Child while deliberating what constitutes the perfect boeuf bourguignon, Samantha is making her best effort to relearn those dreaded conjugations.
THE PERFECT CATCH BY THE PHENOMENAL SAMANTHA VERANT. Release date set for the 27th of January 2025. Always a 5 ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ ✨ with any book that's written by Samantha. The cover alone is absolutely Stunning. Samantha has a way when she tells a story it literally grabs you by the throat and pulls you into the book immediately and nothing gets done because you literally can't put the book down. Outstanding writing. Outstanding story. I just love the author. My first book was The Private Chef and I instantly became such a huge fan and now I don't care what she writes because I will always read her work. Multiple POVs. Great characters and loved how It all unfolded. Add It to your TBR pile guys. This is one you won't want to miss.
Perfect man or Red flags galore? We follow Lexi Marlowe who is a rising fashion entrepreneur and is starting her new business. She meets Christophe Montclair the handsome charming and rich man who sweeps her off her feet instantly. After a whirlwind night she wakes up married to Christophe and the honeymoon from Hell begins. Is Christophe who he says he is? Are things supposed to be this perfect all the time?
I can’t give too much away, but holy crap this one kept me on my toes! I was so invested the entire time. I absolutely loved the way the story laid out. Each and every piece came together perfectly in the end. Honestly like a lifetime movie with so many shocks and twists I really couldn’t keep up. I didn’t find any slow parts throughout the book, but I did find some confusing moments here and there and I had to go back to reread those parts but other than that it was a very interesting and engaging domestic thriller! The ending did catch me by total surprise.
Thank you NetGalley, storm publishing and Samantha Verant for the chance to read and review A perfect catch. These are all of my honest thoughts and opinions. 4.5/5⭐️
I’ve mentioned it many times in my reviews: when something seems too good or too perfect to be true, it usually is—and once again, that proves to be the case here.
Sometimes someone sweeps you off your feet and you feel it deep in your bones: this is the person you want to spend your life with. But does that mean you’re blinded by love, being manipulated, and will end up paying the price later on? Sometimes that’s exactly what happens. But sometimes you are the one with a hidden agenda—and the real question becomes: who is manipulating whom?
It’s clear that someone is going to fall victim to manipulation, but who will come out on top? Is it Christophe, the charmer, or Lexie, the aspiring entrepreneur?
Little by little, the author reveals the true nature of the main characters. Are they each other’s victims, or are they both victims of their pasts? Only time will tell…
I truly enjoyed watching the characters and their manipulations unravel, though at times I was shocked by the cold-bloodedness they displayed. These are the perfect ingredients for a gripping thriller.
Sometimes the good guy wins—but sometimes it’s simply the least bad one.
I found this a very enjoyable read and I’m already looking forward to the author’s next story. 5 stars
An immersive, mind-blowing story with compelling characters that will keep you guessing until the very end. Everyone has secrets in this book, and multiple twists will make your head spin! Everything isn't as it seems and once you think you have it figured out, guess again. A must read for thriller fans!
I received an arc copy from NetGalley. Thank you! This was a fun, quick read that I enjoyed. I could not put this one down. I thought the characters were relatable (although Alexis could drive me crazy at times!) but overall the story had a great flow and character traits. Definitely a fun little con thriller and the ending was surprising!
Glitter, gold and greed! What a ride! In this high-stakes game of deception, debonair Christophe is a master of the long con, effortlessly swindling rich women to fund his opulent lifestyle. However, in Lexi, he may have finally met his match. The narrative is a brilliant maelstrom of manipulation, lies, and sheer arrogance. I was completely glued to the relentless pace of this cat-and-mouse thriller, where every chapter drips with personas, pretences and high-society tension. As the stakes escalate to a fever pitch, you’re left desperately tearing through the pages to find out who will survive the fallout. It is a gripping, decadent read where only one can win—but at what cost?
As I started reading this book, I wrote down "romantic thriller". But a couple more short chapters in I changed my self-description to dramatically romantic thriller. If that description doesn't fit into any category, so be it.....
We find two main characters in our story: Lexie Marlowe and Christophe Montclair. Both are working on starting up new companies, and have blueblood backgrounds.
Kinda. Lexie and her partner and bestie Tricia are suspicious of the suave Christophe. But somehow, in an inebriated state, Lexie ends up married to Christophe and the real thrill begins.
The book is full of thrills all along the way. Psychological Thrillers are my thing, and this book certainly served that up, over and over again. I could not put it down. My only issue is that there were too many twists for both characters; the ending seemed a bit cheesy. I might be in the minority here, but I think the cover picture could be better.
Still. I'd recommend the book and give it 4 stars.
Thank you to NetGalley and to Storm publishing for this ARC in return for an honest review.
A Perfect Catch is a fast-paced, twisty mystery thriller that was hard to put down. Lexi, an ambitious and rising fashion entrepreneur, meets the charming Christophe, and their whirlwind romance quickly escalates into a spontaneous Vegas wedding. From the start, though, it’s clear that not everything about Christophe adds up.
As the story unfolds, Lexi begins piecing together clues and questioning him. Is he truly who he claims to be, or something far more dangerous? I won’t give spoilers, but the twists kept me fully engaged.
This book was glamorous, fun, and full of surprises.
Thank you Storm Publishing and author Samantha Verant for gifting me a copy of The Perfect Catch via NetGalley 🤍 This is my honest and voluntary review:
My overall rating: ⭐⭐⭐ My character rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ My plot rating: ⭐⭐⭐
My thoughts: ✔️ I enjoyed all the secrets and lies between Lexi and Christophe. This kept the plot interesting! ✔️ I really love multiple points of view and this book had it. We not only got Lexi and Christophe's points of view but we also got the detectives and that was an added bonus to the plot! ✔️ I didn’t like that the book kept jumping between calling Lexi’s friend Tricia and Trixie… Trixie isn’t shot for Tricia, as far as I know, so this just seems unnecessary and confusing. ✔️ I was bored in the beginning of the book and thought about DNFing it a few times, however I decided to push through and it did get better. I just felt the beginning of the story jumped around, there wasn’t much background context and it seemed hard to follow along not knowing what was really going on. Also, hardly anytime went by before Lexi loves Christophe, if all seemed rushed and unrealistic. I now understand why Lexi and Christophe's relationship was quick and the book started to make a lot more sense as I continued to read.
The Perfect Catch is a campy whodunnit that follows Alexis, an up and coming athleisure fashion designer. When she attends the fashion show in Las Vegas, she is introduced to some very very rich people that could change the trajectory of her company. Her best friend and partner is skeptical, but Alexis thinks she knows what she is doing, so much so that that she marries a rich guy on a whim in Vegas. Will this be the boost her company needs or are the red flags enough to bring it down? I didn’t particularly care for this style of book (think Knives Out), but if you do, this would be an entertaining one to read. Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Books for the ARC!
I got sucked into this thriller - the glitz, the glamour, the cons, the lies! I enjoyed all of the perspective changes and the shifts in the characters. At a point, you wonder who is conning who…but as one grows seemingly more confident, the other grows more desperate and unhinged. I also really liked the Detective’s perspective too and the way history comes back to bite you sometimes. This was my first Samantha Vérant novel and I’m definitely eager to read others!
Thank you to NetGalley for a copy - all opinions are my own.
I wanted to love this book but it wasn’t for me. I loved the basic plot and the twist at the end was good but most of the book I was bored. If there had been any sort of love connection on Lexi’s end, it would have been a more authentic storyline. There was no connection at all with her and christophe yet at times she said she loved him or it was hard to leave. He never wooed her at all and from the beginning she felt he was a liar so I didn’t understand her at all. I did like that final twist at the end.
Thank you #NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Samantha Verant for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters and romance was very under developed and lacked depth. I felt like the characters weren’t really well written. I couldn’t really relate or get into the main female character being in the fashion industry and I felt like Franco’s death was pushed to the side/not highlighted as much as I would have wanted for a crime/thriller novel.
I just really couldn’t connect. Both main characters were unreliable and while I do like that characteristic most of the time for thrillers, this felt too messy. I also felt like I wanted to shake Lexi for not being realistic and just getting the marriage annulled and leaving him. It was like over and over again she was blind to his antics until she couldn’t be blind anymore.
Finished the book, underwhelming. Probably wouldn’t recommend to others. I’ll give it 2.5
Lexi Marlowe has finally gotten recognition after years of building her brand, LexICON. During the LA Fashion Week, Christophe Montclair has an interest in Lexi and her brand. As he owns a skincare company and is heir to wealth! He wants to collaborate as he thinks these two companies have synergy! Will Lexi find the success she is looking for? Is it too good to be true?
This twisty page-turning thriller will keep you entertained from the first page to the last! A domestic thriller with wealthy, misbehaving characters that quickly becomes a page-turner! Just when you think you have figured it out, something else is revealed. I love how this author keeps you guessing until she shocks you with the truth! A must-read for those who enjoy a domestic thriller!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Book review: Samantha Vérant’s The Perfect Catch. Storm Publishing, with sincere thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.
There’s something irresistibly cozy about settling into a psychological thriller that promises glamour on the surface and danger underneath, and The Perfect Catch delivers exactly that kind of reading experience. From the opening chapters, I was pulled into Lexi Marlowe’s carefully curated world. She’s smart, ambitious, and self-made, with a fashion brand she’s built from nothing and a past she keeps firmly locked away. When Christophe Montclair enters her life, dripping in charm, money, and high-society ease, I felt that immediate twinge of suspicion that every thriller reader knows well. He’s handsome, wealthy, attentive, and a little too perfect.
Samantha Vérant excels at creating a sense of forward momentum. This is a fast-paced psychological thriller that keeps the chapters short and the tension simmering. The romance unfolds quickly, the engagement happens faster than my comfort level, and that uneasy feeling never quite leaves. Lexi notices the red flags. The secretive phone calls. The evasive answers. The way Christophe refuses to talk about his past. But love has a way of quieting logic, and watching Lexi wrestle with her instincts made her feel very human, even when I wanted to gently shake her and say, “Please stop ignoring your gut.”
The story leans far more toward dramatic suspense than romantic suspense, which I appreciated. This is not a love story dressed up as a thriller. It’s a tense game of deception where both partners are hiding things, and the marriage becomes less about commitment and more about control. Multiple points of view add layers to the narrative and keep the reader guessing about who knows what and who is manipulating whom. While a few twists felt predictable if you read a lot of this genre, the ride itself was still thoroughly gripping.
Because the pace is so brisk, there are moments where events are narrated rather than deeply explored, and I did find myself wishing certain scenes had been allowed to unfold more slowly. Some of the characters are intentionally unlikeable, smug, and manipulative, which will divide readers. Personally, I think that unpleasant edge fits the story’s themes. This is a book about secrets, entitlement, and the masks people wear to get what they want, and not everyone is meant to be likable.
One quote that perfectly sums up the heart of this novel is, “When you marry a stranger, you don’t just inherit their name, you inherit their secrets.” That idea sits at the core of The Perfect Catch and makes it such an addictive read. The tension escalates steadily until the truth begins to surface, and by then, there’s no clean way out for anyone involved.
If you enjoy twisty psychological thrillers with fast pacing, morally messy characters, and a glossy, high-society setting hiding something far darker, this book deserves a spot on your TBR. It’s the kind of thriller that’s ideal for a weekend binge or a holiday read when you want suspense without a massive emotional commitment.
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kate Wiley for the ARC. I went into this thinking I was reading a romantic thriller. A few short chapters later, I immediately upgraded that label to a dramatically romantic psychological thriller, and honestly, that fits perfectly, even if it doesn’t belong neatly in a box.
The story follows Lexi Marlowe, a driven fashion entrepreneur who’s built her brand from the ground up while keeping her past tightly locked away. Enter Christophe Montclair: rich, charming, well-connected, and seemingly perfect. He sweeps Lexi into a whirlwind of luxury, romance, and high society, and before she (or we) can properly process the red flags, they’re married. Slightly tipsy decisions included. 😬
From that moment on, the tension doesn’t let up.
What I loved most was how the book plays with perception. Christophe feels too good to be true, secretive phone calls, vague answers about his past, and then the police show up asking questions about a murder. But Lexi isn’t exactly an open book either. That constant question of who is manipulating whom? kept me turning pages fast.
Psychological thrillers are my thing, and this one absolutely delivered on suspense. The twists come thick and fast, sometimes almost too fast. While I enjoyed the rollercoaster ride, I did feel that there were perhaps one or two twists too many by the end, which made the finale a little cheesy for my taste. I may be in the minority here, but I also wasn’t fully sold on the cover; the story itself is stronger than the packaging.
That said, the character work is excellent. Watching Lexi and Christophe slowly unravel their masks slipping, their motives becoming clearer, was deeply satisfying and, at times, genuinely shocking in its cold-bloodedness. The author drip-feeds revelations so well that you’re constantly reassessing who deserves your trust (answer: probably no one).
This book leans hard into themes I always love in thrillers: deception behind closed doors, money and power, entitlement, manipulation, and the dangerous idea that love can blind you, or be used as a weapon.
Sometimes the good guy wins. Sometimes it’s just the least bad one.
Despite a slightly over-the-top ending, I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would absolutely recommend it to fans of twisty, fast-paced psychological thrillers. A solid 4-star read for me, addictive, dramatic, and impossible to put down.
🏁 FINAL TAKE: If you want a book that proves even the "good guys" have sharp edges, this is it. It’s twisty, addictive, and perfect for fans of The Housemaid. Sometimes the "winner" is just the person who is the least bad.
The Perfect Catch is a slick, addictive psychological thriller that pulls you in with glamour and romance before revealing the shadows lurking beneath the surface. Samantha Vérant delivers a story that feels deliciously escapist at first—fashion shows, glittering parties, and a whirlwind romance—only to twist into something far darker and more unsettling.
Lexi Marlowe is an instantly compelling heroine. She’s ambitious, self‑made, and fiercely protective of the past she’s worked so hard to outrun. When Christophe Montclair sweeps into her life—charming, elegant, and seemingly perfect—it’s easy to understand why she lets herself fall. Vérant captures that intoxicating early‑love haze beautifully, making the shift into suspicion all the more gripping.
The red flags start subtly: evasive answers, tense phone calls, a past he refuses to discuss. And then the police arrive with questions about a murder, shattering the illusion of the perfect husband. The tension builds steadily as Lexi begins to realise that Christophe isn’t the only one keeping secrets—and that the truth about their marriage may be far more dangerous than she ever imagined.
Vérant’s pacing is sharp, the atmosphere glamorous yet claustrophobic, and the twists land with satisfying precision. Fans of The Housemaid, The Perfect Marriage, and The Last Mrs. Parrish will feel right at home in this world of manipulation, hidden motives, and relationships built on shifting sand.
A stylish, twist‑filled thriller that keeps you turning pages late into the night. The Perfect Catch is a reminder that sometimes the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.
with thanks to Samantha Vérant , the publisher and netgalley for the ARC
The Perfect Catch by Samantha Vérant was a deliciously twisty psychological thriller that kept me hooked from start to finish. I flew through this one in just two sittings because once the tension kicked in, I couldn’t stop questioning everyone’s motives.
The cat and mouse dynamic between Lexi and Christophe is the real standout. From the outside, Christophe seems almost too perfect, charming, wealthy, and effortlessly confident, but that polished surface cracks quickly. At the same time, Lexi is far from a passive victim. I loved that she has her own secrets and sharp edges, which adds real depth to the story and keeps the power balance constantly shifting between them.
The pacing is excellent, with short chapters that make it incredibly easy to keep reading “just one more.” Every time I thought I had a handle on where the story was going, another reveal forced me to rethink everything. While a couple of twists were slightly predictable, they didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment. The tension builds steadily, the writing is sharp, and the glamorous settings contrast beautifully with the darker psychological undercurrents.
What really worked for me was how flawed and layered the characters were. No one is entirely innocent, and that moral gray area made the story even more compelling. The ending felt satisfying and fitting for the journey, tying together the deception and emotional stakes in a way that worked well for me.
If you enjoy fast paced psychological thrillers with messy characters, shifting loyalties, and plenty of “oh no” moments, The Perfect Catch is absolutely worth picking up. A gripping and entertaining read that kept me guessing until the end.
This one hooked me quickly with its glamorous setup and something’s not right vibe. A whirlwind romance, a too-perfect husband, and those little red flags that keep piling up had me side-eyeing everyone from the start. Two things immediately intrigued me about this book: the author and the fact that the main character works in fashion—one of my many favorite interests. That glamorous backdrop added an extra layer of fun to the story and made it even easier to sink into the drama and secrets unraveling beneath the surface.
The pacing is quick and the chapters are easy to fly through, making it a bingeable read. I liked how the tension slowly crept in rather than hitting all at once, and the twists kept me curious enough to keep turning pages. That said, there were a few elements that didn’t fully sit right with me. While the main character is written as a strong woman, I didn’t always find her particularly likable, which made it harder to fully connect at times. There were also a few moments that felt pretty far-fetched and pulled me out of the story, affecting the overall believability. But then again, this is a fictional psychological thriller, so a bit of suspension of disbelief comes with the territory.
Overall, Samantha Verant’s newest work is an entertaining, bingeable psychological thriller that leans into deception, messy relationships, and page-turning tension.
Another big thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.
From the beginning of this book I was greatly intrigued by it. I wanted to know more about the characters and who they were. Defiantly knew a few were not who they said they were and wanted to know why, and what were they up to? So, this book is a mind bender and very twisted. I would not consider this to be a thriller, but some people might.
Alexis and Trisha are in the process of getting a new clothing line launched and into the right hands to become the next big thing. Alexis, they call her Lexi is the designer and she calls the line Lexicon! This is a line of sports wear. Trisha was helping her get it launched by doing anything and everything she could. including getting them into conventions. This is where they meet Vescari, a very big deal in the fashion world. Vescari introduced them to Christophe. Then again invited them to his party. When Lexi's eyes landed on Christophe she was done, smitten, in lust! He was the tall dark and handsome couldn't take your eyes off of him, kind of guy. Unfortunutly, he used this to his advantage. He also used it to con people out of their money and women out of their pants. Lexi didn't know what kind of man he was until it was until it was too late.
This was a decent book and yes, it is sort of boring in spots not as thrilling as I expected it to be. Still over all it was a decent book.
Thank NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the early read!
I love a good thriller but I did not get on with this at all. Every character in it is just awful, the only person to half-like is the Detective and he doesn't get enough page time to really be impactful. Most of the other characters are manipulative, smug, arrogant and just generally lamentable. Lexi, the lead female character isn't as unlikeable as everyone else, however she does make a series of knowingly stupid decisions and runs headlong into trouble and danger - while still trying to manipulate a manipulator.
The really sad thing about this is that the concept of the book is actually very clever - two people who aren't what they appear trying playing something of a cat and mouse game with one another - but I think it tries to be too clever at times and it's so rushed that the moments which could have been real twists ended up going by with something of a disappointing fizzle. Although the lead characters do have their backstories told so the reader sees how they ended up how they are now (which I enjoyed) there was really not a lot of present-day character development and no subtlety or mystery in the writing.
This is a great holiday read or a weekend read if you don't want to have to invest in anything too much, I just didn't click with this sadly.
-Thanks to NetGalley for granting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review -
The Perfect Catch by Samantha Verant is a tense, addictive, and fast-paced psychological thriller that feels like being on a wild rollercoaster ride. It’s the kind of story that makes you question how well you ever really know the person you love, and it was the perfect way to finish my year-long reading challenge.
I’ll admit, I had a bit of a struggle getting into the story at first, but once it picked up, it was incredibly smooth sailing. The writing is excellent and constant; things were always happening, moving the narrative forward without any of those boring lulls I hate. It truly felt like a ride where the author knew exactly what she was doing, allowing me to enjoy the highs, lows, and twists without feeling lost.
The main character, Lexi, was a standout for me. She’s interesting and very easy to connect with. Even though she finds herself in a terrible situation, she never makes "stupid" choices, which made me root for her even harder. The cast size was also perfect—there weren't too many people to keep track of, which allowed for excellent character development across the board.
With several sharp reveals and a bumpy, wild plot, this book kept me turning pages right until the end. If you want a well-written thriller that balances high-society secrets with a protagonist you actually like, this is a fantastic choice!
The Perfect Catch is a stylish psychological thriller that blends ambition, marriage, and manipulation into a steadily unsettling narrative. The story follows Lexi, a driven and complex protagonist whose polished exterior begins to crack as hidden truths surface. What initially feels like a glamorous setup gradually transforms into a tense exploration of control, trust, and power.
The pacing leans toward a slow burn at first, focusing heavily on atmosphere and character, but this deliberate build works in the book’s favor. As the story progresses, the tension escalates naturally, and the twists feel earned rather than shocking for the sake of it. Lexi’s voice is sharp and engaging, with moments of clever banter that balance the darker themes without undermining them.
The prose is clean, polished, and easy to sink into, making this an addictive read despite its heavier subject matter. Overall, The Perfect Catch is best suited for readers who enjoy character-driven psychological thrillers with a glossy surface and an undercurrent of unease — gripping, entertaining, and thoughtfully paced.
I’ve said it a million times. I love a con artist story, and The Perfect Catch absolutely delivered.
Lexi is intelligent, ambitious, and self-made. Christophe is charming, wealthy, and seemingly perfect. Their relationship moves quickly, wrapped in glamour and romance, but it isn’t long before subtle cracks begin to show. Secrets, evasive behaviour, and unanswered questions slowly build until it becomes clear that not everything, or everyone, is as they seem.
What stood out most to me was the shifting power dynamic. This isn’t a straightforward good-guy versus bad-guy story. Instead, it’s a tense psychological game where manipulation runs both ways, and you’re constantly reassessing who holds the upper hand. The pacing is sharp, the tension is steady, and the twists feel earned rather than overdone.
Slick, twisty, and quietly unsettling, this is a stylish psychological thriller that explores deception, ambition, and the lies we’re willing to believe.
4.5⭐️
Thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
The Perfect Catch is a very well-written and fast-paced story; it felt like things were always happening, constantly moving the narrative forward without any lulls. The main character, Lexi, was interesting and easy to connect with. She found herself in a bad situation, but I never felt like she was making stupid choices, so I found myself truly rooting for her to succeed. The cast size was perfect—not too many characters to keep track of—and the character development was great across the board. Plot-wise, there were several good reveals throughout the book that kept me turning pages quickly. Even though there was one obvious non-surprise, the actual twist at the end was excellent and I was genuinely surprised by it. This is a great book for anyone who loves psychological thrillers where the twists come steadily instead of one big dump at the end of the book. #ThePerfectCatch #NetGalley
This author knows how to serve up a psychological thriller on a silver platter and make you want more even after you finish the book. Wow. I am still sitting here wondering where I have been for the past few hours.
One very good lesson from this book is if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is to good to be true. It is very evident from the beginning pages that something is amiss. The lies, the deceitful charm, the snake in the grass and the greed all make this a compelling read. The more I read the more I started wondering who was the cat and who was the mouse? Someone is going to come out on top smelling like roses, but you will have to wend your way through many surprising twists, turns and oh my gosh moments before you will find out. I am still stunned. If thrillers with shocking twists are your thing, you do not want to miss this one.
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The author states in the notes at the end of the book that her inspiration for this novel comes from real life events. Firstly when she was conned out of money, which fortunately she got back and secondly when she learnt about the world of fashion whilst launching her own handbag line. Events that certainly gave her a brilliant framework for this mind-blowing story.
In 'The Perfect Catch' we have the two main characters, Lexi Marlowe and Christophe Montclair. The reader is taken on a fast paced suspenseful journey' We soon learn that Christophe is a con-man who manipulates rich women, he just may have picked the wrong one this time though.
A quick read full of twists and turns, recommended for thriller readers.
With thanks to NetGalley, Storm Publishing and the author for the opportunity to read and review.
The Perfect Catch by Samantha Vérant Pub Date: Jan 27 2026
The heart of this story is Lexi Marlowe. Unlike many thrillers that rely on naive protagonists, Lexi is a refreshingly smart, self-made fashion designer. Her vulnerability feels natural as she wrestles between her logic and her growing love for the seemingly perfect Christophe Montclair.
The book’s greatest strength is the "psychological chess match" between its two leads. The relationship begins with the ultimate high-society whirlwind romance—glamorous parties and elite connections—but quickly descends into a tense game where the power balance constantly shifts.
The writing is fast-paced and constant, moving forward through short chapters without "boring lulls". I highly recommend this book.
I'd like to thank #ThePerfectCatch #NetGalley and #StormPublishing for providing me with an E-ARC of this fantastic book.
Received this book via Storm Publishing, a big thank you. I thought the book content was more of a Romance novel with the odd murder thrown in, as Alexis Lexi for short and partner have thrown everything into making a name for themselves, with the fashion they design, but Lexi's surname just happens to be the same name as a very big entrepreneur. so along comes, Cristophe Montclair and he is determined to get a part of that business if not all of it. He is a trickster by trade, and is his name Montclair, as everything he touches seems to turn to gold. People have started to turn up dead. Who is to blame, Christophe or Lexi? I was a little disappointed that the crimes were never really investigated like police procedures, which is why I have said this book is more of a romantic novel,# and to work out who is the best scammer. I would also like to thank Netgalley for the opportunity to download the novel from Storm Publishing.
The Perfect Catch is a sweet, summery romance with plenty of heart, humor, and slow‑burn feelings that make it a joy to read from start to finish. Samantha Vérant delivers a charming story full of relatable characters, witty banter, and that warm, beachy atmosphere that feels like sunshine for your soul.
The romance between the leads is the heart of the book — it’s slow to ignite, but every little moment builds in a way that feels genuine and satisfying. The chemistry between the characters is effortless, and Vérant’s voice makes the emotional ups and downs feel authentic rather than melodramatic. I loved how the story balanced light‑hearted fun with deeper themes about growth, trust, and learning to open your heart again.
The pacing is steady and enjoyable, with just the right blend of flirtation, conflict, and heartfelt connection. Whether you’re drawn in by the picturesque setting or the engaging characters, this book delivers a feel‑good romance that’s easy to fall for.