Catching History

by Kaylessa Black

396 pages, Kindle Edition

Expected publication June 5, 2026

About the author

Kaylessa Black spends most of her time in the rich, imaginary worlds inside her head, where she’s a fierce heroine with multiple dashing fantasy boyfriends vying for her affection. In real life, she’s just trying to make it through the day without drifting off into another epic adventure. Balancing reality with her wild imagination, Her life may be ordinary, but fortunately for you, her mind is anything but. She writes to help navigate the chaos of both worlds—one where she’s a queen in another realm, and the other where she’s trying to remember to buy milk.

Reviews

[Maddie Wunsch · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an ARC.

I want to first thank the author for letting me read this wonderful little romance.

I thought this book was SO cute. The FMC was such a unique character and honestly one of my favorite parts of the book. She’s nerdy, eclectic, and eccentric in the best way. Her job and her interests were super unusual and I actually learnt a lot about dead people and history while reading lol. The MMC is more of your classic sports romance MMC , baseball player, tall, handsome, popular. I will say though, he wasn’t the typical cocky “I’m a famous person” MMC which also was great.

I really liked the dynamic between them because it actually felt realistic. You could understand both of their struggles and why they reacted the way they did.

And the spice? Yeah… spicy.

I do wish the book went a little deeper into the FMC’s body confidence journey though. It felt like it was acknowledged a few times and then moved past pretty quickly, and I would’ve loved a little more emotional depth there.

I was also surprised by how little baseball there actually was in the story, not in a bad way at all. Usually sports romances focus heavily on the sport, but this felt more character-focused and I honestly think that made it stand out more.

Overall, this was such a fun read and I finished it in like 24 hours. Definitely recommend checking it out when it releases

[TheBookAddictBri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kaylessa Black is a new author to me and wow… she absolutely did not disappoint. This book had me captivated within the first few pages. Willow is exactly my type of FMC! She is sweet, nerdy, unique, and unapologetically herself in ways not everyone would fully understand.

And Hayden? Whew. A baseball player who texts like it’s Y2K? I was immediately obsessed even if I cringed a little 🤣

I also had some personal connections to parts of this story, which made it hit even harder emotionally for me. Honestly, I think that’s part of why I fell so deeply in love with it.

This is also the first book I’ve read with a genealogist FMC, and I absolutely loved Willow’s passion for research, history, and honoring the dead. It brought something fresh and heartfelt to the story that really stood out to me.

I’m so grateful I got the chance to read an ARC copy because this book easily became one of my top reads of 2026.

[Sarah Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching History is the sweetest mix of romance, humor, heart, and history. Willow and Hayden have such fun chemistry, and their banter made me smile the whole way through. I loved the way Willow’s quirky world as a genealogist collided with Hayden’s baseball life, creating a romance that felt fresh, charming, and completely adorable.

This book has all the best spicy rom-com ingredients: a lovable heroine, a swoony baseball player, laugh-out-loud moments, emotional depth, and just enough tension to keep you turning the pages. It is cute, heartfelt, and so easy to fall into.

A perfect read for anyone who loves baseball romance, opposites-attract energy, genealogy, family history, and a couple you will root for from the very beginning.
Sweet, funny, and totally swoon-worthy!

[Jessica Mathis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Catching History has literally everything. It is funny, emotional, sweet, spicy, and so full of heart. Willow and Hayden’s chemistry is absolutely addictive, and their romance has the perfect mix of banter, tension, tenderness, and heat.
I went in expecting a cute baseball romance, but this book gave me so much more. The genealogy/history element made it feel unique, the romance had me kicking my feet, and the spice was chef’s kiss. Hayden is the kind of book boyfriend you can realistically fall for, and Willow is impossible not to love.
And that bonus chapter? Absolutely destroyed me. I was not prepared to be sobbing after smiling so much, but here we are.
This book is everything I want in a romance: funny, heartfelt, spicy, emotional, and completely unforgettable.

[Teeghan Hartwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW

This book was everything and more! It was humorous, it was a fun meet cute, and it was all the tropes we love most: unexpected romance, jock x nerd, historian x baseball player, curvy MFC, he falls first and he fell harder… it was so perfect.
I instantly fell in love with Hayden and Willow (or should I say Wills). Hayden is so guarded and doesn’t know what loves him- he’s so caught up in the only thing he can control: baseball. Then we have Willow, the historian buff, the spunky girl that although anxious, embraces her true self no matter what.
I would’ve never thought of this romantic duo but my goodness was I pleasantly shocked and so happy about it. I couldn’t get enough of Hayden and Willow!!! Easiest five star read.

[Sarah Hope · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sweet, heartfelt and laugh out loud funny. Throughout the book I was like wait, did Kaylessa Black actually just write this book for me personally? So many references that made me squeal with excitement.
I take issue with a vagine being called a “ring of muscle” but that was probably the only thing that gave me the ick. I’m sorry, it is a big ick.
Very steamy, sometimes too steamy for me but that is a me problem not a book problem. If you love all the spice, you’ll love this!
And I loved the random mixture of baseball and genealogy! It was so quirky and cool, it worked surprisingly well.
I, too, used to hang out in cemeteries, so I loved that part.
Thank you for the arc, I enjoyed this :)

[Steph Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

My girl Kaylessa (I say that as if I actually know her, I don’t, I’m just an advid reader of hers) did it once again! I’ll start by saying I am not typically one for mushy/ normal romance genre (give me the dark 😏) but since I absolutely love Ks writing style I of course had to read this one, and it did not disappoint. Hayden and Willows love story has me in a choke hold and I want more! I love the mixture of creepy/weird and sporty vibes, Willows electric personality, and Hayden figuring out what life means to him, and the spice is spicing!

[Jayden McIntosh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most unique books I’ve ever read! A historian and a pro baseball player? Who knew they would be the PERFECT match? I was NOT expecting that bonus chapter either!! It was literally the most perfect ending and tied everything together, it brought the biggest smile to my face! Also an honorable mention for that playlist!!! So many great songs! This whole book was just absolute perfection!

[ElainesBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book… THIS BOOK IS EVERYTHING TO ME!!!
Hayden and Willow are my Roman Empire. I think of them all the time and whenever I hear Mr Brightside by The Killers it brings me back to them. There is so much heart in this book. The author truly put her heart and soul into it.
I adore Hayden and Willow and TRULY will never forget them.

Xoxo- Elaine

[Jenna Paisley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, I ate this UP. Catching History was cute, funny, spicy, and actually had me emotional as hell. Willow and Hayden’s chemistry was so good, and I loved how different this felt from every other baseball romance.
It had romance, banter, spice, history, all the feels, and then that bonus chapter came for my throat. Like why was I suddenly crying???
Obsessed. No notes.

[K.M. Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Willow and Hayden are perfection together, and their chemistry is so good. This book was cute, spicy, emotional, and impossible to put down.