He wants her company. She wants him gone. Two weeks in the middle of nowhere is about to change everything.
Aurora Walker’s nonprofit, Hatch, is crumbling. It’s out of time, out of money, and one bad decision away from vanishing forever.
Enter Emerson Hall. CEO. Corporate shark. Infuriatingly magnetic man who wants to remake everything she’s built.
His offer?
Two weeks in remote Timor-Leste. Aurora shows him what Hatch really does. He watches, listens, and if she convinces him, he invests on her terms.
She accepts, but she shouldn’t.
Because the man who shows up in Timor isn’t the one she’s prepared for. He fixes broken-down cars in brutal heat, is universally beloved by children (and universally hated by chickens), and touches her like she’s something worth being careful with.
He also has particular ideas about what it means to take care of someone.
And somehow, impossibly, she’s starting to want to let him.
Perfect for fans of The Hating Game and It Happened One Summer. Hatch is a slow-burn, opposites attract romance with sharp banter, forced proximity, and a touch starved MMC who only has eyes for one stubborn, brilliant woman.
Steph Stewart is a romance author from Western Australia. When she's not writing, she's either reading or hiking somewhere beautiful with her border collie Levi and pretending it's research.
Hatch is her debut novel, the first in the Wildwood Series.
You can find her on Tiktok at: @steph.stewart.author
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5 (Rounded up) 🌶️🌶️ Thank you Steph Stewart for the ARC! All opinions are my own
I really like the premise of this book. Throughout it you can tell by the writing that the author has a genuine care for the work that Hatch does in the story. Aurora and Emerson were great characters, the banter between them was light and funny, and I could genuinely see them working as a couple. I just feel like there wasn’t a lot of emotional depth to their character and relationship building. I did enjoy the aspect of the nonprofits work and what they were doing, and I loved that Emerson was not the cold CEO that he seems.
Overview Aurora is the mastermind behind Hatch, a not-for-profit company investing in equal opportunity education. There’s only one problem: she’s weeks off filing for bankruptcy.
In walks Emerson, bigwig nepo-grandbaby, looking to leave his mark on the family legacy. Are his intentions to help Hatch pure, or does he have ulterior motives?
The Verdict Hatch was a wholesome read. The concept of Aurora's company was super interesting, and I loved that we got a first-hand look at the impact it was having on communities.
The chemistry and banter between Aurora and Emerson were good when they were present, but could have been fleshed out further. Many decisions felt rushed and not fully explored, particularly the CEO portion of the story. That being said, other storylines were much more fulfilling, especially the resolution of the story.
As romance readers, we LOVE a well-executed trope, and the use of ‘only one room’ was a chef's kiss 🧑🍳. However, the ‘enemies-to-lovers’ felt rushed, ’good girl’ was not used appropriately, and the ‘he falls first’ trope just didn’t hit. I’m still asking myself, what initially attracted Emerson to Aurora? Was it her ‘boss bitch’ energy? Did her intelligence and looks make him want to get to know her? It could just be my memory failing me, but the progression of the relationship felt unbalanced. And not in a cute way.
There is nothing that I actively disliked about the book; I feel it just needed another hundred pages to build on some really solid foundations.
I look forward to seeing what Steph Stewart comes up with next.
This was read as an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.
Tropes to Expect - Billionaire romance - Enemies-to-lovers - Only one room - Desperate times call for desperate measures - He falls first
In Hatch by Steph Stewart, the theme of making a positive difference in the world is beautifully interwoven throughout the story. It’s not presented as simple or idealistic – instead, the narrative highlights how difficult it can be to build something meaningful when so many forces seem determined to tear it down. There is a strong sense of persistence and resilience that carries through both the characters and communities that they are trying to support.
The MMC’s connection to the initiative feels rooted in that theme as the story unfolds. His investment in supporting ‘the little guy’ helps create a vivid sense of community, while also revealing a subtle but compelling misalignment between what he truly enjoys and the expectations placed on him in his role - doubled down by the legacy he is expected to uphold. The pacing and gradual unfolding of each character’s background feels very intentional, revealing just enough at the right moments to shape both reader perception and the characters’ understanding of one another. There’s a compelling tension between what the reader knows and what the characters themselves are ready to confront (and share at times), which adds depth to their development.
One of the standout elements is the relationship dynamic. The FMC establishes clear, healthy boundaries – and, importantly, those boundaries are respected. Even when it’s difficult, the MMC gives her space to handle things on her own terms. When she invites him in, he shows up fully without hesitation. He doesn’t interpret her independence as rejection; instead, he actively works on himself to be a better partner. Their communication feels grounded and realistic, shaped by real-world pressures rather than existing in an idealized bubble.
Overall, I found hatch to be a light, cozy read with meaningful emotional layers. While the tone is generally warm, the story does touch on heavier, more traumatic themes from the characters’ pasts, so it’s worth checking the trigger warnings beforehand.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you for the opportunity to do an ARC of hatch. The review below is my own opinion.
3.5 (rounded up)⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫 2 🌶️ 🌶️ Emotionally strong FMC•He will do anything for her MMC•forced proximity•one bed•workplace(ish)
I loved the chemistry with the FMC and MMC. I think the author did a great job initially introducing the characters and their inner circle of friends. Within the first few chapters you as the reader are caught up on the FMC’s struggles with her non profit and the MMC’s moral obligations to his family business.
This quickly moves into the plot and some of our tropes as this power couple goes to visit a remote location using hatch. While I never found myself wishing for the plot to move along faster, I would have LOVED for us to get some more back story with the FMC’s shady ex-fiancé, and the MMC’s childhood parental figure trauma. I feel like the motivations of the characters were very well outlined.
Overall I think this book is a great feel good summer read and am looking forward to future project from this author!
Thank you Steph Stewart for the opportunity to advance read and review Hatch.
I found Hatch to be a case of great idea, poor execution. I liked that Emerson is the golden retriever billionaire CEO who wants to help the world rather the typical money obsessed, bulldoze over the helpless type CEO. I also appreciated Aurora’s hesitation to take Emerson at face value.
Overall I found the story lacked the background details required for in depth character development. I liked Emerson and Aurora, but they both presented as side characters. When background was needed to further the plot it was typically presented as dialogue (so much dialogue) or as a flashback that didn’t really show more. Either way I found it a bit jarring as a reader.
In addition, the entire storyline taking place over less than a month’s time resulted in not enough time for a natural progression of their relationship. I know there is love at forced proximity, but there was no emotional depth to this relationship.
I think the story of Aurora and Emerson has a lot of potential, but I’m afraid I cannot give Hatch more than 2.5 stars.
⭐️⭐️.5 🌶️.5 A big thank you to the author for letting me be an arc reader on this book. This is my honest review of the book.
Aurora, running a non-profit organisation, Hatch, and Emerson, CEO of his grandfather’s company, Imagen. Hatch is struggling with funding, and Emerson wants to help. Part of the agreement is that he’s going to follow her on her travels to visit the sites the project helps.
I liked the aspect of the non-profit work, and you can tell it’s something the author feels strongly about. Aurora and Emerson had such potential with their banter, but I would’ve loved some more depth to their connection, which sometimes felt forced and too insta-love/lust, without them knowing each other at all. The story sometimes felt confusing and lacked a bit of background for me to really understand the story and the characters. I really wanted to like this book, but I’m afraid I can’t give it more than 2.5 stars.
I received this book as an ARC from the author. All opinions are my own.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️🌶️- Given the description, I thought this book was going to be spicier. But, I wasn’t upset at all by the level of spice in it.
Overall, Hatch was a cute read and there were definitely a few nights I stayed up past my bedtime to see what would happen.
I loved learning about Hatch and the love Aurora had for her employees and for serving others. I also loved that Emerson is painted as a broody CEO but he’s truly a Cinnamon Roll/Golden Retriever.
I did feel that for a supposed enemies to lovers, things moved pretty fast. I also felt like Emerson and Aurora both lacked a little growth and depth. I didn’t find myself highlighting any lines that had me in awe at the imagery, but I never considered not finishing and enjoyed every time I picked it up.
This is a contemporary romance, with great spice. I am usually a romantasy reader, but starting to appreciate good contemporary romances, and this one really hooked me. I read it in 24 hours and didn’t want to put it down. The writing is witty and the banter was so good. I loved the premise and how the plot unfolded; the travel and all the new settings kept things interesting the whole way through.
I would’ve liked a bit more depth and complexity since things moved pretty quickly with the main characters and I found myself wanting a little more time with their story. But overall it was an enjoyable read with engaging characters, and a writing style and voice that work well. Very easy to devour.
Aurora and Emerson’s relationship is the heart of this debut author’s story, and it’s a solid start. Aurora’s not-for-profit organization needs Emerson’s organization’s help to secure funding after bad press from Aurora’s ex. However, the story falls flat due to the lack of tension in both their relationship and business dealings. Emerson is portrayed as controlling, which is meant to foreshadow his relationship tendencies, but he’s ultimately a kind and generous man. Of course, Aurora falls for him because of these qualities. The story is cozy, low-stakes, and sweet, but it could have benefited from more pining, a will-they-or-won’t-they dynamic, or even a few obstacles in the way of their instant attraction.
I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I thought the plot was okay. I enjoyed the knowledge about the NFP work that the FMC ran. You can tell this is something the author is passionate about.
I didn���t particularly feel like the characters had a lot of depth, and at times felt like the MMCs thoughts and/or choices felt a little unrealistic. I thought the relationship and feelings escalated very quickly, particularly on his side, without really knowing anything about her.
Overall I didn’t mind the book. It was an easy read, had a bit of spice, but it didn’t spark anything exciting for me.
What is better than the growing sexual tension of a strong female lead that protects her company and goals even when hot male CEO finally melts to her feet and wants to solve all her problems with his money?!
I loved this story of staying true to yourself and the principles that have guided you in business and life, even when life as you know it is crashing down.
I enjoyed that this book talked about hard topics and how the characters were working together through challenges. We all have physical and emotional scars and this made the characters more relatable.
Thank you to the author for the ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
"Hatch" will pull on your heart strings in ways you never expected reading a "romance" novel.
Emerson is everything you don't expect in a CEO. He is powerful but ready to change the world. Aurora stands by her cause and is determined to not let anything stand in her way.
Steph Stewart does an amazing job of bringing those 2 worlds together. But this isn't just another romance novel. Steph using her exceptional stroy telling skills to paint beautiful but heart breaking images of the towns Hatch impacts.
If you are a fan romance novels with a more important underlying plot, Hatch is the perfect book for you
The things I enjoyed: Setting Non-profit representation Boundaries History behind the story Couple felt possible
This one was a solid ⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. There is a great back story here and difficult themes presented with care. I wish I had a bit more relationship building and backstory. The forced proximity needed a bit more umph in terms of development. I recommend picking this one up when you want the contemporary romance but feel like all stories start to read the same. Hatch will give you the romance with a different backstory!
Read this book as an ARC! And I just have to say I enjoyed every single chapter!!!! 5/5 stars! I love that the book is partially set in Timor-Leste and the work that Hatch is doing, esp because I live in Asia and my husband has very similar goals for education for children. It’s so heartwarming to read about! Also, the banter between characters made me smile and laugh often. I genuinely loved this book and would recommend to all my book loving friends!
I enjoyed this book! You could definitely tell that Hatch is a concept that the author holds dearly and has put a sufficient amount of research into. I appreciated that the FMC maintained her strength and independence while naturally progressing into the relationship with the MMC. This book didn't follow the typical CEO/ paid partnership storyline, which was refreshing. Thank you to Steph Stewart for allowing me to read this advanced copy of Hatch!
Thank you to the author for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
Hatch is solid contemporary romance with a good story and meaningful message included. I enjoyed Aurora and Emerson’s characters and both their individual journeys and together.
This book has a little bit of spice but I felt like it fit in well with the story. Overall enjoyable and well done!
Thank you to Steph Steward for the opportunity to read the arc in exchange for my honest opinion.
Easy to read, slooooow burn with all the suspence. I enjoyed the light read and really liked the spicy elements. I missed depth to the characters, and the story between fmc and mmc felt a bit rushed. This would be a Great summer read.
Ooommmggg what a cute story! I was sucked right into the story and as soon as I met Emerson I knew I liked him. Aurora is a tough chick and has learned and been through so much. I loved watching them grow together. It’s super sweet. This book was amazing and pulled at all my heart strings. Highly highly highly recommend!!!
**ARC Review** I really enjoyed this book! Emerson and Aurora’s tension was believable and they brought out the best in each other! I’m a sucker for a good happily ever after and this book delivered!
I really enjoyed this book! The setting was great as it introduced me to a new part of the world and the characters weren’t too overdone. The story read well and kept me engaged in it. The spice and the romance was a great summertime escape!
Overall I enjoyed this book, but found some of the dialogue a little hard to follow at times. I feel that there could certainly be a hatch 2 that sees the characters develop a little more.
I loved this book! It’s a great enemy to lovers. I honestly really loved the whole Hatch part. I loved the idea of a school and company that helps so many people. Getting to see that part was so awesome to me. I honestly finished this book wanting to read more about the company. The book has a fun little amount of spice. It was a great read and I’d definitely read more from this author. Thank you Steph Stewart for giving me an ARC copy your read.