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Summer Nights #1
The Catch
Author's note: The Summer Nights Series books are full-length, character-driven, adult contemporary romance novels. They can each be read as stand-alones, or read in order to experience the story chronologically. More rom than com, they're perfect for fans of Abby Jimenez, Kate Clayborn, or Helena Hunting's single-titles!
Catia Roday has learned the hard way that love always disappoints, so when she finds herself falling for Josh Rideout—the handsome, charming, seemingly-perfect guy she just met on vacation—only to find out they hail from neighboring towns, she has one question: what’s the catch?
Unwilling to let love make a fool of her again, Cat tries desperately to ignore the chemistry between her and Josh, but it isn’t easy when their vacation plans keep overlapping. With the universe constantly throwing them together, and her friends practically staging an intervention to tell her she’s making a huge mistake, she decides to prove her point once and for all. On the way home, she makes a bet. She’ll take her budding vacation romance back to the real world, and when she proves Josh is too good to be true, she wins! (And she avoids another heartbreak.)
What ensues is a series of tests and games with Josh one step ahead of her the whole time, until Cat realizes the friendly wager has her betting against the one man who may be able to revive her faith in love. Worse yet, it turns out Josh might not be the gambling type.
Catia Roday has learned the hard way that love always disappoints, so when she finds herself falling for Josh Rideout—the handsome, charming, seemingly-perfect guy she just met on vacation—only to find out they hail from neighboring towns, she has one question: what’s the catch?
Unwilling to let love make a fool of her again, Cat tries desperately to ignore the chemistry between her and Josh, but it isn’t easy when their vacation plans keep overlapping. With the universe constantly throwing them together, and her friends practically staging an intervention to tell her she’s making a huge mistake, she decides to prove her point once and for all. On the way home, she makes a bet. She’ll take her budding vacation romance back to the real world, and when she proves Josh is too good to be true, she wins! (And she avoids another heartbreak.)
What ensues is a series of tests and games with Josh one step ahead of her the whole time, until Cat realizes the friendly wager has her betting against the one man who may be able to revive her faith in love. Worse yet, it turns out Josh might not be the gambling type.
440 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 15, 2020
178 people are currently reading
3974 people want to read
About the author
Lauren H. Mae
6 books289 followersLauren H. Mae is a romance author who loves a hard-earned happy-ever-after. She lives with her husband and two sons in beautiful Portland, Maine. When she's not writing, you can find her obsessing over fictional couples and letting the Red Sox break her heart.
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IG: @laurenhmaeauthor
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Look for more here -
IG: @laurenhmaeauthor
FB: www.facebook.com/laurenhmaeauthor
Web: www.laurenhmae.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 264 reviews
May 29, 2020
When I picked this up I hoped it was going to be a light fun fluffy romcom to match the adorable cover...I mean look at all that cuteness! 🥰 🥰
I am such a superficial bish for illustrated romcom covers & have zero qualms in admitting as much. Give me cute pastel colours & I'm sold 🤑
The first half was just that, almost eye-rolling in its hallmark movie sweetness and things move quickly in the way those films do 😉
Part way through the book I was kind of hoping for a bit more substance as Josh came across real Mary Poppins'y (practically perfect in every way) and has his shiz together whereas Cat is recovering from a remarkably similar situation to Emily in Well Met - only this gal was a little further along the line getting herself back on track and deffo all in on the I-hate-all-men/all-men-are-🍆 train. Which was rather tiresome as she played silly games at the start 🤦♀️
However the last 1/4 changed my tune and this came in clutch as she got called on these shenanigans and some cracks appeared in his veneer which helped them both grow and acknowledged things about themselves by the end of the book 👍
As for the characters themselves; he's almost too good to be true & appears to wear his heart on his sleeve! But as things start to shift he has to examine some truths about himself and his upbringing that shaped him differently than he initially acknowledged. Nothing sordid, but deffo sad for a 12yr old & my cold dark heart 💔 a little for him when he started opening up to Cat. He brings his own unresolved issues and baggage to their budding relationship, but perhaps hides them better initially - especially from himself 😉
Catia really rather irked me at first. She tries to play annoying self-sabotaging games, here's looking at you work event, in a childish attempt to prove "all men are bad news" 🙄
I also didn't warm to her attitude towards other women & the choices they make. Something she said/thought early in the story about Dani & then later when she judges her own sisters for making different life choices then she thought they should - yes she put herself in the same category and has been badly hurt by her own experiences but lady you need to chill and stop lumping everything into one big pot of same.
Quit judging other women to increase your own self worth it's not a good look 😕
*sigh*
In fairness to her though she does grow throughout the story, arguably more than he does but she has more scope for personal growth...and I did enjoy her sense of humour and ability to pivot a conversation. I deffo preferred her in the latter half of the book to the start but she still wouldn't be one of my fave heroines - I admit I loathe decision-making and don't actually have a top ten ready to name off the top of my head but I do doubt she'd make the cut...sorry-not-sorry but I really didn't like her games nor attitudes to other peoples life choices 🤷♀️
Now for the side-characters 🤩
Anyone who has read a "review" of mine before will know what a sucker I am for side-characters and actually typically care more for them than the MCs 😅
The two friend groups in this are fab fun & have impeccable timing to accidentally 🐓❌ 😋
I have a serious soft spot for Catia's dad and his heart to hearts 😍
Emma, Shawn and their respective OH were absolutely adorkable.
Sonya and her comments were my MVPs of the book & I'd absolutely love for her to get a spin off somehow although she is already coupled up in this one so who knows how that might work but I'm still going to 🤞
I am curious to follow D&D's story which is up next. The synopsis for this sounds fun and from the glimpses we get of them individually in this book I cannot wait to see how their attempt at a friends-with-benefit type arrangement will work out 😂
Lolz, like we don't already know but I am looking forward to seeing Dani put her foot in it some more 🤣
PS - stick with Dylan, he isn't the totally giant douche he appears to be when we first meet him...more room for growth there 😉
3.25*
Deffo would recommend to a friend looking for a fun romcom read. I tend to prefer a little more fleshed out side stories/more time spent with friends and family for a deeper connection to a book. But this was the fun flirty read the cover promised it would be, in fact I'd nearly say it mixed things up well in the latter stages by not steadfastly sticking to many of the tropes it could have relied upon. Sure it's tropey in places, but I didn't think it was laid on as thick as the cover might hint at 😊
I am such a superficial bish for illustrated romcom covers & have zero qualms in admitting as much. Give me cute pastel colours & I'm sold 🤑
The first half was just that, almost eye-rolling in its hallmark movie sweetness and things move quickly in the way those films do 😉
Part way through the book I was kind of hoping for a bit more substance as Josh came across real Mary Poppins'y (practically perfect in every way) and has his shiz together whereas Cat is recovering from a remarkably similar situation to Emily in Well Met - only this gal was a little further along the line getting herself back on track and deffo all in on the I-hate-all-men/all-men-are-🍆 train. Which was rather tiresome as she played silly games at the start 🤦♀️
However the last 1/4 changed my tune and this came in clutch as she got called on these shenanigans and some cracks appeared in his veneer which helped them both grow and acknowledged things about themselves by the end of the book 👍
As for the characters themselves; he's almost too good to be true & appears to wear his heart on his sleeve! But as things start to shift he has to examine some truths about himself and his upbringing that shaped him differently than he initially acknowledged. Nothing sordid, but deffo sad for a 12yr old & my cold dark heart 💔 a little for him when he started opening up to Cat. He brings his own unresolved issues and baggage to their budding relationship, but perhaps hides them better initially - especially from himself 😉
Catia really rather irked me at first. She tries to play annoying self-sabotaging games, here's looking at you work event, in a childish attempt to prove "all men are bad news" 🙄
I also didn't warm to her attitude towards other women & the choices they make. Something she said/thought early in the story about Dani & then later when she judges her own sisters for making different life choices then she thought they should - yes she put herself in the same category and has been badly hurt by her own experiences but lady you need to chill and stop lumping everything into one big pot of same.
Quit judging other women to increase your own self worth it's not a good look 😕
*sigh*
In fairness to her though she does grow throughout the story, arguably more than he does but she has more scope for personal growth...and I did enjoy her sense of humour and ability to pivot a conversation. I deffo preferred her in the latter half of the book to the start but she still wouldn't be one of my fave heroines - I admit I loathe decision-making and don't actually have a top ten ready to name off the top of my head but I do doubt she'd make the cut...sorry-not-sorry but I really didn't like her games nor attitudes to other peoples life choices 🤷♀️
Now for the side-characters 🤩
Anyone who has read a "review" of mine before will know what a sucker I am for side-characters and actually typically care more for them than the MCs 😅
The two friend groups in this are fab fun & have impeccable timing to accidentally 🐓❌ 😋
I have a serious soft spot for Catia's dad and his heart to hearts 😍
Emma, Shawn and their respective OH were absolutely adorkable.
Sonya and her comments were my MVPs of the book & I'd absolutely love for her to get a spin off somehow although she is already coupled up in this one so who knows how that might work but I'm still going to 🤞
I am curious to follow D&D's story which is up next. The synopsis for this sounds fun and from the glimpses we get of them individually in this book I cannot wait to see how their attempt at a friends-with-benefit type arrangement will work out 😂
Lolz, like we don't already know but I am looking forward to seeing Dani put her foot in it some more 🤣
PS - stick with Dylan, he isn't the totally giant douche he appears to be when we first meet him...more room for growth there 😉
3.25*
Deffo would recommend to a friend looking for a fun romcom read. I tend to prefer a little more fleshed out side stories/more time spent with friends and family for a deeper connection to a book. But this was the fun flirty read the cover promised it would be, in fact I'd nearly say it mixed things up well in the latter stages by not steadfastly sticking to many of the tropes it could have relied upon. Sure it's tropey in places, but I didn't think it was laid on as thick as the cover might hint at 😊
December 14, 2020
This was super cute and these two had an intense connection. I'm not apposed to the love at first sight trope but I think this one might feel cheesy to anyone who prefers more of a slow build. In my opinion I think the story line progressed really well. It's the kind of book you read when you need a cute af adult romance to warm your heart.
August 1, 2020
4 out of 5 stars!
"You're going to break my heart. I just can't figure out how."
I am one of those readers that *mostly* judges a book by its cover, especially romance novels. This one with all its pastel glory and that hot guy on the cover, I am totally sold and I am NOT SORRY!
The story mostly felt cliche but to hell with that, there are times in my reading binges that I need a break from all the heavy drama and dive into something like this. Sweet and swoony.
Joshua Rideout, a divorcee with his heart on his sleeve. Having learned his lesson from his past relationship-fail, he lets himself be guided by his feelings and his feelings tell him to pursue a curly-haired latina lawyer-wannabe lady who secretly caters a bruised-up heart. Catia Roday loved all in once to the point of rearranging her life and delaying her lawyer-dreams. When that love ended into a disaster, of course she was left with nothing, and back to square one she goes. She does NOT want a repeat of that. No more.
Her relationship with Josh is something she convinced herself to be highly likely to end in another disaster. Being her cautious self, she makes sure to find all Josh's flaws, make sure to have one feet out the door, and bail before she gets another shattered heart. But with all the things they find out that they love in common, the shared comforts, the late-night talks (especially Josh's boldness on sharing sour and painful past memories), and the undeniable chemistry between them growing deeper, Catia is finding it even harder to look for The Catch.
"You're going to break my heart. I just can't figure out how."
I am one of those readers that *mostly* judges a book by its cover, especially romance novels. This one with all its pastel glory and that hot guy on the cover, I am totally sold and I am NOT SORRY!
The story mostly felt cliche but to hell with that, there are times in my reading binges that I need a break from all the heavy drama and dive into something like this. Sweet and swoony.
Joshua Rideout, a divorcee with his heart on his sleeve. Having learned his lesson from his past relationship-fail, he lets himself be guided by his feelings and his feelings tell him to pursue a curly-haired latina lawyer-wannabe lady who secretly caters a bruised-up heart. Catia Roday loved all in once to the point of rearranging her life and delaying her lawyer-dreams. When that love ended into a disaster, of course she was left with nothing, and back to square one she goes. She does NOT want a repeat of that. No more.
Her relationship with Josh is something she convinced herself to be highly likely to end in another disaster. Being her cautious self, she makes sure to find all Josh's flaws, make sure to have one feet out the door, and bail before she gets another shattered heart. But with all the things they find out that they love in common, the shared comforts, the late-night talks (especially Josh's boldness on sharing sour and painful past memories), and the undeniable chemistry between them growing deeper, Catia is finding it even harder to look for The Catch.
May 25, 2020
“I’ve spent years being afraid, Josh. Afraid of looking foolish for believing in something that might turn out to not be real. Afraid of getting attached. Well, it doesn’t get much more foolish than standing in the sleet, holding my DeLonghi, and asking to move into your house, and I’m already hopelessly attached. So take my heart or break it, Josh, but do it now because I’m freezing.”
The Catch was a cute and great debut novel! I liked the relationship between Cat and Josh a lot and also the dynamic between the group of friends. Can't wait to read Dani and Dylan's book!!
September 21, 2021
Liked it overall, kinda boring up until 60-70% they've there's a really good fight and dragging drama. Didn't love the pacing overall as a result.
May 6, 2022
No but tell me why reading this made me feel like I was falling in love all over again
July 24, 2020
The Catch was a cute and great debut novel by author Lauren H. Mae, starting at the same time the Summer Nights series. I went into this expecting a light cute read and I was pleasantly surprised by the story and the writing style of the story, she managed to keep me in the story even if the chapters were written in third person.
The Catch tells the story between Catia and Josh, the both of them find each other at a bar while on vacation with their respective groups of friends, and from there on, their connection and attraction begin to grow. After their vacation time is over, they find out that they live in neighbouring towns, and Cat finds herself not believing in the events happening at the moment, making a bet with her friends about Josh being too good to be true… what could go wrong right??
One of the first things that enjoyed was that we got to see the main characters being carefree on vacation, having fun while they were doing different activities. But, after that, we see them getting back to their normal day by day, and I liked that we got to see the both version of them.
Apart from that, there is just this thing about the guy being all whipped for the girl and I loved how Josh proved Cat wrong all the time. Of course, Cat had her own reasons for being so questioning about how goof Josh was, she has been hurt in the past. However, since Josh has divorced a few years ago, he too knows what it is like to experience hurt from someone you love. It was great to see them developing their relationship, to see them learn from each other while also learning one another.
And, I cannot leave without the special mention to both groups of friends, Cat and Josh’s. I love when authors include tight groups of friends, although I have to confess that the duos of Josh and Dylan, and Cat and Dani were my favourite.
The Catch tells the story between Catia and Josh, the both of them find each other at a bar while on vacation with their respective groups of friends, and from there on, their connection and attraction begin to grow. After their vacation time is over, they find out that they live in neighbouring towns, and Cat finds herself not believing in the events happening at the moment, making a bet with her friends about Josh being too good to be true… what could go wrong right??
One of the first things that enjoyed was that we got to see the main characters being carefree on vacation, having fun while they were doing different activities. But, after that, we see them getting back to their normal day by day, and I liked that we got to see the both version of them.
Apart from that, there is just this thing about the guy being all whipped for the girl and I loved how Josh proved Cat wrong all the time. Of course, Cat had her own reasons for being so questioning about how goof Josh was, she has been hurt in the past. However, since Josh has divorced a few years ago, he too knows what it is like to experience hurt from someone you love. It was great to see them developing their relationship, to see them learn from each other while also learning one another.
And, I cannot leave without the special mention to both groups of friends, Cat and Josh’s. I love when authors include tight groups of friends, although I have to confess that the duos of Josh and Dylan, and Cat and Dani were my favourite.
July 25, 2022
3.5 rounded up.
This was a sweet Indie debut with a stellar cover that finally came out on audio! Catia is a jaded about love woman on vacation with her friends when she meets Josh, a cute divorcee. Fate keeps throwing these two together and try as she might to resist it, Catia agrees to see if her vacation romance could be something more. She makes a bet with her friends that Josh is too good to be true and goes on a series of dates when they get back home to their neighboring towns that only serves to prove that Josh might just be the exception. Full of heart, this book had well developed characters who have been burned by love but hoping for a second chance with one another. I did find the story a bit longer than it needed to be but overall it was solidly enjoyable and recommended for fans of Jen Morris's Love in the City series.
Steam rating: PG-13 (characters have sex but it's more the fade to black/closed door variety)
This was a sweet Indie debut with a stellar cover that finally came out on audio! Catia is a jaded about love woman on vacation with her friends when she meets Josh, a cute divorcee. Fate keeps throwing these two together and try as she might to resist it, Catia agrees to see if her vacation romance could be something more. She makes a bet with her friends that Josh is too good to be true and goes on a series of dates when they get back home to their neighboring towns that only serves to prove that Josh might just be the exception. Full of heart, this book had well developed characters who have been burned by love but hoping for a second chance with one another. I did find the story a bit longer than it needed to be but overall it was solidly enjoyable and recommended for fans of Jen Morris's Love in the City series.
Steam rating: PG-13 (characters have sex but it's more the fade to black/closed door variety)
August 19, 2021
Such a good book. It gave off people we meet on vacation by Emily Henry vibes so if you like that book you’ll definitely like this one as well !!
December 15, 2020
Woah! This book was so fun to read!! It had me hooked from the start. Summer, beach vacation, and NICE guys!? SIGN ME UP!! I was in the mood for a summer romance books now that’s it’s freezing here in Missouri! I thought this would be your typical romcom book...BUT I WAS SO WRONG! This was so much more than that.
I loved Josh from the very beginning. It’s kind of rare for a book to have a genuinely nice guys from the beginning. Josh was so romantic and so sweet to Cat. But I also liked that Cat was an independent woman. She wasn’t a damsels in distress.
I also loved that this took place around thanksgiving & Christmas! So if you’re looking for a quick sweet Christmas romance book that doesn’t center all around the holidays definitely check this out!!
I already bought the second book in the series and plan to start soon!
August 26, 2020
This was EVERYTHING I love in a book!!!! 💛
April 2, 2022
This was a very realistic approach in portraying relationships. In the sense that you meet someone and something just clicks, but you question the authenticity of the budding romance due to past failed relationships. Despite insecurities rushing in, you work it out by navigating your way through dating, experiencing hurdles & having disagreements — until you finally realize they're the one.
Cat was extremely hesitant and afraid towards accepting her feelings and that made her quite irrational in handling her relationship with Josh. Truth be told, my patience was running thin at the last few chapters. Then again, I think it was very realistic. It really do be like that sometimes. I'm just glad Josh was very patient and he was 1000% all in from the very beginning.
actual rating: 3.75 stars
Summer Night series
#1 The Catch 3.75/5
#2 The Rules 4/5
Cat was extremely hesitant and afraid towards accepting her feelings and that made her quite irrational in handling her relationship with Josh. Truth be told, my patience was running thin at the last few chapters. Then again, I think it was very realistic. It really do be like that sometimes. I'm just glad Josh was very patient and he was 1000% all in from the very beginning.
actual rating: 3.75 stars
Summer Night series
#1 The Catch 3.75/5
#2 The Rules 4/5
July 31, 2020
their chemistry blew my mind
August 1, 2020
re-rating from 4.5 to 5 because i realized there's nothing that i didn't like from this book.
"There are different ways to give love, Catia. Even for those of us who are afraid. You'll find yours."
i really thought this was gonna be insta-love based on the blurb but i was so glad that it wasn't.
they have such good chemistry together. they have seemingly similar background when it comes to relationships but there's a stark difference with how that changed their attitude towards new romantic relationships.
other things i love about this book:
- the way josh is so enamored by cat
- their !! group !! dynamics !!
- the hint of dani and dylan's book at the end
"There are different ways to give love, Catia. Even for those of us who are afraid. You'll find yours."
i really thought this was gonna be insta-love based on the blurb but i was so glad that it wasn't.
they have such good chemistry together. they have seemingly similar background when it comes to relationships but there's a stark difference with how that changed their attitude towards new romantic relationships.
other things i love about this book:
- the way josh is so enamored by cat
- their !! group !! dynamics !!
- the hint of dani and dylan's book at the end
April 29, 2022
Rating: 2.5/5
this book started out promising; i liked the characters and how they met, but after a while the book started to drag and i just found Cat to be very annoying and kind of seemed to be playing with Josh’s feelings which made me lose all interest i had in it. i really like Josh but even after a while i got tired of him being this “perfect guy” and just putting up with stuff that i feel like no one should? the friend groups were really fun and maybe the other thing i liked by the end of the book. overall, there are so many better books to be reading and i don’t think i’ll be continuing the series. just wasn’t for me.
this book started out promising; i liked the characters and how they met, but after a while the book started to drag and i just found Cat to be very annoying and kind of seemed to be playing with Josh’s feelings which made me lose all interest i had in it. i really like Josh but even after a while i got tired of him being this “perfect guy” and just putting up with stuff that i feel like no one should? the friend groups were really fun and maybe the other thing i liked by the end of the book. overall, there are so many better books to be reading and i don’t think i’ll be continuing the series. just wasn’t for me.
February 5, 2020
3stars , I will keep this short.
I liked some aspects here . Him being an architect and the part about her grandmother were the best. Also, I liked how real the story was. Nothing was to flashy or strange,just how life and love intertwine together. I liked what we get from the friends and the family here.
Why it is not more than 3 stars? Well,It dragged a little bit .Also, I became bored with what Cat did sometimes. I wished we were more in the life of the 2 friend groups.
I liked some aspects here . Him being an architect and the part about her grandmother were the best. Also, I liked how real the story was. Nothing was to flashy or strange,just how life and love intertwine together. I liked what we get from the friends and the family here.
Why it is not more than 3 stars? Well,It dragged a little bit .Also, I became bored with what Cat did sometimes. I wished we were more in the life of the 2 friend groups.
January 15, 2020
The Catch
**I received an ARC copy of The Catch in exchange for my honest review.**
As one of my first timid steps into the world of modern romance, I gotta say damn I made the right choice. Believing in these two ridiculously adorable but scarred characters is what made me want to fight, laugh and cry.
Honestly, sweet romantic themes are not my jam but when I received this ARC with its pastel colors and sketch art, to my surprise I:
1) developed an instant crush on the cutest sketch of a character, with all his stubble standing there in his boat shorts looking all adoring and mischievous and sweet all at the same time.
2) surprised my own self by being interested in the story once I got past the sketch crush.
Catia's big question in the description: "What's the catch"? Is such a relatable theme and it made me hearken back to my single jaded self always questioning motives and searching for character flaws. And believe me, Mr. Josh Rideout of the cutest sketch fame (see above) would have set even the least jaded singleton ever (that's the Emma character in this book btw). One could argue the Josh character was actually too perfect, on the surface. However, once you get the perfect way he flirts and his general all-around sweetness, *minor spoiler* like the scar on his upper lip you realize that's how an actual adult acts when you cut through the crap and knows what he wants and is just waiting for her to Catch up. (see what I did there).
Catia does catch up, rather quickly I thought, but then she keeps pulling herself back. I found myself very frustrated with her at times, just wanting her to relax. At the very least, put the specter of her past in her rearview but it would rear its ugly head up at the most inopportune times. Which made me want to go straight through the book and smack her upside the head at times. But then, because this gifted storyteller also gave us Josh's point of view, I realized that I was full-on #teamJosh because I knew what was going on in his head. An option that Cat could only guess at and then I calmed down my ire for her penchant for testing Josh's boundaries.
The side characters of Dylan (i've got a mini crush on him too) and Sonya were my favorites but not to be discounted are the sweet Pie in the sky Emma and sassy talking Shawn. It's written in a relaxed pace that gave the characters room to develop and build on relatable level of understanding their motivations to their actions. You start out rooting for Josh immediately but you end up learning to grow with Catia and being proud of her development.
Enjoyable read and look forward to more from this author as from reading I think my other fave from this book Dylan has a good story in him.
This debut seems like just the beginning for this author and I'm looking forward to seeing what's the catch with Dylan...
**I received an ARC copy of The Catch in exchange for my honest review.**
As one of my first timid steps into the world of modern romance, I gotta say damn I made the right choice. Believing in these two ridiculously adorable but scarred characters is what made me want to fight, laugh and cry.
Honestly, sweet romantic themes are not my jam but when I received this ARC with its pastel colors and sketch art, to my surprise I:
1) developed an instant crush on the cutest sketch of a character, with all his stubble standing there in his boat shorts looking all adoring and mischievous and sweet all at the same time.
2) surprised my own self by being interested in the story once I got past the sketch crush.
Catia's big question in the description: "What's the catch"? Is such a relatable theme and it made me hearken back to my single jaded self always questioning motives and searching for character flaws. And believe me, Mr. Josh Rideout of the cutest sketch fame (see above) would have set even the least jaded singleton ever (that's the Emma character in this book btw). One could argue the Josh character was actually too perfect, on the surface. However, once you get the perfect way he flirts and his general all-around sweetness, *minor spoiler* like the scar on his upper lip you realize that's how an actual adult acts when you cut through the crap and knows what he wants and is just waiting for her to Catch up. (see what I did there).
Catia does catch up, rather quickly I thought, but then she keeps pulling herself back. I found myself very frustrated with her at times, just wanting her to relax. At the very least, put the specter of her past in her rearview but it would rear its ugly head up at the most inopportune times. Which made me want to go straight through the book and smack her upside the head at times. But then, because this gifted storyteller also gave us Josh's point of view, I realized that I was full-on #teamJosh because I knew what was going on in his head. An option that Cat could only guess at and then I calmed down my ire for her penchant for testing Josh's boundaries.
The side characters of Dylan (i've got a mini crush on him too) and Sonya were my favorites but not to be discounted are the sweet Pie in the sky Emma and sassy talking Shawn. It's written in a relaxed pace that gave the characters room to develop and build on relatable level of understanding their motivations to their actions. You start out rooting for Josh immediately but you end up learning to grow with Catia and being proud of her development.
Enjoyable read and look forward to more from this author as from reading I think my other fave from this book Dylan has a good story in him.
This debut seems like just the beginning for this author and I'm looking forward to seeing what's the catch with Dylan...
January 12, 2020
This debut novel did something I did not expect: it kept me reading non-stop when I was sure I’d be fighting a book hangover from my previous read. I hate to bring another book into this, but in my mind it’s a pretty big compliment, especially for a debut.
The Catch is basically about a perfect guy who’s actually human and a normal girl who’s been burned before. When I say Josh is perfect, I mean like—woah. He’s sweet, smart, supportive, attentive, and hot. Of course he’s too good to be true! Cat doesn’t trust it for a minute, but this is a romance novel, so of course there’s some instalust that helps move things along. And then when she does give it a chance, Josh proves to be amazing and respectable at every turn.
I found this to be a light and enjoyable read despite the emotional baggage the MCs were bringing to the table. It’s nice to read something featuring normal, likable characters that go through normal relationship pangs and get their HEA. There’s good banter and good secondary characters (and good friendships). Everyone felt very real to me, which I like in this kind of contemporary romance. The author also spends a lot of time showing the characters being in and trying to maintain their relationship. This doesn’t come with a quick, formulaic “someone screws up, someone grand gestures, HEA.” It’s nice to see the acknowledgment that an HEA isn’t a one-and-done thing, but something a couple has to work on constantly.
That said, I did feel like the story dragged in a few places. It’s quite a long book and probably could have stood to have a few scenes snipped here and there for pacing. I did read it in one sitting, but I think ultimately I would have enjoyed it more if it had been slightly shorter.
If you’re looking for low-angst and lots of sweetness, you should definitely check this one out!
CW: divorce
Thank you to the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
The Catch is basically about a perfect guy who’s actually human and a normal girl who’s been burned before. When I say Josh is perfect, I mean like—woah. He’s sweet, smart, supportive, attentive, and hot. Of course he’s too good to be true! Cat doesn’t trust it for a minute, but this is a romance novel, so of course there’s some instalust that helps move things along. And then when she does give it a chance, Josh proves to be amazing and respectable at every turn.
I found this to be a light and enjoyable read despite the emotional baggage the MCs were bringing to the table. It’s nice to read something featuring normal, likable characters that go through normal relationship pangs and get their HEA. There’s good banter and good secondary characters (and good friendships). Everyone felt very real to me, which I like in this kind of contemporary romance. The author also spends a lot of time showing the characters being in and trying to maintain their relationship. This doesn’t come with a quick, formulaic “someone screws up, someone grand gestures, HEA.” It’s nice to see the acknowledgment that an HEA isn’t a one-and-done thing, but something a couple has to work on constantly.
That said, I did feel like the story dragged in a few places. It’s quite a long book and probably could have stood to have a few scenes snipped here and there for pacing. I did read it in one sitting, but I think ultimately I would have enjoyed it more if it had been slightly shorter.
If you’re looking for low-angst and lots of sweetness, you should definitely check this one out!
CW: divorce
Thank you to the author for a free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
January 10, 2020
I consider myself a romantic at heart, but I'm new to the romance genre! I loved reading "The Catch;" it felt like learning a new story about an old friend. And the wonderful way the story is presented cannot be understated. The writing is smart and funny and simultaneously casual and disarming; you're in the middle of chapter twenty six before you know it! Cat and Josh are both special and relatable; the ideal and the real wrapped up into one. And the fact that we are getting to see more of these characters in upcoming books is the icing on the cake. Or on the croissant, as it were.
February 26, 2020
It was cute but I kept losing interest every now and then
July 14, 2020
i didn’t hate this, didn’t love it, probably would never reread it
a pretty damn cute book but i found it kinda cringe at times and didn’t really warm to Catia at all throughout
i liked the side characters and the dynamics of Cat’s massive family but this book is so long for having little to no real plot like ???? i’m confused idk i feel disappointed
a pretty damn cute book but i found it kinda cringe at times and didn’t really warm to Catia at all throughout
i liked the side characters and the dynamics of Cat’s massive family but this book is so long for having little to no real plot like ???? i’m confused idk i feel disappointed
October 28, 2020
3.5 stars
May 13, 2022
Average rom com, more rom/family vibes. First half super slow, second half great! Overall good book but it was longer than necessary. Contemplating reading the next in the series. The authors writing style was extremely amateur to me - I believe this is her first novel though so that makes sense!
July 25, 2020
4.5 stars. Well written, sweet. The flow was really good and kept me engaged. I think I had issues with Cat’s character at times, only because I had a hard time relating to her fear, but that’s just me. Josh was awesome and I really look forward to Dani and Dylan’s story.
January 16, 2020
"From the first moment he’d laid eyes on her, he knew Cat would either be his salvation or his undoing. He’d taken the chance anyway, without regard for the consequences."
A great debut novel and the light, cute and fun romcom I was waiting for.
Cat and Josh are two people who have had their share of mistakes when it comes to love and relationships but both deal with their past in different ways. When they cross paths on a trip to the beach there's an instant connection that Josh is more than willing to explore, being under Catia's spell from the first moment. But Cat has been burned before and she was done with men (or so she thought), so when this man –who seems to be perfect in every way that matters–, appears and makes her feel things, she can't help being a little skeptical and because of her trust issues she's constantly waiting for the fallout. And so begins the journey of these two people full of emotional baggage and wounds that haven't yet healed completely, where the author shows the two sides of a relationship; the good and the bad, the pretty and ugly part, making it real.
There are also the secondary characters. Both, Cat and Josh, have a close-knit group of friends that are part of the story from the start; they are pretty funny and straightforward, always having the backs of their friends and meddling in their love lifes, and since this is a series I think the hints about the main characters for the next book are quite clear and I can't wait for them.
The only reason why this isn't a 5-star reading for me is because of the writing, but that's totally on me. I just don't particularly enjoy this type of writing, it bores and confuses me this type of narrator who knows it all and describes everything in great detail making me feel like the story dragged in a few places.
P.S. I really, really, REALLY need that bonus epilogue to come sooner!
June 9, 2021
While vacationing in Virginia Beach for her best friend’s bachelorette, Cat meets handsome & charming, Josh, and the two of them hit it off. They keep running into each other one way or another and have a fun & flirty vacation fling. When Cat learns that Josh actually lives rather close to her back home, her friends convince her to take a chance on him in the “real world.”
Cat’s past has jaded her perception of the present, holding her back from finding love. She stunted her dreams in the past for a man and it ended up biting her in the ass. But Cat isn’t the only one with baggage, as Josh is recently divorced. Josh wants to take a chance on Cat and despite her reservations, Cat wants the same.
But both Josh & Cat’s pasts have left them with pretty visible scars and if they aren’t careful, they may just self-sabotage their chance at a happily ever after…
The Catch by Lauren H Mae is book 1 in the Summer Nights series. This is such a hidden gem of a book! This was fun, sweet, & totally swoon-worthy. Josh was a lovable hero and Cat complemented his personality so well. At times, Cat grated on me; I became beyond frustrated by her actions, but in the end she redeemed herself like I knew she would. If you love vacation romances & sweet as hell couples, you need to read this one! 4.5/5 stars.
Cat’s past has jaded her perception of the present, holding her back from finding love. She stunted her dreams in the past for a man and it ended up biting her in the ass. But Cat isn’t the only one with baggage, as Josh is recently divorced. Josh wants to take a chance on Cat and despite her reservations, Cat wants the same.
But both Josh & Cat’s pasts have left them with pretty visible scars and if they aren’t careful, they may just self-sabotage their chance at a happily ever after…
The Catch by Lauren H Mae is book 1 in the Summer Nights series. This is such a hidden gem of a book! This was fun, sweet, & totally swoon-worthy. Josh was a lovable hero and Cat complemented his personality so well. At times, Cat grated on me; I became beyond frustrated by her actions, but in the end she redeemed herself like I knew she would. If you love vacation romances & sweet as hell couples, you need to read this one! 4.5/5 stars.
February 15, 2022
little bit boring
January 26, 2021
Josh Rideout is honestly the ultimate book boyfriend. Full stop. He is everything you want in an IRL partner. He's honest, he's sweet, he's hardworking, he's hot... a true Prince Charming. And Catia Roday doesn't believe it for a second. He seems too good to be true... But guess what? He's not. He is the literal total package. Josh & Cat meet at the beach when they're both there for separate trips with their friends. They figure out they only live an hour away from one another and Josh is determined to see Cat again, and again... as long as she'll let him.
I really enjoyed this one. This was my first by Lauren H. Mae, and I got myself invested in this little group of friends (Seriously, Catia's best friends, Sonya, Emma, and of course, Dani) were so great. And Josh's found family in Shawn & Dylan was equally lovely. I love a found family.
Overall, this book is fairly low angst, but the conflict with a capital C wasn't one that was resolved in a matter of pages. There were times when I wanted to shake Cat for being so cold and callous and pushing Josh away in the way that she did. And I wanted to hug Josh for taking what she said so personally to the point where he was basically broken. Both of them are carrying SO much emotional baggage, and Cat's hesitation to make changes for another guy really resonated with me. This line got me the most:
Where she was constantly measuring herself in his presence, he was always throwing himself whole-heartedly into the moment.
Josh had every reason to be skeptical, but he wasn't, not with Cat. Also - we love a good sickbed moment in a book. SOrry, but I love that that was her opportunity to show him she wasn't following him in the relationship, but walking in time with him.
If you want something sweet, medium steam, low-angst, absolutely give this one a go.
I really enjoyed this one. This was my first by Lauren H. Mae, and I got myself invested in this little group of friends (Seriously, Catia's best friends, Sonya, Emma, and of course, Dani) were so great. And Josh's found family in Shawn & Dylan was equally lovely. I love a found family.
Overall, this book is fairly low angst, but the conflict with a capital C wasn't one that was resolved in a matter of pages. There were times when I wanted to shake Cat for being so cold and callous and pushing Josh away in the way that she did. And I wanted to hug Josh for taking what she said so personally to the point where he was basically broken. Both of them are carrying SO much emotional baggage, and Cat's hesitation to make changes for another guy really resonated with me. This line got me the most:
Where she was constantly measuring herself in his presence, he was always throwing himself whole-heartedly into the moment.
Josh had every reason to be skeptical, but he wasn't, not with Cat. Also - we love a good sickbed moment in a book. SOrry, but I love that that was her opportunity to show him she wasn't following him in the relationship, but walking in time with him.
If you want something sweet, medium steam, low-angst, absolutely give this one a go.
November 6, 2020
This is my first book by Lauren H. Mae and it won’t be my last! When I saw the cover, I was swooning! Yes, I am guilty of taking one look at this cover and adding it to my cart!
The storyline flowed quite naturally. It did loose a star because I felt the characters needed a tad more depth and that during some parts, the storyline stretched out more than needed. Overall though I found the character’s roles to be charming, mature and rational.
Josh and Cat don’t know each other. They end up at the same spot while on seperate vacations with their friends. They immediately form a connection and coincidentally realize they live an hour from each other!
Cat has been burned in past relationships so she figures this is too good to be true - there has to be a catch! The catch must be that although he seems like the Prince Charming she’s always dreamed of, he is just a frog in disguise. She knows heartbreak is in the near future and she’s going to prove it even if it takes betting on it with her friends.
The storyline flowed quite naturally. It did loose a star because I felt the characters needed a tad more depth and that during some parts, the storyline stretched out more than needed. Overall though I found the character’s roles to be charming, mature and rational.
Josh and Cat don’t know each other. They end up at the same spot while on seperate vacations with their friends. They immediately form a connection and coincidentally realize they live an hour from each other!
Cat has been burned in past relationships so she figures this is too good to be true - there has to be a catch! The catch must be that although he seems like the Prince Charming she’s always dreamed of, he is just a frog in disguise. She knows heartbreak is in the near future and she’s going to prove it even if it takes betting on it with her friends.
November 10, 2020
3.5 stars.
Smitten. That's the word I'd use. I had very good feelings about this book right from the start and I usually don't go around judging books by their covers, but look HOW CUTE THIS ONE IS.
My tingly senses did not lead me astray. The story started off slowly for me and it took a few chapters before I became invested in Catia's and Josh' romance but when I did, I was totally enamoured.
And smitten xD Smitten with the absolute cuteness of Catia and Josh, smitten with their group of friends, smitten with how smitten Josh was for Cat - and vice versa.
This book has its faults but to me, it was very much overshadowed by how much it made smile with giddiness over it.
P.S. SO cannot wait to read Dani and Dylan's story - my spidey senses are in overload!
Smitten. That's the word I'd use. I had very good feelings about this book right from the start and I usually don't go around judging books by their covers, but look HOW CUTE THIS ONE IS.
My tingly senses did not lead me astray. The story started off slowly for me and it took a few chapters before I became invested in Catia's and Josh' romance but when I did, I was totally enamoured.
And smitten xD Smitten with the absolute cuteness of Catia and Josh, smitten with their group of friends, smitten with how smitten Josh was for Cat - and vice versa.
This book has its faults but to me, it was very much overshadowed by how much it made smile with giddiness over it.
P.S. SO cannot wait to read Dani and Dylan's story - my spidey senses are in overload!
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