Catfish: A Novel

by Elle Carling

Connecting on a dating app can be exciting—but can you really trust who’s on the other end?

He arrives at the bar with an eye out for the tall, luscious brunette. The first date. Drinks, dinner, maybe more. But she’s nowhere to be found. Instead, there’s a petite blonde who sidles up beside him to engage in witty banter and reveals intimate details that only he and the brunette have discussed. Flummoxed and a little creeped out, he leaves. In his wake, Jewel Evans’ heart is pounding with exhilaration. Could it really be this easy to fool someone?

The dating scene in Los Angeles has been hard on her. Single and pushing forty, Jewel has recently become enamored with swiping left and right on a dating app. When she discovers her ex-boyfriend on weConnect, she crafts a plan to catfish him to find out why he suddenly ended their blossoming relationship. While hiding behind the shroud of fake online personas, her compulsion to deceive grows as she draws other men into her web. No one in Jewel’s life, including her best friend Cate and her hunky neighbor Sam, have any idea about the secrets she’s keeping. As the lies pile up, Jewel’s reality—and her best shot at real, honest love—begins to crumble.

As addictively intriguing as it is hilarious and heart-wrenching, Catfish is a gripping novel full of irresistible characters and lively storytelling. Reminiscent of the heady plot twists in The Girl on the Train and Gone Girl, debut author Elle Carling’s inventive page-turner takes online dating to a whole new level. Catfish speaks to the length women go to in pursuit of answers that most men never provide.

Genres: Fiction

247 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 27, 2020

About the author

Elle Carling is a Los Angeles based author of the new fiction novel Catfish.

She has successfully navigated the online dating scene and snagged herself a boyfriend—Catfish is the result of the experiences that fired her imagination. *No catfishes were harmed during the writing of this book.

A member of the International English Honor Society and graduate of communications and new media studies, she is known for telling wild stories and researching the crap out of everything. An avid figure skater, singer, and commercial actress, she enjoys staying active and living healthy—except when happy hour begins at 4:00 p.m. Any resemblance to the saucy character Jewel in Catfish is purely coincidental.

Connect with her on Instagram @catfishthenovel and @ElleCarling_author

Reviews

[Lyn · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read about 13% of this book, and I really just can't get through any more of it. The main character is pissing me off, and not in a good way. For as old as she is, I just cannot believe how petty she is. Admittedly, she may have matured and such later in the book, but basically all of what I read seemed like she was wanting petty revenge and is unwilling or unable to care about anyone else's feelings. Sure, the boyfriend who cheated on her is a jerk for doing so, but to come back years later and start a conversation with him with the sole purpose of telling him he sucks and make (even in your head) small penis comments?... Come ON. Just... No. All of what I read made the character seem so lame and petty, and I'm just not interested in reading about a grown woman acting like an angry pre-teen.
Note: I received this book for free through Goodreads Giveaways.

[Nikkie Gaytan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and slightly cautionary

*I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway*

I wonder if your connection to this book differs greatly depending on your relationship status. As a single lady, this discourages me from online dating even more.

I found myself really invested in these characters and enjoyed the mystery twist to it.

[Kathy Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting

Wow. This book was different. It was good but strange. Catfish is the perfect name because you will know you've been taken before it ends.

[Tarun Kumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Connecting on a dating app can be exciting—but can you really trust who’s on the other end?

🏴Catfish: A Novel by Elle Carling is a long read of 24 chapters and I took time to digest the whole story. The story is based out in Los Angeles, the dating game has been rough on her. Jewel has lately been enamoured of swiping left and right on a dating app, lonely and reaching forty.

🏴Catfish is a compelling book full of vibrant narrative and compelling protagonists. Reminiscent of the surprises of a heady plot. Catfish shocked me with its totally unforeseen, genius conclusion, a quick-paced, amusing, and clever read.

🏴I have used dating apps and I know how they works so I could relate to the story and was into it. Dating apps are whole new world and that’s how author has portrayed it in the story.

🏴Talking about the title of the book, it is a one I feel responsible for giving me that feeling to read the whole book so I feel it's a great title. Cover on the other hand is a creative one and I really liked it.

🏴Characters are all well-developed felt like long-lost friends and I loved the protagonist in particular!

🏴Highly Recommended🏴

[Daksh · Rating 5 out of 5]

📚In this 21st century, people tend to rely more on dating apps over the traditional dating. Swiping left and right from hundreds and thousands of option has become the new trend.

📚In this novel, Elle took us to Los Angeles where two people met over a dating site in the beginning.It is easy to chat and rant on the virtual world staying behind the curtains not disclosing the true identities.

📚Jewel was hooked to Swipping left and right where one day she found her ex-boyfriend on the dating site. Her ex had ended their merry go bubbly relationship but Jewel never got a clear persona of the reason.So she catfished her ex to find out the real reason of their past relationship.No one including her best friend Cate knew anything about what she's keeping away from her.

📚Catfish is an interesting novel for the ones who wants to know the tits and bits of dating world and how it works. I found the novel quite intriguing and had thoroughly enjoyed the turmoil of emotions being absolutely hilarious to feeling sad for the bad dates people go through.

📚It is a must read for everyone to know the other side of dating too where it isn't always what we see virtually.

[Ashlee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a Goodreads Giveaway

I always try to be cognizant that there is an author that pours their time and talents into their writing on the other side of a review.

This book was not for me and I only finished it because I feel compelled to finish giveaway books.

I feel like this story belonged in a collection of short stories, and was made repetitive for the sake of length and to make it a full length book. The story was disjointed in places. Several chapters went on and on reiterating the same themes and making the same points (more evidence that it may have been better as a short story). By the time I got to the reveal, I was over the book, and still had three more chapters to go, in which I had to read French. That's actually the worst. When you think you're almost done with a book that has dragged on, and it is made even slower by having to read in another language (that I don't speak).

The author is clearly talented. I was never annoyed by the word choice or sentence structures. I wouldn't actively avoid their writing or anything. This particular book just wasn't for me.

[Chrissy Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book as a Goodreads giveaway.

This book jumped around some for me, where it took me a little while to realize the transitions. Other than that it was an interesting story with a twist I didn't see coming. The author did a good job of keeping you interested without giving too much away. I definitely walked away from this book wondering about all encounters I've ever spoken with online...

[Wendy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy in a Goodreads giveaway.

I went into this book expecting it to be a romance, but it’s not. It was different, and I like that. Interesting premise. There was a little bit of mystery and a twist. I was invested in the main character and really wanted a happy ending for her, which I guess it could be depending on your perspective. I would consider reading another book by this author.

[Cara Shapiro · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I never saw that ending coming. I thought it was just going to be a book about catfishing ... but I was so pleasantly surprised. This was a fast pace, clever and easy read ... Loved the characters and did not want this book to end. Will there be a sequel? I sure hope so!!!! I highly recommend this book.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Won this book from a Goodreads giveaway. This book is a truly different book about trying to meet a perfect mate on line. The book is so much more than that though. You have to keep reading to see what happens to the main character. I can honestly say I didn't see the ending coming and I really didn't want the story to end where it did.

[Heather Zimmie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a goodreads giveaway. I really enjoyed the way the author wrote about the woes of online dating, catfishing, and having a crush on that someone right in front of you. The book was easy, fast-paced, exciting, and a little confusing. I didn't like the ending and I found it very disjointed from the rest of the book.

[Cara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book SO much. What a relatable book!!!! I literally couldn’t put it down. I hope the make this into a movie! I loved the character development and did not see the ending coming AT ALL!! I highly recommend this book!

[Ellen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received this book "Catfish: A Novel" from goodreads and all opinions expressed are my own. This was an interesting book relating to online dating. It was fun to follow Jewel on her crazy journey of catfishing.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

I won this book from a Goodreads Giveaway.

This is an interesting book based on online dating with a twist. It gives you a backstage look on how things can operate with online dating, which I was never interested in doing myself.

[Beth Wienck · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary Kindle version of this book from Goodreads. I started out thinking I am not so sure about this book, but ended up really enjoying it. The twists and turns it takes at the end make the book better. I will never think of Catfishing and Noodling the same way! 😉

[Jeff Kantor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely enjoyed this read ... I can’t believe this this author’s Elle Carling debut ... The twists and turns in this book gives deep in site in today’s Dating scene especially in LA... I absolutely recommend !!!

[Lauren Dennison anno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Waaaaay Over the Top

Silly, confusing, improbable. I got whiplash trying to keep up with the ex's names and the borrowed identities. Skip this one.

[Doreen Camilleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it! What a twist!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This protagonist is a hot mess. She reminded me of The Flight Attendant with the alcohol dependency.