Amy Lea (Exes and O's) takes readers on a trip to a fishing village in coastal Nova Scotia in The Catch, the third rom-com in her sweet and subversive The Influencers series. When fashion influencer Melanie Karlsen arrives at a resort she's meant to promote and learns there's been a scheduling mix-up, she hastily requests a reservation at the only Airbnb available in the area. Lobster fisherman and innkeeper Evan Whaler is unimpressed when an overdressed city girl shows up at his downtrodden inn expecting accommodations for a week. The inn is not only closed for renovations, but it's also at the center of a longstanding conflict between his mother and aunt.
The ensuing opposites-attract romance is a fish-out-of-water turned fake-engagement story with humor and depth. The two make all kinds of assumptions about each other, which play out to great comic effect as they are forced together repeatedly. Lea also tests readers' assumptions with a heroine who claims unapologetic ownership of her body and image, including past cosmetic surgery. The Catch is also full of surprisingly poignant moments, as Evan and Mel both work to repair complicated family relationships and determine their professional goals.
The brilliance of The Catch lies in the author's ability to enthrall readers with clever twists on expected story beats and complex, lovable characters. This funny, medium-spicy romance is a great fit for fans of Tessa Bailey's It Happened One Summer and Emily Henry's Book Lovers. --Suzanne Krohn, librarian and freelance reviewer