With February finally here and the month of love upon us, it felt like the perfect time to dive into a brand new romance - and who better to set the mood than the queen of romantic comedies, Tessa Bailey. I had been counting down the days for Catch Her If You Can ever since I turned those final pages of Pitcher Perfect a few months ago, so of course I made sure to get my hands on a copy on release day.
This story follows Madden and Eve, and I was excited to see how their friends-to-lovers angst played out, while also tackling some harder hitting issues. I had been curious to see how their dynamic would shift in this one after only seeing snippets of their interactions in the last book, which only made me more eager to see if their chemistry lived up to the hype. Here are my thoughts on Catch Her If You Can.
Get Catch Her If You Can by Clicking Here
Synopsis
Madden Donahue is the Yankees newest catcher, and has been in love with Eve Mitchell since high school. When Eve is suddenly left caring for her sister's two children, while also trying to keep her struggling burlesque club from going under, Madden steps in with a solution: a marriage of convenience for the health benefits. Eve has always kept Madden at arm's length to protect her friendship with her best friend, but with the stakes higher than ever, she finally says "I do" - under the condition that they keep their marriage a secret. But as their arrangement turns from business to pleasure, Madden is determined to prove to Eve that their connection can be more than just convenient.
Strengths
One of the biggest standouts for me was the perfect balance of humor and heavy-hitting emotion. The comedy in this book is top tier -if you've read it, then you know exactly what I mean when I say Rhonda steals the show. The "lost puppy" scene had me absolutely rolling; in fact, it was so funny that I relayed the scene to my husband, and he even had a good laugh about it, which is saying a lot!
Beneath all the laughs there was also so much genuine heart at the core of this story. It was incredibly moving to watch Eve navigate the trauma of being bullied as a young girl because of her father's business, with Madden always standing by her side as her constant, unwavering protector through it all. I also enjoyed seeing Eve's selfless nature really shine when she took in her sister's children without a second thought in order for her sister to go to rehab.
I also loved seeing Eve's personal growth as she finds a sense of self-acceptance, fully embracing her sensuality and her role as a burlesque owner in a way that felt empowering. It gave me major Christina Aguilera in Burlesque vibes, and I was 100% here for it. Of course, it wouldn't be a Tessa Bailey book without the spice, and Madden and Eve delivered on that front - the chemistry was electric, providing all the angst I craved while never losing that emotional component.
Weaknesses
While there was so much to love, there were a few minor things that kept this from being a perfect five-star read for me. First, I wasn't entirely crazy about the time jumps with the flashbacks. I completely understand why they were necessary to establish their long history and give more context to their bond, but they ended up pulling me out of the present-day momentum a bit.
Additionally, as much as I enjoyed Madden's character, I found him a little harder to visualize than Eve. While Eve felt incredibly well-rounded and developed as a character, Madden didn't feel quite as fleshed out in my mind. Yes, he was a great hero, but there was just a tiny "something" missing that kept me from fully connecting with him the way that I did with Eve. It was so close to that five-star feeling, but because of those minor hurdles, it landed just a bit shy of a perfect score for me.
Would I Recommend It?
Despite my very minimal gripes about the flashbacks and Madden's characterization, the answer is a resounding yes. If you are a fan of Tessa Bailey's signature blend of high-heat and emotional depth, you definitely need to add Catch Her If You Can to your shelves. Between the laugh-out-loud moments with Rhonda (seriously guys, wait for that puppy scene!) and the empowering Burlesque vibes of Eve's journey, there's a lot to enjoy here. I also absolutely loved our new side character, Veda, who befriended Eve; she was such a bright spot in the story, and I'm already dying to see her and Elton's story play out next! This is the perfect spicy yet heartfelt read to pick up during the month of love, especially if you're a sucker for a protector-hero, a friends-to-lovers arc, and a perfectly executed marriage of convenience.
Ratings
Overall Rating: 4/5
Spice Rating: 3/5
Comments
Post a Comment