The Catch by Jenna Miles

 

Contributor post by Kaylee Hunt

The Catch by Jenna Miles

Synopsis:

Julia Dunphy’s husband just left her for the second time, her thirteen-year-old won’t stop swearing in public, and to top it all off, her four-year-old just asked to buy condoms. Needless to say, this isn’t how she expected her life to pan out.

Then, Julia’s new work in an aquarium shop washes up old memories of a whale-watching business she once imagined — and of William Quinn, the man she imagined it with. William walked into her life with striking blue eyes and constant surprises. Before she knew it, she was head-over-heels in love. However, the realities of life eventually pulled them apart. When Julia and William’s paths cross again, despite their baggage, an undeniable spark remains.

When she learns that William has made a success of their ideas, she wonders if it’s too late to finally make a success of their relationship. But Julia has already blown her first two chances at happiness with William, so a third one seems like wishful thinking. Is another chance with him possible, after all?

Rating: 3.5 Stars

TW: depression, drug abuse, sickness

My Thoughts: 

I first want to preface that every reader is different, so a rating should not completely define the success of a book. With that being said, I did enjoy this book. It had humor, I liked the immediate connection between Julia and William, and I thought their story was very unique.

Julia is very blunt, she knows what she wants and she goes for it. William is perfect at almost everything, but does not think highly of himself. He is shy and not as outspoken as Julia. However, they make a cute pair. 

We jump back and forth between 2012, where Julia finds herself abandoned by her husband for the second time, and 1993, where Julia and William first meet. The story progresses, jumping from past to present. Jenna Miles shares a unique story of not only a second chance, but maybe a third? 

There were a few twists I did not expect coming (that I obviously can’t share, or I’d spoil it for you). These twists were creative. Usually I can see twists like these from the beginning, but Miles created a well-thought out plot that single-handedly distracted me from the “obvious,” which doesn’t happen often.

As mentioned, there are depictions of drug abuse, sickness, and depression. These are heavy topics Jenna Miles used to help develop their characters. While they are sad, they were used to share the story between Julia and William, and she did it well. 

Why I gave this book a 3.5 stars: As mentioned above, every reader is different. Not only do we take that into account, but we take the time the book was read into account. I really started reading The Catch during a very busy season for work. I also realized I’m a mood reader and really wanted fantasy instead of just romance. However, I did finish reading this book through audiobook. I found that finishing this book was easier, especially since the chapters were long, much longer than I’m used to. 

I feel as if this book is a literary fiction book, which I have not read often. This book is very character-driven. Sometimes it’s hard for me to get into these types of books, where the characters are the main focus instead of the plot. However, I did enjoy this book and watching the character development. 

With that all being said, I recommend this book. Not because of the rating, but because I want you to make a decision for yourself. 

Thank you to Jenna Miles, who sent me a copy of The Catch for an honest review. I hope to one day read it again and see if my opinions change over time. And that’s simply what these are: opinions. It takes so much effort to create a whole world, a whole scenario from beginning to end and publish it. Thank you for your story and I hope to read more from you. by Jenna Miles

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Contributor:

Hi! I'm Kaylee, a twenty-something-year-old book and word lover! When I'm not working as a B&N bookseller, you'll find me with a good book and lots of coffee. In my free time, I also love to write and hope to one day publish something. Until then, I'll happily immerse myself into a new world created by others. You can find me on Instagram @kayhwrites and my blog kayhwrites.com.

Disclaimer: I received an advanced copy of this book free for review.  This however does not affect my opinions, as I do not leave a review for each book I receive. There are links to Amazon, clicking these links won't cost you anything but any purchase helps support this blog.  Thanks!