The Catch

I liked this book well enough, but I didn't find it particularly interesting or memorable. In my opinion, high points included Ellie's interactions with Larry - I feel like Fairbrother really brought his character to life (I just wanted to give him a hug!) - and her roommates. I also enjoyed the descriptions of DC. Overall, though, I think where this fell flat for me is that it tried to be both character- and plot-driven, and I don't believe it fully committed to (or was super successful at) either. 3-3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC.

It's only March when I'm writing this review but I already know The Catch will be one of my top five books on 2022. It's that good. A poignant, resonant tale of Ellie, the oldest daughter of a father who married too often, was a larger-than-life force of nature, and after his death, has left her with questions she desperately needs to answer. There is not a false note in this lyrical novel as we follow Ellie through coming to terms with not only her father's legacy but her own direction in life, both through her affair with an older married man, her job at a “click-bait” on-line magazine, and her extended family of step-siblings, and step-mothers, not to mention a colorful bunch of flatmates in Washington DC. My Kindle has so many passages underlined, it's a blur of highlights, particularly toward the end when our hero is realizing so many true things about life and how it works. Even the minor characters ring true and the settings of many scenes are so unique, they deserve special mention (I particularly liked a set piece where Ellie is dressed as Teddy Roosevelt at a baseball game, competing with 3 other “Presidents” in a foot race around the bases). Add in a sub-plot about bird conservation and an unexpected backstory from her father's high school years that's heartbreaking, and my hat is off to this debut author. She's made a fan for life.

My thanks to NetGalley and Fairbrother's publisher for providing an early reader's copy in exchange for my honest review.