Romance can be such a weird genre for me. It's so easily too cheesy, too unrealistic, too much. The Art of Catching Feelings is a surprising balance of super complicated unrealistic circumstances and being really down to earth and normal.

Chris Kepler and Daphne are such chill characters! I'm rather tired of the sports romances that choose the ✨STAR✨ of the team who is perfectly chiseled and a perfect gentleman with some cliche flaw that he's already getting already. Kepler's an underdog, a soft boi, and very consistent throughout the book. He's actually like guys I've actually met except that he's a major league baseball player. Daphne, as well, rather than being yet another Zooey Deschanel (I don't even care that I prob butchered the spelling) who tries so hard to be normal/quirky but is instead unrelatable, unrealistic, rather dumb twee--Daphne's clumsiness gets her in actual trouble, her insecurities cause actual problems, and she actually has to develop through them.

Kepler and Daphne both have different grief and relationship baggage to work through, and the author does so in a masterfully concise way. She accomplished a lot in just one novel.

BUT. This is a rom com with open door sexual content that I found painfully awkward. Without sharing my opinions on smut in books, this would have been wildly more tense and emotional if the characters didn't have that creepy and awkward 'sexting' scene. The one glaring flaw is that he's texting a stranger and doesn't even know her age. It reminded me of being a 90s kid in AOL chatrooms lying about my a/s/l, lol.

I think that with more tension/less on the page sex and more clarity about her identity this would be a 5⭐ romance.

Thank you to Berkeley Publishing and NetGalley for an e-arc to read and review!

If you are a fan of books about sports romance then you’ll need to pick this one up. I’ve seen romances between a fan and sports star and even fellow athletes, but a heckler is new and a romance story that I ended up loving. And I think you will as well.

I love Alicia Thompson's writing. She has mastered good banter, and her plots are always refreshing and unique, and this book is no exception to either. Even though 'catfishing/anonymous online chatting/secret identity' plots aren't my favorite trope, Thompson minimized the overlap between Chris's relationships with Duckie and Daphne which definitely made it feel less slimy than other books with this trope.

I wish there had been a little more build-up between Duckie and Chris, though, because it felt like he became very attached to her very quickly. I understand the whole perspective of he's emotional, and of course, he's going to get attached quickly, but it still felt sped up.

Overall, I love the layers of the plot and character interactions. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who is interested in this sort of plot.

Thanks so much to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for giving me early access to this novel!

While I looked forward to this book because I loved her last book (With Love From Cold World) I held off reading it for a bit because of the whole “betrayal” bit. She’s not who she says she is (or in this case she is who she says she’s not?) and we’re all just waiting for him to find out. It makes anxious, which is not what I’m looking for after a long day. If that is your situation, try to push through because it’s a really fun one! I think the betrayal element was handled very well, and it was a lot more enjoyable to watch unfold than I thought it would be. There were some weird quirks in the characters that tripped me up a bit and sort of an insta-love vibe, but overall I am just happy those two found each other. Cold World is still in the lead, but I’ll happily wait for more from this author! Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-arc.

EXCUSE ME??? I AM OBSESSED WITH THIS BOOK! The characters, the storyline, the vibes, absolutely immaculate and had me hooked from the beginning to the end! Also can we please appreciate the book cover, this kind of covers are my absolute favorite!

Back to the book, this story is such a unique take on sports romance. It revolves around Daphne and Chris, with Daphne accidentally making Chris cry after heckling him at a baseball game. They form a friendship through text, leading to more chemistry in person. Daphne is relatable and lovely, while Chris is emotional and funny. The book delves into themes of anxiety and depression, with well-developed characters and an insightful message on life and love. The author's writing style is so smooth, the flow and the way she executes depth is masterfully done!

As Daphne and Chris navigate their growing feelings for each other, they also confront their own personal struggles and insecurities. Daphne opens up about her anxiety and fear of failure, while Chris grapples with his past traumas and self-doubt. Their emotional journey is both heartwarming and heartbreaking, as they learn to lean on each other for support and understanding. The author skillfully weaves in moments of humor and tenderness, creating a story that is both light-hearted and poignant. The chemistry between Daphne and Chris is palpable, drawing me in and keeping ms invested in their relationship from the get go! The supporting characters add depth and complexity to the story, each with their own unique quirks and challenges.

However, some readers found the miscommunication trope a bit frustrating. Overall, it's an enjoyable read with a fast-paced plot and engaging characters!

Overall, "Daphne and Chris" is a captivating and thought-provoking read that explores the complexities of love, friendship, and mental health. It is a story that will stay with me for long, leaving me with a renewed sense of hope and appreciation for the power of connection.

Lastly, I want to present a quote that had me completely swooning!
"You're the book i want to reread. for the rest of my life."
Like that was so cute?? Hello?!?!

Some TWs to keep in mind:
past suicide, mental health, divorce, mentions of pregnancy

Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley for the arc in exchange for an honest review!!

“The Art of Catching Feelings” is a baseball romance where a player and the woman who heckles him during a game fall in love (twice). When she tries to apologize via DMs, she forgets to identity herself as the heckler and they develop a friendship through texts without him knowing who she is. At the same time, she gets a job as the field reporter for his team (talk about failing up) and they grow closer IRL.

This was a fun baseball book! I liked how it was able to stay focused on the sport because of her job. They both had a connection to baseball. At first she is ignorant about it and doesn’t care, but has to learn more to get better at interviewing players. In some sports romances, the sport feels like such an afterthought but this had just enough baseball details with both characters thinking about and interacting with the game.

Some moments were a little too cringe for me (drunkenly shouting at a professional athlete, the sex toy convo, etc) and I had to set the book down. Thankfully, there were some cute relatable moments (Lisa Kleypas shoutout!) to balance it out. I wish there had been a convo about getting tested for STIs when they first have unprotected sex. She mentions birth control and it wouldn’t have been hard to say “I got tested after my divorce/I get tested for sports-physicals reasons” or something.

Ultimately, it wasn’t a 5 star read for me because the whole time I was thinking “WHY ARE YOU LYING TO THIS SWEET TRUSTING BOY?” “Secret identity” plots are not my favorite and this deception felt particularly egregious. I get how it all snowballed but it was hard to root for her sometimes. Also, why did he need to apologize and make a grand gesture to her at the end? I would have preferred a gesture from her.

Despite the stress of the plot set up, this was a funny and hot read. I wanted to keep going to see how Thompson would make it all work out. Now I’m definitely ready for baseball season to start!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review this ARC.

The spice was nice but overall this felt very aggressively mid. I couldn’t find the chemistry between Chris and Daphne, I didn’t understand what we were supposed to get from her divorce or how it really impacted her. I wanted more emotionally from Chris instead of just being ok with everything.

Overall this just didn’t feel memorable or particularly interesting.

RATING: 4.25/5 STARS

Baseball-themed romances are having their moment in 2024, and I'm here for it. I was instantly hooked from the beginning of the novel and Chris and Daphne/Duckie's relationship kept me flying through this story. This book was a lot of fun but also had an authentic portrayal of grief, vulnerability, and overcoming failures (in sports and life).

this is the first book i've read by this author and i have to confess i was very surprised to find myself flying through the book, i think i'm going to check out the author's other works! even though the whole hidden identity plot is not one of my favourites, i think this was done in a nice way. both the fmc and mmc, daphne and chris, were very complex and not two-dimensional, dealing respectively with a divorce and the loss of a loved one, and i enjoyed reading from both their povs. the only thing that always left me a bit confused was all the baseball talk, but i knew what i was getting myself into when i requested the book!

What can I say but oh. my. gosh. I literally fell in LOVE with the characters right away. I couldn't stop turning page after page, and I just wanted more and more—so much so that I finished the entire book in less than 24 hours. It was that good! The character development, the side plots, the steam ... It's all there, and it's good. Really good. I didn't want it to end! This was my first Alicia Thompson book, but I have to go immediately pick up her other two! I can't get enough!

Ah, Daphne, sometimes I wanted to shake her. Every romance reader knows that no good will come from holding back the truth. She was just so real, though. And Chris, such a great guy, just a little broken. I fell in love with this book and its characters just as I have with past books by Alicia Thompson. Solid 4⭐️from me for this one.

Thank you to NetGalley, Shelf Awareness and Berkley Publishing Group, Berkley for this complimentary ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

"The Art of Catching Feelings" shows the art of crafting believable characters.

I'm a fan of Alicia Thompson's previous books (Love in the Time of Serial Killers and With Love, From Cold World) and the worlds she creates in her writing.

Her latest book introduces us to a professional baseball player and a recently divorced woman and a baseball player in a slump:

"Daphne Brink doesn’t follow baseball, but watching “America’s Snoozefest” certainly beats sitting at home in the days after she signs her divorce papers. After one too many ballpark beers, she heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler, who quickly proves there might actually be a little crying in baseball. Horrified, Daphne reaches out to Chris on social media to apologize . . . but forgets to identify herself as his heckler in her message."

From their meet not-cute to their developing relationship Thompson creates well-rounded characters who the reader can connect with and feel for and with. She shows us their inside anxieties and worries and we watch them navigate and grow through the situation.

I really loved being in their world. They are approachable, adorable and lovable--- even if the reader knows that long before they do.

Highly recommend!

Alicia Thompson is one of those authors that I see a new book from, and don't even have to know what it's about to say a) "sold!" and b) know I'm going to love it. The definition of an auto-buy author. The Art of Catching Feelings emphasizes the hard truth that baseball players are just damn sexy. Chris and Daphne hook the reader right from the beginning and don't let go until they get their happily ever after. I was amazed at how well the tension continued to build as they interacted digitally and in person with the truth hidden underneath the surface. This sweet, honest, and sexy rom-com is a real home run of a romance (cringe, I know, but I had to make the joke).

10*stars. This was one of the best books I've read this year. It was simply perfect and has become one of my favorite books ever. I can't recommend this enough.

Alicia Thompson, you have officially cemented your position as one of my absolute favorite romance authors. I loved each of the author's past titles SO much, but I'm officially a stan now because Alicia Thompson actually made me care about a sports novel. Me. The hater of all things athletic. The girl who almost fell asleep during the baseball scene of Twilight. I was rooting for this fictional baseball team with all my heart, and I had the hugest crush on Chris, our favorite Battery player, by the end of the novel. Beyond that miracle occurring, I have to say I loved this for the same reasons I've loved all of Thompson's books: she knows how to write about broken people falling in love in a way that makes my own heart crack. This book was no different. Daphne and Chris were just both so human, and their pain actually seemed to shape the actions and decisions they made. I wasn't left ranting about dumb choices or stupid reasons to break up at the end - I truly understood every choice these characters made. And the "You've Got Mail" vibes absolutely killed me. I love a good hidden identity penpal situation. The only real complaint I have is that the side characters in Daphne's life were all a little flat. I loved Chris' teammates so much, but I didn't really care about most of Daphne's people, and that made me sad. Regardless, I would 1000000% recommend any romance lover read this. Thanks to NetGalley, Alicia Thompson, and Penguin Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Alright Alicia, I think you found your way into my brain. Some of the things here were just a little too on the nose. I LOVED IT!!! It's an impeccable baseball romance. It's so sweet. Chris felt so real and raw. Both of the main characters were actually. It was so sweet. That can't be stated enough.

This romance just wasn't it for me. I liked both characters, but I became increasingly uncomfortable with the catfishing premise. Essentially, it goes on for far too long, which is the point. But, good God, Daphne! This is so bad!

Chris opening up to Daphne while thinking she's "Duckie" is so sad. It's so the opposite of romantic to see them engaging in vulnerable conversations, then eventually having phone sex, with Daphne making excuses to not meet or talk on the phone, all simply because she's too embarrassed to admit she's the heckler who made him cry on TV? What?! Abusing Chris's trust like that—and for such a shallow reason—is so fucked up!

And now I'm thinking she's lying to me about why her marriage actually failed! All along she's been saying it was the ex's fault for essentially only being a backhanded complimenter. Could it be that she's merely a serial liar who lies?!

I was skimming through the back half just to see how badly Daphne gets burned—turns out, not bad enough. Also, she tells us she was only married for 14 months and then tells Chris that she and her ex "married really young"... She's 27. So, she got married at, what, 25? Is that the new 18?! Such is the state of Daphne's word by this point that I don't even believe this to be an editing error. This woman is a liar!

Loved this!  Did I utterly adore Daphne's action? not at all; however, I did think it made for an exciting storyline. The way things turned out was satisfactory, and I found the evolution to be genuinely grounded in reality. I can see her point of view, and I feel sympathy for her, but I can't help but feel bad for Chris. I love stories with a penpal-like relationship where one person knows the other's identity, so this was perfect. The romance in this was just amazing! I adored how they were acquainted with each other not once, but twice! And how, despite the many situations, they maintained the same emotional current. Daphne was an entertaining main character; I enjoyed following her journey through the novel as she recovered from her recent (ish) divorce. And Chris... I will not even begin to describe him! People, that man wore a gold chain and was the most adorable MMOC I've ever read. That part has to be in more novels, I promise. I couldn't resist reading this steamy book by Alison Thompson; it was undeniably her most horniest. I adored this in every way!

I eagerly anticipate its publication since I intend to purchase a hard copy immediately. There was a lot, so I'll likely revisit it and make notes on the parts I liked. I would highly suggest this story to romance enthusiasts; it was incredibly touching and emotional.

I am incredibly grateful to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for providing me with an advanced copy of the book in return for an unbiased review.

At first I was worried that this was going to be a typical “You’ve got Mail” trope, and while it definitely was this trope, it was very well done. I was pleasantly surprised at how often I teared up because I’d gotten so invested in both Chris and Daphne’s characters. The author did a great job of building chemistry between the main characters. And I wasn’t left with the whiplash that so often comes from whirlwind romance novels - there was a bit of a slow burn. Also, I appreciated the nod to mental health care.

When Daphne, drunk, sad, and just divorced from her brother's best friend brings a ballplayer to tears with her literary inspired heckling tries to make things right, her life becomes very complicated. Heartfelt romance, major league spice, and a secret that could destroy it all make this a page turner.
I was drawn to this because I thought the hero was going to be a catcher but he plays third base. I think catchers are the smartest sexiest ball players out there but, who knew, this third baseman has IT. Featuring a sensitive, kind hero, and a heroine who wants to do good but keeps getting in her own way, I found it tough to put this down.