Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the advanced reader copy.

This week’s headline? Cats aren’t only for Christmas

Why this book? Cats

Which book format? ARC

Primary reading environment? Train rides

Any preconceived notions? I think there’s going to be lots of cats (there better be)

Identify most with? All the cats

Three little words? “biscuit-eating leprechaun”

Goes well with? Cats, of course

Recommend this to? Cat lovers, enemies to lovers lovers

Other cultural accompaniments: https://www.adoptapet.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw-fmZBhDtARIsAH6H8qjs1jdTe1hUsjMVFkFSomB5Isg3xKO3kkpdAB1GdO0OWOoLIh7FkwQaAotmEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Grade: 2.5/5

I leave you with this: “Kara strongly believed that there were two kinds of cat people, ones who were born loving cats and those that fell in love after meeting the right cat.”

📚📚📚

Listen, as if it wasn’t obvious enough, my entire interest in reading this is because of cats. I wanted to read about the adorable, floofy bébés and smile so much that my cheeks hurt. And I did. For the cats. The book itself isn’t bad but there’s this thing that certain authors do when it comes to enemies to lovers that I don’t particularly care for. It’s having one character hate the other for the most ridiculous reason ever. I get some people (ahem, characters) are quick to judge but it just gets my goat when it happens on the page.

I wasn’t enamored with Kara and Ben. I didn't care about if they got together or not. And there were quite a number of “he’s so tall,” variations that I rolled my eyes at. Another thing I could do without - I wouldn’t say it’s straight up miscommunication with these two, it’s refusing to communicate or purposefully misunderstanding. Regardless, I still think this is a cute rom com to read (once) around the holiday season.

A Cat Café Christmas is available now.

I love cats, I support rescuing cats (and other animals!) and finding them safe, loving homes, and I really wanted to love this book, but, I didn't. The cats were definitely a highlight and the premise of the book was fine but the characters just felt like they were pretty negative people and a bit quick to judge. I really didn't like how the FMC, Kara, basically bullied people into fostering and/or adopting cats, and I especially disliked how someone could walk into the cat cafe and an hour later, walk out with a cat, no questions asked. IRL, every rescue organization I am aware of and have adopted from require references, and interview, and sometimes even a home visit, to ensure that the adopter is ready to adopt and will provide a loving home. This book could have been a great way to promote adopting rescue animals if it had approached adoption in a loving, responsible manner.

Putting all that aside and focusing on the romance aspect, now. I just didn't feel like Kara and Ben were both mature enough and had dealt with what happened in their pasts to be ready to enter into a new relationship. MC Ben came across as bitter and cold, letting his anger with his brother fully consume him. He then came across as a misogynistic jerk at the friendsgiving dinner. FMC Kara said that she didn't feel like she fit in with her best friend's friend group, but she didn't do anything to get to know them and for them to get to know her. She came across as very passive, but then complained when things didn't go her way.

Overall, got stars for the cats and the story premise, but otherwise, it was a meh book for me.

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Kara Igalls needed a new start and she found that by opening up Meow and Furrever Cat Cafe with her best friend. She didn't expect to be so much in the hole by the first Christmas. If she doesn't fix this issue quick, there will be no more Cat Cafe. Then the most unlikely answer comes to help. Insert Ben Reese. He's a marketing guru... who hates cats!?! Even though he doesn't love animals, Kara needs to take any help she can get. She has to get out of the red and find home for the ever-growing list of cats for adoption. Maybe if they stay professional and focus on the cats, they can accomplish this mission. Or can they? Stay professional, that is.

I honestly adored this very opposites attract charmer. I liked that both Ben and Kara had a troubled past, but they slowly realized that their past doesn't have to define their entire future. The best part though were all the cats! Let's be honest, anytime a cat is involved, they steal the show.

This was SO FUN! Kara and Ben are a prime example of enemies to lovers. I loved how relatable their inner monologues were and their chemistry!

A perfect read for the holiday season 🥰

Thank you to @netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for my e ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am a cat owner myself so I jumped at the chance to read this holiday cat themed romance.

Overall I give it 3 1/2 stars.

It was very Hallmark-esque in tone with regards to Ben being a marketer who could help save Kara's cat cafe. I did like the dilemma that Ben faced with regards to his family and I also liked his general attitude towards the situation. I felt it was overall very realistic and mature. I didn't like how "insta-lovey" it seemed once he met Kara. To be honest I felt like the romance was moving a bit fast, in particular for a guy under his circumstances, but whatever.

Kara was a lukewarm character there were times when I felt that she was not very likeable, however I did like that the other characters called her out on it, in particular towards the end. I loved the little cat blurbs at the beginning of each chapter, I felt that was a very cute creative way to keep the reader informed of the different cats at the cafe.

The ending seemed a bit much, with the airport and what not, but honestly I guess that is what you come to expect from these holiday themed rom-coms. I will say I will read from this author again in particular if she writes a sequel regarding how Charity and Schwartz's Mexican vacation went.

3 stars!

Loooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooots of cat talk and cat puns, so be prepared. This book is sweet, perhaps a little *too* sweet, in my opinion, meaning not only does it have a saccharine ending, but it's closed-door and has barely any cussing. Things get resolved so fast that Kara, the main female character, doesn't really have the proper time to work through her glaringly huge trust issues. And Ben's trust issues go away too quickly! I hated that the people in his life were basically trying to gaslight him into coming home for Christmas despite everything that went on between him and his brother. COME ON. Let the dude heal already and leave him alone! I like how Kara selflessly and tirelessly work to help save cats, but it's silly that she was willing to let her business almost get run into the ground because she didn't want to promote her business due to her past. I like that Ben eventually becomes a cat person when he finds *his cat,* I know exactly how that is! When you find your soulmate animal, you know. All in all, it's a cute book, but not one I'd recommend to everyone.

Thank you to NetGalley, Codi Gary, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and Forever for providing me with an ARC copy of this book! All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for my review.

2.5 stars rounded up

I don't even know with this one. On the plus side, there are cats in it. And some Christmas! On the unplus side, there is the most emotionally volatile female main character I have seen in a book in a while. Like seriously she is a drug pusher those D.A.R.E. videos warned you about but instead of drugs she pushes stray cats onto people who don't want them. And she wants to open a low cost vet clinic but refuses to do any of the work to make this happen like i don't know encouraging people to come to her cat cafe and spend money? And she has very intense trust issues which don't seem to really get resolved. But don't worry! There is a dude to come in and help her out and fix her business and adopt one of the cats she forced him to care for and heal her broken untrusting heart and fix everything else in her life just in time for Christmas while also dealing with his own crap and what does she offer him??? Yeah that's right a bunch of guilt trips and mood swings. Maybe it's a me thing but this doesn't seem very romantic.

On the plus side again, the cats all get adopted and I assume live happily ever after with their new families despite many of them being forced into the hands of people not fully committed to having a pet by a guilt tripping barista. Christmas is saved!

Thanks so much to Forever Publishing for my copy of A Cat Cafe Christmas!

If you love cats, an underdog business, teddy bear MMCs, supportive best friends, and creative cat names- this is the book for you. This is a perfect Hallmark type story with a cute HEA.

After being scammed by her ex-fiance, veterinarian Kara has worked hard to open a cat cafe and rescue with her BFF, Charity. Ben is a rising star in a marketing firm with a tragic story of his own-his brother and former fiance ran away together. When Ben tries to help the struggling cat cafe, Kara bristles and decides she doesn't need the pushy Ben's help. But Ben finds a kitten in the house he is remodeling and needs Kara's expertise. They soon strike up a friendship and catch feelings. But Kara's ex fiance is being released from jail and is threatening Kara. Can she keep the cafe and rescue running while trusting Ben really has her best interests at heart?

I thought Kara and Ben's back stories were really awful and tragic and felt terrible for them. Without giving too much away, Ben's reasons for cutting off his family felt legitimate and I'm not sure I could forgive so easily. Kara's past was equally sad and I don't blame her for being afraid of everyone. I did enjoy Ben's directness when communicating his feelings for Kara- that's always attractive in a romance!

This book did have a few instances of the miscommunication trope, which I don't enjoy. But the miscommunication is reasonable and luckily didn't ruin the last few chapters.

It's not a show stopping holiday read, but it's definitely purr-fect for animal lovers who crave a happy ending!

This was a cute romantic comedy. There were a few things that annoyed me, but overall I enjoyed it. I mostly liked Kara and Ben, but she made a few odd hand comments that bothered me. The cat profiles at the beginning of each chapter were really cute! Both characters had a lot of baggage from previous relationships. I liked watching their acquaintances to friends to lovers relationship develop. I really liked Charity and Schwartz. Overall this was a cute read. I’ve read and loved a previous book by Codi Gary and I will definitely check out future books too!

This did not start well for me. Veterinarian Kara Ingalls runs a coffee shop that is also a cat rescue clinic and adoption center. Ben Reese works in marketing and the two meet on a day when his firm spotlights her shop as part of campaign for the city. Unprofessionally, no one tells her or her partner about it and the two clash. Then Ben finds a kitten while working on his home renovation. He brings it to her rescue only to be shamed and ridiculed for not wanting to keep the cat. I found that very unprofessional and off putting as he is bringing it to be helped. He’s never had a pet before.

Things don’t improve for a while. He is has no boundaries and actually creates a marketing plan, re-works a website for her without consulting her or her partner. My daughter stopped reading her ARC at that point. I almost stopped after his jealous behavior at a party and snooping into her private life. I found it odd that he is complains about his family not accepting his boundaries when he has no self realization he is over stepping himself.

I pressed forward and the story got a little bit cuter as attraction and sparks begin. Two grumps they can be sweet together. Especially when working to get funding for the cat rescue. Her whole backstory looks like it is going to be a big deal but isn’t more than a whimper compared to the continual missteps and miscues between the two.

I think I written more negatives than positives but I did like the story by the end. My favorite thing is the cat drawings at the beginning of every chapter with a description. Those were adorable. This is very much a sweet Hallmark type story. It includes one intimate scene with very few details. The cover is cute but I wish it matched Kara more. She is described as curvy and rounded. Thank you to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let me start by saying, I volunteer at a cat cafe, so this topic is close to home and may have influenced my enjoyment of this novel, but in a good way! I loved the main characters, I (obviously) loved all the cats, I loved the trope (second chance FTW!) I would absolutely love to see this hit the Hallmark channel at some point because I think the characters could come to life in such a great way (and again, to see the cats, obviously *wink*). Cat lovers and Christmas lovers alike, do not hesitate to grab this book this holiday season!

Veterinarian Kara needs a Christmas miracle to keep her cat cafe open. Marketing guru Ben offers to help as a pro bono project. Despite a rocky start to their relationship, they fall for each other. But will a scandal from her past come between them?

This is a fun enemies-to-lovers rom com. Kara’s past keeps the plot interesting, and Ben’s relationship with the kitten he’s fostering is adorable.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

This was a charming, dual POV, opposites attract holiday romance full of adorable rescue cats, tons of kitty puns and a lot of heart. Kara and Ben get off to a rocky start but eventually these two start working together to try and help Veterinarian Kara save her Cat Cafe and 25 rescue cats right before the holidays. I enjoyed the banter between these characters and thought the audiobook was really well done narrated by Felicity Munroe (who did an impressive Boston accent). Highly recommended for fans of Julia London or Kate McMurray's Whitman Street Cat Cafe series. Much thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

DNF 23%. I gave it a solid try but the only thing that was working for me with this book was the cute cat illustrations and descriptions of said cat at the beginning of each chapter. I knew this one would be rough for me when it started with an info dump of both characters. Info dumps are not an okay form of exposition unless its a short story. Neither Kara nor ben was likable. Kara's character just didn't make any sense to me. She got mad at Ben at the beginning of the book because he helped bring in business to her dying cafe and then when Ben brought the stray cat he found to her vet clinic she essentially called him a bad person because he wanted to surrender the cat he found instead of keep it when he had no desire for or a safe place to have a cat. Ben was misogynistic and constantly of the belief that his was was the best and the only way things should be done. My final straw was Ben taking it upon himself to create a full website for Kara's cafe without her or her business partner's consent or input. On no planet is that okay and I honestly don't care enough about either character to see how that endeavor goes for them.

I love Cats, Christmas and a great romance novel. This book had all three. I really enjoyed it. This book was sweet and a light, fun read. I like Ben and Kara’s connection and enjoyed reading their journey. This book was well written with good conflict to keep me reading to the end. Solid holiday romance! Huge thanks to Forever and Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

This is a Christmas Romance. This book is so cute with wonderful characters with a ton of cats. I loved all the cats. I loved the back story of the two main characters, and their backstories kept enough drama in the book. I love the cat cafe setting in this book. The romance was so cute. I loved all the Christmas stuff in this book. This is a great cute read. I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher (Forever) or author (Codi Gary) via NetGalley, so I can give an honest review about how I feel about this book. I want to send a big Thank you to them for that.

This is a Christmas romance with second chances and lots of cats. Kara lost a lot when her fiancé turned out to be a con artist. Kara is trying to get her life back on track with her cat cafe but she’s got more cats than customers. She ends up meeting a marketing genius Ben who is willing to help her and the cats. Will they be able to pull it off?

Much as I wanted to like this, I just didn’t… The background info was very frontloaded, and idk maybe I’m just reading different books, but this isn’t really a thing in romance. You sort of gradually discover what’s happened with a character, not info dump in chapter two. I think that’s why I could never really connect with either main character. Like, yeah, they’ve been through shitty things, but I don’t know enough about them outside of their trauma to care. Harsh? Maybe. But the writing style didn’t mesh with me and for all the drama and build up in the beginning, it all kind of fizzled to nothing in the end. I did, however, LOVE the cat doodles/features at the start of each chapter.

yep, the cats got me. i am a cat person. i am not a christmas person. but i thought... cats! yay!
unfortunately, not a huge fan of this one. i am annoyed by people who hate cats for no reason, but i am equally annoyed at people like the female main character who thinks people are horrible if they are unable to look after a pet or do not want one. the male main character found a kitten and brought it to her shelter, she acted like he bought the cat, decided he didn't want it, left it on the side of the road. i just don't have a lot of patience for that personally. unfortunately because that left a bad taste in my mouth, i simply didn't enjoy the book after that because i did not like the main characters. i hope other people love it, but it wasn't for me.

I got this one off of NetGalley because how could I not with cats on the cover? Plus Forever is one of my favorite publishers so win win. Overall, I thought the premise was cute. Each chapter started with a drawing of a cat and a tiny bio about them. I could have read an entire book just with that. Kara and Ben were really cute together and I loved watching them fall in love. But I didn't care for the b plots for both of them. I get that these story lines were to give us insight into the background/feelings/emotions of both characters but I just thought the backstories felt forced and it took away from my enjoyment of the story. The romance was great, the grand gestures amazing but I didn't need such detailed back stories for both of them. It's unusual for me to think that but something about them didn't work for me. They both also need therapy and lots of it.

It's not a bad book by any means. It was super cute, definitely would be a great Christmas movie and a light read. A Cat Cafe Christmas comes out on October 4 and is available for pre-order now wherever you buy books.