Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley for the ARC!

First of all, look at that cover. Oh my, is it beautiful.

Wow, I love this book. This is sports romance done right. I loved the tension. I loved that Chris fell in love with Daphne twice. It was the cutest thing to watch. I just loved this so much.

I also very much loved the discussions about mental health. It was done with so much respect and love and it really resonated with me. So thank you to the author for that.

Another thing I loved were the side characters. They were all so supportive and fun people. I loved reading about them, too.

Overall, this book was such a joy to read and I neeeeeeed to own a copy.

After a terrible divorce, Daphne Brink decides to go a baseball game (despite not knowing anything about the sport) and heckle one of the professional players... what she doesn't expect is to make him cry and then become so guilt ridden that she begins messaging him... but she forgot to tell him who she is and as they fall for one another her secret might just destroy her second chance at romance. Daphne Brink is newly divorced and decides to go to the baseball game she was meant to go to with her ex, the only thing is Daphne knows nothing about the sport and isn't exactly a fan. So a few days after signing her divorce paper she goes to the game and decides to heckle one of the professional players, Chris Kepler. Her heckle was just meant to be a joke (she said it when she was super drunk) what she didn't expect was that it would make Chris cry and it would become a widely televised moment. Daphne is riddled with guilt and messages him to apologize... except she never actually says who she is and to her surprise he begins to talk to her and confide in her. Chris doesn't normally respond to random fan messages on social media, but he's still grieving and dealing with a lot, from his older brother's suicide to the strain of the game and his relationship with his own father. Yet when a DM from a "Duckie" catches his eye, he impulsively answers and so begins a sweet and romantic relationship. Daphne is falling for Chris but the more she talks to him the ore afraid she gets of revealing who she is and to make matters worse because of her nationalized moment as his heckler she is actually hired to do the team interviews... so now she has to pretend to not know Chris while also keeping her secret. Can she keep lying to Chris or will her online and in person worlds collide and the truth spill out and destroy the relationship between them? This started off really cute but got kind of annoying because honestly Daphne was straight up catfishing this poor dude for so so long and it really felt like she would have absolutely never ever told him. Daphne had so many opportunities, had so many chances, especially as the relationship was getting more real, that it felt a bit weird and maddening that she just refused to tell the poor guy. Chris is better than me, if I found out someone who not only heckled me, but used what I told them about myself in my vulnerable moments and threw it in my face, and then also would have never told me the truth if I didn't find out, I would have never turned back and couldn't even be in the same room as them. I can understand Daphne's fear but it just didn't feel right to me. I thought the romance was sweet at first but then the whole third act breakup happened and honestly, I kind of wanted better for Chris. Overall, it's a great book if you are a fan of hidden identity relationship stories.

Release Date: June 18,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own. @BerkleyPub @BerkleyRomance #BerkleyPartner #Berkley #BerkleyBookstagram #BerkleyBookTok
I loved this book. Anyone who knows me knows that I LOVE romance and I LOVE baseball (especially the Red Sox), so this book was the best of both worlds for me! I loved the chemistry between Daphne and Chris and I also loved all the 80s movie references featured in this book. Out of Alicia Thompson's novels, this is probably my second favorite of her novels (My first is Love in the Time of Serial Killers), but this is now a very very close second! I can't wait for Alicia Thompson's next book! I highly recommend you go pick up this book RIGHT NOW!!!

5+ Stars!!!!


Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.

********


If you are interested in seeing more of my reviews and other content feel free to connect with me here <3:

https://linktr.ee/bookreviewsbyjules (links to my Instagram, Goodreads, TikTok, Storygraph, My blog and Substack newsletter, etc)

If you are a publisher or author who has questions about my reviews (as well as questions about my stats, reach or engagement), please free to email me. I am also open to requests for book reviews from authors or publishers. Thank you again for taking time to read my review, and I hope you have a wonderful day!

The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson
Narrator: Kristen Sieh
Rating: 4 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 6/18

Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for my advanced copy and PRH Audio for my complimentary audiobook.

When newly divorced Daphne Brink heckles Carolina Battery player Chris Kepler after a few too many beers, she inadvertently sets off a chain of events that neither could have anticipated. What begins as a drunken outburst turns into an online connection when Daphne, under the pseudonym "Duckie," reaches out to apologize to Chris without revealing her identity.

I loved Alicia Thompson’s other novels, and this one is no different! It’s full of humor and heart, and the interactions between Daphne and Chris sizzle with chemistry.

As a baseball fan, I loved all the references to the game and the team's found family aspect. The central plot device—Daphne's concealed identity—casts a shadow over the story, and while the miscommunication adds drama and excitement, it also brings a sense of impending doom that stressed me out.

Despite the reliance on deception, the story's charm and the characters' depth make it a worthwhile read. Chris's vulnerability and Daphne's growth are beautifully portrayed, adding an emotional element to their romance. Their journey from strangers to lovers is heartwarming, and I was rooting for them to get their HEA. I went back and forth between the ebook and the audiobook, and the narrator, Kristen Sieh, did an amazing job bringing all of the characters to life.

I think the secret identity piece will divide readers, but I hope people will give this adorable rom-com a chance! The genuine connection between Daphne and Chris shines through, making it a story worth rooting for.

Read if you like:
*sports romance (baseball)
*secret identity
*miscommunication
*dual POV
*open-door romance

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Imagine this - you heckle a major league baseball player and move him to tears. Then, you develop an anonymous friendship via DMs, and finally, you have to work with him in real life without revealing your online alter ego. Yep, Daphne definitely was spinning a web here, and she could only hope to untangle it when she catches feelings for Chris.

It's not a secret that I adore Thompson's books and this was another great one. From the rather amusing meet-cute to the meaningful discussions they shared, I loved how Chris and Daphne interacted and how their bond grew. Yes, poor Chris was left in the dark that Duckie and Daphne were the same person, and I know so many people hate deception and miscommunication, but Thompson made it work. She was able to help me understand why Daphne made these choices, and though I grew frustrated at times, I was able to forgive Daphne as I rooted for this union.

Both Daphne and Chris had some demons to slay. Daphne was finally free of a rather toxic relationship. She was a bit gun shy given that she had bought into the fantasy and not the reality of her past relationship. This made her doubt herself and her feelings for Chris.

Chris was still reeling from his bother's death by suicide. He was brought up burying his emotions and it was taking a toll on him and his game. It was very touching the way he opened up to Duckie and eventually, Daphne. And they were there for each other and provided support as each worked through their issues.

Funny, sweet, sexy - this book had it all. I loved the romance, the drama, and the baseball, and was impressed with how Thompson blended it all together. Overall, this was another home run from Thompson.

This was a cute, fun time. I love Alicia Thompson's characters and her dialogue. I liked how detailed this got in a way that made it feel like it was really happening. I didn't love the main conflict, which was that the MC becomes embroiled in A Situation where she is one person to her love interest online and another in person. (This involves her drunk heckling said man while he plays professional baseball, and she makes him cry!)

Unfortunately, this did suffer a bit from my reading it side by side The Rom-Commers, which I could not put down, whereas I found this one easier to put down. The stakes just seemed much lower here emotionally (I don't mind lack of plot stakes but the emotional ones still need to be there).

I will very much continue to read this author's books! In fact, reading her second one starting tomorrow.

[3.5 stars, rounded up]

I love baseball and I loved this book. I'm a big fan of Alicia's and I was really looking forward to this book and it did not disappoint. I especially loved the text messages, they were so fun and insightful. Another winner from Alicia!

Thank you to Berkley for the e-ARC and @prhaudio for the ALC of this book.

What’s it about?
Chris plays for the MLB Battery in Charleston. Daphne, who ended up with a pair of amazing tickets to the game as a byproduct of her divorce, attends and gets drunk. And then she starts heckling. One of her heckles is aimed at Chris, and, unexpectedly, he hears it and it rattles him to the point of tears. The exchange goes viral on sports networks.

Feeling awful, Daphne (@ duckysbooks) reaches out to Chris via Instagram DMs to apologize. Only when she copy and pastes her apology from her notes, she forgets the part where she says she’s the heckler. Soon the two are chatting anonymously and regularly, and feelings develop between them.

Then Daphne gets a gig as a sideline reporter for the Battery. And, despite the fact that Chris doesn’t know that Daphne is also Ducky, their chemistry is undeniable. How can their relationship ever work with such a big secret between them?

My thoughts?

While I was reading and listening to this one, I messaged my book pals and told them this is my favorite Alicia book yet.

Let’s break it down:

Immaculate tension and chemistry between Chris and Daphne. I pined for them together the whole book. So good.

Chris is a perfect book boyfriend. When Daphne talks about her flaws, he turns it into positive traits. He is all about consent and going at her pace. He’s a MLB player without an ego. He’s hurting and trusts her before he truly even knows what she looks like.

Daphne is an awkward, adorable, hot mess. Really she’s all of us. She’s nervous about pursuing her impossible dreams, has a bookstagram account, and gets awkward even when things get heated.

I had trouble putting this one down, which is always a sign of a fabulous book.

to be perfectly transparent, this is one of the most confounding books I have ever read. as a lifetime lover of baseball (go mets, even though they stink this year), it was so exciting to gain access to a sports romance centered around the sport. as we know, hockey romances are all the rage, it's nice to see other athletes get their due now and then.

3.5 ★

however, this is my warning to future readers: much of the plot of the art of catching feelings centers around a major miscommunication-slash-catfishing situation, one that is consciously continued by daphne and supported by some in her life. this presented a real moral dilemma for me as someone who hoped to root for chris and daphne. while the pair did share nice moments and I found the book engaging overall, it felt wrong to support their romance for much of the story because the foundation of it was a lie. though her intention was not to do wrong or harm chris, the length of time she allowed him to believe something negated that for me.

since this is the third alicia title I have read, I do believe to be a talented writer. it just feels unfortunate that this was the story chosen for this couple. when you are asked to turn a blind eye to the actions of one character to support a romance, it's tough to feel a true investment in their journey. having said all of that, the book was readable and well-written, so it didn't feel right to drop my rating too much.

thanks to berkley and alicia thompson for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect read at the ballpark on a sunny afternoon book. If you like fish out of water stories and stories about women finding where they belong this is the perfect novel for you. Add in some strong mental health rep and I was hooked from the start. Though there is a fundamental lie within Chris and Daphne’s relationship I thought was handled well and to me it fell easily within a mistaken identity or disguise trope. YMMV
4.5 stars

Thank you for the free book Berkley!

Rating: 5/5 stars

Daphne is still reeling from her divorce when she drunkenly heckles professional baseball player Chris Kepler at a game…and makes him cry. But when she reaches out to apologize and forgets to identify herself, they begin an inexplicable friendship that just might turn into more.

After reading this book, I might be a fan of baseball, but I’m DEFINITELY a fan of baseball players. The way the happiness of an entirely fictional person was briefly integral to my well-being is probably unhealthy but that’s what it means to be a fan of literature honestly. Chris Kepler, wherever you are I just hope you’re smiling sweetie.

This book was everything a rom-com should be: adorably ridiculous meet-cute, fantastic tension (comedic, dramatic, sexual, etc), a really realistic third act conflict, and multiple moments of emotional growth for multiple characters. Truly, this is a masterpiece and sure to be one of my favorites of the summer. I can’t recommend it enough.

CW: Suicide of loved one; divorce; panic attacks

I absolutely loved The Art Of Catching Feelings. It has everything I love about a romance. Swoony moments, amazing characters who are flawed, so real, and a little broken and off the chart chemistry. 


There was are a few spicy scenes, doors are wide open and sizzling hot 🔥


This is definitely my favorite by Alicia Thompson. It's so impressive that she keeps getting better and better.

ARC Review: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thomspon
Pub Date: June 18th
Thank you to @berkleyromance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Daphne, newly divorced and hurting, gets drunk at a baseball game and heckles a player. No big deal right? These players deal with this on a daily basis! However for Chris, Daphne's comment hits at his past and ends up making him cry and becoming a huge news story. Daphne attempts to apologize via DM however forgets to actually say that she's the heckler. The two start an online conversation and before she knows it, Daphne realizes she doesn't want to stop talking to Chris even though she still hasn't told him the truth. Add in a complication of her starting to work for the team he plays for and all of a sudden, Daphne is in a real pickle.

I really liked the set up for this book and the depth especially to Chris and his struggles. I really liked Chris as a character and felt myself rooting for him. I liked the banter that both characters had via text and then in person. And in general I always find Alicia's writing to be really well done!

This is more of a case about this specific book not being *for me* and I really shouldn't have picked it up after reading the synopsis. I just really really struggle when one character keeps a secret from another for the vast majority of the book and clearly feels terrible the whole time but still doesn't say anything. I think we get into really uncomfortable areas of consent issues that I am personally just uncomfortable with. It also often doesn't work for me because the third act conflict/breakup is obvious right from the start.

I struggled a lot with Daphne's character for the above reasons...I do think she goes through some good character growth - I just think the book as a whole would have worked better for me if she had fessed up much sooner.

Read this for:
- Baseball Romance
- Love after divorce
- Epistolary
- Bookish main character
- He falls first

Read if you like:
⚾️ Sports Romances
⌨️ Secret Identity
🤣 Hecklers
🥵 Spicey Reads
💔 Love after Divorce

First and foremost, Chris is such a sweet, thoughtful, and swoon worthy book boyfriend that I’m 100% sure so many readers will love and add him to their book boyfriend lists!

I don’t read a lot of sports romances, but I truly loved how this one was written where as Daphne, you don’t need to know anything about baseball to enjoy this book!

I really loved the way that Chris and Daphne connected via messaging and seeing their palpable chemistry through their online relationship to then their in person connection and how they had so much chemistry.

There is a big moment of miscommunication that we all know is coming as Daphne fails to let Chris know who she is during their online relationship so when they start to connect in person it definitely is bound to get messy, especially when they start hooking up while on the road.

I loved the depth that was written for both of our main characters and how the third act conflict was one we saw coming from the beginning so I had no qualms because it had to happen and the truth had to come out.

Thanks so much to Berkley romance and PRHA for my gifted copies of this sweet and spicy story in exchange for my review!

Man, I don't know why baseball romances are something I love so much but this book is like a wonderful hug. The tension in the book, especially with the relationship starting with a lie, is palpable for the reader and Daphne. Though I would agree she should have told him sooner, you can tell when the moments just weren't perfect. Chris is a wonderfully sweet character, especially for being the athlete. Overall, I really enjoyed the story and how the plot played out.

I absolutely adored this book, which is no surprise because this author is an auto-buy.

Daphne is reeling from a recently-finalized divorce, and she goes to a baseball game as a distraction. Only she knows nothing about baseball and when she heckles the batter, she doesn't realize that he's on the home team and even worse, he hears her. And it makes him tear up.

Chris has experienced a huge personal loss, and the heckler is a breaking point for him. Then, a message comes up on his Instagram, and the anonymous user makes him feel better. For the first time in a while, he opens up to someone.

Daphne immediately regrets accidentally leaving off the reason she messaged Chris -- to apologize for heckling him. He doesn't know it's her, and she doesn't want to stop talking with the man she's so easily connecting with.

Except there's chemistry in person, now that she's offered a temporary position with the team. She's in an impossible position, and it can only get worse as despite both of their reservations, Daphne and Chris begin to fall for one another.

Even though Chris has no idea that she's the woman who's been messaging him.

Friends, I love them. These two are sweethearts, and even though Daphne gets herself into a pickle, I'll hear nothing negative about her or Chris.

This is a story about two heartsick people who are so good for each other that love and healing blossoms. Daphne is skittish, self-aware, and thoughtful, while Chris is the epitome of kind. He's *the* romance hero dreamboat.

I also love the baseball aspect of this, which was so well done.

Is this the read of the summer? Yes, I think so! Top marks, highest recommendation from me. Go out, pick this up, and I guarantee you will fall in love with these characters.

I liked it. Not as much as Cold World, but I did like it overall.

The issue lies in the fact that I loved the concept of this book far more than the execution. The initial misunderstanding dragged on far too long, leading to a major catfishing situation I felt took away from the story. (view spoiler)

The spice and romance were mostly enjoyable. However, everything about their relationship, both online and offline seemed to happen so quickly. Nothing had time to build. I didn't feel enough yearning, which left me feeling slightly disconnected as a result.

On the plus side, it was quick and easy to read. A good palate cleanser, if you will. I still have positive feelings about the author's work overall so if she releases another book I would give it a try.

📖📖 Book Review 📖📖 I cannot tell you how excited I was when this book arrived just in time for airplane reading, it was perfect to dive right into! Newly divorced Daphne is armed with a book, too much beer, and some ballsy language at a baseball game when her attitude towards a player goes a bit too far. She attempts to make amends towards Chris, the player she heckled in a very 2024ish manner, through his instagram DMs. While they hit it off through the screens, Daphne is mortified to reveal her identity in real life and finds herself in a real dilemma. The Art of Catching Feelings is a beautifully written, breezy novel with lots of feelings. While deception plays a catalyst in this book and definitely causes a bit of discomfort, it highlights the angst of growing through loss and finding oneself again in a poignant and beautiful way. This is a wonderful summer read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I was completely taken aback and pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this book! I had never heard of Alicia Thompson before, but I thought this cover was absolutely adorable and the premise of the story really intrigued me. The third person POV took me a few chapters to settle into, and the beginning of the book did drag a tiny bit for me just because some of the decisions Daphne was making made me see RED... but the slow burn and the tension between Chris + Daph was 😮‍💨🤌🏼!!!

I really loved the development both characters had over the course of the book and the fact that this was such an original concept for a romance! The plot had me on the edge of my seat, I literally devoured this in less than a day because it was like an impending train wreck I couldn't bring myself to look away from (in the best way, of course). The undertones of grief and loss also brought me to tears - and considering the traumatic cocktail of books I am very much accustomed to reading, that was an IMPRESSIVE feat. I also LOVEDDD watching Daphne come into her own as a broadcaster and pursue the career path she wanted - I wish we could've seen more of that progression!

The one thing holding me back from considering this a 5-star read would be that I genuinely wanted to kick something numerous times when Daphne would make *yet another* idiotic decision... it was bordering on painful and I felt incredibly heartbroken for Chris that he got played like that. There also wasn't quite enough depth to some of the side characters, I wanted to feel more attached to certain aspects of this book and a couple of those areas fell short for me.

All in all though this was a fun, heartwrenching, uplifting sports romance that delved into lots of important topics such as men's mental health, divorce recovery, emotionally abusive relationships, finding yourself and (of course) loveee 😈😈 Daphne brought Chris back to life and I adored every second of it. I will definitely be keeping an eye out for future books by Alicia Thompson!!

Alicia Thompson was an auto-buy author for me from Love in the Time of Serial Killers, and with every release she proves why again and again, every book five stars with fireworks and noisemakers. This was ADORABLE on every level - all of the emotions. I was INVESTED from Chapter 1 and I know you will be too.

On the day Daphne's divorce is final, she goes to a professional baseball game because her brother and sister-in-law work for the team and got her great seats. She gets wasted, she starts heckling players, and then makes the most absurd Winnie the Pooh referencing heckle ever, except...it makes the player lose it and cry while at bat. Enter third baseman Chris Kepler. She DMs him to apologize but accidentally doesn't identify herself as the heckler, suddenly they're connecting online, and then just as suddenly she's around him in real life too, without knowing his online chat crush and his infuriating new coworker are the same person.

It's a recipe for love and a disaster waiting to happen at the same time!

While I frequently laughed out loud while reading, it's also a deeply emotional book. Daphne has to grapple with the emotional damage from being with someone who didn't see or appreciate her, and Chris is doing a terrible job coping with a tragedy, stuffing down his emotions and it's impacting his game. They both have a lot of internal confrontation to do, as well as support they can offer one another. There's so many times where even when they are at odds, Daphne can't help but try and push Chris toward taking care of himself.

If you are a millennial, all of the references within will feel good and familiar to you.

Another incredible rom-com from an author that I feel true joy to support.