I would rate the storyline and writing a solid 4 stars. I was hooked from the beginning and finished it in just a few hours. Fish Out of Water is a gumpy/sunshine novel which will have you instantly falling in love with Winston.
I would rate the audiobook 3 stars. I wish the narrator had put more emotions into dialogue. When a character is crying, the audio made the dialogue sound the complete opposite of distraught. The character sound like she was cheerily talking. The same happened when things are getting hot and steamy - same inflection in words, no distinguishing between emotions.

Fish Out Of Water by Katie Ruggle
"Why date a mountain man? Because he knows how to pitch a tent."
I was hoping for a rugged book boyfriend, but instead found myself on a very forgettable camping trip.

This is a book that requires the reader to suspend reality, and since I just wasn't expecting that, I'm not sure I ever succeeded.

-the story starts abruptly by getting tossed right in, and I wished for a chapter prior to chapter one in order to have a bit more backstory about who Dahlia was and to explain her relationship with her missing sister
-it's just too far-fetched that Dahlia broke into the Fort Knox style home of town grump Winston with no second thought for her own safety; how did Dahlia have these skills???
-I really wanted more of a take-charge personality from Winston; he was supposed to be rugged!
-I'm not sure I ever warmed up to either Dahlia or Winston or believed in their romance
-audiobook narrator, Cassandra Myles, helped make this book more entertaining, and I think she did the best she could with what was provided to her

Overall, I wanted something different than what this book delivered. I can see this one (maybe) being fun as a mountain roadtrip audiobook or camping read - just remember to suspend reality a bit!

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Casablanca and Dreamscape Media for the complimentary copies to read and review.

This was an interesting story. It was like a mesh of a Rom com for 3/4 of the book and 1/4 suspense/drama. That through me off when listening to this book. I honestly likes the suspense part better than the rom/com part in the beginning. It was sort of boring until they were in the tent in the woods on the second night she was too cold to sleep in her bag alone and had to cozy up to the brute hermit. Overall I did end up enjoying it in the end which is why I gave it three stars.

This was cute! Reminded me of high school backpacking trips, but with a suspenseful element. We LOVE grumpy meets sunshine and this was just unbelievable enough to keep me hooked, without being too unbelievable to be enjoyable! Both the male and female main characters had a fun arc and I enjoyed their whirlwind romance and the action at the end of the story.

If you prefer a closed door romance, skip Chapter 12 and a bit of 13.

The audiobook was really well done, and I enjoyed the narrator as well!

Thanks to Netgalley, Dreamscape Media, and Kate Ruggle for the advanced copy to read.

I really felt this had potential to be a great story! The third person pov with only one narrator didn’t give the plot much help. I loved the MMC and how he was grumpy.

I really enjoyed this book. While a little ridiculous and unbelievable, this book is just so much fun that I was able to overlook some of the crazier aspects of this story. It's bonkers and I loved it.

The romance was really cute and full of hilarious banter that lent well to the spicier scenes in the second half of the book. Speaking of the spicy scenes, I love a virgin hero who has done his homework. That combined with Winston's stoic, grumpy yet protective and sweet personality and he won my heart.

Overall, this book was a great read and was so entertaining. I really had a great time with it.

Tropes:
Opposites attract
Romcom
Mystery/suspense
Broody hermit hero
City girl makeover artist out of her element

This book was hilarious and had me laughing out loud. The audio made it even better.

This book was so good. My only complaint was the overuse of the word "hermit". lol. I loved how Dahlia and Winston's relationship played out. I loved the mystery aspect of them looking for Rose. Such a great read/listen!

"Fish Out of Water" is totally ridiculous. That said, I was never tempted to stop reading/listening. Dahlia and Winston are well-developed characters I quickly came to love, even as I rolled my eyes at one silly plot turn after another. Kate Ruggle has a back list of great romantic suspense novels, and there is an element of suspense in this book (Dahlia's sister has disappeared after sending an ominous text). But the focus is comedic, or at least the intent seems to be comedic. There's a multi-day trek through the woods/mountains in snowstorms that--oh my, how could this ever happen?!--encourage Dahlia to crawl into Winston's sleeping bag for warmth. Dahlia does makeovers professionally (stylistic as well as facial), and a surprisingly large amount of text is devoted to make-up descriptions, so cleverly and well-described that I desperately longed to have either Dahlia or the author give me a personal tutorial. Keep in mind, however, that these make-up sessions take place in a tent while on an "urgent" search for Dahlia's sister! Fish Out of Water is a cute rom-com, and as long as you don't pick it up expecting to find one of the author's carefully constructed romantic suspense novels, you'll be happy. I did find the childish tone of the narrator's voice a bit irritating, and that impression perhaps influenced my inability to take the book seriously.

I enjoyed this for the most part. The banter got a bit extreme toward the middle and end. I thought the characters had a cool, easy going chemistry until mid way through the trip, the comments from the FMC got a bit weird.





I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

Have it 12% and had to DNF. I just couldn’t get into it. May have gotten better but I didn’t have it in me to find out.

I had heard a lot of good things about this book prior to its release so I was really looking forward to popping in my earbuds and listening to the book. I usually listen on 1.5x speed so I got through this book quickly.

Dahlia Westbury could easily be mistaken for being a bit of a vapid princess. She does makeovers and she's perpetually cheerful so she's used to people not taking her seriously.

But she is also incredibly tenacious and, when she receives an SOS from her sister who has gone hiking in the mountains, she is determined to find her.

Winston is the grumpy to her sunshine. She enlists him to help her find her sister, because she has never camped before, and he originally is reluctant to leave his hermit-like existence. But the power of this weird woman is strong and soon he finds himself out of his comfort zone just as much as she is, but loving it.

I really enjoyed this story. It's funny and sweet, and when Winston and Dahlia finally get to it, it's pretty hot.

There is no third act break-up and these two fall in love against the backdrop of nature in a perfectly natural way. And when everything comes to a head and Dahlia and Winston have to work together, they have a strong foundation.

Dahlia is an interesting character - she's not what she originally seems. There's more to her. Winston is a complete cinnamon roll of a her0. Strong, silent, brooding and incredibly thoughtful.

While things moved a little slowly in the middle, generally the pacing was fine. I thought the narration was pretty good. There were a couple of moments where I wanted to skip ahead, but overall this was an enjoyable listen.

I received an ARC of this audio book from Netgalley and Dreamscape Media. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This one was a miss for me. I love the description of it and the winter mountain setting. There were some parts that were funny and entertaining. However, the main female character was annoying to me. Several cringeworthy moments. The end was a bit ridiculous too. I have done a review Bookstagram post about it which I have linked below.

Dahlia Weathersby embarks on a perilous journey into the Colorado Rockies when her sister goes missing during a seemingly straightforward hiking trip. Determined to find her sibling, Dahlia enlists the help of Winston Dane, the local hermit known for his gruff demeanour. With a mix of charm and a touch of blackmail, Dahlia convinces Winston to be her guide through the treacherous mountains.

As they navigate the wilderness and retrace Dahlia's sister's trail, they encounter challenges such as wild animals, harsh weather, and a growing attraction between them. Forced to share a sleeping bag, Dahlia and Winston find themselves drawn to each other despite their differences. Dahlia, a city girl, feels out of place in Winston's mountainous world, yet the urgency to find her missing sister brings them together.

With each obstacle they face, from unpredictable weather to the allure of the Rockies, Dahlia and Winston must confront not only the dangers of the wilderness but also the simmering tension between them. As the mystery deepens, and it becomes apparent that Dahlia's sister might have been taken, the unlikely pair must work together to unravel the truth before it's too late.

It is a captivating blend of romance and adventure set against the breathtaking backdrop of the Colorado Rockies. Dahlia's determination to find her sister propels the narrative forward and Ruggle skillfully weaves a tale of suspense, survival, and unexpected romance.

Cassandra Myles' narration enhances the storytelling experience, capturing the nuances of the characters and the rugged beauty of the mountains. The chemistry between Dahlia and Winston unfolds naturally, adding depth to the plot and making their journey all the more compelling.

The novel's strength lies in its ability to balance the suspense of a missing person's mystery with the slow-burning romance blossoming between Dahlia and Winston. Ruggle's descriptive prose paints a vivid picture of the challenges faced in the wilderness, making the reader feel the intensity of the characters' experiences.

"Fish Out of Water" is not just a love story; it's an exploration of resilience, trust, and the unexpected connections that can form in the most unlikely circumstances. Kate Ruggle's narrative skill, coupled with Cassandra Myles' engaging narration, creates an audiobook that keeps listeners on the edge of their seats while tugging at their heartstrings.

This book has:
•A meet-cute to end all meet-cutes 🌲
•Grumpy x sunshine AND city girl x small-town guy 🌃
•A shy cinnamon roll hero who writes mystery novels
•Forced proximity and the only one bed (tent in this case) tropes 🏕️

Thank you to Sourcebooks Casablanca and Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 stars

This is the best "romcom" read! I do not read romcom's (I find them to be ridiculous), however Katie Ruggle wrote this one which is the only reason I gave it a try. This one is amazing! I love the combination of suspense, humor, and romance. Winston is absolutely adorable, even though he doesn't want to be. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a lighthearted, feel-good read.

I'd say this book was neither particularly good, nor bad - it was absolutely mediocre.
The characters were alright and the plot did keep me interested most of the time, but overall the book felt a little lacking.

Thank you, Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the advance audio copy of Fish Out of Water.

I was excited to listen to this romantic suspense, but unfortunately, it fell a bit flat for me. It felt odd that she was on a desperate hunt to find her sister, but it seemed more like a stroll through the woods. I did not feel connected to Dahlia or Winston and as the reader I did not feel the concern for finding her sister like I should have. My biggest issue with the book was the amount of times the author used the word "hermit." I understand Winston was a hermit, but I was distracted by how frequently the word was used. It was way too many times in my opinion. I was surprised it wasn't a dual POV. I think that would have helped me care about Winston as a character. I love the cover and I had high hopes for the story based on the synopsis but I personally did not connect to this story or characters.

This was my first Katie Ruggle book and I think this is a perfect example of how a book’s synopsis and cover can be misleading. I was expecting a contemporary romance in the wilderness between a gruff mountain man and sunshiny counterpart, but I felt like the majority of the book was a search and rescue mystery for Dahlia’s sister Rose. So much of this book was spent trying to track Rose through the small Colorado town, to the blisteringly cold hiking trail, and I felt like I kept waiting for more action or intrigue between Dahlia and Winston that I never got. If you like “road trip” books, this read very similarly, but not much happened on this trip. I got really excited to read the shared sleeping bag scene and I think the book peaked here. The intimacy and openness in that scene was very well written and endeared me more to Winston, but Dahlia just bored me and I couldn’t connect to her makeover girliness. For a book that spends a lot of time looking for Rose, her character got minimal page time and the sisterly connection just felt like a means to an end of how to get Winston and Dahlia together. I really wanted to like this book, but it just felt average when I was looking for something more.
Cassandra Myles is the narrator for this single POV (Dahlia’s) book and I think she did as much as she could with it although there were not many areas to show her range. I received an advanced copy of this book from Dreamscape Media. All opinions are my own.
2.5 ⭐️

Only one sleeping bag. Need I say more? 🏕️

Katie Ruggle's Fish Out of Water is an absolute delight! It's grumpy/sunshine at it's absolute finest. The banter between the MCs was A++ and I loved them ❤️

I binged this audiobook in one afternoon because I couldn't get enough. I definitely recommend adding to your TBR!

Special thanks to @dreamscape_media @sourcebookscasa for the ALC + ARC.