Title: Chase Me If You Can
Author: Heather Frances
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨ (4.5 stars)
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Synopsis
Wedding photographer Sloane Michaels spends most of the year capturing other people's happily-ever-afters.
But every spring, she trades weddings for tornadoes.
For six weeks each year, Sloane joins storm chasers across the country, hoping to capture breathtaking photographs of nature at its most powerful. When a prestigious photography competition announces that its next cover will feature storm photography, she finally sees a chance to leave wedding photography behind and pursue the career she's always wanted.
The only problem?
Her biggest rival.
Wes Talbot, better known as "Wild Wes" is a legendary storm chaser, Sloane's longtime frenemy, and the biggest obstacle standing between her and the competition's grand prize.
When an accident leaves Wes unable to continue chasing storms on his own, Sloane reluctantly agrees to let him join her for the rest of the season.
What starts as an uneasy partnership soon becomes something much more complicated.
My Thoughts
You know when you've read a string of heavy, emotionally draining books and all you want is something fun?
Chase Me If You Can was exactly that book for me.
It was funny, entertaining, easy to binge, and honestly just a great time from beginning to end.
And the tropes?
Oh, they delivered.
We've got frenemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, one bed, he falls first, a little groveling... and somehow all of that is wrapped around a story about storm chasing.
Needless to say, I was sold.
Sloane spends most of the year working as a wedding photographer, but her real passion is landscape photography. Every spring she dedicates six weeks to chasing tornadoes, hoping to capture the perfect shot.
When an opportunity arises to win a major photography competition, she knows this could finally be her chance to build the career she's always wanted.
Then Wes enters the picture.
Or rather... stays in the picture.
The two have spent years teasing, challenging, and competing against one another, so it's no surprise that Sloane initially sees him as her biggest obstacle.
But after circumstances force them to work together, she slowly discovers there's far more to Wes than his "Wild Wes" reputation suggests.
And honestly?
Wes was an A B S O L U T E delight.
Sloane has spent years convincing herself he's nothing more than a reckless trust-fund guy who never takes anything seriously.
The more time they spend together, though, the more that image starts to crumble.
He's supportive.
Protective.
Thoughtful.
And beneath all the confidence and charm is someone who genuinely wants Sloane to succeed.
Watching her perception of him gradually change was one of my favorite parts of the story.
Their romance develops naturally, and I especially appreciated that it wasn't built solely on physical attraction.
There was history between them.
Mutual respect.
Friendly competition.
And plenty of banter.
Also...
He falls first.
Very, very first.
Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if he'd been halfway in love with Sloane long before the story even began.
And when he eventually makes a mistake?
He actually apologizes.
Properly.
He owns it, works to fix it, and earns his way back into Sloane's good graces.
As someone who is always asking for more groveling in romance novels, I appreciated that this one delivered.
The storm-chasing element also made the book stand out.
It's not a setting you see very often in romance, and it added a unique sense of adventure throughout the story. Between racing toward storms, waiting for the perfect photograph, and dealing with unpredictable weather, there was always something happening beyond the romance itself.
My only small criticism was Sloane's initial impression of Wes.
At times, she felt a little too quick to judge him based on assumptions she'd carried for years.
That said, it also made her character growth much more satisfying as she slowly realized she'd been seeing only one side of him.
Final Thoughts
Chase Me If You Can was simply a lot of fun.
With memorable characters, plenty of romantic tension, excellent banter, and a refreshing storm-chasing backdrop, it delivered exactly the kind of feel-good romance I was in the mood for.
If you enjoy rivals-to-lovers romances with forced proximity, a hero who's been quietly in love all along, and enough adventure to keep the pages flying by, I'd definitely recommend adding this one to your TBR.
⭐️ 4.5 stars
ARC Disclaimer
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
No comments:
Post a Comment