Read Time: 3 minutes
🎧 Listened in audio
📢 Narrated by Daniela Acitelli
⏱ Duration: 8 hours
🏷️ Publisher: Dreamscape Media | ARC Provided by NetGalley
Book Blurb:
To Catch a Latte follows Annie Talbot, whose café is accused of being a money-laundering front. FBI agent Fisher McCoy is on the case, but romance and chemistry threaten to get in the way. Thick as Thieves is a cross-country rom–com caper about Jared McLean, who struggles with breaking the “no falling for your friend’s sister” rule while dodging thieves. Both promise laughs, suspense, and steamy romance.
Let’s talk about the book:
Confession: I went in for the caffeine-and-kisses formula, small town charm, silly banter, two mysteries promised with baked goods and blind dates. But somewhere between Annie’s “endless swooning” and Cat’s “deer-in-headlights” moments, the magic fizzled out. For every chuckle at a ridiculous one-liner, there was a groan when Annie couldn’t seem to solve her own problems without waiting for her FBI hottie to flex a muscle. The romance isn’t shy, but the characters fall into tropes a little too easily: the capable man, the helpless woman, the steam building with every latte but not enough spark to keep me pouring another cup.
The humor and suspense promised in the blurbs never quite landed for me. While McKinlay’s writing is breezy and easy to follow, I struggled to stay invested in the romantic dynamics or the mystery plots. The characters didn’t feel capable or relatable enough to carry the story on their own, which made the experience feel shallow.
The comedy setups were cute on paper. But when every plot twist hinges on a heroine fanning herself instead of firing up her brain, the cute curdles. Daniela Acitelli’s narration is smooth and perky; she’s not the problem. The problem is the 1950s gender playbook masquerading as modern rom-com. I bailed at the four-hour mark still waiting for a single latte that didn’t come with a side of damsel.
Would I recommend it?
Only if you adore heroines who measure independence in how long they can stare at abs before needing rescue. For readers craving cozy mystery with actual agency, keep scrolling.
Instead…
Maybe try these ones…
- The Coffeehouse Mysteries by Cleo Coyle – A cozy mystery series with strong, capable female protagonists, café settings, and clever plots. Perfect for readers who want light mystery without helpless heroines.
- Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A clever and heartwarming cozy mystery with a kickass heroine who stumbles upon murder mysteries with a refreshing twist on the genre. It blends humor, culture, and family in a captivating way - Her Royal Spyness by Rhys Bowen
For fans of light and silly cozy mysteries with romance and historical charm, this series features an aristocratic sleuth solving murders in 1930s England with plenty of jokes and romantic tension. - The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman – Quirky, character-driven mystery with humor and clever twists. Older protagonists take charge, solving crimes in smart, engaging ways.
- Dial A for Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
A wild and hilarious mashup of mystery, comedy, and romance where the protagonist calls her meddling aunties to hide a body, with romantic and comedic chaos that keeps you hooked.
My Two Cents (DNF Thoughts)
Sometimes a book isn’t a match, and that’s okay! These titles are charming in concept but fell flat for my personal taste. What do you do when the premise is fun but the execution just doesn’t click?
book Links:
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