The Catch is an unusual and original novel, that starts like a conventional story then twists the reader round so that we’re not quite sure where we are. Yrsa Daley-Ward’s poet’s sense of language makes this a beautiful read and her clever storytelling shifts our allegiance between the three main characters. We are rooting for one and then the next in turn. The magic of the events in the book feels quite real (of course Selene is the twins’ mother, never mind that they are the same age!). In amongst the dizzying, narrative, themes of self-actualisation, motherhood, black womanhood swirl and resonate. Focusing on the time travelling, clever overlapping timelines and lives could negate the fact that this is also a fun and funny read. The best kind of page turner.

(3.5 rounded up)

The prose on this book was like poetry at points, I loved that the twisty vibes were woven into the text as well as throughout the plot, and I also adored the cyclical nature of the story - you could see the pattern followed forever.

I do think it was a little confusing - despite my love of the writing, I don’t think there was ever a point where I fully grasped what was happening or why. There is a point where things are starting to make sense, and a plan is developed, but it still isn’t explained why or how any of this is happening. Though this didn’t stop me enjoying the story as I was reading, it did take me a little longer to get into and it has left me with a lot of questions that I don’t think I can answer.

I love an unreliable narrator, so I loved the way the story was told through two of them, though they were frustrating at times! I enjoyed the meta references and the chapters of the characters book being dispersed through. This is a really well told story and I enjoyed reading it, despite coming away feeling like I still don’t really know what happened.

This would be a great book to read with a book club, I can see so much discussion that could be had around it. The confusion actually lends itself to this well; nothing is ever set in stone, so there are so many theories that could be crafted around it and so many different interpretations. This would honestly be a fantastic book to discuss with others.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for my ARC in return for an honest review ♥️

i wasn’t sure what to expect going into the catch, but wow - this was an entertaining, super trippy ride. i fell in love with the writing style from the get-go; it was poetic and evocative, infused with a dark, dry humour. the story itself took unexpected twists and turns, and while i wasn’t entirely sure what had truly gone down by the final page, i still had an enjoyable time. this isn’t a “no plot, just vibes” read, but the vibes were immaculate and kept me engaged.

the plot surrounds two twin sisters, clara and dempsey, whose lives are thrown into upheaval when one day clara spots their long presumed dead mother, serene, in a department store. not only that, but serene appears to be 30 years old - the same age as the twins. the wildness only begins there, because the journey we’re taken on is trippy and confusing and science fiction-y, told through the perspectives of two unreliable narrators. there were so many unexpected elements, and by the end, i kept questioning what i had read, what was real and what wasn’t. i mean this all in the best way, though. it wasn’t a frustrating kind of confusion, or the confusion that arises when an author just doesn’t know what story they’re trying to tell. it was all very much intentional, and it made for one of the most interesting reading experiences i’ve had in a while.

the characters were great, particularly clara and dempsey. i loved the characterisation of the twins who, because of being split up in the care system, ended up on two completely different life paths. there is a scene where serene observes the similarities between the twins, and clara mishears her when she says they share the same ears as them sharing the same fears. that honestly sums the sisters up very well because, even though they are different and, for the most part, estranged, they are also equally traumatised by the loss of their mother under the circumstances, the lack of knowledge about their father, and growing up in adoptive families that were abusive in different ways. this was explored while keeping clara and dempsey feeling like two very distinct characters, and i thought that was amazing. serene was a lot more enigmatic, and i still don’t know what to make of her, but i thought she played off the two sisters brilliantly, and it was cool how her presence affected them in different ways.

the writing absorbed me in from page one. it was poetic on the page, yet accessible, and i fell in love. the way it was used to explore the darker themes, such as the twins’ depressive thoughts, was perfect. i would love to read another book from yrsa daley-ward just to experience more of her writing.

and can i just end by saying the covers are stunning? both for my edition and the alternate cover i’ve seen, they’re both gorgeous and encapsulate the vibe of the book perfectly. and this is such a weird thing to bring up as well, but i loved the typeface in the book 😭 especially the title headings, i was obsessed for some reason. amazing all round.

overall, i’m so glad i got to read the catch. while the dazed and disorienting narrative may not be for everyone, i really hope it gets positive feedback once it comes out this summer. i’ll personally be keeping an eye out for more from yrsa daley-ward, and i may even grab myself a physical copy of the catch when i can. massive thanks to Cornerstone, Merky Books and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced digital copy in exchange for an honest review!

Rating at 3.5-4☆

Where to begin?
This was a dark, twisty and often confusing story, but in a good way. I might not have always known what was real, but it certainly pulled me in, needing to read on in my bid to find out more. (I actually finished it in just over 24hrs).It certainly ticks the box for fans of dysfunctional families, and other world timelines. It's full of emotion, it will keep you on your toes, and it's one that I know will stick with me for a while. It's not one I can see myself reading multiple times, but I may read it again, if only to try and pin down what actually happened.

This just wasn't for me - I couldn't work out what was going on and I could not connect with the style of writing. In the first part the character refers to the body she is inhabiting - what? Is she a spirit? Maybe I am just too literal and lack an imagination but I cut my losses and started another book.

Clara and Dempsey are twins, but by no means does that make their personalities identical. But one thing that connects them on the deepest of levels is the shared trauma they have experienced and the ways in which they deal with the lifelong affect of this too.

The Catch really is such a beautifully written story that delves deep into the characters backgrounds and follows their personal growth as the story progresses. The storyline itself is captivating and emotional, something that had me unable to put the book down at the best of times.

I really did adore this story, and I have no doubt that others will too. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Merkey Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in return for my honest review.

Yrsa Daley-Ward’s novel is a haunting, beautifully written story about twin sisters, Clara and Dempsey, who couldn’t be more different—yet are bound by the same unresolved pain. After their mother, Serene, disappears into the Thames, their relationship fractures, leaving them estranged as adults. But when Clara spots a woman who looks exactly like their mother—unchanged, untouched by time, and living a life without children—their fragile peace shatters. Clara, a celebrity author hungry for answers, is convinced it’s her. Dempsey, withdrawn and skeptical, thinks it’s a scam. Their clash over this mysterious woman forces them to confront the past they’ve been running from.

Daley-Ward’s writing is spellbinding—every sentence feels deliberate, every line weighted with meaning, but never at the expense of the story. This isn’t just a book about plot; it’s a deep, almost hypnotic dive into the sisters’ psyches, their grief, and the ways trauma shapes us. The prose is lush but never overdone, blending magical realism with raw emotional truth. It’s the kind of book you’ll want to reread just to catch the layers you missed the first time.

The relationship between Clara and Dempsey is the heart of the story—two sides of the same coin, one bright and searching, the other guarded and self-contained. Their dynamic feels real, messy, and painfully human. The novel asks: What does it mean to lose a mother? What does it mean to need one? And how do we reconcile the versions of her that exist in our heads with the reality?

That said, this isn’t a book for everyone. The tone is dark, the pacing deliberate, and if you’re looking for something fast and easy, this might not be it. The ending picks up speed, but the journey is more about atmosphere and emotion than twists.

For fans of lyrical, thought-provoking fiction—especially stories about complicated mothers and daughters, sibling bonds, and the ways trauma lingers—this book is unforgettable. Daley-Ward doesn’t just tell a story; she pulls you into a world where grief is alive, where the past is never really past, and where healing is as messy as the hurt that came before it.

I’ll definitely be coming back to this one. Some books you read once; others, you live inside for a while. This is the second kind.

A book I found personally difficult to really get into. Dark writing about twin sisters who try to see if there supposed mother has come back from the dead in a revised form.

The ongoing saga comes to a fast paced ending.

The twins Clara and Dempsey, who are like the moon and the sun, but two sides of the same coin in some ways: they are united in their trauma.
Daley-Ward writes magically - every sentence, every dialogue feels accounted for, but she also does not write from a style-only approach. The writing works together with the plot.
Plot? This is more of an exploration of the characters in a profound way and in-depth.
Absolutely loved it.
I will revisit parts of this book to a) enjoy the story and the prose, b) to confirm if I had understood what was happening right.
I highly recommend this to those who look for stories about mother-children, mother-daughters, siblings with different and even conflicting personalities, trauma, a magical realistic take on trauma and mental health problems coupled with amazing prose.