Review: Thrill of the Chase by Kathryn Nolan

As a longtime lover of sapphic romance, I was really excited to dive into Thrill of the Chase. The premise is incredibly appealing: two rivals forced to work together on a high-stakes treasure hunt involving a missing diamond, with threads of queer history and identity woven throughout. The potential for banter, enemies-to-lovers tension, and emotional depth was all there—and on paper, this had everything I usually love.

Kathryn Nolan’s intent to create a story that blends adventure with queer identity is clear, and I appreciate how the novel centers connection, legacy, and discovery—not just of artifacts, but of self. There are meaningful themes here about belonging, family, and the way the past shapes who we are.

However, despite the strong concept, this one didn’t quite work for me in execution. The pacing felt slow, especially in the first half, and the emotional stakes didn’t pull me in as deeply as I’d hoped. I struggled to connect with the characters, whose development felt somewhat surface-level in places. Their dynamic had potential, but the chemistry never fully sparked for me—and without that emotional buy-in, the romance felt more told than shown.

Additionally, I found the writing style to be uneven. There were moments of beautiful prose, but other sections leaned too heavily on exposition or lacked the immersive detail needed to anchor me in the story. Some chapters felt underwritten, and that made it hard for me to stay fully engaged.

That said, I think Thrill of the Chase will still find its audience—especially among readers who enjoy low-angst sapphic slow burns with a touch of mystery and historical intrigue. It just didn’t match my personal taste in terms of pacing, character depth, and romantic chemistry.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy.

Book Stats:
Rating: ⭐️⭐️
Tropes:

• Rivals-to-Lovers – The central dynamic is built on tension and competition between the two leads.
• Forced Proximity – They’re stuck together on a treasure hunt, which forces them to cooperate.
• Treasure Hunt / Quest – A shared goal drives the plot and puts emotional and physical pressure on the characters.
• Slow Burn – The romance develops gradually over the course of the story.
• Only One Room / Tent Vibes – There may be moments of forced closeness while traveling or searching (if applicable to your edition).
• Found Family / Queer Community – Themes of belonging, legacy, and identity are threaded throughout.
• Past Meets Present – Elements of queer history impact the present-day storyline.