The title and cover are lovely. This was a sweet feel-good romance novel that is perfect for the summer. The characters are delightful. There is no hidden agendas, drama, or surprises.

Erin Hahn’s Catch and Keep is a tender, soul-stirring YA romance that explores love, loss, and the bittersweet beauty of second chances. With her signature emotional depth and relatable characters, Hahn delivers a story that will stay with readers long after they’ve turned the final page.

The novel follows West, a talented but struggling musician, and Grace, a determined young woman with a complicated past, as they navigate the highs and lows of a relationship that begins as an unexpected connection and blossoms into something much deeper. Grace, who’s trying to find her footing after a traumatic event, is both skeptical and cautious about letting anyone into her heart. West, on the other hand, is grappling with the pressures of his budding music career and the expectations that come with it. When their worlds collide, sparks fly, but not without a fair share of misunderstandings and emotional turmoil.

Hahn’s writing is rich with nuance, capturing the complexities of young love and the challenges that come with it. What stands out in Catch and Keep is the authentic emotional journey both characters undergo. Grace’s vulnerability, paired with West’s quiet but intense desire to protect her, creates a beautifully layered dynamic. Their relationship isn’t just about attraction—it’s about healing, growth, and learning how to let go of past wounds in order to build something new together.

Hahn also brings her trademark authenticity to the setting, crafting a story that feels both personal and universal. The music industry backdrop adds an interesting layer to the romance, with the tension between West’s career and his relationship with Grace providing a compelling backdrop to their evolving connection. Hahn’s exploration of family, friendship, and the messy complexities of love make this more than just a romance—it’s a deeply emotional exploration of what it means to find yourself while also finding someone you want to share your life with.

The pacing of the novel is just right, with moments of lighthearted banter and intimate connection woven seamlessly into more poignant, reflective scenes. The chemistry between West and Grace is undeniable, and while their journey is filled with ups and downs, it’s their growth as individuals that makes this story so compelling.

Thank you NetGalley, Erin Hahn, and St. Martin's Press for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.

Oh my goodness, I don't have enough words to describe how much I loved this book!! "Catch and Keep" was everything I hoped for and more! Beautifully written, incredibly sweet, and deeply emotional, it tugged at my heartstrings from the very first page. This was my first read by Erin Hahn, and it certainly won't be my last! I was completely immersed in characters that felt so real, with a relationship that developed organically. AND BEST OF ALL - NO THIRD ACT BREAKUP!!! I was also extremely impressed by Hahn's thoughtful and authentic portrayal of a character with autism. Such a heartwarming story and an easy addition to my top favorites of 2025!! 🩷🩷🩷🩷

Tropes/Themes:
🐟 Friends to Lovers
🐟 Brother's Best Friend
🐟 Single Dad
🐟Small Town Romance
🐟Slow Burn
🐟Autism Representation
🐟No Third Act Breakup
🐟Dual POV

Synposis:
Mauren Laughlin has a spent a lifetime casting lines, waiting and hoping, but at thirty-three, she's ready to reel in something real. When she turns down a safe proposal and walks away from the life she's always known, Maren returns to her childhood lakefront, where an old bait shop and a new beginning await.

Josiah Cole has built a life from second chances, a beloved lakeside resort, two kids who light up his world, and a heart that's mended itself, piece by piece. When Maren drifts into his orbit, it feels less like falling and more like floating, easy and certain, inevitable.

But when love feels this effortless, can it really be trusted? Or is this exactly what it means to find the one you were meant to catch and keep?

My Thoughts:
"Catch and Keep" is pure joy wrapped in a love story! Joe completely stole my heart! The way he stood up for Maren, openly loved her, and never once made her question her worth. He's the kind of hero you don't just root for, you fall for. A true cinnamon roll hero with a heart of gold! Maren's journey was just as moving, especially in the way she connected with Lucy. Showing her patience, understanding, and never treating her as anything less than extraordinary.

This story is brimming with all the best things: fierce friendships, unconditional family, a slow-blooming love that feels both magical and real. And the two kids, plus the adorable dog 🐶, completely captured my heart and made this story shine even brighter.

l loved every page, and I'm already planning to add a physical copy to my personal library. I wholeheartedly recommend and it deserves ALL the stars!!! ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

First off, the cover—so crisp, so cute, so fall! It instantly made me want to pack a bag and head straight to northern Wisconsin. Catch and Keep is a standalone romance novel by Erin Hahn, and while it had its charming moments, it didn’t fully land for me.

The story centers on Maren, who is proposed to by her longtime boyfriend and promptly vomits. Realizing she needs a reset, she leaves town and heads to a favorite childhood destination: a lake in northern Wisconsin. She’s inherited an old cabin there and decides to fix it up while figuring out her next move. Unexpectedly, her new neighbor turns out to be Josiah (Joe)—her childhood crush and her older brother Liam’s best friend. Joe is now a divorced single dad, a former Marine, and the manager of his family’s lakeside resort.

The book checks a lot of romance trope boxes: friends-to-lovers, brother’s best friend, and single dad—plus a unique twist with fishing as the shared passion. I especially enjoyed watching Maren bond with Joe’s kids, particularly his autistic daughter. Those scenes added heart and depth to the story.

That said, I did feel Maren could’ve used more time focusing on herself before jumping into a new relationship. Her brother was overbearing in a way that detracted from the story, and Joe’s ex-wife was portrayed a little too much like a Disney villain. There was also an odd stalker subplot that didn’t really pay off.

Overall, this was a light, easy read with cozy vibes and a lovely setting. It didn’t fully hook me, but I’d be open to reading more from Erin Hahn in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

A wonderful read!
This novel drew me in from the very first page and kept me hooked until the end. The characters were vibrant and relatable, the writing was engaging, and the story had just the right balance of heart and humor. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I have been a fan of Erin Hahn's novels in the past but this one fell flat for me. While the choice of characters was interesting, forest ranger on leave Maren and single dad and former military man Joe, the story felt like it moved at a snail's pace. The stakes never felt high enough nor was I a fan of the conversational narration that gave us every single thought the character was thinking. I ended up "calling the game" at about the 85%+ mark knowing that nothing new was going to happen and the characters would live HEA.

Considering that this was the second in third in the series and the second one I've felt this way about, I think the problem is me. I'm the problem, it's me. 😏

I can read anything Erin Hahn writes. She knows how to write emotional romance stories. And it's no different in Catch and Keep. I absolutely adored the main character, Maren, in Catch and Keep. Maren has the courage to change her life. Not everyone does it, but Maren did. She wanted something different so Maren is taking the chance. And I am loving every moment of Maren journey.

I picked this up because I had already read the other two books in this series. I wasn't too excited about the plot at first, but I quickly realized I was wrong. I loved the chemistry between these two main characters.

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn was such a fun read! I really enjoyed the small-town vibe and how Maren found herself again after turning down a big proposal. The setting by the lake felt so cozy, and Joe—who’s a great mix of charming and down-to-earth—was a character I couldn’t help but root for. Their chemistry was natural and sweet, and I loved seeing their relationship build. This book was the perfect mix of romance, humor, and heartfelt moments.

Small-town romance lovers, Catch and Keep is definitely for you!
Erin Hahn is quickly becoming one of my favourite authors. She strikes a nice balance between heartwarming and heartbreaking that leaves you feeling all the feels by the time you finish the last page.

I loved that Maren and Joe are getting a second chance to make the leap from friends to lovers. Their chemistry was so sweet and felt incredibly natural. I appreciated that Maren was messy, walking away from the life she knew to work on the Bait Shop. Joe totally had me swooning. Usually the single Dad trope isn't for me but it really worked for Joe. I really enjoyed his POV - especially all the times he was secretly going gaga over Maren!

Catch and Keep has a pretty tidy HEA, making it the perfect vacay or summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Erin Hahn for an early review copy. These are my honest thoughts.

✨️ CATCH AND KEEP ✨️
3⭐️ for plot | skipped the spice chapters

Thanks to #netgalley and #stmartinspress for this #gifted digital ARC and apologies that it took a long while to catch up on my reads and reviews due to schoolwork

Catch and Keep explores second chances, family ties and strength in starting over. Small town vibes, dual POVs, and family relationships add warmth that will make this a cozy read for fans of contemporary love stories. I laughed having Bon Jovi music to their wedding plans as he's my ultimate fave rock star!

I can see why this book will swoon readers who love romance and spice but it just wasn't for somebody like me who's picky with romance reads.

I really like the complex characters Erin Hahn writes and this one was no exception. I really love the way she includes personal growth in the characters' romance and the chemistry really worked for me. This one was good!

This book was adorable. Heartwarming, sweet. I enjoyed the characters and the single dad trope isn’t overplayed like some others. Would recommend.

Maren's boyfriend of a year just proposed and she answered him by throwing up on his feet. Josiah is raising his 2 kids by himself after his ex-wife decided being a mom was too hard. Maren and Joe have known each other their whole lives and never expected to end up in the same place again. This was a sweet romance with characters that have great chemistry. I loved that the story includes Joe's kids, Anders and Lucy, and that Lucy has autism.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. I love a single dad romance, and this one was wonderfully done. I loved the slow burn, the humor, and the natural feel to this story. I can't wait to read more from this author!

Thank you St. Martin’s Press for the ARC.

This book hooked me from the very beginning and I fell in love with Josiah and Maren page by page. I came for the brother’s best friend & single dad combo, and I stayed for their effortless friendship turned sizzling romance, the way Maren became such an important adult for Joe’s kids (including her intentional inclusion of Lucy’s ASD needs), and the cozy woodsy Wisconsin lakeside life. I’m kicking myself for waiting so long to read this book because it completely captivated me and has strong re-readability energy for when I need a pick me up.
Plus, Bon Jovi’s “I’ll be there for you” has an equally special and nostalgic place in my heart, so the way it was included in this book was the cherry on top for my reading experience.

This is my 4th book by the author and my favorite. It feels the most complete, well rounded, and most developed characters. This is book 3 in her adult contemporary romance series and all 3 friends interacting and happy. This time we follow Maren as she returns home to collect her inheritance from an old friend and escape a hasty proposal from her boyfriend. The bait shop is a disaster so she spends months rehabbing it to make it habitable. She runs into her brother's best friend Josiah and his kids the first few days there. She ends up quickly involved in their lives and growing attached to the kids unintentionally filling in for an absent mother. The 2 fight feelings for each other thinking the other doesn't feel the attraction they clearly do. Maren butts heads with her brother Liam who thinks she's wasting her life and screwing around too much and warns her to stay away from Joe because he has a lot of baggage. They try, because they don't think it's what they need but they're dead wrong. They support each other in all the ways they need without getting in the other's way. Maren had a Youtube channel and website while in college and experiences some creepy fan obsession that I'm sure happens to a lot of public personalities because people are disgusting. Joe is immediately concerned for her safety when he learns of it and doesn't write her off like so many others did to her when she was younger. Joe's daughter is autistic which can create A LOT of barriers and obstacles for any relationship but Maren handles it all and excels, much to the chagrin of the kids' mother as we see in a conflict near the end of the book. Rescuing Lucy from that HORRIBLE experience cemented my love for Maren as a character. As a mother myself, I couldn't imagine treating any kid, let alone your own that way.

I enjoy enemies-to-lovers as much as the next reader, but I completely swoon over friends-to-lovers stories. This book had the perfect blend of serious topic and swoony romance. I could relate to Maren on a personal level and it made me really appreciate and enjoy her character. Joe was also relatable and easy to fall for and made a wonderful fictional boyfriend. I absolutely loved that there was no third act break-up! The main characters were able to communicate with each other, and give each other some space and grace and work through their issues. This book is not listed as being part of a series, however the FMC has two best friends that are included in other books by Erin Hahn. Built to Last and Friends Don't Fall in Love are the other two books that are included in this interconnected series and are recommended to be read to better understand this story.

Tropes:
Dual POV
Friends to Lovers
Brother's Best Friend
Found Family
Autism Representation
Single Dad Cinnamon Roll MMC
Small Town Vibes
Slow Burn Romance
Open Door Spice

Like all the other ones I’ve read by this author, this book was beautifully written.

I really really enjoyed the storyline and plot. The single dad, special needs child, and all the other parts that made this book, beautiful, difficult and wonderful to read.

I love a book that can flow so nicely while having different difficulties, but also makes sense and be enjoyable.

These two characters messed so well and we’re beautiful to read about

This book is part of a series of books with similar characters. I did read this book out of sequence and it was okay, but I feel it would have been better to read in order.

I thought this was a cute fun book. I really loved both MC in this book. There banter is really fun. There intimate scenes are very sexy and sweet. It is just a heartwarming romance story. It is kind of a finding yourself later in life when things haven't gone exactly as you thought they would type story. I liked how our main characters are not broken but bruised by life. How they help each other is really nice to watch.