Erin Hahn’s latest cozy, swoony romance is out now!

Catch and Keep was honestly a breath of fresh air as many before me have stated. It is the first book that I have read by author Erin Hahn and I enjoyed it so much more than I had expected to because let’s be honest, I know nothing about fishing.


The FMC Maren aka ‘Musky Maren’ which is her childhood nickname due to love of fishing and catching Musky. In this book we learn about Marens childhood, her relationship with Fost, and her return to her small town where Maren finds herself again.

The MMC Joe is a single dad who dealt with a divorce and is the primary caregiver of his two children, one of which is Autistic. Joe also runs his parents resort. The last thing he expects is for his best friends little sister to show up and turn his life upside down.

If you enjoy:

✨ Single dad
✨ Small town
✨ Brothers best friend
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Ready made family
✨ Found family
✨ Autistic rep
✨ Slow burn


Catch and Keep explores the themes of love, loss and complexities of friendship. The ending had me in tears. The dynamic between the main characters was authentic truly making the journey of self-discovery and their connection truly engaging.

🎣🩵Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn

5⭐️

I’m fine. 😭😭😭

Ugh I cried so much with this one. It’s so sweet and cute and cozy and wholesome. 🥹

I loved it. Maren leaves her job, apt and boyfriend after a proposal gone wrong. She goes to fix up an old bait shop & apt her old fishing partner left for her. And of course she runs into Joe. I loved them so much. The character are so well done. The writing had me bingeing it.

I loved the kids in this book. Lucy and Anders have my heart.

By the time I made it to the epilogue tears were streaming down my face. 5⭐️s all around.

When Maren's relationship ends with a bang (or a barf), she flees to her favorite place: the lake she grew up going to in Northern Wisconsin. Her old fishing buddy, Fost, left her his home and bait store, and unfortunately, the place is a mess. However, it's just the thing to keep her mind off of her traitorous almost-fiancée. It doesn't hurt that Fost's place is right next to Josiah Cole's home; Joe is her brother's best friend, recently divorced, and dad to two amazing kids, so the feelings she has for him need to stay in the box. The two grow closer and it's clear the feelings are mutual, but there are a lot of things that make their relationship complicated.

I absolutely adored this book. Maren was a girl's girl despite her obsession with fishing, and Joe was such a good dad. I love that there was never any miscommunication between the two of them and that they stood by each other and really stepped in without the other asking. The setting was perfect, and the plot was on point. I will definitely be going back and reading the first two books in the series, despite the fact that this was easily read as a stand alone.

This was so good and has all the fall vibes! Catch and Keep is the third book in Erin Hahn's adult romance series, but it reads like a standalone. Maren, currently unemployed and newly single, returns to her family's vacation spot in the Northwoods of Wisconsin to figure out what to do with her life. Her childhood mentor left her his bait shop and apartment, and she welcomes the chance to get back to her fishing roots at the lake. While she's renovating her inheritance, she reconnects with Joe, her brother's best friend. Joe is an ex-Marine who has sole custody of his two young children, and he manages his parents' lake resort. There are so many heart-warming scenes with Joe and Maren, and scenes with Maren getting to know Joe's children. I loved the cozy lakeside setting, and the wholesome storyline with a heavy sprinkling of spice (don't be fooled by the cute cover). I listened to most of the book on audio, and I really enjoyed both narrators. The audiobook was a wonderful companion over a weekend of chores, and I highly recommend both the audiobook and print versions! Thanks to Netgalley, Spotify, St. Martin's Press, and the author for the librarian preview copy.

Maren has just broken up with her boyfriend, who tried to propose after he stole her job promotion, and ran away to her old stomping grounds, the Northwoods in Wisconsin, to relax and re-group. She is the beneficiary of an old tackle shop and apartment left to her by an old fishing mentor she had as a child and this place reminds her of her love for fishing and nature. As she starts the reno on the decrepit building, she runs into Joe, her brother Liam’s BFF and the owner of the cozy lodge and cabins on the waterfront.

Joe is a divorced father of two, and while they knew each other growing up, she was always seen as Liam's little sister but now he can't help but see Maren as a beautiful woman she is and there is an attraction between them neither of them can ignore. Joe knows it's foolish to start things with Maren because she is only here temporarily and Maren doesn't want to complicate Joe’s life with his family situation since he is still newly divorced. This story is about the two of them navigating new things and finding where home really is.

I loved Maren’s friends and the support system she had with them. They were fun and exciting and always wanted what was best for Maren without coddling her. However, Maren’s brother Liam was THE worst. He always degraded and belittled her. He treated her like a kid when she was a grown woman and I did not like him at all, even after he apologized.

This was a cute and simple slow burn romance without any crazy drama that wrapped up nicely and had a HEA.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sharing this book’s digital advanced review copy with me in exchange for an honest review.

I read this book through a digital ARC from NetGalley
Author: Erin Hahn
Genre: Romance
Troupe: Friends to Lovers, Best Friend's Sister, Found Family, Slow Burn Romance

This book was absolute perfection!!! I adored every single second of it and am devastated that I will never have the opportunity to read this for the first time again.

I adored Maren and Joe so much. They were so real and raw. From Joe being there for Maren and believing in her when everyone was putting her down and making her feel like a kid to Maren stepping up in the morning to help with the kids. Lucy being her baby. The way Anders confided in her. The way Anders protected Maren. The way Joe adapted his parenting to accommodate Lucy was absolutely beautiful. Kiley can step on her step kids legos.

I adored every single second of this book. Infinite thanks for the early copy of this in exchange for my honest review!

I finally got a chance to read this book and could not put it down, finishing it way past midnight. Maren and Joe have amazing chemistry and Joe’s 2 kids pulled my heartstrings.

Wow, I’m not even sure where to start with the review, but I FREAKIN’ ADORED IT seems like an appropriate beginning. I’m in love with the Cole family. All of them!! I want to be friends with them. Josiah is a true romantic lead - strong, but vulnerable. Real. Lucy was such a respectful depiction of autism and how sometimes you have to meet people where they are. And Anders, he’s the true MVP. As a mom who has a son who tends to enjoy things that are considered “feminine,” in a world that isn’t always kind to that, I connected with him and his precious heart. And Maren. Girl, you are a force! I loved her character growth - the path to finding herself. And it was never “I’m a stronger person because he saved me” but “I’m a stronger person by paving the path that was right for me, even if not everyone agreed.” Man, I will recommend this book all day long.

I enjoyed this one a lot. Maren and Josiah were amazing together and I absolutely loved Anders and Lucy. I just about swooned every time Lucy said she was Maren’s baby and her relationship with Anders was special and a joy to read. I loved seeing Josiah with his kids too. Karen’s brother and Josiah’s ex wife were pieces of work and really worked my nerves. I was glad when Maren finally put Liam in his place. The romance was perfect and getting to see Lorelei and Huck and the other friends was a lot of fun!

The third book for the trio of best friends. Maren runs out on a proposal when she realizes it's not what she wants, and she heads back to her happy place. Joe is her older brother's best friend, and he's running the resort now. It quickly becomes apparent that a friendship between the two of them can exist as adults, and as they help each other, they fall for each other.
Joe's adorable kids were highlights, as was Marens's dog, and multiple cameos from Shelby and Cameron and Lorelei and Craig.
I highly recommend reading the other two books first, but this one is great on its own.

There are not enough words to talk about how much I loved this book Maren & Joe are forever in my heart - not to mention the kids! Brother’s best friends, single dad, small town romance and this combination was chef’s kiss. I adored every single page of this book and I’m immediately running to read Hahn’s books about Maren’s friends ASAP!

An easy 5 stars from me.

This was the sweeeeeetest brother's best friend single dad romance. Y'all. I think this was my favorite in the series and I was not ready for it to end. When Maren returns to her childhood stomping grounds after a failed proposal and runs into her brother's best friend Joe, recently divorced with two of the cutest kids ever, the two strike up another renewed friendship and it's only time before feelings come in to play. I loved the meddling from their families, and the natural progression in their relationship. I love how well she loved his kids and how in tune they each were with what they both needed. There were butterflies and melt worthy moments and just all the feels by the time we got to the end. The epilogue was perfect but I still wasn't ready for their story to end!!


Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for my review!

A small town brother's best friend romance featuring a woman who just turned down a proposal and moved back into her small town to work on her inherited bait shop... all the while reuniting with her brother's best friend, ex marine single father and completely irresistible but off limits. Maren used to be a popular youtuber before it became too much and she moved out. Now years later after her boyfriend proposed to her, she turns him down and walks away from her job as a park ranger to go home and work on her inheritance, a bait shop. Maren is now reunited with her brother and his best friend, Liam, a handsome ex marine who is now a single father. Liam is completely off limits but she can't help but be drawn to him and his charming kids and the home that they are giving her. While she is meant to be just working on fixing up the bait shop and selling it....but maybe Liam can convince her to stay. This was definitely a small town romance with spice as Maren and Liam instantly fall for each other. The book was just okay for me, the whole "issues" with the relationship weren't really that much of an issue and the romance was insta love. I really wish I could like it more but something about this book just didn't convince me over. The romance was fine but the story just kind of felt like it was missing something and I can't put my finger on it. While this one wasn't for me I do think that if you like the trope of brother's best friend I think you'd have fun with it.

Release Date: October 15,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

5 solid heartwarming stars.
My first read by author Erin Hahn and looking forward to adding her books to my TBR list.
At 33, Maren has been fishing her entire life. From the time she can remember, owner of an old shake and bait shop would take her out in his boat fishing, when her family vacationed at the resort in northern Wisconsin.
Growing up with all brothers she enjoyed her one on one time learning the secrets of the water from her ole friend.
While in college, she starts a YouTube production called Maren Muskie, which a hit from the beauty queen, but also attracts weirdos.
She follows her back up plan as a park ranger for a steady income. Maren is a private person so when her boyfriend Tyler proposes in front of everyone - she throws up on him then runs away. She lands herself back where she feels safe and secure, Northern Wisconsin resort area.
Here she runs into Cole. Hot. Military veteran. Single dad. Divorced. Resort owner. Her brother’s best friend. 😮
They connect and become fast friends.
Neither one knew they had something missing until the other started filling that space.….. not wanting to make things awkward because she’s always been Liam’s kid sister. And Liam still treats her like a kid.
Coles two children are super special and hold a major role in this book. Anders has a warm heart and wears it on his sleeve. His sister Lucy is autistic and has routine and sensory issues. Hahn does a fantastic job displaying her disability. Giving her the perfect dad for the job is a bonus.
Friends to lovers with romance and spice. As a passenger, I devoured this book on a road trip.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’ Press/St Martin’s Griffin for the ARC read in exchange for my review.

Catch and Keep is a tough book for me to rate. I really loved the beginning when we got to know Maren, especially how her life as a teen/young adult YouTube celebrity impacted her, and the initial sparks between Maren and her older brother's best friend, Joe. I thought the setting was unique and fun - I am not into fishing at all, but I weirdly enjoyed reading about it. On the flip side, I sometimes find Hahn's writing to be cringey, which takes me out of the story. I especially had a hard time with the scene Joe admitted his feelings to Maren's best friends' husband and boyfriend (featured in Hahn's two previous adult romance novels). Still, the story was heartfelt and the romance was good.

3.5 Stars Catch and Keep wraps up Erin Hahn's interconnected stories of three best friends' romances. It's a cozy friends to lovers, single dad, small town, brother's best friend romance.

Maren Laughlin's life has turned upside after she threw up on her boyfriend's shoes while he proposed, rejected said proposal, and quit her job as a park ranger. Returning to the Northern Wisconsin resort where she spent her childhood summers learning to fish, Maren is going to spend this time figuring out what to do next while fixing up her inheritance from her mentor: his old worn down bait shop. Everyone seems to be judging Maren's actions, most especially her older brother, Liam. Thankfully, Liam's best friend, Josiah "Joe" Cole sees Maren trying her best and has no place to judge after what he's been through. Despite his marriage falling apart, single dad and Marine veteran is proud of what he has: his two wonderful kids and running his parents' resort. Maren is a breath of fresh air in Joe's life and adores his kids almost as much as him. Things between Joe and Maren are easy--could it be too easy or is it real love this time?

Catch and Keep feels so different from any other romance I've read despite the familiar tropes and I think it's because of the setting and the FMC. I've never read a romance with so much fishing, let alone a FMC who is an expert fisher and leads expeditions. The setting of a resort in Northern Wisconsin was also very different, but the perfect place for Joe and Maren to fall in love. Like all romances with a single parent trope, I adored Joe's kids, Anders and Lucy. I loved how the four of them truly became a family in the last part of the book. I swear my heart grew three sizes when Lucy referred to herself as "Maren's baby."

Thank you Erin Hahn and NetGalley for the ARC! Catch and Keep releases October 15th!

After Maren publicly break off her engagement from her boyfriend and coworkers. She retreats back to her hometown for some much needed revamp of her life. When arriving she runs into Joe, her brother’s best friend who she has secretly crushed on.

Joe is coming off his divorce after returning home from
being deployed over overseas. He is learning to manage the new life of being a single dad when Maren returns back into his life unexpectedly.

Is the both of them being single perfect timing or too good to be true? Will this spark a flame trust they both put out long ago or is just being friends in the cards for them?

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Catch and Keep
Author: Erin Hahn
Romance

Loved this so much! Woodsy, cabin, fishing themes. Our FMC is also thirty three which I found super refreshing. I love reading romance books with FMCs closer to me in age. Maren has just moved back to her home in Wisconsin to accept her inheritance which is a cute little bait shop. She loves fishing. Josiah is her brothers best friend, divorced, and raising his two kids by himself. When Maren and Josiah find themselves back in each others orbit, a romance story begins and it is so cute. Also about 🌶️🌶️/5 on the spice scale. Thank you so much Netgalley for this ARC. This book releases on 10/15 and if you love brothers best friend, single dad, cozy romance stories then pick this one up!

This was such a sweet binges me and fun romance! I loved the fishing aspect and that it was focused on the FMC not the MMC. It’s a perfect brothers best friend, single dad romance!

Maren finds herself running for “home” after a tone deaf proposal from a not so great guy. She’s gone to her happy place to heal and sort out things with her faithful dog Rogers. She runs into her brothers best friend, and childhood companion, Josiah, and his two kids Anders and Lucy. Josiah is an ex-marine and divorced, navigating running his parents resort and being a single dad to two young ones. Maren quickly becomes a staple in their lives as both her and Joe navigate their pasts and who they are now. We watch over months as these two fall in love, and Maren falls for his children in turn.

These two were so sweet, supportive, and adorable with one another. I loved that the drama does not directly revolve around conflict between them, but their navigating conflict with others and supporting one another through it. I really liked seeing Maren’s interactions with his kids and it was such a sweet story to watch her fall for all of them. Especially how she interacts with Lucy and the sweet moments they share as she meets Lucy at her own level/pace as a person with autism.

Overall this is a perfect romance for the fall/winter, it feels cozy and is just a happy romance that left me smiling!

Another absolutely perfect book from Erin Hahn!! I have loved this little group of friends so much! And Erin’s writing is full of so much LOVE. Joe and Maren were no different, and truthfully I think she saved the best for last, and I LOVED the other two. But there was something that just felt so special about Joe and Maren and Anders and Lucy that made my heart so happy.

Joe and Maren were honestly everything to me. They were soft and quiet and they tried so hard to fight their feelings because she wasn’t staying and because him and her brother are best friends and she didn’t want to get in the way of that… but it’s so hard to fight what’s MEANT TO BE! And that’s exactly what they were. They both had so much work through and figure out and they both desperately wanted to be able to do it on their own…and they DID but they also needed help and watching them accept help!! I loved them so much.

Every single time Maren was interacting with kids made my heart ACHE. Joe had a lot going on, and didn’t want help…but maybe he didn’t want to have to ASK for help…and Maren just seamlessly inserted herself into their lives and it was exactly what they needed. The way Lucy took right to Maren because Maren was such a safe place for her! And I LOVED that Maren and Anders were fishing partners. I loved that full circle moment for Maren so much.

And not to mention seeing Shelby and Cameron and Lorelei and Craig again was so sweet. They’re such a sweet little family and they are always there for each other when they need it the most. And watching the guys take Joe right under their wing was SO CUTE!

Thanks so much to SMP for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!