✨ARC Review✨

⭐⭐⭐⭐ for Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn

This was such a cozy read, and surprisingly emotional! I didn't expect to tear up reading this, but Maren's fierce love for Lucy got me right in the feels.

I loved how the romance between Joe and Maren progressed slowly and naturally, and the way she not only fell in love with him, but with his kids too. Her relationship with Lucy especially is so special, it tugged at my heartstrings!

I'm not a "Lake girl" at all, and yet this book almost made me wish I was; the setting seemed so cozy and delightful, and the fishing expeditions a lot of fun. I was also a fan of the MCs both being in their thirties, it made for a refreshing angle on things.

If you love single dad, slow burn, brother's best friend, age gap romances, give this one a try!

Thank you to St-Martins Press and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

I absolutely loved it, It's a super cute slow burn and best friend's brother romance. It was a breath of fresh air while also taking a deeper look at being a divorced single parent with a child on the spectrum (him) and reinventing your life after an abrupt change (her).
I loved the characters and their depth. This was such a wholesome romance that also dealt with some heavier topics, but I think this had the perfect blend of seriousness and contentment.
This was absolute perfection to me!

I want to go fishing now!

Maren Laughlin decided to take charge of her happiness after the disaster of her fiancé’s proposal and finding out that he got the promotion that she really wanted by taking care of her inheritance from her fishing buddy Fost. But she never expected to see her brother’s best friend Josiah (Joe) Cole who was running his family’s resort next door with two cute kids, a son Anders and an autistic daughter Lucy.

You will love Catch and Keep because Maren falls in love with Anders and Lucy and then slowly realizes that she’s in love with Joe. And you will want to go to fishing with Maren like Anders does with Lucy’s painted lures.

Maren’s friend’s stories are Built to Last and Friends Don't Fall in Love

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book from the author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recently single former Park Ranger, Maren moves back to her favorite Northern Wisconsin summer resort town when she inherits a decrepit bait shop. Floundering in life, she didn't expect to fall for her older brother's best friend, Josiah, a single dad of two young kids, one a high needs autistic girl, who is struggling in his own right. Full of heart, heat and great emotional depth, this was an entertaining read that was good on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Maisey Eddings or Maggie North. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review. This was the third in a trilogy and can be read as a standalone.

Gah there is so much of this that was so good. Some characters from previous Hahn's books appeared in this book about Maren and Joe. Maren left her job, home, and family when her boyfriend tries to manipulate her into marrying him. She runs away to the summer retreat where her family spent most summers of her childhood and where she was willed a house and shop of one of the fishermen that she'd befriended throughout her childhood. In the meantime, Joe, the owner of the nearby resort where she'd stayed as a kid and her brother's best friend, is surviving being a business owner, divorcee, and dad to two kids. Joe and his family immediately take Maren under their wing, giving her a job, help with the renovations of the cabin and store, and people to care for and care for her. It sounds like the perfect recipe for a happy life, until you throw in a stalker, a brother who is very vocal about his friend and his sister staying apart, and plans to move forward elsewhere.

I loved the conclusion of the story of these friends and the representation of how beautiful Midwest summers and autumn are. I love the strength of Maren, the dichotomy of having a beauty queen park ranger who is capable of her own home renovation. It's so telling of those who grow up in the midwest it was awesome.

#arc
#netgalley
#catchandkeep

I don't know what it is about single-parent romances but they just hit differently.

This one was emotionally tender in the best way. Erin Hahn is really good at making us immediately invested in the character's happiness and story.

Also, nothing is quite as good as a dual POV romance where we can see how gone they are for each other.

3/5 ⭐️

This started off pretty good but it just didn't really work for me overall.

Here were some things I liked:
- Maren and Joe were really sweet and I loved their interactions with each other. Maren's relationships with his kids were also great.
- The setting and the fall vibes in this were so good, a perfect fall read.
- No complaints about the spice.

And some things I didn't like:
- Maren and Joe went from barely interacting, to kind of getting to know each other, to suddenly getting it on out of nowhere. It took reading 50% of the book before anything romantically is set up between them and then it just jumps right into a spicy scene. I needed more set up, more angst, more pining. It was just nothing and then everything. I'm all for having a slow build up, but it requires actually having the build up. Very disappointing.
- Maren's brother, Liam. I'm not quite sure what the author was going for in Liam. He was such an asshole to Maren and then they tried to redeem at the end but his behavior was so awful that it was painful to read. It felt like an easy out to create conflict between Maren and Joe.

There were some fun and cute moments in this but I did have a hard time finishing this.

Thank you to NetGalley, Erin Hahn, and St. Martin's Press for my early access to this.

Read if you like:
🎣 Fishing
🧍Brother’s Best Friend
🧑‍🧑‍🧒 Single Dad Romance
🏘️ Small Towns
🧠 Autism Rep

As someone who loves the outdoors, I really enjoyed this one and now I want to go fishing!

I really loved the chemistry between Maren and Josiah and especially the forbidden aspect with her brother saying he was a no go zone and that Josiah is her brother’s best friend.

Maren’s brother thinks she is too immature and that Josiah has too much shit on his plate with being a single parent to two kids, one with a disability, and an ex wife that signed over her rights. So really, from his pov, you kinda get why he doesn’t support them being together and why he told Marren before anything even happened to not let it.

But sometimes the people we need are the people that those that love us don’t always see why they fit for us, until they get the chance to see how coming together makes them both stronger and brings something they each needed to the relationship.

Overall, this was a sweet and fun read with well done spice that had me blushing, and I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, me written by women that take care of their women are top tier!

Thank you so much to Macmillan for my ALC and SMP for my ARC!

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: October 15, 2024

A spicy small town, open door, acquaintances to lovers romcom. Maren grew up fishing on the lake and finds herself back there after her fishing partner left her a lake property in his will. She runs into single-dad of two, Joe (her older brother’s best friend!), and things go from there. This is heartwarmingly sweet and spicy—Joe has a wild amount of emotional intelligence that makes him hard not to fall for, baggage included.

Catch and Keep was such a delightful read. After reading Friends Don’t Fall in Love, I was super curious about Maren and loved getting to know her better.
Maren is her own woman and she’s strong and determined, but she also wants to belong somewhere and to someone. Joe hasn’t been thinking about anything but his kids since the divorce. When they run into each other after a long time without seeing each other, a new story may begin and they might change each other’s lives.
Writing reviews about the books I enjoy the most is always more difficult because I feel I’m not doing them justice. There’s not a single thing I didn’t like about this story. The characters are interesting and complex (except for Kiley haha), the chemistry between Maren and Joe was amazing, the whole fishing scene was unique and overall the book felt lighthearted and heartwarming.
In my opinion, it has the perfect mix of romance, humor, and spiciness. It feels like a well-balanced story, and I love finding books like this that make me laugh and kick my feet in the air.
I also loved having a glimpse of Lorelai and Craig. And even when I haven’t read Shelby’s book (but I will, I already bought it) I already like her so much. It was the perfect culmination of the three friends’ stories and I’m very fond of the characters.
In conclusion, do not miss this book. If you have read the other two (or just one, like me), this one is a must. If you haven’t read the others you can still read this one but I guarantee it will be a thousand times better if you do, you won’t be disappointed.

Maren broke up with her boyfriend by saying no to his proposal and vomiting on his shoes. She has run to Wisconsin to the bait shop she inherited from Fost, a family friend from when her family spent summers on the lake. This is the perfect project to work on while she evaluates her life and decides on her next move. Joe is the resort owner of the place where her family spent summers and her brother’s best friend. He is a single dad of two quirky, wonderful kids, trying to hold it all together. Maren sees that Joe could use some help in the mornings and starts showing up to help out. She also wants to help his son, Anders, realize his dream of catching a muskie. Things between Joe and Maren are easy. She accepts his kids and takes time to get to know them. The only problem is, will her brother interfere before things get started?

This was a wonderful read. Maren is unsure of her place in life and seems to find her place perfectly with Joe and his kids. It was amazing to see how Maren and Joe slotted into each other’s lives perfectly. She was important to not only Joe but his kids too. Joe was so wonderful but feels so much guilt over the dissolution of his marriage. His ex seemed to be a truly terrible person, and I was so mad at her for what she did to the kids. This is a slow-burn relationship, but I am all for a relationship that involves karaoke Bon Jovi!

An important part of this book is Joe’s children. Lucy is autistic, and Erin Hahn did a great job of talking about autism and helping Lucy be successful. I loved how Maren naturally worked to learn some of Lucy’s quirks and accept her as she is, meeting her where she was. There were so many beautiful scenes between the two that left my heart full. Anders is a quirky kid too, who likes nail polish and “non-masculine” clothes and colours. I loved seeing this boy gain confidence in himself too!

This was a great book about finding your place and feeling comfortable. This is a perfect cozy read that Erin Hahn created! Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for a copy of this book. All opinions are 100% mine.

read if you like: single dad, brother’s best friend, slow-burn

This was not for me, I couldn’t get into the writing style unfortunately.

I did think parts were cute before I DNF’d and I think others will enjoy it.

Catch and Keep is a delight. It takes place in the North Woods in Wisconsin and has a heroine who loves to fish. I knew I was in for a good time when I saw for all the lake girls in the author’s dedication!

Maren has just broken up with her boyfriend in a dramatic scene in front of her family and friends. She and her boyfriend both worked for Michigan Forestry (she was a park ranger) and after he secretly applied for a promotion that she wanted and he got the job, she told him she wanted a break. But instead he proposed to her in front of her family and friends and she vomited on his shoes and ran. She needs to get away and decides to go to her old shack on the lake and fix it up. (She inherited the shack and bait shop from Mr. Foster, an old fisherman and family friend who taught her how to fish.) It is the perfect project to work on while she decides what to do next. The lake setting is breathtaking and now I want to go there!

She and her dog are out on the beach one morning when she sees a handsome man--he lives next door--playing with his two kids. Her older brother, Liam, shows up at the lake to check on her and introduces her to Joe, his best friend from childhood. Joe is newly divorced - his wife left him and their kids when he returned home after three tours with the Marines in Afghanistan. His four year old daughter, Lucy, is autistic and a challenge. He has his hands full although his parents help him out when they can. He and his parents manage their family resort which is next door to Maren’s shack.

Maren sees that Joe could use an extra hand in the morning getting the kids off to school so, the next morning, she takes over muffins and helps his son, Anders, pack a lunch and get on the bus while Joe helps his daughter, Lucy, get ready for her special preschool. (The way the author described Lucy’s autism felt very real and is handled with care.) Maren is also great with Anders who dreams of catching a musky. In fact, my favorite scenes in the story are when Maren takes Joe and his kids out fishing.

They enjoy seeing each other in the resort lounge in the evenings, when Joe is working at the bar. Guests and locals sing karaoke and it's sweet when Joe sings a Bon Jovi song to Maren. They share some steamy times whenever they are able to catch a few minutes alone together. She’s been working as a fishing guide at the resort and loving it and is almost done fixing up her shack. She’s trying to decide whether she should apply for other park ranger jobs. Joe asks if there is any chance she could stay through the holidays because he feels there is something between them and would like more time for them to get to know each other and happily, she agrees to stay. We see them meet new challenges together as they have holiday meals with their families and work through drama with Joe’s ex.

I struggled a bit with Maren’s brother, Liam. He gets upset at Maren for getting together with Joe because he feels Joe is too fragile after his divorce and he‘s mad at Joe for hooking up with his baby sister. This went on for far too long and is my least favorite part of the story. (Although I did enjoy seeing Joe finally stand up to Liam.) And while I liked parts of the side plot about Maren‘s YouTube channel, Musky Maren, which she had when she was a teen, the resolution of it felt awkward and unresolved to me.

Maren’s best friends are couples from earlier books, Lorelai and Craig from Friends Don’t Fall in Love and Shelby and Lyle from Built to Last, (both got DIK reviews here) and they have cameos in Catch and Keep. There’s a funny scene when Craig and Lyle FaceTime with Joe to share advice for him to help him win over Maren.

I really enjoyed being transported to a lake in the Northwoods for this heartwarming romance. My criticisms about it are vastly outweighed by how enjoyable and sweet it is. I highly recommend it.

Wow wow wow, what a book! This is my second Erin Hahn book and I’m in love with her writing. The setting was perfection, you felt like you were at the resort or on the lake. The characters had such great chemistry and communication, nothing was beat around the bush and turned out how you wanted to — I appreciated no third act breakup up SO much. The FMC was written strong and like-minded, with the MMC being supportive and well rounded. The characters felt so normal and relatable, it was very easy to connect with them. The single dad trope with autistic child representation was so heartwarming and the family as a whole brought me to tears. Everything you cheered for during the book and hoped to happen was delivered in a beautifully written story.

This is a book that will stick with you after you finish and I highly recommend for a cute, fall rom-com comfort read!

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn
Narrators: Zura Johnson, Michal Norman Johnson
Rating: 5 stars
Steam: 2 chilis
Pub date: 10/15

Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for my advanced copy and to Netgalley and Spotify Audiobooks for my complimentary audiobook.

Maren Laughlin, at thirty-three, is at a crossroads in life, having turned down a marriage proposal and left her career behind. Returning to her roots in Northern Wisconsin to revamp her inherited bait shop, she’s ready to take control of her life, even if others think she’s a bit crazy for it. But Josiah Cole, the local resort owner and single dad, definitely doesn’t think she’s crazy—he’s all in.

Single-dad romances are my kryptonite, and this book did not disappoint! What I loved most about this book is how naturally the romance between Maren and Joe develops. There’s no unnecessary drama, just two people figuring out how to make things work. Joe is sweet and supportive, and Maren is strong, independent, and relatable. The fact that there’s no dramatic third-act breakup was so refreshing! Instead, they deal with real issues by communicating and giving each other space when needed. More romances should take note!

I loved Joe’s kids, Maren’s dog, and revisiting with all my favorite characters from Hahn’s past books. Maren’s brother, Liam, and Joe’s ex, Kiley, add some extra tension to the story, but it makes you root for these two even more as they stand their ground and fight for their relationship.

This is the perfect mix of swoony romance and deeper emotional moments, with a nice balance of humor and heart. The audiobook was great to listen to, and I enjoyed the dual narration.

Read if you like:
*older brother’s best friend
*single dad
*forced proximity
*dual POV
*open door spice

This is such a heartwarming romance book! The FMC is trying to figure out what her best path forward is after having a wrench thrown in her life plans, and the MMC has been single since his former wife and mother of his children left him three years ago. What unfolds is a loving story of small town love, found family, brother’s best friend, and lots more!

This isn’t marked as part of a series, but the author has a set of interconnected standalone this is part of. I went in not realizing that, and although I had no trouble following the story or the characters, I do wish I had read the others! I’ll probably go back and do so, since I loved this book so much.

Read this if you like:
•friend to lovers
•brothers best friend
•single dad
•small town romance

This book was so heartwarming. Maren is such a strong MFC. Joe is so great too. And the kids, oh my heart. I love the autistic representation too. It was so real and authentic. The communication was top notch and both characters were so mature, it was a breath of fresh air to read! Thank you NetGalley & St Martins Press for the eARC!

This book is a warm cozy fire under soft flannel blankets with quiet smiles and easy laughs. Erin Hahn is such a reliable author for cozy and heartfelt romances and I devoured Maren’s story. Jake was a perfect balance to Maren and I loved how mature their story was. There was so much depth to each character without being overly weighty and there was also so much kindness and joy. Both Maren and Jake clearly knew who they were at the start of the story but it was so nice to see them choose each other because they made each other lives’ richer. The children were adorable and I loved how they all had their own personalities too. I loved the continuation of the series without it being necessary to remember all of the previous books. This book was both a joy and comfort to read. 5⭐️, 2🌶

Heartwarming, wholesome romance

I absolutely adored this love story. Joe and Maren just fit together so well, both because of and in spite of their history with each other. Maren is the much-younger sister of Joe's best friend, and their families grew up side-by-side every summer vacation. Now Joe's divorced with two kids and Maren has hit a crossroads in her life - neither is ready for a relationship, but neither can deny the attraction between them.

As the mother of an autistic child, I was thoroughly impressed by the way the author depicted Joe's autistic daughter. Children in romances are often too perfect or precocious or just used as props, but in this delightful story they're both exquisitely realistic and fully-developed characters in their own right.

With a very sweet dedication and song titles used as chapter titles, this book is charming from start to finish. I enjoyed every bit of it, so much that I read it twice before writing this review. It's every bit as wonderful as the first two in this series, maybe even the best of the three. I highly recommend it for anyone looking for immersive romance with memorable characters. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.

As a mid thirties romance reader, it is so special to find a book with characters who are mature, and communicate so openly, and are still insanely hot! I loved the relationship Joe had with his kids and how Maren organically formed relationships with them that were special all their own. The somewhat forbidden aspect of the “brother’s best friend” trope always makes for great sexual tension and this one definitely delivered. Also, just because the MCs are mature and communicate well doesn’t mean we don’t get a character we can all collectively hate! Delivers on that too! All around amazing romance and a sweet and heartfelt story. This one will stick with me.