Unfortunately i made the decision to DNF this book after multiple failed attempts to consume. I hope to pick it up again at a later time.

I love a cozy romance set in a lake house in a small town. This was a light, sweet and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon.

The main character was dynamic and interesting but the real draw was her relationship with the children of her boss/brother’s best friend/neighbor. I thoroughly enjoyed the representation of an autistic child and the tender, respectful relationship she had with most of the people in her life. The children in this book are a delight to read and the way they were included in this love story felt real and respectable.

It did have a bit of steam but was also a sweet love story between two people who had known each other most of their lives. Both characters with a flawed past but both coming together with respect and love for each other.

It’s worth mentioning that although not listed as a series, this book includes characters from Erin Hahn’s previous two adult novels “Built to Last” and “Friends Don’t Fall in Love.” While definitely a stand alone, this book does include characters from those books in a prominent role.

The setting alone made this book a delight. There was a minor stalking issue that didn’t totally add to the book but it all worked out in the end. Read if you want a quick, fun, lakeside romance with a bit of steam.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.

I’ll start this review with brutal honesty. I don’t think this book is the right read for me, and that’s OK! I do believe it’ll have an audience, but I have to stay true to my gut with the mediocre rating. If you’re not an outdoorsman/woman, this is probably not the book for you. I found the cheesy dialogue more cringey than charming or cute. The characters lacked depth and the plot was predictable, which overall made the story fall flat. It’s an interesting premise, but this one just didn’t strike a cord with me.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

This book offers a charming and engaging read, perfect for fans of personal growth and romance. It follows a thirty-something woman on a journey to find her place in life, alongside a single dad adjusting to his new normal—who also happens to be her brother’s best friend. I dare you not to fall in love with them both and his two kids!
⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

This was an incredbly heartwarming story. It's never too late to start over and find what makes you complete.

Things are not looking great for Maren when she is overlooked for a promotion, and then her on the rock relationship ends in a way that I can only describe as someone not understanding their person at all. She moves back to the little town where she spent all her summer days fishing and starts to find peace. But that's not all she finds. Her older brothers best friend is there and single. But he comes with some baggage. This book contains fantastic Autism representation and one of the best single dad stories I've read in a while. Joe is a literal golden retriever.

- brother’s best friend
- single dad
- friends to lovers

Catch and Keep features Maren, a 33 year old woman who uproots her life in a time of chaos. Her boyfriend got a promotion that she was gunning for (he didn't tell her that he was applying) and the cherry on top was when he proposed to her in front of family and friends (she doesn't like being surprised and put on the spot like that).

She inherited a little bait shop and home on a lake where she spent a lot of time at while growing up. There she reconnects where her older brother's best friend, Josiah. Josiah is a single dad with 2 kids. They weren't super close growing up because their age gap of 5 years felt huge at younger ages, but as adults doesn't seem so astronomical.

I liked the book overall, but I wasn't in "love" with it. Maren wasn't my favorite FMC, her circumstances baffled me sometimes. For example, she doesn't like being put on the spot but was a former YouTuber and beauty pageant queen?

Thank you, NetGalley, for giving me the opportunity to read and review Catch and Keep.

The books in this series just keep getting progressively better - I think this was my favourite of the trilogy. I loved watching Maren integrate into Josiah's family, and how good she was with his children and loved them like her own from the start. I'm not usually a fan of single parent romances, but this one was great. So sad this series has come to an end, but what a way to close out a series.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for an advance copy.

This was sweet and soft. Maren makes a break for her comfort place when her boyfriend publicly proves that he doesn’t know her at all. She ends up attempting to clean up and renovate an inheritance property while she figures out what to do with her life from here. She ends up sliding in seamlessly into the lives of her older brother’s best friend’s family.

I loved how gentle both of the kids were with Maren and vice versa. She is happiest in the entire world out fishing on calm water but was willing to absolutely throw down the minute that those kids show signs of being mistreated and I love her for it.

Joe and Maren were pretty low stakes, low drama and I really appreciated them for it. It was exactly what I wanted at the moment.

This was a pleasant and unique read. I liked diving into Maren’s world of fishing and lake living despite not being outdoorsy myself. I loved how she loved Joe’s kids, and how she had many facets other than just being a stereotypical tomboy. Maren’s relationships with her friends were also so fun, although I didn’t realize this was a standalone in a series and I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I read the previous books.

Where the story lost me a little was the central conflicts. I wish Joe and Maren had spent a little more time in the middle actually communicating with each other, rather than just randomly hooking up and then ignoring the issue. Liam was also super annoying, taking the whole overprotective/condescending brother thing to the extreme in a way that felt really unfair to Maren, and I don’t think his explanation at the end redeemed him.

Overall, I would say this was a good book though, and I enjoyed it a lot!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn is a heartwarming and cozy romance about Maren, who returns to her hometown to start fresh by revamping her inherited bait shop. After turning down her boyfriend’s proposal and leaving her job, she’s ready to take control of her life. Enter Josiah, a single dad who runs a resort and happens to be her brother’s best friend. Their chemistry is undeniable, and I loved watching their relationship develop naturally. The bond Maren forms with Josiah’s kids, especially Lucy, who has ASD, is so touching. Hahn does a great job of giving the children depth, making them an active part of the story. Maren and Joe’s romance is sweet and organic, full of tender moments like Joe serenading her with Bon Jovi. With lovable characters, heartfelt family dynamics, and plenty of swoon-worthy moments, this is a delightful story about second chances and finding love.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

After rejecting her boyfriend’s very public proposal, Maren Laughlin leaves her job and life behind and heads to Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a ramshackle of a bait shop. For the first time, she’s in the driver’s seat of her life despite the many opinions from those around her. She longs for a fresh start, and revamping the bait shop is the first step.

After the dissolution of his marriage, Josiah Cole decides to keep his focus on his two kids and his resort. He doesn’t have time for anything else. Certainly not his best friend’s younger sister. The more Maren circles his orbit, the harder she is to resist.

Joe and Maren are two people at a crossroads. Each has coped with adversity, and yet they still remain hopeful. I loved them together. The chemistry between them was palpable. I enjoyed the tender moments they had together. Found family is one of my favorite tropes, and I loved how quickly Joe’s children welcomed her.

Oftentimes, the brother’s best friend trope has a heroine who pines for the MMC for a long time with the MMC none the wiser. That wasn’t the case here and thank, God. It was so refreshing to read about a heroine who lived a full life without really thinking about the MMC, until they reconnect as adults. This puts them on an even playing field and the relationship feels balanced.

Joe and Maren’s relationship develops organically. We watch them slowly fall in love and join them along for the ride. They have great chemistry, and I enjoyed the scenes where they take care of the children just as much as the scenes of them together. They’re a solid team, and their friendship naturally involves into something more intimate. When Joe serenades her with a Bon Jovi song, my heart fluttered. There were so many romantic moments. It was lovely watching them fall in love and watching Maren fall in love with the children. And let’s not forget about the lovable Rogers.

I also really love how Ms. Hahn gave Joe’s children depth and complexity. They’re active characters in the story. She did a great job writing a character with ASD. Representation matters, and Ms. Hahn wrote about Lucy’s experiences with sensitivity and care. I loved the relationship between Maren and the children. It was so heartwarming and special.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book!

This was a cute book.

Maren was looking to get away and making some changes after a failed proposal. She went back to Wisconsin to a bait shop she inherited.

I liked that Maren didn't have a straightforward journey to finding love. As the book progressed, she faced issues from the past that she needed to overcome.

The same goes for Josiah. His ex-wife really messed him up, and he needed to deal with the fallout of that marriage.

Autism is difficult to portray because it varies so much, but the author did a good job with her version.

Overall, I really liked this book and would read more by the author.

oh boy, catch and keep stole my heart. despite the pacing being off at times, and i didn’t fully buy the romance, the bones are what got me. the foundation that erin hahn builds pulls you in, holds you close, and doesn’t let go. this just might be a new favorite and will not be the last time i read from this author.

Trigger Warnings: panic attacks, anxiety, gaslighting, grief, manipulative ex, strained co-parenting, inappropriate admirer, autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

This was a heartwarming story with a beautiful message about never being too late to follow your happiness. The brother’s best friend, single dad, and friends-to-lovers tropes were done so well—I was rooting for Maren and Joe the whole way through! While it took a bit to warm up to Maren, understanding her past made her journey more meaningful, and I loved seeing her grow. Joe’s kids, Anders and Lucy, were adorable, and I appreciated that the story didn’t shy away from the tough realities of parenting. Though there are tough moments, especially around co-parenting and a manipulative admirer, the ending was truly satisfying. Watching this found family grow and seeing everyone’s happily ever afters left my heart full.

A sweet romance about going back to a favorite childhood place and making it your home, while journeying to find love at the same time.

I really liked this book and it was a quick read. I thought the characters were well-developed and the plot kept me interested.

I received an ARC for free and am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher!

This is my first book by Erin Hahn and I think she's a keeper! This book was easy to read and hard to put down. I loved the storytelling and even though I knew how it was going to end I enjoyed the journey of getting there. I definitely recommend this book!

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Of the 3 books in this series of best friends Shelby, Lorelai, and Maren, I really enjoyed Catch and Keep as much as Shelby's book - more so than Lorelai's book. What a fresh take on contemporary romance.

Maren grew up going to the fishing resort in Wisconsin, and her brother Liam's friend Josiah Cole's family own the resort. Maren takes a leave of absence from her park ranger job after losing a promotion to her soon to be ex-boyfriend Shane, who applied behind her back. He then proposes to her, and she responds by throwing up on him.

Maren used to have a YouTube channel that became popular called musky Maren- musky being a kind of fish. She'd go fishing and show how she catches her fish. Unfortunately, that also came with some creepy male fans. Maren was left a fishing cabin and bait shop by the man who taught her how to fish. She decides to fix it up to sell. Joe's parents offer for her to stay in one of their finished cabins because the cabin needs a lot of work. Maren and Joe hit it off again as friends or something more.

Joe's 2 kids from his 1st marriage are his responsibility, but Maren steps up to help. Anders is 8, and Lucy is 4. Lucy is autistic and it's a lot for a single dad to handle on his own, as his ex Kiley left when they got the diagnosis. I absolutely hated Kiley. She didn't even make an effort to understand her daughter and autism. At one point, she accused Joe of pandering to a 4 year old. Some people should not have kids. She also had a problem with her 8 year old son favoring more feminine colors and wearing nail polish. Kiley comes off as a Maga moron. In contrast, Maren really falls for Joe's kids and for Joe.

The romance is steamy once they get there, about halfway through the book. The pacing was good, and the 3rd act doesn't have a breakup, although the conflict comes from her brother finding out about their secret relationship. Only secret because of the kids and seeing where things go, as Maren tries to figure out the next step in her career. The drama with the creepy guy is a decent subplot. Joe is a great book boyfriend. And we get to see the other 2 couples from the previous books. This book can be read as a standalone. 4/5 ☆ out October 15, 2024.

This was my second favorite Erin Hahn book! I really enjoyed the premise and second chance romance. The writing was easy to follow and I needed this kind of contemporary in my life.

This was a really heartwarming story. I loved the underlying message that it's never too late to make a change/follow your happy. The brother’s best friend, single dad, and friends to lovers tropes were done well and I was rooting for Maren and Joe to find their happiness.

It took me a bit to get invested in the story and readers might not get the best first impression of Maren. As the details of her past are revealed though, her decisions and actions make more sense and I loved seeing her grow and come into her own. Joe’s kids, Anders and Lucy, were adorable and I really appreciated that Erin Hahn didn’t shy away from the tougher parenting moments. It was Rogers though that stole the show ;)

I liked that the majority of the drama was external to Maren and Joe and I would consider this a romance without a third act break up (or maybe third act drama lite). There are some heartbreaking coparenting/ex issues, as well as uncomfortable moments with a previous admirer though, so please check CW’s. It’s been wonderful to see this friend group/found family grow, fall in love, and get their happily ever afters. The epilogue left my heart so happy and full.

CW: panic attacks, anxiety, manipulative ex, gaslighting, grief, death of loved one (past), autism spectrum disorder, stalker, an admirer has inappropriate/uncomfortable conversations with the FMC, strained/dysfunctional relationship with ex & co-parent

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Catch and Keep is author Erin Hahn's latest interconnected standalone, this time following Shelby and Lorelai's best friend, Maren, and her brother's best friend, Josiah "Joe." Told in dual points of view, this book was chock full of compelling language that had me completely drawn in from the start. To put it simply, I was hooked from the very first sentence.

CW: Stalkers, PTSD, Panic Attacks