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.

This was such a cute story. I loved Maren and Joe and I can't forget to mention his sweet littles, Anders and Lucy who are sooooo sweet and bring so much to the story. The progression of Maren and Joe's relationship was realistic and bumpy, which I loved.

I read this one so fast because I just couldn't get enough of the characters. I enjoyed everyone, except Maren's brother.

If you're looking for a slow burn, older brother's best friend, single dad book then grab Catch and Keep! You won't regret it.

This series has been up and down for me and I am so happy this ended on a big UP!

Maren grew up going to Northern Wisconsin with her family and knew Joe, her brother's best friend, since childhood. When life's circumstances (her boyfriend gets the ranger job she wants and proposes to her in public) leads her to escape back there, where she inherited property, she runs into Joe, now a divorced dad of two. He's all grown up and their chemistry is palpable right from the start. I loved Joe and his commitment to his kids - Lucy has autism and his patience with her was so well written. And Maren coming in and immediately just intuitively knowing what to do was also amazing - I loved how Erin Hahn showed how these two really built their adult relationship WITH these kids, not around them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!

Erin Hahn writes big emotions and relatable characters so well. This was a great addition to this series, which is full of heart.

4.25 ⭐
2 🌶️
tropes: small town, brothers’ best friend, starting over, autism rep, single dad, friends to lovers


When her boyfriend of one year tries to propose to her in front of her entire family, Maren returns to her hometown to fix up and sell the property she inherited. Shortly after returning, she runs into Joe- her brother Liam’s best friend and single dad to Lucy and Anders.


This book is pretty formulaic for a romance story, but that’s not a bad thing. This is the kind of love story I enjoy, and why Hallmark movies have such a huge fan base. To be clear, I really enjoyed this book! I do a lot of tandem reading, but this one pulled me in and it was the priority read out of the other books I was reading at the time. It’s just that there wasn’t anything specifically that stood out to me as being special. Catch and Keep is a sweet and spicy comfort read. And the ending was expected but it was still very cute and had me smiling.


I also enjoyed how the chapter titles were actually song titles. I’m a little embarrassed to say it took me until Chapter 17 to notice, but I see you Brand New song title 👀


My only critique is while I loved the autism representation it felt a little heavy handed. It almost felt a little othering. I think you can accurately portray the situation without constantly referring to the fact that Lucy is autistic.

Catch and Keep was a sweet romance. I adored Maren and Joe's relationship. I liked how mature they were. I enjoyed their level-headedness and consideration for each other's feelings. They supported each other perfectly 🤗 The author did a fantastic job with their slow burn. I liked that this book had dual POV's. The dual POV's helped give me a better sense of who Maren and Joe were. Both characters were well-developed and rootable. Maren's character arc was satisfying to read. I liked watching her relationship with Anders and Lucy grow. Hahn's did a great job with Anders and Lucy's characters. I thought she wrote their ages perfectly. I really enjoyed Joe's chapters with the kids and seeing his support and love for them. There were some side characters from previous books. I didn't think my reading experience was hindered by not knowing them. The Northwoods setting was immersive and cozy. I didn't want this book to end. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Synopsis: After rejecting her boyfriend’s proposal, Maren has returned to her childhood vacation spot in Northern Wisconsin to fix up the decrepit bait shop she has inherited. She quickly becomes close to Josiah, a single dad who happens to also be her brother’s best friend.

Thoughts: Catch and Keep is technically the third in a series, but I haven’t read the first two, and it can definitely be read as a standalone. I will be going back to read the other two soon, though! This is such a cozy, feel-good romance. Maren and Joe are just lovely characters, and I was rooting for them the entire time. Joe’s children really steal the show. Sometimes you just need a super sweet, heartwarming story, and this book fits the bill!

Read this if you like:
🎣 fishing
🎣 single dad
🎣 brother’s best friend
🎣 small town
🎣 neurodivergent rep
🎣 cozy romance

"And you're everything I didn't think I wanted but now I don't know if I could live without."

Never have I wanted to pick up a fishing pole more than after reading this book.

What I liked:
I loved everything about this book - I devoured it in a few hours.

Maren & Josiah are fantastic characters, and I adore how their friendship grew into an easy love. Dare I say that friends to lovers may be my new favorite trope!?

Anders and Lucy are the best. Anders is so perceptive, sweet, and just the best big brother. Lucy warming to Maren and coming to trust her and love her was so beautiful to read.

I want one of Lucy's painted lures please and thank you.

This latest from Erin Hahn was a cute, quick read.

Maren’s history with her fishing channel was interesting and gave her a unique hobby and eventual career. I liked how she was with Joe’s kids, especially her interactions with Anders.

Joe was a standup guy who had been through a lot in life and was doing his best. I admired his love for his kids and his family. I liked that he supported Maren without trying to take things over for her and keeping her from speaking her own mind.

Liam was atrocious. Sorry, he really sucked as a brother. I wanted to junk punch him.

Built to Last remains my favorite Erin Hahn book, so I loved seeing Shelby and Cameron again.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book had such fun cozy vibes, while also providing excellent tension between the love interest,. The mix of “ahh” moments, and “yes! Get it girl!” Was exactly what I didn’t know I needed. This was the perfect spicy hallmark movie in book form with a hot mountain man with adorable kids. Could there be anything better?

cute and cool romance with some super fun ideas in it. fairly standard as a romance but a worth t read for all the romance lovers