This book was so sweet. I want to hang out with Musky Maren! I loved the connection between Maren & Joe; I fell in love with Joe’s kids and I wanted to throat-punch Maren’s brother Liam. Erin Hahn did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life & the spice level was just right. Although I loved the inclusion of a child with autism, for me that narrative seemed a bit forced. Overall, a great read that I will recommend. Thank you for the opportunity to enjoy your novel!

This was SO good!!! I loved everything about it from the storyline, to the characters and the writing!!

I absolutely loved the setting, very cozy and picturesque. My aunt owns a fishing lodge and the entire time I was reading I was taken back to my time spent there. ❤️

In terms of the storyline and the characters— I also was blown away!! I loved Anders and Lucy (which admittedly I don’t always love children in books, but they were too sweet not to) and I adored seeing their relationships with their Dad and with Maren. So many sweet moments that pulled at my heart strings.

The romantic relationship in this was so adorable as well! I felt like the pacing of their relationship was actually perfect— it was fast enough to keep me interested and to play on the “we’ve had crushes on each other forever” and “we’ve wanted this for a long time but it was forbidden” tropes but wasn’t too fast where the characters were all of a sudden suffocatingly in love and I was like “where did this come from”. I felt like they progressed steady and strong!

Lastly, I just want to touch on the “internet fame” storyline that was going on in the back burner. I thought it was really interesting and it commented on so many aspects of the world with social media (but obviously in a chill way— it was by no means the purpose of the story). I was happy with the resolution of that at the end, although maybe would have liked it to be mentioned somewhere in the epilogue bc I was still a little bit concerned about safety for the main characters down the road…

All in all 10/10 and I will be purchasing for my collection when this releases! A perfect “summer-to-fall” read.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 4.5 stars (rounded down to 4 for GoodReads and NetGalley)

This review will soon be posted on my bookstagram, @PurpleReadsBooks. Follow for this review and more bookish content!

Without further ado, let me start by telling you that I would trust Erin Hahn to write my obituary. I've only read one of her other books (Friends Don't Fall in Love) and I really liked that one, so I was excited to start this one. Admittedly I was a tad skeptical as I know literally NOTHING about fishing, and I had no clue how Hahn would make running a bait shop interesting. Turns out I had no need to worry because I fell head over heels for this book and all the characters in it.

I absolutely love books with dual pov, and this was not an exception. Hahn did an incredible job balancing the two perspectives and I never felt like I was out of the loop as a reader. I also love love LOVED Joe's kids, and how she portrayed ASD.

The chemistry between Maren and Joe was also top-tier. Every single development between the two of them felt perfectly timed and I ate each little bit up like I was a rat in a jail cell starving for crumbs--that is to say that I loved it.

One last little bit of information: I literally read this book in a day. It was that good. In short, put October 15 on your calendars, everyone. This is a book that I promise you'll want to read.

I loved this so much, and I loved that we had a dad who was 100% loving and supportive and involved and INVESTED in making sure that his autistic daughter knows how wonderful and loved she is. And that he has no interest in entertaining anyone who doesn’t recognize those things about her.

Maren just up and leaving everything behind because one thing made her reevaluate her entire life is SO what we all wish we could do. Minus living in a crusty mouse dungeon but that was temporary. She’s determined and strong but also vulnerable and earnest, and the way she wholeheartedly supports everything that Joe and his kids need was so sweet.

Joe was such a delight, from his seemingly endless patience to his genuine interest in learning how to best support the people around him. He never once underestimated Maren even when he worried about her - he knew she could do it on her own but wanted her to know she didn’t have to.

(Spoiler paragraph?)
The buildup with Maren’s stalker felt like it stalled out, and I think more could have been done with it to offer more closure - while satisfying, it seemed a little unrealistic for it to end so simply.

Completely pitch perfect! While this swoony and absorptive as a standalone, I beg you to read Built to Last (2022 - Shelby’s story) and Friends Don’t Fall in Love (2023 - Lorelai’s story). They are all independent, realistic romances, but Lorelai, Shelby, and Maren’s friendship (and a few perfectly-executed cameos from the guys) shines in the way it weaves through all three books. Erin Hahn hits many of my favorites with this book - brother’s best friend, outdoorsy/strong woman, single parent, SPICE, and neurodivergence. Joe’s daughter Lucy is autistic, and Erin’s portrayal of her character reads as authentic, including the way her family supports her with great love. Other fun includes a villainous ex-wife, meddling grandparents, an adorable dog, a renovation, and several HOT HOT HOT scenes! I finished it in one sitting and wanted to immediately start it over again!

I think I have loved everything I have read by Erin Hahn. I am a sucker for single dads, especially when they are amazing the way Joe is. And Maren? She was delightful as she found herself.

This is one of those books that made me cry in a therapeutic way. You never really stop rooting for the main characters and they don't seem to be too immature, no matter what certain family members seem to think about them.

Cute read! Easy to grab my attention and with a great writing style! I found the characters to be likable and easy to root for!
Would recommend!

Catch and Keep is a fun and cute rom com filled with nostalgic fishing scenes, wholesome family moments, and fixer-upper vibes. I loved the setting of this book - the lakeside camp really hit close to home for me! I enjoyed the charming cast of characters and the found-family aspect, however I felt at times the novel could be really repetitive and for the most part I didn't love the writing. What saved this for me was the amount of heart in the story and how I connected with Maren's love for fishing and the outdoors.

I had high expectations after enjoying Erin Hahn's other two books and this third installment met them in "Catch and Keep"! Set in a charming northern Wisconsin resort, the story follows Maren and Joe as they reconnect after years apart. Both facing personal challenges, their journey to romance is both funny and touching. Hahn's writing flows effortlessly, with two endearing leads that make this book a joy to read. Despite being part of a series, it stands alone brilliantly. A solid 3.5 rounded up to 4 stars!

I absol adore this book and it’s fuzzy feel good vibes! This author should be amount the ranks of his popular Ali hazelwood, Katherine center, and Abby Jimenez are in the book community, if they aren’t already.
The last bit of te book was my favorite. I didn’t know it could get any better! Love!!!!

I am in my romance era!
I mean let’s talk about single dad romance? We definitely love that! We love when the dad finds his perfect match! With an autistic child? I love when books add real world things. Because their could be a dad out there dealing with the same issues!

This book. I loved it. This was my first Erin Hahn book and it won’t be my last.

This story is a single dad, best friend’s brother romance.

Maren is a nature lover who grew up fishing and leaves her boyfriend and park ranger job behind her (now) ex proposes to her after going behind her back and stealing her promotion. Maren heads back home to where she grew up to clean up an old bait shop and apartment that she inherited.

Joe is a single dad of two children after his wife left him because she couldn’t handle their (sweet, loveable) autistic daughter. Joe is a great dad and his kids adore him.

I loved reading Joe and Maren’s story. Both characters were so easily loveable and Maren’s care for Joe’s daughter was so heartwarming to read.

Despite Maren’s brother aka Joe’s best friend apologizing to her toward the end of the story, he left such a bad taste in my mouth from his constant degradation of her that I still didn’t like him by the end (even after he flew cross country to apologize).

Thank you so much to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This book was adorable! I loved the two main characters and I love the way their story unfolded. It was a light and easy read with beautifully written relationships while covering some complex issues (ie post war relationships, parenting children with autism, grown up sibling relationships). Add in some spicy loves scenes and you can’t ask for more. I will definitely be on the lookout for more by this author!

If there is one thing Maren Laughlin loves in this life — it’s fishing. After puking on her boyfriend during a botched proposal, she finds herself back where it all began, this time with a heavy heart as she begins renovations on her inheritance — a bait shop with an apartment. Her brother, Liam, finds her on the lake and catches her (unknowing to her) watching his best friend Josiah (Joe) Cole and his two adorable kids. Maren brushes it off, knowing Josiah is a single dad, is basically a brother and she’s only there to clean up and sell the shop/apartment. But it’s clear to her that Joe needs some help and she slowly intertwines her life with his and his children, romantic feelings evolve. When Joe asks Maren to stay for the holidays she agrees without a second thought … but then Liam and his family make the trip for one big family celebration, what was trying to be kept a secret comes out and Maren is faced with a hard reality — is this ready made family what she wants? is it worth upsetting her brother and potentially hurting his friendship with Joe?

This was my first book by Erin Hahn and all I can say is WHERE HAS SHE BEEN ALL MY LIFE. I am SO GLAD she has other books because I can’t wait to get lost in her writing again.

This story was so incredibly sweet, low angst but some memorable spice. I loved every character but I especially loved Anders and Lucy. For children they had big personalities and you really felt what they were feeling. Joe is a military veteran, single dad, who runs his family’s resort AND SOMEHOW DOESN’T HATE HIS HORRIBLE EX …they definitely don’t make them like that anymore. His ex is horrible, don’t get me wrong, but the fact that he lets his kids still try to have a relationship with her is such a great move.

Maren is someone i’d easily be friends with. She worked for the National Park System and loves to fish (and is good at it) but also did pageants? Bad ass.

This book comes with all the feel goods. I originally wasn’t sure how I was gonna feel towards it, but man am I glad I read it.

I am deeply grateful for having received an ARC of Catch and Keep. Catch and Keep is a heartwarming book that is just perfect for cozying up with in Fall 2024. It has quickly become one of my favorite reads of the year. The story is filled with so much warmth, love, and a beautiful portrayal of friendship and family. I found myself shedding a few tears while immersed in the pages. Erin has done a phenomenal job in creating the story, and I truly felt connected to the characters, especially Joe. The representation of autism in the character Lucy was so genuine and heartfelt, it really touched me. As a fan of the friends-to-lovers trope, I couldn’t help but gush over this heartfelt story. The lakeside setting was so vividly described, I could almost smell the fish and feel the gentle breeze. I also appreciated that the main characters were in their 30s, which made it easier for me to relate to their experiences. As a parent of a preschooler on the spectrum, this aspect of the story resonated deeply with me. I highly recommend adding this book to your fall reading list – I might even find myself re-reading it. The characters Maren, Joe, Andre, and Lucy have found a special place in my heart. It feels like living in my own Hallmark movie!

Absolutely loved this. Classic older brother’s best friend. It was so wholesome and sweet.

I loved the slow pining, slow realizations, but also deeply appreciated the healthy communication and actually talking out problems.
Maren falling for not only Joe but also his kids was so heartwarming. Lucy is so precious and the way Maren steps up to learn what makes her feel safe made me so happy.
All around amazing book definitely recommend picking it up when it comes out!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martins press for the advanced copy in exchange for a review.

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn The third book in the series that Started with Built to Last, this novel focuses on Maren a park ranger who turns down her boyfriend’s proposal and returns to the lakeside town of her youth to restore the baitshop she inherited from her fishing instructor. She reconnects with her brother’s best friend, Josiah, and builds a friendship with he and his two children. This is the third in a series but works fine as a standalone. Do yourself a favor and read them all, though this is my favorite.

I laughed, swooned, and cried reading this book. I loved Maren, how strong she was, how she knew herself, and how she cared for Joe and his kids. I was so affected by Joe’s daughter whom was seen as extraordinary despite (or maybe because of) being neurodivergent/autistic. I raged at his ex for her never seeing her daughter literally or figuratively. The friendship that forms between joe and Maren was so beautiful, each of them truly wanting the best for the other and naturally becoming a part of the other’s life. Seeing the characters from the previous two novels pop up in such a vibrant and authentic way; literally showing up for both Maren and Joe, was a treat. I could picture the lake and reminisced about catching fish with my family on a lake in my youth. I could see the wooden bar where Joe performed Bon Jovi.



As a therapist and a mom I was very moved by this novel. It took me some time after finishing to write this review. The way Joe’s experience in the military was handled and how thoughtful he was about his experiences and how it affected himself and his family was so well done. As was Maren’s growth learning what her wants and needs are, and then trying to fill them. But my favorite part was the loving descriptions of Joe’s children and his affirmation of who they were. Issues of military trauma, autism, gender exploration, and misogyny were all authentically written. Loved loved this book- will read again soon. Thanks to St. Martin’s Griffin and Net galley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review 4.75 stars

Rosie's journey starts with the familiar beats of a typical life—school, job, and the looming question of marriage. But when her boyfriend proposes, she hits pause and reevaluates. Returning to her childhood haven in Northern Wisconsin, to renovate a bait shop she inherits from a dear friend, sets the stage for a delightful adventure. As Rosie dives into renovating the shop, she discovers more than just fishing gear—she finds her brother's best friend Joe and his adorable two kids.

Rosie's tale unfolds, weaving together themes of family, love, and unexpected twists. This book immersed you in their experiences, inviting readers into the highs and lows of life, including the realities of raising a child with autism. With every page, the author paints a vivid picture of joy, struggle, and the bittersweet nostalgia of summers by the lake.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for granting me early access to this gem. My honest review? This book is a must-read for anyone craving a heartfelt journey through the Midwest's charm and the complexities of human connection.

After turning down a proposal gone wrong and walking away from her decade-long position as a park ranger in Michigan, Maren Laughlin flees to her inheritance, a bait shop/apartment, located in Northern Wisconsin near Cole’s Landing Resort. The plan is to fix up the bait shop/apartment, sell it, and move on to the next chapter of her life. Josiah Cole, best friend of Maren’s older brother, manages the resort with his parents and is a single dad to two young children, Lucy and Anders. After reconnecting, Josiah and Maren’s friendship naturally develops into something romantic as they each navigate their current struggles, past failures, and family dynamics.

I loved the dual POV, ASD representation in Lucy, and acknowledgment of Anders’ feminine gender norms. While this is the third book in a series of interconnected standalones, the cameos featuring Maren’s friends makes me want to read the first and second books (adds to TBR). Readers who have lived on the lake or have fond memories of vacationing at the lake will find themselves feeling nostalgic.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5 stars!

Thank you NetGalley, Erin Hahn, and St. Martin’s Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Tropes: Dual POV, Brother’s Best friend, Found Family, Small town/resort town, Single parent

Omg, I’m such a sucker for romance books and an even bigger sucker for a hometown forbidden love!

This was a very cozy story, that’s very near and dear to me. Honestly reminded me of what my older brother had gone through- down to his own Lucy.

I thought that included a really amazing way of how to deal with everyday life with an autistic child.

I have to say, that I was so so mad at Kiley. How can she do that?! However, it is a good example of how people are when they don’t have any experience or understand or even want to learn about autism and how to handle it.