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.

A solid friends to lovers, brothers best friend, single parent romance! Maren and Joes story is both sweet and spicy and the bond between Maren and Joe’s kids was icing on the cake!

Thanks Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC!

SWOON! What an adorable book!

-Single dad
-Brothers best friend
-Found family
-Friends to lovers

I enjoyed this book so much I read it in one sitting! I could not put it down. I also love the dynamic between the two main characters and navigating around blending together with the children. One of the kids has autism which I love seeing in books more and more now.

I highly recommend it!

Perfect mix of sweet and spicy. Enjoyed the family dynamics and the very real/challenges that come with parenting and neurodivergence. Setting was beautiful.

If you’re looking for a great light read that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy “Catch and keep” is the perfect book for you. Erin Hahn weaves a story that is both heartwarming and spicy. Erin touches on taboo subjects of divorce and children with special needs in such a kind and understanding way. She really paints a picture of what a family might be going through raising a child with special needs. Do yourself a favor and read this feel good book and enjoy the happy ending.

This was a sweet, breezy read. The sort of thing you can read in a day or two - an afternoon, if you’re a fast reader - and come away feeling all warm and fuzzy.

I want to say upfront that this is a plus, not a minus. While I do love a good, ‘all-the-feels’ rom-com, sometimes it’s nice to finish a book without emotional whiplash. It seems like these can be the hardest rom-coms to get right, the ones that hold an emotional middle ground without oversimplifying everything or becoming cheesy. This middle ground is something that Erin Hahn excels at.

As for Maren and Joe, I liked them, and I liked them together. Maren is in a period of transition, but not in a way that makes her seem lost or listless. She’s a character with strength, deciding what her next move is. I appreciate that. And Joe…complete dad goals.

A note about autism: As someone on the spectrum, with kids on the spectrum, I appreciated the gentle handling of Lucy. While I have low support needs (what used to be referred to as ‘high functioning’) my youngest child has higher support needs, similar to Lucy. Wow, did the descriptions of Joe’s mornings, getting the kids ready for school, bring back some memories. I’d just like to take a moment to thank you, Erin Hahn, should you ever read this review. The general public’s understanding of autism is still relatively new, and I’ve read or watched so many ‘takes’ on autism that were well-meaning but ultimately harmful. This was beautifully handled. Thank you for making Lucy part of the plot without overplaying her disability for dramatic tension.

Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced reader copy of this book, provided in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

I absolutely loved this cute, small town brothers best friend romance. Joe was such a lovable character with his two adorable children. I loved how Lucy, his youngest was autistic and how this played into the character development of Maren and Joe's relationship.
This had me laughing and crying. Maren's friends were the absolute best and their interaction via text was one of my favorite parts of the book. At times I wanted to smack Liam her brother for some of his comments but I was glad to see that Joe was able to take that role on and stand up Maren

This was my first Erin Hahn book and I am so hooked (sorry for the mediocre fishing reference). I will absolutely be reading her backlog ASAP!

Catch and Keep quite simply fantastic. It is always such a treat- and not as common as you’d think- to genuinely like both main characters. The emotional maturity Maren and Josiah showed throughout the book was a breath of fresh air- and thank god for that considering they were 34 and 39.

I think what made this such a stellar read was how absolutely raw and real the ‘issues’ the characters faced were. Mind you, I am not using the word issues because I see them as problems, but just as a summarizing word. A feminine son and autistic daughter. A shitty ex wife. An annoyingly protective brother. All drama was external from the couple- Maren and Joe accepted what they had for what it was and were grateful for it. Their love grew stronger because of it. I loooved how Joe loved Maren and how Maren loved Joe.

The side characters were lovely (most of the time- cough cough, Liam). Maren’s friend group was such a wholesome depiction of supportive female friendship. I can’t wait to go back and read their books.

Thanks Erin, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley for the ARC!

I really... wasn't sure what to expect when I read it, but I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to put it down. She caught me and kept me.

4.25 stars

This was my first Erin Hahn book and I will definitely go back and read Shelby and Lorelai’s books next.

I couldn’t put the book down and was immediately in love with the lake house/small town vibes of the book. It was a really nice slow burn romance and I especially loved the element of found family. I really enjoyed getting to know both Joe and Maren and I could really feel their chemistry on every page.

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

This light romance features a young woman and her older brother’s best friend. The two haven’t seen each other in decades and when they meet again, the sparks fly. Joe is a divorced with two adorable children, who add an element of sweetness to the tale.
For the most part this book had a cozy and wholesome feel, that is, until Marin and Joe get together in what I felt were long, overly explicit sex scenes. Sexual tension and steam with a bit of detail can be great, but the excessive graphic descriptions detracted from the flow of the story (absolutely nothing was left to the reader’s imagination). Sorry, but this reader skipped over several pages, seeking to return to the story itself.
That said, it was a light read, a pleasant escape for a spring day.
FTC disclosure: I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This has not affected the content of my review.

Catch and Keep is a super cute romance novel. Although it is super predictable, it is in the best possible way. This book made me giggle, cry, and get lost in the hopeful romantic life that Maren leads. The backwoods and a cabin are currently calling my name, even if I have no idea how to drive a boat or fish. I loved how the author brought in diverse topics that were fully embraced, while keeping it a typical romance novel. An easy read full of warm fuzzy feelings and a beautiful page turner.

Alright let’s get into it. Fishing ain’t my game. But that didn’t break my interest at ALL and it shouldn’t deter you either. This was honestly a really cozy read! I feel like most would view it as kind of a hallmark vibe with some spice in there! I laughed out loud quite a few times reading this. It made me giddy! I will say I didn’t feel like there was a MAJOR kicker where there was conflict that had you thinking “what’s going to happen!?”, it was more a conflict that falls like my jokes. I say just kidding way too soon and it takes away from the fact that I was trying to tell a joke in the first place. But honestly sometimes you just need a book that’s an easy and predictable read and this was one of those but I ate it UP. I also loved that they had a young child with ASD, I feel like it was actually very educational and showcased how different personalities respond to some situations that may be tough. This was a really easy read that I breezed through and it kept me coming back to my kindle any free (or not free) second I had, which is why despite the predictable plot line, I still give it 4 stars!
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for sending this Advanced Copy in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.

Gracias Netgalley por el arc.


Me encanto como toda la relación entre Maren y Josiah se dió de forma natural. Me gustó que antes de que fueran algo, pude conocerlos individualmente y luego ver como se complementaban.

La manera en la que Maren se unió con Anders y Lucy fue tierna y como los niños le tomaron cariño fue tan natural, no se sintió forzado.

Odie a la mamá de los niños, entiendo su enojo con Josiah, pero con los niños no tenía porque ser horrible.
También me cayó mal, Liam, no se como su esposa lo aguanta.

Lo único que no me gustó fue como sw trato el tema de Bryce.


Es mi primer libro de Erin y definitivamente checaré sus otros libro.

This book is awesome! It's got everything you need: humor, sweetness, and a little bit of spice, all wrapped up in an incredible story about friendship, family, and fishing. The outdoor scenes are so vivid and breathtaking, and the relationships between the characters are absolutely critical to the story. Plus, every single character is important in their own way, making it such a rich and immersive read. I even feel like I could make my own lures now! 'Catch and Keep' is the perfect choice for a lazy afternoon or weekend. It's such a heartwarming and gripping tale that you'll be hooked from the very first page!

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an e-arc in exchange for an unbiased review.

Loved it! In fact, it is my favorite Erin Hahn book to date! I loved this tender story of Maren taking her life in her hands and moving toward more - in this case: finding work that makes her heart sing and her soul feel whole as she embarks on a forbidden relationship with her older brother’s best friend who has baggage of his own. I particularly loved the attention that Hahn paid to the supporting characters, especially Josiah’s children. Life is messy and Hahn gets it just right. I enjoyed the cameos from characters from her fun romances: Built to Last and Friends Don’t Fall in Love. Thank you to St. Martin Press and NetGalley for this wonderful ARC.