Best romance read of 2024! Best title for a book.! You have to listen to this one!!!

This title had me hooked right away. LOL. The story lives up to the title, cover and description and is hard to put down. The beautiful setting adds to the story.

Both of the main characters (Maren & Joe) are amazing people and fun to get to know. They have known each other since childhood. Both of them have families that love them and are interested in their happiness. Neither of them are looking for love. There is more to this story than just the love that slowly grows. Both of them have lived interesting lives and so have their families.

The two narrators did a great job - Zura Johnson and Michal Norman Johnson. They made the story come to life for me.

It's the representation of autism that made me absolutely love this one. So much about this book was cozy and romantic, but I truly love when an author is able to so effortlessly weave neuro diversities into a story and here it is done so well. It's not the focus of the story, but it is a big part of it and the way it was done was so so good.

As for the romance, it was brothers best friends meets childhood friends to lovers and I love both of those tropes so this was an easy sell for me. I devoured it. Maren is such a fierce lead, she is strong when she needs to be but also tender and vulnerable. Josiah is overworked and overtired, but so willing to put in the extra effort for Maren.

This one gives such great closure to the overall story, but to each individual story too. Put this on your list to get to before fall is over!

Such a cute fall romance! Maren escapes a proposal by vomiting on his shoes, and then high tails it to Wisconsin, where she's always been happiest. While she's fixing up the old bait shop that was left to her by her late fishing partner, she falls in love with Joe, her big brother's best friend. Are all the connections too much for Maren who ran away from her last relationship, or is Wisconsin truly home?

My favourite thing about this book is the cover :) It drew me right in and gave me some warm fuzzies. Unfortunately, the book itself had such a strong start and lost my interest about midway through. I really enjoyed the child characters and the community but the love story just felt a little bit awkward to me. I'll still be checking out future books from this author though!

The premise of this story along with the cover drew me in but unfortunately it was a miss for me.

At thirty-three, Maren Laughlin's just turned down her boyfriend’s proposal, walked away from her decade-long position as a park ranger, and returned to her childhood playground in Northern Wisconsin to accept her inheritance: a decrepit waterfront bait shop. After a lifetime of letting things happen to her, she’s ready to start making her own moves, even if everyone else thinks she’s making the wrong ones. Well, not everyone―at least the local heartstopper and resort owner is on her side.

Josiah Cole has made some missteps in his life, but he’s proud of what he has: two awesome kids and the keys to the kind of getaway spot that has families coming back every summer– their up north home away from home. After his marriage dissolved, leaving him a single dad, he feels he’s the last person to judge Maren for her recent transformation (even if his best friend, her brother, wants him to feel otherwise). Besides, he genuinely likes having her around. She’s a breath of fresh air, his kids adore her (not to mention her dog, Rogers), and it doesn’t hurt that she’s beautiful.
Things between Maren and Joe are easy. So easy, they’re fully immersed in the middle before they even decide to begin. It’s not a question of should they, but rather can they make it last? Are things too easy, or is this just how real love works?

The story was cute but this was wayyyyy spicier than I could ever have imagined and it took away from the story at times. It was just scene after scene after scene and really pulled back from all the emotions I was previously feeling. I also did not like the children narrators at all. They were super cringy and not believable. But all that being said the autism representation was spot on and refreshing to see!

Not for me but I think a lot of people will like this one.

I really tried to love this one. But I was honestly bored from start to finish. I couldn't relate or care for the characters. Some things just didn't work. How he calls her kid, ugh so annoying. I just didn't like the storyline either, nothing truly happened to keep me fully hooked.

This was such a sweet single dad romance and I LOVED the fishing puns that sprinkled into the story. The narrators did a fabulous job forcing their respective characters and I felt more drawn into the story because of it. I enjoyed the over 30 MCs and Joe is such a great single dad, but I also loved that the story didn't shy away from the struggles of parenting in general and the extra layer that have a child with autism can add. I loved Maren's character and that SHE was the master fisherman in the story and how she took Joe's kids under her wing. I will definitely be going back to read about the rest of the characters in this story! The girl gang was so supportive and fun and I loved that Joe even reached out to their husbands for advice.

This is the coziest, heartwarming story. Josiah is definitely book boyfriend material.

Audio: I loved the narration, both for our FMC and MMC.

Recommended if you like:
-small town romances
-brother's best friend
-single dad
-fall vibes
-you're an outdoor girlie
-spice!
-autism rep

4.5 stars rounded up.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and __ for these e-ARC copies (audiobook and ebook) of Catch and Keep for my honest review. I was grateful and honored to be able to review both versions - because as a reader I typically enjoy switching between audiobooks and either the physical or ebook copies I have when I work. I will review my thoughts on both styles of reading this one below.

Let me start off with this - I have personally enjoyed every single book that Erin Hahn has published since Built to Last (which was my first ever experience of her writing). She has a way of crafting wholesome, well written stories that suck you in with splashes of humor and thought provoking topics. Catch and Keep was no different for this reader. This SLOW burn romance truly built a beautiful story that was worth the wait. It can be read as a standalone, but is a part of a series and is the third installment.

Read if you love:

-Small Town Romance - with fun fishing references and Lake Life
-Friends to Lovers / Older Brother’s Best Friend
-Single Dad
-Dual POV
-SLOW BURN
-Hilarious Bantering
-Autism Rep
-Heartfelt Character’s Personal Growth


Trigger Warnings:

-Loss of Parental Figure
-Divorce
-Metal Health

Bringing hard subjects like divorce, mental heath issues and grief into romances can be very difficult, especially when it can draw such triggering or negative feelings for those diving in. However, the author handled it with care, and brought in wonderful characters that brought the child’s perspective. Dash in sprinkles of humor and banter - and you have a story that drives those thought provoking moments I personally crave when connecting with an author’s work. I LOVED that there was a disability rep with Autism. Being a 33 year old momma to a kiddo on the spectrum… LIVING in Wisconsin made reading this so much more relatable and fun!

Speaking of Wisconsin Lake Life… I am not a fisher hah! So I will be honest, it did take me a bit to fully get into this one. Being a slower burn romance to played into this. I had to take a star off due to this, but I promise you that if you stick around - the wait will be worth it!

Audiobook experience:

I LOVED the audio version of this story. The narrators did a phenomenal job. They both conveyed the MC’s personalities and emotions well which truly enhanced the reading experience. I personally love when multiple narrators perform in a dual POV story.

This is one of the best romance books I have listened to or read in quite a while. I listened to the audiobook; the narrator was great. Both Joe and Maren were multi-layered, very relatable and lovable. Additionally, in this romance, Joe has kids which added some complexity into the mix as did the fact the he is best friends with Maren's brother. The setting of the book also plays a part which is nice as it doesn't always in many books. I don't want to give anything else away, so I will stop here!!!

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks and NetGalley for this ARC.

Just finished "Catch and Keep" by Erin Hahn, and it was an easy listen.

Maren's journey of self-discovery and her sweet chemistry with Josiah is so relatable. Their history makes their connection feel real, and the kids add a heartwarming touch! If you’re into cozy romances with a few VERY spicy scenes, this one's for you. Nice lakeside setting & fishing references.

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy to listen to!

Catch and Keep by Erin Hahn is a cozy, feel-good romance that pulls you right in. Maren is at a major turning point, choosing to reclaim her life by taking over a rundown bait shop in the place that always felt the most like home. That means leaving her ex who stole her promotion and opted for a public proposal hoping it would smooth over the deceit.

Enter Joe, the single dad and local resort owner who also happens to be her brother's best friend—and who might just be the perfect match for her in more ways than one.

Hahn does an amazing job with the easy, banter-filled relationship between Maren and Joe, making it feel natural and comforting while still capturing that spark of romance. Joe’s kids and Maren’s dog, add so much warmth and humor, creating a real sense of found family.

The story balances lighthearted moments with real-life challenges, from Maren’s fresh start to Joe’s experience as a single parent, which gives the story authenticity and heart. I found myself wishing for more depth in Maren's relationship with her brother, whose verbally degrading behavior left me uncomfortable at times and felt unexplored. It would’ve been great to see how their dynamic was shaped. Despite this, Catch and Keep is a swoon-worthy read that feels like a warm hug, reminding us that sometimes, real love just clicks. Erin Hahn continues to be one of my favorite authors for good reason, and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

Thank you to Netgalley for my ALC in exchange for my honest review.

Audio note: The audio was solid! I’m not familiar with either narrator, but they both give good performances. I particularly liked Zura Johnson, whose voice was perfect for the sentimental, borderline women’s fiction vibes of the story. Michael Norman Johnson felt a little stiff, but I did like his voice. It’s dual narration with a runtime of around 9 hours, which felt like a good length. You could probably listen to the bulk of this at the office, though there are a few spicy scenes along the way. They’re brief but heated, so something to keep in mind. Personally, I found the audio to be a bit sedate at times, which didn’t help as I was struggling to get into the story, but worked for the tone later on. Overall, certainly not a bad audio experience.

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While it took awhile for me to warm up to this brother’s best friend romance, it definitely won me over by the end. I loved the cinnamon roll hero, a former Marine who is loyal, kind, and a genuinely good dad. The representation of a special needs child and how that changes parenting was great, as was the found family feel. I also appreciated that our hero is the furthest thing from a playboy - until recently, he’d been with the same woman since his teens, well before he even looked at the heroine as anything but his best friend’s kid sister. Their 5-year age gap is nothing now that they’re in their thirties, but it was everything as teens. That’s partially why it took longer for me to get into this one - I was confused whether the heroine considered him a brotherly figure, her sexual awakening, or simply a pest. The book is also third(?) in a series, though none of the marketing mentions that. I felt like I was missing something whenever the heroine interacted with her friends, but much of that faded away once I settled into the story. It gets swoonier and more heartwarming once the romance takes center stage, pulling me in just as I was about to write it off. The second half was strong enough for me to round up my rating, and this ended up being a tender, engaging read.

The story follows Maren, a woman who left her job and her long-term boyfriend after he stole her promotion and then tried to propose. Feeling adrift, Maren returns to the fishing town she loves, where she runs into her brother’s best friend, Joe. Now a divorced dad to two adorable kids, Joe is more appealing than Maren remembers him being. After going through a messy divorce, Joe is now single for the first time since he was a teenager, so it’s a shock to the system for him to realize that the tomboy he knew back in the day is now a knockout of a woman. The two quickly realize that their relationship feels different now, but both of their lives are a mess - and Maren’s brother has warned them both away. As Joe and Maren navigate their shifting feelings, they grow closer without even trying.

This is one of those books that I probably would’ve DNFed if I didn’t have an early copy, because I truly struggled to get into it at first. It kicks off with a prologue that did absolutely nothing for me, then brought in a friend group that made it clear this isn’t a standalone, so things definitely started on the wrong foot. Then I wasn’t clear if Maren was a tomboy or a beauty queen, if she thought of Joe like a brother or had been harboring a crush - I just felt overwhelmed and out of the loop. I don’t think that cleared up until almost a third of the way through, but I really did enjoy the book after that. I loved that Joe was such a gentle sweetheart, a total catch who doesn’t know it because of all the “baggage” that comes with him. It was great to see Maren seamlessly fit into his world, and I loved their connection. It’s kind of/sort of a slow burn, with a relationship that takes awhile to find its footing. Once it does though, this was a very heartwarming read.

This was a lighthearted sweet romance featuring the brother's best friend trope. Maren moves back to Wisconsin after turning down a proposal from her boyfriend. She's there to spend some time in the fishing cabin she inherited while figuring out what to do next. What she doesn't expect is to run into her brother's best friend, Josiah. Maren always had a small crush on Josiah but Josiah has just noticed Maren to be more than his best friend's little sister. As the two spend time together and grow closer, the struggle with Maren's uncertainty contrasts with Josiah's settled life as a single father to two young children, one with autism.

This was such a great fall read. I loved the setting of Northern Wisconsin. I enjoy the brother's best friend trope but liked this even more because Maren's brother lives in a totally different locale. It gave Joe and Maren time to figure things out without the awkwardness of dealing with the brother right away. Maren is an avid fisher which was a fun aspect of her personality. I enjoyed how she was with Joe's kids. They were present without being too annoying or intrusive as can happen sometimes in a romance. There was an odd subplot with Maren being sort of stalked that felt unnecessary but didn't bother me enough to make the book enjoyable. I listened to this in audio and it wasn't bad but also wasn't my favorite. There is dual narration but both the female and male narrators struggled with the voices of those of the opposite gender. It didn't sound natural. I got used to it, though, and did really enjoy this one. This is not Hahn's first book and while I could tell there were characters that show up from her previous books, this one does read just fine on its own. I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a fun, lighthearted romance.

Thank you to Spotify Audiobooks for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.

If you are looking for the warmest, coziest, swooniest fall romance, Maren and Joe are here and calling your name. Catch and Keep is everything to me. This book is so tender and special and I will hold it so close to my heart for the rest of forever. And while I do feel this way about Erin and all her books in general, Catch and Keep is my favourite Erin Hahn book now.

Maren is a former pageant queen, fishing influencer, and park ranger. She’s just the best human. She’s hot and funny and so real it’s a little painful. Is it too punny to say she’s *floundering* to find her path forward after a disastrous break up and subsequent departure from her job? Running back to the cabin in Wisconsin where she learned to fish, she has to learn who she’s going to become now. Enter her older brother’s best friend, and the object of her teenage dream: Josiah Cole.

Joe is the sweetest single dad. The way that he loves is so deep and the way that he will fight for those he loves is intense. Anders and Lucy are so lucky to have such a fierce advocate for them in their dad. Joe was dealt a shitty hand, with a rough ex-wife situation, and a high needs ASD child, and he navigates it with such grace and compassion. Add on the way that he defends Maren and loves her and what you’ve got is actually the man that I would love to find eventually.

Maren and Joe’s romance is just soft. That’s the best way to describe it. It’s comfortable and easy. They are so perfectly suited for each other. They are each other’s perfect person. One of the most precious things in this book is the relationship between Maren and Joe’s kids. She was not only made for Joe, but she was made for those kids. She fits in their family so well and loves them so hard.

While this might be a very Midwest romance, this Canadian lake girl felt right at home with Maren and Joe. Catch and Keep was the perfect end to this series. I loved seeing Shelby and Cam, and Lorelei and Huck in this book. This friend group is so precious to me and I love all of them so dearly.

This audiobook was so phenomenally produced. The narrators truly brought these characters to life and added dimension to an already profound story.

So much to love about this story, the romance, the lake setting, the small town life, and a single parent story line. There was also representation of autism through the daughter. This was a great story all around.

This book was so sweet and adorable. The characters were charming. Maren, in her 30’s is a park ranger that is taking some time off after a proposal gone wrong. She heads back to the town where she grew up and gets roped into giving fishing tours and fixing up an old property that was willed to her. Joe, small town, single dad raising two kids on his own, one with ASD, takes a shine to Maren. I loved how slowly their relationship began and how ASD was portrayed. Even though most of this read was predictable, it didn’t take away from my enjoyment while reading. The communication between Maren and Joe was great and I loved reading about them. Such a great book with all the feels.

Aww this was a sweet wholesome romance audiobook! I loved the narrators and their voices, definitely did the characters justice in my opinion!

Both the MCs were amazing people. I love how Maren, although super sweet and nice still had some sass in her to stand up for herself and she knows what she wants, and e let anyone tell her otherwise. Except her brother Liam…. who is a grade A… D bag! Well maybe only sometimes to Maren……But I guess every story needs a a villain, sort of.

Then there’a Joe, the single dad to two AWESOME kids, who has had his heart broken but hasn’t given up on love just yet…. Eeekkk he is the BEST GOLDEN RETRIEVER Book BF!! I really did enjoy this listen!

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸…
🎣Small Town
🎣He Falls First
🎣Single Dad
🎣Brother’s Best Friend
🎣Dual POV
🎣Open Door

I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

So so cute. I absolutely loved this book. I also really enjoyed the dual narrators. Thank you for the chance to listen to this book.

I really enjoyed listening to this sweet outdoorsy romance! The narration was enjoyable and I enjoyed the story. I did think the woman narrator’s voice did not completely match the character but her performance was good nonetheless.