About the Book

For janitor Hannah Harvey, cleaning up messes is the family business. Literally. When she finds herself pregnant from a one night stand with a stranger, she decides that a baby is one mess she’ll take on alone.

Out of her depth, but determined, Hannah decides to save herself the drama of ever telling the father. This seemed easy enough when he was only Barry Wright, hockey all-star living across the country, but becomes impossible when he gets traded to her city and trains in the very facility she cleans.

After crossing paths with a very pregnant Hannah, Barry is eager to help. But how do you help someone hellbent on proving they can take care of everything alone?

Desperate to keep him at arm’s length—but failing more with each of his attempts to care for her—Hannah will have to decide if love is worth the mess.

Review

Bar Down Baby! was my first book by Kath Richards, and we are starting on a high note. I really loved it. It was funny, heartfelt, and incredibly comforting. One of my favorite things about this book was Hannah’s relationship with her oldest sister, Kate. Hannah’s overall family dynamic was top-tier; however, I found her and Kate’s relationship to be absolutely fantastic. I enjoyed every one of their scenes. I would be first in line for a book about Kate.

Hannah was stubborn and determined to prove that she could be independent. That was never frustrating. Her fears felt genuine, and Richards did a wonderful job of developing her character. I loved watching her gradually open up and lean on others without feeling guilty.

I will admit that Barry occasionally toed the line of being a little too perfect. I would have loved to see more flaws or challenges from his perspective. Especially since readers are told that he has a history with OCD. Having his POV might have added another layer to his character and allowed us to see how he navigated those struggles. Additionally, the story felt more hockey-adjacent rather than hockey-centered. His friendship with the other hockey players didn’t feel fleshed out, and there were times when I almost forgot that he was a professional hockey player. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I loved Barry and how supportive and adorably obsessed he was with Hannah.

Final Thoughts

Bar Down Baby! was a great introduction to Kath Richards for me. Although there were some things that didn’t quite work for me, there are still so many strengths within this story. It’s filled with heart, family, and personal growth. I’ll definitely be reading more from this author in the future. Thank you to Kath Richards for providing this arc! Bar Down Baby! will be released on June 18, 2026.

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