This is such a wonderful, somewhat old-school romance but with less misogyny and sexual harassment mistaken for lust. It offers top-level angst, great character development which I greatly enjoyed.

I absolutely loved the coziness and comfort of the a tight-knit family that have each others back that is at the centre of this story. Rowan is basically an orphan heroine who gets adopted in the hero's family without even realizing it.

This is exactly the kind of contemporary romance I love - strong internal conflict, no artificial drama, great character development. We really see the MCs on a journey towards each other.

At the start of the book both Rowan and Harrison are at a rough spot, each of them dealing with their own trauma and hurt. While I liked both of them, I have to say we get slightly more insight into her background and why she is acts the way she does now and this made feel closer to her than to him. With him, it's different - there is a major traumatic event that happened recently and he is recovering from it but we do not get much about his childhood/other events besides that single one. It's only toward the very end that me get more insight into him and why his relations with the rest of the family are the way they are now.

The angst is exquisite and I loved every minute of it. A major plus for me in this romance is the fact that things happened slowly, over the course of a full year. Yes, the attraction between Rowan and Harrison is almost instant from the moment they meet and they do get together well before the year is through but their relationship grew over time. And they both needed that time together and away from each other. Harrison is at a really bad place both physically and emotionally when he met the heroine and we see him gradually heal, we see him getting control over of his depression and panic attacks. It's slow and painful but he get unreserved love and support from his family (and Rowan).

Rowan melted my heart and I wanted to give her the squishiest hug, Her sense of loneliness and being on her own is so acute, it jumped from the pages straight to my heart. Her fear of making a potentially wrong decision with no safety net to back upon was almost palpable to me. And it really stood out in comparison with the care and support Harrison got from his family and he mostly took for granted.

There is a third-act break up but it very much made sense in the overall plot. Rowan had to do the biggest grovel to win Harrison back and his family was right there for her and I loved that.

Now, after all that praise, I admit there were some plot twists towards the end that didn't work for me and I felt they were unnecessary and over-the-top. The emotional intensity and conflict between the MCs were strong enough without these added complications.

Still, the story is highly readable, flowing easily, great setting (a big close-knit family trying to revive a neglected vineyard they bought), awesome family and close friendships, love expressed with small gestures.

I'm very much looking forward to more books in the series. I am excited to see a bunch of secondary characters get their HEAs

CW: grief, parent neglect, ex-partner emotional abuse, loss of a patient, anxiety attacks (graphic, on page), depression

This book!! I didn't really know what to expect. I only knew one or two people who had read it. I had heard it was emotional and that just made me nervous. But it was so very good.

This story of Harry and Rowan is a slow burn, longing filled emotional ride. Both dealing with their own personal trauma but also looking for something more and new, they meet at his family's new vineyard. She is hired to rehab the plants and he is recovering from a tragic loss. Their discovery of each other and finding their way to love through hard stuff is page turning and holds your heart while you are reading.

The set is lovely. The family and friends are just amazing. I can't wait to get more of them in future books (I hear there will be more!). The only part I didn't like was that I put off reading it for so long.

If you liked Every Summer After, Katherine Center, Float Plan or Kate Clayborn, this is likely a must read for you.

4.5/5

CW: death of a patient, death of a grandparent (mentioned), negligent parent, blood, panic attacks, gaslighting, divorce/separation, cheating

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Stuck at a crossroads after her dissertation plans are put on hold, Rowan McKinnon finds herself agreeing to serve as a plant consultant to restore a vineyard for the Brady family’s new winery. She comes across Harrison “Harry” Brady, an obstetrician dealing with his own struggles after losing a patient. Both addressing the pains of their pasts, Rowan wonders if she’s ready to commit to somebody.

While not quite a rom-com, Bend Toward the Sun is a mature, rich romance novel that will leave you wanting more. You can instantly feel the connection between Rowan and Harry within the first couple of chapters and Devon does a really good job of capturing their swoon worthy love story.

This book definitely has a similar aesthetic to Where the Crawdads Sing, so you’re really going to have a good time if you enjoyed that book. Rowan’s love for nature is beautifully illustrated in Bend Toward the Sun, so much so that it makes the Brady’s vineyard to be a whimsical place where anything can happen.

Even though Bend Toward the Sun is a bit slow in the beginning, this book is definitely worth pushing through to read. Perfect for readers who want a dramatic romance similar to Where the Crawdads Sing, Bend Toward the Sun is definitely a book to look out for.

Insta-love is not a trope that usually works for me, but after a slow start, I really got into this one! It definitely had super spicy scenes that I loved!

Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for honest opinions.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The premise of the book drew me in but once I started reading it, I just couldn’t get into it at all.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

I had heard nothing but wonderful, glowing praise for this book, but it still managed to take me by surprise. This was a beautiful, touching love story wrapped in a love letter to nature and the outdoors. Though I might not have always agreed with them, I was with Rowan and Harry every step of the way and so desperately wanted them to get their HEA! The prose is lush and stunning. This story yanked me in and did not let me go. I cannot recommend this beautiful book more!

This book is so amazing. It took me on an emotional rollercoaster, and I love it (I hate real rollercoasters). Rowan & Harrison's love story was soo soo good, This is a must-read romance book. You will want to cry and smile (the beauty of romance novels). I cannot wait to see what Jen Devon will write next. I love this book.

Bend Toward the Sun - I absolutely adored this intricate, beautiful story that takes the reader through a journey of heart-wrenching emotions and displays the redemptive power of love. I was immediately hooked at Rowan and Harry’s first meeting - two masterfully developed characters who share a connection that truly sizzles. The witty humor and their shared banter makes this book unputdownable. Bonus for the smart underlying botany academic context, making this my new favorite stem-romance!

The characters chemistry was too much of a focus for my taste but the rest of it was great. The focus on how badly they wanted each other bogged the story down instead of adding to the tension like I think was the intention. I’m clearly in the minority on that, and really the rest of the book was great.

I am usually not a huge romance fan, and do not read many, because they are too predictable and unrealistic. I was so intrigued by the description of Bend Toward the Sun that I immediately requested it. This is an amazing, beautiful debut novel. I was able to connect to the characters, especially Rowan. I loved the descriptive settings of the vineyard, which literally painted a picture in my mind and I was able to feel like I was there. Harry is the perfect "book boyfriend". I wanted to jump in the book and become a part of this family! My only complaint is that sometimes the characters seemed to be younger than they actually were, and being a middle aged woman in her 40's, I got kind of annoyed with that, but that is just a small pet peeve of mine. I look forward to more by this author in the future.

Bend Toward The Sun is an emotional, angsty story about Rowan McKinnon, a botanist, who believes in science over love and emotions. Her past has shown her that the one thing she can rely on is science, so she sticks to no-stings attached hook ups instead of relationships. Then she (literally) runs into Harrison Brady during a game of flashlight tag and her world seems to shift. Harrison is an OB who is struggling to find his way after the loss of a patient. He returns to the family farm to help get control of his crushing anxiety and figure out what he wants. When Rowan ends up working at the family farm, Rowan and Harrison see a lot more of each other than expected. Their sizzling connection will challenge everything they both know and test Rowan's resolve not to get attached.

So, let me start by saying that I have read so many great reviews of this book that I went in with high expectations. An in many ways this book met those. But I also felt like it was missing something for me. The story spent a lot of time with Rowan and Harrison arguing but not a lot of time doing anything to move the story forward, I felt. I had wished there had been something more in the middle section of the book that was propelling the story more than just their angst and past (which we don't really learn the full extend of until much later).

I love damaged characters, that have histories and back story that make them, whole, layered people and this book really brought that out. Rowan and Harrison's stories were interesting and complex and their banter was fun and definitely kept me listening.

But at times I found Rowan's stubbornness off putting and while I generally loved Harrison throughout the book, the way he handles things at the end had me eye rolling him. So while I know this book will resonate strongly with others, it just wasn't for me. I do hope that Jen Devon continues with this world and writes stories for Harrison's siblings because I was dying to know all about them.

Overall, I would give this one 3.5 stars.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.

Bend Toward the Sun written by Jen Devon was such a perfect beach read! This book is about Harry and Rowan's story and it's full of romance. I loved their journey as they struggled against each other and then together to find love. This book has great characters. Rowan and Harry are both broken & hurting they have both been broken by hard times in their life. Also Harry has the most amazing family, the Bradys. They will win you over and you will want to move to Pennsylvania to live on their vineyard. I cannot wait for Jen Devon's next book!
Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced e-book in exchange for my honest review!

I was so excited by this Pennsylvania based book! Rowan and Harrison were absolutely imperfect characters, but I loved them anyway. I'm still blown away by the resolution, because it felt like their story came full circle from when they first met and in their lives.

It was bittersweet when Rowan and Harry had a miscommunication and didn't talk for several months, but when they finally talked it felt they were on the path to resolving their situation. I could understand both perspectives before the separation (I was slightly more Team Rowan), but it was important they understood each other and their viewpoints. Their resolving the separation is what really changed it from happily ever after for now to a true HEA.

4.5/5

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Bend Toward the Sun follows Rowan, a botany student, and Harrison, an obstetrician. When the two meet one night at a party- sparks fly. But in the daylight, Rowan is approached by his family to help get their vineyard up and running. Harry must decide whether he can return to the world of medicine after losing a patient. Along the way, Harry and Rowan explore their scars, dreams, and whether they can have a romantic future together.

I loved that Rowan is a woman in STEM, trying to decide where her path should take her next in academia. I thought that Harry was a very relatable character in how he agonized over his choices and dealt with the resulting anxiety. One of my favorite moments in the book is when Rowan helps Harry calm down from a panic attack. I also absolutely loved the moment when Rowan and Harry first meet each other- an extremely original and hilarious meet-cute. And I loved the epilogue!

At the heart of the book is a love for nature, preserving the environment, and women in STEM/academia. There is an extraordinary sense of peace that comes from the descriptions of the vineyards, the greenhouse, and the love from Harry’s family. The beautiful sense of welcome and unconditional love that comes from his family is a delight to read. The steamy romance is interspersed with meddling from the family, laughter, and the knowledge that the family will always be there to help each other. I hope to read more about the Brady family and see many more books in this series! Rowan is definitely one of my favorite heroines- determined, smart, and loving. Together, Harry and Rowan deal with grief, mental health challenges, and what it means to choose each other.

Bend Toward the Sun is a joyful, heartfelt romance that I would recommend to anyone. Thank you so much to Jen Devon, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

For publisher: My review will be posted on Instagram, Goodreads, Amazon, Storygraph, Wordpress blog, and Barnes & Noble etc

Do you ever have books you love and want to binge but also don’t want them to end? That’s how I felt about Bend Toward the Sun. I was immediately drawn into Rowan and Harry’s story as they met through a family friend during a game of tag. Though they both have baggage from previous relationships and other parts of their lives, they’re quickly drawn together.

I loved the winery setting and seeing how Rowan used her vast knowledge of botany to being it back to life. I loved the banter and chemistry between Harry and Rowan! I loved Harry’s family and how all of the Bradys welcomed her in.

Their breakup left me anguished for both of them, but I enjoyed how they resolved it. I’m hoping based on some of the subplots that this will be a series or at least have a sequel!

I alternated between the audiobook and the ebook. I loved the narration!

Bend Toward the Sun is a beautifully written novel that is so compelling and angsty in all the right ways. Rowan and Harrison share what turns out to be an epic love story, after meeting and being instantly drawn to each other. However, they are not fully able to commit to being together until they can work past their trauma and face it head on. This was a stunning debut novel demonstrating the power of love, but also the ways your past can shape you and prevent you from giving into what you deserve. Excited for more books from Jen Devon and hopeful there will be a sequel, as the Brady family was extremely enjoyable to read about. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy. Haven't been able to stop thinking about the book so bumped it up to the 5 stars it deserves.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 Stars

Synopsis: Rowan McKinnon understands school and she understands plants.
What she doesn’t understand? Why would Rowan’s friend submit her resume to the Brady family’s new vineyard, and why can’t she keep her eyes—and mind, well, and hands—off Harrison Brady?
As Harrison and Rowan get to know one another, Rowan realizes there’s more to love, and life than science.

I loved this book so much that I actually am going to use it as a comp for my current project! It’s equal parts light and heavy. It explores mental health, trauma, and gaslighting, all while including donkeys and a great family/friend dynamic. Harrison and Rowan had great chemistry and, though there were a few cringy moments, it’s great to have characters that genuinely respect one another.
Also, I love Duncan Brady and sincerely hope there’s a follow-up about him. He’s great!

As always, my two stars and a wish…

⭐️: the opening is extremely strong. That greenhouse had me swooning and I immediately wanted to read more about Rowan. I was hooked.

⭐️: I actually loved that Harrison was the one who laid it out there. He knew what he wanted and went about it in a respectful way. He honored them both, listened, and was genuine to himself and Rowan.

💫: I wish that Rowan’s backstory—specifically with Noah—was fully explained to the audience sooner. I think it would have added more to her and Harrison’s story.

Overall, a great summer read with characters who learn about life, love and everything in-between (plus a little gardening lesson for readers).

Thanks so much to Jen Devon, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

This novel was a little bit slow for me in the beginning as I did not initially enjoy the sarcastic banter between characters and felt that the main character, Rowan, was unlikeable. However, about halfway through the novel, the banter felt more realistic, the characters more likable and plot became a fun and fast paced love story that was heart warming and quite enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Griffin for allowing me to read an ARC copy in return for my honest review.

I really wanted to read and like this book. I think the title is wonderful. But I can’t honestly even get to the end of the third chapter. The dialogue between the three friends who seem to be the main characters is inane and childish. And the author’s descriptions are forced and overly elaborate.

Here’s an example of the dialogue: “No, he didn’t want to date a guy with a TikTok dedicated to his dog in a Dolly Parton wig”, and from another chapter, “Ma and Dad have lost their fucking minds, you know that?”

I hate writing negative reviews. I usually say something like, “well, she’ll find her audience.” I can’t even do that in this case. I’m so sorry. I apologize to the publisher, and would just like to reiterate that I accepted the review copy in good faith.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was invited to read this title early by the publisher. While other recent debuts have been disappointing, I absolutely loved this book and the writer Jen Devon is one to watch. She writes beautifully, both the lyrical and descriptive language as well as how she wrote the main characters and secondary characters.

Rowan is getting her PhD in Botany, an incredible accomplishment, given her emotional support system is just her two best friends, Temperance and Frankie. (Amazing character names, btw) she goes with her friends to a party at her friend's new family vineyard in a valley about an hour from Philadelphia, where she's doing her postdoc. It's basically an adult hide and seek game where she hides in the greenhouse of the property. The family who bought it, The Brady's have six adult children who are almost all involved in making the vineyard and bed and breakfast ready to be operational. Sparks fly between Rowan and Harrison, one of the sons who left L.A. and is friends with Temperance, both doctors. Harrison recently lost a patient and is taking time off from his OB residency/ practice.

Over the course of a year we see the friendship bloom into a romance, so it's certainly somewhat of a slow burn until it is hot, hot, hot. Rowan tries to deny its anything more than sexual attraction, like her feelings are controlled to a boundary. The sad back story makes a lot of sense later on as to why she is so impossible a d stubborn she is about keeping things casual. The way the author ties in the "language" of flowers, plants, the art of making a vineyard ready to make wine was beautiful and interesting. Loved this book and will definitely follow this author here for future books.