I should start by saying I’m an Erin Hahn stan and think she’s criminally underrated. I was tossed an ARC of her debut years ago and I’ve been on this train ever since. That said, when I received the galley for this one, I put off reading it. Not because I thought it would be bad (impossible) but because I read the description and the title and if there’s one thing Hahn can do better than most, it’s break your heart. If you are not emotionally ready for teens dealing with things way way above what’s fair, this might not be the book for you. BUT if you’re still in after reading the description, this is a treasure. It’s sweet and harsh all at once. You feel what the characters feel, whether that’s abject loss or the thrill of riding in the rodeo. It’s real life but in a book with a happy and hopeful ending.
Hahn has a knack for writing teenagers as people. They’re not always right (most of the time, they are wrong) but they’re also not just thinking like adults we’re supposed to believe are 18. Winnie Sutton is flawed. Case Michaels is very flawed. They grow together in a way that’s really wonderful. This is a story of survivors and realizing you can have the life you want, not just the one you were dealt, if you find the right team. More than that it’s about living life on your own terms, in a healthy way with whatever dream you currently have. And, it’s done in a way that hurts and heals and makes you yell at your kindle because life isn’t fair and they’re just trying their best.
I read EIBYH in one sitting on my couch which is debatably an unhealthy way to read it but I needed to get to the happy ending and man, this burn is slow. Deserved and earned slowness, but slow. Overall, this might not be my favorite of Hahn’s books just because so much of it hurts to read, but I think it might be one of (if not) her best. There’s something in the way she tells this story that makes your heart ache, makes you angry at both characters and the world and then three pages later makes you swoon. It’s so very real in the best way.
I’ve heard thatHahn is taking a break from YA after this one but I hope she gets to come back to it at some point. Not that I don’t love her adult romcoms (I _do_), but these are books I want teens to have.

Even If it Breaks Your Heart was a beautiful novel - it quickly draws you in with two fantastic main characters - Winnie and Case - who are both struggling. Both haunted by the past, feeling lost in their present, and unsure of their future - they form an amazing friendship and learn to open up and rely on each other. And in typical Erin Hahn fashion there are plenty of moments to make you laugh and plenty to make you cry. And Winnie's little sister Garrett is adorable. I've read most of Erin Hahn's novels and this may be my new favorite. This novel was a heart-warming "sad rodeo" that I want to read all over again. Thank you to Wednesday Books/St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the chance to read this novel.

📚 Even If It Breaks Your Heart
✍ Erin Hahn
📖 YA Fiction/Romance
⭐ 4.5/5
🌶️ closed door

🙏 Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Erin Hahn for the advanced copy of Even If It Breaks Your Heart. All opinions are my own.
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🎯 What I loved: Hahn has a seamless way of integrating both depth and intrigue into her characters and this was so true with Winnie and Case who both faced immense challenges and had fascinating back stories. Both characters carried heavy burdens but this story was bursting with hope. I loved the setting and the pace of this book and that while there was a romance, more focus was ultimately on the main characters' development and them finding a way to experience joy amidst grief. It was sweet, authentic (and the rodeo components were so well researched!) and in true Hahn fashion, addressed important social issues while remaining true to the stories of Winnie and Case..

🙅‍♀️ What I didn't: I found the rodeo competition scenes so well written and was looking forward to experiencing some of the more pivotal competitions through the author's lens but the big competitions actually took place after the story concluded, so they weren't included. But I really enjoyed this book!
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Read if you love:
*YA western romances
*barrel riding and rodeo sports
*love after loss
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See also: Flawless (but it's a lot spicier!), Float Plan, You, With a View

Oh man, this one is a doozy in the best way.
Case and Winnie are both absolutely going through it, which makes their friends to eventual lovers so dang sweet.
Winnie’s the eldest child of 2 parents who aren’t really parents who’s been spreading herself thin for a decade to be the parental figure her younger siblings deserve. I love how resilient she is and how much she loves her siblings. Also, her younger sister is a real treat.
Case Michaels is a rodeo star and the son of the wealthy and toxicly masculine man that owns the ranch that Winnie works at. At the beginning of the story, he’s only months out from losing his best friend to a terminal illness who left a bucket list of sorts for Case to complete for him. Erin Hahn writes the perfect emotional bit also swoony men, and I think Case may be my favorite to date.
Case and Winnie fit so well together, and I really loved that this wasn’t a rich boy saves poor girl situation. They help each other through mutually rough life phases and are each other’s biggest cheerleaders.
This is YA, but I honestly think that if the blurb appeals to you, this would be enjoyable at any age.

I'm not crying, it's just raining on my face!

I am such a fan of Erin Hahn's YA novels. The characters feel read and alive and they are fighting tooth and nail for the future they want, and nothing, not their families, not their pasts, not their circumstances or their grief is going to stop them.

Case Michaels is a bull rider whose best friend has died and he is dealing with the grief and the loss. He's got a list that Walker made for him, though--tasks to complete--and a competition to win for his best friend. Winnie Sutton is a barrel racer--or she would be if she had the money for fees or a horse or hey, even a saddle. But instead she's a trainer at the Michaels ranch and is the main parent figure for her two younger siblings. Case and Winnie collide and pull each other out of their fears and grief and anxieties and inspire each other to go after what they really want. I inhaled this book in one day after having the ARC for months. I think I was just waiting for the right time so I could tear up 50 times in peace. 4.5 Stars.

Heat level: 1 (closed door)
CW: terminally ill childhood best friend's death before the book begins, dead or deadbeat parents, language.

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this ARC. EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART comes out February 6, 2024.

Erin Hahn has quickly become one of my favorite authors, because her books always deliver. Her characters are relatable and multi-dimensional, and her stories are fun and unique. Even If It Breaks Your Heart is no different, and I absolutely loved it!

The main characters in this book, Case and Winnie are both such great characters to get to follow around. Case is struggling with grief and trying to figure out what he actually wants to do with his life. His ways of coping with said grief are not the most constructive or healthy, but that makes his character arc that much more satisfying. Winnie, on the other hand, knows what she wants to do, but struggles to do anything about it because she is having to basically be a mom to her two younger siblings because of her present-but-absent father. I love how they each have their own very unique struggles, but they are able to be there for one another in the ways that they need.

The supporting characters aren’t quite as strong in this book as in some of Hahn’s previous books, except for Winnie’s siblings, Garrett and Jesse. I love them both so much, and I want to just hug them and never let them go! Sweet babies🥰 It is even more heartbreaking to read Winnie’s story because I completely sympathize with what she is going through.

I don’t know a lot about horses or bulls, or really much about rodeo life in general, but this book made me feel the excitement that these characters felt. I loved getting to be in Winnie’s head when she was barrel racing. Her love for the sport made me want to go to a rodeo! I would love to see barrel racing in the flesh now! Bull riding still sounds terrifying to me, but I would maybe want to go watch that at least once now.

I am from Texas, and the description of the setting was lovely. I’m not from the panhandle area, but I am from North Texas, so there are definitely certain similarities. I love when I can really visualize myself in a setting, and I felt Hahn did a great job immersing the reader in this world.

I thought this book also dealt with grief in a gentle way. It took us through the beginning stages through the end, and it was a bittersweet ride. Both Case and Winnie had things to grieve, and watching them both work through their individual situations was very interesting and well-written.

This was a lovely book with a sweet love story and wonderful family ties. I would absolutely recommend this to anyone looking for a small town, slow burn romance with grief, rodeos and family dynamic storylines. Well done Erin, well done!

My Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I gave Even If It Breaks Your Heart 5 Stars!

My lungs begin to burn, and I surge to the surface, shaking my head and making everyone scream and laugh. How f*cked up is it that no one can even tell I'm crying? You're right, Walker, I think wryly. This was a great idea.

What you'll get:
Rodeo riders
Absent parent
Cowboys
Wrong side of the tracks
Grief
TW/CW: Death of a teenager due to ongoing illness.

Setting: Texas

I knew that Erin Hahn was calling this one her sad rodeo book but holy crap. This was excellent.

This book kind of opens with a punch in the chest because Case and Walker are drunk on the roof of the corn silo talking and joking around until someone sends a fireman's ladder up and everyone gives him the weirdest looks on the way down. Turns out it was only Case up there because Walker died a bit ago. Case is not doing well, his grief is absolute and he's seeing Walker everywhere. Not in glimpses. Full conversations that he's not sharing with people.

Case's going through the motions, following the list of items his dead best friend gave him to complete and the hardest item on here is to befriend Winnie Sutton. He never really noticed her before but she works in his family's stables and made friends with Walker during downtime when he was healthy. She has enough going on that she doesn't have time for Case's spoiled attitude until she actually gets a few good looks at him and sees what's going on.

This had everything I love in a book. She has absent parents and is almost singlehandedly raising her two younger siblings. Her goals are for later until she gets these kids raised because who else is going to do it. Case is lost and realizes that all of his rodeo aspirations died with his best friend even though he promised he would compete. They're both ready for a change and don't even see it coming. I loved that they started out with absolutely no romantic interest in each other but keep showing up for each other.

I'm not a big book crier but this got me a couple of time. I'm still a little misty over a week later just writing this about the one scene where Case decides how he wants to picture Walker for the rest of his life. When you get there, you'll see.

Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve read some other books by Hahn that I’ve enjoyed. This one easily went pretty high in my ranking of her books.

It was a little slow at the beginning, but once I got into it I really enjoyed it. I especially loved the rodeo aspect and seeing that world. In a world full of so many romances, it was nice to have a different setting in a world not used in books much.

I really enjoyed the characters and the deeper aspects of their lives that Hahn dug into. It wasn’t all fluff and I appreciated that! Enjoyable read!

Oh my gosh, I ate this book up.
I’m a sucker for horse/cowgirl books, and this one was so perfect!
I felt so immersed in the story and instantly connected with the characters. They are real and feel so human. Both Winnie and Case are carrying grief, expectations, and burdens but in a way that I think many people are going to be able to relate to.
The story flows so seamlessly and I was lost in it. Erin Hahn has such a beautiful style of writing that is very easy to digest, but also is deep enough to make you think about life and such.
This is a delightful book full of family, grief, friendship, loss, and having to grow up before you should.
Winnie is a character that I resonated with. Her inner dialogue was so similar to my own, and as the oldest sister in my family too, I can understand what she’s feeling and going through.
I really loved that this book had dual pov’s because it made understanding both Winnie and Case so much easier and gave me a glimpse into their minds.
I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend! (I already preordered my own physical copy!)

Thank you to St. Martins Press and Net Galley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday books for an advanced copy.

Cowboy romance but make it YA.

This story follows Case and Winnie. Case is struggling with grief after losing his best friend. Winnie is struggling financially to keep her family together. They meet when Winnie gets a job on Case's family ranch.

This was a sweet heartwarming YA story. The enemies to friends to lovers romance is so sweet and feels real. The side characters are nicely developed. The overall themes of hardship and friendship are ongoing and really tie in the individual storylines of the characters.

The pacing was a little weird to me, although the book is on the shorter side it reads really long because the timeline is spread long.

There is a guaranteed happily ever after.

This was incredible. I knew going into it that it would be amazing, because Erin Hahn can do no wrong. The vibes of this book were just what I needed and wanted. Case Michaels might just hold the title for new book boyfriend. This story shows how two broken people with two very different lives.. stumble upon each other and find love not just with each other but with themselves too. Its a story about courage and bravery. Found family. Loss of a friend. Loss of a parent. Neglectful parents. Cowboys and nurses. This story has it all. The meaning and messages in this book strike deep, and I just love this story so much and it truly was an hour to read it before the rest of world does.

I would love to support your authors, but unfortunately it seems as though St. Martin's Press and Wednesday books would prefer to stay quiet about the vile posts made by your employee. These statements were anti-Palestinian, Islamophobic, Queerphobic, and made even more vile by the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people. Your influencers want to know that St. Martin’s Press is committed to the safety and well being of ALL of their influencers, employees, and authors.

This is not a reflection on the author or the story in any way, shape, or form.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday box for an earc in exchange for an honest review.
I really enjoyed Even if it Breaks Your Heart. I found this book to be so heartwarming and it made me so giddy at points. Case and Winnie were so cute with each other and I really just loved reading their journey, not only with each other but their individual growth as well. I found the grief Case experienced and the neglect Winnie experienced to be such an important part to the story. I felt like it added so much depth to the story and I just felt so much more attached as I felt so much more empathy for the characters.
I really enjoyed everything about Case and Winnie. Once they started interacting, I was hooked. I really enjoyed their friendship and how they continuously support each other. I also loved all the side characters, including Queen Mab and how they contributed to everything.
I had so much fun with this story. It was so lighthearted and made me giddy at times. It was nice to sit and relax while reading this. I can’t wait for when it comes out!

How do I describe my love for Erin Hahn's last YA book. Unending!!!!!!!

Hahn's "sad rodeo" is everything I was looking for and didn't know I needed. Granted the topics touched (death, grief, guilt, poverty, parental abandonment) are all issues that could be heavy handed and distract the reader from the overall plot. But Hahn's talent is most evident when deftly handing these sensitive areas. She's created a world where the main characters are more than their surroundings, even if those places can be spots of beauty (ranch, rode0).

I will be purchasing copies of this book for family members for years to come as I think it elevates the genre as a whole.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

Erin Hahn does it again. While this might be a Young Adult book this 40 year old enjoyed it too! Hahn has a way of writing the most captivating characters and sweeps you up into the story where you find yourself staying up way too late for just "one more chapter!"

I don't normally like cowboy books. Or YA. But this is my favorite Erin Hahn book she's written! The characters felt exactly their age, maybe Winnie felt older than she was but she does talk about it in the book. Obviously, the dads were not good dads - showing a dichotomy of what a "good" dad is. I think Chase Jr. could have been better to show the juxtaposition between Chase's upbringing compared to Winnie since neither had mothers. I was upset for Winnie when her dad finally stepped up, it did feel like she was being punished for doing the right thing. I also wanted more about how Winnie and Chase were going to have a relationship and be in completely different stages of life. I think six months after the book, they probably broke up.

I was drawn to this book by its cover & because I have always loved a story with horses.
I stayed for Winnie & Case.

A barrel racing girl who has given up everything her whole life for her siblings. A bull riding boy who has had everything but somehow never taken anything for himself. A sweet, sometimes sad, but heartfelt novel about loss and love and figuring life out.

The relationship between the two main was characters pure & their banter cute. Might've even shed a few tears ;) Pacing in the middle through me off but it all came together at the end & for that 3.5/5 stars for Even If It Breaks Your Heart. Thank you NetGalley & St Martin's Press for letting me explore the ranch and ride along with Case and Winnie a bit early!

Erin Hahn wasn’t kidding when she nicknamed this book ‘Sad Rodeo’. “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” pulls at the heartstrings from the first paragraph. Hahn’s writing is emotional, at sometimes even gut-wrenching. There’s no way you could ever not connect with these characters. Their struggles are realistic; their behaviors typical of young adults finding their stride. Each chapter brings us further and further into their experiences until we’re well in it and have to see it all through. By the end, you’re rooting for every single character as if they were your best friend.

I would have liked a few more flashbacks of Walker and Case’s friendship, but that’s a selfish request. Hahn writes a beautiful story and I live for all the lives I get to live through her words.

I will read anything Erin Hahn writes. Auto-buy author for me. Please keep them coming. I’m ready for whatever comes next.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.6 rounded up to 5/5.

Erin Hahn is quickly becoming another author that all of my money will be going to in the future. I am at the point where I don't even hesitate to request anything by her that I see on Netgalley.

Erin Hahn takes readers on a heart-buckling ride of romance and self-discovery in "Even If It Breaks Your Heart." The novel explores the poignant journey of two teens, Case Michaels and Winnie Sutton, as they navigate grief, love, and the courage to pursue their dreams.

The story revolves around nineteen-year-old Case Michaels, struggling to cope with the loss of his best friend, Walker. The only thread holding him together is a list of Walker's unfulfilled wishes, guiding Case to find purpose in the midst of his grief. Reluctant to continue his rodeo career without Walker, Case stumbles upon the determined and hardworking eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton.

Winnie's life revolves around shouldering the responsibilities of her family on the Michaels family ranch. Graduating early, she works tirelessly to support her siblings and a negligent father. However, her encounter with Case Michaels sets her on an unexpected path, intertwining her destiny with his and challenging her to pursue dreams beyond mere survival.

One of the book's strengths lies in the slow-burn romance between Case and Winnie. Hahn masterfully crafts a genuine connection, allowing the relationship to develop organically. The portrayal of their struggles is honest and level-headed, adding depth to their characters. The author skillfully weaves various tropes, including the rich boy/poor girl dynamic, a rare absence of a third-act breakup in a romance, a slow-burn narrative, and themes of grief and healing.

The characters of Winnie and Case are endearing, and readers easily become attached to their journeys. The novel excels in depicting the nuances of grief, showcasing how Case gradually releases his pain over time. The exploration of the rodeo circuit and the equestrian world adds a unique flavor to the story, enriching the narrative with passion and authenticity.

While the slow-burn romance is a highlight, some readers may find that the internal monologues occasionally overshadow the action, creating moments of pacing imbalance. However, the sweet and heartfelt nature of the story compensates for this minor drawback.

"Even If It Breaks Your Heart" stands out as a sad cowboy romance that resonates with its readers. Erin Hahn's storytelling prowess brings home the tough, emotional realities of life, making this novel a compelling and memorable read. The characters' journey toward healing and love is a testament to the power of resilience and the pursuit of one's dreams, even in the face of heartbreak.

This is the kind of book my readers ask for - hard-hitting, real life, but with the touches of beauty that make life worth living. Erin Hahn's Even If It Breaks Your Heart is a story of grief - after losing his best friend, Case Michaels struggles to find his place on the bull riding circuit - he knows he wants to honor his friend's memory, but Case has to start thinking about himself as well. The only problem is that Case has a to-do list from his friend and it has one very specific item on it - make friends with Winnie Sutton.

Winnie graduated high school early to help take care of her younger siblings. Her mom left, her dad isn't around, but Winnie's a hard worker on the Michaels' ranch. Winnie has dreams of her own, but she can't drop the ball when she has a brother and sister who need her. Working at the ranch gives Winnie a chance to ride horses and taste a bit of freedom during trail rides.

Two worlds collide - worlds of privilege and need - but the story is beautiful.