Oh, my goodness! Are all of this author’s books like an emotional sledgehammer? This is my first book of hers. I hit about 50% in and didn’t stop crying until the very end. My family was actually worried about me. 😂 These characters were really put through the wringer!

I have been in the worst reading slump. I haven’t finished a book in 4 days. Who is she?? I just haven’t wanted to pick up a book to read. Once I got about halfway into this though, I couldn’t put it down!

Max, oh Max. He was amazing! He loves so hard. I loved his lists. This was a beautiful coming of age story about first love and two people that do not have easy lives but find falling in love with each other easy. Life pulls them apart and then back again. Over and over and over. They are the light in each other’s lives.

THAT. ENDING. Seriously? 🥺🥺🥺 I highly recommend this book; just make sure you have a couple of boxes of tissues nearby! 🤧 You will need them.

Experiencing this for the first time is something I want again and again.

I refuse to give any spoilers, so this review is going to be painfully vague.

If there was one book I could read again for the first time then Catch the Sun would be it. Jennifer’s words are painfully beautiful. I have come to love Jennifer Hartmann’s books. I love her writing style, but what I love most is how shes able to write so beautifully no matter how painful the words are. There is a lot of truth in the words written in this book.

Ella and Max found something so beautiful, but the road to get there was rough to read. Max was patient and persistent with Ella no matter what life threw their way. He broke down Ella’s walls in the most beautiful way. I love the devotion they had towards in another. Their character development is one of my favorites of all time. I’ve never routed for characters more than I did for these two.

I found myself stopping multiple times while reading this book because I was afraid of the outcome of certain situations. I was on the edge of my seat multiple times and I stopped only because I was afraid of what would happen next.

I came for the romance, but stayed for every painful situation hoping for a better outcome.

Ella met Max when she was a little kid. At 17, she’s back in town as the sister of a murderer. But Max sees her for who she is, and become the friend she needs. Until tragedy happens again.
Well… this book broke my heart, as all Jennifer Hartmann’s book. I cried, I was scared and of course I fell in Love.

"Love comes first."

Catch the Sun is another amazing story by Jennifer Hartmann. Filled with poetic words, heartbreak, tragedy and first loves. The heart pounding moments start in chapter one. Jennifer's story telling is intense, unique, and detailed. There is no rush when telling Max and Ella's story.

Ella once had a best friend named Max. They had the greatest summer together when they were seven years old. Then life got in the way, and they were separated by grown-up decisions. Ella returns ten years later. Once again, due to grown-up decisions. Max is not the same carefree boy that he once was. Life's responsibilities have left him no choice but to do what needs to be done.

Ella is not the carefree girl that Max once knew. Grief, emotional evasion, antilove are all reasons why Ella finds herself unavailable for anyone. Ella's fire catches onto Max and suddenly he wants more of that heat. He starts out trying to be her friend. As they let their guards down their relationship changes into more...

"Love conquers. Consumes. Kills."

Catch the Sun was such an emotional roller-coaster. My heart was obliterated more than once! I loved everything about Max and Ella! I was consumed by the beautiful writing and intense storyline. Love, loss, hope, fear, forgiveness and second chances fill the pages. A must read for Jennifer Hartmann fans! And - don't get me started on Pooh, Piglet, orange crayons and brisket! If you have never read Jennifer Hartmann, you are missing out on beautiful, griping, emotional, full-box-of-tissues stories!

#AuthorJenniferHartmann #CatchTheSun #MaxAndElla

This may be my top read this year! It was absolutely beautiful and tragic. The trauma Ella and Max face from the age of 7 years old is unimaginable. However, they seem to deal with their trauma in such realistic ways.

Best friends from childhood, Max and Ella vow to be each other's everything. Life gets in the way and separates these two for 10 years. Upon her return, things are not easy. The struggle to find a new normal tears at Ella and she fights to get her life back.

I fell in love reading Max and Ella fall in love. The grief and trauma are so strong, and yet it makes them more human. They face one battle after another and find light at the end. A beautiful story about love and healing that will make you fall in love with sunsets and catching the sun.

3-3.5 stars

Hard one to rate, because while I enjoyed the plot and the 2nd half of this book quite a bit I feel like the execution and marketing are off the mark.

Marketed as YA, I think New Adult would have been more appropriate. These are 17-18 year old kids, basically parenting themselves and dealing with heavy adult like themes. With that being said, the MC Ella, acted very young at times (the whole Winnie the Pooh thing, I was over that pretty quickly) while other times using language like she was an adult who was trying to relate to teens would (even the flashbacks to when they were 7, they didn't talk like 7 year olds would.)

I struggled with the first half of the book. I was bored, it was slow, and the dialogue wasn't pulling me in. The action/plot points picked up in the 2nd half and I enjoyed it a lot more. It was overly dramatic in a lot of ways and a little far fetched, but I'd rather have that than what I read the first half. The emotions were heartfelt, the pain intense, and I felt for the main characters. This author ALWAYS knows how to bring feelings to her stories. That's where she excels!

Overall it was an okay read, but if it wasn't a book I was reading from Netgalley I might have DNF'd it before I got to the good part, as the first 30% was really slow for me. Chalk full of feels but more character development (especially with the dialogue) and less stereotypical characterizations would be appreciated and make it a better read for me. I'll still read this author, just maybe not her YA geared books.

The prologue really sucks you in. It had me turning the page so fast.

This story follows Ella and Max. They were best friends when they were little until she was moved away to live with her mum and brother.
When they see each other again it has been nearly a decade and they are not the same people.
Ella’s brother is in prison after being arrested for murder.
She is a pariah at her school and is horrendously bullied by everyone.
Except Max.
Max has his own issues going on at home with his dad, with no help from his twin brother McKay.
They both decided to try for friendship again, even if Ella fights it.

This couple is so cute it makes my teeth hurt from all the sweetness.
When Max made Ella a playlist called ‘Sunny Songs’ ,and it was filled with songs that reminded him of her, I swear my heart melted.
The end of step two broke me. I was literally sobbing my heart out. All the emotions swirling from the different characters really affected me.

Omfg!!! As if it couldn’t emotionally damage me even more, what happens with the brothers shattered me.

I swear my heart has been in pieces for most of this book. And just when I think it couldn’t break anymore, it bloody well does!!
Step three destroyed me.
All of the heartache and grief could be felt through the pages.

I felt like I had put myself back together again by the time I was reading the last step on how to catch the sun. But of course it wouldn’t be a Jennifer Hartmann book unless she played with your emotions just one last time.

This book was pure magic. The characters were some of the best I have EVER read. The world building was exceptional.
This is a story that will stick with me for a long time to come.

jennifer hartmann never fails to YANK on your heart strings!!! this book was adorable but also dealt with some very heavy topics and although it’s labeled as YA, i would definitely recommend to proceed with caution or check tw’s if needed!

max & ella are childhood friends who share this instant unique bind that is short lived since ella’s father brings her back to her moms shortly after she met max. years later following a tragic event, ella is back and feels like an outcast. overtime, she starts to grow close with max and it’s clear to them both that the unique bond they shared never really went away.

soon they are inseparable and planning their future as together when another tragic event occurs. from this point on the rest of the book had me on the edge of my seat! things got a little crazy and following along with the plot was so entertaining. their was so much pain to process and digest but it was worth it to see max and ella happy together at the end.

if you love angsty books that follow unique plots you would love this book. once i hit the 55% mark i had a really hard time putting this book down and all i wanted to do was stay up late and read

Jennifer Hartmann writes a truly emotional story in Catch the Sun. Ella and Max meet as young children and then don't see each other again for ten years. During that time, both of their worlds are thrown into complete chaos by the loved ones around them. When they see each other again, they are no where near the people they were before. It takes them a while to find their footing and befriend one another again. But once that door opens, it's such a lovely thing. You can see what a balm they are to each other's souls. But things can't be that easy, the world around them throws every challenge it can at them and things unravel. Ella and Max may never be able to overcome the things that happen.

This is a creative and heart wrenching read and was there for each and every word of it. Whenever I pick up one of Ms. Hartmann's books, I always know I'm going to get a book full of emotional upheaval and probably a little trauma. I always hope that the couple will find their way to some sort of happiness but it can take a while to get there sometimes and often it isn't pretty.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC.

What a beautiful story about love and loss and the complexity that comes with familial love.

This one is an extreme slow burn but it just draws you into the characters lives even more. You really get to know every detail of their inner thoughts and struggles and it makes all the plot twists and outcomes even more powerful and impactful.

The writing style is absolutely beautiful, entertaining and captivating and there’s no way my thoughts or descriptions can do this author justice.


I went in not knowing what this was about and I highly suggest you do too!

Wow! This book was everything I could have wanted and more from a Jennifer Hartmann book! It shattered me into a million pieces yet was still one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve ever read.

I will say the beginning took me awhile to get through and was pretty slow, but wow did it pick up and take my breath away! Absolutely loved it!

Honestly this is a 4.5 star for me but it won’t let you do 1/2’s. It would have been 5 star if the beginning wasn’t so slow…. But overall an amazing book!

Thank you Jennifer Hermann & Netgalley for the e-arc. All opinions are my own, and I am leaving them voluntarily.

This book was beautiful, and did not feel like a YA novel. What Ella & Max had to go through was just so heartbreaking at times. This took a little to get into, but definitely picked up for me after the half way point.

after being apart from each other, she's everything but nothing he remembered her. She's not herself anymore

Dear Jennifer Hartmann, you completely broke me with this book, and I loved every second of it.

I want to thank Bloom Books for always giving my small, bookish account a chance and sending me these advance copies; it means the world to me.

Before you judge this book by its beautiful sunny cover, be aware that it contains murder, blood/violence, sexual content, bullying, alcoholism, depictions of chronic illness, and attempted assault. If any of these topics could be triggering for you, this book may not be the best choice.

I don't know how Jennifer always finds a way to hook you from the beginning and not let you go until you are finished, raw, broken, and whole, but this story did not disappoint.

I loved Ella and Max's story about their childhood friendship and their promises. They believed that souls always find a way to be together, regardless of the circumstances. They also believed that love is difficult, but also beautiful, and has a magical property that fixes broken things and brings them together.

I finished it in less than 24 hours because I couldn't put it down. I laughed, I cried, I loved it.

“I’ve carried you with me, all this time. You rise and fall with every sun. You’re between the pages of every book I read. You’re with me on every bridge, and you’re in the verses of every song that plays. I never let you go.”⁣
⁣
This. Book. When I finished, my eyes burned from all the crying and my chest hurt from all the sobbing. I went in blind because I had complete faith in Jennifer blowing me away and SHE DID. Catch the Sun was immaculate. It was unexpected and packed a punch in more ways than one, but it was so worth it. I'm going to treasure Ella and Max forever 🧡 I'm also REALLY hoping that Chevy gets a book one day 🤞

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4.75⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: contemporary YA romance 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Such a sweet yet heartbreaking read! I loved this one so much!

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Second chance
Emotional roller coasters
Childhood friends to lovers
Beautiful and captivating reads
Heavy themes
Dual POV
Slow burn
Found family
He falls first
Small town
Great character growth

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
All the lists
Side of mystery
The ending was perfect
The potted crayon!

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
starts off a little slow
I wanted more info about Jonah

𝙵𝚊𝚟𝚘𝚛𝚒𝚝𝚎 𝚀𝚞𝚘𝚝𝚎𝚜:
★ “Stay, he says. Just a single word. I feel it more than I hear it.”
★ “I lied about something." I frown, tipping my head toward him. "You did?" "Yeah. I said you were a regular girl...but you're not." His tongue pokes ou to wet his lips and he turns to meet my eyes. "You're more."
★ “I mean what I said, honey. Romanticize your life. Don't live every day like it's your last. Live every day like it's your first. Lasts are tragic. Firsts are exciting and full of celebration. Look at every sunrise like it's the first time you've ever seen colors like that before.”

✨ARC review ✨

After I finished reading this beautiful, heartbreaking story, I went back to read all the highlights and that's how I found myself giggling and tearing up in the space of a few seconds.

Be ready to feel all the feels!
Be ready to fall in love!
Be ready to have your heart broken!
Just, be ready for everything!

You know a story is amazing when it makes you feel everything, but you can hardly find the words to express the journey you've just experienced.
This book might be presented as a YA because the MCs are teenagers, but don't let yourself be fooled! There are plenty of heavy topics in it. So, be sure to read the TW first.

I loved to see these childhood friends reconnect after 10 years appart. Slowly, very slowly. It's a game of push and pull that Max is all too willing to play because he understands that Ella needs it. He is the greenest flag you could think of.

Always paying attention to what she loves and what she needs, and always ready to deliver.
Always there with his quotes from her favorite books, and the lists that Ella loves so much.
Always willing to give her all the time that she needs, even when he doesn't understand why she needs time away from him.
Always waiting for her with his arms (that Ella loves so much 🤭) wide open for her.

"And I think that's the only way to recognize your real home. You need to be lost first. You need to be wandering, forgotten, misplaced. Only then will you trully know where you belong. "
"There is no hurry. We shall get there someday."

You'll love this if you love:

✨ Small town romance
✨ Friends to lovers
✨ Angsty/ emotional reads
✨ He falls first
✨ Slow burn
✨ First love, first kiss... first everything for both of them
✨ Green flag hero
✨ Trauma/healing
✨ Found family
✨ 1st person POV/ dual POVs
✨ YA romance that ends up in NA teritory 😉

Huge thanks to Jennifer Hartmann and Netgalley for the chance to read and review an ARC of this beautiful story.

What can I say?? Jennifer did it again with another traumatic book that always makes me so emotional. It was kind of interesting because i honestly didn’t know how I would feel about this one since it’s a YA but it disappoint.. The plot twists always catch me off guard and make my jaw drop. The love story that develops and evolves throughout the story between Ella and Max was hard and beautiful all at the same time. There’s definitely somethings that are hard to take in and you wish you could change for the better but that’s unrealistic. I’ll say it again I’ll definitely recommend any Jennifer Hartmann book!!! Thanks for an Arc!!

This book left a strong impression on me. It delves into the lives of two characters who meet as children and navigate a tumultuous journey through life's challenges. Their story is marked by separations, hardships, and moments of resilience that deeply affected me.

As I followed their journey, I found myself drawn into their struggles and triumphs. The portrayal of their hardships and the emotions they evoked felt raw and real. It's not just a story of their bond; it's a reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the resilience required to endure adversity.

The depth of their experiences made me reflect on the realities of life and the unpredictable paths we may face. This book prompts contemplation on themes of love, loss, and the strength found in difficult times.

Ella and Max met when they were young, but were separated for about a decade. When they are reunited later on, we get to see their story blossom through the good times and the bad. I loved these characters and how strong they were separate, but I also loved how they made each other strong too.

This book is one that I think will stick with me for a while.