Christina’s 5 star review

WOW!! Just finished the book moments ago and I am breathless! What a beautiful, heartbreaking Young Adult story about pain, loss, grief and falling in love for the first time. I swear Jennifer Hartmann cannot write a bad book!
Ella & Max are childhood friends who find each other years later when Ella's pain is raw and paralyzing. I loved watching these two fall in love, and watching Max bring Ella out of the darkness she's living in after her brother's incarceration and subsequent stint on death row. The grief, and heartache Ella endures throughout this book something else entirely. The way Hartmann brings these two characters together and then breaks them apart leaves us absolutely shattered, and then mends our hearts with an absolutely fabulous ending.
The ending could not have been more perfect, and it might just be my favorite ending out of all Jennifer Hartmann's books. Despite the deep emotions, we get soooo much character growth and love out of the book.
I cannot say enough good things. HIGHLY RECOMMEND!


Stephanie’s 5 star review
"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 story!

Tropes: small town, childhood friends to lovers, trauma, first love, second chance

Jennifer Hartman destroyed me with this book. It is considered a YA but I think anyone who reads this book will feel the emotion and love Max and Ella. The characters are in high school but the story's themes are not all YA, do not let the YA deter you from reading this amazing and emotional story.

This story has stuck with me since I read the last page and all I want to write is how much this story destroyed me and then it put the pieces back together. This story begins as a slow burn but let me tell you, it picks up and you will not want to put the book down, all you will want to do is know what is going to happen.

This story will make you tear up and possibly cry so I will warn against reading in public. This is truly an emotional rollercoaster and you can be smiling and then crying.

SHE'S DONE IT AGAIN, FOLKS. Jennifer Hartmann ripped my heart out, stomped on it, and then put it all back together again.

I cried SO many times reading this and could not put it down!

Ella and Max were childhood best friends, the promise to marry each other when they're older kind of best friends. But then Ella ends up moving away for a nearly a decade before moving back. The thing is, her brother's in prison and on death row and she's essentially a pariah in her town. Despite the bleak circumstances and their estrangement, Max and Ella soon rekindle their friendship before it blossoms to something more.

While I know young adults can go through some major shit, this did NOT feel like a young adult novel whatsoever outside of the main characters' ages. The book opens up to a double homicide for goodness sakes. And the rough topics don't stop there.

This deals with grief, how desperate people can get and the things they do when they're there. It's full of teenage angst and tragedy with twists and turns to make your heart clench. But there's also healing and the heartwarming story of love that prevails.

There's so many beautiful moments, lines, and sentiments in this. I genuinely cannot wait to get a physical copy of this book to mark up with the bits that stood out to me.

I think if you're familiar with the brand of writing Jennifer Hartmann subscribes to and you're looking for some pain with some tender moments, you'd love this. If you're looking for a quick, summer read, this would not be for you.

Thank you so much to the publisher, the author and Netgalley for the arc Catch the Sun.

This a beautiful book where you follow Max and Ella trying to find their friendship back and maybe love while they find support in each other😉

I enjoyed it but there was a few slower parts that lowers my rating. But overall it is a lovely book, but hard, emotional and with heavy things both Max and Ella had to deal with.

If I could give this book infinite stars, I would. It has the soul sucking heaviness of “Say You Swear” but feels so much realer.

I LOVE Max. Poor little broken boy. I really thought his dad was going to be an alcoholic the entire book and I am so happy he wasn’t (might’ve been too heavy for me) but don’t worry Max has more than enough tragedy to go around.

Ella’s character is also great. She’s got her walls built high but slowly lets Max in and it gives me flash backs to high school and all those warm fuzzy feelings that come with firsts.

The writing is exceptional. The story will bring you to tears. The love will give you hope. Easily a top 2024 read.

First of all, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this advance copy of Catch the Sun. I read it in one day, unable to look away. Ella and Max's story was powerful and dramatic, which is what teens are looking for right now. I loved it, and I can think of older teens who would love it too.

Unfortunately, this one ranks too high on the spice meter for me to have in our school library. I think it's a great book for a public library, but the sexual scenes were too descriptive for me to be able to include in a library that serves students in grades 7-12.

I'm still rating this one highly because it has many beautiful passages and models lots of positive things about relationships.

This book brings together two teenagers who have really terrible lives. Ella’s brother was very publicly found guilty in a brutal murder, and her mother spent all her money on his defense. Max’s father is a disabled drunk, leaving Max to keep a roof over their heads and keep the family running.

But there’s a backstory: Max and Ella had been friends once, way back in second grade. When Ella returns to town after her brother’s trial, she is mocked and bullied for having tearfully defended him when she was younger. Max seems to fit in with the cool kids in their small town, but he at least acknowledges her existence. Slowly, they start to hang out together, revealing more and more of themselves and growing closer.

But tragedy strikes again, and, for both of their sakes, they have to go their separate ways.

There is a satisfying resolution to the story, and we can close the book knowing what ultimately happens to the characters.

As a teacher, I was frustrated with how much bullying the school tolerated—including from one of the teachers. What the actual heck?!?

The only real moments of brightness come between our two main characters. The rest of the story is just dreary and depressing.

Possible Objectionable Material:
Murder. Lots of descriptive sex—I won’t be recommending this one to students! Swearing, drinking, and the usual teenage hijinks.

Who Might Like This Book:
Those who like stories of teens overcoming adversity and finding something good in their lives.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing an advanced reader copy in exchange for my opinion.

This book is also reviewed at https://biblioquacious.blogspot.com/2024/07/two-misses-and-hit.html

A beautifully written story. It reminded me of one of those emotional, dramatic teen television series from the 1990s. A LOT happened to Ella and Max in this book and many triggers. Please check before reading.

Ella and Max were childhood friends for one year until she moved away. Now she is seventeen years old and back in Juniper Falls after a tragic incident involving her older brother. She’s the school pariah and has a bunch of bullying happen to her. Except from Max. He wants to get to know her again.

Max is such a patient, good and kind young man. He has the weight of the world on his shoulders and is very different from his twin, McKay.

So much tragedy and anguish in this book. Please have tissues handy if you are a crier. It’s so interesting that I binged it in a day.

BUT- I know that Ella and Max are seventeen and eighteen for a majority of this book, but I would not categorize this as young adult. It’s more new adult. It’s too mature for younger teens as far as explicit content.

Thank you to Bloom Books and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm never looking at Dr. Pepper and orange crayons the same again 🧡
I absolutely loved Max and Ella 🧡
I didn't expect all those twists that happened. I laughed and cried, and truly I'm blown away by Jennifer Hartmann's writing. She does it again, another marvelous book that will make you feel all types of ways!
Check trigger warnings ⚠️ but highly recommend 🧡

this book had me feeling such a rollercoaster of emotions. jennifer hartman absolutely never fails to make me bawl like a baby over fictional people 😂

i will be thinking of max and ella for a long time to come 😭💛☀️

Jennifer Hartmann breaks my heart and puts it back together in ways that I let no other author destroy me. This one I had to read over a few days because she was insistent on dragging the heartbreak out.

Ella and Max's love story is not easy. It's hard and complicated and tragic and this story kept me reading and in my feels for the entire book. It's steamy and sad and comes together so well. I love a story with growth and grace and this has both in spades.

Jennifer absolutely does it again!!! 👏🏻
She beautifully lays the story out and I am literally asking myself “where is she going with this?”…..then BAM….I’m laughing, crying and screaming!!!!

This book does start off slowly, but when it takes off Jennifer does tie it all together with a beautiful bow!! This book will definitely stay with me in the best possible way!!

Deep breaths. This one is tough. Jennifer does it again. She has this amazing way of taking really deep dives and writing amazing characters and complicated storylines that suck you in, grip your heart and destroy you. Then piece by piece she puts you back together. This is another one of her masterpieces.

Ella and Max meet as young kids and begin an instant connection and friendship. They are inseparable, until that day. Ella's parents have other plans and the two are separated for 10 years. Reunited again after Ella moved back with her mom following a terrible tragedy, the two start to rekindle their once innocent friendship. This time, those feelings are more mature and they start to have romantic feelings.

Ella is carrying the heavy weight of her brother's actions. Max is the one in charge of his family and their secrets. The two teens are pulled together as both support and acceptance helps to make them feel some normalcy.

Unfortunately that can't last and their worlds spiral out of control and then collide in an explosive and excruciating way. The only way they see through it is to set their own paths. Healing is painful and while them being apart opens a wound, other ones heal.

The end is a very difficult, hard fought HEA that will warm your heart. I know that I took a very deep breath.

The story is so well written. Jennifer honestly understands trauma, trauma bonding and healing. She writes amazing interconnected stories in the bigger story. Her side characters are fantastic. I know that will think about this book for years to come.

Catch the Sun
Wow! Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Books for the digital ARC copy. This story blew me away. Ella and Max's story is unforgettable. All the stars. If Jennifer writes it, I’ll be reading it.

Ella and Max form an inseparable bond as children. But soon enough Ella is forced to move away and they lose contact until they are late teenagers. But by this stage so much has changed. Ella is dealing with her older brother being sentenced to death and Max is taking on the man of the house role to try and support his twin brother and disabled father.

“Fun is a privilege. Fun is the result of good, wholesome living. I’m just trying to survive at this point”

This one really took me by surprise, it was so much deeper than I imagined it would be, especially for a YA book. Parts of this book were absolutely heart breaking. The plot had several different storyline’s within that all held their own.

The bond that Hartman was able to depict between the two main characters was so beautiful. I loved their banter and blossoming romance. Max was so patient with Ella and his attention to detail was so sweet. Near perfection for a devoted MMC.

“Live every day like its your first. Lasts are tragic. If you make everyday a celebration, you’ll never get bored in your own story”

I’ve read quite a few of this authors books and somehow they just keep getting better. Jennifer has a way of building up a storyline in such a way you feel like you are there alongside the characters.

Thank you for to the author and publisher for this ARC. 4.5 stars

“ᴋɪssɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ ғᴇᴇʟs ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴄᴀᴛᴄʜɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ sᴜɴ.”

I don't even know where to begin or how to convey the emotions from reading this book. I will say that I'm not one to normally pick up a YA book, but when it comes to Jennifer, I'll read whatever she writes because I know it will be worth it! If you take away anything from this review, it's.....read this book, experience this story, and LOVEEE like Max and Ella.....deeply!

“ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇʏᴇs, ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ sᴇᴇɴ. ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴍɪʟᴇ ᴍᴀᴋᴇs ᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ ᴄʜᴇʀɪsʜᴇᴅ. ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴀʀᴍs ᴍᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴇ ғᴇᴇʟ sᴀғᴇ.”

This book was raw, angsty, emotional, and absolutely heart-wrenching, but underneath it all is honest, pure love. I bawled morning, noon, and night while reading. I was so captivated by Max and Ella that I had a hard time putting this book down, I didn't want to put this book down! Jennifer does something when she writes, she has this power to pull all those raw emotions out of the reader that they feel what the characters feel and it's perfection!

“sᴏᴜʟs ᴅᴏɴ'ᴛ sᴇᴇ. sᴏᴜʟs ғᴇᴇʟ. ᴛʜᴇʏ ғᴇᴇʟ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ʏᴇᴀʀɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ ᴋɴᴏᴡ. ɪ'ᴅ ғᴇᴇʟ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ʟɪғᴇᴛɪᴍᴇ, ɪɴ ᴀɴʏ ᴠᴇʀsɪᴏɴ ᴏғ ᴀɴʏ ʀᴇᴀʟɪᴛʏ. ᴀɴᴅ ɪ'ᴅ ᴋɴᴏᴡ, ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ ᴅᴏᴜʙᴛ, ᴡɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴀ sʜʀᴇᴅ ᴏғ ʜᴇsɪᴛᴀᴛɪᴏɴ… ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ sᴏᴜʟ ᴡᴀs ᴍᴇᴀɴᴛ ғᴏʀ ᴍɪɴᴇ.”

Catch the Sun will be a book that stays with me long after reading, a book that will absolutely be on my TOP READS list for 2024, a book that I will 100% recommend and a story that will live in my heart! If you read anything this year, READ THIS BOOK and EXPERIENCE Max and Ella's story. I promise it's worth the tears!!

Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann was very well written with well developed characters. I was really drawn into this YA novel (even though I'm not the target audience).

Ella and Max were close friends at 7 years old; then her parents separated and Ella moved away. A decade later her brother is on death row for two murders and Ella is back. Being the sibling of someone guilty of murder does not make for a very happy high school experience.

Max and Ella rekindle their friendship and Ella finds a friend in Max's twin's girlfriend.

Highly recommended. Beautiful cover.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Bloom Books publishing for approving my request to read the advance review copy of Catch the Sun in exchange for an honest review. I would definitely read another book by Jennifer Hartmann. One of the things I love best about NetGalley is that it introduces me to (new to me) authors that I've neglected. I'm definitely going to be on the lookout for books by Jennifer Hartmann. Publication date is July 17, 2024. Approx 448 pages.

GoodReads indicates that Catch the Sun is $0 with Kindle Unlimited. Wow. Thats a steal.

I was given an ARC copy of this book and I was so excited to get a chance to read early and write a review for all of you! This is a YA romantic suspense book full of twists, self healing, childhood friends to lovers and a slow burn that’s worth the wait. The two main characters both have trauma that they are trying to work through and with this trauma they have a hard time knowing their self worth and that even though certain things happened to them, it doesn’t define who they are. This book shows how they navigate through life and how to come out stronger in the end. Catch The Sun will be in the recommendation rotation and I can’t wait for others to read as well!!

“Your soul was meant for mine.”

I’m just a girl reveling in a romance that quickly became my world. Catch the Sun is a shatteringly stunning tale of strength, survival, and second chances. It delves into the value of life and love, and the fragility of it all. This book is the best blend of ordinary and extraordinary. It’s all the feels … it’s enlightening … it’s everything!

I was instantly transported to small town Tennessee as I lived and breathed the characters Hartmann so seamlessly and stunningly brings to life. I was drawn to Ella and Max’s undeniable pull … a connection of kismet. I was mesmerized by the depth and raw vulnerability of this hero and heroine who awaken and save each other. Ella and Max held my heart the whole time reading.

“If there ever comes a day when we can’t be together, keep me in your heart. I’ll stay there forever.”

Catch the Sun claimed my heart, stole my breath and tears, and blew my mind. I was transfixed by the poetic and passionate prose that danced across the pages … pulling me in like a hypnotic spell. I could do nothing but succumb to every emotional word.

I dare you to not to catch feels for Catch the Sun. I am so in awe of this love story that I can’t stop breathing … can’t stop feeling. It’s not only a 2024 top romance but a top lifetime read. Incredible. Unputdownable. Unforgettable.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ catch the feels “but worth the brightest sun and the entire universe” stars

I was really looking forward to this book, but I'm sorry to say I was a little disappointed.

I have to admit that I'm not usually a fan of YA. However, the theme of the book really intrigued me at first. The characters were also really mature for their age. BUT, it started to drag a little and the plot seemed like all over the place. There were so many side plots and unnecessary twists in this book that I actually ended up being more interested in those than in the main one (the romance between Max and Ella).

I usually do enjoy reading about characters overcoming their past traumas, but there was A LOT going on in this book and I don’t think it was necesary to mix so many unfortune events in one book. In such a note, please, don’t forget to check TWs before diving into this one.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for this ARC. All opinions are my own.