This is a story of a boy and a girl who met as little kids and loved each other. They then separate for many years and finally live near each other again as teenagers. It’s a story of first love, but it is def not an easy love story.

There were a lot of heartbreaking twists in this book. There were times it was so sad & times it made me smile. I did not predict the twists that happened.

I honestly wish I could quote this book, but since it’s an advance copy I can’t, but there were sooo many beautiful quotes. In particular, there was one quote about innocence that I felt was one of the most beautiful things I have ever read.

For me the first half of the story was a little slow, but once it got going so much happened. If I could change one thing, I would make this book a little shorter and focus more on all the shocking parts in the second half.

Thank you to netgalley for the free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Hartmann has yet to disappoint. Each book I have read by her has been a five stars for me and this book is no different. Jennifer has this beautiful way of writing that grabs you, mentally and emotionally bringing you into the story. This story made me feel EVERYthing the characters are feeling; the sadness, the fear, the resentment, the anger, and the love. For being young Max and Ella go through SO much I just want to hug them. They grieve in so many different ways but also take so many actions to better themselves. If you think this is going to be some fluffy romance, think again it has some deep topics and the twist that happens in this book left me with my mouth hanging open.

When I think of the word inevitable I will definitely think of these two. Max and Ella are so strong and you see through the choice they make for themselves. It’s been a while since I sobbed so hard yall.

There are also so many quotes I love from this story that I can’t wait to go back and highlight within my physical book. You guys this story is STUNNING and you need it, that’s all I have to say.

Jennifer Hartmann’s Catch the Sun is an exquisite exploration of friendship, love, and resilience. The novel follows Ella Sunbury and Max Manning, childhood best friends whose lives are torn apart, only to be brought back together under complicated circumstances.

Ella’s return to her hometown for her senior year of high school is far from a triumphant homecoming. The once carefree girl now carries the heavy burden of her brother's infamy—a felon on death row. Jennifer deftly captures Ella's struggle with societal judgment and her desire to remain unseen, creating a complex, sympathetic character that readers will root for from the start
.
Max, too, has faced his own share of challenges. With a disabled father and a distant twin brother, his life is full of responsibilities and distractions. Yet, Ella’s return sparks a deep, unshakeable desire within him to rekindle their friendship and potentially turn it into something more. Jennifer’s portrayal of Max is heartfelt and genuine, highlighting his determination and compassion.

The chemistry between Ella and Max is undeniable and beautifully rendered. Their journey from rekindling an old friendship to navigating a burgeoning romance is portrayed with authenticity and warmth. Jennifer excels in writing their relationship, which feels real and deeply emotional, filled with both tender moments and significant challenges.

The secondary characters add depth and texture to the narrative, each contributing to the protagonists’ growth. The novel does an excellent job of balancing the sweet, romantic moments with the stark realities of their lives. Jennifer’s writing is both poignant and gripping, drawing readers into the emotional highs and lows of Ella and Max’s journey.

As the story progresses, new tragedies test their bond, and the resilience of both characters shines through. The narrative’s climax is both heartbreaking and hopeful, providing a satisfying conclusion that underscores the themes of redemption and enduring love.

Catch the Sun is a testament to Jennifer Hartmann’s storytelling prowess. It's a moving, inspiring tale of finding light in the darkest of times. This book is a must-read for anyone who enjoys heartfelt, emotionally rich stories of love and friendship. Jennifer’s characters will stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page, reminding you of the power of perseverance and the beauty of enduring connections.

Thank you Valentine PR for a digital ARC of this book.

If there is one thing Jennifer Hartmann did exceptionally well for this novel, it was world building in a way that made me feel like I was there for everything. Like you could just feel the rain on your skin while reading the storm on the page.

Going into this book, I knew I had to be prepared for a rollercoaster of emotions but my gah does it still catch me off guard every single freaking time.

There was also an element of innocence and life inexperience of these characters that made the trauma, the pain, the laughs and the love so raw it was impossible to not feel every emotion these two had at any given moment.

The ONLY thing I feel like should be altered- this was definitely not a YA read to me. With the topics this book contains and the detailed content- I see it more New Adult.

Either way, 5 freaking stars and 0 complaints. Preordered the physical copy to add to my shelf of trophies 🖤🖤

4.5 ⭐️ ARC review
JENNIFER. WHY. For some reason I thought because this was a younger couple then she usually writes it would be a little lighter. Boy was I wrong. Ella and Max go through it. I love a childhood friends to lovers that delivers. They have loved each other since they were little but you can tell it doesn’t really hit until they have to go through some traumatic things together. And the grand gesture yall. THE GRAND GESTURE. It’s beautiful. Another stunner from JHartmann.

“Nobody ever really needs rescuing,” he says, our footsteps slowing. “But it feels nice sometimes.”

“Souls don’t see, Sunny. They feel. They feel, and they yearn, and they know.”

I fully expect Jennifer Hartmann books to put me through the wringer and this was no exception! This was a high angst YA romance - or at least, a romance where the characters are in high school but I’m not sure the audience for this is young teenagers.

Ella and Max were friends at a young age but they went their separate ways, only to be reunited as seniors in high school. Both have had a lot of trauma over the years and are entirely different people than the ones they once knew, but they’re both still drawn to each other.

It’s a slow burn romance, they become friends again first but Ella’s walls are very high up due to her family trauma and the emotional upheaval surrounding that. Max was a protector, a solid guy who tried to do what’s right by his family and by Ella.

Overall I think it was well written, I just don’t think I’m the target audience for. Open door young adult romance is a conundrum for me, I don’t enjoy reading about children having sex (to be clear- I’m not anti teenagers exploring, I just don’t want to be in the room for it) but think it was a good book in general, just not a new favorite.

There is a massive amount of triggers, including bullying, violence, gun violence, sexual assault, parental abandonment, alcoholism, underage alcohol use, and more.

Destruction. Any Jennifer Hartmann book has the power to destroy you and put you back together. I've yet to find one that doesn't do just that. This book is marked as young adult, however this is very much just based on the age of the MC's. Themes in this book are HEAVY, please read trigger warnings before diving in.

I don't typically annotate books but I highlighted a few parts that really stood out.
“Love always hurts, honey. That’s the price we pay to experience it."
"It's bright like the sun. And the sun is bright like you."
"Jesus, Ella, young love is the purest f****** kind..."

I devoured this book, I couldn't put it down. I struggled with needing to know what happened and wanting it to last forever. This book gave me physical emotions (beating heart, tears, happiness, anxiety).

Ella & Max are survivors, wise beyond their years - you absolutely need to read this book!

This book broke me and then put me back together in the best way.

I’ve only read one other book by Jennifer Hartmann, and it did the same thing. There is something amazing about her writing that takes you on a journey you didn’t think would happen through a book.

This book was heavy at times. But it was also lighthearted and carefree in the way young love is.
It took me on a rollercoaster of a ride.

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.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

𝐼 𝓌𝑒𝓃𝓉 𝒾𝓃𝓉𝑜 '𝒞𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒮𝓊𝓃' 𝒷𝓎 𝒥𝑒𝓃𝓃𝒾𝒻𝑒𝓇 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓃 𝓀𝓃𝑜𝓌𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝒾𝓉 𝓌𝑜𝓊𝓁𝒹 𝓁𝒾𝓀𝑒𝓁𝓎 𝒷𝑒 𝒶𝓃 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝒶𝓁 𝓇𝑜𝓁𝓁𝑒𝓇𝒸𝑜𝒶𝓈𝓉𝑒𝓇, 𝒻𝒾𝓁𝓁𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝓉𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓈, 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉𝒷𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓀, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝑔𝓈𝓉𝓎 𝓈𝒶𝒹𝓃𝑒𝓈𝓈 - 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝐻𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓂𝒶𝓃𝓃 𝒹𝒾𝒹 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒹𝒾𝓈𝒶𝓅𝓅𝑜𝒾𝓃𝓉. 𝒯𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈 𝒽𝒶𝓋𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝓈𝑜 𝓂𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝒶𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓃𝑔 𝒶𝑔𝑒, 𝒷𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒸𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝓇 𝑔𝓇𝑜𝓌𝓉𝒽 𝓌𝒶𝓈 𝓅𝓇𝑜𝒻𝑜𝓊𝓃𝒹— 𝓉𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓋𝒶𝓁𝓊𝒶𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝒶𝒷𝑜𝓊𝓉 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇 𝑜𝒻 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒, 𝓈𝒶𝒸𝓇𝒾𝒻𝒾𝒸𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝓎 𝑜𝒻 𝒻𝒾𝑔𝒽𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝑜𝓇 𝓌𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓂𝒶𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝑒𝒾𝓇 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓈𝒽𝑜𝓌𝓈 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓈𝑒𝓁𝒻𝓁𝑒𝓈𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓌𝒽𝑜𝓁𝑒𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒, 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓌𝑒 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒸𝒽𝑒𝓇𝒾𝓈𝒽 𝓂𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓃𝓉𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓂𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓇𝒾𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝑜 𝑔𝓊𝒾𝒹𝑒 𝓊𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝓇𝑜𝓊𝑔𝒽 𝒽𝒶𝓇𝒹 𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝓌𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝒶𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉. 𝒲𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝓌𝑒’𝓇𝑒 𝓁𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝑜 𝒸𝒶𝓉𝒸𝒽 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓊𝓃… 𝒾𝓉’𝓈 𝓃𝑜𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁 𝓈𝓊𝓃𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓃𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒷𝓊𝓉𝓉𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓁𝒾𝑒𝓈, 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓂𝓈 𝒶𝓇𝑒 𝒷𝓇𝓊𝓉𝒶𝓁 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓅𝑜𝓇𝓉𝓇𝒶𝓎𝓈 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓊𝓃𝒻𝒶𝒾𝓇 𝓁𝒾𝒻𝑒 𝓈𝑜𝓂𝑒𝓉𝒾𝓂𝑒𝓈 𝒾𝓈 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝒽𝑜𝓌 𝓉𝓇𝓊𝓁𝓎 𝓉𝑒𝓇𝓇𝒾𝒷𝓁𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓊𝓃𝒻𝑜𝓇𝑔𝒾𝓋𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒾𝓉 𝒸𝒶𝓃 𝒷𝑒. 𝐼’𝓋𝑒 𝓃𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇 𝒻𝑒𝓁𝓉 𝓈𝓊𝒸𝒽 𝓅𝑜𝓌𝑒𝓇𝒻𝓊𝓁 𝑒𝓂𝑜𝓉𝒾𝑜𝓃𝓈 𝑜𝒻 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓈𝑜𝓇𝓇𝑜𝓌 𝒶𝓈 𝐼 𝒹𝒾𝒹 𝓌𝒽𝒾𝓁𝑒 𝓇𝑒𝒶𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝓉𝒽𝒾𝓈 𝒷𝑜𝑜𝓀. 𝐼𝓉'𝓈 𝒶 𝒷𝑒𝒶𝓊𝓉𝒾𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎 𝓈𝒶𝒹 𝒶𝓃𝒹 𝓉𝓇𝒶𝑔𝒾𝒸 𝓈𝓉𝑜𝓇𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝑔𝓇𝑒𝒶𝓉𝓁𝓎 𝒾𝓂𝓅𝒶𝒸𝓉𝑒𝒹 𝓂𝑒. 𝐼 𝓁𝑜𝓋𝑒𝒹 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓇𝓎 𝓂𝒾𝓃𝓊𝓉𝑒 𝑜𝒻 𝒾𝓉, 𝑒𝓋𝑒𝓃 𝓉𝒽𝑒 𝒹𝒾𝒻𝒻𝒾𝒸𝓊𝓁𝓉 𝓅𝒶𝓇𝓉𝓈. 𝒯𝒽𝒶𝓃𝓀𝒻𝓊𝓁𝓁𝓎, 𝒾𝓉 𝑒𝓃𝒹𝑒𝒹 𝓌𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒶 𝓈𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓈𝒻𝓎𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝐻𝐸𝒜- 𝟧 𝓈𝓉𝒶𝓇𝓈!

Oh my effing heart! This book DESTROYED me.

Ella and Max’s story is definitely one that is going to stick with me for a long long time. I will never be able to look at the color orange or think of winnie the pooh without thinking of this heartbreakingly beautiful story. I loved everything about this story, the characters, the angst, the plot twists, the heartbreak, the grief, the resilience, ugh just everything.
If you’re like me and love a deeply emotional read, pick this one up ASAP.

*There are some heavy subjects portrayed in this book so be sure to check the content warnings.

Also for anyone wondering, yes this is YA, but there is open door spice.

Catch the Sun is perfection!

I really enjoyed getting to know Ella and Max and loved the feelings of nostalgia I experienced as they navigated their relationship early on. There are fun and lighthearted moments that had me kicking my feet, but also devastatingly tragic events that are heavy and had my heart continuously braking. I was rooting so hard for these characters who endured unimaginable trauma that would completely shatter anyone! Tears were shed and life lessons were learned. I recommend this book, it was fantastic.

There is a content warning list in the beginning of the book. Your mental health matters.

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and Jennifer Hartmann for an advanced e-copy of Catch the Sun, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

4.5 out of 5 stars

This book is a heartbreakingly beautiful story that I couldn't put down, especially the last 50% of the book. Reading this book felt like I was on an emotional roller coaster. I smiled, cried, had butterflies, loudly gasped... you name it and I probably felt it. There were so many layers to this story, so much depth, and it was so detailed. I could picture everything in my mind because it was so detailed, which also helped me feel so connected with the story since it felt so real.

Jennifer Hartmann is a master at writing amazing characters that have so much depth and development. Ella and Max both have trauma and are working through the healing process. Even though I may not be able to relate to their trauma, Ella and Max were relatable and I could feel their emotions through the pages. I feel like I always take away a message from her books and they stick with me long after reading. This book is no different.

This book is a must read, but please check trigger warnings. Don't let the YA genre detour you from reading this book. This book will live rent free in my head for awhile.

Read this book if you enjoy:
* he falls first
* trauma bonding
* friends to lovers
* second chance romance
* found family
* childhood friends

When I tell you I dropped EVERYTHING to read this eARC as soon as it hit my kindle, I’m not exaggerating. Yall know my love for JH books.

Max and Ella’s story was so sweet and full of heartbreak. Their love was so pure and just surrounded by tragedy. My heart hurt and smiled for them, and in true JH fashion there was a major healing focus. This could almost be considered YA due to the characters ages (mostly 17/18 then ending at 21) but I’d put it more at NA for content.

Thanks @author.jenniferhartmann @read_bloom @netgalley for the eARC opportunity!

“Live every day like it’s your first. Lasts are tragic. Firsts are exciting and full of celebration.”

This book hit me right in the heart. I’m not sure I’ve ever highlighted so many times in a book. I’m excited to get my paperback on release day so I can tab them all.

Jennifer Hartman is a beautiful writer and I think that her talent truly shines in Catch The Sun. Such a beautiful, tragic, and hopeful story. Have your tissues ready but also prepare your heart because this story latches onto it.

“Words are never innocent. They’re either weapons or remedies. Like seeds, they grow and expand, becoming skyscraping trees or invasive weeds.”

There’s just something so beautiful about books written about that soul deep young love and not many can do it justice but this book makes you feel everything that Max and Ella do, which is a lot. Catch the Sun captivated my attention from the start. Both Max and Ella were so well written and so easy to connect with.

“Love is war. You fight until you win, or you fight until you lose.”

This story is about tragedy, love, healing, friendship, hope, and perseverance in the face of darkness you can’t quite see your way out of but you keep pushing through to the light in the end where the sun is shining so beautifully. I 100% recommend this book if you love any of the below. It is one of those reads that will stick with me.

☀️ Reasons to read:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Small Town
- Beautiful writing
- First love
- A captivating, beautiful story that grips your heart from page one. ♥️

**ARC received in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher Bloom Books and NetGalley for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

How can I put into words how deeply I fell for this story. Jennifer Hartmann’s writing gripped my heart and refused to let go. No words can truly express the depth of my emotions or convey the masterpiece she has written. Reading this felt like chasing a fleeting ray of sunlight, trying to catch the sun.

Jennifer, the journey you took us on, with its heart-wrenching moments and all-consuming love, left me utterly speechless. I’m at a loss for words. I’ll cry myself to sleep tonight, overwhelmed by the all emotions from falling in love with Max & Ella!

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced e-copy of Catch the Sun, in exchange for an honest review.

Jennifer Hartmann's 'Catch the Sun' delivers a heart wrenching YA romance that explores the complexities of life, love, and overcoming adversity. The story follows Max and Ella, childhood friends reunited after a decade of separation.

The novel's strength lies in its exploration of heavy themes. Ella's brother's incarceration and the resulting social stigma she faces add depth and poignancy to her character. Max's responsibilities as a caretaker for his disabled father and his desire to provide a normal life for his brother McKay create a compelling narrative.

While the YA aspects may not appeal to all readers, the darker moments are executed with brilliance. The novel would have benefited from a slightly shorter length, allowing for a more focused and impactful storyline.

Despite these minor criticisms, 'Catch the Sun' remains a highly enjoyable read. The characters are relatable and well-developed, and the plot offers a rollercoaster of emotions. This was a solid 4.75 stars for its compelling themes, emotional depth, and overall engagement.

OMG!!! Jennifer Hartmann knows how to make your heart stop. I think mine stopped at least three times in this book. This was such a heartbreaking but heartfelt book. I went through every emotion imaginable . Thankfully I'm not the type of person that cries but it you are make sure you have the tissues around. This one will put you though the wringer. The characters and story were so well written that I felt like I was living in the moment with them. I felt everything they felt. There were so many plot twists in this nook that I couldn't put it down. Jennifer had me hooked from the beginning until the end. This is a YA book and you will definitely want to check trigger warnings. This book deals with a lot of different situations that could be hard for some people. I would HIGHLY recommend this book. Jennifer Hartmann never disappoints so I would also recommend any of her other books as well. Grab a blanket, get cozy and enjoy this emotional but beautiful book!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

An emotional angsty young love story that was devastatingly beautifully written. A couple chapters in I thought to myself, oh it’s not as sad and traumatizing as the previous books I’ve read from JH. Just wait, as you go into the story more the emotions will rise and as soon as you think all is calm everything explodes. A great read.

Where to begin?! I'm not at all exaggerating when I say Jennifer Hartmann is one of my favorite authors and is an auto-buy/auto-read whenever she comes out with a new book. Most of her books have garnered 5 stars from me (easily). This book was different. Now gimme a second to explain before you crucify me. As her first YA novel, I was intrigued because let's all admit, most of JH's writing does not qualify as YA. She's not afraid to get graphic - not that I mind! Immediately starting this book, I thought - OK the characters might still be in high school, but this is absolutely NOT a YA novel. I'll explain more below.

It's not uncommon for her novels to have some length to them, which is ok since they're typically so hard to put down that you breeze right through them. For the first half of this book, the pace was extremely slow burn. I struggled to trudge through. That could be the younger character element. I understand the necessity for the backstory but it did feel overly drawn out and for the first half, I really thought 'wow - is this book barely going to qualify as a 3 star?' That pained me... seriously.

The second half - holy guacamole! Action-packed doesn't begin to describe it. Finally!!! Here's the Jennifer Hartmann we've all come to know and love! I laughed - I cried - I whipped through the pages at an alarming speed. Does the incredible second half of the book make up for the almost painfully slow first half? That's the question you'll have to ask yourself. My answer is YES.

Now to get into the issue of what genre this book truly falls into - I'd say 'New Adult'. While yes, there are parts of the book where the characters are kids - specifically an extended period of time where they're 17/18, when you see YA - you expect no foul language, no sexual content, etc. That's not the case with this book, which is why it really should be categorized as New Adult Romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books, and Jennifer Hartmann for the opportunity to read this digital ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

First, I want to thank Jennifer Hartmann for an ARC of "Catch the Sun" in exchange for an honest review.

Every single book by Jennifer rips my heart open. This wasn't any different. The prologue sucks you in immediately - I could not put this down once I started.

Ella and Max stole my heart. Grief is hard, and it's messy - Jennifer portrays it perfectly.

Now excuse me while I cry. 🫶