This deserves more than 5 stars! I am officially lost and destroyed after this book. What a beautifully tragic story! My heart was shattered to pieces repeatedly throughout and though she put it back together, I don't think I've fully processed it all yet. I finished reading it yesterday and I haven't stopped thinking about it.

I love Max and Ella. Their love story started as best friends at only 7 years old, though the actions of others always seemed to tear them apart. The tragedy and grief that these two went through was just devastating. They had so much to overcome and they were so young 😢 On the other side of things though, their sweet moments of young love brought such joy to my heart! No matter what happened, she was always his Sunny girl 🥹

Catch the Sun was full of love and loss, growing up, healing, forgiveness and learning the true meaning of family. It was absolutely gut wrenching at times, but the sweet, bright moments made it all worth it. Such an incredible journey and a true emotional roller-coaster.

Every single one of Jennifer's books has stayed with me since reading them, but this is my new favorite. Max and Ella have a permanent place in my heart ❤️

If you want an emotionally damaging book this one is for you. Yes it is YA but i think anyone should read this. It is beautifully written

I absolutely f***ing loved this book. It is too long, I didn't mind it. The slow pace, didn't care. Slow burn, yeah bring it on. Tugging back n fro, well that annoyed me but okay.

I don't read romances much. I don't like romances much. I don't rate romances this high and yet I did this one. I don't read YA, don't like them. But this one is just my favourite.

Every moment of this book I loved. I adored. I hated Max and Ella. No I can't ever hate Max. Ella yes, coz she was sometimes getting on my nerves. Why only sometimes. Most of the times. Her habit of running away whenever something changed made me scream in a pillow. But Max, He is perfect. A man who felt very real, yet too real to be true. Not a single thing he did wrong in this book. Wow. I can't just put into words. Coz I'm blown. My mind is blown. My heart is blown.

This book was like watching a real life unfold, from the start to finish. It felt so normal to read the story and the characters. The setting was also very perfect. I loved all the character development. I was hoping that there's no sad ending or anyone dying. Well someone does but I didn't really like the character but thank God, Jennifer Hartmann didn't kill any of my favourite characters. And who's my favourite character? Almost every f***ing character except the bad ones of course. The bully, the abusers that sort of people.

To my fellow women reader friends, if you like bad guys, read about Max you will forget about them. He is that good.

I feel this will make a very good romantic comedy. I can't imagine anyone playing both protagonists but I will definitely watch it if it ever makes to screen. I hope it does.

Thank you sourcebooks bloom books and Netgalley for this unforgettable experience , this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

TITLE: Catch The Sun
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: Jennifer Hartmann
TROPE: Friends-to-Lovers
TYPE: Standalone
POV: Dual POV
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5

⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers

Jennifer Hartmann has a way of telling a story where you are pulled in for the journey, and you are never really sure what will happen with the characters. Catch The Sun was gripping from beginning to end, full of tragedy, love, and angst.

Ella & Max met when they were children and formed an instant connection before Ella's father abruptly took her away. Years later, and now in her senior year of high school, Ella has returned but is no longer the innocent sunny girl she once was. Ella's brother brought down a scandal in the family, ending up serving time in prison on death row. Now, Ella and her mother are trying to start fresh in a new town, away from all the post-scandal hatred directed toward them.

Catch the Sun had me feeling all the emotions as we navigated Ella & Max's journeys; neither one seems to have an easy life, but through it all, there seems to be a friendship and underlying bond keeping them in each other's orbit. I enjoyed the story as it unfolded right until the very end. I am giving Catch The Sun a rating of 4.5 / 5 Stars.

I seriously cannot talk about this book more, this book brought me so many emotions. It broke my heart and put it all back together, I cried so many times in this story. The love and connection these two have and build throughout their lives is just incredible. Its one of those stories that every girl could dream of. Jennifer knows just how perfectly to write a story, so beautifully written. If I see her name I'm doing anything I can to get my hands on that book.

Jennifer gets me every time, she's always hitting me with the feels with her writing!
This book is honestly so sweet but filled with so much trauma and angst, but I adore the characters and I'm so happy they got their HEA, it was so well deserved!

4⭐

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for this ARC

Jennifer Hartman does it again.
What a stunning and haunting tale of young love, innocence, hope and betrayal.

The FMC Ella fell in love when she was 8 years old. As most childhood friends do, they promised they’d be together forever. Her parents are struggling in their relationship and she doesn’t realise it will be 10 years before she sees her best friend again. Only the next time she lays eyes on the MMC Max, years aren’t the only thing that have passed.

Ella is the town gossip, living with the actions of her brother, she’s guilty by association, keeping her head down and just trying to make it through her own sorrow, the last thing she wants is to have her heart broken again. Max doesn’t have time to have anyone of meaning in his life, he’s keeping his own life hanging together more than most 18 year olds looking after his dad and keeping his brother in check.

They were best friends when they were children, can they slowly make it back as teenagers when both are fighting to keep their head above water in their daily life.

This book was so sweet, young love, innocence, but all of that can be taken away so quickly and by people who you’re supposed to love and trust. This book was such a journey, the hardships that they had to overcome, somehow trying to find a way back to each other while the unlikeliest of foes was pulling them apart.

Laughs, tears, heartache and love. I am not normally a huge fan of YA, I feel authors write the characters with years worth of experience but don’t match that to their personality or behaviours. Jennifer has yet again shown what an author she is, she’s able to make these characters young and innocent while world lived and aching with trauma they are desperately trying to overcome.

Couldn’t put the book down, my heart feels like it physically ached reading this book. Loved it.

5⭐️ 0.5🌶️

I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of this book, however, this is an honest personal view of this book.
Thank you NetGalley #netgally #jenniferhartman

"Kissing you feels like catching the sun."

"The loss is permanent, but the darkness isn't."

"You became my unskipped stone. Forever out of reach."

"Being alive is a privilege, sure, but it's basic biology. Existing is the automatic rhythm of breathing in and out. But when your lungs breathe rapture, and your heart pumps with passion, and you find yourself fully present in every precious moment? That's where you find life's true rhythm. And living, I've learned, is a priceless gift."

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a new beginning. The end is where we start from." - Little Gidding by T.S. Eliot

Jennifer really knows how to pull at my heartstrings. This had the perfect amount of angst, twists and turns, beautiful moments that had me rooting for these two & their relationship together.

Okay. This book WRECKED my heart and so beautifully put it back together, the emotions I felt on EVERY. PAGE were just so intense....i was a sobbing mess for almost all of this book but in the best way possible definitely a must read

This book took my emotions for quite the rollercoaster ride. There was tragedy, a lot of drama, but then also a a little bit of hope?! The character arcs of Ella and Max were phenomenally written, their interactions with each other and the rest of the world were realistic and relatable (aside from the major twist!) I yearned for them to have a happily ever after-my interest in the plot never waned. This was my first book by this author and it won’t be the last.

Catch the Sun is a sweet, emotional, & unforgettable read! I was hooked & crying from the beginning. Max & Ella are beyond soulmates. Max is the sweetest, most thoughtful, most patient book bf there ever was! He is perfection! Ella has her flaws, just like all of us, but her loyalty knows no bounds, I would love to have her as my bestie. I had such a rollercoaster of emotions reading this, joy, sadness, anxiety, happiness! At one point I had to take a moment to compose myself & not bawl & in another I squealed from delight.
This book belongs in a prominent place on my bookshelf along with all my other “Greats”!

What the actual heck did I just read. Just when you think their happily ever after is right there all hell breaks loose in both of their lives and had me gasping.

A truly devastatingly beautiful story. Jennifer has a habit of creating those so grab your tissues.
I could NOT put this book down. There were twists and turns I never expected, and it got worse (emotionally speaking, lots of crying) before it got better.
Childhood best friends to lovers found their way through a string of tragedies. This is a story that will stick with me for quite some time. It ended so beautifully, but man it was heartbreaking to read.
"Young love."
"The purest fucking kind."
I will be recommending to anyone who will listen.

Don’t let the rating fool you. I enjoyed it! Again it might’ve taken me months to read but I really had a great time. First of all Max…he was in my eyes too perfect. I mean he fell in love with her as a child and never let go. He remembers her hopes and dreams like it’s nothing. Might he be a little over the top? Yes. Obsessed even? Sure. Did I still love him? Absolutely. The only thing that was meh was Jonah but I see how he and McKay nearly ruined things (is that a spoiler?). It had the right amount of spice which some complained about. It was great for me lol not really into spicy books. Anyway I recommend it

Catch The Sun*is an absolute masterpiece that left me emotionally shattered and profoundly moved in the best possible way. Jennifer Hartmann has created a story that is both devastating and beautiful, a delicate balance of grief, healing, and love that will stay with me forever. From the very first page, I was captivated by the depth of emotion and rawness of Ella and Max’s journey, and I couldn’t put the book down.

Ella Sunbury and Max Manning are the kind of characters you become deeply attached to. Their bond, formed as children, is poignant and unforgettable, and watching them reconnect after a decade apart is nothing short of magical. But Catch The Sun isn’t just about the rekindling of their friendship—it's about navigating the darkness and tragedy that both of them have endured over the years. Ella carries the weight of her brother’s crimes and the judgment of a town that has cast her aside, while Max struggles with his own family’s trauma. Despite all of this, Max is the embodiment of kindness and patience, and watching him carefully break down Ella’s walls was such a rewarding experience.

One of the most beautiful aspects of this book is the way Max supports Ella, respecting her boundaries and showing her the healing power of love without pushing her. Their slow-burn romance is full of tender moments and deep emotional connection. Max’s thoughtful gestures, like the lists he creates for Ella to help her navigate her emotions, are just the sweetest touches that truly highlight how much he cares for her. I loved every little detail like that—they just added layers of heart to the story.

The pain and heartbreak in this novel are incredibly real. Ella’s struggle to reconcile her love for her brother with the undeniable evidence of his guilt is heart-wrenching, and the emotional rollercoaster Hartmann takes you on feels so raw. The book is not without its intense, gut-wrenching moments, and my heart ached for these characters over and over again. But it’s also a story of growth—both Ella and Max’s character development is remarkable. They each face their demons, and together, they learn how to heal, forgive, and ultimately find each other in the light.

The writing is so powerful and beautiful, with each page layered with emotion. I found myself crying, laughing, and feeling deeply invested in their journey from start to finish. The story doesn’t shy away from the tough stuff, but it also gives you hope, love, and redemption, which is what makes it so special.

In short, Catch The Sun is one of the most beautiful YA contemporary romances I’ve ever read. Jennifer Hartmann’s ability to blend heartbreak with hope, and grief with healing, is unmatched. I will treasure this book in my heart forever. Thank you an incredible read.

Fantastic YA romance with all the feels.
I am a huge fan of this author's work so reading this was pure delight! Coming of age books just hit different.

This was unfortunately a DNF for me. I made it to chapter 15 and I found myself skimming through the dialogue uninterested. I hope to try another book by this author but this one was a miss for me.

Jennifer Hartmann truly has a gift to pull on your heart strings! This was such a beautiful story and I loved it. The characters make you want to hold their hands and make sure they’re okay.

2 Catch the Snore Stars
How is this book 450 pages but it felt like 1000? There is so much dead space in this.
The book starts off with 5 stars from me. Its a unique start, emotionally charged adn life altering.
and then NOTHING happens
and then we have rekindled a lost love
then NOTHING happens
Then something CRAZY Happens and I am hoping it redeems the book
and then NOTHING happens
and then a STUPID thing happens
and then I threw my kindle.

also this is very high school aged *in terms of character ages* and would have done better if the narrators were younger as well .. I didnt reduce stars for this but its just a thought I had.