Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a gripping, emotional journey that blends second-chance romance with an intense post-apocalyptic adventure. With themes of childhood friendship, first love, grief, death of a loved one, slow-burn romance, and a bodyguard-pop star dynamic with dual POV.

Tuck is a self-destructive character who has been broken by the loss of his mother and the collapse of everything he once knew. He is an ex con who is not the same boy Emily once knew and loved. They lost touch over the years and finds himself working for her after he gets out of prison. His journey is one of survival and protectiveness over Emily. He is reactive and often closed off, yet always willing to put others' needs above his own. He is the hero and is so selfless that he seems to choose doing the right thing over his love for her. He just can’t forgive himself for what landed him in prison. His deep connection with Emily, though strained, is something you feel building beneath the surface. I couldn’t wait for Emily’s boyfriend to get out of the picture. So they could confront their feelings for each other that obviously never went away. It was a little too slow burn for me waiting for them to work through their issues and for Emily to break down those walls he put up.

“Do you think there’s such a thing as creating a moment that rights everything that’s gone so horribly wrong? If one moment can ruin everything, maybe one moment can fix it too.”

I couldn’t help but wish there was more romance between the two. After some intense thrilling chapters at the end, the story wraps up a little too quickly, leaving me yearning for a bit more between Tuck and Emily. I think this story would be perfect as a movie.

I initially read this book, and then I listened to the audiobook so I could compare the two. I think both were equally amazing and truly tugged at my heart. Tuck had so many layers and depths to his character, I loved him. It was intriguing to see about Emily/Nova. Seeing her true self and the difference of her and "Nova." I'm all for celebrity/famous characters, so it was intriguing to see both aspects of that character. I was shocked by the turn of events and the twists along the story. I absolutely loved it, though. The author has a magical way with words that make you feel like you're there, experiencing it along the characters. The narrators in the audiobook truly did these characters' justice. I felt the depth of Nova more in the audiobook than I did reading from the book. I think the narrators were amazing at providing that depth for the characters but also portraying the emotions of those characters. I loved both the ebook and audiobook so much!!

I received the ebook from NetGalley and Canary Street Press. I also received the audiobook from Harlequin Audio. Both formats were given to me to read/listen and review. All of the statements above are my true opinions after fully reading this book and listening to the audiobook.

THIS STORY!!!!! Was totally different from what Mia Sheridan is used to writing and I’m all here for it. We go into a childhood friendship and as time goes by they drift away and once adults they find there way back but in a tragic whereabouts that have them questioning there sanity and wellbeing. When the world is ending and people show there true colors, it’s what really matters to them is that they never got over each other. They are willing to protect and stand by each other till the end.

Thanks to Mia, the publisher, and NetGalley for providing both an ARC and ALC of this novel.

I was very intrigued by the premise of this book. However, I really struggled to get into it. It says it is a romance (Mia’s typical genre) but it just felt much more dystopian/sci-fi than romance. I applaud Mia for trying something new and I definitely think there’s an audience for this book, I just don’t think it’s me.

I was hooked, at first I was a bit hesitant because of the dystopian vibe the summary gave off, but it was so good. Obviously Mia Sheridan does not disappoint, the characters go through an obstacle of challenges and emotions that captured my heart. The romance was a second chance very slow burn because she had a boyfriend and realizes during this traumatic event that he’s not a great guy. As soon as he leaves the romance between Tuck and Emily begins to heat up.

I've been a big fan of Mia Sheridan for awhile and was excited to read her newest!

It was definitely a detour from the normal romance genre, hanging loosely on the cliff of sci fi with a bit of futuristic craziness mixed in. I've got to admit, this book had me thinking about what the world would look like if everything turned into the Earth's version of the Upside Down (Stranger Things for those that don't know).

I'm giving this a solid three stars. It was a good read but took me a bit to get into it. There were some parts that I felt dragged a bit and I put the book down a few more times that I normally would but I am glad I stuck with it. Honestly, sometimes it is a good thing to step out of your reading comfort zone.

Thank you to Net Galley and Mia Sheridan for the advanced copy.

I really tried to get into this book, but I just couldn’t.
I would categorize it as dystopian rather than a romance.
The beginning was interesting, but then the pace became so slow, I quickly lost interest. I was disappointed because I have really enjoyed other books by Mia Sheridan.

Thanks to netgalley for this eArc for my honest review.

mia did it again! i found mia after archer’s voice and have been obsessed since. i went into this book blind and it was so well written and made me feel all the feelings!!

I was absolutely blown away by Heart of the Sun—it's unlike any romance I’ve read before! The dystopian backdrop was a perfect setting for this emotional rollercoaster. The book follows Emily and Tuck, childhood friends who almost became lovers, but life and circumstances tore them apart. The way the author weaves together their past and present is done so beautifully, with alternating timelines that slowly reveal the deep history and feelings they share.

The relationship between Emily and Tuck is truly compelling. It’s a slow-burn romance that is perfectly paired with the dystopian world they’re navigating. There’s a palpable tension between them, especially as they reconnect as adults, and I found myself rooting for their second chance every step of the way. The emotional depth in their characters was stunning, and I loved watching their relationship evolve.

However, while I thoroughly enjoyed the story, there were moments where the pacing felt a bit uneven. The constant shift between timelines made the beginning a bit hard to follow at times, though once I adjusted, I was hooked. I also felt that Emily’s character could have been developed a bit more, as there were moments when her actions seemed a little inconsistent.

Overall, Heart of the Sun is an unforgettable read that combines romance, nostalgia, and the thrilling elements of a dystopian world. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a deep, slow-burn romance set in a beautifully crafted world. If you’re a fan of second-chance love stories and dystopian fiction, this book is definitely worth picking up.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this in exchange for an honest review!

I’ve read a few Mia Sheridan books, but this one just didn’t do it for me. Definitely a very different, unique plot for a romance book. Makes you think about the world in a different light and how the world would go on should something like this happen. This was more of a plot for a movie rather than a book, and I think it would be better as a movie.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I was very interested in this book because of the premise. A second chance romance, but with a dystopian twist? Sign me up!

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one the way I thought I would. I was lucky enough to receive the audiobook and eBook, so I switched between both for this book. The book had a lot of potential but unfortunately was not one of my favorites. I found the main characters a bit frustrating, I was loving the beginning of this book, but after getting to the middle I found myself finding the story repetitive. While this one wasn't my favorite, I can see how others may love it! 2.5 stars

I first came across Mia Sheridan's work when I was still in school. I really enjoyed her book Archer's Voice. So, when I saw this book on NetGalley, I decided to apply for it without hesitation.

Tropes:
• Enemies to Lovers
• Childhood Best Friends
• Slow Burn Romance
• Second Chances
• Popstar + Bodyguard
• New Adult Dystopian fiction

This book tells the story of childhood friends who were separated by circumstances and reunited years later to help each other. Emily is a famous singer in need of protection, while Tak is a former convict in need of a job. As the world begins to crumble, they must work together to survive.

I appreciated the theme of second chances, and it's not about love but about a new life for a former convict. The doubts about this were well conveyed in the book. However, I felt that in this story, second chances should be earned by all characters, not just the MMC. The FMC's behavior really annoyed me, and I couldn't quite grow fond of her. The plot had a bit too much going on, but I think it could work well as a book adaptation.

Fans of The Last of Us might enjoy this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this ARC because I’ve read a couple of Mia Sheridan books but I just did not really enjoy this one. It starts off slow which I didn’t mind because it does end up picking up. I didn’t feel the romance between the FMC and the MMC. I honestly felt like the book was a bit too long. The story as a whole is great but I just don’t think it was executed well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read this arc.

I am a Mia Sheridan girly. She is a must read for me.

This book, was just not it for me. It felt very different from her other books, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing in general but I was looking forward to a bit of a romance and there wasn’t much of it. I found the post apocalyptic aspect to be intriguing but got bored of it quickly. The FMC was also awful. I did not enjoy her character and anytime she was on the page- cringe.

3.5 for me but rounding up to 4 for the review.

Heart of the Sun had such an interesting premise as dystopian contemporary romance is not a prominent genre/trope. This book follows childhood friends who meet again as grown ups except their lives split off in completely different directions - one went to prison and is looking for a job to stay out and another is a mega famous pop star. Combine this with an apocalypse and watch the two slowly fall into love with one another.

I really wish I liked this but unfortunately this book was not for me. Although this was marketed as a romance… it felt more like a dystopian novel with a sub plot of romance. The characters especially the main girl and her boyfriend were so insufferable and made it hard to like “Nova” Emily to really want to see her fall in love with Tuck. Especially as she’s does so with her boyfriend still kinda in the picture…

Though we get to see past/present timelines of the two characters, I don’t feel as though they were rounded out enough. Tuck was a likable male character but Emily and her popstar ways was so shallow to me that it was a hard read experiencing them go through the middle of the book where they navigate trying to go back home.

I was incredibly surprised and excited when I was approved to receive an eARC of Mia Sheridan's Heart of the Sun novel.

This story had me so invested that I could not put it down. I took my Kindle everywhere for the couple of days it took to finish it. I read late into the night and early morning. It's that good!

Heart of the Sun is a post-apocalyptic -romance story of childhood best friends, Tuck and Emily, who were separated eleven years ago. Now, as adults, she's a rising pop star, and he's an ex felon who she has hired as her bodyguard.

Mia's breathtakingly beautiful words set the scene and take you on this thrilling and exciting albeit scary ride. When their plane crash lands and they're thrown into this new dystopian world, they must traverse the land not only physically to get back home, but their emotions and old feelings that come creeping back as well.

This love story is both heartbreaking and beautiful and unlike any romance novel I've ever read before.

I highly recommend this book.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

I was so excited to see another Mia Sheridan book, and knew that I wanted to read it, after loving some of her other books such as Archer's Voice. However, I was not expecting for her to go into a different direction with her love story.

She delivers yet another compelling story with Heart of the Sun, blending a unique survival-driven dystopian world with a slow-burning, deeply emotional second-chance romance. The world-building is immersive, pulling readers into a harsh yet fascinating setting where resilience and hope intertwine. I liked it more than I thought I would once I got my head around the concept.

The romance unfolds at a gradual, almost poetic pace, allowing the connection between the characters to feel authentic and deeply rooted in trust and survival. The emotional depth is signature Sheridan—raw and heartfelt. While the pacing in certain areas felt a bit drawn out, the end result was worth it, making the love story all the more powerful.

Overall, this book is a captivating mix of survival, suspense, and passion. If you're a fan of slow-burn romance set against a dystopian backdrop, Heart of the Sun is definitely worth the read! I read and listened at the same time and appreciated the narrators and dual narration.

I was fortunate enough to receive an early copy from Harlequin Audio, Harlequin Trade Publishing, Canary Street Press, and NetGalley.

This is an epic love story mixed in with a thriller! Tuck and Emily grew up on neighboring orange groves. Life happened and they went their separate ways, but never forgot each other. When Tuck is released from prison and is struggling to find his way, he contacts Emily’s parents hoping to secure a job. That’s exactly what he gets, but not working the orange grove. Emily is a rising pop star who is coming to need security services. She reluctantly agrees to Tuck joining her team. What follows is utter chaos. I’m not usually into end of the world type scenarios, but this one took on a life of its own. When traveling for preparations for Emily’s upcoming tour, the jet that Emily, her boyfriend, and Tuck are on crashes. If that’s not harrowing enough, they come to realize the crash was caused by a large event that pulverized the grid. The three of them are left with finding a way to survive. The love that grows between Tuck and Emily as they navigate what has become reality is truly heartwarming. Their story is tragic, but gives one hope that even in the worst of times, love will see us through.

I unfortunately hated Emily. I kept waiting to change my mind but I couldn’t. The beginning focused on the back story and I felt like it was dragging on. I had to force myself to read it. I was so excited to read a Mia Sheridan arc, but I was so disappointed.. The premise was right up my alley. Post apocalyptic, childhood friends, enemies to lovers. I should have eaten this up. I didn’t feel like there was a real focus on the romance aspect, that may have been me because I had already written Emily off.
The whole thing felt.. wattpad-y.


a r c r e v i e w

When I saw Mia had a new book coming out, I was SO excited. I am a Mia stan and will read everything she writes. I had such high hopes going into this one and was quickly drawn in to the story. Where the story lost me is definitely my own fault. I went into this book blind (all I needed to know was that it was written by MIa), so things started to go downhill for me when we got to the post-apocalyptic stuff.

I was loving the small town, troubled guy with a past and the small town turned big star girl and couldn't put it down. Then it took a turn and it lost me. When I realized what was going on, I went back and read the synopsis and was like "oh, that makes sense." It was also here that I started to dislike Emily. I think I had built this picture of a free spirited girl who is an amazing, soulful singer in the background chapters, so it was hard to reconcile that with the high maintenance pop star she became. Don't get me wrong, I understand they all suffered trauma surrounding the plane crash and witnessing the remains of the area in which they crashed, but her and Charlie were a bit insufferable and it made it hard to get through this section and continue to read the story. By the time things began to change between Tuck and Emily, I just didn't feel at all invested in their story.

When the audio became available for this, I switched back and forth between physically reading it and listening. I loved the duet narration for the audio! Overall, I didn't connect with this story as much as I have with Mia's other books. I'm not sure if she was trying to go a different route with this one, but it just didn't feel that it had her signature stamp to it.