I went into Heart of the Sun expecting something completely different and was pleasantly surprised about 10-15% in. If I could give this book 10 stars I would. As a diehard fan of The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, I love a good survival story. I also crave romance in those stories and a good slow burn, enemies to lovers with forced proximity. This book delivered on all fronts.

At first, the story unfolds like a classic second-chance romance, with childhood best friends turned estranged borderline enemies, but once the world goes dark, the stakes skyrocket. If the beginning feels a little slow, keep reading—the plot thickens fast. Mia Sheridan weaves together emotional depth, heart-pounding suspense, and sizzling tension between Tuck and Emily. Their dynamic is fiery and complicated, making their journey all the more satisfying.

This was my first Mia Sheridan read, and it definitely won’t be my last! If you love intense, high-stakes romance with a “post-apocalyptic” twist, Heart of the Sun is a must-read.

Before I dive into my review, I'd like to disclose that I tend to gravitate toward romance and fantasy ready and rarely or never read apocalyptic and/or dystopian themed books. This was also my first Mia Sheridan read (but definitely won't be the last)!

With that being said, Heart of the Sun was absolutely PHENOMENAL to me! I really could not understand the mixed reviews I read for this book. Did I can understand that I had the advantage of not reading any Mia Sheridan books prior therefore I really did not have any expectations based on prior reads. But did we read the same book?! Because I was blown away! To those who had a challenging time connecting to the story line I say, listen to the audiobook! The narrators did a fabulous job in bringing the story to life! You can feel all the emotions as they navigate the disastrous event they are living in. And to those who could not see past the theme to see the romance, I say view it from the lens of fate, tragedy, and, first loves whose lives separate them when they are destined to be together.

This book is not your typical celebrity/bodyguard romance. There is so much depth in the love between Tuck and Emily. I enjoyed the glimpses I got from their childhood and how they loved each other as kids do. He picking on her and making it seem he disliked her when he couldn't stop thinking of her and she clinging to any attention he would give her loving him just as much back. But neither of them ever told each other. Life's tragedies took their lives in different directions until destiny brings them back. It took navigating an apocalyptic event to get to know each other and themselves again and understand that they are worthy of each other and willing to fight for the love and life they know and deserve.

Thank you to Negalley and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to read Heart of the Sun Audio ARC by Mia Sheridan, Pub Date 05/20/25.

3.5⭐️
I requested this arc solely because of the author. I've loved her books in the past and I'm always a sucker for a second chance romance, dystopian/post-apocalyptic fiction... not so much!
Mia Sheridan's storytelling will never be questioned though- her books are always compelling and captivating. This book, however, wasn't at all what I expected- the storyline was intriguing, but I just never felt a connection to the characters despite tons of backstory and development. Definitely not my favorite MS book, but if you love a slow-burn, second chance romance that really isn't a romance and scares the crap out of you because you see what humans could be capable of if desperate enough- you’ll love this one!

Also- the audiobook was a great way to consume this one! The narrators did a good job bringing the story to life!

Anyone going into this book expecting something similar to Archer’s Voice will likely be surprised to find Mia Sheridan wrote an entirely different kind of story. This is a childhood friends-to-lovers dystopian survival novel that does not have the soul crushing impact of Archer’s Voice.

HEART OF THE SUN starts off strong. There’s an interesting storyline developing between Emily and Tuck whose lives have gone in different directions since their childhood days on their respective family farms. Sheridan does an excellent job telling their backstory and alluding to feelings simmering below the surface. Then the sun blinks and all hell breaks loose. Literally.

I found myself actually more interested in the survival aspect of this book. The world building is well done and the slow realization that everything has changed is interesting. My quibble is that it felt a bit drawn out and slightly repetitive and ultimately led to an ending that seemed rushed.

This is a good book; a solid book. It’s just not the “live in my heart” forever kind of book. The narration was well done and kept me interested through the slower parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I just finished Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan, and I am absolutely blown away! This was my first time reading one of her books, and I can already tell she’s going to be a new favorite author of mine. The story was powerful and emotional, with complex characters that felt so real and raw. The romance was beautifully written—tender, passionate, and full of depth. I was hooked from the very first page.

Sheridan’s writing is gorgeous and immersive, drawing you into the characters' world and making you feel every emotion they experience. The themes of healing and personal growth were so moving, and I found myself thinking about the story long after I finished reading it.

I’m already excited to dive into more of her work. If you haven’t read anything by Mia Sheridan yet, Heart of the Sun is the perfect place to start!

Wow wow wow! I can’t stop thinking about this book! I couldn’t put it down once I started. This is definitely the best book I’ve read all year. I loved the characters and the storyline. Everything about this book was amazing. I have nothing negative to say only positive things. The narration was good and the ending was just incredible.

I was excited for this one but was super disappointed that it left me feeling bored and disinterested about 1/3 of the way through. I ultimately stopped at 57% but am officially deciding to throw in the towel.

I was genuinely curious at the start and invested in the possibility of a friendship-turned-love-interest, but the plot quickly lost me. I'm not into dystopian reads so if that's your jam, maybe this one will work. I saw it described as a 'slow burn' but I thought it was just slow.

Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing & Harlequin Audio for the ALC!
#harlequintradepublishing #harlequinaudio #netgalley #heartofthesun #ARC

Thank you to Mia Sheridan, Harlequin Audio, and NetGalley for an ALC of Heart of the Sun!

This book wasn't for me. I thought the narrators did a great job, but found the love story between Tuck and Emily lackluster and many of the plot points unbelievable for an "end of the world" book. I love a good cheesy romance novel, but the writing in this book took it about one step too far for me. There were too many moments of reflection, contemplation, and coincidence. I found myself struggling to get through it even though I was interested at the beginning.

Though it wasn't for me, it might be a good read for someone else. Personally, I give it 2 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin Audio for the eARC and ALC of Heart of Sun.

While the book had an intriguing premise blending sci-fi, adventure, and romance, it ultimately didn’t meet my expectations. Sheridan’s world-building is strong, with a vast yet personal universe full of mystery, and the plot starts off promising, but it eventually feels drawn out and repetitive.

The story is marketed as a romance, but the relationship between Nova and Charlie didn’t feel like a love story for most of the book—they seemed to despise each other.

Additionally, Charlie’s character felt underdeveloped and unclear.

The audiobook narration for Tuck also didn’t fit the character well, which detracted from the experience.

Despite its potential, Heart of Sun fell flat for me, and while others might appreciate the mix of genres, it just didn’t resonate with me. I’m giving it 3 stars—there were elements I enjoyed, but it wasn’t quite what I was expecting.

(I debated between 3.5 and 4 stars, but eventually decided on 4)

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and Harlequin audio for the eARC/ALC!

I read about a quarter of this on ebook, then switched to the audiobook for the rest. I really enjoyed the audiobook and the story! I feel like the narrators did a great job portraying the tragedy and emotions of the characters.

At first, it did take me a while to warm up to the book. I didn’t feel attached to any of the characters, and Nova/Emily was irritating me. Then, I got to the dystopian/survivor part of the story, and I was hooked. The romance was a bit bland, but I honestly cared more about the survival aspect of the book. I was so eager to know what would happen next that I read the last 75% of the book within two days, when it had taken me wayyyy longer for the first 25%.

I really started to warm up to Emily about halfway through the book, and I feel like her character was very well-rounded towards the end. All in all, if you’re debating on physical/ebook vs. audio, I’d recommend the audio! It adds so much more depth to the characters and the story, and I think that’s what made me land on 4 stars over 3.5.

Mia Sheridan put something in this book, and I couldn't stop listening! It was SO GOOD that I told everyone I know they need to read it as soon as it's available! I can't wait to have the sprayed edge version on my shelf!

Thank you NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, and Harlequin audio for providing me with this arc in exchange for my honest review.

Mia Sheridan’s Heart of Sun is unlike anything I’ve ever read. Blending a captivating mix of adventure, sci-fi, and romance, it offers a fresh, exciting experience that pulls you in from the first page and never lets go.

The story is set in a world where the lines between technology, human emotion, and the unknown stretch far beyond what we think we know. Sheridan’s world-building is exceptional. She creates a universe that feels both vast and intimate, with an underlying sense of mystery that keeps you turning the pages. The plot itself is a thrilling ride, packed with twists and turns that keep the reader on edge. As the characters journey through their perilous adventures, they discover not only the true depth of their world but also the complexities of their own emotions and connections.

At its core, Heart of Sun is a story about love—how it transcends time and space, how it defies all odds. But it’s not a typical romance. It’s raw, intense, and layered with the perfect balance of wonder and heartfelt emotion. Sheridan’s characters are well-crafted and multi-dimensional, their relationships evolving in ways that feel both surprising and inevitable. The romance is powerful but never overpowers the narrative, instead weaving seamlessly into the larger adventure and sci-fi elements.

Ok I went into this book blind and was absolutely shocked by the plot—- but pleasantly so. I saw the cover and was like oh this looks like a cute contemporary romance and instead got a bodyguard/celebrity trope in an apocalyptic setting. Like taking one of my favorite romance tropes, and dropping it right into The Stand. Again— not disappointed.
When I saw the direction this was going in I was even more intrigued. I think the scariest part of this book is how realistic it was. If a solar flare did hit, and sent an EMP wave and we suddenly didn’t have any power, I think society would really devolve that quickly. It’s different here in the South, when we lose our electricity because of hurricanes for weeks. We know it’s coming back.
In this situation, no one knows what happened— there’s no electricity, radio, etc to tell anyone what happened. Suddenly, you’re forced to fend for yourself and modern society was just not built for that.
As an ex-con (but for good reason), Tuck finally feels like he can prove his worth by keeping Emily alive. Meanwhile, Emily finds herself tapping back into her farmgirl roots before her rise to stardom.
I think this is a great read for those who love romance, but also like dystopian. It’s the best of both worlds.

Thank you Harlequin Audio for the ALC!

This is a second chance romance with a twist. It was so addicting and very enjoyable. I highly recommend the audio version of this book. This author is sensational.

This story was absolutely riveting!! Once again, Mia Sheridan created characters so intriguing with such depth that I was instantly and completely invested in their journeys. This story really begs the question of value — what do you value, and what value would you have as a person when all worldly things are stripped away? It really got me thinking if I would be able to survive in a situation like this (and it got me inventorying my doomsday supplies). Add in the slow burn romance with all the angst? Incredible. Loved every second of it. And the audiobook narration was top notch. I really enjoyed hearing the narrators bring the characters to life. Will be recommending this one!

I....have no words. I'm not sure what I expected from this book, but this wasn't it. The first couple of chapters held a lot of promise, but then.....this just was not it. The plot fell very flat and drawn out, and most definitely should not be marketed as a love story. I mean, they truly despised each other for most of it. And the fact that "Nova" was so blind to Charlie's real personality super annoyed me. Also..like..what happened to Charlie? Maybe if this book had been marketed as something different, and I expected something different than a full blown romance going into this, then I could see a higher rating. I do feel like there was a lot of potential, but it just was not for me. The narrator for Tuck just wasn't fitting either.

Another spellbinding love story from Mia Sheridan. Fans of the dystopian trend of the mid 2000s will love this story! Emily and Tuck are childhood best friends separated by loss and poor life choices, until live changes and Tuck is hired to be Emily’s body guard. On a plane ride across the country the pair crash and are thrust into a world neither recognizes after a solar flare hits earth. A story of survival, humanity and most of all love. I absolutely adored this story, it pulled at my heartstrings and made my cry in only a way Sheridan can!

Not going to lie--this would've been five stars if it had given me more of a look into the future and also what caused the "flare". Otherwise, it was perfect and almost had me prepping a go bag.

4.75 ⭐️
.5 🌶️

The plotline for this book was an absolute 10/10 like???? I didn't realize how much I needed a dystopian/post apocalyptic romance until I started this

The slow burn between these two??? This was absolute *chefs kiss* and I adored this story, especially Emily & Tuck from start to finish.

Now the narrators???? They were both new to me narrators and I'm an instant fan of these two and the way they brought the story to life. I really enjoyed Tuck the most and the emotion he brought forth with his parts.

Thank you again Harlequin Audio for the alc *all thoughts are my own*

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for the copy of this book.

I couldn’t wait to read/listen to this story! Mia Sheridan is a must read author and this book was so different than the others yet it has the love that Sheridan puts into each and every book.

Emily and Tuck knew each other a long time ago. Emily went onto be a star and Tuck, well he chose some wrong decisions in his life. But now Tuck, is Emily’s bodyguard. And then the unthinkable happens…the world goes dark. And everything changes. This was so entertaining, the narrators do well by keeping you glued to your headphones so you know what happens next. And through all the twists and turns these two find a love in this different world. Very enjoyable listen.