I have read a few of Mia Sheridan’s books and enjoyed them, but this book was not it for me. I did not like the characters or the plot and the book seemed pointless. I unfortunately would not recommend this book to friends.

Thank you to the publisher and author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m not really sure how I feel about this one. Heart of the Sun follows Emily and Tuck. They’ve grown up together on their families respective farms. Tuck was always studious with his head in a book, Emily always singing and humming a tune. The death of Tuck’s mom and the sale of his family farm sets the two off on very different trajectories. Tuck ends up jail and serving a six year sentence, while Emily becomes a pop superstar star.

The story kicks off with Tuck getting out of jail and needing a job. Emily ends up giving Tuck a job as her security. On a flight to a show, a solar flare hits earth and basically shuts down all electronics. The story ends up feeling like some zombie apocalypse type story. It seemed like it went on for longer than it needed to. The ugliness of humanity when times are desperate was really reflected in this apocalyptic story, which makes the tiny moments of kindness shine brighter.

All in all, this one was just okay. Not one I would read again myself.

Two childhood friends, Emily and Tuck, are ripped apart by the circumstances of life and reunite after many years for a second chance at connecting. Emily is a rising popstar in need a security guards and Tuck is an ex-con in search for a new start, so she agrees to hire him as her new bodyguard. When a major catastrophe happens that wipes out the country’s electric grid, they find themselves in the middle of nowhere many miles from home and it quickly morphs into a story of survival and redefining a person’s worth in present day society by the skills they hold. I really enjoyed this book and had trouble putting it down. I think the largest downfall is that this book is labelled ‘a love story’ when really it is more of a present-day dystopian novel with a side of romance. Because of the label, I was anticipating more romance but thankfully I love dystopian stories so was incredibly invested in the events that take place and what would happen next. This book does have a romantic storyline but it is minor, especially compared to some of Mia Sheridan’s other books. I liked Tuck’s character from the very beginning but did not love Emily at first as she came off very superficial and materialistic, but she became more authentic and grew on me by the end. I would highly recommend it as it was a very enjoyable read for me! I listened to the audiobook and the narrators for Tuck and Emily are both excellent so it was an easy and engaging listen. Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, Harlequin Trade Press, and Harlequin Audio for the gifted ALC in an exchange for an honest review.

Heart of the Sun had a very interesting and original storyline, which kept me engaged throughout. While I appreciated the uniqueness of the plot, I’m not sure I fully believed it, which made it a bit harder to connect with.

Thank you to HTP for this arc! I think it’s perfect for younger readers. The vibe skewed more YA. If you like intrigue and tension with characters reuniting and evolving their relationship within every changing if sometimes dire straights, this may be for you,

Mia Sheridan writes beautiful expressive prose and always brings up strong emotions. Wow. The audio narration is very engaging and easy to listen to, I loved the performance.

Thank you for the preview arc.

Tropes:
🩷childhood friends
🖤slow burn
🩷pop star x bodyguard
🖤enemies to lovers
🩷dystopian
🖤dual pov

This is not my first book by Mia and it won't be my last. If you are looking for a typical romance story Mia, is not known for that so it's not what you will read. This is a story full of interesting scenarios, suspense, tension, and conflict.

The story begins by showing us a bit of both Tuck and Emily, two best friends growing up in California, in the farmhouse area.

Fast forward 10 years.

Tuck is had recently got out of prison and Emily has become a famous singer, known by stage name, Nova, and is getting ready for a big tour. Tuck can't catch a break in life, has no relationship with his dad, and his only family is his uncle. Emily has changed. She's more into appearances and is very self centered.

When Tuck visits Emily's parents, Emilys mom sees his struggles. She tells him that Emily is looking for a bodyguard for her tour and what happens next is everything.

When something happens, catastrophic event, and their plane goes down they have to fight for survival, as life as they knew it has ceased to exist.

The romance element between Tuck and Emily is a slow burn. It unfolds within the storyline seamlessly

The narrators for this audiobook truly did an amazing job voicing their characters. I really could feel more connected, to the story compared to when I was reading the book. They really carried the emotion of their characters.

Overall, Heart of the Sun is a novel that seamlessly combines dystopian, with a slow burn romance.
Like most of Mia's works the ability to tell a good story is top notch. If you're looking for a romance book with all the lovey dovey this is not it...BUT if you love interwoven moments of romance with great story telling along with something different this might be your jam.

Don't let this beautiful, and dreamy cover fool you into thinking this is a silly little romance - this was an amazing, dystopian, second chance, slow burn romance.

-Second chance
-Dual POV
-Rockstar x Ex Felon
-Apocalyptic & Post Apocalyptic

This was so different from what I have read from Mia Sheridan so far, but I was here for it! Tuck & Emily have to traverse a new world after out of no where all power is gone and the world is dark.

This story was mysterious, adventurous, I was swooning and I was also upset and annoyed at times with the characters - but by the end of it, I was completely in love!

(4.25 stars)
Heart of The Sun was my first Mia Sheridan book and I am now looking forward to checking out her earlier books. Heart of The Sun is a mix of genres: a dystopian second-chance romance and road trip. Maybe you’re thinking, “What??” I don’t blame you!

The book starts off with a vivid description of a small plane crash (not ideal, as I was reading/listening to this on a flight!!) as all systems suddenly become non responsive. It turns out that there was a major solar flare which took out virtually all electronic systems on earth.

We follow two main characters, Emily and Tuck (and a lot of side characters). They were childhood friends, having been raised on neighboring orange groves in California. Life took them in different directions and they haven’t seen each other in a long time. Emily is a pop star, while Tuck has been in prison (we eventually find out why) and has struggled to find employment. Emily hires Tuck as a bodyguard, which is why they are on the plane together, along with Emily’s current boyfriend, Charlie, a well-known actor. I could tell right away that Charlie would be totally clueless in this crisis.

The book follows the trio’s efforts to survive amid the chaos. The descriptions of how people reacted to these new circumstances was pretty realistic, in my opinion. It made me question how I would react, and whether I’d have enough smarts and skills to survive such a disaster. One of the encounters that really struck me was a father, desperate to find formula or a nursing mother to feedhis infant. My heart broke to think of that family. And of course, there’s violence, as society has totally broken down. But as Mr. Rogers would point out: Look for the helpers.

There is great character development: Emily really matured over the course of the story, and Tuck came to realize his strengths.

I mostly listened to the audiobook version of Heart of The Sun and it was so well done. We get two narrators, André Santana and Annalee Scott, each of them voicing different chapters from either Tuck’s or Emily’s POV.

Thank you to Canary Street Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to Harlequin Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.

A dystopian romance, focused on survival and a second chance at love between childhood friends turned strangers after time a part. The plot kept me engaged trying to figure out what was going to happen next, which is always a win for me. I read along and listened to the audio for this one and the narrators captured the characters well. I’m a Mia fan so I was looking forward to this one, which is definitely different than others I’ve read of hers. I’m not really a dystopian romance girlie but overall I did enjoy this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eARC and 🎧 ARC.

Another hit from Mia!!

Heart of the Sun is a modern day setting up until a solar flare hits and sends the world into darkness. In this post-apocalyptic setting, Tuck and Emily are forced together trying to navigate this new, chaotic world. They navigate survival and and learn to priorize what’s really important.

The audiobook is a dual narration with each narrator performing on their point-of-view chapter. Both narrators were absolutely perfect for their roles and portrayed the characters wonderfully and with great emotion. I switched between the digital book and the audiobook, and found myself drawn to the audio performances. It was a wonderful listen!!!

I am a huge Mia fan, so there may be bias here - but I really enjoyed this story! It wasn’t the typical Mia love story, but it was impactful just the same. The storyline was unique, the characters were varied and showed impressive growth, and I was absolutely locked in for the duration of the book.

This is definitely a must read for fans of dystopian romance, high-stakes plot, and Mia lovers!

4.5 stars rounded up
I really enjoyed this audio a lot! Mia Sheridan’s stories are intense and emotional. There was always something big happening in this book. Lots to keep me on my toes.

The dystopian aspect kept my mind intrigued the entire time. Mia starts the book with a boom and I was hooked. Tuck and Emily’s story is a classic second chance romance…while the world is falling apart around them. I fell hard for Tuck and how amazing of a man he was.

The dual narration by André Santana and Annalee Scott was top notch!

Thank you NetGalley!

𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁:

So I went into this one blind and wow 😱 that took a wild turn! I’m not usually a fan of post catastrophic societies but this one was done so well, it showed both the dark and good side of society. What an amazing book full of character growth, resilience, compassion, love and humanity. I binged this book and I want it made into a movie!

𝐒𝐲𝐧𝐨𝐩𝐬𝐢𝐬:

Tuck and Emily grew up in California on neighboring orange farms, and their moms were best friends. But in hs Tucks mom developed cancer and his world started to fall apart. Shortly after her death his dad sold the farm and it began his spiral. He went to live with his uncle and ended up serving 6 years behind bars.

Now he’s out and he’s realizing there is no place in society for a felon, no one will hire him. So he returns to Emily’s parent’s farm in hopes they will show him some kindness and give him a job. But they are struggling and can’t help him, however they had Emily hook him up with a bodyguard job.

Emily always loved to sing from a young age and she was preparing to go on her first tour as the superstar Nova. They are headed to the east coast when their plane falls from the sky. Emily, her boyfriend and Tuck miraculously survive.

Unsure of what happened they start their journey home. But the world is no longer the same and they will soon learn they will need to fight to survive on the path from IL back to CA.

𝙁𝙖𝙫 𝙌𝙪𝙤𝙩𝙚:

Tuck: “I promised you I’d keep you safe, didn’t I?”

Emily: “Yeah, but even you can’t protect me from everything.”

Tuck: “Watch me.”

𝑳𝒊𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒓𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒅:

* Second Chance - Childhood Neighbors
* Pop Star x BodyGaurd
* Then & Now Timelines
* Six Years in Prison - Involuntary Manslaughter
* Solar Flares - Plane Crash in IL💥
* Post Disaster Survival - Grid Collapse
* Finding Way Home Through Obstacles
* Home “Citrus Row” in California
* Dual POV - Slow Burn w/ Mild Spice

☀️⚡️✈️💥 ☀️⚡️✈️💥 ☀️⚡️✈️💥⚡️☀️

Wow, I LOVE this book but this audio truly helped to put you into the setting. The narrators did an AMAZING job, the inflection in their voice and way they read the story just added so much meaning to the story.

Overall, loved the narrators and the style, but unfortunately the book just wasn't for me. Having switched between the ebook and audiobook, I definitely preferred the audiobook for this one.

Unfortunately, this ended up being a DNF for me at about halfway.

A huge thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing & Canary Street Press for the ALC.

Heart of the Sun is definitely one of Mia Sheridan’s most unique offerings—a second-chance romance set against a gritty, dystopian backdrop that’s both bold and unexpected. The blend of popstar glamour, bodyguard tension, and survival stakes makes for an intriguing setup, and the audiobook narrators did a fantastic job bringing these complex characters to life with the material they were given.

Tuck and Emily’s dynamic starts off with the kind of banter and emotional baggage fans of childhood-friends-to-enemies-to-lovers tropes love. The slow-burn tension is there, and their shared past adds weight to their reconnection. But while the bones of a strong romance are present, the chemistry didn’t quite land for me in the way I hoped. Their emotional beats felt more told than shown, and I wanted deeper, more visceral moments between them—especially in such a high-stakes setting.

The dystopian element, while creative, felt like it clashed with the tone at times. The world-building lacked grounding detail, and the shift from romance to survival felt a bit disjointed, making it harder to fully buy into either storyline. That said, I appreciated the risk Sheridan took in blending genres—it’s not something you often see in this space.

Overall, Heart of the Sun is an ambitious, genre-bending romance that will likely appeal to readers looking for something different. It didn’t fully hit the emotional highs for me, but it’s a compelling listen with strong narration and an original concept.

Thank you NetGalley and author/publisher for this ARC audiobook for an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded up!

This was a decent read! I was very intrigued by the premise and thought the characters and their development fit the plot well. My biggest hang up, though, is that this definitely wasn’t a romance. The core of the story was surviving this unexpected change in the world, leading to a dystopian landscape; the romance was a very VERY minimal sub plot.

Overall with the right expectations this would be a solid read.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for this ARC audiobook for an honest review.

This started off well with Emily and Tuck as childhood friends which is one of my favorite tropes. There is separation and circumstances that takes their lives in vastly different directions. Emily now a famous singer and Tuck an ex-con who is hired as her bodyguard. This is kind of a dystopian storyline of survival, mixed with a second chance romance. However, I never became fully invested in our couple. Emily has a (horrible) boyfriend for a lot of the book. Sadly, I just didn't feel a true connection, love story for the two.

I have enjoyed other Mia Sheridan books so I will still check those out!

2.5 stars

I really enjoyed this! The narrators were fantastic and they really played on the emotions they read. The book grabbed me right from the beginning and it held me! This was beautiful and full of ups and downs. I was in it whole heartedly!

Mia Sheridan is bringing back dystopian fiction with Heart of the Sun. It had fast-paced action, stressful survival scenarios, and an emotionally charged, sweet second chance romance. Tuck and Emily grew up on neighboring orange groves, but lost touch after Tuck’s family was struck by tragedy. He made some bad choices, but years later, is looking to get his life back on course. Emily has become a famous pop star, and at the urging of her mother, hires Tuck to be her bodyguard. While on a cross-country flight, the earth is struck by a solar flare, resulting in the collapse of society as they know it. Tuck adapts quickly to the new, brutal world and keeps Emily safe and alive as he fights to return her home. As they spend more time together, they get to know each other all over again and slowly fall in love as they learn to accept their new reality. I had a good time with it, especially the audiobook. André Santana and Annalee Scott did a great job voicing Emily and Tuck. They really brought the emotions and longing that these characters feel for each other to life and helped make this a compelling read.

Thank you to The Hive, Canary Street Press, Harlequin Trade Publishing, HTP Audio, Harper Collins, Mia Sheridan, and NetGalley for the ARC and ALC.

📔Heart of the Sun
✏️ Mia Sheridan
📆 May 20, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️

READ IF YOU LIKE:
🎤high stakes dystopian fiction
🎤bodyguard x pop-star
🎤childhood neighbors and friends
🎤second chance romance
🎤dual POV

✨ Arc Review ✨ Out 5/20 ✨

❓Predictive text: “ I survived a plane crash and ___________”
Mine- I survived a plane crash and now I’m not sure what I can say for the future of us!”

✨ In this dystopian love story we have Emily and Tuck. Childhood best friends with a strong seemingly unbreakabke bond…until life happened and shattered their perfect world.

13 years later… Emily, now Nova, is a world famous pop star with a famous top movie star boyfriend and Tuck is fresh out of jail and in need of a job stat. He goes to Emily’s parents for work, unfortunately for him they have nothing however, their daughter is in need of a bodyguard! Emily warily hires him on. They butt heads and bicker just like the old days. Their bond is still very much rekindling.
On the way to an event their plane crashes. Emily, her boyfriend, & Tuck survive & make the days long trek to civilization only to realize it wasn’t just a plane crash. There was a cataclysmic solar flare that disturbed the entire electric grid & plunged the whole world into darkness. They are stuck somewhere in Illinois and must make the long trip home to California.
It’s not easy as it’s every person for themselves and they encounter many thieves & people that want to cause them harm. Each encounter brings Tuck and Emily closer together. Will they find their way back to each other as they come to terms with all that they’ve lost?

✨Read if you love:

😘Enemies to lovers
🫶🏻Slow Burn
😘Second Chances
🫶🏻Dystopian fiction

✨My thoughts: This was nothing like what I thought it would be. I wasn’t sure I would like the dystopian vibe but it truly made the relationship with Tuck & Emily more satisfying. The character growth they both had shown throughout was impeccably written. I do not normally enjoy a slow burn romance, but the way that it’s written was crucial to the story. I highly enjoyed this and recommend it to everyone! You’ll laugh because the banter is great. You’ll cry because there’s a lot of tragedy. You’ll swoon because their bond/love is one worth fighting for. Worth surviving for.

✨Thank you to @netgalley & @miasheridanauthor for the advanced copy

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