This is such a good read, I found myself not wanting to put it down! It is a slow burn and angsty story about Rowan and Harrison as they try to deal with their past relationships and career burdens so they can move forward both personally and professionally. Between a life of being gaslit and trying to get her paper published (Rowan) and dealing with losing a patient and an absent partner (Harrison) they must work to communicate with each other and trust each other.

Thank you Net Galley for an advance copy of this book.

First and foremost, thank you for the review copy of this book. I enjoyed this book, I enjoyed the story - the 'found family', etc. But, it fell a little flat for me personally. I can't put my finger on it, but I feel like *something* was missing for me. Overall though, I did like it and would still recommend it.

Wow. WOW! Might be my favorite contemporary romance of the year. So visceral and vulnerable! Gorgeous details of the surroundings and nature, wonderfully imperfect characters. The steaminess, the strong woman in botany, the healing, and the heart are all done so fantastically. A must read for sure!

Thanks St Martin’s for the advanced read!

This book!!! Finally something to break me out of my reading slump. It shattered me a bit, but definitely put me back together by the end. I loved Rowan and her botany background and how that tied together with Harrison and his family's vineyard. I felt like I was living on the land with them and was so invested in all their stories and futures. This was truly such a beautiful, heart warming story. Though the communication issues between Rowan and Harry could feel a bit frustrating, their chemistry was just so intense and it was easy to forgive. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Rowan McKinnon takes a job to help restore an abandoned vineyard after an academic setback. Harrison Brady, an obstetrician, comes to stay on his family’s new vineyard while he deals with the anxiety of having lost a patient. Rowan doesn’t believe in love, but she and Harrison have an immediate connection.

I wanted to like this book, but it was tough when I didn’t like either of the characters. They obviously had sexual chemistry, but I never felt it develop into actual love. I did love Harrison’s family, and I hope Jen Devon will write a sequel featuring Rowan’s friend Temperance! The vineyard setting sounded gorgeous.

Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book.

What I liked: The story takes place in Philly whoop whoop! The name of the family business is the Brady (their last name) Brunch. That's so cute. The mental health awareness talk was good. Also Rowan was very supportive of Harry's struggles. Also Rowans social awkwardness was cute. "I don't get out much. Talking is hard".

What was meh: At first I liked the back and forth of whether they wanted to be in a relationship or just hook up was good. It added some tension. But after a while it got very annoying. It completely stopped them from making any progression in their relationship. Harry's brothers advice about his mental health was to basically get over it...and for Harry the advice worked???? yikes.

This is a beautifully written debut filled with emotion and romance. Rowan and Harry are two very complexed characters and their wounds run deep. Their chemistry is undeniable and the banter is clever. The relationship is a slow build but we see the characters grow individually and then as a couple. I enjoyed the story overall, but my biggest complaint was I thought it was a little too long and a little too descriptive (so much so, I found myself skimming pages about the vineyard). Other than that it was a great love story filled with angst.

Thank you to the publsiher and NetGalley for an advanced copy in echange for my honest review.

This book is nearly perfect. Like, I'm not even being facetious. There are a few nit-picky things that I would change, and one of those is that there would already be more books in the series for me to read! This is an incredible debut novel, and honestly, it's the women in STEM romance we deserve!

I don't know if it's because I read this while lounging by the pool in the sun, but it felt like such a warm hug, like coming home to a book. Even as a reader it felt as though I was being welcomed into the Brady family along with Rowan, and the writing is so descriptive and gorgeous it felt like I was there in the fields with everyone. The writing is so evocative that I can picture the meadow, the lake, the greenhouse, the vineyards, everything in such perfect clarity. And all of the details that went into describing the setting also went into all of the characters, and they felt so real and human to me. Rowan and Harry are both flawed individuals with their own issues to work through, but when they come together it just, sparkles. That's the best way I can describe it. It's magical.

There are some really heavy topics discussed, so as always I highly recommend looking into the content warnings before diving in. I thought everything was handled beautifully, and it added so many complex layers to these characters and their love for one another. This is one of those books that will make you think about love; the different ways that people can show their love, and also a reminder that everyone is deserving of love, even those who haven't experienced it before. And the way that people grow and change over time, and how love can grow and change with them. It's scary, and beautiful, and wonderful. I think what I like best is that this book made me feel so deeply without being over the top; it's raw and full of angst but still holds onto that hope without being too saccharine.

This book made me fall in love with the romance genre all over again, and I simply cannot wait to see where Jen Devon takes us next!

I was really excited for the mental health rep in this book and that aspect did not disappoint. I was actually glad that Harry didn't magically get over his trauma because it seemed very realistic. Likewise I was glad that Rowan didn't overcome her past overnight.

Unfortunate though the overuse of idioms (and mixed idioms) as well as the excessive amounts of descriptions made it really hard for me to enjoy this book. Also, it was just to slow for me and had way too much emphasis on a physical relationship with no actual real relationship.

I think this just wasn't the best book for me.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and this is my honest review.

What a wonderful debut!! I enjoyed the lovely description of nature; it felt so authentic! The dialogue between Rowan and Harry was heartbreaking at times, and at other times so fun and sweet. I can't wait to see what Jen Devon writes next.

Couldn't really get into this one but appreciate the chance to review it. I never leave negative feedback anywhere publically, just on here. But just wasn't a favorite. Thanks for the chance. I just felt like it wasn't for me.

WOW! I'm adding Jen Devon to my TBR list!

Bend Toward the Sun is a wonderfully well-written, emotional and sensual story that will pull you in from the opening chapter. Devon's descriptive prose paints a visual of the vineyard that is the setting of the story of Rowan McKinnon and Harrison "Harry" Brady.

Rowan, a botanist who is the product of a broken family dynamic, is anxious and awkward and goes on the offensive as a defense against feeling. She agrees to take a job at the Brady family's newly-acquired vineyard that needs a lot of work.

Harry is a doctor who suffers anxiety attacks after unexpectedly losing a patient. His family wants to help him, but no one is sure where to start or how.

Harry and Rowan click as he realizes she knows what it means to be damaged and is "allowing him to be...not okay."

Rowan sees a hint of vulnerability in Harry that both fascinates and terrifies her. She wants to surrender to vulnerability but it means trusting herself.

While the focus is on Rowan and Harry, Devon also introduces the rest of the Brady clan, including Harry's parents, four brothers and a sister plus Rowan's besties, Temperance and Frankie.

I definitely recommend Bend Toward the Sun and am looking forward to more stories about the Bradys!

I voluntarily read an Advance Reader Copy, and this is my honest review.

Bend toward The Sun by Jen Devon

Two imperfect people. One year under the sun. A love story you won’t forget.

A very warm, complicated love story. Well-written. Friendly characters. I recommend this book..

Thanks to Net Galley for sending me an advanced reader’s copy for my review.

"Bend Toward the Sun" by Jen Devon is a sweet, endearing love story. Great characters, a botanist and doctor, meeting unexpectedly with endless hesitations and hold backs due to traumatic pasts. Wonderfully built up! Thank you NetGalley, the author and publisher for the e-copy for review. All opinions are my own.

What an absolutely beautiful story. Deliciously sweet, heartfelt, and steamy. I loved everything about this book, from the vivid setting to how the characters grew, both as individuals and together. The sparks and chemistry between Rowan and Harry kept me flipping pages long after I should have been asleep. I never knew I needed a book about a botanist, but now I couldn't do without it! On the writing level: not a word was wasted in this book—every sentence was crafted with intention and care.

. . . ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⭑ ⋆
I had a feeling when I read the synopsis of this book that it would be entirely captivating, and it completely met my expectations.

I think this story really does justice to the concept of immediate connection - not love at first sight, but instead that feeling that overcomes you when you meet someone new and intrinsically know that some sort of tethering exists between you. Its more than an attraction, but that is certainly part of it, and I appreciated that the character’s even discussed this concept within the book, trying to decipher their emotions from infatuation to real connection. It’s hard to describe, but I feel like the author captured it well.

This book is so beautifully and intricately written, with so many passages that gave me pause. It was perfectly descriptive, creating a palpable atmosphere that I felt immersed within.

I devoured this book over two days, and it was exactly what I needed right now - if this books isn’t on your radar, make some time and read to read it, it’s worth it.

~👩🏻‍🦰

Rowan McKinnon is a botanist who prefers plants to people. Keeping flowers alive is something she understands. Keeping love alive is another matter entirely.

But Rowan’s jaded take on love is more a matter of nurture vs. nature. Not having the best upbringing and being scorned by a former love has understandably left Rowan a skeptic. Until she meets Harrison “Harry” Brady, that is.

Harry has had his own share of life’s setbacks. A doctor who has lost his confidence after the loss of a patient, Harry returns home, unsure of his future. And then he runs into Rowan.

While sparks instantly fly, at first the two try to fight their growing attraction. Both believe giving into their feelings is imminent, but what this means is up for debate. For Harry, Rowan signifies something serious worth exploring. But for Rowan, serious isn’t on her agenda. Can love bloom between two people who’ve been in the dark for so long?

Rowan and Harry’s connection works because their chemistry is palpable. Author Jen Devon crafts a love story heavy in angst, but well balanced with humor. The supporting characters help breathe life into this story as well. In fact, it would be great if there were future installments that zoned in on these characters as they too seem to have stories worth telling.

A debut novel that reads like anything but, Bend Toward the Sun plants the seeds for a talented writer, and gives romance fans something to root for, too.

I thought this would be a cute and sweet rom-com and nice mental break after a string of heavy reads but this book had more emotional meat than I was expecting. I think Bend Toward the Sun had just the right amount of drama, angst, steam, and humor. I also really enjoyed the way Devon wrapped up the story of Harry and Rowan. Both characters had major likeability issues, especially Rowan and the story was a little long in my opinion. Overall, a nice debut.

Brief Thoughts: I absolutely loved this book that I hope will be the start of a potential series of wonderful female characters and a delightful large family with lots of love and laughter

Bend Toward the Sun surprised me in all the best ways - this debut novel by Jen Devon has incredible banter, remarkable depth of character, and a fun setting and family in its pages. I *love* a good STEM-career-driven female main character, and there was a lot to love about Rowan and her tender fear of letting people in. Harry and his past brought a completely different element to this story and their meet-cute during a rowdy family time-honoured traditional game of hide and seek was hilarious and a great way to kick the book off. Some of my favourite heartwarming moments came near the end though, including the bit about the grape jelly (marriage is so complex and also simple that way!) and the elements of found family had me tearing up.

I can't recommend this one enough - it was lovely, and I look forward to many more books from this author in the future (fingers crossed!!!)

I also really loved the dual narration audiobook told from both main characters' perspectives - so well done.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing a review copy. I really wanted to like this one. Unfortunately, I didn't make it to the end without skimming. Other reviewers have given very positive reviews, so maybe I'm the outcast here. I couldn't connect with the characters. I loved the main character's interest in botany- I loved the descriptions, but apart from that I couldn't connect with her or Harry, the male MC. I really wanted to like this one, but it wasn't for me.