I am very very late to writing a review for the ARC I got back in fall of 2023 BUT I’m finally here. Erin referred to this as her sad rodeo book and BOY she was not kidding!!! I started it in October 2023 and I couldn’t do it, but I was finally in a place to jump back in and it was still devastating, just in the best way. I love Winnie and her stubborn streak and learning to rely on other people, I love Case and his character growth, I love braids and Jesse, I love the horses, I love Winnie’s dad getting a kick in the ass, I love everyone getting to chase their dreams. 💜 Fuck COVID, fuck cancer, fuck selfish people putting their enjoyment over the safety of others.

Thank you to @netgalley @smpromance and @Stmartinspress for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Erin Hahn's "Even If It Breaks Your Heart" is a powerful and emotionally resonant young adult novel that delves into the complexities of loss, grief, and self-discovery. Hahn's unflinching portrayal of grief, with its diverse manifestations, feels authentic and deeply moving.

This coming-of-age story masterfully explores the pursuit of dreams and the journey to self-acceptance. While the detailed descriptions of bull riding and barrel racing occasionally felt dense, they also provided a fascinating glimpse into an unfamiliar world. The slow-burn romance between Winnie and Case is tender and genuine, and the absence of a contrived third-act breakup was a welcome relief, allowing the characters' emotional struggles to take center stage.

Both Winnie and Case undergo significant and satisfying character development, and their growth is a testament to Hahn's skill in crafting nuanced protagonists. Winnie's dynamic with her siblings is a highlight, though a more resolved relationship with her father would have added further depth.

The hopeful epilogue provides a fitting and poignant conclusion to this heartfelt narrative.

4 stars

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #stmartinspress #evenifitbreaksyourheart #erinhahn #smpinfluencers

No one can match Erin Hahn for her depth of character work in her novels—the explorations of self-love, romantic love, and platonic love are all so beautifully drawn and gorgeously done. I loved the exploration of rodeo and riding culture, too!

I went into this one not knowing anything about it. I love Erin Hahn so I didn’t need to know anything about it to want to read it. This one was so sad yet so joyful all in one.
I enjoyed the bucket list plot but hated why we had the bucket list.

The MCs were both really likable and that’s something I love to have in YA. It’s rare to get mature teens and I understand why but I do love when we do.

I don’t know anything about horses or rodeo so I can’t speak on that, but Hahn did a great job at setting the scene for me.

Overall I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend it.

This book gave me Wildfire (tv show) vibes, so that along with it being by Erin made me want to read it. I really enjoy Erin's writing and this book was no exception. The book was fast paced and had a lovely romance weaved into it. The list that Case's friend made for him before he passed was a wonderful addition and helped pace the book. I liked how Case and Winnie learned from each other and helped each other grow.

Recommend this one for all romance lovers. The characters were interesting and well written, the story was engaging and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it.

✨️ Ｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ ✨️

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: Even If It Breaks Your Heart
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: Erin Hahn
𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬: 320

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐡𝐚𝐬:
• Cowboy Romance
• Friends to Lovers
• Family Drama
• Slow Burn
• Found Family
• Dual POV

𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
WOW! This book had me feeling ALL of the feels! I absolutely loved everything about it!!! Case is from a wealthy family that owns a ranch. He has been riding bulls since he was a kid where he met his best friend Walker. Walker was diagnosed with cancer so they made a bucket list of things they wanted to experience together but unfortunately, they did not get to do everything before he passed. It was his goal for Case to continue on without him. Case didn’t expect to see “befriend Winnie” on that list. Winnie was smart, quiet and had something to hide. Her mother left, her father was a drunk leaving her to take care of her younger siblings. . She was working as many hours as she could on the ranch to seem like a “normal” family to keep protective services away. They both had so much trauma to get through but together they helped each other heal.

Not only is this book so beautifully written, but this cover is absolutely breathtaking! I adored these MC’s and the connection that they had! It was so heartwarming to see this lovely bond of friendship slowly growing into something more. I love how protective Case became with her (and her siblings) and really made her see that it was ok for her to follow her dreams. They truly brought out the best in each other. This book does have some heavy topics - death of best friend, alcoholism, child abandonment & neglect but this only enhanced their character growth!

This was one of my favorite books for 2024 and I would highly recommend…just make sure to have tissues with you if you decide to read this!

A wonderful romance and great read

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this review copy and the opportunity !

This was such a fun YA book! I am not a huge YA fan, but I have a few friends that really enjoy YA so I will definitely be recommending this to them!

Genre: Young Adult
Actual Rating: 4 stars
Spicy Meter: 1 fire emoji
Content Warnings: Touches on tough topics like grief, family loss, family abandonment, and chronic illness. Contains some romantic content.

“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” follows nineteen-year-old Case Michaels, grieving the loss of his best friend Walker, as he clings to a list Walker left him, determined to complete it despite struggling to return to the rodeo circuit. Meanwhile, eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton works tirelessly to support her family on the Michaels’ ranch, sneaking moments to ride horses and dream of something more. Part of Walker’s lists sends Case to befriend Winnie Sutton, but this suggestion turned into something more when Case sees Winnie’s talent for riding. He convinces her to compete for the ranch, sparking an unexpected REAL friendship—and maybe more—that inspires both to chase dreams they never thought possible.

Oh, wow, I’ve read Erin Hahn before but “Even If It Breaks Your Heart” just hit different. With its bittersweet tones but hopeful ending, this book has brought comfort to my heart. With a set of complex characters with even deeper backstories, this book will have you hooked from the start.

If you’re looking for a cozy, cowboy YA read, look no further—“Even If It Breaks Your Heart” is exactly what you seek.

ARC provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press through Wednesday Books in exchange for an honest review.

Publication Date: February 06, 2024

Erin Hahn's Even If It Breaks Your Heart is a heartwarming and poignant young adult romance that explores themes of grief, friendship, and self-discovery. Hahn masterfully captures the complexities of grief and the challenges of moving on after a significant loss.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the gifted copy.

Case's life revolves around the list. The bucket list from his best friend who no longer is able to carry it out himself. It brings Case to Winnie where he finds a glimpse of hope and joy watching her ride and getting to know her. There is initial disdain but a blossoming friendship is worth the risk.
I fully expected to have a good cry reading this as I've seen it called the "sad rodeo" book from several people. While I did find it to be heartbreaking immediately as Case is grieving and processing the death of his best friend, I didn't shed a tear and what kind of sad sack does that make me that I'm disappointed by that? Sometimes I need a good cry in my life. Altogether, though, this book shows life after death, dealing with grief, neglect, and finding the resilience to exert one's own destiny. I liked the main characters and their journey of discovery is well worth the read.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and Netgalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts are my own.

Even If It Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn is a beautifully written, emotional ride about love, loss, and the courage it takes to follow your dreams. Hahn’s portrayal of grief, family dynamics, and self-discovery is raw and authentic, and I found myself rooting for both Case and Winnie as they navigate their own journeys. The way they challenge each other and grow together made for such a satisfying read. Even when life feels impossible, the connection they form helps them both heal and embrace new possibilities.

If you enjoy stories that tug at your heartstrings with a mix of romance, personal growth, and a touch of rodeo, you’ll definitely want to dive into Even If It Breaks Your Heart. It’s a must-read for fans of Erin Hahn's work (love her young adult books!), and a perfect choice for anyone looking for an emotional, uplifting story.

This was so sweet and everything my little childhood horse girl heart hoped for growing up. This story had so much packed into it: grief, childhood trauma, dreams, hopes, aspirations, and falling in love. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet story of young love.

Even If It Breaks Your Heart aims for emotional impact but stumbles with clichéd storytelling and underdeveloped characters, leaving the narrative predictable and lacking the depth it strives for. The spice is also completely unnecessary.

When Case Michaels’ best friend on the rodeo circuit dies, he leaves behind a to do list of things for Case to accomplish. Case can’t bring himself to go back to competing, but he can work on the list, including falling for Winnie Sutton. Winnie graduated high school early and works on the Michaels ranch, so she can support her siblings and take care of her father. Riding is her only respite, and when she runs into Case and he recognizes her riding skills, she agrees to begin competing for the ranch.

I was surprised by how much I liked this book. I was not immediately hooked when I first started reading it but a couple chapters in I couldn’t put it down. This book deals with some more serious topics as the MMC has lost his best friend and the FMC is acting as the primary parent for her two you get siblings. I feel like the author handled those topics beautifully and also wove in a very realistic romance between the two.

Sadly this was just meh. That’s it. I have to say more but there’s really nothing more to say here. This definitely wasn’t a book I’d recommend.

Erin Hahn’s insight into the teenage mind is so unique and special. I love how she writes compassionate, strong-willed teenagers who are empowered to feel their feelings, assert themselves, and question the world they live in. EVEN IF IT BREAKS YOUR HEART echoes the themes of Hahn’s previous YA novels, where she explores teen sexuality, belonging, and difficult family relationships. I’m excited to add this one to my classroom library.

I love Erin book she is a long time favorite author of mine. She knows how to give detail and character building so well. I would recommend her work to everyone in my personal life