This one was so cute and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute. A perfect example of when YA hits just right!

Thank you to SMP & netgalley for the chance to read early in exchange for an honest review

Erin Hahn is one of my favourite romance writers, and also one of the first authors that I had been able to request and review from NetGalley. You can find my review for You’d Be Mine here, More Than Maybe here, Never Saw You Coming here, and Built to Last here. She honestly continues to wow me with the books that she writes and the way that she builds romance. I know it’s pretty classic in romances to give you the perspective of both sides of the love story, but I do really love the way that she develops her two main characters and the way that she intertwines her various stories. There’s something about her dual perspectives that really hits the spot for me. Her male main characters are some of my all time favourite love interests in romance.

I know very little about the rodeo, but I found it a really interesting element of this story. It was really cool to see how it became a bit of a bonding point for Winnie and Case, even though they compete in very different events. Erin Hahn did a really good job at explaining the elements of the rodeo that were important to the story, and I definitely have a better understanding of what barrel racing is now that I have read this book. That’s definitely not the point of the narrative, but it was an unexpected benefit of the story. I also have learned more about bull riding too, though it sounds horribly dangerous.

Both of our main characters in this novel were really interesting and well-developed. They both felt well-fleshed out and very well-developed. I liked the progression of their character growth and seeing them learn more about themselves. They both start off the novel in a place where they’re really struggling with something. In Case’s case it is grief over the loss of his best friend. For Winnie, it’s the fact that she is functionally the only parent her younger siblings have. These are heavy things for a teen to deal with, but they handle them as best they can as teenagers might. There is a deep emotion to the novel that is brought in by these elements.

The writing is beautiful. The story felt realistic, and the teens read as teens. I love the way that she plotted it out and how the events flowed naturally, and the consequences for certain events made sense. It didn’t feel like the story was being forced. That being said, I do think this is a very character-driven novel, and it focussed more on them developing and growing then on typical big conflicts. The conflict they dealt with was very personal and allowed them to become better people or push themselves out of their comfort zone. This isn’t a complaint by any means; I just think that it’s something worth noting.

If you like romance, rodeo stories, or character driven stories, then I highly suggest you pick this book up.

Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy.

I've really enjoyed the previous books I read by this author, so I was excited to get into this one - but kind of unsure about the rodeo bits and the fact that it's YA. I ended up loving it, though!

Case lost his best friend to illness several months back and the only thing that keeps him going is a list that his friend left. A list of things he wants Case to do since he can't. Things like jump off a silo, jump in a pool naked at a party, and befriend Winnie Sutton. Winnie lives with her dad and 2 younger siblings, and works on the ranch that Case's family owns. Winnie has a LOT on her plate, as her dad works nights, and basically dumped all parenting responsibilities onto Winnie. They do befriend each other and end up helping each other through some difficult situations and also helping each other reach their dreams.

This book was heavier than I initially expected, but I was glad about that. Both main characters are dealing with grief, although from different situations, and the way they lean on each other is so sweet. I love that they didn't just jump right into a relationship but developed a friendship first, and things naturally blossomed from there.

Although this book is set mainly on a ranch, the focus is on the characters and their grief/relationship. I'm not a big horse or rodeo person, so I was hesitant, but it didn't take away from the story at all.

Another beautiful book by Erin Hahn! I will admit that with the cover and parts of the synopsis, it didn't immediately pull my attention, but Hahn has become one of those authors that I'd read her grocery list, and I very much enjoyed her latest book.

Prior to reading this book, I had zero knowledge or interest in rodeo, and I was never a horse girl. But Hahn did an incredible job of pulling me into Winnie and Case's world. Case is struggling with his best friend Walker's death, and Winnie has stepped into a pseudo mother role to her two younger siblings. Their eventual relationship felt organic through their individual growth. Both characters are complex and well thought out, and their relationship was sweet.

I appreciated Hahn opening up in the author's note at the end about how her family was effected by the Covid19 pandemic. The way she incorporated grief within the story was done beautifully.

I ADORED this book! There is something so eternally sweet about young love and even more so when it involves helping one another heal. Case recently lost his best friend, Walker, at the young age of 17. Now, he's trying to find his place in life without him. Winnie, who was in Case's class when they were in high school, now works on his family's ranch and has a natural skill with barrel racing, even though she's never had formal training or competed before. Case is seeing her in a whole new light, encouraging her to pursue rodeo, showing up and being there for not only Winnie, but her younger siblings too. As these two souls draw towards each other, a tender friendship and love begins. I don't recall ever reading a YA book so touching. And I have to say, unflinching, has become one of my new favorite words to live by.

I have enjoyed the adult romances that I've read by Erin Hahn, but this YA one will live in my heart.

Case and Winnie. The cutest couple in my mind. This book immeditely caught my attention with the cover and then reading the synopsis made me want to read it even more. I went in not expecting anything too grand but I was plesantly surprised with this one. I cried. I laughed. I wanted to give Case a big ole hug and punch Winnie's dad half the time. The slow burning connection between these two characters makes you fall in love with them and their struggles. This was the perfect book and I would recommend it to anyone! Thanks NetGalley and Macmillan for the advanced copy!

This was such a heartfelt novel that I really enjoyed reading. I'm a sucker for a good ranch setting, cowboy-themed story and this was a great fix for just that. And, a classic friends to lovers trope? One of my faves for sure. I felt like there were moments where the pacing was off—some scenes felt whip-fast and some felt like they dragged. The relationship building between the love interests was really wonderful. They definitely brought out the best traits in each other, and challenged each other as well. Overall, a delightful, feel-good read.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts!

This was a cute and sweet YA read, was it my favorite no, maybe it just did not hit like an adult novel would of hit for the same type of story for me. It was still a cute read.

I loved Even if it Breaks Your Heart! I don't know if I've ever read another Western-themed YA romance, and Hahn did an amazing job with this one!

This is everything I want in a YA contemporary. There was drama, there was emotion, friendships, found family and regular family, and I loved it all. I think Erin Hahn did a beautiful job discussing grief and what it's like to lose someone, but it didn't feel overwhelmingly heavy. In fact, the friendships and eventually the love story were so important and well done that it made the book quite balanced. I loved the ranch setting and how I learned more about horses, barrel racing and bull riding. I can't believe I put off reading this bokk because it was truly so wonderful. Something about this book just felt so profound and I love Erin's writing. For such a short nook the character development was also top tier and the romance felt so natural. I'm a huge Erin fan and I love her books. Thanks to Wednesday Books for sending me an e-ARC and a finished copy!

Ooo I love a cowboy romance. This book was such a cute rom-com with a cowboy twist. Case family owns a ranch and Winnie works with the horses. I know this was a slow burn but I felt like it was a little bit too slow of a burn. When Case and Winnie finally got together it was super cute. I loved the banter and wished this had a little more drama. I felt like their struggles were portrayed in a very realistic way.

Even if it Breaks Your Heart by Erin Hahn, e-arc from NetGalley and Wednesday Books for honest review.

I loved this story so much until the sexual content. I get that it was presented as the FMC choosing to have sex in the most ideal and safe way as an unmarried adult individual, but in line with my values, I cannot recommend a book for teens that encourages sex this way. I did appreciate how the MMC having reckless and frequent sex with many partners was shown to have many kinds of negative consequences.

Otherwise, it's beautifully written, and has a great balance of setting and characters. I liked following their jobs, school, and sports as much as the character drama and development.

I’ve really enjoyed other YA from Erin Hahn, but unfortunately I should have listened to my gut before picking up Even If It Breaks Your Heart. This will likely be a hit for YA readers who are drawn to the premise, but it was tough for me to even get through it. The characters weren’t relatable or likable. I tend to be drawn to grief stories, but this one just didn’t tug on my heartstrings. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC.

This book was absolutely beautiful. I've been a longtime fan of Erin Hahn, but this one really hit me in all the feels.

Erin Hahn absolutely knocked it out of the park with Even If It Breaks Your Heart. There was action, there were multiple storylines that were all relevant and interesting, and...there was emotion. I loved the relationships portrayed here, from the friendships to the sibling relationships. I also really liked the age of the characters. Not quite teenagers, not quite adults yet. Just some people trying to find their way in the world. If you need a fantastic read to get completely immersed in, this is it.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

While I enjoy all of this author’s writing, I especially love her YA romance. When she transitioned into writing some contemporary romance, I was afraid we wouldn’t get any more of the magic she seems to have with this genre. I’m so glad she went back to her writing roots on this one. It’s everything I hoped for and more.

Winnie is phenomenal. Without getting too deep, I can tell you that the way she is written is so realistic and it twisted a knife in my gut over and over. Yet, once Winnie found her people and learned she could lean on others, she was able to find joy and happiness. Not that she wasn’t happy on a day-to-day basis before, but there was too much on her shoulders for her to ever truly relax into happiness.

I love the journey Case takes in this book. He’s such a good person, but he’s in the depths of intense grief so doesn’t always act in the best manner. At least not in the first few chapters. Case not only pokes his head out of his cloud of grief, but he learns what it means to live with that grief and continue to a happy and healthy future.

As much as I love romance, the friendship Winnie and Case develop before the romance is special. I was so happy that wasn’t lost after they admitted and acted on their feelings. The story of Case and Winnie is central to the book, but friendship is a huge part of it all. Not just between the two of them, but with others who help them both realize they are not alone. Beautiful.

I'm convinced that Erin Hahn simply doesn't possess the ability to write a bad book. And for that I'm forever grateful.

Everything about this book was so easy and I mean that in the best possible way. Both Case and Winnie overcome every obstacle in their lives and in their relationship - before they were together and after - with such grace. Where other authors may see these obstacles as an excuse for drama and angst, these characters use their intelligence and compassion at every turn which made for such an enjoyable reading experience. I felt like I was watching such a natural and domestic relationship flourish into something special over the course of the story. The love, trust and respect that Case and Winnie had for each other jumped off the page and I loved every second.

Once again, Erin Hahn's passion for whatever it is she's writing about - in this instance horses; rodeo and racing - is infused throughout the story. I know next to nothing about either of these things but I really didn't need to. Hahn caught me right up to speed and made me love it just as much as she and these characters do.

I truly did not want this book to end. As hard as I tried to savour every word, I couldn't help but fly through it. Reaching that final page was bitter-sweat but I'll definitely be reading it again.

Erin Hahn's Even if it Breaks Your Heart will make you want to drop everything and move to Texas to live that horse life.

Case Michaels might be a rich rodeo playboy, but that can't protect him from the pain of his best friend Walker's death. Walker also isn't helping; he left Case a bucket list to complete in his honor. Unfortunately, Walker was more rodeo than ranch, and Case ends up stranded on top of a corn silo. Not how he wanted to start the new year. But scarier than heights and beating a bull outside the arena is the last item on the list: befriend Winnie Sutton.

Winnie is only 19, but she's the glue holding her family together. Caring for her two younger siblings, making sure her single Dad eats, and working full time after graduating early isn't an easy life. And it isn't any easier when her boss's son, Case, starts hanging around the barn. As arguments turn to banter, Winnie and Case learn they may be able to help each other.

Erin Hahn's character work is delightful as ever, shining a light on economic disparity and childhood health issues without veering into the saccharine nor leaning on stereotypes. These well-developed characters are more than their circumstances, and Hahn shows that beautifully. Even the horse's personalities are well-formed and easily distinguishable. I especially love how one particular horse, a rescue, overcomes her own trauma to succeed in unexpected ways.

Grief is a difficult topic, especially in YA, but Hahn shows Case's journey unflinchingly. Tackling toxic masculinity while staying true to the character is no small feat, but Case's arc is thoroughly believable.

Don't get me started on the setting. It's so gorgeous I want to change my whole life to live on a ranch and ride horses. Nevermind that I've only ever ridden a horse twice, and once was at a street fair. My animal-loving heart has always wanted a horse, even as my rational brain tells me I would need to spend a lot more time around them before following that path. But Hahn's Texas-panhandle ranch makes me forget all of that, and yearn for a horse of my own, and a big area of land to walk, ride, and enjoy living on. Sigh.

Deciding who you’re living your life for is a common theme among the books I've read recently, and an interesting one. Case and Winnie are each making choices based on what other people want for them. Case consults Walker's memory as he evaluates his path forward, while Winnie thinks she doesn't have any other paths available to her due to her responsibilities.

Though this title is YA, it could also work as New Adult. Case and Winnie have both graduated high school, but small town Texas life and their circumstances keep them rooted in who they were, stunting their growth. Both YA and New Adult readers will resonate with the struggle of choosing what comes next. Heck, adult readers will, too.

Even if it Breaks Your Heart is a beautiful story about following your heart, even if it leads unexpected places (and horses play their own delightful role, in the leading and in the heart!).

Thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Wednesday books for an advanced digital copy such that I could share my honest opinions.

Even if it Breaks Your Heart is available now!

I heard good things about this one from friends so I decided to give it a try and I'm so glad I did! While this is a heavier romance it is also sweet and genuine. I adored it!

Case and Winnie were adorable. I loved that they each had their own really difficult struggles but they learned to support each other and have empathy for what the other was going through. Both of their struggles were written about really beautifully and I was able to sympathize with both characters a lot.

If you like a cowboy romance but want it sweet not spicy this one is perfect! It is a YA romance but it has some heavy topics and the characters are dealing with issues some younger teens may not relate to. Winnie and Case have both had to grow up beyond their years.

🌶️ - This one includes some kisses but is completely closed door.

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

Hahn’s books always seem to hit hard and cover the gritty and not so fabulous parts of life. But she always balances it out well with the sweet and with our characters discover who they are and what they needed. This is definitely a niche book and while I'm definitely not a rodeo or cowgirl myself (really, that would be laughable), I definitely felt for both Case and Winnie in different ways. While it sucks to have these big life-changing events bring you down, I'm glad it made Case open his eyes and I'm glad he and Winnie were able to find themselves. Winnie found something she enjoyed and looked forward to when life has been less than stellar for her. I'm glad, too, that Case and Winnie had the support of other people outside of their "inner" circle (i.e. family members).

This was such a cute story! I enjoyed the relationship between Winnie and Case. The pair could not be more different yet they somehow fit together nicely. Case can see Winnie's riding skills and convinces her to compete and to become his friend. Case is dealing with the loss of his best friend and Winnie is doing all she can to keep her family together, often filling the role of parent. This may be a YA novel but it deals with a lot of heavy themes in a great way and really brings the emotion.