ARC Review:

At first I couldn’t get into this, I think just because I wasn’t used to the YA style from Jennifer Hartmann. However, I’m really glad I stuck with it because I ended up really loving it.
Max & Ella are so cute 🥹 I love them.
The writing was absolutely beautiful as always.
This book does get really heavy and emotional so as always, read trigger warnings beforehand!

Jennifer, just know how to write a book that rips your heart out and keeps you in a chokehold.

Ella and Max were inseparable as kids, but after Ella suddenly moved away, she returned years later, moving in across the street from Max for her senior year.

This book was a work of art that had me in a chokehold. I loved everything about it and couldn’t put it down. Jennifer Hartmanns writing is always incredible but she really outdid herself with this one.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Catch the sun was absolutely incredible! Jennifer Hartmann does not ever disappoint! Every book I have read of hers has been 5 stars and this one was no different! There were so many plot twists and turns I was hooked from the start and was 150% invested in this story! I’m not usually a “friends to lovers” fan but this one changed my opinion completely! Max and Ella are just made for each other and their connection is so beautiful! This book made me very emotional at times but all the best books do!

Not a single book by Jennifer Hartmann that I wouldn't read. Never a disappointment from character development, plot writing and emotional connections from reader to character 5/5.

This book should have a warning that it will take your heart and shatter it. I really enjoy Jennifers Hartmann's writing, she is incredible at evoking so many feelings.


The main characters were enjoyable. The love that was shared between the two was so strong it was almost overwhelming to read. The pain that was shared page after page was crushing. I really enjoyed this book and am so glad I had the opportunity to read it.

A book hasn’t made me ugly cry this hard in quite some time! Holy cow did this book rip my heart apart, put it back together and rip it apart again…and I loved every word in this amazing book. This book was an emotional journey that I am so grateful I took. Ella and Max knew each other for a year when they were 7 years old. Even then they had an undeniable connection and truly understood each other. When they are reconnected in high school it is a totally different story. By this time they both have been through a lot and their lives are a bit of hot messes. Ella is now the sister of a killer and Max is taking care of his father and dealing with his twins drama. Talk about having to grow up faster than you need to. As this book goes on these two confide in each other and begin to truly understand each other…and care for each other. But the world around them is throwing them obstacles non stop and boy does it only get worse. The characters are so incredibly well written. They have great depth with back stories that add so much to this already amazing story. The characters all work well off of each other and each add so much to this book. This book covered several sensitive subjects and they were all handled with care and respect. This is a story about young love, rough times, unconditional love and everything in between. If you enjoy thought provoking books that will stay with you for a while….this is definitely the book for you.

I’m a big fan of Jennifer Hartmann so I was excited to request this book. I didn’t realize it was Young Adult so I didn’t enjoy it as much as the others I’ve read. I did like Emma and Max’s story.

10/10 ⭐️
ing for the perfect boy. Max is what fairy tales are made of. Where the hell was he 15 years ago for me? This book left me breathless. Jennifer does it again and again and again. I’m envious of this book world, and reality can choke. 🤣🤣🤣🤣 This story reminds me of the song Light me up by Ingrid Michaelson. Our little stubborn Ella tried so hard to block out Max, but he sunk his light inside her and blew her up. She couldn’t fight it. He loved her back to life. Sometimes there are people who take a broken thing and mend it and two broken people can fix each other. Two broken people can love. I think Max found his complete match in Ella. She may have brought him in to the darkness unwillingly, but he took her hand and said let’s fight together and come into the light. This book is tragedy, healing, love, trauma and acceptance. Top all this with the heart pounding romance that left me like a pile of mush. My heart is fractured and bandaged reading this book. Oh my stars. 😭😭😭💘💘💘💘

I love this book! I love things by Jennifer Hartmann so whenever a new one comes out it’s an automatic read and buy the book.

This deserves more than 5 stars! I am officially lost and destroyed after this book. What a beautifully tragic story! My heart was shattered to pieces repeatedly throughout and though she put it back together, I don't think I've fully processed it all yet. I finished reading it yesterday and I haven't stopped thinking about it.

I love Max and Ella. Their love story started as best friends at only 7 years old, though the actions of others always seemed to tear them apart. The tragedy and grief that these two went through was just devastating. They had so much to overcome and they were so young 😢 On the other side of things though, their sweet moments of young love brought such joy to my heart! No matter what happened, she was always his Sunny girl 🥹

Catch the Sun was full of love and loss, growing up, healing, forgiveness and learning the true meaning of family. It was absolutely gut wrenching at times, but the sweet, bright moments made it all worth it. Such an incredible journey and a true emotional roller-coaster.

Every single one of Jennifer's books has stayed with me since reading them, but this is my new favorite. Max and Ella have a permanent place in my heart ❤️

If you want an emotionally damaging book this one is for you. Yes it is YA but i think anyone should read this. It is beautifully written

I absolutely f***ing loved this book. It is too long, I didn't mind it. The slow pace, didn't care. Slow burn, yeah bring it on. Tugging back n fro, well that annoyed me but okay.

I don't read romances much. I don't like romances much. I don't rate romances this high and yet I did this one. I don't read YA, don't like them. But this one is just my favourite.

Every moment of this book I loved. I adored. I hated Max and Ella. No I can't ever hate Max. Ella yes, coz she was sometimes getting on my nerves. Why only sometimes. Most of the times. Her habit of running away whenever something changed made me scream in a pillow. But Max, He is perfect. A man who felt very real, yet too real to be true. Not a single thing he did wrong in this book. Wow. I can't just put into words. Coz I'm blown. My mind is blown. My heart is blown.

This book was like watching a real life unfold, from the start to finish. It felt so normal to read the story and the characters. The setting was also very perfect. I loved all the character development. I was hoping that there's no sad ending or anyone dying. Well someone does but I didn't really like the character but thank God, Jennifer Hartmann didn't kill any of my favourite characters. And who's my favourite character? Almost every f***ing character except the bad ones of course. The bully, the abusers that sort of people.

To my fellow women reader friends, if you like bad guys, read about Max you will forget about them. He is that good.

I feel this will make a very good romantic comedy. I can't imagine anyone playing both protagonists but I will definitely watch it if it ever makes to screen. I hope it does.

Thank you sourcebooks bloom books and Netgalley for this unforgettable experience , this ARC in exchange of an honest review.

TITLE: Catch The Sun
GENRE: Contemporary Romance
AUTHOR: Jennifer Hartmann
TROPE: Friends-to-Lovers
TYPE: Standalone
POV: Dual POV
MY RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 / 5

⚠️ Check trigger warnings; this dark content is for +18 readers

Jennifer Hartmann has a way of telling a story where you are pulled in for the journey, and you are never really sure what will happen with the characters. Catch The Sun was gripping from beginning to end, full of tragedy, love, and angst.

Ella & Max met when they were children and formed an instant connection before Ella's father abruptly took her away. Years later, and now in her senior year of high school, Ella has returned but is no longer the innocent sunny girl she once was. Ella's brother brought down a scandal in the family, ending up serving time in prison on death row. Now, Ella and her mother are trying to start fresh in a new town, away from all the post-scandal hatred directed toward them.

Catch the Sun had me feeling all the emotions as we navigated Ella & Max's journeys; neither one seems to have an easy life, but through it all, there seems to be a friendship and underlying bond keeping them in each other's orbit. I enjoyed the story as it unfolded right until the very end. I am giving Catch The Sun a rating of 4.5 / 5 Stars.

I seriously cannot talk about this book more, this book brought me so many emotions. It broke my heart and put it all back together, I cried so many times in this story. The love and connection these two have and build throughout their lives is just incredible. Its one of those stories that every girl could dream of. Jennifer knows just how perfectly to write a story, so beautifully written. If I see her name I'm doing anything I can to get my hands on that book.

Jennifer gets me every time, she's always hitting me with the feels with her writing!
This book is honestly so sweet but filled with so much trauma and angst, but I adore the characters and I'm so happy they got their HEA, it was so well deserved!

4⭐

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for this ARC

Jennifer Hartman does it again.
What a stunning and haunting tale of young love, innocence, hope and betrayal.

The FMC Ella fell in love when she was 8 years old. As most childhood friends do, they promised they’d be together forever. Her parents are struggling in their relationship and she doesn’t realise it will be 10 years before she sees her best friend again. Only the next time she lays eyes on the MMC Max, years aren’t the only thing that have passed.

Ella is the town gossip, living with the actions of her brother, she’s guilty by association, keeping her head down and just trying to make it through her own sorrow, the last thing she wants is to have her heart broken again. Max doesn’t have time to have anyone of meaning in his life, he’s keeping his own life hanging together more than most 18 year olds looking after his dad and keeping his brother in check.

They were best friends when they were children, can they slowly make it back as teenagers when both are fighting to keep their head above water in their daily life.

This book was so sweet, young love, innocence, but all of that can be taken away so quickly and by people who you’re supposed to love and trust. This book was such a journey, the hardships that they had to overcome, somehow trying to find a way back to each other while the unlikeliest of foes was pulling them apart.

Laughs, tears, heartache and love. I am not normally a huge fan of YA, I feel authors write the characters with years worth of experience but don’t match that to their personality or behaviours. Jennifer has yet again shown what an author she is, she’s able to make these characters young and innocent while world lived and aching with trauma they are desperately trying to overcome.

Couldn’t put the book down, my heart feels like it physically ached reading this book. Loved it.

5⭐️ 0.5🌶️

I was lucky enough to be given an advanced copy of this book, however, this is an honest personal view of this book.
Thank you NetGalley #netgally #jenniferhartman

"Kissing you feels like catching the sun."

"The loss is permanent, but the darkness isn't."

"You became my unskipped stone. Forever out of reach."

"Being alive is a privilege, sure, but it's basic biology. Existing is the automatic rhythm of breathing in and out. But when your lungs breathe rapture, and your heart pumps with passion, and you find yourself fully present in every precious moment? That's where you find life's true rhythm. And living, I've learned, is a priceless gift."

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a new beginning. The end is where we start from." - Little Gidding by T.S. Eliot

Jennifer really knows how to pull at my heartstrings. This had the perfect amount of angst, twists and turns, beautiful moments that had me rooting for these two & their relationship together.