Catch the Sun completely stole my heart. Jennifer Hartmann has this incredible way of weaving emotional depth into every page, and this book is no exception. The story of Ella and Max is raw, powerful, and filled with both heartbreak and healing. I loved how their past was unraveled alongside their present, slowly revealing the depth of their connection and the weight of everything they’ve endured.

The writing is lyrical and immersive—I found myself highlighting so many lines. Hartmann doesn’t shy away from tough topics, but she handles them with so much care and empathy. I felt every ache, every moment of hope, every flicker of joy. By the end, I was a puddle of feelings (in the best way possible).

This isn’t just a romance—it’s a story about forgiveness, resilience, and the kind of love that endures through even the darkest times. Easily one of my favorite reads of the year. Highly recommend, especially if you love emotionally rich stories with beautifully flawed characters.

4 stars
Jennifer Hartman does such a wonderful job of invoking emotions in her readers, it’s a huge part of why I love to read her books, and she’s done it again with Catch the Sun. I enjoyed Max’s character so much and it’s such a breath of fresh air when this comes effortlessly. I will mention that her content is usually more explicit with some dark elements, but as a reader, I am not one to shy away from the genre. Catch the Sun is worth the read!

“Stay.” 😭 One word that made me cry. My heart feels so full after reading this book. The writing is so beautiful, and while I believe it’s marketed as a YA novel, it has everything I look for in a romance read. It captures the essence of young, all-consuming love, complete with heartache, incredible chemistry, and some spicy moments.

When 17-year-old Ella moves to a small town with her mom to rebuild their lives after a terrible accident, she faces rejection from everyone who knows her story—except for Max. He sees her for who she truly is, remembering her from when they were both just seven years old. Their love is so genuine and pure, and I loved every sweet moment of their connection. The characters are well-developed, and Jennifer’s talent for portraying young love is unmatched.

I kept thinking about the book even when I wasn’t reading it, which is exactly what I look for in a great read. From nostalgic childhood memories to intense teenage emotions and mature romantic growth, this book is captivating from start to finish. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Jennifer Hartmann does it again! I don’t know what she puts in her books but they are written so beautifully. Her words are incredibly moving and never fail to bring tears to my eyes.

This was a beautiful story, Ella and Max destroyed me. The way Jennifer writes their struggles, their love and the journey of their relationship blew me away.

I will always recommended her books!

I love Jennifer Hartmann! Her books hook you from the start.

This is a coming of age story but more of a upper young adult. Hartmann handles some sensitive topics and does it well.

Ella and Max are childhood friends that get separated when she moves away. This little boy impacted this sweet girl so much!

Fast forward to their teenage years and Ella moves back with her mom... with some family history following her, Ella is an outcast, but just next door, is her childhood friend.

The crazy events, sweet moments, this one kept me on my toes.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for a review copy!

Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann was an emotional and beautifully written story, but it didn’t hit quite as hard for me as Still Beating. While the characters were well-developed and the romance had its moments, it lacked the same intensity and grip that made Still Beating a five-star read for me. That said, Hartmann’s writing is always powerful, and fans of her work will still find plenty to love in this one!

Absolutely loved this book!!! Jennifer Hartmann truly never fails 🥹✨ thank you NetGalley for my E-ARC

This book is written really well and has interesting characters, but I think it is marketed incorrectly. Fair warning to YA readers and parents that there is open-door spice here and a lot of triggers for violence and sexual content. If you know that going in and are okay with it, I think you will enjoy this emotional read.

oh how this book absolutely stole my heart!!! Ella and max are struggling to navigate the world in high school & dealing with incredibly heavy truths. Their lives have changed dramatically from when they were 7 years old playing. Now, Ella is ostracized due to her brother’s actions & Max is one of the few people she might just be able to rely on. With his lists, showing up for Ella & sneaking in her window - Max is the sweetest person & determined to win Ella over.

Jennifer is one of my all time fave authors. She makes you feel EVERYTHING for these characters & they feel like real friends. I adored Ella for her love of orange & Winnie the Pooh! Omg all those references were PERFECT!! I loved Winnie as a child (still do) but it was so touching. Go into this one blind & you’ll never regret it because it’s the most beautiful adventure!!

This was such an emotional read. It had so many heartbreaking twists and turns that put me in an emotional roller coaster. I am a huge fan of Jennifer Hartman so I knew I just had to read this. This definitely reads more like an New Adult more than YA due to the dark themes throughout the book. Loved this one to pieces.

Jennifer Hartmann delivers an emotionally charged and deeply moving story in Catch the Sun, a novel that seamlessly blends elements of young adult and new adult fiction. With a poignant exploration of love, grief, and resilience, this book is a must-read for fans of intense, heart-wrenching narratives.

At its core, Catch the Sun follows Ella Sunbury and Max Manning, childhood best friends who were once inseparable. However, circumstances forced Ella to leave town abruptly, and a decade later, she returns for their senior year of high school. But time has changed them both—Ella now carries the weight of her brother’s notoriety, a felon on death row whose crime left an indelible stain on her reputation. Meanwhile, Max shoulders the responsibilities of caring for his disabled father while dealing with a distant twin brother. Despite the barriers life has placed between them, their bond rekindles, sparking a tender yet fragile romance.

This isn’t just a love story; it’s a book that tackles complex themes such as familial trauma, societal judgment, and personal redemption. The book does not shy away from darker topics, including death and the lingering impact of crime on loved ones. Readers who are emotionally sensitive should prepare themselves for an intense journey—tissues may be necessary.

A particularly delightful touch is the infusion of Winnie the Pooh references, adding a nostalgic and heartwarming contrast to the heavier themes of the book. These moments of lightness provide a much-needed balance, making the characters feel even more real and relatable.

For those who enjoy stories that straddle the line between edgy teen fiction and new adult romance, Catch the Sun is a perfect choice. It’s a novel that not only tugs at the heartstrings but also lingers in the mind long after the final page.

Catch the Sun is a compelling, emotionally gripping read that will resonate deeply with fans of character-driven, poignant storytelling. Highly recommended for those who love a mix of romance, heartbreak, and healing.

Max and Ella have a childhood friends to lovers that blossoms so beautifully but the plot twist in this threatens that bond in a way you couldn’t imagine. I was sick over the plot twist, and admittedly, quite mad about it at first. I kept thinking she could have gone about this some other way. But by the end, I couldn’t have imagined it differently. That’s what I love about Jennifer’s books/characters. They’re real, authentic and flawed, just like life. But her characters always find the silver lining and come out on top.

Jennifer truly knows how to rip your heart into pieces, just to sew it back together seamlessly by the end of her stories. She has a fan for life in me

★ 4.25 stars

The story follows Max and Ella from their first meeting at 7 years old and fast forwards to their adolescent years. 10 years later, when Ella returns to town, she is treated like a social outcast as her brother has been convicted of murder. Ella is terrified of letting anyone in because of what she's been through and is determined not to get attached.

Ella and Max's bond is sweet and innocent. Max is such a sweet soul, He was so patient, non-judgmental and always put Ella first. I loved watching them grow close again and fall in love. Their love story is accompanied with emotional turmoil because of what they've had to go through.

This is so much more than just a romance book, it also a suspenseful plot. The story covers darker themes (murder, grief, healing, trauma and forgiveness) which I enjoyed. I wasn't sure how this book was going to end, it kept me on my toes. It did delve into the land of unrealistic at points, but the overall message of the book resonated with me.

The writing was engaging and I appreciated the authors writing style - once you start this, you won't be able to put it down. It's unlike anything else that I've read.

This book is marketed as a young adult book and I disagree with that. This is new adult and contains open door spice. This was a nice surprise for me, but I think this should be made clear for those who do not read this.

Thank you NetGalley & Sourcebooks Bloom Books for the advanced copy in exhchange for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. Jennifer Hartmann does such a great job weaving an intriguing story that readers will fall in love with like I did!! I would highly recommend this read to anyone who loves romance books!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for sending me this ARC in exchange for a review.This one just wasn't for me. It was difficult to get into and I wasn’t drawn to the main characters at all. I probably wouldn’t have finished this if it wasn’t an ARC. This could definitely be a triggering book as well, but I feel like it’s easy to find the triggers and avoid for people who would be sensitive to that.

The writing was good, I would try other books by this author for sure!

Cover is really pretty too.

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!