5 ⭐ 2.5 🌶️

That's going to take a bit to recover from... Gahhhh, so freaking good. This one was angsty in ways I never expected, and spicier than I thought it'd be. Watching these two break and heal and break again, only to find the happiest ever after, was a journey I'll never forget.

A friend said to me the other day "I remember the real reason YA books are not my favorites. THEY MAKE ME FEEL. ON PURPOSE. SO RUDE." and while she's not wrong, I absolutely love it 😂 And it's something Catch the Sun does so dang well. I felt SO. FREAKING. MUCH. My heart was hurting so bad during some moments and soaring during others. It got me all teary eyed in the end. Just so many feels and I lived every single one.

There was a good portion of this book where I wasn't sure how Max and Ella were going to come out okay. Heck, at one point I wasn't sure they were going to come out alive, let alone thriving... The had so many hurdles to overcome... But Jennifer's mind is an amazing place and this story was written so beautifully. It not only ended up okay, it ended perfectly and better than I ever could have imagined.

I had to take a few days and sit with my feelings on this one. Jennifer Hartmann NEVER ceases to amaze me. As do all of her books, this book made me run the emotional gambit. I felt ALL THE THINGS! I actually took longer than usual to read it because I annotated so many quotes in the book. There’s just plain wisdom in this one, y’all. Life lessons!

Ella and Max’s story begins as children. They know they love each other at the age of seven, as much as their own young hearts and minds can comprehend. Time and distance separate them for several years and they are reunited after tragic circumstances. Their love story is full of twists and turns…not all of them pleasant. 😕 Ella reminds Max of the sun and their story certainly brightened my life. It’s SUCH a good one, y’all! Add this one to your TBR ASAP!

<b>“I’d feel you in any lifetime, in any version of any reality. And I’d know, without a doubt, without a shred of hesitation… that your soul was meant for mine.”</b>

what a tragic but sweet book! From the start, you are drawn into Ella's story, and this continues throughout the book.

<b>“I’ve carried you with me all this time. You rise and fall with every sun. You’re between the pages of every book I read. You’re with me on every bridge, and you’re in the verses of every song that plays,”</b>


A lot happens in this book, and little by little, you get to know everyone and their life stories.
There are a lot of sad things in this book, but also very beautiful things.

Many parts are written almost poetically about love, mourning, and letting go of ideals.

<b>“I’ll never lie and say it’s easy. I’ll never pretend like it doesn’t suck your soul straight out of you sometimes… but I will tell you that it’s still possible to find the light. The loss is permanent, but the darkness isn’t.”</b>

How two young people can find real love together and, despite all the setbacks, not just give up. That loving sometimes also means letting go.

I was making notes about the Brynn with an ! After her name every time. I thought it was a spelling error until i read this part:

<b>While Brynn has been a notable source of warmth and solace, I’ve noticed that, somewhere along the way… I stopped adding the exclamation point to the end of her name. </b>



What can you expect?
❤️brother in jail
❤️murder
❤️very sweet mmc
❤️Great side characters
❤️Virgin main characters
❤️school setting
❤️bullies
❤️twin brothers
❤️a sick father
❤️trauma
❤️healing
❤️slipping through her window

Ohhh. This book shattered my heart and put it back together only to shatter it more. What a rollercoaster of a ride filled with the hardest tragedies, please check trigger warnings before reading but if you’ve ever read a Jennifer Hartmann book you know to be on your toes with your box of tissues ready. I absolutely devour all the books written by this author and was so excited to be able to read this one before it was released. It did not disappoint and her music choices are top notch so don’t forget to listen to the playlist in the book cause it fits so perfectly for the story.

Catch the Sun
By: Jennifer Hartmann

“You’re Ella and I’m Max.”

This story is absolutely all consuming. While it is a young adult story, the content and the characters certainly do not make it feel YA with the level of trauma these 2 experience.

“You can’t change anything. There’s no changing the past. If you believe you can, you’ll never move forward.”

In true Jennifer Hartmann fashion, she does an incredible job putting your heart through all of the pain and heartache as these two grow through trials and tragedy while slowly putting the bandaid on all of the cracks the story created at the end for a beautiful heartwarming HEA. The book unfolds so beautifully removing layer after layer keeping you gripped to find out how they’ll make it through. Ultimate forgiveness and heartache wrapped in a perfect bow with the most purest form of love.

My absolute favorite part of a romance book is the first kiss. It’s such an important pivotal point in a great romance. Max and Ella definitely get the award for the best first kiss! What a scene!!

“Kissing you feels like catching the sun,”

Stay, he says. Just a single word. I feel it more than I hear it.

No, you can’t go back to the beginning… But you can always create a new one.

There are stories you finish and you just know this is one that will stay with you. This is one that will make you tear up a little when you see Winnie the Pooh or a little round skipping stone. I knew when I finished with my face covered in tears that my heart was forever changed with this compelling story.

This was a beautifully, heart shattering, amazing book. Childhood best friends are torn apart and reunited 10 years later but events in their lives have altered their outlook on life. They pull each other from the edge only to thrown over it again and again.

Such a well written and wonderful story. Please read the trigger warnings before hand ❤️

This is my first book by this author and it certainly will not be my last. Max and Ella took me on an emotional rollercoaster that spanned 10+ years and I loved every moment of it. From reading reviews of her other books, I knew to expect some twists and turns but I NEVER could have predicted what life had in store for Max and Ella.

Max & Ella are such an amazing take on childhood friends to strangers to friends to first and only love. I love that their connection was immediate and begun in the school playground when they were in elementary school. Max was heartbroken when his friend left town. So when Ella is back ten years later you can feel their pull back to each other. She’s back under less than ideal circumstances and really needs his friendship and their relationship continues to progress. But secrets and tragedy threaten to destroy everything and everyone around them.

I feel so emotional after reading this!! I don’t even know what to say except I absolutely loved it! If you enjoy reading books that take you on an emotional roller coaster ride then definitely read this book. Actually you should read all of Jennifer Hartmann’s books. I’m definitely going to be thinking about this story for a long while.

Thank you Netgalley and Bloom Books for the ARC.

This book was an absolute roller coaster for me but to be honest all of her books make me feel this way but like in a really good way. It ripped my heart out and stomped on it a few times and my heart was put back in my chest repaired. Emotional, dark, but so so much love in this book. It also had to be one of the most romantic books I have ever read even with it being so dark. There was a twist in there that I really didn’t expect but really made the story that much better. There were parts that made me mad, sad, and wtf moments where I was screaming at my kindle. So worth the read though.

Finally caught the sun and he never let go.

To share your soul with someone, to break, to be allowed to heal----to have all of the above woven into a story rife with trauma but also with hope. With both heaviness and light. To be able to rise above the waters you found yourself drowning in. Magic.

Thank you Netgalley for this ARC-

this story was so beautiful, i can’t even express how much. I was so invested in the two main characters, Ella and Max. Both MCs have so much personal baggage, family issues that they struggle with and watching them cope, lean on each other, and grow this relationship was so emotionally beautiful. Max was so sweet and i LOVED their “lists” they made for each other and just watching them navigate each other omg.

I will never look at the color orange or winnie the pooh again without thinking of this book! I loved the angst, the plot twists, all of the emotions you go through reading this book. The book also took a turn i didn’t expect but it kept me invested the entire time, especially once you reach the halfway point WHEWWWW.

Check trigger warnings! This is YA, and a little open door spice which i thought was the perfect amount!

“Kissing you is like catching the sun.” AAAAAHHHHH! Can Ella and I trade places?! AHHHHHH I love max so muchhhhhhhhhh

this is your typical emotional Jennifer Hartmann book. Max and Ella both share a lot of trauma. This book was roller coaster of emotions. I’m not gonna lie it took me a while to get into the book but once I did it was so hard to put down. Max and Ella were so cute together & his nickname for her OMG SO CUTE.

Max and Ella story was a sad beautiful tragic story. So much happened around them that will connect them forever. I cried so much in that last 20%. Max must be protected at all costs he was so perfect.

“Kissing you is like catching the sun”

This book is for the girlies like me who love the color orange and Dr. Pepper. But it’s also for those who love messy, complex, first love, upper YA coming of age stories.

Like I mentioned I love the color orange and that is what drew me to this book, and the sprayed orange edges the first print run has are just beautiful.

Ella and Max were best friends at 7 years of age and declared they would marry one day. Her family moved away and 10 years later she moved back for her senior year of HS, but with her brother on death row and Max’s unstable father he takes care of and an aloof twin brother, they are different than they were as kids but in many ways the same.

Books like this remind me of why I love reading. All the stars for this one. It was beautiful, tragic, (full of TW) and I could not put this down after a quarter way in. This was my first Jennifer Hartman book but will not be my last!

Thank you NetGalley and Bloom Books for an eARC of this book.

I was thrilled to receive an ARC of Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann. Having heard much about Jennifer’s previous works, I approached this book with high expectations but no prior experience with her writing style. While the story didn't immediately grip me, I found myself deeply invested in the characters and their journey by the time I reached the 60% mark.

Catch the Sun is a poignant coming-of-age tale that beautifully captures the essence of first love amidst adversity. Max and Ella, the protagonists, both come from traumatic home environments, and their story is interwoven with dark and challenging themes. I must emphasize the importance of checking trigger warnings before diving into this book, as it addresses bullying, sexual assault, and gun violence.

Despite the slow start, the narrative's emotional depth and the characters' growth pulled me in. I was particularly moved by how Max supported Ella, giving her the space and time she needed to heal and discover herself. Their love story is both heartbreaking and uplifting, showcasing their resilience and the healthy ways they found to cope with their past traumas.

By the end of the book, I was fully captivated by Max and Ella’s journey. Catch the Sun is a compelling read, especially for older teens/early 20s, given its mature content. Jennifer Hartmann has crafted a touching and realistic portrayal of young love and healing, making this a memorable read that I would certainly recommend.

Posted to my Goodreads, and will be posted tonight to my instagram. instagram.com/kissandtalewithpattie
Thank you to Bloom Books, NetGalley, and Jennifer Hartmann for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for my honest review.

WOW! This book blew me away.

This was an incredible story packed with so much emotion.

✨This is a childhood friends to lovers, second chance YA romance.

Max & Ella have had a connection since they were best friends at just 7 years old. They became separated by distance and are reunited again in high school.

These two are dealing with heavy stressors in their home life. This causes Ella to want to hide from the world and go through life under the radar and unnoticed, but Max is determined to change that. He knows the true Ella that is full of life and sunshine ☀️

I couldn’t help but feeling so drawn to the characters in this book and wanted only the best for them. Life continued throwing punches at Ella, Max and their families.
I was physically hurting at the tragedies they faced in their young lives.

The heartache and passion was so well written, there is no question that this is a top book of the year for me!

📣 I’m screaming that this is a MUST read because I want everyone to experience this love story! 🧡


Thank you Netgalley for this ARC 🫶🏼

[arc review]
Thank you to Bloom Books and Valentine PR for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Catch the Sun releases July 16, 2024

<i>“Like two sides of the same coin, we’ve both mastered the act of keeping the world at arm’s length, turning solitude into our shield.”</I>

I was really excited to see that Hartmann was entering the YA genre, but this didn’t quite grip me like her other titles have.

Ella is stuck in the shadow of her older brother who is on death row for murdering two people, and is constantly bullied at school.
Max, her next door neighbour, struggles to come into his own since all of his time and energy is spent being the caregiver of an alcoholic father.

As a coming-of-age fiction, I liked seeing how they navigated the hardships of their lives, but as a romance, it lacked the emotional depth that Hartmann is known for and I think that had a lot to do with the fact that both Ella and Max didn’t <I>want</I> a romance to begin with.
The strongest part of the book was everything after the NYE incident; the tension and groundwork to get there though could have been better.

From a writing standpoint, something that really bothered me straight away was the stylistic choice to have Brynn’s name written as <b>Brynn!</b> throughout Ella’s pov chapters.
A lot of the dialogue/quotes felt overly cliché as well, and the use of Pooh Bear/Piglet brought down the maturity level.

cw: alcoholic parent, physical violence, gun violence, murder, attempted rape, mention of trypophobia, sexual content

📖Catch the Sun
✍️Jennifer Hartmann
🗓️Jul 16 2024
📝 SOURCEBOOKS Bloom Books | Bloom Books

I literally screamed when I got approved for this ARC! I wanted it THAT badly! 🧡 now that I’ve read it… I’m speechless. This was amazing. 🧡

Genre:
Contemporary romance
and apparently YA but I personally strongly disagree with the publishers decision to mark it as YA. that’s not because of the open door spice. I am all for tasty spice in YA novels, but I just think this is for a more mature audience because of other content. It’s really heavy at times though it’s written beautifully. More of that later though.

Series or standalone:
Standalone

Tropes:
🧡bullying
🧡 childhood friends
🧡brother on death row
🧡 found family
🧡 lists
🧡 slow burn
🧡 he falls first

⚠️: murder, violence/blood, sexual content, bullying, alcoholism, depictions of chronic illnesses, attempted assault, guns, underage drinking, attempted suicide

POV
Dual, first persons POV

💭 Summary 💭
Childhood friends Ella and Max got separate when Ella’s father whisks the family away. Then tragedy strikes and Ella returns to the place she’s once been happy at. But happiness is a strange, strange thing to her. The brother she loves is on death row. The media ridiculed her grief and the bullies are never far away.
Max has his own demons as well. Can these two heal each other?

Cover:
The cover is absolute perfection! So fitting, perfect colours, a true eye catcher.

Heroine:
Ella Sunbury (17)
Hero:
Maxwell “Max” Manning (18)

I really loved the character of Max and what he turned out to be. I initially got the wrong impression of him and I am glad he didn’t turn out to be the bad boy I expected!

Side cast:
Max’s twin brother McKay, his girlfriend Bryan!, their father
Ella’s mother and her brother Jonah (21)

Diverse cast of characters?:
I loved everyone in this book. They fit and work so well with each other. The thing is, Jennifer created incredible real and relatable characters, even the mean ones you want to hate.

character development
It was quite the journey to see Ella come back to life. The girl who was broken, humiliated, brought back to life by the friendship of her estranged childhood friend. This is so Slow burn, it almost hurts. And believe it or not, I mean that in the best way possible. The chemistry and tension was tangible, I felt it. This book put me through all kinds of emotions.

Location:
Juniper Falls, Tennessee, USA 🇺🇸

Fluency/Writing:
This touched me the right away. The prologue did it. It set the theme for the book brilliantly. I knew I’d get my heart broken.
I am usually not the biggest fan of high school characters, but here? This couldn’t have been any better. It’s a perfect example of how to do it right. Jennifer lets us watch the characters development. She inflicts emotions where they feel natural. Had my heart breaking for Ella as well as for Max. But she also made me see the other side of the coin, the ugly side, let’s say it like that.
This was such a heartbreakingly beautiful story, I loved it from the very first page.

What I admire about Jennifer’s writing is, she’s not afraid of the ugly. She’s not afraid of the dark side of human beings. She turns tragedy into a beautiful masterpiece. Most important of all, she brings my emotions out, and that’s not easy for me. I am usually the type of person that reads, understands and moves on. But in each of her books, Jennifer Hartmann has brought out the tears and all the feels. There’s beauty in the ugly, if you just choose to find it. At the same time, this had so sweet moments all I say is the crayon in the pot 🧡🧡🧡 the thing is, there are so many cute scenes. So many scenes that are burned into my mind forever.
- Pooh sticks at the bridge
- The concert
- The crayon pot flower
The last 25 per cent? Killed me. Killed me! My jaw seriously dropped to the floor. I should have seen that coming a mile away. I did not.


Range of emotions:
😬😔😓😭😍🥕😳🥺😱
🌶️: 1,5/5 it’s more sweet than spicy
😱: 4/5
😭:4,5/5
❤️: 5/5
⭐️: 5/5

Do I recommend:
Oh hell yes!

⭐️Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my advanced copy. All opinions are my own, I was under no obligation to review.

Ella and Max are childhood friends who are next door neighbors until Ella moves away suddenly. 10 years later, Ella moves back to town right across the street from Max, but a lot has changed in both of their lives making them completely different people. Ella is having a hard time coming to terms with her brother's recent sentence to death after he murdered two people. Max is battling his feelings of his mother's abandonment and his father's alcoholism. When Ella returns to high school in the small town, she is met by ruthless bullying and embarrassment by her peers for her brother's actions. Her saving grace is a new friend Brynn and her once best friend, Max. But, tragedy seems to follow Ella wherever she goes and so does Max.
Review:
4.5 stars.
Catch the Sun is a beautiful love story of childhood friends to lover (one of my favorite tropes!). I absolutely adored Max and Ella. Their resilience upon never ending tragedy is something to be admired. The quotes in this books were superior! So beautifully done and you can't help but fall in love with these characters. This is a character driven story, so it is more of a slow burn especially at the beginning. I think that it could have been shortened a little and I would still have felt that same connection with the characters. But, once it picks up in the second half, it does not slow down! The tragedy in this book is intense and I did not see it coming, but it was very well done! I teared up a couple of times, but didn't cry like I thought that I would. Regardless, this a beautiful love story filled with overcoming LOTS of obstacles within themselves and their families. And in my opinion, Jennifer Hartmann never misses!
Catch the Sun publishes on 7/16, and I highly recommend picking up your copy! I already preordered this masterpiece for a trophy on my bookshelf!
Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Hartmann, and Bloom Books for this ARC of Catch the Sun in exchange for an honest review!

Cue the tears! I could not stop reading this book! The plot twists were so amazing and the color orange will never hold the same meaning for me again. This book was both heartbreaking and beautiful. And I loved every single second of it! It's a must read for everyone!