Heart of the Sun is difficult to review without spoiling too much. I went into this fully expecting a romance and while there is a romantic aspect to it there’s so much more. This turned out to be something I never would have picked up but overall a thought-provoking and decent read.

At times the pacing of the book felt off. It dragged in places and at times I was bored. It did turn around and by the last quarter I was on the edge of my seat and my mind was racing with “What would I do in this situation?” thoughts.

Overall, a fun read if you know what you are getting into. If you like end of the world, sci-fi vibes if would be a good fit.

Title: Heart of the Sun
Author: Mia Sheridan
Genre: Romance, fantasy
Rating: 4 out of 5

When the world is plunged into darkness, who would you turn to?

Amid the sun-drenched orange groves of California, childhood friends Tuck Mattice and Emily Swanson shared a bond that seemed unbreakable—until life ripped them apart.

Thirteen years later, Emily is a rising pop sensation in need of security, and Tuck, a brooding ex-con, is in need of a fresh start. When fate brings them together once again, Emily hires him on as her new bodyguard. They butt heads and bicker, just like the old days—yet neither can deny the heat rekindling between them.

But when a cataclysmic solar flare disrupts the electrical grid, society is suddenly plunged into chaos and darkness. For Emily, the familiar comforts of fame and fortune crumble, but for Tuck, this stark new reality could be the chance he needs to finally prove himself. As they come to terms with all they've lost and the bitterness that's kept them apart, they must find their way back to one another and discover a new place, under the sun.

I enjoyed this read, although the childhood scenes did not make it seem like Tuck and Emily “shared a bond that seemed unbreakable.” It just seemed like the barely tolerated each other. I generally like dystopian novels, so I enjoyed that part, although Tuck and Emily seem much more trusting of people they meet than I would have been. This was a solid read, but I never really felt the characters were in danger.

Mia Sheridan is a bestselling author. Heart of the Sun is her newest novel.

(Galley courtesy of Harlequin/Canary Street Press in exchange for an honest review.)

(Blog link live 5/22).

This was definitely a ride! I’m not totally into apocalyptic stuff but I do love a second chance! Not my favorite of hers but worth the read if thats your thing.

I loved going into books blind and this one was a complete RIDE!

This book was so hard to put down, the suspense aspect of it, kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

There was a lot of growth of Emily and Tuck in the book, along with this sense of thinking about how humanity would really react if the entire electrical grid failed. It’s definitely something that will stay with me for a long time.

Both of these characters had these moments of really thinking about their purpose in that kind of world, what they could do for the betterment of everyone.

Emily and Tuck have something of a second chance romance, though they never acted on feelings they had for each other as children. The romantic aspect of the book was definitely slower than the chaos of the rest of the book, and I did appreciate that they respected each other’s goals, and supported them.

Heart of the Sun is an emotional ride that blends romance, survival, and second chances. It starts in sunny California with two childhood friends—Emily, a famous pop star, and Tuck, a former bad boy (swoon) turned bodyguard (SWOON). They haven’t seen each other in over a decade, but when Emily needs a bodyguard and Tuck needs a job, fate brings them back together.

Their dynamic is everything — snarky, sweet, and full of tension (give me alll the angst). You can feel their history in every conversation, and the chemistry between them had me sweating at times. Then the unexpected hits (no spoilers!) and Emily and Tuck are plunged into a world that is entirely unrecognizable to them and the reader.

I think where I struggled the most is with that aspect of the story — mentally and emotionally I'm just not in the space for a dystopian world right now, where modern life as you know if falls apart in a blink...mostly because it feels too entirely believable (and something tells me it *wouldn't* end with me falling in love with a hot body guard and getting an HEA). But if you're still feeling mentally stable enough to read about a post-apocalyptic world, carry on.

What makes this story really work is how the chaos strips everything down to what matters. Emily has to let go of her superstar image, and Tuck finally has a chance to prove he’s more than his past. Watching them find their footing together in this new world is a huge part of the journey. It's very classic Mia Sheridan, and reading their dynamic was like slipping back on a comfy old hoodie.

There’s a great balance of romance, action, and emotion, and even with the world falling apart, the story never feels too heavy (even in a year like 2025, but still proceed with caution). It’s more about rebuilding—lives, relationships, and trust.

If you're into stories with complicated pasts, great banter, and a dash of end-of-the-world drama, Heart of the Sun is definitely worth checking out. It’s heartfelt, a little wild, and surprisingly hopeful. I mean, after all, it is Mia Sheridan. If anyone could get me to pick up a dystopian book right now, it's her.

Absolute Perfection!

Most romance books have the same generic happily ever after but Mia Sheridan knows how to bring some thing new to the genre. The end of the world aspect created a unique experience making this the best romance I've read this year!

I desperately wanted to love this one and to a point I did enjoy Sheridan's prose, but I did find Emily very, VERY grating. I understand the general subplot of her character but there were moments in the general survival aspect of it that I just felt she was far too out of touch and Tuck had to deal with her as if he was dealing with a petulant toddler. I love dystopian landscapes and I appreciate the nuance of how humanity can spiral when things get out of hand, but I do wish there were more exploration into rebuilding from the storm after the fact.

Popstar x bodyguard? Second chance romance? Say NO MORE!

I sincerely enjoyed this one. I think Tuck and Emily were such interesting characters. I loved both of their arcs! And the post apocalyptic storyline was SO fun to read about.

Pick this one up if you love the second chance romance, childhood friends to lovers, post apocalyptic, and popstar x bodyguard tropes!

I enjoyed this so much!! It is a beautifully written, emotionally layered and INTENSE story. The haunting post-apocalyptic world with the MCs doing everything they can to survive life in a new world kept me so engaged. The setting is so immersive and raw and I felt that sense of urgency in every scene.

Tuck was a standout from the very beginning and I loved instantly! He was so misunderstood but quietly powerful in the way he cared for Emily and those around him. Watching his journey toward redemption and forgiveness was immensely gratifying, and his growth was perfectly done and felt authentic.

Emily’s character arc was equally compelling. At first, she seemed swept up in the glitter of fame, but as the world changed, so did she — revealing a resilient, compassionate woman who used her music not just as a comfort for herself, but as a beacon for others. Although their reunion starts out so rocky, her bond with Tuck was evident. I thought the build up to their relationship was tender and well paced, making their second chance romance feel effortless. This story hit all the right emotional notes while offering hope and healing in the midst of devastation.

Content: one open door (end ch. 34-beginning ch. 35)

Thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Audio for the gifted copies. My thoughts are my own.

I don’t think anything will ever compare to Archer’s voice.

But also, it felt like a romantic realistic, walking dead with no zombies …. And I wanted the Male main character to be more like Darrell Dixon, and like he kind of was and wasn’t…

I’m still working on my feelings about this book but ehhh at the moment. It didn’t give what I thought it was going too.

This was not like what I've come to expect from previous Mia Sheridan reads. I really didn't enjoy this at all.

Emily and Tuck are childhood friends who grew up and grew apart. Years later, they reconnect when Tuck is down on his luck, and Emily needs a bodyguard after her music career takes off. When a solar flare disrupts the plane they are on, they crash land and are forced to put aside their differences in order to survive.

Thoughts 💭
I went back and forth between the audio and digital book while reading this one, and both versions were a treat! The audio has two narrators who each read the dual points of view from Emily and Tuck. This book starts off with a pop star needing a bodyguard to keep her safe as she rises in popularity. An extra twist was that they were childhood friends who always seemed to clash. I loved the tension between the two main characters that started when they were children and carried over to the present day. This alone would have been an amazing story, but then phase two hits. Their plane stops working, as all electronics seemingly cease to work. What I thought would be a light romance turned into a fight for survival and a slow burn romance instead. I really liked this dystopian world and the journey that both of these characters went on. Tuck was a sweetheart, I'm glad he found his footing after having it rough in the beginning of the book. I couldn't put it down!

Archer’s Voice is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was extremely excited to receive an ARC of another Mia Sheridan story.

Sometimes I like to go into books with very little info on what the story is about (especially if it's a reliable rec or from a beloved author). Part of me is glad I did for this one because this wouldn’t be the type of book I normally go for! So if that’s you then all you should know is this is a second chance romance (childhood friends) where our main characters undergo a huge life-altering event that forces them to rely on one another. Okay stop reading there and pick this up on May 20th!

If you are someone who needs a little more detail… especially because this book was shockingly (to me) heavier than I expected. This romance comes with a side of apocalypse. Tuck and Emily are childhood best friends – they grew up next door to each other but when life takes an unexpected turn, Tuck moves away and Emily doesn’t see him again until their mid-twenties. Life looks nothing like when they were kids – Emily is an up and coming popstar and Tuck has just been released from prison. Emily takes a chance on hiring Tuck as her bodyguard, and as they’re on their way to start her tour, their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere… the world as they know it is about to change forever, and Tuck and Emily will have to rebuild their trust in one another in order to survive.

This book started out so strong for me! I thought the character development was phenomenal. The suspense kept me on my toes – my heart was racing with different elements wondering what would happen next and where this story was going. The one main downside was that this was a touch too long for me. Coming in at over 460 pages… I felt like some things got repetitive and a bit anxiety-inducing until the ending picked back up. Overall, it was really different than my usual reads, and I love the depth that Mia Sheridan brings to her characters!

Heart of the Sun is a dystopian story, set amidst a powerful solar flare that takes down the country's entire electrical grid. Emily, a young rising pop star, and her childhood friend-turned-bodyguard Tuck, survive a plane crash together when the solar flare hits. Together, they have to make their way from the midwest back to California while fending off threats at every turn along the way. At first, Emily and Tuck struggle to find common ground, but are forced to stay together to survive. As their journey continues and the reality of their new world sets in, they begin to understand each other and connect on a deeper level.

I have been a fan of Mia Sheridan's novels in the past, but this one was just okay for me. I found the first half of the book to be quite slow, and there was not enough character development to balance the action/suspense plot as Emily and Tuck make their way across a dystopian USA. The end of the story was better, and I did enjoy the arc of Tuck's redemption story.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

4 stars and my thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the eARC!

Tuck and Emily are childhood friends, torn apart by life circumstances that include Tuck's mom dying, him going to prison, Emily becoming a pop icon, etc. You know, the usual. When they're reunited for Tuck to be a part of Emily's security team, the unthinkable happens and a huge solar flare completely destroys all electronics, particularly on the plane they are currently flying in. In their attempts to survive and make it back home, they see the best and worst in humanity as well as start to learn one another all over again as adults.

I really had a blast with this one, I gotta be honest. I think it's unfair for people to say it reads like a Wattpad story because that's a little mean to fanfic authors in general. Was it the best written book on the planet? Not really. Did I have some doubts that two people could walk from Illinois to Los Angeles in a little over a week? Obviously. But it was a fun romance at the end of the world.

I am a little disappointed to see that it wasn't an original idea from Sheridan, but I also don't know how publishing works and she was very up front about it in the acknowledgements.

This was unlike anything that I have read by Mia so far…BUT It was good!
I’m a slut for dystopian reads, but most of the dystopian's I’ve ever read were already set a few years into it. So when I was reading and found out that we get to read about the START up of a dystopian way of life, I was super stoked! 😆

I will say I am NOT a fan of Emily… like AT ALL ! I found her really annoying and ESPECIALLY found the side character, Charlie even MORE annoying! BUT there was a purpose in making them annoying, so I’ll forgive it… lol 😆
Now Tuck on the other hand was a different story ! I hung on tight for his POV’s 😩 big, brooding, muscle man straight out of prison… I need 14 of him right now! 😆

The only downfall for me was that I felt like it was lacking passion …. I just felt like I couldn’t really connect with the characters enough to care for them… which sucks because like I said the premise of the book was really cool !

But all in all I did enjoy this book, and I was just happy to be part of the ride for the adventure that unfolded. 😊

Thank you so much NetGalley for my arc copy in exchange for an honest review

My ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. In true Kelsey fashion, I started reading this book with no idea what it was about simply because I recognized the author. Imagine my surprise when I figured out it was not only a love story but was set in a post-apocalyptic world with the main characters struggling to survive. After that initial shock, it was good!

DNF at 66%. I did somewhat enjoy what I was reading, but could not finish it. My apologies and thank you for the e-ARC.

Mia Sheridan is my girrrrl when it comes to f’d up thrillers with romance, so I thought I’d take a chance on her exploring this new concept. Was fine, but would prefer more messed up thriller romances from her!

A singer and her childhood best friend reunite - right before the world ends.

Tuck, fresh out of prison for serving a crime he didn’t commit, gets hired as Emily’s bodyguard. They set off for her first tour on a private jet — but the jet goes down. Turns out, an ESP has hit the earth and the entire grid is down.

Emily and Tuck (and Emily’s boyfriend Charlie) set off to walk back to California from Illinois. The book details their travels and hardships, and they deal with reacquainting themselves on this trip back.

They deal with a lot of death and a changing world, Tuck feeling unworthy/needing to make it up to the world for his crimes, Emily feeling like she’s not helpful/have any skills, and more.

Overall, the premise was interesting and definitely had me questioning what I would do if this happened. It could’ve been much shorter, and I feel like it was marketed too much as a romance - it’s moreso a post-apocalyptic drama with some romance.

There were some inconsistencies, repetitive things, and formatting issues that I hope are fixed before the final book, but overall I was entertained and intrigued as to what would happen.

Thanks to Harlequin, Canary Street Press, and Net Galley for the ARC!

𝑯𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒖𝒏 by Mia Sheridan
⭐️ 4/5
🌶️ 1.5/5
Pub date May 20 2025

Oh boy, I was NOT expecting this at all. This is the second book I’ve read by Mia Sheridan, and in my true fashion, I went in completely blind. Tuck is our selfless, too-good-to-be-true hero, while Emily initially came across as self-centered, but I was intrigued by her talent and complexity. I was curious to see how their characters would grow.

I didn’t realize where the story was going to go until… everything FLIPPED. What started as a bodyguard romance quickly became a survival story—and more importantly, a journey. The depth of their romance wasn’t just tension, but it was rooted in their childhood memories and early friendship. It was the ‘almost-love’ that’s lingered quietly in the background through life until their paths cross once again, and the world as they know it is falling apart. Were there over-the-top cinematic and far-fetched action scenes? Yes. Was the HEA story predictable? Absolutely. Was there an annoying side character? You got it—and I’m pretty sure Charlie was on purpose lol. My honest opinion? All these things worked, because Tuck and Emily were perfect for each other.

The audiobook narrators did an incredible job bringing their characters to life and I enjoyed their storytelling while I was busy with chores just as much as when I read the story on my Kindle during downtimes. As a busy career mom, I truly appreciate being presented the opportunity to read the eARC and ALC from Harlequinn Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and Canary Street Press.