When Mia announced she was releasing this book, I was very excited. I am a huge fan of The Last of Us, and with the world in the state is in right now, I admit I have been watching all kinds of movies and shows that deal with what we would do as a society if a situation like this actually happened. And I am not embarrassed to admit I've taken several tips from some well known preppers on what we should all have on hand in case of a catastrophic event.

I'm usually not a big fan when the two main characters squabble the way Emily and Tuck did, but their history was such that it made sense why they did, and it even added to the tension and chemistry that was building between them. Tuck was a big, brooding hunk of man, and his recent past, being convicted and serving prison time actually added to the allure of his character. But the most important thing was he had a really good head on his shoulders and he was more than capable of taking care of Emily with the limited resources they had on hand.

Emily, right from the start I got the impression she lost her way when fame and fortune hit for her, and I loved the transformation she went through on the journey back to California from a spoiled brat to a selfless woman who gave her all and helped as many as she could.

I must admit, I really expected this book to be darker, more graphic if I am supposed to liken it to The Last of Us, and it really didn't head down that dark path. It alludes to some bad things happening to people, but off page. That is kind of good, I don't really need to read about more pain and suffering.

I was so happy with how this story ended. There were a few stragglers I wished I had answers to, like whether Charlie made it somewhere safely. He was such a big part of Emily's story in the beginning but then he just took off, so I think I needed to know how he ended up. Or I thought perhaps Emily and Tuck would encounter him again along the journey.

Mia has really been expanding her offerings lately and I am the first to say how excited I am at all the different tropes she is writing in now. I am here for all of it!

Archers Voice is one of my favorite romance novels so I jumped at the chance to read Mia’s new one. I really enjoyed this- so good!

I normally love this author and while the writing itself was well done, the story just didn’t gel for me. I didn’t really like or sympathize with the main characters, and the ending was just so unrealistic that it annoyed me. I was pretty disappointed in this as I really wanted to love it. Thanks for the ARC Netgalley.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc! This book was so different than any other romance book I’ve read! The childhood friends to lovers is always one of my favorites. I was so captivated by this solar flare, I couldn’t wait to keep reading to see what craziness was going to happen on Tuck & Emily’s adventure. Tuck is so protective and his story really hits your heart. I do wish we could have had an update on the families that Emily & Tuck came across on their journey but overall, I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend everyone read this 🥹

Mia Sheridan delivers another masterpiece with Heart of the Sun, seamlessly blending romance, suspense, and dystopian intrigue in a way that is both gutwrenching and utterly captivating.

Set against the backdrop of sunlit orange groves and a world descending into chaos, Heart of the Sun explores the fragile beauty of love and resilience in the face of an unforgiving reality. Emily Swanson and Tuck Mattice’s journey from childhood best friends to enemies to lovers is a slow burn rollercoaster packed with tension, passion, and tender moments that had me rooting for them every step of the way.

Emily, a pop star struggling with the confines of fame, is a heroine I couldn’t help but love—her strength and vulnerability shine brightly even as the world crumbles around her. Tuck, the brooding ex con turned bodyguard, is an absolute standout. His blend of stoic protectiveness and raw yearning makes him the perfect complement to Emily’s fire. Their banter is electric, their chemistry palpable, and their emotional scars make their eventual reconnection all the more satisfying.

Sheridan’s vivid descriptions of a post-apocalyptic California are hauntingly beautiful. The chaos following the solar flare feels so realistic, adding a layer of tension and stakes that keep the pages flying. Fans of The Last of Us will feel right at home in this gritty yet hopeful dystopian world.

For readers who adore tropes like second chances, enemies to lovers, childhood best friends, and popstar and bodyguard romances, this book delivers them with perfection. The slow burn romance is packed with aching tension, and the emotional payoff is worth every moment of longing.

Heart of the Sun is more than a romance—it’s a story about survival, redemption, and rediscovering what truly matters. Mia Sheridan has created a poignant and unforgettable tale that will stay with me long after the final page. Highly recommended for anyone who loves their romance with a side of adventure and a dose of dystopian grit!

Thank you to NetGalley, Mia Sheridan, and Canary Street Press for the eARC of this book.

It doesn't matter what the book is about. If Sheridan is the author, I will read it! I fell fast for this title. The story was captivating and intense. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

Heart of the Sun is a standalone title written by Mia Sheridan.

Expected release date of May 2025.

*Childhood best friends
*Enemies to Lovers
*Dystopian

I am a sucker for a dystopian romance book, mainly because I know I would never be able to survive in a world without electricity and basic necessities.

Emily and Tuck grew up together, sharing a first kiss before life tore them apart for almost a decade. Now, Tuck is back in Emily’s life thanks to her mother and he is thrown into a life of celebrity mayhem as the FMC’s bodyguard.

On a flight a New York from California the world is hit with a solar flare that leaves everyone in the dark and struggling to adjust. The main couple survive the plane crash and are left trying to find their way back to California.

On their way, they find themselves reconnecting from their teen years and learning to trust each other in world that is turning to violence and hysteria.

No OW drama, slight OM drama in the form of Emily’s boyfriend. No spicy scenes between the FMC and boyfriend, only between the main characters. No third act breakup.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this title.

Format: NetGalley ebook
Genre: Contemporary fiction, Romance
Overall score:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level:🌶️🌶️🌶️
Characters: Emily (FMC) & Tuck (MMC)

Mia Sheridan has such a way with words creating such delicate and emotional stories that tug at your heart strings. Heart of the sun is an emotional second chance romance that takes dystopian elements in such a unique way. Childhood friends that turn to strangers and meet again but this time she's a pop princess and he's her new bodyguard but then the circumstance leads them to leaning on each other for survival and it is tension filled, emotional, palpable with angst. It is unique, emotional and full of suspense, fans of Mia Sheridan and suspenful romance will love this book!

Synopsis: Childhood neighbors reunite only for a solar flare to hit Earth and send them in to a dystopian, apocalyptic world. They must work together to get back home.
Thoughts: What a unique storyline! It was very detailed and did drag for me a bit/was long, but could play out as a cool movie!
Thank you to NetGalley for the arc! It will release in May.

I honestly wasn’t sure what I was expecting from this book! I was so blessed to have received an ARC! I’m such a huge fan of Mia’s, so I knew this book had to be amazing, right? Dystopian/end of the world is really not a genre of book I’d go for. However, thanks to Mia’s incredible way with words, I’m taking that thought back! What I think I enjoyed most about this book is that the journey Tuck and Emily (and Charlie) went on had given them the chance to exist in the quiet of their new world. They were able to see heartache and still grow as individuals. It really was such a moving story. I honestly was almost done with the book and didn’t feel particularly moved by the story. But then Mia was like, here hold my beer. Oh man! I was a goner with tears streaming done my face!Heart of the Sun is an absolute must read! You will not be disappointed!!!

I was so happy to get an ARC for one of my most anticipated releases of 2025. Honestly, Mia Sheridan simply never disappoints and I fell irresistibly in love with Heart of the Sun. The romance was to die for, Tuck and Emily's chemistry was palpable and I couldn't get enough of them. But seriously, what I loved most was the dystopian elements.
Overall, I feel like Heart of the Sun is the book I have longed for for a very long time. And I will definitely be re-reading this masterpiece.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan is a captivating blend of romance and dystopian fiction that keeps readers engaged from start to finish. Set against the backdrop of California's sun-drenched orange groves and a world transformed by a massive solar flare, this novel offers a unique twist on the childhood friends-to-lovers trope.

Sheridan's storytelling shines as she weaves together the lives of Tuck Mattice, an ex-con seeking redemption, and Emily Swanson, a pop star whose fame suddenly loses meaning in the face of global upheaval. The author skillfully explores themes of second chances, resilience, and the power of human connection in times of crisis.

The chemistry between Tuck and Emily is palpable, and their journey from stubborn resistance to irresistible attraction is both believable and heartwarming. Sheridan excels at character development, allowing readers to connect deeply with the protagonists and their struggles.

While the dystopian elements add an intriguing layer to the story, at times they can overshadow the romantic aspects that Sheridan's fans have come to expect. Additionally, some readers might find the pacing slightly uneven as the narrative balances between the characters' personal growth and the larger societal changes.

Despite these minor drawbacks, Heart of the Sun is a compelling read that successfully combines elements of romance and speculative fiction. Sheridan's ability to create emotionally resonant characters shines through, making this novel a solid addition to her body of work.

✨ARC Review✨
This book is truly unlike any book I’ve read! I’ve always really enjoyed Mia’s writing and the different story concepts she comes up with, and this one did not disappoint! The story brought together a great combination of childhood-friends-to-lovers romance, with Emily and Tuck, with some dystopian/sci-fi elements that I really enjoyed. The writing pulled you in lots of different directions and made you really feel so many different emotions. I do wish we got some closure about some of the side characters, but I really enjoyed reading this book! Thanks so much to Harlequin and NetGalley for the ARC!
4⭐️

Oh, do I love me some Mia Sheridan. Her latest, Heart of the Sun was great. I was so excited to be able to read this!

I have been CRAVING this type of story for so long! As a big fan of the walking dead, I’ve been wanting to read an apocalyptic type story and this one was fabulous. It was a wild, wild ride. Seeing Tuck and Emily come back together after their shared history, learn how to survive, and fall in love was wonderful.

4 STARS. I have always been a huge fan of Mia's work and once again I am blown away but how different this is from some of her other work. In a post-apocalyptic world, Tuck and Emily discover what is truly of value and importance. This childhood friends to lovers sci-fi mashup was one of a kind and I, myself, found myself attempting to visualize what the sky would look like. If you're looking for something filled with second chances, character growth, years of pining, and very minimal spice... this is 100% for you. I really enjoyed this.

WOW, i can’t believe i got an arc from one of my favorite authors!! This is a childhood friends to lovers (well almost) and i loved it! The bodyguard aspect really was intriguing to me. The dystopian aspect also really added to the story to me, i think it made the plot a lot stronger adding a little something different. Overall i really enjoyed it. While Archer’s Voice is still my all time favorite, this one really hit the mark for me as well!

This felt SO different than Mia Sheridan's usual writing. I was expecting a complete love story about Emily and Tuck. This was more than just a love story. It was a story about survival. Emily and Tuck grew up together, they were neighbors. Life happened and separated them. Then, life brought them back together. Tuck begins working for Emily as a body gaurd. Now this is where the twist happens. The world has gone silent and they're in a complete blackout. They find themselves trying to find sanctuary and survive in a world that's slowly crumbling.

I really loved the plot. Maybe because I didn't see it coming. I was just shocked at all the events that were happening. Seeing Tuck and Emily reconnect and get a new start getting to know each other. It made the slow burn even better.
Tuck was that guy. He was the protector and provider. He was not to be played with. 👏🏾 Emily's character made a complete turn around. There was so much growth. You could see her becoming a strong and confident women. I wouldn't say it was only because of Tuck but his encouragement and him reminding her who she was helped a lot!

Thank you so much netgally and mia sheridan for this ARC! I really enjoyed this surprise read!

I was blown away by Heart of the Sun. I've never read a romance quite like this before and I loved the dystopian element. It follows the story of Emily and Tuck, who were childhood friends and almost-sort of lovers. At the beginning, the story weaves together timelines from their childhood to adulthood.

Fast forward to the present day-- Emily is a rising pop star who hires Tuck, now an ex-convict, as a body guard. While on a flight from California to NYC with Emily's boyfriend Charlie, a massive solar flare wipes out the entire electrical grid and causes their plane to crash land in the middle of nowhere. Tuck, Emily, and (unfortunately) Charlie decide to make the journey back to Cali on foot and through hitchhiking while simultaneously discovering just how devastating the impact of the solar flare has been.

I'm not gonna lie though, there were times I was more interested in the solar flare / world ending (ish) vibes than I was in the romance. I kind of forgot about it during the middle section of the book where they're traveling across the country. I was so captivated by the apocalyptic feel - it was very remniscient of the Walking Dead and the Last of Us, not in terms of zombies but more-so the eeriness of the collapse of the world. Not to mention Charlie was a big barrier in between Tuck and Emily. But once they're alone the romance starts to kick up the heat and I adored it! Tuck is so protective and thrives in this environment, whereas Emily struggles to come to terms with it. The last 30% of the book is crazily action-packed with almost no breaks. Though it was a very abrupt change of pace, I could not put the book down.

I wish we would've gotten an update on the families they met along the way, I simply need to know they're safe!! The book came full circle at the end in a way that tied together so poignantly with the beginning of their book, when they are children. This book showcases betrayal and the dark side of humanity that emerges in times of chaos, but also the kindness. I really loved this book, and am now off to fearfully research solar flares.

Thank you so much to Canary Street and NetGalley for this ARC!! 📚

I have read Mia Sheridan since Archers voice and have all the stories from her. This was not her usual style of writing but was good nonetheless. Emily the fmc was a singer and tuck was a childhood friend who ends up losing his way after his mother passed. The world becomes a dystopian place where everyone had to fend for themselves.their love story really doesn’t begin until they are stranded. Would I read this again probably not but because it was bad but because this type of story isn’t my thing. But I will more from Mia.