Uhm, what the heck was that Mia Sheridan?! I don’t know why but that was not what I expected and I LOVED IT. the sneakers. The tension. The banter. The sadness. Also I think I kind of now want to become a doomsday prepper. lol

I really wanted to enjoy Heart of the Sun—especially being a fan of Mia Sheridan’s previous emotional romances—but this one just didn’t land for me.

Right from the start, the book was difficult to get into. The pacing felt uneven, and I found myself struggling to connect with the characters or become immersed in the world. Part of the issue, I think, was the lack of clarity about the book’s genre and tone. At times, it read like a classic Sheridan romance, with deeply emotional moments and character-driven tension. But then it would abruptly veer into dystopian, almost post-apocalyptic territory, with world-building that felt underdeveloped and jarringly out of place.

It left me confused—was this supposed to be a love story with a unique setting, or a dystopian saga with romantic elements? Unfortunately, it didn’t commit fully to either, and that genre straddling diluted the impact of both. I kept waiting for the plot to find its footing, but it never quite did.

There are glimmers of what Sheridan does best—intimacy, emotional stakes, and broken characters finding healing—but in this case, they were buried beneath a confusing narrative and world that didn’t feel fully realized. I appreciate the ambition behind trying something new, but for me, this one missed the mark.

Heart of the Sun was not a bad read, I just wasn't feeling it. The premise was there but I felt like it could have been more. The relationship between Tuck and Emily needed more diving into it. I wanted to believe in their romance. The background of a post-apocalyptic world was interesting and I did enjoy that part of the story. It made the story pop out. However the romance, or lack there of, just wasn't enough for me. Tuck was a good character and that boy did deserve much good. I did enjoy Mia Sheridan, Archer's Voice being one of my favorite books but this book did not hit it for me. Though it could be just right for other readers.

This was my first Mia Sheridan book and I did not enjoy it. Her books are hyped up and this one fell completely flat for me. I didn’t buy the romance/feel any chemistry between Emily and Tuck, and I didn’t like either character on their own. Thank you NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the eARC.

Friends, I went in completely blind and have zero regrets!

I cried in my car at least four times, listening to the audiobook, as well. Loved the dual narration!

"It was always leading here." "Yes, always."

"I'd find you in the dark."

I love how Mia is not afraid to try different genres and twists. Yeah, it's a Love Story, which we all know she is amazing with. But this dystopia theme was such an unexpected twist, and I loved it!

This is my first Mia Sheridan book but it will not be my last! A slow burn romance between long separated childhood friends whose lives developed in wildly different circumstances, the focus is actually more of a dystopian survival story, but I was very happy to follow their journey back to each other. Recommended.

I’ve always enjoyed Mia Sheridan’s writing, and while dystopian novels are outside my typical realm, I was drawn in by the claim of a love story. Yes, there is a love story and an HEA, but in my opinion that’s misleading marketing of this book. The struggle to survive a post-apocalyptic event and the journey home really stole the show in this story.

I alternated between audiobook and ebook, and truthfully if I hadn’t, I’m not sure I would have finished. At over 450 pages (book) and over 14 hours (audio), this isn’t a short story by any means. It truly is a journey and listening to the audio helped keep my attention, even if that felt drawn out at times too.

It’s hard to rate a book that’s so vastly different from my usual read. Overall, I’m glad I finished it, but I do wish that the journey was shortened and we got more of a view of the HEA. The ending was very rushed. In fact, the love story itself doesn’t even really start until at least 2/3 through the book, with a majority of it in the back quarter.

I think it’s important to be transparent. If you’re going into this book looking for a love story like previous Mia Sheridan works (such as Archer’s Voice), you’re probably going to be disappointed as many other reviews have pointed out. But if you go in with an open mind looking for something that’s unique with the Mia Sheridan touch, then this just might be the read for you.

3.75⭐️ rounded up

Thank you to HTP Books, Mia Sheridan, and Harlequin Audio for the opportunity to review this digital ARC and ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.

What an amazing book. Becoming one of my favorite authors i loved the storylineand the characters. Was a great read.

This is Mia Sheridan like you haven't seen her before! While this isn't my favourite of hers (how do you beat sweet Archer?), it was a RIDE.

What to expect:
- past and present
- second chance romance between childhood best friends turned enemies!
- she's a famous pop singer, he's her new bodyguard
- forced proximity and banter intensifying their chemistry and tension!
- dystopian, apocalyptic twist thanks to a solar flare
- slow burn romance (because her boyfriend is along for the ride!)

4 stars!
I love Mia Sheridan’s writing — she never fails to draw me in!

This book follows Emily and Tuck as they navigate a dystopian world, and as a huge fan of The Walking Dead and The Last of Us, I couldn’t resist picking this one up. The story starts with a slow but thoughtful build, giving us glimpses of their childhood and the bond they shared growing up. Eventually, we move into the heart of the story — a reunion years later as adults, thrown together in a world that’s been completely transformed.

The childhood friends to lovers trope is one of my favorites, and it’s done so well here. While the romance is central, the story is just as much about their journey — their will to survive, the emotional and physical challenges they face, and the people they meet along the way. I was completely engrossed from start to finish!

And that ending? Absolutely perfect. 💛

Thank you to the author and publisher for the advanced copy of this ebook!

Thank you so much @canarystreetpress and @harlequinbooks for the free ALC & ARC!

“If I could go back, I’d find you in the dark”

Review Title & Vibes:   
What an absolutely wild ride! I’m notorious for going in completely blind on a book… definitely should have at least read the blurb!

On the outset - I thought this was a friends-to-enemies-to-lovers rockstar-bodyguard romance. I mean - it does kinda still have that theme, but it took a hard right turn into an extremely realistic dystopian/apocalypse storyline.

Tuck and Emily have such a complex history - neighbors in a family-owned orange grove in California. When tragedy happens, Tuck moves away and self-destructs. Years later Emily is at the top of the (proverbial) ladder living her best life as “Nova” a highly synthesized pop star version of the singer song writer she longs to be. She gives Tuck a second chance as her body guard.

But when the lights go out… the tables turn. No longer are societies elite at the top, but those with knowledge, experience, and muscle. Their fight to stay alive and make it home is brutal. Lots of beautiful human moments - sharing what you can, but also the reality that life threatening situations can turn society to its worst.

Audio Notes:
{dual} wonderful performance. I was captivated and dialed in the entire time. Some characters were meant to annoy (and succeeded to drive me insane) I would highly recommend!

Rating: 4.25⭐️ | Spice: 2🌶️ | Audio: 5🎙️
What to Expect:
Childhood Best Friends
Enemies to Lovers
Second Chance
Popstar x Bodyguard
Slowburn
High Stakes / Survival Romance
Dystopian

Recommended to...  
All the high stakes romance readers who crave a tension filled slow burn.

Narrated by @andreonthemic @soundslikeannalee
Produced by @harlequinbooks

HEART OF THE SUN
Mia Sheridan
Available ( May 20/25)

Teenagers Emily and Tuck’s mothers are best friends and they live in the wonderful orange orchard land in California. Even though Emily and Tuck bicker, they secretly love each other. But when tragedy strikes, they are sent on different paths… Emily to find her voice with her singing and Tuck to a bad place that results in jail.

Several years later, Emily’s mother convinces Emily to hire Tuck as a bodyguard now that she has hit the big time singing under the name NOVA. As they are flying in a private jet from LA to NYC with Emily’s actor boyfriend, Charlie, solar flares hit the Earth leaving devastation everywhere. Their place crashes, killing the pilot, but the three are spared. Now they must begin their journey from somewhere mid USA to try to get back to California.

This apocalyptic thriller will have you on the edge of your seat until we determine their fates.

I went into this one expecting a romantic or emotional read (based on the author’s previous work, which I own but haven’t yet read), but it turned out to be more dystopian survival fiction—which caught me off guard.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite work for me, though I really wanted to enjoy it. The story follows Emily, a pop star feeling disillusioned with her fame and life, and Tuck, her childhood friend recently released from prison who is hired as her bodyguard. Along with Emily’s boyfriend Charlie, they survive a private plane crash—only to discover a world that’s descended into chaos: no power, no communication, and a growing sense of danger as society collapses.

Despite the promising concept, I found the characters dull and unmemorable. I struggled to feel invested in their journey or relationships. Much of the dialogue felt forced, and the pacing dragged in places.

While it didn’t resonate with me, I appreciate the opportunity to read this ARC and I know others may connect with it in a way I didn’t.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing.

QUICK GLANCE-
My format: e-book ARC
Other formats- 📖Physical (464 pages) 🎧Audio (14 hours and 47 minutes) Available on KINDLE Unlimited
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️(skip Chapters 24 and 25 for closed door modification)
Language: 🤐🤐moderate

MY THOUGHTS-
Heart of the Sun took me on quite the ride! From page one, I was hooked—Tuck and Emily’s backstory drew me in instantly. It took me some time to warm up to the FMC as an adult, but overall, the story felt raw and realistic.

While the romance almost played second fiddle to survival in a new world, that slow-burn pacing actually worked for me. There was depth, stakes, and an immersive journey that kept me invested. I will say the last 20% of the book kind of dragged on for me a bit and lowered my overall rating. Still, this one kept me flipping pages, and if you love slow-burns with high stakes, you should add this to your TBR!

READ IF YOU LIKE
🎤She’s A Popstar
🔫He’s Her Bodyguard
✌️Second Chances
🖤Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian Romance
😱Action & Suspense
🔥Slow Burn Romance

This was something that I normally wouldn't reach out for, but this was honestly an amazing book. I loved the storytelling and loved the characters.

If Mia Sheridan writes it, I read it, so I was all in on this one. I enjoy her ability to write about scenarios I don't often encounter in my typical romance reads, but this lost me a bit along the way. Had me a bit confused and I couldn't really connect with the characters. Cannot wait to see what else she has in store because I adore her writing style.

I’m a big Mia Sheridan fan, so this was an instant read. The dystopian/survival twist is different from her usual, but I was hooked from page one. Couldn’t put it down! This is one of the books that sucked me in from the action-packed introduction and kept me hooked throughout the journey. This was a journey, one of self-reflection, forgiveness, love, survival, and second chances. The writing was vivid and a story I could see playing out in my head.

☀️Heart of the Sun☀️
By Mia Sheridan

- Review posted to Amazon, Goodreads, BookBub, and TheStoryGraph on 6/2/25

~~

4 ⭐

~~

It’s been a bit since I’ve dipped my toes into the dystopian/apocalyptic romance space and holy moly, that was a trip! Heart of the Sun left me mega stressed, a little sweaty, and with my jaw flat on the floor. To my fellow suspense-obsessed queens, definitely take note of Mia Sheridan’s latest release!

Real talk, I did struggle to get into the story at the beginning. The pace is on the slower end but once Emily and Tuck’s relationship started to take form, I soon found myself utterly gripped and desperate to see what obstacles awaited them next. I am weak for a super angsty plot and this storyline left me genuinely breathless.

And that slow burn? Brutal! Despite a history of being close family friends, circumstances set them on totally opposite paths in life. Emily and Tuck’s journeys back to one another and their true selves were anything but smooth. But that just makes the story conclusion so much sweeter.

I'd recommend this story to anyone looking to for a unique, unconventional romance read and loves to be kept on their toes with big plot twists around every corner.

What you can expect in Heart of the Sun
☀️Slow Burn
☀️Dual POV
☀️Popstar/Bodyguard
☀️Enemies to Lovers
☀️Childhood BFFs
☀️Second Chance
☀️NA Dystopian

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for sending an early copy. These are my honest thoughts. 🖤

I love that this isn’t the typical love story. Everything starts out normal, but a catastrophe hits the planet and lives are literally turned upside down.

I had high hopes for this story as the beginning started off with a bang that captured my attention. Estranged childhood best friends Emily and Tuck come together in a romance with a dystopian twist. Tuck, an ex-con, is hired by Emily, a rising popstar, to act as her bodyguard while touring. However, a freak electromagnetic event causes their plane to crash and the story becomes one of survival where the duo, along with Emily’s movie star boyfriend Charlie (who is a self-absorbed prick), are forced to figure out where they are, survive the elements, and make their way to California in hopes of reuniting with civilization and their families. Along the way, Emily and Tuck grow closer as they realize what matters most in life. Like I said, I had high hopes for this story, but it fell flat for me. I appreciated the struggle for survival elements, seeing the desperation of strangers come out as they fight for their lives in a world unknown, the goodness in the few characters that helped Emily and Tuck, learning to forgive past mistakes, and the characters finding happiness after their world as it once was ceased to exist. However, as I kept reading, it felt more and more like I was on the Oregon Trail with just a dash of romance and a rushed ending. I have yet to read other of Sheridan's works like Archer's Voice, which I've been told is heartwrenching and wonderful; however, this story just didn't hit the right chords with me.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this eARC in exchange for my thoughts.