This one was just not my style and not for me! There is nothing wrong with it at all! I’m sure there are many readers out there who would love this one!

Book Review: Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan

Wow—this book was phenomenal! Set in a post-apocalyptic world after a devastating solar flare wipes out all electronics, Heart of the Sun delivers an unforgettable mix of romance, action, and survival.

At its core, this is a story about two childhood best friends who were once inseparable—until betrayal and heartbreak tore them apart. Now, years later, they find themselves thrust back together in a world that has completely changed. One is a pop star, used to the spotlight but suddenly powerless in this new reality. The other is the bodyguard assigned to protect them, carrying the weight of old wounds and unresolved feelings. As they fight to survive, the tension between them simmers, turning into a slow-burning romance that had me completely hooked.

The longing, the angst, the undeniable chemistry—it all came together beautifully in this second-chance love story. Every moment was packed with emotion, making the romance feel raw and deeply satisfying.

I had the privilege of receiving both the digital ARC and the audiobook (huge thanks to The Hive and NetGalley!), and I can confidently say that the dual narration brings this story to life in the best way. I listened on my commute and read at home, completely immersed in this world.

If you love intense, emotional romances set against a gripping backdrop of survival and second chances, Heart of the Sun is a must-read. It releases on May 20—don’t miss it!

This book was different from any of Mia Sheridan’s books. It was a decent story, but felt very dystopian like as opposed to a romance. The romance was there, but it felt overshadowed. I also felt like the book kind of dragged in some places and could have been more condensed maybe. Then the ending felt really fast. It wasn’t a bad book, just not my favorite of hers. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I enjoy this author and have read several of her books so far. I thought this book was great, kept me interested yet invested in getting to know the characters. As a result, the author uses good character development and keeps the reader informed with the plot and what is yet to come.

I really loved the romance in this book. The second-chance love story was so sweet and had me rooting for the couple the whole time. I loved seeing them reconnect and work through their past to find each other again. The way they grew together, the moments they shared, it all felt so real and genuine. I was totally invested in their relationship."

That said, the apocalyptic setting wasn’t exactly my cup of tea. I’m just not into the whole end-of-the-world vibe, so it took me a little while to really get into the background. It was hard for me to fully enjoy the story when I wasn’t connecting with the world-building. The grim, chaotic environment didn’t really pull me in, and it made the whole "end of the world" feel a little overwhelming at times. I just wanted to focus more on the romance!"

But even though the setting wasn’t my thing, the love story made up for it. The connection between the characters was so strong that it kept me hooked, even if the world around them was falling apart. If you love a good second-chance romance, I’d definitely recommend this one. The apocalypse might not be for everyone, but the romance is worth it.

Tuck and Emily were best friends, but life sent them different ways… him to prison, and her to the spotlight as a musical star. When her mother guilts her into hiring him as her bodyguard after his sentence is up, they meet again & that spark is still there. When their plane goes down in the middle of nowhere during a solar flare, they crash land into a world with no power, no electrical grid. Chaos ensues, and we are left on a whirlwind adventure with Tuck, Emily, and her boyfriend Charlie. We follow the alternate POV of Tuck and Emily as they discover who they truly are and what really matters.

I have loved everything that I’ve read by Mia Sheridan and this one is no exception! I went into this story blindly and was pleasantly surprised with the dystopian aspect!! It was light on the romance, focusing more on the relationship and survival, which I really enjoyed. Thank you so much to NetGalley and publisher for this ARC!

I'll admit, I wasn’t sure what to expect with Heart of the Sun. This was my first Mia Sheridan book, and while contemporary romance isn’t usually my go-to, the promise of a dystopian edge and real, high-stakes drama had me hitting that "read now" button.

Emily and Tuck start as childhood friends, bound by that pure, first-love magic that makes your heart ache. But when tragedy strikes, their lives take completely different paths. Fast forward eleven years, and their worlds collide again—this is where the story had me. Nothing like a bit of “we’re all going to die” to keep me fully invested!

The plot truly finds its footing when an apocalyptic event plunges the country into chaos. Power grids fail, communication ceases, and society descends into anarchy. The tension cranks up as a plane crash forces Emily, Tuck, and her boyfriend to embark on a perilous journey on foot from the Midwest to California. Sheridan’s execution is seamless, blending pulse-pounding action with reflective moments that make every step of their journey feel dangerously real.

One of the book's greatest strengths is its believability. Sheridan paints an unsettlingly plausible picture of societal collapse. Each challenge feels authentic, and the stakes remain high from start to finish. I loved the balance between the soft, lingering emotions of a love story and the sharp, jagged edges of survival—this contrast added so much depth to the narrative.

If you love high stakes, second chances, and stories where love rises from the ashes of chaos, Heart of the Sun might be your next favorite.

Would I read more from Mia Sheridan? Absolutely. Especially if she keeps that dystopian edge and dials up the tension. My advice? Go in with an open heart, but prepare for it to race a little faster when things get real.

💡 What You Can Expect from Heart of the Sun
🌱 Childhood Love: Sweet beginnings that evolve into deep, layered emotions.
🔥 High Stakes: The kind of tension that makes your pulse race.
🏕️ Wilderness Survival: Rugged elements and life-or-death decisions.
💞 Second Chance Romance: When fate gives love a second shot.
🛡️ Bodyguard Element: A protective dynamic that adds intensity and all the feels.
🌍 Apocalyptic Chaos: A vividly realistic portrayal of societal collapse and survival.

If you’re craving a love story with real danger, a dash of dystopian grit, and a survival journey that keeps you on edge, this one might be your next favorite!

Thank you so much to The Hive, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for this ARC!! 📚

3⭐️

This book had probably one of the most interesting/dystopian vibes out of any book I’ve read recently. I know the synopsis says it’s for fan of The Last of Us, which I haven’t seen, but I feel like the vibes would have been similar to that. I have watched dystopian/end of the world movies like World War Z and if you enjoy them, I feel like you could like this too (but no zombies here, lol)

I think that the romance part of this book is where it fell flat for me. Pretty much from the beginning I didn’t like Emily😅 Quite frankly she seemed shallow/not very bright. Now, she did have some character growth throughout the book, but I still couldn’t get that initial picture of her out of my head and could never really care about her.

The plot however, I found to be really interesting. I was definitely intrigued by what all what was going to happen to them, what caused the blackout, if they would make it to their destination, etc. I definitely think that the plot of this was what kept me reading and not the romance.

This was my first read by Mia Sheridan. I didn't read the preview before diving in so it definitely took me by surprise. I was expecting a romance but got so much more than that. I expected a love story, I did not expect murder and violence.

Mia takes us on a wild ride with almost end-of-the-world scenes as a majority of the US has suddenly lost power and remains without power for weeks. This has a bit of an enemies to lovers trope but so much was lost in the chaos of their survival. Emily and Tuck were neighbors as children and friends until they weren't. I wish Emily treated Tuck a bit better as well. There were some loose ends which is a bit frustrating. What happened to Charlie when he left them?

Huge thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing | Canary Street Press for the eARC

📖✨Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan ✨📖

OMG, this book wrecked me in the best way! 😭💔 Mia Sheridan does it again with an emotional, slow-burn romance that grips your heart and won’t let go.

🌅 The Story: A breathtaking journey of love, healing, and second chances. Set against a dreamy backdrop, the main characters have so much depth and chemistry that it practically sizzles off the page 🔥💫.

❤️ The Romance: If you love soulmates, heart-wrenching pasts, and ALL the feels, this book is for you. The tension, the longing, the everything—perfection! 💘🔥

📚 The Writing: Mia’s words are pure magic. Her storytelling is so immersive that you live every emotion with the characters. 🌊🥀

Final Verdict? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5! Prepare for tears, butterflies, and a book hangover. Highly recommend for fans of epic, emotional love stories! 💕📖

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan
5 stars

arc read from net gallery w/my honest review
pub date | 5/20/25

Tropes:
- enemies to lovers
- childhood besties
- body guard x pop star
- apocalyptic dystopian

Wow wow wow. This is the same lady who gave us Archer's Voice? How could I expect anything less, except I was blown away. I mean SUCKED IN from page one. Literally something not so chill is happening, and then we get blasted to the past so we can get our characters back stories. Fast forward to the present and all hell breaks loose. But in such a gripping way that you literally cannot stop reading.

If you are fans of things like The Last Of Us, The Walking Dead (sans zombies), and end of the world type shit but lets rebuild. But also I thought it was gonna be a cute little romantic book and had no idea it was going to have me gripping the edge of my seat the entire time. Then this one is for you.

I would like to give it an 11/10 and just the biggest applause and probably a top 2025 book for me. Okay now I am ready for season 2 of TLOU to come out plz and thank you. Thank you Mia for this story, I so so loved it.

Heart of the Sun is a well-written and imaginative book that will likely appeal to fans of its genre. The author does a great job of building a vivid world and crafting an intriguing storyline. The characters are well-developed, and the themes explored are thought-provoking. While I can appreciate the quality of the writing and the depth of the story, it wasn’t quite my cup of tea. However, for readers who enjoy this style of storytelling, it’s definitely a book worth checking out.

This was an intriguing read that really made me think about how unprepared I’d be if a catastrophic event ever occurred. My favorite part was the survival aspect was seeing the harsh realities of human nature and how quickly society can crumble without order. The romance was decent; I was rooting for Emily and Tuck to work through their issues and find their HEA. I didn’t feel the chemistry as much as I would have liked, but that’s life. Love isn’t always perfect, overflowing with infatuation and happy moments. Sometimes, it’s raw and difficult. Their origin story was really sweet, though, and I loved how Tuck always looked out for Emily.

That said, I wasn’t crazy about the romance and the love triangle in this one. Her boyfriend was awful, and I hated how quickly Emily took his side, immediately believing the worst of Tuck.

Overall, this was an exciting, fast-paced read. Perfect for fans of post-apocalyptic stories, movies, or shows. It gave me The Walking Dead vibes without the zombies! 🧟 🧟‍♀️

Heart of the Sun is a dystopian romance novel that touches on many favorite tropes while navigating a devastating landscape. Tuck and Emily were childhood friends separated by unfortunate life circumstances. Their reunion comes 13 years later when Tuck is desperate for a job after his prison release and Emily, a rising pop star, needs a bodyguard.

When a solar flare shuts down the electrical grid while the crew travels, Tuck, Emily, and her boyfriend Charlie begin a dangerous trek across multiple states to get back home. Nothing is certain, and people are desperate and dangerous. Old feelings spark between Tuck and Emily, adding to the friction and uncertainty of the times.

The book starts strong, and I was invested in the characters and interested in how the story would evolve. It flowed well, and the genre-blending felt natural and honest. As the book progressed, it started to feel more disjointed, but it still held my interest. Unfortunately, the climax of the story felt very rushed in comparison to the journey we took to get there. It didn't feel realistic and was wrapped up a little too perfectly for me to feel connected to the conclusion.

I loved the start of the book, but it started to feel like two separate stories as it progressed.

3 Stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of this novel.

Not quite the Mia Sheridan style that I fell in love with, but I respect her attempt at crafting a captivating romance in the midst of a post-apocalyptic world. 'The Solar Flare' tells the story of Emily and Tuck, two individuals from different walks of life who are brought together when their plane crashes in a world ravaged by a solar flare. As they navigate the challenges of survival, they must also confront their own pasts and the secrets that have kept them apart for so long. The romance between Emily and Tuck is slow-burning and sweet, with both characters bringing their own unique perspectives to the table.

For those interested in homesteading and emergency preparedness, this book offers a thought-provoking look at what could happen if we're not prepared for disasters like solar flares. The romance aspect of the story is not as strong as I would have liked it to be for being fully invested in Emily and Tuck's relationship, but overall I still think it makes for an interesting read. As one reviewer noted, Mia Sheridan has once again proven herself to be an author who can write about anything and make it compelling.

She's a rising pop star, he's an ex-con seeking redemption, but they used to be childhood best friends. Growing up on neighboring orange groves, Emily and Tuck thought they'd be friends forever, but with the loss of his mother and the ensuing sale of his family's orchard, Tuck pushed her farther and farther away until he moved out of town to live with his uncle. They haven't seen each other for thirteen years but with his record he's having trouble finding a job. Emily needs a bodyguard while on tour so she gives him a chance. Their reunion is awkward and uncomfortable most of the time, but when tragedy strikes Emily relies on Tuck to get her to safety in this new world of darkness and struggle.
This is a slow burn friends to lovers romance set in a world after a solar flare destroys the power grid and anything electronic. As the population turns to madness and greed, the people willing to help really stand out. I love how Emily changes throughout the book, so materialistic and shallow at the beginning. Tuck is really great right from the start, leaving you wondering what exactly he did to land himself in jail. The action starts right off on the first page and never stops until the end. I loved this book!

After reading Mia Sheridan's "Archer's Voice" and "Unwanted", her newest book "Heart of the Sun" gave me major whiplash. "Archer's Voice" is a small town romance novel where the characters have traumatic pasts. "Unwanted" is slightly different where it is a romance but running paralell to that romance is a murder mystery involving both main characters , who again both have trauma. However the romance is still a big part of both plots. Here with "Heart of the Sun" theromance aspect feels almost like an after thought. This story just felt like a bunch of ideas crammed into one book and they didn't all fit. Emily is a pop star and Tuck is an ex-con. They used to be childhood friends. Emily brings Tuck on to her security team. Okay, solid story. I would read that as a strictly romance story. I did however feel the pop star and ex con was a little of strange duo but that may of just been me. Then we add this whole other piece where a solar flare caused all the electrical grids to go out and everything is dark and crazy. I think if these two ideas were their own books it would have worked better. Then the romance would have been more fleshed out and existence. Then the survival story could have not had a romance tacked on it and drew in more readers who enjoy dystopian fiction.

“You always did wear sunshine well.”

I absolutely adored this story! You have a second-chance, bodyguard romance meets post-apocalyptic world.

Tuck is the sweetest male lead. His backstory is so sad, and he is just getting out of a stay in the slammer. However, when their plane goes down in smoke, he is the person they all look to, I love how protective he is - of everyone.

Emily is a singer/star that slowly starts to realize what really matters in life is not the fame, or the hair, or the nails, but the music and the people that actually matter.

Together, they will navigate a world that is totally upended by a solar flare - will they make it?

While I did enjoy this book, I do have a couple of caveats. First, I wish the characters and even side characters were a bit more developed. Charlie made it too easy to hate him, and his character was super flat and boring. Second, navigating through a world without electronics, cars, or literally any way to get more food would be way more challenging than the author made it out to be. While she mentions them being hungry, you don't "feel" the hunger with them. It did need a bit more development, but I guess they can get away with this as a famous author of Archer's Voice, etc. Did I have fun? Yes. Was it better than her other books? No.

4 1/2 stars

Mia Sheridan will continue to be one of my favorite authors. I'm convinced she can write just about anything she sets her mind to. With this book, she handily gives us what felt like an apocalyptic romance and she did it well.

Our two main characters, Emily and Tuck grew up as neighbors with their parents as best friends so they always knew each other. They both had a crush on the other person but both had been nervous to pursue it. Just when they were starting to figure out that they might have something there, tragedy struck and threw Tuck's world sideways. When his world changes, he doesn't respond well and ends up getting himself into trouble. In the present day, Emily is an up and coming singer who is still holding a grudge against Tuck for how he behaved years before. Tuck is disappointed with Emily for "selling out" in his viewpoint and not singing her own music but rather doing whatever her label tells her. When something happens and most electronics stop working, Tuck, Emily and her current boyfriend are stranded after a plane crash. When they start trying to work their way back to California across the country, it will show everyone's true colors. Over the course of the trip, Emily and Tuck will both remember things about the other person that made them friends before. And gradually they both open up about that time and what happened.

I would have probably liked to see a little bit more about the apocalyptic side of things although I felt the author had definitely done her research about solar flares and so on. However, I did love the storyline around salvaging their relationship.

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: I was also fortunate and received an early copy of the audiobook. It's really enjoyable with good, solid narration which keeps you immersed in the story. I was so caught up in the audio version that I listened whenever possible.

Thank you to NetGalley for early copies of both the audiobook and ebook.

I just finished this book last night and have already recommended it to everyone I saw today. Not only was the romance aspect of the book great, but the dystopian aspect of the book was eye-opening as well. I know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but for someone who is really into homesteading, and emergency preparedness this spoke to me in allllll the ways. Not only did it immediately pull me in, the slow-burn of Tuck and Emily’s romance added a level to the story that made it so much more compelling. First I’m going to share it with everyone, and then I’m going to add on to my plans for canning…because this opened my eyes to a world that I don’t want to come, but very well could.