I am a big Mia Sheridan fan but I am just not sure where this book was going knowing her previous writing. She usually ropes me in and keeps me going with her stories. The beginning was great- I was definitely roped in- but then I feel like the characters got lost in the middle of the story- the development seemed shallow. I was very surprised with this one and wanted a lot more from it.

This book was great! The story was very fun to read and the story was very well written and the plot was great. I would highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book fairly well. My overall thoughts are that it was well written and intriguing. A different spin on a second chance, friends to enemies to lovers, slow burn romance book. I loved having both Tuck and Emily’s pov in the book. The slow burn had me on the edge of my seat. My body was aching for Tuck and Emily to be together.

Heart of the Sun is captivating and is going to be made into a movie someday—Mark my words. The world building in this book was truly incredible. I could envision what was happening so clearly.

I loved the way the story was laid out, starting with a bang and then going back in time. I was hooked from the first chapter. Heart of the Sun had me on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next.

Emily and Tuck have a complicated past. They were once childhood besties, but their paths led them in very different directions. Tuck’s landing him in jail for six years, and Emily’s catapulting her into stardom. Years later their paths have crossed again, but Tuck is different now. He’s harder, and ice cold. Life has made him angry and gruff. The boy she once knew is nowhere to be found.

Whereas Emily has taken on a whole new persona. To the world she’s Nova, a budding super star. She’s being told how to dress, how to do her make up, and propped up on a stage to preform her hits. All Tuck sees is a sell out, a girl with so much talent being forced to fake it. Unfortunately, he needs a job and she’s the only one that can help him right now.

I was immediately drawn in by the tension between them. Emily doesn’t want a thing to do with her former friend and Tuck has no problem telling her like it is. They were at each other’s throats, and I was eating it up. Mixed with the suspenseful dystopian plot? I was truly hooked. I finished this book in one sitting and experienced so many different emotions. Wow oh wow did I crrryyyyyyyy! There were points when I was full on bawling. It’s so very good!

Heart of the Sun is such a cool mix between romance and dystopian fiction. I loved watching these two try to find their happy ending while the world seemingly ends around them. If you enjoyed shows like the Last of Us and The Walking Dead, you’ll enjoy this book. No. There are no zombies, but the vibes are the same. That’s the best I can explain it.

The biggest thank you to Canary Street Press and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the copy of this arc.

What a gut-wrenching, heart-breaking, knee-wobbling, earth-shatttering, tear-jerking experience. Mia Sheridan never fails to deliver.

Thankyou netgalley for the arc. All opinions are my own!

#HeartOfTheSun #Netgalley

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to review.

While this story moves at a good clip and held my interest, it was really hard to read about this kind of a situation. I read for enjoyment and this was stressful! Is there a HEA? I’d say yes - the best outcome you could hopeful in this dire world. Many will enjoy this. I didn’t NOT enjoy it; it’s just not a plot I’d like to read again.

This was a solid 5/5 stars for me! Heart of the Sun is the first book of this genre that I have ever read. But I loved every minute of it! Tuck and Emily are such complex yet relatable characters and I loved following their journey together. As people and as a couple. As I read this book, I could almost see myself in their shoes, trying to survive in an almost post-apocalyptic world. I could feel the emotions and see the entire thing playing out in my head. I didn't want to put this book down! I was so invested in it! Mia Sheridan is a very talented author with a way with words. Absolutely one thousand percent recommend!

omg what a good book to start the year off!!! mia sheridan can do no wrong. when tuck is released from prison he goes home with not much to look forward too. he finds his way back to his old best friend/wanna be lover who is now a huge pop star. Emily's mom convincing her to let tuck have a job working for her. On their way to their first tour stop their plane goes down. after realizing the whole world has gone dark they are forced to survive and make their way back home.

While this wasn't terrible, I think the main issue with this book lies in its genre marketing.
This is marketed as a romance, and while there is romance in it, it's ultimately a subplot to the greater dystopian-esque plot that's happening (I.e. the solar flare wipe-out of the country's power grid)
The characters in this are all very one-note and surface level.
You have the singer that doesn't sing anymore despite it being her passion; her record label sees her as a pretty, young symbol rather than a musician.
You have the drug addict actor ex boyfriend that, even in a world-ending crisis, still only cares about how famous he is.
And then you have the deep, burdened childhood love with an unsavory past-but it's not really him. He was lost and got into some bad situations, however, deep down he's the perfect guy.
This book just didn't know what it wanted to be. Personally, I think this could have been a great YA dystopian with a romance subplot. The people they encounter, while sometimes evil and ruthless, just aren't as gritty as they'd truly be in a world-ending-wipe-out.
That's ultimately what made this book feel (aside from the romance) essentially YA. Not a bad thing, just not what this was marketed as.
Thank you to NetGalley for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book. Childhood friends to lovers in a dystopian world, yes please. I had a great time reading this and falling in love with the characters.

my favorite mia sheridan book! this was so refreshing and a perfect mix of all my favorite book tropes!

I used to love mia sheridan’s books, especially archer’s voice, but this book was a bit of a let down. I found the story itself to be interesting but as i read I realized it was kinda flat and at times boring. Maybe i was going with high expectations and i jinxed myself, but I didn’t connect with the story or the characters..

This book is a swoon-worthy fusion of romance and dystopia, delivering the perfect mix of heartache, tension, and survival against a chaotic, grim world. Tuck and Emily’s journey is equal parts tender and gritty, blending the raw emotions of a second-chance love story with the high-stakes danger of a society unraveling. Their fiery bickering, simmering tension, and slow-burn romance make every interaction electric, while the backdrop of a world plunged into darkness adds an urgency that heightens every glance, every touch, and every choice they make. With its addictive mix of enemies to lovers, childhood best friends turned strangers, and bodyguard romance, this story keeps you on edge, balancing tender moments with life-and-death stakes. A stunning, unputdownable read!

My 2013 dystopian/apocalyptic reader self is screaming! Heart of the Sun was an incredible read and was everything I wanted and more from a speculative apocalyptic romance. This dethrones Archer's Voice as my favorite Mia Sheridan book. Read this in one sitting!

The pacing was great, and I could not put this down. I was pretty much on the edge of my seat the entire time. I loved the slow burn, second chance romance. The author did a great job setting up the characters' backstories, motivations, and emotions, while still maintaining a fast-paced plot.

The character dynamics and commentary on social class/influence also added an intriguing element. Tuck's criminal record was wiped away with the apocalypse, essentially giving him the chance to start over, while Emily's fame and wealth didn't mean much once society broke down—which is something she had to grapple with throughout the book.

I liked how the author showed how various towns and people adjusted to the apocalypse, highlighting the best and the worst of human nature. It did get a bit gritty and dark, which added to the stakes. There were many seemingly small details included that made me engrossed in the world and almost feel like I should prep for doomsday (lol).

Emily was pretty irritating for the first half of the book, but her character improved. It didn't feel like she was the main character—almost like Tuck was the main character, and she was a side character. But I loved Tuck. I also wish a few more things were wrapped up at the end. There were a few details that left me wondering what happened. Though this was an incredible read, and I NEED Mia Sheridan to write more of this genre!

Thank you so much to Canary Street Press for sending me an ARC of Heart of the Sun. As always, my reviews are one hundred percent voluntary and all opinions are my own :)

3.5/5

Tuck and Emily are childhood friends who had lost touch after a family tragedy. Now, Emily is a rising singer and Tuck was recently released from prison and is searching for a job and his purpose. They are reunited when Tuck takes a job being Emily's bodyguard. Tensions are high as they both try to reconcile their present selves with their past selves. When a solar flare leads to their plane crashing, they are stranded in the middle of nowhere and decide to journey back home together, which takes them both on twists and turns.

This was more dystopian with a smattering of romance; therefore, it was kind of out of my usual genre, so maybe that's why I couldn't really get into it. At first, I didn't really feel the chemistry between Tuck and Emily, who both have unresolved feelings for the other. Much of the book was them trying to survive this disaster that has affected most of the country, if not the world. As they venture on their cross-country journey, they come across both the good and bad of humanity in the face of life and death. They survive on the kindness of strangers and by leaning on each other. It was predictable, in terms of the plot and also how people act in a world of lawlessness and for survival.

There were a lot of side characters Emily and Tuck meet along the way and we don't really end up knowing their ultimate fates (so it was kind of a big question mark at the end of the book), but I feel like that was more realistic - there's people we meet for a certain purpose and ultimately part ways. I ultimately felt like the book was too long - it got a bit monotonous: them traveling through states and fleetingly meet people and move on etc etc. I found myself skimming through some of those parts to get to the romance parts (which I felt were the more exciting parts, but again, maybe that's just because I like the romance genre more).

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC!

3 stars- I was excited to get this ARC because I have read a few other of Mia Sheridan's books and have really enjoyed them and I love the second chance trope. I feel like it took me a little while to get into this book. I wish there was more romance in this book since it was being marketed as a romance book. If you are into sci fi/dystopian genres books and want a sprinkle of romance than I think this is the book for you.

I have never had a hard time finishing a Mia Sheridan book but there is always a first time. It was so hard to finish. The story was too dense, and I just didn’t believe it. There are stories of superheroes that I totally 100% buy into that have been written by romance/women’s fiction writers. Putting a story like this into book form and not visual format is going to be rough. I just didn’t buy it.

Heart of the Sun by Mia Sheridan
Pub date: 5/20/25

Mia Sheridan is one of a few authors that hooked me back into reading a few years ago, so I was very excited to get approved for this ARC!

This book had me hooked from the prologue. An airplane suddenly crashes down, uncertainty about what/why everything is occurring, and piece-by-piece glimpses of Tuck and Em’s history. Tuck and Em knew each other as kids but lost touch for about 10 yrs due to terrible circumstances. The whole country (and maybe world) is now experiencing apocalypse-like conditions. Not only do Tuck and Em have to count on each other to physically survive, but they’re forced to confront their history and the emotions simmering along the way.

The apocalyptic/dystopian theme is very different from what I usually gravitate towards but I enjoyed this unique twist to the romance story. It still had common themes/tropes embedded: Childhood friends-to-strangers/enemies-to-lovers and celebrity-bodyguard. The story has all the classic elements of Mia’s style: characters who have experienced trauma/hardship, lots of pining, and a HEA. The way Tuck was so protective and took care of Em despite everything he’s been through and her distrust! Mia did a great job of making certain characters sympathetic and some despicable. I wish the epilogue was further into the future and that we would have gotten some updates about some of the sweet people they met along the way, to know how they fared once conditions improved.

If you are a fan of Mia’s previous romance books, definitely read this (even if you’re hesitant due to the dystopian aspect).

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing, viaNetGalley, for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Thanks you NetGalley and Mia Sheridan for this ARC! I have read several books by Mia Sheridan. Some I have loved some not so much but this book was so different than any other romance book l've read! Childhood friends to lovers is one trope I haven’t read much of but I need more! Tuck and Emily’s relationship and chemistry is so rare and perfect.
Tuck’s protectiveness made my heart so happy! We all need a Tuck in our life! I absolutely loved this story and highly recommend everyone read this

Emily Swanson and Tuck Mattice grew up together on neighboring farms as kids. As teens, tragedy struck the Mattice family, changing the trajectory of Tucks’s life. Now, more than a decade in the future, Emily is a hit pop star in desperate need of a bodyguard for her upcoming concert tour. When her mom suggests Tuck, she’s reluctant, but ultimately gives in. As Emily and Tuck are forced to work together and as life on earth begins to change, the two are must to figure out what’s most important as the future is not always guaranteed.

I was very curious about this book before picking it up because, while I am a fan of Mia Sheridan, I am not the biggest fan of sci-fi books. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started this book, but it wasn’t at all what I thought! My best advice is to just go into it blind and hold on for a very different kind of ride.

I enjoyed the progression of Emily and Tuck’s relationship, but I wanted more glimpses into their pasts to better understand their history. I feel like the few chapters at the start weren’t enough for me to feel super invested in their relationship and history. I also felt like there wasn’t really any resolution with Tuck’s dad. Overall, I wanted more from this story. It was almost there, but didn’t quite hit the mark for me personally.

I will say, if you are a romance reader interested in trying out the sci-fi genre, l think Heart of the Sun is the perfect book for that.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Canary Street Press for the ARC!