A review by vera_allbookedup
Catch the Sun by Jennifer Hartmann

5.0

What an emotional roller coaster ride! Ella Sunbury and Max Manning met for the first time at age 7. That began their love story. But it was not sunshine and roses for either one. Ella's lived through her parents' divorce and being separated from her mother and brother, her father's desertion, her brother's incarceration, her move back to Tennessee. Max is the brightest light in her corner. Max also has his share of trauma. His own mother's desertion, his father's work accident and spiral into alcoholism, his twin brother's devil may care attitude. He's barely hanging on by a thread to keep the roof over their heads. Ella doesn't want to date or fall in love; she's seen what love does to people and nothing turns out good. Horrific events taint Ella and Max's love story. It was painful to read through their separation, but heartwarming to see how much growing and healing they did while apart.

"What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from.”

These characters transformed throughout the story. Dealing with grief and abandonment. It was any wonder if they'd come out the other side and end up together.

“My troubles are all over, and I am at home.”

The author has a penchant for ripping hearts to shreds throughout the course of the story and waits almost till the very end to give us resolution and a perfectly imperfect happily ever after.

I received an advance copy of this book at my request and voluntarily left this review.