Mia Sheridan, the acclaimed author of emotionally poignant romances like Most of All You and More Than Words, takes a bold step into dystopian fiction with Heart of the Sun. Blending a high-stakes, post-apocalyptic survival narrative with a tender second-chance love story, this novel is an evocative, genre-crossing work that will appeal to fans of The Last of Us, slow-burn romance, and enemies-to-lovers dynamics.
Premise: Popstar, Bodyguard, and the End of the World
The story kicks off in the sun-drenched groves of California where childhood friends Emily Swanson and Tuck Mattice are inseparable—until tragedy, time, and personal choices rip them apart. Thirteen years later, Emily is Nova, a pop icon carefully managed by the music industry, while Tuck is a recently released ex-con trying to rebuild his life. When fate draws them back together under unusual circumstances, Emily hires Tuck as her bodyguard.
Then a cataclysmic solar flare strikes.
This isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a tipping point that transforms the story from glittery stardom to gritty survival. Without electricity, communication, or social structure, Emily and Tuck must navigate a ruined world—and their fractured past.
Characters: Beautifully Flawed, Intensely Human
Emily/Nova: The Caged Phoenix
Emily’s transformation from wide-eyed singer to industry puppet is heartbreakingly realistic. As Nova, she is both empowered and imprisoned by her fame. Sheridan handles her character arc with nuance, peeling back layers of glamour to reveal a woman aching for authenticity. Her fear of losing relevance mirrors the dystopia unraveling around her—an external metaphor for her internal desolation.
- Critique: At times, Emily’s character can feel overly reactive, especially in the first half. Her hesitancy in trusting Tuck despite their shared past—and his proven integrity—feels a tad prolonged for narrative tension.
Tuck Mattice: Brooding Redemption
Tuck is classic Sheridan—quiet strength, tortured soul, and a heart wrapped in barbed wire. His backstory is both tragic and uplifting: a dreamer who lost everything, made mistakes, and paid dearly. What makes Tuck shine is how grounded he remains. His survival instincts, moral compass, and deep-rooted love for Emily give this dystopian tale a deeply human core.
- Critique: Tuck’s re-entry into Emily’s life could have used more gradual reintegration. Their reunion feels slightly rushed considering the trauma both characters have endured.
Themes: Love, Legacy, and Light in Darkness
- Second Chances dominate this narrative, not only in love but in life itself. Both characters are reinventing themselves in the aftermath of literal and emotional catastrophe.
- Power and Exploitation plays heavily in Emily’s music career—highlighting the dystopia of celebrity culture even before the solar flare. Sheridan draws fascinating parallels between society’s digital dependency and its collapse.
- Redemption is the lifeblood of this story. Tuck’s personal journey from criminalized outcast to heroic protector is a compelling subplot that elevates the emotional stakes.
- Survival and Morality are explored as the trio (Emily, Tuck, and her boyfriend Charlie) struggle through post-flare America. The story asks: What are we without electricity, safety, or social constructs? And more importantly—what remains of love when everything else is stripped away?
Plot & Pacing: A Tale of Two Halves
“Heart of the Sun” is essentially divided into two parts:
Pre-Flare: Glitz, Glamour, and Reconnection
This half delivers enemies-to-lovers heat and slow-burn yearning. The tension between Emily and Tuck simmers beneath every interaction, and Sheridan’s prose sparkles during these scenes. While some of the pop-industry satire feels exaggerated, it works as a metaphor for commodification and lost identity.
Post-Flare: Survival, Sacrifice, and Deep Emotion
This section is far grittier and slower-paced, as the couple navigates wilderness, injury, and interpersonal breakdowns. The suspense and action rise sharply in the final third, culminating in a high-stakes climax that blends raw survival with emotional catharsis.
Critique: The middle portion (post-crash, pre-escape) suffers from slight pacing issues. Some repetitive emotional beats could’ve been streamlined for a tighter narrative arc.
Writing Style: Lush, Lyrical, and Deeply Felt
Sheridan’s signature lies in emotionally evocative prose, and Heart of the Sun is no exception. Her descriptions—whether of orange groves, Hollywood mansions, or a barren dystopian landscape—are cinematic. Dialogue is heartfelt, though occasionally melodramatic, and inner monologues are piercingly honest.
Here are some highlights:
- Evocative Nature Imagery: The use of solar and light metaphors throughout the book gives it thematic cohesion and poetic beauty.
- Emotional Subtext: Scenes between Tuck and Emily are often charged with more unsaid than said, heightening the impact.
- Internal Monologue: Tuck’s perspective, particularly during moments of decision or survival, grounds the reader in realism and morality.
Supporting Characters: Tension Builders
- Charlie, Emily’s boyfriend, is written with increasing duplicity. His descent into manipulative survivalism makes him an effective foil to Tuck.
- Mrs. Swanson, Emily’s mother, is a grounding maternal presence, representing the last tether to a vanished normalcy.
- Russell, the pilot, provides the novel’s first true shock. His tragic end underscores the randomness of loss and introduces urgency.
Romantic Development: A Reclamation of the Past
Their love story is tender, tortured, and deeply earned. Sheridan doesn’t rush this. She makes us wait for the kiss, the trust, the redemption. Their connection is built on shared history, mutual protection, and eventual emotional nakedness.
Standout Romantic Moments in Heart of the Sun:
- The stable kiss flashback.
- Tuck caring for Emily’s wound in the woods.
- Emily confronting her career choices with Tuck as her moral anchor.
World-Building: Minimalist but Effective
Sheridan doesn’t dwell on the mechanics of the solar flare. Instead, she uses it as a device to expose the fragility of the world we’ve built. The lack of electricity, fuel, and communication creates a palpable sense of vulnerability. This is dystopia as character challenge, not spectacle—and it works.
Critical Observations
Pros:
- Unique genre fusion: celebrity romance meets dystopia.
- Rich emotional journey.
- A grounded, morally complex male protagonist.
- Atmospheric settings and poetic prose.
- Strong message on digital dependency and authenticity.
Cons:
- Pacing issues in the middle third.
- Repetitive emotional loops, particularly regarding trust.
- Emily’s early character arc leans slightly passive.
- Charlie’s character becomes somewhat one-dimensional toward the end.
Comparative Reads
If you loved:
- The Last of Us (HBO) – for the emotional intimacy amidst apocalypse
- Before I Let Go by Kennedy Ryan – for second-chance tension
- The Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young – for survival romance
- Archer’s Voice by Mia Sheridan – for deep, redemptive love
…then Heart of the Sun should be at the top of your TBR.
Final Verdict
Heart of the Sun is a radiant fusion of dystopian grit and romantic tenderness. While not flawless, its emotional honesty, unique premise, and lush prose make it a memorable and meaningful read. Sheridan’s shift into speculative fiction feels natural, and her talent for writing broken, beautiful characters shines as brightly as ever.
Fans of slow-burn, deeply human love stories set against apocalyptic backdrops will devour this one—and probably cry a little too.
