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dogoodwithbooks's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
4.5/5
CW: death of a patient, death of a grandparent (mentioned), negligent parent, blood, panic attacks, gaslighting, divorce/separation, cheating
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Stuck at a crossroads after her dissertation plans are put on hold, Rowan McKinnon finds herself agreeing to serve as a plant consultant to restore a vineyard for the Brady family’s new winery. She comes across Harrison “Harry” Brady, an obstetrician dealing with his own struggles after losing a patient. Both addressing the pains of their pasts, Rowan wonders if she’s ready to commit to somebody.
While not quite a rom-com, Bend Toward the Sun is a mature, rich romance novel that will leave you wanting more. You can instantly feel the connection between Rowan and Harry within the first couple of chapters and Devon does a really good job of capturing their swoon worthy love story.
This book definitely has a similar aesthetic to Where the Crawdads Sing, so you’re really going to have a good time if you enjoyed that book. Rowan’s love for nature is beautifully illustrated in Bend Toward the Sun, so much so that it makes the Brady’s vineyard to be a whimsical place where anything can happen.
Even though Bend Toward the Sun is a bit slow in the beginning, this book is definitely worth pushing through to read. Perfect for readers who want a dramatic romance similar to Where the Crawdads Sing, Bend Toward the Sun is definitely a book to look out for.
CW: death of a patient, death of a grandparent (mentioned), negligent parent, blood, panic attacks, gaslighting, divorce/separation, cheating
I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Stuck at a crossroads after her dissertation plans are put on hold, Rowan McKinnon finds herself agreeing to serve as a plant consultant to restore a vineyard for the Brady family’s new winery. She comes across Harrison “Harry” Brady, an obstetrician dealing with his own struggles after losing a patient. Both addressing the pains of their pasts, Rowan wonders if she’s ready to commit to somebody.
While not quite a rom-com, Bend Toward the Sun is a mature, rich romance novel that will leave you wanting more. You can instantly feel the connection between Rowan and Harry within the first couple of chapters and Devon does a really good job of capturing their swoon worthy love story.
This book definitely has a similar aesthetic to Where the Crawdads Sing, so you’re really going to have a good time if you enjoyed that book. Rowan’s love for nature is beautifully illustrated in Bend Toward the Sun, so much so that it makes the Brady’s vineyard to be a whimsical place where anything can happen.
Even though Bend Toward the Sun is a bit slow in the beginning, this book is definitely worth pushing through to read. Perfect for readers who want a dramatic romance similar to Where the Crawdads Sing, Bend Toward the Sun is definitely a book to look out for.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders and Blood
Moderate: Infidelity, Gaslighting, and Death
helen's review
3.0
I really wanted to like this but found it a bit of a slog - it was easy to put down, hard to pick up and it took me 3 weeks to finish. I didn't warm to the MCs and got a bit impatient with them - just talk to each other about your issues and/or go to therapy!
On the plus side: there's a scene where the MCs erotically check each other for ticks, and I cried at the end.
Favourite line:
"He weakened her, with his big, kind hands and solemn eyes. And his fucking ridiculous chin dimple..."
Content notes:parental neglect (in the past), abusive relationship (in the past), on page panic attack, on page sex, blood, spiders
On the plus side: there's a scene where the MCs erotically check each other for ticks, and I cried at the end.
Favourite line:
"He weakened her, with his big, kind hands and solemn eyes. And his fucking ridiculous chin dimple..."
Content notes:
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders and Sexual content
Minor: Emotional abuse and Blood
danielle_isreading's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I loved this story. So, so beautifully written. Jen Devon is incredible and I can't wait to see more from her.
I wish we'd gotten a little more of Rowan's backstory earlier in the story, which is the only reason this is not a slam dunk 5 stars.
But seriously, read this book.
I wish we'd gotten a little more of Rowan's backstory earlier in the story, which is the only reason this is not a slam dunk 5 stars.
But seriously, read this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood
Moderate: Death
Minor: Gaslighting
buttermellow's review
emotional
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, and Emotional abuse
Minor: Blood
kb33's review
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I can’t wait for more by this author. I loved this book. The Rowan and Harry’s story wasn’t my favorite love story ever, but the writing was so good, the setting and characters were so easy to imagine and love.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, and Blood
Moderate: Abandonment, Grief, Infidelity, Toxic relationship, and Death
Minor: Gaslighting
abookwanderer's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Jen Devon’s debut Bend Toward the Sun razed my heart and nourished it back to life. Devastating in the best way, this romance set on a neglected and newly acquired vineyard in Pennsylvania had me longing for walks in wildflower-filled meadows, swims in mist-covered ponds, and games of hide-and-go-seek in old greenhouses.
If you’re a follower, you’ve seen me mention—on several occasions—how much I love books set on vineyards. I often fantasize I have a long lost relative who leaves me their countryside vineyard in their will. So, this novel about a family who has recently purchased an old vineyard with plans to restore it was right up my day-dreaming alley.
The Brady’s, the vineyard-buying family, is one of those families. Large, well-established, comfortable with one another—but also with past hurts and maybe some grudges. But their love for each other comes first. Bend Toward the Sunis Harrison Brady’s story, the middle son among five other siblings. And, please Jen Devon, please be writing more of their stories. I can only imagine that’s the plan, because the vineyard is just in the early stages of development and there are so many hints about Harry’s sibling’s stories within the novel. Harry, a doctor, has had a hard year, and he’s joining his parents and some of those siblings at the vineyard to work while he attempts to heal.
The book opens on a housewarming party at the vineyard, in the middle of the family’s traditional game of hide and seek currently happening throughout the vineyard. It’s one of the best openings I’ve read lately. But the reader sees it from a guest’s perspective, Rowan, who has been dragged to the party by a friend of the family. Rowan is hiding in an old greenhouse when she encounters Harry. Sparks fly!
Rowan, a botanist, has her own past issues. Raised by a neglectful mother, basically alone since the death of her beloved grandmother when Rowan was twelve, the closeness of the Brady family is foreign to her. She hasn’t allowed anyone in except her two closest college friends since a bad relationship in college convinced her “love” is just another name for lust. But she can’t deny her attraction to Harry or his family’s vineyard.
She’s hired to work on the vineyard, helping to restore the vines while she works on her dissertation. As time passes, Rowan and Harry find themselves drawn together, but their pasts, and Rowan’s vow to keep it casual, complicate their growing feelings.
Harry’s a cinnamon roll who wears his heart on his sleeve, and I just wanted someone to give him a hug. Suffering from panic attacks after losing a patient, reading through his struggles was gut-wrenching.
The chemistry was off the charts for these two, as well. Plenty of tension built while waiting for them to finally crash together. And when they finally do crash, wow!
Bend Toward the Sun has earned a permanent place on my shelf, and it’s a love story I can’t wait to reread. It delivered exceptionally in the romance department, even providing a few surprises. And while there may have been a few tears along the way, it’s my perfect kind of romance. The best reward for enduring all that heartache!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
If you’re a follower, you’ve seen me mention—on several occasions—how much I love books set on vineyards. I often fantasize I have a long lost relative who leaves me their countryside vineyard in their will. So, this novel about a family who has recently purchased an old vineyard with plans to restore it was right up my day-dreaming alley.
The Brady’s, the vineyard-buying family, is one of those families. Large, well-established, comfortable with one another—but also with past hurts and maybe some grudges. But their love for each other comes first. Bend Toward the Sunis Harrison Brady’s story, the middle son among five other siblings. And, please Jen Devon, please be writing more of their stories. I can only imagine that’s the plan, because the vineyard is just in the early stages of development and there are so many hints about Harry’s sibling’s stories within the novel. Harry, a doctor, has had a hard year, and he’s joining his parents and some of those siblings at the vineyard to work while he attempts to heal.
The book opens on a housewarming party at the vineyard, in the middle of the family’s traditional game of hide and seek currently happening throughout the vineyard. It’s one of the best openings I’ve read lately. But the reader sees it from a guest’s perspective, Rowan, who has been dragged to the party by a friend of the family. Rowan is hiding in an old greenhouse when she encounters Harry. Sparks fly!
Rowan, a botanist, has her own past issues. Raised by a neglectful mother, basically alone since the death of her beloved grandmother when Rowan was twelve, the closeness of the Brady family is foreign to her. She hasn’t allowed anyone in except her two closest college friends since a bad relationship in college convinced her “love” is just another name for lust. But she can’t deny her attraction to Harry or his family’s vineyard.
She’s hired to work on the vineyard, helping to restore the vines while she works on her dissertation. As time passes, Rowan and Harry find themselves drawn together, but their pasts, and Rowan’s vow to keep it casual, complicate their growing feelings.
Harry’s a cinnamon roll who wears his heart on his sleeve, and I just wanted someone to give him a hug. Suffering from panic attacks after losing a patient, reading through his struggles was gut-wrenching.
The chemistry was off the charts for these two, as well. Plenty of tension built while waiting for them to finally crash together. And when they finally do crash, wow!
Bend Toward the Sun has earned a permanent place on my shelf, and it’s a love story I can’t wait to reread. It delivered exceptionally in the romance department, even providing a few surprises. And while there may have been a few tears along the way, it’s my perfect kind of romance. The best reward for enduring all that heartache!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy.
Check out my reviews and playlists at A Book Wanderer
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Blood and Grief
Minor: Alcohol, Death of parent, Death, and Abandonment
marysbookinit's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, Blood, Abandonment, Grief, and Sexual content
Moderate: Toxic relationship, Infidelity, and Alcohol
Minor: Pregnancy and Car accident
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