Heart of the Sun

Blending romance with a postapocalyptic fiction, the daring latest from bestseller Sheridan (The Broken Places) introduces ambitious Emily Swanson and bookish Tuck Mattice, who were neighbors and friends as children. Now Emily is a musical superstar as her alter-ego Nova, while Tuck is fresh out of prison after a tragedy upended his life. Tuck needs a job and not many people will hire ex-cons, but Emily’s eager to help and offers him a spot on her security team. Then, while they’re flying over Illinois, Earth is hit by a massive solar flare. Their plane crash lands in the woods in a world that is forever altered. The electrical grid and all satellites are down, and communities quickly descend into chaos. Against this harrowing backdrop, Emily and Tuck must depend on each other to survive. By alternating between the two leads, and occasionally flashing back to their shared youth, Sheridan easily draws readers into the love story, painting a portrait of two broken and searching people up against nearly insurmountable odds. The apocalyptic worldbuilding is especially effective, setting the stage for themes of loss and redemption. The result is often deeply troubling but also achingly romantic and ultimately hopeful. (May)