Bend Toward the Sun follows Rowan, a botany student, and Harrison, an obstetrician. When the two meet one night at a party- sparks fly. But in the daylight, Rowan is approached by his family to help get their vineyard up and running. Harry must decide whether he can return to the world of medicine after losing a patient. Along the way, Harry and Rowan explore their scars, dreams, and whether they can have a romantic future together. 

I loved that Rowan is a woman in STEM, trying to decide where her path should take her next in academia. I thought that Harry was a very relatable character in how he agonized over his choices and dealt with the resulting anxiety. One of my favorite moments in the book is when Rowan helps Harry calm down from a panic attack. I also absolutely loved the moment when Rowan and Harry first meet each other- an extremely original and hilarious meet-cute. And I loved the epilogue! 

At the heart of the book is a love for nature, preserving the environment, and women in STEM/academia. There is an extraordinary sense of peace that comes from the descriptions of the vineyards, the greenhouse, and the love from Harry’s family. The beautiful sense of welcome and unconditional love that comes from his family is a delight to read. The steamy romance is interspersed with meddling from the family, laughter, and the knowledge that the family will always be there to help each other. I hope to read more about the Brady family and see many more books in this series! Rowan is definitely one of my favorite heroines- determined, smart, and loving. Together, Harry and Rowan deal with grief, mental health challenges, and what it means to choose each other. 

Bend Toward the Sun is a joyful, heartfelt romance that I would recommend to anyone, especially readers who enjoy Chloe Liese and the Bergman Brothers. Thank you so much to Jen Devon, St. Martin’s Griffin, and Netgalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.