Even If It Breaks Your Heart

Starred review from November 13, 2023
Nineteen-year-old Case Michaels, who comes from a long line of cowboys and bull-riders, feels as if his entire life has been derailed by the tragic death of his best friend, Walker Gibson. The only thing keeping Case together is the list of things that Walker wants Case to accomplish in his absence. One of the list items, “Befriend Winnie Sutton,” leads to him spending time with Winnie,
an unignorably talented (and beautiful) barrel-racing hopeful who put her dreams on hold to care for her younger siblings. As the two teens grow closer while working on Case’s family ranch, they realize that they have a few things in common: they were both close with Walker, they both have goals they’re terrified to pursue, and they have a mutual attraction that won’t seem to go away. In this incandescent slow-burn romance, deliberately paced and resolute prose by Hahn (Friends Don’t Fall in Love, for adults) paves the way for swoony banter and rough-and-tumble rodeo action. Case and Winnie’s relationship is a joy to watch unfold, every payoff feels earned, and subtle meditations on grief quietly ground tear-jerking emotional beats, making for a poignant romantic drama. Ages 13–up.

Starred review from December 1, 2023
In finding each other, a bull-riding champion and a barrel racer on the rise also find their true callings as a romance rooted in friendship blooms. Ever since his best friend Walker's death, Case Michaels has engaged in destructive, risky behavior. Case met Walker at the age of 10, in line for their first bull rides, and Walker's friendship and passion motivated Case, even though he was less invested in the sport. Winnie Sutton helps support her two younger siblings by working on the Michaels' ranch in the Texas Panhandle, tending horses and leading trail rides for rich guests. Winnie is a rodeo natural but hasn't had the time or resources to compete. When Case is sent to work in the stables as punishment for one of his latest escapades, their paths cross--a catalyst for them to examine their lives, let go of the roles that have defined them, and find their true potential. The three-dimensional characters carry the slow-burn romance as Case and Winnie prioritize friendship while developing feelings for each other. Winnie learns to accept help from a community she's held at bay, and Case, who's grown up with a great deal of privilege, leans into challenges outside the rodeo arena. Through details about horses, rodeo life, and the ranch, Hahn creates a world that feels lived in, like a pair of comfy jeans. Main characters are cued white. A deeply satisfying romance in which personal growth and dreams are realized. (Romance. 14-18)

COPYRIGHT(2023) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

June 14, 2024
Grades 10-12 Case Michaels, 19-year-old heir apparent to a Texas ranch and king of the rodeo circuit, is drifting through life. He has been ever since Walker, his best friend and fellow bull rider, died after a long, slow illness. Case spends his days skipping training, having one-off hookups, and drinking all night. But Walker left behind a bucket list for Case--things he wanted Case to do after he was gone--and perhaps the most confusing item is the last: ""Befriend Winnie Sutton."" Case has never paid much attention to Winnie before--she works on his father's ranch, she's a talented barrel racer, and she's not at all impressed by his charms. But as the two--willingly or not--grow closer together, they're startled to find common ground. Hahn's characters explode off the page, particularly Winnie who almost singlehandedly supports her two younger siblings and can't even bear to acknowledge her dreams of professional barrel racing to herself. A romance that weighs grief and love in equal measure, this is a crossover title that genre fans won't want to miss.

COPYRIGHT(2024) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.