Even if it breaks your heart / Erin Hahn.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

A heart-buckling ride of a romance by beloved author Erin Hahn, Even If It Breaks Your Heart is about two teens finding out that sometimes, the hardest part of discovering what you want is getting the courage to pursue it.

The only thing keeping nineteen-year-old Case Michaels together after the death of his best friend, Walker, is a list Walker left behind of things he wants Case to accomplish in his absence. So far, though, Case hasn't even been able to continue riding bulls in the rodeo circuit, something he's done his entire life, balking at the thought of competing without Walker by his side. But the list? Case is determined to follow it to the letter- and he follows it all the way to Winnie Sutton.

Eighteen-year-old Winnie Sutton just wants to keep her family together. She graduated high school early to work long shifts at the Michaels family ranch so she can support her younger siblings and a father who's more than happy to let Winnie fill the responsible parent role. If she sometimes sneaks out to ride the horses herself and forget about life for a while- well, that's no one else's business- until the day she crashes headfirst into Case Michaels. Case sees her riding skills and immediately ropes her into competing for the ranch and becoming his friend.

Winnie and Case couldn't be more different, but Case can't help but be inspired by Winnie's badly-hidden passion for riding and competition. And there's something about Case that makes Winnie want to try grasping onto a dream for herself, whether that's a shot at a rodeo trophy, the annoyingly handsome rancher's son who won't leave her alone, or maybe both.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

Publishers Weekly Review

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. (Feb.)

Kirkus Book Review

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 (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.