Book Review: Sunflower Season by Danica Nava
Official Synopsis: Drained by her high-pressure tech job, June Walker finds an escape in homesteading videos and the fantasy of a quieter life. When she finally hits her breaking point, she does the only reasonable thing: she quits her job and buys a crumbling sunflower farm in rural Oklahoma where she grew up.
June thought her biggest challenge in restoring Sunshine Farm would be the rotting fences, but soon comes to the crushing realization that “positive vibes” are not a business plan. Nothing, however, tests her resolve quite like running into her first love, the boy she left behind after her world imploded when she was seventeen. She’s back for a fresh start, not to unpack old heartbreaks.
Noah Abbott never left Love County. Between his family, his job with the local fire brigade, and a town that knows him inside and out, he has everything he needs—except answers. So when June Walker returns as the new owner of Sunshine Farm, Noah is determined to find out why the girl who once meant everything to him vanished without a word.
As old wounds crack open and attraction flares back to life, June and Noah are forced to reckon with their past and decide whether first love is a memory best left buried, or the one thing worth replanting.
June Walker knew she was just going through the motions and not living, but she had worked to get where she was and even if it wasn't perfect it was better than Oklahoma...right? After leaving Love County without saying goodbye at 17 and living out of her older brother's dorm until she could move into her own, June has only imagined a life that meant leaving their small hometown. But when she quits her job after refusing to let a man take credit for her work (honestly, queen behavior), she doesn't know what her plan is. That is until she sees an old sunflower farm back in her hometown is up for auction, a place that had been a huge part of her childhood and her family's legacy, with nothing else to lose she moves from Sacramento to Oklahoma with anything that will fit in her car, and hopes to win an auction for the land.
The land hasn't been taken care of in years, a risk of fire but also in need of a lot of love. When June wins the auction against some Texan buyer who was hoping to build a solar field, she feels like nothing can stop her. But farms take work, and being back in Oklahoma is bringing back a lot of old memories, and old loves.
Noah Abbott was her high school love and childhood best friend, the last time she saw him they were 17 in the back of her grandpa's truck and he had asked her to marry him. Noah knew he wanted to stay in town, but was ready to follow June anywhere...until she just disappeared. Now she is back and Noah isn't sure what to do. He is full of anger and confusion at what happened, but almost finds himself falling back into his old emotions immediately. But the June that has come back to Oklahoma feels like a shell of the girl he knew, he knows she needs help and is willing to always be there to aid in the farm, even if she tries pushing him away. But as they spend more time together, the old feelings start to morph into something new, along with watching a farm start to grow, their love for each other does as well.
I feel like each time a new Danica Nava book comes out it ends up being my favorite thing she has written. The Truth According to Ember had moments I loved, but I found Love is a War Song much more compelling, now there is this one. I loved the characters from the start, the way that June was trying to figure out who she was along with Noah just being the yearning male main character of people's dreams. Their dynamic and the way it changed from when they were teens to the 'now' was really great. With the dual POV we got to see how both of them perceived what was happening and how they worked to make room for the changes. The book itself is really well written, with moments that had me at the edge of my seat. This book was a joy to read and honestly I'm so excited to add it to my collection.
I rated this book 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Sunflower Season comes out November 3, 2026!
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