Reviewed by Sadonna
TITLE: After Every Sunrise
SERIES: Hope Island
AUTHOR: Maya Jean
PUBLISHER: Self-published
LENGTH: 230 pages
RELEASE DATE: May 8, 2026
BLURB:
Tucker never expected to end up living with his parents again at thirty-two after fleeing an abusive relationship. Back on Hope Island, everything is slower, and he’s welcomed home like he never really left. Between friends and beach sunrises, maybe everything will finally be okay again.
What Tucker never could’ve dreamed of, though, was Charles Augustin. Sweet, retired football player with his own block-sized chip on his broad shoulder. Needing something to do now that he’s back home for good, Tucker takes up the mantle of guitar teacher again. And Charles desperately needs something to do after his unexpected and forced retirement from professional football. Over the course of unexpected beach meetings and guitar lessons, something sweet unfurls for both men. Every smile from Charles slowly breaks down the walls Tucker carefully erected to keep everyone out, even his family. Every hard-earned laugh from Tucker makes Charles feel a little more at home on Hope Island.
Maybe life can be more than just getting by. Maybe life is a wish on every sunrise, and maybe even sometimes those wishes can come true.
After Every Sunrise is a slow-burn romance set in a small southern island town. This story contains memorable side characters, friends to lovers, opposites attract, loads of hurt/comfort, being shipped together by literally everyone, and two men finding renewed hope and love after painful setbacks. Please check content warnings prior to reading.
REVIEW:
Tucker finds his fiance in their bed with his assistant when he returns home early from a gig. He quietly takes a duffle bag of clothes and his guitar and leaves – something he should have done years ago. Anthony is a narcissistic gaslighting a$$hole and Tucker is finally getting away from him. He heads home to Hope Island, his childhood home in South Carolina, and his two dads. Dad and Pops are happy that he’s returned. They have known that Anthony was not good for Tucker, but they didn’t interfere.
His first morning home, Tucker is out on the beach for the sunrise like usual and a man comes jogging down the beach. Charles Augustin, Super Bowl winning San Diego quarterback, accuses Tucker of trespassing on the private beach. Charles is unaware that Tucker is the son of the men that he has become friends with after morning to the island earlier in the year. When he figures it out, Tucker tells him he needs to stay to watch the sunrise and make a wish – that’s the rule 😉
Charles is a bit at loose ends. He suffered a career ending knee injury in his last SuperBowl. He doesn’t really know what he’s doing other than enjoying the weather and his dog, Cupcake. But he’s intrigued by Tucker. He gets some of the story from River, Tucker’s best friend who owns the local coffee place. But he’s determined to get to know Tucker better. He starts by asking for guitar lessons since Tucker is offering them locally.
Charles and Tucker have to go to the mainland to get a guitar for Charles. At first they are very cautious around each other. Charles has never been in a relationship. He was closeted a lot of his career and he was sort of married to football, so not a lot of time. But he’s interested in Tucker. Too bad Tucker has gotten out of a terrible decade plus long relationship. His friends and his dads are protective of him and Charles has no intention of hurting Tucker.
The more time they spend together, the more they share. Tucker is standoffish about some things – like food. He has Celiac disease and his ex didn’t care. Charles buys new kitchen supplies and even cleans his oven to make sure Tucker is safe. Tucker includes Charles in outings with his friends. Charles can see that Tucker is loved and protected by his community, but he’s good with taking things slowly. Tucker appreciates that Charles isn’t trying to bulldoze him.
In the meantime, the town festival is in jeopardy and everyone is pitching in – including Tucker and Charles. Charles helps in ways nobody really expected, but things end up going very well 🙂 Friends arrive to help. Seeing others happy does something to Tucker and Charlie too.
This is a new author to me and I really loved the writing style. Despite some heavy issues that both MCs faced, this really isn’t a high angst book. It’s a sweet slow burn relationship that develops believably over time. They start as friends. Tucker is definitely gun shy. It takes him some time to figure out that he is worth loving despite knowing that he is loved by his dad and pops and his best friend. He just was bombarded for years by his horrible ex who made him feel like he was just a problem and always to blame. Charles wasn’t loved by his family either and so he left and never looked back. They are both a little bit bruised and battered when they find each other. Luckily they have friends and family who see how wonderful they are and how great they could be together. And they manage to get out of their own way and let it happen. Loved the epilogue and can’t wait for the next book. Recommended.
RATING: 
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