Seventeen-year-old Lottie Turner was born to ride bulls.

Rodeos, big dreams, dusty boots—bull-riding was her whole life. Until the accident. Until the diagnosis that changed epilepsy. Now her doctor and her family have grounded her for good. No bulls. No danger. No freedom.

Then Walker—her former best friend, first crush, and the boy who once knew every piece of her—returns to town for the summer. Walker’s supposed to be chasing stars with NASA, not mucking stalls, even if he really does want dirt, sweat, and saddles. He wants Lottie Turner and all of her wildness.

When Lottie makes a summer bucket list to find herself again, Walker’s the first to volunteer to do it with her. One item at a time, they tumble back into laughter, heat, and everything they left unsaid.

But as the sparks between them reignite, Lottie has to face the hardest truth of some risks can break you, but others are worth taking anyway.

I don’t read a lot of young adult romance books because they can sometimes feel a little too juvenile for me now that I’m in midlife. However, I’d heard so many good things about this author that I decided to give this one a try, and I’m so glad I did. This was my first book by this author, and I really enjoyed this sweet, swoony YA cowboy romcom. There is some mild language but no spice, which I appreciated.

I listened to the audiobook and loved the dual narration. Brittany Pressley is one of my favorite narrators, and she really helped bring the characters and story to life. Since the story takes place during the summer, it also makes for a fun, quick beach read.

At its heart, this is a heartfelt story about figuring out who you are, reconnecting with someone you left behind, and learning how to take control of your own life. It explores growth, independence, second chances, friendship, family, and first love in a way that felt meaningful without losing the lighthearted charm of a teen romcom.

I really enjoyed getting to know Lottie, who lives on her family’s ranch and is trying to enjoy the summer before her senior year. After a riding accident leaves her with epilepsy, her life changes dramatically. Her family and friends begin treating her like she’s fragile, constantly worrying about what might happen to her. Meanwhile, all Lottie wants is a little independence and the chance to live her life to the fullest.

I’ve never read a story featuring a character with epilepsy, so I appreciated learning more about it through Lottie’s experiences. I especially loved her strength and determination to reclaim some control over her life. The people around her genuinely loved her and meant well, but their constant worry and overprotectiveness felt suffocating at times. Watching Lottie push against those limitations and learn to advocate for herself was both emotional and empowering.

Then Walker, her former best friend and first crush, comes back to town, and his return is exactly what Lottie needs. Their relationship felt natural because of all the history between them, and I loved watching them reconnect. Walker helps Lottie tackle her summer bucket list, encouraging her to have fun and experience some of the things she’s been missing, while he is also trying to figure out what he wants for his own future. There was something really sweet about watching them grow individually while rediscovering each other along the way.

I’ve really come to enjoy Western and cowboy romances lately, and this one was no exception. It has all the cozy, swoony vibes of a teen romcom while immersing you in summer ranch life. There’s a cute farmhouse, rodeo scenes, farm animals, small-town charm, and plenty of fun summer activities as Lottie and Walker work their way through her bucket list. All of those details gave the story such a warm, summery atmosphere.

Overall, this was such a fun and sweet read with more emotional depth than I expected. I loved the combination of romance, friendship, family, personal growth, and summer adventures.

If you enjoy small-town settings, second-chance romance, childhood friends reconnecting, fun bucket list adventures, cowboy vibes, and plenty of swoony moments, this is definitely one to check out. I can’t wait to read more from this author. She is officially on my radar now. Highly recommend!