Look, I really liked the trappings of this book. A horse-y lesbian romance? Sign me right on up. But despite being a horse girl tween myself, I really didn't like this, and it's because all of the characters were so extremely self-centered. At one point, the main character's narcissism was so extreme that I was like...is this going to turn into a psychological thriller, actually? For example, the main character expects her best friend (and her wife) to drive two hours (both ways) like every weekend to help MC fix up a house. With no offer of payment or like any real semblance of appreciation. And then the friend's wife tries to call the MC on it and the basically just shrugs and it's dropped forever. So yeah, I didn't like the main character. I also didn't care for the love interest, the mom or the best friend because they were all also extremely caught up in their own stuff. It got to the point where it was hard for me to read and I debated DNFing (after the leaving at the bar thing because WHAT and WHO WOULD DO THAT), but I did manage to finish it. Tyler and Lochlin can stay. 1 star - I didn't like it.

This was my first book by this author, but it won't be my last. Very good writing and interesting story.

Molly inherits basically a farm from her estranged aunt and thinks its a blessing in disguise. If she sells it, she could pay off her student loans, move out of her mother's house and start up her own business, but what she doesn't expect is Shania, the farrier on her aunt's farm, who has a chip on her shoulder when Molly inherits it and not her.

They do not get along and there's a lot of back and forth.. Nice to each, mean and etc. You don't know exactly what Shania is thinking as it's all in Molly's POV. I enjoyed the writing and the setting, but I disliked Molly's mom and best friend, Nat They seemed to know what was best for Molly and didn't let her make her own decisions. It was hard to like Molly at first as well as she was a whiny, wimp of a girl who let everyone walk all over her.

I wished we got more of a resolution with Nat and Molly's mom instead of just a gloss over. Overall, I will read another book by this author. I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

For a romance novel, it was beyond difficult to believe that the main characters were actually falling in love with each other. I really like Jennifer Dugan, but my recent reads of hers have fallen very flat. I didn't really care about any of the characters, let alone care about their romance.

This was a really fun read! If you're looking for a sapphic romance set on a farm, this is probably as good as it gets! I really liked the main character, and found her to be super relatable! Definitely worth checking out!

very cute :D the horse peeps will love this one. and i def loved this one :D miscommunication is annoying, but it was more than made up for by the sweetness.

This is a cute rom-com meet ugly with cowgirls and big city girls. I liked the characters and plot, the tropes were treated in a fun, almost fourth wall-esque way, which was funny. I wished the background was a little more in depth, but I liked the character growth and the romance was sweet and spicy!

What a wonderful story? Molly and Shani under unusual circumstances. Molly inherits. a horse rant from her aunt Christina. Molly. is car between 7 the ranch and staying at the ranch. Shani Is a farrier on the ranch. I found the plot very good. As each character tries. to find herself one. also dealing with many emotional and financial problems. Molly. Has to try to find herself and grow up while Shani Has to overcome problems while she was growing up and trust issues. I recommend this book for all who like delightful romance.

Picture hallmark romcom with actual real life problems. This book is about Molly who is in a rut in life, working as a barista while trying to fulfill her dreams to be an event planner when she unexpectedly inherits a farm from a long lost aunt. Along with the farm comes its tenant and Farrier, Shani, who is rough around the edges, but with good reason. Shani was taken in by Christina, Molly’s aunt, at a young age and took care of her in her dying days. Shani struggles to accept Molly as the new owner considering she always expected to inherit the farm. These two have to figure out how to work together to take care of the farm but disagree what should happen to it in the future. While working in close proximity they start to have feelings for each other which complicates Mollys decision to stay or sell.



Pros: queer main characters with a storyline that has nothing to do with them coming out or any adversity around their queerness, really likeable characters (for the most part), addresses realistic issues such as financial problems and relationship history, quaint setting with great descriptions, excellent pace and chapter lengths (small exception listed below), and spoiler - a happy ending!



Cons: I found this book a touch hard to get into however around chapter 4 things really picked up! I struggled with the best friend, Kat, and the ending for her and Molly. I felt like the book ending somewhat abruptly, I would’ve loved to have a short epilogue, maybe 5 years in the future or something.



Overall I found this book really fun to read with a cute story and relatable problems! Jennifer Dugan does it again!

“I saw a tweet once that said “women are rehabilitation centers for men”. I can’t help but notice that it didn’t say anything about whether it’s cool if we’re rehabilitation centers for hot queer farriers..”

Thank you to NetGalley & the Author for this Advanced Reader Copy.

3 ⭐️

I want to preface this by saying I am a horse girl so while my expectations for equine related books are higher than a reader with no prior experience — I also do not expect everything to be 1000% accurate.

I feel as if the story itself, the plot was very cute. A popular trope in the authors style that takes the FMC out of the city and into a very unfamiliar environment. This is where the laughs came from in my opinion. As a “horse girl” I’ve seen people stumbled their way through trying to understand horses and usually includes lessons learned the hard way like the book showed.

Now, there was 5 different times I almost DNF’d the book due to getting the “ick” for a few reasons. The absolute miscommunication between both FMC’s is maddening. It made it feel as though the story was dragging because of something that could be solved with one full conversation. Also, the way Molly treats Nat (her very loyal best friend) is a big turn off for me for obvious reasons. AT LEAST, that’s what I thought until we get to the end where Nat does Molly very dirty leading to a big— you guessed it MISCOMMUNICATION.

It’s a cute story, LGBTQIA+ centered, includes a diverse array of characters and has a happy ending. I think that there are going to be readers who absolutely LOVE the story, I unfortunately am just eager to be able to mark it as read.

This was such a fun read! While the plot was certainly similar to others I’ve read before— our struggling MC inherits a horse farm from an estranged aunt and must learn to work with the other staff— I still enjoyed reading it. Molly and Shani’s rivalry turned slow burn turned love story had me kicking my feet. Had the feel of a hallmark movie with spice!

Sadly, I was unable to finish this book. Even though I love small town romances, there was something about this book that I just couldn't get into. The amount of character miscommunication annoyed me; it's one of my least favorite tropes, and it was really frustrating.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this.

This definitely was a great read! I loved the characters and their interactions with each other. I also loved the location and learning a lot about living on the ranch. Great book and I definitely recommend reading this book!

In Jennifer Dugan's heartwarming novel, "The Ride of Her Life," readers embark on a journey of self-discovery and second chances alongside Molly McDaniel, a barista and aspiring wedding event planner. Molly's life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a run-down horse barn from her estranged late aunt. Molly's initial reaction is one of dismay, as she lacks the resources and expertise to run the struggling barn. However, as she delves deeper into the world of horses and the tight-knit community surrounding the barn, she begins to see the potential for a new beginning. The barn could provide the seed money she needs to start her own business, but only if she can overcome the challenges and learn to appreciate the beauty and healing power of horses. One of the central conflicts in the story is Molly's relationship with Shani, the resident farrier and family friend. Shani is initially portrayed as judgmental and standoffish, but Molly gradually discovers her kind-hearted and loyal nature. As they work together to save the barn, their mutual attraction grows, creating a tender and nuanced romantic subplot. Dugan's writing is poignant and engaging, capturing the complexities of Molly's journey as she navigates her newfound responsibilities, her growing feelings for Shani, and the pressure to succeed. "The Ride of Her Life" is a celebration of second chances, the power of community, and the transformative nature of love. With its vivid descriptions, relatable characters, and heartwarming storyline, this novel is a compelling read that will resonate with readers long after they finish the last page.

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were all so easily relatable, and I really enjoyed the character growth with Molly. I don't really know anything about horses, farming, or rodeos, so I thought this was a fun glimpse into that world The only thing I really would have liked to see more of was some closure with Molly and her mom, but as it stands I still think the book as a whole was great.

In general, I found this story to be charming. There were both endearing and quite disagreeable characters, and the plot was engaging. While the angst was well-presented, I felt that the main characters lacked a significant spark. It's not a negative story, but it didn't evoke a strong desire for a re-read.

This is a solid if extremely predictable sapphic romance. Definitely written for the horse girls out there and does have good farm vibes. The sunshine/grump and enemies to lovers are on point if on the nose. I struggled a bit to relate to the characters who were so bad at communication it was painful even for me, and the multiple instances of miscommunication in the plot were frustrating. But while Molly was a bit annoying at the beginning, I appreciated her arc and how she finally stood up to the toxic people in her life.

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley who provided a free eARC in exchange for an honest review.

A sweet and sapphic horse girl romance? Yes please! A recommended purchase for collections where contemporary romance is popular.

This was a very sweet read, overall. I definitely enjoy a grumpy/sunshine romance and being able to read a WLW romance is always a joy! If you like Hallmark-y small town romance stories and are up for a cute sapphic version with lots of horses, this one's for you.

That said...I could see the glaringly obvious solution to the main tension within the first few pages, yet it somehow took every character more than 200 more pages to think of it. It was incredibly frustrating as a reader to know that the endgame conclusion was Molly running events on the property so that she can A) keep the barn running and B) still follow her own dreams (and C) get the girl/not evict her lover from the only home she's ever known).

Additionally, there was a bit too much miscommunication for my taste. Between her best friend, her mother, the lawyer, and Shani, it felt a little ridiculous at times how determined EVERYONE in Molly's life was to keep her out of the loop instead of being clear and upfront with what's going on. I know miscommunication is a common driver in romance plots but it's not my favorite plot device.

However, despite my deep frustration with that aspect of the story, I did really enjoy Molly. A lot of the other characters either underestimate her or treat her like a child and she perseveres to find herself and follow her heart by the end of the book. I think her growth was the high point of this story for me! Shani was frustrating at times but I did enjoy her character - there were just some early moments where she seemed a bit too dedicated to allowing their miscommunication to flourish instead of actually listening to Molly and having a real conversation about the difficult position they're both in. I was disappointed that Shani almost never shows any empathy or understanding for Molly's realistic concerns about money and debt, both of which would have been VERY understandable reasons for Molly to need to sell the property.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for a review.

I actually ended up not finishing this. I’m not sure why yet and honestly I might pick it up again at a later date but this just didn’t click with me.

Thanks for the opportunity

Prepare for a rollercoaster of emotions in this captivating romance! The level of angst and the intricate microtropes woven throughout this story create an intense and engaging read. There were moments when I found myself wanting to dive into the pages to shake some sense into the characters—communication, folks! But that's what makes this book so fantastic; it draws you in, making you root for these characters while simultaneously frustrating you.

The contrast between city and country life, along with the modern, sapphic romance, adds a unique flavor to the traditional rom-com narrative. The struggle between Molly's aspirations, the unexpected inheritance of a struggling horse barn, and the magnetic tension between her and Shani create a beautifully complex dynamic. Plus there's spice without it being overdone, over the top, or drawn out with aftercare, talks of consent, and more.

Hats off to the author for crafting such a compelling story. I couldn't put it down! Huge thanks to NetGally, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the opportunity to delve into this modern yet timeless tale. If you're searching for a romance that's both heartfelt and exasperating, this one's for you!