This was such a cute, fun story. It's definitely geared for teenagers, but even us older folks can appreciate it.

I was sucked into the descriptive writing of the author about the landscape of Wyoming. Stunning and picturesque are what come to mind, and she really sold it as the perfect backdrop.

Yes, the main characters were typical, but she wrote them well.

I would recommend this book. And I really hope there's a sequel!!

Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This book is pure YA magic—like a starry summer night wrapped in flannel and kissed with just the right amount of Hollywood sparkle! Set against the sweeping plains of Wyoming, it delivers a heartfelt, slow-burn romance between a down-to-earth ranch girl and a teen celebrity learning there's more to life than camera flashes and fame.

Cassidy Sterling is instantly lovable—tough, smart, and grounded in her rural roots, yet quietly curious about the world beyond the fences of her family ranch. Wilder Nash? He’s the kind of charming, golden-boy heartthrob that has you rolling your eyes and swooning, all at once. But what makes this story shine is watching them both grow. As Wilder trades red carpets for hay bales and Cassidy trades hesitation for hope, their chemistry crackles like a bonfire on a cool night.

Fans of Kasie West and Erin Hahn will feel right at home—this book has all the feels: laugh-out-loud moments, toe-curling tension, and soft, stargazing scenes that make you wish you could bottle that teenage magic. Whether you're a city dreamer or a country girl at heart, this story reminds you that bravery isn’t just about big gestures—it’s about daring to want more.

✨ Sweet, swoony, and as comforting as a cozy flannel shirt—this romance is a ride worth taking. Giddy up! 🤠💖

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel is a charming and heartwarming YA/teen romance. The story features a strong independent FMC who navigates first love, challenging family dynamics and self discovery.

#firstlove #katrinaemmel

“Trail Rides and Starry Eyes” by Katrina Emmel, was a cute book! I read it so quickly. I think this would be a great book for teens if they want to read about romance without the physical acts. I would recommend this book to my class.

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel is a charming and heartfelt Hallmark-type romance that swept me off my feet from the very first page.

Definitely predictable at times, but aren't they all?

If you love small-town romance with a touch of adventure and stars in your eyes, this book is for you. I highly recommend Trail Rides and Starry Eyes to anyone looking for a sweet, light escape.

This gives exactly what you expect. A desperately YA cowboy romance with some miscommunication and lots of farm animals. It wasn't my favorite but it was alright. I really loved the setting but the whole story felt very juvenile.

I don’t typically read young adult, but Trail Rides and Starry Eyes was a surprisingly entertaining detour. Katrina Emmel captures the sweetness and emotional ups and downs of teen romance with a fresh voice and a charming rural setting.

While some of the plot felt a bit predictable (as YA often does for older readers), the story had heart, and I found myself rooting for the characters. It’s light, sincere, and perfect for when you want something wholesome with just enough drama to keep you turning the pages.

A cute, easy read—even if you’re not a YA regular like me.

A great adventure with western flare. The characters have great chemistry and the story is timeless. A nice Summer-time read.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the ARC.
Cassidy lives on a 10,000-acre ranch in Wyoming with her parents and grandad and can ride horses, take care of livestock, mend fences, and even fix a tractor. Wilder is a budding movie star who has gotten his big break to be in a show where he plays a cowboy. Problem: he can’t ride a horse and he needs to look like an experienced cowboy for the role. Fortunately, his agent, is Cassidy’s uncle so he asks her to teach Wilder how to be a cowboy in a few weeks. Cassidy is reluctant at first because she is so busy already, but it isn’t long before she starts crushing on Wilder, and he likes her as well. The story is written in duel perspectives which makes the story better.

Students will really enjoy this one, especially with the western setting, starry nights, the movie star part of the story, and of course the romance. Finally, it’s a quick read that will entice even reluctant readers I’ll definitely purchase more than one copy for my middle school library, and this will appeal to HS students as well.
**Students might like the recipes for the cowboy casserole and the chicken bacon ranch casserole that sound yummy and cooking is popular with teens these days.

This was a super cute fun read for me, I loved the switch from the typical “city girl, cowboy” thing into a “city boy, cowgirl” thing! And I liked it so much better. I can relate so much to both the mcs and their experiences, but in the same way it feels like a fairytale! If you need something cute and fun but with some substance, this will hit the nail on the head!

What. cute book. This would make a good Hallmark movie. There is definitely chemistry between the characters, family dynamics, and coming into your own throughout the book. When city boy meets country girl what could go wrong... or right? This quick read will be a favorite in our library. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rounding up from a 2.75.

I really liked how this book set the atmosphere of the ranch. There was a lot of detail about the animals, the food that was being cooked, what people wore, and more. It set the scene really well. But, outside of the atmosphere, there was a lot of telling and not enough showing.

I was about halfway in and I really didn’t understand why Cassidy and Wilder liked each other other than for looks. All they think about is how hot the other one is. Constantly. She’s always blushing, he’s always looking at her lips. When they kissed for the first time I genuinely didn’t get how we had gotten there. I felt nothing because I didn’t understand why they would be compatible. Even as the story went on, there was just no chemistry. I wish I could have seen them really connect and gotten some banter, but there was none of that.

I know this book is not for my age range, so overall I do see how this could be enjoyable for a younger audience. There is some minor language throughout, though.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Random House for the opportunity to read this ahead of its release in December 2025!

This was not a bad book by any means, but I was not a huge fan. The story was very character driven and slow paced. The main characters, Cassidy and Wilder, were more flat than I would have liked, which made the flow of the story drag. Their romance didn’t involve an emotional connection and was only the result of mutual attraction, which was disappointing. The rural setting was very enjoyable and unique for a young adult book. The ending felt rushed and I would have preferred more closure. Overall, this was a cute romance with a farm setting that I believe many young teens may enjoy.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's Books | Delacorte Romance for providing an e-ARC.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In full honesty I haven’t been enjoying this book from the very first chapter. When I originally read the synopsis it seemed like something I would enjoy. I love cowboy romances and used to do horseback riding so the overall plot aspect really hooked me. However, this book was just so slow. It really struggled to keep my attention in the first half and the plot ended up being a little more boring than expected.

I really didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book. There were a lot of cringy/cheesy lines and jokes included. I suppose it is more suited for a younger audience however the characters were seventeen and about to be seniors in high school so I feel like it should’ve appealed a bit more to that age group instead of feeling like it was written for pre-teens. I also do think the ending was a bit rushed and didn’t really end with a real or satisfying conclusion. It definitely leaves a lot to imagine afterwards. A prologue would be nice to include of a few months or years later.

Next up I just didn’t really connect with the characters. They aren’t memorable for me. I honestly didn’t even feel like they had chemistry between each other but maybe that was just because I myself didn’t really like them. It was also really difficult to read with how heavily the miscommunication trope was used.

On the positive side the author obviously has experience in the whole ranch life or at least did very good research. I wasn’t hesitant going in since I did horseback riding for almost 10 years but I was really happy to see that the author used correct terminology when discussing the sport and experience. I also loved that this novel, which is classified as young adult, had NO SPICE. It was great having a cute and wholesome romance that didn’t involve teenagers doing smutty things.

Overall, this book really wasn’t a favorite of mine but it did get better by the end. Like I said I appreciate the effort the author put in to researching and I really appreciate keeping spice out of young adult. If you are looking for a cute cowboy romance with no spice definitely check this out!! The writing and slow pace wasn’t my cup of tea but I know a lot of others have really enjoyed this book!

🤠🐴🌾Read If You Like:
- no spice young adult (wholesome romance)
- cowboy romance
- country setting
- horseback riding and farm chores
- forced proximity
- city boy x small town/farm girl

Thank you once again to the publisher for gifting me a copy for an honest review!

RELEASE DATE : December 9, 2025

Cowboy Romance is a trope so near and dear to my heart. I just swoon over these characters and stories. Katrina didn't disappoint with this one. I need more lighthearted YA romance books like this. Always the most carefree reading. The tension that builds between the MMC and the FMC reminded me of watching a hallmark movie unfold. It was super cute in the most cozy, country way possible. I loved that the chapters were short but filled with such depth. Just an all around great story.

A cute but tame YA romance that embraces ranch life. The characters were a bit cliche but still a very enjoyable read.

DNF the writing style is incredibly stunted and unbelievable. It felt robotic to read it that makes sense. I don’t think I would come back to this but if you want to try a out a YA romance this might be good but I’ve read so many romances that this just would not and could not compare

This was a super cute read! I really loved the setting. Especially because Katrina Emmel is superb at writing scenery descriptions. I could picture exactly what she was describing and was able to understand just how beautiful this Wyoming landscape was.

This will be the perfect read for people wanting a cowboy romance that is incredibly cute and has a big focus on the animals and ranch life. It's a book for all ages but especially will be super fun for young to older teenagers.

3.5/5 stars

I really enjoyed this story—it had the perfect blend of humor, heart, and a whole lot of country charm. I loved being swept into Cassidy’s world, with all its dust, horses, and quiet strength. I felt her hesitation and fierce independence, and I admired how she held her own even when life started to change around her. I was surprised by how much I grew to like Wilder. At first, I wasn’t sure what to make of a Hollywood heartthrob in cowboy boots, but I quickly found myself rooting for him as he traded scripts for saddles and started to see life differently. I smiled at the way their connection grew slowly and authentically—it felt earned, and it made their choices that much more meaningful. This book left me thinking about what it means to chase your dreams while still staying true to yourself.

I recommend this book to readers who love sweet, small-town romance with a dash of stardust and a whole lot of heart.

🌟🐴 Book Review: Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel 🐴🌟

Looking for a sweet, slow-burn romance set against the rustic charm of the countryside? Trail Rides and Starry Eyes delivers all the cozy vibes, heartfelt moments, and starry-eyed love you could want.

What it’s about:
When city girl Emily visits her family’s ranch for the summer, she doesn’t expect to fall for the rugged, kind-hearted cowboy Luke. Between dusty trails and quiet nights under the stars, they discover that love often finds you when you’re least prepared.

Tropes You’ll Love:
🐎 Small town/countryside romance
💞 Slow burn
✨ Opposites attract
🌌 Starry night vibes
❤️ Healing & new beginnings

Katrina Emmel’s warm storytelling makes this a perfect feel-good read for anyone who loves heartfelt, down-to-earth romances with plenty of charm.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TrailRidesAndStarryEyes #KatrinaEmmel #SlowBurnRomance #SmallTo