Thank you, NetGalley, for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.
This book was so fun, and I loved the characters. I mean, the MMC is a cowboy hockey player, single dad, golden retriever, so it's a formula for fun. The FMC is a black cat, closed off, bull rider. UUUGHHH!!! I do want to mention that the beginning felt a little slow for me, but pushing through it is very much worth it.

5/5 obsessed.
Homebound by Meredith Trapp was everything. The cowboy romance? Literal chef’s kiss. The kind of slow-burn that makes you kick your feet and squeal but also punches you right in the feelings. The storyline had me hooked from page one, heartfelt, a little messy in the best way, and completely binge-worthy. If you need me, I’ll be daydreaming about this book for the foreseeable future.

I really enjoyed Homebound! 🤠 I’m deep in my cowboy romance era and this book delivered exactly what I needed—cowboys, small-town vibes, and just the right amount of romance to make me swoon. Meredith Trapp had me hooked from start to finish, and now I’m even more obsessed with everything cowboy romance.

Okay, this was out of the park! I was sucked in from page one and was HOOKED! The romance was spectacular. I loved the history they shared, the reverse age gap of sorts. Single dad. All the tropes. It was well written and so so sweet!

This was such a fun second chance, friends to lovers, romance book! It was such a cute story that took place in Texas and was western themed. Every summer while they were growing up, Dakota and Wyatt would hang out in Granite Falls, TX. However, Wyatt became a single dad and stopped coming back every summer. Dakota, who is a professional bull rider, tried to move on until three summers later, Wyatt came back with his daughter for the summer to Granite Falls, TX. What ensued was that sparks flied between Dakota and Wyatt. I enjoyed this book! I liked the writing style, and both characters were likable in their own ways. This book would make a fantastic beach read! I would give it three stars overall. It was a good second chance romance book; there was not anything remarkable about it. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for a free review! Out now!

Omg what can I say! Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me to read this Book in exchange for my Honest Review! Dakota and WyattI didn't think I would ever like a second chance romance like I did Homebound! The three of them (including Vi, Wyatt's daughter) Are the It couple that should have been from the very beginning, I mean yes she had to grow up and deal with overcoming being two into her head, so when reading that Wyatt and Vi made it possible for her was all I needed to know!

I love cowboys romances so honestly this was such a comfort read for me. The pacing was a bit off, but it didn’t bother me as much once I got really into the book.

Wyatt and Dakota have so much chemistry. I loved this childhood friends romance. This book combines hockey, cowgirl, single dad, and more. Such a cute and hot summer read!

Reading Homebound felt like being wrapped in a warm hug. From the very first page, I was completely swept away by the tenderness, the depth, and the quiet strength that radiates through every chapter.

I genuinely loved everything about this book. The writing is beautiful and immersive, the characters feel real and layered, and the emotional journey is both gentle and powerful. It’s the kind of story that stays with you—not because of dramatic twists, but because of its sincerity and soul.

Thank you, Meredith Trapp, for crafting something so heartfelt. Homebound is a soft, steady reminder that love—especially the kind that finds its way back—is always worth the wait.

I really enjoyed this! Not your typical cowboy romance- SHE was a rodeo star and our MMC is a hockey player. Second chance, friends to lovers, single dad, small town- all the good tropes and all done really well!

Thank you SO much to Atria via Netgalley for this ALC! This book is already out and you can bet your favorite pair of boots that I’ll be buying a trophy copy!

𝑹𝑬𝑨𝑫 𝑰𝑭 𝒀𝑶𝑼 𝑳𝑰𝑲𝑬:
♡ she’s the bull rider
♡ single dad
♡ childhood friends to lovers
♡ she takes NO sh*t
♡ found family

𝑻𝑯𝑬 𝑻𝑯𝑶𝑼𝑮𝑯𝑻𝑺:
Literally from the first chapter, this book drew me in like a moth to a flame. There was something about the writing style that was so engaging and fun to listen to! The author’s story telling is well rounded, emotional, and a rip roarin’ good time.

Dakota was a bada$$ bull rider who didn’t take nothin’ from no one and was lasher focused on achieving her dreams re: her career. I loved that about her. If it didn’t serve her, BUH BYE. Wyatt is a single dad & hockey player who moved away to get over her but ended back up in his hometown and in her orbit again.

I felt like Dakota and Wyatt, as their relationship progressed were the perfect balance to each other. She was the bad cop to his good cop and they both brought out the best in each other. He knows when to push and when to give. Not to mention how quickly Dakota falls in love with his baby girl and treats her like her own (the party scene, iykyk).

Seriously - if you want a cowgirl romance that puts you in your feels like The Notebook did, this is the one to grab!!

A charming and swoon-worthy second chance romance between Texas’s toughest female rodeo rider and the man determined to win her back. This story explores themes of resilience, second opportunities, and the enduring power of love, set against the backdrop of the thrilling rodeo world. The characters are compelling and relatable, and the narrative promises an emotional and satisfying read for fans of romantic comedies and heartwarming love stories.

Homebound is a tender, beautifully written novel about coming home—to a place, to people, and to yourself. Meredith Trapp captures the push‑and‑pull of belonging and independence with warmth and emotional honesty. The characters feel lived‑in and real, their relationships layered with both love and complication.

The pacing is gentle, allowing you to sink into the atmosphere and emotional beats, though it lingers a bit long in places. Still, the writing is lyrical, and the themes of family, self‑discovery, and forgiveness resonate long after the last page.

A heartfelt story perfect for readers who love quiet, character‑driven fiction with a strong emotional core.

This book was so good. I can usually go either way on a cowboy romance, but this one drew me in. Usually I also hate a slow burn, but in this scenario, the slow burn was so necessary and made the book that much better.

Book tropes:

- cowboy romance
- childhood friends to lovers
- single dad
- blackcat x golden retriever
- forced proximity
- no third act breakup

Homebound was cute but I had a hard time getting into it. I did enjoy the premise of the book but I just couldn't connect with the characters. No matter how much I tried I couldn't find myself liking Dakota. I love a single dad romance and Wyatt’s was done fine. However, he came off as a tad bit desperate when it came to Dakota.

The writing was easy to read and the descriptions were great. While I think there are plenty of people who would enjoy this it just wasn't for me.
Thank you Netgalley for the gifted ebook.

5🌟

This book completely stole my heart ❤️‍🔥 From the very beginning, I was hooked!! He’s obsessed and protective in the best way, and I absolutely ate it up. This book is flirty, fun, full of heart, and had me smiling like an idiot more times than I can count. I’m a such a sucker for a single dad romance.

First off, Wyatt is so attentive. Not just to her, but to his daughter too - and you can really feel the care he puts into everything. The banter between them is top tier, and I love how she starts becoming just as protective of him and his daughter as he is of her 🫂 And her being the bull rider?? OBSESSED. She’s such a badass, and I loved seeing that role flipped 🙂‍↕️

The slow build from best friends to lovers was absolutely perfect. Also, the way he talks to her?? Had me blushing and kicking my feet. He’s thoughtful, sweet, and completely swoon-worthy. This story had me hooked from beginning to end - mostly definitely a new favorite of mine 🫶🏻

A cozy single dad small town romance between a hockey player and a bull rider, Homebound is a light quick romance that I enjoyed reading!

The slow burn was good, the spice was great, and the friends to lovers was 🤌🏼

I feel like the plot kind of just skimmed the top. I wanted more details about the town, and their jobs honestly. It felt a little like the hockey thing was just thrown in there, and I wish it would have been a bigger part of the story. I liked the single dad thing, even though that's not a trope I'm typically interested in, I loved how we saw their father/dauther relationship and thought it's was really cute.

Overall this book was fine, but I wanted more!

If you’re into cowboy romance, mosey on over to your nearest library or bookstore for a copy of Homebound! This has all the classics you’d expect - the gruff southern dad, a MC with a dangerous lifestyle, and an adorable motherless child. But it was also fresh - the FMC wasn’t your average sweet western belle, that’s for sure!

Read if you like: Strong women, girl dads, and if you own an aspirational pair of cowboy boots

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria for providing me with a digital copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Homebound was sweet and spicy!
I love a childhood best friends to lovers romance. Beautiful girl moves home, and reunited with her childhood best friend that has pined for her his whole life. Say less.

5 ⭐

3 🔥

Loved this book. I loved seeing a female in such a male dominated industry like bull riding ( I don't know much about it but I have watched it on TV not many females outside of barrel racing). I also loved the take on the single dad trope often the dads have it together and been doing it for years alone. Wyatt has only been doing this for a short period of time while juggling his NHL career. This make him feel like a failure and not there for his daughter. Many MANY times its the FMC/mother who is portrayed like this and it was refreshing to see this take.

I loved the slowish burn to the spice and the spice was spicy. It was a nice full circle moment. I connected with this book a lot as my own love story with my husband was very similar knew each other for years and only after something changed that we saw each other and more. Would read anything Meredith Trapp writes.