I gobbled up this steamy, slow burn friends to lovers, reverse age gap, dual POV romance between a bullrider and a NHL single dad. I loved Dakota and Wyatt! Their love story was emotional, steamy and who can resist an adorable little girl. Dakota is also a badass with a soft spot for Wyatt's daughter and watching her fall for them was too much fun. Highly recommended for fans of Elsie Silver and Lyla Sage. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Yeehaw 🤠🤠

A friends to lovers, slow burn, yeehaw, reverse grumpy x sunshine, single dad romance sounds right up my alley.. theoretically.. but when you have two adults interacting like teenagers?!? not so much.

Now hear me out. I do not hate this book. Some parts were actually quite enjoyable and I thought it was very cute. However, the immaturity of the characters really set me back. I also feel like the book did not give context of their past or their surroundings which left me confused on their history & what type of world they were in. Was it really a small town because I wasn't feeling it!!!

Overall I am sad because I really wanted to love this!!!

Homebound: ★★★☆☆ (3)

Pub date: out now!!

Thank you Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

4⭐️

❰ 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐭𝐨 𝐧𝐞𝐭𝐠𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐚 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐫𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐞𝐱𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰!❱

“𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑, 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝑰 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒌 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒂𝒃𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐 𝒃𝒂𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒐𝒖𝒕. 𝑷𝒂𝒔𝒔𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒃𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒔 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒅𝒊𝒆𝒔 𝒐𝒖𝒕 𝒒𝒖𝒊𝒄𝒌𝒍𝒚. 𝑶𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒂𝒔𝒉𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒐 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑 𝒘𝒂𝒔𝒏'𝒕 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒔𝒖𝒃𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒕𝒊𝒂𝒍.”

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙢𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩𝙨💭
╰┈➤ when i requested this book on netgalley, i was really intrigued by the synopsis, as well as excited to see whether i would enjoy this book or not. it’s safe to say that i enjoyed this book ALOT. it was a very cozy and adorable (spicy as well) read and this single dad small town romance really showed me just how single i am.

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙙𝙖𝙠𝙤𝙩𝙖 𝙘𝙪𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙧🐂
╰┈➤ i think dakota was an okay character. i really loved that she had a passion and dream for herself, and the thing that added to her character, in my opinion, is that she loved wyatt’s daughter like she was her own. she was definitely a strong character, but she was so goddamn clueless to wyatt’s feelings for her that it was almost painful. if i had a hockey guy coming after me, i’d jump into his arms, no hesitation.

₊˚ʚ ➼➻❥𝙬𝙮𝙖𝙩𝙩 𝙥𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙤𝙣🏒
╰┈➤ i loved this man so much i’m not even joking. i actually fell for him a little bit because he was just in love with dakota and once he started to realize that he had too show her that he’s a man instead of the little boy she knew…. AND BOY DID HE SHOW HER!!! i love that he supported her and her rodeo career. he knew she didn’t need to hear that she can achieve her goals, but he said it anyways and i loved that. also, i ADORED HIM WITH HIS DAUGHTER. HE WAS SUCH A GOOD DAD AND JUST SO SO *CHEFS KISS*💋

ˏˋ°•*⁀➷𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣🔒
╰┈➤ if you’re looking for a obsessed single dad, small town romance, this is for sure your jam. wyatt was just such a good and respectful man towards everyone, and the chemistry between dakota and him had me giggling. i absolutely loved that he was younger than her, because i feel like you just don’t see that a lot in romance books, but that concept is something that always interests me. i would totally recommend this book.

I was really excited for this book because it combines two of my favourite subgenres in romance, hockey players and cowboys/cowgirls, but unfortunately it fell quite flat for me.

My biggest complaint about the book was the pacing and the characters. The first 50% dragged a lot compared to the last 50%, as I feel like there was no real progress being made in Wyatt and Dakota's relationship during that time. This also leads to my biggest issue with the romance, which is that it felt very sudden to me. Dakota repeatedly shows that she isn't interested in Wyatt for the first half of the book, being so resistant that I almost found it hypocritical when Wyatt later gets mad at Boone for not listening when Dakota rejects him, and then she is very quickly kissing him and saying that she is falling for him. I also didn't feel their emotional connection with each other, as even after they are officially together, their interactions are mostly limited to sex (both physical and conversations surrounding it). Their emotional connection was told to the reader rather than shown. Side characters like Lana and Willie also felt one-dimensional to me, and while I was pulled in by their banter at first it quickly escalated to just mean quickly and I didn't understand the romance that is implied between them. Lastly, I found the final scenes with Boone, and Dakota riding Diablo, to be a little jarring and too perfect, respectively. Boone's character does several 180 turns in the confrontation between him, Dakota, and Wyatt, and, as said before, I didn't think Wyatt really had a leg to stand on about not listening to a woman when she says no. The ending of Dakota's bullriding journey was also too "sunshine and rainbows" perfect for my tastes, given the previous information we have. It just feels like it's a little out of nowhere.

After all that though, I still think this book had redeeming qualities! I really enjoyed Dakota being a woman who was into bullriding, as I always love reading books about women challenging gendered roles. I also thought that Dakota and Wyatt both had very sweet interactions with Wyatt's daughter, Vienna, which is always important in a single dad romance. I also liked Dakota and Wyatt as individual characters, and I could relate to Dakota's anxiety which I think was well portrayed.

While this book ultimately was just not for me, I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys:
- Books with women pushing into male-dominated spaces
- Sweet single dads
- Grumpy x Sunshine

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with an ARC!

Homebound centers on Dakota, a tough-as-nails bull‑rider known as the “Cowboy Killer,” and her childhood best friend Wyatt, now a pro hockey star and devoted single dad to baby Vi. When Wyatt suddenly returns to their hometown in Texas—barn with baby in tow—the sparks begin to fly.💫

Electric chemistry: The story nails the classic friends-to-lovers arc, with Wyatt’s relentless, gentle pursuit gradually melting Dakota’s stubborn walls. It’s a perfectly executed slow-burn romance.

Single-parent spotlight: Wyatt’s relationship with his daughter Vi adds depth and warmth, especially in scenes where Dakota cares for Vi—real and genuine moments of bonding.

Strong character work: Dakota is a charismatic lead—fiercely independent, witty, and with a hidden soft side that emerges beautifully. Supporting characters, from family to friends, enrich the story world.

Mild pacing lags: Around the midpoint, the “chasing” dynamic can feel repetitive, with Dakota resisting and Wyatt wooing in circles. A bit of structural tightening there would have elevated the arc further.

Shallow backstory: Readers hoping for more insight into the mystery of Wyatt’s sudden departure might feel the setup fell a bit short—some details remain vague, which may leave curiosity unsatisfied.

Final Thoughts:
Homebound is a comforting, feel‑good romance starring a grumpy-turned-swoon-worthy heroine and a devoted single dad determined to win her heart. It radiates warmth, small-town charm, and just enough heat (hello, outdoor shower scene!). While a few pacing and backstory bumps keep it from perfection, it offers plenty of joy, laughter, and emotional payoff. If you love heartfelt, character-driven romances with a dash of spice, this one’s a strong choice.

Thank you NetGalley for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts and opinions are my own!

A pining, obsessed single dad and hockey player meets a badass female bull rider!? SIGN ME UP!

This book was a lot of fun to read and I really enjoyed it!! Wyatt is a cutie of an mmc, his love and obsession with Dakota was the cutest thing and his love for his little girl had me swooning while reading. He is the best girl dad!!!

Dakota was a bad bitch and I mean that in the best way! Watching her character evolve as she spent more time with Wyatt was really sweet as they seemed to better each other! I’d rate this book 3.5 stars! I enjoyed it overall, but noticed some themes or comments coming up repeatedly, especially in short periods of time, that made some of the narrative feel repetitive. The main example that sticks out to me was Wyatt repeatedly saying he’s been in love with Dakota since she saved him from the creek. There was very little extra information about this incident, yet it kept getting restated without anything else to further the story and made some aspects of the story feel forced. This was a very minor setback though in the story because on the other hand, the repeated fact was sweet because it also honed in on the thoughts of Wyatt that he stuck to for over a decade during his time trying to get the girl!

Overall, this was a very fun read, and I’m so lucky and grateful to have received access to the e-arc! Wyatt and little Vi are the absolute cutest things which I loved hearing more about, and Wyatt’s OBSESSION of and love for Dakota made my heart feel all soft! The growth Dakota goes through in this novel made my heart go soft, seeing her change throughout her time with Wyatt! I’d recommend this book for sure for a sweet love story with a sassy fmc, a pining mmc, some seriously spicy scenes and the sweetest little girl! 🤍

Looking for a standalone cowGIRL romance with a down bad childhood best friend who’s also a hockey player? Then sign us both up!!

Homebound is a summery standalone featuring Dakota, Texas’s toughest bull rider, and Wyatt, the hockey world’s golden boy, who’s back in Granite Falls to win over his best friend’s heart. The only problem? Three-years without contact and a daughter in tow might make that a bit harder than he thought—especially when Dakota’s career is in jeopardy and her walls are now higher than ever. Definitely pick this up if you’re a fan of:

🧡 Bull rider x hockey player
🧡 Childhood friends to lovers
🧡 Black cat x golden retriever
🧡 Small town romance
🧡 Single dad

I’ve been following Meredith Trapp for forever and was so excited to hear about Homebound being traditionally published. Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this ARC, just in time for its publication TOMORROW on June 17th!

This story flips the script in a fun way—it’s all about a strong, determined cowgirl who’s laser-focused on her bull riding career and not about to let anything (or anyone) get in her way. Enter Wyatt, her childhood best friend who used to spend summers with her. She’s always seen him as the younger guy she kept firmly in the friend zone… until now.

Wyatt returns to town all grown up—and let’s just say, he’s not the kid she remembers. The chemistry between them sparks fast, and things definitely get down and dirty in the best way.

I loved the friends-to-lovers angle with a western vibe, and I’ve got a feeling some of the side characters are going to get their own stories soon. Can’t wait to see where this series goes!

Thanks to NetGalley and steps books for this free advanced copy . I am leaving this review voluntarily

Get ready to fall head over boots for Wyatt and Dakota! Wyatt is everything you could want in a hero: an NHL star, a devoted single dad, and a golden retriever who's both possessively protective and wonderfully soft. His complete devotion to Dakota is swoon-worthy. And Dakota? She's the kind of strong, sassy, and barrier-breaking heroine we crave, constantly proving her critics wrong.

Their chemistry is undeniable, and the slow burn tension made it incredibly fulfilling to see Wyatt's patience finally rewarded when they came together. Plus, Wyatt's daughter, Vi, is absolutely precious! Dakota's connection with her was truly heartwarming.

Every element of this book is perfectly crafted, from Wyatt and Dakota's unwavering support for each other to Wyatt's deliciously dirty talk and those unforgettable steamy scenes! There’s nothing better than a spicy cowboy romance, and Homebound delivers on every front!

Tropes:
🤠 Childhood best friends
❤️ Single father
🤠 It’s always been her
❤️ Reverse grumpy x sunshine
🤠 Dirty talkin’ cowboy

Thank you to Meredith Trapp, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the #gifted e-ARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

I tend to have high expectations for cowboy romances, so I went into this book with the same idea. However, this book COMPLETELY blew me out of the water. For starters, it’s not your typical cowboy romance because we have a female bull rider that’s trying to make it into the professional leagues. Then, we through in a single dad that is in his offseason as a professional hockey player that’s been in love with the FMC since they were kids. This was by far the story I didn’t know I needed!

Loved this book sm!!! when I tell you I'm a sucker for cowboy romance and single dad books and this book executed both tropes perfectly!!!! I Loved how Wyatt was such a golden retriever and but could also be possessive when it came to Dakota. This book had the found family trope which at times I'm not the biggest fan but Meredith did a good job writing it which made me really enjoy this book. The fmc is a strong independent woman who doesn't let anyone tell her what to do and I really liked that since it was so empowering reading about her wanting to dominate a mens sport.

this book had me hooked from the first word. i absolutely loved everything about this book. this book gave me an emotional bull ride. i went from laughing and kicking my feet to crying. i cant wait to see what couple we get to read about next.

Getting the chance to read the edited and updated traditionally-released copy of Homebound has been THE MOST FUN and I loved every minute of it just as much as I did the indie version!

The friends-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers pipeline will always get me good, and throw in a single dad and the hockey player aspect? Yes please!

Dakota and Wyatt's relationship was so fun to watch develop, and I adored every moment between the two of them. I loved how independent and strong-willed Dakota is, and if I could be any book character, I would want to be her (mostly because I wouldn't be afraid to ride a bull)! She is everything I want in a female lead, and seeing her shine and make sure she was understood and her own person was one of my favorite parts of the book.

And Wyatt! My dear, sweet, single dad Wyatt. I loved him. I loved his golden retriever energy and his love for his little girl (Vienna is THE CUTEST!), my heart just about melted every time he and his daughter were present. It's always fun to see how authors write single parents, and I think Meredith did a wonderful job writing Wyatt's character!

Thank you Netgalley and Atria for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I love a good cowboy romance, but I sadly didn`t enjoy this one. I did like that the bull rider was the woman and the man was a single dad, but other than that I wasn`t hooked.

The writing was cringy and did a lot more telling rather than showing. I also couldn`t really stand the characters and their motivations. I didn`t like how Wyatt just showed up out of the blue and expected so much from her while he didn`t even really have a valid reason for leaving in the first place.

Another small ick was how she was calling everyone Sugar and overusing that term.

This book wasn`t for me!

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My review has already been posted on Goodreads (link provided). I will also post it on my TikTok and Instagram accounts for release day (Tuesday 17th of June).

Homebound is a fun and sweet romance between a prickly female bull rider and a single dad/hockey player. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

This was my first book by Meredith Trapp and I will definitely read more of this author. The book was fast-paced and light-hearted, with interesting characters and a lot of humour. I especially had a soft spot for Dakota and her development throughout the book.

I am personally not a huge fan of childhood friends to lovers, just because it always lack a bit of angst for my taste, so that might be why this book is not a favourite of mine. However, I really appreciated the emphasis on parenthood, both with the main characters and their own parents, but also with how they were raising their little girl. Overall, it's still a solid book that I would completely recommend, especially to people who love a sweet and soothing love story.

Also, I need a book about Alanna and Willie, like, right now.

As a current Texas resident, this story immediately struck a chord. It’s familiar, and steeped in small-town charm, which is a setting that felt both comforting and authentic.

Dakota is a fierce, determined bull rider trying to carve out space in a male-dominated world. She’s all grit and fire, the kind of character who doesn’t take orders and doesn’t soften for anyone—until she begins to. Wyatt, her childhood best friend turned NHL star and devoted single dad, is her opposite in all the best ways: golden retriever energy, gentle persistence, and a heart that’s always been hers.

Their dynamic absolutely shines. I loved watching Dakota wrestle with vulnerability while maintaining her edge, and Wyatt’s quiet steadiness as he shows her what love, partnership, and belonging can look like. Her friendship with Lana added extra depth, and her slow connection with Wyatt’s daughter brought so much heart to the story.

The romance itself is a beautiful, slow-burning one full of tenderness, tension, and flirty moments that made me smile (and intensely swoon). Wyatt’s love feels patient and earned, and Dakota’s growth felt realistic and empowering.

The writing is perfect and the story was too. This is the kind of romance that celebrates second chances, found family, and coming home; not just to a place, but to a person who’s loved you all along. It gave me all the butterflies, and I’m definitely a new Meredith Trapp fan! Sign me up for her next novel.

Thanks so much to the author and publisher Atria books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

2.5 stars, rounding up to 3.
I really wanted to like this book, rodeo riders AND a hockey, seemed like two spicy tropes clashing. Alas, I didn’t hate the book but it’s not memorable. I didn’t like Dakota, I found her annoying. Secondary characters weren’t super fleshed out and didn’t enhance the story. I did like Wyatt but he was also getting annoying towards the end. While there were spicy scenes I thought they were rushed and didn’t really add to the story as other rom coms did.

This book pairs two of my fave tropes - sports and small town / cowboy. Admittedly, it’s not a sports romance and it’s not marketed like one. He is a hockey player, but it’s the off season so we don’t really get any hockey at all. The sports focus is on Dakota and her bull riding. Wyatt has been in love with Dakota his whole life and she has apparently had NO idea. Dakota had to be seriously blind. While she does mention she thought he once had a crush on her as a kid, she didn’t seem to give that thought any merit. And didn’t take any of his flirting as an adult seriously either. Literally EVERYONE knew Wyatt was in love with her. So either Dakota really is clueless or just didn’t want to see it. I loved Wyatt in Icebound and I loved him here too. He’s always trying to do right by his little girl. I loved that he had Cruz to lean on and talk to about Dakota but seriously, no Rhode talks?! Just mentions of him following his girl around and that’s it?! I almost hate how we fell in love with all of them in the first book and then they’re all split up by this book. I liked Wyatt and Dakota well enough, but I just felt like something was missing. I could tell they had history and connection but I didn’t feel their chemistry as much as I wanted to. This book is also way less steamy than Icebound and not nearly as steamy as the teasers on social made it seem. The outdoor shower didn’t really give what I wanted it to lol Also something that drives me nuts is when someone has a kid from a one night stand or something and then chooses to go without protection… like bro don’t you remember what happened last time?! LOL. Even though we don’t get much hockey, I loved learning tidbits about the bull riding circuit. It’s very Elsie Silver esque. I also liked how Dakota wasn’t just some hot shot bull riding prodigy (even though the summary makes it seem like she is). This girl was fightingggg her way to the top. I do wish we got to see some improvement with her. Like yes she was working out, but she wasn’t making many time improvements on the bull until her last ride. It just felt like a miracle by the end instead of a product of her hard work. If this series gets another book, I wonder if it’ll be about Cruz or if it’ll be about Lana?! Overall, while I did get a little bored and wanted a little more of *something* from Dakota and Wyatt, I really did enjoy this book. The epilogue was truly adorable. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Homebound – ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This one had some sweet moments, but overall it fell a little flat for me.

Tropes I usually love:
✨ Childhood best friends
✨ Single dad
✨ He’s been secretly in love with her forever
✨ Black cat x golden retriever dynamic
✨ She’s a bull rider / He’s a hockey player

The setup was great and the characters had potential, but the first half dragged a bit, and there was a touch of OWD energy that didn’t quite win me over.

Also, I have to say— one of the main reasons I landed on 3 stars: the overuse of the word “Sugar” from the FMC. I’m from Texas, and unless you’re 55+ that’s just not how we talk. It pulled me out of the story more than once. I hate to be nitpicky, but I just could not get over it.

Still, if you’re into childhood friends to lovers, small-town vibes, and slow-burn romances with a soft hero, this could still be worth picking up!

I am a die-hard for all things romance and, when I saw this new release coming out set in a small town with a female bull rider? I immediately knew I had to give it a try! After finishing this book, I had no regrets. Everything in the story, from the cozy atmosphere to the chemistry between the main characters, was absolutely wonderful. However, there were some moments throughout the book that did feel prolonged with filler information that dragged out the plot for me. Otherwise, this was a very quick and fun read. I would recommend this book for anyone looking to delve into a speedy summertime romance.