Such a fresh and unique take on western romance/cowboy premise! Set in a quirky, old-west-themed amusement park, The Brave and the Reckless follows Esra, a 23-year-old who ditches medical school—and her parents’ expectations—to carve out a new path for herself. With nowhere else to go, she ends up working at Bravetown alongside her brother, only to be unexpectedly cast in the role of “Annie Lou,” a damsel-in-distress in the park’s daily show- think Westworld, minus all the trauma and robots. Playing opposite her is Noah—her brother’s gruff best friend and the show’s outlaw villain. Who is DELICIOUS.

From the start, Esra and Noah clash in classic enemies-to-lovers fashion. Their banter is sharp, the chemistry is playful and their reluctant partnership eventually gives way to a deeper connection. While trope-heavy and the chemistry a bit lukewarm at times, the romance is light, flirty, and entertaining, even if their emotional development could have been more fleshed out.

There’s also solid chronic illness representation and a sweet found-family vibe that enriches a romance that again didn’t have as much depth as I wanted. Esra, while intentionally flawed, was difficult to connect with at first, and her personal growth felt surface-level. And while Noah is charming in his grumpy-cowboy vibe, the romance lacked the kind of emotional substance or inner growth that I felt there was potential to explore..

The true star of the book is the setting. Bravetown’s immersive western theme, colorful cast of side characters, and behind-the-scenes park life dynamic make for a fresh and enjoyable backdrop that really kept the pages turning. The world-building is vivid and well-executed—you can almost hear the boots on gravel and smell the greasy funnel cake. I’d love to visit Bravetown.

That said, the book was still a fun, quick read with, again, a fantastic and creatively fresh premise. There’s a lot of charm in this little themed town, and several side characters who deserve stories of their own, so I’d be interested in reading more set in the world.

Overall 3.5 stars

What to expect
-Western theme park
-workplace (they are park characters)
-forced proximity
-best friend’s sister
-grumpy x sunshine vibes
-Chronic illness rep

If you love theme parks, Wild West, and enemies to lovers, this book is for you! I loved the POVs and getting inside these characters heads more, especially about one another. I also enjoyed all of the world building of this theme park! I felt like I could visit it and know exactly where everything was and what to look out for. The side characters, incredible cast of people and would love to have more stories involving them.

This books spice level was amazing and I loved the dynamic both during spice and without.

I absolutely love Dilan Dyer books and I highly anticipated The Brave and the Reckless and Esra and Noah‘s story was just amazing.
 
This book is about Esra and Noah who are the perfect opposite attracts couple. Esra is a city girl through and through, but her life went downhill, and she needs a place to stay, so she visits her brother at Bravetown. And Bravetown is a Western inspired town and attraction where people can experience being cowboys. It has a whole lore, story and merch and I wish this place was real and I would love to visit it. Esra seems a little lost and unsure of herself at first and with every page she starts to become stronger and more herself again and I absolutely loved her development.
 
Noah is known as the lawless cowboy Ace Ryder in the Bravetown world, and this role fit him so well. Noah is such a swoonworthy hero and I’m definitely a fan of him as well. Their tension was just everything and the way they hate each other at first was so entertaining. The whole story pushes them more and more together and I was rooting for them. And it was so worth it and they make a great couple and their chemistry in the bedroom is just perfect and spicy (hello chapter 15).
 
This is a unique and fresh take on a cowboy small-town romance, and I absolutely loved and inhaled this story. Highly recommend. 5 stars.
 
(Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an arc.)

Cute story, but wasn't my favorite. The premise is great which is a small town cowboy romance, which is an AUTOMATIC read for me. The writing of the story was just however okay to me - felt myself cringing at some parts. Also felt the writing could be improved in regard to both of the characters personalities and their growth. The romance was however charming and lead to the book being a cute summer read.

What a fun and fresh take on a small town romance! The backdrop of the amusement park was so fun through a truly heartfelt story. I wish this were a real place so I could go right away. At the same time, the love story that developed for Noah and Esra was so beautifully done. It was the perfect amount of slow burn for a well paced story. Well done Dilan!

A cute story that felt very unique. I’ve never read a romance novel set at a theme park. At first I was a little worried that it would be too kitschy, but as soon as I started reading I realized how wrong I was.

I enjoyed this one!

Dilan! Amazing! I loved this story. Dilan is an auto-buy author for me at this point. Her other two books are two of my favorites and now The Brave and the Reckless can join the crew. Dilan has this amazing way of writing her characters that I love. They're so nuanced. The women are always so funny and incredibe. The men are always brooding but become absolute cinnamon rolls for their leading ladies. Noah and Esra were no exception. I loved Esra from the first inappropriate shirt print. LOL. I NEED her tshirt collection. Noah and Esra's chemistry kind of jumped of page for me. They were kind of inevitable. I wish teh book was longer. I wanted more. But I have my eyes wide open for Adriana's story. Pleeeeeeaaaaassseee Dilan. I don't want to leave Bravetown yet. The world building was so good. I kept getting this West World vibe for some reason and I loved how small teh town felt. 10/10. No notes. Except maybe that I need book two.

Thanks for the ARC NetGalley!

This was such a fun book! I liked the theme park/acting in character setting of the Wild Wild West! It provided a really fun way to explore Esra and Noah’s relationship. The disability representation was great and done really well in my opinion. Spicy scenes were SPICY, and a few content warnings should be checked before reading! I loved the ending and felt like it really wrapped up everything nicely. Thank you to Dell for an early copy!

If dreamland billionaires and chestnut springs had a child, it would be this book. It was just such a unique concept, such a fun twist on western romance, and I fear I was obsessed with it. Our two main characters, Noah and Esra, were beyond lovable. Noah was broody and infuriating in the best way, but a softy at heart. Esra was stubborn, quirky, and oh so bold. their dynamic together was so fun and made for an amazing reading experience! The banter? The tension? Honestly just incredible, no notes. This book also had such a beautiful, heartwarming found family component to it. The growing friendship between Esra and Adriana was so special and I absolutely lived for their bond! Watching Esra be made to feel so welcomed after feeling so lost just tugged at my heart! Also… OK REP FOR HYPER-MOBILE GIRLIES!! Guys this book made me feel so seen, this is not a medical condition that is written about EVER, so it was honestly such a pleasant surprise (and it was done so well might i add). Bravetown is the type of place that is just the perfect depiction of “home”. It’s warm, it’s welcoming, it’s quaint, and provides such an immense sense of community. I feel like there is just so much potential for future storylines within this world (cough, Adriana&Brooks, cough), and I would absolutely DIE for this to become a series. Full review posted on Instagram and Amazon! :)

3.5 stars, rounded up.

This book has absolute potential but unfortunately for me it fell a tiny bit short. I’m a sucker for cowboy romance but this left me wanting more.

The characters were nice, the plot was there, the pacing was decent.

It was enjoyable nonetheless but could use some tweaks and such.

Thanks NetGalley and penguin random house for the eARC


Will post Amazon review link once approved.

I loved that it wasn’t a cookie cutter book! New concept I haven’t really seen before in a cowboy romance!! It was super fun and I had a fun time reading it!! The tropes all pulled together really nicely! I love the journey of the FMC as well!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Brave and the Reckless - A Bravetown Novel
by Dilan Dyer

Esra has recently dropped out of med school and is determined to experience a summer of fun. What a better place to do that than a wild west theme park? Her brother has worked there for several years, and he has managed to get her a job as an ice cream scooper. It should be easy on her joints and give her a chance to adult on her own terms. (She has a chronic illness and a strained relationship with her parents.) Her plans go off the rails almost immediately. She is instead hired to be Annie Lou, one of the theme parks' main characters. Which is great, except for the torture on her joints, having to ride a ginormous horse, and work super closely with her brother's uptight, annoying best friend Noah. What could go wrong?

This one has so many good tropes:
▪︎ country boy/city girl
▪︎ small town
▪︎ brother's best friend
▪︎ forced proximity
▪︎ secret relationship
▪︎ found family

This one is a super easy, fast-paced read that keeps you hooked from start to finish. I loved the chronic illness representation and the found family vibes. The spice was definitely spicing, and these two have excellent banter. I really hope that this series continues. These side characters need their own stories.

I received an ARC of this book, but these opinions are my own. I would like to thank the author, Dilan Dyer, Ballantine Books, and Net Galley for allowing me the privilege of reading her work. ❤️

3.5 | Thank you to Dell for an advanced copy!!

I had a fun time with this more unique take on Cowboy romance! I loved the western theme park setting with the main characters being actors in the daily shows. It was giving honeywood fun park series by Julie Olivia!!

I thought the chronic illness rep was well done, and loved to see the other side of Noah. I didn’t think the character growth felt very meaningful, which is fine, but the conflict kinda bothered me.

All in all, I’m so glad I read this! It was a different and silly take on cowboy romance!

who doesn't love an enemies to lover's cowboy tale. this book is hilarious and filled with the best banter and tension. I had a blast reading it and cant wait for more.

The Brave and the Reckless follows Esra and Noah. Esra recently dropped out of med school and does not what she will be doing next. Her brother is currently working as a sign language interpreter at a Western theme park. He offers to get her a job at the park for the summer. Esra plans on a summer in Tennessee working in food and beverage. When she arrives, she is thrown into an unexpected role. The woman that had been portraying the daughter of the mayor of this Western town has left to pursue other things. The park is in a scramble to fill the role before the summer rush. Esra basically gets put into the role because she fits into the costume. Noah plays the bad guy outlaw that kidnaps the her within the storyline of the park.

Noah is working at the park to save money. He plans to open a horse therapy ranch on his family's land. He is very serious about his work. He and Esra bump heads immediately. He fills like their roles should be taken seriously. Esra wants to have a good time for the summer.

This story was fine. I think it would be a good palate cleanser between heavier reads. Esra was a difficult character to like. She acts very young (spoiled and irresponsible). To be fair, she is very young. As the story goes along, it becomes aware why she acts that way. That being said, it didn't make her actions any better. Noah has a goal and is justified in being annoyed by Esra's actions. Especially since Esra's brother is the one that got the job for her. If something goes wrong, it wouldn't reflect well on him.

Overall, it wasn't bad. It just isn't something that is going to be at the top of my recommendation list.

city girl x country boy is always going to be a good time. I think the setting of this one was super unique and fun, I am always going to enjoy an amusement park setting, and I wish I had seen it more. I liked the progression of the relationship between Noah and Esra. Their banter was top tier, and I just was rooting for them so hard. Enjoyable read for sure!

Give me a theme park in a novel and I'm immediately there. I really liked this one, and it has humor, lots of spice, and of course an entertaining theme park setting. Interesting characters, a little more diversity than sometimes found in a "cowboy" romance, and chronic illness rep help set this apart.

cowboy romance? theme park setting? sign me up. i was immediately drawn in from chapter one curious to where this was gonna go. the banter between noah and esra is everything!! he is so grumpy and she knows how to get under his skin. it had me giggling the entire time. i haven’t really read many theme park setting romances but now im hooked. i was visualizing everything in my head. i knew i was going to enjoy this because it has a lot of my favorite tropes (listed below). towards the end, there was some miscommunication but i think it was needed for esra to realize where she belongs. i will definitely be reading more from dilan.

thank you to the publisher for the e-arc!!!!

esra moves to the wild west which wasn’t part of her life plan but she drops out of med school and her brother suggests she joins him at bravetown (the wild west theme park that he works at). upon arrival, she happens to be the “perfect fit” for the costume of bravetown’s “resident damsel in distress”, annie lou. with this role, that means she will be dramatically abducted by ace ryder, the park’s “lawless cowboy”. enter noah (who plays ace) who is extremely grumpy and doesn’t know how to have fun. they initially have zero interest in one another besides within their performance but soon realize they have an attraction that “might not all be for show.”

tropes: bother’s best friend, grumpy cowboy x sunshine city girl, chronic illness rep, forced proximity, loathe to love, roommates, small town wild west theme park setting, dual pov

Yee Haw Everybody!

I came for a good time with some cowboys and stayed for the story!

Looking for a cowboy romance with a mask kink that takes place in a wild west theme park? This is it folks.

The plot to this book immediately captures one's attention because it literally takes place at a theme park but you stay for the fun of it all.

Esra is staying at Bravetown after dropping out of med school and as she navigates her newfound freedom without her controlling parents dictating every step. Thinking she's only spending the summer serving ice cream Esra is in for a treat as she is given the actress role of "Annie Lou" in which she plays damsel in not so distress for the Bravetown's villain, Ace Ryder. Who is played by her older brother's best friend and looks hot in a mask, aka Noah Young.

Noah Young has big dick energy and yes, has one too. That mask adds like 10x points to his attractive scale.

Esra's chemistry with Noah had me turning on my airfan cause damn is it steamy, their relationship begins with an intolerance towards one another building up to a very heated one and eventually a soft kind of love in which they see each other for who they really are.

Noah is also someone who has a stern set of plans and is hard headed about it, Esra challenges him to being more open and enjoying life to it's fullest without limitations. This creates a perfect balance for them as a couple.

Esra has a chronic condition, she is very vocal about it and doesn't let anyone undermine her own capability. Despite the "bratty" exterior that people label her as, she's someone who is passionate and incredibly intelligent. She pushes her boundaries and is constantly open to exploring new things, I truly wish I was a bestie of hers!

One of the things I wish we would have seen more is of the serious conversations about each others past and how that plays a big influence as to who they are as people. While Esra was very open about this, Noah didn't really open up to her in the way she had with him.

I will eat up a great cityxcountry romance especially if it's kinky!

I hope we get to see more of Bravetown and it's lovely set of characters <33333

Thank you Dell for the e-arc, I truly cannot wait for more people to read this!

UGH so good!!! I was a fan of Dilan Dyer going into this one, but this just absolutely cemented her in my auto-read author list!! This one was just so good and I couldn't have loved it more!! Esra was such an amazing FMC, and getting to see her relearning what she wants and needs in her life, and relearning to love herself was just so wonderful! Her drive and determination to be able to do anything she wants and to live her life in own way, despite her chronic illness, was so inspiring to watch through the story! And Noah was everything you'd want in a grumpy cowboy MMC! I loved how he was so protective and watchful of Esra so quickly, and that vibe grew so beautifully as they grew together! I loved these two so much, and how their dynamic grew so wonderfully between the real world and performing! This story overall was just incredible, and I will be thinking about and yapping about this one, potentially forever!! And the cherry on top of it all was the absolutely perfect cast of side characters!! I couldn't haven loved the Bravetown world anymore, and I can't wait to see what comes next for Dilan Dyer!! 5 stars; 3.75 chili peppers

Tropes:
- Brother's Best Friend
- Forced Proximity
- Theme Park Employees
- Masked Man
- Enemies to Lovers
- Chronic Illness Rep