Rollercoasters and cowboys? I am so in. This is the book I did not know I needed this year and I now have a new autobuy author. The banter, the sass, the enemies to lovers. I loved Esra's journey. Seeing her learn to take care of herself emotionally and physically was such a joy. Watching Noah learn to cede control and still take care of her was adorable. This is the ultimate grump x sunshine trope, and seeing who won the bet at the end...priceless.

So happy I judged this book by its theme park and took a chance on this one from NetGalley!

This book has me in a tizzy. I literally have no complaints here. Esra and Noah are just perfect, not to mention every side character was so delightful I could barely stand it. Even characters that you see for 2 seconds. There is a scene where a little girl is yelling at the main characters and it’s just the best scene. It reminded me so much of my daughter.
Bravetown is magical. I wish it was real. I don’t ever want to visit Tennessee but I would to go to bravetown.

I received a free arc of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

There’s prop gun play, a masked cowboy, and forced proximity + hate to love vibes.. What’s not to love?!

I really enjoyed the premise of the entire book. Our FMC is a girl trying to find her wings and is a bit of a tornado. Noah is a guy with a plan, and doesn’t seem too thrilled with those plans being shaken up. Don’t even get me started on his peanut butter stash being compromised. It was a joy to see her blow into his life and turn his world upside now.

Now, if you catch me lurking around a Wild West theme park in search of a masked bandit, mind your business.

Shoutout to Random House for the arc!

The premise of this story was so incredibly unique! I haven't read or heard of anything like this before so I was definitely very instrigued. I loved the cosy small town vibes, the theme park setting and the chronic pain rep. The fmc was very relatable which added a new light to the story.

This was a cute book with a little touch of enemies-to-lovers and theme park-esque settings with multiple cast members. Noah was definitely my favorite in the whole book. Sadly, I was not the biggest fan of Esra because she just seemed very childish and not mature for her age. I feel like after being in medical school, she would be at least a bit mature and knowledgeable about social situations and the rights and wrongs, but she just wasn't. The romance was cute and definitely had some chemistry between the characters. I also really liked the writing style.

Omg, WHERE DO I BEGIN?!

I loved the setting for this story - Wild West Theme Park!!!!!!!!! Hello?! I want to visit! I want to live! I need in real life! I've never read a book where the story takes place in a small town theme park but I had so much fun! I loved beginning of each chapter and how it was giving you backstory about the characters in Bravetown. I was hooked from the very first chapter and I had to stop my other reads because this one needed ALL of my attention. This was such a fast paced read and before I knew it I was over halfway through the book.

"Always remember: In the face of adversity, kindness can be the bravest act of all."

Esra, the city girl, dropped out of med school and ran to live in the same town as her brother Sinan. She needs a job and hopes to serve icecream in the park but ends up getting the part of Annie Lou in the play that runs six days out of the week. Noah, already lives there and is casted as Ace in the play but also can't stand Esra from the first time they meet because she eats his food. Banter right out the bat was HOT hot hot. The supporting characters are some of my favorites-- Vivi, Adriana, Luke, Zuri, Sinan, and TORNADO! Loved that Ez and Sanny sign to each other to communicate and how much Ez's chronic illness is a big part of this story, even if she doesn't want to flat out talk about it with Noah.

"A glaring reminder that caring for someone didn't mean taking care of them and handling their every issue yourself. Caring for someone meant providing them with tools. It meant helping them live independently as much as possible."

The spice in this book, chefs kiss!! The foreplay. The roleplay. <spoiler>Okay the PROP GUN PLAY WAS CRAZY AND I WAS SCREAMING BECAUSE!!!! Wasn't expecting that at all but I ate it up.</spoiler> The banter. The chemistry. Just everything had me giggling and kicking my feet and I think I read the book too fast because I miss them now. Halfway through reading this I went and placed my preorder because I just need a physical trophy of The Brave and the Reckless like I need air to breathe.

If you love:
grumpy x sunshine
and they were roommates...
brother's best friend
chronic illness rep
open door spice

This releases July 29, 2025 and you should so pick it up. You can thank me later!!!

————————
thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest review. all thoughts are my own.

4.5 ⭐️ I really went into this thinking I wouldn't like it that much, because I am not a cowboy fan but I like Dilan Dyer. I stand corrected. I enjoyed this so much! Especially the cowboy. The characters were so funny, and witty, I loved watching them find themselves and each other. I personally love slightly unhinged female main character, and Esra is that. She's so funny and so uniquely her. Also as an EDS girly the representation was SO good, and you can tell was not loosely thrown in but thoroughly researched. Especially at the end with the equine therapy. Noah is a cowboy I would save a horse for any day. His character was the perfect combination of standoffish asshole to jealous lover boy that we love to see. Plus the gun scene.

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5 stars)

The Brave and the Reckless is a cowboy romance set in the wild west and a theme park to boot, and the setting alone had me immediately intrigued. Between the costumed performances, dorm style cast housing, and a dose of enemies to lovers tension, it was giving drama in all the best ways. Think cowboy cosplay meets camp chaos. I mean that in the most fun way possible, and while I did enjoy this book, it was not without its issues.

Noah was easily the highlight for me. Broody, mysterious, and utterly smoking in his masked cowboy role, he was everything I love in a grumpy MMC. His rough around the edges charm and guarded heart made every interaction worth reading.

Esra, on the other hand, was a bit of a struggle. While I appreciated the attempt to give her depth through her chronic illness and her background of being overly protected, her immaturity and naive decision making didn’t fully land for me, especially considering she had made it as far as med school. I kept wanting her to grow more as the story went on, but her development felt a bit stunted.

Despite that, the romance had its moments. The tension between Noah and Esra was solid, and there were definitely some spicy, well written scenes that if you love oforced proximity and secret relationships, you will enjoy. Dyer’s writing style is engaging and easy to fall into, which helped balance some of the character issues for me.

My biggest wish? A little more cowboy grit and a little less behind the scenes acting drama. The setting had so much potential to lean into that Western vibe, and I would’ve loved more of that dusty charm.

This was a fun, unique take on the cowboy romance genre with an inventive setting and some memorable moments. While it wasn’t a perfect fit for me personally, I can absolutely see this finding a happy home with people who do enjoy quirky, character driven romances with a touch of heat and heart.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dilan Dyer, and Ballantine/Dell for the eARC of this book.

The Brave and the Reckless was a fast paced romance that takes place in a Wild West theme park. There’s a touch of enemies to lovers, and some dorm room style shenanigans since most of the cast members live on site. I loved Noah. He was everything you could want in a broody character, not to mention he plays the hot masked cowboy in the Bravetown theme park!

I unfortunately was not a fan of Esra. She seemed so childish and naive. I understand that the was essentially bubble wrapped as a kid, but she did go to medical school, so I feel like she should have some life experiences.


Overall, this book was fun. I enjoyed the romance (most of it) and liked the writing style. Even though it didn’t end up being my favorite, I think other people will find it enjoyable. I think I was hoping for a little more Cowboy and a little less acting.

Thanks for the eARC NetGalley.

Solid new addition to my Dolan Dyer collection! I was so excited to get my hands on this book when she announced it. Brothers best friend, sign me up.

I loved this story line, it checked all the boxes for me and was so creative looking at the other side of amusement park characters. I also loved the representation of chronic illness and pain with Ezra’s character. I’ll admit I wish there was a bit more development with her over the course of the book - in the end I felt like we went back to the immature outbursts and was hoping for a stronger conviction in her feelings about constantly being “babied” when it came to her illness. The miscommunication felt deliberate rather than reactionary, like she was looking for something to be mad about.

I’m on board with this series, though, if she wants to revisit Lucas in the future!

OMG…. I don’t even know where to start!!! This is the first book that brought tears to my eyes as I knew and felt what Ezra was going through! As an hEDS sufferer it sent shivers down my spine seeing how she used what she went through to help others!

"The Brave and the Reckless" by Dilan Dyer is an absolute must-read! Dyer's writing is captivating, and the plot is full of unexpected twists and turns.

I devoured this book, eager to see what happened next. The themes of bravery, resilience, and love are woven throughout, making for a compelling narrative. The author's passion and talent shine through on every page. This is a must read for every person who suffers with chronic conditions and feel unheard while also wanting a romance ❤️

🎠 The Brave and the Reckless ARC Review 🎠

By author Dilan Dyer

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

🤠 Hate to Love
👑 Older Brother's Best Friend
🤠 Small Town with Old West Theme Park (she's the damsel, he's the bandit)
👑 City Girl x Country Boy
🤠 Grumpy x Sunshine
👑 Forced Proximity
🤠 Chronic Illness Rep
👑 Secret Relationship

This book was so fun! The old west theme park sounded so cute, so I expected this to be a sweet little feel-good romance book. But the SPICE was SPICIN'. 🥵🌶️

I did not expect to enjoy the spice as much as I did in this book. It was a very welcome surprise. Those hidden moments in the hideout with of seven minutes in heaven were just 👌🏼👌🏼 so good.

I loved the small town, grumpy x sunshine storyline where he falls HARD. Noah did not want to put up with Esra's BS at the beginning and I loved seeing him snap. He fell so hard and I was so giddy seeing how possessive and protective he was of Esra.

The side characters and the rest of the cast were cute. I wouldn't be mad if Adriana got her own story, finding her out of town Daddy. 😏 I need more of this world!

3.5 stars (rounded to 4 because of how much I love the setting and storyline!) I absolutely loved this story! It’s so much fun. I really enjoyed the Wild West theme park! I would definitely read more books in this setting. The characters are enjoyable and I loved the chemistry between Noah and Esra. Honestly this would’ve been a solid 4, or even a 5, star read if the physical part of their relationship hadn’t advanced so quickly (and then been such a heavy focus). I would definitely recommend reading this book! It’s easy to read and very entertaining.

Noah & Esra were so good together oh wow!! my first book from this author & i loved it so much!
The tension between the two of them from the beginning was incredible, I swear I felt like I was in the room with them.
Also loved Sinan!! He was just trying to be a good big brother ❤️

thank you to Netgalley & Dell Romance for this ARC!

The Brave and the Reckless releases July 24th!

Thank you to NetGalley, Dilan Dyer, and Ballantine for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

4.75 stars

I was not expecting to love this book as much as I did. I knew the concept was interesting, and bonus, a chronic illness rep. But this book hit me in my feelings. I don’t have the same chronic illness as Esra, but I experience joint pain and other symptoms. I understood her frustration with everyone coddling her. I also appreciate Noah’s trauma of having an alcoholic father. Please check TWs. I loved Esra and Noah together. There was more spice than I thought, but I’m not mad at it. I do wish the characters had more emotional depth. I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to read about a chronic illness or who has loved the Rebel Blue Ranch series!

Okay, I’m definitely in my cowboy romance era, and this was right up my alley!! The setting at a Wild West Amusement Park was such a fun choice?? Ive learned I love reading about tight knit workplace, its a nice found family feel almost. I loved hearing about all the rehearsals and how the cast keep up their social media to bring attraction to the park, it was such a fun behind the curtain look at the park.
Esra was such a fun FMC! I thought she was a little ridiculous at the beginning, but once you start to know her, you become so endeared to her! And finding out that she had chronic pain? That was so interesting! Noah!! An amazing MMC! I’m a sucker for the type of man he is. And all the side characters were great and well fleshed out as well! I don’t think there was a character in this book that I didn’t like!
The spicy scenes in this book were hot, but pretty fleshed out as well! I enjoyed Noah’s worry of Esra only liking him for his persona (Ace) and I feel the two of them really worked well with each other.
I’m so happy I was able to read this story early and I can’t wait to read more from Dyer!!

Esra llega a Bravetown huyendo de una vida prefabricada. Hija de padres exigentes, con un historial académico impecable y una carrera en medicina abandonada, decide por fin tomar decisiones propias. Su actitud irreverente, su ropa provocadora, sus respuestas afiladas y su falta de filtros la convierten en una fuerza de la naturaleza. Pero más allá de su fachada rebelde, Esra es una joven marcada por la presión, el agotamiento emocional y una enorme necesidad de libertad.

Noah vive entre rutinas, normas y una vida cuidadosamente contenida. Lleva años en Bravetown, interpretando al bandido Ace Ryder, pero en realidad ha sido siempre el sheriff de su propio universo: controlando lo que siente, lo que permite, lo que muestra. Para él, Esra es un terremoto: incómoda, impredecible, imposible de ignorar. Y en esa incomodidad, empieza a reencontrarse con partes de sí mismo que creía apagadas. Su historia no es la del hombre que se enamora y cambia: es la del hombre que se ve obligado a aceptar que cambiar no lo hace débil, lo hace humano.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

I had high hopes for this that it would have similar vibes to the Rebel Blue Ranch series, which I loved, but it just felt categorically awful with no depth. I can't recommend.

I am definitely in my cowboy romance era and this book fit the bill perfectly. This had the perfect blend of tension and full blown romance, and the plot and setting were so fun and unique.

I absolutely loved the characters, the main characters and the side characters were just a joy. I hope we get spin offs of several of the side characters because I need more!

The setting was so fun, I loved all the different pieces and dynamics of it. It's like you're actually being taken on a tour of this little place and you really feel like you're there.

The enemies to lovers dynamic was perfect as well. Their tension and banter and bickering was just everything. I hope if there are other books written of side characters that we get more snippets of what happens with these main characters.

I will be posting this review on my Goodreads, Fable and Instagram account! The Goodreads and Fable reviews will be posted today May 13th, 2025. The Instagram review I will have posted by May 17th, 2025 at the latest with a boosted post on pub day!

Excuse me??? I haven’t felt butterflies from crushing so hard while reading a book in AGES. I could not put this book down. Thank you so much for this arc!

I went into this expecting a fun and cozy read but this book hit me like a truck (in a good way, I promise). Esra is such a fabulous FMC. She is kind but has a backbone and doesn’t let herself get pushed around. She’s so strong, dealing with her chronic illness and pain so quietly and on her own. Her struggles with her family are so relatable, especially as a daughter to parents who tend to coddle.

Noah is an amazing MMC. I’m not specifically partial to cowboys so I wasn’t sure how I’d feel but he is written so well. Neither MC feels like water downed characters solely defined by stereotypes. They are fully fleshed out and it’s very refreshing. Also Tornado and the other horses?? BRB going to go buy a horse real quick.

The spicy scenes are so hot and have depth at the same time (like Noah feeling worried Esra likes him for his persona as Ace versus himself). I’m always worried about insta lust or love that is written as purely lust and this book avoided those pitfalls beautifully.

I am so happy I was able to read this beautiful story early and I cannot wait to read more from Dyer!!!