Giddy-up, we’re going to Bravetown! 🐴
Esra thinks she’s going to spend the summer scooping ice cream but what happens is so much better! Bravetown is a Wild West theme park. They put on shows for the visitors to get the old western feel. So instead of working at the ice cream shop, she becomes a character known as The Pretty Annie Lou (mostly because she fits into the costume). Ace Ryder (aka Noah) is the lawless cowboy that kidnaps Annie in the skit. This is a total opposites attract situation because Esra is chaotic & fun and Noah is a serious guy that likes everything neat & tidy.
I enjoyed how the plot and romance are nicely balanced. There is a real story here. Esra and Noah’s bickering is next level and this definitely isn’t insta-love. I really hope this becomes a series because all of the side characters were fun and interesting. I like how each chapter has a little advertisement for a place or attraction in the park. And Esra’s collection of somewhat inappropriate shirts is hilarious! My favorite was “u can't pick ur father but u can pick ur daddy" 🤠 Overall this is really fun to read and I’m looking forward to what the authors does next!

(Review will be posted to Amazon and Barnes & Noble on publication day. Link to Goodreads review provided)

My God—this was PHENOMENAL. I’m not exaggerating when I say The Brave and The Reckless has launched itself into my favorites of the year (and possibly of all time?). This book had everything: delicious banter, sizzling chemistry, a refreshingly original setting, and characters so lovable I’m already mourning being finished.

Let’s start with the setting—a small town Wild West-themed amusement park called Bravetown. HELLO??? I want to visit. I want to live there. I’ve never read a book set in a theme park quite like this and it made for such a fun, immersive backdrop. The little snippets at the beginning of each chapter, giving backstory to Bravetown’s residents, added so much depth and charm. It felt like I was being welcomed into a living, breathing place.

The story itself hooked me from chapter one. The banter? Hot. The chemistry? ELECTRIC. Esra and Noah had me giggling, kicking my feet, screaming internally—and externally. The sexual tension was off the charts, and the slow build from enemies to lovers was perfection. Also: PROP GUN PLAY?! I wasn’t ready, but I was so here for it.

Esra was a standout FMC—funny, sarcastic, strong yet vulnerable. Her chronic illness was portrayed with such authenticity, especially in those everyday “mental gymnastics” moments. As someone who related deeply to that, I felt seen in the most unexpected and welcome way. And the fact that she and Sanny sign to each other?? I’m obsessed. Noah, with his layered “good guy playing a villain” vibes, grump exterior, and soft heart? Say less. He’s the blueprint.

The supporting cast? A+ across the board. Vivi, Adriana, Lukas, Zuri, Sinan, and TORNADO (yes, Tornado!!) were all such well-developed, lovable characters that I desperately need spinoffs for. The whole world Dilan Dyer built here feels alive and real, and I’d happily buy an annual pass to Bravetown if I could.

The spice? Chef’s kiss. The roleplay? Gasp-worthy. The pacing? Absolutely flawless. I read it too fast and now I miss them all.

This book is the epitome of a grumpy x sunshine, enemies-to-lovers romance. Watching Esra learn to take care of herself—while Noah learns how to let go of control—was beautiful. Their growth felt organic, their struggles were deeply human, and their story? Completely addictive.

This is my second Dilan Dyer read and I can confidently say she’s a master at writing messy, real characters who leap off the page. Her books never feel formulaic—each one brings something unique to the table—and The Brave and The Reckless is no exception. You can feel her love for these characters and this world in every chapter.

If you’re into witty banter, high-stakes chemistry, incredible disability rep, and the most charming setting imaginable, add this to your TBR NOW. It pulled me out of a brutal reading slump and I already want to reread it. This is the book I didn’t know I needed, and I’ll be shouting about it until everyone picks it up.

Preorder it. You can thank me later.

ARC Review

Dual POV
Brother’s Best Friend
Grumpy x Sunshine
Small Town
Secret Relationship

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spicy: 🌶️ 🌶️

Super fun read! Loved to read about Esra growing into her own person and becoming more independent! The bickering between Esra and Noah was so entertaining!

Okay, so for my first foray into cowboy romance, I'm not disappointed. I can definitely see why people are gravitating towards these tropes - in such tumultuous times, of course people want the stability found in small towns. But, I was correct in assuming that these romances would end up perpetuating some stereotypes and gender roles I find discomfiting.

To start out with the positives, though, I really enjoyed the setting. Bravetown was a super fun environment, and I wouldn't mind returning to it. I also enjoyed the side characters we met and the whole premise. However, I did find problems with our main characters. Esra felt like the embodiment of the "I'm just a girl" trope. I think Dyer was trying to do the reformed rich girl thing, but I didn't feel like it worked. She didn't change enough throughout the book for that. Instead of her gaining perspective, it felt like others just grew used to her actions. As expected, Noah was the embodiment of traditional masculinity. Though this isn't problematic by nature, the demand for romances with the traditional views of masculinity does worry me.

In some ways, I do feel like I'm cheating The Brave and the Reckless because I'm using it as a vehicle to discuss larger trends within the publishing landscape, but in some ways, that's what books are for. So, while I enjoyed it, it did validate some of my fears regarding this subgenre. I'll definitely be exploring it more, though, so who knows, maybe my opinion regarding this one will shift. We'll just have to see!

Thanks to Netgalley for providing a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

this was a fun read, like if two disneyland cast members got together lol a classic grumpy x sunshine and our FMC is crazy book smart. it’s a bit on the spicy side, and while the third act breakup wasn’t my favorite i still enjoyed it overall!

O M G, Dilan did it again! This book was the perfect inclusion of a classic enemies to lovers, but not one that felt to rushed or unrealistic. While I personally would have loved to see more interactions between “Ace and Annie,” there was still an incredible balance between both their real relationship and their fictional one. My biggest gripe with the book, however, was the 3rd act. Without spoiling, I was just very confused as to what was occurring and why, and felt as though that could have been resolved with a bit more exploration into Esra’s life before Bravetown. But with that aside, this book was an amazing read that I couldn’t seem to put down. Lets hope Esra and Noah are just the beginning of theme park romances because I am absolutely LOVING this trope!

Enjoyed this one. Going to work at an old west town, that has people in character, sounds fun. Add a touch of romance and city vs country and you have the making of a good read. Not sure why the Turkish was mentioned several times as it was not really part of the story. Still though, would recommend this one, although must admit of skimming through the sex scenes at times as they were a bit excessive. Might just be me.

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.