Review of The Brave and the Reckless by Dilan Dyer
⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫 (3.5 out of 5 stars)

The Brave and the Reckless is a sweet, small-town romance with a theme park twist that had some fun moments—even if it didn’t totally blow me away. If you’re into cozy settings, cowboy charm, and forced proximity, this one might be right up your alley.

The story follows Esra, who’s in full-on life crisis mode at 23. She leaves behind med school and heads to Bravetown, a quirky theme park where her brother works, only to find herself roped into playing a leading role in the park’s Wild West show. Enter Noah—her brother’s best friend, the show’s villain, and her grumpy opposite. Sparks fly, tensions build, and you know the rest.

I really liked the setting, it felt fresh and whimsical without being over the top. Bravetown and its eccentric charm gave the book a unique vibe. Noah was definitely a highlight for me: broody, gentle, and clearly carrying a quiet depth (plus, his dreams of owning a ranch? Swoon). Esra, on the other hand, was a bit of a mixed bag. Her impulsiveness felt real for someone her age, but it sometimes clashed with the depth the story was trying to give her—especially regarding her chronic illness, which I appreciated being included, but wished had been explored more consistently.

There were definitely some swoony scenes (those seven-minute show bits? 👀), and I can see why people connected with their chemistry. But the pacing got a little uneven around the halfway mark, and I found myself not quite as emotionally invested in the couple as I wanted to be.

Still, by the end, I found myself rooting for the characters and their Bravetown found family. It's a fun, heartfelt read that just didn’t fully land for me, but I’d be curious to see where the series goes next.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine | Dell for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I went into the expecting another cowboy romance and was quickly spun into a small town romance in a small town themed amusement park. The two main characters are the lead roles in the show that is acted out in the theme park everyday. I loved the small town feels of this book as someone who loves that trope and the characters grew on you more and more as you’ve read.

The broody “cowboy” Noah plays the main role as ace in this book. He’s the type of character that is more than his looks you just have to get to know him first. I loved him from the beginning but towards the end he really pulls at your heartstrings. He’s the MMC that acts like he doesn’t care about anyone but cares MORE than anything about our fmc.

Esra stumbles into town as her world back home falls apart because she’s confused about where she wants her life to go. She ends up having to play the role as Annie Lou in the show. Her brother already worked at the park and helped her get the job. You don’t only get found family but you get to see esra and her brothers relationship grow.

The romance between Esra and Noah was so fun to read. It was strangers to enemies real quick except we all knew they weren’t going to be enemies forever… Noah’s ranch plans was what ended up fully pulling me in. He’s such a sweet boy!

all in all this book kind of took me by surprise and I’m so glad I was able to read it. It was a fun, bingeable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballentine for the arc!

The premise of this small town cowboy romance is truly so unique and I was so excited to jump in.

But unfortunately this one didn’t hit for me entirely.

What did work was the chronic illness rep and the journey of finding your place and growing in yourself, from Esra’s perspective. But she really needed to grow on me. I had a lot of trouble connecting with her in the beginning. Noah was grumpy but also caring and attentive.

My main problem with this was the lack of plot and character development. I really love when romance books have both characters grow in themselves and well as show the unconditional love grow within and as a couple. I unfortunately didn’t feel either of these things were present reading this.

Thank you Dell romance for the opportunity to read this early in exchange for an honest review. I’m sorry i didn’t love it.

I hate giving negative feedback... but that's what I signed up for. This was a struggle for me to get through... it felt chaotic at times and the FMC REALLY grated my nerves. The first part of the book I had to force feed myself... and I think the second half while it did get better did not outweigh how much I disliked the first half. I think the author had some really fun & unique ideas, but they weren't executed in a way that made the reader captivated & wanting more.

I had such high hopes for this one but in the end I didn’t love it as much as I had hoped. It wasn’t bad necessarily, it just fell flat for me in areas that made me start to lose interest as I progressed through the story.
I will say, I absolutely loved the setting. Dolan Dyer did a fabulous job and creating a fun and immersive, Western themed setting. I soaked up all of the summer vibes while reading this. For the setting alone I moved my rating up to a solid 3⭐️s.
Where things started to become a bit lackluster for me was the main characters. I wasn’t vibing with either of them. They both came off very immature and Esra just annoyed me all together. Noah and Esra’s relationship came off more lust than love and in the end I was never really raptured up by their love story. I think it is still a fun and cozy summer read and I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking to get lost in a atmospheric, western romance.

“Party pooper”
“Buzzkill Sun, killjoy moon, I know.”

I can’t escape hot masked men and I think I’m finally accepting that fate. And when you make said masked man a rugged cowboy I have no choice but to madly fall in love.

The Brave and the Reckless follows Esra a medical school dropout who uses her brother’s connection at a well know amusement park to get a job. She expects to scoop ice cream but is instead cast as the leading lady in park and gets to spend her summer getting abducted by Ace Ryder, the parks lawless cowboy. Ace aka Noah is as interesting as a granola bar (Esra’s words not mine ) and the pair can’t seem to get along at all outside of the stage. But the pair realizes that maybe the attraction their characters exhibit on stage isn’t all for show.

I’m booking a ticket to Bravetown rn. This book was hilarious, the way that Esra and Noah just kept egging each other on throughout the book was really funny. They played off each other very well and though clearly different, were very complimentary!

Esra was an amazing character to follow-mostly because she is so relatable for where I currently am in life. I want her t-shirt collection so bad and think I could do it justice! 😛 All her little quirks really made her character feel so alive, like I could really go out in the real world and see her!🥹

I loved Noah. And not just because he’s a hot cowboy that really knows how to do dirty talk. Noah was so passionate about his job, the horses he took care of and the place he called home. Throughout the book he really learned and took note of Esras quirks, what she liked and how to communicate with her. It was just very wholesome and also got very spicy 😏😏

Thank you so much to Balltaine for an early copy in exchange for an honest review! And huge congratulations to Dilan on her traditionally published debut!! I’ve been a fan of her since her first indie book and can’t wait for Bravetown 2!

New microtrope unlocked!!!! I now need more books where they work at a themed amusement park. I didn’t know that I needed it and I didn’t know that the spice would be SPICING, but here we are!!

Shoutout to Dil Dyer for writing such a fun book that put the biggest smile on my face and literally made me look so INSANE in my car during my commute to work just because the audio was also going crazy for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for honest feedback.

Cowboy romances are having a moment right now and I’m very intrigued by all the new series coming out. “the Brave and the reckless” is a little unique in that it’s set at a western theme park in Tennessee but it still has hot cowboys on horse so it counts!

Esra and Noah definitely have that “enemies to lovers” chemistry going, which I LOVE. As much as I didn’t love Esra in the beginning I have to admit she’s a pretty solid FMC. There is also an allusion to somewhat of an age gape but it’s not really talked about until towards the end of the book. Personally, age gap is not my preferred trope but in this case it didn’t really ruin the books vibe for me.

There is some moderate spice in the book. It’s written really well but by the end of the book it would’ve been nice to see a touch more emotional love than physical.

The book does drag a little bit mid-book. It wasn’t enough to put me off but I did feel my attention waning a little but it’s really only a couple chapters.

Solid 3.5 stars!

Sometimes you just want to read a book that has really scorching chemistry between the two main characters and that drives the entire thing- this is that book.

A lot of times in the enemies-to-lovers trope, the two people involved never actually hated each other, it was just a way to cover their feelings for each other. This is not one of those cases- Esra and Noah actually hate each other and don’t get along for the first third of the book, so it’s a true enemies to lovers story. Once they do get together though, it is SPICY!

This one is a real unique spin on the Western/cowboy love story. It takes place in the small town of Bravetown, made famous by the Wild West theme park that our main characters work in. Esra has chromic pain, and her brother Sinan, is deaf, and they’re both Turkish, which play important roles in their character arcs but it isn’t entirely who they are as characters, which I feel like a lot of authors sometimes get wrong, but not in this case. And Noah is the grumpy love interest who comes out of his shell the more he gets to know Esra.

Esra and Noah are character actors in the theme park, and butt heads at every turn. They're polar opposites in every sense. I love that that continues even after they get together, they don’t lose their individuality, and they both have pretty rich backstories outside of each other.

This is a dual POV, and a really quick and easy read. Everyone that works in this theme park is a CHARACTER! The highest compliment I could pay this book is I wish that Bravetown was real so I could visit it! (But I’d settle for getting more books about the other residents, hint hint :) )

The story of Esra and Noah. She is new in town, and ends up with a part in a wild west show, forcing them to work together. Will it lead to romance?

Dilan Dyer saddles up for a fun and genuinely charming ride with "The Brave and the Reckless," the first "Bravetown Novel." If you're looking for a contemporary romance with a unique setting and a fantastic blend of tropes, this one delivers. Esra and Noah's journey from prickly coworkers to something much more is a delightful adventure that had me smiling throughout.

The Wild West theme park setting is a stroke of genius. It provides a fresh backdrop for classic romance tropes like enemies to lovers and grumpy x sunshine. Esra, the city girl dropping out of med school, and Noah, the stoic cowboy, are perfectly cast in their roles, both in the park's show and in their undeniable real life chemistry.

Their banter is sharp and witty, evolving beautifully as they're forced to work together when their jobs are on the line. It's truly satisfying to watch their initial dislike melt away, revealing the deeper connection simmering beneath.

Dyer clearly has a knack for creating engaging characters, and the supporting cast, particularly Esra's brother, adds a lot of heart and humor to the story. The workplace romance aspect is well executed, with the damsel in distress and lawless cowboy dynamic adding a playful layer to their developing feelings.

My only minor reservation, keeping it from a full five stars, was that a few of the secondary plot points felt a little quickly resolved. However, this didn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of Esra and Noah's romance, which is undeniably the star of the show.

"The Brave and the Reckless" is a thoroughly entertaining read that brings a fresh spin to contemporary romance. It's a fantastic start to what promises to be an exciting new series, and I'm already looking forward to my next visit to Bravetown!

If there were ever a blurb that was an immediate “YES I need it” it was this one.

The book is set at amusement park with a Wild West theme. The characters must live the theme at all times they are in the park, must like Disney World cast members, unless they are in street clothes. The side characters added a ton to the story’s dynamic.

But then I struggled to stay interested. It had all the elements of being an amazing book, but I never connected with Esra. I think she was intentionally annoying at first but even with her growth I wasn’t a fan. I understood that she was acting that way because she had never gotten to be herself before and she was doing it all at once, but she just wasn’t a character I could relate to. She was pretty reckless and immature, but expected everyone else to deal with the fallout from her selfish decisions. Also, as a chronic illness girlie she was frustrating.


Thank you to Netgalley and Ballantine for the ARC.

4.5 stars rounded up to 5! This book really surprised me. A twist on the small town cowboy romance, set in an old time theme park made for a fun new take. I appreciated the inclusion of a hidden chronic illness. I am not familiar with that specific illness, however I think it was explained and represented well. The banter between Esra and Noah was fun. There are some spicy scenes, but there are also so many sweet moments in here. The side characters were also so loveable. I want to see the stories of some of them next. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

This is was a slower start read for me, but gradually I didn’t want to put it down. Unique view for a cowboy romance featuring a Wild West theme park. I really enjoyed the chronic illness rep throughout the book and the spicy scenes were written well. Definitely worth reading if you like..
Brother’s best friend
Dual POV
Chronic illness rep
Roommates
Enemies to lovers
Small Town romance
Grumpy cowboy x city girl

This was such a unique take and felt like a breath of fresh air in the cowboy romance genre. This book follows Esra who drops out of medical school and leaves the city life she knew behind for the summer to work at Bravetown, an old Western amusement park that her brother works at. She ends up being cast as the damsel in distress lead in the show they put on for park visitors opposite our MMC, Noah. Noah plays Ace Ryder, the bad boy bandit who kidnaps her. These two are total opposites (city girl/country boy) and constantly clash. This is such a great enemies to lovers romance. The banter between them was SO good. You could feel the tension coming off the page. There’s an added element of Noah being her brother’s best friend that makes the forbidden aspect add to the tension. I really loved the small town vibes, the chronic illness representation, and getting a peak behind the curtain of character actors in an amusement park setting. Overall I thought this was such a great book. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, as well as the side characters, and can’t wait to read more in the Bravetown universe. Thank you Random House and NetGalley for this ARC!

What a fun, trope-packed twist on a classic Western cowboy romance. I am GIDDY.

Esra, officially done playing it safe, ditches her overly cautious lifestyle (partly thanks to a lifetime of managing—and being managed by—a chronic illness) and flees to Tennessee for a summer of escapism at Bravetown: a kitschy theme park with a cult following and some truly committed roleplay. She signs up to scoop ice cream. She ends up cast as Annie Lou, the park’s damsel in distress, opposite Ace Ryder, villainous cowboy, professional heartthrob, and alter ego of Noah Young, her brother’s best friend and her obnoxiously responsible new roommate. It's a mouthful, I know.

Let’s run the trope checklist, shall we?

🐴 Enemies to lovers? Obviously.
🐴 Brother’s best friend? Yessir.
🐴 Villainous cowboy with a heart palpitating smolder? Check, check, and CHECK.
🐴 Mask kink? Oh, it’s there, and it’ll tickle the fancy of every dark romance gremlin lurking in the shadows.

But even with a full trope buffet, nothing felt gimmicky or checkboxy to me. Esra’s chronic illness isn’t just there for show, it’s written with care and adds depth to her character. And Noah? Noah is a gooey cinnamon roll of a man under all that villain flair. The way this man flip-flops between smoldering menace and sweet, anxious caregiver? Yeah. My blood pressure will never recover.

This book was a delight to read. Clever, chaotic, and way more emotionally satisfying than I initially expected. The side characters? Endearing. The found family vibes? Strong. The banter? Sharp.
The spice? Sizzling.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ballantine | Dell, and Dilan Dyer for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun opposites attract, grumpy x sunshine, older brother's best friend, slow burn debut contemporary romance set at a Western theme park that has newcomer Esra slowly falling for her hot cowboy coworker. There's great disability rep (Esra has hEDS), open door spice and tons of emotional depth. I loved both the main characters and highly recommend it for fans of the Dreamland billionaires or Honeywood series (other amusement park romance books). Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review! I can't wait to read the next book in the Bravetown series!

I wanted to like this so much but unfortunately I couldn’t even finish it. I got to 70% and was absolutely withdrawn from the story and the characters. I think the concept is there but overall the execution is lacking horribly.

I really enjoyed this book, I loved the dual POV, disability rep, and setting. I liked Esra and Noah’s banter, real actual enemies to lovers where it made sense in the book.
The chemistry between the two main characters were great and I loved the secondary characters.
This didn’t impact my score or make me dislike the book, and maybe it was just the formatting of the book but the content warnings/dic(k)tionary page was the last page of the book which seemed weird.

5/5 stars. I didn't think I could enjoy Dilan's writing more but OMG this book is perfection. Like truly, wonderfully perfect. Esra and Noah's banter had me cackling and giddy all at the same time. Even in the middle of spice, there were so many moments that had me laughing. This book has it all. Noah is a grump without being an a**hole and Esra knows just how to push his buttons. When the tension boils up and they hit the point of no return with their chemistry, it is absolutely *chef's kiss* impeccable. The lack of "big brother anger" over a brother's best friend trope book is so nice too. Sanny and Noah's friendship is such a huge part of the book and I'm glad it stays that way until the end. Like this book is just perfection and I don't have the correct words for it anymore.

Dilan is so great at including good representation in her books and this was no different. From deaf rep to hypermobile EDS rep, it is included seamlessly (as it should be) and with care. Her writing is impeccable and just keeps getting better. I cannot wait to see what else she writes because she is SO good.

If you're looking for an unconventional "cowboy" romance, this is THE one. Think Julie Olivia's Honeywood Park series and Lyla Sage Rebel Blue series had a baby. So SO good.