A review by lizanneyoung
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

5.0

 

TROPES

🥃 Brother’s Best Friend

🥃 He Falls First

🥃 No Third Act Break Up

🥃 Dual POV

I genuinely believe I’ve been reading the wrong type of western/cowboy romance novels. As someone who grew up tangentially to that lifestyle, part of why I haven’t liked previous cowboy romances are the caricatures of the people in that life, and the focus on the material aspects of it. This blew that notion out of the water, and it’s likely because the author herself is rooted in that life. 

I love Emmy. Her fear is rational, especially as someone who has had similar experiences. And I totally get why, combined with her ADHD, she is then at a huge life crossroads. It’s really hard to come to terms with the notion that something you thought you’d be doing your whole life may not be an option for you anymore, and also to question how much you still enjoy it. While she questions her feelings at times, when she finally leans into them, it’s a nice payoff.

Luke has great growth over the course of the story. We learn through Emmy’s eyes how he originally was, how Luke perceives he was, and how different life events changed him now that he’s in his 30s. The two realizing that they never actually knew the other despite mostly growing up together is a wonderful journey to follow them on, especially because they feel like kindred spirits in a way. You can’t help but root for them, even if it seems like things will implode because of the secrets they’re keeping. 

I also won’t quite look at whiskey the same for a bit. IYKYK