A review by kharlan3
They Ain't Proper by M.B. Guel

adventurous medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

In this book, Clementine Castellanos is ordered as a mail-order bride by a brute, and ends up accidentally delivered to a non-binary cowboy outlaw, Lou Ramirez. Despite Lou's determination to keep things proper between them, they fall in love in this slow burn historical western romance. Overall, this book was a mid-tier read for me. I was SO EXCITED by the premise- there are so few queer historical western romances, and so few romances with nonbinary leads in general, but this one fell just short. Clementine is brash and determined, and Lou is reserved and sure of themself, but I wanted just a bit more character development and internal conflict, instead of the book repeatedly throwing external plot at them.
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