I was unable to read this book. It just did not click with me and is based on personal reasons. I am marking it a DNF - thank you for the opportunity. If I am able to read in the future, I will come back and edit my review. Please disregard the star rating, Netgalley makes us rate with a star even if we did not finish the book.

The Dusty Hat Bar is a short novella about two gay cowboys living in small-town Texas. Lennie's father Earl is a big landowner and is very protective of his five daughters and only son to the point of being very controlling and rigid. Noah used to work at Earl's ranch and was fired -ironically - because Earl thought he was messing around with one of his daughters.

On Lennie's twenty-first birthday, Noah sees him at the Dusty Hat Bar and having heard some rumors that Lennie is gay, briefly entertains the idea of getting back at Earl by seducing his son. But what develops between the two cowboys is a deep sustaining relationship that makes them decide to take their chances together in a town (and state) that can be very hostile to gay men.

The Dusty Hat Bar is a sweet story and I really like how, when it would have been far easier to make Lennie's father Earl a complete villain, there is growth and acceptance. 4 stars.

I enjoyed the setting and the basic story of this book. It painted a realistic if a little bleak picture of what it means to be gay in the more rural parts of the world. 
The characters were likeable and relatable though there wasn't much depth or development. 
The writing was easy and flowing for the most part but also a bit on the simple side. Lots of short sentences and some awkward passages. 
The timeline was also a bit messed up with quite a few logic errors. 

Still, it's a fast, romantic (but not overly so) and entertaining read that's fun while it lasts.