despite the cheesy title, this ended up being an unexpected delight! i’m not usually a fan of western romances (although perhaps i just needed to read a sapphic one), but i DO love a hate-to-love romance, which i thought this book did really well. the setting and premise were both really fun, and i loved the little misfit found family molly was thrust into when she took over the barn. i also really liked shani as a love interest and felt bought into the romance despite the quick timeline.

Omg I always love Jennifer’s books, this was still amazing. I loved the main character and her motivations for goin to the farm, I also loved the angst and farm vibes!

Such a good book! I loved the story line and all of the characters. I also love that it was a little different to what I usually read.

i would give this a 3.5 i think
i enjoyed this a lot more than love at first set!! i adored the grumpy/sunshine cowgirl vibes but i couldn't really decide whether i liked or disliked molly and if her friends were or weren't being fair to her. maybe that's just on me but i had a lot of conflicted feelings. i also don't see how molly didn't come to the conclusion she does any sooner when it was my first thought after she got the property haha. anyways i will say i need an outdoorsy gf so bad where is my shani

I liked this but it felt very repetitive. Every time that they were in a good place something would go wrong and they would be mad at each other again. I think that an epilogue could have helped a little with this problem since se don't see them happy for very long.

I received an arc through netgalley.

After Love at First Set, this was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. And then I got it in my hands and I was just like eh lol But I’m not sure if I built it up too much or if it was really just mid like I thought. It was really like basic and I was a little put out by that.

Ok, so this was cute, but I don’t feel like there was really anything that stood out. It didn’t even have the same humor as the last one and that bothered me. I found that I didn’t care about some of the stuff they were going through and I wanted her to just leave that mean chick alone. (Listen I can relate to people not believing in me.) But I didn’t know if that was a me thing because I don’t like enemies to lovers much or what? But whatever it was, it just wasn’t a big thing for me.

The romance was cute, but she was making me mad. And by she I mean Shani. She had to know that she was going to go with real family first. And she had to know that she didn’t want her aunt to die so that she could get her house. But she was acting all crazy and mean like she didn’t know that girl’s aunt at all. And it just really grated on my nerves for some reason. And that hat thing? That shit made me pause this audio and cuss her out. Audacity must be on sale lmao Because wth you mean that’s what wearing a hat means? And you talk to me like THIS? Absolutely not lol Other than that, it was just stupid stuff that bothered me, like why she didn’t have any people of color on her fictional bookshelf lol

I did really enjoy the horses and the animals. I loved them! I remember looking up a few tricks and stuff that were mentioned so I could watch videos of them. Because they I think I’m worse than Molly. I don’t know anything about horses lol And I’m from Texas. But it was interesting to learn more as she learned more and I loved that. But I didn’t like that she didn’t take it too serious and one of them was hurt because of it. I might have wished one of them stomped on her fictional foot because of that.

I left Molly for last because I could actually relate to her on a certain level. But I was still really pissed off by her. Because GIRL, you really had no one. And those she did have should have gotten their asses beat. And the way they ALL underestimated her? Ugh that was really grating on my nerves. No one gave her a chance, but she took it and that was that. But like, girl, you should have known lol

This book was just ok. I don’t think I’ll be singing to the rooftops about this one like I did for LAFS, but I’ll still read and review whatever Dugan writes. This wasn’t my favorite by her, but I know it won’t be my last anyway!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free eARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this rom-com! It took me a little while to really get into it, but once I was past the ~15% mark, I was really sucked in and finished it quickly. I was very invested in how Molly and Shani would solve their problems and finally get together. There was a lot of tension (both the good and bad kind) between the them, which was great. I know almost nothing about horses, so that was also a fun aspect to learn about. All in all, I really enjoyed this book! A very fun read.

Overall, this was an enjoyable romance. This is my second Jennifer Dugan romance so I feel confident in saying that while I enjoy her writing and the plots, I don't care for: the naivety of her main character and the horrible people that always seem to surround that character. There is just too much angst for me to enjoy the romance, especially when I am focused on plot lines that are either not fully developed or not given the page time they need. The end of this book also felt incredibly rushed and a lot felt unfinished.

The Ride of Her Life was such a fun queer western romance and I absolutely devoured it!! I love @jl_dugan books!! Thank you so much @avonbooks for an arc of #TheRideOfHerLife 🤠🐴🐎🌾🫏
This book is out today!!

-western/cowgirl sapphic romance
-enemies to lovers
-grumpy/sunshine
-horse girlies 🐴
-wedding planner/farrier

After her aunt’s passing, Molly inherits a run down horse barn plus its employees. One of those employees is grumpy farrier, Shani, who is not happy about the current situation. Molly is certainly not equipped to run a horse barn and is planning to sell everything and take the money and run to build her dream wedding planning business. This adds to the animosity between Molly & Shani. Molly begins to eventually fall in love with the place and a certain farrier who works at the barn 🤪

this book is a win for the horse girlies in my humble opinion 🤪 Totally recommend if you’re looking for a quick read!
on my way to find more sapphic western romance books!! 🏃‍♀️💨

Thanks to Netgalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for this in exchange for my review.

Molly is struggling to find a way of making her dreams of being a wedding planner come to life, while stuck slinging coffees and a mountain of debt on her shoulders. Inheriting her aunt's property seems like a quick fix to her financial troubles, but things become a bit less sure as she finds herself falling in love with the land, the animals, and the people. Specifically one ferrier with an instant distrust for the other woman and biceps that Molly can't help, but stare at.

Overall this story was a very good one. Seeing Molly come into herself, trying to solve the problem of keeping the barn and land and everything it stands for for those in the community, was rough, but fullfilling when she went into Beast Mode at the end, planning the Barrel Race.

Her and Shani's relationship is automatically full of chemistry at their first disastrous meeting, to the point multiple others make note of it, but when they start to let down their walls they are adorable and more alike then either might want to admit. It was frustrating many a time because a lot of their problems seem due to miscommunications and just not talking. But I still found myself riding a long because I wanted to see them have their happy ending.

The cast of characters was extremely diverse and I loved the little side tid-bit of Lochlin and Tyler, that was so cute. Seeing Molly find her footing among the closeknit community that revolved around this barn was great, and I love Otis so much. I will admit I found Molly's mother, Nat, and Nat's girlfriend a bit annoying. Like Molly's mom cut off contact with her sister because Christina wouldn't give her money (though did offer her a place to stay)? That's kinda shitty. Like beggars can't be choosers. And while I realistically see where Nat was coming from, that she had seen Molly lose herself in relationships again and again, the fact that she went so far to sabotage Molly and Shani, and didn't really see anything wrong with it, rubbed me the wrong way.

There were a few plot threads left dangling, but I still love how it ended, how Molly is going to be able to bring her dream to life, with the woman she loves at her side. An overall really good read.

I am a firm believer in Jennifer Dugan can do wrong and this book just confirms that even more. I love Dugan's books and her characters are always so great. They always feel so real and the chemistry between the mcs is great.
I loved the farm aspect of this book. I was never really a horse kid but all of my friends were and I love the vibe of a lesbian rancher. This was just a great book all around!

I received this book for free for an honest review from netgalley. Thank you for the opportunity

I love this author, her writing is so beautiful and realistic. Love the rural setting too.

This one had the potential to be a great read but it just wasn't a favorite for me. I didn't feel there was any connection between the two main characters (physical at times yes but nothing really deeper which I expect from this author). Shani was pissed that Molly inherited the farm but it wasn't her fault she got it. I didn't think it was fair for Shani to take it out on her when she could've been more helpful from the beginning. Molly's best friend is the worst throughout the entire story. I needed someone to boost Molly up and her friend tore her down every second. I wish Molly fixed things with her mom and we saw that play out. I think it's an important part of her story to see. I did really enjoy the found family of the people at the barn- they were all super supportive of each other and it added a great side element to the story. The beginning was a little boring and I wasn't very interested in the characters.
There was a lot of miscommunication and half the plot was everyone fighting constantly so it was hard to care about them though the romance was pretty good.
Overall not my favorite by this author but still worth a shot if you like western romances.

3.5 stars.

I have always enjoyed Jennifer Dugan's writing, so I was excited to read "The Ride of Her Life." This is a sapphic fish-out-of-water, angst-ridden romance between two polar opposite protagonists thrust together after tragedy strikes. Molly has just inherited a commercial horse barn from her estranged aunt (her mom's sister). It is the best thing that has happened to her in a while, and while she's sad about her aunt's passing, she sees this inheritance as a huge life change and a way to make her dreams a reality. Shani is the farrier who lives on the compound. She also helped take care of Molly's aunt in the last days of her life. Shani thought *she* was going to inherit the barn from Molly's aunt, especially since she worked there for years and is full of experience when it comes to running the place. The longer Molly stays at the property, the more she connects to the area, the animals, and the people her aunt loved, cared for, employed, and valued. At constant odds with one another, Molly and Shani are essentially rivals and enemies. Shani doesn't want Molly to sell the property, but Molly needs to pay off her student loans and get her business off the ground. Will they eventually see eye to eye? What you will find in this book is a relatively quick, fun read that is offset by its heavier themes. Unlike "Love at First Set," the balance between seriousness and levity didn't quite mesh as well for me. I liked the enemies-to-lovers vibes in this book, that aspect is handled really well! This leads to a lot of pining and tension between Molly and Shani early on, which sets the stage for some epic steaminess in the latter portion of the book. Unfortunately, what you will *also* find here is a *metric ton* of miscommunication, so if you're not into that trope, stay away from this book. I also wish I had known more about Shani. Her exposition and backstory feel very scant compared to Molly's. We know she has a lot of trauma from when she was younger, but that's about it. Nothing is expounded upon too tremendously. Another thing that stood out to me is how it is repeatedly mentioned that Molly has made it a habit of getting lost in her past relationships. Molly falls fast and jumps in head-first. There's no real indication that her dalliance/tryst/potential relationship with Shani is any different just because they shared some deep confessional moments. Molly's still just turning herself into a horse girl to satisfy Shani's career even though she loves everything antithetical to that lifestyle because..... love? S3x? Both? Finally, while I am satisfied with the ending where the two protagonists are concerned, it feels like there is little resolution between Molly and her best friend Nat, and between Molly and her mother. Still, there is a lot to like about this novel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Jennifer Dugan, Avon, and Harper Voyager for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

Jennifer Dugan's books are always such a fun time for me. I always love the storylines and the ridiculousness of them. The two characters in this were so fun and I loved how chaotic their storyline was while also balancing topics of grief and other hard topics.

Adorable angst!

If you're a fan of miscommunication tropes that lead to whole lots of unnecessary angst, this is for you! Molly and Shani just can't seem to get out of their own ways. Deliciously frustrating, you just want to sit them both down with a good long talk (and maybe a smack over the head) about self confidence and just ASKING the other person what they want. Add in a splash of decently realistic farm life (a rarity in romance), this is a wonderful summer read!

I give this one 3.5 stars. It was a fun and quick read and a great way to start off pride month!

When Molly inherits her estranged aunt's horse farm, she is certainly a fish out of water. It is a promising gift though, as she could use some funds for a fresh start in finally living on her own and to get a leg up on starting her event planning business.

What she doesn't account for is displacing the many people attached to the farm, the most of which is Shani, the hot resident farrier who cared for her aunt at the end of her life.

Enemies to lovers in this one, as of course, first impressions can be deceiving. Molly has a tendency to lose herself in relationships though, so how will she fare with Shani?

There were just a couple things that held me back from rating this one a bit higher. The first was the lack of details in the inheritance of the property. I felt it was unrealistic. I believe all is required by law to be disclosed up front to the person inheriting anything. The second was simply that the story ended very abruptly. I had envisioned a deeper reasoning for the estrangement of the mom and aunt and I also hoped for additional chapters overall. The book ended a little abruptly and I would have loved a little more of their story. I did however think that the author did a great job of taking the relationship slow and really focused on the growth of the characters. It was important for Molly to find herself and follow her own path and I thought that was done well. The side characters were very likeable too.

Overall a pleasure to read!

The Ride of Her Life by Jennifer Dugan is an adorable sapphic rom-com that has quickly become one of my favorite reads. From the very beginning, the characters captured my heart. Molly, who unexpectedly inherits a commercial barn from her estranged aunt, and Shani, the rightful heir in the eyes of the local community, share an undeniable chemistry that carries the story beautifully. Dugan has truly outdone herself with this book, making it one of her strongest works to date.

As a past equestrian aficionado, the realistic and detailed descriptions of barn life resonated deeply with me. The grit and hard work that come with taking care of horses are portrayed with an authentic touch, without overwhelming the reader. Molly's journey of renovating the barn and navigating her new responsibilities is both entertaining and inspiring, as she gains new perspectives on her life and aspirations.

The dynamic between Molly and Shani is a delightful example of the dislike-to-lovers trope, with Shani initially harboring resentment towards Molly. This single POV narrative builds up the tension and chemistry between the characters perfectly. The miscommunication trope is handled exceptionally well, though I did wish the reconciliation between Molly and Shani had been a bit quicker. The last 10% of the book felt somewhat rushed, with more telling than showing, which took away from the writing. I was really disappointed with this part.

Despite this minor flaw, the romance is endearing and sweet, with a few open-door spicy scenes that are tastefully done. The cowboy hat trope, in particular, is a standout moment that serves as a pivotal plot point. The side characters add depth and charm to the story, making the reader feel invested in the entire community.

When Molly inherits a horse barn from her aunt, she believes it is the answer to all her problems, but she soon figures out she is in over her head. Between the horses, the finances, and the cute but grumpy on-site farrier, Shani, she decides her best course of action is to sell. As she spends more time on the property she comes to love the horses and the people and decides she wants to keep the barn, but things are easier said then done, especially as she is now involved with Shani.

Jennifer Dugan is a new to me author so I was not sure what to expect. I found her writing style easy to read and I literally read the whole book in one sitting. That being said, I found myself becoming frustrated with the book. Molly was a total disaster for most of the book, but at least she knew she was a disaster. That being said, if she knew she didn’t know what she was doing, why didn’t she ask for help? The entire book was stressful due to Molly’s incompetence. Shani on the other hand was competent but because the book was single first person POV from Molly’s perspective we never got to be in here brain as a respite from Molly. I also do not get their relationship at all. We get Molly’s insta-lust for Shani, but we don’t really get much of why Shani likes Molly. For most of the book they are in conflict both with each other and against outside forces. There was like one conversation where they were a functioning couple. I wanted more of that. I don’t get at all how this book could possibly be marketed as rom-com. There was zero comedy. I really liked the other boarders at the barn and wish we had more of them. I would be interested to see if Jennifer’s other books work better for me as the writing was so easy to read.

Thank you to Avon for the print ARC and Avon and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Spice level: 🌶️🌶️/5
Slow burn: 3/5 ❤️‍🔥

The Ride of Her Life by Jennifer Dugan Hate to Love sapphic cowgirl x “city” girl with a Bi! MC that will make you blush laugh and cry in the best way possible!

I absolutely adored both main characters and the slow burn is burning folks ❤️‍🔥

One of the things I liked about this book was that the miscommunication trope is actually done well in my opinion which can be very hard to do! Molly and Shani are both complex with flaws that you slowly begin to understand why they are the way they are!

The spice is definitely there but not overwhelming.

If you’re looking for a sapphic western contemporary romance look no further!

Thankyou so much to NetGalley and Avon books/Harper Collins for the E-Arc and physical book! I absolutely will be recommending this one to everyone 🥰