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 🥰

4.2 rounded down to 4/5

"The Ride of Her Life" by Jennifer Dugan is a delightful sapphic rom-com that brilliantly captures the grumpy-sunshine dynamic, set against the backdrop of a struggling horse farm. Fans of enemies-to-lovers tropes and western romance will find much to enjoy in this engaging and heartwarming tale.

Molly, a wedding-obsessed city girl with dreams of starting her own wedding planning company, is thrown for a loop when she inherits a run-down horse farm from her estranged late aunt. Between juggling two jobs and crushing student loans, Molly sees this unexpected inheritance as a potential financial windfall rather than a new beginning. Her initial plan to sell the land and use the profits as seed money for her business faces a significant obstacle in the form of Shani, the barn's dedicated farrier.

Shani, who took care of Molly’s aunt in her last days, is fiercely loyal to the barn and deeply skeptical of Molly's intentions. Their interactions are filled with tension and chemistry, as Shani's judgmental and grouchy demeanor clashes with Molly's city-girl naivete and dreams of a quick escape. However, as Molly begins to understand the barn and the mismatched family it brought together, she starts to feel a connection to her aunt and the life she never knew.

Dugan excels in crafting likable, multi-dimensional characters. Molly is endearing in her clumsy attempts to adapt to farm life, and her journey of growth is both realistic and relatable. Shani’s toughness masks a kind and thoughtful nature, making her a compelling counterpart to Molly. The chemistry between them is palpable, and their evolving relationship is beautifully portrayed, filled with moments of conflict, miscommunication, and undeniable attraction.

The story is fast-paced and engaging, though some readers might feel the lack of resolution in Molly's relationships with her mother and best friend leaves a bit to be desired. These threads are left somewhat hanging, which may be frustrating for those looking for a neatly tied-up conclusion. However, the main romance and Molly's personal growth are satisfying enough to carry the narrative through.

"The Ride of Her Life" is a quick and enjoyable read, perfect for those who love a good hate-to-love romance with a touch of western charm. Dugan’s writing is vivid and bright, bringing to life the quirks of farm life and the complexities of human relationships. While the constant conflict and frequent miscommunications might be a bit over the top at times, they add to the dynamic and keep the reader invested.

Overall, "The Ride of Her Life" is a heartwarming, fun, and emotionally resonant romance that showcases Jennifer Dugan's talent for creating compelling, character-driven stories. If you’re looking for a charming grumpy-sunshine romance with a western twist and plenty of heart, this book is definitely worth a read.

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

I would recommend if you're looking for (SPOILERS)

-f/f contemporary romance
-cowgirl romance
-forced proximity
-frenemies to lovers
-insta attraction
-opposites attract
-city girl/country girl

"Wear the hat, ride the cowboy."

This was fun, great chemistry and a great premise of what happens when you inherit a forse harm, know nothing about horses but have a thing for the cute horse girl.

I really loved this book until about the last 20% when things got far too messy and then needed to be wrapped up a little too quickly. I would still recommend this one just because I enjoyed the majority of it so much. I will say that the main character was a little hard to root for many times throughout this book, but I did enjoy the relationship. I just would have liked a little bit less drama/more closure at the end.

This was a super fun, fish out of water, opposites attract Sapphic romance that sees bisexual city girl, Molly, inheriting a run-down farm from her estranged aunt only to find herself getting off on the wrong heel with her lesbian tenant/horse expert/ferrier, Shani.

There was lots of great chemistry between the two female leads, I loved seeing Molly blunder her way through adjusting to life on a farm and falling in love with both it and Shani. I think this is one of my new favs by Jennifer Dugan and it was also great on audio narrated by Lindsey Dorcus!

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. Highly recommended for fans of Schitt's Creek or authors like Ashley Herring Blake. A great choice for Pride Month and the cover is just too cute!

Steam level: some spicy/open door scenes

"Ride of Her Life" by Jennifer Dugan is an enjoyable read that blends romance and comedy in a charming, albeit imperfect, package. Dugan's writing shines in its humor and the quirky, endearing community Molly builds around the barn. The narrative voice is funny and contemporary, though at times the frequent references to TikTok and the pandemic felt overdone. The progression of the characters' relationships, especially between Molly and Shani, is handled with care, making their eventual romance satisfying to witness.

However, the book's biggest drawback is the constant conflict and miscommunications that pervade the story. The numerous arguments and misunderstandings between characters made it difficult to fully immerse in the romance without feeling anxious. Molly's occasional self-centered decisions, particularly a major one towards the end, added to the frustration and detracted from her likability.

Despite these issues, "Ride of Her Life" offers plenty of laughs and heartfelt moments. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed well, and fans of the romantic comedy genre will likely appreciate the playful banter and developing chemistry between Molly and Shani. Overall, it's a decent read with some memorable elements but could benefit from a bit more harmony and less conflict.

Dugan does it once again for me, just as she always does. The snarky banter between Molly and Shani straight from the beginning made my heart thunder. But the miscommunication between them with every passing page was making my blood boil 😂

“I’m drowning, dying, trapped in this little oasis of confusion.”

Same Molly, same. That’s exactly how I felt. 😂 but gosh.. the looooovee that these two were trying to continuously deny made me flutter through the pages. Gosh I loved it so much. The writing was beautiful and made me giddy. That last 30% I sped through. It was perfection in every way. Every side character played their part with ease.

“Missing you bothered me. Seeing you? Never.”

God Shani! She made it so easy to fall in love with.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts <3

The Ride of Her Life is the sapphic city girl x cowgirl romance of my dreams! I was immediately tuned in to the book because Molly's life is a straight up mess and she falls way too quickly and ends up hurt every time (me as a character yikes!). I'm also a sucker for a romance with an inheritance because inevitably the mc is completely unprepared to take on such a huge responsibility and it leads to chaos. I'm always ready with the popcorn!

Molly and Shani start off on the wrong foot (read: Shani can't stand Molly) but they are idiots and desperately attracted to each other. They go back and forth for most of the book because the sale of the farm is constantly hanging over their heads. Honestly, I was so in for the drama and loved the bit of tension it added to the plot. Jennifer Dugan's romances are so easy to fall in love with, because the character arcs are heartfelt and the characters are perfect for each other.

Looking for a hot lesbian cowgirl? Desperate for a queer western romance? Love messy, dramatic, hilarious, heartfelt romances? Does Nate the Hoof Guy keep popping up on your TikTok fyp? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be entitled to compensation in the form of another amazing Jennifer Dugan novel!

It’s the last Wednesday of May, so it’s book review time! Somehow, I ended up with a lesbian romance that promised a grumpy/sunshine trope. That’s probably how it lured me in. Anyway, The Ride of her Life by Jennifer Dugan was released yesterday (the 28th) from Avon Books (an imprint of HarperCollins). As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing.

The Ride of her Life follows Molly whose life is stagnating. She works two jobs in an attempt to stave off crippling student loan debt, but neither of those jobs include event planning (what she actually went to school for), and she’s low-key miserable. When her estranged aunt leaves her a horse farm, Molly is all set to sell the place and start up her own business. Until she falls for the farrier who lives on the property. The farrier hates her, but when has that ever stopped love. Between non-stop misunderstandings and a mountain of debt, things seem impossible, but can everything work out?

It’s a romcom. The plot demands everything work out. That’s literally the only reason Molly and Shani get together. There are far too many forced misunderstandings that make them either the biggest idiots ever or prove they’re deliberately dense. It’s kind of like the author was told to never let the tension die and they took that advice to heart. But not all tension needs to be negative. Romantic tension is a thing that should be in this book, but it’s not really. The plot was very much a series of overused tropes with no twists. It all felt super forced and far too dramatic and ridiculously cookie-cutter. It doesn’t feel like something that would actually happen.

It doesn’t help that 99% of the characters are completely unlikable. Only Lochlin was remotely pleasant and he’s still a dipshit. Maybe I’m just bitter because I was promised grumpy/sunshine, but all I got was two whiny little children who could’ve sat down and had an honest conversation and been in a much better place. The mother came off as greedy and manipulative and all around gross. The bestie acted high and mighty, but she was unsupportive and also manipulative. Everyone in this book was basically a giant red flag. It was annoying. Also, it took them far too long to realize that a farm with barns and a couple of houses and riding trails and space for… I don’t know… events, would make a great event space for a new event planner! It was literally my first thought when she was left everything. Ugh.

As far as the writing goes, it was fine, but it felt like an ad for Taylor Swift. I’m not particularly into books that date themselves like that, but a lot of people are.

Ultimately, I was not a fan of The Ride of her Life. The false advertisement of grumpy/sunshine means I won’t grab another book by this author either.

Overall, I gave it 2 out of 5 stars. Okay, one and a half. It was written and got published. That much work deserves that many stars. But, personally, I don’t recommend it. There are too many better romcoms to read out there.

here's a case of it's me, not you.

i think for fans of romances and stories like Late Bloomer by Mazy Eddings, you'll really get a lot from this one. i did not and ended up dnfing this book about 30% in. what i'm learning myself is that romance isn't my genre and in this particular case i think this is a perfectly serviceable romance, perhaps even a great romance for some, but didn't vibe with me personally.

this is a story about molly, with heaps of student debt and lofty aspirations of becoming a wedding planner. an estranged aunt suddenly dies and leaves molly her horse ranch. molly's wheels start turning - she foresees a quick unload of the ranch for cold, hard cash that she can use both to pay off her student loans and perhaps set her up for her own apartment outside of her mom's house. but a wrench is thrown into the mix when shani, the ranch's farrier, is massively upset that after years of working the ranch and spending time with molly's aunt, the ranch is being passed over to a stranger that doesn't know a horse from an anthill.

like i said, this is a me thing. i think jennifer dugan's writing is good and easy to consume. i think romance fans will love the set-up and love shani's snarliness.

i think the issues readers might have is with molly. like i said, i didn't get super-far into the book, but a scene where shani is in the barn shoeing a horse includes molly physically pushing shani down because for some reason instead of asking questions, she assumes that shani is physically harming the horse. then again, i do live in the south and molly is the kind of person that wore spike heels in dirt so i'm not sure if that kind of ineptness is authentic or not.

i gave up during a scene where molly goes to shani sobbing her eyes out because she doesn't want shani to be mad at her - she <i>has</i> to sell the farm because she's got student debt, you see - and basically acts like she's a victim despite the fact that molly's selling of the property means that shani will be out of work and out of a home.

i'm sure that molly probably grows from this experience, but between this and one of molly's city friends making jokes about questioning country people where they were on january 6th and accusing them of being trump voters i decided not to continue. i get it, it's quippy, it's meant to be funny, but as someone living in the very rural south it truly doesn't feel good to be stereotyped as either stupid or republican by virtue of where i live.

anyway, not going to rate this one. i don't think it committed any sins, really - i think it just wasn't a book for me.

perhaps you don't need three taylor swift references (or any) within the first 17%, too.

Unfortunately, this romance novel was not for me. The romance between main character Molly and love interest Shari felt rushed, forced, and fluctuated on-and-off with no attempt at clear communication like adults. I liked Molly and Shari individually as characters, but their dynamic was just off.

Likewise, the “conflict” of the novel is annoying because it could have been addressed immediately. Person who wants to have an event company doesn’t even think of how a large, outdoor venue could be used to her advantage? It was the first thing that came to mind, for me, and so to see Molly have to come to the same realization over 3/4s of the way into the novel was beyond frustrating.

I thought the descriptions of the horse farms, various riding events, and supporting cast were all good, which is why I’m not rating this book lower.

🐴 The Ride of Her Life 🐴
Jennifer Dugan
Pub Day Review!!!

Saddle up cowgirls this was such a fun and heartfelt read! I know we all love the cowboys, but cowgirls are just as fun! This is a sapphic cowgirl x city girl, enemies to lovers, grumpy sunshine and more! I loved Molly's journey to finding herself and what she was truly meant to do and how she also learned to fight for what she wanted as well.

Molly McDaniel's life is teetering on the edge of collapse, juggling a barista job, a call center gig, and suffocating student loans. Her dream of launching a wedding planning business feels like a distant fantasy, especially when she inherits a dilapidated horse barn from her estranged late aunt. With no expertise or resources to save it, Molly sees selling the land as her only hope for financial salvation. But as she immerses herself in the barn's world, she discovers unexpected connections and a potential for a new beginning. Yet, amidst the chaos, the one person she can't seem to navigate is Shani, the barn's caretaker, whose prickly demeanor and undeniable allure pose a threat to Molly's carefully constructed plans and her heart.

Read if you enjoy:
🐴 Cowgirl x City Girl
🏳️‍🌈 Sapphic Romance
😈 Enemies to Lovers
🌤️ Grumpy x Sunshine
🗣️ Banter
🧲 Opposites Attract
🏠 Small Town
⛓️ Strong Community