REVIEW: Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage

Champion barrel racer Clementine “Emmy” Ryder has been off her game since an unexpected accident. She impulsively returns back to her hometown of Meadowlark, Wyoming not knowing what to do next. Emmy is independence personified, and the last person she plans on confiding in is her older brother’s playboy best friend Luke Brooks.

But soon after Emmy arrives home she realizes that there are more layers to Luke, his feelings, and his history that she ever thought possible.

Tropes: Brother’s best friend, small town, cowgirl, reformed f*ckboy, insta-love/attraction.

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Done and Dusted really surprised me! When I decided to pick it up, my friend (love you Mina) just said “Rate it fairly!” which made me really skeptical. But throughout the majority of my time while reading this novel, I was truly just having fun.

The Ryder family is so endearing – big emphasis on Amos – and the side characters were set up perfectly for their own novels. I’m especially excited for the third installment because it’ll be Gus and Teddy’s story and they’ve been oozing with chemistry since the very beginning.
(Future Krysta chiming in, ^ the third installment is amazing!)

There’s one big critique that I have with this book: it’s simply not long enough. That’s saying a lot since I’m usually super against romance books going beyond 350 pages. But I just felt like there was so much more to develop on Luke and Clementine as individuals, rather than just scene after scene of the two of them flirting and kissing.

Don’t get me wrong – the couple scenes were great. But personally I would’ve be willing to sacrifice a few just to see the two of them grow on their own, rather than depend on one another from beginning to end.

Aside from that, the only other significant criticism I would have is that it was very insta-love. That’s a trope I personally don’t enjoy – but that’s just personal preference. Again, I would have been happy to see some of their couple scenes cut if it mean we could develop their individual character arcs and – maybe feelings for one another – with more detail.

Really, though, I had a great time reading Done and Dusted from beginning to end. But does it fit my three crucial criteria needed for a five star rating?

Do I Understand the Main Character(s)?

For the most part, yes! Clementine’s character was thought out well and it showed. I understood all her actions and her internal battle with riding given the accident. Her hesitance to share their relationship also was understandable and I enjoyed learning about her.

Luke was also constructed well enough, but I think it could’ve been developed better. I understood him and his actions for the most part, but I think a bit more time spent fleshing out his character would’ve went a long way.

The thing is that you only really watch the two of them grow in relation to each other. While it’s cute that they could be each other’s pillar of support, I personally would’ve liked to see why the two of them are good individual characters first, and base the strength of their relationship on that – not the other way around.

Is It Written Well?

I’m satisfied with the writing and it was good! But I think in terms of development (how many times do I use that word?) it could have been better. Unfortunately that’s what brings down my rating the most. I really think it could’ve helped the story so much and it’s such an easy fix.

Obviously it’s too late now to really be hung up on it. But when I reflect on this book, a good chunk of my thoughts are consumed by wondering what could’ve been.

Is It Special?

I really want to say yes. I really, truly want to say yes, because Done and Dusted is a good book and I had a great time reading it. It’s on the better end of the small town romances I’ve read so far! But I just can’t find something within the story that I feel like I can’t find anywhere else.

Again – it’s a good book. It just isn’t a shining star amongst its genre. It captures everything about the small town romance trope that fans love, and that’s good. That’s great even, because then it means that people will enjoy it (me) and will be inclined to recommend it to friends. I just wouldn’t say it has that special “something.”

In my review policy I state that I would only give fractional ratings when I’m really on the fence about my opinion. This is one of those times.

I had a great time reading and there’s no doubt in my mind that this is an above average book. But looking back on what I pointed out during my review, and considering the fact that I really feel like it these issues could’ve been resolved so easily, I don’t feel right giving Done and Dusted four stars.

So, we settle on 3.75 stars, because I liked it way too much to give it three and a half. And because I liked the cast of characters too much to tag this post as three stars, it’s getting tagged as four.