Trail Rides and Starry Eyes

by Katrina Emmel

A swoony, sweet YA rural romance between a rancher and the Hollywood hotshot she's tasked with turning into a cowboy—perfect for fans of Kasie West, Erin Hahn, and Kristy Boyce!

Sixteen-year-old Cassidy Sterling can't imagine life beyond her family's Wyoming ranch. Her days are filled with colt breaking, cattle rustling, and an online Intro to Astronomy class. Seventeen-year-old Wilder Nash also has his sights set on the stars—the ones on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A teen heartthrob, he's now he's ready for the big time. To land a lead role as a cowboy in a prime-time mini-series, he must convince the casting director he's an experienced horseman. The problem? He’s all hat and no cowboy.

With less than a month to learn to ride, Wilder heads to Silver Stallion Ranch.

Cassidy's quiet life is disrupted when Wilder arrives. As he mucks out stalls and grooms horses, Wilder begins to see there's more to life than his looks. And Cassidy starts imagining a future beyond the ranch. The growing spark between them threatens to ignite into something more, but Cassidy must decide if she's brave enough to take the reins of her own life. Meanwhile, Wilder faces a the glamorous life of a star or a simpler life under the stars.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Young Adult Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Cowboy Romance, Westerns

288 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2025

Reviews

[ari [gin’s vrsn 🩵] [semi ia]]

i also got this arc and lwk it looks so cute i can’t wait for this oneeee

my first western romance 🤠
(considering i’ve had an irl crush on a cowboy for four years that’s surprising to me)

[Anisa Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute fun and easy read, Dual POV, short chapters. This story made me laugh out loud quite a bit and also swoon over the MMC. We have elements of forced proximity. the FMC is a country girl whose whole life has been on a ranch and the MMC is a up and coming actor who needs to learn how to ride horses for an upcoming role. The story was very descriptive I felt like I was on the ranch with the characters. I learned about horses and was totally into the story so much so that now I want to get on a horse and learn to ride myself. 🤗

Side note: Why is it that YA romances hit harder than adult ones 😭 this was my first cowboy romance as well and now I have to read more of them!

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book was so cute! I really loved Wilder, who was an absolute sweetheart. I liked seeing him become more confident not only with the animals on the ranch, but also with himself. Cassidy was a good main character as well and the two of them had so many cute scenes together. I really wanted the book to have an epilogue, but overall I loved this one. As an animal lover, I loved seeing all the animals on the ranch (and their punny names as well!). The author’s next book will be Christmas themed and I am so excited for it!!!

[Reads By Tes · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️

I really had to get used to Wilder’s thoughts. The way he’s very insecure about himself but also very self assured when it comes to his job and using his acting skills in real life… it gave me the ick sometimes. But after a while that feeling passed and I just flew through the book. I just loved it🥰😍🐴🐎

The book isn’t 🌶️. So if you don’t like spice, this is the cowboy romance for you! ❤️

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5*

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️ Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an E-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

In full honesty I haven’t been enjoying this book from the very first chapter. When I originally read the synopsis it seemed like something I would enjoy. I love cowboy romances and used to do horseback riding so the overall plot aspect really hooked me. However, this book was just so slow. It really struggled to keep my attention in the first half and the plot ended up being a little more boring than expected.

I really didn’t enjoy the writing style of this book. There were a lot of cringy/cheesy lines and jokes included. I suppose it is more suited for a younger audience however the characters were seventeen and about to be seniors in high school so I feel like it should’ve appealed a bit more to that age group instead of feeling like it was written for pre-teens. I also do think the ending was a bit rushed and didn’t really end with a real or satisfying conclusion. It definitely leaves a lot to imagine afterwards. A prologue would be nice to include of a few months or years later.

Next up I just didn’t really connect with the characters. They aren’t memorable for me. I honestly didn’t even feel like they had chemistry between each other but maybe that was just because I myself didn’t really like them. It was also really difficult to read with how heavily the miscommunication trope was used.

On the positive side the author obviously has experience in the whole ranch life or at least did very good research. I wasn’t hesitant going in since I did horseback riding for almost 10 years but I was really happy to see that the author used correct terminology when discussing the sport and experience. I also loved that this novel, which is classified as young adult, had NO SPICE. It was great having a cute and wholesome romance that didn’t involve teenagers doing smutty things.

Overall, this book really wasn’t a favorite of mine but it did get better by the end. Like I said I appreciate the effort the author put in to researching and I really appreciate keeping spice out of young adult. If you are looking for a cute cowboy romance with no spice definitely check this out!! The writing and slow pace wasn’t my cup of tea but I know a lot of others have really enjoyed this book!

🤠🐴🌾Read If You Like:
- no spice young adult (wholesome romance)
- cowboy romance
- country setting
- horseback riding and farm chores
- forced proximity
- city boy x small town/farm girl

Thank you once again to the publisher for gifting me a copy for an honest review!

RELEASE DATE : December 9, 2025

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.

Another solid YA romance. It's a little juvenile for my personal tastes- like what do you mean Wilder can't come up with what to say to a pretty girl and has to rely on lines from a script to a movie he's in? That's cringe. But I know that's relatable to some teens that struggle to know the right things to say- that aspect felt honest to me.

It was just a sort of cringey low stakes book. Nothing good nothing bad, just unremarkable. Someone out there that loves cowboys and movies will love this.

[Constance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes was such a cute novel, and such a quick and fun read! It was so easy to find myself absorbed in the setting of Silver Stallion Ranch, and I found myself unable to put it down. The descriptions of Wyoming were absolutely stunning- I could easily picture the golden sunsets, the horse trails, and the wildflowers in my mind as I was reading.

Our main trope in this story is Forced Proximity- Hollywood Golden Boy Wilder Nash meets our main character Cassidy when he’s sent to undergo six weeks of horse riding lessons. Wilder wants the role he’s working on terribly, but he also wants to go home. Cassidy wants a summer of peace and quiet, and she doesn’t want to fall for some hunky actor.

I think what I loved the most was how clumsily Wilder spoke whenever he was off-script. Acting comes easy to him, being told what to say and when or where to say it, but when it comes to real conversations, from the heart? He’s completely and utterly lost. And it’s so realistic. My heart hurt for him and his impossible crush on this girl.

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes is fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Delacorte Press for the e-arc! Look out for this book when it releases on December 9!

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

Katrina Emmel manages to create such a vivid and entrancing environment in this story, but the story itself just doesn't do much for me. There were a lot of false starts, a lot of set-ups without the punchline, and that made me sad. It wasn't bad. Don't get me wrong. But it just didn't give me much of anything.

Anyway, my full review is available over at Gateway Reviews. Check it out if you want to know more!

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

[Audrey Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is such a cute summer read! It gave me really fun cowboy and western vibes that I enjoyed a lot! The romance was really cute and clean which is a win. The only thing I was bummed about is there is frequent use of some mild lang

[Stephanie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Cute slow burn cowboy read 🥰

[Becky of Becky's Bookshelves · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel is an absolute delight to read. Cassidy Sterling lives on her family’s Wyoming ranch and works hard to keep things running. Wilder Nash is working to make himself a name in Hollywood. When Wilder needs to learn how to ride a horse fast for a coveted part, Cassidy’s uncle sends him to Cassidy’s ranch to learn. He truly has no idea what he is in for.

This was adorable with all the feels. Cassidy and Wilder were so fun to get to know. I appreciated that they were so hard working and were thoughtful characters. It was great to join them as Cassidy taught Wilder to ride a horse, deal with chickens and maybe befriend a few goats. The story is filled with sweet banter, humor, and ranch antics. I loved the ranch setting and wanted to ride a horse in Wyoming after reading.

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel is filled with sweet romance, a great ranch setting, and some very perky farm animals. I highly recommend Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel.

I was given a complimentary copy and not required to write a positive review.

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Thank you @getunderlined for the gifted copy. All thoughts are my own.
Cassidy lives by the expectations of her family and the associated guilt for herself. She's going to take over their family ranch someday and any interest outside of that is boxed up and shoved out of her mind. Taking on the task of teaching Wilder, an up and coming teenage heartthrob, to ride like a legitimate cowboy should be easy enough and a small hiccup once he returns to his life of glamour.
Trail Rides and Starry Eyes is such a swoony YA romance. There's no spice in it but the chemistry between Wilder and & Cassidy is off the charts. I loved their starry eyes for each other, how they each pushed each other to realize their dreams, and the beautiful landscape Katrina explored for the setting. It's feel good and one I'd easily recommend to romance readers of any age. It makes me want to be 17 again so I can go hang out with them for a summer at the ranch.

This releases in just a couple of weeks and would be a perfect gift! Might as well get to reading Near Misses and Cowboy Kisses while you're at it (a favorite of mine from last year). 😉

[Esme · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book reads very slow. The pacing was rough. The first half took me a long time to get through but then once we hit the half way point the book picks up the pace a bit and gets into a nice flow. I want to talk about the characters a bit. I liked Wilder but I wish we could have gone a bit deeper into his personal backstory. I really liked Cassidy she was a great main character but she did jump to a lot of conclusions sometimes which irritated me to no end. (when you read it you'll understand lol) She was about as stubborn as the goats but it was part of her charm. This is a very low stakes book, so don't go into it expecting big Hollywood drama, it's very much meant to be a cute cozy romance focused YA. My favorite part was Cassidy's family. I just loved how they interacted!

Release date: December 9th 2025

Thank you Netgalley & Random House/Delacorte Romance for the ARC copy! *all opinions are my own*

[Addy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Trail Rides & Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel was a cute, no-spice YA, slow-burning, love story. The book is also told through Dual POV narration. I received an ARC via NetGalley, and I enjoyed the read! In the end, I rated it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Admittedly, the beginning felt sort of slow and boring. I don't really think that I got into it until half of the way through. For whatever reason, the characters felt younger than they actually were. While I did enjoy Cassidy and Wilder and their story, they did feel younger than 17. I don't know if that makes much sense or how to explain it, but... It also felt as though we followed along the everyday ranch activities rather than exploring the further development of put MCs.

All of that aside, the story was good! It was an enjoyable read that made me laugh! If you frequent or prefer YA love stories, then Trail Rides & Starry Eyes may be right down your alley! 💫

[Katherine · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you're a fan of cheesy rom coms, this book is for
you! Wilder is Hollywood's next big star, and Cassdy is a farm girl who rarely leaves her Wyoming ranch. When Wilder lands a huge role in a TV show, he must learn to expertly ride horses -- with Cassidy's help! It's a cute, clean romance that is totally worth reading!
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

(I received this as an ARC from Rainy Day Books)

[Louis (audiobookfanatic) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trail Rides & Starry Eyes is a cozy, wholesome YA contemporary romance that's set against a small-town ranch backdrop. The story has a great balance of slow-burn romance, coming-of-age themes, character growth, and small-town charm—so it will appeal to more than just the typical romance reader!

The story follows Cassidy Sterling, a 16-year-old from a Wyoming ranch, whose life is all about family, ranch chores, and horses. Cassidy’s uncle, an agent in Hollywood, sends Wilder Nash, a rising teen actor, to the ranch for a crash course in horseback riding for a cowboy TV role. The collision of worlds sets up a classic forced-proximity romance: ranch chores and riding lessons by day & emotional sparks under starry Wyoming nights.

Cassidy is a sweet, grounded protagonist who’s very loyal to her family. She enjoys her ranch life but has quiet doubts on whether it’s enough for her—and she also feels pressure to continue with the family tradition of working the ranch for life. When Wilder arrives, and she’s in charge of assigning him chores and giving him a crash course in horse riding, everything changes. Wilder is pompous on the exterior but internally very insecure about his talent. As he works on the ranch and develops a friendship with Cassidy, he begins to realize there could be more to life than stardom. At the same time, Cassidy starts seeing cracks in her comfortable routine and imagines possibilities beyond the ranch. Their parallel journeys of self-discovery and growth are the heart of the story, and their arcs are nicely illustrated, especially for a YA novel. Wilder gains humility and real-life skills, and Cassidy learns how to dream bigger and have faith in her life choices! The slow-burn romance is more secondary to the character growth, but it's still very sweet—and there's a lot of great banter that deepens their connection—perfect for a closed-door YA vibe!

The pacing is steady and cozy—so don’t expect any major plot twists and dramatic confrontations. The first few chapters focus on Cassidy’s family relationships, ranch routines, and then slowly adjusting to Wilder’s presence. There are no instant fireworks, but instead a slow building of connection and chemistry, which feels more authentic than a typical “love at first sight” swoony romance. Through feeding animals, sharing chores, and awkward conversations is where their relationship blossoms and the book finds its magic. Toward the end, there are satisfying arcs as important decisions are made and feelings are confronted. The final chapter feels a bit rushed after so many immersive “starry-sky nights” on the ranch, but the ending still feels hopeful and will leave a smile on readers’ faces!

Overall, Trail Rides & Starry Eyes is a sweet YA romance with an original twist on the country gal-meets-city boy trope! It’s perfect for anyone who loves cozy closed-door romances with opposites-attract, forced proximity, and small-town (ranch life) charm!

[Chelsea]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy

Trail Rides and Starry Eyes by Katrina Emmel is a first person dual-POV YA contemporary romance. When his agent claims he can ride a horse in order to land a role, Wilder has no choice but to stay with his agent’s family for an intensive bootcamp to learn all the skills he needs for the film. Cassidy is Wilder’s agent’s niece and has spent her whole life on the ranch, away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. After the two meet, sparks fly, but can they find a way to make it work?

Cassidy and Wilder’s romance is neither instalove nor a slowburn, it’s a relatively even paced romance that hits the genre beats pretty well. It takes a bit for Wilder and Cassidy to see each other as partners as Wilder is there for work and Cassidy views him as someone she has to look out for after he makes several mistakes when he arrives. When things start to shift, there’s very little of the drama or jealousy that could appear in romances dealing with actors and its more of a logistics thing for them because they live in different states.

I think this is a very cute, very sweet romance for younger fans of YA who are just getting into romance. I would place this as more for the 13-14 range, maybe 15, because of how sweet it is and how much value is placed on Cassidy’s family accepting Wilder, both as a student and later as a boyfriend for her. It’s also a quick read with shorter chapters, which gives young readers places to put the book down if they need to.

I would recommend this new fans of romance who are starting to read YA and readers of celebrity romances who want something sweeter and cozier

[Courtney sharpe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Giddy up! If you’re looking for a slow burn, sweet YA romance about ranch life and finding yourself; look no further.


Sixteen-year-old Cassidy Sterling can't imagine life beyond her family's Wyoming ranch. Her days are filled with colt breaking, cattle rustling, and an online Intro to Astronomy class. Seventeen-year-old Wilder Nash also has his sights set on the stars—the ones on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. A teen heartthrob, he's now he's ready for the big time. To land a lead role as a cowboy in a prime-time mini-series, he must convince the casting director he's an experienced horseman. The problem? He’s all hat and no cowboy. With less than a month to learn to ride, Wilder heads to Silver Stallion Ranch where Cassidy's quiet life is about to be disrupted.

This may be YA but honestly it reads as a closed door adult romance. The characters are super mature for their age and not once did it feel silly or young. I loved the antics these two got up too and more often than not I was smiling and kicking my feet (figuratively).

Will this top my list of favs? No probably not. Will it be memorable for me? Again, no. But it got me out of a reading slump and let me feel all things happy while reading.

[Janae McGinnis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cassidy and Wilder make for an undeniably charming couple, spending their days preparing Wilder for his shot at stardom in a TV show all about riding horses. While their chemistry is evident, I couldn't help but wish their connection felt more genuine and well-developed. It seemed like they barely scratched the surface of each other's lives, leaving me craving deeper conversations and a stronger bond. Suddenly, out of nowhere, they start developing crushes—I'd have loved to see this unfold more naturally, with richer moments between them. Their individual backstories are touched on briefly, just enough to satisfy younger readers. However, adding more scenes—perhaps exchanges with Cassidy's grandpa or other family members—could have enriched the story considerably. Wilder’s internal doubts about reaching his big break also stood out as a missed opportunity for added depth and entertainment. Overall, the book felt a bit too short, leaving some characters and relationships underexplored. With a bit more development, it could truly shine and resonate more deeply.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

This was such a cute, fish out of water, dual pov YA romance between a young actor sent to research on a Wyoming ranch for his next movie role where he falls hard for the cowgirl who lives there. Full of laughs and heart, this was great on audio and perfect for fans of authors like Kasie West or Erin Hahn. Definitely worth a read! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital copy and @prhaudio for a complimentary ALC in exchange for my honest review.

[bayan alrefai · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5/5 ✰ this was so cute and so fast paced! wilder is a famous LA actor who is trying to learn how to become a cowboy for a movie role and it so happens that cass can be the only one to teach him at her familys ranch so u can guess what happens next 🤠🏃🏻‍♀️ i wish we got more backstory and it did feel kinda insta love-y but it was sweet and i liked the ending!

thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review <3

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness I absolutely adored this book! The storyline was hook, line and sinker for me. I loved the characters voices and found them believable for a fun teen romance! I will definitely read more by this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for this story! All opinions and thoughts are my own!

Listened on Libby

[Kylie Holloway · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ⭐️!
I actually thoroughly enjoyed this book! The plot summary was reminding me of The Bodyguard, and while it wasn’t the same, it was still super fun!
We have a cowgirl and we have a teenage actor who got cast in a western movie and needs to secretly learn how to ride horses and be cowboyish.
I would recommend this! And it was clean which is always a plus.

[Katie]

Cute fluffy YA book. There wasn’t much depth to the characters or to the romance but if a teen read it I don’t think they’d notice or care, so don’t mind me😅

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Many thanks to partner @prhaudio and #netgalley for the gifted copy.

Be still my teenaged heart! This is the exact type of book I would have devoured as a teen and I still enjoyed it even though I’m miles past that era of my life. I spent a lot of time in the saddle as a kid and teen and it took me back to those days.

Set in Wyoming, teen heartthrob Wilder Nash has to learn to ride and manage horses, and fast, for a hopeful role in an upcoming movie. Country-girl Cassidy gets to teach him the ins and outs of ranch life and horses, and in the meantime, the sparks start to ignite.

The dual points-of-view were everything and delivered many laughs, some heartfelt moments, and plenty of teen angst and swoon. I enjoyed the ranch life and recognizing that each of us have experiences to learn and grow from, lessons to realize, and relationships to develop, whether we’re rich and famous or living a simpler life. It was a treat to watch Wilder fill out his cowboy boots and to observe Cassidy’s steady nature.

This is such a sweet YA story and I loved the way it was written. A cute romance with a few mild swears and a whole lot of swoon made this one a winner.

*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely a bit cheesy, but it’s cute and very appropriate for middle schoolers. Kissing is the most action. And I love that it’s got a dual point of view-with both the guy and the girl.

[JaNelle]

This is a cute book for young teens. I am in no way a young teen. I ended up just skimming this and reading the final chapter. This made me glad I cancelled my YA book club membership. This isn't even YA. Its almost tween. I wont rate it because this book wasnt meant for me

[Alexandria Hopkins · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNFd the pacing was just wayyy too slow for me. 40% and nothing was happening and I didn’t feel the connection at all to the characters :(

[tristyn dawn · Rating 3 out of 5]

thank you to netgalley and the publisher for giving me an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

3.25⭐️

enchanted by taylor swift
▶︎ •၊၊||၊|။||||။‌‌‌‌‌၊|• 1:23
“I was enchanted to meet you”

spoiler free review!

read if you like:
⤿western romances
⤿actor & normal person trope
⤿horses
⤿clean books
⤿ranch life

this was cute! I loved Wilder and Cassidy, and there were definitely some swoony romantic scenes, but sadly the pacing of the book kinda ruined things for me.
a lot of people were saying the beginning was really slow, but for me it was way too fast. this may be considered a spoiler but it felt very insta-attraction to me. I personally prefer slowburn and lots of tension. the ending was also kinda fast paced. I also would have loved an epilogue.

I loved all the info and details on ranch life. you could tell the author knew what she was talking about.


characters

{Cassidy}
She was fun! I don’t have any super strong opinions on her.

{Wilder}
I liked him, he was such a cutie! I wish we had more backstory on him.

{Natalie}
She was my favorite side character for sure, maybe even my fave character! She was barely in the book but I still loved her so much. You could tell she was a girl’s girl. I wish she was in the book more!

Overall this was a fun, cute, and clean romance. The reason for a lower rating is I honestly didn’t like the book when I first started reading it. It got better though, and I ended up enjoying it. I might recommend it to a few people.

Age rating: 12+
no spice. a few non-descriptive kisses.
TW: it is mentioned that our fmc’s grandma passed away, light swearing. d*mn used frequently, h*ll and sh*t used non frequently. I can’t remember any uses of the Lord’s name in vain but there may have been a few.

❤︎ quotes ❤︎

quotes may contain minor spoilers.

“Cassidy’s a vision, standing there twirling the saddle axe like a boss cowgirl. Not gonna lie, I’m kinda in awe.”

“Cassidy’s frown deepens, which cuts me to the core. I hate how unhappy she looks and I hate that I’m the reason.”

“He lifts his hand as if he’s pretending to tip his hat and says, “Just doing my job ma’am.””

“Crushes are the worst. Why can’t they just automatically die when you discover the person you’ve set your heart on doesn’t feel the same? Or worse, they were just acting like they did. It would be so much simpler if there was an off switch instead of a hope-hinge that just won’t allow the door to your heart to close completely.”

“”Safety first.” I say. But I’m not entirely sure if I’m referring to the helmet protecting his head or my attempts to protect my heart. Because Wilder, in a cowboy hat, is dangerous.”

“She hasn't been airbrushed to perfection, and yet she’s absolutely stunning.”

“There’s definitely a spark between us, at least as far as I'm concerned, and I worry that if I get caught up in it, I’ll only end up getting burned.