Spur of the Moment

Willow Creek #1

by Juliana Smith

This beautiful edition of Spur of the Moment will include spot gloss and a gorgeous inside cover design.

"This might just be my favorite summer yet at Willow Creek. Lottie doesn't know it, but I'm determined to make it her favorite too."

Seventeen-year-old Lottie Turner was born to ride bulls.

Rodeos, big dreams, dusty boots—bull-riding was her whole life. Until the accident. Until the diagnosis that changed epilepsy. Now her doctor and her family have grounded her for good. No bulls. No danger. No freedom.

Then Walker—her former best friend, first crush, and the boy who once knew every piece of her—returns to town for the summer. Walker's supposed to be chasing stars with NASA, not mucking stalls, even if he really does want dirt, sweat, and saddles. He wants Lottie Turner and all of her wildness.

When Lottie makes a summer bucket list to find herself again, Walker's the first to volunteer to do it with her. One item at a time, they tumble back into laughter, heat, and everything they left unsaid.

But as the sparks between them reignite, Lottie has to face the hardest truth of some risks can break you, but others are worth taking anyway.

Genres: Romance, Cowboy Romance, Second Chance, Westerns, Young Adult, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Juliana Smith grew up in an Alabama small town and still calls it home―along with her husband, daughter, two dogs, and an ever-growing collection of unfinished stories to come. She writes sweet, feel-good romance full of charm, laughter, and just the right amount of yearning. When she’s not falling in love with her fictional characters, she’s probably in the Chick-fil-A drive-thru or deep-diving into Star Wars theory podcasts.

Juliana believes in happily ever afters, second chances, and that life is better when you’re laughing (preferably with a Diet Dr Pepper in hand).

Reviews

[naz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I want to start by saying that I enjoyed the book overall!! the story was cute, but sadly it didn’t hit as much as I had hoped.

You have Lottie, who is a bull rider, but after an incident that leaves her diagnosed with epilepsy, her life completely changes in so many ways, including seeing her first crush again when he returns to town for the summer. Walker came back for the summer with one mission in mind to get Lottie back.

This was supposed to be a second chance romance between Lottie and Walker, and for me, the biggest issue I had with this book was that there wasn’t a past timeline meaning no flashbacks. We had a few mentions of their past, but no real flashbacks or memories of them together, so it felt like something was missing when it came to understanding their relationship.

Not to mention, they are super young, and while I know it’s YA, I think it may have been a little too YA for me... lol

I did appreciate the epilepsy representation, but I was also hoping for more depth around it, if that makes sense. It felt a bit like it was included as a checklist item rather than being fully explored. I just wish there had been more understanding and depth.

The audiobook I do have to say had good narration and I did like the duet. It was such an easy to listen and a short one too! I do recommend this book to those that love YA, small town and cowboy romance!

Tropes
🌾second chance
🌾cowboy romance
🌾small town
🌾summer bucket list

⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.⋆. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁. ݁₊ ⊹ . ݁˖ . ݁⋆.
➳ 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 ᯓ★ started as an audiobook + physical! a small town YA book!
Thank you Bloom for the ALC & physical ARC!

[joni ౨ৎ - hiatus]

thank you bloom for the physical arc!!! cannot believe i have this in my hands sobbing rn!

i'm SO excited to read juliana's YA debut 🤭 + the fact it's second chance is SO special to me omg like that's my trope. anywho will be reading this asap!!

[Liana Cincotti]

Small-town diners, fairs, and farms where your crush lives next door—what more could you want? When I entered Willow Creek, I knew that once I finished, I’d never truly leave, because Spur of the Moment wraps its arms around you and holds on long after the pages end. Smith’s writing is warmer than cherry pie, and I couldn't get enough!!!

[Juliana Smith]

Lottie + Walker coming to stores 5.19!

🍓🃏🤠🌞🍉🌷

Here’s a couple things you can expect from Lottie + Walker…
✨ second chance
✨ friends to strangers to lovers
✨ Retired junior female bull rider
✨ small town ranch
✨ Epilepsy rep
✨ hair washing scene
✨ Miley Cyrus summer aesthetic
✨ Ranchers daughter x hired cowboy
✨ and they were neighbors…

[Bailey Chadwick]

DNF at 35%

[Morgan]

“In a life surrounded by people who want me safe and quiet, Walker pushes me to climb and yell.”

This was such a sweet read! It was the first book I’ve read by Juliana Smith, and I loved it! This YA romance made for the best low stakes summer romance.

“He looks at me like I am a light. Like instead of the lamp behind me, I am the one lighting him up.”

The audiobook narration by Brittany Pressley & Chase Brown made for a great listen! All the country accents made my little southern heart so happy!

Our FMC, has epilepsy and I feel like the author did a really great job in handling/describing the disability. Epilepsy isn’t the same for everyone, and seeing how Lottie’s life was forever changed after an accident broke my heart. Over the course of the book, her childhood crush, Walker, helped her to reclaim her joy in life.

“If I ever knew what luck was, I knew it then. I've never felt luckier than I did propped against a bale with Charlotte Turner sitting beside me.”

Walker and Lottie’s bucket list summer was so fun to read. I’m so happy that Lottie had him in her life to let her see that the world was still full of so much adventure and possibilities.

“If I'm there to catch her—and I'll always be there to catch her—then there is nothing to fear. So why not let her fully be herself while also being safe next to me?”

Walker was a dreamboat! He was the perfect blend of ‘boy next door’ and ‘smooth talking cowboy’. His home life with his parents was always nonexistent, but he found his home in summers spent with Lottie.

“My life was all grays and neutrals, and then I moved here and reconnected with you, and all of a sudden, these pops of colors came into play, and I can't look at anything else the same.”

The animal babies in this book were hilarious! From duck sitting to a floppy ear puppy, the animals were priceless.

But also… PANTYGATE, had me absolutely ROLLING with laughter! 🤣

If you are looking for a low drama, sweet summer read, add this book/audiobook to your TBR!

Tropes:
☀️ Summer Friends to Lovers
🌻 Rancher’s Daughter x Hired Cowboy
🫶🏼 Second Chance
🏡 Neighbors to Lovers
🧻 Bucket List Summer
💖 Small Town
🚪 Closed Door

[Sandy (Sandy.Reads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5 stars)

I am so thankful to the publisher for both the physical ARC and the ALC of Spur of the Moment by Juliana Smith.

This story is such a heartfelt journey about finding your true self and reconnecting with the people you left behind. It really leans into growth, second chances, and what it means to take control of your own life.

Lottie, our FMC, has epilepsy, and I genuinely learned so much through her story. What stood out most to me was her strength and her deep desire for independence. While the people around her meant well, their constant worry and overprotection felt suffocating at times, and watching Lottie push against that was both emotional and empowering.

Walker, the MMC, her former best friend and first crush, coming back into town was exactly what she needed. Their dynamic felt natural and full of history, and I loved how he helped her tackle her summer bucket list while also figuring out his own path in life. There was something really special about the way they grew together while rediscovering each other.

Of course, there were a few bumps along the way, but that just made their journey feel more real and worth rooting for. Their story had such a satisfying emotional payoff, and I already know readers who love small town romance and second chance love are going to eat this up.

This is a town and a family that I’m so excited to come back to.

[🧸🎀Tiff · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was sooooo stinking cute! I loved Walker & Lottie so dang much! I’m not usually a huge YA fan, but this was mature YA and their relationship was perfection!

💘 second chance
🎀 first love
💘 small town
🎀 slow burn
💘 epilepsy rep
🎀 past trauma
💘 forced proximity
🎀 next door neighbors
💘 duet pov

4.5⭐️ rounded up!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much @read_bloom for this ARC.

It had been a long time since I'd read a YA romance and it's refreshing to read a story with young people who have passionate and wild feelings but don't always know how to express them.

Lottie touches me because she can no longer do what she loves most and is seen as fragile and broken by others. She had to grieve the loss of her passion and that's not something you can do overnight. She has this anger inside her and I understand her. I also really liked Walker, who is a gentle and attentive man without being overprotective or overbearing. He's an excellent listener and never neglect Lottie's reactions. By her side, he will manage to find the path he wants to take. His family often makes decisions for him, without asking his opinion and now it's his turn to choose what makes him truly happy.

I love how the author describes the Bloom Farm and the rural, family atmosphere. Her writing is fluid and immersive. You become attached to all these characters, whether it's Flick, Knox or even Kit. I found him incredibly adorable and his connection with Lottie brought joy, so much fun and sweetness to the story.

On the other hand, I'm a little sad about the bucket list, which I feel wasn't explored enough. I would have liked to see even more moments where Walker and Lottie checked off items on that list. But I can't wait to return to Willow Creek Ranch for the next book!!

"Is that what I am for you this summer? Your compass?"
"Trouble, you're the destination."

[Anna (annasbookstacks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 ★

[Samantha Scheer · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you SO MUCH to Bloom Books for sending me an early access copy of Juliana Smith’s newest release, Spur of the Moment, in exchange for my honest review.

This was SO cute! I didn’t even realize it was YA until the end because the characters are actually very mature. I adored Walker and his devotion to Lottie. That man was head over heels for her and would do anything for her and she absolutely deserved that!

Lottie also has Epilepsy, which is a big theme in the plot. As someone who only knows the basics about epilepsy, this book was super knowledgeable and I learned a lot of valuable information regarding Epilepsy.

This book was just clean and fun! There were so many good messages woven within the book as well. The writing was super easy to follow and the characters truly had a great sense of humor. Plus, Lottie and Walker actually communicated about things and we avoided a dreaded third-act break up, hallelujah!

Do yourself a favor and pick this book up once it hits shelves on 5/5! I guarantee you won’t regret it 😊

[Lillian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I’ve been a big fan of Juliana’s book since her first indie book, so I’ve been excited to see her get picked up by a publisher & was stoked for her YA debut. This book did fall a little flat for me. I really liked our main characters, Lottie and Walker and their relationship development throughout the book. I just never really got super connected to either of them and sometimes felt myself not being as interested in the story as I wanted to be.

I did appreciate the cowboy romance aspect being brought into a YA novel. I think Juliana handled the topic of Lottie‘s epilepsy with such grace, it felt realistic and not just thrown into the book.

I’m really looking forward to Juliana‘s next books and continuing to support her throughout her trad author journey!!

[Amara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Juliana smith does it again. Last year I read my first book by her, Drawn Together, and fell in love with it! It’s now my favorite romance book of all time. And so when I got approved for this arc I literally screamed. I mean, a small town country romance by one of my favorite authors?!
And it did not disappoint. From the first few chapters I knew this was going to be a new favorite book.
Juliana’s writing style is just so easy to read and binge. It’s witty, clever, funny and swoon-worthy. She writes such realistic and relatable analogies that make her books so relatable. And the way she writes locations makes you feel like you’re really there (coming from someone who has a hard time imagining locations, this is a big achievement).
The characters in this were so lovable!!!
Lottie is so funny and sweet. I loved reading about her learning to love life and find freedom again. Lottie coming to terms with her diagnosis and her family coming to terms with it as well was very powerful and heartwarming to read as well.
Walker— such a green flag. New book boyfriend alert!!! I love the way he cares so deeply for Lottie, the yearning was off the charts and I love their banter so much. There were so many lines that had me giggling humorously and swooning.
The side characters were also so lovable!! Kit, Flick and all the others were so sweet and made this small town feel like a home. Also loved the plot of Lottie’s list and trying to achieve everything with Walker!!!
Overall, adored this book. The characters and Willow creek feel like home, and I can definitely see myself revisiting this book again and again.

Spice level: 1/5
Language: moderate

[ilana · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 🌟

This was so so fun, cute, sweet, etc. I think I’m just no longer the target audience for YA romances :(

If I was still a teenager, this would be PERFECT (and right up my alley), I purely think it’s an age/emotional maturity issue for me — but don’t get it twisted, these are some of the most mature 17 year olds I’ve ever read hahaha. Other than a few issues that were fully my biases and prejudices, I loved it!!

(thank you to bloom for the gifted ARC)

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was okay. I liked some aspects of it, but others I found a bit lacking. I liked the relationship between some characters and I liked the romance. I didn't like how whiny the main character was. It took me out of the story a bit. I loved the bucket list and I wish we got more of it. We didn't get to see all the items get done and I really would've loved to see some of them happen.

[Brittany]

Narrators did a decent job with the story. The second chance romance was cute. I personally just wanted older characters. Definitely a me thing, not a book thing.

[Lark _thebookchamber · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a cute story! Lottie and Walker were everything. I loved each of them so much! I also loved the epilepsy rep and how it was handled. Walker was such a sweetheart and I adored the way he cares for Lottie. I enjoyed getting to see Lottie find her happiness while dealing with epilepsy and her family’s watchful eyes of her disease and that Walker did his best to make sure he didn’t treat her any differently. Overall, it was an adorable YA romance and I look forward to more with other characters! 💖

[caitlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

review for advanced listener and reader copy provided by NetGalley

Can I even write a review through my tears?! Because are you kidding me with that ending Mrs. Juliana?! UGH! UGH! *deep sigh*

Ok team, let’s try to put this into words even though my guts are on the sidewalk 🥲😭

Lottie and Walker are my precious babies that I want to protect for the rest of my life! Their sweet, second chance romance is LITTERED with sincere, innocent love and absolute devastation. Walker is stuck with hard choices and an awful family. Lottie girl battles epilepsy she was diagnosed with after an accident that miiiiight have been caused while finding her dad in a less than savory situation 🥲

Walker doesn’t handle Lottie with kid gloves and I love the empowerment he gives her room to have. We see his protectiveness and concern come out later, but he is exactly who Lottie needs. He is brilliant, rugged, attentive, and so sensitive! Hes an absolute sweetie!

Lottie is strong-willed, sassy, and so kind! She’s like a sour patch kid! She’ll lay it all out for you but then bring you a baked good to smooth it all over! I absolutely ADORE her personality and I want to be besties with her! She’s so strong and such a solid FMC to admire.

Other vibes and thoughts:

The way Juliana writes is so immersive. The similes and analogies she uses to put feelings and experiences on the bottom shelf somehow brings such a sense of nostalgia. It’s like Juliana is deeply in tune with the random inner-thoughts you have that don’t usually voice to other people. I wish I knew how to explain it. Even writing this YA/teen series, she perfectly puts you in the shoes of these MCs and reminds you what it was like to be that age in just the most immersive, captivating way!

And her writing legit feels like being wrapped in a warm, snuffle, soft blanket while eating a warm peach cobbler with vanilla ice cream. It’s so insanely atmospheric! I literally felt like I lived on Willow Creek while reading this book! Juliana’s writing always scratches a really happy itch on the top of my head.

And the narrators? Just absolutely perfect choices! Chase Brown has that young, easy voice that is so enjoyable to listen to! Brittany Pressley IS Lottie Jane Turner. 10000%. I’m fairly certain she was born with the distinct purpose of voicing this book! Both narrators fit their characters personalities perfectly, their accents added so much to the characters, and they might be my next best friends!

Overall, 100000% yes read for me! I entirely recommend it! Lottie and Walker were so much fun and I’ll love them forever!

Thank you so much Bloom Books, Juliana Smith, and NetGalley for this ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review.

[Tatum - nuggetybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️
- Closed door YA romcom
- Dual POV
- Summer time on a flower farm
- Family drama
- Cute dates
- 17 year old FMC with epilepsy
- 18 year old MMC ranch hand trying to escape his family

✨the things I enjoyed:
- the summer vibes and flower farm setting
- The 18 before 18 list
- Walker supporting Lottie
- The teasing

⭐️⭐️
I really struggled with this book. I have loved Juliana’s other books a ton. But this one just missed for me. The MCs were simultaneously very YA and teenagers and also somehow not. They talked and did things that just didn’t quite fit YA, but also most 17-18 year olds are desperate to be seen as full adults so maybe it fits. It just felt odd to me. There were odd situations where it seemed to imply characters sleeping together or implying adult content but then later in the book it’s revealed they haven’t even kissed. It’s just odd. I was just constantly wondering what was actually going on.

Overall it was cute. I didn’t think the MCs had much chemistry. I just didn’t see it. They definitely had fun together but it often seemed like he was a lot more into her than she was into him. I struggled with the flow of the story too. It felt disconnected to me.

Also the FMC’s character development was not satisfying in my opinion. She threw a huge temper tantrum and put herself in a lot of danger and then basically got rewarded for it. FINALLY at that point there is a conversation of substance but before this point (95% in the book) there are barely any conversations beyond surface level. The FMC has little to no self control, is very entitled, and blames everything on her epilepsy even when it’s a result of her actions. I think Juliana talked about epilepsy and Lottie’s struggles with epilepsy with so much grace. However, Lottie still very much acted like a young teen girl taking little to no responsibility for anything and demanding that people act how she wants them too. But Walker is a delight. Also there wasn’t any real resolution for Walker and his family drama.

Basically, if you want a cute, teenage angst, teen drama, teen lack emotion control, second chances, some fun dates, and summer fun then it’s a cute enough read.

This is a closed door YA romcom with cursing throughout and kissing.

**Thank you so much to Juliana for letting me read this gifted ARC via NetGalley. No positive review was required. All thoughts are my own.**

[Chelsea | chelseadennreads Dennison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you sooooo much to Bloom for the ARC!

I absolutely adored this story so much! I just love Walker and Lottie. I don’t always love YA but this book hit just right and honestly was just so nostalgic, especially for someone like me who grew up in a small country town in Alabama. I loved watching Lottie and Walker reconnect. Seeing their friendship rebuild into something more was so sweet. There are also so many wonderful side characters in this book whose stories I cannot wait to read. Lottie has epilepsy is grappling with what feels like her last carefree summer. I really enjoyed her journey and watching her find new joys in life and building this new sweet life for herself in the wake of the life she lost. You also see her friends and parents grappling with this new normal and Lottie having to find her independence in the midst of their protectiveness. I adored this story so much. It was like Taylor Swift’s first album and The Hannah Montana Movie rolled into one (Walker IS Lucas Till in that movie 100%).

This is the perfect nostalgic summer read! Definitely check this one out. I’m so proud of my sweet friend Juliana and her debut into the trad published world!!

👍Read If You Like:
* second chance
* friends to more
* small town romance
* bucket lists

🛑Content Warnings:
* epilepsy rep
* cheating (not MCs)

🚪Closed Door

4.5 stars rounded up

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

✰ ✰ ✰ ✰.𝟧

Wait guys this was sooo good!! I literally could not put the book down, Lottie and Walker have my heart they were so cute!! It was the perfect mix of an amazing teenage romance while still dealing with the harder issues of disabilities and growing up and toxic relationships and ugh i just adored it!!
I seriously loved Walker, he was the best and can do absolutely no wrong he’s so caring and kind and thoughtful!!!! And he got her!! a!! dog!!! the best boyfriend ever!!!
Lottie was honestly better then i would be in most of these situations bc my girl just forgave these people who wronged her sooo much quicker than i would so good for her!!
All the supporting characters made me so excited for more books in this town! And the setting was so nostalgic and the whole book just gave 2000s rom com you’d always have on playing in the background on your worst days possible for comfort and peace!

Thank you to Bloom Books and Netgalley for this arc!!

[Michelle (michellereadsandspins) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much Bloom Books/Sourcebooks for the gifted ALC and physical ARC!

I was lucky enough to meet the publicist for this book at a pre BookCon Sourcebooks event and I told her that I was 40% into this book and LOVING it! She was so excited!

This book is SO SWEET! I run a book club with first year students at a university and you bet I’ll be recommending it to them to read when it comes out!

This YA romance is so stinkin’ cute, but also covers some serious topics. Our FMC, Lottie, struggled with epilepsy— it hit close to home because my best friend shares the same struggle. I absolutely loved her character

Walker, our MMC, has some of the most beautiful lines in the book. The way he spoke about Lottie was so beautiful and poetic.

I’m so excited for when book 2 comes out!

Out May 5, 2026.

[Savannah Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/5 stars

this was a super cute read! my first YA cowboy romance. i did really enjoy it and switched between the audio and physically reading this. i think the narrators did a really good job. i loved the summer ranch vibes of this story. i also LOVED walker. he was so sweet! i really loved the friends to lovers trope in this book. i also always enjoy a bucket list trope in a book and had a really fun time following along with them on their adventures. this was a really sweet and heartwarming story that i would recommend!

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 - this one was very cute. It’s hard to rate it as it’s YA and I’m not the intended audience. But I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Thx to Bloom/Sourcebooks audio for the advanced listeners copy.

[Carly · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book is EVERYTHING to me - it’s perfect, precious, and quite possibly the best book I’ve ever read. 💗🍓🃏🌞🌷

[chelseabrookelikesbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set during the summer before Lottie Turner turns eighteen, this book follows a girl whose life changed in an instant after an accident left her with epilepsy. Once fearless and independent, Lottie now feels trapped by rules, worry, and the way everyone around her treats her like she’s fragile. Her journey of learning how to live despite her circumstances was powerful, emotional, and incredibly moving.

Lottie’s anger, grief, and longing felt so real. Losing the life you planned for yourself is a kind of heartbreak, and this story gives her the space to feel all of it. Watching her grow into a deeper understanding of herself, her limits, and her strength was inspiring and honest.

Walker was such a wonderful presence in this story. He’s gentle, patient, and truly listens to Lottie without trying to control or fix her. Their relationship is full of warmth, history, and quiet support, and I loved how he stood beside her while also learning to choose what makes him happy.

The setting at Bloom Farm and Willow Creek Ranch was cozy and immersive, filled with a strong sense of family and community. The side characters also added so much heart to the story and I look forward to getting to know them all better.

At its core, this is a story about learning to live fully again, about love that comes from care and concern, and about finding freedom in new ways when life doesn’t go as planned. It’s tender, hopeful, and filled with so much heart.

A truly beautiful YA read, and I can’t wait to return to Willow Creek Ranch.

Thank you so much Sourcebooks Bloom, NetGalley, and Juliana Smith for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Ariday Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was so beautiful and heartbroken at the same time. ❤️‍🩹
I don’t have the right words to describe everything Lottie and Walker made me feel. Their romance was so sweet and healthy that it somehow felt both unreal and real at the same time.🏹
I’m so happy that in the end Lottie was able to find her happiness and finally stop living in a bubble, just like she wanted✨
—————-
~ Thank you NetGalley & Juliana Smith for the ARC🤍~
Tropes:
-cowboy romance
-second chance
-friends to lovers
-found family
-small town

Lottie☀️:
She’s a girl who just wants to experience even a tiny bit of fun, because ever since she was diagnosed with epilepsy, her family and the people around her haven’t stopped treating her like she could break at any moment. All she wants is for them to stop treating her like a sick child and start treating her like the Lottie she was before the accident…💔

~Ella es una chica que está buscando vivir aunque sea un pizca de diversión ya que desde que fue diagnosticada con epilepsia, toda su familia y la gente a su alrededor no dejan de tratarla como si en cualquier momento se fuera a romper. Todo lo que ella quiere es que dejan de tratarla como una niña enferma y la traten como la Lottie de antes del accidente…~

Walker 🤠:
He’s a guy who grew up moving from job to job because his parents would do anything to avoid having him around. During one of those jobs, he ended up working at Lottie’s ranch and spent the best summer of his life there. So after years away, he decides to return to the only place where he was truly happy—right by Lottie’s side.❤️‍🩹

~Él es un chico que creció de trabajo en trabajo ya que sus padres hacían de todo para no tenerlo cerca. En uno de esos trabajos terminó en el rancho de Lottie y pasó el mejor verano de su vida. Así que después de pasar años lejos decide volver al único lugar donde fue feliz, a lado de Lottie❤️‍🩹~

Historia📝:
After Walker left Lottie’s life without warning, leaving her heartbroken over the loss of their friendship, he returns to work at her ranch, hoping to pick up their friendship where they left off. But the last thing Lottie wants is to be around him… or at least that’s what she tells herself. So Walker will do whatever it takes to earn back her trust and prove to her that he’s not going anywhere ❤️‍🩹. He’s also determined to show her that, no matter how others treat her because of her illness, he will never be one of them 🥹.

~Después de que Walker salió de la vida de Lottie sin avisar, dejándola con el corazón roto por la perdida de su amistad, Walker vuelve a trabajar en su rancho tratando de retomar su amistad donde lo dejaron. Pero lo que menos quiere Lottie es estar cerca de él. O eso se dice a sí misma. Así que Walker hará lo que sea para volver a ganar su confianza y demostrarle que no irá a ningún lado❤️‍🩹. También se dedicará a demostrarle que no a pesar de cómo la traten los demás por su enfermedad, él no será uno de ellos🥹~

Pensamientos💭:
I spent the whole book waiting for that part where everything falls apart, and I’m so relieved it never did. I think that’s just part of what makes this book so beautiful. Such a lovely love story—I don’t think I’ll ever be loved like this. The way Walker is so patient with Lottie and always prioritizes HER happiness, not his own, is just amazing. A really healthy teenage romance, exactly how all teen romances should be. I really enjoyed it. 🥰

~Estuve esperando todo el libro que llegara esa parte donde todo se desmorona, y estoy tan aliviada que no llegara. Creo eso es solo una parte de lo que hace hermoso a este libro. Una historia tan bonita de amor que creo que nunca me amaran de esta forma. La manera en la que Walker es tan paciente con Lottie y siempre busca SU felicidad, no la de él. Un romance adolescente muy sano que es como todos los romances adolescentes se deberían ver. Lo disfruté mucho.~

[Stephanie ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you SO much to Bloom Books for the complimentary copy of this book!
Thank you SO much to Sourcebooks Audio for the complimentary ALC!

This book will be out on May 19th.

This book was so cute! Lottie is navigating her new life after being diagnosed with the life changing epilepsy

Lottie and Walker are this teenage couple that you know will make it in the end. I had to keep forgetting that they were in fact teens! Walker just seemed so grown and swoon worthy. I even had texted a friend saying where were these types of guys when I was 17?!

"You...you were looking at me?"
"Yes, but it would be a lie to say it wasn't the shorts that did me in."
"Every other girl in this town has the same shorts."
"None of them are you, though."

I like how Walker was determined to get himself back into Lottie's life. He left suddenly leaving her broken hearted and she isn't sure she could let him in again. Especially when he has this awesome opportunity to work with NASA so why would he want to stick around their small town? And also because of this opportunity, Lottie thinks Walker will be leaving at the end of summer so why even bother trying to start something. Walker is unsure what he wants to do. He is smart but his heart isn't fully in the program. During this summer, the more time the two spent with each other, the more it became apparent that this was where he needed to be and to be with Lottie. I felt bad for Lottie because she just wants to be this normal teenager and yet others around her treat her as if she is breakable because of her disease. I love her friendship with Flick and even with a conflict they were able to talk it through with effective communication and come out the other side.

I have never read this author before but I know I have seen her books in the Bookstagram sphere. This is the first in a new series and I will certainly be checking out the next! I am hoping that it will focus on Lottie's best friend Flick and Knox, her brother perhaps in a dual timeline of this one so we can see how their relationship came to be.

I primarily listened to this one and it was just such an easy breezy listen. Queen Brittany Pressley provided the voice for Lottie and new narrator to me Chase Brown was Walker. And I already had thought Walker was swoony but add in Chase's narration - my goodness! Oh and I certainly did let the author know that his voice made me melt.

I recommend this book if you are looking for a wholesome YA with fun flirty banter, cowboy/ranch setting, second chance romance.

PS - I died at the whole peonies moment!

[Gracie Lou · Rating 2 out of 5]

Spur of the Moment 🃏🐥🌾
2.5 ⭐️
1 🫑

Thank you to Bloom Books for the chance to read this gifted advanced copy!

📖Tropes and TWs:
🃏 Small Town
☁️ YA / Closed Door
🐥 Second Chance
🌾 Epilepsy
⭐️ Cheating/Infidelity (off-page, mentioned)
🃏 Minimal language
☁️ Western
🐥 Former Bull Rider x Ranch Hand
🌾 Summer Bucket-list
⭐️ Animal Sidekicks

Going into 2026, Spur of the Moment was one of my most anticipated reads of the year. I’ve loved Smith’s indie novels, so I was incredibly excited to dive into her traditional publishing debut. I wanted to love this book with every fiber of my being, but it ended up falling flat for me.

I did a dynamic read of physical and audiobook. I did really like the accents and inflections of the narrators, and I liked that some of the portions were a duet instead of separated chapters. I think that this story has a really sweet premise, but it’s lacking in depth and substance. I felt myself wishing for more from both the plot and the characters, and it felt unrealistic to me that Lottie was supposed to be a rising senior in high school. I think that this story could’ve been a little more believable if the characters were either older (and taken out of the YA genre, even if the door remained closed,) or if their past experiences didn’t make them seem too old to be their portrayed ages. Walker’s character seemed like he could be at least 30 given the NASA background with his farmhand experience, but I did think that the, “space cowboy” references were super cute!

I felt like the plot was a little superficial, and the only thing that grounded it was Lottie’s epilepsy. I think that Smith did a really great job in handling that element of the story with care, and it felt like it raised awareness and was done in a really respectful way. Other than that, the stakes felt really low for most of the book, and I felt like a lot of the plot points were blending together. The one plot point that had high stakes involving Lottie’s dad was resolved in a really unsatisfying way for me, and the entire situation was screaming, “poor communication skills”.

This book was good, and it was a cute read, but it just really wasn’t what I was hoping for as a huge Juliana Smith fan. I do think that readers looking for western young adult and/or closed door romances with more sweet, fluffy moments than plot and character development will enjoy this one!

[Angeline · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

So this was so cute! I was really drawn into the story and I wanted to see how Lottie would find herself in the book. I also adored Walter and his growth. Spur of the Moment is written by Juliana Smith and it is a sweet romance about finding yourself and falling in love.
Lottie felt like her life wasn’t her own. She was still learning to live with her diagnosis and everything felt stifling. Walter was trying to get away from his life. They had been friends before but life got in the way. I really loved their easy connection and sweet romance. Both of the characters were likable and I empathized with them.
Lottie felt like a teenage girl just trying to figure out life. She was mature at times and thoughtless at times. However I felt like I understood her and I was cheering for her as she started to find her way. She had to learn to accept herself and the limitations that she had because of her epilepsy, but she also had to learn that she could do more than she had hoped. I love how Walter pushed and encouraged her.
Walter was a sweetheart! He really cared for Lottie but found himself falling for her harder as he spent more time with her. He was also figuring out life and the kind of person that he wanted to be. I love how he was able to be himself with Lottie and how he found his home in her.
The romance was sweet and felt very young love. But at the same time, Lottie and Walter fell hard for each other. They were young but they knew what they wanted and they learned how to stand by each other. It was interesting to read about Lottie’s condition and see the different reaction to it. One of the things that I really liked though was how family was important. Lottie’s family got on her nerves at time but they truly cared for each other. The side characters were a lot of fun especially Flick, Knox and Kit.
I enjoyed this book and I would recommend it to those who enjoy YA novels. Spur of the Moment is a closed door romance that deals with real problems but has a happy ending.

Content Warnings:
Mentions of past infidelity and divorce

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through Netgalley. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.