This Ain't Our First Rodeo

“Goes for the heart and doesn’t miss.” –Booklist (starred review)

Love is a wild ride. Hold on.

When life lassoes Josie and Shawn back together three years after their dreamy first date, their second chance at love is anything but easy. A big-hearted rodeo romance set in Houston, Texas, by the critically acclaimed Liara Tamani, author of What She Missed, All The Things We Never Knew, and Calling My Name. This bold first-love story is for fans of Nothing Like the Movies and Highly Suspicious and Unfairly Cute.

This ain’t Josie’s first rodeo. Her parents own several fancy restaurants in Houston, and they just opened a new one right outside the stadium. Josie is expected to stay inside the restaurant and help, and maybe take over their growing empire one day, but that isn’t what Josie wants. She’d rather be at the rodeo itself than in a high-end restaurant next to it. Or eating funnel cakes and Texas-sized corn dogs at the carnival on the grounds. Or better yet, riding her horse at her grandparents’ ranch, the very place her mom wants to sell.

It ain’t Shawn’s first rodeo either. He’s been riding bulls since his mom died, doing everything he can to live up to his rodeo-champion stepfather’s sky-high expectations. But as Shawn’s stardom rises, so do tensions in their relationship. His stepfather’s drinking and gambling problems sure don’t help.

After one unforgettable night leaves Josie and Shawn wanting nothing but each other, their lives become entwined in increasingly complex ways. Can they save Josie’s family land? Or will Shawn’s stepfather and his shady plan be the ranch’s ruin? Will one wrong move cost them everything? Rodeo after rodeo, year after year, can Josie and Shawn keep their hearts open through the secrets, twists, and turns?

This Ain’t Our First Rodeo is a contemporary western love story full of bulls, brawls, and horses. It’s a tender second chance cowboy romance about family, friendship, mistakes, and the blessings of choosing to love anyway. Black cowboys and cowgirls like Josie and Shawn have long helped shape the American West—a legacy that shines in Liara Tamani’s storytelling. Her writing is quick-witted, swoony, and authentic, with characters who are easy to love and hard to forget.

The chemistry and banter between Josie and Shawn drive the story, effortlessly roping in the reader, who will be invested in these characters, both as individuals and as a couple. Black cowboy and Western history are sprinkled throughout, adding depth to this rodeo romance and fascinating context to its distinctive setting. Another winning offering from Tamani that goes for the heart and doesn’t miss. - Booklist (starred review)

Set against the backdrop of rodeo life, the ever-present dangers of bull riding, and the rich history of Black cowboys, this romance balances sweet, cozy, and taut elements. . . . An uplifting romance grounded in a fascinating and well-realized setting. - Kirkus Reviews

In this swoonworthy romance, two Black teens reunite following a previous chance encounter. Across Josie and Shawn’s alternating chapters, Tamani shines a light on the history of Black cowboys and how Black culture influences contemporary rodeo. The immersive Texas setting and riveting western-informed backdrop is enlivened by the protagonists’ searing push-and-pull romance. - Publishers Weekly

This is a cozy, delightful romance. The world around Josie and Shawn is given lush attention, with the characters’ personal histories interweave to create a sincere connection and setting. Tamani has masterfully represented the characters’ Blackness, and has utilized authentic turns of phrase and social cues to punctuate the events. A modern Western romance with simmering dialogue and a brisk pace. An easy recommendation for any YA collection. - School Library Journal