Title: Lost and Lassoed
Author: Lyla Sage
Publisher: Quercus
Genre: Romance
Pages: 368
My Rating:
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Lost and Lassoed
Gus and Teddy have known each other their entire lives, but they’ve never been close. Teddy is Gus’s sister’s best friend, and for as long as Gus can remember, they’ve had a knack for getting under each other’s skin. They bicker constantly, and Gus does his best to steer clear of her.
But when Teddy finds herself out of a job and Gus needs help, their paths cross in an unexpected way. Gus, who works long hours on the ranch, suddenly has to juggle caring for his young daughter, Riley, during the summer. Normally, he co-parents with Cam, but Cam’s out of town for work, leaving Gus in a bind.
Under pressure, Gus reluctantly agrees to let Teddy step in and help. A few days a week, she moves into the house to take care of Riley, and as the summer unfolds, something surprising happens. The tension between Gus and Teddy starts to fade, and they find themselves growing closer in ways neither of them anticipated.
Review
It’s funny how I ended up picking a book with almost the exact same plot right after finishing Heartless, the first book I read in 2025. The similarities between the two were so striking that I often found myself mixing up the characters—it felt like I was still reading the same story. I guess that is what can happen if you don’t read the back of the book.
The plotlines are nearly identical: a grumpy man in need of a nanny for the summer, and a woman who steps in to help after recently losing her job. The kids in both stories are around the same age, and both books feature the classic trope where the leads go from butting heads to falling in love. Even the side characters overlapped in a weirdly specific way! In Heartless, “Betty” is a mean-spirited woman, and in Lost and Lassoed, Betty is another local woman in their small town. Then there’s “Luke,” who was the kid’s name in Heartless, but in Lost and Lassoed, Luke was a family member. It got confusing at times!
Honestly, I couldn’t help but compare the two books. Since they’re so similar, I’m giving them the same rating—but I have to admit, I preferred Lost and Lassoed. It had fewer spicy scenes (which I appreciated), and the way Gus cared for Teddy when she wasn’t feeling well completely won me over. That was hands-down my favorite part. Men taking care of their women? That’s my weakness right there.
I flew through this book—it was over before I even realized it! The writing was engaging, and I couldn’t put it down. It was such a fun, easy read.
If you loved Heartless, you’ll probably enjoy this book too. And if you’ve already read Lost and Lassoed, the Chestnut Springs series might be your next go-to. I’m fully embracing my cowboy romance era right now, and I am not ashamed of it!
After finishing this book, I knew I had to switch genres because I was worried I’d accidentally pick up another book with the same plot. So, I’ve started reading Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid, and so far, I’m loving it. It’s such a refreshing change!