I have a confession to make. Some romance tropes just get me. Childhood best friends? Check. One person secretly in love while the other is busy dreaming about romance? Absolutely. Fake dates that start feeling a little too real? Oh, boy, are we in trouble?
That's exactly the kind of setup waiting in Cowboy, Take Me Away by Juliana Smith, the second book in the Willow Creek series. With a charming small-town setting, fall festivals, haunted houses, and a romance years in the making, this YA rom-com sounded like a lovely addition to an autumn reading list. And it didn’t let me down!
And if you're a fan of friends-to-lovers stories with plenty of yearning, you'll want to meet Felicity and Knox.
What Is Cowboy, Take Me Away About?
Cowboy, Take Me Away follows Felicity “Flick” Hart and Knox Turner, lifelong best friends whose relationship is about to get a whole lot more complicated. And I don’t say that lightly.
Flick has spent years reading romance novels (she’s practically one of us, right?), and now she's ready for her own love story. Senior year is her chance to experience all the things she's been dreaming about: her first date, her first love, and maybe even her first heartbreak.
There's just one problem. Her close relationship with Knox is holding her back. Or is it?
Knox, meanwhile, has spent most of his life in love with Flick. So, when she asks him to help her navigate the dating world, he agrees to become her relationship coach. What follows includes practice dates at fall festivals, getting lost together in a corn maze, and moments that feel far more real than either of them might have planned.
As Flick searches for the romance she's always imagined, the line between pretending and falling in love soon starts to blur.
But romance isn't the only thing these two have to figure out. Flick is dealing with the possibility of her absent mother returning, while Knox faces expectations from his close-knit farm family. Both have to decide what they really want and whether risking their friendship is worth it.
And honestly? A best friend who's been in love with you for years is already a pretty compelling reason to pick up a book.
The Tropes in Cowboy, Take Me Away
If you're choosing your next YA romance based on tropes (because sometimes that's exactly how we choose our next read and I won’t be the judge of anyone here), here's what makes this one stand out.
1. Friends to Lovers
Flick and Knox have known each other for years. They have a friendship to protect, a history together, and feelings that could change everything.
Friends-to-lovers romances are especially fun when the characters already know each other so well. There's no need to build a connection from scratch. Instead, the question is what happens when one of them starts seeing their best friend differently.
Or, in Knox's case, when the feelings have been there all along.
2. He's Been in Love With Her for Years
Much like Grayson Darling in Alexandra Moody’s Grumpy Darling, Knox has spent most of his life loving Flick, while she's busy figuring out how romance is supposed to work.
That contrast is one of the central hooks of the story. Flick is looking for her first love, and Knox is right there beside her, helping her look for someone else.
I mean, the potential for yearning alone!
3. Fake Dating and Practice Dates
When Flick asks Knox to coach her through dating, their plans involve fake dates and opportunities to practise being romantic.
Of course, spending time together in situations that are supposed to feel like dates can make it harder to pretend there's nothing more going on. And when you're dealing with two best friends, all those little moments have the potential to mean a lot more than either person expects.
4. Small-Town Romance
The Willow Creek series brings Southern charm and a close-knit community into the mix. In this book, Knox's farm family and the world around Flick and Knox are part of what shapes their choices.
It's a lovely setup for readers who enjoy romance that isn't just about the couple, but also about family, friendship, and figuring out where you belong. Setting, setting, setting. It matters. A. Whole. Let.
5. Coming-of-Age Romance
Flick has a very specific idea of what her romantic life should look like. But growing up sometimes means discovering that the story you imagined isn't necessarily the one you need.
Between first experiences, complicated family relationships, and the possibility of changing her friendship with Knox forever, Flick has plenty to work through during her senior year.
The Autumn Vibes: Pumpkins, Haunted Houses, and Corn Mazes
I know I mentioned the setting before, but can we talk about it for a second?
This time of year, one of the things that caught my attention about Cowboy, Take Me Away is how much of the romance unfolds against an autumn backdrop.
Fall festivals. Pumpkins. Haunted houses. Getting lost in a corn maze with your lifelong best friend while your other friends are making a scene and screaming at each other...
No doubt, it's the kind of setup that makes me want to grab a blanket, make something warm to drink, and spend an afternoon reading. And when you add a cowboy-romance angle and a small-town setting, you get a combination that feels right at home on an autumn reading list.
The seasonal setting also fits the story's central theme. Flick is searching for new experiences, while Knox is someone she's known for years. As their relationship begins to shift, familiar places and activities take on a different meaning. And not before long she realizes that sometimes, the person you've been looking for has been right there all along.
Let's Recap! Why YA Romance Readers Should Add This Book to Their TBR
If you love contemporary YA romance, there are several reasons Cowboy, Take Me Away might be worth adding to your list. Here are just some of them.
A lifelong friendship at the centre of the story
Flick and Knox already have a deep connection before the romance begins.
Plenty of romantic potential
Relationship coaching and fake dates create opportunities for their feelings to get complicated.
An autumn setting
Fall festivals, pumpkins, haunted houses, and corn mazes make this a fitting seasonal read.
Family relationships beyond the romance
Flick's absent mother and Knox's family expectations give both characters personal challenges to navigate.
Southern charm
The book combines a farm-family backdrop with the feel-good atmosphere of a YA romantic comedy.
The book is also part of Juliana Smith's Willow Creek series, so readers who enjoy returning to a fictional community may want to explore the series as a whole. But it can also be read as a standalone (I haven’t read book 1 in the series yet, Spur of a Moment, but I’m getting to it!).
Final Thoughts: Is Cowboy, Take Me Away Going on Your Fall TBR?
If your favourite romances involve childhood best friends, feelings that have been building for years, and the delicious complication of pretending to date someone you might already be in love with, Cowboy, Take Me Away has a lot of promising ingredients.
I especially love the contrast at the heart of the premise: Flick is looking for her first love, while Knox has already found his. She wants his help finding romance, and he has to navigate what that means when he's the one who wants to be chosen. Add the autumn festivals, the Southern setting, and the cowboy charm, and this sounds like a book to keep in mind for a cozy fall reading day.
Looking for Another Cozy Fall Romance?
Hearts, Leaves & Other Falling Things
A single mom. A ridiculously charming distraction. And a small town that desperately needs to mind its own business.
A cozy, funny, closed-door small-town romance filled with autumn vibes, playful banter, family, friendship, and enough chemistry to make your heart race.
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About Me
📍Dumbo - New York
I'm Zøe!
I write heartfelt, character-driven fiction featuring resilient teenage heroines navigating personal challenges and striving to become their best selves. Beyond my novels, I love storytelling in all its forms. On this blog, I share narrative-rich travel pieces, offering glimpses into my favorite places, hidden corners, and unforgettable encounters around the globe.
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