Firstly, a big thank you to NetGalley and H. Mitchell for providing me with the ARC of such a beautiful book.

You know that wholesome, content feeling you get while reading a truly special story? That’s exactly what I felt while reading My Ellie. It’s not just the romance, it’s the entire setup of the book: the friends, the family, the picturesque setting, it was all so wonderfully written. I couldn’t put this book down and loved every single bit of it without ever feeling bored.

H. Mitchell has masterfully crafted Colton and Ellie’s love story, making it impossible not to fall for these two characters. From their very first interaction to their final moments together, the story is beautifully woven with just the right amount of character development and slow burn. Their dynamic was compelling from the beginning, and I loved how they gradually spent time together, getting to know one another deeply rather than simply acting on their initial attraction. Their relationship blossoming from friendship into love was so natural and heartfelt. The slow burn was absolutely worth it.

One of the highlights of their relationship was their conversations- open and honest discussions about mental health, offering each other a safe space to share their burdens and being the kind of friend they had never had before. This emotional depth made their connection even more meaningful.

Ellie, my sweet girl- I wish I could reach through the pages and hug her. Despite enduring so much mental and physical abuse at the hands of her mother, Ellie remained pure-hearted and such a beautiful soul. I loved her character arc, especially when she finally stood up for herself. Her unwavering support for her friends, whether it was Sanya or Colton, was incredibly endearing.

And Colton? He’s the man of dreams. From the very beginning, he was a walking green flag, and I fell more in love with him with every chapter. The way he cherished all his relationships was so heartwarming. I have a soft spot for men who aren’t afraid to cry, and Colton is one of them. His thoughtfulness and support for Ellie, whether it was cheering her up, waking up early to make her breakfast, or simply being there for her, was beyond swoon-worthy. His bond with Wyatt and Meemaw was also a joy to read.

The supporting characters added so much warmth to the story. The group dynamics between Ellie, Sanya, Colton and Rory were incredibly fun and heartwarming. Colton and Sanya’s family dynamics were another highlight that I truly enjoyed. As for Ellie’s mother- let’s just say she belongs in a psych ward.

Overall, if you’re a fan of slow-burn, heartwarming romances between a cowboy and a dressage rider, then you must pick up this book. The unique concept and setting made it stand out, and I personally loved every second of it. I miss these characters terribly as I write this review!
Lastly, I’m really excited for the next book in the series. Fingers crossed it’s Sanya and Rory’s story!

3.5/5 stars

Welcome to the age of emotionally intelligent cowboys! This book follows Colton, a former Hall of Fame rodeo rider, who has been hired by a British Lord to teach his kids how to be cowboys for the summer. He takes the job far away from his brother and Meemaw so that he can help them take care of their ranch. During that summer, Colton meets Ellie, who is trying to achieve her (or truthfully her mom’s) lifelong dream of being an Olympic dressage rider. This dual POV book mixes two hot people, horses, mental health representation, and soul searching.

I really enjoyed Colton as a character. He is thoughtful, kind, emotionally intelligent, communicative, and loves his family. It was easy to see why Ellie fell for him. Ellie’s chapters were a harder read because of her relationship with her mother. Those chapters gave me anxiety which means that they were well-written because they were very anxiety-inducing. I would recommend checking the trigger warnings at the beginning of the book.

Also, the mental health representation in this book was really well done. Ellie and Colton talked about their mental health needs with each other in a way that felt realistic and thoughtful. And their mental health conditions were written in an articulate and sharp way. As someone with anxiety, I thought that writing was spot on and the descriptions of depression were done in a way that gave me new insights into that condition.

To me, the ending felt rushed and I really wished that we had spent some more time with those two characters at the end of the book figuring out some really important logistics and relationship needs that felt like they were just assumed.

Thank you Victory Editing and NetGalley for providing this eARC! All opinions are my own.

I actually really enjoyed this book i thought it was so cutesy and they were so happy together i loved it. Her mother was so very insufferable im glad Ellie stood up for herself in the end it was lovely to see. Overall really cute book and i’m so glad i was able to read it!!

This was ny first ever arc read so thank you for allowing me to be one of the first readers!

This book was so fun and relaxing to read! It follows Colton, a retired rodeo cowboy who is working at an estate in the UK, & Ellie, a dressage rider who is at a summer camp preparing for the olympics. They have a rocky first meet but eventually work things out. This story depicts metal health issues such as depression and anxiety. Mitchell does a great job at representing the main characters mental health issues and having them be there for each other. Its a lovely story with some amazing characters and i hope we get to see more for this author!

For all the girls who read Saddle Club when they were younger this is for you. A perfectly spicey romance about two unlikely people who find comfort and passion with each other. Plus, who doesn't want a cowboy? This debut novel by H. Mitchell is well paced and written and I can't wait to see what else she has for us in the future. Not only is the slow burn perfectly executed but I have never wanted Banana Bread with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream more than I do after reading this book. Thank you to H. Mitchell for giving me the chance to read Colten and Ellie's story before everyone else, and make sure to grab your copy February 17th!

“A problem shared is a problem halved, and we both vowed to help each other through the good and the bad”

Firstly, a massive thank you to the author for approving me as an ARC reader 🫶🏼

For a debut novel, this book as absolutely perfect. It was so well written, such a lovely plot and even though I’d read my fair share of cowboy romances, completely different to anything I’ve ever read.

For starters it’s set in the UK which being from the UK myself I bloody LOVE. The way Colton obsesses with Ellie from the moment he laid eyes on her and the way Ellie slowly starts to let him in. It’s just all perfect.

The fact that mental health is mentioned in the book as well is amazing, I haven’t come across many books that mention mental health but this really helps me connect with characters on a personal level.

I was planning on binge reading this but I loved it so much I’m glad I took my time nd really slowed down to enjoy every single second. I’m am dying for more books in this series, maybe a Wyatt book next? 👀

This book is one of my, if not is, my most favourite book of of this year so far, I can’t wait for it to be released so I can add the physical copy to my shelf 💕

3.75/4✨firstly i am so grateful to have received an arc of this book, i came across it through tiktok and thought it sounded so good!

this was such a sweet read! it follows ellie, a dressage rider & member of the british national equestrian team as she chases an olympic dream, and colton — a hall of famer in the world of rodeo riding who ends up far away from home for the summer to help save his families ranch. their paths cross while training & working on the same estate and despite both being determined to stay focused, fate (or a runaway horse) brings them together!

colton was such a sweetheart and the love he had for his family was so sweet! i enjoyed his character right from the beginning. he was always so considerate of ellies feelings. he constantly looked out & was there for her, reminding her to make time for the things she truly loved! ellie was such a strong character and watching her growth throughout the book was honestly so inspiring. they were so authentic and their openness with mental health really made me love their characters even more! they were so cute together, all their little moments and secret mornings of beans on toast felt so normal and grounded despite both being under such stress. they were eachothers reprieve and watching them fall in love was so lovely!

the storyline was such a cool concept and i found it so fun to read as horse riding isn’t something I’m super familiar with but i was so intrigued! i also really enjoyed the side characters, Rory and Sanya, and their relationship too!

what a lovely debut & thank you so much for the arc

This is a cutesy cowboy/horse girl romance that follows Colton’s summer job in England where he meets elite dressage rider Ellie.

This is a solid debut from H Mitchell and was an easy read! It tackled tricky topics including mental illness and an abusive parent and was great to see representation of a genuinely supportive and caring relationship between the MCs through these struggles! We saw some great character progression from Ellie learning to stand up for herself towards the end of the book!

This was more towards a slow burn romance, but once it gets going, it moves fast! A great debut, and an enjoyable easy read! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

~Thanks to NetGalley and H. Mitchell for the ARC!~

Very cutesy horse rider—cowboy romance! Found myself giggling at some parts and then gasping in outrage at others. Lots of mental health representation. Trigger warning of an abusive parent who seriously upset me so much I kept catching myself whispering *hit her, hit her!* and I’m not even one for violence! MMC is sensitive and adorable. FMC has a lot of growth needed through the book and loved to finally see it, though, I wish she had some small breakthroughs earlier in the book. This is a sloooow burn but def has some spice if you are into that! Overall fun read and congratulations to H. Mitchell on her great debut novel!!

4.5 stars!!!


What to expect with this book:


•Black cat x golden retriever
•One sided love at first site
•Dislike to friends to lovers
•Mental health representation
• No 3rd act breakup

In this debut novel, we have Colton Brooks who takes a job in England at Lord Chamberlain’s estate to teach his sons how to become real cowboys and Ellie Stirling training for the Olympics in dressage.

I love how in the beginning Colton was smitten with Ellie the whole time and I’m usually in not to into insta-love but I love how Ellie wanted nothing and I repeat nothing to do with him. Watching them become friends was so nice because she really just needed more people to be on her cheering team. The way that he helped her finally realize what she wanted and to let loose. I hated her mom so so much and when Ellie finally was able to stand up to her, I was cheering so hard.

I was so surprised that this was a debut novel, I really liked it and I kinda wish there was more. I just needed it a little longer because I loved them so much

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book early!

If you love a sweet cowboy love story, this is the book. It was just darling! I could not get over how many times my heart melted at how adorable it was.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC!

“Make time for the things you love.”

This was a really sweet romance with a fun premise. I love how Colton and Ellie are both passionate about horses, but come from entirely opposite worlds. One of the things I admire most about this book is the mental health representation. Mitchell approaches anxiety and depression in such a raw and honest way, making the characters more relatable. Mitchell treated both topics with such care and respect! There’s also such a fun host of characters that I really enjoyed.

Both main characters are well-written and well-developed. Colton is a masculine male character that has no shame talking about his struggles… we love a man in touch with his emotions! (I think this is super important!). And Ellie is a character with a well-developed arc who learns to stand up for herself and fight for what she wants. Both of these characters are so wonderful & they are perfectly paired!

I love Ellie and Colton!

ARC through NetGalley

What could be better than a retired rodeo cowboy and Olympic dressage hopeful? Their chance encounter one summer on Lord Chamberlain’s Estate.

This debut novel by H Mitchell was refreshing. The characters were developed so well. The author has not only done her homework in the equine field, but in understanding the work and training of Olympic hopefuls.

I enjoyed this slow burn of Colton and Ellie’s relationship as it developed into so much more. The author doesn’t great job relaying the emotion of each character. I look forward to reading Part 2 of this series, and hope to see more of Rory and Sanya or Wyatt and Christine.

“Make Time for What You Love” - words we can all live by.

I enjoy romcoms and I just finished a great one. My Ellie by H. Mitchell was a fun read. I definitely recommend it.

The characters in this book are so incredibly well-written that I felt like I was living every scene alongside them. Calton is the perfect gentleman—the kind you dream about but rarely find in real life 😆. His charm and subtle strength are just irresistible. And Ellie? She’s an absolute rockstar. Her sass had me smiling so many times, and her determination to stay strong through everything she’s facing is nothing short of inspiring. The side characters are just as incredible, each adding depth and richness to the story. The author has an amazing gift for creating characters that feel so real, it’s like they could walk right off the page. Every word, every detail pulls you deeper into the world they’ve built—truly a storyteller who knows how to capture hearts.

I absolutely adore this book! This is H Mitchell’s debut novel and it is so good! I cannot believe this is her first book.

The book follows Colton, an American Rodeo Cowboy, as he goes to England for a summer job training the two sons of a Lord there. While he is in England at the Lord’s property there is also an English team of Olympic hopefuls training for the trials. In this group is Ellie, a dressage rider, who has only ever put all of her focus and time into getting an Olympic Gold medal. Colton is such a green flag I loved him. Ellie has spent her whole life trying to live up to her mom’s standards and she is more stand-offish at first, but her intentions are always good.

This is a slow burn romance so you really get to see their friendship and foundation of the relationship build between them throughout the book. There is also such great representation of mental health in this book I was blown away about how well it was written. She did great with the detail and depth to the characters so they all added to the story well without feeling like filler just trying to hit a word count.

It has a great flow that made it easy to read. I would definitely recommend it as a palate cleanser if you read a lot of heavy themed books, or if you only like sweet romances this would be perfect.

I am so impressed by this debut novel from H. Mitchel. She did a wonderful job making the characters seem real and authentic, giving them experiences that didn't feel like she was just trying to grab at something to further the plot along. Colton is a dream boat, the way he thinks and talks ...my god. The story was easy to follow and flowed together really well, it was a fast read but not quick. it's a great weekend read or palate cleanser for anybody to sink their teeth into. super excited to see what comes next ❤️

what's inside:
-grumpy sunshine
-friends to lovers
-mental health rep
-he falls first
-slow burn
-found family

CW/TW:
-abuse from a parent, both physical and emotional
-depression/anxiety
-explicit sex scenes ( 3/5 )

I found this author through Threads and was given an ARC and was pleasantly surprised by this debut novel.

I truly loved all the characters in this book, except Ellie's mom, who can go to hell. Ellie was the highlight of this book for me, though. I loved how she grew throughout the story and learned to stand up for herself with the help of our handsome cowboy, Colton!

The romance builds slowly, from enemies to friends to lovers, and reaches a satisfying climax, pun intended.

I was sobbing by the end of this novel, and a book that can make me cry is five stars in my eyes!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DE-zB9kSrEN/?igsh=MTY3OXJ6czEwc2V0ZQ==

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7226995010

Reviews published on January 18, 2025


𝙼𝚊𝚔𝚎 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚘𝚟𝚎

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ || 🌶️🌶️

I devoured this book in less than 24 hours! I mean…a book about a cowboy named Colton? Sign me up! ✍🏼

Ellie is a dressage rider who wants to be an Olympian, but feels like a constant disappointment to her overbearing and negative mother. Colton is a retired rodeo rider who moves to England for the summer to help train two boys in barrel racing. They are both staying at the same estate and form an unlikely friendship that evolves from there. Ugh I loved their relationship so much and I want more of them!

I will definitely keep my eyes peeled for more novels by H Mitchell!

Wow, oh wow! I found this book and author via threads and Instagram and it did not disappoint. I love a slow burn and the tasteful spice is amazing. The mental health representation of anxiety and depression is one of the best representations I’ve read recently - truly she treated these topics with such care and respect.

Colton, an American cowboy, goes over the pond to teach a Lord’s sons to be cowboys. The Lord is also hosting a group of young adults who are hoping to make Olympic trials. Ellie is one of the hopefuls who is staying on the grounds. This is a forbidden romance, found family story with *amazing* mental health rep, healthy communication and great plot. A fantastic debut!

Side note: if Meemaw’s desserts are based on any real recipes please share because they sounded amazing :)