It’s no secret that I’m a big fan of sapphic Westerns. So when I saw They Ain’t Proper on NetGalley, I jumped at the chance to read it. And M.B. Guel’s contribution to the genre is extremely wholesome in many ways, obviously written from the heart. Their protagonist – Lou – is a gender outlaw who will appeal to many a modern reader while carving out a not so believable but thoroughly entertaining space to occupy in the past.
Lou Ramirez moved to the outskirts of Ghosthollow in the hope of a solitary life. Not fitting into the masculine or feminine gender roles, they want to live in quiet obscurity, keeping to themselves and making no enemies – though of course tongues still wag. But all Lou’s careful plans are turned upside down by the arrival of Clementine. Instead of being delivered the materials for a house, Lou was sent a housewife. Lou doesn’t want a companion – but they can’t bear to hand Clementine over for a life of cruelty at the hands of her intended husband. So they spend all their savings to buy Clementine’s freedom, encouraging her to go back home.
But Clementine has a long history with Ghosthollow – and no place to return. Her family’s gone, and she was sold as a bride to pay off their debts to a notorious outlaw. Plus, Clementine’s taken with Lou’s kindness and courage to be themselves. She helps out around the ranch in the hope of being granted a permanent home with them. But the past threatens to catch up with Lou and Clementine both before they can build a future.
They Ain’t Proper is a fun read. It has the standoffs and shootouts a Western demands. And the rural setting – a small town in the middle of nowhere, enlivened only by a saloon – is a staple of the genre. Plus, Lou’s a (gender-free) cowboy with a complicated past – the type of protagonist ideally suited to this type of story. Like a Louis L’Amour novel without the regressive race and gender politics.
While I really like the ethos of They Ain’t Proper, there are a couple of aspects this story which didn’t entirely work for me. The dialogue imitated speech from the Old West to the point of parody. It was over the top and not always that comfortable to read, with unnecessary abbreviations and phonetic spellings. Less would definitely have been more.
Also, for the first half of the novel, the pacing is pretty slow. Lou and Clementine’s relationship feels like it takes an age to develop… but in reality this part of the book’s set over the span of a week – two at most. That’s mostly because the stakes don’t feel particularly high until Lou and Clementine are tracked down by a man they’d both prefer never to see again.
Still, when this story gets going properly, it’s an entertaining read. The setting and characters are vivid. And while the plot’s fairly simple, it’s well realised. Guel is a solid writer. And their prose is never stronger than when Lou and Clementine are together.
Though They Ain’t Proper is set in the late 1800s, the desire between these two characters feels fresh and immediate. And their dynamic is lovely. The way Lou hides any sentiment, like breaking a horse for Clementine, under the guise of practicality; the way Clementine not only accepts but adores Lou exactly as they are; the way these two characters figure out how to love each other without any kind of roadmap… it’s all swoon-worthy.
Guel shows real promise as a writer, and I’d love to read more of their work. Another charming and original title from Bella Books. If you enjoy sapphic Westerns, They Ain’t Proper is well worth a read.
Copy received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Lou Morgan 