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In June of 2023, new author Lyla Sage wrote her very first book, “Done and Dusted” — the first book in her “A Rebel Blue Ranch” series — in three months. Soon after, it became a national bestseller. Since then, Sage has completed the series, recently publishing its last book “Wild and Wrangled” on April 15, 2025.
Set in Wyoming, the characters are surrounded by open grass fields and mountains stretching for miles. Some of the characters find themselves experiencing the place for the first time, while others are returning to the ranch after years of moving away. The main female character, Camille Ashwood, finds herself left at the altar. The main male character Dusty Tucker — whose heart was broken by Camille back in high school — just moved back. He left to avoid Camielle, who he thought would be his high school sweetheart, and now, with his return, they’re neighbors.
The series tells a story of self-discovery. It’s not until they each experience the storms of their own lives that they find calm in each other. For Camielle, it was navigating her runaway groom while the reasons for Dusty are revealed more in the book. Life always throws us big hurdles, and finding your version of calm is a way to cope with the chaos we tend to face daily.
The plot resonated with me because finding my version of calm will be most important during these next two months. This summer, I’ll need to work more on my time management with a work-life balance. With my work hours being 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., I find it challenging to have a sufficient amount of downtime before turning in for the night. There are many tasks I know I will be facing at work during these next few weeks, and as I’ve learned from the characters of the book, it’s important for me to find calm in the upcoming storm
But I know I am not alone. Summertime can be a busy time for many students. We often find ourselves balancing personal responsibility with external events such as working internships, traveling and taking vacations. It can be a lot to manage when suddenly the days feel shorter.
Remember, though, that you’re not alone in feeling you need a breather. When I get caught in the wind with stress and feelings of being overwhelmed, if I don’t take a minute to re-center myself, I tend to make more emotion-based decisions than logic-based ones. It’s like when you're driving on an interstate and you miss your exit; instead of letting the map reroute, there’s a split-second panic where you almost find yourself wanting to swerve into the right lane instead.
I’ve recently gotten into running and this activity has been a great way to clear my mind. I dedicate 40 minutes each Wednesday and Sunday to sports, which does wonders for my personal storms.
While going through the storm, we can enjoy the moments of peace and learning along the way. As a famous quote by Ferris Bueller says: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.”
Aryana Amin-Tehrani (she/her) is a senior studying marketing, management and digital and social media business applications.
