Lonesome Dove

Lonesome Dove is my number two, and I'm dying to reread it because the characters felt so real—I was upset when it ended and just stared out the window. It's a massive journey story with mind-blowing dialogue and no throwaway characters; everyone matters, whether you love or hate them. Larry McMurtry's writing makes it one of the best I've read, and while there are sequels, this is the essential one. You have to read it—the emotional impact is huge.

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry is an intense historical fiction about retired Texas Rangers Gus McCrae and Woodrow Call leading a cattle drive from Texas to Montana, facing Indians, bandits, and internal conflicts in the wild West. I adore the superbly real and relatable characters, especially the powerhouse Gus who says and does what he wants, and the found family, romance, and heartbreak that make it one of the greatest stories ever, Pulitzer-worthy for good reason. The writing captures the era's wildness uniquely, with lovable people whose losses break your heart and change your life forever. I recommend it because the characters will captivate you completely—you'll fall in love and emerge transformed, proving even a cattle drive tale can be epic and unforgettable.