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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
This read like a YA novel (nothing wrong with that just wasn’t the level I was expecting). Wasn’t super interesting imo but really was true to the horse girl/barn concept
Not going to reach my top-ten list for the year, but it’s entertaining enough if you want something Saddle Club-esque with a grown up twist
3.5 I never really know how to feel about this authors books. For the most part I enjoy them, but it always just feels like something is missing.
As a “horse girl” who showed on a national level as a youth, I steer clear of horse books because they are typically so cringey and inaccurate. When I heard of this book and the authors involvement with horses I was immediately intrigued. You can tell the author is an equestrian and is knowledgeable about the weird quirks, terminology, and ins and outs of this world. I appreciated that so much.
With that being said, this book was just ok for me. I think it was easily 100 pages too long. I never felt like I truly connected with any of the characters, they all seemed to be very surface level. Some of their behavior seemed off to me (Douglas? C’mon, what is going on there?) I do enjoy dual perspective, but some of the timeframe descriptors were confusing at first. The story got a little repetitive throughout, and wasn’t until the last 50 or so pages that things got really interesting. I predicted the twist, but not until later on in the book once the “secret” was revealed. Overall it was fun book because it was a more accurate look into the equine industry, but the story was just ok.
With that being said, this book was just ok for me. I think it was easily 100 pages too long. I never felt like I truly connected with any of the characters, they all seemed to be very surface level. Some of their behavior seemed off to me (Douglas? C’mon, what is going on there?) I do enjoy dual perspective, but some of the timeframe descriptors were confusing at first. The story got a little repetitive throughout, and wasn’t until the last 50 or so pages that things got really interesting. I predicted the twist, but not until later on in the book once the “secret” was revealed. Overall it was fun book because it was a more accurate look into the equine industry, but the story was just ok.
"Girls and Their Horses" follows Heather Parker, a part of the nouveau riche, as she moves her family to California, immersing them in the world of competitive horseback riding at the prestigious Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian. Heather's pursuit of a lavish lifestyle for her daughters leads them into the glitzy yet cutthroat world of "Barn Moms," where admiration and jealousy intertwine, culminating in a gripping series of events that result in a mysterious death within the tight-knit community.
The novel skillfully unravels the perspectives of multiple characters, including Detective Perez, slowly building tension as the story unfolds through recollections and flashbacks. As the narrative progresses, characters' ambitions, motivations, and likability shift, exposing the darker side of human nature influenced by wealth and privilege. When obsession with success and social status, overshadow a genuine passion for the sport. "Girls and Their Horses" offers a captivating blend of family drama, suspense, and murder mystery, making it an engaging summer read for both horse enthusiasts and those intrigued by the world of the affluent.
The novel skillfully unravels the perspectives of multiple characters, including Detective Perez, slowly building tension as the story unfolds through recollections and flashbacks. As the narrative progresses, characters' ambitions, motivations, and likability shift, exposing the darker side of human nature influenced by wealth and privilege. When obsession with success and social status, overshadow a genuine passion for the sport. "Girls and Their Horses" offers a captivating blend of family drama, suspense, and murder mystery, making it an engaging summer read for both horse enthusiasts and those intrigued by the world of the affluent.
I am not familiar with the equestrian world but I have come across a few Horse Girls in my time and Brazier captured the personalities and dedication people I have come across have and put into this sport.
Thank you @berkley for this copy
This book is DRAMA plus a little horse talk. I was here for it, from the first to last page. You are introduced to an array of characters… horse trainers, competitive moms, spoiled kids. It’s a very suspenseful murder mystery that is shared in the beginning, except for who was murdered… you will spend your time getting to know these complex characters and what leads to the demise of one of them.
I
This is a great summer read!
Thank you @berkley for this copy
This book is DRAMA plus a little horse talk. I was here for it, from the first to last page. You are introduced to an array of characters… horse trainers, competitive moms, spoiled kids. It’s a very suspenseful murder mystery that is shared in the beginning, except for who was murdered… you will spend your time getting to know these complex characters and what leads to the demise of one of them.
I
This is a great summer read!
I read this because I am a horse girl, and I happen to have the same first name as the author. This book was cute but about 200 pages too long. The girls were so bratty (which is accurate), but I really didn’t believe that some whiny 17 year old would really want to hang out with nerdy Maple.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Fast-paced and absorbing thriller in the glamorous world of show jumping.
CWs: murder, death, brain damage, harm to children and children in harm's way, bullying, sexual manipulation, underage drinking and drug use with encouragement from adult, scenes of being thrown from horse, discussion of suicide (whether the crime is a murder or suicide),teenage pregnancy, drugging/overdose
CWs: murder, death, brain damage, harm to children and children in harm's way, bullying, sexual manipulation, underage drinking and drug use with encouragement from adult, scenes of being thrown from horse, discussion of suicide (whether the crime is a murder or suicide),
This is a book about a bunch of rich people who ride horses, but it could just as easily be about a bunch of trailer park tenants.