After reading Good Rich People, I had high expectations for Girls and Their Horses. And Eliza Jane Brazier delivers. Being a Kentucky girl, the world of horses and the competitiveness of the sport is something I'm familiar with. The author did a great job of bringing that out, and some of these characters are absolutely ruthless. The story has the feel of a domestic thriller with its slow burn, and it's full of all those things you find in a small community of people, especially the kind who don't mind a bit of backstabbing and drama. It also feels a little like watching a reality show, only those don't go quite as dark as this. It's that whole peeking-through-the-windows vibe of watching these people and learning their secrets. The more I read, the more hooked I became on these characters and what they'd do or say next. I thoroughly enjoyed every page, and I'd certainly recommend it.

I had no idea about the competitive world of horses and riding lessons, before reading Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier. Living in this world while reading this book was something new for me. The author takes us into Southern California where the reader is immersed in the equestrian lifestyle.

Right away I loved the premise, which we as readers, haven’t seen a million times before. The characters were intriguing, the story moved forward with every chapter and when I finished the book, I knew it needed to be a movie or series- which I think it’s going to be!

Synopsis:

When the nouveau riche Parker family moves to an exclusive community in the heart of Southern California, they believe it’s their chance at a fresh start. Heather Parker is determined to give her daughters the life she never had—starting with horses.

She signs them up for riding lessons at Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, where horses are a lifestyle. Heather becomes a “Barn Mom,” part of a group of wealthy women who hang at the stables, drink wine, and prepare their daughters for competition.

It’s not long before the Parker family is fully enmeshed in the horse world—from mean girl cliques to barn romances and dark secrets. With the end of summer horse show fast approaching, the pressure is on, and these mothers will stop at nothing to give their daughters everything they deserve.

Published on June 6. A must-read.

𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒎𝒂𝒅𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕 𝒗𝒆𝒔𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒔 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔. 𝑫𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒅𝒐𝒐𝒎𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒍, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎, 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒛𝒆𝒅 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒏'𝒕 𝒂𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒚 𝒂𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒚𝒐𝒖'𝒅 𝒃𝒆. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒔 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅𝒓𝒆𝒏 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒈𝒐𝒍𝒅𝒆𝒏, 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒐𝒏𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕, 𝒏𝒐𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒐𝒊𝒏𝒕𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕.

If you remember all the drama that was Dance Moms, this book has everything that made that show a hit except that it's set in the world of competitive show jumping.

Heather Parker comes from new money thanks to her husband's investments, and she is determined to give her daughters the life she wanted for herself, which includes horses. Soon she is immersed in "Barn Mom" life, which is reminiscent of every adult clique, be it soccer moms, baseball moms, or dance moms. This world is cutthroat and simmering with malice behind the smiles.

The real mystery was the death in one of the stables that was mentioned in the beginning and then quickly took a backseat as the characters and their motivations came to life. The book was interspersed with detective interviews in which the reader learns not so much about the identity of the deceased but instead is privy to juicy gossip that may or may not be true.

GIRLS AND THEIR HORSES was a dark and decadent read filled with people who are hard to root for. Thank you so much to Berkley Publishing for inviting me to read and review this book. This book is out now!

Girls and Their Horses is Eliza Brazier's second novel, and she is true to form with unexpected twists left and right! Girls and Their Horses will keep you on the edge of your seat with its surprising twists and turns. After all, it isn't every day that a body is found at an elite riding stable...

Maple's family recently uprooted and moved from Texas to a wealthy area in California. Maple is into riding horses because her mother loved it, and her mother tries to encourage Maple by joining the most elite barn in the area, and then buying Maple the best horse that money can buy. Although every member of this barn is relatively well off, there is an element of jealousy when Maple, one of the worst riders, winds up with one of the best horses. The social hierarchy upset builds drama around the barn and at the competitions, which adds to the tension. In addition, a love triangle starts to emerge, and another barn mom hints at long kept secrets that are simmering under the surface.

Girls and Their Horses is told through multiple viewpoints, including the girls and moms that are barn members, barn employees, and the police investigating the murder. Each chapter is clearly labeled and follows the previous, which makes it easy to follow even if it is told from a different viewpoint. Some overlap exists as well so that the reader does get additional information from various narrators.

This book is a great read for mystery and thriller lovers, and more so if you also love horses! You can tell that Eliza Brazier has experience with horses, as she is very knowledgable about their care, training, and the barn experience. While thrilling, this book is based on an elitist sport that not all have access to in real life, but can enjoy through Eliza's writing.

Thank you to Eliza Jane Brazier and Berkley publishing for the advance copy of this edge of your seat novel!

Girls and Their Horses introduces readers to the glamorous but cutthroat world of teen show horse competitions complete with all the toxicity of overzealous mothers living out their dreams through their daughters through manipulation and all the backstabbing that goes along with it. The power of old money vs. new money comes into play when the competition between parents is fiercer than the competition on the track. In the middle of all the pomp and circumstance, there's an intriguing murder mystery to be solved.

Brazier's ability to manipulate well-developed characters drives this story forward at a steady pace as readers come to know all the players from mothers with a sense of entitlement desperate to give their children the social status and acceptance into the elite world of show horse competition they never had to the girls forced into roles not of their own making. But when a murder victim turns up at a horse show, both mothers and daughters are forced to look inward and decide what's truly important in their lives. The murder is introduced in the early pages of the story, but readers are then carried back in the past to experience the emotionally charged story first hand as it unfolds. Tensions run high as alliances are formed and later betrayed, motivations are exposed and both parents and children face some cold, hard facts.

Girls and Their Horses is an unique, intriguing suspense story with some real life lessons to be learned about what's really important in life. Characters are believable perhaps in spite of their social status. The author has rendered a well-written fictional story on the very real world of show horse competitions among the young although I suspect these lessons could be applied to any of a number of teen sport competitions. The real value of true friendship, parent/child relationships and following one's own dreams are front and center. Fans of young adult suspense stories will enjoy Girls and Their Horses.

Thank you to @berkleypub @prhaudio @netgalley @letstalkbookspromo for the #gifted copy of the book! I enjoyed this #buddyread

The Parkers moved to California from Texas after Mable was continually being bullied at school. They have plenty of money and move into an affluent area. Heather has always wanted to give her girls, Mable and Piper, the show horse competition experience that she never got. Piper was a natural, but Mable was not. Mable made quick friends with some of the barn girls and it wasn't long before she had her own 1.5 million dollar horse to ride. Her friends were jealous of her horse and the time she spent with the trainer. It turns into a murder mystery where you have to figure out who the victim is at the end!

If you enjoy reading drama filled books this one's for you! Boy oh Boy. Who knew that horse competition could be so cut throat! I alternated between reading and audio on this one. The narrator was really good!

When Girls and Their Horses started circulating around bookstagram, I knew I would stop at nothing to get my hands on this book. Not only did I request a copy to read and review but I also pre-ordered a copy to admire on my shelf.

I am a huge fan of Eliza Jane Brazier, and have read both of her previous publications, Good Rich People and If I Disappear. Good Rich People was my favorite by Brazier, that is, until I read Girls and Their Horses.

The thriller genre can sometimes blend together, Brazier, proves time and time again, to break the mold and stand out in each and every one of her publications.

This book is so detailed, I beg you to go slow so you can absorb every word. The characters come alive across the pages, and gosh darn it, some of them are so darn mean! There is no shortage of drama, secrets, and lies!

Typically I shy away from "big books" but I zipped right through this one as the writing style was so fluid, I didn't pause even once.

This book right here is going to be the book of the summer, mark my words.

In true Brazier fashion, she delivers!

Teaser :

When the nouveau riche Parker family moves to an exclusive community in the heart of Southern California, they believe it’s their chance at a fresh start. Heather Parker is determined to give her daughters the life she never had—starting with horses.

She signs them up for riding lessons at Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, where horses are a lifestyle. Heather becomes a “Barn Mom,” part of a group of wealthy women who hang at the stables, drink wine, and prepare their daughters for competition.

It’s not long before the Parker family is fully enmeshed in the horse world—from mean girl cliques to barn romances and dark secrets. With the end of summer horse show fast approaching, the pressure is on, and these mothers will stop at nothing to give their daughters everything they deserve.

Before the summer is over, lies will turn lethal, accidents will happen, and someone will end up dead.

Girls and Their Horses is a rich people behaving badly summer read. It's part family drama, part murder mystery and part soap opera. Add it to your summer reading list! It published today!

Thank you to Berkley Publishing and Netgalley for the electronic advanced copy.

Horses AND a suspicious death?!
You’re going to want to get this one asap- so so so entertaining.

As soon as you turn to the first page you are taken into the cut throat world of competitive horseback riding…moms and trainers who will stop at nothing to win and get ahead, and kids equally as ruthless.
I loved alllll the drama & secrets, and then there were the characters….wacky, mean, jealous, some even likeable…just what I would expect from a book by this author.

Another thing I thought was great was there are several main characters. Each person was equally important- they all played such a key role in the story so I never wanted to rush through anything, worried I’d miss something good, and everything and everyone fit together like a big puzzle.

This was such a fast paced read, constantly switching POVs (I loved that we got to hear from so many different characters). The chapters were all really short which kept me flying and it was super easy to binge.

Of course there were horse terms scattered throughout but never to the point of confusion. Everything was described really well and I ended with a super clear picture of all the people, barn and horses.

Run and buy or borrow this one asap, you won’t regret it!

This is a soap opera-ish book filled with bitchy teenagers and mothers, a controlling trainer and a murder. It’s set in the competitive world of horse training with multiple POV’s. At the beginning a murder is revealed but you don’t know who died. The book is filled with detective interviews and flashbacks of what has been going on at the stables for the past few months. I loved this format and couldn’t put it down. The chapters were short and the suspense was real. I thought I knew what happened but then I found out I was completely wrong. I guessed the killer but was wrong about who died. It was the perfect mix of drama and suspense, and I thought that getting a glimpse of the world of horse training was interesting.

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier takes readers to the world of horse training and shows. This dark story shines a light on the friendships, competitiveness, unpleasantness, and viciousness that can exist in this environment. The newly rich Parker family moves from Texas to Rancho Santa Fe in southern California. Jeff Parker is busy working, traveling back and forth between the two states. Meanwhile Heather is determined to give her daughters, Piper and Maple, the opportunities she didn’t get, starting with horses. However, Piper refuses the opportunity due to how controlling Heather was in Texas. Meanwhile Maple starts lessons and Heather becomes a “Barn Mom.” She becomes part of the group of wealthy women who hang out all day at the stables. The Parker family soon becomes fully engaged in the horse world. The end-of-summer horse show approaches quickly, increasing pressure on the riders and on the mothers.

The author does a great job on characterization. Readers get an excellent feel for Heather, Piper, and Maple as well as Heather’s new friend Pamela and her daughter, Vida. Additionally, the stable owner and head trainer, Kieran Flynn, and the top rider Douglas Dunn are well-developed characters. All of these characters transform in attitude or outlook as the events unfold. However, their actions might not be what you expect. Many are not likeable, yet there was a compelling need to find out what they might do or say next.

Besides great characterization, the author brings the world of horse training to life. Her experience and knowledge as a rider, horse trainer, and riding instructor made the scenes come to life. The narrative transported me to this competitive and manipulative setting. However, the book moved back and forth in time and switched points of view between five characters and nine interviews with a police detective. For me, this adversely affected the flow of the novel as well as my overall enjoyment.

Despite this, I enjoyed the book. Everyone had agendas and it was difficult to determine exactly who was dead until well into the story. Relationships drive the narrative and it has dramatic depths that I didn’t expect. Besides the themes mentioned in the first paragraph, the author weaves in family dynamics, romance, manipulation, death, money or the lack of it, infidelity, sabotage, bullying, loneliness, secrets, and fear.

Overall, the book was a slow-burn suspenseful read with plenty of drama. This novel should delight those readers who enjoy mysteries and horses.

Berkley Publishing Group and Eliza Jane Brazier provided a complimentary digital ARC of this novel via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date is currently set for June 06, 2023. This review was originally posted at Mystery and Suspense Magazine.

I have been riding horses since I was 9. Growing up, I was a barn girl and a horse girl. I was at the barn constantly - helping with lessons, riding, working, and enjoying every second of it. I wouldn't change any of it for the world. And now, I'm still a nearly 37-year-old horse girl, who loves being at the barn, loves teaching her newbies how to ride, and helping install the love of being a horse girl to the next generation.

My experiences differed from #GirlsAndTheirHorses though. I wasn't in the show jumping world (saddle seat and American Saddlebreds) and while there is certainly A LOT of money in the industry I grew up in, this one definitely portrayed the elite of the elite.

With that said, I certainly related to much of the story. I mean, except for the whole mysterious death part. I really enjoyed every second of this story. It was incredibly fast-paced. While the barns and horses were the main stories, so many other topics were discussed - mean girls, greed, wealth, alcohol and drug abuse, and pregnancy... it's a very multi-layered story.

If you're a horse girl and grew up in a barn, like me, you'll certainly enjoy this one. Even if you're not a horse person, this is a fun one to read.

Thank you Berkley Pub and NetGalley for the eARC!

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier was a fascinating look into the upper elite world of competition horse jumping and the wealthy. The new;y wealthy Parker family has moved to California to start life over. Heather insists that at least one of her daughters will enter the world of horses. Little does she know how this decision will impact the rest of her and her family's lives. Such a fun setting that draws the reader right into the story. Read and enjoy!

Alright, horse girls, I see you! This was such a fun thriller that really had me hooked. I spent the whole time trying to figure out who died and why. Brazier writes some fantastically flawed characters. I loved how catty they all were and enjoyed seeing the girls constantly vie for attention. The chapters with the interrogation happening were well done but kept the big mystery in the forefront. I can't wait to read whatever Brazier writes next!

This juicy, tense story is filled with horse and stable drama and gossip, and the tumultuous of mothers and teen daughters adds fuel to the fire. It has over-the-top wealth, family drama, and a bit of mystery- but honestly, you might forget about the mystery at points because the rest of the story is so engaging.

Girls and Their Horses is a captivating novel set in the glamorous and competitive world of showjumping. The story follows the lives of young girls who ride horses, their cutthroat mothers, and a suspicious incident that occurs at a horse show. This thrilling whodunnit takes place in the elite show-jumping scene, where new money clashes with old, and mean girls and competitive moms are abundant. As the plot unfolds, readers are taken on a journey through the high-stakes world of showjumping, where the pressure to succeed is intense and the competition is fierce.

I’ve always known that it takes a lot of money to ride horses competitively, but I had no idea of all the drama that’s involved, too. The Parker family is new money, but in this world, money is money, and Heather Parker wants the best for her daughters, Maple and Piper.The best being part of Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian and being trained by Kieran.But this world is way more than what Heather imagined.Kiernan demands the best from his riders and backstabbing occurs as the girls try to remain or get to the top of his list. Lots of drama and holy horses, I just hope that the competitive riding world isn’t really this dark. The ending did seem to wrap up a bit too quickly, but I guess the real story was already finished.
I’ve recommended Girls and Their Horses to several friends who are very involved in the equestrian world. I can’t wait to hear what they think after publication day.

Short synopsis: When the Parker’s move to southern California they quickly fully immerse themselves in the Barn world of Horses.

My thoughts: This was such a fun read filled with the uber rich, drama, horses, and barn life. It’s just like the TV show Dance moms, but with horses.

I have zero experience with horseback riding, so it was interesting to me to see the perspective inside this competitive sport (even though I’m acutely aware a lot of it was dramatized).

There was also a bit of a mysterious element so throughout I kept trying to guess who was dead, and who killed them.

Read if you love:
- Teenager toxic friendships
- Horses
- Slow burn Mystery
- Family drama
- The TV show dance moms
- Great book covers

I really enjoyed this page turner! It was an engaging read that I didn’t want to put down. The unlikable characters were so devious. I’ve heard it referred to as Desperate Housewives with horses and I can see why. I felt a little let down at the ending and felt it wrapped up a little too neatly and abruptly. All in all, it was a quick, fun read that I enjoyed a lot!

Frankly, it’s shocking that barn culture isn’t the setting for more murder books! Every stock character type in horse world is unhinged enough to commit many crimes, so the novels basically write themselves… GIRLS AND THEIR HORSES has a solid premise and compellingly awful characters, but the Big Little Lies plot structure felt a bit tired, and the ultimate reveal was not as exciting as I’d hoped.