Eden shows up at a fancy English estate to tell billionaire Troyden Castle that surprise—she's his niece! Problem is, she's completely out of her depth in high society. Enter Jed, the star polo player and Troyden's stepson, who's also the only man she's ever fainted at the sight of. (Though that might just be her horse allergy, which is hilariously inconvenient when polo is the family obsession.)

The found family vibes are absolutely lovely—watching Eden get warmly welcomed into the family and seeing Troyden's fatherly affection for her was genuinely heartwarming. Plus the whole "girl allergic to horses falls for polo player" setup makes for some pretty funny meet-cute moments. But honestly? The pacing gets wonky in the middle and I found myself losing interest. The romance between Eden and Jed just felt meh.

This is perfect though if you're into equestrian romance and found family feels, but don't expect to be blown away by the central love story!

A bright and fun read that had me smiling and giggling from start to finish! This romance hit all the right notes, delivering a joyful, light-hearted story that was an absolute pleasure to read. I especially appreciate when a book is centered around a specific sport or theme without letting it overwhelm the story and this one nailed that balance. Even if you’re not a polo fan, you’ll feel completely immersed and never left out. The story follows Eden, who arrives in the English countryside to meet the wealthy uncle she only just discovered existed. But thanks to her surprise horse allergy (who knew?), she ends up quite literally falling into the arms of Jedher uncle’s star polo player… and, well, also a family relation? Yep, things just got delightfully complicated. Jed is charming in all the best ways, and the connection between him and Eden sparks instantly. As Eden is pulled into this new world, we readers are treated to a wild and heartfelt ride full of laughter, discovery, and unexpected emotion. One of the standout relationships in the book is between Eden and Troyden—written with such tenderness and care, it practically radiates off the page. The supporting cast also adds plenty of charm and personality, enriching the story even further. I truly enjoyed this book. The little details sprinkled throughout added so much warmth, making it a cozy, romantic escape I didn’t want to end.

It couldn’t capture my interest. It just seemed like something I was supposed ot be reading, and like a weird historical fiction novel even though it was contemporary?

I couldn’t locate the voice in the writing. It seemed a little too over the place and the characters fell flat for me.

I thought the conflict of Eden trying to talk to her estranged family was the only interesting part to me about the story.

Jed from the get seemed like a D*@k. Their romance already had me annoyed.

This book had some interesting elements, but it didn’t fully work for me. I really liked the polo setting, it’s not something I read about often and I appreciated the small details. I also enjoyed the found family dynamic and Eden’s relationship with her uncle. The idea of a quiet girl finding her place in a big, close knit family was sweet.
However, the pacing felt slow, especially with long chapters that made it hard to pick up and read in short bursts. The romance between Eden and Jed had potential, but it felt a little rushed and underdeveloped. I wish we’d seen more moments between them to make the love story feel earned. The plot was a bit disorganized at times, and there were too many things going on at once. Still, it’s a quick, light read that may be a good summer recommendation.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own

This novel offers a mix of drama and charm set in the lush English countryside. The story has a brisk pace, though the plot leans heavily on familiar tropes. While the romance is enjoyable, the twists feel a little too predictable. Still, fans of light-hearted escapism will appreciate the setting and emotional stakes. A decent read for a lazy weekend, but not particularly groundbreaking.

I rated this book 2.5 stars.

I struggled a bit with this book and it put me in a bit of a slump, and it wasn’t the writing or the plot that did this. I feel it was the chapter length. Pretty much every chapter was 20 minutes long, there were no quick chapters which helped bring the story along, and nothing I could squeeze in while eating my breakfast before work. Shockingly I quite enjoyed the 3rd person Pov in this, it was written in a way I still very much enjoyed the book. It still gave the characters thoughts and feelings in a way that I very much enjoy from first person pov. I’m not a fan of 3rd person books but I would recommend this to anyone who also isn’t.
As an equestrian myself I really enjoyed the equestrian side of this story. There’s not loads, but it’s nice to have a little glimpse. Towards the end of the book where they say I love you to each other, kind of shocked me a little. I didn’t feel like there was enough interaction actually between them for them to get to this stage, it must’ve been a lot ‘behind the scenes’ of the book. Overall I did enjoy this book, and it’s great for a palate cleanser or when you’re wanting something easy between books.

Sexy, adventurous, and utterly irresistible 🏇🔥. Riding High is a steamy romance packed with sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and a dash of danger. Joss Wood delivers bold characters, a breathtaking setting, and a love story that keeps your heart racing from start to finish. I adored the fiery tension, emotional depth, and the sense of adventure woven throughout. Perfect for fans of high-stakes romance with heat and heart.

Eden has always been a bit of a loner. She goes to her try to find a familial connection with her Uncle at his estate and to watch her first Polo Match. It's there she meets Jedson, a polo player.
Jedson is a Polo player who ends up getting Eden help for an allergic reaction. He is also her uncle's ex-step son.
Turns out that her uncle (Tryoden), still has very close relationships with all his children and they all reside on the estate like a big compound. So Eden is thrown into a big happy family.
I loved that we got a book about Polo! This was my first intro to the Polo world.
I will admit, it felt a little bit off putting to me with the Eden/Jed relationship. There was definitely chemistry and tension though between them.
The family dynamics were so unique in this book and I think it has great potential to be a higher rated book, but I do feel it needs a bit of work.
The plot felt a bit disjointed and unorganized. So I feel like the plot needs some structure work.
The characters need further development. They aren't bad, I just think we need a little more.
It is a quick read. Certainly a great summer read.
With a little bit of work, has great potential.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this ARC!
Happy Reading!

Hmm. There were a few positive aspects to this - the use of polo as the setting (something I haven't encountered since reading Jilly Cooper many years ago), Eden's very real struggles around wanting a family and being accepted, her developing relationship with her uncle. However, the romance felt choppy and unrealistic, there were a lot of repetitive internal musings, and the whole thing would really benefit from more editing to pick up errors and inconsistencies - for example, if you're going to write something based around horses, someone should know the difference between a forelock and a fetlock. Plus the name Troyden Castle sounds like a building owned by the National Trust rather than a British man in his sixties/seventies, but maybe that's just me. In summary this was OK, but the pacing (or lack of) prevented me really enjoying it.

A bright and fun read that had me smiling and giggling throughout. a romance that hit all the right fun that makes it a joy to read. I appreciate it when a book is surrounded by a certain sport or theme that never makes it over run the actual book or make those of us not fans of said sport feel left out of getting involved. this book manages that perfectly.
Eden has arrived in the English countryside. and she has arrived to find the rich Uncle she never new she had until recently. but apparently her allergies(who knew horses) would send her into someone else arms instead. those belong to Jed who is the star polo player of the estate aaaaand also happens to be her uncles relation too? great this didn't just get real complicated. not least because Jed is well, Jed is Jed and the connection is connecting them both. and so Eden finds herself propelled into this world and lets us readers in for a wild ride.
but there are complications to come and Eden has choices to make. and its not made easy by feeling like she's coming to adore this family. a family she has yearned to find a place in all her life.
Eden and Troyden' relationship is a highlight of this book. its done with such tenderness and care you could truly feel it through the pages. the other side characters also added some real charming bits along the way.
i really enjoyed this book. the little details in this book added extra warmth throughout.

When I skipped the ARC for Joss Wood's "One Bed" I regretted it every time I saw the beautiful cover. When I saw Joss Wood's next book "Riding High" with a cover that is even more beautiful than "One Bed", I was all in. I did like the slightly little bit taboo romance between Jed and Eden. Troyden is Eden's Uncle and Jed is Troyden's stepson. I really liked the found family aspect as this book gave me slight "What a girl wants" vibes. However I feel the story fell flat. I don't feel the story focus enough on polo for this to be a "polo sports" romance. I actually didn't realize that what it was trying to be until someone pointed it out. I just thought it was a plot device.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing this ARC 💕

DNF at 20%

I found this book to have too many things going on at the same time making it messy to follow :( with a secret relative plot line, a romance, a crime (?) with her previous employers and backstory stuff with her mum, I just found I wasn’t following any of the stories and I wasn’t overly interested in any of them either

I’m so gutted because I was so excited to start reading this but I just wasn’t enjoying it at all

I did like the mention of kpop though as I also love that genre

After reading Joss's last book 'One Bed' last year, I knew I needed to read this book, as I thoroughly enjoy her writing.

I found it to be a lovely little story, in which I was able to relate to Eden in certain parts as to how she felt about her life and some of the things that had happened to her when she was younger. You of course learn that both Eden and Jed have their own troubles, and slowly begin to open up to one another, whilst at the same time trying to deny their feelings for each other, because of the situations they find themself in. Jed was definitely trying his best to look out for Eden, especially when she becomes unwell and also when he starts to find out more about her.

Riding High is beautifully written and such an easy read. Also it isn't overly spicy, with no real angst between the main characters.

It was nice to read a sports romance about something other than hockey and polo sounded like it had real potential. Disappointingly, the rich, privileged characters with Mommy and Daddy issues were a bit of a bore and the spice was weak. I almost DNF’d this but pushed through and then regretted I wasted my time on it.

2.5 stars
Found family
Polo x severe horse allergy

Book moved slow in some parts and very fast in others. I found myself having to reread a few chapters to make it make sense

I absolutely adored this book full of romcom tropes and adorable characters. It was a perfect light summer read to escape into with a gorgeous HEA. I loved the twist on found family and enemies to lovers vibes, and the whole polo and horses was such a unique setting without being too stuffy. Would highly recommend!

this was an interesting read with funny characters. I loved the whole family and Edens story - a lovely romantic read perfect for polo fans and a decent holiday read

Eden, in search of family, took a DNA test. She finds she has an uncle and savers in if she wants to be in his life. Troyan, her rich uncle, loves his family, though he’s no children by blood, he’s an array of step children from previous marriages he values as if they’re his own. Enter Jed, broody and hot polo player. When Eden goes to the family home for a polo match to spy on her uncle to determine what kind of man he is, she meets Jed. There’s an instant attraction. Troyan realizes he’s her uncle and invites her to stay. Her relationship ship with Jed blossoms. Only one thing, she’s got a secret she’s hiding.

This book has all the lovely tropes for a romcom, it’s got a lot of heart. Leans heavy on found family and choosing who you surround yourself with. Smart, cute, and enjoyable. Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC! Comes out July 18th!

Eden Ennis has always felt alone her whole life. Now at Elmsleigh House estate to watch her first polo match and try to make a connection with her uncle Troyden Castle, who doesn't know her at all, Eden is awestruck by Jedson Harris a polo player. While striking up a conversation with an elderly man, Eden is getting all kinds of pointers on the game. During a break Eden decides to roam the property and ends up in the stables with Jed. When Eden has an allergic reaction from horse dander Jed gets his step sister Mick, who is alos the local doctor to take care of Eden. Troyden, Eden finds out is still has a close relationship with his four step children all from his different marriages. The kids (now adults) still live on his property and they are all one big happy family. Jed knows that he has feeling for Eden but doesn't have time for a relationship. Eden is keeping a huge secret and when it finally comes out the Castle clan will turn their backs on her. This was a quick read that was cute and steammy. Iwould like to thank both NetGalley and One More Chapter for letting me read an advanced copy of this book.

I was excited for this book, but I could not get behind the writing style. The dialogue felt like the equivalent of nails on a chalkboard. I DNFed at 25% after the second time there was a blatant contradicting statement to something previous in the book.