A charming dive into polo, family secrets, and unexpected romance—this was a thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish.

When Eden’s long-lost uncle unexpectedly brings her into his world of country estates and polo tournaments, she’s thrust into a life she never imagined—complete with a houseful of complicated step-siblings and one particularly brooding (and undeniably attractive) man. A chance allergic reaction gives her the perfect entry point—only to be mistaken as yet another one of his father’s younger girlfriends.

What follows is a slow-burn romance filled with tension, wit, and emotional depth. Eden is hiding a past that threatens her newfound family ties, and he’s sworn off anything resembling a relationship—but the chemistry between them simmers throughout.

I especially loved the mix of humour and heart, the vivid country setting, and the warm, chaotic dynamic of the step-siblings. This story would translate beautifully to a TV series—equal parts romantic, heartfelt, and addictive.

A wonderful escape with just the right amount of drama and charm.

Dnfed at 42%
I had really high hopes for this and thought it'd be right up my street but I could just never really connect with the plot nor the characters

Eh, just okay for me.

I really liked the idea of a book involving polo - what an interesting spin on things - but this doesn't have much in the way of the sport. I found Jed to be annoyingly immature, especially for a man in his 30s. A distraction to the more interesting Eden.

This was super fun and quick -and a little messy- with a cast of very likeable characters. I loved the dynamic of Troyden's family; their interactions with each other were so wholesome and sweet. I think the MCs had good chemistry, but the jump between being interested each other to acting on that attraction was abrupt. It felt kind of out of place and random, like going from 1 to 1000 in the blink of an eye, and it left me wishing there was a more natural build up to it. Thanks Netgalley for the e-ARC!

Had to dnf this as couldn't really get into it but might come back to it at a later date
I tried several times to pick this book up but it just wasnt for me.

4.25 ⭐️ Riding High by: Joss Wood is Publishing July 18, 2025 with HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter

I enjoyed Troyden and the family dynamic was very entertaining. I appreciate a story where everyone stands out in their own way. It was interesting to see some of the polo world and charities. It has some mystery in a sense but you can easily guess where it’s owing to lead. Our leading lady is definitely an over thinking likely caused by childhood whereas the male lead is more cautious and judgmental from his. I like the glimpses of past to how they tie into the present. Everyone has a journey in life and we only see snippets along the way on our own. Only when you have deeper connections do you see more of the day to day. Some moments did seem more drawn out and just thrown in. The last few chapters will take your emotions on world win. Other than some unnecessary parts as a whole it was enjoyable and I was happy to read it.

Warning explicit sexual descriptions, grief, and childhood trauma.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for the ARC copy allowing me shares my honest thoughts.

This was a fun read and also my first polo read which was something totally different. The romance was really fun and I loved the family aspect. This book definitely kept me engaged and I really enjoyed it.

This was a fun read, enjoyed the polo aspect as something different. The insta lust aspect was a bit much but I did grow to like the characters! Easy, cute read.

Really fun while the romance was really fun I loved the family relationships. They were so sweet and kept me so engaged.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this ARC for an honest review.
WOW!!! WOW!!! WOW!!!
I LOVED this book! From the characters, to the storyline, to the chemistry and friendship between the characters, and you can't forget the grumpy x sunshine trope, this book was a grand slam!
I felt that I understood and related to Eden (FMC). Her backstory crushed me and I love that she was able to get the ending that she deserved.
And Jed...AhWoOoOoOgGgAaA!!! Nothing makes me more happy than reading about a moody, brooding man. Jed's constant battle throughout the book of not feeling like he deserves love or that it comes with conditions is something that I feel most of us can relate to as a human experience at least once in our lives.
I can't wait for this book to come out as I will be purchasing it just so that I can have a copy lol.

Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins UK, One More Chapter for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I didn't connect to any of the characters, as I felt the relationship(s) were superficial and didn't have enough depth. To add to the list, I didn't like the writing style of the author which got even worse when I noticed how long the chapters were. These aspects altoghether made me drag my reading experience.

DNF at 18%.

A beautifully drawn portrait of the high-society world, yes—but at its core, Riding High is about something far more meaningful: the families we choose, the friends who truly see us, and who stand beside us even when we believe we’re walking alone.

And then there’s the romance. The kind that shouldn’t happen, that logic says is all wrong—but the heart, of course, has other plans. It’s touching, unexpected, and impossible not to root for. Add in humour, charm, and more than a few laugh-out-loud moments, and you have a book that’s genuinely delightful from start to finish.

This isn’t just a love story—it’s a story about belonging, growth, and allowing joy to sneak in even when you’ve long stopped expecting it. A thoroughly enjoyable read that stays with you long after the last page

In theory, this book promised everything I typically adore in a romance novel: a charming female protagonist, a brooding male lead, an idyllic English countryside backdrop, layers of family drama, and the allure of affluent lives. However, it ultimately fell short of my expectations. The male lead, in particular, felt underdeveloped, lacking the depth needed to make him truly compelling. The romance strayed into insta-love territory, missing the slow-burn tension and emotional connection that make an enemies-to-lovers arc so satisfying. The pacing was swift to the point of feeling rushed, and the connection between the characters felt driven more by physical attraction than genuine emotional growth. While the premise held promise, the execution left me somewhat disappointed.

This is my first polo book and I gotta say, this author really did make the sport seem fast-paced and peaked my attention when the polo scene started the book, which is rare when I know nothing about this sport at all. Jed is a top player, who works for his step-dad’s team, and their relationship is just so fun, and protective. When Eden starts asking around about Jed’s step-dad, he gets super protective and basically calls her out, until they both realize she is allergic to horses and passes out.

After that, slowly and surely, as Eden recovers she meets all of her uncle’s family, and finds out they are all his step children, and he just overall really never met a child and didn’t love them. This book is so big on found family, and Jed and his siblings really show this to another level. I don’t think I’ve read a book in a while that did found family as good as this one, because you’d never know these people aren’t related by blood, they are a family in every sense of the word. They then take in Eden, who has no family left, after growing up in the system, and being ghosted by her foster mother, she really connects with this family of misfits, and I loved it so much.

Jed and Eden have chemistry that comes out in heat and anger at first, and slowly turns into more as they spend time together and Eden sees how charming and lovable Jed is, especially when he takes time to really protect her from her horse allergy, and when he opens up about his family! This book was so good, and I enjoyed reading it!

I love a good sports romance & reading this book was a whole new experience since I have never read about polo! The book is entertaining especially since the characters are funny. I love Eden with all her sassiness and the humor she brought to this book. There is scandal and hidden secrets that add a twist to the story. The book has the sweet and good vibes of any rom-com. It is a quick read that makes a relaxing read any time.

I really enjoyed this book! I loved the family element in this book even though they were only step siblings they all were there for each other. I also loved how they all embraced Eden into their family and how things all worked out for her and for them.

I would highly recommend reading this book if you love a good heartwarming book.

I would like to thank One More Chapter and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book early.

This was a pretty good found family story.
I usually love a sports romance. This took me awhile to get through. Was it the pacing? The characters? I’m not sure.
The main characters were ok…their “romance” was just meh.
All in all, this was a ok read.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This is my first polo romance, and I really enjoyed it!
I really enjoyed the characters and the story!

Thank you so much for allowing me to read this early

This would be my first polo romance read! I read a lot of other sports romances, but this was definitely a first. I thought the MCs were cute and their interactions were sweet. One of my biggest complaints in contemporary romance books lately is too many pop culture romance. A couple is fine but the constant of them showing up is too much and cringe. I reread books and due to all these pop culture references, I wouldn't pick this up again and I don't see this aging well.

`✦ˑ ִֶ 𓂃⊹ 3 stars 🌟 2 spice 🌶

arc review 📖

જ⁀➴ 𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬

🐎 mmc is a polo player
🥍 fmc is shy
🐎 he yearns
🥍 spicy
🐎 slow burn romance
🥍 tension and drama
🐎 forced proximity
🥍 he is off limits... but not in secret
🐎 quick read

This was the exact definition of a romantic palette cleanser.

𖹭 If you're looking for a spicy, romance novel in the equestrian scene, then this is for you.

────୨ৎ────

⋆˙⟡ 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛𝑘 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡𝑜 𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑔𝑎𝑙𝑙𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 ℎ𝑎𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑐𝑜𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑠 𝑈𝐾 & 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑒 𝑐ℎ𝑎𝑝𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑎 𝑑𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑟𝑐