Riding High is a sports romance novel by Joss Wood. I'm enjoying all the sports romance novels that are around at the moment and Riding High certainly didn't disappoint. The story was cute and easy to follow and had a great cast of characters. It's the perfect summer read. I highly recommend it and I look forward to reading more by the author.
💝 Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and author for my arc copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This was quite a cute and entertaining book. It’s very readable and there were some really fun aspects to it. I thought the main couple had good chemistry, though I thought the physical side of their relationship happened very suddenly, with very little build up. The book in general was a little rushed, though I thought the final drama was quite good and I enjoyed the angsty element of it.

The main issue I had in the book was some of the writing choices. There were way too many pop culture references and descriptions of characters that hinged on celebrities – it wasn’t necessary and it didn’t improve the writing at all. I also thought some of the book didn’t read as if it was set in the UK; the terminology wasn’t consistent (for example, referring to a mobile phone as a cell; the police officer character is just described as a ‘detective’ when referred to). It wasn’t constant, but it was jarring when it did happen, and I think a good edit could smooth that out.

It was fine, but it wasn’t really for me. The writing style didn’t work for me, though I found it fairly entertaining and a quick read. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing a free copy of this book.

Content Notes: Allergic reaction, absent parent, grief, death of a parent (in past), mild violence, on-page sex, oral sex, fingering, semi-public sex.

I love a good found family. I do find it a little strange that Jed and Eden are kind of not really related, but otherwise I enjoyed this book a lot. I think the thing that makes this not a 5 star for me was the third act breakup. It was kind of pointless. Eden made assumptions and Jed didn’t speak up.

Very fun if you are looking for something a bit off the beaten path that still very much leans into English ideals!

am I….a horse girl???? I read this in one sitting and had a fabulous time. I loved the found family aspect. I think the cover of the book threw me off thinking it’d be all about polo which I felt took the backseat. The only thing that felt unbelievable to me was their first hookup happening so fast. Overall, such a fun time!

This book is great! If you love books that have horse elements then you will love this book. The story was very well written and the romance was great.

Thank you NetGalley and Joss Wood for gifting me this book in exchange for an honest review!

I enjoyed this book, but it wasn't my favourite book. It is an easy read and light hearted, however the long chapters can make it tricky if you want a quick read or trying to get the odd chapter or two in. I enjoyed reading about the polo aspects of this book as it is something I'm not too aware of which was different in a good way. As a woman from the English Countryside, it was really easy to read the story and imagine it which was nice, although I don't own any horses myself or play polo.

The romance was good, one of the strong points of the story and also the relationship between FMC and her uncle was sweet.

Eden Ennis arrives at the Elmsleigh House estate determined to tell billionaire Troyden Castle that she’s his niece and instead finds Jed Harris, polo player and Troyden’s stepson. Navigating high society, unknown family relations, and a horse allergy, can Eden find her place in this unfamiliar world and maybe lose her heart in the process?

I had a fun time with this one. I liked Eden generally as a character, and I thought the development of the relationship between her and Jed was done well, once I’d gotten past the initial insta-lust which sadly didn’t feel believable compared to a lot of other aspects of their relationship which did. However, for me this wasn’t the best, or even core, relationship within the story. The thing that I liked most about this book was the found family element. Getting to know the backstory of Troyden and his stepchildren, and seeing how Eden was brought into the fold was a real highlight. The wider family was a delight – a mix of characters but they all felt real and it was fun piecing together how their personalities and strengths combined into such a strong family unit.

I’ve read a lot of books set in the equestrian world, but none specifically related to polo, and it was nice to get a few details scattered into the story. That being said, I really would have liked more on this aspect. With Eden’s horse allergy (not a spoiler) it felt very much like the equestrian elements were relegated to plot point – Eden’s reaction to horses was needed to show the care the family had for her by the changes they made to accommodate her, and polo was needed for a big event at the end of the book. It kind of felt like the polo was inconsequential outside of this which was a real shame. For instance, there were stirrings of the bond between man and horse in the references to Rey – Jed’s favourite polo pony – but we never really got beyond surface level with this, and given how strong the human relationships were, I would have really liked to have seen how human-animal relationships were portrayed.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read to curl up with. There were definitely some elements that didn’t quite work for me but it was a sweet, fun time and I’d read more in this world.

With thanks to One More Chapter and NetGalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of publication.

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