I fell in love with Sonora's story as a kid growing up watching Disney's Wild hearts can't be broken and I'm sooooo happy to report that Jenni Walsh did her story justice in her latest book about the high diving horses of the 1920s. Full of romance, show magic and a strong female character that doesn't let blindness get her down. This is a story everyone can root for and it was especially great to read during Disability Pride Month. Easily my new favorite by the author and one I will continue to recommend over and over again!! Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!!

Sonora by Jenni L. Walsh tells the fictionalized story of Sonora Webster. As a child, I grew up watching and loving the movie, Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken. I knew the arc of the story of how Sonora participated in horse diving and eventually became blind in a tragic accident. However, Walsh's deft storytelling caused the reader to celebrate Sonora highs and lows, and adds a richness to this story. For historical fiction fans looking for something unique, this is one book I intend to recommend over and over.

Sonora sheds light on a fascinating true character - an American woman who was one of the first female horse divers.

Sonora Webster, after seeing the High-Diving Horse Act, is mesmerized and instantly knows what she wants to do in life: be part of the history created by Dr. W. F. Carver. But it comes with sacrifices. She must leave behind home and family to be on the road, performing.

At almost twenty, she begins practicing the dives intensely, both on her own and with the horse. The act gives her a thrilling sense of freedom. As someone who adores horses and craves adventure, her spirit quickly shines through her performances. As a result, she captures the attention of crowds and newspapermen alike.

The dimensions of the protagonist are beautifully explored - her grueling training, the tense relationship with her trainer Al (the owner’s son), and her belief that Al dislikes her and is begrudging training her. After learning about Al’s strained relationship with his father, she begins to soften toward him and question her own feelings. Her emotions are stirred.

Even though she’s completed the dive many times, nerves still flare - especially when she spots a man in the audience investigating alleged cruelty to the horses. Then she learns the real story: the man is after the owner himself, not the animals. These layered tensions are well presented.

When an accident leaves her blind, Sonora becomes bitter about life. Her sister, a straight shooter, shows her that she can still live a full, meaningful life. And when another threat emerges – a potential shut down the show - Sonora gathers the courage to dive again. Except now, she must learn to rely on her other senses to avoid being toppled by the horse in the water.

Sonora vividly captures the spirit of a woman who craved an extraordinary life. When life through a major challenge at her during her heyday, she faltered - but then got back up and regained her momentum. She became the epitome of what life is about: pursuing happiness and rising after a fall. Her story is an inspiration, not just for what she achieved, but for how she handled adversity and kept going, encouraging others to do the same.

The writing is captivating, with suspenseful scenes that take the reader on a rollercoaster ride alongside a character larger than life.

Review originally posted at mysteryandsuspense.com

Sonora, at her mother's urging, answers an advertisement for a brave young woman who loves diving and horses. Little did she know where it would lead. She finds herself touring the country diving off a high dive while riding a horse. She cannot think of doing anything else with her life.
I not only simply enjoyed the story, I love learning more about the diving horses and their riders. It was a thing that happened in the 1920's and 30's in the US. People flock to these circuses/fairs to see all kind of acts and I have always been interested in the divers. It was dangerous and exciting all at the same time. Walsh brings their stories to light and with great detail, helps us understand how careful the owners of these companies were with not only their human employees but also the equestrian ones.
Walsh seems to find these little know stories in history and then pens a delightful story for us to learn more about them. I recommend her books highly.

I didn’t know horse diving was a real thing, I definitely didn’t realize how long it was a thing for, but thanks to @jennilwalsh I know more about it then I do regular diving now. Bringing to life the real life horse diver, Sonora Carver, this novel follows her life from when she answered an ad in a newspaper to being featured on a post card, diving on her horse, as a staring attraction for the Steel Pier in Atlantic City. This was a genuinely fascinating story. From the practice of diving on the back of a horse, which is now banned, to Sonora’s own determination and fearlessness. I absolutely recommend reading the author’s notes at both the start and end of the book as the provide a lot of extra context around the story and her approach to tackling it.
Thank you so very much to @netgalley and @harpermusebooks for letting me have a copy of #sonora to review.
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I had never heard about Sonora and the diving horses before reading this book. I really enjoyed how this was informative but also an interesting story as well. I really enjoyed this one a lot. Thank you so much to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy of the arc in return for an honest review!

This is based on the true life story of Sonora Webster. I loved the movie, but it had been a long time since I saw it. I loved this book! Jenni Walsh brought the character to life in a way I just couldn’t put the book down. It had suspense, courage, bravery, and sweet romance. I highly recommend this book and can’t wait to share it with others!

A fearless young woman experiences adventure, adversity, and love.

I remember watching and enjoying Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken back in the 90s. A book is always better! This is the story of a fearless young woman who answers a want ad, changing her life forever. I can't believe that diving horses was really a thing!

"And in that moment, my breath held and my body tense, I realize this is what I want for myself. I want to be on the back of a horse, owning the sky. And I want that feeling day after day, night after night."

"I begin shaking my head. A little from disbelief at what I just witnessed, a little from awe, and a lot from envy at what the Girl in Red gets to do. Soaring through the air with that magnificent animal is her job. If I thought I was enamored with Roger Meadows, then I need lessons in love. Because I’ve truly fallen in love this time, simply and completely, with the idea of this being my future."

"I’m ready to grow with him, to lose some illusions in order to acquire others."

"I’m off my feet so quickly I hardly know Al’s got me in his arms, swinging me in a circle, a squeal leaving my lips— until his mouth finds mine. Our first successful kiss, and it’s better than I’ve imagined. Slow yet hungry. Tender yet passionate. My feet touch the ground, the kiss continuing, and I lean into him, into my future husband. Goodness gracious, I didn’t think those would be thoughts I’d ever be having. But he broke me in the best way, the way a good trainer earns the trust of a horse. Here I am, a woman in the right hands."

I absolutely loved this book. Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken was a childhood favorite of mine. I loved everything about this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and Harper Muse for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let's dive in! (pun intended)

Sonora is a fictionalized story of the real life Sonora Webster, the woman known for diving horses in the 1920s-1940s. If you're GenX or an elder millennial, you might be familiar with the 1991 Disney film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken about the same woman. While the essential bones of the story are the same, this book-Sonora is written to more closely follow the way it happened historically and is based on Sonora's own memoir.

This is an enjoyable retelling of a young woman with spirit and her determination to live an exciting life. The story paces quickly, and it's engaging. I think it's appropriate for pre-teen and older since the romance is underplayed, and Sonora's relationship with her sister, Arnette, rivals her relationship with Al for center stage.

Sonora by Jenni Walsh is an absolute rollercoaster of a read—from the dazzling, high-flying world of performances to the raw, emotional battles that define true grit. Sonora Webster is the kind of heroine who leaps off the page—plucky, fearless, and full of wanderlust—showing us that sometimes, the bravest act is simply daring to follow your dreams, even when the odds are stacked sky-high. The book whisks you into the vibrant, sometimes perilous circus world, complete with trapeze acts, juggling bears, and daring dives from dizzying heights. Walsh paints a vivid picture of fame’s glittering surface but also doesn’t shy away from the dangers and sacrifices that come with the spotlight. Sonora’s journey — from wide-eyed rookie to star diva, to someone fighting for her life — is both inspiring and heart-pounding. And the romance? Oh, it’s as fiery and exhilarating as a perfect trapeze catch. What truly makes this story stand out is Sonora’s resilience and her unwavering bond with her horses. When tragedy strikes, you’ll be rooting for her to find the courage to climb the tower and dive again, risking everything in the name of loyalty and love. Walsh keeps the tension tight, and her storytelling is so exhilarating, you’ll be turning pages faster than a speeding Ferris wheel. If you love a captivating story packed with adventure, heart, and a daring heroine who refuses to be anything less than extraordinary, Sonora is your perfect ticket. It’s a brilliant celebration of resilience, daring, and the kind of fierce spirit that keeps you cheering long after the final act.

"Sonora" was an okay book. I usually enjoy biographies, so I was very much looking forward to reading this book and to learning more about what 'horse diving' was. When I first looked it up online, before even opening this book, I couldn't believe horses could willingly jump from such a height into a swimming pool!

While I enjoyed reading about Sonora, her life and her adventures, I felt that the book wasn't particularly well written. The pace was sometimes off, and most events were not described in enough details, you didn't have time to feel immersed in the moment and get attached to characters, it immediately moved on to another moment. The romance was lukewarm at best.

While I still liked this book, I think I would have preferred to read Sonora's autobiography rather than a book which might not be entirely accurate. However, I can say I really enjoyed learning more about horse diving, and I don't find it as cruel as I first thought (although I wouldn't encourage its come back).

3.5 stars

*I received a free eARC in exchange for my honest opinion*

Wow. This book was phenomenal. Jenni L. Walsh has a real talent for isolating strong women in history and telling their stories in a way they've never been told before. Sonora is no exception. For fans of Wild Hearts can't be Broken, or anyone who wants a story of passion, determination, and heart . . . this is it.

This book gave me a massive hangover. Like many kids in the 90s I fell in love with the Disney version of this story Finding out the real story made this story even better Jennifer Walsh is a master at giving a voice to those who need to speak

4 ⭐

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I loved this book! I had never heard of Sonora Webster Carver before I read this and purely thought the book sounded fascinating. She is now truly an inspiration to me and I will definitely be watching the film of her life and reading her autobiography.

This book follows the titular character, Sonora. As a 19 year old, (in the 1920s) she joins Doc Carver's travelling high diving horse show as a diver after her mother shows her an advert in the paper. As she trains and progresses in her career, she solidifies herself as one of the first, and greatest, horse divers. Leaping from 45 feet on the back of a horse into a pool below, this book really demonstrates the fear and elation she felt doing what she loved. However, one day, a dive goes wrong, eventually leaving her completely blind. This book tells the story of her rise to greatness, her journey to blindness, and how she learned to fall back in love with her life after her accident. Continuing to dive with horses for another 11 years. It contains friendship, family, love, heartbreak and a strong, independent real woman.

This books was beautifully written. The characters felt real, the setting transported me and I felt every up and down with Sonora. I laughed, cried, felt angry and inspired by this book.

I highly recommend picking this up, even if you haven't heard of Sonora.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Harper Muse for letting me read the Advanced Copy of this book. I can't wait to see the cover when it's released! 🏇🏻🏊🏻‍♀️🎪

Beautiful book. I grew up near Atlantic City and where Sonora spent the last years of her life. I’ve always been fascinated by her story and the diving horses.
Really good job on this book that goes into depth and gives you a lot more information around and accurate information compared to the movie.

I loved the movie Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken but enjoyed Sonora's memoir even more. I went into this book hoping I would enjoy it just as much, and I'm happy to say that I did. I felt it captures Sonora Webster's spirit far better than the movie did. Also, Sonora's relationship with Al is much better developed here, making it feel more real and making it sweeter at the same time. And Arnette, barely mentioned in the movie, is here too. Not only was this book closer to real life than the movie, but this book also moved me more emotionally. I was in tears several times. The ending hit the perfect note. The author's comments at the end of the book were excellent too. Highly recommend. I will definitely be adding this to my library.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the early read.