I'm a sucker for cult books, and while this isn't technically one, it's hard to argue that the world of horse riding isn't cult adjacent. In Brazier's Girls and Their Horses, we meet a rich family and their two daughters just as they move to a new community. Down the road is a prestigious horse barn, and the family becomes a part of that world. Willingly or unwillingly, all of the women in the household get tangled into the politics of the barn. There's a core of the depth of female relationships here, both sisterhood and friendships, and also lots of twists and turns. Backstabbing, betrayal, secrets--- plus horses? This book is a winner. I devoured it. Definitely recommended for thriller lovers who don't want to be able to guess the ending (or even who the victim is).

SUPERB PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER MAKES FOR AN ENTHRALLING RIDE

A prologue. Just a whisper of one that lets us know an investigation is in progress. What transgression of the law was committed remains a mystery. But the stage is set and the taste of violence whets our appetite for more.

Thus begins GIRLS AND THEIR HORSES superbly written by Eliza Jane Brazier. While the lure of discovering what incident occurred makes us delve further into the story’s fabric, the method allowing us a peek behind the curtain is clever and unique. For what follows is a series of powerful character studies that introduce us to all the major players hanging out at the Rancho Sante Fe, a “show barn” for aspiring equestrians and their “barn moms”. Each chapter written from one of these lead character’s perspectives, the isolation allows a savage dissection of their psyches as each is analyzed in intimate detail. Hopes, fears, and penetrating failures have all left their mark and produced the bundle of neurotic complexities that drive them towards their goals … goals that revolve around new arrivals Heather Parker and her two daughters, Maple and Piper. And it is through Heather’s turn at the mic that we learn that she was forced to drop out of her riding lessons as a child due to her family’s lack of funds. But God has intervened and made up for the deficit. She and her husband are now stinking filthy rich, and she’ll use that money to buy her daughters success all so she can fulfill her dream through them. But what she doesn’t realize is that people have their own dreams and object to the seizure of power by some interloper. Not about to step out of the way, they are now gunning for her, and are not above using any method possible to ensure that she fails.

The result is mind game carnage and we get to watch the fun … if you can call shredding your opponent through sheer bitchiness fun. And you can thanks to Eliza Jane Brazier’s writing. It’s fluid and calibrated to dishing all the dirt and exposing all the lies. Done with laser-like precision, we can practically imagine the red dots appearing on competitor’s foreheads as the suspense builds and boils and brews. Somebody is going down … we just need that one more clue to tell us which.

Needless to say, I loved this book. I flew through the pages, pretty much unable to set it down. I was very much caught up in the drama of it all while admiring how it took me back to the place in time when I experienced my own love affair with horses. I relived what it was like to serve these four-legged magnificent creations that were born to romp and fly on Mt. Olympus, certain that sitting on the back of one of the purest of vehicles would lift me high enough to stare into the face of God. I’m sure this book will unleash lots of these sorts of treasured memories as the emotion never does go away.

As for criticisms, there were two. The first is that the thoughts of characters are often repeated. While a thought or idea may be reinforced, almost identical dialogue occurred in way too many places. The second problem was … the ending. It belonged in another book of a different genre and not a suspense/psychological thriller. I think part of the problem was that Eliza Jane Brazier has interpersonal relationships down pat, but has trouble with endings. You can tell because this one was too long and drawn-out and kept the same exact pacing when it should have built to a crescendo. As such, there was no big moment and no particular emotion associated with the tepid reveal. It was like a firecracker that fizzled instead of exploded. The ending really should be rewritten to reflect a storm brewing leading into the final storm hitting and not endless explanations. If this was done, the “peaceful” moment, the note this book ends on, would be appropriate because it would fit. But I did love the book anyway. Really, really a great read!

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5260981128

https://perfectatmidnight.blogspot.com/2023/01/review-of-girls-and-their-horses-by.html

QUICK TAKE: I liked it a lot. I didn't love it as much as GOOD RICH PEOPLE. Think THE OC meets THE HUNTING WIVES, where everyone is very badly-behaved and having the best time doing so. Part family drama, part murder mystery, and one that explores a very unique subculture I knew nothing about. Fans of the genre will have fun with this one.

This is absolutely smart, captivating, unputdownable and extremely unique concept with intelligent and sarcastic criticism of privileged, wealthy dysfunctional families, the parents who put their on unaccomplished dreams and unsuccessful achievements on their children’s shoulders to carry! There are so many things were thrown in the equation including high ambitions of power thirsty mothers, gaslighting, manipulations, risky friendships! It seems like being rich is not cheap at all!

There are so many interesting characters, unique, unconventional women and young girls’ voices blended in very riveting, interesting, thrilling story telling lots about the horse world!

Overall: I couldn’t put it down and devoured the entire premise in a few hours. I think this might be my favorite work of the author!

Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for sharing this incredible digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.

Girls and Their Horses by Eliza Jane Brazier is an enthralling thriller that explores the lives of the ultra rich. Chronicled with sarcasm and self-mocking charm, no one writes the affluent as well as Eliza Jane Brazier. In this novel, she dives into the lives of rich families who use their daughters to project their hopes, dreams and ambitions onto – often at a massive cost to the teens’ mental health.

The story follows Heather Parker, a nouveau riche mother with a detached partner, determined to give her two daughters, Maple and Piper, the life she never had. She signs them up for riding lessons at Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian, where horses are a lifestyle. As they get sucked into the horse world — from mean girl cliques to barn romance — secrets start to emerge that bring danger to the family’s doorstep.

There’s something special about this novel: it captures not only the glamour of high society but also its darker undertones. At times funny and heartbreakingly honest, Girls and Their Horses paints a vivid portrait of what it means to be born into privilege. Brazier does an incredible job of showing how power dynamics play out in this microcosm, where even things like horse competitions become competitions between parents who want their children to succeed at any cost. Alliances are formed—and broken—and manipulations abound.

The character development is equally impressive: each character is unique in some way or another; we get an insight into their motivations and desires that make them real and relatable despite their wealth or social status. We follow these characters through highs and lows as they learn lessons about friendship, loyalty, ambition—and even mortality—on their journey through life in Rancho Santa Fe Equestrian.

This book definitely exceeded my expectations; I devoured every page with enthusiasm! Girls and Their Horses is truly a must-read for anyone interested in exploring class dynamics within one wealthy community—or simply enjoys fantastic storytelling!

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗕𝗲𝗿𝗸𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗽𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸. 𝗜 𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆.