Review and Giveaway: "The A Circuit"

"The A Circuit"
by Catherine Hapka and Georgina Bloomberg

Publisher: Bloomsbury
Release Date: May 24, 2011

Source: ARC sent by publisher

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

The A Circuit is the top of the top when it comes to horse shows. It's a world with its own rules and superprivileged lifestyles. Teens travel the circuit all year, showing horses that cost as much as some homes.
Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite competitors on the circuit, but they come from totally different backgrounds. Tommi is a billionaire heiress trying to prove she has real talent (not just deep bank accounts). Kate puts the working in working student—every win has been paid for with hours of cleaning stalls. She's used to the grueling schedule, but Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy, is about to become a major distraction. And then there's Zara. She's the wild child of a famous rockstar, but she's ready to take riding seriously. Can a party girl really change her ways?
Readers who enjoy peeking into the elite world of Gossip Girl or The A-List will feel right at home in this new series with its friendships, drama, and privilege set against the backdrop of competitive horseback riding.

My Review:

I can't resist a good horse book and I thoroughly enjoyed this one. The story had a bit of a slow start for me because there was a lot of insider show horse info and lingo. But after I adjusted to the setting, I was caught up in the world of show horses.

The three main characters were complex and likable. Zara, the wild child, takes some getting used to, but Kate was totally believable in her perfectionism. I think I liked Tommi the best, a snobby heiress on the outside, but with a heart of gold if you care enough to look underneath the facade.

I can see how this book would be a great stepping stone for girls who love to read about horses. It's very odd that there are so many books about horses for middle grade readers, but practically none for older teens. I think it's a great niche to fill. However, it's a really big jump from the innocence of the middle grade books to a book with such themes as sex, drugs, and drinking. So parents be warned of that before giving this one as a gift.

There practically has to be a sequel, because there are a lot of stories left unfinished.  Zara still has a lot of growing to do before she's completely likable and one of the romances was left a bit open ended.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 3/5
Setting: 5/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 5/5 love it!
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This is a fun story for older teens where the stable is its own little world with lots of drama, and of course, lots of horses! I'm looking forward to the rest of the series if there is one.

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Bloomsbury has generously provided a brand new finished copy of "The A Circuit" for readers of my blog!

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