Review Detail

The third book in the Saddlehill Academy series, FALLING HARD is a middle grade book set at a horse riding boarding school. Abby, the main character, is still dealing with fallout from the previous book and new issues arise when her friends seem to be avoiding her. Add having to apply to a highly coveted riding clinic, and will Abby be able to balance the stress?

What I Loved:
The drama in this book was well-suited to a middle grade book. At times it can be a bit petty, but middle school drama can be that way. The drama was handled well by the author, never reaching unreasonable levels or being drawn out too long. Some of the drama also allowed for the characters to learn something new about themselves.

The setting of this book was very well-written. A horse riding boarding school could be a very difficult place to set a book in, but Jessica Burkhart has plenty of experience in writing it in a very realistic and engaging way. The academy was at the forefront of the story and was never treated like an afterthought. The drama also fit the setting.

The characters felt right for the book. They clearly fit in with their surroundings and with each other, even if that's not always a good thing. The "bullies" were the kind of bullies you would expect to see from an academy like this and their reasonings also made sense. The characters and the world worked really well together.

What Left Me Wanting More:
While I enjoyed many of their characters and their interactions with one another, the characters didn’t always feel fully fleshed out. This may be due to the book being written from Abby’s POV or that they will be more fleshed out in future books. I would have wanted more development of some of the other characters, but they did work without it as well.

Final Verdict:
FALLING HARD is an excellent choice for any horse-loving middle grade readers. It’s the third in the Saddlehill Academy series. Readers will enjoy the descriptions of horse riding and equestrian skills that Abby engages in. The drama suits the settings and ages of the characters as well. It’s a fun read with an engaging setting and writing style. Jessica Burkhart knows how to weave a fun story for middle grade readers.

A fun read about a girl’s time at an Equestrian boarding school, FALLING HARD is a good time filled with horses and middle grade drama.