Review Detail

What I Loved:
Racing Savannah is Miranda Kenneally’s fourth novel and, thus far, she’s not written a single book that I do not like and/or love. That, my friends, is an accomplishment. In some ways, all of the Hundred Oaks books are really consistent and similar to one another, but they’re not the same book over and over, which I love. Some are darker, particularly Things I Can’t Forget, and others are fluffy goodness. Racing Savannah‘s definitely on the fluffy end of the spectrum, though perhaps not quite as much as Catching Jordan. Personally, Racing Savannah is my favorite Kenneally novel yet, because Savannah’s my favorite heroine and there are horses.


Up to now, I’ve been swooning over Kenneally’s male leads, but the heroines, while I generally liked them or really appreciated their powerful characterization, haven’t been ones I’ve strongly bonded with. That changes with Savannah. This girl is awesome, and not only because she gets to ride horses all the time which my childhood self is super jealous of and honestly I’m still a bit envious. When I was like five, my dream was to be a jockey even, so it is no surprise that I admire Savannah. However, I was too tall by the time I was in fourth grade or something like that, so not so much. Savannah, on the other hand, is five feet even, so she can live one of my dreams.

Right, I got distracted, but I was talking about how awesome Savannah is. Basically, she’s really honest and direct and funny. Unlike so many YA heroines, if she doesn’t think she’s being treated right, she takes action. If she wants a job, she puts the work in and she gets it. If she feels like a guy’s not respecting her, she ends things. Oh, also, she’s very comfortable with her sexuality. Before her romance in Racing Savannah, she had a sort of friends with benefits sort of situation about which she feels no guilt. Love it! Miranda Kenneally’s novels are so sex positive that I want to hug them. Oh wait, I just made a pile of them all and did.

Speaking of sex, Miranda Kenneally is a serious master of bringing the swoon. I’m pretty sure she has given me stomach butterflies in every single book, but maybe especially in these last two. There are few better kissing scenes in this world. If you enjoy Katie McGarry books for the romance but wish they weren’t so melodramatic, these ARE the droids books you’ve been looking for. Kenneally always sells the romances, but they’re always a fairly slow burn and run in a really realistic way for a teen relationship. Plus, you are guaranteed many kissy scenes.

Back to characterization, Miranda Kenneally is one of the best YA authors at characterization full stop. I praised the awesomeness of the heroine, but she’s one among many. Though Jack’s one of my least favorite Kenneally boys, he’s still got a really great character arc as he becomes more of a boss to his employees (because he’s managing the family business over the summer) and to himself. Star, the horse that Savannah’s working with, feels so real too, and has more personality than a lot of main characters I’ve read. Then there are the rather scene-stealing Rory and Vanessa, Savannah’s best friends. They are freaking adorable as well, and I pretty much just want to hang out with these people.

One of the criticisms I’ve seen of Kenneally’s novels in the past is that they can go a bit too far with the heroines only being friends with boys. Savannah breaks with that tradition, though she starts off that way. She bonds with Rory first and they very quickly establish that they’re only interested in being friends (take that, When Harry Met Sally!). However, Savannah ends up being really close friends with Vanessa and getting all sorts of wonderful girl talk with her. Towards the end, there are even signs that Savannah and Kelsey might bond, which rules because Kelsey was portrayed as a mean girl rival for much of the book. The character arcs, people, are brilliant. Even the parents are developed, which does not happen often in YA.

What Left Me Wanting More:
Much as I want to give Racing Savannah all of the stars, I do think the ending gets a little bit too perfect. Savannah’s family has serious financial issues and, though they’re not resolved, it feels like all throughout the book opportunities feel in Savannah’s lap way too easily. I mean, yes, she’s talented and works hard, but life generally is not that easy.

The Final Verdict:
I loved every single moment of Racing Savannah, carried away by the adorable feels and the hilarious and realistic cast. This is my favorite Kenneally novel to date and I think anyone who was obsessed with horses as a child will definitely feel the same way.