There’s something about an equestrian tale which really captures a reader’s heart, especially during the summertime when you could just imagine yourself pounding along the beach on the back of a beautiful bay. This post is highlighting three books guaranteed to help readers to achieve their horse girl summer!

The Secrets of Wild Hill: Lottie’s Dream, by Olivia Tuffin, cover by Tom Clohosy Cole (Nosy Crow)

This is the first in a new series inspired by the antics of the author’s own ponies and her life on the farm in Dorset.

“Lottie Manderson is passionate about horse riding. Deliberately failing the exam to go to a new school, she plans to spend all her free time with her sturdy, feisty and much-adored pony, Patch. But even with the help of her grandmother, Lottie has a battle on her hands. And when Granny convinces Lottie to skip school and go to the Badminton Grassroots event, it’s no surprise that her parents are really angry. But by now, a spark has ignited in Lottie’s heart and it sets her on a path to pursue her dream of eventing.

Meanwhile, when Lottie’s grandad has an accident, it’s clear that the yard at Wild Hill is facing financial disaster. And even Lottie’s brother – a talented horseman – appears to be quite happy to let it fall apart so they can sell up.

It seems that the only person Lottie can really talk to is Felix, the quiet, rich boy from the stables behind the high fence. But whose side is he on and can she even trust him knowing he’s the grandson of her family’s worst enemy?”

This adventure contains all the horse-care details pony fans will adore but with the added dark undertone of long-hidden family secrets and carefully constructed web of lies. For readers aged 9+

The Horse Dreamer, by Holly Surplice (Chicken House Books)

Fans of Holly Surplice will not be surprised to see that this drama book is full of dynamic two-tone illustrations which perfectly echo the movement and emotion of the text.

“The horse arrives in the storm, when Merryn needs him most, following the loss of her father. Sorrel is a dreamlike creature, seemingly made from the woods and the sea. Perhaps she wished him into existence.

He becomes her friend and confidant. Throughout the summer and autumn, they ride and play, but as Christmas approaches, it will require all of Merryn’s new-found strength to help her mum and her sisters heal too.”

This beautiful story gently explores themes of grief and healing following a family loss in a sensitive and accessible way. The wildness of the Hebrides is the perfect setting which will captivate readers aged 9+.

Wild Horse Summer, by Lauren St John (Faber & Faber)

Lauren St John is surely one of our greatest children’s writers – any story from her is guaranteed to be wonderful.

“When American teenager, Morgan Taylor, arrives to spend the summer with her British cousins, all anyone knows is that an accident has left her scarred inside and out. But Morgan is hiding a secret she’ll do anything to keep.

Then the town’s hottest surfer, Cal Heyward, saves her life and suddenly the truth about her past feels harder than ever to hide.

To escape, Morgan takes a job at a stableyard, hoping that horses will heal her as they’ve done so often before. But everything changes when she’s asked to help Night Dancer, a horse with his own dark history…”

This title is dubbed a ‘clean teen’ novel and features the type of slow-burn romance that will keep readers aged 12+ enthralled.

The wilds of Exmoor provide a fitting setting for a compelling, carefully-plotted story about healing, resilience, and romance which teen readers are going to love.

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Happy reading,

Jo.

*Many thanks to the publishers who sent me these titles to review*