Sweet & Bitter Rivals - (Saddlehill Academy) by Jessica Burkhart

About the Book

Seventh grader Abby St. Clair is eager to start another season with her elite riding team at Saddlehill Academy boarding school, competing against her new stepsister--until she starts getting anonymous messages threatening to expose the secret she is desperate to hide.

Book Synopsis

From the author of the Canterwood Crest series comes the first book in a middle grade series about an equestrian boarding school following a girl who struggles to keep her eyes on the prize while receiving anonymous threats.

Abby St. Clair can't wait to start another season with her elite riding team at her boarding school. She has something to prove after literally falling on her face during the biggest competition of the year the previous season. And she could really use a win after her mom left her family, her dad remarried, and Abby's new stepsister, Emery, proved to be a strong rider and stiff competition.

Abby wants to return to some semblance of normal but is hiding a secret: she accidentally cost her biggest rival, Selly, a chance at team captain. Then Abby begins to receive anonymous messages, threatening to expose her unwitting sabotage and a video that makes it look like she's trash-talking Emery. With an important competition on the horizon and the knowledge that someone in her circle knows way too much about her, the pressure is on.

Abby tries to put on blinders and have the perfect meet with her horse, Beau, but she's about to find out the hard way that secrets don't make friends at Saddlehill Academy.

Review Quotes

"Effortless and effervescent; ideal for horse-crazy girls ready to move beyond The Saddle Club."-- "--Kirkus Reviews"