The A Circuit (The A Circuit, #1)

Nov 07, 2012 Kala rated it 1 of 5 stars

This review also posted on my blog at:
Kala's Book Blog

This book is terrible.

I'm a big fan of horses (I own two) and I used to compete on the A-circuit quite a bit, though not at the level of the girls in this book. I'm glad I have that background, else I wouldn't understand half of this book. If you don't know a lot of equestrian vernacular, this book will be VERY confusing for you!

The characters in this book are all over the top and unredeemed at the end.

Kate is probably my favorite, as she is...more

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Feb 16, 2013 Brittany rated it 4 of 5 stars

About a week ago I picked up this book at the bookstore, and was very excited to find another Clique/Gossip Girl like series that took place in the horse stable instead. I'm also reading the Canterwood Crest series, and I'm glad to have found The A Circuit series, though I don't like them as much. Like most of these drama filled books, there is lots of brand names, spoiled wealthy rich girls, clothing obsession (but not as much in this book because its about Pelham Lane horse stables), but like...more About a week ago I picked up this book at the bookstore, and was very excited to find another Clique/Gossip Girl like series that took place in the horse stable instead. I'm also reading the Canterwood Crest series, and I'm glad to have found The A Circuit series, though I don't like them as much. Like most of these drama filled books, there is lots of brand names, spoiled wealthy rich girls, clothing obsession (but not as much in this book because its about Pelham Lane horse stables), but like Canterwood Crest this one has horses in it, which makes it so much better.
Characters:
Zara: Zara Trask is the bratty, party girl, selfish only daughter of a famous rock star who just rides for the adrenaline rush of riding (and who doesn't care who she hurts in the process) I just hated. Like many other people who have read this, I hated her attitude and antics. I ride horses and enjoy it a lot, and I find it infuriating how she gets away with being so stuck up and careless about every person and horse around her, especially since she gets drunk and injures the horses too. Zara is an absolutelty HORRIBLE, WRETCHED character.
Kate: Kate is the only blue collar, middle class family main character girl out of the main trio. She is very hard working, and trys her best at everything, whether its mucking horse poo or feeding the horses. But she had very little self confidence though she is very good at riding. Despite her being a more average, realistic character, I found blond-haired Kate to be really dull and boring. But she was much better than Zara.
Tommi: Didn't like her at first, but quickly she became my favorite character by far. She is a rich billionaire heiress (her Dad is one of the richest men in NY) with a boatload of money, expensive tack and riding gear, and horses. But she is very determined to become a professional rider, and must ignore her perfect sister who has acheived everything her parents wanted too. Tommi doesn't let her wealth, money, immense talent or boys go to her head. She is reasonable, and highly respectable character. She is smart enough not to fool around with Fitz, the barn's resident cute player boy, and has a good business plan for her horse life. Tommi is a great character and in my opinion the best.

Overall, The A Circuit was a good book, but Zara and Kate very much irritated me, though Tommi was wonderful. It could have a much better plot (and the author could make Fitz be a lot more realistic), but I liked all of the fancy horse terms and shows. And once again, Tommi was great. So, I give this book 4 stars.(less)

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Jun 28, 2012 Maria rated it 5 of 5 stars

As a regular rider I was able to fully appreciate the horse terminology that accompanied this book. Non-riders may not, but the story was still entertaining and a good light read. The book revolves around the lives of the three main characters, Zara, Tommi, and Kate.

Zara is the daughter of a rock star and a movie star, likes to party hard, and doesn't give a crap about what others think of her. Her character is fairly annoying because of her attitude and how spoiled she is. She does have a few...more

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Dec 31, 2011 Gabriela rated it 3 of 5 stars

I'd say 3.5 stars.

I've never taken riding lessons so a good deal of the horse lingo was confusing, and I just had to use the context. However, I don't think it was that difficult to get through and I found a lot of it unrelated to the plot.

Zara's an idiot, I can't stand her. She makes Californians look bad. If her stupid and careless actions hurt her, fine. But when her actions can potentially hurt others (and they do) that's unconscionable.

Tommi I liked. She's rich and spoiled, but also reason...more

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Aug 31, 2011 Amy Mota rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: advisory-2010-1011

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 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 competitors on the circuit, but they come from totally different backgrounds. Tommi is a billionaire trying to prove she has real talent. Kate puts the work in working, every win has been paid for with hours of cleaning stalls. She's used to the grueling sc...more

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Jul 17, 2011 Hannah (The Irish Banana Review) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Allow me to begin by saying horse lovers will thoroughly enjoy this book. It’s a fun, light read and Catherine Hapka and Georgina Bloomberg truly immerse the reader in the world of competitive equestrian riding with charming characters that sparkle on the pages. Unfortunately, if you are a reader who doesn’t know much about horses or equestrian, I think this book will be a tough sell.

Hapka and Bloomberg throw equestrian jargon around with alarming frequency and do not always take the time to exp...more Allow me to begin by saying horse lovers will thoroughly enjoy this book. It’s a fun, light read and Catherine Hapka and Georgina Bloomberg truly immerse the reader in the world of competitive equestrian riding with charming characters that sparkle on the pages. Unfortunately, if you are a reader who doesn’t know much about horses or equestrian, I think this book will be a tough sell.

Hapka and Bloomberg throw equestrian jargon around with alarming frequency and do not always take the time to explain what things are. Some people might be confused by what “tack” is. Or where exactly a horse’s withers are and what posting is. Luckily I grew up owning horses and had a good friend who excelled in jumping and showing thoroughbreds, otherwise I might have felt quite a bit lost. I also believe this is where they will lose readers. This book really reads like Gossip Girl with horses, but unless you are a horse enthusiast or fan it doesn’t work. The quirky character traits that made Gossip Girl work fall flat here.

While the book was a breeze to read, by the end of it I felt hardly anything for the characters. I felt like I barely got to know them past the superficial level. I get that Kate and Tommi are best friends at the barn and occasionally hang out, but what makes them friends other than a strong love of horses? Take horses out of this book and it’s simply a bunch of kids standing around. I loved the horses more than I loved the main characters by the end. Like Zara—I understand the authors trying to vilify her, but to what end? She is a weak villain and a worthless friend. She irritated me to no end, and the small steps taken to make me like her meant nothing because she was such a whiny brat for all but the last two chapters.

This book isn’t a bad read. I’d recommend you snag it from the library if you want something mindless and unchallenging to read. If you love horses? Go buy it. You won’t be sorry. I just believe the writers have boxed themselves in by focusing so heavily on the horses that they lost sight of the characters. I hope they rectify that issue in the next book.(less)

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Jun 03, 2011 Gaby rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya-fiction

The A Circuit takes us to the elite and privileged world of dressage, horses, and wealthy teens. Pelham Lane Stables is one of the most elite riding stables in the country, and reputedly the best in the East Coast. We follow the stories of the riders, who are mainly teenage girls, as they compete and work as a team to keep the stables running smoothly.

Through the eyes of three main characters, we share the drama, excitement and intrigue that goes on in Pelham Lane Stables. There's Tommi, the bil...more The A Circuit takes us to the elite and privileged world of dressage, horses, and wealthy teens. Pelham Lane Stables is one of the most elite riding stables in the country, and reputedly the best in the East Coast. We follow the stories of the riders, who are mainly teenage girls, as they compete and work as a team to keep the stables running smoothly.

Through the eyes of three main characters, we share the drama, excitement and intrigue that goes on in Pelham Lane Stables. There's Tommi, the billionaire's daughter, whose seemingly perfect life has its own problems. Her desire to prove her commitment to horses and riding and to carry this love and commitment to adulthood is one of the stronger conflicts of the book. Her best friend Kate is a "working student" which means that in exchange for access to the horses and classes, Kate works at the stables. This often means that the other riders often treat her like an employee and are dismissive of her knowledge and skills. Though Kate's able to brush this off, stay focused, and enjoy riding and the horses. The least likable and most tormented of the group is Zara, the rockstar's only child. Since nearly every relationship and interaction she has is colored by her father's fame, she's gotten used to getting her own way. Getting her own way hasn't always been good for her - but her love for horses and friends of her own may be a way to tame her. There are other secondary characters - boys, the social climbers, parents, and Jamie, the owner and manager of the stables. Jamie serves as a mentor to the girls - his handling of the difficult ones, equine and human, wins everyone's respect.

The A Circuit's super privilege and drama will likely appeal to fans of Gossip Girl and the Clique. The book is a light, fun read. I'm a bit embarrassed that part of what drew my attention was the author - Georgina Bloomberg. Though this sort of attention is addressed by the characters of The A Circuit where she makes clear that the children of paparazzi level fame don't want to be reduced to extensions of their famous parents. The author drew my attention, but I kept reading because of the characters themselves.

Reading level: Ages 9-12
ISBN-10: 1599906341 - Paperback $9.99
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's Books (May 24, 2011), 288 pages.
Review copy provided by the publisher.(less)

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May 18, 2011 Book Sp(l)ot rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-release, arc

The A Circuit is the top tier when it comes to horse shows. And Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all trying to prove they have what it takes to be--and compete--there.

Tommi is the daughter of one of New York's richest men. With an older sister everyone compares her to and a father who hangs out with New York's mayor, people expect a lot form Tommi. But what she expects from herself and what they expect might not be the same things.

Kate works with the horses that cost possibly as much as her house for t...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Eileen rated it 4 of 5 stars

I saw this book in Barnes and Noble last year and completely jumped at it, because when was the last time somebody wrote a horse novel that wasn't for eleven year olds?

I definitely think that it was a Gossip Girl-meets equine world type novel. That's not to say I didn't like it, because I immediately clicked with the lingo (thankful for no elementary explanations or alternate, watered-down terms), and I did admire the characters. I couldn't very deeply connect with it, however, because while I...more

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May 13, 2011 Chelsea rated it 2 of 5 stars

Three very different girls come together over their love of showing horses. Tommi is a billionaire heiress who has spent most of her life in her older sister's shadow. Kate is a suburban girl working her hardest at the barn to escape her deteriorating mother. And Zara is the new girl, fresh from California and the daughter of a rock star. Despite their differences, these three girls will learn to overcome themselves and one another in order to shine bright in the spotlight.

It is a good thing thi...more

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Jan 30, 2012 Cinnamon rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit, coming-of-age, consequences, contemporary, dating, friendship, girl-self-perception, relationships, young-adult

The first in a series of books about life at an elite riding stable in the New York area. Most of the riders are from wealthy NYC families; some are dedicated horsemen, while others are just out for a good time. There are three main characters: Kate, a scholarship rider from a blue collar background; Tommie, the daughter of a wealthy businessman who wants to train horses as her career; and Zara, the spoiled, jaded daughter of a rock celebrity. Kate is trying to be perfect and keep everything run...more

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Aug 23, 2012 Caro rated it 3 of 5 stars

The A Circuit is mostly a book around three girls who all have different experiences about riding. The first girl is who i think is the most obviously based off the author, ms. bloomberg. she is rich and loves riding. the second girl, katie, is poor and loves riding. the third girl, Zara has a rich father and doesn't love riding... but deep inside she does! they all have their own sadly unrelatable issues and even more annoying problems. Such as: lying about why a horse has been damaged forever...more

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Nov 04, 2011 Kirsti rated it 3 of 5 stars

To be honest, I struggled through most of this book. It was a decent read, but I just couldn't get into the plot or connect with the characters. Of course, I adore horse stories, so that was what kept me reading.

Zara is a spoiled rich girl who has never really been properly school in horse riding, or in life apparently. Tommii is the rich girl trying to impress upon her rich father how much horses mean to her and she doesn't want to focus entirely upon college after completely high school. Kate...more

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Jun 03, 2011 Angie rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: teen-middle-reader

Synopsis: "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...more

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Feb 08, 2012 Alison (AlisonCanRead) rated it 4 of 5 stars

The A Circuit takes us into the world of one of the most elite and expensive sports: showing horses. Think of this book as an equine Gossip Girl, but not quite as dirty. Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite teenage riders, each from different backgrounds. Tommi is the daughter of zillionare corporate guru, Kate is working class and gets free stable time by caring for the horses, Zara is the daughter of a rock star and up and coming bad girl.

I liked how the story was told from the alternating poin...more The A Circuit takes us into the world of one of the most elite and expensive sports: showing horses. Think of this book as an equine Gossip Girl, but not quite as dirty. Tommi, Kate, and Zara are all elite teenage riders, each from different backgrounds. Tommi is the daughter of zillionare corporate guru, Kate is working class and gets free stable time by caring for the horses, Zara is the daughter of a rock star and up and coming bad girl.

I liked how the story was told from the alternating points of view of Tommi, Kate, and Zara. Tommi is obviously modeled after the author, Georgina Bloomberg. Even their names are similar. Tommi comes off as a little spoiled, resentful of her father's reluctance to take her riding seriously, but she is also a hard working rider and down to earth. She is nice to those "lower" than her, but not blissfully kind to everyone. Overall, she's a very sympathetic character. Not a huge amount of depth, but I liked her. Kate, the poor girl, is well written. We learn about her troubled home life, her insecurity, her love for horses, her work ethic, and her romantic interests. I particularly liked the descriptions of her mother's OCD. It felt a bit forced at times, but it was a really interesting topic and made Kate's life more layered. Zara is the hardest girl to like. She does horrible things. She's not only spoiled, but she is arrogant and mean. Seeing the world through her eyes made me like her a little bit, because you see her love for riding and her irritation at being in the spotlight. But even her inner mind was conceited. I feel like future books will flesh out her character better.

If you don't know anything about horses, you'll probably be lost at times in The A Circuit. Equine terms are flung about like mud during a stampede. I am one of those people who knows nothing about horses. The new vocabulary didn't bother me though. It was like reading a book set in China. The foreign terms helped set the scene. The book does a wonderful job of making horse shows and horses more appealing. I spent several hours after reading this book looking through equine websites. I loved being transported to a different world.

I would categorize The A Circuit as Gossip Girl Light. However, I wish there'd been a little more name dropping of fashion designs. There was some, but clothes are one of the main things that attract me to the GGL books. There is a decent amount of swearing, alcohol, and sex in this book. I wish there had been less. It was nothing shocking, but if the book had been a little cleaner, it would be great for a young YA crowd. It has a young feel to it, that I think might be tiresome to older YA but the content may not be appropriate for a general junior high crowd.

The A Circuit was a quick, easy, fun read. There's not a lot of depth to it, but I wasn't looking for that when I picked it up. There aren't enough YA horse books and this book does a great job of introducing the equine world. I will definitely keep reading this series.

Rating: 3.5 / 5(less)

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Jan 29, 2012 Shadow rated it 4 of 5 stars

A very fun book to read. It deals with girls, horses, and a bit of romance. When girls of all different backgrounds, come together to one barn there are of course going to be problems. Who gets along with who? Who is falling for who? The book is told in three different perspectives: Kate, Tommi, and Zara. Each girl is very different but because of their love for horses they are brought together. There is some drama involved in the book, with one problem being underage drinking. Overall, it was a...more

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Jul 11, 2012 Hayley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012

Much better horse novel, I think, as it is aimed at an older auidence. It's unfair how most horse novels are aimed at children! This one isn't completly adult adult, but does hint at drugs/sex/drinking so not for children!
I notice a few goodread reviews were a little confused with the horse terminology but I'm a rider so could understand the horse lingo; having said that, I didn't notice anything a non-horsey perso couldn't understand, epecially if working out what was happening in the scene.

A...more

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Nov 28, 2011 Mackenzie Dickson rated it 2 of 5 stars

Brief rating: A more wealthy (and perhaps realistic?) version of the Saddle Club. One star for non horse people, 3 for horse people.

Less brief version:
Riders (not horse lovers, mind you, but actual riders who have competed in whatever discipline) will find this book a fun, light read, while non-horse people will not enjoy or understand the culture of this book. I wanted to read it when I saw in Practical Horseman that Georgina Bloomberg was writing a book, because hey, I like Georgina Bloomberg....more

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Aug 14, 2012 Donna rated it 1 of 5 stars Recommends it for: No one

Recommended to Donna by: Me -.-

Shelves: horses, main-characters-i-hate, snore, young-adult, crappy-romance, books-that-sucked-on-so-many-levels, books-to-use-as-firewood, cover-love, disappointments, skimmed, reviewed, so-stupid-it-hurts-my-head, wanted-to-tear-my-hair-out, wtf, where-s-the-plot

EDIT:
Geez, what was I thinking, giving this little turd bucket 1.5 stars? :/

I had high expectations for this book. I haven't read any horse books for a while, and most horse books are directed towards younger people. This book failed to reach them. It was mildly entertaining, but made me want to rip my hair out after a while.

Ok, quick character summary:

Tommi
Tommi is from a really rich family. She is pretty down to earth, and wants to take up horse riding as a career. Tommi was alright. I didn't...more

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May 07, 2011 Reading Vacation's Mom rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This trio of girls who battle in the highest rung of horse competitions all have something to prove. Tommi is a billionaire’s daughter who wants to be taken seriously for something other than her family’s financial status. Zara has a rockstar father, and she wants to prove that she is a determined rider. Finally there’s Kate, who must clean horse stalls to pay for her lessons. She wants to be accepted even though she doesn’t come from a wealthy background like the others.

Their personal struggles...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Noa Leibson rated it 4 of 5 stars

The A Circuit is a story following, well, the A circuit of the equestrian sport. I decided to pick it up and read, because I do to. I found that it captured each and every detail in showing and riding, and stayed very true to how the real circuit is. I thoroughly enjoyed it, except for all of the parties and some of the drama. Realistically on the circuit, you never see people getting drunk and making trouble like the book shows. At most, someone says someones horse sucks and they make a faceboo...more

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May 17, 2013 Eddy Allen rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: animals-and-children

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 ho...more

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Feb 23, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

For those who are looking for a great guilty pleasure...they can find it in the A Circuit. I read a lot of reviews where people's two main complaints were 1) the horse lingo went way over their heads and 2) The only girl who came across as relatable was Kate. I'm show on the A circuit myself so I can see how the horse lingo is confusing to some. I really enjoyed it myself because I've read so many books where horse terms are butchered and misused to no end. That doesn't happen in the A Circuit,...more

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Jun 30, 2011 Meg rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: horse-books, guilty-pleasure

I'm torn about this book. On one hand, the sheer snobbery and stuck-uppedness about the 'misunderstood heiress' and 'tortured rockstar kid' pretty much can be summed up by saying 'booo hoooo my diamond shoes are too tight'.

On the other hand, I found the plot refreshingly... real. I've met these people at horse shows. I've rolled my eyes at them, yes, but I've met them. The teenage angst is pretty much right on, if overbearing.

Not the worst horse book I've read lately, and that's saying somethi...more

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Aug 18, 2011 Erica rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

The A Circuit was a very fun book. Horses have always been animals I have absolutely loved, but I've never actually ridden more than 2 times since I have really severe allergies. I substitute that for just reading about horses whenever I can :) It was a slower read, but a good one none the less.

The were a lot of characters. At first, it made things a bit confusing as I was trying to keep everyone straight. Once I had that time, it made the book that much more fun to read - as there were...more 3.5 stars

The A Circuit was a very fun book. Horses have always been animals I have absolutely loved, but I've never actually ridden more than 2 times since I have really severe allergies. I substitute that for just reading about horses whenever I can :) It was a slower read, but a good one none the less.

The were a lot of characters. At first, it made things a bit confusing as I was trying to keep everyone straight. Once I had that time, it made the book that much more fun to read - as there were so many stories and they were all so different. I really liked Kate. She was so sweet and was just a really good person.Tommi was a lot of fun as well. When the story involved Kate or Tommi I found those to be my favorite sections. Dani was a total riot - I absolutely loved her. She lightened the story every time she walked on to the page. I was not a fan of Zara at all - even when the story moved over to her thoughts she came off to witchy for me to like her.

I loved the plot. It was really cool how in depth it got into the world of the A Circuit. Everything was really well explained so I didn't ever get confused. The plot takes you into the characters home lives and stable lives which was nice.

I would have liked a bit more closure at the end. I felt the ending was a bit abrupt - like I was reading, and then all at once there was no more. I really love the cover - I think the hot pink writing is quite nice and the rest of the cover is just so pretty.

I haven't read anything by Catherine Hapka before now and obviously not by Georgina Bloomberg as this is her first book, but I am very excited to see more from both of these authors. I would love to see what this fabulous duo may come up with next!

The A Circuit was a really enjoyable read. It may not be a book I would rush out to read this instant, but it's definitely worthy of your time in the near future. It was slower to start out, but as the book went on the story picked up more and more. By the end, I didn't want it to end and was disappointed to turn the page and find out there was nothing more. (less)

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May 25, 2011 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: already-own-read

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...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Krystle rated it 3 of 5 stars

Wow, okay, if this book is anything like how the Gossip Girls is like I am staying far the heck away. This book is all about teen antics, cattiness, drama and more drama. Yech.

Zara is a bitch. I don’t call characters a bitch often but she is definitely a bitch. She is self-absorbed, conceited, flippant, immature, ill-mannered, brutish, spoiled, snobby, dumb as fuck, unable to listen to advice, and just the brat to end all brats. I’m serious. Every time I had to read a section from her pov I want...more Wow, okay, if this book is anything like how the Gossip Girls is like I am staying far the heck away. This book is all about teen antics, cattiness, drama and more drama. Yech.

Zara is a bitch. I don’t call characters a bitch often but she is definitely a bitch. She is self-absorbed, conceited, flippant, immature, ill-mannered, brutish, spoiled, snobby, dumb as fuck, unable to listen to advice, and just the brat to end all brats. I’m serious. Every time I had to read a section from her pov I wanted to rip her hair out and slap her face ten million times. She thinks she’s too good for everyone else, can’t be bothered to do basic chores (like cleaning up after her horse, tacking and untacking her riding equipment, etc.), refuses to listen to the instructions/guidance of others because she believes her talent is far better than anyone else’s, is only interested in doing things if they’re fun, and likes to play the victim card while blaming others for her mistakes and actions.

And, boy, does she make the dumbest decisions on the face of the fucking planet. I am serious. She is fucking stupid. The thing that gets me is that there are NO CONSEQUENCES for her actions either! Sure she may feel guilty but what does it matter if she gets out of it SPOT FREE? WTH! Seriously. (view spoiler)

Ugh, she makes me want to break something. She may have mellowed out a tad near the end but she is just terrible.

Kate and Tommi were entirely different. I actually liked them as they were much more reasonable. Kate is your overachiever. She tries very hard and works overtime to get to the point of where she’s at right now. But instead of having a lofty opinion of herself, she’s very insecure about her abilities as a rider and second guesses herself all the time. She’s sort of the quiet, earnest type who’s always willing to help out people but not someone who is prone to speaking their opinion. They usually keep it checked. A bit passive but a good contrast to the other two. (view spoiler)

Tommi is sort of a blend between the two characters. She’s rich, confident, and sure of herself but she’s not such a straight lined person and enjoys going out and partying if the opportunity came up. She has the privilege to get the best of everything, so she makes full use of it and strives to reach higher goals in her riding. She has great camaraderie with the other riders, though, so she doesn’t believe she’s above them but can be judgmental at times.

The writing is swift and the descriptions of horses, horse life, and horse riding are great. These authors definitely are experienced (as they should be) and it shines in their prose. I always like it when someone who has first-hand experiences uses it to their full potential in their books.

The story lacks much of a driving, focused plot and is instead more of the happenings behind the scenes and between the riders and the ensuing dynamics it causes. It is fun, if you can stomach through Zara, but if not, this book isn’t going to be a great read for you.

If you liked the Thoroughbred series or the Saddle Club books when you were younger but wished they had a bit more edge then I’m sure this will be perfect for your needs. (less)

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May 15, 2011 Lauren rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Ever since Gossip Girl and The A-List, two of my favorite guilty pleasure series, ended, I have been trying to find the next flashy and light series to replace them. Luckily, I think I just may have found what I have been looking for in The A Circuit, Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka's new look into the exclusive would of horses, wealthy girls, and the secrets that tie them together.

For Kate and Tommi, the world of horse showing is everything. Addictive, fun, and fully of plenty of rewa...more Ever since Gossip Girl and The A-List, two of my favorite guilty pleasure series, ended, I have been trying to find the next flashy and light series to replace them. Luckily, I think I just may have found what I have been looking for in The A Circuit, Georgina Bloomberg & Catherine Hapka's new look into the exclusive would of horses, wealthy girls, and the secrets that tie them together.

For Kate and Tommi, the world of horse showing is everything. Addictive, fun, and fully of plenty of rewards, both are willing to sacrifice nearly anything to be the best of the best. For Kate, this means working herself to the ground so she can compete and work with one of the best trainers in the country, and for Tommi, this means going against what her father and sister think is the best for her. However, everything changes when Zara comes to town. Flashy, wealthy, and snarky, Zara is the queen of mean, and because of this, she quickly winds up on the bad sides of Tommi and Kate. What happens, though, when you throw in one bad boy player, a party, and a disaster that may change everything? Will Kate, Tommi, and Zara come to the rescue? Or will their bitter feud ruin everything? Only time and more pages can tell in this glossy read sure to enchant even the most reluctant of readers.

While this book did not continue the most developed of characters, I still did enjoy reading about Kate, Tommi, and Zara in their alternating perspectives. My favorites out of the bunch would probably have to be Kate and Tommi, because not only did I find their friendship an interesting side to the story, but I also enjoyed how they were more “real” then Zara. The addition of Fitz, the player, was also interesting, though I sometimes felt his character was all over the place, and because of it, I never knew if I should like him, love him, or hate him.

The most exciting part of The A Circuit though would have to be the focus on horses. When I was little, I used to love horse reads- even though I was terrified of riding horses myself- and because of this, I loved seeing the behind the scene of horse shows and all the determination and work that is put in to be the best of the best.

The ending is this was also good enough to make me not only curious to see what will happen next the characters, but also happy that it was not exactly cliff-hanger-ish.

Full of horses, drama, and a dose of depth, The A Circuit is a great lazy day read.

Grade: B(less)

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Aug 12, 2011 Mara rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, young-adult, horses, dropped-series

First things first concerning The A Circuit. I know it's trying hard to appeal to the general Gossip Girl set, but let me say now that if you don't know what Ariats are, you will be lost in this book. Just put the book down now, go find some other rich girl clique YA lit and move on with your life. This book assumes first and foremost that the horse obsessed -- hell, the experienced and knowledgeable horse obsessed -- teen girl is its audience. Expect no horsey explanations, because there are no...more First things first concerning The A Circuit. I know it's trying hard to appeal to the general Gossip Girl set, but let me say now that if you don't know what Ariats are, you will be lost in this book. Just put the book down now, go find some other rich girl clique YA lit and move on with your life. This book assumes first and foremost that the horse obsessed -- hell, the experienced and knowledgeable horse obsessed -- teen girl is its audience. Expect no horsey explanations, because there are none. Therefore, I'm not going to even bother defining Ariats.

Second, this book undermines itself. But wait, let's back up and look at what we're dealing with. We've got three characters:

Tommi: She's a billionaire's daughter and spends most of her time trying to prove that she's a hard worker. She didn't just rise to the top of an insanely expensive sport because her daddy has money! She just wishes people would understand how hard she works because horses are her life and if they, you know, wind up not being her life she'll go to Georgetown or something.

Kate: She's the money poor, determined, worker bee, rise above all challenges character that is required in all horse literature. I actually liked her, even though she's sort of a doormat. Her issue is she doesn't think she's ever good enough, maybe she has OCD, and she's got a crush on the barn womanizer.

Zara: If the two previous characters are cliches, she is the cliche to end them all. The daughter of a rock star and an actress, we're supposed to pick up on her anger and loneliness that drives her complete and intolerable batshit crazy, but mainly I kept thinking batshit! Kill it with fire! Mainly, she makes an ass of herself repeatedly.

So, that's what we've got. There is little plot to speak of outside of Tommi and Kate acting sane and rational within expected horse book standards while Zara is given all the actions of the villain. Unfortunately we're forced to listen to her bitch and moan for at least a fourth of the book because someone decided she should be a main character. This is pretty gutsy, but the author(s) completely failed to realize that characters like Zara need to grow or have some redeeming quality we can latch on to so we don't completely hate them. And I hated Zara. Not because she a) cannot ride (because she can't...wow, she really can't), b) is a completely ridiculous brat prone to literal temper tantrums, and c) actually smokes in the barn. None of those things actually annoy me. What pisses me off is that there are no consequences for this character. None, even as the evidence of her raging stupidity is plain to see in broad daylight and other characters recognize and react negatively. Still, nothing. So when the other characters are whispering about how Zara's going to get kicked out and the trainer is serious and professional and won't take Zara's shit, I eventually react by thinking lies! This book is lying to me, and it's doing a poor job.

Also, the brouhaha leading up to the completely irrational non-ending of this book is ridiculous. For what reason would anyone cover for Zara after she flagrantly and drunkenly injured a virtual stranger's horse? Why are they all not kicking her out on her ass? Oh, because she's a main character. That's why.

I'm not sure why I'm giving this two stars. I skimmed through Zara's sections to save myself the torture, but Tommi and Kate were passable. The book would have been hugely helped had someone actually knocked Zara around a little bit, because as it stands I felt only frustration and I'm pretty sure that was the driving motivation behind my reading it while scowling and then typing this review at 1am. I won't be reading the rest in this series, which is unfortunate because the author(s) are clearly horse knowledgeable. I just don't think I can stand by while Zara inevitably lights the barn on fire and everyone notices but she still doesn't get arrested for arson. (less)

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Feb 19, 2013 ♥iDevourBooks♥ ☆Sonic~Obsessed☆ rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 500-books-reading-challenge-2013, animals, modern, my-reviews

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