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Rafferty Lincoln Loves...
Rafferty Lincoln doesn't like horses. Not one bit. But when the popular high school girl of his dreams, Liberty Ashburn pulls him into a world of lead ropes and horse brushes, who is he to say no?
Except this isn't any old horse. This is the missing racehorse, Profit's Red Ridge. The horse Rafferty and three of his friends are hiding from the world. And Liberty Ashburn isn’t just any ordinary high school girl. How far will Rafferty go to win her over?
An intense, witty and powerful coming of age story with startling consequences.
Except this isn't any old horse. This is the missing racehorse, Profit's Red Ridge. The horse Rafferty and three of his friends are hiding from the world. And Liberty Ashburn isn’t just any ordinary high school girl. How far will Rafferty go to win her over?
An intense, witty and powerful coming of age story with startling consequences.
- GenresHorsesYoung Adult
Unknown Binding
First published January 1, 2018
2 people are currently reading
256 people want to read
About the author
Emily Williams
6 books43 followersEmily Williams lives by the seaside in West Sussex with her family and a menagerie of small pets. After graduating from Sussex University with a BA in Psychology, Emily trained as a primary school teacher and teaches in a local school. Letters to Eloise is her debut novel.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
February 7, 2018
***Actual rating: 5/5 Minty-is-BACK! Stars***
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is probably one of the very few books that actually touches me so deeply not only because of the overall storyline but because of the shocking resemblance to my personal experience. To begin with, the book is about 4 high school students and 1 missing racehorse. What could possibly go wrong?
The answer is…everything. One interesting fact about these 4 students: they all belonged to different leagues/groups/or whatever you want to name it in school and they also had their own crosses to carry. Rafferty Lincoln was pretty much a sporty, quite-good-looking guy who not-so-secretly had a crush on Liberty Ashburn, the Queen Bee at school. Wilbur “Will” Ashburn wasunfortunately luckily the younger brother of Liberty and he was also the softie in the pack. As for Dexter Forrest, oh, poor Dexter, he was often considered a slightly smelly and filthy weirdo by other classmates but had the biggest heart I’d ever seen in anyone.
When Rafferty, Dexter, Will and Liberty accidentally found a mysterious racehorse, Minty, they swore to one another that this pack would remain a secret no matter what, especially at school. Well, they all agreed unanimously partly because they wanted to protect this precious racehorse from the public/press (since the owner of the said missing racehorse was looking for him) and partly because Liberty had her little reputation to maintain. She couldn’t bare the humiliation of being seen with any of those guys.*UGH, I HATED HER THE MOST.*
Hence, whenever Rafferty seized the chance to “impress” Liberty, he always ended up embarrassing himself.
As perseverant and determined as he was, he never stopped paying Liberty extra attention until one tiny, meaningless rumor ruined the romantic move and everything went downhill.
And this was when I resonated with Rafferty the most in the entire book. In fact, what Rafferty had to deal with—the consequences of those rumors and betrayal from friends—and the intimidation of what Liberty was capable of, triggered some of my most unpleasant memories from the elementary school so much that I had to put down the book for a minute before plucking up my courage to continue reading it.
Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the story a lot. Truth is, the author’s writing skill was so good that she captured all the intricate details from the characters’ experiences as if she was the one living through all of them, and such splendid writing style could easily evoke raw emotions from the readers. Therefore, I was completely in shock and unprepared for the sudden recollection of that specific period—when I was in pretty much the same situation as Rafferty’s—of my childhood.
See, even Rafferty’s best friend turned his back on him instead of standing up for him like what a friend’s supposed to do under such circumstances. Looking on the bright side, Rafferty got to learn more about Dexter, whom later changed Rafferty’s life forever, thanks to all the drama at school.
Little did I expect that Dexter’s role in the story was actually the most crucial and worthy of anticipating. He was one of those high school students who always lingered on the margins of social hierarchy, got beaten by the bullies just for fun and had irresponsible parents treating him as their personal punch bag. In spite of his adversity, he was still the most loyal friend you could only dream of and also the kid who secretly learnt so much more about horses than what the school had taught. The bond between Dexter and Minty was incredibly magical and adding a horse to the modern world-building was just a cherry on top.
Aside from the precious friendship between Rafferty and Dexter or Dexter and Minty, there was also an adorable romantic relationship between Rafferty and Tallie, a cute college student working in the high school library. Thanks AGAIN to Liberty’s little retaliation, Rafferty found himself a lovely girlfriend and I couldn’t ship them enough!
What can I say? I just adored their naturally awkward interactions. *wink* Although Tallie’s company wasn’t exactly welcomed by the rest of the pack, she played an indispensable role as the catalyst in the story and in my opinion, made the ending tragically beautiful. If it weren’t for her, Rafferty wouldn’t have cared about Dexter so much that he truly put himself in his—or anybody else’s for that matter—shoes for the first time.
To sum up, Rafferty Lincoln Loves… was a memorable read for me and I had an amazing reading experience with it. This book touched upon several social issues such as bullying, domestic violence and unhappy marriage but at the same time, it wasn’t all that humorless or pensive. Minty the racehorse had definitely brought these characters together and made them reconsider lots of things they used to take for granted. Plus, for someone who’d never seen a real horse in person, Minty was undoubtedly an eye-opener. I mean, who knew there were more than one kind of grooming brushes for a horse? Thus, I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED this book to everyone because it will stay with you for a long, long time for sure! Perhaps you’d view your life differently after reading it like I did.
Before you go, here’s a song I think would be perfect for two of my most favorite characters in this book and the lyrics say it all…
Better Place by Rachel Platten: For Dexter & Minty, thank you both for making the world a better place by being who you are.
***Huge thanks to the author for kindly letting me read and review the ARC of the book.***
----------------------------------------------
*****Bonus content for my review*****
Why did Rafferty Lincoln Loves… touch me so deeply?
Just like Rafferty, I tried toimpress befriend the most popular girl in our class when I was in 5th grade (though not romantically), and of course, I failed epically and what’s worse, ended up being laughed at for (seemingly) catering to her every whim. Although I came to realize that I was never meant to be a part of her clan afterwards, I didn’t regret pretending someone I wasn’t just to get her approval of friendship because if it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have the chance to meet one of the kindest people I’ve known in my entire life.
Let’s call her Rose. She was always the butt of a joke at school because her dad was an alcoholic who would beat her to his heart’s content whenever he was drunk and her mother was a chain-smoker who often asked her 10-year-old daughter to buy her a pack of cigarettes at midnight. Back at that time, self-esteem was never a big deal in classrooms so she was not only made fun of by her fellow classmates but also the teachers. Even though she had to endure all the mockery, she still stayed true to herself and was kind to everyone, including those who laughed at her. She was an amazing listener, adviser, friend and above all, an incredibly genuine person. Not exaggerating, she inspired me to be more thoughtful and more honest when treating others.
Although we lost touch with each other after graduating from elementary school, I would still think of her sometimes and wonder how she’s doing. In retrospect, life is indeed full of surprise when you least expect it. Lastly, thank you for writing such an unbelievably heartfelt story, Emily. Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is dear to my heart and I’ll cherish this feeling forever.
Had I not stepped forward in the boat to reach Dexter or even gone to the boat in the first place, would the outcome be different?
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is probably one of the very few books that actually touches me so deeply not only because of the overall storyline but because of the shocking resemblance to my personal experience. To begin with, the book is about 4 high school students and 1 missing racehorse. What could possibly go wrong?
The answer is…everything. One interesting fact about these 4 students: they all belonged to different leagues/groups/or whatever you want to name it in school and they also had their own crosses to carry. Rafferty Lincoln was pretty much a sporty, quite-good-looking guy who not-so-secretly had a crush on Liberty Ashburn, the Queen Bee at school. Wilbur “Will” Ashburn was
When Rafferty, Dexter, Will and Liberty accidentally found a mysterious racehorse, Minty, they swore to one another that this pack would remain a secret no matter what, especially at school. Well, they all agreed unanimously partly because they wanted to protect this precious racehorse from the public/press (since the owner of the said missing racehorse was looking for him) and partly because Liberty had her little reputation to maintain. She couldn’t bare the humiliation of being seen with any of those guys.
Hence, whenever Rafferty seized the chance to “impress” Liberty, he always ended up embarrassing himself.
We shook together and then released our hands up high in the air at the rising sun. I tried to linger my hand on top of Liberty’s as we all separated, but ended up clunking my fingers into her. She pulled her hand away rubbing hard, and glare at me.
Not what I’d had in mind.
As perseverant and determined as he was, he never stopped paying Liberty extra attention until one tiny, meaningless rumor ruined the romantic move and everything went downhill.
If starting your own rumour for people to twist and turn into their own story was bad enough, what Liberty did was worse. She not only started her own rumour but left it so open to interpretation that the whole school joined in with mocking me.
And this was when I resonated with Rafferty the most in the entire book. In fact, what Rafferty had to deal with—the consequences of those rumors and betrayal from friends—and the intimidation of what Liberty was capable of, triggered some of my most unpleasant memories from the elementary school so much that I had to put down the book for a minute before plucking up my courage to continue reading it.
Don’t get me wrong, I still loved the story a lot. Truth is, the author’s writing skill was so good that she captured all the intricate details from the characters’ experiences as if she was the one living through all of them, and such splendid writing style could easily evoke raw emotions from the readers. Therefore, I was completely in shock and unprepared for the sudden recollection of that specific period—when I was in pretty much the same situation as Rafferty’s—of my childhood.
’I even caught Nigel trying to scratch the sentence on my locker,’ I said, shaking my head. ‘He looked completely guilty for a second then just laughed at me and said he was following the crowd. Peer pressure. He made a ‘baa’ noise and ran off. Even my own friends are joining in, how can I compete against that?’
See, even Rafferty’s best friend turned his back on him instead of standing up for him like what a friend’s supposed to do under such circumstances. Looking on the bright side, Rafferty got to learn more about Dexter, whom later changed Rafferty’s life forever, thanks to all the drama at school.
Yes, children are incredibly brutal creatures. Thoughtless and careless with how they treat others. The bullies all have their own stories as to why they do what they do, but you, Dexter, you always remained yourself until the end.
Little did I expect that Dexter’s role in the story was actually the most crucial and worthy of anticipating. He was one of those high school students who always lingered on the margins of social hierarchy, got beaten by the bullies just for fun and had irresponsible parents treating him as their personal punch bag. In spite of his adversity, he was still the most loyal friend you could only dream of and also the kid who secretly learnt so much more about horses than what the school had taught. The bond between Dexter and Minty was incredibly magical and adding a horse to the modern world-building was just a cherry on top.
Aside from the precious friendship between Rafferty and Dexter or Dexter and Minty, there was also an adorable romantic relationship between Rafferty and Tallie, a cute college student working in the high school library. Thanks AGAIN to Liberty’s little retaliation, Rafferty found himself a lovely girlfriend and I couldn’t ship them enough!
’I’ve a sister, too,’ I volunteered, finally. ‘She’s nine.’
‘Does she like horses?’
‘She does indeed.’
‘Would she like to come and meet mine?’
‘I’m sure she’d love to.’
‘Then we can leave them to the horse talk and think of something else, less forbidden, to talk about.’
‘I’ll let you decide the subject.’
‘I hoped you would think of something.’
‘I’ll try,’ I promised. ‘I’ll bring a DVD just in case I can’t.’
‘Good plan,’ she laughed. ‘And pizza?’
‘Meat feast? And garlic bread?’
‘You’re on.’
What can I say? I just adored their naturally awkward interactions. *wink* Although Tallie’s company wasn’t exactly welcomed by the rest of the pack, she played an indispensable role as the catalyst in the story and in my opinion, made the ending tragically beautiful. If it weren’t for her, Rafferty wouldn’t have cared about Dexter so much that he truly put himself in his—or anybody else’s for that matter—shoes for the first time.
I only wish we, your friends, could have done that for you. Have fought for you. But we didn’t, and we didn’t even think to. Most shockingly of all, it didn’t even cross our narrow, self-centered minds.
To sum up, Rafferty Lincoln Loves… was a memorable read for me and I had an amazing reading experience with it. This book touched upon several social issues such as bullying, domestic violence and unhappy marriage but at the same time, it wasn’t all that humorless or pensive. Minty the racehorse had definitely brought these characters together and made them reconsider lots of things they used to take for granted. Plus, for someone who’d never seen a real horse in person, Minty was undoubtedly an eye-opener. I mean, who knew there were more than one kind of grooming brushes for a horse? Thus, I HIGHLY RECOMMENDED this book to everyone because it will stay with you for a long, long time for sure! Perhaps you’d view your life differently after reading it like I did.
Before you go, here’s a song I think would be perfect for two of my most favorite characters in this book and the lyrics say it all…
Better Place by Rachel Platten: For Dexter & Minty, thank you both for making the world a better place by being who you are.
For I am, deservedly, not going to rest very well ever again.
***Huge thanks to the author for kindly letting me read and review the ARC of the book.***
----------------------------------------------
*****Bonus content for my review*****
Why did Rafferty Lincoln Loves… touch me so deeply?
Just like Rafferty, I tried to
Let’s call her Rose. She was always the butt of a joke at school because her dad was an alcoholic who would beat her to his heart’s content whenever he was drunk and her mother was a chain-smoker who often asked her 10-year-old daughter to buy her a pack of cigarettes at midnight. Back at that time, self-esteem was never a big deal in classrooms so she was not only made fun of by her fellow classmates but also the teachers. Even though she had to endure all the mockery, she still stayed true to herself and was kind to everyone, including those who laughed at her. She was an amazing listener, adviser, friend and above all, an incredibly genuine person. Not exaggerating, she inspired me to be more thoughtful and more honest when treating others.
Although we lost touch with each other after graduating from elementary school, I would still think of her sometimes and wonder how she’s doing. In retrospect, life is indeed full of surprise when you least expect it. Lastly, thank you for writing such an unbelievably heartfelt story, Emily. Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is dear to my heart and I’ll cherish this feeling forever.
March 8, 2018
Having loved Letters to Eloise, I was really looking forward to reading Rafferty Lincoln Loves... I have to say, I wasn’t disappointed and this was yet another great book by this author.
This is an endearing and at times emotional coming of age tale about how the discovery of a missing racehorse leads to the unlikely friendship between a few youngsters. A large part of this story is light-hearted with horse adventures, mischief and young love, but there is a heavier side to the story that covers bullying and darker secrets of domestic abuse.
I loved the human characters and Minty the horse. Despite the heavier topics within the story, Rafferty Lincoln Loves… was an overall fun feel-good story, although the epilogue did manage to have me crying proper tears.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… has been written for charity and the proceeds from this book are being donated to The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, which is dedicated to ex-racehorse welfare, retraining, rehoming and protection for life.
I would say this book is ideal for oldish teens, young adults and old souls that are still young at heart. If you have a love of horses that helps too. To be honest, I would probably have enjoyed reading this during my early teens, but I was old for my years, into horror films as a child and therefore exposed to rather adult themes from a very early age, so it all depends on the maturity of the teenager wishing to read this. To give you an idea, there’s swearing, reference to sex, bullying at school and domestic violence at home.
This is definitely a book I recommend, especially if you enjoy young adult fiction and have an appreciation of horses.
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
This is an endearing and at times emotional coming of age tale about how the discovery of a missing racehorse leads to the unlikely friendship between a few youngsters. A large part of this story is light-hearted with horse adventures, mischief and young love, but there is a heavier side to the story that covers bullying and darker secrets of domestic abuse.
I loved the human characters and Minty the horse. Despite the heavier topics within the story, Rafferty Lincoln Loves… was an overall fun feel-good story, although the epilogue did manage to have me crying proper tears.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… has been written for charity and the proceeds from this book are being donated to The British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, which is dedicated to ex-racehorse welfare, retraining, rehoming and protection for life.
I would say this book is ideal for oldish teens, young adults and old souls that are still young at heart. If you have a love of horses that helps too. To be honest, I would probably have enjoyed reading this during my early teens, but I was old for my years, into horror films as a child and therefore exposed to rather adult themes from a very early age, so it all depends on the maturity of the teenager wishing to read this. To give you an idea, there’s swearing, reference to sex, bullying at school and domestic violence at home.
This is definitely a book I recommend, especially if you enjoy young adult fiction and have an appreciation of horses.
My review is also available on my blog here:
https://littlemissnosleep.wordpress.c...
February 14, 2018
I grew up in Belgium where horse riding is an extremely popular sport. Many of my school friends would spend their afternoons and weekends tending to their horses or explore the beautiful woods we have in the country to enjoy a ride. I never did because I was crazy about ballet, so as such I cannot share the passion thousands of people have for these beautiful and graceful animals. However, one of my new year's resolutions for 2018 was to venture more into different literary genres. So this YA novel piqued my interest because of the central theme that managed to remind me of my childhood and the many tales my friends shared with me about their riding passion and also because it had a serious undertone as well. I think the author did an amazing job in combining the fact that it isn't easy to get through your teenage years and how a passion can keep you focused with the delicate yet timely theme of abuse. I hope the YA readers will pick this book up and talk about it after. What can each of us really do to help someone we can sense is in need? Who should we turn to? What would we do if it happened to us? I'm very pleased to have read and reviewed the book as one of my new year challenges! It was entertaining, moving and at times sad but well worth the read!
April 24, 2018
I spent a few pleasant afternoons enjoying Rafferty Lincoln Loves… This was a true coming-of-age story. Rafferty and his friends navigated the usual high school challenges, but had to tackle some heavier issues, as well. The characters were realistic and relatable, and I found myself completely invested in their lives. I was rooting for Rafferty all the way!
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is the kind of book that stays with you after you’ve read it. The author did a great job of showing that the choices we make can have lasting, and at times, devastating, consequences. Yes, there were heavy issues, but the story was balanced with plenty of funny moments, too.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Emily Williams. I’m going to pick up her debut novel, Letters to Eloise, as well.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is the kind of book that stays with you after you’ve read it. The author did a great job of showing that the choices we make can have lasting, and at times, devastating, consequences. Yes, there were heavy issues, but the story was balanced with plenty of funny moments, too.
This is the first book that I’ve read by Emily Williams. I’m going to pick up her debut novel, Letters to Eloise, as well.
February 12, 2018
Last year, I read Emily Williams' debut novel, Letters to Eloise and it became one of my best reads of 2017. She contacted me a couple of weeks ago, asking whether I could read her new novel that's coming out on February 14th 2018 and I jumped at the chance. I was so excited that I emailed her back straight away saying 'yes', and as soon as Williams had sent me the book, I started to read...
Rafferty Lincoln doesn't like horses. Not one bit. But when the popular high school girl of his dreams, Liberty Ashburn pulls him into a world of lead ropes and horse brushes, who is he to say no?
Except this isn't any old horse. This is the missing racehorse, Profit's Red Ridge. The horse Rafferty and three of his friends are hiding from the world. And Liberty Ashburn isn’t just any ordinary high school girl. How far will Rafferty go to win her over?
The first thing that I'm going to say about this book is that it's not as good as Letter to Eloise BUT it's still a very very good novel. Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is aimed more at a young adult audience whereas Letters to Eloise was aimed at a more adult audience. However, the one thing that is similar between both novels is that Williams really knows how to punch your gut with emotions. As LTE, this novel really played with emotions when it came to the characters, especially Rafferty and Liberty. At first, I loved them, then I hated them, then loved them again... It was a see-saw of emotions. All of the characters with RLL were deeply flawed which made me connect with them on a huge level. I hate it when YA characters don't have any flaws because c'mon, there is not one single individual on this entire planet that does not have any flaws. Rafferty and Liberty messed up. A LOT. And at times, Rafferty and Lincoln could just be plain horrible with how they treat each other, especially when they start rumours about each other and spread them around the school. I really really hated them for that, but at the end of the day, even though it's horrible to admit, that DOES happen in reality in high school. Which is a shame but Williams knows how to capture the reality of young adulthood in her novels.
I also loved that the underlying storyline of this book was about horses. Now, I'm not a big fan of horses, but I can appreciate them and it was a different plot to read about than normal YA novels. Sure, RLL still had the same YA themes running throughout (coming of age, realising who you are as a person, working through personal troubles), but no matter how little or well the characters got on with each other, they always pulled together to look after Minty, the horse.
One of my favourite characters in this book was Dexter. I loved how sweet he was with Minty, I loved how he would always try and sort out any crinkles in the friendship group and be (sometimes) be the mediator in arguments, and I just loved how brave he was. It was so sad to see him go through all of the trouble at high school and my heart just bled for him. He was such an innocent human being that I wanted to give a massive hug and just protect from the cruelty of the world. Alas, that's not possible. Also, it wasn't clearly stated in the novel, but I had the feeling that there were some feelings between Will and Dexter? I don't know if anyone else got this impression, but it was definitely there for me when I read it.
Overall, this was a fantastic second novel from Williams. Even though I had a bit of a hit-and-miss relationship with Rafferty and Liberty, I still enjoyed reading their story. Williams just proves that she is an incredible writer that can seam together different characters lives and teenage problems brilliantly. Her writing keeps improving and I cannot wait to read more of her work!
If you love YA, then you NEED to give Raffety Lincoln Loves... a read!
Rafferty Lincoln doesn't like horses. Not one bit. But when the popular high school girl of his dreams, Liberty Ashburn pulls him into a world of lead ropes and horse brushes, who is he to say no?
Except this isn't any old horse. This is the missing racehorse, Profit's Red Ridge. The horse Rafferty and three of his friends are hiding from the world. And Liberty Ashburn isn’t just any ordinary high school girl. How far will Rafferty go to win her over?
The first thing that I'm going to say about this book is that it's not as good as Letter to Eloise BUT it's still a very very good novel. Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is aimed more at a young adult audience whereas Letters to Eloise was aimed at a more adult audience. However, the one thing that is similar between both novels is that Williams really knows how to punch your gut with emotions. As LTE, this novel really played with emotions when it came to the characters, especially Rafferty and Liberty. At first, I loved them, then I hated them, then loved them again... It was a see-saw of emotions. All of the characters with RLL were deeply flawed which made me connect with them on a huge level. I hate it when YA characters don't have any flaws because c'mon, there is not one single individual on this entire planet that does not have any flaws. Rafferty and Liberty messed up. A LOT. And at times, Rafferty and Lincoln could just be plain horrible with how they treat each other, especially when they start rumours about each other and spread them around the school. I really really hated them for that, but at the end of the day, even though it's horrible to admit, that DOES happen in reality in high school. Which is a shame but Williams knows how to capture the reality of young adulthood in her novels.
I also loved that the underlying storyline of this book was about horses. Now, I'm not a big fan of horses, but I can appreciate them and it was a different plot to read about than normal YA novels. Sure, RLL still had the same YA themes running throughout (coming of age, realising who you are as a person, working through personal troubles), but no matter how little or well the characters got on with each other, they always pulled together to look after Minty, the horse.
One of my favourite characters in this book was Dexter. I loved how sweet he was with Minty, I loved how he would always try and sort out any crinkles in the friendship group and be (sometimes) be the mediator in arguments, and I just loved how brave he was. It was so sad to see him go through all of the trouble at high school and my heart just bled for him. He was such an innocent human being that I wanted to give a massive hug and just protect from the cruelty of the world. Alas, that's not possible. Also, it wasn't clearly stated in the novel, but I had the feeling that there were some feelings between Will and Dexter? I don't know if anyone else got this impression, but it was definitely there for me when I read it.
Overall, this was a fantastic second novel from Williams. Even though I had a bit of a hit-and-miss relationship with Rafferty and Liberty, I still enjoyed reading their story. Williams just proves that she is an incredible writer that can seam together different characters lives and teenage problems brilliantly. Her writing keeps improving and I cannot wait to read more of her work!
If you love YA, then you NEED to give Raffety Lincoln Loves... a read!
April 8, 2018
The following review is from my 15-year-old daughter. I have also read this wonderful book and will add my thoughts after hers. "I loved this book and it actually made me cry at the end. I liked how lots of normal teenage stuff went on among the unlikely friends in this book, such as trying to fit in, trying to get a girlfriend, bullying, drama at home etc, and that this was interwoven with the main storyline of the missing race horse. I was really rooting for all the characters and really want to read more YA books by this author!"
I read this book after my daughter and she described it as a must-read and one of her favourite books this year. I also enjoyed how the normal trials and tribulations of teenage life were entwined with the main drama of the missing race horse. Rafferty is a normal teenage boy who is slightly obsessed with the ultra popular Liberty Ashburn. When he comes across a missing racehorse, he sees this as a chance to get into horse-loving Liberty's good books. Along with her younger brother Will, and Dexter, the scruffy outcast who is bullied at school, the unlikely friends secure a hiding place for Minty the horse and spend one long summer caring for him, falling in love with him and trying to hide their secret. I really liked all the characters, none of whom were perfect, but all of whom were memorable. And as my daughter mentioned, a truly emotional ending, so be warned! This is the second book I have read by Emily Williams and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
I read this book after my daughter and she described it as a must-read and one of her favourite books this year. I also enjoyed how the normal trials and tribulations of teenage life were entwined with the main drama of the missing race horse. Rafferty is a normal teenage boy who is slightly obsessed with the ultra popular Liberty Ashburn. When he comes across a missing racehorse, he sees this as a chance to get into horse-loving Liberty's good books. Along with her younger brother Will, and Dexter, the scruffy outcast who is bullied at school, the unlikely friends secure a hiding place for Minty the horse and spend one long summer caring for him, falling in love with him and trying to hide their secret. I really liked all the characters, none of whom were perfect, but all of whom were memorable. And as my daughter mentioned, a truly emotional ending, so be warned! This is the second book I have read by Emily Williams and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!
April 29, 2018
An intense, powerful, moving read.
The four main protagonists, all teenagers of slightly different ages and in different social strata at school, are wonderfully realized. Drawn together by their discovery of a missing racehorse, whom they choose to hide and care for themselves, the four very disparate characters work together out of school in secret, while at school they remain strangers.
The complexities of the social pecking order at high school are cleverly and authentically drawn. Rafferty has a painfully one-sided relationship with top notch bitch and mean girl Liberty: he exposes himself on more than one occasion. Despite the fact we see her insecurities, and understand where her cruelty is coming from, still she is not a sympathetic character.
Dexter, the physically abused outcast at the bottom of the social order, has great horsemanship skills and finds the love he needs in his attachment and care for their illegally acquired horse. He is a deeply affecting character: with his humour, and resilience, and ability to be true to himself against all adversity, the reader’s heart goes out to him. Rafferty acknowledges, too late, that he is so bound up with his own relatively trivial but emotionally overwhelming problems (does Liberty like me?) that he chose to ignore Dexter’s far more serious problems, which it would have been social suicide to confront, anyway.
This is a book that deals with big issues, like child abuse and bullying, and deals with them powerfully through character. And despite the darkness and the emotionally shattering ending, this is still a story that is hopeful at heart. People can change: people can learn, and get better. There is even a slight lack of closure, which gives hope that the worst outcome is not necessarily a foregone conclusion, and I liked that.
Highly, highly recommended.
The four main protagonists, all teenagers of slightly different ages and in different social strata at school, are wonderfully realized. Drawn together by their discovery of a missing racehorse, whom they choose to hide and care for themselves, the four very disparate characters work together out of school in secret, while at school they remain strangers.
The complexities of the social pecking order at high school are cleverly and authentically drawn. Rafferty has a painfully one-sided relationship with top notch bitch and mean girl Liberty: he exposes himself on more than one occasion. Despite the fact we see her insecurities, and understand where her cruelty is coming from, still she is not a sympathetic character.
Dexter, the physically abused outcast at the bottom of the social order, has great horsemanship skills and finds the love he needs in his attachment and care for their illegally acquired horse. He is a deeply affecting character: with his humour, and resilience, and ability to be true to himself against all adversity, the reader’s heart goes out to him. Rafferty acknowledges, too late, that he is so bound up with his own relatively trivial but emotionally overwhelming problems (does Liberty like me?) that he chose to ignore Dexter’s far more serious problems, which it would have been social suicide to confront, anyway.
This is a book that deals with big issues, like child abuse and bullying, and deals with them powerfully through character. And despite the darkness and the emotionally shattering ending, this is still a story that is hopeful at heart. People can change: people can learn, and get better. There is even a slight lack of closure, which gives hope that the worst outcome is not necessarily a foregone conclusion, and I liked that.
Highly, highly recommended.
Read
February 19, 2018Take four disparate teenagers:
• Rafferty – out to improve his popularity with girls and going about it in all the wrong ways;
• Liberty – Queen Bee at school and the object of Rafferty’s desire;
• Will – Liberty’s amiable younger brother;
• Dexter – bullied at school, with a shadowy home life, but an expert horseman.
Let them find a horse: a beautiful bay gelding that they name Minty and put in a disused field by a canal.
Not only must they learn how to keep a horse, they have to keep a secret too as they suspect it is a famous racehorse that has been reported missing across every national and local news outlet. Bound by their secret and their growing affection for Minty, these four non-friends spend their evenings, weekends and summer together by the canal. But pressures in their school and home lives can’t be ignored forever. They realise that nothing can stay the same.
Good characterization and well described scenes of horse riding and horse care. (Even the dangers of ragwort got a mention which was my first thought when the teens put the horse in an abandoned field.)
Ideal for horsey readers or anyone who enjoys stories about relationships. Suitable for mid-teens. Contains swearing and some sexual references.
• Rafferty – out to improve his popularity with girls and going about it in all the wrong ways;
• Liberty – Queen Bee at school and the object of Rafferty’s desire;
• Will – Liberty’s amiable younger brother;
• Dexter – bullied at school, with a shadowy home life, but an expert horseman.
Let them find a horse: a beautiful bay gelding that they name Minty and put in a disused field by a canal.
Not only must they learn how to keep a horse, they have to keep a secret too as they suspect it is a famous racehorse that has been reported missing across every national and local news outlet. Bound by their secret and their growing affection for Minty, these four non-friends spend their evenings, weekends and summer together by the canal. But pressures in their school and home lives can’t be ignored forever. They realise that nothing can stay the same.
Good characterization and well described scenes of horse riding and horse care. (Even the dangers of ragwort got a mention which was my first thought when the teens put the horse in an abandoned field.)
Ideal for horsey readers or anyone who enjoys stories about relationships. Suitable for mid-teens. Contains swearing and some sexual references.
February 24, 2018
A Coming of Age Tale That Touches The Soul.
“None of you realise the consequences of your gossiping. Not one of you.”
Rafferty Lincoln is in his last year of school. He’s going through all the social anxiety any lad his age runs through and on top of that he has bad relations with his step-father. The lust of his life is the unobtainable Liberty Ashburn. But then he finds Minty and the horse-mad Liberty is hooked. Together with Wilbur, Liberty’s brother and the odd kid Dexter, who is the school victim, Rafferty sets about keeping the horse a secret. A secret that takes over their lives...
There are times I could wish for a louder voice to tell the world about a book. This is one such time for this is a powerful book. It touches on the darkest side of childhood and teenage - the wanton, thoughtless, cruelty to peers; the vulnerability and loneliness; the misery of being victims of family disagreements or worse. But it is not a dark book. It is buoyant and hopeful, with humour and friendship. Above all it is real. No adult can read this and not be taken back to their days at school and any teen reading it is going to recognise themselves in this story. And that is no accident, it has been masterfully crafted by a brilliant author to be that way.
“Bloody Dexter,” I mumbled loudly, turning to flash a sweet smile back at him. “You wait, I’ll be a horse whisperer before you know it.”
The strongest point in this book has to be the characters. They are all so real, with the complexities of good intentions and thoughtlessness, kindness and selfishness, courage and cowardice - the paradox of being human and more so in the exaggerated landscape of teenage where individuals are still trying to navigate their sense of self between the shoals of those extremes. The pace is perfect, rising and falling with the mini-crises, like waves running up a beach, until the final tsunami sweeps the story away.
The story itself is made believable, although objectively it is unlikely that a group of teens could find a place deserted enough to hide a horse and have no one notice for months on end. But the author makes it possible. The ending is bleak but not without hope. There is no final confirmation and the reader is left with the feeling that perhaps the ultimate verdict is not as absolute as even the characters seem to believe. I liked that.
‘Looking back, I always wondered who saw whom first. Did the horse already know I was approaching from the rhythmic whirring of my wheels as I free-glided down the hill, or did I see the horse first, grazing on the grass verge down the dip in the narrow country lane?’
If I were to find fault with this book at all it would be in the amount of foreshadowing. There is a lot too much of blatant foreshadowing rather than subtle and towards the end of the book rather than ramping up tension it becomes more of a spoiler. The events that unfold there would be more powerful, in my opinion, if they were not flagged up by the author and came to the reader as more of a surprise. In anticipating them, the impact is diminished. There are a few too many ‘if only I’d known’ type comments, so the events come to seem more inevitable than avoidable, when the truth is they were totally avoidable. But that is a very small fault in what is a truly masterful piece of writing.
I loved this book. If I had to say who I recommend should read it, that is easy - everyone should.
“None of you realise the consequences of your gossiping. Not one of you.”
Rafferty Lincoln is in his last year of school. He’s going through all the social anxiety any lad his age runs through and on top of that he has bad relations with his step-father. The lust of his life is the unobtainable Liberty Ashburn. But then he finds Minty and the horse-mad Liberty is hooked. Together with Wilbur, Liberty’s brother and the odd kid Dexter, who is the school victim, Rafferty sets about keeping the horse a secret. A secret that takes over their lives...
There are times I could wish for a louder voice to tell the world about a book. This is one such time for this is a powerful book. It touches on the darkest side of childhood and teenage - the wanton, thoughtless, cruelty to peers; the vulnerability and loneliness; the misery of being victims of family disagreements or worse. But it is not a dark book. It is buoyant and hopeful, with humour and friendship. Above all it is real. No adult can read this and not be taken back to their days at school and any teen reading it is going to recognise themselves in this story. And that is no accident, it has been masterfully crafted by a brilliant author to be that way.
“Bloody Dexter,” I mumbled loudly, turning to flash a sweet smile back at him. “You wait, I’ll be a horse whisperer before you know it.”
The strongest point in this book has to be the characters. They are all so real, with the complexities of good intentions and thoughtlessness, kindness and selfishness, courage and cowardice - the paradox of being human and more so in the exaggerated landscape of teenage where individuals are still trying to navigate their sense of self between the shoals of those extremes. The pace is perfect, rising and falling with the mini-crises, like waves running up a beach, until the final tsunami sweeps the story away.
The story itself is made believable, although objectively it is unlikely that a group of teens could find a place deserted enough to hide a horse and have no one notice for months on end. But the author makes it possible. The ending is bleak but not without hope. There is no final confirmation and the reader is left with the feeling that perhaps the ultimate verdict is not as absolute as even the characters seem to believe. I liked that.
‘Looking back, I always wondered who saw whom first. Did the horse already know I was approaching from the rhythmic whirring of my wheels as I free-glided down the hill, or did I see the horse first, grazing on the grass verge down the dip in the narrow country lane?’
If I were to find fault with this book at all it would be in the amount of foreshadowing. There is a lot too much of blatant foreshadowing rather than subtle and towards the end of the book rather than ramping up tension it becomes more of a spoiler. The events that unfold there would be more powerful, in my opinion, if they were not flagged up by the author and came to the reader as more of a surprise. In anticipating them, the impact is diminished. There are a few too many ‘if only I’d known’ type comments, so the events come to seem more inevitable than avoidable, when the truth is they were totally avoidable. But that is a very small fault in what is a truly masterful piece of writing.
I loved this book. If I had to say who I recommend should read it, that is easy - everyone should.
June 17, 2018
If You’re Male, You’ll Probably See Some of Yourself in Raff Lincoln
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is a fanciful, young-adult book about four teenagers who scarcely knew each other at school, but who bond to care for a horse they find. The main character, Rafferty (Raff) Lincoln cares nothing about horses, but he’s idolized Liberty Ashburn for years. So, when she becomes involved, so does he. Much of the rest of the story is Raff trying to catch her eye, with more than one of his hapless attempts making me laugh aloud…like seeing if he can impress her with how fast he can ride his bike. Other actions, however, made me cringe at his impulsiveness and ineptitude. Liberty, on the other hand, is not easily swayed. As the most popular girl in school, she wants everyone’s adoration, including Raff’s, but nothing more. It might hurt her image.
The author sprinkles in several serious topics – the price of popularity (as I mentioned), the effect of confidences betrayed, bullying, and even child abuse. At such times, one or more of the figures would come out of character and speak with wisdom beyond their years, making the story feel a bit artificial at that point. But it is mostly light and humorous…until it gives way to a rather dramatic ending that will stay with you for a while.
It’s difficult to say who is the appropriate audience for this book. The synopsis says, “…older young adults,” which is probably due to the language; Liberty’s use of profanity helps sell her image as the queen bee and Rafferty’s helps convey the heat of the moment. But while the language says older, much of the action seems aimed at the younger end of the scale, like suggesting graffiti that says, “Rafferty Lincoln Loves…” would teach him a lesson. Would young adults say anything to that beyond, ‘whatever?’ And several of Raff’s inner thoughts hardly seemed like they came from the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy, e.g., “She smelt of summer flowers and linen, probably just her washing powder fragrance. Heavenly.”
Finally, not to be overlooked – the proceeds from the book go to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, a very worthy cause. So, you can feel good about your purchase, as you chuckle about Raff’s misfortunes and watch him grow as the pages turn.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves… is a fanciful, young-adult book about four teenagers who scarcely knew each other at school, but who bond to care for a horse they find. The main character, Rafferty (Raff) Lincoln cares nothing about horses, but he’s idolized Liberty Ashburn for years. So, when she becomes involved, so does he. Much of the rest of the story is Raff trying to catch her eye, with more than one of his hapless attempts making me laugh aloud…like seeing if he can impress her with how fast he can ride his bike. Other actions, however, made me cringe at his impulsiveness and ineptitude. Liberty, on the other hand, is not easily swayed. As the most popular girl in school, she wants everyone’s adoration, including Raff’s, but nothing more. It might hurt her image.
The author sprinkles in several serious topics – the price of popularity (as I mentioned), the effect of confidences betrayed, bullying, and even child abuse. At such times, one or more of the figures would come out of character and speak with wisdom beyond their years, making the story feel a bit artificial at that point. But it is mostly light and humorous…until it gives way to a rather dramatic ending that will stay with you for a while.
It’s difficult to say who is the appropriate audience for this book. The synopsis says, “…older young adults,” which is probably due to the language; Liberty’s use of profanity helps sell her image as the queen bee and Rafferty’s helps convey the heat of the moment. But while the language says older, much of the action seems aimed at the younger end of the scale, like suggesting graffiti that says, “Rafferty Lincoln Loves…” would teach him a lesson. Would young adults say anything to that beyond, ‘whatever?’ And several of Raff’s inner thoughts hardly seemed like they came from the mind of a sixteen-year-old boy, e.g., “She smelt of summer flowers and linen, probably just her washing powder fragrance. Heavenly.”
Finally, not to be overlooked – the proceeds from the book go to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, a very worthy cause. So, you can feel good about your purchase, as you chuckle about Raff’s misfortunes and watch him grow as the pages turn.
March 23, 2018
I have to make a little admission before I start my review, the thing is I like horses but I'm slightly afraid of them! The idea of horse riding sounds lovely but I just think I would be too scared to try. Although maybe I should be brave like Rafferty and give it a try. Now even though this book centres around a horse there is so much more to it than that. It has a depth that caught me out and within a few chapters I became completely wrapped up in the lives of Rafferty and his friends.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is a YA story but I also believe it would appeal to an older reader too, after all I'm 33 years old! If anything it made me remember my teenage years both the good and the bad. With swearing and some adult themes it could be more suited to an older teenager and up though. There is a more serious underlying storyline that captured my attention although I won't be giving away any spoilers. It's safe to say that it definitely pulled at my heart strings!
Emily Williams has created some wonderful characters and even though they had their flaws I still became attached to them. I have to give a special mention to Dexter as he was such a surprising character and with me having a little boy with the same name I guess I may have gravitated more to him but his story is special. Rafferty along with other characters made mistakes but this gave them all a more realistic edge and shows how our actions have consequences. After all day in day out we make decisions that can either work out or end in a bad way.
There are quite a few themes in this book such as bullying and teenage emotions that will resonate with quite a few people. Emily Williams has created such a wonderful heartfelt and engaging story that was a pleasure to read.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... has a lovely combination of friendship, love and youthful adventure!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Emily Williams for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... is a YA story but I also believe it would appeal to an older reader too, after all I'm 33 years old! If anything it made me remember my teenage years both the good and the bad. With swearing and some adult themes it could be more suited to an older teenager and up though. There is a more serious underlying storyline that captured my attention although I won't be giving away any spoilers. It's safe to say that it definitely pulled at my heart strings!
Emily Williams has created some wonderful characters and even though they had their flaws I still became attached to them. I have to give a special mention to Dexter as he was such a surprising character and with me having a little boy with the same name I guess I may have gravitated more to him but his story is special. Rafferty along with other characters made mistakes but this gave them all a more realistic edge and shows how our actions have consequences. After all day in day out we make decisions that can either work out or end in a bad way.
There are quite a few themes in this book such as bullying and teenage emotions that will resonate with quite a few people. Emily Williams has created such a wonderful heartfelt and engaging story that was a pleasure to read.
Rafferty Lincoln Loves... has a lovely combination of friendship, love and youthful adventure!
Five stars from me!
With thanks to Emily Williams for my copy. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.
April 15, 2018
This YA book is not the kind of thing that I usually read, but I am glad that I did. What made it better is that the author is donating all proceeds from this novel to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre - an excellent idea.
The book is very cleverly written in the way it deals with quite nasty topics such as bullying and violence but still creates a hopeful, poignant and often lighthearted feel. I'm not really into horses, but I feel that I learned a lot as I read how the kids hid and cared for Minty, an escaped horse - I now know what a "16.3hh Red Bay Gelding with three white socks, and a star, strip and snip marking" actually means (I did have to Google it though). I may not be into horses, and so cannot relate to that aspect of the book, but I was a teenager, and I can definitely related to how the author captures the mood, angst, troubles and impulsiveness of teenagers. There were many times in the book when I thought, "That was me."
I found the characters in this book very believable, and incredibly well constructed. I have teenage children myself, and the author has nailed the way that teenagers speak to each other. One of my kids is reading this book too, and his opinion is - "Dad, this is sick." (Just to clarify, "Sick" is a good thing, like awesome, wicked or bad (good bad not bad bad)).
This is a very compelling read, so make sure you don't have other plans when you start to read it. I lost count of how many times I said to myself, "Just one more chapter."
Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. Kids and adults will enjoy this book. I can't wait to see what the author shares with us next; Emily Williams is definitely a name to watch out for.
If I were to sum up this book in a single word... brilliant.
The book is very cleverly written in the way it deals with quite nasty topics such as bullying and violence but still creates a hopeful, poignant and often lighthearted feel. I'm not really into horses, but I feel that I learned a lot as I read how the kids hid and cared for Minty, an escaped horse - I now know what a "16.3hh Red Bay Gelding with three white socks, and a star, strip and snip marking" actually means (I did have to Google it though). I may not be into horses, and so cannot relate to that aspect of the book, but I was a teenager, and I can definitely related to how the author captures the mood, angst, troubles and impulsiveness of teenagers. There were many times in the book when I thought, "That was me."
I found the characters in this book very believable, and incredibly well constructed. I have teenage children myself, and the author has nailed the way that teenagers speak to each other. One of my kids is reading this book too, and his opinion is - "Dad, this is sick." (Just to clarify, "Sick" is a good thing, like awesome, wicked or bad (good bad not bad bad)).
This is a very compelling read, so make sure you don't have other plans when you start to read it. I lost count of how many times I said to myself, "Just one more chapter."
Would I recommend this book to others? Absolutely. Kids and adults will enjoy this book. I can't wait to see what the author shares with us next; Emily Williams is definitely a name to watch out for.
If I were to sum up this book in a single word... brilliant.
March 12, 2018
I can’t even begin to think how long it is since I’ve read a YA novel .. but, based on this one, I may just be looking at them more often . . .
Unlike many others, I’ve never felt an attraction to horses – they are beautiful animals and the local farm had the most spectacular Palomino in the field who would run across to greet us as we returned home from school. But ride one? Nope, not me. So when I was given the opportunity to read this novel it was the author who attracted me and not necessarily the story. However, I LOVED the story! Every single thing about it!
Very cleverly written, this is a coming-of-age story which plunges you back into the angst and uncertainty of schooldays. Wonderful, true to life descriptions of four young folk brought together by a situation – not of their making – which results in them sharing a secret. As with any secret, there are repercussions, and not always foreseen ones. There follows some glorious months of secret meeting and public disowning of each other while privately they revel in each other’s company.
With plenty of giggles and more than a hint of sadness, this has been a great book to read and one I would recommend whatever age you are and regardless of how you feel towards horses. Very fittingly, all proceeds are going to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre.
I am very grateful to the author for offering me a copy of this novel to read; her debut novel, Letters to Eloise, was my book of the year for 2017 and I feel sure this one will follow in also being a great success. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
Unlike many others, I’ve never felt an attraction to horses – they are beautiful animals and the local farm had the most spectacular Palomino in the field who would run across to greet us as we returned home from school. But ride one? Nope, not me. So when I was given the opportunity to read this novel it was the author who attracted me and not necessarily the story. However, I LOVED the story! Every single thing about it!
Very cleverly written, this is a coming-of-age story which plunges you back into the angst and uncertainty of schooldays. Wonderful, true to life descriptions of four young folk brought together by a situation – not of their making – which results in them sharing a secret. As with any secret, there are repercussions, and not always foreseen ones. There follows some glorious months of secret meeting and public disowning of each other while privately they revel in each other’s company.
With plenty of giggles and more than a hint of sadness, this has been a great book to read and one I would recommend whatever age you are and regardless of how you feel towards horses. Very fittingly, all proceeds are going to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre.
I am very grateful to the author for offering me a copy of this novel to read; her debut novel, Letters to Eloise, was my book of the year for 2017 and I feel sure this one will follow in also being a great success. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.
June 11, 2018
“Rafferty Lincoln Loves” is a young adult book, about a horse which all the characters loved; but more than that about the trials and tribulations of growing up. Bullying, passionate adolescent love, betrayal. All emotions and experiences are existential when seen through that terrible mist of puberty. We all lived these things – the bully who would destroy our lives. The girl we could never get to talk to us, and how it foreshadowed the inevitable future of living in our parents’ basement forever. But somehow we all make it, don’t we? Bumps and bruises along the way are like the aches we get from working out, they hurt but they make us stronger.
Couple of things about this book. First of all, there was too much swearing for a young adult book. I know, I too put swearing in my adult novels so perhaps am not one to point this out; but swearing should be saved for the right audience and should be used much as a “!” in literature, very rarely and only to accentuate something when you want to snap your readers attention back to the book. Also, and perhaps I’m a ‘moralist’ but the early years are times to instill in our children ideas of right and wrong, to be clear and stark and commanding in their imaginations in the hopes that some things stay with them into life, where situations are more often shades of grey than black and white. Its why I like “The Hobbit” and “Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” or others which have a deep meaning – a deep magic. But that’s just me.
Notwithstanding, this was a fine read and well written, flowing smoothly. Adolescence is a hard time indeed.
Couple of things about this book. First of all, there was too much swearing for a young adult book. I know, I too put swearing in my adult novels so perhaps am not one to point this out; but swearing should be saved for the right audience and should be used much as a “!” in literature, very rarely and only to accentuate something when you want to snap your readers attention back to the book. Also, and perhaps I’m a ‘moralist’ but the early years are times to instill in our children ideas of right and wrong, to be clear and stark and commanding in their imaginations in the hopes that some things stay with them into life, where situations are more often shades of grey than black and white. Its why I like “The Hobbit” and “Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe” or others which have a deep meaning – a deep magic. But that’s just me.
Notwithstanding, this was a fine read and well written, flowing smoothly. Adolescence is a hard time indeed.
March 10, 2018
I'm an older soul but still young at heart and "Rafferty Lincoln loves..." took me back to my pre-adult years. Four teens - completely different from one another unite together because of a secret. A truck and trailer transporting racehorses got into an accident and one of the horses escapes. Rafferty, Lexter and Will, strangers to each other, just happen to be in the same place at the same time when discovering the horse. They decide to hide it and keep it for themselves. Will's sister, Liberty is brought into the group because of her knowledge of horses.
Rafferty knew who Liberty was and had a terrible crush on her. Liberty would have had nothing to do with him if it hadn't been because of the horse they now named Minty.
As a teen, I had the opportunity to ride horses and loved it. So I might have done the same thing these kids did in keeping the horse a secret.
I also remember back in those years of high school, the bullying that went on. Emily's story brought back a lot of memories. At times reading about Dexter and the dark secrets behind his problematic situation was heartbreaking. At other times I wished Rafferty would tell off snobby Liberty but he was too love-stricken.
The four agree to never speak to one another during school hours but directly afterward they became a close-knit group with their own pet horse that now has a huge reward on its head.
The story was so well written and you absolutely become one with the characters. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
Rafferty knew who Liberty was and had a terrible crush on her. Liberty would have had nothing to do with him if it hadn't been because of the horse they now named Minty.
As a teen, I had the opportunity to ride horses and loved it. So I might have done the same thing these kids did in keeping the horse a secret.
I also remember back in those years of high school, the bullying that went on. Emily's story brought back a lot of memories. At times reading about Dexter and the dark secrets behind his problematic situation was heartbreaking. At other times I wished Rafferty would tell off snobby Liberty but he was too love-stricken.
The four agree to never speak to one another during school hours but directly afterward they became a close-knit group with their own pet horse that now has a huge reward on its head.
The story was so well written and you absolutely become one with the characters. I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.
April 21, 2018
Finally, a well written and interesting story from the very first word of it. It makes for a quick read and kept my attention all the way through. For me, the best thing about the book is that the words flow nicely and has a lively feel to it,
Living in a fast-paced, high-technology world, we are losing our emotions with human and animals somewhere in our day to day life and this is what it highlights.
This story is a musical combination of love and emotions towards the horses. It looked like that It’s coming straight from the author’s heart intended to touch yours directly.
Since its storyline is completely different and it illustrates that young adults embracing passion and love for horses, as well as promoting for their welfare. Also displaying that the relationship and incredible bond between horse and rider but it also explores darker aspects relevant to today’s challenging world of growing up. The crux of story is missing champion race horse after a fatal car accident and is full with lots of twists till the end.
There is one thing however which disconnected me often with the story and especially in the mid-section where the words used for the explanation of emotions are in large quantities just to reach the intended goal with the audience. Rest of the words and storyline is thrilling and would keep the book gripped in your hand lest you finish it.
Overall, an entertaining read which might leave you touched from so many different perspectives.
Living in a fast-paced, high-technology world, we are losing our emotions with human and animals somewhere in our day to day life and this is what it highlights.
This story is a musical combination of love and emotions towards the horses. It looked like that It’s coming straight from the author’s heart intended to touch yours directly.
Since its storyline is completely different and it illustrates that young adults embracing passion and love for horses, as well as promoting for their welfare. Also displaying that the relationship and incredible bond between horse and rider but it also explores darker aspects relevant to today’s challenging world of growing up. The crux of story is missing champion race horse after a fatal car accident and is full with lots of twists till the end.
There is one thing however which disconnected me often with the story and especially in the mid-section where the words used for the explanation of emotions are in large quantities just to reach the intended goal with the audience. Rest of the words and storyline is thrilling and would keep the book gripped in your hand lest you finish it.
Overall, an entertaining read which might leave you touched from so many different perspectives.
July 17, 2018
A Top Story for Horse Lovers
I was asked to write a review of this novel, although I am not a horse lover, nor an animal fan in any sense of the word. Having lived in a city and travelled much, that is probably understandable. So I approached this book with a little bias. But, at the end, I found the story to have been worth the read.
This is a tale about four 18-year-olds who for better or worse find themselves attached to a stray racehorse. Rafferty, the narrator, a sixth former schoolboy, takes the reader on an adventure centred around this horse, but there is a deeper moral to the story that most parents will immediately recognise: the darker side of adolescence and school life. However, parents with pre-adolescent children will benefit most from the story-telling. If your kids are older and immersed in the distractions of the internet, "puppy love/sex" and Netflix, they will find this story boring. But beware of the strong language! The story wouldn't lose anything if the bad language were to be kept to a reasonable level. The group is actually quite pleasant and the swearing only degrades the image.
Parents with children at the lower end of the YA age level will find the story interesting, especially if horse-riding is their thing. There are many technical things they can relate to. But whatever their age, this book is definitely a recommended read for fans of horse or animal stories.
I was asked to write a review of this novel, although I am not a horse lover, nor an animal fan in any sense of the word. Having lived in a city and travelled much, that is probably understandable. So I approached this book with a little bias. But, at the end, I found the story to have been worth the read.
This is a tale about four 18-year-olds who for better or worse find themselves attached to a stray racehorse. Rafferty, the narrator, a sixth former schoolboy, takes the reader on an adventure centred around this horse, but there is a deeper moral to the story that most parents will immediately recognise: the darker side of adolescence and school life. However, parents with pre-adolescent children will benefit most from the story-telling. If your kids are older and immersed in the distractions of the internet, "puppy love/sex" and Netflix, they will find this story boring. But beware of the strong language! The story wouldn't lose anything if the bad language were to be kept to a reasonable level. The group is actually quite pleasant and the swearing only degrades the image.
Parents with children at the lower end of the YA age level will find the story interesting, especially if horse-riding is their thing. There are many technical things they can relate to. But whatever their age, this book is definitely a recommended read for fans of horse or animal stories.
April 23, 2018
I love the way this young adult novel flows with twists and turns as its
author explores the fascinating social dynamics of her characters’ peer
group: raw, competitive, emotional and sometimes downright cruel. It
brought home to me how much we can learn about our fellow human beings
by simple observation.
The novel’s main characters are so well drawn they leap off the page.
Liberty, her brother, Will, and their friend, Dexter, have a common
interest in horses that they pursue after school (and sometimes instead
of school). Liberty is the focus of the romantic attentions of the
eponymous Rafferty, who joins the group in consequence.
The plot centres around the group’s discovery of a stray horse and their
attempts to look after it. The downtrodden Dexter comes into his own as
a kind of ‘horse whisperer’ in what I found to be a very powerful and
moving transformation.
I might be biased, because horses played a major role in my childhood,
but I found myself completely immersed in both the plot and the fortunes
of Dexter, and the final resolution of his character’s storyline will
stay with me for a very long time to come.
The book contains invaluable lessons for any young adult, and if you are
a parent of one then you might profitably encourage them to read it.
author explores the fascinating social dynamics of her characters’ peer
group: raw, competitive, emotional and sometimes downright cruel. It
brought home to me how much we can learn about our fellow human beings
by simple observation.
The novel’s main characters are so well drawn they leap off the page.
Liberty, her brother, Will, and their friend, Dexter, have a common
interest in horses that they pursue after school (and sometimes instead
of school). Liberty is the focus of the romantic attentions of the
eponymous Rafferty, who joins the group in consequence.
The plot centres around the group’s discovery of a stray horse and their
attempts to look after it. The downtrodden Dexter comes into his own as
a kind of ‘horse whisperer’ in what I found to be a very powerful and
moving transformation.
I might be biased, because horses played a major role in my childhood,
but I found myself completely immersed in both the plot and the fortunes
of Dexter, and the final resolution of his character’s storyline will
stay with me for a very long time to come.
The book contains invaluable lessons for any young adult, and if you are
a parent of one then you might profitably encourage them to read it.
May 18, 2018
This is a charming story with much depth and emotion. As a lifelong rider and horse owner I absolutely loved that this book featured a horse that each of the characters develop a special bond with!
I think it's fabulous that all the proceeds from this book benefit a charity that retrains retired racehorses.
I also loved the origami animals that the characters made! The author is very talented and this is not by any means a bad book, I think I just never connected with it the way I hoped to, and I'm not really sure why. I enjoy realistic fiction, but perhaps this one was a tad bit too gritty and raw for my personal taste.
There is a lot of swearing in this book. I understand that it is pretty much a given in a general market novel, but this book contains a huge profusion of f-bombs, which I must admit was something I never expected to be faced with in a YA novel. Unfortunately, the language did impact my ability to fully enjoy the novel, and sadly keeps me from being able to rate this book higher.
(2.5 stars)
I think it's fabulous that all the proceeds from this book benefit a charity that retrains retired racehorses.
I also loved the origami animals that the characters made! The author is very talented and this is not by any means a bad book, I think I just never connected with it the way I hoped to, and I'm not really sure why. I enjoy realistic fiction, but perhaps this one was a tad bit too gritty and raw for my personal taste.
There is a lot of swearing in this book. I understand that it is pretty much a given in a general market novel, but this book contains a huge profusion of f-bombs, which I must admit was something I never expected to be faced with in a YA novel. Unfortunately, the language did impact my ability to fully enjoy the novel, and sadly keeps me from being able to rate this book higher.
(2.5 stars)
March 22, 2018
Dang. I mean... I am still digesting what happened in this book. First, I want to slow clap for Emily Williams because she has imprinted her character, Dexter, forever on my soul. I shall never forget him or his message. Ever. The story follows Rafferty Lincoln as he is pulled into a situation with three people he's only known in passing at school, and now they all need to band together to hide a horse. It was cringe-worthy at times being in a mind of a teenager, not the writing at all, just the memories of how dumb being a teenager can make you at times. But, the author writes the whole gang spot on. Her character development is excellent. I did receive a free copy of this book, but that in no one shapes my review. In fact, I purchased the book after reading it because proceeds from the novel will be donated to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, and I believe it to be a good cause to support. Not to mention this awesome author, whom I will be looking out for in the future.
February 18, 2019
Tragedy brings together diversity.
This is a coming of age story carefully crafted to connect all walks of life. A single summer changes the lives of an entire community.
A tragic accident brings together an unlikely group of kids. Told through the eyes of Rafferty, an average teenage boy, this story is a prime example of people from all walks of life being able to come together for a single cause. From the abused boy to the popular girl, each teenager has a stake in keeping the secret safe. Each has a very different, but very real reason for not involving others outside the core group.
While watching Rafferty navigate through his hormones, my interest kept swaying to Dexter. Dexter is a complex character. He is not typical. He is not lazy. He is not carefree. Dexter is the boy who needs what other’s take for granted.
I love how the book ended. Again, there was a tragedy, but this time we were left with a small window of hope - at least, I feel hopeful.
This is a coming of age story carefully crafted to connect all walks of life. A single summer changes the lives of an entire community.
A tragic accident brings together an unlikely group of kids. Told through the eyes of Rafferty, an average teenage boy, this story is a prime example of people from all walks of life being able to come together for a single cause. From the abused boy to the popular girl, each teenager has a stake in keeping the secret safe. Each has a very different, but very real reason for not involving others outside the core group.
While watching Rafferty navigate through his hormones, my interest kept swaying to Dexter. Dexter is a complex character. He is not typical. He is not lazy. He is not carefree. Dexter is the boy who needs what other’s take for granted.
I love how the book ended. Again, there was a tragedy, but this time we were left with a small window of hope - at least, I feel hopeful.
March 2, 2018
First off I absolutely loved this book. I love the fact that a passion and concern for Minty brought kids from all walks of life, in completely different social standings at school together. Co-operating and working together to help a beautiful animal.
When stripped of each of their social status you got down to the bare bones of who they are. And being teenagers, they of course quarrelled and bickered and each thought they were right but ultimately they came together for something that was more important than their egos.
I also love that fact that all characters were written with flaws and Williams has captured the essence of a self involved teenager brilliantly.
This book is heartfelt, relevant and powerful. Williams know how to hit you in the feels.
I would like to thank Emily Williams for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
When stripped of each of their social status you got down to the bare bones of who they are. And being teenagers, they of course quarrelled and bickered and each thought they were right but ultimately they came together for something that was more important than their egos.
I also love that fact that all characters were written with flaws and Williams has captured the essence of a self involved teenager brilliantly.
This book is heartfelt, relevant and powerful. Williams know how to hit you in the feels.
I would like to thank Emily Williams for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
March 19, 2018
An enjoyable coming of age romance with an adventure that puts a group of teenagers to the test. Developed around the children discovering what they believe to be a missing racehorse, the adventure propels the group of unlikely friends on a journey of self-discovery. I tend to read HEA books, but as this is the second book I have read from this author I knew to expect something a little different. I wasn't wrong. The writing, like the story, is engaging and keeps you turning the pages. The moral, that actions have consequences, is hit home in a thought-provoking manner, that will touch even the hardest heart. The characters are diverse, interesting, well developed and relatable. Another great Emily Williams read and how fab that the proceeds from this book will be donated to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre!
March 18, 2018
Flawless
This book could become a staple in libraries, schools and home. The prose is effortless, clean, and evocative without being adjective-heavy. The dialog and characterizations are authentic. It is imminently readable.
The story concerns some teens and a horse. While a great deal of information is imparted about horse care, it is not just a book for horse-crazy kids. It is a book for anyone who remembers the pains and joys of being a teen-ager.
I highly recommend this YA novel for young adults and adults. I loved it not only for the story, and the characters, but also for the writing itself.
This book could become a staple in libraries, schools and home. The prose is effortless, clean, and evocative without being adjective-heavy. The dialog and characterizations are authentic. It is imminently readable.
The story concerns some teens and a horse. While a great deal of information is imparted about horse care, it is not just a book for horse-crazy kids. It is a book for anyone who remembers the pains and joys of being a teen-ager.
I highly recommend this YA novel for young adults and adults. I loved it not only for the story, and the characters, but also for the writing itself.
March 24, 2018
Rafferty Lincon Loves, is heartfelt, beautifully written and so freaking powerful novel!
I absolutely loved this book! The way Williams was able to capture the emotions was like nothing have never read before. Books like this one become classics that are read through the decades. It was relevant, heartfelt, powerful, and you could feel the emotions in every single word. This review is hard to write without giving anything away (which is my personal review for writing my reviews so you see my predicament). So, with that being said, take the time to read this classic in the making from an author that has blown my mind.
I absolutely loved this book! The way Williams was able to capture the emotions was like nothing have never read before. Books like this one become classics that are read through the decades. It was relevant, heartfelt, powerful, and you could feel the emotions in every single word. This review is hard to write without giving anything away (which is my personal review for writing my reviews so you see my predicament). So, with that being said, take the time to read this classic in the making from an author that has blown my mind.
June 29, 2018
Those who enjoy horse stories will love Rafferty Lincoln Loves… but the story is more about loyalty, promises made and kept, bullying, secrets and rumors. These are issues that teens everywhere deal with. The characters were well-developed even though the story only covered a few months as they make new connections (not accepting that those are friendships) and care for a horse. Tension developed partly because they weren’t certain whether Minty was the missing racehorse that had been in the news. As the author states, proceeds from sales of this book go to the British Thoroughbred Retraining Centre, a worthy and appropriate cause.
February 28, 2018
Exceptionally written novel. I enjoyed every second of the dynamics of this novel from the high school dramas between Rafferty and Liberty, to the more gritty plot lines and of course the horse theme with the beautiful horse. Would compare this to the likes of The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Everything, Everything, and just as engaging and well-written. But you dont have to like horses to enjoy this novel at all, there is far more to the plot than meets the eye. The author portrays the characters with great depth and creates fantastic characters you can both love and hate simultaneously. Dexter was my favourite character and his storyline, although is the background was a huge importance during the novel. What a great read. The ending left me speechless. This is an author to watch out for.
March 30, 2018
a real winner for a good cause
Four very diverse teenagers stumble upon a loose horse on their morning paper round, and forge an unlikely secret pact to keep him. But how and where?
This is probably one of the best journeys into teenage minds I’ve ever read. Rafferty, Liberty and Dexter are unique, memorable characters who live in virtually different worlds, and their half-baked impulsive actions and reclusive, moody reactions have both funny and tragic unintended consequences.
Four very diverse teenagers stumble upon a loose horse on their morning paper round, and forge an unlikely secret pact to keep him. But how and where?
This is probably one of the best journeys into teenage minds I’ve ever read. Rafferty, Liberty and Dexter are unique, memorable characters who live in virtually different worlds, and their half-baked impulsive actions and reclusive, moody reactions have both funny and tragic unintended consequences.
May 3, 2018
LOVE THIS BOOK. It is the kind of book I hope my daughter reads when she's old enough. I had the great honor of proofreading the book and it will always be near and dear to my heart. Also, the cover is really attention-grabbing! I was showing off my copy of the book to a friend today and she saw the cover and was like, "oh, can I read that?" and I loaned it to her :) Emily designed it herself and it's fabulous -- though what's inside is even better!
May 2, 2018
I disliked this book due to multiple reasons, the main ones being that I didn't like the personality of the two main characters. Both of them were very unstable and really got under my skin.
Not to mention neither of them took any sort of action upon knowing that their homeless friend was being physically abused. There wasn't much plot to be going on either.
This was just not for me.
Not to mention neither of them took any sort of action upon knowing that their homeless friend was being physically abused. There wasn't much plot to be going on either.
This was just not for me.
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