The first book in the Chestnut Hill series by Lauren Brooke called The New Class centers around a spunky, lively, humorous girl called Dylan Walsh. Dylan Walsh is not intimidated easily by anyone. She knows that making the right friends and the wrong enemies will make all the difference.
Dylan really doesn’t get intimidated by anything because one night, she agreed to something that could compromise her boarding at Chestnut Hill, her favorite ponies health, and her life! Her decision causes her to suffer a consequence that jeopardizes her lifelong dream ever since she could remember. She makes enemies because of her decision, but also finds out who her true friends are.
Since I do horse riding, the book really made me feel like I was there and I was part of all the action. It is one of those things that makes you feel like you can’t go to sleep that night without knowing how it ends. It also has great ‘how to’ knowledge for those who horse ride or want to learn horse riding. You learn different ways to con a horse into getting their lead rope on, the correct horse jumping format, and so much more.
Brooke really nailed the purpose of this book, aptly bringing the reader into the world of horses, rivalries, and the formation of lifelong friendships. This book really keeps you on your toes and is very relatable to everyone that loves horses, horse riding, relationship drama, ect.
I would have loved it if there was more background information about the other girls from Dylan’s perspective. She probably talked to them and found out more about them then the book gives us about them, but other than that, this book is amazing and gets a 4.5 out of 5 stars. I definitely recommend this book to everyone, especially those interested in stories about relationships, competitions, and of course, horse riding.