What do you think?
Rate this book
The A Circuit #2
My Favorite Mistake
Tommi, Zara, and Kate are all elite riders on the A Circuit. Tommi, the billionaire heiress, is training a young horse to prove she can make horses a real career. But when her new beau, Alex, convinces her to skip a horse show to party in the Hamptons, the results could be disastrous. Zara, the celebutante wild child, is finally taking her riding seriously. Until the new "nanny" her dad hires threatens to upstage Zara's party girl status. Then there's Kate. She doesn't have money to burn like the others, but she does have Fitz, the barn's resident hot guy. But when the pressure of being a working student builds, Kate's perfectionist tendencies threaten to get in the way of her relationship and her riding.
Readers who are growing out of the Canterwood Crest series or searching for an A-list fix have found just what they're looking for in the A Circuit series.
Readers who are growing out of the Canterwood Crest series or searching for an A-list fix have found just what they're looking for in the A Circuit series.
242 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2012
29 people are currently reading
666 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 22, 2020
*spoiler alert*
This book started out, much like the first A Circuit, as fun trash, but the end left me scratching my head. One of the main characters has an eating disorder, and it's cured (or at least mitigated) by a half-hearted intervention? And a richer friend paying for the smaller size clothes the eating disordered girl stole (paid with the credit card of a boarder)? Don't get me wrong, I like the fact EDs in the horse world are addressed, but the fact the character's POV is used to tell a major part of the story and then the issue is ignored is very unsatisfying.
I also don't get why it's so important that the Bloomberg stand-in (Tommi) sells this one horse to make or break her career as a pro. I realize this is fantasy, but even then, it's hard to believe that selling one horse--even an expensive one--is the end all and be all of any horsewoman's life in this income bracket.
The same thing happened with the end of the first book--pages of light fluff, then a serious incident which is sort of brushed off. I'm getting these books from the library, so I might finish off the series for free.
I'm mainly using these as research for my own equestrian fiction. But there's an absence of horse stuff or juicy inside gossip.
This book started out, much like the first A Circuit, as fun trash, but the end left me scratching my head. One of the main characters has an eating disorder, and it's cured (or at least mitigated) by a half-hearted intervention? And a richer friend paying for the smaller size clothes the eating disordered girl stole (paid with the credit card of a boarder)? Don't get me wrong, I like the fact EDs in the horse world are addressed, but the fact the character's POV is used to tell a major part of the story and then the issue is ignored is very unsatisfying.
I also don't get why it's so important that the Bloomberg stand-in (Tommi) sells this one horse to make or break her career as a pro. I realize this is fantasy, but even then, it's hard to believe that selling one horse--even an expensive one--is the end all and be all of any horsewoman's life in this income bracket.
The same thing happened with the end of the first book--pages of light fluff, then a serious incident which is sort of brushed off. I'm getting these books from the library, so I might finish off the series for free.
I'm mainly using these as research for my own equestrian fiction. But there's an absence of horse stuff or juicy inside gossip.
January 19, 2025
Back to my roots-trashy horse novels 🙃
Not super well written, characters are painfully predictable, but I do still love a smutty horse show read so will likely finish the series 🫣
Not super well written, characters are painfully predictable, but I do still love a smutty horse show read so will likely finish the series 🫣
May 2, 2012
The A Circuit series is one of those guilty pleasure type of books. It's formulaic and features superficial, not always likable, somewhat amoral characters. And yet, I eagerly suck up these books for the world of horses and privileged teenagers.
My Favorite Mistake is aptly titled. Tommi, Kate, and Zara, the three stars of this series, seem to be in an unofficial competition over who can do the dumbest things. Tommi - the uber rich, ambitious horsewoman - is facing common teen woes. She wants to take her commitments seriously, but she also wants to have fun like any other kid her age. But fun comes at a consequences when you're trying to prove to your skeptical father than horses are a viable career. I was frustrated with Tommi's actions in this book, but I can see where she's coming from. In many ways, she is the most realistic character in the series. I'm guessing her life experiences and personality are based heavily off of Georgina.
Kate was my favorite character from the first book. The only rider who is not wealthy. Kate feels like she has to be the perfect rider, the perfect employee, the perfect girlfriend, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter... And as often happens when you try to be 100% in everything, Kate is 100% in nothing. She loses it in this book. She's so worried about living up to her impossible standards that she refuses to eat, she worries constantly, and jeopardizes her future. It seemed over the top to me. I'm sure there are people who are really like this, but not many. I felt like the authors were trying too hard to show us that Kate was over-stressed.
Zara is the hardest character to like in the series. But it's hard not to. She is mean. Zara has so many walls up, that the nicer people try to be to her, the meaner she is to them. However, because we read her thoughts when she's saying these awful things, we understand her. I want to shake her much of the time, but I can't help feeling sorry for the girl who in many ways has a very difficult life. I like the juxtaposition of meanness and vulnerability. We see this even more in the second book when Zara is trying to be better, but keeps getting trapped by her own demons and her new "nanny."
The tone of this book is light and breezy. The writing is nothing memorable, but neither is it bad. For awhile I rolled my eyes at the overuse of the word "definitely" and "totally" in the characters' speech. Unrealistic teen-speak, I thought. Until I started listening to myself and re-read a few of my reviews and realized that "definitely" and "totally" are too of my favorite words. My bad. (On the slang front, this is the first time I have ever used that phrase).
If you want Gossip Girl with horses, you should definitely read My Favorite Mistake. It isn't as wild and crazy with sex and drinking as the first book was, but those are still present. I would like a little more references to clothing brands and other accouterments of wealth - I love name dropping - but the horse terminology is enough of an adventure. A decent read.
Rating: 3 / 5
My Favorite Mistake is aptly titled. Tommi, Kate, and Zara, the three stars of this series, seem to be in an unofficial competition over who can do the dumbest things. Tommi - the uber rich, ambitious horsewoman - is facing common teen woes. She wants to take her commitments seriously, but she also wants to have fun like any other kid her age. But fun comes at a consequences when you're trying to prove to your skeptical father than horses are a viable career. I was frustrated with Tommi's actions in this book, but I can see where she's coming from. In many ways, she is the most realistic character in the series. I'm guessing her life experiences and personality are based heavily off of Georgina.
Kate was my favorite character from the first book. The only rider who is not wealthy. Kate feels like she has to be the perfect rider, the perfect employee, the perfect girlfriend, the perfect friend, the perfect daughter... And as often happens when you try to be 100% in everything, Kate is 100% in nothing. She loses it in this book. She's so worried about living up to her impossible standards that she refuses to eat, she worries constantly, and jeopardizes her future. It seemed over the top to me. I'm sure there are people who are really like this, but not many. I felt like the authors were trying too hard to show us that Kate was over-stressed.
Zara is the hardest character to like in the series. But it's hard not to. She is mean. Zara has so many walls up, that the nicer people try to be to her, the meaner she is to them. However, because we read her thoughts when she's saying these awful things, we understand her. I want to shake her much of the time, but I can't help feeling sorry for the girl who in many ways has a very difficult life. I like the juxtaposition of meanness and vulnerability. We see this even more in the second book when Zara is trying to be better, but keeps getting trapped by her own demons and her new "nanny."
The tone of this book is light and breezy. The writing is nothing memorable, but neither is it bad. For awhile I rolled my eyes at the overuse of the word "definitely" and "totally" in the characters' speech. Unrealistic teen-speak, I thought. Until I started listening to myself and re-read a few of my reviews and realized that "definitely" and "totally" are too of my favorite words. My bad. (On the slang front, this is the first time I have ever used that phrase).
If you want Gossip Girl with horses, you should definitely read My Favorite Mistake. It isn't as wild and crazy with sex and drinking as the first book was, but those are still present. I would like a little more references to clothing brands and other accouterments of wealth - I love name dropping - but the horse terminology is enough of an adventure. A decent read.
Rating: 3 / 5
March 4, 2012
I was extremely impressed by My Favorite Mistake. I love horses, so that helped to make this book a really easy read for me. I have never read anything by Catherine Hapka, and I found it interesting how Gerogina Bloomberg was co-author of the book. Both of these ladies have a vast knowledge of horses, so it was nice to have some accurate information when it comes to that aspect of the story. I don't have nearly the amount of knowledge that they do, but just from having a basic understanding of horses, equipment and care of horses it was very easy for me to understand all of the terminology used in the book.
One of the things about My Favorite Mistake that I really loved, was that all three of the main characters seemed to get equal spotlight time throughout the book. Having the story switch between the characters at a nice pace really helped the story feel very fluid and enjoyable. There was also a really nice balance between the girls outside life, when it came to parties, guys or whatever else might of been going on and their life when it came to training for events and just taking care of the horses at Pelham Lane.
My favorite character had to be Kate, she was just an extremely hard working person and truly loved what she did. But sometimes being so devoted to something can have negative outcomes. Tommi and Zara were great to, don't get me wrong. I just felt more attached to Kate because it seemed like she tried so much harder and didn't get quite as much recognition for it. I wasn't impressed with Tommi's dad, it was all about money to him and it was nice to see how Tommi was kind of leaning away from that way of thinking.
My Favorite Mistake is an all around great read, it's very fast paced it's got a great story and host of characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Don't be turned off by all the horse terminology, even if you have no knowledge of horses I feel like you could gather a understanding of what they are talking about fairly easily.
This review is directly from my blog, see the original post here: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
One of the things about My Favorite Mistake that I really loved, was that all three of the main characters seemed to get equal spotlight time throughout the book. Having the story switch between the characters at a nice pace really helped the story feel very fluid and enjoyable. There was also a really nice balance between the girls outside life, when it came to parties, guys or whatever else might of been going on and their life when it came to training for events and just taking care of the horses at Pelham Lane.
My favorite character had to be Kate, she was just an extremely hard working person and truly loved what she did. But sometimes being so devoted to something can have negative outcomes. Tommi and Zara were great to, don't get me wrong. I just felt more attached to Kate because it seemed like she tried so much harder and didn't get quite as much recognition for it. I wasn't impressed with Tommi's dad, it was all about money to him and it was nice to see how Tommi was kind of leaning away from that way of thinking.
My Favorite Mistake is an all around great read, it's very fast paced it's got a great story and host of characters. I would highly recommend it to anyone. Don't be turned off by all the horse terminology, even if you have no knowledge of horses I feel like you could gather a understanding of what they are talking about fairly easily.
This review is directly from my blog, see the original post here: http://www.justinsbookblog.com/2012/0...
July 31, 2013
I really enjoyed this book, the second in the A circuit series. Here is why...
1) The horse scenes, especially the descriptions of the riding, the skill it takes, etc - were very realistic. Yes, there is a LOT of horse terminology. Yes, if you didn't understand the horse show circuit or the horse terms, it could be very confusing. However, the way the author writes about riding makes it SO realistic. Especially the description of how riding feels - how when you're riding nothing else matters.
2) Again, it deals with real-life issues that actually DO affect riders, especially at the higher levels. Needing to have the best clothing. Anorexia and not eating properly. Real issues from the horse, and teenage, world.
3) There always seems to be a lot going on in the story, and I actually really enjoyed that it's written with all 3 girls as the main characters rather than just having them flit in and out of the story, or rather than hearing about some things through gossip instead of first hand.
Overall, found this book well written, and actually enjoyed it even more than the first. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
1) The horse scenes, especially the descriptions of the riding, the skill it takes, etc - were very realistic. Yes, there is a LOT of horse terminology. Yes, if you didn't understand the horse show circuit or the horse terms, it could be very confusing. However, the way the author writes about riding makes it SO realistic. Especially the description of how riding feels - how when you're riding nothing else matters.
2) Again, it deals with real-life issues that actually DO affect riders, especially at the higher levels. Needing to have the best clothing. Anorexia and not eating properly. Real issues from the horse, and teenage, world.
3) There always seems to be a lot going on in the story, and I actually really enjoyed that it's written with all 3 girls as the main characters rather than just having them flit in and out of the story, or rather than hearing about some things through gossip instead of first hand.
Overall, found this book well written, and actually enjoyed it even more than the first. I can't wait to read the rest of the series.
March 30, 2012
4 Stars
I had an overwhelming urge to shake some sense into all three protagonists while reading this book. Whether from poor judgment or a lack of common sense, these equestrians make everything so difficult for themselves! They make one mistake after another, so it's hard to pick my "favorite" one! Compulsively readable and featuring lots and lots of horsey goodness, I am looking forward to the next installment of the A Circuit series.
Full review - http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=6047
I had an overwhelming urge to shake some sense into all three protagonists while reading this book. Whether from poor judgment or a lack of common sense, these equestrians make everything so difficult for themselves! They make one mistake after another, so it's hard to pick my "favorite" one! Compulsively readable and featuring lots and lots of horsey goodness, I am looking forward to the next installment of the A Circuit series.
Full review - http://www.mangamaniaccafe.com/?p=6047
January 19, 2021
I'm obsessed and I can't stop reading this series. It's like in the Vampire Diaries when Damon is like , "I know you're obsessed with me." And like I am obsessed. With the book I mean. (And Damon Salvatore, but that's a story for a different time lmao.) But yah I love this series more than I should but... yah that's all I guess. Idk what I'm saying at this point. But whatever this is gonna be the end of this review. Thanks for taking the time to read.
Read
December 30, 2012My favorite mistake.... Riding in a tube top.™
Read
August 23, 2019cw: eating disorders
Oof. Some A-Circuit/riding trauma coming back to haunt me with this one.
First off, no one wants to hear a list of brand name riding clothes, Georgina. No. One. If I have to hear Tailored Sportsman again jfc. We get it.
Edit: I just read a review where someone wanted more brand name dropping. I stand corrected lol.
Tommi is a stand in character for Georgina Bloomberg, and that gets annoying. Both of them are big time showjumpers who like charity work and whatnot. But that does mean all the horse stuff is accurate, mostly. Not sure how selling one horse as a teenager to a shitty rider who’s likely to ruin the horse will ruin your own horse selling career, but I digress. (I mean, it probably should, but if you think that’s how the horse world works..)
The way heavy issues are tackled in these books leaves something to be desired. Hated everything about how anorexia was portrayed here, though I could write several essays about how eating disorders can happen from the conditions Kate works under.
Most unrealistic part of this is anyone telling a working student or groom to take a break.
Oof. Some A-Circuit/riding trauma coming back to haunt me with this one.
First off, no one wants to hear a list of brand name riding clothes, Georgina. No. One. If I have to hear Tailored Sportsman again jfc. We get it.
Edit: I just read a review where someone wanted more brand name dropping. I stand corrected lol.
Tommi is a stand in character for Georgina Bloomberg, and that gets annoying. Both of them are big time showjumpers who like charity work and whatnot. But that does mean all the horse stuff is accurate, mostly. Not sure how selling one horse as a teenager to a shitty rider who’s likely to ruin the horse will ruin your own horse selling career, but I digress. (I mean, it probably should, but if you think that’s how the horse world works..)
The way heavy issues are tackled in these books leaves something to be desired. Hated everything about how anorexia was portrayed here, though I could write several essays about how eating disorders can happen from the conditions Kate works under.
Most unrealistic part of this is anyone telling a working student or groom to take a break.
January 20, 2024
Whenever you are feeling like a defeated failure remind yourself Georgina Bloomberg 'authored' this book series, (which are absolutely in no way autobiographical)- which I would not take any issue with, but come on: novels? Why deny the obvious, child? Also, a ghostwriter ('co-author'? Why deny the obvious, child?) was brought on-board.
No ill-will meant here at all. Every time I think about this I end up in a fit of hysterical laughter. It just feels good to laugh. Oy.
No ill-will meant here at all. Every time I think about this I end up in a fit of hysterical laughter. It just feels good to laugh. Oy.
August 12, 2017
I'm glad that I continued with this series, the second book is much better than the first. The characters are progressing nicely and I'm curious to see where their story lines are going. Just waiting for the next book to come from Amazon!
February 4, 2021
It’s pretty much just like any riding book. Full of horse drama, rich people problems and some not so rich people problems. One of my favourite series about horseriding because it’s a little more grown up compared to Canterwood Crest and Pony Club Secrets
October 7, 2016
I’d always been into horses and growing up, I never got any opportunity to ride horses since it was usually relatively expensive either for a simple lesson or a trail ride. So for me, equestrian is basically a rich person’s sport. Horses are incredibly expensive and lessons and board and overall training and basic care cost a fortune. So picking up a series devoted to the A circuit was a like reading about something I had always wanted to do since I was young.
However, I do have relatively mixed feelings about this book because some of the characters really stood out to me while others simply irked and annoyed me to no end. Out of the three main characters, Tommi, Zara and Kate, I think Tommi was most relatable to me despite the fact that she’s essentially a billionaire’s daughter but I think her priorities, personality and character resonated most with me. She’s responsible, punctual and seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Of course, she’s still a teenager and therefore makes irresponsible decisions at times but at the end of the day, you can clearly tell what is important to her and how she will still make things work. Plus, there was this one scene with her and Zara where she promised to pick Zara up to drive down for this show and even though she went to bed late and was out partying, she still managed to drive from the Hamptons to Zara’s place on time because horsemanship was important to her whereas Zara was also partying the night before and completely forgot that Tommi was coming to pick her up and slept in. I feel like that example clearly personifies me as a person as well. I take my responsibilities seriously and if I say I will do or be somewhere, I’ll do/be there. I just wish there was more information on the ending about her and her potential buy/sell horses in a professional manner.
Zara kind of annoyed me in the first book because she was portrayed as this wild child and was not responsible whatsoever. She didn’t care that a lot of choices she made directly impacted those around her and in a negative way too. She was always tardy for her lessons, she was reckless and caused a huge accident at the stable, etc. However, I think she changed the most throughout the series. By the end of the last book, you can tell how much she had grown as a person overall. She cared a lot more about horses and riding and took her duties more seriously. I definitely liked her by the end of the books.
The one person that I was just okay with in the beginning and later just downright annoyed me was Kate. I found her timid, meek, incredibly uptight and way too stressed out for me. She was basically OCD but in terms of her responsibilities rather than cleanliness. Not sure if you guys have noticed but I have this tendency to dislike weak characters and she was by far one of the weakest I have encountered. She would take on all these responsibilities even while knowing that she can’t possibly juggle riding, working, and dealing with school, homework and exams. But she’ll try to take it all on and then it started to detriment her health which caused her to outright faint in front of everyone while riding and freaked everyone out. At the end of the day, it wasn’t only detrimental to herself but to everyone around her. Her friends had to literally remind her at every meal if she ate or slept enough. I honestly can’t handle people like her. She was also incredibly wishy-washy – she couldn’t make any tough decisions to save her life and she would put it off until either someone else made the decision for her or if circumstances forced the decision on her. And it pissed me off because when it happened and it wasn’t something she was particularly happy about, she would immediately cry and feel sorry for herself. Even with small decisions like putting off some time to grab food with her boyfriend, she would go back and forth between a simple yes or a simple no and once she made the decision, the chances of her being talked out of it was incredibly high. It was honestly so irritating.
However, despite my annoyance with Kate, the other two, Zara and Tommi, and the story itself made me persevere. Honestly, I really did like reading about all the shows and the lessons and the horses themselves. I found it incredibly interesting but I wish it was more of a two person’s POV rather than three. Perhaps that would have made things a little better overall.
Click here to view entire review: http://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/20...
However, I do have relatively mixed feelings about this book because some of the characters really stood out to me while others simply irked and annoyed me to no end. Out of the three main characters, Tommi, Zara and Kate, I think Tommi was most relatable to me despite the fact that she’s essentially a billionaire’s daughter but I think her priorities, personality and character resonated most with me. She’s responsible, punctual and seems to have a good head on her shoulders. Of course, she’s still a teenager and therefore makes irresponsible decisions at times but at the end of the day, you can clearly tell what is important to her and how she will still make things work. Plus, there was this one scene with her and Zara where she promised to pick Zara up to drive down for this show and even though she went to bed late and was out partying, she still managed to drive from the Hamptons to Zara’s place on time because horsemanship was important to her whereas Zara was also partying the night before and completely forgot that Tommi was coming to pick her up and slept in. I feel like that example clearly personifies me as a person as well. I take my responsibilities seriously and if I say I will do or be somewhere, I’ll do/be there. I just wish there was more information on the ending about her and her potential buy/sell horses in a professional manner.
Zara kind of annoyed me in the first book because she was portrayed as this wild child and was not responsible whatsoever. She didn’t care that a lot of choices she made directly impacted those around her and in a negative way too. She was always tardy for her lessons, she was reckless and caused a huge accident at the stable, etc. However, I think she changed the most throughout the series. By the end of the last book, you can tell how much she had grown as a person overall. She cared a lot more about horses and riding and took her duties more seriously. I definitely liked her by the end of the books.
The one person that I was just okay with in the beginning and later just downright annoyed me was Kate. I found her timid, meek, incredibly uptight and way too stressed out for me. She was basically OCD but in terms of her responsibilities rather than cleanliness. Not sure if you guys have noticed but I have this tendency to dislike weak characters and she was by far one of the weakest I have encountered. She would take on all these responsibilities even while knowing that she can’t possibly juggle riding, working, and dealing with school, homework and exams. But she’ll try to take it all on and then it started to detriment her health which caused her to outright faint in front of everyone while riding and freaked everyone out. At the end of the day, it wasn’t only detrimental to herself but to everyone around her. Her friends had to literally remind her at every meal if she ate or slept enough. I honestly can’t handle people like her. She was also incredibly wishy-washy – she couldn’t make any tough decisions to save her life and she would put it off until either someone else made the decision for her or if circumstances forced the decision on her. And it pissed me off because when it happened and it wasn’t something she was particularly happy about, she would immediately cry and feel sorry for herself. Even with small decisions like putting off some time to grab food with her boyfriend, she would go back and forth between a simple yes or a simple no and once she made the decision, the chances of her being talked out of it was incredibly high. It was honestly so irritating.
However, despite my annoyance with Kate, the other two, Zara and Tommi, and the story itself made me persevere. Honestly, I really did like reading about all the shows and the lessons and the horses themselves. I found it incredibly interesting but I wish it was more of a two person’s POV rather than three. Perhaps that would have made things a little better overall.
Click here to view entire review: http://holedupinabook.blogspot.com/20...
April 26, 2016
The girls are back, and there is so much drama, romance, and of course (duh) horses and competitions.
I was actually hoping (based on the preview in the previous book) that we would have an easy time discerning between our 3 MCs, sadly, it seems that the preview was a lie. The POVs are still done as they did in the previous book. A way that is at times confusing. You would be totally into Tommi's life, and then suddenly thrown into Kate's. Sure, there are *** or other breakers, but it is still a bit confusing.
This time each girl has their fair share of drama and romance in their lives.
Kate and Fitz, I am still amazed by their relationship, though they do make a very cute couple. I am really delighted that it seems Fitz is truly into Kate, and that he isn't treating her like another badge to achieve. Their romance is really burning, especially the times when they have time to seek a unoccupied part of the barn and steal a few kisses.
Then we have Tommi, who has a new boy in her life. I am still not so sure about Alex though, everything seems to be too good. Don't get me wrong, Tommi deserves some romance in her life, but with how Alex reacts to Zara, and just stalks after her all the time... I just hope that Tommi won't be hurt by Alex. *readies the pitchforks and torches*
And Zara is the last one, I am still not entirely happy with how shitty she treats guys. She is texting Grant, taking a serious interest in him, but if she spots a hot boy she will eagerly flirt and go with them. I do hope that Grant will notice before stuff really hits the fan. I don't like Grant that much, but I still don't wish this to anyone.
Next to this all the girls have their share of trouble/problems. Well OK, Zara's problems just pale in comparison to everyone else's.
I am worried about Kate, her family is falling apart (has been for the past few years, but it has been declining even more), and she really overworks herself to death. I already noticed her not eating, and I was wondering what would happen to her. I do hope she will find help. This is just not right, and sure, I can imagine she is pissed at her friends (because she thinks she can handle things), but I do hope she will realise herself that stuff is going south.
I also like the parts with her and Natalia/Natalie.
Tommi and her horse/future. I am happy for the decision she made in this one. It is a good one. I am not totally agreeing on her skipping lessons/other things for the sake of a boy. You want to go pro? Yet at the mere mention of one hot boy you drop everything? Even go to late-night parties and the likes? Are you really serious about this future? If you go pro, you can't just drop your horse stuff, you have to be responsible about it.
Of course there are a lot of horse stuff going on, but I felt that it faded away a bit with all the stuff that goes on in the girls' lives.
I would also like to see them actually win something. Yes, they win, but we barely ever see it from that character's POV. We just hear a quick mention about stuff. Oh yes, btw I placed in this and that. Or I got this and that place.
The barn sounds like an interesting place, though I am not sure if I would be there because of all the stress, all the drama that takes place there.
And while Jamie seems a bit bossy, he is kind, friendly, and he cares about his clients and their horses.
All in all, this was a great book in this series, and I can't wait to buy the other 2 books and read them. I am curious to see how everything will continue, and I do hope we will see more competitions and horse stuff.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
I was actually hoping (based on the preview in the previous book) that we would have an easy time discerning between our 3 MCs, sadly, it seems that the preview was a lie. The POVs are still done as they did in the previous book. A way that is at times confusing. You would be totally into Tommi's life, and then suddenly thrown into Kate's. Sure, there are *** or other breakers, but it is still a bit confusing.
This time each girl has their fair share of drama and romance in their lives.
Kate and Fitz, I am still amazed by their relationship, though they do make a very cute couple. I am really delighted that it seems Fitz is truly into Kate, and that he isn't treating her like another badge to achieve. Their romance is really burning, especially the times when they have time to seek a unoccupied part of the barn and steal a few kisses.
Then we have Tommi, who has a new boy in her life. I am still not so sure about Alex though, everything seems to be too good. Don't get me wrong, Tommi deserves some romance in her life, but with how Alex reacts to Zara, and just stalks after her all the time... I just hope that Tommi won't be hurt by Alex. *readies the pitchforks and torches*
And Zara is the last one, I am still not entirely happy with how shitty she treats guys. She is texting Grant, taking a serious interest in him, but if she spots a hot boy she will eagerly flirt and go with them. I do hope that Grant will notice before stuff really hits the fan. I don't like Grant that much, but I still don't wish this to anyone.
Next to this all the girls have their share of trouble/problems. Well OK, Zara's problems just pale in comparison to everyone else's.
I am worried about Kate, her family is falling apart (has been for the past few years, but it has been declining even more), and she really overworks herself to death. I already noticed her not eating, and I was wondering what would happen to her. I do hope she will find help. This is just not right, and sure, I can imagine she is pissed at her friends (because she thinks she can handle things), but I do hope she will realise herself that stuff is going south.
I also like the parts with her and Natalia/Natalie.
Tommi and her horse/future. I am happy for the decision she made in this one. It is a good one. I am not totally agreeing on her skipping lessons/other things for the sake of a boy. You want to go pro? Yet at the mere mention of one hot boy you drop everything? Even go to late-night parties and the likes? Are you really serious about this future? If you go pro, you can't just drop your horse stuff, you have to be responsible about it.
Of course there are a lot of horse stuff going on, but I felt that it faded away a bit with all the stuff that goes on in the girls' lives.
I would also like to see them actually win something. Yes, they win, but we barely ever see it from that character's POV. We just hear a quick mention about stuff. Oh yes, btw I placed in this and that. Or I got this and that place.
The barn sounds like an interesting place, though I am not sure if I would be there because of all the stress, all the drama that takes place there.
And while Jamie seems a bit bossy, he is kind, friendly, and he cares about his clients and their horses.
All in all, this was a great book in this series, and I can't wait to buy the other 2 books and read them. I am curious to see how everything will continue, and I do hope we will see more competitions and horse stuff.
Review first posted at https://twirlingbookprincess.com
October 8, 2014
My Favorite Mistake co-authored by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka, is the sequel to last year's The A Circuit.
Kate, Tommi and Zara are still very much involved in the horse world as riders on the A Circuit. Tommi has bought Legs, the horse she hopes to train and sell for a profit to prove to her billionaire father that she can make horses a true career, not just a hobby. Kate is working harder than ever at the barn to be able to ride without a rich father (or mother) to pay her way. Zara, the wild daughter of a music celebrity, seems to finally be taking her riding seriously.
What will happen when Tommi meets a new guy who convinces her to skip a horse show to come to his house party in the Hamptons instead? Is Kate working a little too hard? Can she keep up a relationship with Fritz, her riding and all that she thinks she needs to do around the barn? And what of Zara? Can she continue to be dedicated to riding when her dad goes out of town and she gets a "nanny" who may be even more of a party girl than Zara?
You'll have to read My Favorite Mistake to find out!
I really enjoyed My Favorite Mistake. The few things about The A Circuit that kept me from really loving it - the fact that so many characters were touched on but readers never really got to know them and there seemed (at least in memory) to be a lot of drinking - were different in this second book. This one really focused on Kate, Tommi and Zara with Kate and Tommi seeming to be the main focus.
We were able to really get to know the characters much better than in the first book and it helped both the story and my enjoyment of it. The horses and the shows are definitely still there and a very big aspect of the novel (though I felt as if some of the terminology may have been cut back just a bit) so readers looking for that need not worry. We do get to see the more personal side of the shows, though. How Kate works to get things together for the different riders, what clothes are needed, how it affects their personal lives (being committed to the shows for x number of days that week) those sorts of things.
While this book was a bit more tame (in terms of some of their extracurricular activities and their legality), it does still have a bit of a Gossip Girl meets the horse world feel to it - which I suppose is only natural given the characters ages, locale and wealth.
This time, however, the book is much stronger than The A Circuit and I urge you to give it a try even if you were unsure after reading the first in this series.
(Randomosity: Anyone else imagine Zara and her father as Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus? For some reason I kept doing that while reading this - and the first book!)
Kate, Tommi and Zara are still very much involved in the horse world as riders on the A Circuit. Tommi has bought Legs, the horse she hopes to train and sell for a profit to prove to her billionaire father that she can make horses a true career, not just a hobby. Kate is working harder than ever at the barn to be able to ride without a rich father (or mother) to pay her way. Zara, the wild daughter of a music celebrity, seems to finally be taking her riding seriously.
What will happen when Tommi meets a new guy who convinces her to skip a horse show to come to his house party in the Hamptons instead? Is Kate working a little too hard? Can she keep up a relationship with Fritz, her riding and all that she thinks she needs to do around the barn? And what of Zara? Can she continue to be dedicated to riding when her dad goes out of town and she gets a "nanny" who may be even more of a party girl than Zara?
You'll have to read My Favorite Mistake to find out!
I really enjoyed My Favorite Mistake. The few things about The A Circuit that kept me from really loving it - the fact that so many characters were touched on but readers never really got to know them and there seemed (at least in memory) to be a lot of drinking - were different in this second book. This one really focused on Kate, Tommi and Zara with Kate and Tommi seeming to be the main focus.
We were able to really get to know the characters much better than in the first book and it helped both the story and my enjoyment of it. The horses and the shows are definitely still there and a very big aspect of the novel (though I felt as if some of the terminology may have been cut back just a bit) so readers looking for that need not worry. We do get to see the more personal side of the shows, though. How Kate works to get things together for the different riders, what clothes are needed, how it affects their personal lives (being committed to the shows for x number of days that week) those sorts of things.
While this book was a bit more tame (in terms of some of their extracurricular activities and their legality), it does still have a bit of a Gossip Girl meets the horse world feel to it - which I suppose is only natural given the characters ages, locale and wealth.
This time, however, the book is much stronger than The A Circuit and I urge you to give it a try even if you were unsure after reading the first in this series.
(Randomosity: Anyone else imagine Zara and her father as Miley & Billy Ray Cyrus? For some reason I kept doing that while reading this - and the first book!)
March 17, 2012
After reading the fun and frothy The A Circuit, the prequel to My Favorite Mistake, I couldn't wait to see what was up next for Tommi, Zara, Fitz, and Kate, especially given where the last book left off! Thankfully, My Favorite Mistake was even better than The A Circuit. It provided even more drama as well as intrigue and even some real live situations were thrown in. Basically, it was the perfect read for a quiet afternoon or evening!
My Favorite Mistake starts up shortly after the last book left up. The girls as well as their horses are training for even more horse shows while dealing with the many problems as well as fun that comes their way. In this addition, I really feel like the girl's grew as a characters. Zara became more than just a "party girl" when faced with the dilemma of what to do when her babysitter turns out to be even more wilder than she is. Headstrong Tommi, on the other hand, deals with a new love, one that may provide a risk to her horse ridding career. Lastly, Kate is dealing with her own problems, which include her Mom's OCD ways, her developing relationship with Fitz, and much more. I came to like the girl's even more in this one, especially Zara, because not only were they fun, but they really managed to come off in a realistic way in this one. They made mistakes, they risked there futures for silly things, and they loved and learned... basically even with their amazing lives they still managed to just be regular teens, trying to find their place. The only aspect, I wasn't too big on in this one, was the lack of development into their friendship. The girls didn't really spend too much time together in this one. Hopefully that will change in the next one!
The plot in this one as much fun as the last one! It was interesting to find out more about the world of horse showing as well as the many preparations the girls have to do for it. I also enjoyed seeing the girl's everyday adventures as well as Kate's developing relationship with Fitz. The ending of this one also provided me with enough juice and intrigue to be saying, "Where's the next one?!"
The writing in this one was also decent! Georgina as well as Catherine did a fabulous job of blending the girl's POVs together as well as making sure they didn't overlap.
In all, My Favorite Mistake is yet another fun addition to the A Circuit series...here's to hoping the next one is even better!
Grade: B
My Favorite Mistake starts up shortly after the last book left up. The girls as well as their horses are training for even more horse shows while dealing with the many problems as well as fun that comes their way. In this addition, I really feel like the girl's grew as a characters. Zara became more than just a "party girl" when faced with the dilemma of what to do when her babysitter turns out to be even more wilder than she is. Headstrong Tommi, on the other hand, deals with a new love, one that may provide a risk to her horse ridding career. Lastly, Kate is dealing with her own problems, which include her Mom's OCD ways, her developing relationship with Fitz, and much more. I came to like the girl's even more in this one, especially Zara, because not only were they fun, but they really managed to come off in a realistic way in this one. They made mistakes, they risked there futures for silly things, and they loved and learned... basically even with their amazing lives they still managed to just be regular teens, trying to find their place. The only aspect, I wasn't too big on in this one, was the lack of development into their friendship. The girls didn't really spend too much time together in this one. Hopefully that will change in the next one!
The plot in this one as much fun as the last one! It was interesting to find out more about the world of horse showing as well as the many preparations the girls have to do for it. I also enjoyed seeing the girl's everyday adventures as well as Kate's developing relationship with Fitz. The ending of this one also provided me with enough juice and intrigue to be saying, "Where's the next one?!"
The writing in this one was also decent! Georgina as well as Catherine did a fabulous job of blending the girl's POVs together as well as making sure they didn't overlap.
In all, My Favorite Mistake is yet another fun addition to the A Circuit series...here's to hoping the next one is even better!
Grade: B
December 2, 2012
I have already read the previous book in this series and loved it, probably because of the horse aspect. At times the riders are all very superficial but you have to love them for their guts and own personalities. I like how this series tells the story of the three different girls, reading their different points of view was interesting. I also like how this series isn't completely about horses and how the girls/boys all have their social lives. My favorite character, Kate, has been putting a lot of pressure on herself and it brings a completely new element to the series. The friendship, or lack of, makes the drama quite spunky.
In My Favorite Mistake Kate has been overwhelmed with her life at home and at the barn. She spends all her waking moments helping out Jamie, the head trainer, and then forgets to eat or just doesn't have time. Her mother has OCD and Kate fears she will end up the same way so lots of things are on her mind besides the pressure of riding Fable, one of the horses Jamie has given her to ride for free. Zara still has a lot to learn about her new horse Ellie and is too stubborn to take any advice from Jamie. She is finally making some friends at the barn though. Tommi is under pressure from her father to sell Legs, her new prospect. She has an offer towards the end of the book but decides to keep him because she wants him to have the perfect home. Fitz and Kate are now a thing and he keeps making big gestures toward her. Kate is confused but at the end of the book when he buys her another horse, she is delighted.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It has all the parts of a good read, it can be very dramatic but the group of riders are very close and it makes the book personal. I think this book is very relatable to teenagers because of the characters and where they are at in their lives.
In My Favorite Mistake Kate has been overwhelmed with her life at home and at the barn. She spends all her waking moments helping out Jamie, the head trainer, and then forgets to eat or just doesn't have time. Her mother has OCD and Kate fears she will end up the same way so lots of things are on her mind besides the pressure of riding Fable, one of the horses Jamie has given her to ride for free. Zara still has a lot to learn about her new horse Ellie and is too stubborn to take any advice from Jamie. She is finally making some friends at the barn though. Tommi is under pressure from her father to sell Legs, her new prospect. She has an offer towards the end of the book but decides to keep him because she wants him to have the perfect home. Fitz and Kate are now a thing and he keeps making big gestures toward her. Kate is confused but at the end of the book when he buys her another horse, she is delighted.
I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. It has all the parts of a good read, it can be very dramatic but the group of riders are very close and it makes the book personal. I think this book is very relatable to teenagers because of the characters and where they are at in their lives.
March 5, 2012
I enjoyed the first book in this series, The A Circuit, but I wasn't absolutely blown away by it. My Favorite Mistake by Georgina Bloomberg and Catherine Hapka was everything I had been hoping to find in book 1 and more. I instantly was caught up in the story, and was so bummed when it had ended.
I really just love the horse showing world in these books. In The A Circuit, I was a bit lost, not sure of some of terminology people used, but by the end, I had gotten it all down. This made getting into the story and completely understanding what was going on so much easier in My Favorite Mistake.
The plot was a lot of fun. I felt like the plot of My Favorite Mistake had a bigger focus around friendship, and that was really nice to see. There are some new relationships that I am curious to see how they will pan out in future books.
I really love the characters in this series. Kate and Tommi remain my two favorite characters of the books. They are both such goodhearted people and a ton of fun! It was nice to see more of some of the other characters, as well as a different side of some, like Zara. I wasn't a fan of her in The A Circuit, but My Favorite Mistake really showcased another side of her.
I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series now. This installment was so much fun to read, and I loved hearing more from the wonderful characters.
I would really recommend My Favorite Mistake to anyone looking for a great story and a fast read. I am very excited to see more from this dynamic duo!
I really just love the horse showing world in these books. In The A Circuit, I was a bit lost, not sure of some of terminology people used, but by the end, I had gotten it all down. This made getting into the story and completely understanding what was going on so much easier in My Favorite Mistake.
The plot was a lot of fun. I felt like the plot of My Favorite Mistake had a bigger focus around friendship, and that was really nice to see. There are some new relationships that I am curious to see how they will pan out in future books.
I really love the characters in this series. Kate and Tommi remain my two favorite characters of the books. They are both such goodhearted people and a ton of fun! It was nice to see more of some of the other characters, as well as a different side of some, like Zara. I wasn't a fan of her in The A Circuit, but My Favorite Mistake really showcased another side of her.
I simply cannot wait for the next book in the series now. This installment was so much fun to read, and I loved hearing more from the wonderful characters.
I would really recommend My Favorite Mistake to anyone looking for a great story and a fast read. I am very excited to see more from this dynamic duo!
March 3, 2012
The A Circuit series is officially my guilty pleasure series. While I enjoyed the first novel in the series, I enjoyed My Favorite Mistake much more. The authors truly hit their groove with this one, creating a novel that is fun and enjoyable while also hitting upon some tougher subjects.
I love this series because it plays into all the dreams I had when I was 12 – to ride horses competitively and spend almost every minute living and breathing horses. What I love even more is that while I don't really have any experience riding horses at all, let alone in such a competitive circuit, I am still able to relate to the characters. So while this is aimed at horse-lovers, I think others will be able to enjoy it too.
The one thing that bothered me the most about the first book was the drinking and other things “just because”. And while those things still happen in My Favorite Mistake, I felt they were handled so much better. A few other topics, like eating disorders, are also touched upon and while this is far from an “issue” book, I was glad to see these things brought up. I am looking forward to Book 3 where we hopefully get to see the characters go a little more in-depth with some things.
Overall, I definitely recommend this to readers who have grown out of the Canterwood Crest/Thoroughbred/Saddle Club age range. While I don't think it's appropriate for younger teens, I think that anyone 15+ (or even 14+) will love this one. Can't wait for Book 3!
I love this series because it plays into all the dreams I had when I was 12 – to ride horses competitively and spend almost every minute living and breathing horses. What I love even more is that while I don't really have any experience riding horses at all, let alone in such a competitive circuit, I am still able to relate to the characters. So while this is aimed at horse-lovers, I think others will be able to enjoy it too.
The one thing that bothered me the most about the first book was the drinking and other things “just because”. And while those things still happen in My Favorite Mistake, I felt they were handled so much better. A few other topics, like eating disorders, are also touched upon and while this is far from an “issue” book, I was glad to see these things brought up. I am looking forward to Book 3 where we hopefully get to see the characters go a little more in-depth with some things.
Overall, I definitely recommend this to readers who have grown out of the Canterwood Crest/Thoroughbred/Saddle Club age range. While I don't think it's appropriate for younger teens, I think that anyone 15+ (or even 14+) will love this one. Can't wait for Book 3!
July 20, 2012
I read this book almost immediately after it came out and had some mixed feelings about it. For whatever reason, I thought it contained less horse-related scenes than in the first book, but it was enjoyable nonetheless. However, I did spend most of the book with the premonition that each of these girls were traveling down a slippery slope and about to meet each of their biggest personal obstacles. Tommi, with her entire future riding on one horse; Kate, because she's trying desperately not to end up like her mother and living in constant anxiety and self-doubt, running herself into the ground by working nonstop at the barn; Zara, because while she's got good intentions deep down, and is finally starting to take riding a bit more seriously, still has loads to learn about her newest partner, Ellie. From her first ride on the mare she's been impatient and ignorant, especially to her trainer's warnings about Ellie's attitude. She knows how to ride, but she needs her ego to be knocked down a couple of notches. She's definitely the character that irritates me the most, but I do like her spunk at times.
I'm VERY curious to see what happens in the next book, because (big spoilers) Nat's got to be MEGA pissed that Fitz bought Kate her project horse, and Kate's already a wreck...I do recommend this series, more of a guilty pleasure than anything. It has good themes about teamwork, both on horse back and within the barn riders' dynamic, but is pretty superficial.
I'm VERY curious to see what happens in the next book, because (big spoilers) Nat's got to be MEGA pissed that Fitz bought Kate her project horse, and Kate's already a wreck...I do recommend this series, more of a guilty pleasure than anything. It has good themes about teamwork, both on horse back and within the barn riders' dynamic, but is pretty superficial.
September 3, 2016
I loved this book. It's about horseback riding, so I can connect to the characters. I don't recommend you read this book if you don't do horseback riding though, because it won't be interesting since you won't know what they're talking about. The story is about a girl named Kate, who's a very talented horseback rider, but doesn't have a lot of money like the others. Kate is dating the "bad boy" at their barn, who will do anything to be with her. Another rider Tommi has a ton of money, but is sweet, and Kate's best friend. Tommi wants to make riding her career, so she has to prove to her dad she has what it takes to go professional, while still saving time for er new boyfriend. Zara is the new girl at the barn and the daughter of a famous actress and a rock star. At first, none of the girls like her, but then she becomes nicer and starts to fit in.
April 11, 2012
This is definitely one of those guilty pleasure books. I'll keep reading the series for the entertainment value, however I do have a big problem with this book (and the last one for that matter):
I really dislike how the "cheaper" barn is portrayed as a place that cares less about their horses, that the girl training the horse at the less-elite barn is doing things wrong, and that she basically manhandles horses and isn't as good a rider as the other girls. I hate this stereotype that people who don't show on the elite circuits are lesser riders than those who do. I think the authors would benefit from introducing a character who doesn't show or is in any way associated with the fancy show barn... and yet is still a great equestrian.
I really dislike how the "cheaper" barn is portrayed as a place that cares less about their horses, that the girl training the horse at the less-elite barn is doing things wrong, and that she basically manhandles horses and isn't as good a rider as the other girls. I hate this stereotype that people who don't show on the elite circuits are lesser riders than those who do. I think the authors would benefit from introducing a character who doesn't show or is in any way associated with the fancy show barn... and yet is still a great equestrian.
December 14, 2013
Amazing. The authors have done it again: blown my mind. This series captures the equitation, jumping, and hunter side of horse riding. Love it!! I rode hunters in 2012 and liked it okay but riding jumpers now in 2013 and absolutely in love. I understand where the riders are coming from reading this.
Zara is the typical rich girl who doesn't care. Tommi is the rich girl who has emotions. Kate is too sweet for her own good. But I like Kate the best. She's kind of like me: we can't afford the best equestrian gear but we are good riders in the arena and that's all that matters.
Overall: good story line. Beautiful writing. An enjoyable read! Can't wait to get book 3 on my hands. :)
Zara is the typical rich girl who doesn't care. Tommi is the rich girl who has emotions. Kate is too sweet for her own good. But I like Kate the best. She's kind of like me: we can't afford the best equestrian gear but we are good riders in the arena and that's all that matters.
Overall: good story line. Beautiful writing. An enjoyable read! Can't wait to get book 3 on my hands. :)
April 25, 2016
The series continues with this book and does not fail to disappoint. As I loved the first book this second book was no surprise that I loved it too. The main character Kate is not focused on as much in this book as Zara is. Zara know as the wild child almost loses that reputation in this book. Both her parents leave her and she is left with her babysitter. But this babysitter is a pretty good actor and hides her real personality really well. How does crazy Zara handle it? Your just going to have to read to find out. A great book that drags you in and keeps you reading. Recommended for all who love a good horse series with lots of drama.
December 11, 2012
This got three stars because I am a horse person and just about any plot and story line involving horse showing will probably interest me. If you haven't read the first book, this one will not be as good, because it is a sequel. Nothing really happens in this book - you read about the boys, the horse show pressures, the need for perfection. There is basically no plot or story line, just more character development. If you REALLY liked the first book (A-circuit) and liked the characters you may like this one but don't expect much.
May 16, 2015
It's a pretty quick and easy read because it's not that well written and the plot and dialogue are pretty simple. There's a lot of horse lingo which is great for fellow riders. The characters are one dimensional, predictable and the dialogue is humorously poorly written. I picked this book up at the library looking for a book about horses and that's what I got. It was an easy read on a cruise ship but I think my time would've been better spent reading something more mentally stimulating.
April 10, 2012
I like this series. The book was pretty good. I will definitely read the next one, but I just couldn't get through this book. I felt like it dragged on and on. I mean and also the part about how stupid one of the girls is that it makes me mad just to read her part in the story...
Read
May 17, 2012This one is a great sequel to A Circuit. It makes you want to read more and more because problems are occuring with the girls and you don't know what they're going to do next. I can't wait to read the next one!
July 20, 2012
This was very much a girly-girl book. The girls are spoiled and rich (well, except one), and their world is full of horse shows and fluff. It very much felt like the middle book in a series and did not stand alone well at all.
August 15, 2013
I loved it! I loved all of them. Fitz and Kate deff. make a cute couple. I can't stand the fact that she's so hard working and doesn't really pay much attention to him. She needs to take a long break before she bursts.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews