Perfect Revenge

Saddlehill Academy #4

by Jessica Burkhart

From the author of the Canterwood Crest series comes the fourth book in a middle grade series about an equestrian boarding school as Abby works to bring up her grades while new students make waves at the stables.

Abby can’t believe she’s officially been accepted to join other elite riders at the Sasha Silver’s winter riding clinic! Training with the Queen of Canterwood is a dream come true…until she finds out her frenemy, Selly, is the only other Foxbury rider who got in.

Even worse, Abby’s recent grades haven’t been so hot, and her dad says that if things don’t shape up, she won’t be allowed to attend the winter clinic. Then two surprise Canterwood transfers make things very interesting around the Foxbury stables. Are they coming with good intentions, or do they plan to upset the status quo?

Genres: Horses

288 pages, Paperback

Published June 4, 2024

About the author

Jessica Burkhart is the author of the best-selling Canterwood Crest series which has sold over 1.6 million copies in multiple languages. She has also written the Unicorn Magic series, the YA novel Wild Hearts, and edited a YA anthology--Life Inside My Mind.

Reviews

[TL *Humaning the Best She Can* · Rating 4 out of 5]

You know a character is written well when you want drop kick em grrr... and a certain character coming in with a reputation...puzzled with Foxbury right now.

Not much to say other than I enjoyed this one, and rooting for the girls to show these two pissants they are stronger than A and O think.

Mila and Emery are my in my top favorites along with Abby but love all these girls:).

[Shanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before I begin my review of Perfect Revenge, there are I few things I feel must be said. I read the Canterwood Crest series when I was in middle school many years ago (and far past that as the books kept coming out) and as a little introverted horse girl, I absolutely adored them. They made me feel seen and like my all consuming love of horses mattered and wasn’t weird or shameful. That is what those books did for me.

Now, Saddlehill has the opportunity to do the same for not only other horse obsessed kids but for those who don’t fit the heterosexual mold. While I am not a member of the LGBT+ community, I can recognize the importance of having these types of stories available. And it is important. Showing growing minds that just because they might be different than those around them, doesn’t mean they are wrong or outcast. Having the ability to read stories where main characters are out and proud and able to live their lives to their truest selves is incredibly important. Especially to those who see themselves reflected in those characters.

The Abby St. Clair’s of the world are just as deserving of having their stories told as boy & lip gloss obsessed Sasha Silver was when I was growing up. (And major kudos to you Ms. Burkhart for where Sasha is now, I’m so happy you’ve gotten to have her grow up as she did.)

I always keep in mind these books are not written for me (an almost 30 year old still horse obsessed woman) and for me this series lives as a nostalgia filled love letter to my youth. But there are still many things about this novel that I can appreciate.

So my review; the fourth installment of Saddlehill continues to shine amongst its predecessors. I liked the addition of Abby struggling with school and her grades, it makes for good real world grounding and additional character growth and development. As the series continues the reader gets to know more about Abby and how she handles stress and the pressures of school. It’s realistic, adds to the plot in a great way, and I enjoyed the end result.

Also let me say, no one, absolutely no one writes a good old fashioned middle school bully than Jessica Burkhart! She has it down to an art form. Absolutely brilliant and makes me so frustrated every single time. It’s a talent!

Perfect Revenge is a five star continuation of the series, the plot flowed very well, the characters are each strong and individual and all add their own things to the story. It’s a fun read with some great tension, a little mystery, and of course lots of horses.

I adored this book, and like I’m prone to do, devoured it in one sitting. This writing style is open and inviting and each chapter leads straight into the other making it so I never want to put the book down until I’m done (which I didn’t).

I hope there are many more books to come (cough cough Simon & Schuster I’m looking at you please don’t make me beg) and getting to see what goes down at Sasha & Heather’s Winter Clinic.

Please read and support Saddlehill Academy and Jessica Burkhart! Her stories are needed in the world!

[Nika Chapin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 ⭐️

This book was fun! I definitely think the 3rd book will remain my favorite in the series, but this book was really sweet. It felt a lot like just catching up with the characters and having a little check in which was honestly nice. The scenes with Callie were obviously my favs and I can’t wait to see how the winter clinic goes!!

[Emmaby Barton Grace · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a sweet little series! big slay for sapphic equestrian books <3 definitely a bit young for me (despite them being unrealistically immature?? lots of coffee drinking and independence?) but still a quick fun read (even though the plots were sometimes very obvious/a lot of screaming to just tell an adult lol) i also really appreciated how ‘normal’ the eating/relationships with food were in this book!! i think thats really important to show to young girls, especially as athletes.

- such strong friendships <3333

[Jess · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

I’m so annoyed this ended on a cliffhanger! I have loved reading Abby & Emery’s adventures at Foxbury and I just want more…so many questions unanswered! I will say though, this book, despite Abby’s stress regarding her grades, is way more lighthearted than those preceding it. For me personally, that made it a much more enjoyable read, especially with those final few chapters as the girls go on Thanksgiving break. I hope Jessica Burkhart is able to continue this story someday. I love this series.

[Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhhhh talk about a plot twist! After being a diehard Canterwood girly when I was younger I was super excited to read more of Jessica’s work and she does not disappoint!

[Jennifer Rummel · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG that cliffhanger!
And I love the connections to Canterwood Crest in this book. It's so fun seeing what old favorite characters are up to. I need more of this series!

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Still loving this book series for middle school girls! I really hope there’s another one coming out soon.