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The Jump
From the author of the popular Eventing Series, a brand new standalone hardcover, set in Florida horse country and featuring a fresh set of unforgettable characters
Brooke Haskell’s got big dreams . . . and she’s running out of time. The equestrian life Brooke craves has always been just outside her reach, but, like every horse girl, she believes that pluck, heart, and hard work can catapult anyone into greatness. Unfortunately, her horse Roxie doesn’t seem to agree. After her most disappointing horse show to date and with only one more year before graduation and real life take over, Brooke is finally upset enough to do something rash. She decides to ditch her college plans and her parents’ wishes, risking everything to apprentice with one of the country’s most famous equestrians, Eddie O’Neill.
As she plunges headfirst into the breakneck pace of a top training stable, Brooke finally feels like she belongs. Her fellow working student might be a trust-fund Instagram star, but they bond over their shared love of horses. And sparks fly with a colleague who seems to love this version of Brooke. But when Roxie goes from steady improvement to angry rebellion, Brooke realizes Eddie’s reputation for training winners may come at a steep price. Brooke is finally poised to have the life she always wanted—but at what cost? Will she discover an uncomfortable truth about her idol, and what is she willing to give up in order to defend the sport she loves?
Set in the equestrian community of Ocala, Florida, this never-before-published standalone novel expands the world of the Eventing Series, introducing a new and endearing cast of characters. Against a riveting high stakes backdrop, Reinert explores the passions which drive us, the love affairs which fuel us, and the partnerships--both animal and human--which help us thrive and find ourselves.
Brooke Haskell’s got big dreams . . . and she’s running out of time. The equestrian life Brooke craves has always been just outside her reach, but, like every horse girl, she believes that pluck, heart, and hard work can catapult anyone into greatness. Unfortunately, her horse Roxie doesn’t seem to agree. After her most disappointing horse show to date and with only one more year before graduation and real life take over, Brooke is finally upset enough to do something rash. She decides to ditch her college plans and her parents’ wishes, risking everything to apprentice with one of the country’s most famous equestrians, Eddie O’Neill.
As she plunges headfirst into the breakneck pace of a top training stable, Brooke finally feels like she belongs. Her fellow working student might be a trust-fund Instagram star, but they bond over their shared love of horses. And sparks fly with a colleague who seems to love this version of Brooke. But when Roxie goes from steady improvement to angry rebellion, Brooke realizes Eddie’s reputation for training winners may come at a steep price. Brooke is finally poised to have the life she always wanted—but at what cost? Will she discover an uncomfortable truth about her idol, and what is she willing to give up in order to defend the sport she loves?
Set in the equestrian community of Ocala, Florida, this never-before-published standalone novel expands the world of the Eventing Series, introducing a new and endearing cast of characters. Against a riveting high stakes backdrop, Reinert explores the passions which drive us, the love affairs which fuel us, and the partnerships--both animal and human--which help us thrive and find ourselves.
384 pages, Hardcover
Published March 24, 2026
14 people are currently reading
6175 people want to read
About the author
Natalie Keller Reinert
53 books584 followersNatalie Keller Reinert is the award-winning author of more than twenty books, including the Eventing series and Briar Hill Farm series. Drawing on her professional experience in three-day eventing, working with Thoroughbred racehorses and mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, and many other equine pursuits, Natalie brings her love of equestrian life into each of her titles. She also cohosts the award-winning equestrian humor podcast Adulting With Horses.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
Natalie lives in north Florida with her family, horses, and cat.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 91 reviews
December 1, 2025
Natalie Keller Reinert’s ‘The Jump’ says everything that needs to be said and more about the horse abuse scandals that top Olympic trainers get ensnared in! It follows the fate of broke horse girl Brooke and her OTTB mare Roxie as they get sucked into the harsh realities of the horse world.
Reinert’s protagonist is a complex, relatable heroine that gives us a fascinating perspective. She is naive, unsure of herself, inexperienced, though her gut instincts often rebel against what she tries to tell herself. She is so many of us holding the book, making her the perfect narrator for this story. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened to Brooke next, hoping things would work out for her. Her desire to bring out Roxie’s potential, paired with her love for her mare, makes her even more endearing. Roxie is a mare in every sense of the word, and as someone partial to mares myself, I absolutely loved her. She is a horse with spunk and personality, as sure of herself as Brooke is unsure of herself. They make for a dynamic and complex pair with plenty of issues to iron out over the course of the book.
The characters rounding out the tale are just as compelling in their own rights. I absolutely loved Brooke’s social media hero and unlikely friend Lenox, who gets a working student job in Eddie O’Neill’s barn alongside Brooke. It would have been so easy to make Lenox a typical, Instagram-perfect, wealthy horse girl, but Lenox is anything but. I so enjoyed Brooke discovering Lenox’s layers over the course of the novel, concluding in the end that she will never truly understand her! Likewise, Eddie’s barn manager Anise is jaded and cynical, but still has a love for her horse that exists deep under her hardened exterior. Given her complicity in Eddie’s training and business practices, it would be so easy to make her a villain but she isn’t. She’s a complex character who makes questionable decisions, as so many people really are. Hans is more than a Dutch dressage superstar’s son, trying to find his feet out from under his mother’s shadow. His failure to understand so many aspects of American culture provided for some much-needed humorous moments! Brooke’s boyfriend Jacob (and to a lesser extent, her parents and Aunt Pickle) provides the horse-industry outsider voice of reason, even when Brooke doesn’t welcome that perspective. I appreciated that Jacob isn’t just ‘non horsey boyfriend’ - he’s got interests, goals, and dreams of his own and he’s pursing them with the same courage Brooke shows. Cat Trujillo makes for an interesting foil to both Eddie and Brooke - one there watching Brooke, having been in Brooke’s shoes, and waiting for the inevitable reckoning. We get some much gentler training methods and advice from her lips - demonstrating that not all top-level competitors put their ambitions before their horse.
Even the controversial trainer himself is handled carefully. The philosophy underpinning his practices, his manipulation of his horse-owning clients, and his own riding is absolutely appalling. They were difficult to read, though ring sadly very true. And yet, he has a gentler facade that pulls people in - that likability is exactly why he gets away with what he does for so long. His personal issues manifest as a destructive coping mechanism that clouds his judgment to the point that horses get seriously hurt. It is understandable while simultaneously being absolutely inexcusable.
The settings of Virginia and Ocala are beautifully rendered on the page. The barns, the apartments, the arenas, and the competitions (Lucille the cross-country starter was a delight) are so easy to picture. The settings live and breathe with bratty clients, high-spirited horses, and cuddly barn cats. You want to live in this world, despite its warts!
The pacing is perfect - it gallops along with all the drama of a white-knuckle cross country round. It was difficult to put down, because I just had to know what happened next! Everything came together to create a thrilling, serious, and action-packed horse story. We don’t get enough looks into eventing at this level, especially in fiction (see Brooke’s obsession with the cheesy eventing film Sylvester).
This book checks every box - it is a must-read for all horse-obsessed readers and even for those who aren’t. When it comes to what you’re willing to do to make it to the top, this books is a perfect precautionary tale. Anyone wanting a story exploring this concept is going to find plenty to love in ‘The Jump.’ Highly, highly recommended!
Reinert’s protagonist is a complex, relatable heroine that gives us a fascinating perspective. She is naive, unsure of herself, inexperienced, though her gut instincts often rebel against what she tries to tell herself. She is so many of us holding the book, making her the perfect narrator for this story. I had to keep turning the pages to find out what happened to Brooke next, hoping things would work out for her. Her desire to bring out Roxie’s potential, paired with her love for her mare, makes her even more endearing. Roxie is a mare in every sense of the word, and as someone partial to mares myself, I absolutely loved her. She is a horse with spunk and personality, as sure of herself as Brooke is unsure of herself. They make for a dynamic and complex pair with plenty of issues to iron out over the course of the book.
The characters rounding out the tale are just as compelling in their own rights. I absolutely loved Brooke’s social media hero and unlikely friend Lenox, who gets a working student job in Eddie O’Neill’s barn alongside Brooke. It would have been so easy to make Lenox a typical, Instagram-perfect, wealthy horse girl, but Lenox is anything but. I so enjoyed Brooke discovering Lenox’s layers over the course of the novel, concluding in the end that she will never truly understand her! Likewise, Eddie’s barn manager Anise is jaded and cynical, but still has a love for her horse that exists deep under her hardened exterior. Given her complicity in Eddie’s training and business practices, it would be so easy to make her a villain but she isn’t. She’s a complex character who makes questionable decisions, as so many people really are. Hans is more than a Dutch dressage superstar’s son, trying to find his feet out from under his mother’s shadow. His failure to understand so many aspects of American culture provided for some much-needed humorous moments! Brooke’s boyfriend Jacob (and to a lesser extent, her parents and Aunt Pickle) provides the horse-industry outsider voice of reason, even when Brooke doesn’t welcome that perspective. I appreciated that Jacob isn’t just ‘non horsey boyfriend’ - he’s got interests, goals, and dreams of his own and he’s pursing them with the same courage Brooke shows. Cat Trujillo makes for an interesting foil to both Eddie and Brooke - one there watching Brooke, having been in Brooke’s shoes, and waiting for the inevitable reckoning. We get some much gentler training methods and advice from her lips - demonstrating that not all top-level competitors put their ambitions before their horse.
Even the controversial trainer himself is handled carefully. The philosophy underpinning his practices, his manipulation of his horse-owning clients, and his own riding is absolutely appalling. They were difficult to read, though ring sadly very true. And yet, he has a gentler facade that pulls people in - that likability is exactly why he gets away with what he does for so long. His personal issues manifest as a destructive coping mechanism that clouds his judgment to the point that horses get seriously hurt. It is understandable while simultaneously being absolutely inexcusable.
The settings of Virginia and Ocala are beautifully rendered on the page. The barns, the apartments, the arenas, and the competitions (Lucille the cross-country starter was a delight) are so easy to picture. The settings live and breathe with bratty clients, high-spirited horses, and cuddly barn cats. You want to live in this world, despite its warts!
The pacing is perfect - it gallops along with all the drama of a white-knuckle cross country round. It was difficult to put down, because I just had to know what happened next! Everything came together to create a thrilling, serious, and action-packed horse story. We don’t get enough looks into eventing at this level, especially in fiction (see Brooke’s obsession with the cheesy eventing film Sylvester).
This book checks every box - it is a must-read for all horse-obsessed readers and even for those who aren’t. When it comes to what you’re willing to do to make it to the top, this books is a perfect precautionary tale. Anyone wanting a story exploring this concept is going to find plenty to love in ‘The Jump.’ Highly, highly recommended!
December 9, 2025
WOW was this book relatable. As a former working student at a big show barn, I related to every detail of Brooke’s working student life (minus the rich working student). Especially the never ending hours of work. Natalie nailed it.
Really enjoyed this book. As a die hard Eventing series fan, I was very excited to get an advanced copy. This book is fun, engaging, accurate, and very in tune with the current state of the competitive horse world and allegations of horse abuse. I was impressed with how well the story laid out how easily “training tactics” can be justified, and believed, and made to sound like proper corrective actions, when in reality…
Great storyline, I liked every single character (minus the big bad trainer, but he was such a well blended version of all the traits and characteristics of both good and bad top trainers), I love the personality that developed as we got to know Brooke’s mare more, and I loved Heather’s cameo (podcast listener!)
If you liked the Eventing series, I think you’ll like this too.
Really enjoyed this book. As a die hard Eventing series fan, I was very excited to get an advanced copy. This book is fun, engaging, accurate, and very in tune with the current state of the competitive horse world and allegations of horse abuse. I was impressed with how well the story laid out how easily “training tactics” can be justified, and believed, and made to sound like proper corrective actions, when in reality…
Great storyline, I liked every single character (minus the big bad trainer, but he was such a well blended version of all the traits and characteristics of both good and bad top trainers), I love the personality that developed as we got to know Brooke’s mare more, and I loved Heather’s cameo (podcast listener!)
If you liked the Eventing series, I think you’ll like this too.
November 30, 2025
I was very excited to be invited by my favorite author to be able to read and advance copy of her new book. It certainly did not disappoint. Natalie tackled one of the biggest current ethical issues in the equestrian world, of what is an abusive training method vs. point in time picture that is taken out of context. Very relatable story about working with horses and what happens when your idol and your dream job are maybe not as perfect as you originally imagined.
December 7, 2025
Natalie has written yet another fabulous book about the horse world. A lot of equestrian fiction is cheesy but Natalie has a knack for writing stories that are a glimpse of the horse world. The characters are relatable because you see yourself in them or other people. She also touches on abuse which is a very real and unfortunately happens at all levels. However, there is so much more to the story than the abuse that sometimes happens behind closed doors. I would have read this in one sitting if I could have but life got in the way.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I LOVED this!!! I really hope we get to see more of Brooke - and Roxie!!!!
November 22, 2025
I couldn’t put it down! Those 6am barn chores were extra hard after staying up until 3am to finish this book, but it was so worth it. I was actually writing down quotes to show my non horsey hubby that THIS is what horse girls think!
The plot is so timely in light of ongoing welfare issues/ #weridetogether and the characters so touching. If you are in any way affiliated with the horse industry, you need to read this book!
The plot is so timely in light of ongoing welfare issues/ #weridetogether and the characters so touching. If you are in any way affiliated with the horse industry, you need to read this book!
November 20, 2025
An Interesting Well-Written Tale
Although I'm not an expert on horses, I enjoyed this story about a young woman following her dreams and finding her way in the world. The characters are interesting, and I appreciated the way the book addresses themes such as overcoming adversity, dealing with ethical issues, and learning to trust oneself.
Thanks to the author for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Although I'm not an expert on horses, I enjoyed this story about a young woman following her dreams and finding her way in the world. The characters are interesting, and I appreciated the way the book addresses themes such as overcoming adversity, dealing with ethical issues, and learning to trust oneself.
Thanks to the author for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
December 21, 2025
I was able to read this book as advanced copy- this is the first book I have read of this author! I have to say that I loved the story! I used to own a horse back in my teenage years and I kept thinking of all the times I felt like the main character of the story, of what one would do for the love of a horse! As I was reading, I went back to the time when I had a horse of my own and what that felt like, the relationship with my horse. Brought back many happy memories for me!
July 15, 2025
I loved this! I knew very little about equestrian life coming into this book, and the world of eventing has absolutely come alive for me! I loved following Brooke through the risks and hardships she endures to make her dream come true. It’s a beautiful coming of age story with a few well timed surprises along the way. I highly recommend!
November 26, 2025
I've thoroughly enjoyed reading a whole lot of novels from this talented author. The Jump may be the best of the best so far. I found this tome so hard to put down. An engaging plot along with captivating characters made reading such a pleasure. I felt no fluff, only worthwhile words throughout. Kudos!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Loved this new book from Natalie Keller Reinert and it's very timely given the current climate of horse welfare issues. It felt very different from the author's other books in that the main character is very naive about horses and riding but I appreciate that it feels more like an outsider's perspective on the equestrian world.
February 24, 2026
The way this filled a horse-shaped hole in my heart 🥹
I grew up riding mostly OTTB until I graduated from college. I had dreams of working with horses as an adult, but I hated competing. It just was too stressful and took the fun out of riding. So hearing Brooke make her dreams come true was amazing. I loved her bond with Roxie. And I loved how she wasn’t afraid to chase her dreams instead of settling for a job she didn’t love.
Everything about this book was amazing. The narration was perfect. Natalie perfectly captured the chaos and hard work that comes in eventing, and I loved every second of this story.
Thank you so much Natalie and Macmillan Audio for a gifted copy of the audiobook.
I grew up riding mostly OTTB until I graduated from college. I had dreams of working with horses as an adult, but I hated competing. It just was too stressful and took the fun out of riding. So hearing Brooke make her dreams come true was amazing. I loved her bond with Roxie. And I loved how she wasn’t afraid to chase her dreams instead of settling for a job she didn’t love.
Everything about this book was amazing. The narration was perfect. Natalie perfectly captured the chaos and hard work that comes in eventing, and I loved every second of this story.
Thank you so much Natalie and Macmillan Audio for a gifted copy of the audiobook.
January 28, 2026
This book tackles such a prevalent issue of abuse within the equine industry and showing how many turn a blind eye all because of who the person is.
Brooke was such a likeable character but i think Lennox was the standout for me. It would have been so easy to have Lennox as a one dimensional trope of rich equestrian who’s mean to the protagonist. Instead we get an insight to her own struggles and their friendship (although competitive) is so refreshing. I love girls supporting girls 🥺
Roxie is a sweetheart, I love boss mares and her personality really shines through. She had me rooting for her and Brooke both while i was reading.
Overall I adored this book, I loved reading a book from the working student’s perspective instead of an already established rider trying to keep their place at the top.
Brooke was such a likeable character but i think Lennox was the standout for me. It would have been so easy to have Lennox as a one dimensional trope of rich equestrian who’s mean to the protagonist. Instead we get an insight to her own struggles and their friendship (although competitive) is so refreshing. I love girls supporting girls 🥺
Roxie is a sweetheart, I love boss mares and her personality really shines through. She had me rooting for her and Brooke both while i was reading.
Overall I adored this book, I loved reading a book from the working student’s perspective instead of an already established rider trying to keep their place at the top.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Natalie Keller Reinert has been my favorite horsey author since I got a copy of Ambition as a teenager for Christmas. Getting an ARC of The Jump was super exciting for me. This book is the perfect horse book. It is real, it is relatable, and you can tell it is written by someone who knows her stuff. If you are a mare girlie (like me) you will relate to the main character's journey with her mare Roxie and the commentary on how "marish" behavior is viewed and approached negatively by the trainer she goes to work for. Brooke's background is similar to mine in the way she began her riding journey and I saw so much of myself in her longing to do more with horses. (I spent many long hours researching working student positions.) I am so excited for this book to come out in March so more people can read this. This is truly the horse book we have all been waiting for!
November 24, 2025
Another fantastic story from my favourite equestrian author! New characters to learn, new situations to explore and a whole new series of adventures to look forward to.. can't wait for the next episode - thank you Natalie for allowing me the early opportunity to read and enjoy x
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December 11, 2025Yet another fabulous book by Natalie Keller Reinert!!! I just can’t put her books down once I start them and this one didn’t disappoint!! I’m hoping we’ll hear more about Brooke, Lennox and Anise in the future!!!
February 22, 2026
This is an earnest and sweet story about a horse-loving young woman who wants to make a career in the world of equestrian events. She manages to get a live-in job at a celebrity stable where her event fees, horse's board, and riding lessons are included. It's her dream job, so why do people keep asking her if everything is OK?
This YA book takes us inside horse competitions, stables, and rivalries. If you have an interest in horses and English-style riding, dressage, etc. you will find this entertaining. It paints (what I imagine to be) a realistic portrait of the high cost of owning a horse and the different approaches to training, told through the story of Brooke and her horse, Roxy. Well narrated and interesting.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheJump for review purposes. Publication date: 24 March 2026.
This YA book takes us inside horse competitions, stables, and rivalries. If you have an interest in horses and English-style riding, dressage, etc. you will find this entertaining. It paints (what I imagine to be) a realistic portrait of the high cost of owning a horse and the different approaches to training, told through the story of Brooke and her horse, Roxy. Well narrated and interesting.
My thanks to the author, publisher, @MacmillanAudio, and #NetGalley for early access to the audiobook of #TheJump for review purposes. Publication date: 24 March 2026.
February 22, 2026
The Jump by Natalie Keller Reinert completely pulls you into the competitive equestrian world—the barn drama, the pressure, the grit—it all feels so real. You can tell the author truly knows this life.
Brooke’s urgency with graduation around the corner and that desperate need to make the dream work? I felt that. I especially loved the deeper layer about ambition and what it can cost, particularly when it comes to Roxie and doing right by the horse.
It wasn’t a new all-time favorite for me, but I was invested the whole time and really appreciated the authentic behind-the-scenes look at elite training barns. Definitely one for horse girls at heart and anyone who’s ever chased a dream maybe a little too hard.
Brooke’s urgency with graduation around the corner and that desperate need to make the dream work? I felt that. I especially loved the deeper layer about ambition and what it can cost, particularly when it comes to Roxie and doing right by the horse.
It wasn’t a new all-time favorite for me, but I was invested the whole time and really appreciated the authentic behind-the-scenes look at elite training barns. Definitely one for horse girls at heart and anyone who’s ever chased a dream maybe a little too hard.
March 3, 2026
Throughout this novel we walk alongside a young woman named Brooke who is trying to find her place in the horse community alongside her heart horse Roxie. She has big dreams for the two of them and will do almost anything to get achieve them. Reinert showcases how impressionable young woman can be, how outside pressure can cause you to behave, and the importance of following your own instincts.
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillian Audio for the advance listen!
Thank you NetGalley & Macmillian Audio for the advance listen!
March 1, 2026
Brooke has the ambition to be a great equestrian & work with horses. She loves her horse Roxie & only wants the best for her, but their results aren’t going well. With graduation & entering the real world looming, she decides to take one last shot at reaching her dreams by going to work for, and learning from, her idol on the equestrian world. But things aren’t as glamorous from the inside.
I’m not a horse girl & don’t know anything about horses or eventing, but I really loved this book! There was so much that made the characters relatable, like learning the hard way that someone you hold up on a pedestal actually shouldn’t be looked up to. I loved the unusual friendships & the gorgeous settings too. And I learned a lot about horses & the sport along the way. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
Thank you to Flatiron and NetGalley for providing the ARC for my honest review!
I’m not a horse girl & don’t know anything about horses or eventing, but I really loved this book! There was so much that made the characters relatable, like learning the hard way that someone you hold up on a pedestal actually shouldn’t be looked up to. I loved the unusual friendships & the gorgeous settings too. And I learned a lot about horses & the sport along the way. I can’t wait to read more from the author!
Thank you to Flatiron and NetGalley for providing the ARC for my honest review!
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
If you like horses, or dream about riding a horse or even owning one, you probably would enjoy reading Natalie Keller Reinhert’s THE JUMP (on sale 3/24/2026). I’ve never been on a horse and I still loved the novel. I’m not the only one: Almost every Goodreads reader so far rated it five stars. (41 reviews for a 4.92/5.00 overall rating)
The novel centers around an equestrian competition called “Eventing.” Eventing is a triathlon that demands much of the horse (and rider too – apparently 2 or 3 riders a year are killed). First there’s “dressage,” where the horse (and rider) perform very precise movements. Another event is “Cross country,” where the horse must jump logs, fences, walls and water hazards. Another is “Show Jumping,” where in an arena, the horse jumps fences (some quite close to each other). Eventing is an Olympic sport. You may have seen the show jumping event on the telly (where the riders wear tails and top hats).
Eventing is usually an expensive sport. Our heroine, Brooke, is far from wealthy. She owns a former race horse, a headstrong Mare named Roxie. She enters Roxie in two events a year (mainly because she must rely on the use of a friend’s horse trailer). Brooke’s not had success, mainly because Roxie refuses to jump the fifth fence in the Cross-Country. (I figured because the novel is titled THE JUMP, the novel would climax in Roxie’s dramatic Jump over the fifth fence on her way to victory. Didn’t happen as I perceived it.)
The story begins as, after an embarrassing non-finish, Brooke meets Lenox. Lenox has it all: She’s beautiful, an accomplished eventer, rich parents, fancy rig, majestic horse, high-priced trainer, and millions of Instagram followers. What they have in common is their age and a love of horses.
They get the only two spots in a prestigious working-student program under the most famous eventing trainer, the movie-star-handsome Eddie O’Neal, and his stern manager, Anise (rhymes with Janice) Kincaid.
I expected a rich girl/poor girl conflict scenario, but instead they bond immediately over their love of horses.
The novel follows Brooke in her chores and lessons (with Roxie) in first class facilities, first in Virginia, and then in Florida. I found this behind the scenes look interesting. I waited for the big conflict or bad news. It didn’t come until fairly late in the story. I almost quit reading because at that point I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Brooke, Lenox, or Roxie. Luckily, I persevered and was rewarded for my stick-to-it-ness.
It's an obvious five-star novel.
A little bit about the author, Natalie Keller Reinhert. She’s published over twenty novels, I think all of them about horses. Her books consistently average mid to high 4.00’s ratings. She’s good. A reason THE JUMP (and probably her other books) feels so real is Reinhert, per her biography, draws “on her professional experience in three-day eventing, working with Thoroughbred racehorses and mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, and many other equine pursuits.” She published eight series of two books or more. Her most prolific is the 8-book “Eventing” series. (The Jump is not part of that series.) She self-published for a dozen years before getting a publisher. Now Amazon Studios is developing TV series based on the “Eventing” books and the “Briar Hill Farms” books.
The novel centers around an equestrian competition called “Eventing.” Eventing is a triathlon that demands much of the horse (and rider too – apparently 2 or 3 riders a year are killed). First there’s “dressage,” where the horse (and rider) perform very precise movements. Another event is “Cross country,” where the horse must jump logs, fences, walls and water hazards. Another is “Show Jumping,” where in an arena, the horse jumps fences (some quite close to each other). Eventing is an Olympic sport. You may have seen the show jumping event on the telly (where the riders wear tails and top hats).
Eventing is usually an expensive sport. Our heroine, Brooke, is far from wealthy. She owns a former race horse, a headstrong Mare named Roxie. She enters Roxie in two events a year (mainly because she must rely on the use of a friend’s horse trailer). Brooke’s not had success, mainly because Roxie refuses to jump the fifth fence in the Cross-Country. (I figured because the novel is titled THE JUMP, the novel would climax in Roxie’s dramatic Jump over the fifth fence on her way to victory. Didn’t happen as I perceived it.)
The story begins as, after an embarrassing non-finish, Brooke meets Lenox. Lenox has it all: She’s beautiful, an accomplished eventer, rich parents, fancy rig, majestic horse, high-priced trainer, and millions of Instagram followers. What they have in common is their age and a love of horses.
They get the only two spots in a prestigious working-student program under the most famous eventing trainer, the movie-star-handsome Eddie O’Neal, and his stern manager, Anise (rhymes with Janice) Kincaid.
I expected a rich girl/poor girl conflict scenario, but instead they bond immediately over their love of horses.
The novel follows Brooke in her chores and lessons (with Roxie) in first class facilities, first in Virginia, and then in Florida. I found this behind the scenes look interesting. I waited for the big conflict or bad news. It didn’t come until fairly late in the story. I almost quit reading because at that point I didn’t want anything bad to happen to Brooke, Lenox, or Roxie. Luckily, I persevered and was rewarded for my stick-to-it-ness.
It's an obvious five-star novel.
A little bit about the author, Natalie Keller Reinhert. She’s published over twenty novels, I think all of them about horses. Her books consistently average mid to high 4.00’s ratings. She’s good. A reason THE JUMP (and probably her other books) feels so real is Reinhert, per her biography, draws “on her professional experience in three-day eventing, working with Thoroughbred racehorses and mounted patrol horses, therapeutic riding, and many other equine pursuits.” She published eight series of two books or more. Her most prolific is the 8-book “Eventing” series. (The Jump is not part of that series.) She self-published for a dozen years before getting a publisher. Now Amazon Studios is developing TV series based on the “Eventing” books and the “Briar Hill Farms” books.
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is incredibly written. The author really draws you into the world of eventing and show jumping. The good, the bad and the ugly. You follow the path of Brooke who rents a space from her parents, works and owns a retired racehorse filly and tries to teach her the eventing, dressage and jumping aspects of her career. She gets accepted by Eddie O’Neil, a big time trainer that she has followed a long time, as a working student. Brooke learns that she belongs in the horse world, and learns how to strengthen her core, keep her seat and the ugly side of horse training.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 13, 2026
I had to wait a bit to process the feelings this book brought up. Keller is a favourite author of mine and I do appreciate both her writing style and the honesty with which she covers topics in the industry that tend to be either quietly accepted or ignored.
With the almost weekly surfacing of videos of these types of abuses, Keller covers a timely and difficult to address topic of horse welfare while presenting it in an engaging and easy to read novel. She draws you in with relatable characters that almost any working student or previous barn rat would recognize from their experiences. You find yourself rooting for the horse and rider pairs and later wondering how those riders could be so naive as to what was going on behind the scenes.
If you’re looking for a great read that shows the nitty gritty behind barn work and the sometimes ugly truths behind horse training, this is the novel for you.
With the almost weekly surfacing of videos of these types of abuses, Keller covers a timely and difficult to address topic of horse welfare while presenting it in an engaging and easy to read novel. She draws you in with relatable characters that almost any working student or previous barn rat would recognize from their experiences. You find yourself rooting for the horse and rider pairs and later wondering how those riders could be so naive as to what was going on behind the scenes.
If you’re looking for a great read that shows the nitty gritty behind barn work and the sometimes ugly truths behind horse training, this is the novel for you.
February 3, 2026
Another excellent book from Natalie Keller Reinert! She is the voice of the modern amateur rider. Her books perfectly encapsulate the current state of horse ownership, life, adulthood, and competition. While I am not an eventer, the themes in each book are applicable regardless of discipline or competition status. I would love to see the story of Brooke and Roxie continue in additional books. Don't miss this one!
June 7, 2025
*Review copy from Edelweiss*
A "horse-girl" book for grown-ups (and teens). Clearly written by a horseperson, it is both accurate, yet accessible for those who are not. Characters and plots are true-to-life, with stakes high enough to be realistic rather than the starry-eyed dreams found in the pony books of youth.
An exhilarating ride of a book.
A "horse-girl" book for grown-ups (and teens). Clearly written by a horseperson, it is both accurate, yet accessible for those who are not. Characters and plots are true-to-life, with stakes high enough to be realistic rather than the starry-eyed dreams found in the pony books of youth.
An exhilarating ride of a book.
January 26, 2026
Absolutely adored this book from start to finish. I’m a sucker for a good adult equestrian book. This one highlights the realities of getting into the horse business and what it takes to be successful.
March 4, 2026
3.75⭐️ Rounded up. Natalie Keller Reinert takes her readers into the heart of the equestrian world with her new book, The Jump.
Brooke has had one passion her entire life and that is horses. Now she has the opportunity to skip a year of college to become a working student in Florida with her beloved horse, Roxie. She believes this is the opportunity of a lifetime but her parents aren’t convinced. Now Brooke is in Ocala, Florida and she is training under one of the most famous equestrians in the country, Eddie O’Neill but not all is what it seems. They say don’t meet your hero’s for a reason and Brook will soon discover that for herself.
I don’t consider myself a horse lover and I am in no way familiar with the equestrian world. I went into this pretty clueless but something about this book kept drawing me in. The cover and the title caught my eye a month or so ago and I finally decided to pull the trigger and give the “new to me” genre a try. I enjoyed Reinert’s writing, the characters were interesting and held my attention throughout the story. I was interested to see what direction Brooke’s character would go and I enjoyed watching her find her footing in her new environment. I could see someone who is passionate about horses really enjoy this book.
I read in tandem with the audiobook, Bailey Carr did a lovely job and was the perfect fit for Brooke.
Thank you, NetGalley and Natalie Keller Reinert for an ARC and ALC of the jump. It was fun stepping into this new world and getting to experience the equestrian life.
Brooke has had one passion her entire life and that is horses. Now she has the opportunity to skip a year of college to become a working student in Florida with her beloved horse, Roxie. She believes this is the opportunity of a lifetime but her parents aren’t convinced. Now Brooke is in Ocala, Florida and she is training under one of the most famous equestrians in the country, Eddie O’Neill but not all is what it seems. They say don’t meet your hero’s for a reason and Brook will soon discover that for herself.
I don’t consider myself a horse lover and I am in no way familiar with the equestrian world. I went into this pretty clueless but something about this book kept drawing me in. The cover and the title caught my eye a month or so ago and I finally decided to pull the trigger and give the “new to me” genre a try. I enjoyed Reinert’s writing, the characters were interesting and held my attention throughout the story. I was interested to see what direction Brooke’s character would go and I enjoyed watching her find her footing in her new environment. I could see someone who is passionate about horses really enjoy this book.
I read in tandem with the audiobook, Bailey Carr did a lovely job and was the perfect fit for Brooke.
Thank you, NetGalley and Natalie Keller Reinert for an ARC and ALC of the jump. It was fun stepping into this new world and getting to experience the equestrian life.
Read
January 31, 2026Great book for horse lovers! I really enjoyed reading this book and will find more from this author. Very authentic writing and descriptions without being over the top and cheesy. Highly recommend
March 19, 2026
What an amazing story!
If you’ve ever wondered what happens in the world of horses, and horse ‘eventing’, well then, this book is for you!
And, if you’ve ever wanted something so badly that you are willing to risk your future for it… well, this book is also for you!
Brooke loves her horse, Roxie. She’s been training with her for a few years, but has NOT been able to get her to do ‘jumps’ at any events. She really wants to be able to have her do this, but cannot afford professional classes or trainers…
But, one day, at an event, she meets her instagram idol Lenox…who TALKS to her! 😳. She thinks this is huge!
Not only that, she tells her about the job she just took at a very well known farm, with a very well known trainer! And let’s her know that there’s ONE MORE spot open… if she wants to apply.
Brooke thinks about it, but knows she will ever get it.
Lenox is a great rider with a great horse. And, she comes from a family with a lot of money. Brooke has none of this. Why would they want her?
But, she applies. And they ask her to come!
So, now she’s working for AND training with the best of the best for her horse!
BUT… as time goes on she starts to see some cracks in the facade…
Is it just her? Maybe this is what they all do? Should she just keep quiet?
What an interesting book. What a crazy look at what goes on INSIDE these top trainers houses (or, barns…)
Sweet to see how she grows and learns and bonds with her horse, as well as others. And to see how she faces all the controversy in the end…
Definitely recommend this one! There is much to offer in this telling story!
4 1/2 stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#TheJump by @NatalieKellerReinert and narrated beautifully by @BaileyCarr.
**** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET! Look 👀 for it on 3/24/26! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
If you’ve ever wondered what happens in the world of horses, and horse ‘eventing’, well then, this book is for you!
And, if you’ve ever wanted something so badly that you are willing to risk your future for it… well, this book is also for you!
Brooke loves her horse, Roxie. She’s been training with her for a few years, but has NOT been able to get her to do ‘jumps’ at any events. She really wants to be able to have her do this, but cannot afford professional classes or trainers…
But, one day, at an event, she meets her instagram idol Lenox…who TALKS to her! 😳. She thinks this is huge!
Not only that, she tells her about the job she just took at a very well known farm, with a very well known trainer! And let’s her know that there’s ONE MORE spot open… if she wants to apply.
Brooke thinks about it, but knows she will ever get it.
Lenox is a great rider with a great horse. And, she comes from a family with a lot of money. Brooke has none of this. Why would they want her?
But, she applies. And they ask her to come!
So, now she’s working for AND training with the best of the best for her horse!
BUT… as time goes on she starts to see some cracks in the facade…
Is it just her? Maybe this is what they all do? Should she just keep quiet?
What an interesting book. What a crazy look at what goes on INSIDE these top trainers houses (or, barns…)
Sweet to see how she grows and learns and bonds with her horse, as well as others. And to see how she faces all the controversy in the end…
Definitely recommend this one! There is much to offer in this telling story!
4 1/2 stars for me, happily rounded up to 5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
#TheJump by @NatalieKellerReinert and narrated beautifully by @BaileyCarr.
**** THIS ONE HAS NOT BEEN RELEASED YET! Look 👀 for it on 3/24/26! ****
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and @MacmillanAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!!
You can also find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Instagram: @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
March 8, 2026
Thank you NetGalley, McMillan Audio & Natalie Keller for this ALC. Bailey Carr did a great job narrating this book.
More than learning about the equestrian world and the injustice with horses, I really loved how it also has a message that not everything is as it seems — after all, the person she thought she admired most and the job she thought she wanted most, proved to her to be NOT as it seemed. Great novel. Will definitely be following Natalie.
More than learning about the equestrian world and the injustice with horses, I really loved how it also has a message that not everything is as it seems — after all, the person she thought she admired most and the job she thought she wanted most, proved to her to be NOT as it seemed. Great novel. Will definitely be following Natalie.
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