What do you think?
Rate this book
Pas de deux
Caitlyn Lloyd has the world at her feet. Or more accurately—under her horse’s hooves. With the 2016 Rio Olympics just around the corner, nothing is going to derail her long-held dream of winning a medal or two in Olympic dressage. Not even the reappearance of a childhood so-not-a-friend throwing her perfectly balanced life into disarray.
Addie Gardner’s career is at its peak, and accepting a last-minute fill-in position as the veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team was a no-brainer. The fact that her old crush from Pony Club is on the team is just a bonus. Not a distraction at all. And it might just offer the chance to be friends with the girl who wouldn’t even give her the time of day twenty years ago.
But Caitlyn and Addie have very different memories of their time together at Pony Club and their first meeting as adults is less like a reconnection and more like a butting of heads. With the Olympics looming, they’ll need to set aside their history and learn to work together. And maybe Caitlyn and Addie will realize childhood memories aren’t always accurate, and that they have more in common than they would ever have thought. Maybe. Just maybe.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
Addie Gardner’s career is at its peak, and accepting a last-minute fill-in position as the veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team was a no-brainer. The fact that her old crush from Pony Club is on the team is just a bonus. Not a distraction at all. And it might just offer the chance to be friends with the girl who wouldn’t even give her the time of day twenty years ago.
But Caitlyn and Addie have very different memories of their time together at Pony Club and their first meeting as adults is less like a reconnection and more like a butting of heads. With the Olympics looming, they’ll need to set aside their history and learn to work together. And maybe Caitlyn and Addie will realize childhood memories aren’t always accurate, and that they have more in common than they would ever have thought. Maybe. Just maybe.
Genre: Romance
Editor: Cath Walker
Cover Designer: Judith Fellows
Audiobook
First published May 13, 2021
66 people are currently reading
1119 people want to read
About the author
E.J. Noyes
19 books1,981 followersE. J. Noyes is an Australian transplanted to New Zealand, which may be the awesomest thing to happen to her. She lives in the South Island with her wife and the world’s best and neediest cat, and is enjoying the change of temperature from her hot, humid homeland.
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
An avid but mediocre gamer, E. J. lives for skiing (which she is also mediocre at), enjoys arguing with her hair, pretending to be good at things, and working the fact she’s a best-selling and award-winning author into casual conversation.
If you want (very) sporadic emails about what E. J. is doing, you can sign up for the E. J. Noyesletter at: https://ejnoyesauthor.com/
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews
April 11, 2021
Bring on the Noyes! I have so many books to read and review lately that I have been feeling a bit behind. I’m trying to stick to a strict schedule of what I read and when, so hopefully I can feel more caught up. But then I’m given an early copy of an E.J. Noyes book and I’m somehow supposed to stay on schedule and wait a month to read it? Noyes, who is not only my favorite author but one of the best current authors in WLW fiction, and now I have to pretend that her book isn’t sitting on my Kindle. That is like someone giving me a gram cracker and a toasted marshmallow but telling me I can’t have the chocolate, it’s just cruel and I made it three days until I cracked and read the book. And I’m glad I cracked because this is everything I wanted in a good romance and I desperately needed another 5 star read for 2021.
Have you ever felt like an author has written a book just for you? Like they somehow know the book that would just fit your likes and wants, while not having any or your dislikes? Well that’s what Noyes did here. She wrote a romance that is exactly the type of romance that I want to read.
This romance hit two main tropes. For one main character this is a second chance romance, for the other character, this is an enemies to lovers romance. I loved the two different sides of how the character saw things and I think it gave the book a little zip that caught my attention from the beginning. I’m also a huge first person fan and Noyes writes some of the best first person out there. I was very happy that while this was first person, the POV is actually from both main characters. It was perfect for this book especially since both mains can’t even agree on their past. Seeing how each character thought and why, was the right choice for this romantic story.
I’m such a lesbian cliché when it comes to reading books with horses. I just love it so I knew this book was going to be for me. Not only that but one character had the job of being a large animal vet, while the other was trying to make the Olympic team. First, I would say that a vet is my favorite job for a book character (in a romance) to have. I’m an animal lover and it’s fun reading about such a great job. On top of that I’m one of those Olympic geeks that will watch as much of the games (including the equestrian events) as humanly possible. So in the end I was completely interested in both main characters.
It’s wasn’t just the characters and what the book was about that hooked me in, it was Noyes’ book choices around the romance that just cemented this book for me. I loved the chemistry and that you could really feel this attraction between the characters just growing and growing. I was happy that while still steamy, that the sex scenes were realistic too. The first time the mains are together they are not porn stars that get each other off in seconds. Instead, they actually have to get to know each other and learn what each other likes. I even had to laugh at Noyes poking fun at all the first time sex gods in WLW romance fiction. And what even made me happier than that was, wait for it… communication! Shocker I know, but while this book does have some relationship drama, the characters actually communicate and explain why they acted the way they did. It really was so rare and so refreshing.
I really thought hard and tried to think if there was anything that I didn’t like or that maybe I had an issue with. The only thing I wondered, while reading, is if the book felt a little long. I’d have to check but this seemed like one of Noyes’ longer books (almost twice as long as some other WLW romances). But the closer and closer I got to the end of the book, the more and more I didn’t want the story to end. Noyes gives us plenty in this book but I still wanted more. So while yes, this may be a little long for a romance, we sure get our monies worth. I’m including myself in that since I will be buying this in a physical copy or maybe even audio when it releases.
If you could not tell from my glowing review, I loved the book. As long as you are a fan of horses, or at least are okay with them, then I would absolutely recommend this one. Noyes writes really well and makes smart choices so that is why she is one of the best. I’m only sorry that the book is already over for me because it means I have to start waiting again for another new Noyes book.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
Have you ever felt like an author has written a book just for you? Like they somehow know the book that would just fit your likes and wants, while not having any or your dislikes? Well that’s what Noyes did here. She wrote a romance that is exactly the type of romance that I want to read.
This romance hit two main tropes. For one main character this is a second chance romance, for the other character, this is an enemies to lovers romance. I loved the two different sides of how the character saw things and I think it gave the book a little zip that caught my attention from the beginning. I’m also a huge first person fan and Noyes writes some of the best first person out there. I was very happy that while this was first person, the POV is actually from both main characters. It was perfect for this book especially since both mains can’t even agree on their past. Seeing how each character thought and why, was the right choice for this romantic story.
I’m such a lesbian cliché when it comes to reading books with horses. I just love it so I knew this book was going to be for me. Not only that but one character had the job of being a large animal vet, while the other was trying to make the Olympic team. First, I would say that a vet is my favorite job for a book character (in a romance) to have. I’m an animal lover and it’s fun reading about such a great job. On top of that I’m one of those Olympic geeks that will watch as much of the games (including the equestrian events) as humanly possible. So in the end I was completely interested in both main characters.
It’s wasn’t just the characters and what the book was about that hooked me in, it was Noyes’ book choices around the romance that just cemented this book for me. I loved the chemistry and that you could really feel this attraction between the characters just growing and growing. I was happy that while still steamy, that the sex scenes were realistic too. The first time the mains are together they are not porn stars that get each other off in seconds. Instead, they actually have to get to know each other and learn what each other likes. I even had to laugh at Noyes poking fun at all the first time sex gods in WLW romance fiction. And what even made me happier than that was, wait for it… communication! Shocker I know, but while this book does have some relationship drama, the characters actually communicate and explain why they acted the way they did. It really was so rare and so refreshing.
I really thought hard and tried to think if there was anything that I didn’t like or that maybe I had an issue with. The only thing I wondered, while reading, is if the book felt a little long. I’d have to check but this seemed like one of Noyes’ longer books (almost twice as long as some other WLW romances). But the closer and closer I got to the end of the book, the more and more I didn’t want the story to end. Noyes gives us plenty in this book but I still wanted more. So while yes, this may be a little long for a romance, we sure get our monies worth. I’m including myself in that since I will be buying this in a physical copy or maybe even audio when it releases.
If you could not tell from my glowing review, I loved the book. As long as you are a fan of horses, or at least are okay with them, then I would absolutely recommend this one. Noyes writes really well and makes smart choices so that is why she is one of the best. I’m only sorry that the book is already over for me because it means I have to start waiting again for another new Noyes book.
An ARC was given to me for a review.
May 10, 2021
'ARC provided by both Netgalley and The Publisher (Bella Books) in exchange for a honest review'
**Few writers sometimes cannot write the stories that they really want to write but then they should write the book that they are capable of writing..The effable is preferable to the ineffable..'
Pleasant read!
It is sometimes delightful to encounter a book that, in addition to being an enjoyable read, strikes this same positive responsive chords from other readers minds. Noyes is as single-minded to her craft as her characters, good and otherwise are to theirs -- with this literary flair when telling a story from curious and fascinating angles. So to this I say that E.J. Noyes is back with what she does best in telling a charming well researched story -- with an engaging romantic filled love story. With her signature insight and gift for storytelling, she interweave this enchanting tale from the first chapter of the intimate bond and unique relationships between a horse, it's rider, veterinarian, groomer and everyone else associated with them to the last page. It's really all about achieving goals, getting to the Olympics, winning or medaling in the dressage/equestrian events while resolving whatever feelings there might be for a past riding teammate and assuming teen bully. Not a horse person neither am I into horse dressage plus anything pertaining to the inner workings of veterinarians etc.. but from the storyline progression, i have not read any other writer who has brought to life the remarkable bonding between humans and their horses like Ms.Noyes. Her extensive groundwork in the field of horse/animal cognition while exploring the quick instincts, keen observations of any health issues and the different medical care by professional veterinarians were well written.
Overall, 'PAS DE DEUX' is filled with whimsical anecdotes, reckoning dialogues, spins a web of human emotions that range from anger to sheer joy even captures the essence of what it feels like to achieve your goals then fall in Love. Whether exercising, laying around, being playful, eating hay or any favorite snacks in their barns, the horses in 'PAS DE DEUX' are genuinely motivating, will warm your heart and utterly memorable.
Highly recommended!
**Few writers sometimes cannot write the stories that they really want to write but then they should write the book that they are capable of writing..The effable is preferable to the ineffable..'
Pleasant read!
It is sometimes delightful to encounter a book that, in addition to being an enjoyable read, strikes this same positive responsive chords from other readers minds. Noyes is as single-minded to her craft as her characters, good and otherwise are to theirs -- with this literary flair when telling a story from curious and fascinating angles. So to this I say that E.J. Noyes is back with what she does best in telling a charming well researched story -- with an engaging romantic filled love story. With her signature insight and gift for storytelling, she interweave this enchanting tale from the first chapter of the intimate bond and unique relationships between a horse, it's rider, veterinarian, groomer and everyone else associated with them to the last page. It's really all about achieving goals, getting to the Olympics, winning or medaling in the dressage/equestrian events while resolving whatever feelings there might be for a past riding teammate and assuming teen bully. Not a horse person neither am I into horse dressage plus anything pertaining to the inner workings of veterinarians etc.. but from the storyline progression, i have not read any other writer who has brought to life the remarkable bonding between humans and their horses like Ms.Noyes. Her extensive groundwork in the field of horse/animal cognition while exploring the quick instincts, keen observations of any health issues and the different medical care by professional veterinarians were well written.
Overall, 'PAS DE DEUX' is filled with whimsical anecdotes, reckoning dialogues, spins a web of human emotions that range from anger to sheer joy even captures the essence of what it feels like to achieve your goals then fall in Love. Whether exercising, laying around, being playful, eating hay or any favorite snacks in their barns, the horses in 'PAS DE DEUX' are genuinely motivating, will warm your heart and utterly memorable.
Highly recommended!
June 28, 2021
Edit: June 28th, 2021, audiobook review.
E. J. Noyes and Abby Craden, need I say more? I loved this book when I read it, but the timing wasn’t the best and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. I knew the audiobook would fix it, and when Rach at Les Rêveur asked if I wanted to review it, I jumped at the chance (our joint review is here).
Abby Craden’s narration is wonderful as usual, even if she struggles a little with some of the French terms, but who cares. It’s not like there’s any French character anyway, and she pronounces them the way most Americans would. Since the characters are American, it’s perfect.
One of the reasons why I love audiobooks is that of course, it’s a totally different experience but also, what catches my attention when I read and when I listen isn’t always the same. And while I loved this story already, I completely rediscovered it in Abby Craden’s narration. And I’m not going to lie, the first night Addie and Caitlyn spend together registered in a whole new way when read by Craden. It’s true of many other scenes but that one blew me away.
I loved Addie’s smooth, honey-like voice. Caitlyn’s tension when she’s worried about Dewey or protecting her heart contrast nicely with all the moments when she’s relaxed and happy. She gets bold with Addie when she feels safe and that boldness is reflected in her voice.
Whatever didn’t work one hundred percent for me in that first reading is long forgotten, and I don’t even know why I thought it was a 4.5⭐️ book. I’m upgrading the initial rating to the full 5⭐️ it deserves.
------------------------------------------------
4.5⭐️ – Each new book by E.J. Noyes is cause for celebration. You know you’re going to get fantastic writing, relatable characters, and a great story. Even with her more traditional romances (Turbulence, Gold or this new one), there’s always something more.
In Pas de Deux, Caitlyn Lloyd is on the verge of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the US dressage team. All her hard work, all her sacrifices are about to pay. No way is she going to let her confusion over the new team vet derail her plans. Addie Gardner was Caitlyn’s nemesis at Pony Club, or so Caitlyn remembers it. On Addie’s side, things are a bit different: Caitlyn was her first – and everlasting – crush. Now an accomplished vet, Addie’s ambition is to do her job as well as possible. And if with that job comes a new friendship (or more), she won’t complain.
I don’t know much about horses. Like with most sports, I know more than I would had I not met my wife (she once received an award for her articles on equestrian competitions), and I understood most of the words without using the glossary at the end of the book, but I mostly look from afar, awed by both the beauty and the height of horses. They make me feel very small, clumsy and fragile. E.J. Noyes, on the other hand, is an expert, and the love she has for horses is in every word of this book. I think it’s that love that made it possible for me to care about every detail, all the minutiae about the care of horses. The level of description could have felt excessive but Noyes makes it engaging and captivating.
The readers who felt lost when Noyes tried her hand at third person narrative will be happy to know that she’s back to first person (from both MCs’ POV, in alternate chapters) and hasn’t mislaid any of her talent during her foray into foreign territory. I, for one, believe her third person is just as good as her first and that she spooked herself with Reaping the Benefits. When you’re as talented as E.J. Noyes is, you can write anything you put your mind to. The only question is whether you’re enjoying writing it. And it certainly feels as if the author took pleasure in writing this story.
One of the many things I loved in this book is the way the MCs deal with problems. They do this very adult and very rare-in-lesfic thing: they talk to each other. This book is proof that miscommunication isn’t required for drama. Neither is a breakup. Well-fleshed characters with very human hang-ups bring all the angst and drama necessary. It’s all the more interesting here as Pas de Deux is part enemies-to-lovers romance, part second chance, depending on whose point of view is playing. Addie has had a crush on Caitlyn since they were fourteen, unbeknownst to Caitlyn who thought Addie was a pest.
All the confused feelings they had as teenagers wake up in a much more adult manner when they meet again. The chemistry between them is sweet and hot at the same time, with Addie trying not to get her hopes up too quickly and Caitlyn’s efforts to reconcile the girl she hated with the adorable woman she’s attracted to. Once they act on their attraction, the sex scenes are both steamy and realistic. Not everything is picture-perfect the first time and it only makes it better.
While I loved both MCs (especially Addie) and the secondary characters, from Caitlyn’s groom Wren to Addie’s friend Teresa and, of course, Dewey the horse, this book didn’t touch me as deeply as Noyes’s books usually do. It could be because, before I got to it, I read a couple of other books that brought out a lot of emotions for me and I was, maybe, a little dried out. If that’s the reason, I’m pretty sure I’ll experience the minuscule part I missed when I listen to the audiobook. I love E.J. Noyes’s books but what I love even more is Abby Craden narrating them. I don’t even care if she mangles the French (as long as she’s not voicing a French character). I can’t wait to hear the voices she gives Caitlyn and Addie.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
E. J. Noyes and Abby Craden, need I say more? I loved this book when I read it, but the timing wasn’t the best and I didn’t enjoy it as much as I should have. I knew the audiobook would fix it, and when Rach at Les Rêveur asked if I wanted to review it, I jumped at the chance (our joint review is here).
Abby Craden’s narration is wonderful as usual, even if she struggles a little with some of the French terms, but who cares. It’s not like there’s any French character anyway, and she pronounces them the way most Americans would. Since the characters are American, it’s perfect.
One of the reasons why I love audiobooks is that of course, it’s a totally different experience but also, what catches my attention when I read and when I listen isn’t always the same. And while I loved this story already, I completely rediscovered it in Abby Craden’s narration. And I’m not going to lie, the first night Addie and Caitlyn spend together registered in a whole new way when read by Craden. It’s true of many other scenes but that one blew me away.
I loved Addie’s smooth, honey-like voice. Caitlyn’s tension when she’s worried about Dewey or protecting her heart contrast nicely with all the moments when she’s relaxed and happy. She gets bold with Addie when she feels safe and that boldness is reflected in her voice.
Whatever didn’t work one hundred percent for me in that first reading is long forgotten, and I don’t even know why I thought it was a 4.5⭐️ book. I’m upgrading the initial rating to the full 5⭐️ it deserves.
------------------------------------------------
4.5⭐️ – Each new book by E.J. Noyes is cause for celebration. You know you’re going to get fantastic writing, relatable characters, and a great story. Even with her more traditional romances (Turbulence, Gold or this new one), there’s always something more.
In Pas de Deux, Caitlyn Lloyd is on the verge of qualifying for the 2016 Rio Olympics as part of the US dressage team. All her hard work, all her sacrifices are about to pay. No way is she going to let her confusion over the new team vet derail her plans. Addie Gardner was Caitlyn’s nemesis at Pony Club, or so Caitlyn remembers it. On Addie’s side, things are a bit different: Caitlyn was her first – and everlasting – crush. Now an accomplished vet, Addie’s ambition is to do her job as well as possible. And if with that job comes a new friendship (or more), she won’t complain.
I don’t know much about horses. Like with most sports, I know more than I would had I not met my wife (she once received an award for her articles on equestrian competitions), and I understood most of the words without using the glossary at the end of the book, but I mostly look from afar, awed by both the beauty and the height of horses. They make me feel very small, clumsy and fragile. E.J. Noyes, on the other hand, is an expert, and the love she has for horses is in every word of this book. I think it’s that love that made it possible for me to care about every detail, all the minutiae about the care of horses. The level of description could have felt excessive but Noyes makes it engaging and captivating.
The readers who felt lost when Noyes tried her hand at third person narrative will be happy to know that she’s back to first person (from both MCs’ POV, in alternate chapters) and hasn’t mislaid any of her talent during her foray into foreign territory. I, for one, believe her third person is just as good as her first and that she spooked herself with Reaping the Benefits. When you’re as talented as E.J. Noyes is, you can write anything you put your mind to. The only question is whether you’re enjoying writing it. And it certainly feels as if the author took pleasure in writing this story.
One of the many things I loved in this book is the way the MCs deal with problems. They do this very adult and very rare-in-lesfic thing: they talk to each other. This book is proof that miscommunication isn’t required for drama. Neither is a breakup. Well-fleshed characters with very human hang-ups bring all the angst and drama necessary. It’s all the more interesting here as Pas de Deux is part enemies-to-lovers romance, part second chance, depending on whose point of view is playing. Addie has had a crush on Caitlyn since they were fourteen, unbeknownst to Caitlyn who thought Addie was a pest.
All the confused feelings they had as teenagers wake up in a much more adult manner when they meet again. The chemistry between them is sweet and hot at the same time, with Addie trying not to get her hopes up too quickly and Caitlyn’s efforts to reconcile the girl she hated with the adorable woman she’s attracted to. Once they act on their attraction, the sex scenes are both steamy and realistic. Not everything is picture-perfect the first time and it only makes it better.
While I loved both MCs (especially Addie) and the secondary characters, from Caitlyn’s groom Wren to Addie’s friend Teresa and, of course, Dewey the horse, this book didn’t touch me as deeply as Noyes’s books usually do. It could be because, before I got to it, I read a couple of other books that brought out a lot of emotions for me and I was, maybe, a little dried out. If that’s the reason, I’m pretty sure I’ll experience the minuscule part I missed when I listen to the audiobook. I love E.J. Noyes’s books but what I love even more is Abby Craden narrating them. I don’t even care if she mangles the French (as long as she’s not voicing a French character). I can’t wait to hear the voices she gives Caitlyn and Addie.
I received a copy from the publisher and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 14, 2021
How can I give this book anything else than the five stars it deserves! I loved it, but I have to admit I’m a little bit biased. People that know me, know that I’m not much of a sports person, but there is one sport that still makes my heart beat just a little bit faster and that’s dressage. This book is a perfect combination of my favorite sport and a wlw romance, what more do you need?
For more than a decade I competed in dressage and while it was just at amateur level, me and my friends were no less serious about it. Training 6 days a week, lessons 2-3 times a week and competitions in the weekends, ow and a little bit of school in between. And where did my equestrian adventure start? Yes, at pony club! It did not bring me the love of my life (I was still so far tucked away in the closet that I didn’t even know it had a door), but it did bring me my best friend, who’s until today (almost 30 years later) still my best friend. Equestrian sports in the Netherlands equates dressage, and I was delighted to see that part of this book is actually set at a training facility in the Netherlands and everything fits, from the various locations to the people and “Poffertje” the cat. Also, all descriptions of dressage, training and the connection between rider and horse are so well described that it’s clear that Noyes is not only very knowledgeable on the subject, she also clearly loves the sport and of course, the horses.
But Noyes would not be Noyes if there isn’t a fantastic romance as well. Caitlin is a candidate for the American dressage team and Addie is the new USA team veterinarian. When they first meet at a qualification competition there is obvious (one sided) hostility between the two based on events that happened at pony club, events that they both appear to remember quite differently.
I enjoyed the slow buildup and recollection of what happened at pony club and the realization that they were both teens handling their insecurities in a different manner. But, even after this first hurdle there are more difficulties for them to overcome and what I love about this book is that it is so real. There is excellent communication and this is not the beautified romance with perfect people and perfect lives that fit seamlessly together, or perfect sex for that matter, I had to chuckle when they lightly fumble through their first sexual encounter (which was no less sexy for it).
Caitlin and Addy have very different personalities and I think it’s almost impossible not to like them, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be Addie with her openness and slight awkwardness. There are not a lot of secondary characters, not with a large role anyway, but the ones that are there were fleshed out very well. Wren is the perfect groom, but also a really good friend to Caitlin and she perfectly complements Caitlin’s introvert character. The other secondary character has to be Dewey, Caitlin’s horse. I know this sounds weird, but his personality is unmistakable, I really got the feeling that I know him and I just want to cuddle him and give him a treat or fun toy to play with.
In this book Noyes is back to writing in first person, but with POVs from Caitlin and Addy. I like first person, it just makes that connection a little bit more intense, but sometimes I miss the connection to the other character(s). This is why the two POVs work so well, it gives the best of both worlds. One other thing to notice is that this book is very low angst. Normally I like some angst in my books, but I found that I did not miss it in this one at all. I can’t think of anything I did not like about this book, however, if you don’t know too much about horses or dressage, it might be a bit technical at times. But then again, learning a thing or two while reading a great book is never a bad thing, right?
If it wasn’t clear from my rambling above I highly recommend this book!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
For more than a decade I competed in dressage and while it was just at amateur level, me and my friends were no less serious about it. Training 6 days a week, lessons 2-3 times a week and competitions in the weekends, ow and a little bit of school in between. And where did my equestrian adventure start? Yes, at pony club! It did not bring me the love of my life (I was still so far tucked away in the closet that I didn’t even know it had a door), but it did bring me my best friend, who’s until today (almost 30 years later) still my best friend. Equestrian sports in the Netherlands equates dressage, and I was delighted to see that part of this book is actually set at a training facility in the Netherlands and everything fits, from the various locations to the people and “Poffertje” the cat. Also, all descriptions of dressage, training and the connection between rider and horse are so well described that it’s clear that Noyes is not only very knowledgeable on the subject, she also clearly loves the sport and of course, the horses.
But Noyes would not be Noyes if there isn’t a fantastic romance as well. Caitlin is a candidate for the American dressage team and Addie is the new USA team veterinarian. When they first meet at a qualification competition there is obvious (one sided) hostility between the two based on events that happened at pony club, events that they both appear to remember quite differently.
I enjoyed the slow buildup and recollection of what happened at pony club and the realization that they were both teens handling their insecurities in a different manner. But, even after this first hurdle there are more difficulties for them to overcome and what I love about this book is that it is so real. There is excellent communication and this is not the beautified romance with perfect people and perfect lives that fit seamlessly together, or perfect sex for that matter, I had to chuckle when they lightly fumble through their first sexual encounter (which was no less sexy for it).
Caitlin and Addy have very different personalities and I think it’s almost impossible not to like them, but if I had to pick a favorite it would be Addie with her openness and slight awkwardness. There are not a lot of secondary characters, not with a large role anyway, but the ones that are there were fleshed out very well. Wren is the perfect groom, but also a really good friend to Caitlin and she perfectly complements Caitlin’s introvert character. The other secondary character has to be Dewey, Caitlin’s horse. I know this sounds weird, but his personality is unmistakable, I really got the feeling that I know him and I just want to cuddle him and give him a treat or fun toy to play with.
In this book Noyes is back to writing in first person, but with POVs from Caitlin and Addy. I like first person, it just makes that connection a little bit more intense, but sometimes I miss the connection to the other character(s). This is why the two POVs work so well, it gives the best of both worlds. One other thing to notice is that this book is very low angst. Normally I like some angst in my books, but I found that I did not miss it in this one at all. I can’t think of anything I did not like about this book, however, if you don’t know too much about horses or dressage, it might be a bit technical at times. But then again, learning a thing or two while reading a great book is never a bad thing, right?
If it wasn’t clear from my rambling above I highly recommend this book!
I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 18, 2021
Loving the equestrian dressage world now…
Noyes has a large fan base because she is a solid writer. I've read some of her books before this and I agree with everybody else.
In theory, a love story between an equestrian of the 2016 Rio Olympics US Dressage Team and the team veterinarian wouldn’t interest me because I have no interest in sports nor horses. I never even heard of dressage before this, which I blame on the fact that it’s not a popular sport in this part of the world. Okay, ignorant. *shrugs* But it's Noyes, so I read it and I ended up loving it. I didn’t even mind googling the technical words along the way. I found myself drawn to the Olympics storyline, following Caitlyn’s professional achievements closely and enjoyed her special friendship with Dewey, her horse.
The romantic storyline was pretty great too. Addie and Caitlyn were nemesis at 14 when they were both members of the Pony Club. But when they meet as colleagues years later and start rehashing their history, their recollections of the past turns out to be entirely different from each other's so it changes perspectives for them and they restart a friendship on a clean slate. The attraction was pretty quick and the chemistry turned out to be really good. And I really love how differently they communicate as adults compared to when they were immature 14 year olds.
Noyes has given us a solid book once again. I love it.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Noyes has a large fan base because she is a solid writer. I've read some of her books before this and I agree with everybody else.
In theory, a love story between an equestrian of the 2016 Rio Olympics US Dressage Team and the team veterinarian wouldn’t interest me because I have no interest in sports nor horses. I never even heard of dressage before this, which I blame on the fact that it’s not a popular sport in this part of the world. Okay, ignorant. *shrugs* But it's Noyes, so I read it and I ended up loving it. I didn’t even mind googling the technical words along the way. I found myself drawn to the Olympics storyline, following Caitlyn’s professional achievements closely and enjoyed her special friendship with Dewey, her horse.
The romantic storyline was pretty great too. Addie and Caitlyn were nemesis at 14 when they were both members of the Pony Club. But when they meet as colleagues years later and start rehashing their history, their recollections of the past turns out to be entirely different from each other's so it changes perspectives for them and they restart a friendship on a clean slate. The attraction was pretty quick and the chemistry turned out to be really good. And I really love how differently they communicate as adults compared to when they were immature 14 year olds.
Noyes has given us a solid book once again. I love it.
I received an ARC from Bella Books through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 6, 2021
I’m not sure how to rate this one. 3 seems too low and 4 seems too high.
I liked Addie and Caitlyn as individuals but I found it hard to like their romance. I never felt like Caitlyn was in it until the very end and it just made me rather blah about them together. I still wonder if Addie hadn’t done what she did in the end if Caitlyn would’ve put any effort for their relationship. I just don’t like feeling that way about a romance.
No one come after me please. Lol.
I liked Addie and Caitlyn as individuals but I found it hard to like their romance. I never felt like Caitlyn was in it until the very end and it just made me rather blah about them together. I still wonder if Addie hadn’t done what she did in the end if Caitlyn would’ve put any effort for their relationship. I just don’t like feeling that way about a romance.
No one come after me please. Lol.
May 18, 2021
6 ⭐ - OMG!!! SOOOO GOOD!!!
I really tried not to read this too fast because I was loving every minute of it but.. ugh so hard to stay away from. The romance was great. The mains where great. The secondary characters were great. The horse was GREAT. The angst was believable. The ending was perfect with just the right amount of time to get to enjoy them as couple and get to snuggle with them and their life/love. The story was so interesting too. I was 100% there for all the dressage and horse stuff. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Can't wait for the audiobook. Do not hesitate on this one. Hands down the best all around romance/story I have read so far this year.
ps. I highly recommend you watch some dressage on youtube. it really helped me picture the horses and outfits and what the movements looked like.
I really tried not to read this too fast because I was loving every minute of it but.. ugh so hard to stay away from. The romance was great. The mains where great. The secondary characters were great. The horse was GREAT. The angst was believable. The ending was perfect with just the right amount of time to get to enjoy them as couple and get to snuggle with them and their life/love. The story was so interesting too. I was 100% there for all the dressage and horse stuff. I LOVED THIS BOOK. Can't wait for the audiobook. Do not hesitate on this one. Hands down the best all around romance/story I have read so far this year.
ps. I highly recommend you watch some dressage on youtube. it really helped me picture the horses and outfits and what the movements looked like.
May 4, 2021
It's E.J. Noyes. There is a reason she is at the top of the field when it comes to WLW fiction. I was so excited to receive an ARC of this book, and after I got it, I thought about rushing through this, but decided to savor the book instead, and it was so worth it.
This book was so great. It follows both Caitlyn Lloyd and Addison (Addie) Gardener as they navigate Olympic qualifiers together then eventually the Olympics- Caitlyn as a rider and Addie as the team Vet. They have a contentious past together they can't agree on, but have to put that aside to be successful, and yet there is something growing between them.
I loved this. Every part of it. I'm a certified fan of enemies to lovers, and while this isn't the most heated of rivalries I've read about- it was still fun to see Caitlyn's initial animosity towards Addie and Addie's feelings totally foiled in respect for Caitlyn.
I honestly don't know anything about horses and competitive horse riding, I grew up in a city and have been on one like twice. So I had to look up some things- like what dressage is, and the movements described in the book, but it didn't at all interfere with my enjoyment of this book. I could see it all happening really well- Noyes describes what is going on very effectively that you don't need a background in horsemanship to follow the actions. I do enjoy sports and competitions though so I liked this element in the book quite a bit.
This book is told through dual narrators in first person- and that usually isn't my favorite point of view but I think it does really work here so we can get in both characters' heads and see their perspective- especially on the different perspectives of their adolescence together, but also when events happen in this book that put them at odds. I do think it worked really well.
Both Caitlyn and Addie are so lovable. Seeing them butt heads yet be drawn together was really fun. I especially loved Caitlyn, with how introverted she is and how she struggles conveying her emotions and putting herself out there to get what she really wants- especially when she wants Addie. She was wonderful. And Addie was so fun! I loved how they interacted with each other, both the conflict in the beginning, and watching them fall for each other. They had great compatibility together.
Also I want to mention the sex scenes. I don't usually talk about sex scenes in my book reviews as I don't think they're usually as important to the plot and characters- and that's why I read these books. Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy them. But I just really loved how Noyes made it a point to show that sex isn't this immaculate thing- and just because people are very attracted to each other sex doesn't always just happen smoothly to everyone having multiple easy orgasms. I mean, I've been with my partner for three years and this still happens sometimes. This to me felt very real and added another element to making this book both fun to read and something more.
Noyes is one of the best in the lesfic business for a reason. This book was great. The characters were wonderful, and I'm not a horse person but this book had me super interested in horses. 5/5
Thank you to Bella Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
This book was so great. It follows both Caitlyn Lloyd and Addison (Addie) Gardener as they navigate Olympic qualifiers together then eventually the Olympics- Caitlyn as a rider and Addie as the team Vet. They have a contentious past together they can't agree on, but have to put that aside to be successful, and yet there is something growing between them.
I loved this. Every part of it. I'm a certified fan of enemies to lovers, and while this isn't the most heated of rivalries I've read about- it was still fun to see Caitlyn's initial animosity towards Addie and Addie's feelings totally foiled in respect for Caitlyn.
I honestly don't know anything about horses and competitive horse riding, I grew up in a city and have been on one like twice. So I had to look up some things- like what dressage is, and the movements described in the book, but it didn't at all interfere with my enjoyment of this book. I could see it all happening really well- Noyes describes what is going on very effectively that you don't need a background in horsemanship to follow the actions. I do enjoy sports and competitions though so I liked this element in the book quite a bit.
This book is told through dual narrators in first person- and that usually isn't my favorite point of view but I think it does really work here so we can get in both characters' heads and see their perspective- especially on the different perspectives of their adolescence together, but also when events happen in this book that put them at odds. I do think it worked really well.
Both Caitlyn and Addie are so lovable. Seeing them butt heads yet be drawn together was really fun. I especially loved Caitlyn, with how introverted she is and how she struggles conveying her emotions and putting herself out there to get what she really wants- especially when she wants Addie. She was wonderful. And Addie was so fun! I loved how they interacted with each other, both the conflict in the beginning, and watching them fall for each other. They had great compatibility together.
Also I want to mention the sex scenes. I don't usually talk about sex scenes in my book reviews as I don't think they're usually as important to the plot and characters- and that's why I read these books. Don't get me wrong though, I do enjoy them. But I just really loved how Noyes made it a point to show that sex isn't this immaculate thing- and just because people are very attracted to each other sex doesn't always just happen smoothly to everyone having multiple easy orgasms. I mean, I've been with my partner for three years and this still happens sometimes. This to me felt very real and added another element to making this book both fun to read and something more.
Noyes is one of the best in the lesfic business for a reason. This book was great. The characters were wonderful, and I'm not a horse person but this book had me super interested in horses. 5/5
Thank you to Bella Books and NetGalley for providing me an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review
July 11, 2021
Audio was very good as expected with Craden. I shall listen anytime I question my choices.
Welcome back first person POV! Another fantastic story by Noyes. This one is about a veterinarian (Addie) and an elite dressage team (Caitlyn-human and Dew-horse). The team is mentioned here as one main character because Dew is so important to the story, and he and Caitlyn are truly a package.
This story hit very close to home as some of the things Addie went through are totally happening in my life right now. So I can completely vouch for the veracity of that character. Thank you Ms Noyes, I’m also taking this as a sign that it is time to move on.
5 stars
Welcome back first person POV! Another fantastic story by Noyes. This one is about a veterinarian (Addie) and an elite dressage team (Caitlyn-human and Dew-horse). The team is mentioned here as one main character because Dew is so important to the story, and he and Caitlyn are truly a package.
This story hit very close to home as some of the things Addie went through are totally happening in my life right now. So I can completely vouch for the veracity of that character. Thank you Ms Noyes, I’m also taking this as a sign that it is time to move on.
5 stars
May 5, 2021
I absolutely enjoyed this book.
In this book we follow Caitlyn and Addison. Addison a veterinarian and Caitlyn is a dressage player on the road to the Olympics. The two meet when Addison is hired for the Olympic dressage team but this isn’t their first time meeting as the two were childhood friends... maybe not to Caitlyn though. The childhood that she remembers is nothing like the one Addison does and this kicks off an underlining enemies to lovers story. Caitlyn thought Addison hated her when in reality Addison just had the biggest crush.
Their relationship is absolutely cute, I’m not the biggest fan of dressage or horses as I may or may not have a small.... huge fear of animals taller than me, but I still loved this book. I expect nothing less from EJ Noyes though!
I do wish there was more romantic scenes between the two and maybe a more epic realization from Caitlyn that she was in love.
Highly recommend, very easy, casual, funny read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review!
In this book we follow Caitlyn and Addison. Addison a veterinarian and Caitlyn is a dressage player on the road to the Olympics. The two meet when Addison is hired for the Olympic dressage team but this isn’t their first time meeting as the two were childhood friends... maybe not to Caitlyn though. The childhood that she remembers is nothing like the one Addison does and this kicks off an underlining enemies to lovers story. Caitlyn thought Addison hated her when in reality Addison just had the biggest crush.
Their relationship is absolutely cute, I’m not the biggest fan of dressage or horses as I may or may not have a small.... huge fear of animals taller than me, but I still loved this book. I expect nothing less from EJ Noyes though!
I do wish there was more romantic scenes between the two and maybe a more epic realization from Caitlyn that she was in love.
Highly recommend, very easy, casual, funny read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in return for an honest review!
April 24, 2022
i am not a horse girl.
frankly, i'm not an animal person, on the whole. i like them! i just have no real desire to have them around me all the time or live with them/i am afraid of some of them. that said, despite having a healthy respect/fear of horses, i would hang out (briefly) with dewy, the very charming cat loving, hoof painting, horse at the center of this tale.
i am also not a sports girl.
that said, the olympics is my single exception to that, and i found the whole horse dressage (sp?) competition stuff much more interesting than i thought i would. but the real draw of this story are the main characters, caitlyn and addie. i loved them both a lot, and i really enjoyed their dynamic together. i've been on a good streak of e.j. noyes books lately and i'm delighted by it. the first two or three that i read i enjoyed but didn't love, but the last two i've really had fun (and way too many feelings) with and i'm so happy to finally get on the e.j. noyes love bandwagon. i think part of my earlier disconnect with her books have been the single pov, first person narration. that is... not my preference when it comes to romance stories--i much prefer to get into the pov of all parties involved in the romance. there are definitely times where it works really well (alone, for instance, was perfect like that) but usually it's not my fav way to tell a romance tale. i LOVED that this had dual povs of both caitlyn and addie, because it really helped me fall in love with both of them.
i thought the pacing of this was great. abby craden was nearly perfection as always (accents aren't perhaps her strong suit, but i still loved it). i love me a longer book. and it was a great one to listen to while having hardly any energy and recovering from a cold. it was also a lovely, pretty low angst refresher after the intensity of emotions that blasting through the seven husbands of evelyn hugo in basically a day gave me before this.
frankly, i'm not an animal person, on the whole. i like them! i just have no real desire to have them around me all the time or live with them/i am afraid of some of them. that said, despite having a healthy respect/fear of horses, i would hang out (briefly) with dewy, the very charming cat loving, hoof painting, horse at the center of this tale.
i am also not a sports girl.
that said, the olympics is my single exception to that, and i found the whole horse dressage (sp?) competition stuff much more interesting than i thought i would. but the real draw of this story are the main characters, caitlyn and addie. i loved them both a lot, and i really enjoyed their dynamic together. i've been on a good streak of e.j. noyes books lately and i'm delighted by it. the first two or three that i read i enjoyed but didn't love, but the last two i've really had fun (and way too many feelings) with and i'm so happy to finally get on the e.j. noyes love bandwagon. i think part of my earlier disconnect with her books have been the single pov, first person narration. that is... not my preference when it comes to romance stories--i much prefer to get into the pov of all parties involved in the romance. there are definitely times where it works really well (alone, for instance, was perfect like that) but usually it's not my fav way to tell a romance tale. i LOVED that this had dual povs of both caitlyn and addie, because it really helped me fall in love with both of them.
i thought the pacing of this was great. abby craden was nearly perfection as always (accents aren't perhaps her strong suit, but i still loved it). i love me a longer book. and it was a great one to listen to while having hardly any energy and recovering from a cold. it was also a lovely, pretty low angst refresher after the intensity of emotions that blasting through the seven husbands of evelyn hugo in basically a day gave me before this.
May 13, 2021
EJ Noyes is one of my favourite lesfic authors since she stormed the lesfic world with her Ask, Tell series, and later on with Alone, on my list of best books of 2019. Every time one of her novels is released I drop everything else to read it. Once again, she didn’t disappoint.
Caitlyn Lloyd is at the top of her career as a dressage rider with hopes to win a medal or two at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Addie Gardner is an equestrian veterinarian filling a last-minute vacancy as the veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team. Both women have conflicting childhood memories when they were members of the same Pony Club and Caitlyn is far from happy to see Addie again. As both have to work together towards a common goal they will discover that maybe they can leave the past behind and build a future together…
This was an entertaining sports romance with a small part of the enemies to lovers trope. After the author admittedly felt uncomfortable writing in third person in her previous novel, Reaping the Benefits, she’s back to her customary first person, in this case, from both main characters’ point of view in alternating chapters. The romance is both parts sizzling and sweet, but the main stars of this story are the dressage sport and the horses. Ms. Noyes knows what she’s writing about, firstly as a former member of a Pony club and living her own “enemies to lovers” romance with her wife, and secondly as an experienced horse breeder. So you will find a lot of level of detail regarding the sport and even a glossary of dressage terms at the end which isn’t essential to understand as Ms. Noyes explains everything in detail. I’m not a fan of that sport but found the dressage scenes very entertaining and the tension around competition at its highest level kept me turning pages. Additionally, Caitlyn’s horse Dewey is fleshed out so well that he seems like another human character.
If you’ve read Noyes’s Ask, Tell series or Alone you will see that this author is no stranger to heavy angst. However, Pas de Deux is very low in the angst department. I personally prefer little or no angst but some readers might miss that level of emotional roller-coaster present in the books mentioned above. Having said that, this novel doesn’t lack in the excitement department, typical of a sports competition at Olympic level. So if you are a sports fan and love a low angst romance, this book is definitely for you. Pas de Deux is another winner by EJ Noyes.
This novel is currently (May 2021) in the stages of production of the audiobook version, narrated by Abby Craden. I’m sure Ms. Craden will do a fantastic job as she normally does. Can’t wait to listen to it. In the meantime, the written version gets a 4.5-star rating from me.
Caitlyn Lloyd is at the top of her career as a dressage rider with hopes to win a medal or two at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Addie Gardner is an equestrian veterinarian filling a last-minute vacancy as the veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team. Both women have conflicting childhood memories when they were members of the same Pony Club and Caitlyn is far from happy to see Addie again. As both have to work together towards a common goal they will discover that maybe they can leave the past behind and build a future together…
This was an entertaining sports romance with a small part of the enemies to lovers trope. After the author admittedly felt uncomfortable writing in third person in her previous novel, Reaping the Benefits, she’s back to her customary first person, in this case, from both main characters’ point of view in alternating chapters. The romance is both parts sizzling and sweet, but the main stars of this story are the dressage sport and the horses. Ms. Noyes knows what she’s writing about, firstly as a former member of a Pony club and living her own “enemies to lovers” romance with her wife, and secondly as an experienced horse breeder. So you will find a lot of level of detail regarding the sport and even a glossary of dressage terms at the end which isn’t essential to understand as Ms. Noyes explains everything in detail. I’m not a fan of that sport but found the dressage scenes very entertaining and the tension around competition at its highest level kept me turning pages. Additionally, Caitlyn’s horse Dewey is fleshed out so well that he seems like another human character.
If you’ve read Noyes’s Ask, Tell series or Alone you will see that this author is no stranger to heavy angst. However, Pas de Deux is very low in the angst department. I personally prefer little or no angst but some readers might miss that level of emotional roller-coaster present in the books mentioned above. Having said that, this novel doesn’t lack in the excitement department, typical of a sports competition at Olympic level. So if you are a sports fan and love a low angst romance, this book is definitely for you. Pas de Deux is another winner by EJ Noyes.
This novel is currently (May 2021) in the stages of production of the audiobook version, narrated by Abby Craden. I’m sure Ms. Craden will do a fantastic job as she normally does. Can’t wait to listen to it. In the meantime, the written version gets a 4.5-star rating from me.
June 1, 2021
EJ Noyes is one of the most consistent storytellers in lesfic. Every novel is unique with engaging characters and wonderful stories that entertain and enlighten. This was no exception. Those who follow her on social media know that she has a passion for horses, and met her wife while in Pony Club when they were teens. She and her wife also competed in dressage - her wife at a high level - so EJ provides incredible detail about what that life is like. It sounds exhausting, expensive and exhilarating all at once! While I loved Addie and Caitlyn as characters, it was Dewey - Caitlyn's champion horse - that steals the show here. I'd never really thought of horses having such personalities, but Dew definitely did and I fell head over heels for him.
I bought the paperback and audiobook at the same time and when I was trying to decide which to experience first, EJ said, "Audiobook!" So that's where I went. And, of course, Abby Craden continues to prove why she is the absolute perfect partner for EJ's books. She seems to instinctively understand who EJ's characters are and delivers them beautifully. This is written in a first person dual point of view, with each main telling their story every other chapter. I loved that. As a reader you knew where each was in their journey and it encouraged more investment in the two of them as a couple. You don't have to know anything about dressage to enjoy this incredibly appealing romance. Follow EJ's advice and experience this on audio. You'll be so glad you did!
I bought the paperback and audiobook at the same time and when I was trying to decide which to experience first, EJ said, "Audiobook!" So that's where I went. And, of course, Abby Craden continues to prove why she is the absolute perfect partner for EJ's books. She seems to instinctively understand who EJ's characters are and delivers them beautifully. This is written in a first person dual point of view, with each main telling their story every other chapter. I loved that. As a reader you knew where each was in their journey and it encouraged more investment in the two of them as a couple. You don't have to know anything about dressage to enjoy this incredibly appealing romance. Follow EJ's advice and experience this on audio. You'll be so glad you did!
May 30, 2021
4.5 stars — E.J. Noyes does it again! This lovely feel-good romance had me smiling and laughing at several points, especially during the second half. It also happens to be a perfect combination of my past and present reading tastes. I was your quintessential horse girl as a kid (despite hardly having any contact with horses, I still had loads of Breyer figurines and knew all the colors and breeds) and read tons of books featuring horses, so reading this book felt like coming full circle. While I knew nothing about dressage upon starting this book, as I got comfortable with the story, I found myself getting invested in the dressage aspect. The dressage scenes in the second half especially were top-notch and left me anxious with anticipation and glowing with pride.
Caitlyn Lloyd is an introverted dressage competitor with an intense success drive. She gives off slightly intimidating vibes but is a true softie at heart, which is basically everything I want in a character. Despite her general lack of being a disaster, I found myself relating to her insecurities and coping mechanisms. Addie Gardner is kind-hearted equine veterinarian who you can’t help but love. She’s friendly, quirky, and has a Southern charm that bleeds through the pages. There are some wonderfully supportive side characters, and there are also some not-so lovely characters (but don’t worry, you’re supposed to dislike them). As other reviewers have said, Caitlyn’s horse Dewey is the most lovable buddy ever! He’s as extroverted as Caitlyn is introverted, and his antics are sure to make you giggle.
As soon as I read the premise, I was hooked on this book. Something akin to enemies-to-lovers, where Caitlyn thinks Addie is a bully but Addie has crushed on Caitlyn for years?? Sign me up! That premise adds drama to their first interactions, but I wouldn’t say there’s much hostility in this book. For these reasons, both lovers of enemies-to-lovers and those who don’t like it as much will be satisfied. Both main characters are so lovely and, like many other reviewers have said, there’s so much communication in this book that it’s the antithesis of the miscommunication trope. Here we have an example of how a wonderful romance with appropriate conflict can be written without resorting to jarring miscommunicaiton scenes. Caitlyn and Addie are always honest with each other, even when things get difficult. Even the intimate scenes, while definitely up to Noyes’ standards, are realistic and involve communication and some fumbling around. I love to see it! And god, these two are so sweet with each other and do all the little things I love. There’s just something about the terms of endearment in Noyes’ books that hit me in the best way?? First it was Bec calling Sabine “darling” in the Ask, Tell series, and now it’s Addie calling Caitlyn “sweetheart.” Ahhh!!
As for cons, I did find the first half of the book to be rather slow compared to the utter perfection of the second half. Also, there were many awkward sentences and editing issues (imo). I haven’t noticed editing issues in any of Noyes’ other books, though I’m probably not the best person to speak to this since I listened to the audio versions of all her books except Ask Me Again.
Tl;dr: This book made me so happy and I can’t wait for Noyes’ next book!
content warnings: alcohol (recreational), mentions of animal death, injury (past), infidelity (past), homophobia (off-page), parental rejection (past), medical stuff (veterinary), graphic sex, gunshots
Caitlyn Lloyd is an introverted dressage competitor with an intense success drive. She gives off slightly intimidating vibes but is a true softie at heart, which is basically everything I want in a character. Despite her general lack of being a disaster, I found myself relating to her insecurities and coping mechanisms. Addie Gardner is kind-hearted equine veterinarian who you can’t help but love. She’s friendly, quirky, and has a Southern charm that bleeds through the pages. There are some wonderfully supportive side characters, and there are also some not-so lovely characters (but don’t worry, you’re supposed to dislike them). As other reviewers have said, Caitlyn’s horse Dewey is the most lovable buddy ever! He’s as extroverted as Caitlyn is introverted, and his antics are sure to make you giggle.
As soon as I read the premise, I was hooked on this book. Something akin to enemies-to-lovers, where Caitlyn thinks Addie is a bully but Addie has crushed on Caitlyn for years?? Sign me up! That premise adds drama to their first interactions, but I wouldn’t say there’s much hostility in this book. For these reasons, both lovers of enemies-to-lovers and those who don’t like it as much will be satisfied. Both main characters are so lovely and, like many other reviewers have said, there’s so much communication in this book that it’s the antithesis of the miscommunication trope. Here we have an example of how a wonderful romance with appropriate conflict can be written without resorting to jarring miscommunicaiton scenes. Caitlyn and Addie are always honest with each other, even when things get difficult. Even the intimate scenes, while definitely up to Noyes’ standards, are realistic and involve communication and some fumbling around. I love to see it! And god, these two are so sweet with each other and do all the little things I love. There’s just something about the terms of endearment in Noyes’ books that hit me in the best way?? First it was Bec calling Sabine “darling” in the Ask, Tell series, and now it’s Addie calling Caitlyn “sweetheart.” Ahhh!!
As for cons, I did find the first half of the book to be rather slow compared to the utter perfection of the second half. Also, there were many awkward sentences and editing issues (imo). I haven’t noticed editing issues in any of Noyes’ other books, though I’m probably not the best person to speak to this since I listened to the audio versions of all her books except Ask Me Again.
Tl;dr: This book made me so happy and I can’t wait for Noyes’ next book!
content warnings: alcohol (recreational), mentions of animal death, injury (past), infidelity (past), homophobia (off-page), parental rejection (past), medical stuff (veterinary), graphic sex, gunshots
August 9, 2021
5⭐️ or a gold medal for E.J. Noyes and Pas de deux. The perfect book to read during the Olympics. Although I don't usually watch dressage, this time I had to, and with the author's explanations, I did understand this discipline even better.
Caitlyn Lloyd is a dressage rider well on her way to qualifying for the Rio Olympics, and Addie Gardner is the new vet for the U.S. team. The two knew each other as teenagers when they both rode in the same pony club but were more enemies than friends. When they meet again years later, there is an attraction from the beginning that neither of them can ignore. It was interesting to see how totally different two people can see a time spent together as teens.
I loved all the action before and during the Olympics, the mix of individual sports and team events. The dressage talk is explained enough to understand what the rider and horse are actually doing. After animosities from back at Pony Club are settled, the romance picks up. Between horses and barn cats and emergencies, a romance develops between them, that neither can keep their hands off of – me neither.
Logically, horses play a big part. Dewey, Caitlyn's #1 horse, with whom she competes, is a fantastic dressage horse and a hilarious goofball. I could picture Dewey very well when he was up to mischief again or when he was serious and did his job. There are more special animals, like his best friend Rasputin the barn cat.
Of the secondary characters, I liked Wren the best by far, not only is she an exceptional good groom, she's also a fantastic friend.
I loved that the author did go back to first-person narration with alternating POV of both MCs. And as usual, the writing is flawless and exciting. I am a big fan of E.J. Noyes, if there is a new book of hers somewhere, I have to have it, there is no way around it.
Caitlyn Lloyd is a dressage rider well on her way to qualifying for the Rio Olympics, and Addie Gardner is the new vet for the U.S. team. The two knew each other as teenagers when they both rode in the same pony club but were more enemies than friends. When they meet again years later, there is an attraction from the beginning that neither of them can ignore. It was interesting to see how totally different two people can see a time spent together as teens.
I loved all the action before and during the Olympics, the mix of individual sports and team events. The dressage talk is explained enough to understand what the rider and horse are actually doing. After animosities from back at Pony Club are settled, the romance picks up. Between horses and barn cats and emergencies, a romance develops between them, that neither can keep their hands off of – me neither.
Logically, horses play a big part. Dewey, Caitlyn's #1 horse, with whom she competes, is a fantastic dressage horse and a hilarious goofball. I could picture Dewey very well when he was up to mischief again or when he was serious and did his job. There are more special animals, like his best friend Rasputin the barn cat.
Of the secondary characters, I liked Wren the best by far, not only is she an exceptional good groom, she's also a fantastic friend.
I loved that the author did go back to first-person narration with alternating POV of both MCs. And as usual, the writing is flawless and exciting. I am a big fan of E.J. Noyes, if there is a new book of hers somewhere, I have to have it, there is no way around it.
June 10, 2021
I usually read book before listening to them but I took a chance on the audio because Abby Craden. I love the books she narrates.
So this one is told from each of the MCs POV, as in every other chapter it is either Caitlyn or Addy talking. Thank the heavens they let Craden narrate the full book and didn't opt to have two different narrators. Honestly that made all the difference in listening to this as the characters sounded the same and I didn't have to get used to hearing two different voices but heard "two" different voices. Don't know if that makes sense but that alone makes this listen worth it.
As far as the story goes, E.J. is a master storyteller amd I have loved pretty much everything I read and this is no exception. It's well written and both MCs were likable. There was drama but not real drama as all the characters, except for maybe Dakota, were actual adults and communicated.
I definitely recommend this one whether you are a horse fan or not.
So this one is told from each of the MCs POV, as in every other chapter it is either Caitlyn or Addy talking. Thank the heavens they let Craden narrate the full book and didn't opt to have two different narrators. Honestly that made all the difference in listening to this as the characters sounded the same and I didn't have to get used to hearing two different voices but heard "two" different voices. Don't know if that makes sense but that alone makes this listen worth it.
As far as the story goes, E.J. is a master storyteller amd I have loved pretty much everything I read and this is no exception. It's well written and both MCs were likable. There was drama but not real drama as all the characters, except for maybe Dakota, were actual adults and communicated.
I definitely recommend this one whether you are a horse fan or not.
March 23, 2022
Nothing but 5 stars for Pas De Deux… Had me interested in finding out what dressage is all about…. Asked Google and I ended up watching snippets on Olympic and all about dressage. It sure looked interesting and the horses are so majestic looking!
The 2 MCs featured in the book were masters in their respective fields, Caitlyn a professional dressage rider, and Addison, a Veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team. They both knew of each other as 14 y/o back when they were both in South River Pony Club but weren’t friendly or friends. I’ll termed it as misunderstood; Caitlyn taught of Addie as the ‘mean girl’ back then who hung around with the rich girls and Addie was just being a teen, an awkward teen who had a crush on Caitlyn and just couldn’t express it correctly (socially inept) and her behaviour back then was just plain cruel, a bully, from Caitlyn’s perspective. Move forward 20 years later, the 2 met again, misunderstanding resolved, and had their HEA. Of course, like all good books with well-written plots, getting to the endpoint is not that simple. The read gets angsty, the competition gets tenser, the sex gets hotter… well I guess you just gotta read the book which I so enjoyed!
The 2 MCs featured in the book were masters in their respective fields, Caitlyn a professional dressage rider, and Addison, a Veterinarian for the US Olympic Dressage Team. They both knew of each other as 14 y/o back when they were both in South River Pony Club but weren’t friendly or friends. I’ll termed it as misunderstood; Caitlyn taught of Addie as the ‘mean girl’ back then who hung around with the rich girls and Addie was just being a teen, an awkward teen who had a crush on Caitlyn and just couldn’t express it correctly (socially inept) and her behaviour back then was just plain cruel, a bully, from Caitlyn’s perspective. Move forward 20 years later, the 2 met again, misunderstanding resolved, and had their HEA. Of course, like all good books with well-written plots, getting to the endpoint is not that simple. The read gets angsty, the competition gets tenser, the sex gets hotter… well I guess you just gotta read the book which I so enjoyed!
August 6, 2021
I'm gonna start this review with a confession...
I don't mesh well with Noyes' books 😬 *cue collective gasp*
I know. I know. What's wrong with me? I've asked myself the same question every time I finish a Noyes book. The only one I've ever really liked by her so far was Ask, Tell. But the weird thing is, despite being unmoved by her stories, I still keep on reading them (fact: I've read almost all her books), and IDK why I do it too lol. I swear she's the only author whose work I continue to consume even though I know they haven't been working well for me. I think it's mainly because she's got such a huge fanbase, that the glowing reviews plus high ratings of her books always lure me with the thought, "Okay, maybe this book will be it." The one that'll get me to hitch a ride on that bandwagon.
Sadly, Pas de deux still wasn't that book 😔
I wasn't entirely convinced of the "love" in this story. It didn't feel like Addie and Caitlyn knew each other well enough before they made bold declarations. And maybe I've set my expectations too high, but this just lacked excitement overall.
What was worse was, I disliked how Caitlyn treated Addie in those scenes that generated conflicts between them. That morning after they first slept together? I couldn't understand the complete one-eighty in Caitlyn's demeanor. It was such a d-bag move that she suddenly sprung all her worries about them continuing anything beyond that night, 'cause it wasn't like she was in a different disposition before she got into Addie's pants. Honestly, I found it unrealistic that Addie wasn't offended by Caitlyn's behavior that morning. I also hated how for every ounce of worry and complication they faced concerning the sport, Caitlyn was able to magically find a way to blame it on her relationship with Addie, which didn't even make sense! It was like witnessing someone complicate their life with a drama of their own making. Caitlyn's general pessimism towards their relationship was so tiring that I started wondering what Addie even saw in her. It felt like Addie was getting the shorter end of the stick and proving "I'm in this for the long haul" rested solely on her shoulders. TBH, I'm not even sure Caitlyn did anything substantial to prove her love for Addie besides sleep with her.
There was also a fair amount of telling more than showing and a corny scene I couldn't take lol. As for the writing, this is Noyes, so obviously you don't need me to tell you how well she writes. However, I did notice a few missing commas that slightly affected readability every now and then.
But of course, I wouldn't have given this 3 stars if it was all bad. I was truly entertained by the story in the beginning and found Addie's gay panics funny. I enjoyed all the horsey cuteness and fun facts about dressage. My heart went out to and I actually CRIED with Caitlyn during that scene (I'm a softie for animals, okay 🥺). I was also ecstatic about Addie's little surprise for Caitlyn towards the end. I know we'd all seen it coming, but the fact Addie turned it into a surprise was fun to see. Like Caitlyn, girl, you better treat this woman right from here on out and not make her do all the work.
Noyes has an upcoming book that's set to be published in November, and the blurb for that got me really excited about it. Even so, if Go Around still fails to captivate me, I'm thinking maybe it's time to accept the cold, harsh truth that Noyes' books simply aren't for me 😞
Anyway, I'm off to make soup from all the tomatoes y'all have probably thrown me now 😅🍅🍅🍅
I don't mesh well with Noyes' books 😬 *cue collective gasp*
I know. I know. What's wrong with me? I've asked myself the same question every time I finish a Noyes book. The only one I've ever really liked by her so far was Ask, Tell. But the weird thing is, despite being unmoved by her stories, I still keep on reading them (fact: I've read almost all her books), and IDK why I do it too lol. I swear she's the only author whose work I continue to consume even though I know they haven't been working well for me. I think it's mainly because she's got such a huge fanbase, that the glowing reviews plus high ratings of her books always lure me with the thought, "Okay, maybe this book will be it." The one that'll get me to hitch a ride on that bandwagon.
Sadly, Pas de deux still wasn't that book 😔
I wasn't entirely convinced of the "love" in this story. It didn't feel like Addie and Caitlyn knew each other well enough before they made bold declarations. And maybe I've set my expectations too high, but this just lacked excitement overall.
What was worse was, I disliked how Caitlyn treated Addie in those scenes that generated conflicts between them. That morning after they first slept together? I couldn't understand the complete one-eighty in Caitlyn's demeanor. It was such a d-bag move that she suddenly sprung all her worries about them continuing anything beyond that night, 'cause it wasn't like she was in a different disposition before she got into Addie's pants. Honestly, I found it unrealistic that Addie wasn't offended by Caitlyn's behavior that morning. I also hated how for every ounce of worry and complication they faced concerning the sport, Caitlyn was able to magically find a way to blame it on her relationship with Addie, which didn't even make sense! It was like witnessing someone complicate their life with a drama of their own making. Caitlyn's general pessimism towards their relationship was so tiring that I started wondering what Addie even saw in her. It felt like Addie was getting the shorter end of the stick and proving "I'm in this for the long haul" rested solely on her shoulders. TBH, I'm not even sure Caitlyn did anything substantial to prove her love for Addie besides sleep with her.
There was also a fair amount of telling more than showing and a corny scene I couldn't take lol. As for the writing, this is Noyes, so obviously you don't need me to tell you how well she writes. However, I did notice a few missing commas that slightly affected readability every now and then.
But of course, I wouldn't have given this 3 stars if it was all bad. I was truly entertained by the story in the beginning and found Addie's gay panics funny. I enjoyed all the horsey cuteness and fun facts about dressage. My heart went out to and I actually CRIED with Caitlyn during that scene (I'm a softie for animals, okay 🥺). I was also ecstatic about Addie's little surprise for Caitlyn towards the end. I know we'd all seen it coming, but the fact Addie turned it into a surprise was fun to see. Like Caitlyn, girl, you better treat this woman right from here on out and not make her do all the work.
Noyes has an upcoming book that's set to be published in November, and the blurb for that got me really excited about it. Even so, if Go Around still fails to captivate me, I'm thinking maybe it's time to accept the cold, harsh truth that Noyes' books simply aren't for me 😞
Anyway, I'm off to make soup from all the tomatoes y'all have probably thrown me now 😅🍅🍅🍅
July 11, 2021
Noyes is a very special author to me. "Ask Tell", "Ask me Again" and "Turbulence", were books that I couldn't put down while reading, and the first two got deep inside.
This intense feeling didn't happen to me with Pas de Deux.
However I did enjoy the book very much. I learned about Dressage, a totally new discipline to me and I had a good time reading a so well written and entertaining story.
This intense feeling didn't happen to me with Pas de Deux.
However I did enjoy the book very much. I learned about Dressage, a totally new discipline to me and I had a good time reading a so well written and entertaining story.
May 14, 2021
Pas de deux is a beautifully written novel by one of my favorite authors, E.J. Noyes. It is one of those books that I will want to read over and over again. It is that good.
The story is an enemies-to-lovers romance. Caitlyn Lloyd and Addie Gardiner knew each other from their teens when they were in Pony Club. They were not really friends then, and Caitlyn especially has some ill feelings toward Addie. Caitlyn is not happy when she finds out Addie is the new vet for the US Olympic Dressage Team that she is trying out for. It adds a lot of tension to an already tense situation as the riders and horses work for the few spots on the 2016 Olympic team.
The characters really make this story. I already knew that Ms. Noyes is an expert at creating realistic and memorable people that readers can connect with, but I think she has done an outstanding job with Caitlyn and Addie. I love how they interact with each other in the story, from the first reunion when Caitlyn still harbors bad feelings for Addie to later when they are trying to resolve the tension and misunderstandings between them. They actually talk to each other, and what is even more wonderful…listen to each other. You don’t see that a lot in romance stories.
This is not your usual fall-in-love, fight, break-up, and make-up tale. It is much more realistic, and I loved every minute of it. Of course the horses, especially Caitlyn’s Dewey, make the tale even better.
I had a blast reading this novel. I’ve listed it as a favorite book, and it has my highest recommendation.
I received and ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
The story is an enemies-to-lovers romance. Caitlyn Lloyd and Addie Gardiner knew each other from their teens when they were in Pony Club. They were not really friends then, and Caitlyn especially has some ill feelings toward Addie. Caitlyn is not happy when she finds out Addie is the new vet for the US Olympic Dressage Team that she is trying out for. It adds a lot of tension to an already tense situation as the riders and horses work for the few spots on the 2016 Olympic team.
The characters really make this story. I already knew that Ms. Noyes is an expert at creating realistic and memorable people that readers can connect with, but I think she has done an outstanding job with Caitlyn and Addie. I love how they interact with each other in the story, from the first reunion when Caitlyn still harbors bad feelings for Addie to later when they are trying to resolve the tension and misunderstandings between them. They actually talk to each other, and what is even more wonderful…listen to each other. You don’t see that a lot in romance stories.
This is not your usual fall-in-love, fight, break-up, and make-up tale. It is much more realistic, and I loved every minute of it. Of course the horses, especially Caitlyn’s Dewey, make the tale even better.
I had a blast reading this novel. I’ve listed it as a favorite book, and it has my highest recommendation.
I received and ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.
September 6, 2024
rating: 4.25★
my little saddle club horse girl heart was absolutely living for this.
it's so nice to read a sports romance that actually deals a lot with the sport, but even better when it's one i actually enjoyed irl. the romance was great too (love the pas de deux metaphor for teamwork in a relationship) but dew look key stole the show for me, as pretty much any goofy animal personality does in stories.
please universe bring me more equestrian romance!
my little saddle club horse girl heart was absolutely living for this.
it's so nice to read a sports romance that actually deals a lot with the sport, but even better when it's one i actually enjoyed irl. the romance was great too (love the pas de deux metaphor for teamwork in a relationship) but dew look key stole the show for me, as pretty much any goofy animal personality does in stories.
please universe bring me more equestrian romance!
July 12, 2021
Pas de deux is a beautifully written story about the dressage rider Caitlyn Lloyd on the road to the 2016 Olympics in Rio and the team veterinarian Addie Gardner. Caitlyn and Addie have a history together from 20 years ago when they were both at Pony Club and weren’t exactly friends. The story is based on E. J. Noyes’ personal story how she met her wife.
I love E. J. Noyes’ first person writing so much. The book is written from both Caitlyn’s and Addie’s perspective, changing each chapter. This way the reader experiences both sides of the story, which is great.
Both characters are really likable, authentic and relatable and I love their chemistry. You can also feel their love and passion for the horses and the equestrian sports. There's no unnecessary drama and Caitlyn and Addie actually communicate with each other.
I already knew at the beginning that I will have a book hangover once I’m done. I had trouble to get my daily things done because I had to think about the book most of the time and I just wanted to keep reading.
In my opinion you don’t have to be particularly interested in horses or dressage in order to like this book. I personally didn't know anything about equestrian sports and still loved it. E. J. Noyes is one of my favorite authors and I was pretty sure I will love it and I was definitely right.
I love E. J. Noyes’ first person writing so much. The book is written from both Caitlyn’s and Addie’s perspective, changing each chapter. This way the reader experiences both sides of the story, which is great.
Both characters are really likable, authentic and relatable and I love their chemistry. You can also feel their love and passion for the horses and the equestrian sports. There's no unnecessary drama and Caitlyn and Addie actually communicate with each other.
I already knew at the beginning that I will have a book hangover once I’m done. I had trouble to get my daily things done because I had to think about the book most of the time and I just wanted to keep reading.
In my opinion you don’t have to be particularly interested in horses or dressage in order to like this book. I personally didn't know anything about equestrian sports and still loved it. E. J. Noyes is one of my favorite authors and I was pretty sure I will love it and I was definitely right.
August 23, 2021
I am struggling with this review. I have sat on it for too long and just don't have a lot of words for it. For the first time, I wasn't a fan of a Noyes book. Guys, she's my favourite, I have read and re-read all of her other books so many times I have lost count, but this one I could not get into.
I already knew before going into it that I wasn't interested in horses in the least, but that didn't stop me because gosh darn it all, I just love learning about stuff. I did the obligatory YouTube views of terms in the book to gain a better understanding, which was fairly delightful. But I found the endless descriptions rather boring, and it took away from the relationship between Caitlyn and Addie, something Ms. Noyes normally excels at. They almost felt back burnered by Dewey the horse (whom I DID adore, those weird antics got me every time), the dressage facts, Olympics, bee stings, barns, vet-speak etc. For the first time, this was a couple that felt forced to me. I didn't feel their heat, emotions, or chemistry. And her couples usually top my lists of "favourite lesfic couples ever." (yes, I have a list, don't you?)
I give all the points for strong writing though, damn this lady has talent. I can't find any fault with that.
I am an outlier here but hey, you win some, you lose some. If you read other reviews of her books you will see how high I rate them, and I remain an unabashed fangirl for life. No this one didn't hold up for me, but I eagerly away November for the next one.
I already knew before going into it that I wasn't interested in horses in the least, but that didn't stop me because gosh darn it all, I just love learning about stuff. I did the obligatory YouTube views of terms in the book to gain a better understanding, which was fairly delightful. But I found the endless descriptions rather boring, and it took away from the relationship between Caitlyn and Addie, something Ms. Noyes normally excels at. They almost felt back burnered by Dewey the horse (whom I DID adore, those weird antics got me every time), the dressage facts, Olympics, bee stings, barns, vet-speak etc. For the first time, this was a couple that felt forced to me. I didn't feel their heat, emotions, or chemistry. And her couples usually top my lists of "favourite lesfic couples ever." (yes, I have a list, don't you?)
I give all the points for strong writing though, damn this lady has talent. I can't find any fault with that.
I am an outlier here but hey, you win some, you lose some. If you read other reviews of her books you will see how high I rate them, and I remain an unabashed fangirl for life. No this one didn't hold up for me, but I eagerly away November for the next one.
June 13, 2021
I love watching dressage during the Olympics and I love reading books penned by E.J. Noyes. This one is great from beginning to end.
September 27, 2021
Olympics, horses and old enemies. Loved this book.
September 24, 2021
Book Review: E.J. Noyes Pas de deux
5+ Stars
Truth - I put down the book I had been reading and started E.J. Noyes newest novel, Pas de deux. Noyes has become a favorite author and I've yet to be disappointed.
Pas de deux translated means a dance between two. In this case it could refer to Caitlyn Lloyd and her horse, Dewey and the another pair would be Caitlin and the Veterinarian for the US Olympic team, Addie Gardner.
Caitlyn and Dewey are vying for a spot on the 2016 Rio US Olympics team in dressage. Caitlyn is thrown for a loop when she spots the new Veterinarian, Addie. Addie whom she knew from the Pony Club when they were teens. Addie hung out with the "Posh" affluent girls. The group of girls that bullied Caitlyn throughout her time there. The two of them had completely different memories of that time. Caitlyn remembers Addie as a "bullying bitch" and Addie remembers having a huge crush on Caitlyn. Addie's family was working class and she was "an awkward little queer kid". Caitlyn is in a dilemma – "Teen me is stuck in the past and current me thinks she's actually nice, and knowledgeable and…cute" They are able to put their past behind and they become friends and more than just friends. I loved going on their journey as they mend fences and we also follow Caitlyn and Dewey to the Olympics and watch them vie for medals. If Caitlyn has a successful Olympics, she will be able attract and afford to breed winning horses when she retires from riding in highest level competitions.
I have mention Noyes not only able to write interesting main characters but also the side characters - both human and horse.
From what I read, Noyes has a lot of knowledge and personal experience in equestrian competitions and it shows. I have a teeny, tiny experience watching equestrian competitions. Purely as an observer! I became friends with a couple of fellow scientists who were amateur competitors. Joyce had been competing in dressage for just a few years and she had a huge retired race horse and an Arabian. I had *never* been around horses so I preferred watch them compete from the bleachers and visit their horses when they were in their stables. Joyce's race horse had a reputation as a biter so I looked at him from afar. One time I went with Joyce to a small competition with her Arabian and she had to go to the registration table. "Here. Hold the reins, I'll be right back. I'll only be a few feet away." The Arabian was relatively small and luckily well behaved. When she came back I told her "Don't do that to me again!" She just laughed, knowing her horse would be fine (I suspected she didn't care if I wasn't!). Our other friend, Denise was Japanese and barely 5 foot tall but she had been in horse competitions since she was a kid. She looked like a tiny jockey on her huge horse. She competed in jumping at a level just below Grand Prix. It was fun to watch but it’s a very expensive and time consuming sport. Especially since we lived in So. California. Joyce eventually moved to Washington State where she was able to buy a house with a stable and a covered rink. A couple of years later, Denise had a kid and so she no longer had the time. At the competitions, I did notice the "posh" kids and the obvious class differences. They had rented stables and belonged to clubs, while the competitors like my friends only had their trailers. But they did it just for the fun and joy of competing.
However, I don't think it is a coincidence that my friends also bred and showed dogs. Joyce was a well-known Whippet breeder and judge. Denise had Newfoundlands. She obviously loved huge animals. Her dogs were bigger than her, not to mention how much they slobbered. And yup, I went to a few of their dog shows because it was another unknown and fascinating world to me.
Sorry, went off tangent reminiscing. Nevertheless – if you haven't already read this book – read it soonest! E.J. Noyes books quickly became an automatic read. This book will be on my 2021 Top 5 Book List for sure.
5+ Stars
Truth - I put down the book I had been reading and started E.J. Noyes newest novel, Pas de deux. Noyes has become a favorite author and I've yet to be disappointed.
Pas de deux translated means a dance between two. In this case it could refer to Caitlyn Lloyd and her horse, Dewey and the another pair would be Caitlin and the Veterinarian for the US Olympic team, Addie Gardner.
Caitlyn and Dewey are vying for a spot on the 2016 Rio US Olympics team in dressage. Caitlyn is thrown for a loop when she spots the new Veterinarian, Addie. Addie whom she knew from the Pony Club when they were teens. Addie hung out with the "Posh" affluent girls. The group of girls that bullied Caitlyn throughout her time there. The two of them had completely different memories of that time. Caitlyn remembers Addie as a "bullying bitch" and Addie remembers having a huge crush on Caitlyn. Addie's family was working class and she was "an awkward little queer kid". Caitlyn is in a dilemma – "Teen me is stuck in the past and current me thinks she's actually nice, and knowledgeable and…cute" They are able to put their past behind and they become friends and more than just friends. I loved going on their journey as they mend fences and we also follow Caitlyn and Dewey to the Olympics and watch them vie for medals. If Caitlyn has a successful Olympics, she will be able attract and afford to breed winning horses when she retires from riding in highest level competitions.
I have mention Noyes not only able to write interesting main characters but also the side characters - both human and horse.
From what I read, Noyes has a lot of knowledge and personal experience in equestrian competitions and it shows. I have a teeny, tiny experience watching equestrian competitions. Purely as an observer! I became friends with a couple of fellow scientists who were amateur competitors. Joyce had been competing in dressage for just a few years and she had a huge retired race horse and an Arabian. I had *never* been around horses so I preferred watch them compete from the bleachers and visit their horses when they were in their stables. Joyce's race horse had a reputation as a biter so I looked at him from afar. One time I went with Joyce to a small competition with her Arabian and she had to go to the registration table. "Here. Hold the reins, I'll be right back. I'll only be a few feet away." The Arabian was relatively small and luckily well behaved. When she came back I told her "Don't do that to me again!" She just laughed, knowing her horse would be fine (I suspected she didn't care if I wasn't!). Our other friend, Denise was Japanese and barely 5 foot tall but she had been in horse competitions since she was a kid. She looked like a tiny jockey on her huge horse. She competed in jumping at a level just below Grand Prix. It was fun to watch but it’s a very expensive and time consuming sport. Especially since we lived in So. California. Joyce eventually moved to Washington State where she was able to buy a house with a stable and a covered rink. A couple of years later, Denise had a kid and so she no longer had the time. At the competitions, I did notice the "posh" kids and the obvious class differences. They had rented stables and belonged to clubs, while the competitors like my friends only had their trailers. But they did it just for the fun and joy of competing.
However, I don't think it is a coincidence that my friends also bred and showed dogs. Joyce was a well-known Whippet breeder and judge. Denise had Newfoundlands. She obviously loved huge animals. Her dogs were bigger than her, not to mention how much they slobbered. And yup, I went to a few of their dog shows because it was another unknown and fascinating world to me.
Sorry, went off tangent reminiscing. Nevertheless – if you haven't already read this book – read it soonest! E.J. Noyes books quickly became an automatic read. This book will be on my 2021 Top 5 Book List for sure.
June 2, 2021
A very sweet story.
Caitlyn is preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio when a blast from the past arrives. Addie, a brilliant and talented veterinarian, can’t believe that it is Caitlyn, her old crush from Pony Club when they were teenagers is who she will be working with now that her career has earned her a place working with the Olympic team. Addie hopes they can have a chance to be friends but with different memories of the past then tension is high. Setting aside their differences for the good of the team, Addie and Caitlyn soon discover they misjudged one another.
I enjoyed this story so much. It had drama, tension, and so many lovely moments. That conflict Addie and Caitlyn shared was a real driver in creating an exciting story as you were seeing the effects of how different people perceive and remember a situation. I loved that no matter what Addie tried hard to win Caitlyn round despite the tension building. But I also commended the way they behaved in terms of being professional. They were able to put aside their differences, even from the very beginning for the good of Caitlyn’s horse and the other team members Addie was responsible for helping.
The best bit of this was it didn’t skip over the rivalry between Caitlyn and Addie in their pasts, but also in the setting to which this story was focused on. Dressage is a competition at the end of the day and E.J. Noyes brilliantly kept focus on this as well as the budding relationship between Caitlyn and Addie. It was very much a story that leant to putting the past behind you if the issues were trivial, but also in ensuring the people involved addressed and acknowledged the long terms effects of what transpired between them in the past.
I could completely relate to both Caitlyn and Addie, not only their characters and current circumstances, but also their pasts. I could see their points and why each of them felt the way they did. It was very true to life and just another winning factor about this great story, highlighting that people change and reasons why someone might act a certain way. It just really reiterated the point that you do not always know everything someone is going through and that you may not even be able to see such things.
I was hooked and enjoyed every moment of the story, so really recommend it. It was a real drama, in true romance style, and will end up capturing your heart. I really hope we see Caitlyn and Addie in future stories, as they are so cute, like star-crossed lovers and I think they have an exciting future!
Caitlyn is preparing for the 2016 Olympics in Rio when a blast from the past arrives. Addie, a brilliant and talented veterinarian, can’t believe that it is Caitlyn, her old crush from Pony Club when they were teenagers is who she will be working with now that her career has earned her a place working with the Olympic team. Addie hopes they can have a chance to be friends but with different memories of the past then tension is high. Setting aside their differences for the good of the team, Addie and Caitlyn soon discover they misjudged one another.
I enjoyed this story so much. It had drama, tension, and so many lovely moments. That conflict Addie and Caitlyn shared was a real driver in creating an exciting story as you were seeing the effects of how different people perceive and remember a situation. I loved that no matter what Addie tried hard to win Caitlyn round despite the tension building. But I also commended the way they behaved in terms of being professional. They were able to put aside their differences, even from the very beginning for the good of Caitlyn’s horse and the other team members Addie was responsible for helping.
The best bit of this was it didn’t skip over the rivalry between Caitlyn and Addie in their pasts, but also in the setting to which this story was focused on. Dressage is a competition at the end of the day and E.J. Noyes brilliantly kept focus on this as well as the budding relationship between Caitlyn and Addie. It was very much a story that leant to putting the past behind you if the issues were trivial, but also in ensuring the people involved addressed and acknowledged the long terms effects of what transpired between them in the past.
I could completely relate to both Caitlyn and Addie, not only their characters and current circumstances, but also their pasts. I could see their points and why each of them felt the way they did. It was very true to life and just another winning factor about this great story, highlighting that people change and reasons why someone might act a certain way. It just really reiterated the point that you do not always know everything someone is going through and that you may not even be able to see such things.
I was hooked and enjoyed every moment of the story, so really recommend it. It was a real drama, in true romance style, and will end up capturing your heart. I really hope we see Caitlyn and Addie in future stories, as they are so cute, like star-crossed lovers and I think they have an exciting future!
May 3, 2022
E.J. Noyes is an ace at the pen (or keyboard; not sure how she prefers to write). And while I usually fully immerse myself in her detailed descriptions, the dressage stuff was just interesting enough to keep me in the story. I watched some dressage clips to get a better feel, so there's that.
Dewey is super adorable. Horse stuff in general is...fine. Horsing around (in that sense) takes more effort to hold me.
Other than that, I really, really enjoyed the romance between Addie and Caitlyn. It took some chapters for it to get going, but once the heat was on, I was fully invested! Stories where the characters don't have time for each other are so realistic, but painful when it comes to books.
I loved the communication between the two. Noyes writes fun but realistic characters who speak their minds. The parts about people remembering memories and intentionas differently (especially as young people) really resonated with me. We're all hurt at points, but sometimes we get main character syndrome and block out the good.
There are great bit of silliness and glibness that Noyes just excels at. Just my style. And the sex scenes: Yes, yes, yes!
No, really. I almost never read first person fiction, but I did it for Noyes. Do it for the Noyes!
I'm wavering between 4 and 4.5 stars for this one. 🐎🐎🐎🐎
Dewey is super adorable. Horse stuff in general is...fine. Horsing around (in that sense) takes more effort to hold me.
Other than that, I really, really enjoyed the romance between Addie and Caitlyn. It took some chapters for it to get going, but once the heat was on, I was fully invested! Stories where the characters don't have time for each other are so realistic, but painful when it comes to books.
I loved the communication between the two. Noyes writes fun but realistic characters who speak their minds. The parts about people remembering memories and intentionas differently (especially as young people) really resonated with me. We're all hurt at points, but sometimes we get main character syndrome and block out the good.
There are great bit of silliness and glibness that Noyes just excels at. Just my style. And the sex scenes: Yes, yes, yes!
No, really. I almost never read first person fiction, but I did it for Noyes. Do it for the Noyes!
I'm wavering between 4 and 4.5 stars for this one. 🐎🐎🐎🐎
September 6, 2021
She writes so well, EJ, moves me in ways she has no right to. I know dressage is stunningly dull and boring but reading her I'm fascinated and amazed by it, but more by the story. Pure class. Recommended.
February 6, 2022
Abandoned: I like both protagonists quite a lot. I like where they are at about midway and I have every confidence they'll go the distance. I particularly liked how their shared past is so differently remembered and them trying to work that out is a treat. Which is kind of why I'm not terribly eager to go the rest of the story where inevitable disruptions will thwart them. Four stars because it was really quite lovely.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 194 reviews