Flying Changes: A Novel (Riding Lessons)

A sequel, this was an equally good book, a very fast and easy read. Good character development, well-written, entertaining, and very interesting immersion in the world of horses and equine performance events.

The variety of emotions expressed in this book really spoke to me on a personal level. I did not enjoy the previous book as much, because I found the characters difficult to relate to. However, in this novel there is much more character development and that made all the difference. Definitely recommend.

I had read another book by the author Sara Gruen and really enjoyed it. So I chose another title by the same author and was disappointed that it wasn't of the same quality writing. I don't know if I'm supposed to rate the physical condition of the book (which was very good) or the content of the book(which was rather blah). I was very please with the puchasing and delivery process through the store.

I read Sara Gruen's Riding Lessons and then her follow-up Flying Changes and I was amazed at how well the author understands horses, stable management, and eventing. The story was fast paced and as a 40 something women with a teenage daughter and horses...I could totally relate. I hope she writes a third book in this series...I will pre-order...

For a horsey lover this book just kept me reading.
Great for spending time forgetting reality.

Easy reading
This book being a follow up of "riding lessons" was well presented for any horse lover.

This story was amazing. Annemarie Zimmer has been through a lot, like almost being paralyzed while her horse had to put down. 20 years later she is divorced, has a 16 year old super star daughter, and is living under her mother's roof again. She resolves all of her problems by loving Hurrah, her dead horses brother. Eva doesn't know what to do with herself being a pro equestrian, and annemarie is supposed to be helping her. In the mean time, Annemarie is trying to get Dan to purpose to her, because she wants to spend the rest of her life with him, and his passion for saving horses. You should totally read this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think Sara Gruen is a wonderful author and knows how to craft an engaging story. I was never bored with this book, and enjoyed the read. However I felt the beginning is much stronger than the end. No, the characters are not very likeable (except for Mutti, few appearances she makes), and the sequence of events, while they keep one’s interest, are hardly realistic. But then again, I guess that is why we read books. By the end especially, I was wishing there was more content involving the horses, as they seem to serve more as a setting for the plot instead of the focus. I am still planning to read Riding Lessons, the first book.

Riding Lessons and Flying Changes should only be read by horse lovers in my opinion, and will only be loved my horse lovers it seems. There are a bunch of bad reviews for the first one, but I enjoyed both of these books, and devoured them as fast as I could!

After reading Water for Elephants, which I adored, I immediatly went to the store and ordered Sara Gruen's other 2 books; one of which being Flying Changes. I was disappointed from the get-go. It was less than sophmoric and drab. I forced myself to keep reading thinking "It's gotta get better - look at how genious Elephants was." That'll teach me to think. I gave up on it yesterday after getting about 3/4 of the way through it. I started "Where's My Wand" and am extremely pleased. I'm afraid to even open the other Sara Gruen book - it may just lie under my bed in and hide in shame.

As I was reading, I swore the story was a parody; no way could this be by the same author who wrote WATER FOR ELEPHANTS. Flying Changes is what I imagine a spoiled, pampered middle school girl would write with the certainty of someone who's Mom thinks is super smart and cute to boot! A W F U L. Nothing to learn about horses nor the magical connection between man and beast. Just a series of "after school" TV type adventures of a divorced Mom and her determined daughter.
Nothing believable. So incredibly boring--the store, was this really written by the same author as WATER FOR ELEPHANTS?

I liked Water For Elephants even though there were some technical problems with it, but Flying Changes is so boring I didn't make it past pg. 11 before I started skimming and by pg. 25 still hadn't found any connection with this book. I'll put it up for resale.

Too much description of small things and every move the horse makes is kind of a hint that there isn't enough story to make this thing move. It seems Gruen is trying to show us how much about horses she knows. Well, I have horses and work with them every day so this book becomes redundant to my life. I'd like to read a book where something I know nothing about is happening.

But don't expect miracles - particularly if you're opening the book expecting, as I did, to be immersed in an engrossing horse story about a Nokota named Smokey Joe. I don't enjoy speaking badly of a novel knowing full well how much blood, sweat, and tears the author has poured into it by the time it reaches the shelves. But I have to do so about Flying Changes in all honesty.

It truly would have been a good story but for its spineless heroine and her utterly insufferable, childish, worthless brat of a kid. I tried - really I did - but I simply could not find anything to like about either Annemarie or Eva. You'd think that someone who had lived through an injury as traumatic as Annemarie's and somehow - inexplicably, miraculously - WALKED away from it with a completely functional body would spend a little more time giving thanks for the simple pleasures of life. Like the ability to carry on a conversation with her own voice, or take herself to the bathroom, or wash her own hair, or put on her clothes unassisted, or pick up a pen and sign her own name, or the million other tiny things the majority of able-bodied people take totally for granted that are no longer an option for a quadriplegic. (Never mind being able to actually mount a horse and ride.)

These things don't even remotely register if you're Annemarie Zimmer. Annemarie has much more important things to do - like navel-gaze, obsessively search her reflection in the bathroom mirror for flaws only she would care about, hyperventilate, guzzle glasses of alcohol whenever the least little thing goes wrong, and whine. Mostly the latter. About her divorce. And about her ex-husband. And her ex-husband's new wife. And her ex-husband's new wife's new baby. And her daughter, who doesn't respect her even though lifting a finger to do some actual parenting is completely beyond Annemarie's capabilities. And her browbeaten boyfriend, who's gone too much saving the lives of horses otherwise condemned to slaughter and neglect. And the ring said boyfriend isn't producing fast enough to pacify her narcissism because - God forbid - he's busy tending to those rescued horses.

If her mother isn't enough to make any sane reader want to pitch the book across the room never to be picked up again, there's Eva. I have honestly never encountered a character more spoiled, sheltered, self-absorbed, short-sighted, or generally impossible to live with for several hundred pages than this girl. Forget enrollment in a prestigious show barn - she needs to be slapped so hard she sees stars, and then shipped off to boot camp until she learns that other people inhabit the planet besides herself. I am absolutely certain that if I had behaved as Eva did - first when she took her mother's elderly former champion for a morning joyride and knowingly endangered his life for no other reason than kicks and giggles and later at the hotel the night of her unfortunate three day event - neither my mother nor my riding instructor would have let me near any horse ever again. And rightfully so. Anyone who behaves as childishly and selfishly as Eva does not deserve the privilege of working with such beautiful animals. I don't care how gifted an athlete they are or what is going on in their personal life.

I was beyond caring about what happened to mother or daughter by the closing chapters, let alone hoping for good things to befall them. Whatever poignancy might have been achieved via the story's climax was spoiled for me by the fact that neither of them seemed inspired to use the tragedy as a wake-up call in any way, shape, or form. And the fact that both basically had everything they wanted throughout the course of the book just deposited in their laps shortly thereafter.

To add final insult to injury, I picked up this book expecting (perhaps naively) to read an engaging story about a Nokota gelding, Nokotas being one of my favorite breeds and very rarely mentioned in fiction. But because the entire thing is delivered through Annemarie's eyes and thoughts, over half of the plot is devoured by her various neuroses before Smokey Joe and Eva even approach a ring. Joe makes a grand total of perhaps four appearances in the novel - which is rather laughable considering that he and Eva are supposed to be the main attraction.

Setting Annemarie and Eva aside for a moment, Sara Gruen's writing style is for the most part enjoyable, and it's clear that she was really trying hard to find her voice when she wrote this one. I do give her credit for that much, at least. I just could not find an emotional anchor in this novel; I found it impossible to empathize on a personal level with any part of it. If nothing else, as others have mentioned, Flying Changes might be considered a good summer read - something to toss in the beach bag and set aside when a game of sand volleyball proves more interesting than whatever silly dramas are consuming Annemarie and Eva at that particular moment. A much more patient reader than I might consider it worth a second go-round. Speaking for myself, I'm just proud to have made it to chapter 20.

I love, love, love horses, and, so, anything with a reference to a horse in the title gets my attention. After reading Gruen's first one, Riding Lessons, I wouldn't have purchased this one, but someone gave it to me. So. I read it and liked it for a while. The author seems to know a great deal about horses, and that part of the book is good. However, her humans are ridiculously silly and unlikeable. The main character, Annemarie, is a big whiny 40 year old baby, making unbelievable stupid decisions, and her daughter, Eva, is a spoiled brat who happens to ride horses better than an advanced Olympic winner, at 17, doing complicated dressage work it takes years and years to develop--she does it the first time she rides a horse no one else can stay on. This is so wildly unrealistic it's laughable. Annemarie's boyfriend, Dan, is a pasteboard fabulous guy who puts up with whatever weirdness she can throw at him and adores her in spite of her ludicrous rejection of him. But, never fear, Annemarie gets her guy and bonus baby (alas, she can't have her own), Eva gets her horse and excellent trainer aimed at the Olympics, and despite terrible tragedy and lots of tears, everyone ends up happy, happy, happy, galloping off into the future, jumping fences with no hands, saddle, or bridle. Come on.

I always like books about groups of interesting people - in this case, competitive horse jumpers. As about a book about them, this one does not really say enough about that life.
It is also about a neurotic mother who had a horrible riding accident that ended her career and her daughter who has all the potential to be better than her mother only if the mother will let her. This is where the cliques start coming in - she is divorced with a boy friend, the daughter is rebellious and acts out.
All the challenges happen at once. She has to rescue a horse at the same time she is suppose to watching a mare about to foal. Of course the new boy friend rescues horses - how clique can that be. The daughter gets to train for competition but of course only she can ride the best horse who has the best chance of winning. Of course something happens to the ex-husband, etc., etc.
It is a fast read and relatively well done for description. I wish she had spent just a little more time describing the scene - the jumping ring and the other horses, but that might have been too much. The author does the conflict between the mother and daughter well, but all the rest was stretched a little too far. The mother is just way over neurotic and I really did not need page after page of her nuttiness.
I do not think I will bother with the first book.

In this sequel to Riding Lessons, we rejoin Annemarie, Eva, and Mutti who are trying to carry on after the death of Annemarie's father (Mutti's husband) and make the riding stable they own a successful business. While Annemarie continues to heal from her long ago accident, she also needs to contend with daughter Eva's rebellion and try to hold on to her relationship with local vet Dan.

I thought this was a great book. While some readers found Annemarie's character to be annoying and selfish in this first novel, I think they will be pleased with her growth in this book. I also enjoyed that Eva is given a path and seems to mature a bit as well. The one small drawback for me again is the some details of the riding (Eva is performing Olympic level dressage movements on a horse that was not trained to the level either...unrealistic). Overall though, Sara Gruen gets the barn atmosphere right and I felt like I knew the setting and the characters. A great read from a great author!

I just got my copy of FLYING CHANGES Today! I have been waiting to read the sequel since I heard there was one coming out! Once again, I could not put it down! I read this novel very quickly and that is not because it was a fast read per se, but because I got lost in the storyline and could not put it down! The cover was great too! I loved the horse in a flying change!

FLYING CHANGES has picked up exactly where RIDING LESSONS had left off. I was happy to see that the same characters were in the story, in addition to the introduction of a new breed of horse I had never heard of before, The Nokota! The brindled horse "Hurrah" has also continued into the sequel as well!

Annemarie still has many issues to deal with in this novel, but she has grown as a character and her relationship with her daughter is better as well! Eva, the daughter has come a long way too and is starting to follow in her mother's foot steps! But again, when things seem to get better, there is another tragedy for the family to surmount! And once again, Sara Gruen has realistically written the characters reactions to this tragedy and has had them deal with it in a way, I think I would, if faced with the same decisions. It makes you feel for them all, I went from happy and laughing to crying. When I read both these novels, they played like movies in my head, they were so well written! Sara Gruen has really outdone herself with the sequel.

Being a NH Native, it was great to see some quirks from our State included in the novel. It seemed to have more specific descriptions about the area and some of our history, like our old houses and barns and our symbol....The Old Man of the Mountain.

I just finished the novel and went to the author's website and she has continued to support horse rescues and that coupled with her awesome writing and storylines, will keep me coming back for more! I plan on reading all her novels!

Sara has written another gritty and emotional novel, with realistic plotlines and accurate details, she has done her research well. This novel will appeal to anyone who loves horses, or who has had tough times and wants to read a great novel with a strong female character, who will grow on you and keep you wanting more!

I was so excited that the story was continued as I was left with many unanswered questions from RIDING LESSONS! And I am happy to say, most of my questions were answered in the sequel! I hope there will be a third novel...as once again I have more questions left unanswered.

If you have not read FLYING CHANGES or RIDING LESSONS, I suggest you get one quick! This is also a great novel for a pre-teen or teenager. I plan on letting my 13 year old daughter read it next!

As a horse person, I'm always looking for novels that depart from the normal horse stories (the rescue that wins the big race, the unbroken wild stallion that lets the heartbroken little girl tame him, etc.). Riding Lessons and Flying Changes both meet that need.

You can tell from Gruen's writing style that she is familiar with the horse world. She gets the nuances of a relationship with a horse, the oddities of the horse culture, and the way of life around a barn. Great read with some really challenging moments to keep you interested.

I would have enjoyed this book except that the daughter, who is 16 and nearly an adult, is a spoiled brat who only ever thinks of herself. What makes it even worse is that her mother, the one the book follows, practically encourages her to act this way. Completely ruined the book for me.

In Flying Changes, the sequel to debut novel Riding Lessons, Sara Gruen continues the story of Annemarie Zimmer and her headstrong daughter, Eva, who is determined to chase her dream of equestrian success despite her mother's misgivings. Again, Gruen is pitch-perfect in her portrayal of this turbulent mother-daughter dynamic, and it's a credit to the author's deft touch that the reader remains invested in her characters even when-especially when-they're behaving badly.

The riding scenes with Eva and her gorgeous Nokota horse, Smoky Joe, are breathtakingly executed: "They are flying. Joe's powerful body is pounding the footing so hard it flies up in chunks behind him. His muscles are so defined he looks like separate pieces you could take apart and reassemble, like Lego. He barrels toward that jump like nobody's business and Eva is right there with him, pumping her arms with each thrust of his head."

Several juicy subplots involving Annemarie's loves, both past and present, propel the story to a conclusion at once tragic and redeeming. Gruen is a hugely talented writer, and her saga of this exceptional family is so authentic and richly textured they seem like people you've known for years. The series would make a spectacular movie!

I think it is essential to read both "Riding Lessons" and "Flying Changes" to get a full picture of the main characters and actually begin to like and be involved in their story. Based on my reading of "Water for Elephants," I grabbed "Flying Changes" when I saw it and was somewhat put-off by the self-absorption of the main characters. When I ran across and read "Riding Lessons," the stories came together and the characters became more dimensional and one could have some empathy for them. The stories are not the equal of "Water for Elephants," but they are a good read, especially if you are drawn to the horse aspect.

Read this book if:

You enjoy a fantastically unrealistic portrayal of the competitive horse world.
Unbelievable fantasy.
Whiny, spoiled characters.
Adult temper tantrums.
Fluffy, lack of substance reading.

Stay away if:
You like your facts to have some semblance of accuracy.
You enjoy stories that could possibly happen in the real world.
You are annoyed by horrible parenting, decision making, and relational skills/maturity.

I loved Riding Lessons - couldn't put it down, etc. So, I was really looking forward to Flying Changes - and maybe expecting too much. A couple of things really bugged me. As a mother of five myself, I couldn't stand the way Annemarie constantly enabled Eva to be a spoiled brat. Near the end, when what Eva's future will be becomes an issue, Annemarie should have made her clean up her own mess with Nathalie. There should have been some humility shown by Eva. I kept waiting for lessons learned that would make Eva a better person. I found myself feeling so strongly about this that it distracted me from the story. And,the story felt predictable and contrived to me. The only real grabber, in my opinion, was Annamarie's disappointing birthday. I loved the atmosphere Sara created - she's great at describing the scene and putting you there. And I feel comfortable with her first person, present tense style. We can feel Annemarie's worries and pain - and her observations about her own physical shortcomings - or fallings - made me smile a lot. I love the way Sara writes and I'll be looking forward to the next book. Let's move on from Eva, though. I just can't imagine that she's going to become a lovable character.

My mom picked this one up for me just the other day, she reads all the time so she is a good source of authors usually and this is no exception. I absolutely loved everything about this book and could not put it down. I event myself loved the details while the daughter was on course as well as all the little horsey details wrapped into it! Very easy to relate to! Their was not only horses in it which makes any book good but romance, even though somewhat predictable was great! The mother daughter relationship hurtles and the family drama toped this book off for me! Riding Lessons will be in my hand tomorrow with out a doubt!

I love this book! In my opinion I think that Sara Gruen is the next "Twilight" author. Her style of writing really easy to see in your eyes as well as the main character`s, or in this case Annemarie. These books are great for teens and horse lovers.

Sara's first novel and its sequel. I enjoyed both of them thoroughly. In fact, it was hard to put them down and I finished them both in record time.

Annemarie, the main character, is an almost-40-year-old divorcee with a tempermental, yet adorable, teenage daughter. They move back to her parents' horse boarding stable out east (from Minnesota) where Annemarie rekindles an old romance. Dan is also in the horse business, but at a different level. His organization, Day Break, is a horse-rescue mission for abused and at-risk animals.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, the transition to a different, yet familiar, living situation, being a single mom, Annemarie's parents, her new boyfriend, and especially her daughter, Eva, take its toll on her emotions and she is her own worst enemy with little effort.

But, her biggest challenge is battling old demons concerning her relationship with the true love-of-her-life, her horse Harry, and the new charge that appears later to take his place. And when Eva shows signs of having the same passion for riding and competing as Annemarie did, her motherly instincts to protect her only child from possible physical and emotional injury continue to get in the way.

What happens in the short couple of years since her husband left her grabs at your heartstrings, yet pushes your cheerleading buttons to the extent that all you want to do is see her come to terms with her life choices and be happy.

As much as I loved Water for Elephants, I have to say I really liked this story even better. Perhaps because of the gender of the MC, I don't know. In any case, I highly recommend the read.

First off, let me say that this book is an enjoyable read - it goes by fast for the most part. I read it in a couple days and would call it a fun book, but not something I will likely pick up again.
That being said, there are a few issues with this book and story. As others have stated, it is hard to care for the main characters, Annemarie and her daughter Eva, as they are both immature for their ages, 40 and 16. Eva runs around like a spoiled 5 year old half the time. However, I would imagine a main reason for this is the complete lack of parenting skills on Annemarie's part. She is a mother without a backbone, unable and unwilling to discipline and stand up to her daughter. When Eva gets expelled from school, what does Annemarie do? Send her off to train with a top jumper trainer in the area. Yeah, what kind of punishment is that? The girl is in need of a good bit of discipline, and the character of Annemarie falls short as a mother. She is also useless as a girlfriend to poor Dan. She is whiny and self absorbed - it is hard to believe anyone would want to be with her. And when the idea of marriage comes up, she can't even discuss it with him? What kind of adult can't discuss this sort of thing with someone they want to marry? Perhaps she should do a little growing up first. Also, even though I did read the first book, Riding Lessons, it has been a few years since I did. The author alluded to events that happened in that story without explaining them ... that made it a little more difficult since I couldn't remember exactly what occurred in the last book.
Also, there were some equine related things that I could not get past. First off, if Eva loves horses so much, then why is she galloping around on frozen ground at dawn trying to jump paddock fences? And on an older horse too ... I can't even imagine allowing someone that irresponsible around my horses. Also, there is the whole issue of the Nokota horse. While I know Nokota horses are athletic and versatile animals, I have a very very very hard time believing that a top jumper barn would have one in their string of show horses. Hello ... warmbloods, thoroughbreds ... indian pony? I just don't feel that was a plausible thing in the book. My other main gripe is the whole Smokey Joe not letting anyone but Eva ride him ... and then she jumps on his back and starts doing canter pirouttes, passage, and advanced dressage moves. That is completely not believable to me as it takes YEARS of training to learn that sort of thing. And how is a horse who no one can ride going to get that kind of training? And how is this little girl of 16 who has never even competed before getting him to do these things? It is basically not believeable to anyone who has any sort of horse knowledge whatsoever.
If you can get past that, realize that the equine events are a little unbelieveable, and ignore the character flaws, then I would recommend this book. If you just want a good beach read, I would recommend this book. If you are looking for a book that is accurate and digs deep, I would recommend you look elsewhere.

Who knew that this sequel to riding lessons would be just as good. I'll be waiting to see if there is another book that takes place in the Olympic arena. I read these two books only after reading "Water for Elephants" which I loved. Add me to the pile of fans for her wonderful writing.

In the literary world, there are two types of novels. In the first, the protaognists undergo a series of trials, which changes them in ways the reader can clearly see, even if they aren't always for the better. There are a series of scenes, built like ladder rungs that develop the characters and their problems, until the book reaches a climax, in which everything is pulled together and resolved.

In the second, the characters experience many ups and downs but emerge at the end of the book almost the same as they began it.

Scenes are put in, but the reader doesn't have the slightest idea where the book is going, why the details the writer includes are crucial, and why the characters are behaving the way they are.

Flying Changes is the latter type of book. The mother and her daughter (whose behavior I'll get to in a moment) are pretty alike: self-absorbed, histrionic and prone to running away at the first hint of a problem, rather than staying and dealing with it like a mature adults. They engaged in this in the prequel, but one hoped that the tragedy they endured in it might have matured them.

Alas, this is not so. Far from it. The daughter's behavior would be considered inappropriate and excessive for a five-year-old, but what can you expect with a mom who lets her gallop bareback on her blind horse without so much as a weak scolding?

The story itself centers around a Black Stallion plot in which the daughter rides a horse that only lets her on his back. Then there is a serious accident, the details of which I'll leave unspoiled.

As in the first book, there is tragedy at the end, but the mom and child react the same as they did to their more minor setbacks. At least the mom winds up seeing a therapist, so I guess that qualifies as change.

Who knew that this sequel to riding lessons would be just as good. I'll be waiting to see if there is another book that takes place in the Olympic arena. I read these two books only after reading "Water for Elephants" which I loved. Add me to the pile of fans for her wonderful writing.

In the literary world, there are two types of novels. In the first, the protaognists undergo a series of trials, which changes them in ways the reader can clearly see, even if they aren't always for the better. There are a series of scenes, built like ladder rungs that develop the characters and their problems, until the book reaches a climax, in which everything is pulled together and resolved.

In the second, the characters experience many ups and downs but emerge at the end of the book almost the same as they began it.

Scenes are put in, but the reader doesn't have the slightest idea where the book is going, why the details the writer includes are crucial, and why the characters are behaving the way they are.

Flying Changes is the latter type of book. The mother and her daughter (whose behavior I'll get to in a moment) are pretty alike: self-absorbed, histrionic and prone to running away at the first hint of a problem, rather than staying and dealing with it like a mature adults. They engaged in this in the prequel, but one hoped that the tragedy they endured in it might have matured them.

Alas, this is not so. Far from it. The daughter's behavior would be considered inappropriate and excessive for a five-year-old, but what can you expect with a mom who lets her gallop bareback on her blind horse without so much as a weak scolding?

The story itself centers around a Black Stallion plot in which the daughter rides a horse that only lets her on his back. Then there is a serious accident, the details of which I'll leave unspoiled.

As in the first book, there is tragedy at the end, but the mom and child react the same as they did to their more minor setbacks. At least the mom winds up seeing a therapist, so I guess that qualifies as change.

Sara Gruen did an excellent job making the characters in this book really come to life. It is like I have known them forever. This is not a normal happy mushy horsebook but one with real drama and excitment. As Annamarie is a single parent struggling with her daughter and herself you in a way become fond but frustrated at her. This book made me "glued" to it each and every day. It takes a really good book to do so and this is one of tem. This book is heartwarming and will put a smile on your face while you cry at the same time.

I am a horse rider, and I had, had a riding accident myself. So this book really hit home with me. ( as did Riding lessons the first book of this series )

The main character in this story, cames across as a funny..strong and caring middleaged rider..I felt that there was enough riding and horses in this to keep a rider happy. It also touches on a subject that is taboo in the horse world " FEAR" , I for one was very happy to see that story line develope.. ,, but also think that non-horsey people will enjoy the story line..as there is a lot of " other " drama in here to keep you turing the pages.

I have nothing but praise for Sara Gruen's work. Although there do seem to be some minor equestrian-related inaccuracies (cleverly explained in this sequel), both Riding Lessons and Flying Changes are really great reads that focus on realistic, character driven storylines and avoid the much-overused cliches found in most contemporary horsey fiction. While these books will not win awards for ground-breaking fiction, they are entertaining and absorbing tales of real-life situations. The romantic subplots are true to life, as is the protagonist's relationship with her daughter. Other reviewers have noted that the main character's choices and behavior are often questionable, but this is precisely what makes these books an entertaining (and sometimes enlightening) read. We can relate to the characters because they are not infallible - they show errors in judgement and emotional reactions, but continue to learn and persevere throughout. I'm eagerly awaiting a third book.

This is a great story of a modern woman struggling to redefine herself after several life-changing events. Gruen manages to bring her characters - in sharp detail and with a complete lack of sentimentality - to a hard and inevitable denouement. She is also horsewoman enough to accurately describe the loving and respectful connection that can happen between horse and rider.

Sadly, the more deeply the author delves into the world of eventing, the less realistic the portrayal is. Take her daughter Eva's comment, "Arabians can be sport horses." No, Sara, they can't. Arabians posses many wonderful qualities, but saying that a 14-hand Arab could be a world-class eventer would get you laughed out of the barn.

Other than that, though, I still have trouble caring about either Anne Marie or Eva, and I found the physical descriptions of the characters confusing - at times it seems Eva is described as shorter than her mother, then another time much taller and bigger. A small detail, of course - I don't mean to nitpick - but it those things kept throwing me off. However, Sara Gruen is obviously a very talented writer (look at Water for Elephants), but this story left me cold.

I just recently read Riding Lessons and so it was fresh in mind when I picked up Flying Changes. Gruen did such a great job of continuing the story! Second books (especially a sequel) are usually disappointing, either the writing isn't as good because it got rushed out or the story doesn't make sense when you remember the first book, but this was perfect!

Being the mother of a daughter, one thing I really liked was that Eva was such a big part of the book. And I definitely think Gruen left some room for her story to continue. Might there be a third? I hope so!

Although I don't ride them, I really love horses. For that reason alone, I thought I would enjoy this novel, but I was utterly disappointed. Annemarie, the main character, is such a wimpy, ridiculous person --a 39-year old woman who's still acting as if she were a teenager--that I had trouble caring about anything that happens to her, including the tremendous curb ball she's thrown at the end. Her reaction to her boyfriend's birthday party celebration is just silly; if I were the guy, I would have left to never come back.

But the main problem is that Gruen takes for granted that the reader knows about Annemarie's past. I was baffled by most of the references to her and her horse's injuries, and expected that an explanation would come at some point. It never did. Only after I finished the book, I realized that in a previous novel, Riding Lessons, Gruen wrote about Annemarie. I probably would have to read that book to find out what exactly happened to Annemarie, but I won't bother. Sara Gruen shouldn't expect the reader to do so much work to understand her characters.

I met the author, Sara, at a book signing in Keene, NH. My attention was brought to the book by its cover. Loving horses I thought this might be of interest. When I started reading the book I said to my self....this is a women's book. But, I had payed my money and took my chances... and decided to stay with it. I am glad I did. It is a heart warming story of a divorced mother and a teenage daughter and a fiesty grandma. I became very engaged in the story and was pleased with the story line. While not a Zane Grey, Sara touched my heart. Nice work, Sara. Shelby

I thought Riding Lessons was a wonderful book....let me tell you, Flying Changes is the best sequel I have read. Sara has a way of making you feel the characters' emotions like very few authors do anymore. I also appeciate the accurate horse lingo and body movement. If you ride and know horses you will appreciate it too. Way to go, Sara!!

Love it, love it, love it! I have gotten into quine fiction and have read the entire Laura Crum series as well as Julie Singers book and have enjoyed them very much as well. If you like books with strong female leads and plot twists that really suck you in, you'll enjoy these books. She is also portraying the emotion of a divorced women in her late 30's, early 40's and her teenage daughter with an honest feel and a quality that I think is very true to life. The book is fun and dramatic while still offering a happy (but not sugar coated) ending.

I did not care for this book or the prequel. I felt like I was getting depressed, scattered and pathetic as I read the thoughts of the main character.

As a horse loving adult, I will read any fiction I can find featuring horses that is aimed at adults but these two did not make my keep shelf!

I didn't think that I'd like Sara Gruen's Riding Lessons or Flying Changes, but wanted to read them after reading Water for Elephants. However, the storyline told in these two books was very intriguing. I found myself wanting more after finishing Flying Changes. I wish there would be a third book, or a movie made from these books.

I was actually quite disappointed with this book. For openers, the author clearly has only the most superficial acquaintence with the horse world she is trying to portray. In addition, the heroine and her daughter are two of the most self-centered twits I have encountered in some time.

Some of the scenes are well-written, so if you don't have much knowledge of horses and/or have a high tolerance for inaccuracy and contrived situations, you may very well enjoy the book.

If you want to read horse oriented fiction by someone who really knows her subject, I suggest Rita Mae Brown's Jefferson Hunt series.

After Water for Elephants, Flying Changes is a deep disappointment. Unlike "Water" Flying Changes has almost no plot line, no character development, no humor, no intelligence, and a stupid ending. It seems as though the two books were written by two entirely different authors. Flying Changes is not worth the price of money nor time.