Flying Changes by Sara Gruen is the follow up to her first novel, Riding Lessons. We again follow Annemarie Zimmer and her daughter Eva who is now ready to ride competitively, with the possibility of having an Olympic career; a dream that ended for Annemarie when she was 18 and had a tragic fall that killed her beloved horse, and nearly killed her.

Although at first this seems like it is a novel about Eva, it turns out to be the continuing story of Annemarie and her 20 year long journey of healing. She’s rather neurotic and not always likable. Still, the novel is compelling and Gruen is a wonderful writer. It’s worth reading for the in depth details and descriptions of the horses alone.