Back not too many months ago I was introduced to the author Tudor Robins with Appaloosa Summer (review here). Since that read and review…I’ve read 5 more of her books or short stories (and I’ve started on another). If that’s not a rousing recommendation, I’m not sure what is. But to put it mildly, I enjoy her books.
While I have enjoyed them all so far, none have hit quite like Objects in Mirror. This book I felt immediately was written for girls like me (even though that girl is 20 years gone now). For girls like Grace (the main character). I honestly didn’t even read the synopsis of this book before diving in as at this point, I just open the next Tudor Robins book in my library. I didn’t know what I was getting into.
Grace has an eating disorder. Namely, she has anorexia. As someone that had an eating disorder of my own (I can admit that now looking back at my behavior as a teen) that I fought my way out of…I could feel for this girl more than I’ve felt for any of the other characters so far in Tudors book. I knew her. I knew the fight…the use of control of my body when I had no other form of control in my life…the desire to please those around us. I was not an equestrian at the time, but I can imagine that being in breeches would make things all the worse. Reading this character brought me back to a certain time in my life and I could easily slip into the character of Grace in a way I don’t many characters. She and I have strong shared experience. I also know what it’s like to lease horses…and not have decision making power. To have horses taken out from under you. I also know what it’s like to be a working student and have those expectations heaped upon you. Because of this, I probably enjoyed this book the most so far of any of her writing.
The way that Tudor has written the character of Grace and how that disorder affects her is honestly, spot on. It’s not dramatic or heavy handed. It’s not overly described or discussed. It’s not glamorizing the mental health issue. It’s just literally how the day to day of a person with anorexia’s brain works. How they exist and move within their world. It was really well done. I also appreciate how she meandered and grew as a person from external and internal forces having her make choices that lead her to healing. The plot was a good driver for her character arc.
There’s horses of course…and a bit of a love story of course…and all of that is well and good and enjoyable, but mostly this book for me was excellent because of the character arc of Grace from beginning to end. This book isn’t going to surprise you (I mean…as I said…it’s a horse girl book…). It ends how you hope it will end. But the wonderful thing about Tudor’s writing is that it’s not disappointing. She never makes you cringe with cheeziness. It all feels so honest. The horsey parts are all fantastic and realistic. The settings are lovely…and her main characters are well developed and also…lovely people. I want to get to know almost everyone in her books I’ve encountered so far.
If you’re looking for a nice relaxing read with a bit of horse on the side, I won’t hesitate to recommend Tudor Robins books and short stories (in fact you can get some of the short stories free by signing up for her newsletter). There’s a little bit of serious in all of them…but they’re also just a refreshingly good read. Highly recommend!