What a gen-z writer thought reading Jilly Cooper's Rivals for the first time

As a child, I was always fascinated by one particular book on my grandparents' shelf. It stood out among the others, practically begging for attention. The spine featured striking gold lettering, and the cover depicted a woman's backside in white jodhpurs, gently touched by a man's sun-kissed hand peeking out from a red riding jacket. This eye-catching book was Riders by Dame Jilly Cooper, the first entry in the Rutshire Chronicles, which has sold over a million copies in the UK since it was released in 1985. Now, the series continues with its second installment, Rivals, which has been turned into a show available for streaming on Disney+.

Although I was captivated by the cover of the Riders book during my childhood (which I still haven’t actually read), I wasn’t overly excited when the Rivals TV series was first announced. Being an older member of Gen Z, it simply didn’t grab my interest. However, I chose to try it out and read all 716 pages of Cooper's popular novel to understand what the hype was about.

Before diving into the details of the 700-plus pages, let me provide some background. Dame Jilly Cooper is a true legend. She kicked off her career in journalism in the late 1960s and later transitioned to writing novels, producing several works before the Rutshire Chronicles emerged. The first book in this 11-novel series was published in 1985, and the latest installment, Tackle!, came out in 2023.

The books are famous for their tales about the British elite, who frequently interact with the world of horseback riding, showjumping, and polo. The narrative often revolves around the character Rupert Campbell-Black. You’ll find plenty of deceit, betrayal, infidelity, parties, and gossip. Naturally, there’s also a generous amount of steamy scenes. In essence, these novels were the ultimate beach reads, cheekily dubbed “bonkbusters,” that our moms and grandmothers wouldn’t dream of flying without. They’re essentially similar to the latest works by Emily Henry for our generation.

So, do they truly live up to the excitement?

Rivals centers on Lord Tony Baddingham, who heads Corinium Television. He’s a cutthroat leader with a background in grammar school. Following his father's eventual success, Tony ascended to the upper class, entered a prosperous marriage, and has become one of the most influential figures in the fictional Rutshire county. However, the insecurities about wealth that plagued him in his youth linger into adulthood. As he strives to maintain his grip on power at the television station, a looming threat challenges his seemingly flawless life.

The troublemaker we’re talking about is Rupert Campbell-Black, a former Olympic showjumper. In the last book, he dealt with a tough divorce, but you don’t need to read that book to follow this story. Now, he’s a Conservative Member of Parliament and the Minister for Sport. He’s also attempting to purchase Tony’s television studio and is teaming up with others to take on his competitor.

The book explores the heated competition between the main characters, along with the various friends, family members, and adversaries involved. There are plenty of them—so many, in fact, that Cooper includes a helpful character list at the beginning of the story to keep readers from getting lost among the upper-class cast.

At first, the large number of characters might feel a bit daunting, but as you dive into the story, you start to see that this is actually one of the book's greatest qualities. Each character is not only humorous but also has their own set of flaws that makes them endearing. From the determined and passionate American television executive Cameron Cook to the timid and reserved Taggie O'Hara, and the comical Charles Fairbury, every page is filled with depth and a sense of familiarity.

These characters create a storyline reminiscent of a soap opera, perfectly tailored for the screen due to its complex layers of events. It's intense, engaging, and unlike anything I've read before. Perhaps it's just the books I've chosen or my short attention span, but I can't recall immersing myself in a single work this extensive in a long time. Initially, it felt a bit daunting. Would I be able to maintain my interest over 700 pages?

The answer is a resounding yes! The story moves quickly but also takes its time to introduce new characters and additional storylines. There’s plenty of romance to navigate (spoiler: nearly all the characters show little loyalty to their partners), and you might find yourself supporting unexpected individuals. I lost track of how many times I hoped Lizzie Vereker would break free from her terrible husband, James.

As the story moves into its latter half, the competition for the IBA Franchise (something I had to look up to fully grasp) intensifies, and I caught myself staying up later than usual just to finish the chapter.

That being said, it took me about 100 pages to become truly engaged with the story, so don’t lose hope if you’re not hooked right from the first chapter. To be fair, there are certain challenges in the reading that might make it tough to dive in. This is an 80s novel that captures the upper-class lifestyle of that era, which definitely shows in its tone. Throughout "Rivals," you’ll encounter plenty of sexist and racist comments that, thankfully, wouldn’t be accepted in today’s publications.

In the explicit scenes, some are simply passionate, while others involve non-consensual moments characterized by violence or manipulation, making them uncomfortable to read. One notable instance features a young woman recounting her experience of being sexually assaulted by an investor, only to have Tony Baddingham dismiss her claims and shift the blame onto her instead.

Another key aspect of the story is the connection between Rupert and Taggie O'Hara, the 18-year-old daughter of Declan O'Hara, an Irish television presenter brought in to enhance Corinium's viewership. Throughout the book, Taggie and Rupert, who is 38 and 20 years older than Taggie, engage in a push-and-pull dynamic of romantic tension. Without revealing too much, their relationship serves as the central romantic plot of the novel. There are moments when it feels genuinely romantic, but then the significant age gap and the imbalance of power remind you of the complexity in their bond.

Strangely enough, even though I just finished reading it, I already feel quite defensive about how it has been adapted for the screen. After completing the book, it’s easy to understand why it’s considered a classic and has sold millions of copies.

Absolutely! There are numerous romance novels trending on BookTok each month (and I hold a special affection for many of them), but nothing compares to the sharp, rich, and intricately detailed writing of Jilly Cooper that makes me burst out laughing. So, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go ahead and order the rest of the Rutshire Chronicles.

You can now purchase the Rivals series from Disney+. The show is currently available on Disney+.