My Reviews Can Also Be Found On:
The Storygraph and The Book Review Crew Blog

She recalled the quiet moments after they’d been talking in the darkness for hours, that magical still point in the middle of the night.

I did dance as a kid but not ballet. I tapped danced (even managed to win a gold medal) and took jazz lessons. We used to perform for care homes and I was a majorette in parades as well. I don't remember the mothers or the other dance kids behaving the way they did in this book. But we danced for fun, not for scholarships or to become professionals. I remember when I discovered boys (or they discovered me) I quit. My mom was disappointed but quickly got over it when I joined an ice hockey team and became a power forward.

I love Tammy Greenwood's books and have read everything she has ever written. She is a master storyteller and tells this one from experience as her daughter is a ballet dancer. You don't have to be a dancer to enjoy this one because it is basically about competition and the lengths we go through for our kids and to win. The dancers in this story physically and mentally break down often. It borders on abuse.

I loved how character-driven this was and what a bunch of characters they are. The reader gets to know them well through chapters from each character's point of view. What I really took away from this is what dancers and mothers sacrifice for their craft and because of that, I found this such an emotional and powerful read. I learned a lot about ballet and found it intriguing and interesting as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy.195 s78 comments Susan 489 162

3.5 Rounded Up.

I enjoyed this mostly because it incorporated two of my favorite subjects - ballet and surfing (to a lesser extent in the book). The setting for one of the main characters was on the beach which made it even better.

The story and writing kept my interest although I wasn't wowed.women-s-stories44 s14 comments Darla3,911 883

At the still point of the turning world.
Neither flesh nor flesless;
Neither from nor towards;
at the still point, there the dance is. . .

This is a firecracker of a book. Don't pass it by thinking you can't relate to a bunch of ballet moms. This book deals with loss, youthful indiscretions, social media, infidelity, competition, and so much more. The competition for a scholarship to the Paris company brings out the worst in the dancers and their parents. I thoroughly enjoyed this read. My theory is that Tammy Greenwood should stick to books about ballet. This is my fourth read in her title list. The two I have given 5-star ratings to are ballet (Nutcracker adjacent) plots. I loved the Author's Note at the beginning and the Reading Group Guide and Glossary at the end. A complete package!
Autor del comentario:
=================================