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t_mcconnell's review against another edition
5.0
This is my first book read by Alena Dillon, but she has quickly become one of my favorite authors. I could not put the book down. It was so beautifully written, the characters were complex and relatable, and the story setting that combines real events and real people into the lives of the characters was completely enthralling.
This story follows a gymnast, her journey to the Olympics, and her relationships with her family and her best friend. Life for everyone is consumed by the sport by expectations and goals. The intensity of the emotion in this book was wonderfully done, and the storyline mirrors the true stories of the gymnasts who spoke out about their experience with USA gymnastics in the past few years.
I really enjoyed this book and am sure it will become an instant must-read for many.
This story follows a gymnast, her journey to the Olympics, and her relationships with her family and her best friend. Life for everyone is consumed by the sport by expectations and goals. The intensity of the emotion in this book was wonderfully done, and the storyline mirrors the true stories of the gymnasts who spoke out about their experience with USA gymnastics in the past few years.
I really enjoyed this book and am sure it will become an instant must-read for many.
thepagelady's review against another edition
3.0
For Sera Wheeler, the Olympics are the reason for everything. It’s why she trains thirty hours a week, starves herself to under 100 pounds, and pops Advil like Tic Tacs.
For her mother, Charlene, hungry for glory she never had, it’s why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice in a different state, and why the family scrimps, saves, and fractures. It’s why, when Sera’s best friend reports the gymnastics doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies what she knows about his treatments, thus preserving favor.
Their friendship shatters. But Sera protected her dream—didn’t she?
Sera doubles down, taping broken toes, numbing torn muscles, and pouring her family’s resources into the sport. Soon she isn’t training for the love of gymnastics. She’s training to make her disloyalty worthwhile.
No matter the cost.
Thank you, Goodreads and William Morrow for the chance to read The Happiest Girl in the World!
“{We treated sex the same way we treated anger and sadness; by ignoring it completely. If our hand was forced, we came at it sideways, using euphemism. But now we were looking at it directly,}”
This was a delightful book. I like that while I was reading it; the story felt like a real-life story, not just something made up. Some topics that are discussed in this book are some things we hope as a parent or even when I was a young girl that you never have to deal with. It’s sad, but a factual event that happens these days. Even the part of her mom pushing her. It's sad to say that I've seen that as well. The book was wonderful; I have read nothing else by Alena Dillion, but I look forward to getting to read some more work by her. Happy reading everyone!
For her mother, Charlene, hungry for glory she never had, it’s why she rises before dawn to drive Sera to practice in a different state, and why the family scrimps, saves, and fractures. It’s why, when Sera’s best friend reports the gymnastics doctor to the authority who selects the Olympic Team, Sera denies what she knows about his treatments, thus preserving favor.
Their friendship shatters. But Sera protected her dream—didn’t she?
Sera doubles down, taping broken toes, numbing torn muscles, and pouring her family’s resources into the sport. Soon she isn’t training for the love of gymnastics. She’s training to make her disloyalty worthwhile.
No matter the cost.
Thank you, Goodreads and William Morrow for the chance to read The Happiest Girl in the World!
“{We treated sex the same way we treated anger and sadness; by ignoring it completely. If our hand was forced, we came at it sideways, using euphemism. But now we were looking at it directly,}”
This was a delightful book. I like that while I was reading it; the story felt like a real-life story, not just something made up. Some topics that are discussed in this book are some things we hope as a parent or even when I was a young girl that you never have to deal with. It’s sad, but a factual event that happens these days. Even the part of her mom pushing her. It's sad to say that I've seen that as well. The book was wonderful; I have read nothing else by Alena Dillion, but I look forward to getting to read some more work by her. Happy reading everyone!
deanab's review against another edition
3.0
3-1/2 stars. Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for my ARC. I wanted to really love this book as the premise was very interesting. There were parts that I thoroughly enjoyed and I’m not sure that I can put my finger on exactly what I didn’t like about it. This story of Sera Wheeler, an up and coming Olympic gymnast had many moments that were so raw but I just never felt as emotionally overwhelmed as I expected. A good, quick easy read, just wasn’t great for me.
elliegrace99's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
bailatkins's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
achilly_'s review
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
smalltownbookmom's review against another edition
4.0
This is a deep dive into the dark side of competitive gymnastics. It was equally eye-opening and heartbreaking seeing the lengths that some athletes go to in the pursuit of their Olympic dreams. I liked that the story is told from alternating perspectives of Sera, an Olympic hopeful gymnast and her mother, who goes all in to help her daughter achieve success. The story is told over several years highlighting the ups and downs of Sera's gymnastics career, as she struggles with jealousy, injuries, drug addiction, a sexual abuse scandal and the loneliness only a competitive athlete can really appreciate. Many of the issues touched on in the book could have been torn right from the headlines and sadly I have no doubt they are all too common. It was really hard seeing what Sera's mom was willing to turn a blind eye to rather than be the supportive parent Sera really needed. Well-written and hard-hitting, definitely recommend.
CW: eating disorders, sexual abuse, drug addiction/abuse
CW: eating disorders, sexual abuse, drug addiction/abuse
misswarner's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
angiew23's review against another edition
5.0
Oh man, I LOVED this book. This novel tells the story of a fictional character Sera Wheeler who is a part of Team USA and is training to compete in the olympics. Despite being fictional, Dillon includes so many references to real athletes and real events. It is clear that she researched the gymnastics world thoroughly prior to writing this book! It feels very real and includes details related to the child molester on Team USA staff (again fictionalized but very realistic) as well as the training camps and selection process. While reading this book you can definitely live vicariously through Sera if you ever wished you did gymnastics, but you can also see the horrors that this elite world brings. At about 380 pages it is a great length. Definitely add this one to your list!
tennisgirl27's review against another edition
3.0
This book is about an Olympic gymnast and her struggles to make the team. Much of the book focuses on the abuse that a number of gymnasts suffered at the hands of their medical Dr. The book was just average to me. It’s like they took the real life story of Larry Nassar and US Gymnastics but just changed the names to make it fictional. It just rubbed me the wrong way that it was real but fake at the same time. Even there are “characters” in the book who are the Famous Karolyi coaches and again just changed the name. It was just weird. 3/5