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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
A review on the front cover of this book calls it “compulsively readable”, and I would agree with this, except not in the way that it is intended. I kept reading because I wanted it to be over, not because I was aching to see what happened next.
To preface, I really wanted to like this book. I love reading books about dance and the cover drew me in with how gorgeous it was. The descriptions of the dancing itself is why I am giving this book two stars instead of one.
Now onto everything else. What struck me the most was that the pacing felt so off. It was rushed but also it felt like the same points were being rehashed. The romantic relationships moved far too quickly, while seemingly major plot points were wrapped up in a few chapters. In reading, I felt like the stakes should have felt higher than I actually understood them to be.
Beyond the pacing, there were two other things in this book that threw me off. The constant nicknames of the characters made it harder for them to stick in my brain, and the odd interspersing of French with the direct English translation right after it. It was almost like the author used these to remind you that the book takes place in France, but did not want readers reaching for Google translate every chapter.
I did finish the book, but it felt more like relief that it was done than an aching for more.
To preface, I really wanted to like this book. I love reading books about dance and the cover drew me in with how gorgeous it was. The descriptions of the dancing itself is why I am giving this book two stars instead of one.
Now onto everything else. What struck me the most was that the pacing felt so off. It was rushed but also it felt like the same points were being rehashed. The romantic relationships moved far too quickly, while seemingly major plot points were wrapped up in a few chapters. In reading, I felt like the stakes should have felt higher than I actually understood them to be.
Beyond the pacing, there were two other things in this book that threw me off. The constant nicknames of the characters made it harder for them to stick in my brain, and the odd interspersing of French with the direct English translation right after it. It was almost like the author used these to remind you that the book takes place in France, but did not want readers reaching for Google translate every chapter.
I did finish the book, but it felt more like relief that it was done than an aching for more.
I fell in love with this cover and was eager to read this book. I love books with dance in them and thought this would offer a good glimpse into the competitiveness of ballet. However, I have never been a fan of toxic female relationships; there are few books I've read where I thought that was done successfully. Unfortunately, there was a lot of problematic issues that stemmed from Marine and Kate's friendship and not all were handled well.
Bright Burning Stars touches on ballet culture, eating disorders, abortion, and toxic relationships (both friendship and romantic). It was a lot of serious topics, probably too many to tackle in one book, and I wasn't a fan of how many were handled. I wish they would have been explored in more detail and fleshed out better.
I received an advanced copy from Algonquin Young Readers in return for an honest review.
Bright Burning Stars touches on ballet culture, eating disorders, abortion, and toxic relationships (both friendship and romantic). It was a lot of serious topics, probably too many to tackle in one book, and I wasn't a fan of how many were handled. I wish they would have been explored in more detail and fleshed out better.
I received an advanced copy from Algonquin Young Readers in return for an honest review.
Finished reading: May 10th 2019
"Marine, notre monde, this world of ours - the stage and studios and barres - is intense and lonely. There is no space for friendship, love, or even an old and perhaps sacred bond between twins. Nothing shadows the art of dance. It's a union of body, mind, and music. Classical dance is known for being ruthless."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Algonquin Young Readers in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
Spoiler
There was just something about the blurb of Bright Burning Stars that caught my attention right away and I have been excited to finally read it. It's true that it turned out to be not entirely my cup of tea, but I do believe the right reader will enjoy this story immensely. Fans of more gritty and slow-paced YA contemporary romance will be in a treat with this ballet-inspired story mainly set within the Paris Opera Ballet School.
Why wasn't Bright Burning Stars a good fit for me personally? It's hard to put my finger exactly on the why, but I think part of the reason has to do with the sheer amount of cliche drama relating to both competition, jealousy, romance and friendship. All this drama made it hard for me to stay focused and I confess it took me longer than expected to actually reach the final page. On top of this we have what you can call multiple love triangles and more jealousy and drama resulting from that... And you all know by now how I feel about those pesky love triangles in the first place. I'm sure romance fans who don't mind a cliche or two will react different to this part of the story though. Another thing I didn't like was the fact how they skimmed over abortion and basically make it seem like you can just go to the pharmacy, get a little something as if you were buying a cure for a headache and solve your problems that way. I'm not going into the whole abortion discussion, but I do feel this gives the wrong message to teenagers about safe sex and having to face the consequences of your actions and mistakes. Trigger warnings are also in place for other sensitive themes including eating disorders, suicide and drugs. I understand the ballet world is brutal and unrealistic (and basically unhealthy) demands are made of the bodies of the dancers, and I do think this is well portrayed in Bright Burning Stars, but it can potentially trigger more sensitive readers so you've been warned.
The story is told with the help of a dual POV, where we get to know Marine and Kate and learn more about how the constant competition has changed their relationship and how their final year once again puts a lot of pressure on both their bodies and their minds. I'm not sure I actually liked them, especially since their is a lot of teenage drama, boy stuff and jealousy involved, but they do help address various issues related to the ballet world. Bright Burning Stars is mostly a character-driven story where we follow the development of Marine and Kate. The pace is considerably slow at times, but shouldn't be problem for those who enjoy this kind of story. I did wonder about the use of random French words in the text, as they didn't seem to add anything substantial to the story... And with a Paris setting aren't they speaking French all the time anyway in the first place? Instead of the French words, I think I would have liked to see more dancing and more descriptions of Paris and the school. But that could have been just me. Overall this was still a solid read, and while not my cup of tea, I can see how others could fall in love with Bright Burning Stars.
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
Bright Burning Stars is a gorgeous, haunting novel that offers a rare look inside an elite French ballet academy through the eyes of Kate and Marine, two best friends and, ultimately, rivals. Kate, an American who is full of emotions and always seeking a way to dull them, finds balance in Parisian Marine, always at battle with her body and mourning the death of her twin brother. As their final year of dance school gears up, the girls battle their own demons of depression, substance abuse, eating disorders and sexuality, while becoming increasingly torn between their loyalty to each other and their desire for the top spot. The insulated, high-pressure world of Nanterre feels a bit like a twisted Hogwarts, with its secret corridors, student cliques, high stakes and inscrutable instructors, and I found myself intrigued by its inner workings until the final page.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Readers should be aware that Small’s plot addresses: eating disorders, abortion, drug abuse and attempted suicide
I really enjoyed this book; it was a heartbreaking read but one that I really fell for & felt desperate to return to every night. Kate & Marine’s friendship was real & their struggles tugged at my heart. The world of ballet often seems horrific in books, but it completely fascinates me & always engulfs me.
⚠️ This book contains a character with anorexia & one with severe depression, discussions of suicide, drug taking & scenes of a sexual nature ⚠️
I was sent this book to review as part of a blog tour organised by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2MY
⚠️ This book contains a character with anorexia & one with severe depression, discussions of suicide, drug taking & scenes of a sexual nature ⚠️
I was sent this book to review as part of a blog tour organised by The Fantastic Flying Book Club.
Extended Review: https://wp.me/p8MbIo-2MY
dark
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This is a thoughtful and compassionate exploration of the friendship between two young women in an extremely competitive ballet institution. Each struggles with her own demons, from severe depression and substance abuse, to body dysmorphia and restrictive/disordered eating.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Drug abuse, Eating disorder, Mental illness, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Suicide attempt
Moderate: Abandonment
Minor: Death, Suicide
Severe depression, substance abuse for performance enhancement and for coping with emotional & mental health, detailed description of severe eating restrictions, body dysmorphia, and body/weight monitoring.
Loyalty. Discipline. Hella girl drama.
Bright Burning Stars features a ballet school in Paris where the students are absolutely cutthroat. The rats, as they are known, train and compete incessantly. They deal with all the ins and outs of adolescence but the lens is skewed towards success at all costs. The story follows two best friends, Marine and Kate who are as close as two young girls can be until the rigors of competition start to fray their bond. They experience sexual explotation, drug use and eating disorders while trying to figure out who they really are and what they really want.
The story touches on some heavy topics and I think probably deserves a little warning if its labelled YA. It's the type of book you'd want to discuss with your kids if they were to read it. Perhaps an epilogue that shows where the girls ended up and if it was all worth it would provide a better overall message for the YA audience.
Certainly a page turner with lots of drama.
Thanks to Algonquin for a gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Bright Burning Stars features a ballet school in Paris where the students are absolutely cutthroat. The rats, as they are known, train and compete incessantly. They deal with all the ins and outs of adolescence but the lens is skewed towards success at all costs. The story follows two best friends, Marine and Kate who are as close as two young girls can be until the rigors of competition start to fray their bond. They experience sexual explotation, drug use and eating disorders while trying to figure out who they really are and what they really want.
The story touches on some heavy topics and I think probably deserves a little warning if its labelled YA. It's the type of book you'd want to discuss with your kids if they were to read it. Perhaps an epilogue that shows where the girls ended up and if it was all worth it would provide a better overall message for the YA audience.
Certainly a page turner with lots of drama.
Thanks to Algonquin for a gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
Nanterre was famous for its mysterious lists and destructive games.
Hi my lovelies! Today I have a review I am so so so excited about! I shared my excitement for this release last week when I hosted the blog tour, but I had no idea what I was in for. This debut is a haunting and intricate look at the competitive and cutthroat world of ballet. It was an incredibly well-done novel, and I cannot thank Algonquin Young Readers enough for reaching out to me and inviting me to read this.
“I’d be careful with that. Getting too close to the sun, as we say, will likely get your burned.”
I do need to highlight the massive amount of trigger warnings that this book should, and doesn’t, come with. There’s drug abuse, eating disorders, suicide, even teen pregnancy/abortion. I have to admit I was shocked by how deep this book gets with those topics and how well-written and constructed it is. These harsher topics aren’t used at plot points, but are more important to the characters and central story, which I genuinely appreciate.
What I enjoy most about this book are the two main characters, Kate and Marine. They each have their own little quirks and flaws and go through so so many ups and downs during this story, it was hard to tell what the major plot points were. These ups and downs make this an incredibly fast-paced and deeply compelling read. I couldn’t believe how quickly I devoured this book, once I started it was impossible for me to put down.
I can’t highlight enough how well-done this book is. It had such an air of authenticity that I really felt like I was at this ballet academy. We get to see some really great character arcs through this novel and at the same time we leave characters falling back into their normal patterns, but in some strange way I found it immensely satisfying. I don’t want to talk too much about plot because I don’t want to give anything away, but I absolutely adored how this ended, it literally brought tears to my eyes.
This novel was nothing short of a roller coaster ride, but damn I enjoyed it. From the spectacular writing, to the intriguing and haunting plot, to the perfectly imperfect characters, this one powerhouse debut that YA lovers shouldn’t miss.
You can check out other full reviews, author interviews, and bookish talks at Tonkin About Books!
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