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3.42 AVERAGE
3.42 AVERAGE
Trigger warning for eating disorders, depression and suicidal thoughts.
Which I didn't know about going into this book, so that's why I'm letting you know.
At first I thought this was kind of a thriller by the synopsis, but it wasn't like that at all. Though it was very dark, and mysterious at some point.
This book is basically about what some girls can go through when they have this enormous pressure to succeed at something that they love. When it becomes a competition rather than their pure passion. What happens when all that gets in the way of a very strong friendship. That and mental illnesses.
I personally love watching ballet, so this "backstage" sort of story was a really interesting perspective to explore.
I'm really glad I picked this up. It is definitely a book that I will remember from now on.
Which I didn't know about going into this book, so that's why I'm letting you know.
At first I thought this was kind of a thriller by the synopsis, but it wasn't like that at all. Though it was very dark, and mysterious at some point.
This book is basically about what some girls can go through when they have this enormous pressure to succeed at something that they love. When it becomes a competition rather than their pure passion. What happens when all that gets in the way of a very strong friendship. That and mental illnesses.
I personally love watching ballet, so this "backstage" sort of story was a really interesting perspective to explore.
I'm really glad I picked this up. It is definitely a book that I will remember from now on.
Note: I'm taking a bit of a hiatus from reviewing. I need a bit of a break from the pressures of reviewing, so I'm just going with the flow this year. I'll obviously still be reading, but at my own pace and when I feel like it. Thank you for understanding!
I danced ballet with a passion from the age of two until I was ten, and I wanted so badly to be a professional dancer. Unfortunately, I got hurt playing softball and have been plagued with chronic pain ever since, so that dream never came true. But I still love watching ballet and reading books about ballet, so I knew I wanted to get my hands on Bright Burning Stars as soon as I heard about it. Now, you don’t have to love ballet to pick up this book, but if you do love ballet, you have to pick up this book!
Although I wanted so badly to be a dancer, I know now that I don’t think I would’ve made it anyway. Reading about the experiences of Marine and Kate at the Paris Opera Ballet School only reinforced that realization! The dedication of all the students to their craft is impressive. At the same time--especially since, at the end of seven long years of fairly brutal training, only one boy and one girl will receive a spot in the corps--the situation kind of makes relationships of any kind difficult. Marine and Kate have managed to remain thick as thieves--”Moon Sisters”--from the moment they arrived at the school until their final year. However, the seventh year at school finds their friendship strained, due to Kate’s tendency to lose herself in romantic relationships, Marine’s overwhelming desire to lose more and more weight, and the pressure of competing with one another as the judges’ final decision approaches.
If you’re a fan of contemporary novels that examine friendship, first love, dedication to a goal, and what happens when the goal you’ve worked so hard toward may remain out of reach, I hope you’ll pick up Bright Burning Stars! If you love ballet, well, that’s just the cherry on top.
Rating: 3.5 stars!
**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.
Although I wanted so badly to be a dancer, I know now that I don’t think I would’ve made it anyway. Reading about the experiences of Marine and Kate at the Paris Opera Ballet School only reinforced that realization! The dedication of all the students to their craft is impressive. At the same time--especially since, at the end of seven long years of fairly brutal training, only one boy and one girl will receive a spot in the corps--the situation kind of makes relationships of any kind difficult. Marine and Kate have managed to remain thick as thieves--”Moon Sisters”--from the moment they arrived at the school until their final year. However, the seventh year at school finds their friendship strained, due to Kate’s tendency to lose herself in romantic relationships, Marine’s overwhelming desire to lose more and more weight, and the pressure of competing with one another as the judges’ final decision approaches.
If you’re a fan of contemporary novels that examine friendship, first love, dedication to a goal, and what happens when the goal you’ve worked so hard toward may remain out of reach, I hope you’ll pick up Bright Burning Stars! If you love ballet, well, that’s just the cherry on top.
Rating: 3.5 stars!
**Disclosure: I received an early e-copy of this book from the publisher for purposes of this tour. This review is voluntary on my part and reflects my honest rating and review of the book.
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I couldn't help myself... A glance at the cover and I'm gone! Yep, I'm definitely reading this one - I just A.D.O.R.E. ballet. When I read the description, I doubted whether this is something I'd like but I still had to try. The bit I didn't like was that it hinted at a love triangle and that it'll take over the whole book but it did NOT and boy, I was so thankful!
Bright Burning Stars was so much more than just a love story or even boys. It delved much deeper into the psyches of these two girls who are passionate about dancing but are in a very stressful competitive situation. Their friendship of many years are challenged to the breaking point and their health are at risk to the point of destruction. This was a rather dark read.
Thankfully, this book is told in dual perspective, Kate Saunders and Marine Duval. I am very glad for Marine's because I think I might have thrown the book if all I had to read was Kate's point of view. Both Kate and Marine have had their share of childhood grief and each has their own issues in this story but Marine as a character is one you can easily sympathise with while Kate may just make you cry (after wanting to shake her).
As I read Bright Burning Stars & tried to guess the ending (who does that!?), I was reminded of Centre Stage (movie). The more I think of it, the more I see similarities between the 2 but enough differences to exist. Nevertheless, if you love this book, go watch Centre Stage!! And vice versa ;)
My thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for having me on this tour
Bright Burning Stars was so much more than just a love story or even boys. It delved much deeper into the psyches of these two girls who are passionate about dancing but are in a very stressful competitive situation. Their friendship of many years are challenged to the breaking point and their health are at risk to the point of destruction. This was a rather dark read.
Thankfully, this book is told in dual perspective, Kate Saunders and Marine Duval. I am very glad for Marine's because I think I might have thrown the book if all I had to read was Kate's point of view. Both Kate and Marine have had their share of childhood grief and each has their own issues in this story but Marine as a character is one you can easily sympathise with while Kate may just make you cry (after wanting to shake her).
As I read Bright Burning Stars & tried to guess the ending (who does that!?), I was reminded of Centre Stage (movie). The more I think of it, the more I see similarities between the 2 but enough differences to exist. Nevertheless, if you love this book, go watch Centre Stage!! And vice versa ;)
My thanks to Algonquin Young Readers for having me on this tour
Marine Duval (French-born) and Kate Sanders (American-born) are ballet dancers/best friends. They’re each in training at the exclusive Paris Opera Baller School. They’ve made it through the critiques, Marine’s twin Oli’s death, and all the pressures that are put into young ballet dancers, including unhealthy weight loss programs. Now 16 years old, they’re in competition to win The Prize: aka a permanent place with the Opera’s ballet corps. With the pressure on, both Kate and Marine capture the attention of The Demigod aka Cyrille, the number 1 male dancer in the school. While Kate yearns for his heart, Marine is the one to capture the dancer’s attention. How far will these girls go to win it all? Are they willing to lose their lives, their friendship, their everything? While I loved dance, I will be forever grateful that I quit my studio before going on pointe. I will never have the body of a ballet dancer: I have too much hips and boobs. The French are intense in this book and the adults even more so. They live and breathe dance. This novel doesn’t shy away from the tricks that dancers use to be the best: constant, feet-breaking exercise, drug use, anorexia and the competitive spirit that means only one will ever make it to the top. The only issue I had with this book was that it felt too short and I also wasn’t a huge fan of the ending. Perhaps it’s the French way but these kids acted like they were in their early 20’s. It felt odd that they never even ended up with a degree.
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Drug use, Eating disorder, Grief, Abortion, Suicide attempt
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Meh. I’ve been really into books involving dance and boarding schools recently so I was excited to pick this book up. However, I’m a little let down by it. Kate and Marine read to similarly where I had a hard time remembering who’s chapters I was reading. Of the 2, I think Marine’s plot line was more developed and thought out. I think Kate’s was little all over the place and could have been paired down (slight spoiler: the pregnancy was practically glossed over, when I felt that could be more of a story line) overall, just a little underwhelming!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Toxic relationship, Abortion, Suicide attempt
Disclaimer: I received this book from Algonquin Young Readers. Thanks! All opinions are my own.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (TWs for: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, mental illness, mention of suicide, attempted suicide, substance abuse, abortion, unhealthy coping techniques, emotional abuse, toxic environments, and toxic friends. Also: sex, disturbing romantic portrayals, and dreams that might not be all they’re worth.)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.
But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.
Review: Okay so I loved how this book was so bold to discuss some really deep and dark topics, especially from what I assume would be presumed to be a safe place. The writing was excellent and the plot was great. The book had some great, realistic main characters and the book did well with the duel POV.
However, this book was SO HEAVY. Like, it’s an advanced YA and I think it would probably be better suited as an NA book or adult. The amount of TWs I had to put at the top were ridiculous and while I understand that all of those can happen and a person can suffer from a multiple number of issues, but this felt more like two teens lying about all the shit they’ve done. And then at the end of the book… it was a letdown. I don’t think it sent a good message to girls and I think while it was good to showcase heavy topics, the book missed the mark in the end. I can see how the ending can be interpreted a certain way, but for me it just created a bigger mess.
Verdict: It’s heavy, but magnificent.
Book Series: Standalone
Rating: 3.5/5
Publication Date: May 21, 2019
Genre: YA Contemporary
Recommended Age: 18+ (TWs for: eating disorder, body dysmorphia, mental illness, mention of suicide, attempted suicide, substance abuse, abortion, unhealthy coping techniques, emotional abuse, toxic environments, and toxic friends. Also: sex, disturbing romantic portrayals, and dreams that might not be all they’re worth.)
Publisher: Algonquin Young Readers
Pages: 304
Amazon Link
Synopsis: Best friends Marine Duval and Kate Sanders have trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School since childhood, where they’ve formed an inseparable bond forged by respective family tragedies and a fierce love for dance. When the body of a student is found in the dorms just before the start of their final year, Marine and Kate begin to ask themselves what they would do to win the ultimate prize: to be the one girl selected to join the Opera’s prestigious corps de ballet. Would they die? Cheat? Seduce the most talented boy in the school, dubbed the Demigod, hoping his magic would make them shine, too? Neither girl is sure.
But then Kate gets closer to the Demigod, even as Marine has begun to capture his heart. And as selection day draws near, the competition—for the prize, for the Demigod—becomes fiercer, and Marine and Kate realize they have everything to lose, including each other.
Review: Okay so I loved how this book was so bold to discuss some really deep and dark topics, especially from what I assume would be presumed to be a safe place. The writing was excellent and the plot was great. The book had some great, realistic main characters and the book did well with the duel POV.
However, this book was SO HEAVY. Like, it’s an advanced YA and I think it would probably be better suited as an NA book or adult. The amount of TWs I had to put at the top were ridiculous and while I understand that all of those can happen and a person can suffer from a multiple number of issues, but this felt more like two teens lying about all the shit they’ve done. And then at the end of the book… it was a letdown. I don’t think it sent a good message to girls and I think while it was good to showcase heavy topics, the book missed the mark in the end. I can see how the ending can be interpreted a certain way, but for me it just created a bigger mess.
Verdict: It’s heavy, but magnificent.