Scan barcode
chloethecoupon's review
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
4.75
jenscott's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I don't know what it is about stories about the ballet world, but I'm obsessed. That being said, I enjoyed reading this, but it wasn't anything extraordinarily good or original. I think I wanted a little bit more of a thriller - this seemed a little tame. But I guess it is YA, so it makes sense. But I'd recommend it for people who are fans of Pretty Little Liars, Gossip Girl, or the ultimate ballet masterpiece, Breaking Pointe.
readsbylaura's review against another edition
3.0
I liked it, but yet I didn't. I'm a little disappointed. I was expecting something different, yet I don't know what exactly I was expecting. It wasn't as good I as thought it was going to be.
iozoioz's review
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
amypt46's review
4.0
Solid 4 stars. Full cast audiobook was done very well. This books kept you guessing at who was back stabbing who among the ballerinas. I thought I would be annoyed and it would be caddy, but I binged the second half of this book.
clairewilsonleeds's review
3.0
I can't put my finger on why I didn't like this. All of the characters were weird and acted in ways that didn't seem consistent with how they were feeling. Very odd.
reddyrat's review against another edition
4.0
Despite having zero talent for dance, I've always been fascinated by ballet. As a tween, one of my favorite books to peruse at the library was a book geared towards the parent of ballerinas, which basically detailed the typical life of a dancer aspiring to high level. I'm drawn to any book which portrays the life of a ballerina, particularly at a professional level.
In reality, ballet is merely a set-piece for the drama and characters at the heart of Tiny Pretty Things, but that's the case with all ballet-centered novels. For those who do like dance, though, there are lots of descriptions of different dance moves, specific ballets, and the detailed daily aspects of dancer life. I eat that stuff up. The people at this dance school basically live, eat, and breathe ballet (since they don't eat real food).
If you're not a fan of unlikeable characters, this is not the book for you. June and Bette are different varieties of cruelty with little redemption.Kind-hearted Gigi is the extremely talented new dancer who suffers at their hands because of jealousy. I don't mind unlikeable characters if I can understand why they are they way they are. And I could relate to June and Bette, even if I strongly disliked them. They are layered characters who are under extreme pressure and have extreme drive to succeed. This doesn't excuse their behavior but the story sets up their backstories and personalities so well that their actions felt realistic. Gigi, in contrast, is a very likeable character. As naive as she is talented, she has a difficult time dealing with the mean girls. While her flaws weren't as obvious as those of June and Bette, the book does a good job of showing how a nice person reacts to cruelty.
Each of the characters has some romance in the story. Romances ending, romances beginning, back-stabbing romance - the whole gamut. I wasn't as happy with the romance. I couldn't take it seriously because so much of it related back to various awful things June or Bette or other characters had done. The boys were often tangentially involved, which made it difficult to trust that any of these romances were real. I couldn't lose myself in the story because I was waiting to see what people would do next.
My other main qualm with this book is that certain plot elements were not fully developed. Or if they were fully developed, it was done in such an odd way that it flew right by me. Worst of all, the book just ended. I'm all for open endings, but this felt far too abrupt. There was a semblance of a conclusion but an insufficient resolution of the characters' arcs. Is there a sequel in mind? Not that I know of.
This book is great for people who are trying to diversify their reading. The authors are of color, which is unfortunately rare in the book world. Gigi is Black and June is half-Korean. There are also multiple LGBT characters in varying states of outness and extreme in-ness. Race and sexual orientation is not a main issue of the book, but as in real life, it's always there lingering in the background - and that is acknowledged in the plot in realistic ways.
Tiny Pretty Things is not a perfect book. But it is a good book. It's not a book that one particularly enjoys, because it's all meanness. But it is a book that fascinates. I think it's a book worth seeking out.
Recommendation: Borrow it.
In reality, ballet is merely a set-piece for the drama and characters at the heart of Tiny Pretty Things, but that's the case with all ballet-centered novels. For those who do like dance, though, there are lots of descriptions of different dance moves, specific ballets, and the detailed daily aspects of dancer life. I eat that stuff up. The people at this dance school basically live, eat, and breathe ballet (since they don't eat real food).
If you're not a fan of unlikeable characters, this is not the book for you. June and Bette are different varieties of cruelty with little redemption.Kind-hearted Gigi is the extremely talented new dancer who suffers at their hands because of jealousy. I don't mind unlikeable characters if I can understand why they are they way they are. And I could relate to June and Bette, even if I strongly disliked them. They are layered characters who are under extreme pressure and have extreme drive to succeed. This doesn't excuse their behavior but the story sets up their backstories and personalities so well that their actions felt realistic. Gigi, in contrast, is a very likeable character. As naive as she is talented, she has a difficult time dealing with the mean girls. While her flaws weren't as obvious as those of June and Bette, the book does a good job of showing how a nice person reacts to cruelty.
Each of the characters has some romance in the story. Romances ending, romances beginning, back-stabbing romance - the whole gamut. I wasn't as happy with the romance. I couldn't take it seriously because so much of it related back to various awful things June or Bette or other characters had done. The boys were often tangentially involved, which made it difficult to trust that any of these romances were real. I couldn't lose myself in the story because I was waiting to see what people would do next.
My other main qualm with this book is that certain plot elements were not fully developed. Or if they were fully developed, it was done in such an odd way that it flew right by me. Worst of all, the book just ended. I'm all for open endings, but this felt far too abrupt. There was a semblance of a conclusion but an insufficient resolution of the characters' arcs. Is there a sequel in mind? Not that I know of.
This book is great for people who are trying to diversify their reading. The authors are of color, which is unfortunately rare in the book world. Gigi is Black and June is half-Korean. There are also multiple LGBT characters in varying states of outness and extreme in-ness. Race and sexual orientation is not a main issue of the book, but as in real life, it's always there lingering in the background - and that is acknowledged in the plot in realistic ways.
Tiny Pretty Things is not a perfect book. But it is a good book. It's not a book that one particularly enjoys, because it's all meanness. But it is a book that fascinates. I think it's a book worth seeking out.
Recommendation: Borrow it.
emiliaduncan's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this book because it was exactly what I was looking for- a YA (or perhaps New adult) novel about ballerinas and the pressure they feel while trying to make it to the top.
Clearly, the pressure is too much for most of them.
Most of the characters succumb to their shadow side & are willing to do anything to get to the top.
There is ONE likeable character, but even she drifts to the dark side.
Throughout the read, I hoped some of the girls would join forces and work hard to compete & make it to the top.
However, most of the characters still disappointed me in that they succumbed to the pressure and acted out against their fellow dancers.
Could I have done with some more likeable characters? Yes. Did I love this book for what it was, despite it’s downfalls? Also yes.
A fun & intriguing read.
Clearly, the pressure is too much for most of them.
Most of the characters succumb to their shadow side & are willing to do anything to get to the top.
There is ONE likeable character, but even she drifts to the dark side.
Throughout the read, I hoped some of the girls would join forces and work hard to compete & make it to the top.
However, most of the characters still disappointed me in that they succumbed to the pressure and acted out against their fellow dancers.
Could I have done with some more likeable characters? Yes. Did I love this book for what it was, despite it’s downfalls? Also yes.
A fun & intriguing read.
milana_andrade's review
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.25
“I like being in places I’m not supposed to be.”
this book took a long time to read and I honestly don’t know why, because it was really good. it’s basically just girls getting revenge on each other at a ballet school, it’s fast-paced, easy to read, YA, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read it.
this book took a long time to read and I honestly don’t know why, because it was really good. it’s basically just girls getting revenge on each other at a ballet school, it’s fast-paced, easy to read, YA, and I would recommend it to anyone wanting to read it.