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dianametzger's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this book as a character ensemble piece. I liked it MUCH better than her first book--which I found to be dull, meandering, and overrated. This book is fun and dishy and buzzy as a summer read but also is crafted in a way that feels artful and forward driving while reflexive. It's actually less what it's like to be a professional ballerina and more about needing and using other people to explain your life choices.
machadofam8's review against another edition
4.0
Another book I really enjoyed. Great characters, and I enjoyed the way the time line went back and forth.
lilcoop71's review against another edition
3.0
Really enjoyed it in spite of the plot--too contrived--and a really unlikeable main character. Writing was good and it was a huge improvement over Seating Arrangements.
margotreadsbooks's review against another edition
3.0
This book sneaks up on you, with a quiet twist that leaves you wondering how you didn't see it. Beautifully written, but some played out stereotypes prevail, so it only gets 3 stars.
lizaroo71's review against another edition
3.0
I want to give this one 3.5 stars. While I felt many times like setting this aside, something about the narrative kept me reading.
I like the world of dance we get a glimpse of in the novel. I think my main problem with it is the characters. Many of them felt too much like stereotypes: the haughty dancer noble; the fawning corps ballerina; the egotistical ballet teacher; the spineless best boyfriend; the blindly driven son. There are some twists and turns thrown in for good measure, but this one didn't truly catch my attention until the final third of the book.
The writing is solid, but this one fell short in characterization for me.
I like the world of dance we get a glimpse of in the novel. I think my main problem with it is the characters. Many of them felt too much like stereotypes: the haughty dancer noble; the fawning corps ballerina; the egotistical ballet teacher; the spineless best boyfriend; the blindly driven son. There are some twists and turns thrown in for good measure, but this one didn't truly catch my attention until the final third of the book.
The writing is solid, but this one fell short in characterization for me.
lunalullaby's review against another edition
5.0
I'm a bit stunned by how much I enjoyed this book by the end. I was sure I would either not finish or would rate it low, but it surprised me with its intricacy and beauty and depth of emotions. I definitely recommend it.
lmfm's review against another edition
3.0
This book has been getting passed around my ballet class. It finally made it's way to me and I have to say that, having read it, I'm pretty ambivalent about this book. I enjoyed the glimpse into the difficult and high-powered world of professional dance, but it was hard to really like any of the characters and the story becomes ridiculously convoluted. The main character, Joan, is incredibly distant and so I had a hard time caring when she turned out to have manipulated most of the people around her.
nicollej's review against another edition
5.0
This book is beautifully written and a great character study. The narrator of the audio version makes all the words sound so luscious. Probably one of the better books I've read this year. I'll be thinking about these characters for a while.
nixieknox's review against another edition
3.0
Liked it! Not as much as I liked Seating Arrangements, but still worth the time. I appreciated that the twist was revealed to the reader and then immediately to all other characters. I hate being in the know when characters are not.
LOTS of ballet! I skipped over a lot of that.
LOTS of ballet! I skipped over a lot of that.