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chaptersofchase 's review for:
The Spectacular
by Fiona Davis
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
r e v i e w - π
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of The Spectacular {partner}
Genre: Historica Fiction
Setting: 1956 NYC
Format: π
Pub Date: 6.13.2023
Star Rating: βββ
Thank you, Dutton Books, for the gifted copy of The Spectacular {partner}
Genre: Historica Fiction
Setting: 1956 NYC
Format: π
Pub Date: 6.13.2023
Star Rating: βββ
"I wish I had taken a moment⦠back when I was dancing, to stop and appreciate what it felt like to leave my leg effortlessly high, what it was like when my limbs and mind were rich with music, and my body snapped into place."
I know I will be in the minority with this review, but that's okay because (repeat after me) not every book is for every person. But here's a little about what worked and didn't work for me in The Spectacular by Fiona Davis.
The historical fiction + mystery mash-up was well executed and added just the appropriate amount of suspense to the story, keeping me interested. I know Fiona Davis bases her books on real-life events, so I had to stop looking up specific circumstances in the book as I didn't want to spoil them for myself.
Unfortunately, the writing style felt abrupt and unnatural in places which caused me to see the MC, Marion, in a more juvenile light, distracting me from the story. The writing felt completely different from Davis' other novels. π€·π½ββοΈ
The book's first quarter was just meh for me as I struggled with Marion's father and his control over her life (but then again, it is set in the 1950s). I enjoyed the middle half of the book as this is when the mystery element is introduced. Unfortunately, the last quarter did not work for me. When we reached the story's apex and what would've been a perfect conclusion, there were 50ish pages left, and this last section added nothing further to the book. It caused me to drop from a solid 4 βοΈ down to a 3 βοΈ as I thought the author was trying to do too much with the story.
π«€ Pacing was okay
π Behind the scenes look at the Rockettes
βπΌ Short & unnatural writing
Again, not every book is for every reader, so I encourage you to check out The Spectacular. But if you're looking for a Fiona Davis title, I highly recommend The Chelsea Girls!
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