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A review by xsophiehoughton
Offsetting Penalties by Ally Mathews
4.0
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
As soon as I saw this book, I immediately saw similarities with the first Step Up film, and knew I needed to read it. Isabella is a ballerina, and she's been practising for the upcoming fall production when the only male ballerina drops out, and she's left wondering what to do. This is her chance to become a true, prima ballerina, and she needs a partner to help her. While in the studio practising one day, Izzy notices the biggest jock in school, Garret, wearing tights and stretching in the next studio. Thinking he may be her hope, she records his practises, and sort of blackmails him in helping her. No one really knows that Garret has been doing ballet for a while, but when he hears that it is a great warm up for football, and his biggest dream is getting a football scholarship, he's willing to try anything, especially after being injured. When Izzy approaches him, he's reluctant, because no matter what, he isn't about to be seen on stage, performing, in tights. Can Izzy persuade him to help?
This book was swoony and so good. Both of the characters were fabulous, and well rounded, and I especially liked how Izzy, though she came from money, didn't want to use that to get forward, and wanted to use her own capabilities and merit to succeed. She's not the usual kind of preppy girl, rather a bit of a goth and a rebel, and her and Garret's interactions were so snarky, and swoony. Garret is from the complete opposite background, where the only way out of town, and away from his alcoholic father, is through a scholarship, and that's everything he has set his sights on. While at first he doesn't want to help Izzy, if he does, it helps him keep in shape, and could allow his little sister to take ballet lessons, something they really can't afford right now. Garret and Izzy's relationship together was perfect for this book, and the perfect read.
As soon as I saw this book, I immediately saw similarities with the first Step Up film, and knew I needed to read it. Isabella is a ballerina, and she's been practising for the upcoming fall production when the only male ballerina drops out, and she's left wondering what to do. This is her chance to become a true, prima ballerina, and she needs a partner to help her. While in the studio practising one day, Izzy notices the biggest jock in school, Garret, wearing tights and stretching in the next studio. Thinking he may be her hope, she records his practises, and sort of blackmails him in helping her. No one really knows that Garret has been doing ballet for a while, but when he hears that it is a great warm up for football, and his biggest dream is getting a football scholarship, he's willing to try anything, especially after being injured. When Izzy approaches him, he's reluctant, because no matter what, he isn't about to be seen on stage, performing, in tights. Can Izzy persuade him to help?
This book was swoony and so good. Both of the characters were fabulous, and well rounded, and I especially liked how Izzy, though she came from money, didn't want to use that to get forward, and wanted to use her own capabilities and merit to succeed. She's not the usual kind of preppy girl, rather a bit of a goth and a rebel, and her and Garret's interactions were so snarky, and swoony. Garret is from the complete opposite background, where the only way out of town, and away from his alcoholic father, is through a scholarship, and that's everything he has set his sights on. While at first he doesn't want to help Izzy, if he does, it helps him keep in shape, and could allow his little sister to take ballet lessons, something they really can't afford right now. Garret and Izzy's relationship together was perfect for this book, and the perfect read.