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A review by luckyonesoph
The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia
challenging
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
The premise of this book is what initially drew me in. The elite tennis tournament setting gives the boarding school/summer camp vibe that I'm always craving, but with a fun twist and raised stakes. I also liked how all three of the girls were at separate but important precipices in their lives and tennis careers - wanting to see how Violetta, Alice, and Leylah would each handle their situations in their own way added enough tension to keep me reading. And, I really appreciate the author for shedding light on the darker parts of youth sports (drug abuse, grooming and inappropriate relationships with coaches, disordered eating, playing through injury, controlling parents) that so many people ignore. I grew up competing in a high-level sport, and these conversations are notoriously difficult to bring to light.
All that being said, a few things kept me from giving this a higher rating. The narrative voices and characterization of the girls felt inconsistent to me. Sometimes, both the inner monologues and retorts/responses to conflict read too mature, like I was watching someone in their 20s navigate the situation. Other times, it felt like I was reading from the perspective of a mean and cranky 13 or 14 year old. Not a dealbreaker, but I struggled to connect with the characters because of this. And somewhat related, some of the problems were resolved a little too quickly, a little too cleanly, for me to really connect.
Overall, this was a fun read! And definitely a book I would reccomend to high schoolers who love sports. Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for the ARC!
All that being said, a few things kept me from giving this a higher rating. The narrative voices and characterization of the girls felt inconsistent to me. Sometimes, both the inner monologues and retorts/responses to conflict read too mature, like I was watching someone in their 20s navigate the situation. Other times, it felt like I was reading from the perspective of a mean and cranky 13 or 14 year old. Not a dealbreaker, but I struggled to connect with the characters because of this. And somewhat related, some of the problems were resolved a little too quickly, a little too cleanly, for me to really connect.
Overall, this was a fun read! And definitely a book I would reccomend to high schoolers who love sports. Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree for the ARC!