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nzlisam 's review for:
The Ballerinas
by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
It was drama/soap opera, not thriller or suspense, and I wouldn’t have requested it if I’d known that!
This was the second book I’ve read recently set in Paris, and this was by far the inferior of the two. I started listening to the audiobook, but five chapters in switched to my e-ARC, because I read faster than an audio narrator speaks, and just wanted to get this read, since I was finding it hard-going, and my mind kept wandering.
The writing was exceptional but the plot wasn’t anything to write home about. It took a lot of effort for me to even stay focused, there was just so much information that wasn’t required for the story, and the unlikeable characters weren’t unlikeable in a good way, if that makes sense? They were bland as.
These three friends (and I use the term loosely) were in a very toxic friendship, and these characters had no respect for themselves or each other. I wouldn’t even call them frenemies as their relationship appeared solely based on hate, one-upmanship and jealousy, and don’t get me started on the men in this book who were equally atrocious. And, to be blunt, it was tedious to read about. Also, I’d be surprised if this was an accurate portrayal of a prestigious ballet company as these prima ballerinas seemed very unprofessionalI, lacked focus and were self-centred. I know ballet has an ugly side but I wouldn’t have thought the artistic directors and choreographers would stand for it as it’s their reputation on the line? Maybe I’m over thinking it, as it was fictional after all. Learning about the cut-throat world of ballet was initially interesting, but since there was so much of it, it quickly got old.
I wish it had of been marketed better, as I clearly wasn’t the right audience for this book.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Kapelke-Dale, for the e-ARC.
Available now!
P.S. The cover art is absolutely gorgeous.
This was the second book I’ve read recently set in Paris, and this was by far the inferior of the two. I started listening to the audiobook, but five chapters in switched to my e-ARC, because I read faster than an audio narrator speaks, and just wanted to get this read, since I was finding it hard-going, and my mind kept wandering.
The writing was exceptional but the plot wasn’t anything to write home about. It took a lot of effort for me to even stay focused, there was just so much information that wasn’t required for the story, and the unlikeable characters weren’t unlikeable in a good way, if that makes sense? They were bland as.
These three friends (and I use the term loosely) were in a very toxic friendship, and these characters had no respect for themselves or each other. I wouldn’t even call them frenemies as their relationship appeared solely based on hate, one-upmanship and jealousy, and don’t get me started on the men in this book who were equally atrocious. And, to be blunt, it was tedious to read about. Also, I’d be surprised if this was an accurate portrayal of a prestigious ballet company as these prima ballerinas seemed very unprofessionalI, lacked focus and were self-centred. I know ballet has an ugly side but I wouldn’t have thought the artistic directors and choreographers would stand for it as it’s their reputation on the line? Maybe I’m over thinking it, as it was fictional after all. Learning about the cut-throat world of ballet was initially interesting, but since there was so much of it, it quickly got old.
I wish it had of been marketed better, as I clearly wasn’t the right audience for this book.
I’d like to thank Netgalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Rachel Kapelke-Dale, for the e-ARC.
Available now!
P.S. The cover art is absolutely gorgeous.