As an ex-dancer myself, I was very interested in this novel about ballet - but it's so much more than that.

The novel is structured and sub/chapter titled as a Grand Pas de Deux, with the story development following that of a dramatic ballet.

Peri is 29, feeling her body is suffering and that she is coming to the end of her career as a prima ballerina. I disliked a lot of the terms used to convey this, words like 'aging' for example. I fully understand that a prima ballerina will dance until perhaps 35 if she is lucky and remains uninjured/on top form, that reference to age here is relevant to the realities of proffessional ballet, but I feel that Peri is consistently referred to as though perhaps 10 years older than she is.

We learn her history, dancing for Mr. D, the company's choreographer and director. Our sympathies are raised for Mr.D through whom we learn the grim reality of the Armenian genocide, but we should also feel revulsion for the man who has treated Peri like a possession and used her sexuality since she first came to work with him at the age of 15.

Peri herself begins a relationship with Mark, the new dancer at the company who is given the male lead alongside her in Mr. D's new ballet. This is a relationship which weathers trials and seperations, so that at the end of the novel we find them together as a family.

However, for me there is a huge negative point here because at the beginning of the relationship Mark is only 17. He's mature and he's independent, but still only 17. A 29 year old having a sexual relationship with a 17 year old just isn't right (and I speak with hindsight and personal experience, not any prudish standpoint).

What I do like, aside from the descriptions of actual dancing, is the way the author constructed her setting in time. The novel is set in the 1980s and that is done convincingly in general, but we also have a beautifully sensitive and emotional background/side story about Bob, Peri's long-time dance partner dying from AIDS related complications (and a hint at just how wide spread and devastating a problem this was for the world of professional ballet at that time. This was a heartbreaking issue of the era and I'm very pleased it was included in 'The Pas de Deux'.

There was so much promise: ballerina at the end of career, rising young star, manipulative maestro. I say "was" because I could not continue reading it to the end of the story. Here's what stopped me dead: I could not bear the supposed love affair between a 17 year old young man and a 29 year old prima ballerina. Much is made of their powerful attraction and there are some moments I might believe in it, but I kept on coming back to the premise of boy and adult woman, in a reversal of the usual power dynamic of older man seducing and using a younger woman. The author is clear about it, all the characters are, but still it happens. I bowed out, nothing fancy about my dance step, just left the room. That said, there are some good moments, some powerful gestures that indicate that there might be more to this writer than this misbegotten story. And, that said, I can't stop thinking about how the story might have worked for me: make the man a little bit older, more desperate to make it in dance and make the woman younger, also more desperate to figure out her next stage of life. Much is made of the 1980s and AIDS and the music and vacuous youth....and that doesn't help the story either.... I wish...well, I wish I liked it. I wanted to. Ballet? Dancers? Art and grace and backstabbing? So much was right, but it never pulled together into the story I thought it was and wanted it to be.

Beautifully written. Interesting characters and a very solid story line. Excellent read that I highly recommend!

I gave this book a 5 out of 5 star review. It was an enjoyable and I would recommend. to others. Generously provided to me through NetGalley

"The Pas de.Deux" Is not just any ordinary novel! It is more....... "A Classical Ballet Romance. The author, Erin Bombay, has done a remarkable job in weaving a beautiful and timeless love story between an older ballerina, Peridot "Peri" Jones and a much younger and aspiring dancer, Mark Maroulis, Jr. She 29; and' he her partner, 17 years old. But, this also is not only about romantic love; but the love and passion. of ballet. The Artistic Director was of Armenian heritage and this author has given the reader a documented history of the horror of the Armenian Genocide. She has combined the "time" ..... the time of the early 80's and Aides...Aides then and Aides, now. This novel follows the classical Russian structure of "grand pas de deux".

I was intrigued by this book because of its many interesting parts. The author writes about AIDS hitting the gay community, the life and insecurities of an aging ballerina, her relationship with a young rising star and the control of the all powerful company director.

Each part is engaging. I especially like how the relationship is so ordinary. They like cooking together and sitting on the couch together. And of course, dancing. There is also a very emotional retelling of the Armenian genocide by the company director and choreographer.

The parts did not blende together. I never thought I would say this about a book but there is too much showing not enough telling (I usually have the opposite complaint). I didn’t feel connected to the characters and their emotions. And most of all, I didn’t feel the joy of dance, which should have been the thread throughout and lifted the sad moments.

The story is enjoyable and kept my attention but it could have been so much more. I will keep reading this author because there is clearly something unique here.

5* Love Has No Boundaries Stars

I came across this wonderful book on NetGalley and the cover caught my attention immediately.

This was a beautifully written classical ballet romance, which takes place in the 1980’s. The story centers around two lonely dancers who come together when life around them is bleak and challenging. Peri is 29 years old and coming to the end of her dancing career and Mark is just starting his at the age of 17. Their attraction to each other was palpable from the beginning despite their age gap and the obstacles that faced them. The author managed to capture the history of the 80’s perfectly touching on the AIDS epidemic and the perception people had to male ballet dancers. (It was great to relive the 80’s when mobile phones were not present, social media not invented and newspapers were read and notes taken in journals).


You don’t have to be a dancer to enjoy this moving love story, which was very realistic and thought provoking. I loved it!

Many thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this wonderful book.

“The Pas de Deux” by Erin Bomboy is an engrossing novel that takes place within the ballet world in the ‘80s, influenced by the author’s own experiences. At the core is a reverse May/December romance between aging ballerina Peri and her much younger lover, dance partner Mark. The challenges to their relationship by artistic director Mr. D, the attempt to revive the dying dance company and the deadly AIDS epidemic all play a role in this poetic and sweeping novel drawn through the structure of a classical ballet grand pas de deux. Highly recommended!

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The Publisher’s Note includes the following Author Interview:

What draws you to this genre?
Romance embodies the Hegelian dialectic, which is a super fancy way of saying the genre presents two contradictory worldviews (the hero and heroine’s) and then unifies them. This is why some of my favorite novels (from Pride and Prejudice to A Knight in Shining Armor) are romances.

What was the hardest part of writing this book?
Accurately portraying the ‘80s. While the decade isn’t that far away, it took tons of research to ensure everything from clothing to a Guns N’ Roses show that occurs at a climactic moment was period appropriate.

Why do you write?
Fiction offers access to another person’s headspace, which can broaden our understanding of what makes somebody tick. I consider dance to be my genre, and that allows me enormous leeway in tone, content, and style in all my books.
—

Pub Date 11 Feb 2018

Thanks to BooksGoSocial and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#ThePasDeDeux #NetGalley

This reverse May/December romance was a different type of story from most others. As a former ballerina, I loved the nod to ballet itself, and not just as a setting for the story. All of the chapter titles are ballet terms, and are cleverly chosen to convey the tone of the chapter. I especially enjoyed the arc of the story, as Ms. Bomboy follows the five part structure of a grand pas de deux. There is an entrée (introduction), an adagio (in this case a slow movement for two), the two variations (one for a man, one for a woman), and a coda (conclusion). This is an extremely clever way to structure a story and kept me in a ballet frame of mind. I also liked her casual references to 80’s events, because they were small teases to figure out who or what she was referring to within the context of the story. In addition, I was dancing and started doing musical theatre in the 80s and early 90s, so the references to the AIDS epidemic and the devastation it caused really hit home. I actually had to stop reading for awhile as I reflected on all of the people who I knew and lost during that time. Which leads me to the one thing about this book that bothered me. The dual concern that Peri has about her career, which every dancer worries about, magnified by AIDS ravaging the community felt accurate. However, the author very often gave over to long paragraphs of the inner turmoil of both Peri and Mark, which slowed down the action. I understand why the author felt this was necessary, but it got to be a little much. In a novel, a little bit of inner dialogue can go a long way. All in all, an interesting twist in the romance genre, and at times it felt extremely personal. This would have been a 3 star romance, but the cleverness of the structure and focus on ballet gives it an extra "grand battement" (kick) to a 4 star. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

Erin Bomboy has used her experience in ballet and dance to write this novel. It is written in the style of the Pas de Deux.
There are several different "taboo" thoughts brought to light in this book. One is that women give their life to ballet. Everything they do or think is dance. They are also under the leadership of usually a Male director. They are obedient in every command. They know they can be replaced. Another is, age difference. It is okay to be an older man with a very young woman. Not so much if you are an older woman with a younger man.
This is a love story. A love that lasts and conquers all the trials thrown in their path. A love both pure, sweet, and true. I enjoyed this book. I love ballet so I learned a lot there. Also the storyline in exceptional, the characters are true to themselves. I absolutely recommend this book.

I had not previously read this author and I am glad I discovered here because this book was excellent. I grew up in the 80's reading lots of books about ballet and this book felt truly accurate to that era. It had just enough ballet mixed in with the story to be interesting without bogging the pace down. I loved how real the age difference issue felt even though at times I was quite frustrated by Peri. I am reviewing this book based on an ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.