Love the insight into the ballet world and the prestigious POB. Kapelke-Dale captures the intensity and passion of ballet, as well as the dancers' sacrifices. Ballet as a character is strong and developed well. However, the protagonist is flat and one note. The secondary characters need more depth and come across as caricatures. The arc of female empowerment through dance held promise, but the delivery was clunky. The author's use of metaphors was well-intentioned but fell flat with the abundance of exposition directly after, destroying the stylization. Disappointing.

I have never read this author before but once I started reading it, I was captivated.
So well written, the book is about dancing at its heart but it so much more!
I will now be on the lookout for more books by this author. So well done!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I liked the blurb of the story and that is what led me to want to read it. However, it did not keep my interest and I had to DNF. It receives a lot of good reviews, so it could have just been my mood as I am a serious mood reader. I may try again at another time.

This was character driven, and definitely gets points for originality. It is different from most other thrillers that I normally read. Unique and informative. 3.5 stars

They meet at the Paris School Of Ballet as young girls. Delphine is the 'nice' one, a girl whose mother was a ballet star. Margaux is her best friend and they are the two best dancers. Lindsay is an American and comes when she is twelve. She quickly becomes friends with the others and they become a trio for life. Only other dancers can understand their lives; the daily hours of practice, the quest for perfection, the competition to rise in the field they have chosen.

The story picks back up when the trio is thirty-six, almost at the end of a dancer's career. Delphine is just returning to Paris after thirteen years in St. Petersburg. She followed a man there and became a choreographer. When she broke away from him, she returned to the Paris Ballet and is working to establish herself in her career. Margaux has come out as gay, is married and is a secret alcoholic. Lindsay married a journalist and is still fighting to make her mark. She dances fearlessly but has never been popular with those in power at the Ballet.

The friendship of the three women picks back up but has to adjust. They realize that a grown friendship has to be different than that of girls. In their case, each is struggling to come to terms with what comes next in their lives and fighting to throw off the expectations of men. They have come to see that their live have been dominated by men and what they want, what they find appealing, what they are willing to let women have. Can their friendship adjust to a more mature footing?

Rachel Kapelke-Dale grew up in the world of intensive ballet training so she knows the inside story of what these women go through to become the best in the world at what they do. But more importantly than one field of endeavor, the book explores the world of female friendships and how they change as we grow and how the best of them sustain those involved. She also talks about how women's dreams and goals are often constrained by the men around them and the struggle to live free of others' expectations. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

Wonderful characterization and sublime storytelling!

As someone who grew up in the dance world this really shed light on the complexities of the sport.

Thank you for the review copy.

This title definitely slipped through the cracks of the overwhelming deluge of books and everything going on during the whole everything was locked down period of time. In fact, I'm not sure that I have ever heard anyone other than myself talk about this book which is a shame because I actually think it pairs really well with Megan Abbott's ballet inspired thriller

I excitedly read anything with ballet as a backdrop, so I was instantly drawn into this cover, title, and description. While the characters are not likeable, I found myself so drawn into this story and this world that is so foreign to me, I allowed myself to be carried away and enjoy the ride.

Due to a sudden, unexpected passing in the family a few years ago and another more recently and my subsequent (mental) health issues stemming from that, I was unable to download this book in time to review it before it was archived as I did not visit this site for several years after the bereavements. This meant I didn't read or venture onto netgalley for years as not only did it remind me of that person as they shared my passion for reading, but I also struggled to maintain interest in anything due to overwhelming depression. I was therefore unable to download this title in time and so I couldn't give a review as it wasn't successfully acquired before it was archived. The second issue that has happened with some of my other books is that I had them downloaded to one particular device and said device is now defunct, so I have no access to those books anymore, sadly.

This means I can't leave an accurate reflection of my feelings towards the book as I am unable to read it now and so I am leaving a message of explanation instead. I am now back to reading and reviewing full time as once considerable time had passed I have found that books have been helping me significantly in terms of my mindset and mental health - this was after having no interest in anything for quite a number of years after the passings. Anything requested and approved will be read and a review written and posted to Amazon (where I am a Hall of Famer & Top Reviewer), Goodreads (where I have several thousand friends and the same amount who follow my reviews) and Waterstones (or Barnes & Noble if the publisher is American based). Thank you for the opportunity and apologies for the inconvenience.

Delphine, a former ballerina, returns home to Paris to choreograph a new ballet. She quickly falls back into the drama of the Paris ballet scene and finds that there is a dirty underside to it. As her relationships continue to evolve, she learns that while you can go back home again, it might not be the home you remember. An involving book about characters coming to terms with their choices and their true selves as they grow older.

I love this novel and could not put it down. I found myself intoxicated by the girls' stories and the unfolding of what happened to them in their past! I would definitely reccomend

I keep trying to read this but for some reason it just isn’t satisfying to me so I’m going to stop. I like the story synopsis though

This book was not for me. I couldn't relate to the characters at all which made the story drag on. I did not enjoy this book at all.

I usually love a book about ballet or dance, and I love thrillers but this book was not my cup of tea.
I had trouble caring much about any of the characters and I felt alot of the story was forced. As if the whole story was just trying to hard to be what was someone's thought was to be expected of a dance based thriller.

This is a thriller about ballet dancers. I had a really hard time caring about the characters. And, although I thought I would be excited about a novel set in the ballet world, it ended up feeling overdone. The story didn't move along very well. It was so slow, and not very thrilling or mysterious, as was promised by the book description.

This was a good read, I loved the cover, and the synopsis sounded great. It held up to my expectations and I'm glad I went outside of my normal reading style and picked this one up. Very creative writing and Character development. Look forward to reading more from this Author.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a vivid and engrossing story of friendship, ambition, passion, and betrayal, set in the mesmerizing world of professional ballet. The narrative is riveting, moving seamlessly between past and present, drawing the reader into the glittering, high-stakes world of the Paris Opera Ballet.

Kapelke-Dale's talent shines in her character development, particularly with the protagonist, Delphine Léger. Delphine is a deeply flawed yet relatable character, and her journey from a young, ambitious ballerina to a woman trying to rectify her past mistakes makes for a fascinating character arc. The relationships she shares with Lindsay and Margaux, her two best friends, are exquisitely drawn, steeped in shared history, secrets, and complex emotions.

The book's ballet scenes are a tour de force, pulsating with the raw energy and excitement of live performances. Kapelke-Dale, herself a former ballet dancer, paints a visceral picture of the physicality and emotional demands of the art form. This, coupled with the intricate detail with which she describes the Palais Garnier Opera House, immerses the reader in a world few get to see up close.

However, while "The Ballerinas" is a captivating read, it is not without its flaws. Some readers might find the narrative's pacing uneven, particularly in the second half of the book where the focus shifts more heavily onto the unraveling of secrets. Moreover, while the twist at the end is certainly surprising, its execution might seem abrupt to some, leaving a sense of wanting more buildup or foreshadowing.

The dialogue can occasionally feel strained, and Delphine's introspection sometimes verges on the overly dramatic, which might distance some readers from her character. Nevertheless, these are minor blemishes in an otherwise compelling narrative.

"The Ballerinas" is a thought-provoking exploration of the intense pressures that come with the pursuit of artistic perfection and the emotional toll they can take. It lays bare the unspoken competitiveness that can strain even the closest of friendships and shines a light on the sublimated anger many women hold within themselves.

Despite its flaws, "The Ballerinas" is a worthy read for those who enjoy emotionally rich stories of friendship and ambition set against a backdrop of passion and art. The world of ballet is brought to life with striking detail, the characters are complex and compelling, and the narrative is infused with a sense of tension and intrigue that keeps the pages turning. This is a book that is likely to linger with you long after the final page has been turned.

All in all, Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a dance worth joining.

Definitely not for me. I DNFed halfway through because I just could not for the life of me get into this. I tried, but it wasn't for me.

*Thank you @stmartinspress for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

The Ballerinas is an exploration of female friendships set within the world of professional ballet where competition is a fierce motivator. The story features three dancers: Delphine, Lindsay and Margaux, who all began studying at the Paris Opera Ballet when they were young girls. Over the years, they are intensely focused on the careers to which they aspire. As they mature, they might secure spots as members of the ballet company or, if they are good enough, become soloists or principal dancers, featured in productions. The path to becoming a principal dancer is long and fraught, requiring not just superior talent, dedication, and tireless preparation, but the ability to navigate the politics of getting noticed and championed by the ballet company's teachers, choreographers, and artistic directors. For debut author Rachel Kapelke-Dale, little research was required, aside from learning about the workings of the Paris Opera Ballet because she trained intensively in ballet as child. "My training allowed me to sketch in the background action for various scenes without too much trouble, as the format of those classes is so deeply ingrained in my memory," she relates.

For Delphine Léger, dance is a family matter. Her mother was a star ballerina whose career was cut short by her unplanned pregnancy. Delphine feels pressure not just to live up to her mother's example, but her expectation that Delphine will avoid making the same mistake she did and enjoy a long, successful career. Lindsay and Margaux also struggle with the stressors that challenge young dancers as they mature, including the never-ending effort to maintain an ideal body even as natural changes threaten to render perfection unattainable, the harsh criticisms of instructors ("You start out a whole and then you break," Delphine observes), expectations of parents and family members, and the destruction and debilitating effects of self-doubt and competition that can drive fragile adolescents to behave in harshly shocking ways.

It is 2018, and Delphine has decided that "Paris is always a good idea." After a thirteen-year absence, she has returned to Paris to choreograph Rasputin, a ballet she wanted to stage the entire time she was in St. Petersburg working as a choreographer at the Mariinsky Ballet with her romantic partner. And she has definite ideas about who she wants to star in the production: her old friend Lindsay, who has been a soloist for years. But Lindsay is now thirty-five years old – the company has a mandatory retirement age of forty-two -- and not a good partner. But Delphine is convinced that her staging of the classic, with Lindsay as the tsarina, will revitalize the company . . . as well as her friends' careers. Nathalie Dorival, the artistic director, reluctantly agrees to give Delphine one month to determine if Lindsay is up to the challenge. But she must name an understudy -- an insult to a ballerina of Lindsay's status. Delphine must accept Nathalie's condition because the production will be mounted as part of the opera's three hundred and fiftieth anniversary season, she desperately wants to make the most of the opportunity Nathalie has given her by agreeing to take her back into the company, . . . and she is intent on giving Lindsay "something that would change her life. Fourteen years after I had ruined it." Delphine's one true love, Jock (formerly Jacques), will be Lindsay's co-star, and there will be a role for Margaux, as well. While Lindsay is eager to take on the role Delphine is customizing for her, Margaux is resentful and suspicious, given that Delphine has been out of there lives for so many years and failed to make an effort to maintain their friendship. Kapelke-Dale says Margaux is “disillusioned,” but do not have any training to pursue a different career and has “taken her frustration and turned it in on herself.”

Delphine's first-person narration moves back to 1995, when Delphine, Lindsay, and Margeaux are students . . . and competitors. Kapelke-Dale notes that it was her editor who recommended adding the second timeline in order to fully reveal the characters’ pasts. She immerses readers in the girls' world, providing insight into the grueling physical demands of ballet, their emotional struggles, the imbalance of power in their relationship, and the machinations it inspires, including one particularly stunning betrayal. As the narrative moves incrementally forward in time, Kapelke-Dale reveals the characters' secrets at deftly-timed intervals, providing context for their behavior and illuminating their motivations.

The Ballerinas is a taut, evenly-paced, and absorbing glimpse into the world of ballet. Delphine would be easy to dismiss as unlikable and, therefore, irredeemable. But that misses the point. Delphine is a product of the world into which she was born, and all the people and events that influence her. She is self-centered, selfish, driven, and vengeful. But she also cares about her friends and colleagues, and eventually returns to Paris intent on making up for her mistakes. But is it too late?

The themes Kapelke-Dale delves into through her characters resonate against the ballet backdrop, they are universal. Female friendships are complicated, but their complexity is magnified in Kapelke-Dale's convincing portrayal of women facing consequential choices about reproduction, work-life balance, and workplace harassment and abuse in an industry where men have, for centuries, been the powerbrokers and women have been vulnerable to and dependent upon their desires, whims, and approval. Kapelke-Dale says that as she was writing the book, she thought deeply about an institution that “purportedly celebrate femininity in some ways also reinforce draconian standards,” and wanted to impart the sense of urging that Delphine feels as her fortieth birthday looms and she wonders if her best professional years are behind her. Ultimately, her characters must decide how they will shape their futures, what matters most to them, and what kind of people they want to be. Kapelke-Dale delivers an entertaining story with a conclusion that is nothing less than jaw-dropping, despite early foreshadowing because so much transpires in succeeding chapters.

A captivating story. A great book for those who love mystery and find that ballerinas are beautiful and graceful.