The Ballerinas follows three friends and ballerinas - Delphine, Margaux in their teenage years and present day. They may be beautiful ballerinas on stage, but behind the scenes their lives are filled with secrets and drama.

I will say this was listed as a mystery thriller, and I would not describe it as that at all. To me it was more of a character driven fiction story, but once I got past expecting a thriller I enjoyed it.

This book showed allll the parts of the ballet world, including the darker sides. The cutthroat rivalries, the perfectionism, the body issues (from body image to bad feet), but also the deep and complicated friendships that form. As someone who studied ballet for 18 years, so many pieces of this book felt so real. The way this book was told through alternating timelines added a lot of depth to the story and showed how the relationships and other issues progressed throughout their lives.

I went between the physical and audiobook and really enjoyed both. I thought the narrator was perfect for this book!

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advanced copies.

I received this as an ARC through Netgalley. Rachel Kapelke-Dale's debut novel The Ballerinas is a hit. Following the stories of three friends from when they are in ballet school together through adulthood. The struggles, pains, ups and downs it takes to make it as ballerina in a company. The never ending practices and injuries to overcome to continue on to be soloists and principals. How much control does a woman have over her own body? How much is a woman advanced or held back by men? The Ballerinas is so much more than just a story of dancers.

This book moved way too slowly for the thriller it was billed to be. It was definitely not labeled correctly because there was nothing thrilling about this until the very end. I actually skimmed after about 60 pages because while it did a great job of presenting the friendship between the three friends and showing what life is like in the ballet world, it didn’t do anything else and most of all, it didn’t hold my attention. I was so excited to read this because it was about ballet and like Black Swan but it’s nothing like that at all.

💁🏻‍♀️ Overall Impression: This is a dance drama contemporary fiction with a lot going on and yet another book where I enjoyed it, but didn’t love it.

📖 Synopsis: 3 friends are elite ballerinas at the Paris Opera Ballet. Told between 2 timelines of the girls in school through their early years and then 10+ years later when Delphine moved back to Paris.

💭 Thoughts: this book had a lot going on where I’m not entirely sure what the main point was. I’ve always loved dance and fascinated by the dance world (fav teen movie- Center Stage) so I was captivated by the girls and their world but it was like the author wanted to add a lot of real world drama to it and it felt a bit disjointed.

Also no idea why this was considered a thriller cause it’s 100% not. The girls do have some shady pasts that they hunt about but it’s 100% a drama.

I had a copy of the audio and the egalley (thanks so much to @netgalley for those) and really enjoyed the audio. The narrator does a great job of the different accents throughout, re Russian, French, English, American.

If you like dance drama and watched Center Stage on repeat, then this is for you.

I throughly enjoyed this book. From the descriptions of Paris to the behind the scenes look at the Paris ballet, this book is a must read for anyone who loves ballet and enjoys books about friendship and the sacrifices that are made to go after ones dreams.

I'm looking forward to sharing an interview with Rachel on my lifestyle blog, https://theavidpen.com

If this book is not light or fluffy. The Ballerinas is about a group of three friends at a ballet company in Paris. The story is told from the perspective of one friend Delphine and alternates between adulthood and flashbacks. The story was a little intense and dark at times. The friendships were complicated and messy as was the girls' relationship with their chosen profession. It felt like a realistic view into the world of professional dance. Throughout the book there is this dark secret that is alluded to and feels a little anticlimactic if you're a fan of thrillers. Overall the story and characters are well done. Just don't expect it to fit neatly into a genre.

Really enjoyed this one - I was really engrossed with the story the entire time! Thanks for the opportunity to read!

I really enjoyed this book! It definitely had elements of Black Swan and really showed just how cut throat the world of ballerinas are. It was interesting to see how the three friend's lives went in such different directions. Overall, a good read that has a relatively unique story line.

The reviews I’ve been reading for The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale have been somewhat mixed, but I must say that this book really worked for me. It’s a slow-burning, character-driven novel that shows the dark and seedy side of ballet. I enjoyed this juicy tale about three friends desperately climbing their way to the top in order to become successful ballerinas. Full of complicated friendships, love affairs, strained mother/daughter relationships, betrayal, sabotage, and a sex scandal, I was entertained from start to finish. I did end up listening to this one, and honestly don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much if I opted to read the physical book instead. The narration was phenomenal, and definitely upped my rating. The narrator’s voice was haunting and mysterious, and her French accent was simply gorgeous. I could’ve listened to her all day. So, definitely go the audiobook route if you can. Highly recommend!

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A thought-provoking and honest look at three women and their careers in ballet.

THE BALLERINAS was not the book I thought I was going to read. However, Kapelke-Dale delivered such a captivating and candid examination of the effects of dedicating oneself to dance that it became something so much better.

Within these pages, the reader will get to know three women at various stages of their dance careers. Delphine, Lindsay, and Margaux are friends, though to say their relationship is strained would be an understatement. All three came up in the Paris Opera Ballet at the same time and wanted what every dedicated ballerina would desire—to be the star. Luckily, the author interjects flashbacks to show a glimpse of who these women once were while providing background to why they are who they are now. This push and pull of the past and the present adds both intrigue and depth to a story that could have become flat.

Though all are deeply flawed in their way, it is fascinating to see how the author peels back the curtain to expose all aspects of being in a premier ballet company. The way the company as well as the men in their lives treat the women is appalling as well as eyeopening. With a deeply feminist message, there are several twists and turns to propel the story forward in a salacious yet authentic way.

All in all, this is an engrossing story of friendship, lies, and the grueling toll being a dancer can take on not only the body but the mind as well. Bravo!

I struggled between giving 3.5 and 4 stars.

Give me all the ballet books you have!

I wouldn't call this a mystery or a thriller, so I find those genre labels to be a little misleading. I enjoyed jumping from the girls' early years in the company to present day. The reader is able to not only a clear picture as to who these three very different dancers are, but also what the ballet world has done to their lives. I thought it was really interesting how this book addresses the real life stories from the New York ballet scene—the allegations of former artistic director Peter Martins and the photo scandal at New York City Ballet. This book was a little long; probably could have been condensed down a bit. I feel that the major twist kind of came out of nowhere and then BAM! end of the book. If there was going to be such a major twist, there needed to be some more story after.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love a story told in dual timelines and add in the addition of ballet this had the perfect mix. I got sucked into the world of dance the dark and the lovely.

This book has the highs and lows like a ballet itself. Beautiful at parts, raw at others.

Thank you #StMartinsPress and #NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

It didn't take me long to become engrossed in this book. The characters are believable, the story is intriguing. The constant switching back and forth between different time frames was jarring sometimes but manageable. I kept turning the page because (as the author intended) I just had to know what Delphine and Margaux had done to Lindsey. The writing is impressive for a debut author, touching on many different thought-provoking themes with a few shockers thrown in.

An enjoyable read!

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale
Published: December 7, 2021
St. Martin’s Press

I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale is the co-author of GRADUATES IN WONDERLAND (Penguin 2014), a memoir about the significance and nuances of female friendships. The author of Vanity Fair Hollywood's column "Advice from the Stars," Kapelke-Dale spent years in intensive ballet training before receiving a BA from Brown University, an MA from the Université de Paris VII, and a Ph.D. from University College London. She currently lives in Paris.

“Ballerinas are like pointe shoes: you have to break them down before they’re of any use.”

Delphine has spent her entire life as a dancer. It’s what her mother did, and it’s a world she knows. As she has grown up, with her best friends, navigating the ballet world, she has experienced the highest highs and lowest lows. Having her friends at her side always made things seem bearable until they weren’t. The spotlight shines bright, with a heat that can burn too bright.

This was a beautiful story about legacy, expectation, friendship, and understanding self-worth. I found the themes in this novel genuinely compelling.

The characters were complicated, and truthfully, not the most likable. While they all had qualities that made them endearing, they were also so vain, so selfish, that at times I did not like them.

Delphine was dynamic. She never felt good enough, and she was constantly living in the shadow of her mother, then her friends, with expectations wearing her down.

Lindsay was bold, and passionate, and not disciplined in the way Delphine and Margaux were. She had weightlessness to her that kept things light.

Margaux was severe and blunt. And she realized she would never be the prima ballerina but kept working because that was what she knew.

The dynamic of their friendship is told with a dual timeline, intertwining both the past and the present. This was a clever way to incorporate the complicated structure that is ballet.

I enjoyed how genuine the relationships were and how powerful the act of growing up was represented. I also found the presentation of life in a ballet company fascinating.

The mix of desire with passion, twisted with talent and competition, was beautifully done. This is a hefty book filled with strong emotions and vivid imagery.

The Ballerinas is a story about the complicated elements of female friendships and the lengths one will go to achieve success. This book depicts the harsh reality of the world of ballet, beyond the grace and elegance. Lines are definitely crossed as trust is broken and relationships are fractured all in the name of stardom. Each character is well developed as we travel through various stages of their lives and careers. The plot is sprinkled with surprises and events that were shocking and unexpected. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my copy.

I danced for years, through college actually, and I continue to be fascinated by the art and the drama surrounding it. Everyone knows that dancers befriend fellow dancers, but that there is always a sinister air to it. Dancers want to be the best and Rachel Kapelke-Dale captures that perfectly with the trio of friends in The Ballerinas. Delphine, our unlikeable narrator, is best friends with Lindsay and Margaux, they've lorded over the their fellow dancers since ballet school and now, years later, the trio is back at Paris Opera Ballet. While their roles have changed dramatically, both at POB and with one another, they come together to leave their final mark as they near retirement age.

While it shouldn't be billed a thriller, it is a women's fiction with a sinister edge to it. A bit more suspenseful than it is thrilling, The Ballerinas is a story of the narcissism that feeds ballerinas on their climb to the top. It's incredibly well researched, Kapelke-Dale knows ballet and the music that feeds the stories, she captures the men in the art perfectly, but it is all lost on the characters.

At times meandering and other times so quickly paced that the plot is lost, The Ballerinas is not what I expected at all from a debut St. Martin's Press author. It's a book that's easy to skim, one that doesn't even attempt to make you like its narrator, and one that doesn't feed at all into the story until much later in the novel. If only the entire book had the pacing and intrigue that last 40% had. The Ballerinas is, unfortunately, a slog of a novel. The final 40% is epic and beautiful; a story of empowerment and forgiveness, of learning ones true self. Set to the music of Janis Joplin, the final chapters of the novel made me keep reading, they held my attention, their promise of more was beautiful. Unfortunately, it couldn't save the read for me and I finished The Ballerinas underwhelmed.

“The Ballerinas”, by Rachel Kapelke-Dale, is a slow-burn, character-driven, feminist novel about friendships and secrets around the Paris Opera Ballet.

Although it was character-driven, it is unfortunate that I didn’t connect with any of the characters. However, it was interesting to see the changes in the friendships and the loyalty that was woven throughout. Also intriguing, the peek into the lives of ballerinas: the competition, hard work, body image and devotion of their performances.

Described as a mystery and thriller, I'm still thinking about that as I didn’t have that feeling while reading. It had a few plot twists that were appealing but were also sort of predictable. In the end, it had a promise to be a great book, regrettably the overall premise and the beautiful cover set my expectations too high.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Rachel Kapelke-Dale for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. ❤️️

The world of ballet is all consuming. Beginning in childhood, dancers obsess about diet, weight, practice and their place in the competitive ballet corps, all the while knowing that they will be too old to dance by their mid thirties.

Delphine has just returned from Paris after thirteen years in St. Petersburg. She’s transitioned from dance to choreography and plans to premiere her new ballet at the Paris Opera Ballet. She, Lindsay and Margaux met as young girls at the Ballet Academy and became close friends and fierce competitors. As Delphine tries to fit back into their lives, she’s forced to deal with a secret she’s held for years. A secret that will forever change lives and may end their treasured friendship.

The Ballerinas is an amazing immersion into the world of ballet.Dance dominates the lives of the three women. Friends, family, spouses and children all come second. This is a well-written informative book with fascinating characters. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Rachel Kapelke-Dale for this ARC.

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Let's face it, there's something almost undeniably erotic about the elite world of professional ballet, a certain fascination to be found at the thought of such (albeit real or imagined) cut-throat competition, intense rivalries, and the fortitude to push one's body to the brink and beyond...I'm as guilty as the next when it comes to being a sucker for the chance to get a glimpse behind the curtain, so my curiosity was immediately piqued when I came across this new novel.

It was not what I expected, or more to the point, not quite as described by the publisher. Aside from the ballet connection, I didn't find the book at all reminiscent of Dare Me or Black Swan; this wasn't a bad thing - I didn't like Dare Me and I most definitely did not enjoy Black Swan. I did, however, expect a different kind of darkness. There was certainly enough 'dark' to go around, but it was less mystery/thriller and more female subjugation and self-sacrifice. Pretty heavy stuff. Yet, while the story itself moved rather slow, I soon got sucked in. (3.5 rounded up)

This is being marketed as a thriller, but it’s not really a thriller at all. It’s definitely moreso straightforward contemporary fiction, with one major turn at the end.

I’ve always been fascinated with the underbelly of the ballet world, particularly on its brutal emphasis on perfection, on how women are treated, on the competitive nature of this very niche lifestyle. This was a fascinating look at the Paris Opera Ballet and what it takes to get ahead in that environment.

The main character, Delphine, was incredibly selfish and made some super frustrating decisions, but it made her growth and journey all the richer to witness. I really loved seeing her feminist awakening. The “Fuck All Men” attitude of this book may rub some people the wrong way, but given the way the men acted here, I’m all for it. Just look up the New York City Ballet’s Me Too accusations to see how real and insidious sexual harassment in ballet is.

I’m still deliberating about whether I liked that ending or not. Right now I’m leaning towards yes, but I can see why people may not. Either way, I think this makes for a great book club choice and ripe for discussion.