As a child, I took ballet for several years. I am pretty sure my parents were trying to find some way to make me graceful…oh well. I do enjoy stories and films about ballet and ballerinas, and love watching dancers perform well. In any case, the premise of Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s The Ballerinas sounded like just the thing: a story about ballet, friendship — and a thriller type of mystery for good measure!

Unfortunately, I didn’t come to care about any of the characters. And it wasn’t really a thriller. So I am grateful to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for an advance copy of this title in exchange for my honest review, and totally admit this may just not be for me — or possibly I was having a bad week? Seriously, pandemic and threats to democracy have brought me down…but I am a fairly easy grader so I am giving it three stars and will recommend it to people who I think will appreciate it.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martins Press, and Rachel Kapelke-Dale for this gifted arc in exchange for an honest review.

Being a thriller/mystery lover and a former ballerina, I thought this was going to be an easy absolutely love/5 stars, but unfortunately it fell flat for me. I did enjoy reading about the drama and turmoil that goes on between the ballerinas, but I was expecting more twists and shocking moments. 3⭐️s

This is a fictional behind-the-scenes exposé into the cutthroat world of ballet. It's not as pretty and precise as what most of us see it in the theater. It's difficult, bone-crushing, and so amazingly competitive that people will do almost anything to succeed. This is also a story of fierce friendships as it follows three ballerinas from childhood to present in back and forth timelines. As much as they are devoted to each other, they also find themselves competing with each other creating a dynamic that threatens to test their loyalty every day. I became completely engrossed in their story, and wondered what could have happened "back then" to ensure that they would continue to keep big secrets from each other. There are twists and turns beyond the ballet so that you won't find it predictable at any point in the telling. This isn't your typical happy tale about pretty ballerinas in gorgeous costumes with perfect lines and toe points. It's gritty and convoluted as well. And I appreciated that as each new surprise confronted me as I turned the pages. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my copy.

*Thank you NetGalley for the ARC*

2.5 Stars

This was very different from what I expected. I was thinking it would be mystery and suspense but there was very little of that.
The pacing was a bit slow as well, I kept thinking something big was going to happen but every dramatic event seemed predictable and underwhelming.

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the free e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale follows Delphine as a young ballet student and later in life as a choreographer, along with her two friends, Margaux and Lindsay. In their younger years, they're competing against one another in school, figuring out relationships with boys (and men), and going through familial issues (including Delphine's mother getting cancer). When they're older, Delphine returns to France to choreograph for their ballet company, and they deal with infidelity, rebuilding their friendship, alcoholism, sexual assault, abortion, and more.

This book had a lot of elements I like: dance, unlikable main character, messy female friendships, and dual timelines. Unfortunately, I felt like it was a bit undercooked. There are a LOT of elements in this book, and not all of them land/wrap up satisfactorily. I think an open ending is fine for some things, but some elements in this just felt kind of dropped, not resolved or left open intentionally.

I do think this is an interesting premise, and I did enjoy it. But I was left wanting a little more from the story as a whole.

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a great thriller! I loved every moment of it and was a page turner.

I was in high anticipation when I was told that I had been chosen to be one of the ARC readers for this book. I love books about ballet, and to add in a twist (several twists actually) as is described in the synopsis of the book...well, that made this book a high priority for me.

Unfortunately, you must get through a lot of turmoil, inner angst, inner-dialogues aplenty, and a whole lot more before this book even really starts to get interesting. The last third of the book did hold my attention, and that is why I did not give this a lower rating 2.5 rating would have been perfect, but not many systems allow us to do that.

I will also say that this book deals with sensitive topics and is written with conflicting timelines that are sometimes difficult to tell apart.

If you do love books about ballet, may I also recommend this much older book (I think it was set in the mid and late '70s:

[book:Ballerina: A Novel|21402830][bookcover:Ballerina: A Novel|21402830] "A beautiful and talented ballerina rises through the ranks to stardom as prima ballerina only to find herself struggling to maintain her status, grappling with tempestuous choreographers, ambitious agents, and other dancers."

*ARC supplied by the publisher St.Martins Press, the author, and NetGalley. My many thanks.

Many thanks to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Kapelke-Dale for an ARC of this book. Delphin, Margeaux and Lindsay grew up together at the Paris Opera Ballet school. They were told they were the special ones and owuld be stars. But as the years tick by with no promotions, they start to wonder if it was true. Some leave. Some stay. But they always find a way back to each other. Rachel Kapelke-Dale illustrates the patriarchal system that runs the ballet world with honesty. Her flawed characters are wonderful eyes into this world and how complicated friendships can be...and how one decision and action can affect your whole life.

🩰Delphine, Margaux and Lindsay live their lives for the ballet. Growing up as members of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet, they are willing to do almost anything to climb up the ranks of the POB. After living in Russia for many years, Delphine has returned to the POB as a choreographer, and she soon discovers that while years have passed, many things are still the same, including the cut-throat mentality that pervades the company. Faced with numerous obstacles, including an uncooperative boss and an old boyfriend, Delphine must soon decide what is truly important to her and what isn’t.⁣
🩰The Ballerinas is a great story of friendship, forgiveness, perseverance, and determination, but it also has some dark elements. It shows the strength that women have in the face of adversity and the chains placed on them by society. I like that it is told along two timelines, the past and the present, and how the two seamlessly merge together at just the right time. I also like the ways things always seem to circle back as the past mirrors the present. While there are some topics and events that may be triggers to some, there are powerful messages present. The characters do an amazing job at sending these messages through their strength and reliability; I love the characters.⁣
🩰The Ballerinas is sent to release on December 7th, and I highly recommend it to anyone. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for gifting me an electronic copy of the Ballerinas, given in exchange for an honest review; all opinions are my own.

I was interested in reading this book because I knew a family of ballet dancers years ago. Their love of dance transcended the hard work and pain they endured in pursuit of their art. I hoped that this book would show me the inside world of ballet and it delivered.

Starting when the ballerinas begin their study at the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet, this novel follows the career of three young girls who work their way up through the corps in pursuit of becoming a star ballerina. They are committed with each having their own individual trials. It was also interesting to read about the competition and philosophy differences among the various ballet schools in Paris, New York, and Russia.

3.5 Rounded Up To 4

This is a very character driven story, not usually my thing but these characters were very interesting with a unique setting. I kinda got a "mean girls" vibe from their younger selves. It is a slow burn of a story but I liked it a lot because the dialogue, internal and otherwise, felt very real and true to life. The book is told in two different timelines...One starting in 1995 and going to 2018, the other is in 2018 to the epilogue in 2019.

I was never a ballerina but I did do tap and jazz dance classes and performances in my younger years (even winning a gold medal for tap once). Reading about the fierce competition and exhausting training schedules brought it all back to me. The majority of the book revolves around something the main character, Delphine did to her friend and fellow student, Lindsay back in the day and I found the final reveal a little underwhelming. Other than that this was a decent read that I enjoyed because the secondary stories that happen in the latter third of the book ramped it up for me and is why I am rounding up.

I really wanted to love this book. I have always wished that I was more serious about dance when I was younger. The grace and strength of ballet dancers is beautiful and I am fascinated by the world of professional dancers so this book called to me. The cover is gorgeous and the promise of a mystery drew me in but that is about where the magic stopped. I found the characters overall unlikeable and the story just dragged on. By the time I got to the end I just didn't really care any more. Such a disappointment for me.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars
I am an old ballet lover from way back. Took ballet and have loved the art form all of my life. It is heartwarming to have all of these books, movies, and tv shows showcasing dance. Add this to your reading if you love ballet, women's fiction, and friendship.

I went in expecting a dark thriller similar to Black Swan but found this one pretty mild compared to that movie. While it wasn't nearly as dark and twisted I did enjoy seeing the slightly dirtier side of ballet. It started out a little bit slow in the beginning but picked up about halfway through. This wonderful story follows Delphine and her two friends as they go through a competitive ballet school for the Paris Opera Ballet and o to the even more competitive careers. I was slightly disappointed in the big secret, I felt like it was a little bit of a let down, however I felt that it was slightly redeemed with the murder in the end. I felt that the main character Delphine was the perfect amount of mean girl for most of the story and it was nice to see her growth into a good friend and a less selfish person.

The Ballerinas takes you through the lives of three girls, from adolescence to adulthood, who are part of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet. You see into their lives as they struggle with being the best, finding love, and keeping a friendship together that is laced with a terrible secret. It was well written and kept me intrigued until the very end.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale's "The Ballerinas" is a hodge-podge of YA and Women's Fiction that is very careful to cover all it's bases. Teens with secrets, backstabbing, private school, and young relationships weave seamlessly with adults with secrets, more backstabbing, the private world of an elite ballet company, and adult relationships of all types, with a touch of death and dying. It's almost like the author had a checklist of bestselling novel requirements and made sure to hit each one. Yet, it's good. Really, really good. Yes, this reader was a "ballerina", not to the level of these ladies, of course, but this book really spoke to my heart just from the title and beautiful cover.

Some of my favorite quotes:

...the world might not remember you, but other ballerinas always will.

You’re screwed up about men because one guy treated you like shit when you were five.
But one is plenty. One is enough to prove that we live in a world where terrible things can happen.

How we’re scared of things that we might break. So much of our focus goes there. Protecting them, caring for them.” “Well, what should we be afraid of instead?” “Why, the things that might break us, of course."

“The thing that you have to remember is that if you don’t risk anything, you risk everything.”

...there’s a difference between getting older and growing up.

Walking through an airport is the only way to be somewhere and nowhere at the same time.

Not easy like first position is easy. But easy nonetheless.

Sometimes a truth and a dare sound the same.

I just knew I never wanted to live in a world where you weren’t my friend.

This was unfortunately a dnf for me. I love the synopsis and overall concept of this book however due to the amount of technical terms in this book I found myself very lost and confused. I think this will be a great read for someone that has prior knowledge of terms in the dance well! I will say this cover is perfection!

I am sorry to say, that this book just wasn't for me. I immediately requested it -, because of the gorgeous cover, I love ballet and I thought, it was going to be a thriller. I just didn’t hold my interest enough.
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Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martins Press for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for this earc of The Ballerinas!

This year, I’ve really been into dance books. I think it’s fascinating to read about dance and it’s complexity. I think the author did really well in the description of dance especially the choreography of the dance that the main character created.

I had some issues with the book, however I think these are personal to me. I felt like there was too many plot points or things going on that the points she was trying to make fell flat. I think the conflict with Jock could have and should have been explored more. It was mentioned but then we didn’t really get a clear resolution. I also felt like the “murder” came out of no where and didn’t really flow with the story.

One thing I really did enjoy was the female friendships. One of my favorite things in books are strong friendships groups. This group of women had a strong relationship, albeit messy (realistically)

Overall, I think this author has a lot of potential and I look forward to what she comes out with in the future!

Did not finish- I was not impressed. That characters could not draw me in.

Book cover in beautiful- and I love the world of dance. The characters were just too surface level and I could not get into the plot.