This was an interesting book. I didn't find it mysterious or a normal thriller. I was intrigued by the story and wanted to know what happened in the past. This story touches on a lot of issues and it seems to try to touch on as many as possible in a short time. Things took a turn for the unbelievable at the end of the book and it lost me due to the unbelievability. I almost found it comical. I enjoyed the look inside a ballerinas life and the Paris setting.

This is not at all a mystery/thriller, as suggested, but is definitely a look into the dark side of ballet. Although I found the storyline, one focused on the friendships and relationships of three ballerinas, to be fairly interesting, this novel was difficult getting into and way too slow-paced for me -- especially the first half.

Readers of The Ballerinas will definitely recognize some parallel themes to Black Swan. The story is told by Delphine, a young woman who, along with her fellow French classmate Margaux and new student Lindsay, strive to ultimately be principals in the premiere ballet school of Paris. Delphine ends up following Dmitri, a choreographer, to St. Petersburg and becoming a choreographer herself. When the relationship ends she jumps on the opportunity to return to Paris and be reunited with her best friends-but of course life has happened in the thirteen years she’s been away, and her relationships with Margaux and Lindsay have fractured. Kapelke-Dale also uses the story as an exploration of control, both of the rigid standards within the world of ballet as well as the control of men over women. She personifies ballerinas as real women, with real problems and desires for career advancement that are just as capable of being angry at the expectations placed upon as any other woman, despite projecting a delicate, beautiful and sometimes vulnerable appearance on stage. It is interesting that the women in many ways were incredibly independent and yet constrained by people that viewed them as pretty objects to possess and incapable of knowing their own wants and desires.

The contrast of the beautiful Parisian setting with the ballet world underbelly made for a compelling story about friendship. Orienting this around ballet makes for such an interesting story- a job that's also a passion, that requires training and commitment from very young ages, a competitive field with a short window for opportunities. All of this seeps into every part of Delphine and her friends' relationships- with each other and with the outside world- and into their daily lives.

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale centers around three ballerinas, Delphine, Lindsay and Margaux who meet at the Paris Opera Ballet School (POB). The story tells of their evolving friendship as they chase their dreams of becoming ballet artists. Delphine leaves St. Petersburg to escape a secret that could end their friendship if revealed. Fourteen years later, she returns to Paris and the Paris Opera Ballet to choreograph a ballet. This is the opportunity she has waited for. The timeline alternates between the past and the present day. Once reunited with her best friends, will the secret she has been keeping destroy their friendship?

I enjoyed learning about the art of ballet throughout the reading of this novel. It was evident the author did a fantastic job researching the issues surrounding the ballet discipline. I loved how the author explored the relationship of these three friends, including all the inevitable drama that a long friendship can bring. The first half of the book was a character study of each of these women and the struggles they face throughout their careers and their personal lives. This slowly builds to an interesting, quicker-moving last half. There was a lot happening in this story and I found it difficult to keep up with at times. The dual timelines were sometime confusing. There were a lot of issues being dealt with including the power of males in the ballet world, body image, feminism and infertility. I was interested in the friendship of these three women most of all and how they would overcome the secrets they were keeping from each other. I would have liked the author to focus more on this aspect of the story. While the first half moved slowly, I was glad I stuck with it for the conclusion. Based on the jacket description, I was sure this would be a fast-paced thriller. That is not what the reader gets in this novel.

THE BALLERINAS by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a compelling and immersive story of three ballerinas who meet as teens when they are all students at the Paris Opera Ballet. It goes back and forth in time between the trio’s adolescent years and present day when they are in their mid-thirties. The relationships between Delphine, Margaux and Lindsay are complex and volatile. Each of them strives for perfection of their bodies and they have the passion and ambition to be a star ballerinas in this prestigious company. The harsh reality of life as a ballerina is portrayed with vivid and heart-wrenching detail. The extreme rivalry, high anxiety and grueling demands of the profession take their toll on these close friends. Long-buried secrets threaten to tear apart their complex friendships. I really enjoyed this story of female friendship, ambition and passion set against the backdrop of the highly-competitive world of ballet. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read an early copy.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

I am a fast reader. It will typically take me a day, perhaps two, to read a book, obsessively finding the time to squeeze in more reading for a book that I am particularly enjoying.

This book, “The Ballerinas”, broke my pattern apart. Hooking me from the very beginning, I found myself both fascinated and enthralled by the story, deeply intrigued by the characters, and at the same time, caught myself deliberately reading the pages more slowly. There was just so much to take in.

The main protagonists in this story, three friends from childhood, - Delphine, Margaux, and Lindsay - are ballerinas, building their careers as they advance through the most prestigious ballet company in Paris.

“At thirteen, we were still the right shape and size” “with that perfect blend of strength and flexibility”.

Rich with ideas, themes, musings and pithy observations, this is a book about women, about girls, about female bodies as “instruments” of incandescence or shame, about the feeling of never being good enough, and the smallness of trying to fit into what society (both male and female) expects from those earmarked as the “height of feminine perfection”.

“A ballerina is a perfect woman. Thin. Beautiful. Invisibly strong.”

“Everyone has an opinion about our bodies. Everyone always does. They think about and talk about our bodies like we belong to anybody and everyone but ourselves.”

The story flips back and forth in time, allowing the reader a glimpse into the ballerinas as they were and as they will be, - as they sculpt their bodies, train their minds, bury their yearnings and sacrifice any hope of a “normal” life for a one-in-a-million chance to shine as a Parisian dance ‘star”.

Along the way, losses, lies, terrible secrets, and persistent vulnerabilities are exposed and quickly hidden, as the girls cannot help but learn difficult lessons about love and trust, both within their tight circle of friendship and outside it.

Heartbreakingly authentic and emotionally raw in its treatment of the pervasive misogyny encountered, it is hard enough living as a “normal” woman to not instantly relate to and ache for the terrible indignities and downright abuse (emotional and physical) suffered by the female dancers.

I loved this book. This is one to be savored, and thought about, and perhaps read again at some point down the road.

A great big thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book. All thoughts presented are my own.

“It’s only-it’s funny isn’t it? It’s completely counter-evolutionary. 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.”

Delphine never expected she would be returning to the Paris Opera Ballet after leaving 14 years ago for St. Petersburg. She also never expected to be returning as a choreographer instead of a dancer. Now that she is back she can finally return to her friendship with Lindsay and Margaux, all while choreographing her own ballet! Things between the friend trio have changed a lot in 14 years though…

Sign me up for any dance movie, so this book was just what I needed! Hello Center Stage meets Black Swan! I will give the warning because I saw some reviews say they expected it to be very dark because of the Black Swan comparison. It has its dark moments but is not nearly as dark as Black Swan!I loved that the chapters went from current day to the past when the girls were growing up and clawing their way to a spot in the company. I thought the look at female friendship in such a competitive environment was so fascinating, and the added female empowerment angle was ultimate perfection. I was at 30% when I laid down to read before bed, and was up until the wee hours finishing this book because I could not stop reading! If you are also a lover of dance movies and books you won’t want to miss this one!

This book was an interesting story about a very competitive ballet program in Paris. This was a richly drawn tale that had terrific atmosphere. It was easy to imagine the school and the dance studio. The life these highly driven kids dream into reality is stunning. I enjoyed this and would recommend it to others who enjoy books that are centered in this world.
#TheBallerinas #NetGalley #StMartinsPress

This fascinating inside view of the ballet world is more about interpersonal relationships with employers, friends and family than a suspenseful thriller, but I think it is better that way.
The plot is driven by the relentless ballet company, making impossible physical demands on young men and women and the ambitions of three ballerinas determined to be the best in the world.

Delphine, Lindsay and Margaux met as children, have gone through years of training together and have become members of the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet. They have been inseparable, then drifted apart, then become close again when each of them has to live with the consequences of putting your dream before everything else.

The vivid descriptions make every character come alive, flaws and all.
The heartbreaking disappointments and betrayals make the book interesting, with a special awful twist that you don't see coming.

Thank to the publisher and NetGalley for an e-ARC copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

This is the story of 3 childhood friends, Delphine, Lindsay, and Margaux. They met in ballet and the story weaves between their adolescents years and their adult years. Years of secrets and lies come up and the trio must reconcile what has happened over the years.

Recommend if you like a good story with a twist.

This is not the type of book I usually read. There is suspense, crime and punishment, but that’s not the point. This is the story of three characters, the titular Ballerinas. Delphine, Lindsay and Margaux have been together since childhood and they are now middle-aged and facing the end of their careers. Some of the chapters are set in the past, when they were young and coming up in the ranks of the Paris Opera Ballet. Some are set in the present when, in their late thirties, they are “old” and being replaced by young girls. Delphine is trying to make the transition into Choreography, a field that is strangely male-dominated even if the stars are mostly women. I have been obsessed with the Palais Garnier since I saw a performance of The Phantom of the Opera, so learning about the process to become a dancer is fascinating to me. Reading about people who live and perform in my favorite building in the world made me inhale this novel. I also understood their anxieties as they get older, so I really connected with the characters. The only part that I didn’t quite like is how every single male character but one is a complete and absolute jerk. The feminist message is powerful and resonates, but making all men evil was closer to caricature than real life (really, there are great guys out there). Other than that, I really enjoyed the descriptions of Paris and Saint Petersburg, the theater and the grueling rehearsals.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/#St. Martin's Press!

A novel about dance, life, and friendship with an couple of interesting twists. 3 prima ballerinas compete for spots in the Ballet of Paris. Told in present day and flashbacks, it tells the story of three friends, their friendship, and how the fought to stay relevant in the world of ballet. Enjoyable even if you weren't a ballerina growing up. The twists really were quite interesting

It's unclear to me why this is being tagged as a thriller because nothing happens. I kept waiting for the suspense to build, but this felt very flat throughout. It's obviously a very character driven story, but none of the characters are likable and by the end, I still didn't feel invested in the friendship between the women.

This is also the second ballet book I read this year and disliked so I think the subject matter also soured my taste here.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think it’s important to go into this book not really expecting a mystery or thriller, despite what the synopsis might hint at. The Ballerinas is definitely more a character study that alternates between three young girls at the Paris Opera Ballet School and them as adults when one returns as a choreographer. You know that something dark happened in the past before Delphine abandoned her spot, but are left trying to put the pieces together.

There are parts of this story that are really well done. I thought that the explorations of how all consuming ballet can be were compelling. These women devote their lives to dance, but the amount of time one can actually be a professional dancer is pretty short. What will come of them when they can no longer perform? What do they have left to live for? The ways that women and their bodies are treated by the dance world as opposed to male dancers was also vital to the story. Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s descriptions of the dance were really beautiful and made it so I could easily picture the movements in my mind. I think that’s sometimes a tough thing to pull off in a book.

At times the book feels overloaded with different plot threads and themes. I think that if the author pared down the story and focused more intensely on one or two subjects then the book would’ve been way stronger. Also, the reveal of the dark thing in the past and how it comes to light in the present felt a bit lackluster. I think this is a solid debut novel that explores some interesting aspects of ballet even if it wasn’t the most mind blowing reading experience.

Special thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of this book in exchange for my own opinion.

I was a little disappointed that The Ballerinas was not a thriller. We have one narrator Delphine, who is an extremely ambitious ballet dancer as well as her two friends, Lindsay and Marguax. What I was NOT disappointed in was the grueling practicing, dieting, competitiveness going on between all ballerinas in this art industry. Discipline is a must.

Anyway, the book did start out slow and I was thinking of skipping or skimming but so glad I didn't. I loved to hear the side of ballet we don't see. We see glorious bodies (I'm jealous) loads of practice, and painful feet, restricted dieting, cattiness, competition and betrayal (I am not jealous)!

We are dealing with two timelines here. The present in which Delphine, Martha's and Lindsay's relationship is very strained and also their time growing up from 13 and into the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School and the competitiveness and betrayal to be the best ballerina.

The second half picks up and I would say the genre leaned towards women's fiction which was fine by me. It wrapped up nicely in the end so I gave it a 3.5 stars, which CAN round out to 4 stars but I'd like to keep it closer to 3. If you don't love ballet but are interested in the sacrifice and what girls will do, even to friends in this business., this book is the book for you.

Well done. I appreciate the ARC.

Well, this is a difficult one for me to review. I expected a storyline that was filled with more suspense and thriller aspects, but didn't really get that. I'm calling this a case of “it’s me, not you”.

The Ballerinas is a book about three friends and their lives in the ballet troop in Paris. It is told from Delphine's POV, and while this is her story, it features her friends Lindsay and Margaux and how their past has affected their present. Rachel Kapelke-Dale dives right in and tells the story from past and present. We get to understand the friendships these girls created and how fierce and determined these girls were to get to the top spots. Competition is an evil thing. I learned a whole lot about the ballet life and how rough it can be for a dancer. How their bodies really aren't their own. Their lives and bodies belong to ballet and ballet rules them in their every day life. Even in their 30's.

While this book was well written and obviously well researched when it came to the professional ballerina life, I'm thinking it wasn't for me. The first half was really quite slow to build up to anything. But it definitely let us get to know the characters and set the tone of a character driven story. The last half picked up, but not enough for me to love it. I found myself skimming it and almost on a few accounts wanting to DNF. BUT I was holding out hope for something a little more intense. I wanted something filled with more suspense and thriller. While there was a touch of that, I don't think it was enough to compare it to Black Swan, Dare Me and The Luckiest Girl Alive. This was definitely more women's fiction.

With all that said, the writing was good and I liked getting to know the characters. The story just fell short on my expectations.

What a delightful read! The author expertly transports the reader into the world of elite ballet. Paris and St. Petersburg came alive to me while I was reading this novel. I really appreciated the epilogue because it allowed a glimpse into what was next for Delphine, Margaux and Lindsay.

I didn’t realize how much “work” goes into being a ballerina. This book really opened my eyes up to everything that goes on. Three best friends who compete over the years and how they keep their friendship in tact. Then let’s throw in “boys” to the mix of dancers. Yes oh yes. It goes back and forth from when they were 13 first starting out to dance to adulthood. I really enjoyed the first part of this book but I’m not too sure about the 2nd half. Lots of foul language throughout also. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Due to be published December 2021.

The Ballerinas introduced me to the world of professional ballet. I enjoyed learning a little about this lifestyle as it is a profession in which I am totally unfamiliar. This book was advertised as being a mystery and thriller, so I was not expecting the slow pace of the book and struggled to finish reading it. Unfortunately, there was not enough action to truly draw me in to the lives of the three main characters. Fans of dance and women's fiction, may truly enjoy The Ballerinas.

Thank you, Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed above are my own.