From the shores of two countries and back again we find a mystery to unravel.
Though this is definitely a novel of friendships and we have three dancers grabbing our attention, our main dancer is Delphine.
Delphine is a legacy is at the Paris school, where she has to live up to the talent her mother impressed on everyone in this French city.
But Delphine, Lindsay, and Margaux have a fateful event. And it makes Delphine run. and as a young girl, she plans on never seeing Paris, let alone Lindsay and Margaux again. But when you are an aging ballerina you can not pass up an opportunity to make a mark on your career. Even if means going back...there.
This was a thrilling novel, composed by a brave new author not afraid to press the bounds of friendships, careers, drive, and achieving your goals at all cost.
Beware this is a nonlinear timeline, not everyone likes that. It is a little muddled here and there with the three women being fairly similar but you will catch on to the author's style quickly as the story rolls along.

I was immediately drawn to the book by its cover, but was very happy that I was also drawn to the book by its plot description. Then writing is beautiful and the content is powerful. It opens the world to the life of a ballet dancer, but is a novel that provides so many more messages beyond that. I appreciated the timeline divisions in each chapter, flowing from past to present, and then again in each of the following chapters until they meet in the present in its final chapters. I loved The Ballerinas and recommend it to others!

Thank you to Netgalley, publisher, and author of The Ballerinas for allowing me to read this in advance of the publication!

The world of professional ballet has always interested and intrigued me. Anyone who makes a career off their physical skills, whether it be gymnasts, dancers, athletes, give every ounce of themselves to their craft in order to be the best. But what happens when life outside your craft is screaming at you to take notice? This is a wonderful story centered around three friends who grow up together in a ballet company. Finally in their thirties they start to listen to the lives that are screaming for their attention. A terrific read!

I went in to this hearing it was Black Swan meets Dare Me so I was expecting a psychological thriller or at the very least a thriller. Instead I got a genre I can't really name. Is this what literary fiction is because if so then I don't want it.

This book was slow. It was bland and if you're going to classify as a thriller and be marketed by being compared to thrillers then I expect a sense of urgency and I just didn't get it at all.

Delphine as a main character was irritating and just wholly naive and self involved. She left Paris, where she was born, raised, and danced, for St Petersburg, Russia in order to pursue a career as a choreographer. She returns to Paris after over a decade. She lands a job as a choreographer at the ballet company she danced with before she left and she basically tries to make things exactly as they were back then.

Her two best friends Margaux and Lindsay, are also dancers at the same company. They stayed in Paris when she moved and they only stayed in touch through monthly emails. When Delphine comes back she basically expects everything to be the same as it always was and seems shocked and disgruntled to realize that things have changed.
That's not to say that she makes an effort to get to know her friends as they are now. Oh no, she continues to just try to push them back into the little box she wants them in. Even as Margaux continues to just not be interested in really giving her the time of day.
Throughout the book there is mention of something that Delphine and Margaux did to Lindsay when they were younger. Something awful that they feel guilty about. All this mystery and when it was finally revealed what exactly they did I just felt let down. Wow, that's it? All those veiled hints around it and that's all it was. Worse, when Delphine finally confesses to Lindsay about it there was equally no shock.
At first I gave this book three stars because there were some parts when I didn't totally dislike what I was reading but when I sat down to write this review I realized I have nothing good to say about it so I changed it to two stars.
If you are a fan of literary fiction, if you are ballerina, maybe you will like and appreciate this book but as someone who has no dance experience and prefers thrillers this book just wasn't for me.

I truly enjoyed this book. It was a great look at the psychological and physical impact that the world of ballet has on its dancers. Most importantly, the impact that it has on women.

The story covers multiple time periods through flashbacks of dancer/choreographer Delphine as she rises up the ranks as a professional ballerina. Her relationships with her friends, family and herself are tested in this fast-paced story. The vigorous world of ballet is the backdrop to challenges such as ageism and sexism; the vulnerability of Delphine and her friends with their drive for success is tested with the pressures put on their bodies and their freedoms.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a brilliant storyteller and I look forward to discovering more of her work.

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelle-Dale falls into the unfortunate category of books in which the synopsis is misleading, with regard to genre. I thought that this book was going to be a thriller, but in my mind, there was no thrill or mystery to this novel. I would say it would fall into the women's fiction genre, with a side of historical fiction.

I liked the ballet aspects of the story, as I used to dance and I enjoyed going to the NYC Ballet on a regular basis. I think the author captured the beautiful but often cruel world of dance, where dancers are not humans but artistic objects that are expected to be perfect. I thought the three female characters were complex and flawed. However, the men seemed to be one-dimensional and caricatures.

The pacing was pretty slow throughout until the end, where things wrapped up a little too quickly. The execution of The Ballerinas was uneven but I did think the concept was strong.

Rachel Kapelke-Dale wrote an amazing story of friendship, growing up, competition, and loving oneself, that gives such a great look into the life of a ballerina, that makes me eternally glad I didn’t continue with ballet lessons when I was a kid.

The story is wonderful, but sheez, ballet dancers go through a lot!

First of all, I loved this book.

Second of all, I loved this book.

What’s hard to describe, is exactly WHY I loved this book. At first glance, it doesn’t seem to be full of adventure and dragons and elves, and all that stuff I’ve grown to love from all the fantasy books I read.

But every once in a while, I like to read something different from my usual. This book gave me that, and I gotta say, it was hard to put down. The Ballerinas is so well-written, and so full of drama and secrets, that I kept flipping to the next page, because I had to know the answers to those secrets. Each character was different from me, yet the same as me all at the same time, so I found each of the three girls highly relatable at different times.

I very much enjoyed this book. I know it’s hard to explain exactly why, but the characters were incredibly complex, and the story didn’t unfold in linear time, which is really great in some books. I can’t handle that in most books, but every once in a while, you’ll catch me with one that I absolutely love. The Ballerinas was one of those books. It wasn’t confusing, because each “time jump” was labeled, so I always knew where I was in the timeline.

I was so happy with this book, and I honestly think it’ll make it onto my re-read list at some point. Maybe after a couple years, so it’ll be almost brand new again.

Should you buy this book? Absolutely, you should. Well, if you don’t enjoy books about ballet, or ballerinas, you shouldn’t. But if you like stories with excellently complex characters? You’ll love this book! Even if you think this book isn’t completely your cup of tea, I urge you to give it a shot. You might be surprised!

This was really really good. Reminded me of The Black Swan, in that it showed the dark side of Ballet and what those ballerinas go through to get that perfect performance. Well written and researched, this was an excellent read!

I really enjoyed this book, but I have to say, it was kind of depressing. I can usually finish books this length in a couple of days but I think it took me over a week to finish; I had to take it in in chunks. Almost nothing good happened to these character until the end. And even then that made me cry!

The story revolves around Delphine, her secrets, one of them you find out on the first page; you just don't find out who the secret involves until the end. I was very surprised, unexpected for sure, and her relationship with her friends Lindsay and Margaux. Delphine is kind of selfish, but at least she grows a little in the end, which I was worried about. She likes to alienate the people she loves and cares about for boys.

Lindsay is the wild and crazy American. She wants nothing more than to be an etoile. Not to give too much away, but this girl, she gets screwed over so much in this book.

Margaux is the mean one. She seems to be the Debbie Downer of the group even when they were kids. She was trying to be the sensible one, but giving orders too. In one part of the book, Delphine said something to the affect of, 'we did what Margaux said because we were afraid of her.'

The author does a wonderful job of going back and forth between time periods. I've read books that have done it poorly and it is most definitely done well here. You also really get immersed into the city of Paris and the ballet culture. I did think that this was going to be more of a mystery or thriller type book based on the synopsis and the mention of secrets and stuff being buried.

Overall I think this was a solid read and very well done, even if it was a little depressing. I think it would be good for a book club, especially if you are looking for something that is about friendship and feminism.

Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke -Dale attracted me because of its beautiful cover and the storyline immersed in the field of ballet. It revolves around the life of Delphine, Margeaux and Lindsay.

The story goes back and forth in time. That ballet is a very competitive and taxing profession and that the life of a dancer can be short-lived and ephemeral is brought home very succinctly. To be successful one has to be almost obsessive !

The book traces the friendship of the three dancers from when they first met at the Paris Opera Ballet at the age of thirteen till present day. Their secrets and tragedies, their trials and tribulations to find industry acceptance are given voice via Delphine as the narrator.

The author has researched the intricacies of the dance form, its pressurising cut throat nature and how the systems work between different companies and the industry. It shows in the writing.

Not really a thriller, as the blurb had led me believe, the read is an interesting one about performing arts, passion, jealousies, betrayals and friendship.

Thanks to the author, to St Martins Press and to Net Galley for making the digital e-arc available. Opinions expressed are my own.

The book releases in December 2021

I have to say I really enjoyed this book despite not understanding the ballet terminology sprinkled throughout the book. The story follows 3 young girls, budding ballerinas in France, as they go through their early training and then as their professional careers develop and what that does to their friendship. It shows all the difficulties of advancing in a world dominated by men but in an occupation basically designed for women to be in the lead roles and for men to basically "support" them. It teaches some valuable life lessons that can be applied to any life, whether in the entertainment industry or not. Several quotes from the book that really resonated with me:
"I didn't have to make him see that I was worth something. I didn't have to be responsible for his feelings."
And my favorite:
"We are all stuck in our own stories. And it is so easy to see someone through only one lens: The role they play in yours." This made me really examine my own friendships and relationships. Am I truly seeing the person and the struggles they are having with their own story.? Or am I missing that and only paying attention to the effect they have on my story? I think as I reflect on this gem of wisdom I will ultimately become a better support person for the important people in my life. I would definitely recommend this book even if you aren't into ballet. It's worth it for the life lessons.

The characters are unlikable but fleshed out and sympathetic. I could have done with less time jumping but I was never confused. I found this to be more women's fiction when I was expecting more of a thriller. The writing is evocative and haunting.

3 1/2 stars

The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale

As a connoisseur of ballet books—fiction and nonfiction—I now rank Rachel Kapelke-Dale’s fiction debut at the very top of my list of the best, along with an obscure, out-of-print treasured title. The Ballerinas exquisitely, and often excruciatingly, traces myriad personal and professional challenges experienced by protagonist Delphine—first as a youthful dancer at the Paris Opera Ballet, then as a famous choreographer’s assistant in St. Petersburg, and then as guest choreographer back in Paris. On her return to the city of her birth, this daughter of a far more famous ballerina, long deceased, expects to easily slip back into the familiar habits she knew years. She is reunited with her closest friends—cynical and volatile lesbian dancer Margaux, keeper of the secret that could ruin their mutual friendship with the American dancer Lindsay, whose career Delphine intends to revive with the lead role in a ballet about Alexandra, the doomed Russian Tsarina. She also has hopes of renewed romance with star dancer Jock, the one who got away. While dealing with the struggles, rivalries, and demands of her working life, she suffers from a betrayal that threatens not only her career, but her privacy and her reputation. Delphine’s high expectations are thwarted. Her relationships with the ones whose support she relies upon are damaged, often by her own self-absorption, but also when she is victimized by the callous cruelty of another.

The gender imbalance within the dance world, the physical and emotional toll as a dancer’s years advance, the difficulty of integrating the personal self with the professional demands are sharply observed and accurately, achingly depicted in each character. The setting for Delphine’s formative past in Paris, revealed through flashbacks, and her present traumas, is the city of a native, of a dancer, not the one encountered by tourists, and its depiction is evocatively true and real. The writing is beautiful, the people are believable, the insights are thought-provoking, and the conflicts ring all too true. Not to be missed. (St. Martin's Press, paperback/ebook/audiobook, 304 pp., 7 December 2021)

The Ballerinas explores the often complex relationships between women who share only a single commonality. In this case, it’s a passion for professional ballet and the commitment necessary for success. The bond between the three characters, Delphine, Lindsay, and Margaux, somehow endures a lifelong competition, which is certainly something of a rarity and a real testament to their friendship.

Returning to Paris after a fourteen-year separation from her closest friends, the protagonist, Delphine, still haunted by a skeleton in her closet, finally gives in to temptation and reveals her secret.

Although the novel bounces from past to present, the writing was straightforward, never confusing. Although I never became emotionally attached to any of the characters—to be fair, I didn’t care for any of them, most were very well-developed.

While I wouldn’t label this novel a mystery or a thriller, for those looking for a picturesque escape—particularly to the City of Love (and Light)—and a character-driven story, I recommend The Ballerinas. My gratitude to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, and Rachel Kapelke-Dale for the ARC.

I always love a ballet book and this one was no different! I appreciated the author's prose, especially the descriptive passages.

I don't think I've ever come across a book about Ballet dancers that wasn't written for middle-grade or YA, so I was really excited to read this one. (I will basically read or watch anything dance related!). I did go into this book expecting a mystery/thriller as it was touted as "Black Swan meets Luckiest Girl Alive", and while that wasn't delivered, instead, I got a deep women's drama about the secrets and friendships of 3 ballerinas.

It was a long book, and often times felt a bit dragging, but I found myself fascinated and immersed in their lives and their passions for ballet. I truly enjoyed and appreciated just how much actual ballet talk was in this book (if you don't have a dancing background, this part might feel mundane, or perhaps educational, I can't say for sure since I spent most of my life growing up dancing). The narrative is told in a dual time line between the present day lives of the 3 ballerinas and their early years at the Paris Opera Ballet. The hardships they endured, the physical pain, the competition, the betrayals, and the one secret that binds them but could also tear them apart.

All in all, I truly enjoyed this book! Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced digital copy. All opinions my own.

For anyone who has dreamed of being a ballerina, or has loved the ballet, or has dreamed of and/or loved Paris, this novel strips away the illusions and delves into what it is REALLY like to be a ballerina, and what Paris can REALLY be like for the inhabitants who are struggling in their life.

We meet three young ballerinas at the beginning of their training at the Opera Garnier: Delphine the narrator, and her two friends Margaux and Lindsay. The story jumps back and forth between the present and the past, gradually revealing the discipline, the aching bodies, the jealousies, the friendships and the betrayals in the ballet world. Each of the girls/women carries the burdens of the past which affect the present. They all struggle with their life’s work and decisions. Sometimes they are in accord, and sometimes they betray each other.

The novel is very deftly written and I really enjoyed it, especially since I have seen ballet, and visited the Opera Garnier. It is refreshing to read a novel that delves into an unknown world (to the rest of us), and explores female friendship in a novel setting. I recommend this book to anyone who loves ballet and/or Paris, or to readers who want something different from the usual female friendship stories, romances, or mysteries. Very enjoyable!

To be the best in the world, you must sacrifice a lot. Especially in the perfect world of ballerinas, where you need perfect posture, technique, and bodies to succeed. The story follows three young ballerinas through flashbacks between the past and the present to walk us through their stories. The main character, Delphine, has come back as a successful choreographer in Russia to the Paris Ballet, where she used to dance with her best friends Lindsay and Margaux. This story deals with relationships, love, grief, family, and most of all, who you want to be and who others want you to be. I enjoyed this story immensely for its elegant imagery and the way the author does justice to fully fleshing out the characters, their relationships, and letting emotions show through, I was a bit disappointed with how the ending fared - I wanted there to be more justice done with regard to the video scandal, and found the resolution to be a little abrupt, not enough. There didn’t seem to be enough background or foundation for Daniel throughout the story, so the last sections seemed to be very out of character. I know we’re supposed to sympathize with the ballerinas, but there were times where they seemed a little too uncaring. However, I found this story to be interesting due to the fascinating look into the world of ballet, and if you are interested in this kind of novel, I would recommend it. Female friendships are forever, and this story really solidifies that for me.

The Ballerinas is about three ballerinas telling their story in the past and the future. Delfine, Lindsay and Margaux, become inseparable friends and eventually learn the hard way that being a ballerina is not all the pretty things seen on stage. It is full of jealousy and ambition to be the best. However, in spite of everything each of them go through from the choices made they stay friends. There are secrets that have been withheld that will finally come to light, threatening to destroy each of them.

When I first started this book, I thought this was not going to go well. The beginning seemed a little slow but the closer it gets to the present I realized it was building to a crescendo and it was so much better than I could have hoped. I was not prepared for the twists and turns this story would take. I'm not sure what I thought this book would be about, but it ended up being so much more.

The Ballerinas, by Rachel Kapelle-Dale was one of those books were I am left feeling uncertain what I thought about it. There were some parts I really liked, but it was so slow for me at times and it definitely took me longer than normal to finish.
The story of the friendship through the years was enduring and I appreciated the characters growth throughout. I felt satisfied with the ending, I just don't think it blew me away.
I do think many will enjoy this story of friendship, endurance, and strength.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this book for an honest review.