I took ballet lessons as a kid so I always enjoy reading stories that take place in the dance world. I have mixed feelings about this book. The mystery with Bea and what happened at the party fell flat. Did not grab me. The ballet master I was unsure if we were suppose to like or hate. I did like the friendship between Ever and Lindsay.

i will read anything that is marketed to be about dance. the industry is so intricate, and there are just so many ways to interpret it in order to create an intriguing story.

i loved how this plot developed - slowly building and forming the twists, turns and overlaps within storylines. the short chapters also really aided in the plot development, since i was compulsively flipping the pages, just wanting to know what the next chapter, the next pov, would reveal to me.

i feel like the cast of characters was also super well-rounded. tammy greenwood did an incredible job at starting out with characters who fit certain archetypes, and slowly molding them into well-rounded characters, with flaws and desires and conflicting emotions.

this had such stunning prose! there were times when i found myself rereading sections, because i needed another opportunity to take in the beautiful writing. the writing complemented the subject of the book - at times, the sentences truly felt like a dance, evoking movement and feeling and the push and pull that exists in our emotions.

i think i would have loved a few more perspectives from the daughters - i loved bea's perspective, but i would have also loved to see how the other girls saw her, in their own words instead of through the words of their mother.

As a former dancer, I've always thought the world of dance is ripe for storytelling, and have been on the lookout for more books about it. Tammy Greenwood dives into the complexities of an intense ballet studio primarily through the eyes of a few mothers -- dance moms, a complicated sub-area of dance. I really appreciated that Greenwood didn't rely on the sensationalized version of it and went for a more nuanced look at how they interact with ballet, their dancing daughters, and their fellow dance moms, The Still Point is also rife with competition, jealousy, and want, with layers about class, marriage, grief, and more. You can also tell how well Greenwood knows what a studio is like. Overall, this is a compelling read with an in-depth look at an often misunderstood insular world.

A taut, captivating drama set against the backdrop of teenage girls, their ballet teacher and their helicopter moms. Beatrice and Olive have been best friends since years. They are students of Vivienne's Ballet Studio now seventeen and in their final year. As the novel opens for the last year of ballet school and regular school, Beatrice has returned from a summer program in New York and finds that Olive has stopped being her friend and is now best friends with Savvy, another ballet student. Vivienne has a new French teacher Etienne taking classes and also managing the casting and production of the annual Nutcracker performance. Etienne will pick one of the girls for a scholarship program at the Paris Ballet. This strikes an intense rivalry not just among the girls but also the parents as they all want to be chosen one. The parents are battling their own demons with their marriages, job and their finances.

This is not just a book about ballet or teenage drama. This is a book about friendship, love, adolescence, coming of age, teenage politics, the downside of social media, marital discord, grief, loss and new beginnings. There are so many undercurrents and subtle nuances skillfully tackled by the author. I especially loved the masterful portrayal of mother-daughter relationships, always a winning point with me. The characters and plot felt so real and relatable at all times. The writing is fluid yet suspenseful and I could barely put the book down before the end. This is my first work from the author and will definitely be checking out more. If you are a fan of easy-to-read mother-daughter stories or drama involving community dynamics this one is for you!!

Thank you Netgalley, Kensington Books and Tammy Greenwood for the ARC.

A well written novel about dance moms- the women who sacrifice for and support their daughters' ballet dreams. The arrival of a star French male dancer and the promise of a scholarship to Paris upends the school in this small California coast town as Bea, Olive, and Savvy find their positions in the pecking order are changed. Ever, a recent widow, is struggling to write again and with finances, Lindsay believes her husband is cheating on her, and Josie, who is housing the star for the summer is being threatened by her jealous ex. These three tell the story, with periodic insight from Ever's daughter Bea. There's a topical issue among the teens as well, the dimensions of which won't be revealed until near the end. Good ballet atmospherics, good California beach town vibes and well constructed characters make this a very nice read but the storytelling is what pushes it u. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I enjoyed this very much.

This one started off strong. I was sucked into the multiple POVs, and always love getting to spend time in the ballet world. It had many elements of an exciting story, but didn't quite come together for me. I felt like characters didn't have enough depth to really hook me, but it wasn't plot heavy enough to keep it exciting. The 'stakes' are set up from the very start, but it wasn't set up in a way that you really felt the weight of those stakes. By the end, I just didn't really care what happened to the characters either way. Without giving too much away, the issue between the girls was also not done in a way that justified the fallout.

Overall, I think there will be many who enjoy this (as evidenced by many positive reviews already!) but it wasn't quite right for me.

Thank you to NetGalley, and Kensington Books for the ARC of this novel!

I’m not totally sure why this book worked so well for me, aside from the fact that I grew up obsessed with ballet. The blurb promises “Dance Moms meets Little Fires Everywhere” and I have to respectfully disagree. Sure, there are dance moms in the literal sense but the drama and chaos of the Lifetime TV series is thankfully missing from this book. While I can agree that the writing style is mildly reminiscent of Celeste Ng, it honestly reminded me a lot more of Liane Moriatry.

THE STILL POINT is a very character-driven novel that explores the complexities of mother daughter relationships in a high-pressure environment like the competitive ballet world. I just loved these flawed women. I’m not always a massive fan of character-driven stories, especially when I was expecting Drama with a capital D (again, that Dance Moms comparison isn’t doing this book any favors), but this just worked so well for me. When I wasn’t reading, I was thinking about these mothers and their daughters.

To be quite honest, not a lot happens in this book. The drama is pretty mellow until the end, and even then, I was never truly shocked or scandalized... and that's okay! The conflicts were quieter, but also relatable and realistic. One mother is suffering from profound grief after the loss of her husband and troubling finances; one mother is dealing with a distant daughter and questioning her marriage; and one mother should be worried about a lot of things.

THE STILL POINT found me in a unique place. I don’t have children yet but I’m probably closer to the age of the mothers in the book and found them relatable and honest. At the same time, the drama between the teenage daughters brought me right back to my own childhood. I can so vividly remember feeling excluded from a friend group and wanting to grow up faster than necessary, and I definitely experienced every one of the teenage emotions Greenwood so flawlessly describes.

In the end, I’ll personally read (almost) any fictional story set in the ballet world and after quite a few duds I’m really happy to report that THE STILL POINT is officially my favorite book in this very niche little genre.

Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.

This book was wild. It definitely focused on the darker side of dancers and stage moms. I enjoyed the book. It was a fast read, the authors writing is really good, and the description was pretty accurate

Great book for dancers, dance moms, and even nonrelated dance-themed people. It's very easy to read and it captures you from the beginning.
Most of the books are from dancers talking about their live-in ballet, but never from the perspective of the mom. The one who is dreaming too through the success of her girl. Very interesting perspective. Also, it's not the typical cliche about the dance world. Just the reality, like every sport.
I enjoyed every page of the book and would like to read more about this author, maybe a second part?
Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to have an advanced copy of the book for an honest review

Mean mean mommies of ballet- Greenwood’s world-building is always dark, but this was especially twisty. I tore through in one night! Five stars.

A novel with multiple narrators, which I love. We are thrown into the world of Ballet and is full of drama and competition!
Recommend!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

The Still Point by Tammy Greenwood is a contemporary fiction novel with some domestic/psychological suspense vibes. Looks at sacrifices, mother-daughter relationships, and a dark, cutthroat world of ballet 🩰

I love ballet and danced for 4 years so I was very excited about this and it didn’t disappoint! Love that some sections are titled Acts or closing curtain! I was pulled in immediately by the suspense/tension of what was going to happen.

The novel is told through switching POVs between 4 characters-Bea, Ever (Bea’s mom), Lindsay, Josie. The characters are complex and well written! I could get a clear voice for each character chapter. A couple of characters were extremely unlikeable at times, but in a complicated love-to-hate-them sort of way. By the end of the novel, the characters had all grown and developed, which I always appreciate!

The ending was well done. It wasn’t perfect, it was messy and semi open ended which fits the rest of the novel really well! There were some twists I didn’t see coming and I was wrong on every one of my guesses which was pleasantly surprising 😀

The one “negative” was that the pacing was a little all over the place- it had a great start that pulls you in, but then it starts to slow down by the end of the first third. Luckily it did pick up again around the second/last third. I think if some unnecessary things were cut and the pacing was maintained it would’ve flowed better. There were some instances of telling instead of showing that didn’t add to the story or characters. Also there was one instance of a minor plot line that was mentioned but was abandoned at the end, which confused me.

Overall an entertaining story that held my attention (mostly). Recommend if you want the complex characters and domestic suspense of Little Fires Everywhere, the drama of Dance Moms, and the dark ballet vibes of Tiny Pretty Things!

“She had a poster in her room, a dancer’s feet en pointe. One foot wore tights and a pristine pointe shoe with neatly tied ribbons. The other foot was bare, foot ravaged. Hideous. blisters, and Band-Aids, and blackened nails. The beauty and the secret ugliness they all hid inside.”

Like a train wreck you can’t look away from, this new novel by Tammy Greenwood had me hooked from the opening chapter. A number of recently published novels centered around the fictional equestrian life of teens and college girls did not work for me, but this one focuses on ballet moms, and I was one of them.

Written by the mother of a professional dancer, I was curious if the details would venture close to what my experience had been. I can attest to the fact that mom’s/dancer’s bad behavior, sabotage and eating disorders are part of the culture and it was no surprise to see these woven into the plot. But just as dramatic, and perhaps more important, are the elements of companionship, camaraderie and dedication which are all highlighted as well. The contrast of the seemingly effortless beauty of a ballet performance with the grueling training and sacrifice lying under the veneer is on full display. In this story a coveted scholarship in addition to featured dance roles are on the line and dancers and moms alike, will do almost anything to come out on top. But 4 dancers and their respective mothers must decide, at what cost?

If you are a fan of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies and also have an interest in the ballet world, this one will hit all the notes

I'm a massive Dance Moms fan and while this book definitely didn't go as crazy as the show—these moms were still a little unhinged. I think the points of view were done very well—if we had heard from all three moms PLUS all three daughters, it would have been too much. I felt so much for mother-daughter duo Ever and Bea as they struggle through the death of a loved one and financial insecurity. You were really rooting for them throughout the entire story.

Greenwood has long been one of my favorite authors, and this immersive read quickly reminded me why. In her acknowledgements she tells us this novel was written as a love letter to her daughter, to ballet and to mothers. That heart was ever present as I read.

I was struck by the realness and depth of her characters and was able to find both sympathy and flaw in them all. Each chapter switches perspectives, providing new insight and continually keeping readers on their toes (pun intended). There is emotion, suspense, grief, allure, love.

Reading this felt like binge watching a brilliant tv show. With the masterful storytelling, music and dance it feels ideal for a screen adaptation!

The novel deftly handles heavy topics without it feeling like melodrama. Her writing has a way of being tangible and understated. So very readable with poignant moments of striking imagery.

I finished the last quarter of this novel in the middle of the night, up with my sleepless daughter. It felt so aligned to finish this meditation on mothering daughters while in the thick of it myself. Magic. I highly recommend this book and author, especially to other moms.

Wow, once I started this book, I could not put it down. I hadn’t expected to get drawn into a book about ballet dancers and their mothers, but this was so much more. It was about growing up, facing an empty nest, friendship, trust, betrayal, grief, disappointment, love, and so much more. The author uses the perspectives of three mothers of high school age ballet dancers as well as one of the dancers and tells the story of the fall of the girls’ senior year of high school and the drama that unfolds between the dancers and between the mothers who want the world for their daughters.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Publishing Corp, and the author for an ARC of this book which I had the pleasure of reading. All opinions are my own. Publication date: February 20, 2024

A compelling, thrilling read about dance moms and their daughters' fight for a prestigious ballet opportunity. So much like Little Fires Everywhere in the best way! I got lost in this and didn't want it to end!

I was dancer throughout my childhood and teenage years and thankfully my mother was never a "dance mom" though she did have her moments (which I am sure she will deny when she inevitably sees this review). For me, The Still Point was like going home. The hours in the studio, the swell of the music, the smooth cloth of a new pair of ballet shoes, Greenwood wrote the life of a dancer to perfection.

The story is told through the eyes four separate characters that intertwine around a studio, a prestigious ballet scholarship, and the renowned Nutcracker ballet. Greenwood does a masterful job of crafting compelling characters that all carry distinct voices and experiences within the story. There is an element of suspense as the reader follows the story and its characters through Nutcracker season and the ultimate prize of the illustrious scholarship to a famous Parisian ballet academy.

My only hold-up was the almost unrealistic lack of communication between the mothers and their daughters. I understand that teenage girls are difficult, having been one in the not-too distant past, however, I think most mothers would have pushed a little harder to untangle the seismic shift in the lifelong relationships that their daughters suddenly lost. Throughout The Still Point, I found myself wondering why characters simply didn't communicate.

Overall, I highly recommend The Still Point to any reader, but especially one that missing the feel of the ballet bar under their hands or the snipping of the dance moms in the lobby.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Whew—-what an intense roller coaster of emotions. Set in the world of ballet, Still Point is told from the point of view of three young ballet dancers and each of their mothers. This emotionally-charged story is powerful and intense, as these six characters work through ambitions, jealousy, grief, and competition—not just in ballet, but in every aspect of their lives. I was breathless and on the edge of my seat as their stories unfold, as the girls and their mothers move through lives, whether it was fulfilling their dreams or dealing with disappointment and heartbreak. The relationships between the girls and their mothers were authentic and genuine; the relationships between the girls themselves were incredibly complicated as the vacillated between being friends and being competitors. I’ve not lived the life of a ballet dancer or a ballet mom, but I felt like I was living that life as I pored over the pages of this story. I imagine that readers who have lived in that world will find it extremely relatable.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books, for my complimentary digital copy for review.

The Still Point transcends the grace and poise of ballet, delving into the intricate web of family dynamics, particularly the poignant relationships between mothers and daughters within the competitive dance world.

At the heart of the book are three mother-daughter pairs, each navigating the turbulent waters of the dance life. The mothers, though varying widely in their backgrounds and approaches, are united by a fervent desire for their daughters' success. Their differing methodologies, however, set the stage for narrative twists that captivate and intrigue.

As for the young ballerinas, the book lays bare their competitive drive and the raw vulnerabilities that come with ballet. The author skillfully peels back the layers of each character, revealing the profound lengths to which each dancer will go to reach their dreams.

Beyond the glittering stage, "The Still Point" examines the broader family dynamics at play. The narrative probes how ambition can either forge familial bonds stronger or fracture them under its weight. The exploration of grief and the collective journey towards healing and moving forward adds a resonant depth to the story.

This book is more than just an entertaining read; it's a heartfelt exploration of the sacrifices made in the name of dreams and the complex choreography of relationships that underpin the world of dance. "The Still Point" is a compelling read for anyone fascinated by the sacrifices and triumphs that shape our closest bonds.