Such an absorbing dive into the world of ballet. I wasn't expecting it to be as dark and twisty as it was but I really enjoyed it. It was totally immersive and such an interesting look at the world of ballet in the 1930's in particular. I thought the characterisation was great and it was very atmospheric. I look forward to seeing what Ashe writes next.

Such a fantastic debut, I thoroughly enjoyed to author and this reading about the twins, ballet and there lives.

The writing pulls you in and you have to know what happens next

This is set in the world of ballet in 1930s. The story is enjoyable with many twists. It is dark in places. This is a well written, entertaining debut.

A atmospheric period debut which can be quite slow in some parts but overall beautifully written and surprising. The end does make you realize it was definitely worth reading.

I loved reading and learning about what it would be like to be a ballerina and appreciated the glossary of terms. It was interesting reading about the two sisters' relationship and how the sun-characters stories weaved between them. There was quite a lot going on in the storyline which at times seemed to go on for no particular reason however the story tied up well, especially the section where the author revealed elements the story to be true. .
So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating a very interesting story that I really enjoyed.

Clara and Olivia is that quick easy read book that you can't get out of your head. I absolutely loved this creepy novel. Highly recommend

What a lovely debut novel this is.

I took a few ballet lessons when I was younger, but I wouldn't profess to be an expert!

London, 1933, Clara and Olivia Marionetta spend their days dancing as members of the Vic-Wells ballet company. Their schedule is relentless, rehearsals, performances, tuition...

The pair are identical twins, but their personalities are nothing alike. Olivia is meticulous, quiet and always prepared for classes; whereas Clara is a disorganised extrovert, always searching for the next best thing.

Olivia wishes she could dance like her sister, no matter how much she tries, she cannot move like Clara.

Clara, on the other hand, wishes she could be more organised and prepared like Olivia.

Despite their differences, it is clear that the sisters truly love each other. They suffered hardship in childhood; their father died of cancer, and after his death, their mother succumbed to anorexia nervosa, and is now confined in an asylum.

Olivia in pursuit of dance perfection, is unaware that she has a secret admirer, Samuel, who makes pointe shoes for the dance company. He seems to appear everywhere where Olivia finds herself to be…

Clara’s boyfriend, Nathan, wants to take their relationship to the next level, however, she wants other things…

One man’s love will lead to an unhealthy obsession and one of the sisters will be in danger…

The author's knowledge of the ballet world is evident, and we really get absorbed into this world. Highly recommended.

Clara & Olivia by Lucy Ashe is a stunning debut that immerses you fully in the ballet world and transports you to the newly opened Sadlers Wells, London in 1933.
It is was one of those books that we just couldn’t wait to read. Having a huge passion and love for ballet we knew we had to read it as fictional books about ballet are pretty thin on the ground.

As you begin to read you realize it’s more than just a book about two twins who are ballet dancers. It’s a part love letter to ballet, it’s part thriller and mystery and it’s absolutely wonderful piece of fiction. Lucy uses her knowledge and love of ballet to weave and tell a meticulously researched story. It captivates the reader from the first page. Both the twins, Clara and Olivia have distinct personalities which pirouette off the page.

It’s a stunning debut and is likely to remain one of our favorite reads of this year. Lucy Ashe is an author who has us very excited to read more of what she writes.

An enjoyable read with a page turner to find out the ending. Some of the ballet references that I didn't understand but was still Intresting and could follow along.

This book takes us to London in 1933, where twin sisters Clara and Olivia Marionetta spend their days dancing alongside each other as members of the Vic-Wells ballet company: their life is relentless rehearsal, punctuated by performance. As they and their fellow dancers prepare for a new show, the twins are increasingly aware of a feeling of being watched – not just by the audiences which flock to their performances – and unsettling Gothic tension begins to seep across the stage. Debut writer Lucy Ashe effortlessly depicts the world of professional ballet, taking us by the hand and leading us backstage into the very private world hidden behind the scenery: it takes real skill to convey the breathless excitement felt by the company before a visit from a famed Russian instructor, the ripple of thrill at seeing all the principal dancers gather before rehearsal, and that heady mix of artistic admiration standing side-by-side with cut-throat competitiveness. Even the admin of life as a ballerina is beautifully drawn by Ashe: the satin of the girls’ hard-working shoes, the physicality and muscle fatigue caused by endless practise, the texture and cut of the coats they slide into when venturing out into London after dark, where they dance and drink and snatch at normality before returning to the school to do it all again the next morning. This is an exquisite book with a disturbingly dark heart: at what point does passion turn into dangerous obsession?

I must admit that I'm not a particular connoisseur of ballet, so perhaps a little of the historical Sadlers Wells ballet side was wasted on me, but I still found it interesting and informative.

For me, the characterisation stood out instead - the interesting contradictions between the characters of identical twins, and the different character arcs of the two male characters - Samuel in particular was a great character and had a good, rounded storyline.

It also had an exciting ending that had me reading too late into the night to find out what happened!

Overall I enjoyed it, probably a 3.5 star book rounded up!

I adore historical fiction and the ballet, so a novel set during the early years of the Vic-Wells company was always going to capture my attention. I particularly enjoy historical fiction where real people intermingle with the books characters, and in Clara and Olivia, Lucy Ashe seamlessly blends her fictional characters with the stars of the English ballet of the 1930s.

The beauty of the ballet is echoed in the wonderfully atmospheric writing, but the sense of foreboding that begins in the prologue lingers in the corner of the stage like a shadow. In fact, there is an unsettling feeling about the whole book, with the dark spaces of the theatre (not least the well) lending a gothic feel to the story. Something about the girls’ relationship feels dangerous, too close for comfort, as if they could destroy each other, in spite of loving each other dearly, and being prepared to fight to protect each other.

I love the ballet and whilst I usually read in silence, I found myself heading to Spotify to set Coppélia and Swan Lake to play in the background. I thoroughly recommend this, as the beautiful music really adds to the emotion and drama of the book.

It was easy to see that Lucy Ashe has a great deal of experience with the ballet, and has poured her love for it into every word of Clara and Olivia. This book is an exquisite balance of beauty and tension, of emotion and drama, and it evoked the same feelings in me as if I had just sat through the most wonderful performance of my favourite ballet.

The Marionetta twins are identical in almost every way, although Olivia tends to wear a bow in her hair while in ballet rehearsals,.Personality wise the twins couldn't be more different however, Clara seeks a life outside of their relentless training schedule while Olivia strives for perfection, As rehearsals for Coppelia become more all consuming nerves become frayed and the girls cannot shake the feeling that there are outside forces at play wishing them harm. A meticulously researched tale of ambition, obsession and of course the world of the most highly technical dance of all , Ballet.

A novel for ballet lovers. Well written, atmospheric and incredibly dark, the author draws the reader in to the subtle, competitive world of ballet.

This book completely subverted my expectations at every turn. It was fresh, surprising and rich, with compelling and suitably complex characters. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the mysterious world of ballet - the physicality, the passion. Lucy Ashe also does an excellent job of recreating 1930s London - a real treat for any lover of historical fiction.

A rich and fulfilling book about the relationship between two identical twin ballet dancers, at times loving and at times toxic. The two main male characters subvert expectations which is refreshing and the dichotomy between the two is stark.

I liked the references to real people and events in the ballet world which was really insightful.

The plot was strong and captivating, and the book well written as a whole. A really good read.

My thanks to OneWorld Publications Magpie Books for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘Clara and Olivia’ by Lucy Ashe.

I am always interested in novels that feature dance and so was immediately drawn to Lucy Ashe’s debut novel with its striking cover design. It was no surprise to read that she had trained at the Royal Ballet School as she clearly knows the subject as well as being a skilled storyteller.

Set in 1933 London, the novel focuses on identical twins, Clara and Olivia. While born Smith they had changed their surnames to Marionetta after leaving Ballet School to join the newly formed Vic-Wells Ballet. Dancing in the corps de ballet, they each seek perfection and hope one day to become prima ballerinas. During the novel they are involved in rehearsals for the ballet Coppélia.

Both Clara and Olivia have admirers: two men who also have their point of view chapters. Samuel Steward works for Frederick Freed, the ballet shoemaker, and loves Olivia from afar inscribing the shoes he creates for her with a tiny white rose. Nathan Howell had been a child prodigy and is now the ballet company’s pianist. He and Clare have been courting for some time.

I won’t say more in order to avoid spoilers though there is a dark side to this work of historical fiction that draws on themes echoed by Coppélia.

I loved this novel and even before reading the Historical Notes provided by Lucy Ashe felt that she was writing from firsthand knowledge of the ballet and of Coppélia. I appreciated that the novel stressed the physicality of ballet. Again, something that is very clear to anyone with knowledge of the dance. The novel opens with a useful glossary that includes ballet movements.

Overall, I found ‘Clara and Olivia’ a beautifully written, atmospheric historical thriller rich in the history of ballet. I was completely immersed in the story and feel that it was an impressive debut.

Highly recommended.

While I loved the ballet aspect of this story, a world that I know nothing about and so loved the detailed descriptions, the rest of the story fell flat for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters, the only one who could be considered likeable was Milly and she wasn’t in the story enough for the reader to get to know her.

I appreciated that the author included a guide to ballet terms and important names relevant to the story in the beginning of the book. Ashe’s previous ballet training clearly shines through in her beautiful descriptions of the dancing and productions! In the beginning, it made me miss my ballet days. I also want to watch all of the ballets they mentioned!

The book focuses on four characters, each with their own POV chapters. Loved how each character was well developed and had their own distinct voice!

The story is set in London 1933, against the backdrop of the Vic-Wells and Sadler Wells ballet company. I learned a lot about the world of British ballet and it’s history! It was also cool to learn that besides the 4 MCs, who are fictional, all other characters were real people during this time-working to change the ideas around what ballet could be and bring it into British society.


Although the book could be slow at times, the last third I couldn’t put down! It’s a thriller/mystery but didn’t feel that way for most of the book. It had more subtle tension/creepiness seeping into the story without feeling like the main focus. The story also went In a completely different direction than I predicted in the beginning which I always appreciate!

If I could summarize the book, I’d say it’s a tale of obsession and the darker side of the ballet world, with a sprinkling of mommy issues 😅

This was a great story. I loved reading and learning about what it would be like to be a ballerina. It was interesting reading about the two sisters' relationship. I found it funny that they could get confused for each other. I found it fascinating just how many pairs of ballet shoes they went through. I love reading about all the different sub-characters who followed the ballet. I love fiction books that you can also learn from as well. I actually rated this book 3.5 stars rounded up. It was quite a busy story and I lost a little concentration at times. I loved the section at the end where the author describes which parts of the story were true. And explains how she move some dates in history forward so they could be included in the story.

So much praise goes out to the author and publishers for creating a very interesting story that I really enjoyed.

The above review has already been placed on goodreads, waterstones, Google books, Barnes&noble, kobo, amazon UK where found and my blog today https://ladyreading365.wixsite.com/website/post/clara-olivia-by-lucy-ashe-oneworld-publishing-3-5-stars under my name ladyreading365