THE MISDIRECTION OF FAULT LINES is set in a world that I'm not at all familiar with (competitive tennis), but it's also full of characters who were going through complex emotional journeys that were relatable and completely riveting. I was so invested in the stories of the three protagonists, all of whom have distinct voices (I didn't even need the character names at the top of each chapter to know whose head I was in). Two of the three characters had unexpected endings to their journeys, which I loved, because they grew so significantly throughout the book that I couldn't predict exactly where they would end up. This was a satisfying story of transformative friendships that I'll be recommending to friends who love contemporary YA books.

Mostly a very cute and heartwarming book but I found the plot to be something other than I was expecting it to be. I think the writing style was also just not for me.

In The Misdirection of Fault Lines we follow three girls participating in a tennis tournament, and how they deal with various issues of life. Grief, racism, eating disorder, parents expectations... It touches on lot of things but sadly most of it was in long monologues by the character in the narration. I discovered with this book that I am not a big fan of multiples pages of just the character thinking, no action at all.

While at a tennis tournament, the playing tennis part doesn't get much space in the story, it is more about how each of them view tennis and their relation to it. We don't even get to read about most of the matches the girls play. I would have enjoyed more tennis, the playing part.

Lastly, I found the ending — and the relationships between the three girls — sadly undeveloped. You're in the story and suddenly the end is there, just a few pages. I would have loved more explanations about their backstories, and how it would go from there.

Overall I enjoyed reading this story but found it lacking. More tennis playing and more time for the ending would have been great.

dned 40% through, i couldn’t deal with the 24 year old with a teenager

other than that i really enjoyed the writing & i was enjoying the characters. i sensed a sapphic relationship. would have loved that if it happened but it’s not worth the trigger & uncomfortably

This book was a very relatable portrayal of teen female friendships, especially under constant pressure. The characters are all, in one way or another, using various masks to protect themselves from perceived threats, whether they be real or not. Along the way, they see through each other’s masks in order to encourage and support each other (after some pretty major bumps in the road). While, at times, the writing felt a bit rushed, the characters themselves felt incredibly fleshed out and real, which generally makes you want to find out more about them and cheer them on up to the very end.

Look, it’s not like this has been a bad book so far. I just think this isn’t for me, which is a shame because it sounded really interesting and I LOVE the cover. I only liked one of our three main characters, and I can already tell I will hate her love interest so I’m not super looking forward to seeing that storyline play out either. The writing also just felt very juvenile, and kept me at a distance from what was happening a bit. So yeah, I just don’t see this one working out for me and decided to just put it down instead.

The Misdirection of Fault Lines is a fun read about teen athletes and the struggles they may be going through. We follow Alice, Leylah, and Violetta who are all competing at a tennis tournament as well as rooming together for the week. Alice is struggling with the recent loss of her father, Leylah is returning to competing after a long hiatus and also managing her diabetes, and Violetta is a social media star who is dealing with an overbearing mom and a likely ED. The story also deals with racism a bit (all the girls are Asian-American) as well as a coach who's straddling the line of what is inappropriate behavior with teen girls. I think the writing deals with all of these issues rather well (although the ED and grooming probably should have been given a more resolute "I'm going to deal with this" end).
I will say that this book is marketed as similar to "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" and I don't really see that at all, I don't think these three girls are that close or will remain super close for the rest of their lives, especially with them all getting different endings. I thought that the tennis tournament would be a little bit more prominent in the story, the scenes with games were good but there were only a few of them.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the advanced copy, this review contains my own opinions.

Heartfelt and moving, The Misdirection of Fault Lines is reminiscent of Jodie Lynn Anderson and Sarah Dessen. Gracia is unafraid to dive into the complex lives of girls, messy and imperfect as they may be. A fantastic book that will be loved by contemporary fans.

I'm a bit disappointed, I was expecting a tennis version of Haikyuu (sports anime/manga). However, there. was. no. tennis. There was barely any scenes in the book where they actually played a game. The book focused more on the issues of child athletes - the drugs, grooming, etc, which is fine but not what I was expecting or wanted.
Other than that, I didn't really care about the characters. Leylah was the only one I was semi-interested in. I could barely tell them apart, thankfully there were chapter titles with their names.
Overall, not for me.

En bref, j'étais curieuse de lire ce roman pour la promesse d'amitié et de compétition mais l'autrice m'a perdue dans certaines circonvolutions inutiles sur les origines des protagonistes et ce que ça engendre... J'ai trouvé ça donc un peu répétitif au départ et si j'ai apprécié l'alternance et particulièrement le point de vue d'Alice, ça n'a pas su me convaincre. Dommage.

Thank you to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the advanced copy!

In the Misdirection of Fault Lines we follow three teen girls as they enter into tennis tournament while discovering more about themselves outside of the game.

In the book we get three POVs from the three girls.
Alice, Violetta and Leylah

In the beginning we see Alice as a shy and more reserved character. It is her first time at the tournament and she is also dealing with the grief of losing her father. As the story progresses she starts to break out of her shell and really discover what she wants.

Violetta is a social media influencer who has been training and preparing for tennis competitions. She has to deal with her mom who wants to live vicariously thought her as she never got the chance to continue her career like this.

Leylah has a real passion for tennis and wants to go pro but her parents do not believe in this and still want her to go to school and get a degree. She struggles with this love for tennis but also dealing with the problems at home and wanting to prove them wrong.

This book deals with a lot of heavier themes and topics but they were all handled very well. It was a really moving book about these girls discovering the power of friendship and more about what they want in life. The tennis camp setting was really fun and added a lot to the story. I flew through this because I was so interested to see where the girls would end up.
This was a great YA book about friendship and I highly recommend!

Thank you again to Netgalley and Peachtree Teen for the arc!

Gracia is not afraid to write messy, Asian-American teenage characters who defy stereotypes. The three main characters in this book about a high school tennis tournament/live-in experience had the potential of being really interesting. Unfortunately the switching of narrators combined with flat writing that at times was didactic made it so that I never fully engaged with the characters or story lines. Interesting premise that fell flat for me.

I absolutely loved the first book by this author. That’s why I was so excited for this arc but I struggled with this book. Although I liked the multiple POVs it was difficult to get immersed in the story. I loved Leylah and how she carried herself but found the pace too slow. I liked how the characters spoke honestly about pressure from their families but wished there was more enthusiasm about the sport. It didn’t feel like any of the players wanted to be there. It sort of felt like everyone was showing up to a 9 to 5. Maybe I expected more to happen but I was only really into Leylah so read the other characters felt like a slog to read. Just not really into this one but I would still suggest others check it out.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

The world of tennis meets sisterhood of the travelling pants, i mean what’s not to find enjoyable about that

Absolutely enjoyed the three main girls of this story. Each one was unique enough to stand out but it wasn’t completely unbelievable that they would each bond over differences and similarities in both their play styles and life.

That being said, the actual tennis setting felt underwhelming with little impact on the story. When games were played, it wasn’t some great challenge despite being a tournament but rather something that the story felt obligated to tell.

Another aspect, and i’ll try and avoid spoilers for this, was one of the girls had issues regarding behaviour akin to an eating disorder and the way the story resolves this is was almost harmful with no implication that the character was planning to seek help from a professional or at least speak about it to an adult??? instead the ending is played off almost jokingly about how she’s able to eat cinnamon rolls and cookies now.

Also, the creepy grooming behaviour of a twenty-five year old trainer that was brought up by multiple characters was dismissed perhaps too easily. Though I am in the opinion that it should’ve been omitted entirely, there should’ve been some discussion with an adult mentioned or at least implied to reinforce that this was not okay.

I did at least enjoy reading the other girls stories and I believe each of them were important discussions about the issues and pressures faced in competitive sports.

Overall, this was a fairly easy read that was enjoyable plot. I just wish it was handled in a way that encouraged teens to seek support from professionals about mental health and inappropriate behaviour from adults.

Thankyou to the publishers for providing an E-Arc through netgalley for an honest review!

Thank you to NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Three teenage girls from different backgrounds, facing different struggles, trying to win a prestigious tennis tournament. We have Alice: 16, recently lost her dad, struggling with grief. Violetta: 16, tennis "influencer" in the shadow of her mom - a former tennis pro, with some unwise teen choices. Leylah: 17, back after 2 years away, type 1 diabetes, struggling with school but crushing tennis. Put them all in a villa to stay together while this tournament is happening.

This book touched on so many things and honestly handled them super well. We had mentions of eating disorders, drug use/abuse, different manifestations of racism (more in actions/behaviors as opposed to slurs), grief, an older guy "not crossing the line" with teen girls, and lots of emotion with friendships and familial relationships. Anna Gracia writes incredible books, and more people should read them.

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia was for me, as a tennis player, filled with nostalgia, rage, laughter, sadness, and a wish for more as I joined Alice, Violetta, and Leylah as they competed at the Bastille in a weeklong tournament that could change their lives.

Plot

Let's get my one gripe out of the way...I wish the timeline of the book had been longer than a week. I would have loved to watch the external and internal drama unfold in the lives of our players and on the court for longer, with some more intricate scenes of gameplay. That being said author, Anna Gracia, did a fantastic job navigating the intersectionality of friendships, race, grief, societal expectations, and more in this book. I enjoyed every second of it and did not want to put it down!

Setting

The book may be set at the "Bastille," but not the one you are thinking and I only say that because I was also thinking of Paris, France. Surprise! This book takes place in Florida at a tennis complex called "Bastille," and is inspired all around by French design and history. The descriptions set the scene and brought to life the feel of the tournament. I pictured the campus as something akin to Wimbledon on a smaller scale but with French architecture. As a teen tennis player, I would have loved to have taken part in this kind of tournament experience based on the setting and imagery found in The Misdirection of Fault Lines.

Characters

The characters of Alice, Violetta, and Leylah were well-developed and brought 3 distinct vibes and personalities to the book and while each character had their trials to overcome the one that I connected the most with was Alice. Watching her process the grief and in turn looking at how the death of someone important, like a parent, can truly affect our relationships with family, friends, hobbies, and ourselves was heart-opening and sometimes overwhelming. These types of characters hold such importance to me and add the connection that I seek when reading.

Overall

This book was one that I wish I had had growing up when I played tennis more frequently and was involved in tournaments and school sports. I loved the intersectionality of the story but also the humor, camaraderie, and ultimately the hope for the future the characters gained at the end. It's a solid 5-star read from me and one that I will most likely pick up for a reread in the future.

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Gracia will hit shelves this Tuesday, April 2, 2024! The perfect YA contemporary to add to your Spring and Summer reading lists!

*I do want to note that I cannot speak directly on the Asian American perspective of this book and strongly suggest seeking the reviews of others on this tour as well as the reviews of others when the book is released for a more well-rounded look at this book*

Thank you to Peachtree Teen and Colored Pages Book Tours for the ARC and for letting me be a part of the online book tour!

Thank you To Netgalley for providing me with an ARC of this story.
SPOILERS TO FOLLOW

I enjoyed this story despite not knowing anything about tennis. The story doesn't really explain the mechanics of tennis to the reader but I don't thinks that's really necessary. Yes the girls play tennis and it's like the main plot of the story, but during the tennis matches, it's mainly focused on how the girls feel and how they're hitting and not the tennis itself.

Leylah was my favorite character. I loved how stubborn and mean she was. I also enjoyed her brutal honesty and loyalty to people she cares about, even Alice (who she didn't really know), and Violetta (who at times did not deserve Leylah's loyalty). Her scenes with Noah were some of my favorite. He was super nice and understanding even though he barely knew Leylah and he always gave her the benefit of the doubt and it was really nice to see that someone was trying to break past her tough exterior.

Alice I expected to not remain in the tournament at all and I was right but... she had a mini redemption moment which I guess did help the plot in the long run. I still feel like she could have had her big realizations about herself without being put back in as the "loser card" (or something like that. I don't remember what it was called). Her getting back in on a technicality felt a bit forced almost but, like I said, it works out overall for the story.

Violetta was someone I really had trouble liking. I don't think I ever was really on her side. she seemed really vapid and full of herself at times. At the same time she was facing some serious mental health problems and an eating disorder. So most of the time I felt sympathy for her but also abject hatred for the way she would treat Leylah (by not being able to see how she had privilege in ways that Leylah did not) and for hurting Alice (using the secrets Alice told Violetta against her). I do think in the end that I liked her but it took a very long time to get there.

YA contemporary with multiple POVs and centered around competition, friendship, and self-growth. I loved this book! It was a witty, quick paced, and refreshing read. I don’t usually love multiple POVs, but the three main characters narratives blended so nicely together! Even with their opposites attract and new girl dynamics.

Then, this YA book was refreshing to me because it focused on initiating and rekindling female friendships, instead of fixating on a romance plot. I also really enjoyed the writing style and I want to read more books by Anna Gracia!

I don’t read as much YA as I used to but once in a while I still enjoy picking up a book that tells a good coming-of-age story - maybe for nostalgic reasons, or to feel less old haha! I really liked the premise of The Misdirection of Fault Lines - three young girls who compete at an elite tennis tournament - and was happy to receive the ARC.

The book is told from the POVs of our three protagonists, Alice, Violetta and Leylah; they are all American-Asian teenagers with different backgrounds, and they each have their own struggles to overcome. The tennis is a nice-to-have as a setting but it’s not so heavily featured that someone who doesn’t play themselves won’t be able to follow the storyline.

There’s a lot to unpack here, and the author has written a story that is heavily infused with topics such as racism, classism, family expectations, drug abuse and grief - to name only a few. But despite these rather heavy elements, this book still perfectly captures a teenage life, with all its messy and mesmerizing moments: the importance of friendship, the butterflies that come with falling in love, the journey of finding your place in the world.

This was a cute read; I loved the Asian representation and again found myself thinking: I wish that I could have read these kind of books growing up (I was a tennis-playing Asian-European teenager at some point!). I may not be the target readership anymore, but I just hope that we’ll continue to see more and more diverse books, in every genre, but especially in YA literature. Representation always matters but perhaps it matters more and most when you’re still young and growing up and trying to find your way.

Thanks to @netgalley, @peachtreeteen and @grahseeya for the ARC. The Misdirection of Fault Lines will be published on April 2.

4 stars rounded up from 3.5

dnf @ 25%

I liked this author's debut (when a lot of other people didn't, which was valid, it just worked for me) but hated her second book (but chalked that up to her trying to write a trashy 2000s book because it was for an MTV imprint). Honestly I know if I finish this one, there will probably be at least some character development. but it must be said that she writes these same self-hating asian-american protagonists, and that can only go so far for me. Add in the fact that there are THREE main characters who are self-hating in different ways in this book, and I just can't bring myself to go on.

I was going to say that the three povs do read fairly distinctly but then I thought about it and honestly it was just Alice's pov that read differently because she's grieving. However, this was made more apparent by the fact that her chapters are filled to the brim with metaphors. Once I noticed that, I couldn't stop noticing it.

Shout-out to having a Vietnamese-American main character I guess but she also annoyed me the most. Maybe because I'm Vietnamese so I didn't exactly need the explanations, but I feel like all the explanations about her character and Vietnamese culture were so over-explained. I actually made the decision to dnf the book after the chapter where she's telling her love interest why her name is Leylah Lê. Let me just tell you why: her actual first name is Ha, Vietnamese names are surname-given name so her name is actually Lê Ha, and so she goes by Leylah because it's the closest thing to her "actual" name as she can get.

First off, she didn't seem to be following Vietnamese culture super intensely and I'm pretty sure (I guess this is an assumption on my part) that she was born in the US so it just does not make sense to me why she would be following the Vietnamese way of ordering names, like is that just me?? Even if you personally ordered your name that way, when you go to school and stuff they will still order your name the American way??? Maybe if her parents had chosen it but I'm pretty sure she picked the name. It just doesn't make sense!!