The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon was the life story of a gymnast, including all the heartbreak, the sacrifice, and the hard work that it took to get tot he Olympics. As much as all of want to believe that these athletes are pure and good, it appears many of them may not be. They have arrogant and ambitious coaches, parents, and competitors that test them and sometimes they come out as the loser. Sometimes they are flat out taken advantage of, as well. This is the story of one of these athletes: Sera. It is not a particularly pretty story, in fact, sometimes it was downright hard to read: painful, even. I didn't love it. I don't love stories of abuse, of any kind. The price is too high. I wouldn't read it again.

I was invited to read The Happiest Girl in the World Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thehappiestgirlintheworld

Though written as fiction, The Happiest Girl in the World is unfortunately based on true-life aspects of the world of competitive gymnastics. The reader truly gets to see all kinds of abuse inflicted on these young girls. I don't know how their parents can encourage them to give up a normal childhood in exchange for long hours of training and physical injuries that will haunt them the rest of their lives. Is all the sacrifice really worth it? After reading this book along with Mercy House, I can't wait to see what topic the author tackles next. Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow and Book Club Girls for the advance copy to read and review.

I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley. The Happiest Girl in the World tells the story of Sera Wheeler, a girl who is on the training path to become an Olympian gymnast. She trains for 30+ hours a week, and training takes precedence over family, friends, education, and own physical well-being. The story fictionalizes the sexual abuse scandal that rocked USA Gymnastics. This is a fast-paced and riveting read that I am sure I will remember every time I watch a gymnastics competition in the future!

3.5 Olympic dream stars

Sera and her best friend Lucy are aspiring Olympians, putting in countless hours in the gym to reach the Olympic team one day. Most are probably familiar with many elements of this book for gymnasts: food deprivation, medication, relentless training, injuries, expense, and abuse by doctors.

It was hard to read at times, especially knowing that similar things really happened to many young women and many turned the other way rather than helping these athletes. We get the perspective mostly from Sera, but a few chapters from her mother and how important it was to her that Sera succeed. Her family makes countless sacrifices. It was also agony seeing the perspective of Sera’s parents and wondering if the doctor treated Sera inappropriately.

Through all of this, I rooted hard for Sera to overcome many obstacles she faced. When her friend Lucy accuses the doctor, does Sera stand by her or stay silent to preserve her place as an Olympic candidate?

I have always loved watching the Olympics, but I have a different lens now after reading this book. I hope that the sport and the Olympic committees continue to reform.

The Happiest Girl in the World is an engaging and intense novel about a gymnast’s journey to the Olympics. All Sera has ever wanted is to go medal at the Olympics. Sera’s mom shares her dream and will do anything to help Sera succeed. Sera’s best friend has been training beside her for years until she reports her doctor for sexual assault. This affects their friendship and Sera has to choose between standing up for her best friend or supporting the sport that she loves. The book follows Sera’s triumphs and failures. The darker side of gymnastics is discussed throughout the book while Sera achieves her dreams. The Happiest Girl in the World is told from the perspectives of Sera and her mother, Charlene. This was the first book I’ve read that mentions the pandemic. It is mentioned briefly at the end. The Happiest Girl in the World is a must read for fans of the Olympics and gymnastics. I felt like I got to learn more about the sport. The Happiest Girl in the World is a story of fighting for your goals and friendship. This book is difficult to read at times but very enjoyable overall.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Frankie Corzo and Mikhaila Aaseng and they both did a great job. They were the perfect voices for Sera and Charlene.

Thank you William Morrow and Harper Audio for The Happiest Girl in the World.

The Happiest Girl in the World follows the journey of Sera Wheeler and her best friend Lucy both young and determined Olympic Gymnast hopefuls. The story brings to light the cruel world of elite athletes, what they endure and to what lengths they are willing to go to for success.

The author created a novel that grabs the reader very quickly and doesn't release you until the end. She combines real-life events (USA Olympic Gymnast sexual abuse case and COVID-19) with the story of Sera's rise and fall. I was instantly hooked to Sera's character, her stumbles, her successes. You wanted so many things from Sera, you wanted her to win, you wanted her to quit, to tell the truth. But most of all you wanted her to succeed.

This book is subtle, opening it up, I never thought I would get sucked in and attached the way I did to the characters. Being a fiction book, but with so much non-fiction content, it was hard to remember that this was a fictional character.

This was a quick read, that kept me engaged the entire way through. I would recommend this book.
*TW for eating disorders and sexual abuse.

As a former gymnast, I was really looking forward to reading this book.
I started reading this book, and really enjoyed the writing and concept. But ultimately, I had to DNF because it was too triggering for me (as a former gymnast). I do think the topic is incredibly important, and if this content does not trigger you, I would recommend reading.

The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon earns a gold medal from me. The ironic title is based on a quote from US Olympic gold medalist Shawn Johnson.

This is the fast-paced tale of an Olympic-hopeful gymnast, from early childhood through adulthood, and is told primarily from Sera's point of view with occasional interludes from her mother Charlene. It illustrates the relentless commitment required from athletes as well as their parents, siblings, coaches, and others in terms of time, focus, money, and so much more. At times, it's difficult to read because the sacrifices feel too great to justify the potential rewards. TW: disordered eating, sexual assault of children and young women

In writing a novel about USA Women's Gymnastics covering the years 2010 to present (and beyond), the author included several prominent athletes and COVID-19 as well as the sport's darkest days; there are characters based on Dr. Larry Nassau, former USA Gymnastics physician and convicted serial rapist/sex offender as well as controversial leaders/coaches Bela and Martha Karolyi.

While reading, I kept thinking about the role the public plays in continually raising expectations from student athletes at all levels. I'll never watch Olympic sports without thinking of this novel and the story it shares.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the review copies; all thoughts are my own.

CONTENT WARNING

The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon follows a young gymnast and her family through the trials and tribulations of training for National and Olympic Teams. We follow Sera Wheeler from being a six-year-old naive young girl to a twenty-year-old, tortured, Olympic hopeful.
However, we also experience the real-life headlines from USA gymnastics from 2010-2020, including the allegations against and charges of Larry Nassar (name changed). The Karolyi's and the closure of Karolyi Ranch (name changed). While the criminal's names were changed, the famous gymnasts from this time period and who testified in the Nassar trial kept their real names in this book.

I know the author stated in her Author's Note that the fictional story was of her own making, but it had a "ripped from the headlines" feel to me that I can't get over. I am hopeful that the real-life victims featured in this book are okay with this story being written. While the conviction of the abusive and disgusting team doctor was one aspect of this book, it also featured many struggles that elite athletes face when it comes to deciding how far they will go with their bodies, trusting in the adults around them, betraying friends, and teammates, and committing their whole life to a sport that can ruin them.

I really appreciate this story being out there for parents of young athletes to read and be aware of what young girls go through - including disordered eating, excessive exercise, misuse of medications, sexual assault, etc. However, I wish it did not include as much real-life information, all the way down to the details of a dad trying to assault (Nassar) during this trial. I think I just wish the information in this story could have been told in a more fictional way, as I think this particular story is the victim's to share.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What was your Olympic dream growing up? I always thought something like gymnastics or figure skating would be amazing, and each Olympic year I would watch in awe (okay, but let’s be real that kind of dedication is insane, I prefered my books). “The Happiest Girl in the World” by Alena Dillon follows Sera Wheeler, gymnast and Olympic hopeful, through the ups and downs of rigorous training and the scandal that rocked the USA Gymnastics program.

Wow. This book. Dillon creates a beautiful character in the form of Sera Wheeler. Sera is flawed by desire and drive. A willingness to do almost anything to get ahead. Sera is so painfully real, that it’s almost curious how by the end I still liked her. I think that as humans we crave to see people do something amazing. To watch Sera’s dream felt worthy and satisfying, even when she was making massive mistakes.

I found it very interesting to read a fictional take on Larry Nassar from Sera’s perspective. She was close enough to feel the shock waves, without being directly involved. Dillon’s use of Sera felt like a smart move so as to not overshadow the true victims, but rather to shed light on the others involved- the people who knew what was going on and said nothing.

Overall, this book was a solid 5 stars for me. I couldn’t put it down and mentally cheered every time someone stuck a landing (someone please bring back the Olympics, I’m dying to watch impressive people do impressive things). I think there are valuable lessons about hiding dark secrets, but more importantly listening and doing something when we see wrong in the world.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest review! Pub day is today, be sure to check it out!

One of my early memories is watching Nadia Comaneci score the first perfect 10 at the 1976 Olympics. My own childhood attempt at gymnastics soon after was, of course, short-lived but I have been interested in the sport ever since. The Happiest Girl in the World shows what can happen when you go all in to train toward the Olympics—both the good and the very bad.

Sera Wheeler and her friend Lucy love gymnastics and, as young children, think it’s fun. They practice talking to the press for their future interviews, saying they feel like “the happiest girl in the world.” As they get older and their training gets more serious, they train for 25 and later 40 hours or more per week, putting themselves through daily pain in pursuit of a spot on the Olympic team—something only 4-5 women achieve every 4 years. The book makes you ask at what point is the extremely restricted diet, the physical toll, and the abuse (verbal, physical, and, in some cases, sexual by the team doctor) too much? When is it time to stop? And at what point has your family invested so much in your dream that you couldn’t stop even if you wanted to?

The sexual abuse topic is difficult, dark, and fresh from the headlines. It is a major thread in the book, but it’s not the only focus and it isn’t the only dark aspect. You will want to keeping reading (and perhaps stay up later than you should) to find out what happens next as you follow Sera and Lucy through their training, their friendship, and their decisions from about 2008 through the COVID-19 pandemic and into 2021. Although it’s fiction, I think this would be a good book for parents to read and think hard about whether going for the gold is worth it.

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and the Book Club Girls for the advance copy in exchange for an honest review. My opinion is my own.

“𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘮𝘺 𝘴𝘶𝘤𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘮𝘢𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘯𝘰 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘮𝘦? 𝘖𝘳 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘐 𝘣𝘦 𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘩𝘢𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘸𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘪𝘵 𝘤𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘵𝘰 𝘣𝘦 𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘢𝘯 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵?”

Alena Dillon had me hooked from page one of 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗣𝗜𝗘𝗦𝗧 𝗚𝗜𝗥𝗟 𝗜𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗟𝗗. At five years old, Sera Wheeler is identified as a gifted gymnast. Her mother, Charlene, who always thought she was meant for more than her boring Midwestern life, decides that a special daughter means she's special too. She and Sera become 100% focused on gymnastics and no sacrifice is too great - family, friends, money, school, Sera's health... they all come second to the possibility of Olympic gold.

⁣The book covers fifteen years and incorporates actual people and events - Shawn Johnson, Simone Biles, Gabby Douglas and other famous gymnasts make appearances and the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal plays a pivotal part, although the doctor here has a different name - making Sera's story feel all the more real. The detailed account of what these girls put themselves through to succeed is harrowing and Dillon also nails so many nuances that have nothing to do with gymnastics like the dynamics of girl friendships, the manipulation between a wife and her husband and Midwestern slang and passive aggressiveness.

This is the first fiction I've read that incorporates the pandemic as the 2020 Olympics are postponed and we see how Sera and her family deal with Covid. The author mentions she worked on this book for years and I'm curious if there was once a different ending because the way it plays now works perfectly.

It's hard to say you love a book that includes sexual, emotional and sometimes physical abuse but this was a remarkable read. It's dark and shocking but also relatable and unputdownable, and I'll never watch sports the same way again.

Thanks to Custom House Books & NetGalley for a copy to review.

I was immediately intrigued by the premise of Alena Dillon's latest novel, The Happiest Girl in the World. I love books focused on sports, and the inner lives of elite athletes, as well as "ripped from the headlines" plots, and this offers up both on a quite hard to put down platter. I enjoyed this book so much, I'm now itching to get my hands on everything else the author has written!

While there are many books out there about elite athletes, and even about elite gymnastics, what makes this book stand out is that is follows very closely the events of USA Gymnastics former doctor Larry Nassar who sexually assaulted so many young girls during his time, and the dramatic court case that convicted him after his victims testified in court against him. Watching those young women speak out against their tormentor was incredibly powerful, and Dillon's fictionalized account of these events is just as powerful.

The story is told from the perspective not of one of the victims, but a friend of one of the victims of the doctor in this story (Eddie) who is clearly meant to be an avatar of Nassar. Sera's (the main character) story is in turns heartbreaking, at times infuriating, and ultimately I think very realistic. She is so single minded in her quest for Olympic gold, she will go to any lengths to achieve it--even if it means turning her back on her best friend. But Sera is also motivated not just by her own personal ambitions, but by the guilt for what her Olympic dreams have meant for her family over the years--becoming an elite athlete is not cheap, and I'm sure it's hard on so many families. I was especially struck by the tale of Joe, her twin-- what must the siblings of these larger than life teen athletes feel as their counterparts are training for hours a day and the family has to sacrifice everything for their dream?

There were times I had to put this book down because it was so infuriating to see the adults in this book continue to dismiss, disbelieve, and outright lie to protect one man despite so many girls trying to get help for what was happening to them. It just made me incensed all over again thinking about the Nassar trial. The chapters told from the mom's perspective were particularly hard to get through, but ultimately added to the overall drama and tension of the story.

The book is partially set in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic and I for one am excited to start seeing books write about this time period --Dillon's portrayal of her characters in 2020 feels very present-tense and I enjoyed how she captured this unique and awful time in our lives.

I highly recommend this book if you like contemporary stories inspired by real world events, or if you enjoy reading about gymnastics and the world of elite sports.

The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon takes you through the world of US Women's Gymnastics. The story is told from the perspective of Sera, a budding gymnastic, who will risk her body, family, and friends for a spot on the Olympic podium. The story itself followed the timeline of the sexual assault scandal that rocked gymnastics a few years ago. With nods to real life gymnasts, The Happiest Girl in the World will change the way that you think of women's gymnastics. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I have always been obsessed with gymnastics, ever since I was a little girl. I loved finding out about the ins and outs of the USA gymnastics (although fictional to a point) The author does a great job of touching on a very sensitive subject and the demands of being an Olympian. I think as fans we forget the hardships that this can put on all members of the family. And the fact that Sera was a twin really highlighted how her brother’s needs were neglected for hers. I also loved that this was the first book that talked realistically about covid and how the quarantining and social distancing effected the country.
There are obvious trigger warnings: child molestation, neglect, peer pressure, underage drinking, prescription drug abuse, covid-19.
Still highly recommended for those that enjoy a well written modern “historical” fiction.

Thanks to William Morrow for an advanced copy of The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon.

If you are a fan of gymnastics or someone who followed the USA Gymnastics scandal a few years ago then I recommend this book to you. I liked watching gymnastics in the Olympics growing up, I was 11 for the 1996 Olympics and loved the Magnificent 7. I haven't really followed gymnastics much recently, but it is a sport I'm fascinated by and what it takes to compete at the elite level.

There were parts of this book I enjoyed, the drive to succeed, the training and hearing about the family sacrifices to train as an Olympic gymnast But I struggled with how close this followed the gymnastics scandal. The author only fictionalized the coaches & doctors name and the main character Sera, but pretty much everything else followed the actual scandal. So it felt a little weird to read in parts, but I did like that it did touch on the 2020 Olympics being postponed and added in that element.

I struggled a bit with how to rate/review this, ultimately landing on a 3.5, because I know this story...you likely know this story.

It's well written, it's important, it's impactful. It's a fictional account of gymnast Sera Wheeler as she pursues her Olympic dream. Enter tough Russian coaches, a brutal training camp in Texas and a helpful team doctor. While Sera herself isn't real a lot of the details surrounding her are very real.

As someone who followed the Larry Nassar story, Alena Dillon does a great job replicating the deception, the trauma and fall-out that follows in this book. But you're also getting the story of Sera, her dreams and her sacrifices. I was a little bummed that one of the major character arcs is given away in the synopsis--I felt it was a pivotal moment for her character that was not a surprise to me. The people who surround Sera are all pretty much equally disappointing--even at times, Sera herself is a hard character to root for.

But I also couldn't put it down. As much as I couldn't stand her mother, I enjoyed the glimpses into her brain through her chapters.

I've always been in awe of Olympic athletes, especially gymnasts. It is what drew me to follow the story of how an entire organization failed so many young girls and it is what drew me to this book! I'm glad I read it and it is one you want to discuss!

Thank you to Net Galley, William Morrow and Custom House for a copy of this eARC as part of The Book Club Girls Early Reads Program. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Sera Wheeler is a gymnast, a very good one. She has her sights set on the Olympics. Can she deal with all the deprivation, sacrifice (physical and emotional), degradation, and pressure she must face to get there?

While this book is about Sera and her friend Lucy, it’s also about her family. Her mother, father, and twin brother also face sacrifice and deprivation. Her father wants only what’s best for her, preferably a normal childhood. Her brother is resentful at times because he has to give up so much in order for Sera to be the center of attention. Her mother, well, she’s a stage mother of the worst kind. She uses Sera so that she can receive the validation of her worth that Sera’s success brings her.

This was a good book, at least in part based on a true story, but a tough book to read. It hard to watch Sera and Lucy deal with pain, injury, molestation, stunted growth, and favoritism. These girls are in pain all of the time. By twelve years old, they’re eating three Advil for breakfast, more to follow later on in the day. By sixteen, it’s six Advil at a time. There are other drugs that are abused, too. These children are starved, treated as if they’re dirt, and used for the good of their trainers’ egos. It’s also hard to watch all that her family gives up to afford Sera’s training and travel, costumes and medical expenses.

The last chapter was a bit of fantasy. I suspect it had to be hastily rewritten. In it, Covid arrives just in time to interfere with the 2020 Olympics, which is true. But quickly, Covid restrictions are removed completely, no masks necessary. By spring of 2021, Olympic trials can be held in fully packed stadiums with no mediation at all. I didn’t buy this ending, but I liked the rest of the book.

These girls are pushed beyond endurance, beyond exhaustion, to the point of lifelong physical and mental damage. When Sera thinks about quitting because she doesn’t think she can go on, she forces herself because she knows how much debt her family has acquired to allow her to reach such a high level of competition. She want to help them repay those debt through the prize money and sponsorship she will receive if she can make the Olympic team, more if she can win a medal. That weight on a young woman is backbreaking.

You need to have a strong stomach to read this book. It will drag you into the darkness and pain that elite gymnastics demands. You'll come to admire Sera's determination and willingness to suffer, keeping the big goal in mind.

I received an advanced reader copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

The Happiest Girl in the World by Alena Dillon is a compelling novel about a young woman’s quest to reach the pinnacle of gymnastics as a member of the US Olympic Team and the toll it takes on her childhood, her body, her family and her friendships.
Sera and her best friend Lucy are 9 year olds from Kokomo Indiana, training at an elite gymnastics facility in Indianapolis. They share their dream of participating in the Olympics and are innocently enthusiastic about all the training and pain associated with it. As their talent is recognized, they are sent to a junior national training camp in Texas, run by the Baloghs, whose identities are thinly veiled Marta and Bela Karolyi. There the girls endure endless sessions of physical and mental anguish as they reach for excellence in the sport, and they also experience the attention of the team physician, Eddie Levett, who slyly grooms his victims for sexually inappropriate touching. Levett is certainly a reference to the infamous convicted USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar. The girls’ experiences at the Ranch felt raw and real, and made me remember all the stories in the news about the USA Gymnastics scandal revolving around this doctor and his victims, who were not believed by their coaches and their parents.

The story is told from the alternating points of view of Sera, and her mother Charlene Wheeler. That construct is very effective in conveying the hopes and drive of Sera to achieve her dreams, and her mother’s need to find meaning and importance in a world where she thinks she is just another ordinary housewife. Sera’s father is worried, but ineffectual in the face of his wife’s obsession with Sera’s success, and her twin brother Joe is reduced to a background player in the family drama. The narrative is realistic and rings true with its dialogue and observations of Midwest culture. (Born and raised in Wisconsin, I can relate). The writing is clever, with my special appreciation of Sera’s noting the pet elephant in the house, which represents the secrets and unspoken accusations, admissions of guilt and feelings of her family members. “My parents…continued into the house, the elephant lumbering after them.”

Having this fictional story set in the real world of gymnastics and the Olympics, with references to recognizable celebrities like Gabby Douglas, makes it even more compelling. Reading about the terrible pain and injuries and training rituals is difficult, and certainly makes it feel absolutely real and true. Conversely, listening to Sera’s inner thoughts about the exhilaration of mastering a difficult trick and flying through the air in perfect control of her body makes the reader realize that elite athletes have a unique spirit and focus that takes them to the highest levels of achievement. In the end, this book is skillfully written and very aptly draws a realistic picture of the price of achieving excellence in athletics and the ripples it sends through the athlete’s life.

Thanks to William Morrow/HarperCollins Publishers and NetGalley for this ARC. This my unbiased review.

Thank you to @HarperCollins and @TheBookClubGirls for the ARC.

I really enjoyed this book. It was well written and a quick read. Not knowing first-hand the intricacies of elite level sports it seemed to be well researched.

It was happy, sad, and heartbreaking at times. I would definitely recommend.