Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

I want to start my review by saying that I know nothing about ballet, and I loved this book! Everything was described in an easy-to-understand manner without being over descriptive.

I enjoyed that it was a dual time one story, but I really did not like Lindsay in the “present day” timeline. She acted so entitled and was super annoying. How we, I was dying to know what the secret was Margot and Delphine kept from Lindsay all those years. I was surprised when I found out as well.

I felt this story was very much a nudge for feminism and against the patriarchy, but it didn’t bother me in the slightest. Also, be aware of a trigger warning for abortion.

Overall, if the few things above do not offend or trigger you, then I do recommend this one.

I really struggled with this story and the book itself. I thought I was getting myself into a thriller, and expected some kind of adult version of “Dare Me” (which I haven’t read, but have seen). I wouldn’t really label this book as a thriller at all. It felt more adult fiction (with YA flashbacks), but was full of most trigger warnings imaginable (sexual assault, abuse, murder, to just name a few).

All of the characters are immensely unlikeable and it’s impossible to root for anyone in the mess of story. The thing that kept me reading was this promise of some horrid thing two of the main characters did to the third some 20ish years ago. But the reveal is underwhelming, and at that point there’s already some other major plot point working to wiggle its way into the story.

The ending of the book felt like the author didn’t know how to end her story after the climax, so settled on wrapping it in a perfect bow. I honestly hated it - the ending, not the book. But the book, I disliked.

I struggled to get through this one, because I was curious to see where the story was going, but not curious enough to constantly want to know what happened. The book jumped to the past and worked its way forward while also maintaining a story in the present day. Not all of the past stories had any impact on what happened in the present day (the one of Delphine at the airport? Why did we need that?).

Delphine was not a likeable character at all. She was self-absorbed and only interested in herself, and then was left wondering why her relationships fell apart. Perhaps this was the result of the world of a ballerina, perhaps this was what it took to be a successful ballerina. I don't know, but it was hard to like the main character. To be honest, I kind of wanted Lindsay's story! This book seemed long but it was only 300-ish pages. Not a lot of action and very slow moving, which is fine if there is character development occuring. In this case, there wasn't.

If you've ever been to the ballet, you've most likely been captivated by the poise, the control, and the movements of the dancers. But behind the grace and beauty on stage, there's a very different world - one that author Rachel Kapelke-Dale explores in The Ballerinas...

Full review published on NightsAndWeekends.com - and aired on Shelf Discovery

This book had promise but failed to capture my attention. There were fleeting moments of interest and inteigue, but for the most part I found myself indifferent.

The Ballerinas is an interesting read about friendship among 3 ballerinas in Paris. The book was engaging from the beginning to the end.

Sadly, this book did not work for me The first 30% of this book had SO much potential, but not much happened after to keep my interest. I just could not connect with any of the characters because there were not any redeeming qualities that made me root for anyone. The book did not feel very thrilling due to it being very slow. The plot was also confusing and I could not decide what exactly the point of the book was. The writing was fine, but I felt as though the time jumps did not have a complete purpose and instead made it very hard to follow.

I could not finish because I kept seeking more than the author willing herself to give. Sorry. The premise sounded good, but the execution left more to desire.

I didn't finish this book. I wanted to love it so much because it's about the Paris Opera but the setup is too long. We know there is a crime but more than 30% into the book I still don't have any clue what is happening or where the story is going. I might read the book again and will update this review. I might actually love it... I'm hoping I do! 3 stars because I imagine it's a good one... provided I finish it. Again, I'll update my review when / if I finish.

The Ballerinas, a debut novel from Rachel Kapelke-Dale, offers an inside look at the all-consuming life of a ballerina. The story centers around three girls who became fast friends at a prestigious ballet school in Paris and eventually earned their places in the ballet company. Despite their friendship, there is also an underlying competition to earn the best roles. To what lengths will each go? Each one also struggles to "be seen" as a person outside their stage presence. It was interesting to get a behind-the-scenes look at the world of ballet and the many hours of grueling training and sacrifices made. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy to read and review.

The Ballerinas is a story told by three women who have their dreams, passions, friendships, angsts, and love all tied up in an excruciating life of dancing. When the ballerinas are on the stage they are gorgeous, what has to be done for them to seem so beautiful is the difficult and hard part which is told in detail in this story. The book is interesting but not really what I was expecting, however, it does provide the reader with good entertainment.
I downloaded a free copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest opinion.

This was my first book by this author, It was pretty enjoyable. I would give this book a 3.5 star rating! It was a pretty Quick and easy read!

Character-driven, slow burning, and realistic, The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale is a novel--part drama, part women's fiction--that delves into the competitive, disciplined, and often excruciating lifestyle of the professional dancer. Fans of the ballet will enjoy this one.

A powerful story of friendship, love, life and second chances. About pursuing your dreams, no matter what the cost or the consequences might be. About living, loving, forgiving and growing up.

I was excited to read The Ballerinas as you don’t find many stories about ballet or ballerinas. The story centers on a former ballerina, now choreographer, of the Paris Opera Ballet and her two closest friends. Reading about their lives as young girls coming of age in a highly competitive environment was enjoyable, but I couldn’t get invested in the characters. The story is told on a dual-timeline and alternates between Paris and Russia. At times, it was difficult to follow. I liked the way the author slowly unfolded the background stories of all the characters, but the end of the book took a sharp turn to a conclusion that didn’t really fit with the foundation story. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the Advanced Reader’s Copy of this book.
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I really loved the inside peek into the world of ballet, which I really don't know anything about! It was so real and I loved the women's stories and how they were woven together. The characters were interesting and complicated and the plot was interesting too. I'm really glad I read this one!

I enjoyed The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. I was initially drawn in by the cover and hopes it would give Black Swan vibes. While this story is not as dark as Black Swan I was not disappointed as we follow Delphine through a look at both her life and career as a Ballerina and the secrets that continue to follow her. I always love a storyline where characters are driven by their passion and the desire to achieve more exploits their darker sides.

Overall, I would recommend this book as a contemporary fiction selection. Made a great winter read in front of a fire and a glass of your favorite red wine.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me the opportunity to read the ARC.

I wanted to read this book as I enjoy books about the ballet. This book is that and sooooooo much more. It is the story of a former ballet dancer becoming a choreographer and taking back her life and self-respect. It is the story of a ballet company--the ins and outs of how to get ahead (becoming a "star"). It is the story of what girls sacrifice for perfection and what they have to give up for their art. But maybe most of all it is the story of women taking over their own bodies and their own lives. The author writes in such descriptive language that the reader can almost hear the music and smell the sweat, she puts you right in the middle of the ballet.

I tried so so hard to get into this one and just couldn't. It took me forever to get through, because I just kept getting bored. I wish it had been a little bit faster paced! I also struggled to like any of the characters, which sometimes doesn't bother me, but didn't help me in this case.

Thank you, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and unbiased opinion.

The Ballerinas had a lot of hope and potential based on premise and main cast of characters. But that was the only part of the book that held any promise. As a reader, I quickly lost interest in consistent ballerinas terms and dancing scenes. I wished for a more dramatic tale based on the synopsis.