I thought this was fantastic. Every character was compelling, the suspense was executed brilliantly. I found it hard to put down!

Bea's dancing has been one of few bright spots in her mother Ever's life this past year, which saw the loss of Ever's husband and financial stability—and with a scholarship on the line, suddenly this season of dance matters more than ever. But Ever and Bea aren't the only ones desperate for that scholarship: Bea's onetime best friend Olive dances at the same studio, as does her nemesis Savvy...not to mention the other girls who dream of dancing in Paris. Not to mention their parents.

This is mostly a book about those parents: Ever, of course; and her best friend Lindsay, who might be more invested in Olive's dance prospects than Olive is; and Josie, who dreams of seeing Savvy having an independence—without relying on a man—that she herself never really had.

Greenwood is herself a dance mom—in the author's note, she describes the book as a "love letter" and "also a story of what happens when ambition becomes a dark thing" (loc.152*). But it's fiction, fortunately, a version of dark ambition that neither she nor her daughter experienced.

Ballet books are one of those things that I have no personal stake in but love reading anyway, which means that I've inevitably read my fair share of the darker side of things—ground glass in pointe shoes and all. (You'd better believe that made me nervous when a certain character was gifted some pointe shoes...) But this is the restrained side of dark, and it's better for it: yes, there are characters, numerous characters, who do not always act as stand-up members of society...but even when they're being petty and unkind, jealous and calculating, we can see where they're coming from and why.

A side note: There's a point(e) to be made here about the ways in which people who are successful (or attractive, or confident, or all of the above) in certain spheres are allowed to get away with far more than they should—the way a particular male character is allowed to run rampant through the pages, tossing out small grenades and then smirking to see them land. He is not in himself particularly interesting, but the blind eye that so many other characters turn is.

All round a satisfying read. I believe I've had my eye on one or two of the author's other books for quite some time, so I may have to bump those up the queue.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

*I read an ARC, and quotes may not be final.

As a former ballet student, this book brought me straight back to that point in my life in my mind. Every reference, from the magazines they're reading to the brands on their leotards is so specific and accurate - you can tell this author KNOWS the dance world. I loved so much the nostalgia that brought me, and it made it so much better that it was all stacked on top of a truly compelling plot with an ending I totally didn't see coming. The author jumped between a myriad of perspectives seamlessly, and in doing so gave us a view into a complete community with an amalgamation of relevant problems arising in each of their lives. Each individual storyline felt real and pertinent, but brought together the concerns of the entire dance community painted a fascinating picture of how little we know about what's going on in the lives of the people around us, and how we can be both solely focused on an individual goal and all going through a bunch of personal problems.

**Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**

The writing is flawless. I felt every elation and painful stab the characters felt, and I was actively involved in ballet drama taking place across the page as though it were my bread and butter.
I was a little annoyed that considering the book is entirely narrated from the POV of female characters, all their choices and thoughts revolve around men (be they their husbands or the damned ballet master). These women flitted across chapters and chapters, the opinion of them formed at the start staying exactly the same to the end (which some might like, me not so much); it almost felt as though in spite of everything happening they were carved from stone, unchangeable and immutable.
Overall a pleasant read, and a great way to dive into the world of ballet.

Tammy Greenwood is a master storyteller. Her latest portrays the highly competitive world of ballet, which was fascinating. Multiple narrators create intrigue and suspense. The character development is outstanding and readers will devour this. For fans of Eliza Jane Brazier and Megan Abbott.

The Still Point was a thrilling domestic drama set against the complex, and sometimes ruthless, backdrop of competitive ballet. I was not ever a dancer myself, but I have always been enthralled by the complete devotion that the art asks of its performers. This book did a compelling job of showing the beauty, elegance, teamwork and art of ballet, but also the cut-throat competitiveness that selectively removes those who are not ready to step into stardom.

The book follows the lives of three dancers and three mothers as they navigate the final year of dance at their exclusive dance studio. The beauty of the novel came from the tangible realness of the characters. They struggled, they flourished, they made good choices as well as exceptionally bad ones. All the while, there was this entirely relatable quality that made me feel as though I couldn’t possibly read fast enough!

I thought this book also did a good job in drawing in the drama from such a competitive environment (think Dance Moms) and using it to propel the book. The pressure chamber of competition really illuminated the duality of regular people and our ability to choose the right things, but also to choose the path of least resistance and act in very self-serving ways. This can be true in any case, but it was riveting to read it in this context.

Truthfully, I am still reeling from the ending and thought it gave major Little Fires Everywhere vibes. I LOVE that we ended in some grey space. No one is ever perfect, but this ending was perfect for this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington publishing house for access to this eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Sometimes, it feels like a book is specifically catered to your interested and as a fan of ballet/dance and reality television shows—The Still Point was that book for me.

This is my first Tammy Greenwood novel but I was immediately hooked. I like characters that feel real and from the teenagers and the adults, they felt fleshed out, messy, and real. Greenwood didn't need to sit and explain every single background of the characters' interpersonal relationships, but instead left the readers with the perfect amount of explanation and inference.

I thought the juxtaposition between the drama of the ballet world mixed with the volatile Californian weather was done really well as well; the third act of the novel felt like a race and I stayed up far too late to finish it.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed The Still Point and it's a highlight in the list of books I've read this year.

I grew up taking dance lessons and watching my sister aspire to be a professional ballerina so this book interested me. All ballerinas aspire to be the best and the best can come at a cost. The story revolves around 3 mothers and their ballerina daughters. When a professional dance teacher comes to the studio offering one of the girls a scholarship to a Paris ballet company, the competition heats up. If you love the world of dance mixed with some backstabbing drama, this is your book. It was a bit slow paced at times for me, but overall a fun read. Thank you to Netgalley, Kensington Books, and the author for the ARC.

For fans of Big Little Lies, Tammy Greenwood's The Still Point satisfies my love for reality drama and stories involving the tangled webs of relationships.

The Still Point brings us in to three mothers and their daughters in a small Californian town as they are upended by the arrival of Etienne, ballet bad boy, new teacher at the small ballet school, and the keeper of keys for a scholarship at Paris Academie.

I felt The Still Point did a fantastic job of representing the relationships between mother and daughter - the sacrifices made, how the roles can switch, and the inevitable fall from the pedestal both attach one another to. Whilst I was never an organised sport child, I was the sister to one and the constant carting to practice, the reduced social calendar for both parent and child, and the need for reassurance and approval that you are good enough were shouting their way out of this book.

It was interesting to see that whilst the characters will do anything to reach their desired goal (and some make some extremely rash decisions), none of them are inherently out to do bad things. Greenwood does a fantastic job of showing the power of resilience and those who will do anything, give up anything to allow their loved ones to succeed.

I especially loved reading the author's note and hearing about Greenwood's own experiences within this world which made it all the more real.

Thank you to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the arc!

Not the worst ballet novel I’ve read, also not the best. This was my first title by Tammy Greenwood so I can’t speak to how it compares to the others, but I’d read her a again.

4/5 stars

The Still Point, a multiple point of view work of fiction depicting the world of ballet. By using classic themes of artistry and sabotage mixed with human grief and growth Greenwood writes a tale with the basic foundation of her own experience as a mom. The book was intriguing due to its character led reveals at just the right moment, giving a thriller-esc storyline without your classic crime.

The book follows three young women on the cusp of their professional ballet journey, and their moms. When an elite Paris ballet teacher visits their studio in California offering one scholarship to the Paris Ballet company it’s game on for the dancers. Like “Dance Moms” the mothers tend to have more stake in the careers of their daughters than the dancers themselves. However, unlike the classic reality tv show the storyline is elevated as the focus is classic ballet. As always with ballet in media, there is a balance between beauty and pain. Readers will enjoy as it’s not only a story of the tortured artist, there is the plot of these six women’s lives outside of the ballet world as well.

The ending of this book was not what I expected, making the book even the more enjoyable. I felt some elements of the ending were more fantastical than the rest of the book, however they were not so far out to feel out of place. My only qualm, which was a small qualm to have, was the use of “tik tok” as part of the plot. I realize it is a large part of our culture and many people use the app regularly, especially at the age of the young women, however in a story where the nostalgia of rock music and hippie California it felt a little too modern.

Ballet is a favorite subject matter of mine to have a window into viewing. The beauty that results from the dedication and sacrifice of the dancers is acknowledged well in this book. I look forward to purchasing a hard copy when it is released, as the cover art is stunning. I would recommend this to anyone else who enjoys the beauty of ballet.

Thank you to net galley and Kensington publishing for the chance to read the ARC. I can’t wait to read more from Greenwood!!

Thoroughly enjoyed this book! Would be five stars, but the pacing felt a bit to slow at times. However, an interesting concept. A grown up version of Dance Moms.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with this ARC to review.
It is time to enter the competitive world of the Costa de la Luna Conservatory of Ballet, where many of the parents will do anything to ensure their ballerinas are at the very top. With fame and a scholarship on the line, what could possibly go wrong?

The infamous Etienne Bernay is coming to their Southern California town from France to both film a documentary and award a scholarship for one student to the Ballet de Paris Academie. Every single dancer (and parent) wants to be the recipient, specifically parents Ever, Lindsay, and Josie and their daughters Bea, Olive, and Savvy.

For Ever and Bea, this could be Bea’s only hope to achieve her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. Since the death of Bea’s father, their family has been struggling both financially and emotionally. Can Bea overcome all the backstabbing and jealousy to come out on top while also avoiding becoming the worst version of herself?

The Still Point is full of drama and secrets, making for a fun read. As expected, Etienne proves himself to be a complicated character and a catalyst for many issues within the conservatory coming to a head. While several of the characters reveal ugly sides to themselves, a nice bonus to this story is there are characters worth rooting for throughout instead of everyone being terrible.

Described as ideal for fans of Dance Moms and Celeste Ng’s Little Fires Everywhere, I would say it is also reminiscent of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies when considering the dynamics amongst the group. Overall, I would recommend this book to fans of drama and dance. It is also a good pick when it comes to the exploration of ever-complicated relationships between mothers and daughters. This is a great read for those wanting the book they are reading to have a soap opera element.

I could not put this book down! Tammy Greenwood did a brilliant job of managing a large cast of characters, giving each a back story to flesh them out and make the reader invested in their lives. The peek behind the scenes of a high-level ballet school was very interesting as was the conflicts among the dancers and their parents. Although set in the word of ballet, the dynamics of the community is easily relatable to anyone who has been (or has children who have been) part of an intense, competitive environment.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Great read and written well. You can tell the author has experience in dance or did a lot of research. Entertaining book.

I really enjoyed this one. I haven't read Tammy Greenwood before, but the reviews saying her writing is extremely 'readable' run true. There isn't anything clunky in the narratives, and the characters feel authentic. I found a few POV's more enjoyable than others, but once I was in the last 25% of the book, I couldn't put it down at any point.

Not a thriller but not NOT a thriller. Also as a former dancer, the references to ballet felt smooth, accurate and voiced by someone familiar with the art. I have read other books where this isn't the case so well done Greenwood!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the ARC!

I wasn’t too sure what to expect, but this ended up being a fun, addictive read that I blew through in one sitting. The competitive scene of ballet acts as backdrop to this mother-daughter drama that felt like a juicy gossip session in the best way. While I don’t usually love changing POVs, I definitely felt immersed enough in the narrative that I didn’t notice. What prevented this from being a 5 star read was that the villain (no spoilers?) was so much so a “villain” that it felt almost comical at times. The major plot point with Bea also felt like a bit of a let down when it was finally revealed (I was like that’s it?).

This was a fun read all in all, and I’ll be checking out some of the author’s other books!

This author must have spent hours in a dance studio because the terminology was use correctly! this was such a breath of fresh air for a dance novel. I have so much fun reading this.

I have never been involved in the dance world and after reading this book I'm glad I wasn't! I found the story relatable in terms of the parents and how emeshed they were in their daughter's lives. I enjoyed following the story from the viewpoint of the three mothers but at times it was a bit confusing. IHowever there was enought drama and secrets to keep me turning the pages. think if you are a fan of Liane Moriarty you will enjoy this book.

***** I have received and read an advanced reader copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for giving my honest feedback. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.*****

It's a great idea, but unfortunately it falls short of amazing.

The pacing is off- it takes too long to really get going.

I would have liked to have had more focus on either the girls or the moms, as it is, the focus of the book is pulled in too many different directions for me to really connect with the story.

The characters all have similar tone, making it a little flat. The dance world is full of interesting characters, so more focus on building fewer but stronger characters could have really made the story shine.

Overall, it's a fast read and one that most people who like dance would probably like to read.