Bring on the drama, yes ma'am! You are not reading this for elevated storytelling in a more literary style. Instead, this delivers on the promise of dishy Sweet Valley High. We love the intrigue, the loyalty tests, the gossip and the high stakes. All wrapped in modern storytelling. Paula Chase has done a great job with this fun page-turner. Come for the soap opera and stay for the soap opera lol. Can't wait for the next one in the series.

I really liked this book—it had all the drama, sports intensity, and high school tension I was hoping for. The mix of gymnastics and basketball gave it that “Sweet Valley High meets Gossip Girl” vibe, and I flew through it.

Since this is the first book in a series, I get that everything won’t be wrapped up neatly, but I still felt like the ending was rushed. Too many unanswered questions and that unfinished feeling pulled me out of the story.

Overall, a fun and engaging start, but the pacing at the end held it back for me. Solid 3.5 stars and I’ll definitely check out the next book to see where things go.

Seeing the blurb for this book compared to "Sweet Valley High" made this a definite must read for me! Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High were some of my top favorite series' back when I was in school and I couldn't check them all out from the library fast enough! With that said, I truly believe that this series has the promise of being even better than those were to the youths of today! Balancing Act is a solid read! I think many YA, New Adults, and even Adults who crave some High School nostalgia ALL will love this! Paula Chase literally writes the BEST juicy drama! This is the first book I've read from here but definitely won't be the last! Balancing Act isn't even out yet and I'm already wanting the next installment! If you were a fan of Sweet Valley, read this and if you have kids that were your age when you loved Sweet Valley, please get this for them! It's longer than they were and has tougher and more important topics as well, but real life isn't as "perfect" as Sweet Valley was. Life is real and it's raw, and high school; and what we do and how we act while in it, shapes us to be who we are when we become adults.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased ad completely my own.

Absolutely loved this book! Loved the storyline and the characters. Kept me engaged throughout! Highly recommend!

This was an engaging and well-written book that kept my interest throughout. The author delivered strong ideas and storytelling, with memorable moments that made it stand out. While there were a few areas that could have been expanded or polished further, overall it was an enjoyable and worthwhile read. I would recommend it to others looking for a thoughtful and rewarding experience.

🌟Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!🌟

I really enjoyed our main characters and felt their struggles with school and athletics (Chyna with gymnastics & our male MC with basketball).

I appreciated how real the story felt but there were times it seemed to get a bit repetitive and the pacing was too slow for me.

I liked the story but wasn't blown away.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the free advanced copy of Balancing Act by Paula Chase. I really liked my reading experience of this new ya drama. The high school drama featuring a range of black students and adults was so juicy. This gave Fame x Gossip Girl– also, a little bit of Drama High. I was so engaged in the rivalry between Chyna and Alicia. Alicia was so beside herself, but when you’re raised by two locally famous and ambitious parents like hers, it’s no wonder she acts the way she does. I had a bit of beef with Jamaal because he was such a bad friend to Chyna and was way too cocky for his own good. He wasn't really dealing with the death of his brother, and he let it affect his health and made dumb decisions. Even the adults had stuff going on that made me side-eye them. I couldn’t stand Aunt Tam from jump– she was a bad sister, aunt, and person.

This HotLipz account would get on my nerves in my own life, but in the context of the story, it definitely added something so needed to the story. They were so accurate to the point where i couldn’t be mad at them. I’m so interested in who’s behind the account.

The setting of Da Icy City (is this a real place?) felt so real and integral to the story/characters. Their attitudes, especially Jamaal and Chyna’s, and how hard they worked at their sports really went hand-in-hand with their city. It shows where they come from and where they’re going.
I definitely think this would be a good read for any age due to the real topics, like an ailing parent and hidden family secrets, but also for a younger audience because of the school rivalries and sports aspect.

I love this book so much. It was great. It puts me in the mind. Of Tiffany D Jackson, that’s why it was so good the writing style the storyline, the characters everything was great and I’m sure about all the young adult and adult per day is going to love this book with their hands on it.

Balancing Act (The Heights, #1)

by Paula Chase

"Balancing Act" by Paula Chase, which I received as an eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley, is a compelling blend of classic coming-of-age themes and modern storytelling. The novel stands out for its creative use of social media posts, which highlight the drama and public pressures faced by the characters.

While the story centers on competition and the drive to succeed in high school sports, it goes much deeper. Chase portrays the realities of growing up in diverse neighborhoods, the pain of grief after losing someone young, and the sadness that shapes adolescence. The book also explores the complicated landscape of friendships—especially the challenge of dealing with frenemies. Through nuanced storytelling, Chase reveals that even rivals and so-called adversaries have their own struggles and moments of unexpected kindness. The characters gradually learn that people are rarely just one thing, and that even those who seem unfriendly can surprise you with their depth and decency.

The writing is engaging and the characters feel real, their vulnerabilities and hopes shining through. While the novel tackles tough topics, it remains relatable and grounded, balancing humor and hope with its more serious undertones.

If there’s one drawback, it’s the abrupt ending—a reminder that this is the first book in a series. Despite this, I’m eager for the sequel to see where these vivid characters go next.

"Balancing Act" releases on October 21, 2025. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in contemporary young adult fiction that doesn’t shy away from real-life challenges, including the pain of loss, the complexity of relationships, and the resilience required to move forward.

I have never read Sweet Valley High, but I thought that this sounded interesting. It was really hard for me to get into due to the large amount of characters introduced. I had trouble following who was who, which left me confused and struggling to push on. The narrative style did not help matters. If you can make it past those, then I think this novel has a lot of promise. It had a good amount of drama that you can lean into, and the characters were really diverse and offered a lot of different viewpoints that I appreciated. Overall, I don't think this was for me, but I would be open to reading more works by this author.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

Overall, this was not the book for me. I had trouble engaging with the characters and writing style at the beginning. If it had not been an ARC I would have given up. I became more engaged with the plot and the pace in the last quarter of the book, and then the story ended right when I was interested! I never read Sweet Valley High, so maybe I didn't understand the style the author was going for. Others readers are obviously invested and I'm sure the series will be a success.

This was a nice read, definitely recommend. I went into this blind and was pleasantly surprised. This was filled with lots of drama that'll have you on the edge of your seat and wanting more. A great plot and very well written!!

I can definitely see how Balancing Act aims to be a modern-day version of Sweet Valley High and believe that is an accurate comparison. There's unique enough characters, emotional depth, tragedies experienced by both of our MCs (Chyna and Jamaal), and this layer of a coming-of-age story. I think anyone who loves YA will enjoy this book and be able to feel empathy for the unique trials and experiences of Chyna and Jamaal. I don't know how it was for other readers, but for me this theme of persevering despite adversity and discrimination really resonated. Overall, I feel that this was a good story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

"Balancing Act" aims to be a "Sweet Valley High for a new generation," setting its drama against the backdrop of an elite charter school where athletic dreams are either forged or shattered. It certainly delivers on the promise of a dishy, dazzling YA drama, making it a decent read for those looking for a quick escape into the world of competitive teen sports and social hierarchies.

The dual narratives of Chyna and Jamaal provide a solid foundation for the story. Chyna's struggle to balance her gymnastics aspirations with family responsibilities and the snobbery of her teammates is relatable, though at times, her challenges feel a bit paint-by-numbers. Similarly, Jamaal's journey to honor his deceased brother through basketball, despite his own health issues, adds a layer of emotional depth. The book is indeed "filled with gossip, high-stakes sports drama, and tons of heart," keeping the pages turning.

However, while enjoyable, "Balancing Act" doesn't quite elevate itself beyond its genre's typical conventions. The "picking a side" theme, while central, sometimes feels a little forced, and some of the character interactions lean into familiar tropes. It's an entertaining ride, but one that doesn't offer many surprises or profound insights. It's a solid start to a new series, but leaves you hoping for a bit more depth and originality in future installments.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this review copy. I love love loved the way this book was written, in a conversational tone and style, and I loved the different perspectives and characters. I definitely know young adults to recommend this to.

Wow, there is power in this book and if folks can get past the format of the book (which I love) I think it’ll be a hit.
I mention the style straight off as while it is becoming a more common things to do particularly in YA and NA fiction, it still takes readers off guard when they are used to traditional prose.

I read this arc in ebook format and I so wish it was an audio book with multiple cast members or at the very least dual narrated, as I think it would be a great way to read the book.
The other facet that unfortunately may give some readers pause from my experience but I love that it gave me a glimpse into a different cultural perspective than my own lived experience. From the relationship dynamics to the language used to even the level of competition and rivalry between schools, it’s fun to experience it by way of a book as while I live in a decently diverse town, it’s a very different experience.

I will say that the book was much different than I thought that it would be from the description. The description was accurate, it was just a different side to various aspects than I thought going into it. It really had a lot of subtext and focus on the relationships between the characters which I appreciated.

This book comes out October 21st 2025 and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from St Martins Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.

Chyna has been invited to the exclusive new school as a co-captain of the gymnastics team. Problem? Her co-captain hates her. However, her co-captain is also the child of the two most famous people in town, and she throws her connections around like free money. Jamaal is also having some trouble. His brother (Chyna's boyfriend at the time of his death, not that Jamaal knows that) had just been shot, and Jamaal wants to carry on his legacy while keeping his memory. But he's got these butterflies that have him fainting on the court and getting him suspended from playing in the most important game of the year. There's also an anonymous new gossip in town, and nobody is ready for the chaos it'll sow.
Told from the POVs of Chyna and Jamaal (they're not a couple, or anywhere close to being one), this book had me grabbed by the throat. I was gagged by the HotLipz account every single time. I feel like I audibly gasped with the characters with every post. The drama in this book was only intensified by the writing style. It's purposefully written in a conversational manner, which made it challenging for me (an Asian-American girl who's basically full American) to understand at times, but it was absolutely fascinating. I love learning about Chyna's culture through their speech/texting patterns.
This is a series, by the way. I'm so excited for the next book. There is an intrinsic need in me to return to this world and this plot. I'll be breathing half of every breath until I reach the end.

In the novel titled Balancing Act by Paula Chase. We follow Chyna and Jamaal as they both get offered a scholarship. To attend a new prestigious school. Chyna is going through a lot. Because Chyna has to take care of her mother. Who is ill because she is sick with kidney failure. Adding on to the fact that Chyna is still trying to focus on gymnastics. Having to battle with her current teammates. Also having to keep the a secret from her best friend. And that secret is that she was dating her best friend’s brother. Jamaal is still trying to cope with losing his brother. While still trying to focus on basketball and fitting into his new school. Here’s the thing Jamaal is having a little issue with his healthy. But Jamaal will never let nothing stop him from playing basketball.

Miss Paula the tea is absolutely piping I can't wait to see how the drama unfolds next as a millennial I feel the Degrassi gang is gagged

My first Paula Chase book. Absolutely loved the cover and the synopsis of the book. Not only that, but I was very invested as soon as the chapters started. I feel like this book would work great as an audiobook since there are a lot of characters/radio elements to it. I will say the beginning I was very confused since the book started off in a social media format. But once the chapters started everything slowly came together. My only gripe is that the book felt super long and the storyline was kind of all over the place. First we were dealing with grief and also handling family being sick. So some things weren’t answered for me the way I wanted. Jacque and how he was being “heard” by his brother and girl, Chyna never telling her best friend about her and his brother dating. The random plot twist in the end. Just seemed like a lot of fluff to bulk up the book. Characters were kind of hard to follow as well between the DJ personality name and then his government name. But this is also just very reader specific. Overall, wasn’t terrible but also wasn’t amazing. I’d give this author another try though.