WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE by Jennifer Jabaley is an adult contemporary, suspense thriller focusing on two mother-daughter duos and a dance rivalry that will shake up several friendships and destroy a marriage.

Told from several omniscient third person perspectives (Valerie, Kate, Elise, Colette) WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE follows several antagonistic friendships as former prima ballerina Elise Carrington strives to push her daughter to the top. Living vicariously through the success of her fifteen year old daughter Colette, Elise fuels the fires of jealousy and betrayal in an effort to secure her daughter’s top position at the annual gala, all the while , watching from the sidelines as her own marriage implodes. Meanwhile, ob-gyn nurse and single mother Valerie Yarnell’s daughter Kate’s young dance career is on the rise but Elise’s need for her own daughter to succeed threatens Valerie’s friendships, and relationship with her own daughter Kate. Kate’s success poses a threat to Colette’s future as betrayal comes at a cost, vengeance is deadly and dark.

The world building focuses on manipulation and obsession, betrayal and vengeance, jealousy and rage. Two mothers, two daughters, and a fight for the title of star leads to a dangerous combination of resentment and wrath. Akin to the 1991 Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot ™, The Pom-Pom Mom™, Harding-Kerrigan rivalry, and Dance Moms™ television series, the need for publicity, professional branding, stardom, fame and popularity fuels the flames of delusion and mania, a need to win at all costs even in the face of losing it all.

WHAT’S YOURS IS MINE is a complex, detailed and dark story of jealousy and rivalry, competition and lost friendships. The premise is multi-layered and theatrical; the characters are over the top and unlikable, yet familiar and real.



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Great story about competition in sports where athlete and parents are involved. There are sure lots of real and scary stories similar to this fiction, I really enjoyed how it was written through the girls and the mothers' views.
The start take time to explain us everyone's spirit and temper, a bit long if I may, compared to the end which I think is a bit rushed. But I am still blowed by the answer and outcome of the story !


Thanks NetGalley for this copy! Looking forward to next books to read :)

I don’t know why I put this off so long
I really loved this book!
The rivalry and the obsessions kept me hooked from the first chapter!

Kate and Collette are best friends often having out at Collette’s house and practicing dance with Collette’s mother. But this is the competitive world of dance where there can only be one prima ballerina.

This book is perfect for fans of Dance Moms and other competitive shows where the moms lives through their daughters. Kate wants to dance and her mom is more hands off, spending her time working to support Kate’s dream. Collette loves to dance and her mom is driven to help her. When the two girls get accepted to audition at an elite group, the story really takes off. Who wants what and what will they do to get what they want. This book has everything - illicit romances, drama, family vs friends. I dove into this book and didn’t look up until I finished this twisty story.

This gripping novel is not only an intense story about the competitive world of dance, it is also a complex tale of mother-daughter relationships strained by relentless expectations. This is a must-read not only for those who understand the intense pressure of the dance world but for anyone who loves a suspenseful and engaging story where rivalry pushes both kids and parents to their breaking points. The characters, like ticking time bombs, drive the story to a shocking reveal. I highly recommend this thrilling and insightful novel.

I read a review that said, “nothing is scarier than competitive moms,” and I couldn’t agree more!
You’ll be surprised to find out just how far a mother will go to see her child succeed, and trust me, it’ll keep you on the edge of your seat.

Twisty, compelling, and full of drama, this is a story you won’t want to miss.

This was so entertaining. I loved how the tension built as the book progressed. I did not know how all of this drama was going to play out and was just waiting for the ball to drop. The jealousy and competition between the moms was fun and crazy! This is definitely different from other thrillers….and I loved that. I'm happy to have read it. I will be interested to read this author's other books in the future. It was a winner for me.

Thank you to the publisher, netgalley, and Suzy approved book tours for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨ (4.5/5)

So while books about dance aren’t something that I typically gravitate towards, this one checked so many of the boxes I look for in a suspense / thriller novel. I went in blind, all I knew was it was a thriller described as…

“Determined daughters. Controlling mothers. There’s no such thing as friendly competition in a twisty novel of suspense about ambition, revenge, and unrealized dreams.”

Nothing about this screams dance so I had no idea what I was getting into. I have no regrets!

Let me tell you, this book is 𝙈𝙀𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙎𝙔 and has so many layers of dysfunction and toxicity. The best part…it’s not my circus, these aren’t my monkeys…this book hits you with all of the drama and best of all…it stays on the page…cause you certainly wouldn’t want any of this chaos in your life.

You want an escape from any chaos in your life?! Well settle in….its gonna be a bumpy ride.

Highly recommend. Finished it in under 24 hours.

I saw Sara Goodman Confino post on social media about this book and was very excited to be able to read now. I thought it started out as an accurate portrayal of teen girls and competitive stage moms. I live in NYC and have a 15 yr old son so I hear the cringe worthy stories. But unfortunately there's no substance to this book. I went from relating to moms stink eye (my mom constantly gave me a look growing up that even my then high school bf recognized) to eye rolling how cliche and cheesey it was. I gave up at 27% when Chad reappeared. I would have enjoyed a book focusing on the complexity of friendship and rivalry but the tone of this book is too light for me and it seems like a stretch for Valer6to be concerned Kate has OCD or borderline personalities like her deadbeat dad. I was also very disappointed that Valerie invaded her daughter's privacy and read her private diary. As a journal writer that's a huge no no. Andrew was the only character I liked.

Jennifer Jabaley’s What’s Yours Is Mine is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that takes obsession, competition, and ambition to dangerously twisted levels. From the very start, the story pulls you into a world where winning isn’t just everything—it’s the only thing.

Centered around a ruthless competition, the plot unfolds with relentless pacing and a cast of characters whose motives are as wild as their actions. Jabaley skillfully builds tension as secrets unravel, alliances shift, and the line between right and wrong blurs. The psychological games being played keep the reader constantly guessing—and doubting everyone.

With a premise that feels disturbingly plausible, What’s Yours Is Mine captures the dark side of competitive culture with sharp twists, layered suspense, and non-stop action. It’s an addictive and unsettling read that reminds us how far people are willing to go when everything is on the line.

Unfortunately, this one didn’t work for me.

What’s Yours is Mine is described as a twisty suspense novel, but I found it lacked both suspense and twists. The pacing was slow, and the story never really hooked me. I felt like the plot never gained momentum. I struggled to connect with the characters and felt like something essential was missing throughout.

The multiple POVs were confusing at times, especially since they weren’t clearly labeled, which made it hard to stay grounded in the narrative. Overall, it read more like a YA novel than the thriller it was marketed as. I kept reading just to finish, not because I was eager to see what would happen next.

Overall, this lacked the tension, depth, and intrigue I expect from the genre.

Thank you to Jennifer Jabaley, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Desafortunadamente, esta no me convenció.

What’s Yours is Mine se describe como una novela de suspenso con giros inesperados, pero me pareció que carecía tanto de suspenso como de giros inesperados. El ritmo era lento y la historia nunca me enganchó del todo. Sentí que la trama nunca cobró impulso. Me costó conectar con los personajes y sentí que faltaba algo esencial.

Los múltiples puntos de vista resultaron confusos a veces, sobre todo porque no estaban claramente identificados, lo que dificultaba mantener la conexión con la narrativa. En general, se leía más como una novela juvenil que como el thriller que se promocionaba. Seguí leyendo solo para terminarla, no porque tuviera ganas de ver qué pasaba después.

En general, le faltó la tensión, la profundidad y la intriga que espero del género.

Gracias a Jennifer Jabaley, Lake Union Publishing y NetGalley por el ARC a cambio de una reseña honesta.

"What's Yours Is Mine" was my first novel by Jennifer Jabaley. As a "Dance Mom" of a competitive dancer this book hit me a bit different. I am can safely say that my experience has been nothing like the ladies in this story. However, I can see this happening in bigger cities.

There are many different aspects happening at once in this story; A parent trying to live her dreams through her children, parents trying to navigate teenage years as the teenagers try to grasp their independence and place, marriages trying to survive the test of time, and friends who need to learn to support each other even when they compete against each other. Then there is the mystery of who is really sabotaging who with twists along the way.

"What's Your is Mine" navigates these all well and very relatable for me personally.

A twisty book that I flew through! I definitely enjoyed it, but, found parts of the twist to be somewhat predictable. Nevertheless, I still enjoyed myself with this one!

Thank you to @booksparks for having me on this #SummerPopUp!
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I flew through this twisty thriller! While I had a hunch about who was behind it all, the tension, layered characters, and razor-sharp writing kept me turning pages right until the end.
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Determined daughters. Controlling mothers. Dangerous rivalries.
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This one dives deep into the dark side of ambition, jealousy, and how far a parent will go to see their child succeed. With an elite dance world backdrop, it delivers serious Black Swan energy with a small-town scandal twist.
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Jennifer Jabaley masterfully teases out the suspense until everything explodes in a jaw-dropping finale. If you love thrillers centered around complex female relationships, this one needs to be on your radar.
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Perfect for fans of Megan Abbott, Kimberly Belle, and anyone who likes their drama sharp, emotional, and slightly unhinged.

I love stories about how parents put their unrealized dreams onto their children. There's something so narcissistic about it, But also something so human-we all want better for our kids, the question is where to draw the line. The tension between two moms and their daughters-caught in the intense world of competitive dance-made for a propulsive, all-too-real story! All of the characters were fully fleshed-out (even if a few of them really rubbed me the wrong way, that makes the most believable stories!) and I look forward to reading more from this bright new voice in women's fiction!

This book is not just a suspenseful story, it’s a study in how fierce love can twist itself into something darker when dreams are deferred.

When the parent is more jacked up mentally than the child, throw in some “unfriendly competition” this is a true recipe for disaster! These dance moms did not come to play & this story between Valerie & her daughter Kate, and best friend turned rivals Elise & her daughter Colette, was definitely a wild ride. I enjoyed the multiple POVs as it was a nice touch to see this story unfold in first person from the different characters & it definitely kept you anticipating what’s next.

Elise absolutely worked my last nerve, and I felt bad for Colette as she dealt with her mom’s obsession to live vicariously through her. You could feel the emotional turmoil Colette endured while trying to keep her mom happy. I admired Valerie as she tried her best to navigate through teenage hormones, as a working single parent. I was rooting for her the whole time and truly wanted her & Kate’s relationship to improve and see them love on each other. Overall a solid & enjoyable read & would recommend this one!

Thank you Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy. All opinions are my own.

Publication 🗓️ : 08.05.25

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an ARC of What’s Yours is Mine.

This is my first read from the author, and I definitely enjoyed it. I felt it was a slow burner for the first half of the book, but I was never contemplating DNF, it kept my attention and I was keen to see how the story would progress.

Then, at halfway, it ramped up, and I was invested big time! Glad I’m off work for the summer holidays and had time to keep reading!

Overall, a good read, kept me entertained and would recommend to others, especially dance and sports mums!

Best friends Kate and Colette are the two top dancers at their elite studio. Kate’s mom Valerie is a hard-working single mother who doesn’t really understand the world of dance, so Colette’s mom Elise, an intense former ballerina herself, took Kate under her wing. Colette has always been the better of the two, but Kate’s been edging up and now they’re evenly matched and competing for the same prestigious opportunities. As Kate starts to outshine Colette, a vicious attack completely upends their worlds.

This might not be my usual type of thriller, but that didn’t stop me from devouring this one! I was immediately sucked into the cutthroat dance drama in this riveting domestic suspense novel. Everything about this book felt like it could be so REAL, from the girls’ complicated friendship/rivalry to Elise’s obsessiveness to Valerie’s attraction to Elise’s husband. The suspense builds and builds, the tension gradually ratcheting up like a frog being slowly boiled alive. By the time we get to the shockingly violent moment, I was completely enmeshed in the characters’ dramas. What sets this book apart from other thrillers (and make no mistake, there are plenty of twists and red herrings here) is the raw, visceral emotion that the author wrings from her characters. It hooked me deep and I couldn’t look away! My friends at Thriller Book Lovers: The Pulse will be buzzing about this one!

Loved That? Read This! This book is perfect for fans of:
- The Turnout by Megan Abbott
- The Shadow Girls by Nina Laurin
- Black Swan
- I, Tonya
- Dance Moms

Jealous friends and overbearing dance moms is a lovely recipe for disaster! This one was oozing with drama and I loved every minute! What a competition fueled read this was. It’s started out slow for me but when the twist came I was hooked. Add this to your TBR because it’s so good.