Rachel Kapelke-Dale

Came into this blind and mixed on this one:

The good: propulsive, reads quickly. I wanted to keep turning pages to see how it all played out! Dark academia ft. tarot reading was a catnip combo.

The not-so good: insufferable characters, that I could neither root for nor even relate to; requires suspended disbelief at points; plot relies very heavily on equestrianism.

The spoiler-free setup:

Four girlfriend/roomies on their Yale equestrian team take on a fifth their sophomore year of college. Things are good in the friend group until they aren't. Relationship fractures appear. Someone dies somewhat mysteriously, though Yale and the girls' lives go on as if nothing happened.

Main character - Rosie - is upper middle class, but is alternatively resentful and ashamed that compared to her Yale classmates, she's a 'poor' with financially struggling (vet) parents. She's a social striver, so entranced by the trappings of wealth and privilege, that her goal was to become uber-wealthy by proxy and proximity. She's so hungry for table scraps from her wealthy roommates that she doesn't realize she's seen as invisible and dismissible to those she's trying so hard to impress. She's willing to sellout anything - including herself - for money.

Although it's definitely YAish, this book kept my attention. If you like PLL, or Yellow Jackets or similar, you'll probably like this, too. Coincidentally, after finishing this I blind picked up In My Dreams, I Hold A Knife, which is thematically very similar.… (más)

I have finally come to my last book of the year and I am so glad I stopped with The Ballerinas by Rachel Kapelke-Dale. This was a stunning book I adored it. It is the tale of three friends that unfolds across their lives. All this is wrapped around the unique world of professional ballet. Which if I was coordinated enough I would want to at least do one lesson as a child. However, being as I am 34 I will live my fantasies through books. I will say that this read specifically shows the dark side of the profession which I loved and hated in equal measure, this story somehow captures enduring truths about how women struggle to achieve their dreams and potential. While some struggle to be at the top some struggle to find love. The truth is I think that can be said about any profession and any lifestyle and job. You will love and hate the friendships in this book but you will have one person in your reading circle that you want to share this story with. It is twisty, dark, and a must-read for those who love a thriller. I am so pleased to say that I ended my year at 1033pm with a 5-star read.
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Hace trece años, Delphine Léger abandonó su prestigioso puesto como solista en el Ballet de la Ópera de París para empezar una nueva vida en San Petersburgo. Se llevó consigo un secreto que podría poner patas arriba la vida de sus mejores amigas y compañeras de ballet, Lindsay y Margaux. Ahora, a los treinta y seis años, Delphine ha regresado a su antiguo hogar y al legendario Palacio Garnier para coreografiar la obra de ballet que hará despegar la siguiente fase de su carrera y que, espera, conseguirá que se arreglen las cosas con sus antiguas amistades. Sin embargo, Delphine no tarda en descubrir que las cosas han cambiado durante su ausencia y que algunos secretos no pueden permanecer enterrados para siempre.

Las bailarinas se mueve entre el pasado, cuando las tres eran todavía adolescentes, y el presente. Explora las complejidades de la amistad entre mujeres, la enfermiza voluntad por conseguir un físico perfecto en nombre de la expresión artística, el arma de doble filo que representan la ambición y la pasión, y la rabia sublimada que tantas personas guardan en su interior. Todo ello culmina con un giro inesperado y unos personajes que no serán fáciles de olvidar.… (más)