Reviews

The Spectacular by Fiona Davis

scnole2021's review

adventurous mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

a56jml's review against another edition

5.0

This book is SPECTACULAR!!! I LOVED everything about it. So many interesting characters, the mystery and shocking twists - SIMPLY WONDERFUL! I LOVED the attention to historical detail and learning more about The Rockettes. LOVED IT.

nsmith2020's review against another edition

medium-paced

2.5

nasalle2842's review against another edition

3.0

I'm a sucker for any book that takes place in a theater or is about the performing arts in any aspect, I'm also a fan of mysteries. Going into this I already knew it was about a Rockette and a psychiatrist creating a profile to capture the Big Apple Bomber, but I feel the book would've been stronger if this was separated. I feel this book tried to do too much by attempting to cover both aspects; I would've LOVED reading about The Rockettes (the audition process, the industry, etc) and I would've liked reading a mystery about the capture of the bomber. Characters fell flat, conflicts were resolved too quickly, and the dialogue was weak.

My favorite parts of The Spectacular was any moments with The Rockettes, whether they were in their artist housing, in rehearsal, or on stage performing. It was those moments where the book was strongest.

taylorturnsapage's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? N/A
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

mairynscho26's review against another edition

4.0

This was so cheesy and cute. It became unputdownable but the beginning is kind of boring.

rosemwood's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring mysterious fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is the third book I have read from this author, and I really enjoy her stories. She has a way of taking a historical building and writing a beautiful story around it. In this story, it is the Radio City Music Hall, and we learn about the Rockettes and the Mad Bomber. Which were true historical facts that happened. The story flowed well, and it was fast-paced. Told in dual timelines of 1956 and 1992. Most of the story takes place in 1956 and told in Marion POV. The author talks about Parkinson disease in the story, and she also has the disease. 

skwild's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes

4.0

pawstoodream's review against another edition

adventurous emotional informative inspiring mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

This is my first read by 

and it won’t be my last. I love the writing and the flow of the story was amazing. 

Marion has high ambitions to be a dancer but her father really wanted her to get married and have children but Marion decided to try out for the Rockettes and to her amazement she is accepted.

💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼💃🏼

During this period, a mad man was causing fear in the citizens of New York City by planting bombs.  He was known has the Big Apple Bomber.  It’s actually a true event it lasted 16+ years before he was caught. 

🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽🗽

We follow Marion throughout her life and all the people that have been in her life.

I really loved this book. I highly recommend it too!

chelsea_laine's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.0