brianna_4pawsandabook's review against another edition
4.0
Full review to come
TW: sexual abuse, grooming, survivor’s guilt
TW: sexual abuse, grooming, survivor’s guilt
laceydbell's review against another edition
4.0
When I found out there was a YA book coming out this year that centered around the world of elite gymnastics, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I knew it was going to tackle dark topics, but what I didn't expect is that I would enjoy it so much. If you're going to tackle the effects of rape in your book... this is the way to do it. There was a mix of reactions among this group of young girls who are focused on their dreams, and I like that the author explored those. I will say, a lot of this book is a play-by-play of these girls performing their gymnastics routines, so if you're not into that, you may want to skip this book, but I personally loved it! And happy to see my favorite sport representing in YA.
jollyy13's review against another edition
5.0
WOW. This was one of the first books that I’ve finished in one sitting in A LONG time. I have no words for this book, other than the fact that it was perfect. Emma, Dani, Audrey and Chelsea will always hold a special place in my heart.
weaverl13's review
4.0
4.5 if I could.
It was great, I loved seeing the strength and determination these girls had towards their dreams, and the unbreakable bond between them and their competitors. Really unusual style of book (ie the Olympic gymnastics setting) but I loved that. The ending is so heartwarming and though in one way I wanted more - to know what happened with Gibby, after the Olympics, with Leo, the rest of Rey's life, the book had reached it's natural conclusion.
It was great, I loved seeing the strength and determination these girls had towards their dreams, and the unbreakable bond between them and their competitors. Really unusual style of book (ie the Olympic gymnastics setting) but I loved that. The ending is so heartwarming and though in one way I wanted more - to know what happened with Gibby, after the Olympics, with Leo, the rest of Rey's life, the book had reached it's natural conclusion.
girlreading's review
5.0
THIS WAS SO GREAT.
I can't count the number of times I caught myself thinking about this book randomly throughout the day, I also can't remember the last time a book made me think about it randomly throughout the day as much as this did. It was brilliantly written, powerful in its message and execution, empowering and totally and utterly addictive. I had heart palpitations numerous times throughout the girls' routines, which were vivid and expertly described.
I have truly never regretted my height and fear of falling (or hurting myself in any way, I'm a wuss, let's be honest) causing me to be a terrible gymnast as a child more than I did whilst reading this book.
With its diverse cast of characters superb discussions on sexual assault, power imbalances, race, friendship, ambition and exploration how far is 'too far' when it comes to achieving your dreams, I don't doubt this book will stick with me for a long time. Plus, this fed all my 'Make it or Break it' bookish dreams I didn't realise I had (and I never even finished the show.)
TW: Discussions of sexual assault.
I can't count the number of times I caught myself thinking about this book randomly throughout the day, I also can't remember the last time a book made me think about it randomly throughout the day as much as this did. It was brilliantly written, powerful in its message and execution, empowering and totally and utterly addictive. I had heart palpitations numerous times throughout the girls' routines, which were vivid and expertly described.
I have truly never regretted my height and fear of falling (or hurting myself in any way, I'm a wuss, let's be honest) causing me to be a terrible gymnast as a child more than I did whilst reading this book.
With its diverse cast of characters superb discussions on sexual assault, power imbalances, race, friendship, ambition and exploration how far is 'too far' when it comes to achieving your dreams, I don't doubt this book will stick with me for a long time. Plus, this fed all my 'Make it or Break it' bookish dreams I didn't realise I had (and I never even finished the show.)
TW: Discussions of sexual assault.
meglobello's review against another edition
5.0
If you are a fan of the Olympics this is the book for you. I loved every minute and couldn’t put it down! The perfect summer book!
sc104906's review
3.0
Visit my original review on my blog: https://wp.me/p8jcuj-2BU
Audrey has been training for the Olympics for years. She has won at Worlds and other competitions, but it is finally time for her chance at the Olympics. This dream was threatened last year when she suffered from a back injury that required surgery. Audrey pushed hard to get back in shape and knows that the Olympics will have to be her last time competing. She still has back pain, but pushes through it because she is desperate for her dream. Audrey second guesses herself throughout the qualifying process, especially because the lead coach of the team continues to make snide comments. After a false drug scandal and additional sexual abuse scandal come out, the team of Olympic gymnasts are without coaches and possible direction. Their last chance comes from a retired gymnast, who is also a therapist. Audrey and her teammates/competitors are determined to be ready for the Olympics. However, their new coach's son has been her long-time crush. Audrey must stay away from him in order to keep away from any appearance of impropriety. This high stress environment could crack almost anyone, even Audrey.
Recently, probably in response to things happening in the news, there are many books addressing the issue of abusive coaches. This was one of the best. Characters were well-developed, the plot and character interactions were compelling and I was totally rooting on the romance throughout. It was a stressful reading experience because of the subject-matter. The Olympics and desperation to achieve a big dream worked well throughout this novel and I love reading through those experiences. It totally makes me sad that the Olympics have been pushed back because of the Great Pause (though I get why it needed to happen).
Audrey has been training for the Olympics for years. She has won at Worlds and other competitions, but it is finally time for her chance at the Olympics. This dream was threatened last year when she suffered from a back injury that required surgery. Audrey pushed hard to get back in shape and knows that the Olympics will have to be her last time competing. She still has back pain, but pushes through it because she is desperate for her dream. Audrey second guesses herself throughout the qualifying process, especially because the lead coach of the team continues to make snide comments. After a false drug scandal and additional sexual abuse scandal come out, the team of Olympic gymnasts are without coaches and possible direction. Their last chance comes from a retired gymnast, who is also a therapist. Audrey and her teammates/competitors are determined to be ready for the Olympics. However, their new coach's son has been her long-time crush. Audrey must stay away from him in order to keep away from any appearance of impropriety. This high stress environment could crack almost anyone, even Audrey.
Recently, probably in response to things happening in the news, there are many books addressing the issue of abusive coaches. This was one of the best. Characters were well-developed, the plot and character interactions were compelling and I was totally rooting on the romance throughout. It was a stressful reading experience because of the subject-matter. The Olympics and desperation to achieve a big dream worked well throughout this novel and I love reading through those experiences. It totally makes me sad that the Olympics have been pushed back because of the Great Pause (though I get why it needed to happen).
bethgiven's review against another edition
3.0
"A lump slides up into my throat, but I swallow it back. Showing weakness isn't an option, not now. Not ever."
Elite gymnast Audrey Lee has just made the Olympic team with her best friend Emma, veteran Chelsea, and rising star Dani. Her success has caught the attention of super-cute Leo Adams, which is certainly a bonus. But then one of her teammates is abruptly disqualified, her coach is fired, and the whole team is without a place to train, just weeks before the Tokyo games. To top it off, her teammates are fighting and a previous injury is threatening her Olympic dreams.
This is obviously a fictional account of the Tokyo Olympics, one in which the games actually happened in 2020 with crowds cheering in the stands and no COVID testing or masks in the Olympic village. Yet so many themes seemed eerily similar to these games: a star gymnast stumbling when she never had before, the team falling short of Olympic gold, the focus on the mental game and the importance of mental health. It's a little eerie, actually, to see how much of this book got right, in spite of being published before the pandemic and the games that ended up happening in 2021. I have been thinking so much of Simone Biles and her story these past few weeks, and this book felt like a variation on that theme, one that highlights the pressures and risks of the sport of gymnastics.
I flew through the last half of the book. The storytelling is pretty simplistic in some places -- this is YA -- but I appreciated the important themes it brought up, and it was just plain fun to read the play-by-plays of each qualification and competition.
CLEAN READERS: quite a lot of profanity in this one. Trigger warning for sexual assault (there aren't details, but it is a major theme of the book).
Elite gymnast Audrey Lee has just made the Olympic team with her best friend Emma, veteran Chelsea, and rising star Dani. Her success has caught the attention of super-cute Leo Adams, which is certainly a bonus. But then one of her teammates is abruptly disqualified, her coach is fired, and the whole team is without a place to train, just weeks before the Tokyo games. To top it off, her teammates are fighting and a previous injury is threatening her Olympic dreams.
This is obviously a fictional account of the Tokyo Olympics, one in which the games actually happened in 2020 with crowds cheering in the stands and no COVID testing or masks in the Olympic village. Yet so many themes seemed eerily similar to these games: a star gymnast stumbling when she never had before, the team falling short of Olympic gold, the focus on the mental game and the importance of mental health. It's a little eerie, actually, to see how much of this book got right, in spite of being published before the pandemic and the games that ended up happening in 2021. I have been thinking so much of Simone Biles and her story these past few weeks, and this book felt like a variation on that theme, one that highlights the pressures and risks of the sport of gymnastics.
I flew through the last half of the book. The storytelling is pretty simplistic in some places -- this is YA -- but I appreciated the important themes it brought up, and it was just plain fun to read the play-by-plays of each qualification and competition.
CLEAN READERS: quite a lot of profanity in this one. Trigger warning for sexual assault (there aren't details, but it is a major theme of the book).
mald626's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-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? No
4.25