When seventeen-year-old Natalya’s dreams of being a ballerina are killed in a car accident along with her father, she must choose: shut down—like her mother—or open up to love.
Last year,seventeen-year-old Natalya Pushkaya was attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. Last year, she was well on her way to becoming a professional ballerina. Last year, her father was still alive.
But a car crash changed all that—and Natalya can’t stop blaming herself. Now, she goes to a regular high school in New Jersey; lives with her onetime prima ballerina, now alcoholic mother; and has no hope of a dance career.
At her new school, however, sexy soccer player Antonio sees a brighter future for Natalya, or at least a more pleasant present. Keeping him an arabesque away proves to be a challenge for Natalya and his patient charms eventually draw her out of her shell.
When upsetting secrets come to light and Tonio’s own problems draw her in, Natalya shuts down again, this time turning to alcohol herself.
Can Natalya learn to trust Antonio before she loses him—and destroys herself?
Natalya Pushkaya is an aspiring ballerina attending the School of Performing Arts in New York City. She's on her way to land a big role that will bring her to success, until a car accident kills her father and ruins her knee cap, preventing her to dance. As a result, they move into her babushka's old house, and her mom turns into an alcoholic.
Natalya has a lot to adjust to - new school, new people, new surroundings, but she is lucky to have her childhood friend, Becca, with her. In her new school, she meets Tonio, who screams trouble, but whom she cannot stay away from.
The synopsis of this book looked so interesting to me, which is why I requested it in Netgalley immediately. However, I am sad to say that I was quite disappointed. The author used too much ballet terms that people who don't have a background in ballet - like me - will have a hard time in reading the story.
For the most parts, the story was not that special. I was able to guess the secret immediately because it was obvious from the call. The story felt like it kept repeating and repeating the same things over and over again.
I loved Becca though, because she was always there for Natalya even when she pushed her away. She was so understanding with Natalya's situation, and her pushing is not annoying, like most people. I hated Tonio at first, but I warmed up to him soon enough. Karina is another favorite character. She's this bubble of energy that is hard to put down. I didn't get to see much of James, but he seemed like a good character as well.
I have nothing much to say about the story as a whole. The are about three hundred pages, but I felt like nothing much was happening in those three hundred pages. Despite it's length, I felt like the story was not complete. I was not satisfied with this book, but it seems like a lot of others have liked it. The story is just not for me.
