The Other Side of Perfect, Mariko Turk
The Other Side of Perfect, Mariko Turk
List: $27.99 | Sale: $19.59
Club: $13.99

The Other Side of Perfect

Author: Mariko Turk

Narrator: Allison Hiroto

Unabridged: 9 hr 52 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 05/11/2021


Synopsis

For fans of Sarah Dessen and Mary H.K. Choi, this lyrical and emotionally driven novel follows Alina, a young aspiring dancer who suffers a devastating injury and must face a world without ballet—as well as the darker side of her former dream. Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg—and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it.

After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for.

But to move forward, Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet—something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else?

Touching, romantic, and peppered with humor, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change, and the importance of raising your voice.

Reviews

Goodreads review by katie ❀ on March 17, 2021

It'd be a lie to say that I had low expectations for this. After all, it combined two of my biggest interests--dance and racism, so how could I not be interested! This was a delightful exploration of love and a journey full of grief that ends with a breathtaking finale. The Other Side of Perfect fol......more

Goodreads review by Ashley on August 19, 2021

Star Rating: —> 5 Stars This certainly was the not other side of perfect, but perfection itself! I gotta say, THIS IS A DEBUT?!? It definitely does NOT read like one! I look forward to future works by this author! My GOD, so AMAZING! A Junior in high school, who has spent her whole life dedicated to......more

Goodreads review by Marti on December 29, 2020

Mariko Turk's THE OTHER SIDE OF PERFECT is a sophisticated, nuanced look at the inner life of a teenage girl who has been forced to abandon a longed-for dream and is having a hard time with it. Alina has been studying to be a professional ballerina for as long as she can remember. The road to succes......more

Goodreads review by Mar on July 02, 2023

3.5/5 -Young Adult -Contemporary, Romance, Fiction -A girl who is passionate about ballet, she broke her leg and became emo because of it, basically -It is a fairly simple read, very fast ta and very fast-paced. I'm late because I did wey the vdd -The romance seemed very “okay”. It's nothing bad or super......more

Goodreads review by ahaana on May 14, 2021

all the feels !! read my interview with the author here......more