I’ve been waiting for Pointe of Pride since shortly after Pas de Don’t came out. It did not disappoint. I had so much fun reading. Carly and Nick have strong Elizabeth Bennet/Fitzwilliam Darcy vibes with their prides and their prejudices (masking insecurities) acting as barriers. They have a meet disaster and initially show each other their worst sides. And then Carly hears Nick talking about her in a less than complimentary way.
Neither is in a good place emotionally at the start of the book. Carly feels like she is facing her last chance to be promoted to principle dancer after a decade in the corps. Nick’s post-retirement life is going rather badly as his girlfriend has dumped him and his photography career is floundering. As Heather and Marcus’ maid of honor and best man, they are forced to put aside their differences and work together to prepare for the wedding. Heather suggests Carly ask Nick to take pictures of her to raise her profile in hopes that it will improver her chances of promotion. Nick finally agrees, and this is where they really start to get to know each other. The number of times I almost opened Instagram to go look at the pictures described is ridiculous.
Angyal centers a couple of different things in Pointe of Pride. She continues to shine a light on toxic aspects of the ballet world, while balancing it with the joy of dance. Carly and Nick are in their early to mid 30s and their bodies snap, crackle, pop. Carly’s ability and willingness to push through pain may have served her in her dance career, but it hasn’t served her in her personal life. Carly has chronic pelvic floor pain which makes p in v penetration* very painful, which has negatively impacted her romantic life. After years of being dismissed by physicians, she has finally found a physical therapist who believes her and is helping her. During a memorable scene, Nick has ungraciously commented on the pleasure toy resembling therapeutic devices Carly has in her suitcase and Carly yells at him about her broken v. Nick does some research and we love a man who looks things up on his own and is prepared to make his partner happy. I’m not sure why, but my reaction to a hetero romance with no p in v is akin to my reaction to good pockets in women’s clothing. I want to twirl around an say “look! No penetration!”
I don’t mind a third act breakup that makes sense. Given where Carly and Nick are emotionally at the start of the book, the breakup is inevitable. Heather puts it all in perspective when she reminds Carly that one of the toxic messages in ballet is that you are either perfect or worthless. There was also a moment when Nick was not being his best self and I thought, “you deserve whatever is coming your way.” The breakup makes sense, and so does the makeup.
*I am so sorry I am using ridiculous language here. If I want this review to stay up on various corporate places I can’t use correct or appropriate terminology.
This has become a very disjointed review. I highly recommend both of Chloe Angyal’s ballet romances. While I can’t say I regret not becoming a ballerina (lack of talent and drive), I can feel the love and passion for dance that she embodies in her characters.
I received this as an advance reader copy from Amberjack Publishing and NetGalley. My opinions are my own, freely and honestly given.