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Blog Tour + Book Review + Favorite Quotes: The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk
Title: The Other Side of Perfect
Author: Mariko Turk
Publisher: Poppy
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Pages: 336
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.
**Thank you so much to NetGalley and TBR and Beyond Tours for sending me an Advanced Reader's Copy in exchange for an honest review!**
Alina is a high schooler whose life was once dedicated completely to ballet. After breaking her leg, she no longer can pursue ballet as a profession, sending her into a spiral of anger and frustration.
My heartbeat kicked up as I watched her describe the piece, because I recognized something in her face. A mix of inspiration, ambition, and hunger. The same expression I'd seen reflected back to me thousands of times in the mirrors at KDBS.
Alina enters normal school and decides to live life like a normal teenager but she still often thinks about ballet. Her once busy schedule is now clear and she finally has time to find her path again.
My eyes caught again on the picture of us from years ago, and a surprising thought occurred to me. Maybe Josie didn't keep bringing up all this stuff about ballet to be a jerk. Maybe she did because she cared.
She decides to join the school musical and meets a great group of friends there. They help Alina cope with the loss of ballet and help her enjoy her last years of high school.
Dreams didn't follow logical, step-by-step patterns. They swirled, never taking you down a straight path.
Star Rating: ★★★★☆ (4)
The author's portrayal of grief and hurt in Alina was great. I could feel the emotions that took over her and the struggle it was to not be able to do something she loved. It made her seem like a very real person.
The friendships between Alina, her little sister, and friends were complicated, but they showed the growth of Alina. At first, communicating with others was hard for her, but as the story went on, she slowly opened up towards everyone.
Overall, The Other Side of Perfect was an incredible story about a young dancer's recovery journey after an accident. Even though professional dance is no longer an option for Alina, she discovers other interests as we watch her character grow in the book.
**Check down below to see the full blog tour schedule consisting of amazing interviews, guest posts, reviews, and more!**
About the Author
Mariko Turk teaches writing and rhetoric classes and works as a writing tutor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children’s literature. The Other Side of Perfect is her debut novel.
Mariko Turk teaches writing and rhetoric classes and works as a writing tutor at the University of Colorado Boulder. She received her PhD in English from the University of Florida, with a concentration in children’s literature. The Other Side of Perfect is her debut novel.
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