ARC Review: Offsetting Penalties by Ally Mathews
10:00
Series: None
Author: Ally Mathews
Published November 6th 2017 by Entangled: Crush
Goodreads Synopsis
Isabelle Oster has dreamed of being a prima ballerina her entire life, so when the only male dancer backs out of the fall production, she’s devastated. Without a partner, she has no hope of earning a spot with the prestigious Ballet Americana company. Until hot jock Garret practicing stretches in one of the studios gives Izzy an idea, and she whips out her phone. But does she really want this badly enough to resort to blackmail?
All-state tight end Garret Mitchell will do anything to get a college football scholarship. Even taking ballet, which surprisingly isn’t so bad, because it means he gets to be up close and personal with the gorgeous Goth girl Izzy while learning moves to increase his flexibility. But Izzy needs him to perform with her for the Ballet Americana spot, and he draws the line at getting on stage. Especially wearing tights.
Disclaimer: This Entangled Teen Crush book contains a bit of blackmail, a lot of sarcasm, and an ending guaranteed to melt your heart.
Goodreads
Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher, via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.
As soon as I saw this book, I immediately saw similarities with the first Step Up film, and knew I needed to read it. Isabella is a ballerina, and she's been practising for the upcoming fall production when the only male ballerina drops out, and she's left wondering what to do. This is her chance to become a true, prima ballerina, and she needs a partner to help her. While in the studio practising one day, Izzy notices the biggest jock in school, Garret, wearing tights and stretching in the next studio. Thinking he may be her hope, she records his practises, and sort of blackmails him in helping her. No one really knows that Garret has been doing ballet for a while, but when he hears that it is a great warm up for football, and his biggest dream is getting a football scholarship, he's willing to try anything, especially after being injured. When Izzy approaches him, he's reluctant, because no matter what, he isn't about to be seen on stage, performing, in tights. Can Izzy persuade him to help?
This book was swoony and so good. Both of the characters were fabulous, and well rounded, and I especially liked how Izzy, though she came from money, didn't want to use that to get forward, and wanted to use her own capabilities and merit to succeed. She's not the usual kind of preppy girl, rather a bit of a goth and a rebel, and her and Garret's interactions were so snarky, and swoony. Garret is from the complete opposite background, where the only way out of town, and away from his alcoholic father, is through a scholarship, and that's everything he has set his sights on. While at first he doesn't want to help Izzy, if he does, it helps him keep in shape, and could allow his little sister to take ballet lessons, something they really can't afford right now. Garret and Izzy's relationship together was perfect for this book, and the perfect read.
Dates Read: November 16-19, 2017
Rating
4 Stars
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