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Title details for First Position by Melanie Hamrick - Wait list

First Position

by Melanie Hamrick
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A dancer’s fall from grace ignites a dark ambition in this propulsive novel about the seductive, cutthroat world of professional ballet by debut author Melanie Hamrick.
Five years into her career at the North American Ballet, Sylvie Carter has come a long way from the girl she once was—the young, driven ballerina who dutifully kept a list of rules for how to succeed. But as her star in the company rises, every rule gets broken and she becomes a version of herself she no longer recognizes.  When a tumultuous, troubling relationship erupts into a devastating scandal for which she alone is blamed, she loses everything. Her reputation is destroyed, her best friend is now her fiercest rival, and the dream she’s worked for her entire life—becoming a prima ballerina—will never be realized. She vows not to ever make the same mistake again.
But when renowned dancer Alessandro Russo joins NAB as a guest artist for the season, Sylvie is magnetically drawn to him. Torn between fear and attraction, she finds herself mentally unraveling but also artistically blossoming as she taps into emotions she’d buried long ago. Caught in a bewildering spiral, she can either let the wounds of the past destroy her or find a way to be reborn.

  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

    June 20, 2023

  • Formats

    • OverDrive Read

      • ISBN: 9780593638156

    • EPUB ebook

      • ISBN: 9780593638156
      • File size: 4697 KB

  • Languages

    • English

  • Reviews

    • Library Journal

      March 1, 2023

      DEBUT In this novel, retired American Ballet Theatre dancer Hamrick reveals the competitive behind-the-scenes world of ballet from the vantage point of having lived it. Young and driven, Sylvie Carter is determined to be a prima ballerina. She joins the North American Ballet and endures five years of intense, even bloody, rehearsals, every movement minutely scrutinized. Ambitious as she is, everyone wants more than she can seem to give. The close-knit corps of her fellow aspiring dancers includes friends and rivals. But when a destructive relationship is put on full public display, the resulting scandal alienates Sylvie from the rest of the corps, and as the troupe travels the world, Sylvie begins to destructively use alcohol and erotic encounters to cope. When famed dancer Alessandro Russo joins the NAB for a highly anticipated performance, Sylvie finally faces the extreme anxiety and emotional confusion that have the power to derail her aspirations. As she falls from grace and spirals out of control in her private life, a new opportunity could fulfill her dreams. VERDICT This story of dreams, disappointments, and determination has lots of varied and explicit sex scenes. For libraries looking to build their erotic fiction collections.--Gloria Drake

      Copyright 2023 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

    • Booklist

      May 1, 2023
      Sylvie Carter is in her fifth year with the North American Ballet. Initially single-minded in her pursuit of perfection (she keeps a list of rules for success), as she ascends the ranks, she starts breaking those rules. A forbidden relationship results in scandal, her career implodes, and she vows to never make a mistake like that again. When Sylvie encounters ballet superstar Allessandro Russo, who joins the NAB as a guest artist, her resolve dissolves, and she starts to spiral downward to the point where she even questions her own sanity. The story travels back and forth in time, sometimes in scenes as nightmarish as any in Darren Aronofsky's film, Black Swan. Bad choices, workplace politics, and sexual harassment permeate this dark and sometimes twisted world. Debut novelist Hamrick's 15 years at American Ballet Theatre inform the stage and studio scenes, and balletomanes will buzz about who some of the characters might be based upon. This tale of sex, drugs, and pas de deux will intrigue ballet fans and readers who enjoy edgy, erotic fiction.

      COPYRIGHT(2023) Booklist, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Formats

  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

subjects

Languages

  • English

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