‘I have to be perfect, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned in my life, nothing – no matter how hard you try or how much you deserve it – is ever perfect.’
Welcome to my tour stop for the Break the Fall book tour all thanks to the lovely people at @ausyabloggers @dateabook @hachetteaus 🥰
Plot synopsis
A fiercely told survivorship novel about one girl’s determination to push her body to win gold at the Olympics, and the power of uniting as women to speak out.
The only thing seventeen-year-old Audrey Lee dreams about is swinging her way to Olympic glory. Nothing is going to stop her, not even the agony in her back. Every spasm and ache will be worth it once she has that gold medal around her neck.
But none of her training prepares her for her coach being led away in handcuffs, accused by a fellow gymnast of the unthinkable. No one knows what, or who to believe and Audrey’s teammates go into meltdown.
As the Olympic torch closes in, Audrey has no idea who to trust, let alone what life holds after her final dismount. The only thing she can do is hope that in the end, belief in herself and what’s left of her team, will be enough for gold.
My thoughts
One of the things I love about reading is being transported to an entirely different world, especially one I wouldn’t normally be privy to. This book thrust me right into the world of elite gymnastics, twirling and leaping along the way (in my head!) right along with Audrey, Emma, Dani & Chelsea.
When BFF’s Audrey and Emma qualify for the Olympic team, they’re ecstatic. The cherry on top is when Leo Adams, a boy she’s been low key crushing on, makes his intentions clear. But her coach makes it even clearer that now is not the time for distractions – cute guys and chronic pain included.
And then, all hell breaks loose. Ugly allegations thrown around. The only coaches they’ve known, suspended. Who should Audrey believe? And can she focus enough to bring home the gold? I should mention here a trigger warning for sexual assault, however there are no scenes described in detail. The act has occurred and the survivors are dealing with the aftermath.
I was pretty swept up in this book. I’m the first to admit I am not a sports person, but I loved learning about competing at this level. The blood, sweat & tears, pushing past pain and mental blocks, the friendships fraught with the tension of your success costing a teammate’s. I even teared up a few times, particularly during the finals! Overall, an awesome message of standing up for what’s right, finding focus & nurturing friendships. I did struggle at times to picture the sequences in my mind, but that’s probably just because I don’t watch the sport much, so I’m not super familiar with the specifics. It didn’t detract from the story at all!
Win a copy!
And, thanks to the lovely people at @hachette, I have a copy up for grabs! To win a copy, head to my instagram and follow the prompts!
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