There’s not a lot here that you can’t find in other ballet books of this sort and a lot of them are better written, but this one gets points for pacing and likable characters. There were times when I wanted to each in and shake Sylvie but you definitely gain more an understanding as you discover more of that toxic relationship. There were a few literarily questionable moments (I'm looking at you, "I felt like a hoodrat in a tutu. While the characters were fascinating, they author could have gone even deeper, especially when it comes to how to resolve the ending. Whether you’re headed on vacation or just headed outside on a walk, First Position is worth adding to your summer TBR.

First Position by Melanie Hamrick | Waterstones

The thought fuelled her muscles, buoyed her jumps and made her feet faster and more precise than usual, her body anticipating each note and clinging to every balance as if it was unbearable to let go … She had been broken and betrayed, but she’d found the courage to break free, and that’s what she was now: free, whole and more powerful than she’d ever known.An original and engrossing premise that really takes you behind the scenes of the dancers world so you really feel what they do. And since the author was a long time dancer for ABT, the questions of how much is this is truly based on her experience/knowledge, and which real life people could be the base of her characters are definitely out there. Hamrick makes her debut with this erotic novel that pulses with Black Swan energy…Hamrick offers up a thrilling meditation on the tension between love, desire, and art by combining the artistry of The Red Shoes with the eroticism of Fifty Shades of Grey.

Melanie Hamrick’s Erotic - SheKnows Is Mick Jagger’s GF Melanie Hamrick’s Erotic - SheKnows

It is both horrifying and awe-inspiring to learn about what dancers go through to achieve their dreams. This is probably one of the best representations of ballet and the ballet world I have read in a fiction book. as an explanation, I am a former professional ballerina, and books and films and other works of art depicting ballerinas at their worst (and usually depicting them as crazy psychos who would do anything for a lead role) just can’t do it for me.Told from the POV of both girls, First Position takes us behind the scenes of the fictional elite North American Ballet Company, and pays tribute to the blood, sweat, and tears that go into being a prima ballerina. Melanie, 36, met Mick, 79, in 2014 when she was engaged and he was in a long-term relationship with US fashion designer L’Wren Scott. This story isn't for the faint of heart, and while I wouldn't necessarily consider this book to be a dark read, I do think it pushes boundaries and will take readers on a totally unexpected ride. It's exactly what I needed it to be, but if you aren't a ballet person it might not be worth reading.