I received this book from Goodreads in a promotion.

In this insightful book about gymnastics, maturity, and second acts, Hannah Orenstein has captured life pre- and post athletic competition. She puts you inside the mind of a gymnast demonstrating a depth of knowledge. She also bravely tackles the sexual abuse controversy that has marred gymnastics. Her viewpoint is objective and honest without becoming a diatribe.

Avery Abrams was a gymnastics star on the fast track to the Olympics. After suffering a freak accident in competition, her career as a gymnast is over. She quickly discovers how quickly people move on to the next star. Avery returns to her parents home hoping she can find the inspiration to begin a new career. She flounders until she is offered a job coaching an Olympic hopeful.

During the preparation for national competition, the scandal breaks involving a key gymnastics doctor. Orenstein presents the situation without preaching and illustrates how difficult it was to uncover. She handles his difficult topic deftly. Inside the world of athletic competition, many sacrifices have to be made. Practice, education, friends, and family are not easy to manage. How do you go to school and practice 6 hours a day? Is it possible to have a social life outside of sports? Athletes make many sacrifices and this story illustrates many of the tough decisions that have to be made.

This book is so much more than what you see at first glimpse. As you read this you will see that the author either competed in a sport or did a tremendous amount of research to write so convincingly about it. And while this has romantic elements it covers much more. I definitely recommend this as a terrific summer read. It will make you sad that you have to wait a year before the summer Olympics though!

My Rating: 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻

Additional thoughts: Both of my kids participated in sports until they graduated from college. It is a different and sometimes difficult life trying to balancing sports and school. This book shows tremendous insight into the life of student/athletes and parents.