Balancing Act

The Heights #1

by Paula Chase

A Sweet Valley High for a new generation, a dishy, dazzling YA drama set against the backdrop of an elite charter school where stars are made—or fade.

When Chyna gets a scholarship to the newest, most prestigious sports school in the city, it’s the best opportunity to do the gymnastics she loves. But between caring for her ailing mother and dealing with the elitist girls on her gymnastics team, she’s not sure she belongs.

Meanwhile, Jamaal is reeling from the death of his brother—who was also secretly Chyna’s boyfriend. Becoming star of the Power Panthers basketball team is his way to honor his brother’s memory and nothings going to stand in his way. Not even his health.

Filled with gossip, high-stakes sports drama, and tons of heart, BALANCING ACT is the first in a riveting new series about teens fighting for their dreams in a city where picking a side is no game.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Dark Academia, Contemporary, Sports, Fiction, Fantasy

416 pages, Hardcover

First published October 21, 2025

About the author

I'm a creature borne of pop culture. It's created a volatile mix of hope and cynicism within me that I help myself understand by putting my young characters through the world's paces.

I have a big heart for young readers. Young Adult and Middle Grade novels are my home.

And because no one lives in a vacuum, I co-founded The Brown Bookshelf to ensure that the spotlight on children's lit created by persons of color never dims.

Reviews

[Bang Bang Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75

Not enough teen drama

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

*Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan audio for early copy for review*

4.5 rated up

This was so good. I never read Sweet Valley High so I say that it reminded me of Save the Last Dance or the mtc reality show Taking the Stage. I really enjoyed drama that set around real issues including a teen death and dealing with a sick parent. I rooted for Chyna and her rivalry and can't wait tomsee what happens next. Towards the end of this I definitely teared up as well.

So I listened to the audiobook for this and while both narrators did a pretty good job I did not like the repeated narration of the social media feed. If I knew that there was a social media element in this book I may have chosen to read it physically instead.

[CourtneyRenee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this ARC.

I know this is the 1st book in a series but that cliff hanger gagged me!!!! This is how you do a YA. I loved the breaks of radio and text conversations.

The interconnected story was really good and I feel like it captured the teen high school sports life and times really well. Now the aunt needed to get handled a few times but I see where she was coming from.

I'm ready for book 2!!

[Clara (Jelly)]

A Sweet Valley High for a new generation??? I loved those books growing up!!! Sign me up!!!

[Zariah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the free advanced copy of Balancing Act by Paula Chase. I really liked my reading experience of this new ya drama. The high school drama featuring a range of black students and adults was so juicy. This gave Fame x Gossip Girl– also, a little bit of Drama High. I was so engaged in the rivalry between Chyna and Alicia. Alicia was so beside herself, but when you’re raised by two locally famous and ambitious parents like hers, it’s no wonder she acts the way she does. I had a bit of beef with Jamaal because he was such a bad friend to Chyna and was way too cocky for his own good. Even the adults had stuff going on that made me side-eye them. I couldn’t stand Aunt Tam from jump– she was a bad sister, aunt, and person.

This HotLipz account would get on my nerves in my own life, but in the context of the story, it definitely added something so needed to the story. They were so accurate to the point where i couldn’t be mad at them. I’m so interested in who’s behind the account.

The setting of Da Icy City (is this a real place?) felt so real and integral to the story/characters. Their attitudes, especially Jamaal and Chyna’s, and how hard they worked at their sports really went hand-in-hand with their city. It shows where they come from and where they’re going.
I definitely think this would be a good read for any age due to the real topics, like an ailing parent and hidden family secrets, but also for a younger audience because of the school rivalries and sports aspect.

[Mary Lomie George · Rating 5 out of 5]

Seeing the blurb for this book compared to "Sweet Valley High" made this a definite must read for me! Sweet Valley Twins and Sweet Valley High were some of my top favorite series' back when I was in school and I couldn't check them all out from the library fast enough! With that said, I truly believe that this series has the promise of being even better than those were to the youths of today! Balancing Act is a solid read! I think many YA, New Adults, and even Adults who crave some High School nostalgia ALL will love this! Paula Chase literally writes the BEST juicy drama! This is the first book I've read from here but definitely won't be the last! Balancing Act isn't even out yet and I'm already wanting the next installment! If you were a fan of Sweet Valley, read this and if you have kids that were your age when you loved Sweet Valley, please get this for them! It's longer than they were and has tougher and more important topics as well, but real life isn't as "perfect" as Sweet Valley was. Life is real and it's raw, and high school; and what we do and how we act while in it, shapes us to be who we are when we become adults.

I received an Advanced Reader's Copy of this book from NetGalley. This review is honest, unbiased ad completely my own.

[Amanda Kiefer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! It was filled with drama on drama that pushed the story along so quickly and made it hard to put down. It was reminiscent of a written Gossip Girl, and it was so well-done. The different modes of writing added a special touch to the story that aided with glimpsing into every character’s POV and personality that was specific to them. I had an idea toward the beginning of what would happen with the big reveal at the end, but there were other aspects of the story that kept me on my toes. So many plot lines were unresolved at the end of the book, which I am hoping is due to the idea of a continuing series. What’s going to happen to Maal? How are the relationships going to change moving forward? Will @HotLipz be revealed? I cannot wait to read the next book!

[Janine · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting opener to a series that has a Gossip Girl vibe. Full review later.

[Corinne’s Chapter Chatter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow, there is power in this book and if folks can get past the format of the book (which I love) I think it’ll be a hit.
I mention the style straight off as while it is becoming a more common things to do particularly in YA and NA fiction, it still takes readers off guard when they are used to traditional prose.

I read this arc in ebook format and I so wish it was an audio book with multiple cast members or at the very least dual narrated, as I think it would be a great way to read the book.
The other facet that unfortunately may give some readers pause from my experience but I love that it gave me a glimpse into a different cultural perspective than my own lived experience. From the relationship dynamics to the language used to even the level of competition and rivalry between schools, it’s fun to experience it by way of a book as while I live in a decently diverse town, it’s a very different experience.

I will say that the book was much different than I thought that it would be from the description. The description was accurate, it was just a different side to various aspects than I thought going into it. It really had a lot of subtext and focus on the relationships between the characters which I appreciated.

This book comes out October 21st 2025 and I look forward to reading more from this author.

I am thankful to have gotten a complimentary eARC from St Martins Press through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My general rating system is below. Since I primarily read ARC books I rate according to how I think like minded readers will receive the book. I will round up or down depending on many factors and try not to let my personal wants affect a books ratings.

⭐️ Hated It but pushed through as so don’t DNF ARCs I have received.
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, content issues, poorly edited.
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but it had something that stopped me from rounding up. Usually the book may have much more potential than what was given. I recommend it but with reservations.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I Really enjoyed it or think others will. These are solid reads that I definitely would recommend for a variety of reasons.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! These are books that remain rent free in my head for well after unfinished the book. It can be for a variety of reasons from being very well written or just the vibes that captured my mind. These books are also ones I would probably read again.

[Ree · Rating 3 out of 5]

My first Paula Chase book. Absolutely loved the cover and the synopsis of the book. Not only that, but I was very invested as soon as the chapters started. I feel like this book would work great as an audiobook since there are a lot of characters/radio elements to it. I will say the beginning I was very confused since the book started off in a social media format. But once the chapters started everything slowly came together. My only gripe is that the book felt super long and the storyline was kind of all over the place. First we were dealing with grief and also handling family being sick. So some things weren’t answered for me the way I wanted. Jacque and how he was being “heard” by his brother and girl, Chyna never telling her best friend about her and his brother dating. The random plot twist in the end. Just seemed like a lot of fluff to bulk up the book. Characters were kind of hard to follow as well between the DJ personality name and then his government name. But this is also just very reader specific. Overall, wasn’t terrible but also wasn’t amazing. I’d give this author another try though.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

Copy provided by the author

Chyna is an exceptional gymnast who has been recruited by a new privately funded charter school, The Heights. In her town of Diamond Falls, fights often emerge over sports between the public school and the private school. In one of these, her boyfriend, Jacquees, is killed trying to protect his brother Jamaal. This isn't a rare occurrence, and Chyna is leery of the many "help the underprivileged"
programs tried in her community, since the fights continue. The Heights has gotten heat for recruiting good athletes from the public school, including Chyna, who is just trying to survive after Jaquees' death, and take advantage of all of the opportunities she can to better her situation. Jacquees brother, Jamaal, is on the school's basketball team, but struggling with randomly passing out. There is a lot of social media buzz in "Da Icy City", with an influencer, Hot Lipz, who seems to have a lot of inside information on Chatter, and the Black Swan, a radio d.j. who grew up with Chyna's ailing mother and Aunt Tam. Swan's daughter, Alicia, is also attending The Heights. She and Chyna are picked as co-captains of the gymnastics team, but Alicia doesn't like this, since Chyna is an unproven quantity. Chyna is struggling to deal with her mother's health, and hopes that she can soon get a kidney transplant. She has also not told Jamaal about her relationship with his brother. When Jamaal is picked to play in the prestigious Peace in the Streets game, Swan takes an interest in him, as does Alicia. The radio personality suggests that Jamaal get a second opinion about his condition; Swan's wife, also a media personality, is more blunt, and tells him to find a doctor who will give him the diagnosis he wants so that he can play. The pressure on both teens mounts as Hughes University announces it will be the first HBCU to have a gymnastics team, and the community is thrilled that a reality television show called "Da Icy City" set in Diamond Falls featuring The Heights and its students will be produced. At the end of the book, Jamaal must deal with the consequences of his actions, and Chyna finally finds out the identity of her father after a family tragedy. There is a sequel planned to follow up on all of the drama in Diamond Falls.
Strengths: In addition to being a founding member of The Brown Bookshelf, Chase has a great list of books that my students have enjoyed, like So Done, Dough Boys, Turning Point, and Keeping It Real. While I'm too old to have enjoyed the Sweet Valley High books to which this has been compared, I can definitely see the appeal of a drama laden, soap opera style story centering on a community like Diamond Falls where success can sometimes be hard to find. Alternating between Chyna and Jamaal's perspectives draws the reader into all of the fraught emotions and interpersonal drama. The Swan's family's opulent lifestyle contrasts nicely with Chyna's constrained one, especially given the surprise twist at the end. The sports drama, with fights over captains and competitions, is just as important to teens as the weightier issues of health problems and dealing with the death of family members. The fictional community of Diamond Falls is well portrayed, and acts almost as another character. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book!
Weaknesses: At over 400 pages, with several f-words, this is definitely a young adult book, although there is no mention of any sexual activity other than kissing, or any substance abuse, which I appreciated. There's a lot of slang and dialectical speech, and I never know how well that will fare over a long period of time.
What I really think: This is an excellent choice for readers who love Ms. Chase's work and want an updated version of her Del Rio Bay Clique series, or who want inner city stories that center around sports, like Waltman's Next or Buford's Kneel. There are very few books that center gymnastics, so that was great to see. High schools will definitely want to purchase this, as will middle schools where more mature language isn't an issue.


So Done
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Dough Boys
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
Turning Point
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...

Keeping it Real
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...


https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...
https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/...

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was well done and honestly I liked it more than I thought I would. I requested this book on NetGalley because it was described as similar to Sweet Valley High. I LOVED the SVH series as a kid in the 80's. My daughter who is in her 30's wasn't interested in reading it as a kid so I never read the newer novels. I'm pretty sure I read the original first 100 books in the series before I aged out of caring. So it's possible that the books written after 1985 were more similar to this novel.

This is set at a new elite school and may qualify as dark academia. I'm not entirely sure as I don't entirely understand the parameters of the genre well🤷🏾‍♀️ This focuses on Jamaal and China. Jamaal is an athlete struggling with the loss of his brother. Chyna is his longtime friend who was secretly dating his recently deceased brother. There's rivalry between the school sports teams. There's rivalry between the students of the schools. There's politics in the background being played out by adults that impacts the schools and the students. This also deals with details of racism and belonging. All in all I found this interesting and engrossing. I look forward to the next installment in this series.

This audiobook is narrated by Eric Lockley and Tyla Collier. I appreciated the way this was set up. This includes social media as part of the overall story and I really liked how the narration incorporated that. This is an excellent audiobook presentation of this story.

In fact, I was able to review both the digital and audiobook for this story. I think the setup of the digital novel will appeal to age appropriate readers. I'm a grandmother and found the typeset of the included social media way too small to read. I was increasingly frustrated and when I saw the audiobook available to review on NetGalley I grabbed that as well. This allowed me to do an immersive reading of this novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Thank you to Paula Chase, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to and review this audiobook. All opinions and viewpoints expressed in this review are my own.

[Tracie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kicking off a dizzying new series set in an elite high school ruled by local sports rivalries, gymnast Chyna Thomas and basketball star Jamaal Henderson aim for the winners' circle while navigating parental health issues and snarky teammates (Chyna) and a congenital heart condition and a murdered brother (Jamaal) in the sidelines.

It’s gloriously easy to get swept up in the drama of this novel, but I did struggle a bit to parse out the language at times, which layers sports slang (not being anything like an athlete, it took me a while to figure out that “a rock” means “a basketball”) over teen slang over what I think is very specific southside Maryland dialect. This is not a complaint; just an observation. BALANCING ACT isn’t written the way that I—a forty-something white woman—speaks or thinks, nor should it be. I’m not the audience. I think teens—especially urban teens—will connect to it and see themselves here, though I do worry that some of the slang will become dated quickly.

I can definitely see the nods to Sweet Valley and Gossip Girl, but this book is a lot more densely written and less escapist than either of those series. Part of the appeal of Sweet Valley and Gossip Girl was that they tended to be short, easy reads, mostly in the ballpark of about 250 pages a pop. BALANCING ACT is clocking in at over 400, which is definitely on the higher end of the genre, and I found the style to be more reflective than the surface-level serial fiction of Sweet Valley and Gossip Girl. (Personally, for me, that’s a plus—but I’m curious to see how teen readers receive this. I think BALANCING ACT is a bit more complicated than the typical beach read.)

The ending sets up the sequel nicely; I wasn’t surprised by the twist, but I can see how it’s going to fuel future books. This was my first time reading Paula Chase, and I think she did a wonderful job with characterization and voice. Here's to more juicy drama at The Heights!

[Sasha Leigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Balancing Act" by Paula Chase, which I received as an eARC from St. Martin’s Press via NetGalley, is a compelling blend of classic coming-of-age themes and modern storytelling. The novel stands out for its creative use of social media posts, which highlight the drama and public pressures faced by the characters.

While the story centers on competition and the drive to succeed in high school sports, it goes much deeper. Chase portrays the realities of growing up in diverse neighborhoods, the pain of grief after losing someone young, and the sadness that shapes adolescence. The book also explores the complicated landscape of friendships—especially the challenge of dealing with frenemies. Through nuanced storytelling, Chase reveals that even rivals and so-called adversaries have their own struggles and moments of unexpected kindness. The characters gradually learn that people are rarely just one thing, and that even those who seem unfriendly can surprise you with their depth and decency.

The writing is engaging and the characters feel real, their vulnerabilities and hopes shining through. While the novel tackles tough topics, it remains relatable and grounded, balancing humor and hope with its more serious undertones.

If there’s one drawback, it’s the abrupt ending—a reminder that this is the first book in a series. Despite this, I’m eager for the sequel to see where these vivid characters go next.
"Balancing Act" releases on October 21, 2025. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in contemporary young adult fiction that doesn’t shy away from real-life challenges, including the pain of loss, the complexity of relationships, and the resilience required to move forward.

[emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chyna has been invited to the exclusive new school as a co-captain of the gymnastics team. Problem? Her co-captain hates her. However, her co-captain is also the child of the two most famous people in town, and she throws her connections around like free money. Jamaal is also having some trouble. His brother (Chyna's boyfriend at the time of his death, not that Jamaal knows that) had just been shot, and Jamaal wants to carry on his legacy while keeping his memory. But he's got these butterflies that have him fainting on the court and getting him suspended from playing in the most important game of the year. There's also an anonymous new gossip in town, and nobody is ready for the chaos it'll sow.
Told from the POVs of Chyna and Jamaal (they're not a couple, or anywhere close to being one), this book had me grabbed by the throat. I was gagged by the HotLipz account every single time. I feel like I audibly gasped with the characters with every post. The drama in this book was only intensified by the writing style. It's purposefully written in a conversational manner, which made it challenging for me (an Asian-American girl who's basically full American) to understand at times, but it was absolutely fascinating. I love learning about Chyna's culture through their speech/texting patterns.
This is a series, by the way. I'm so excited for the next book. There is an intrinsic need in me to return to this world and this plot. I'll be breathing half of every breath until I reach the end.
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC! All opinions are my own.

[Sarah Abelson Eelkema · Rating 4 out of 5]

If You Like: Their Vicious Games, The Champions
Series: #1
Rating: 🌕🌕🌕🌕
Genre: YA
Violence: 🪓🪓🪓
Spice: 🔥
TW: Gun violence, bullying, loss of loved ones

Premise: In this series kick-off, athletes Chyna & Maal have been accepted at an exclusive new sportscentric high school. This dream come true may pave their way to the future, but between navigating their affluent peers & dealing with challenges at home, they’re beginning to realize that dreams come at a cost.

Thoughts: This book tags itself as Sweet Valley High meets Gossip Girl. And that appellation is spot-on: this book is dish-y with enough drama to satisfy any soap fan. At the same time, it deals with very real, very serious problems, from broader community issues like gun violence to individual challenges like bullying. And Chase skillfully achieves the right balance (pun intended) between the drama & the trauma. The author likewise offers a story to appeal to teens & adults alike. She skillfully illustrates the liminal space teens exist in, between adolescence & adulthood, where they are faced with—and trying to personally solve—very grown up problems. But unlike many teen books, where adults & the broader community play a tertiary role, Balancing Acts demonstrates that kids’ lives don’t exist in a vacuum & are often (negatively) influenced by the ones meant to protect them. The book is as powerful as it is entertaining. I can’t wait to see what Chyna, Maul & their crew get up to in book #2 of The Heights series.

Thank you to Wednesday Books & Netgalley for this gifted copy.

[Sacha · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

This is a great book and a very promising start to a new series.

It's easy to get invested in these characters and their outcomes, even when their behaviors or attitudes are frustrating, and I especially connected with Chyna's challenges immediately. She is going through a lot of loss, trauma, and tragedy, and the surprises keep rolling out for her. There are great villains, but we all know that at this age, a villain can turn into the hero and vice versa at any moment. The relationships involve nuance and tension, and that doesn't always come through in YA contemporary.

Unlike the series to which it is compared in promos, this book is taking on more serious issues than what I remember from 200 years ago when I was reading some of the Sweet Valley High installments. And it should be. Young adults today are more aware by nature of access when it comes to the horrors going on in the world AND the social struggles in their own spaces. While I was skeptical at first, that's exactly why the HotLipz inclusions work so well here. Let me take a moment again to be grateful that I went to high school before social media existed. Ugh!

The audiobook is really well narrated, and this format highlights those aforementioned HotLipz moments particularly well.

I'm thrilled this is going to be a series, and I will be immediately jumping on all future installments.

*Special thanks to NetGalley, Libro.fm, and Macmillan Young Listeners for this alc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

[Jada Jade · Rating 4 out of 5]

ALC 🎧 Book Review 🤍

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

“Is knowing someone else’s secret a blessing or a curse?”

It took a min to get all the characters down, but once I did— I was sat for the tea 🌚

Thrashers, but BIPOC 💋
(I haven’t read Sweet Valley High)
I just felt for Chyna this whole read through… Babygirl fr is going through it and Jamaal? All I know is he better have her back, 10 toes down in the sequel— Ik he’s going through his own problems, but after that ending?! 😭😭😭
I just hope he stays out ‘em streets. My heartbreaks when such talent is wasted on petty ish!!
* Me acting like they’re real people lmfaoo.

The twist at the end is not something I saw coming at all, but damn. I can see it the way they argue ☠️
And I already know who’s messy ahh is behind them text msgs lmfao. It’s giving Lady Whistledown.
*Also, the alarm tone is stuck in my head now.

I did feel like the slang was a lil cringe—
“Them social media streets” lmfao. But hey, maybe that’s how they talk at an elite charter school…
*Now that I write it out, I can see it ☠️ And I lowkey might’ve caught a Baltimore accent, which I live—
Erin Lockley did amazing, but forgive me if it’s just me on 3x speed lmfao. Tyla Collier also did amazing narrating, so glad I was able to listen to her again!!

[A Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual Rating 3.5

This YA work uses the multimedia approach, including texts, forum threads, gossip posts, and the transcripts of radio shows. I love this approach when it’s used well, and the author did a good job utilizing this aspect. I do wish it hadn’t started with the social media format right at the beginning of the book, as it did make it feel disjointed and difficult to get immersed until we got into the exposition and became more familiar with the characters/setting.

There was a lot going on in this work that at first made it feel like it was too much. However, as it is the first book in the series, I think it did a good job setting up for multiple plot lines though not much is resolved by the end. The characters were well written and interesting, and I enjoyed getting to know them throughout the book.

If you’re looking for a well written YA high school drama then you’ll probably love this one. My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this work, which will be published 21 October 2025. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Manon the Malicious · Rating 4 out of 5]

*3.75 Stars*

I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I honestly don't really know what to think about this one. I don't even know where to start...
The characters were really layered and all, but I had trouble being in Jamaal's head. I didn't really connect with him. I felt for him in the beginning but I just couldn't understand any of his choices. It was just so many dumbass choices one after the other. He was a pretty terrible friend and I did not like his girlfriend either. I did like Chyna and being in her POV was a lot nicer but it was still a bit infuriating at times. She couldn't communicate at all and it was just all frustrating. The plot kept me entertained though and I really enjoyed the competition aspects of it. I feel like so much happened but also not that much? Maybe the pacing was a bit off for me. I still liked it and the world and the setting and I really want to know what happens next so I will be reading the next books in this series.

[Kirah M’Lyssa Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Balancing Act is a great start to a YA series that I can definitely see myself continuing. The book does an excellent job introducing the core characters — student athletes balancing basketball and gymnastics, their friendships, family dynamics, and everything in between. The social commentary is well done and meaningful without ever overshadowing the characters’ growth or storylines.

Listening to the audiobook really enhanced the experience. The multiple narrators captured each character’s voice perfectly, adding depth and emotion, especially during the more intense or heartfelt moments. I also loved how the social media and media-show elements came to life through audio; it made the story feel current and layered.

And that cliffhanger? Perfectly timed. I’m genuinely excited to see where this series goes next.

**Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for the advance copy for an honest review**

[Donna Edwards · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wasn't immediately taken by this book, but quickly got swept up in the school/sports/city drama. Every turn kept me hooked, and I really didn't see the ending coming until it was basically the end. BUT the end happened so abruptly. I can make some assumptions about it but it's still a weird place to leave off. This is just Book 1 so I expect a cliffhanger, but this seemed more like a TV episode ending than the season finale ending I was geared up for.

Noting that I listened to the audiobook, so when it started out with social media posts I was worried I'd messed up. But the production quality is excellent, complete with music and sound effects for typing, messages sent, and radio stingers. Once it moved past the social post intro and into the meat of the story, it became a lot easier to listen.

On the flip side, reading is much quicker when it's interspersed with texts and posts, which I always love -- it feels good to breeze through a book.

[Kellie Corinne · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Such a Bad Influence” was an entertaining and bold story that captured the messy, modern world of social media and relationships. Grace Demyan did a great job showing how online personas clash with real-life emotions, and the main character’s voice felt raw and authentic.

The plot had plenty of drama and tension to keep me turning pages, and I appreciated the glimpse into influencer culture — the pressure, the image management, and the blurred lines between fame and truth.

However, some parts felt rushed or over the top, and a few character motivations didn’t fully add up. I wanted more emotional layering and introspection to balance out the fast-paced chaos.

Overall, it’s a fun, dramatic read with sharp dialogue and strong commentary on image versus reality. A solid 3.5 stars — not perfect, but definitely worth reading if you like messy, morally gray characters and influencer drama done right.

[Nora Currie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would like to thank my friend Michelle for an ARC of this Young Adult novel. These are my honest thoughts about this book. I sadly have to DNF this book. I’m DNFING this book on page 164. Although I really love the mixed media format of this book and the two main characters, Chyna who’s on the gymnastics team and Jamaal who’s on the basketball team, and their POVs, there’s a lot of intense drama covering issues such as gang violence resulting in death which leads to grief, organ transplants, growing up in poor neighborhoods, mental health and physical health issues. There’s positive things like trying to improve the community and trying to change your life and to hope for the best. I rated this book three stars because there’s way too much swearing and I was triggered by something that occurred in my own life and that occurs in this book as well involving an instructor in charge of the department at school.

[Cheetara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not a Sweet Valley High reader but I was surprised how much this book pulled me in! Chyna and Jamaal kind of remind me of me and my guy best friend. We have both suffered quite a few hard times together in or almost 25 years of friendship so these characters were very relatable in that instance. I did have to keep reminding myself that these are high school kids because I wanted to pop them upside the head like Chyna's auntie. Overall it was a really good read! That cliffhanger and the last moments of the book had my jaw on the floor! I definitely want to know what's going to have next for the crew.

Relatability 4/5⭐(only because I'm more auntie than young'n now)
Would I countine the series? 5/5⭐
Would I recommend it to my book club? 5/5:⭐

I am glad you didn't quit Paula. I think the series will only get better from here!

[Lexi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never read Sweet Valley High, but I thought that this sounded interesting. It was really hard for me to get into due to the large amount of characters introduced. I had trouble following who was who, which left me confused and struggling to push on. The narrative style did not help matters. If you can make it past those, then I think this novel has a lot of promise. It had a good amount of drama that you can lean into, and the characters were really diverse and offered a lot of different viewpoints that I appreciated. Overall, I don't think this was for me, but I would be open to reading more works by this author.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing a copy of this ARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

[LittleBookLoves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can definitely see how Balancing Act aims to be a modern-day version of Sweet Valley High and believe that is an accurate comparison. There's unique enough characters, emotional depth, tragedies experienced by both of our MCs (Chyna and Jamaal), and this layer of a coming-of-age story. I think anyone who loves YA will enjoy this book and be able to feel empathy for the unique trials and experiences of Chyna and Jamaal. I don't know how it was for other readers, but for me this theme of persevering despite adversity and discrimination really resonated. Overall, I feel that this was a good story.

Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Critter · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an audio ARC.

I think the characters are well written in this book. They felt like real people and their emotions can really be felt by the readers. I also liked the effort that went into creating this book because there was an entire online portion of this one it help build out the story. With the audio book version I didn't like the sound of some of the social media dings. However I did enjoy thr different narrators for this book. I did like how the world was built. The pacing felt a little off, but it wasn't too bad. I overall felt like this was great and very intriguing book.

[Connie · Rating 3 out of 5]

In this high school drama, a new magnet school has opened up, drawing in several of the top student athletes in the city. The two sports this story revolves around are gymnastics and basketball. The story opens with a shooting and ultimate death of a family member and friend of the main characters, and the turf wars that were eluded to around the shooting were revisited throughout the book. There was a lot going on, with many characters to try to keep straight, so the first half of the book was hard to get into. The best part of the writing in my opinion was the last few chapters, and ultimately it was just a “meh” book for me.

[Lauren | Wordsbetweenlines · Rating 4 out of 5]

A new elite school. Focused on athletes and techletes but the stars are the gymnastics and basketball teams.

Jamaal and Chyna have been through a lot. At least they were both recruited to the new school and have each other. But what h to my find is a world full of gossip, high stakes sports, drama and the realization that your only beloved in this town until your not.

This book had a couple extremely sad parts that gutted me and up my rating to a 4. It also left me hanging I’m gonna need the second book asap.

I am here for YA dramas. Especially ones with diverse representation.

A huge thank you to wednesday books for the finished copy 🤍