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Unlovely
If he falls for a beautiful dancer, does he risk his heart? Or his life?
Accidents happen. But they happen more often when the beautiful ballet dancers return each summer to the island. When he hears the ruthless way that the loveliest dancer talks about boys getting what they deserve when they break girls' hearts, Harley, home for the summer after his first year of college, wonders if he's losing his mind. He knows for sure that he's losing his heart to this girl...But then, strange incidents start happening all over the island and Harley is caught between desire and fear: could he also be in danger of losing his life?
Accidents happen. But they happen more often when the beautiful ballet dancers return each summer to the island. When he hears the ruthless way that the loveliest dancer talks about boys getting what they deserve when they break girls' hearts, Harley, home for the summer after his first year of college, wonders if he's losing his mind. He knows for sure that he's losing his heart to this girl...But then, strange incidents start happening all over the island and Harley is caught between desire and fear: could he also be in danger of losing his life?
254 pages, Hardcover
First published December 5, 2014
6 people are currently reading
1122 people want to read
About the author
Celeste Conway
7 books16 followersCeleste Conway is a published author of children's books and young adult books. Published credits of Celeste Conway include The Melting Season, Where Is Papa Now?, The Goodbye Time, and When You Open Your Eyes.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
January 5, 2015
Review also found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. It has just recently been released.
I will start out by saying that there are many YA novels that seem to transcend age limitations while there are others that do not. This story seems to fall in the latter category and may influence my perception of this story. In my opinion it simply does not appeal to the older (but not too old) audience.
There was so much potential with this story. A boy returns home from his first year of college to find that everyone has moved on in his absence including his ex-girlfriend. He then falls for the too good to be true summer girl. Add to that she attend the creepy ballet school where local rumour has it that the girls are all crazy and suspicious accidents & deaths have occurred over the years. Intrigued yet? I was. There are unlimited plot directions the story could take from here yet it took none of them.
The biggest letdown for me were the characters. There really seemed to be no emotional connection amongst any of them. I saw no chemistry between Harley and his ex or Harley and Cassandra. Both females seemed weird, whiny and immature. I am not sure if it was how they were described or how they spoke but they did not win me over. The same for Harley. He seemed to be attracted to whoever was in the room instead of trying to figure out how he was really feeling.
The ending (no spoiler's here) just seemed to occur too quickly and did not make a whole lot of sense. There should have been more of a climax and the aftermath seemed glossed over also. This could have been such a creepy yet good ending to the story and instead I was left wanting for more.
At the end of the day I think this story could have some appeal for a younger teen audience. They may be more forgiving for the lack of depth and character development where I wanted more. They would be the ones that would enjoy the creepy factor that just doesn't become creepy enough.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. It has just recently been released.
I will start out by saying that there are many YA novels that seem to transcend age limitations while there are others that do not. This story seems to fall in the latter category and may influence my perception of this story. In my opinion it simply does not appeal to the older (but not too old) audience.
There was so much potential with this story. A boy returns home from his first year of college to find that everyone has moved on in his absence including his ex-girlfriend. He then falls for the too good to be true summer girl. Add to that she attend the creepy ballet school where local rumour has it that the girls are all crazy and suspicious accidents & deaths have occurred over the years. Intrigued yet? I was. There are unlimited plot directions the story could take from here yet it took none of them.
The biggest letdown for me were the characters. There really seemed to be no emotional connection amongst any of them. I saw no chemistry between Harley and his ex or Harley and Cassandra. Both females seemed weird, whiny and immature. I am not sure if it was how they were described or how they spoke but they did not win me over. The same for Harley. He seemed to be attracted to whoever was in the room instead of trying to figure out how he was really feeling.
The ending (no spoiler's here) just seemed to occur too quickly and did not make a whole lot of sense. There should have been more of a climax and the aftermath seemed glossed over also. This could have been such a creepy yet good ending to the story and instead I was left wanting for more.
At the end of the day I think this story could have some appeal for a younger teen audience. They may be more forgiving for the lack of depth and character development where I wanted more. They would be the ones that would enjoy the creepy factor that just doesn't become creepy enough.
May 26, 2016
Ok. I've changed my rating three times now. This is one of those books that you dismiss, and then realize, three days later, that it was amazing.
January 19, 2015
I have a great love for ballerina's and a fascination for dark themed stories, so when I came across this book I was excited to see both in one story. However, I was a bit disappointed with how the story played out. I felt like the entire book was building towards something, like some big dark secret or event looming just around the corner, but nothing really happens. Even the ending was a let down. The story has potential had it been told a different way, perhaps from a different view. But for the most part everything is shrouded in mystery building you towards nothing. I think the only thing that kept me reading was I was expecting a climatic moment that when it did come was just a super let down.
But other than the story itself, I felt like the characters were lacking. You never get a real good feel for any of them, like you could connect with them on some level. Even the books main character was lacking in depth. Just like with the plot, had the characters been fleshed out more perhaps it would have been a more interesting read. It would have been great to get different characters perspectives and not just Harleys. I would have loved to get to know the ballerinas up at Ocean Watch and not just see them through Harley and Cassandra's eyes.
All in all it was just an ok read and just an ok book.
But other than the story itself, I felt like the characters were lacking. You never get a real good feel for any of them, like you could connect with them on some level. Even the books main character was lacking in depth. Just like with the plot, had the characters been fleshed out more perhaps it would have been a more interesting read. It would have been great to get different characters perspectives and not just Harleys. I would have loved to get to know the ballerinas up at Ocean Watch and not just see them through Harley and Cassandra's eyes.
All in all it was just an ok read and just an ok book.
August 4, 2015
Ummm. Odd, this one. Told from the perspective of a male 'townie' who's 'gotten out', so to speak—gone off to university. But he's back for summer holidays and entranced by the fluttering, flowers-in-hair ballet students who stay up the hill. They are the anti-townies, not least because the town blames them (collectively) for a townie death some time back.
It's just odd. Harley (who has a giant, and often misplaced, saviour complex) falls for one of the dancers and then decides that all the other dancers are crazy and potential murderers, though he has nothing to back this up other than bitches be crazy. The dancers are all insubstantial characters—hazy, unreal. Even Cassandra, Harley's sometimes-love interest and the only dancer with a significant on-screen presence in the book, is not entirely corporeal. Perhaps that was the point?
I read it for (if I'm honest) the cover, but...ultimately I thought Mairin's story—Mairin being Harley's ex, now pregnant by another 'townie'—was perhaps the more interesting one. She wasn't tremendously interesting to me on her own, but the setup of making mistakes and being unable or unwilling (or unable and unwilling) to back down from them...
It's just odd. Harley (who has a giant, and often misplaced, saviour complex) falls for one of the dancers and then decides that all the other dancers are crazy and potential murderers, though he has nothing to back this up other than bitches be crazy. The dancers are all insubstantial characters—hazy, unreal. Even Cassandra, Harley's sometimes-love interest and the only dancer with a significant on-screen presence in the book, is not entirely corporeal. Perhaps that was the point?
I read it for (if I'm honest) the cover, but...ultimately I thought Mairin's story—Mairin being Harley's ex, now pregnant by another 'townie'—was perhaps the more interesting one. She wasn't tremendously interesting to me on her own, but the setup of making mistakes and being unable or unwilling (or unable and unwilling) to back down from them...
June 18, 2019
About 40 pages in I thought about DNFing this but told myself, “Nooo, psycho murderous ballerinas! It’ll get good, just wait. You’d regret DNFing this one!”
Hindsight is 20/20 and I know myself well enough to know when I don’t like a story...
Okay, so I hated the main character. Let’s start with that. Harley was a jerkwad and thought he knew better than everyone about everything, and he had a bad temper that wasn’t even addressed as a character flaw. I also didn’t get his relationship with his dad. It felt very weird and more cousin-y than father-son. It just weirded me out honestly.
I was really expecting this novel to be creepy in a psychotic or even a demonic way, but it was really only creepy for the main character because he was paranoid. There was literally nothing wrong with those girls at the ballet school other than being dramatic, a little immature, and suffering from sorority-esque hive-mind behavior. They weren’t demented or sociopathic or anything worthy of the townspeople’s fears. And I could feel how hard the author was trying to be spooky. It was a little pathetic.
Now can we say “instalove”? It was gag-worthy how hot those two got for each other, and on top of that it was supposedly “love”. Ew, can you not? I’m not buying it.
Another unbelievable aspect of this story: the texting! A textbook example of “how adults think that young people text”. Just btw its easr 2 type whole wrds than it is 2 use nmbrs also pnct n autocrrct r still a thng.
Long story short (ha, I wish) I did not like this book and I wish I hadn’t read it. So that’s three days of reading time I’ll never get back…
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book with “love” in the title
Hindsight is 20/20 and I know myself well enough to know when I don’t like a story...
Okay, so I hated the main character. Let’s start with that. Harley was a jerkwad and thought he knew better than everyone about everything, and he had a bad temper that wasn’t even addressed as a character flaw. I also didn’t get his relationship with his dad. It felt very weird and more cousin-y than father-son. It just weirded me out honestly.
I was really expecting this novel to be creepy in a psychotic or even a demonic way, but it was really only creepy for the main character because he was paranoid. There was literally nothing wrong with those girls at the ballet school other than being dramatic, a little immature, and suffering from sorority-esque hive-mind behavior. They weren’t demented or sociopathic or anything worthy of the townspeople’s fears. And I could feel how hard the author was trying to be spooky. It was a little pathetic.
Now can we say “instalove”? It was gag-worthy how hot those two got for each other, and on top of that it was supposedly “love”. Ew, can you not? I’m not buying it.
Another unbelievable aspect of this story: the texting! A textbook example of “how adults think that young people text”. Just btw its easr 2 type whole wrds than it is 2 use nmbrs also pnct n autocrrct r still a thng.
Long story short (ha, I wish) I did not like this book and I wish I hadn’t read it. So that’s three days of reading time I’ll never get back…
Popsugar 2019 Reading Challenge: a book with “love” in the title
August 11, 2020
I loved the premise of this book but ultimately it fell short for me. A lot of it had to do with the main character, Harley, who bored me. I didn’t really care what happened to him. I also didn’t really care for any of his “pirate” friends, either, though I thought Becky was fantastic. Mairin was okay, though a lot of her actions didn’t make much sense to me.
Harley’s relationship with his dad was interesting and sweet. I feel like his dad and Theo’s relationship should have been delved into deeper than it was. I also wanted to know more about Hannah—she was an intriguing presence.
The atmosphere and setting were well executed. It felt like a real place and had a sort of creepy vibe to it whenever the ballet girls were near. I did enjoy the transition of Cassandra’s character from a naive, sweet girl to something more sinister. I’m not sure if the character of Julian was a nod to Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews, but if so, kudos. I felt he got off a little easy, considering.
This book taught me more about the plot of the ballet Giselle, so that was cool since I’ve seen it mentioned in other ballet books but never quite explained. It tied into this book somewhat, though even Harley is surprised to discover who his real Giselle is. I would have liked to see more happen with Cassandra’s sleep-dancing. It would have also been interesting had Harley actually reached out to her mother, just to see what would happen.
I was disappointed in the climax. It was tense but happened and resolved too fast for my liking. The hint of sinister twist at the end was nice, though I feel it could have been even more powerful.
Honestly, this would have been amazing had it been from Cassandra’s POV. I felt like Harley was just too distant to really do this story idea justice. There were times when I was hooked, though, so I enjoyed it but I’m still disappointed because it had so much potential.
I struggled with a final rating but finally decided on 3.5 stars.
Harley’s relationship with his dad was interesting and sweet. I feel like his dad and Theo’s relationship should have been delved into deeper than it was. I also wanted to know more about Hannah—she was an intriguing presence.
The atmosphere and setting were well executed. It felt like a real place and had a sort of creepy vibe to it whenever the ballet girls were near. I did enjoy the transition of Cassandra’s character from a naive, sweet girl to something more sinister. I’m not sure if the character of Julian was a nod to Petals on the Wind by V.C. Andrews, but if so, kudos. I felt he got off a little easy, considering.
This book taught me more about the plot of the ballet Giselle, so that was cool since I’ve seen it mentioned in other ballet books but never quite explained. It tied into this book somewhat, though even Harley is surprised to discover who his real Giselle is. I would have liked to see more happen with Cassandra’s sleep-dancing. It would have also been interesting had Harley actually reached out to her mother, just to see what would happen.
I was disappointed in the climax. It was tense but happened and resolved too fast for my liking. The hint of sinister twist at the end was nice, though I feel it could have been even more powerful.
Honestly, this would have been amazing had it been from Cassandra’s POV. I felt like Harley was just too distant to really do this story idea justice. There were times when I was hooked, though, so I enjoyed it but I’m still disappointed because it had so much potential.
I struggled with a final rating but finally decided on 3.5 stars.
Read
February 18, 2015There have always been strange rumors about the strange accidents and tragic deaths which center around Ocean Watch Academy, a summer dance school. Harley’s lived on the island his whole life and heard all the stories. Now Harley has come home for the summer from Colby College to find out he doesn’t have much in common anymore with his friends, including his ex-girlfriend Mairin. Harley meets Cassandra, one of the mysterious dancers at the Ocean Watch Academy, and he falls for her fast. However, there is more than meets the eye to the Ocean Watch Academy dancers and their headmistress. Soon Harley finds himself fearing for himself and those he loves from a threat which has been terrifying the islanders for decades. UNLOVELY is a creepy tale of love and revenge. While I liked the story, I didn’t feel too attached to the characters themselves. I thought the suspense played out well and was seriously disturbing. I think teen readers will especially enjoy UNLOVELY.
December 28, 2022
The start of the book was super interesting and mysterious and I was very excited to see where it went, but by the half way you’re still waiting for something happen and then it ends and it was SUPER anticlimactic and disappointing.
July 29, 2021
i feel like this had so much more potential. i would have loved for it to be better-developed, and with a more solid resolution; i was so hooked for the first 100 pages, but then i fell off and was re-intrigued for like the last 50 pages but then it just.... went nowhere and also happened too fast and also had no real resolution.
so this is touted as horror, but i really didn't get that sense. mysterious, and with hauntingly-written prose, sure, but probably not horror.
i liked harley well enough, and even cassandra, but my favourite was mairin, even though i couldn't get a firm sense of her character - which goes for every character, actually. especially all the side characters, who all felt interchangeable. i couldn't begin to tell you the thought processes and what the actual emotions of all the main ones were, so some of the choices and decisions they make feel a bit stale, and overall because of this lack of development of the characters and kind of simplistic writing, the story makes you feel like an observer of things, rather than transplanting you into the heart of the action. which could actually be a stylistic choice, so if that's the case, then it was pulled off well. everything that really "happens" here just seems to be based on hearsay, assumptions, gossip, rumours, jumping to conclusions. i have to wonder if harley is even a reliable narrator.
the ballet school girls and madame ravenska were made to sound like they had a much more important role than they actually did, in my opinion, but we barely see them, and they barely even do anything.......... especially madame ravenska. we "see" her like maybe twice. and she doesn't even speak in those instances ??? she could really honestly be cut out and it wouldn't really make a difference to me.
i enjoyed the setting and the premise and the dialogue written in the book, and even the characters (the promise of them), but if they had all been better developed and executed.
so this is touted as horror, but i really didn't get that sense. mysterious, and with hauntingly-written prose, sure, but probably not horror.
i liked harley well enough, and even cassandra, but my favourite was mairin, even though i couldn't get a firm sense of her character - which goes for every character, actually. especially all the side characters, who all felt interchangeable. i couldn't begin to tell you the thought processes and what the actual emotions of all the main ones were, so some of the choices and decisions they make feel a bit stale, and overall because of this lack of development of the characters and kind of simplistic writing, the story makes you feel like an observer of things, rather than transplanting you into the heart of the action. which could actually be a stylistic choice, so if that's the case, then it was pulled off well. everything that really "happens" here just seems to be based on hearsay, assumptions, gossip, rumours, jumping to conclusions. i have to wonder if harley is even a reliable narrator.
the ballet school girls and madame ravenska were made to sound like they had a much more important role than they actually did, in my opinion, but we barely see them, and they barely even do anything.......... especially madame ravenska. we "see" her like maybe twice. and she doesn't even speak in those instances ??? she could really honestly be cut out and it wouldn't really make a difference to me.
i enjoyed the setting and the premise and the dialogue written in the book, and even the characters (the promise of them), but if they had all been better developed and executed.
November 27, 2022
This was okay, if a little odd, and the ending wasn't concrete enough for me.
April 4, 2015
This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews!
*2.5 star rating*
A dance book gone wrong? Yes, that's exactly what happened in this case to me. I'm unable to believe how this book turned out, because I had such high hopes for another paranormal contemporary romance, just like Dance of Shadows by Yelene Black. Usually, I'm totally in for these kinds of novels, but it may have been the wrong book at the right time, or if I'm right, many things went wrong and it was a weak novel that was hard to get into.
Looking at the pacing, I found that many people have had trouble to try to get into it. I can tell you that there were moments when I was thinking of DNFing it, but I kept going because I wanted to see the ending. If you look at the rating that I've given it—2.5 stars, I can tell you that it wasn't bad, and it wasn't good, either. It's like Yin Yang, some good and some bad make up a whole, right? And I can surely tell you, this book was unlovely too. Hey, the title suits it!
This had a very simple plot, if you ask me. This is taken place in the point-of-view of a guy named Harley, who lives in a small town where he always watches the gorgeous ballerina girls who live across the hill. He meets Cassandra, and they fall in love at first sight, basically. Talk about instalove? Of course, as they fall in love, strange and eerie paranormal events start occur all over the island that he's on and he wonders if it has to do with Cassandra and the other ballerinas and if he should truly give them a chance.
Yeah, this was a short novel of 256 pages, but I felt that it was lugging forever and ever and all of the events were plotted on to my back and I had to carry them all around with me until I was actually done the novel and I can pack all of the characters and the boringness of the plot away into the closed book and its pages. It did take me some time to read, but in the end, it didn't really make too much of a difference since I wasn't enjoying it for the most part. I'm sure that if Conway had a better idea, maybe we would've gotten a whole star higher, a 3.5. If the plot and storyline was believable and didn't seem sudden and fake, then we could've had a different discussion going on here.
I hate writing negative reviews. They drain so much happiness out of me because I have to sit here, on my desk chair for 40 minutes, thinking all about the negativity that I encountered while reading a not-so-well-written novel, and putting it down into a document and send it all the way into the hearts of others, telling them not to read this. Thankfully in this case, there were some positives and I'm able to live not-so-angrily.
As you can probably tell, I was hoping for this to be amazing. I pictured the story to have a perfect message and a bunch of themes that I and many other teenagers will be able to relate to and nod our heads to when we realize that it's just like our lives but only on paper. But no sir-eee, this was a complete different situation and the only good part was that they were dancers. But the descriptions of the girls dancing weren't even that feely and made me visualize the swift movements and jumps of the ballerinas and picturing them being possessed by the configurations of society all around them.
If the dialogue and the plot were better, this book would've been better. But let me tell you that you should only read this book if you have patience. If you're able to go 100 pages without anything happening, then maybe, just maybe, you'll enjoy this haunting read. But I have a lack of patience when I'm reading and I just want to get to the action, which lets me lose all of the good stuff and I'm just sitting there, eagerly waiting. But actually, that action moment didn't really impress me? So I can tell you that the plot here was hideous. And I won't even explain the moments of dialogue, because you'll have to see that for yourself.*laughs*
One of the positives were the characters. Harley wasn't a bad guy, though I have to admit that it did make me giggle to see how clueless he was at times. But what can you expect to act like when you've never heard the rumours before and all of the stuff just jumps up to you when you start dating a girl who's part of those rumours? He wasn't a bad protagonist, and I surely enjoy looking into his thoughts better than having to read through Cassandra's, since she was pretty self-spoken. Harley was mysterious and I liked to know what he was having to go through in his own thoughts since he was pretty normal and average himself.
And the romance he and Cassandra had? I liked it. I mean, it was interesting and real. Okay, she did seem a little bitchy at times, but I'm not going to focus on her character since everyone seems to think differently about her and I guess it's just all about what kind of person you are and who's your favourite protagonist ever. If someone put the romance that Cassandra and Harley had and put it into a movie, I probably would've gone and see that movie because they were cute. You can't say anything about the romance because that was the main point of the story and if you didn't like that, then the book was a disaster for you. Thankfully, that stood by me and I was okay with it.
In conclusion, I'm going to have to tell you that I'm part of the negative crew here. Yeah, there was good and bad, but do you honestly think that I'm going to want to read some sequel or re-read this in the future? Absolutely not, since it'd be a waste. The romance was pleasant as was the protagonist, but the plot, message and "paranormal aspects" were truly something to laugh at. Looking at everything, this truly was unlovely
*A finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
*2.5 star rating*
A dance book gone wrong? Yes, that's exactly what happened in this case to me. I'm unable to believe how this book turned out, because I had such high hopes for another paranormal contemporary romance, just like Dance of Shadows by Yelene Black. Usually, I'm totally in for these kinds of novels, but it may have been the wrong book at the right time, or if I'm right, many things went wrong and it was a weak novel that was hard to get into.
Looking at the pacing, I found that many people have had trouble to try to get into it. I can tell you that there were moments when I was thinking of DNFing it, but I kept going because I wanted to see the ending. If you look at the rating that I've given it—2.5 stars, I can tell you that it wasn't bad, and it wasn't good, either. It's like Yin Yang, some good and some bad make up a whole, right? And I can surely tell you, this book was unlovely too. Hey, the title suits it!
This had a very simple plot, if you ask me. This is taken place in the point-of-view of a guy named Harley, who lives in a small town where he always watches the gorgeous ballerina girls who live across the hill. He meets Cassandra, and they fall in love at first sight, basically. Talk about instalove? Of course, as they fall in love, strange and eerie paranormal events start occur all over the island that he's on and he wonders if it has to do with Cassandra and the other ballerinas and if he should truly give them a chance.
Yeah, this was a short novel of 256 pages, but I felt that it was lugging forever and ever and all of the events were plotted on to my back and I had to carry them all around with me until I was actually done the novel and I can pack all of the characters and the boringness of the plot away into the closed book and its pages. It did take me some time to read, but in the end, it didn't really make too much of a difference since I wasn't enjoying it for the most part. I'm sure that if Conway had a better idea, maybe we would've gotten a whole star higher, a 3.5. If the plot and storyline was believable and didn't seem sudden and fake, then we could've had a different discussion going on here.
I hate writing negative reviews. They drain so much happiness out of me because I have to sit here, on my desk chair for 40 minutes, thinking all about the negativity that I encountered while reading a not-so-well-written novel, and putting it down into a document and send it all the way into the hearts of others, telling them not to read this. Thankfully in this case, there were some positives and I'm able to live not-so-angrily.
As you can probably tell, I was hoping for this to be amazing. I pictured the story to have a perfect message and a bunch of themes that I and many other teenagers will be able to relate to and nod our heads to when we realize that it's just like our lives but only on paper. But no sir-eee, this was a complete different situation and the only good part was that they were dancers. But the descriptions of the girls dancing weren't even that feely and made me visualize the swift movements and jumps of the ballerinas and picturing them being possessed by the configurations of society all around them.
If the dialogue and the plot were better, this book would've been better. But let me tell you that you should only read this book if you have patience. If you're able to go 100 pages without anything happening, then maybe, just maybe, you'll enjoy this haunting read. But I have a lack of patience when I'm reading and I just want to get to the action, which lets me lose all of the good stuff and I'm just sitting there, eagerly waiting. But actually, that action moment didn't really impress me? So I can tell you that the plot here was hideous. And I won't even explain the moments of dialogue, because you'll have to see that for yourself.*laughs*
One of the positives were the characters. Harley wasn't a bad guy, though I have to admit that it did make me giggle to see how clueless he was at times. But what can you expect to act like when you've never heard the rumours before and all of the stuff just jumps up to you when you start dating a girl who's part of those rumours? He wasn't a bad protagonist, and I surely enjoy looking into his thoughts better than having to read through Cassandra's, since she was pretty self-spoken. Harley was mysterious and I liked to know what he was having to go through in his own thoughts since he was pretty normal and average himself.
And the romance he and Cassandra had? I liked it. I mean, it was interesting and real. Okay, she did seem a little bitchy at times, but I'm not going to focus on her character since everyone seems to think differently about her and I guess it's just all about what kind of person you are and who's your favourite protagonist ever. If someone put the romance that Cassandra and Harley had and put it into a movie, I probably would've gone and see that movie because they were cute. You can't say anything about the romance because that was the main point of the story and if you didn't like that, then the book was a disaster for you. Thankfully, that stood by me and I was okay with it.
In conclusion, I'm going to have to tell you that I'm part of the negative crew here. Yeah, there was good and bad, but do you honestly think that I'm going to want to read some sequel or re-read this in the future? Absolutely not, since it'd be a waste. The romance was pleasant as was the protagonist, but the plot, message and "paranormal aspects" were truly something to laugh at. Looking at everything, this truly was unlovely
*A finished copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!*
June 4, 2023
Felt pretty conflicted about this book for a while after reading... Beautiful setting and imagery with unique characters that I couldn't quite seem to bond with. In my eyes, the ending happened far too quickly, it felt like the whole book was building up to a point that fell a bit flat for me.
Feelings pretty split down the middle after this read. Some themes that are established don't quite live up to the expectations set up. The ultimate couple pairing had too little of a bond for the reader to root for them the way that the plot seems to expect them to.
However, it does earn 3 stars from me because the world it builds sticks with you. The ballerinas and ballet instructor are established so well as background characters that those scenes continue to live in your head for some time.
Overall, a great idea with some thrilling moments, but it felt a bit rushed towards the end.
Feelings pretty split down the middle after this read. Some themes that are established don't quite live up to the expectations set up. The ultimate couple pairing had too little of a bond for the reader to root for them the way that the plot seems to expect them to.
However, it does earn 3 stars from me because the world it builds sticks with you. The ballerinas and ballet instructor are established so well as background characters that those scenes continue to live in your head for some time.
Overall, a great idea with some thrilling moments, but it felt a bit rushed towards the end.
August 2, 2019
I stopped reading when he is all paranoid and saying the woman told the girls to be evil by locking a 17 year old in a basement after hs has been going after/being sexually active with a 12 year old. A 12 YEAR OLD.
To me that is legitimately pedophilia and the fact that this is glossed over and just looked at as oh yeah they did this but it was actually evil. I feel like a whole book could have been written about the pedophilia and how this would affect the town.
But no. We instead spend time on how main guy is upset that a girl he barely knows is putting her career above him.
Fack off.
To me that is legitimately pedophilia and the fact that this is glossed over and just looked at as oh yeah they did this but it was actually evil. I feel like a whole book could have been written about the pedophilia and how this would affect the town.
But no. We instead spend time on how main guy is upset that a girl he barely knows is putting her career above him.
Fack off.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 10, 2023
This was a really great YA book. I would have loved to hear what was going on on Cassandra's side the whole time too. It just kinda felt half sided. It would have definitely kicked it up a notch to have both sides telling the story at the same time then have it all come together at the end. It just felt like it was missing something. Otherwise the writing was great. All the details made sense and came together in the end. I was definitely not expecting it to end that way! Great book overall.
December 23, 2023
I really enjoyed this book. I've always loved ballerina's and this book made we view them a little differently. It's a love story with a little bit of horror. I defiantly wouldn't want to mess with these girls.
July 19, 2017
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads
April 28, 2021
teens will like this book more than i did. in my mind, ballet and mysterious accidents don't mix. however, the early teens will enjoy the occult overtones.
September 10, 2025
Pretty Good, once you get into the book, wasnt my favorite.
June 29, 2015
All I knew about this book was what I gleaned from the cover: it was about ballet, and somehow, love and horror were involved. As the story opens, I had the distinct feeling that it was taking place sometime in the 1950s. When the main character spoke, the descriptions of the girls from the ballet school, the feel of the town - all of it seemed to be from a different era. Imagine my surprise when either an f-bomb or the mention of a cell phone was introduced (I don't recall which). Shocked the senses, to say the least. Well, OK. We are absolutely in modern times. But still, there was something about it that reminded me of books from a bygone era.
Harley is home for the summer from college. He is the only of his friend group who left to go. He was supposed to leave this small town along with his then-girlfriend, Mairin. Mairin was always full of adventure, fun and a thirst for travel, but somehow her mother, a bitter and unhappy woman, guilted her into staying. Harley waited for Mairin to come to her senses, but when he returned she had already taken up with Smits, a local boy not known for his smarts, drive or temperance. And by then, Mairin was pregnant.
Always fascinated by the line of beautiful ballet girls that glided into town every summer, Harley noticed a new face among them. A beautiful girl who hadn't gotten that snobby, cold look yet that the others had mastered. And when fate caused them to cross paths during a horrible storm, he was totally smitten. His friends certainly weren't happy, though; there was always a divide between those at the ballet school who spent the rest of the year in New York City, and the townies, especially after local boy Teddy Flynn was found dead at the base of a tower on the ballet school's property. No one who knew him believed that he had been drunk and fallen out the window, as was recorded as the official cause of death.
But Harley is totally taken with Cassandra, and though he knows that something bad happened between her and her last boyfriend, he knows he would never do anything to hurt her. In fact, that's how all of the girls from the ballet school feel. But when Cassandra gets the role of Giselle and starts spending almost all of her time at the school, he starts to hear stories about other boys who stood in the way of a dancer's career and suffered because of it. Cassandra then becomes the pet of the guest ballet teacher, a woman who had a brief relationship with Harley's own father - and had tried to stab him.
There are strange things happening up at the school, to say the least. But he can't stay away from Cassandra.
This story felt long and languid; like I was lying in a hammock, and a Southerner with a slow drawl was reading it out loud to me while I napped. The cursing, to be honest, felt weirdly out of place. And the action was there, but it felt like one of those dreams where you are running in place and trying to get somewhere but you have cinder blocks on your feet and you are in a pool full of Jell-O. This story needed to have more snap, like the sails on Harley's boat; it needed to skim more lightly during the in-between parts and linger over the drama. The ending was a little lackluster, and even the title I found to be passive. For me, this pas de deux is more pas de dull.
Unlovely by Celeste Conway was published January 2, 2015, by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher for their generosity.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Thriller
Ages: 12 and up
Harley is home for the summer from college. He is the only of his friend group who left to go. He was supposed to leave this small town along with his then-girlfriend, Mairin. Mairin was always full of adventure, fun and a thirst for travel, but somehow her mother, a bitter and unhappy woman, guilted her into staying. Harley waited for Mairin to come to her senses, but when he returned she had already taken up with Smits, a local boy not known for his smarts, drive or temperance. And by then, Mairin was pregnant.
Always fascinated by the line of beautiful ballet girls that glided into town every summer, Harley noticed a new face among them. A beautiful girl who hadn't gotten that snobby, cold look yet that the others had mastered. And when fate caused them to cross paths during a horrible storm, he was totally smitten. His friends certainly weren't happy, though; there was always a divide between those at the ballet school who spent the rest of the year in New York City, and the townies, especially after local boy Teddy Flynn was found dead at the base of a tower on the ballet school's property. No one who knew him believed that he had been drunk and fallen out the window, as was recorded as the official cause of death.
But Harley is totally taken with Cassandra, and though he knows that something bad happened between her and her last boyfriend, he knows he would never do anything to hurt her. In fact, that's how all of the girls from the ballet school feel. But when Cassandra gets the role of Giselle and starts spending almost all of her time at the school, he starts to hear stories about other boys who stood in the way of a dancer's career and suffered because of it. Cassandra then becomes the pet of the guest ballet teacher, a woman who had a brief relationship with Harley's own father - and had tried to stab him.
There are strange things happening up at the school, to say the least. But he can't stay away from Cassandra.
This story felt long and languid; like I was lying in a hammock, and a Southerner with a slow drawl was reading it out loud to me while I napped. The cursing, to be honest, felt weirdly out of place. And the action was there, but it felt like one of those dreams where you are running in place and trying to get somewhere but you have cinder blocks on your feet and you are in a pool full of Jell-O. This story needed to have more snap, like the sails on Harley's boat; it needed to skim more lightly during the in-between parts and linger over the drama. The ending was a little lackluster, and even the title I found to be passive. For me, this pas de deux is more pas de dull.
Unlovely by Celeste Conway was published January 2, 2015, by Merit Press. A free copy of this book was given to Ink and Page in return for an honest review. Big thanks to the Publisher for their generosity.
Rating: 2.5
Genre: Young Adult Fiction Contemporary Thriller
Ages: 12 and up
May 11, 2015
Jillian Hergenrother
May 10, 2015
A2 English 132
I read Unlovely by Celeste Conway. The author’s purpose of writing this novel was to entertain. Her story is one of mystery, horror, and some romance as well. The author entertains the audience with a story of a mysterious ballet school that has something to do with the bad things that keep happening to the people in the small town the school is located in. The romance between the main character, Harley, and a ballerina from the school, Cassandra, is very interesting to the reader because of the history of what happens when a boy from the town falls in love with a girl from the school. The thing that is most entertaining though is the things that keep happening to people once Harley and Cassandra start dating. People get hurt, someone dies, and Harley sees the trouble the girls cause.
The theme of this book is that people aren't always who you think they are. At first, Cassandra and her friends seem like nice people who Harley could get along with even though they are very different. Harley thinks that she couldn't hurt him because she is just some delicate thing. As the plot goes along, you start to see that Cassandra is changing from the influence of the new choreographer at the school. The woman influences the girls into thinking that all boys are bad so then Cassandra starts questioning things about Harley and starts to go a little mad. She also gets cast as the lead in the ballet they are putting on, Giselle. Cassandra wants to be more like Giselle to be able to perform the part well. When she does this she starts going crazier and crazier and Harley realizes that she is not the same person he thought she was.
The style of this book is a narrative. Conway give the novel this style by showing the events of Harley’s summer when he is going to be a sophomore in college. She goes through telling the back-story of the history of the town and the ballet school and then tells us the meeting of Harley and Cassandra.
Throughout the rest of the novel, the author tells us of the obstacles that both characters face with the prejudices from each side and how Cassandra changes over the course of the story. The novel ends with Harley realizing things that have always been there but he didn't see. The author is telling the audience these events of Harley’s summer.
For me the book was good but not great. I enjoyed that the narration of the story was from the boys view and not the crazy ballerina. I also liked how there was mystery because that made everything more interesting. The plot was set up well and had a lot of potential, but when the author had the chance to make everything come out and have something truly amazing happen with the horror and mystery aspect of the story, Conway let me down. The ending was abrupt and felt like it needed to go on. I would change the end of the novel so it was more detailed and really resolved instead of how it did end. I felt like there needed to be more said about everything that happened. I haven’t read a book like this yet and I would be glad to read another like it to see if it could be better than this one. I love ballet and stories about ballet interest me very much. In the end though, I wasn't as satisfied with the novel as I hoped I would be.
May 10, 2015
A2 English 132
I read Unlovely by Celeste Conway. The author’s purpose of writing this novel was to entertain. Her story is one of mystery, horror, and some romance as well. The author entertains the audience with a story of a mysterious ballet school that has something to do with the bad things that keep happening to the people in the small town the school is located in. The romance between the main character, Harley, and a ballerina from the school, Cassandra, is very interesting to the reader because of the history of what happens when a boy from the town falls in love with a girl from the school. The thing that is most entertaining though is the things that keep happening to people once Harley and Cassandra start dating. People get hurt, someone dies, and Harley sees the trouble the girls cause.
The theme of this book is that people aren't always who you think they are. At first, Cassandra and her friends seem like nice people who Harley could get along with even though they are very different. Harley thinks that she couldn't hurt him because she is just some delicate thing. As the plot goes along, you start to see that Cassandra is changing from the influence of the new choreographer at the school. The woman influences the girls into thinking that all boys are bad so then Cassandra starts questioning things about Harley and starts to go a little mad. She also gets cast as the lead in the ballet they are putting on, Giselle. Cassandra wants to be more like Giselle to be able to perform the part well. When she does this she starts going crazier and crazier and Harley realizes that she is not the same person he thought she was.
The style of this book is a narrative. Conway give the novel this style by showing the events of Harley’s summer when he is going to be a sophomore in college. She goes through telling the back-story of the history of the town and the ballet school and then tells us the meeting of Harley and Cassandra.
Throughout the rest of the novel, the author tells us of the obstacles that both characters face with the prejudices from each side and how Cassandra changes over the course of the story. The novel ends with Harley realizing things that have always been there but he didn't see. The author is telling the audience these events of Harley’s summer.
For me the book was good but not great. I enjoyed that the narration of the story was from the boys view and not the crazy ballerina. I also liked how there was mystery because that made everything more interesting. The plot was set up well and had a lot of potential, but when the author had the chance to make everything come out and have something truly amazing happen with the horror and mystery aspect of the story, Conway let me down. The ending was abrupt and felt like it needed to go on. I would change the end of the novel so it was more detailed and really resolved instead of how it did end. I felt like there needed to be more said about everything that happened. I haven’t read a book like this yet and I would be glad to read another like it to see if it could be better than this one. I love ballet and stories about ballet interest me very much. In the end though, I wasn't as satisfied with the novel as I hoped I would be.
February 4, 2015
"I can see it now. Candlelight and sherry. The glow of the stained-glass windows. And a coven of whispering, half-buzzed girls. Sounds like a dangerous mix to me."
Such a pleasant surprise!
I've always been fascinated by the world of dance and ballet, but although I've read a few YA novels featuring this topic, I never found one that I thought was that good. Until Unlovely.
The first thing that struck me about Unlovely is that it's a book about ballet that's narrated by a teenage boy. I totally did not expect that from the cover! But it worked surprisingly well. He's not a dancer himself, but he has a huge crush on Cassandra, one of the girls who spends the summer dancing at this ballet camp-type thing in the town where he lives with his dad.
At first, it's clear that Harley is a little obsessed with these pretty wispy girls who breeze into town every summer. They're beautiful and ethereal, and so nice to stare at. But once he becomes emotionally entangled with one of them and the layers of this story are peeled back, you being to realize that these gorgeous creatures are not everything that they seem. Not even close.
"That's how they get away with it. They look so sweet and delicate. Moonbeams. Moths. Mere wisps of air. But let me tell you, they're strong as hell. And they work together, like a pack."
Unlovely is a creepy, gothic story that had me on the edge of my seat. I didn't want to put it down! The enchanting descriptions of the town, the ballet, and Cassandra herself had me absolutely loving this book. It really reminded me of Wuthering Heights in a way. That same eery tone and foreboding feeling is found throughout Unlovely, and makes for a very unique and intriguing read.
The one complaint I have about this book is that I didn't find the ending to be very satisfying. After all of the build up and the wondering and the angst, the story's conclusion seemed quick, a little confusing, and didn't quite fit with the rest of the book. I just expected there to be a little bit more. I didn't think that the ending was horrible, but I was a little disappointed with it. Had the author chose to go in a slightly different direction, maybe with a paranormal twist or even just a spooky open ending, I almost certainly would've rated this a full 5 stars.
In my opinion, Unlovely is an absurdly underrated dark and twisty book that I would not hesitate to recommend. I think that fans of The Fever by Megan Abbott, Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë, or even Phantom of the Opera should definitely check this one out.
February 9, 2017
Pretty writing. The plot's interesting, too.
I'm a little meh about Harley. He's a good guy, but in sort of a bland (and macho) way. And he occasionally annoys me: he's glad his friend Red Legs is now dating a cheerleader because "he'd always wanted one." Like a cheerleader is the last trading card to complete his friend's collection, rather than a person. I guess this fits with how the book categorizes some other women, too. Like all the talk of who could or couldn't "get" one of those ballerinas from the fancy school.
I'm not terribly crazy about any of the characters. And what is UP with their names? So many characters in fiction go by nicknames - often weird ones - that I'm kind of used to it, but it's still hard for me to imagine the name "Red Legs" actually sticking to anyone. And even the ones with more conventional names don't always fit their age group. Harley's friends include women named Sue, Jane, and Lacy. These are not names common among nineteen-year-olds in America right now.
The horror/thriller component of this story is the notion that the elite among the girls from the ballet school, urged on by their creepy teacher, are embodying the wili from the ballet Giselle. These are spirits of scorned women who get violent revenge on men who wronged them romantically. The ballet school girls have scarred or even killed several men and boys so far, and no one suspects them because they're pretty and seem so innocent and fragile. Harley discovers this after his new girlfriend, Cassandra, is inducted into this elite group of girls.
What's interesting to me is that I feel like all this might not bother readers that much if Harley weren't Such a Good Guy. Which is weird: it SHOULD bother people if guys who cheat are getting MURDERED. Cheaters deserve to be dumped, sure, but not off a balcony. But I think for many people - certainly for me - ethics are different in fiction. I've seen so many fictional characters die, and the stakes are often so low, that even though I'm against capital punishment in real life, I've sometimes wished death on a fictional character for crimes like "being obnoxious." So I'm not going to cry over it if these ballerinas want to off a guy who cheated on his girlfriend and got the other girl pregnant. Even though in real life, I would definitely disapprove.
So the author gives us Harley, who is clearly well-intentioned and would never hurt Cassandra. Then, though a series of misunderstandings and because of his attempts to separate Cassandra from her murderous classmates, he becomes a target.
What I'm saying is that I get the sense that the horror here isn't necessarily that these women are murdering and maiming guys who wrong them, but that they might accidentally target a guy who HASN'T wronged them. So yeah, that's . . . interesting.
I'm a little meh about Harley. He's a good guy, but in sort of a bland (and macho) way. And he occasionally annoys me: he's glad his friend Red Legs is now dating a cheerleader because "he'd always wanted one." Like a cheerleader is the last trading card to complete his friend's collection, rather than a person. I guess this fits with how the book categorizes some other women, too. Like all the talk of who could or couldn't "get" one of those ballerinas from the fancy school.
I'm not terribly crazy about any of the characters. And what is UP with their names? So many characters in fiction go by nicknames - often weird ones - that I'm kind of used to it, but it's still hard for me to imagine the name "Red Legs" actually sticking to anyone. And even the ones with more conventional names don't always fit their age group. Harley's friends include women named Sue, Jane, and Lacy. These are not names common among nineteen-year-olds in America right now.
The horror/thriller component of this story is the notion that the elite among the girls from the ballet school, urged on by their creepy teacher, are embodying the wili from the ballet Giselle. These are spirits of scorned women who get violent revenge on men who wronged them romantically. The ballet school girls have scarred or even killed several men and boys so far, and no one suspects them because they're pretty and seem so innocent and fragile. Harley discovers this after his new girlfriend, Cassandra, is inducted into this elite group of girls.
What's interesting to me is that I feel like all this might not bother readers that much if Harley weren't Such a Good Guy. Which is weird: it SHOULD bother people if guys who cheat are getting MURDERED. Cheaters deserve to be dumped, sure, but not off a balcony. But I think for many people - certainly for me - ethics are different in fiction. I've seen so many fictional characters die, and the stakes are often so low, that even though I'm against capital punishment in real life, I've sometimes wished death on a fictional character for crimes like "being obnoxious." So I'm not going to cry over it if these ballerinas want to off a guy who cheated on his girlfriend and got the other girl pregnant. Even though in real life, I would definitely disapprove.
So the author gives us Harley, who is clearly well-intentioned and would never hurt Cassandra. Then, though a series of misunderstandings and because of his attempts to separate Cassandra from her murderous classmates, he becomes a target.
What I'm saying is that I get the sense that the horror here isn't necessarily that these women are murdering and maiming guys who wrong them, but that they might accidentally target a guy who HASN'T wronged them. So yeah, that's . . . interesting.
April 22, 2015
Unlovely was an interesting read about a relationship between two young people for very different circumstances. Our narrator Harley is from the small town the book is set in. He is back from his first year of college and he and his father actually live on a boat instead of a proper house. Cassandra is a ballerina from New York who is going to the summer ballet school in Harley's town. There's a major rift between the town and the school, no neither Harley nor Cassandra's friends are supportive of the relationship. And I can't forget to mention Mairin, Harley's childhood friend and girl the whole town assumed he would marry, who is now engaged to a biggest loser in town and pregnant with his baby.
The most interesting part of the story for me was the relationship between the townies and the ballet school. There was a lot of prejudice on both sides, especially following the death of one of the town's high school students at the school. The death had been deemed a suicide, but many people in the town believed there was more going on. On the other hand, the people at the school were very standoff and aloof towards their neighbours, acting like they were better than them.
The other part that interested me the most was the relationship between Harley and Mairin. Harley tried to convince Mairin to go away to school together, but Mairin's mother was not supportive of the idea. So while Harley left, Mairin stayed in the town and took up with the biggest loser she could find, Smits, and got pregnant. It's very clear through the book that Mairin and Harley both have feelings towards each other and how much better off they'd be with each other. But Harley is enamored with Cassandra and Mairin is stubborn to make things work with Smits and it was tough for me, since it was so clear they should be together.
One thing I wish there had a bit stronger was the dark aspect of the story. It's there and it's great in the end, but I just felt the end was a bit rushed. I liked the dizzying quality of some of the scenes and wish they had been extended or there had been more of them.
The other thing that bothered me was how fast Harley and Cassandra's relationship went. They hardly got to see each other, since Cassandra was so busy at school, yet they said I love you within a few weeks of meeting each other.
Overall, Unlovely was an interesting read about a very messed up ballet school and the town it is near but certainly not a part of. It's the story of the dangerous path Harley takes to ultimately find his destiny again.
The most interesting part of the story for me was the relationship between the townies and the ballet school. There was a lot of prejudice on both sides, especially following the death of one of the town's high school students at the school. The death had been deemed a suicide, but many people in the town believed there was more going on. On the other hand, the people at the school were very standoff and aloof towards their neighbours, acting like they were better than them.
The other part that interested me the most was the relationship between Harley and Mairin. Harley tried to convince Mairin to go away to school together, but Mairin's mother was not supportive of the idea. So while Harley left, Mairin stayed in the town and took up with the biggest loser she could find, Smits, and got pregnant. It's very clear through the book that Mairin and Harley both have feelings towards each other and how much better off they'd be with each other. But Harley is enamored with Cassandra and Mairin is stubborn to make things work with Smits and it was tough for me, since it was so clear they should be together.
One thing I wish there had a bit stronger was the dark aspect of the story. It's there and it's great in the end, but I just felt the end was a bit rushed. I liked the dizzying quality of some of the scenes and wish they had been extended or there had been more of them.
The other thing that bothered me was how fast Harley and Cassandra's relationship went. They hardly got to see each other, since Cassandra was so busy at school, yet they said I love you within a few weeks of meeting each other.
Overall, Unlovely was an interesting read about a very messed up ballet school and the town it is near but certainly not a part of. It's the story of the dangerous path Harley takes to ultimately find his destiny again.
May 24, 2015
PLOT
I like stories that have to do with dancing, even though I’m not a dancer. I’ve read a few lately: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma and Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskotwiz (both amazing) for example. But unlike them, this book is about a dancer.
It’s about a boy who has a huge crush on a ballerina name Cassandra. There is the huge summer cap for ballerinas in the town that Harely (the MC) lives in, and she’s the one that caught his eye this time around.
This is a twisty, dark, deep story so I don’t want to give too much away about the plot—so I’ll talk about the writing instead. This is the first book by Celeste Conway I’ve read, and I was really blown away by her writing. She knew how to set the atmosphere, and then some, for a book like this. And for me, that’s vital. I’ll be checking out more of Conways books this summer, no doubt.
I do have two things about the book: the beginning was a bit slow, and the ending was a bit abrupt. I won’t say how or why, but I felt that way about it. The writing carried the book until it hit the big BANG that made it intense and thrilling.
ROMANCE
I loved this bit of the book (I’ve said that for like the last three books I’ve reviewed, haven’t I? I think I’m turning into a romance fan…*gasp*). But it was complicated and deep and layered and passionate and beautiful and creepy and scary all at the same time—everything I love, and then some. Harley and Cassandra’s relationship isn’t clean and easy, there are complications—not the least of which is Harley not really being over his ex that he thought was his forever-girl, Mairin, even though she is way over him.
But this part of the book makes the whole book worth it (and the writing, omg the writing in this book is so beautiful).
CONCLUSION
This is a great book for anyone who likes twisted and dark and a little messed up romance—which, if you’re reading my reviews, you must be a fan of that stuff by now ;)
I like stories that have to do with dancing, even though I’m not a dancer. I’ve read a few lately: The Walls Around Us by Nova Ren Suma and Not Otherwise Specified by Hannah Moskotwiz (both amazing) for example. But unlike them, this book is about a dancer.
It’s about a boy who has a huge crush on a ballerina name Cassandra. There is the huge summer cap for ballerinas in the town that Harely (the MC) lives in, and she’s the one that caught his eye this time around.
This is a twisty, dark, deep story so I don’t want to give too much away about the plot—so I’ll talk about the writing instead. This is the first book by Celeste Conway I’ve read, and I was really blown away by her writing. She knew how to set the atmosphere, and then some, for a book like this. And for me, that’s vital. I’ll be checking out more of Conways books this summer, no doubt.
I do have two things about the book: the beginning was a bit slow, and the ending was a bit abrupt. I won’t say how or why, but I felt that way about it. The writing carried the book until it hit the big BANG that made it intense and thrilling.
ROMANCE
I loved this bit of the book (I’ve said that for like the last three books I’ve reviewed, haven’t I? I think I’m turning into a romance fan…*gasp*). But it was complicated and deep and layered and passionate and beautiful and creepy and scary all at the same time—everything I love, and then some. Harley and Cassandra’s relationship isn’t clean and easy, there are complications—not the least of which is Harley not really being over his ex that he thought was his forever-girl, Mairin, even though she is way over him.
But this part of the book makes the whole book worth it (and the writing, omg the writing in this book is so beautiful).
CONCLUSION
This is a great book for anyone who likes twisted and dark and a little messed up romance—which, if you’re reading my reviews, you must be a fan of that stuff by now ;)
February 22, 2015
I haven’t read any books by Celeste Conway before but I was attracted by the absolutely beautiful cover and the fact that it featured ballerinas. Two of the things which are guaranteed to make me pick a book up!
The main character Harley starts a summer romance with a beautiful ballet dancer called Cassandra. Although he hasn’t gotten over Mairin, the girl he thought he would always be with, she has moved on and closed that door behind them. Harley is initially infatuated with Cassandra, but then terrible things start happening to the boys who ‘supposedly’ wrong the ballerinas and his life turns into a nightmare. I loved the way that the story echoes that of the ballet Giselle. This was really clever and made me want to watch the ballet itself now. I wasn't familiar with the story itself, so I had no clue what was going to happen with Harley and the dancers.
Harley was likeable and decent but didn’t wow me as the protagonist of the book. Celeste Conway definitely carried off the male central viewpoint but I would have liked to have seen some different sides to his character, as at times he was a bit one-dimensional.
I found the beginning of the book started off very slowly and I wasn’t sure if it was going to do enough to grab me. However, I got more involved in the story as events progressed and then I had to keep reading on to find out what was going to happen next. It did tail out again at the conclusion but I like the fact that it left a seed of doubt about what might occur after the reader has finished the last page.
The story combines both romance and horror but I actually thought that the book wasn’t as scary I thought it would be. The horror is more implied rather than explicit and it’s the suspenseful, jumpy kind of horror, rather than the sort that makes you want to keep the light on all night.
The main character Harley starts a summer romance with a beautiful ballet dancer called Cassandra. Although he hasn’t gotten over Mairin, the girl he thought he would always be with, she has moved on and closed that door behind them. Harley is initially infatuated with Cassandra, but then terrible things start happening to the boys who ‘supposedly’ wrong the ballerinas and his life turns into a nightmare. I loved the way that the story echoes that of the ballet Giselle. This was really clever and made me want to watch the ballet itself now. I wasn't familiar with the story itself, so I had no clue what was going to happen with Harley and the dancers.
Harley was likeable and decent but didn’t wow me as the protagonist of the book. Celeste Conway definitely carried off the male central viewpoint but I would have liked to have seen some different sides to his character, as at times he was a bit one-dimensional.
I found the beginning of the book started off very slowly and I wasn’t sure if it was going to do enough to grab me. However, I got more involved in the story as events progressed and then I had to keep reading on to find out what was going to happen next. It did tail out again at the conclusion but I like the fact that it left a seed of doubt about what might occur after the reader has finished the last page.
The story combines both romance and horror but I actually thought that the book wasn’t as scary I thought it would be. The horror is more implied rather than explicit and it’s the suspenseful, jumpy kind of horror, rather than the sort that makes you want to keep the light on all night.
February 7, 2017
Like the tulle of a tutu, Celeste Conway’s Unlovely is gauzy and a little opaque. While it’s billed as a combination of romance and horror, my pulse never quickened nor did my skin chill. I rarely read young adult books, and this could be why the book offered me little in the way of thrills.
The novel takes its inspiration from the 19th-century ballet Giselle. In the ballet, women who’ve died before their wedding day due to sneaky cads are reincarnated as Wilis. These Wilis, much like the Sirens of Greek myths, lure unsuspecting men to their death.
Harley is young man home for summer break who, after learning his ex-girlfriend has become pregnant by and engaged to a loser, falls for Cassandra, a ballet dancer attending a summer camp. Supposedly, these ballet dancers, under the tutelage of Madame Ravenska (Myrtha in the ballet Giselle) take revenge on the boys and men who’ve wronged them (a la the Wilis). Harley, it seems, could be next.
While the novel takes place during the months of sun and surf, the atmosphere feels chilly, foreboding. Yet the big storm never comes to pass, just a lot of insinuation and symbolism. Like fog on a marsh, questions arise but never get answered, and we’re left to decide how much is the result of Harley’s overexcited imagination.
The scenes are short, some only a paragraph or two, and the description lovely, but the plot is too slight and the characters too diaphanous to coalesce into something meaningful. Finishing this was an act of duty, something I don’t associate with watching Giselle.
The novel takes its inspiration from the 19th-century ballet Giselle. In the ballet, women who’ve died before their wedding day due to sneaky cads are reincarnated as Wilis. These Wilis, much like the Sirens of Greek myths, lure unsuspecting men to their death.
Harley is young man home for summer break who, after learning his ex-girlfriend has become pregnant by and engaged to a loser, falls for Cassandra, a ballet dancer attending a summer camp. Supposedly, these ballet dancers, under the tutelage of Madame Ravenska (Myrtha in the ballet Giselle) take revenge on the boys and men who’ve wronged them (a la the Wilis). Harley, it seems, could be next.
While the novel takes place during the months of sun and surf, the atmosphere feels chilly, foreboding. Yet the big storm never comes to pass, just a lot of insinuation and symbolism. Like fog on a marsh, questions arise but never get answered, and we’re left to decide how much is the result of Harley’s overexcited imagination.
The scenes are short, some only a paragraph or two, and the description lovely, but the plot is too slight and the characters too diaphanous to coalesce into something meaningful. Finishing this was an act of duty, something I don’t associate with watching Giselle.
December 5, 2016
This novel is for ballet and mystery lovers alike. Cassandra is the willowy, fragile, big blue-eyed ballerina with hair like ‘white silk trailing down her back’ or mounted in a dancer’s bun. She is part of a group of young aspiring dancers taking part in a dance summer school outside NY on the East coast. She is flirting with a local boy called Harley who is living on a boat with his dad and is recovering from heartache. His school sweetheart has gone off with another man while he left for university and he finds out during his summer break that not only is she pregnant but is planning to marry the new boy-friend. Harley remains a loyal friend throughout the story as he gets further involved with the mystery surrounding his eerie ballerina girl-friend and her entourage seemingly playing dangerous games with fellow pupils. He also keeps an eye on his ex-girl-friend who is being abused and in difficulties. The undertone is set by the rehearsals of the famous ballet classic ‘Giselle’ and parallels between the story and ‘real life’ are beautifully drawn and make this story original and engaging.
The topics covered range from ballet history, romance, the clash between New Yorkers and people living in a small seaside town, abuse and alcoholism and the dangers of anorexia. The pace is tight and engaging and the characters well drawn.
The topics covered range from ballet history, romance, the clash between New Yorkers and people living in a small seaside town, abuse and alcoholism and the dangers of anorexia. The pace is tight and engaging and the characters well drawn.
March 24, 2015
This was a very quick enjoyable one sitting read for me. I was intrigued at what was going to happen and when, and when it did, I didn't really see it coming.
Harley is home for the summer living on his Dad's boat with him again, he is a freshman at college, something not a lot of people get to say from the small town that he grew up in. Most times people just stay in the town and work where they can. Harley is determined to make more of himself.
Everything is fine until one day the girls from the local ballet school come down for their regular once a week trip in to town. Harley sees a new girl has joined the group, and something about her is very interesting to him.
His Dad does some repairs at the ballet school, so one day Harley went with him, and it was the first time that he met Cassandra, and he was head over heels instantly. She seemed interested too, so they finally after a little while of flirtation make a date so he can take her out sailing on his boat.
There is a little complication though, namely his ex-girlfriend Mairin. Things are maybe not as over as Harley had thought when she got married and is pregnant with someone else's child.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would give it a 4/5!
Harley is home for the summer living on his Dad's boat with him again, he is a freshman at college, something not a lot of people get to say from the small town that he grew up in. Most times people just stay in the town and work where they can. Harley is determined to make more of himself.
Everything is fine until one day the girls from the local ballet school come down for their regular once a week trip in to town. Harley sees a new girl has joined the group, and something about her is very interesting to him.
His Dad does some repairs at the ballet school, so one day Harley went with him, and it was the first time that he met Cassandra, and he was head over heels instantly. She seemed interested too, so they finally after a little while of flirtation make a date so he can take her out sailing on his boat.
There is a little complication though, namely his ex-girlfriend Mairin. Things are maybe not as over as Harley had thought when she got married and is pregnant with someone else's child.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would give it a 4/5!
November 22, 2015
This was an ok read. It was not bad, but I would not say that it was especially good either. Like I said, it was simply ok.
Harley has just returned home for the summer after his first year away at college. Still feeling down on love after a year ago break up with his childhood sweetheart, he manages to find fascination with the ballerina girls who attend the prestigious Ocean Watch Academy school up on the hill. One in particular, he pursues a relationship with, despite all the talk of the town regarding a mysterious death and accident in connection to the school. Thus, begins a small, short-lived love story between the two.
The problem with this story, is that it seemed like it was shooting towards a bigger mystery, a bigger climax, just something substantial. But nothing happened. Surely there had to be something really crazy about those ballerinas, and something major would be revealed. I regret to say that was not the case. I scratched my head in confusion as I read the ending. This is it? Yes. Anticlimactic.
Harley has just returned home for the summer after his first year away at college. Still feeling down on love after a year ago break up with his childhood sweetheart, he manages to find fascination with the ballerina girls who attend the prestigious Ocean Watch Academy school up on the hill. One in particular, he pursues a relationship with, despite all the talk of the town regarding a mysterious death and accident in connection to the school. Thus, begins a small, short-lived love story between the two.
The problem with this story, is that it seemed like it was shooting towards a bigger mystery, a bigger climax, just something substantial. But nothing happened. Surely there had to be something really crazy about those ballerinas, and something major would be revealed. I regret to say that was not the case. I scratched my head in confusion as I read the ending. This is it? Yes. Anticlimactic.
October 13, 2014
DNF at 30%.
Unlovely is not a bad book, but it never came to life for me. We have a small-town setting with a rather backward mentality, and a prestigious ballet school on the cliffs close to it. The characters seem to be defined by their role rather than any personality of themselves. The village people think the ballet people are greedy arrogant bastards, and the ballet people don't even give the village people a glance. The stereotypes were tiring.
What irked me is how the ballerinas are described - sure, as a ballarina, you're probably not obese. But the constant glorifying of their "willowy" and "tiny" figures, and their small bony hands holding great strength, grated on my nerves. Maybe in the super-high international ballets you're still required to be near-anorexic, but in many professional ballets the women are of a normal, healthy figure.
I didn't read far enough for something particularly thrilling to happen, so I can't say anything about the plot.
Unlovely is not a bad book, but it never came to life for me. We have a small-town setting with a rather backward mentality, and a prestigious ballet school on the cliffs close to it. The characters seem to be defined by their role rather than any personality of themselves. The village people think the ballet people are greedy arrogant bastards, and the ballet people don't even give the village people a glance. The stereotypes were tiring.
What irked me is how the ballerinas are described - sure, as a ballarina, you're probably not obese. But the constant glorifying of their "willowy" and "tiny" figures, and their small bony hands holding great strength, grated on my nerves. Maybe in the super-high international ballets you're still required to be near-anorexic, but in many professional ballets the women are of a normal, healthy figure.
I didn't read far enough for something particularly thrilling to happen, so I can't say anything about the plot.
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