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On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating
An insightful memoir from a figure skating champion about her life as a bisexual professional athlete, perfect for readers of Fierce by Aly Raisman and Forward by Abby Wambach.
Karina Manta has had a busy few Not only did she capture the hearts of many with her fan-favorite performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she also became the first female figure skater on Team USA to come out as queer. Her Modern Love essay "I Can't Hate My Body if I Love Hers" was published in the New York Times , and then she joined the circus--Cirque du Soleil's on-ice show, AXEL.
Karina's memoir covers these experiences and much more. Attending a high school with 4,000 students, you'd expect to know more than two openly gay students, but Karina didn't meet an out-lesbian until she was nearly seventeen--let alone any other kind of queer woman. But this isn't just a story about her queerness. It's also a story about her struggle with body image in a sport that prizes delicate femininity. It's a story about panic attacks, and first crushes, and all the crushes that followed, and it's a story about growing up, feeling different than everybody around her and then realizing that everyone else felt different too.
Karina Manta has had a busy few Not only did she capture the hearts of many with her fan-favorite performance at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she also became the first female figure skater on Team USA to come out as queer. Her Modern Love essay "I Can't Hate My Body if I Love Hers" was published in the New York Times , and then she joined the circus--Cirque du Soleil's on-ice show, AXEL.
Karina's memoir covers these experiences and much more. Attending a high school with 4,000 students, you'd expect to know more than two openly gay students, but Karina didn't meet an out-lesbian until she was nearly seventeen--let alone any other kind of queer woman. But this isn't just a story about her queerness. It's also a story about her struggle with body image in a sport that prizes delicate femininity. It's a story about panic attacks, and first crushes, and all the crushes that followed, and it's a story about growing up, feeling different than everybody around her and then realizing that everyone else felt different too.
336 pages, Library Binding
First published January 1, 2021
14 people are currently reading
580 people want to read
About the author
Karina Manta
1 book7 followersKarina Manta was born in Olympia, Washington, but she grew up in the sunshine of Chandler, Arizona. At 16 she moved to Colorado Springs to become an elite figure skater. Despite her distaste for the cold, she kept figure skating and living in Colorado, eventually competing for Team USA. She currently works as a performer for Cirque Du Soleil. She enjoys eating ice cream, engaging with creative approaches to activism, and being bisexual.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 23, 2021
It's always a pleasant surprise to pick up a book because you're interested in its themes (in this case: skating and queer identity) and to find that it's actually well done to boot. This memoir skates close to an essay format but ends up being quite a cohesive look at competitive skating—as well as questioning sexuality in a conservative area (and what is in many ways a conservative sport); dealing with body image, an eating disorder, and pressure to physically conform (in what is also a very image-focussed sport); and normal questions of growing up and fitting in.
Sometimes it's big things, and sometimes it's little ones, like Manta's shift from loving the process of planning new costumes:
I'll leave it there—but it's worth looking up Manta's 2019 skate to 'Sweet Dreams' after reading.
Sometimes it's big things, and sometimes it's little ones, like Manta's shift from loving the process of planning new costumes:
My very first skating dress was a pink crushed-velvet number with a she'll-grow-into-it fit. At six years old, I asked my mom to sew a feather boa onto the sleeves because I had seen Oksana Baiul skate in a feather-laden dress on TV. The end result was a ridiculous and adorable outfit—a unique creation that made me feel superhuman when I put it on (although I probably looked less like a superhero and more like a bubblegum chicken). As I got older, I stayed heavily involved in the dressmaking process—sketching out designs on scraps of paper with my mom and carefully gluing patterns of gleeful rhinestones onto our creations. But at some point, the procedure lost its magic. My coaches started getting involved. Judges started making notes. I was told not to wear halter dresses because they made my boobs look too big. I was not to wear white because the color emphasized the rolls of my stomach. I was told not to wear shorts or pants because they were against the rules. (Yes—in the sport of ice dance, there are rules against women wearing pants.) (216)There's so much here, isn't there? There's the irony of being older (and being a more advanced skater) meaning less control over the creative process. There's the emphasis on weight: size seeming as important as skill, and boobs being something to hide because...because...I haven't figured this one out. Because they imply a healthy amount of body fat, I suppose, and we can't have that. The extremely binarily gendered way in which ice dancing operates—always male/female pairs; women apparently can't wear pants (and men presumably can't wear skirts); Manta is one of very few openly queer female figure skaters, because heteronormativity is a thing.
I'll leave it there—but it's worth looking up Manta's 2019 skate to 'Sweet Dreams' after reading.
March 30, 2023
A lot to like about this. It reads like a YA coming out memoir, with the backdrop of Manta's skating career (and related issues like eating disorders). It held my attention but didn't particularly move me, although I think it definitely has its value and audience. I especially recommend it to YA readers who are questioning, struggling with their sexuality, or even just interested in the subject.
April 27, 2022
Pleasantly surprised to find this book well written. Karina has a very real voice, and I found myself rooting for her all the way to the end! And then I went back and watched her 2019 Nationals Ice Dance performance with Joe, and it was so great!
October 20, 2021
Once I started, I couldn't put it down. Karina has a lot of interesting stories to tell, and she tells them well, with a strong and pleasant voice. The themes of self-discovery, sexuality, body issues, self-expression, anxiety, and of course figure skating are all integrated and bleed into each other naturally, from Karina trying to figure out how she wants to 'dress gay' to her relating a judge telling her that she needs to walk in a more feminine way (off the ice!!). I teared up at a couple of points. I would have appreciated a bit more detail about the skating, but there is enough in there that it did satisfy my skating fan side, and I really enjoyed the rest of it as well.
November 20, 2025
*4.5. I enjoyed this more than I thought I would, and found it surprisingly relatable at times. A lovely coming of age memoir for figure skating fans and anyone who likes nostalgic, reflective writing.
January 21, 2022
Karina Manta’s biography of her figure skating career is a love letter to self care and constant self discovery. Karina was a quiet child, but from the first time she tried ice skating, she fell in love. She tried singles skating for a few years, but soon transitioned to doubles ice dancing. When she moved to train at an elite skating facility in Colorado far from her home in Arizona, problems with disordered eating intensified. She writes honestly about the ways in which her eating disorder was exacerbated by her skating career and her struggle to break free from that pressure. The bulk of the book is concerned with her struggle to understand her own sexuality and make sense of it in the highly gendered world of partners ice skating. I love the way she explains the process she went through to decide on the word that described her own sexuality and the way that the word bisexual helped her feel more connected to herself. Her skating career is detailed in the book, but this memoir is about much more than just an ice skater.
This is a beautifully written memoir about an athlete with an uncommon gift for reflection. Karina Manta speaks clearly to her readers about the ways in which they should care for themselves while reading her book; she even goes so far as to say that if her eating disorder triggers readers that they should put the book down and move on. Her journey to understanding, accepting, and proudly proclaiming her own sexuality is lovingly told and will be inspirational for many readers.
Recommended on audio!
This is a beautifully written memoir about an athlete with an uncommon gift for reflection. Karina Manta speaks clearly to her readers about the ways in which they should care for themselves while reading her book; she even goes so far as to say that if her eating disorder triggers readers that they should put the book down and move on. Her journey to understanding, accepting, and proudly proclaiming her own sexuality is lovingly told and will be inspirational for many readers.
Recommended on audio!
November 12, 2021
It's wild when figure skaters good enough for internationals are just as good at other skills. I loved the fresh writing in this memoir by the first U.S. female skater to come out while still competing.
If you remember any freedance from U.S. Nationals from the past couple of years, chances are you remember Manta and Johnson's Sweet Dreams FD, which got a standing ovation. Well-deserved: it's not everyone who can do justice to choreography by Christopher Dean! And it's not a coincidence that they did their best-ever competitive ice dancing *after* both partners came out publicly. The evidence is clear that skaters do their best when they're being true to themselves, whoever those selves might be at the moment.
The details in this book are so finely observed. About a camping party, the girls fell asleep "lined up like crayons." The teen skaters prepped for competition by "painting lipstick over our braces" and covering acne with rouge. Look at this beautiful passage: "I often felt small in a beautiful and important way. Like a blade of grass. Like a honeybee."
I loved the double meaning when Manta says ice dancers, less mainstream than singles skaters, are "edgier." They sure are. And I happy-gasped when I read how the rhythm of a childhood tic finally served a purpose when Manta discovered ice dancing. That convergence in the story gave me chills.
Queer figure skating has been an interest of mine for decades, so I was always going to read this book, but it's a good read independent of its topic.
If you remember any freedance from U.S. Nationals from the past couple of years, chances are you remember Manta and Johnson's Sweet Dreams FD, which got a standing ovation. Well-deserved: it's not everyone who can do justice to choreography by Christopher Dean! And it's not a coincidence that they did their best-ever competitive ice dancing *after* both partners came out publicly. The evidence is clear that skaters do their best when they're being true to themselves, whoever those selves might be at the moment.
The details in this book are so finely observed. About a camping party, the girls fell asleep "lined up like crayons." The teen skaters prepped for competition by "painting lipstick over our braces" and covering acne with rouge. Look at this beautiful passage: "I often felt small in a beautiful and important way. Like a blade of grass. Like a honeybee."
I loved the double meaning when Manta says ice dancers, less mainstream than singles skaters, are "edgier." They sure are. And I happy-gasped when I read how the rhythm of a childhood tic finally served a purpose when Manta discovered ice dancing. That convergence in the story gave me chills.
Queer figure skating has been an interest of mine for decades, so I was always going to read this book, but it's a good read independent of its topic.
November 5, 2021
I am continuing my quest to read memoirs and autobiographies from queer professional athletes. Karina Manta was the first woman on USA’s figure skating team to come out as queer. It was interesting to hear about her experiences in a sport, ice dance, that’s so steeped in strict gender roles and how stifling that could be. However the majority of the book isn’t super focused on Karina’s skating. I was hoping to see a bit more of it present throughout.
On Top of Glass is a coming of age story. She writes about her experiences growing up, experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, having an eating disorder, figuring out her sexuality, and so much more. I think there’s a lot of great stuff in this book, but overall I just found the book to be fine.
The writing in this really held me back from enjoying it more. It was way too flowery and relied heavily on analogies and similes. Having a few sprinkled in can add impact to a story, but it got to the point where it felt like every other sentence had some unnecessary flourish. She was probably trying to be poetic, but it just felt like someone trying a bit too hard to have beautiful writing and ended up missing the mark.
On Top of Glass is a coming of age story. She writes about her experiences growing up, experiencing anxiety and panic attacks, having an eating disorder, figuring out her sexuality, and so much more. I think there’s a lot of great stuff in this book, but overall I just found the book to be fine.
The writing in this really held me back from enjoying it more. It was way too flowery and relied heavily on analogies and similes. Having a few sprinkled in can add impact to a story, but it got to the point where it felt like every other sentence had some unnecessary flourish. She was probably trying to be poetic, but it just felt like someone trying a bit too hard to have beautiful writing and ended up missing the mark.
December 18, 2021
This is a beautifully written memoir about learning to find confidence in yourself, reckoning with your own truth, and realizing how beautiful growing up is, even when it is incredibly painful.
It was so powerful to read a story by someone so incredibly successful, who also happens to be shy and anxious and doesn’t have everything figured out. What an amazing life Karina has already lived, and I am happy that she has used her experiences to grow and learn. I hope to continue reading her stories long into the future.
It was so powerful to read a story by someone so incredibly successful, who also happens to be shy and anxious and doesn’t have everything figured out. What an amazing life Karina has already lived, and I am happy that she has used her experiences to grow and learn. I hope to continue reading her stories long into the future.
August 3, 2022
I found this book in the high school library where I work, and it caught my eye because I love figure skating. And yes, it does have a lot about figure skating in it, but really, it's a nice coming of age memoir that really deals with anxiety, an eating disorder, and questions about one's sexuality in a way that will be way more interesting to the kids at my school than it is to me. As I've said just about every time I've reviewed a memoir, it's just not my favorite genre, so my solid 3 stars could easily be a 4 or 5 for someone who has more patience for the genre. I have no idea why, but today, when I was almost finished with the book, I went to YouTube to see if I could see one of her performances. I suddenly realized that I had known who she was when she was skating, but the photo on the front of the book didn't look like the 2019 Karina that I saw online. Having literally just watched the video and then reading the description of the event was a bit surreal. This book felt real, honest and just a little bit young for me - so perfect for the kids at my school.
July 21, 2022
Easily one of my favorite sports memoirs. So genuine, so thoughtful and open-- at the end of every chapter, I just wanted to hug Karina. There are very raw and frank discussions of anxiety and eating disorders, but done in a way that feels so very careful and productive. And her writing is both beautiful and accessible. This one's a must-read for sports-lovers, bookworms... basically all humans.
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December 5, 2021 “If you are someone who needs to be assured, I can assure you: Things will be okay in the end.”
Karina Manta is a proudly queer professional ice dancer and figure skater. She has competed in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, performed with Cirque du Soleil, and now skates in ITV’s “Dancing on Ice”. But she wasn’t always secure in her identity as a queer woman, or in her own body and mind. In her beautifully written and heartachingly honest memoir, Karina recounts her teenage and early professional years. She shares her struggles with anxiety, battles with body image issues, and her journey to embrace her bisexuality. Karina Manta’s memoir, On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating, is a love letter to her past, present, and future self. Her book is an encouragement to readers: we are loved, and everything does work out in the end.
The first thing I want to say about this book is thank you. Thank you, Karina, for sharing such intimate moments and thoughts with us readers; and thank you for the constant encouragement that you give us throughout the pages of your book. I don’t often read memoirs, and the specific genre of YA memoirs is still very new to me, but I was immediately drawn into Karina’s book by her poetic writing style. The book is told in vignettes, filled with vivid descriptions and profound moments of introspection. We meet Karina’s friends, witness her discovering her love for ice dancing, and navigate the trials of dating as a young woman. Karina shares her journey to embracing her bisexuality, as she learns how to love other women while learning to love herself, too. Karina’s exploration of self-love is maybe the most personally impactful, as someone who hasn’t always loved my body, either. The way Karina describes her relationship with her body, and her relationship with her anxiety and mental health, felt so poignantly written and reflected upon. Karina’s words truly voiced thoughts and emotions that I have so long felt, but rarely read or heard so clearly. Another aspect of this memoir which I appreciated is that Karina takes time to acknowledge where, in her stories, she is not entirely blameless. This memoir is about Karina’s life, and life is messy. We make mistakes; we aren’t always blameless. And that’s OK. She also asks readers to take in her words and emotions with care, especially for readers sensitive to talking about topics like eating disorders. I genuinely could go on and on about Karina’s book, but here’s my last comment: Go read it.
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Karina Manta is a proudly queer professional ice dancer and figure skater. She has competed in the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, performed with Cirque du Soleil, and now skates in ITV’s “Dancing on Ice”. But she wasn’t always secure in her identity as a queer woman, or in her own body and mind. In her beautifully written and heartachingly honest memoir, Karina recounts her teenage and early professional years. She shares her struggles with anxiety, battles with body image issues, and her journey to embrace her bisexuality. Karina Manta’s memoir, On Top of Glass: My Stories as a Queer Girl in Figure Skating, is a love letter to her past, present, and future self. Her book is an encouragement to readers: we are loved, and everything does work out in the end.
The first thing I want to say about this book is thank you. Thank you, Karina, for sharing such intimate moments and thoughts with us readers; and thank you for the constant encouragement that you give us throughout the pages of your book. I don’t often read memoirs, and the specific genre of YA memoirs is still very new to me, but I was immediately drawn into Karina’s book by her poetic writing style. The book is told in vignettes, filled with vivid descriptions and profound moments of introspection. We meet Karina’s friends, witness her discovering her love for ice dancing, and navigate the trials of dating as a young woman. Karina shares her journey to embracing her bisexuality, as she learns how to love other women while learning to love herself, too. Karina’s exploration of self-love is maybe the most personally impactful, as someone who hasn’t always loved my body, either. The way Karina describes her relationship with her body, and her relationship with her anxiety and mental health, felt so poignantly written and reflected upon. Karina’s words truly voiced thoughts and emotions that I have so long felt, but rarely read or heard so clearly. Another aspect of this memoir which I appreciated is that Karina takes time to acknowledge where, in her stories, she is not entirely blameless. This memoir is about Karina’s life, and life is messy. We make mistakes; we aren’t always blameless. And that’s OK. She also asks readers to take in her words and emotions with care, especially for readers sensitive to talking about topics like eating disorders. I genuinely could go on and on about Karina’s book, but here’s my last comment: Go read it.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @pinereadsreview and check out our website at www.pinereadsreview.com for reviews, author interviews, blogs, podcast episodes, and more!
November 9, 2023
On Top Of Glass by Karina Manta is an autobiographical book about her growing up as a figure skater and facing various problems. I found this book on a class trip to the school library, after being instructed to find a non-fiction book, where the book stood out to me as it had a bright pink colored cover. I brought it off the shelf and kept it, as the cover art was very interesting and as it says “My stories as a queer girl in figure skating”, it also stood out to me as I enjoy reading such stories.
This book is about Karina Manta and her stories of growing up. She was interested in figure skating at a young age, which did cause several problems with eating disorders, as it is a very feminine sport and body shape is quite important in it. She struggles to overcome these eating disorders, as they are generally hard to overcome. She also realizes in college that she also has an attraction to women, so several chapters are dedicated to her figuring out what she identifies as. She ends up identifying as bisexual, and has a girlfriend by the end of the book.
It ends on a thoughtful note about how your life is your life, and any choices you make are okay. It shows that, through all of her troubles, she made a good life and is happy. I really liked this ending because it tells the reader that as hard as growing up and finding out who you are may be, it is always worth it in the end. My favorite part of the book is chapter 14, where she writes about her eating disorder in detail and tells the reader that eating disorders are not healthy and she cares for the reader. I found this chapter especially empowering as readers who may have an eating disorder are encouraged to seek help.
My personal opinion on this book is that it was very brave of her to write. I know that writing about things like coming out and eating disorders are tough. Overall, I do recommend this book. It is a very compelling story about perseverance and determination, and it shows that you can do anything you put your mind to. People who enjoy reading books centered around sports and the struggles of growing up would quite like this book. Another book similar to this one would be “Ana On The Edge” by A. J. Sass.
This book is about Karina Manta and her stories of growing up. She was interested in figure skating at a young age, which did cause several problems with eating disorders, as it is a very feminine sport and body shape is quite important in it. She struggles to overcome these eating disorders, as they are generally hard to overcome. She also realizes in college that she also has an attraction to women, so several chapters are dedicated to her figuring out what she identifies as. She ends up identifying as bisexual, and has a girlfriend by the end of the book.
It ends on a thoughtful note about how your life is your life, and any choices you make are okay. It shows that, through all of her troubles, she made a good life and is happy. I really liked this ending because it tells the reader that as hard as growing up and finding out who you are may be, it is always worth it in the end. My favorite part of the book is chapter 14, where she writes about her eating disorder in detail and tells the reader that eating disorders are not healthy and she cares for the reader. I found this chapter especially empowering as readers who may have an eating disorder are encouraged to seek help.
My personal opinion on this book is that it was very brave of her to write. I know that writing about things like coming out and eating disorders are tough. Overall, I do recommend this book. It is a very compelling story about perseverance and determination, and it shows that you can do anything you put your mind to. People who enjoy reading books centered around sports and the struggles of growing up would quite like this book. Another book similar to this one would be “Ana On The Edge” by A. J. Sass.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 21, 2021
This memoir is a 3.5 for me, and I know many teen readers who would enjoy it. Not only does the author provide details about competitive figure skating that enable readers to feel as though they are insiders to the sport and at times on the ice with her, but she identifies some of the problems with life on the ice. For Manta, born in Washington but reared in Arizona, skating was her one true love, a love that eventually took her to Colorado for serious training and competition. Her career took her from singles to part of a pair of ice dancers. Along the way, she struggled with anxiety, an eating disorder, and trying to figure out her own sexuality. The book contains stinging comments about judges and coaches who commented on her size, her weight, and even her "masculine" stride. As she seeks to reinvent herself as well as feel comfortable in her own skin, Manta faces many challenges but also experiences the joy of love and acceptance from those around her. It's fitting that she and her skating partner, Joe Johnson, finally triumph on the ice in a 2019 performance to "Sweet Dreams" that elicited a standing ovation from the audience. I highly recommend watching it and rejoicing in the power and confidence that comes from embracing oneself completely. The author's voice is fresh, honest, and direct as she reveals her flaws and struggles and the relief of no longer worrying about falling or letting others down or hiding parts of herself. As a fan of figure skating, I wish there had been even more details about training and the competitive events, including music and costume choices. It's also worth noting that reading this book may change forever how fans of the sport regard it. Now go watch this team's performance online.
August 3, 2024
4.5 stars.
karina you'll always be famous. for those who don't know, karina manta is an icon of queer figure skating. she was the first american woman to come out as queer while competing for team usa, which led to a series of other queer skaters publicly coming out while competing in a (surprisingly, to some) conservative sport, such as teammates amber glenn and jason brown. her and her ice dance partner, joe johnson, never made a splash internationally, but they were beloved among figure skating fans for their fun programs and electrifying performances. just look up 'mantra/johnson 2019 free dance' if you want an example.
getting to know karina through her memoir was such a joy. reading this felt like a warm hug; i felt like i was having a conversation with a friend i've known for years, instead of reading a book about someone i'll probably never meet in real life. her openness about not only her struggles with identity, but also with her anxiety, anorexia, and body image issues felt so raw and real. i cried more than once reading this because i saw myself in her story. from loving a sport that doesn't love you back (for her, ice skating, for me, ballet), to trying to make yourself smaller to fit in, i felt her pain in every page and sympathized with her struggle. so many people will relate to karina's story, because it's one that has been told time and time again by almost every woman in history. but her resilience to fight against society's expectations and live as her true self is such an inspiration. this is a book i think every young girl (especially girls in sports) need to read.
overall, this is a great memoir for anyone who is trying to figure themselves out.
karina you'll always be famous. for those who don't know, karina manta is an icon of queer figure skating. she was the first american woman to come out as queer while competing for team usa, which led to a series of other queer skaters publicly coming out while competing in a (surprisingly, to some) conservative sport, such as teammates amber glenn and jason brown. her and her ice dance partner, joe johnson, never made a splash internationally, but they were beloved among figure skating fans for their fun programs and electrifying performances. just look up 'mantra/johnson 2019 free dance' if you want an example.
getting to know karina through her memoir was such a joy. reading this felt like a warm hug; i felt like i was having a conversation with a friend i've known for years, instead of reading a book about someone i'll probably never meet in real life. her openness about not only her struggles with identity, but also with her anxiety, anorexia, and body image issues felt so raw and real. i cried more than once reading this because i saw myself in her story. from loving a sport that doesn't love you back (for her, ice skating, for me, ballet), to trying to make yourself smaller to fit in, i felt her pain in every page and sympathized with her struggle. so many people will relate to karina's story, because it's one that has been told time and time again by almost every woman in history. but her resilience to fight against society's expectations and live as her true self is such an inspiration. this is a book i think every young girl (especially girls in sports) need to read.
overall, this is a great memoir for anyone who is trying to figure themselves out.
January 19, 2022
This book is so so good. I've read some YA memoirs that feel like they could have easily been adult books with just a change in marketing. ON TOP OF GLASS feels like a very purposeful and intentional memoir for teens with a lot of attention paid to Karina's own adolescence. As readers we are offered a look at the fierce and often stifling world of competitive figure skating, as well as beautiful descriptions of discovering queer identity, dealing with anxiety, recovering from an eating disorder, and finding a place in the world. Even teens who aren't interested in figure skating will find a lot to connect with in these pages, and for those who are interested in figure skating they can easily find videos of Karina and her skating partner, Joe, performing routines mentioned in the book. This is a fantastic non-fiction addition to any teen collection.
January 26, 2022
This book was amazing! Karina's writing style is like having a conversation with the author and it was a extremely worthwhile conversation to have. I loved reading about how a girl from Arizona got into figure skating and eventually became an ice dancer.
Some insights into the skating world were disturbing, the body shaming and the ignoring of injuries. But Karina was able to describe her journey through all these dark periods with care.
As someone who struggles with anxiety myself, I saw a lot of my own experience in Karina's life. It was really helpful to see the success Karina has had with all the stumbles along the way ☺️
I'm also a figure skating fan so I really enjoyed getting into the nitty-gritty of that, but even if you don't know the first thing about figure skating this book is still an awesome read and I highly recommend it.
Some insights into the skating world were disturbing, the body shaming and the ignoring of injuries. But Karina was able to describe her journey through all these dark periods with care.
As someone who struggles with anxiety myself, I saw a lot of my own experience in Karina's life. It was really helpful to see the success Karina has had with all the stumbles along the way ☺️
I'm also a figure skating fan so I really enjoyed getting into the nitty-gritty of that, but even if you don't know the first thing about figure skating this book is still an awesome read and I highly recommend it.
November 21, 2022
This was recommended to me from a librarian, it is definitely not something I would have chosen on my own. Overall I think this was a good book, although it is not something I am very interested in. I did find this book better than I had expected it’s just not something that I was super excited to read about.
The figure skating parts were interesting but I would not seek out the information on my own.
Her journey with her sexuality was insightful and I really enjoyed the way it was told, definitely my favorite part of the book.
I did skip over most parts about her eating disorder.
I would love to know where some of the other people in the story ended up.
I loved that it ended with her joining the circus, but i would love to hear more stories about the circus. If she writes a sequel about that I would definitely read it!
The figure skating parts were interesting but I would not seek out the information on my own.
Her journey with her sexuality was insightful and I really enjoyed the way it was told, definitely my favorite part of the book.
I did skip over most parts about her eating disorder.
I would love to know where some of the other people in the story ended up.
I loved that it ended with her joining the circus, but i would love to hear more stories about the circus. If she writes a sequel about that I would definitely read it!
February 19, 2025
I’ve just gotten back into figure skating (as a fan - I’ll never be a skater) in the past year, and this book was recommended to me by someone who skates for Disney on Ice. Honestly, I think she knew it was exactly what I needed to read, not to understand the sport, but maybe to understand myself. On the surface, I’m nothing like Karina, but as I read her story, I couldn’t help but feel a kinship with many of the things she went through (and I’m still going through, despite being significantly older than her). I know this isn’t categorized as such, but this turned into a self-help read for me. So thank you Breelie for the recommendation, and thank you Karina for sharing your story.
August 27, 2022
I am much older than the target reader, but I was extremely impressed with the writing and the flow of the story. I briefly taught creative writing to high schoolers, and if I still was, this book would be on my reading list. The author has definitely studied and followed the craft of writing, and it truly shows. It is the rare sports memoir that would be enjoyed by many outside the sport’s followers. I love figure skating, so those nuggets were a nice treat, but there is so much more in this book than that. Very well done.
August 25, 2023
As a fellow queer woman, I regret taking so long to read this book. Karina has a way with words that makes falling into this book almost too easy to do. Her way of telling her story is deeply compelling, and I finished the book as an ever bigger fan of hers than I was previously. It took me far longer than it took Karina to figure out my sexuality, but the description of how she found her identity matches my own journey very closely.
This is such a good book, and I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who is looking to find stories of others finding their place in the world.
This is such a good book, and I highly recommend it, especially to anyone who is looking to find stories of others finding their place in the world.
October 4, 2022
This book is charming and oh so lovely! A coming of age story that is so freshly written it will appeal to anybody even if they’ve never been on ice skates or don’t identify with being queer. I am neither and loved it because Karina’s struggles were so universal, and the bouncy nature of her oh-so-honest writing kept this a page-turner. I loved it! Well done, Karina! Waiting for your next book!!!!
January 10, 2025
“Maybe the deepest blessing of queerness lies inside its complications.“
I had to take a break for a while after reading this line because, yeah, this sums up the experience pretty well.
I won’t lie, I picked up this book by a total accident and it was such a pleasant surprise. Both the writing and storytelling were really up there, and it’s just so heartwarming to see more queer stories from sports.
I had to take a break for a while after reading this line because, yeah, this sums up the experience pretty well.
I won’t lie, I picked up this book by a total accident and it was such a pleasant surprise. Both the writing and storytelling were really up there, and it’s just so heartwarming to see more queer stories from sports.
April 14, 2022
Gosh darn it, the world needs more queer stories, and here's a beautiful one. Yes, some of the metaphors are a bit contrived, and yes, sometimes it can get a bit cheesy, but I'll take those things a dozen times if it means some questioning teen gets to read this and understand themselves a little bit better.
January 11, 2022
I read this book sooooo fast. There were moments where I legit teared up. Although Karina and I identify differently, we're both part of the queer skating community and her observations of the fear involved in coming out within our sport hit me hard. Karina has written a heartfelt memoir with simple but beautiful prose. Fans of figure skating will find this book of interest, as well as those who are interested in the lives of queer elite athletes.
I honestly can't praise this book enough. If you're even slightly interested in the subject matter, I highly encourage you read this book and make it a part of your collection.
I honestly can't praise this book enough. If you're even slightly interested in the subject matter, I highly encourage you read this book and make it a part of your collection.
January 3, 2023
Gives a wonderful light on some of the hardships figure skaters navigate. As well as being a role model on eating disorders and being a solo dancer to a pairs dancer. Inspiring, emotional, and riveting.
February 14, 2024
This book is a wonderful book for a young woman to relate to. When she tells about her insecurities and anxieties, which is honestly so valid and real and it really shows how people live with these problems but have to overcome them.
November 30, 2021
Well written and gives a great perspective on the lives of others. Entertaining read!
December 1, 2021
On Top of Glass is a great read for everyone; figure skating fans will really enjoy this book. I rate On Top of Glass 4.5 out of 5 stars.
January 2, 2022
My feelings about this book can be summed up in the feeling of sheer queer delight I felt when watching Manta and Johnson's final free dance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCugp...
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