Pointe of Pride

by Chloe Angyal

Carly Montgomery has only one goal as she arrives in Sydney Australia: Be the world's best maid of honor.  And then, when she gets back to New York City, she's going to figure out how to get promoted so she doesn't spend the rest of her ballet career in the corps de ballet playing Peasant Maiden #4.

But the second she steps off the plane, she runs into trouble—and into Nick Jacobs, the most uptight, judgmental, inconveniently attractive man she's ever met. And to their mutual horror, Nick is also in Sydney for a wedding. The same wedding. In which he is the best man.

Carly will do anything for her best friend, including running all over Sydney with Nick—Nick who has his life together, Nick who's made the transition out of ballet into photography so perfectly, Nick who has the most irritatingly sharp cheekbones and stormy blue eyes. And when the director of New York Ballet announces that she'll be making her decision about promotions ahead of schedule, Carly chooses to stay in Sydney, even if it means shelving her pride to ask Nick for help.

Nick Jacobs is coming back to Sydney with a secret . His life in Paris, where he recently retired from ballet, has fallen apart. With no girlfriend and no new career to speak of, Nick can't bear to tell his friends at home the humiliating truth. And after fifteen years dancing overseas, what does  home  even mean anymore?

Nick doesn't want to team up with Carly Montgomery, a human hurricane who creates chaos every time she walks in the room, but sparring with her makes him feel the most alive he's felt in months. When she asks him for help securing her promotion, he sees an opportunity to kickstart his own flagging career. Looking at Carly through his lens all day starts to change how Nick sees her, and soon, he can't stop staring. Carly's a human hand grenade, but suddenly Nick wouldn't mind pulling the pin.

When she finds out the truth about him, though, the explosion might destroy them both.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Enemies To Lovers, Disability, Adult

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 21, 2024

About the author

Chloe Angyal, PhD, is the author of the non-fiction book Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers is Saving Ballet From Itself and the romance novels Pas de Don’t and Pointe of Pride. When she's not writing, you can find her reading, cooking for her friends and family, or rubbing the tummy of her extremely cute dog. She's from Sydney, Australia and lives in the Iowa City area.

Reviews

[Liralen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Carly's goals are pretty straightforward: she wants to make it out of the ballet corps and into a soloist position before she retires. She wants to be her best friend's best-ever maid of honor. And she wants her vagina to stop, well, cock-blocking her.

Enter Nick. His goals are also pretty straightforward: with his dance career over, he's desperate to transition into photography. He wants to be his best friend's best-ever best man. (See what I did there?) And if there's a way to get over his recent heartbreak in the process...

Needless to say, these things are not as A-to-Zed as Carly and Nick hope.

I read this based on the strength of Angyal's first two books (one nonfiction, one romance—it's the romantic leads of book 1 who are getting married in this one), and it doesn't disappoint. There's a lot going on here: both characters questioning their futures and their personal and professional worth; what Carly is working through medically; the wedding; Carly's determination to earn her place rather than relying on her family's name (and money); and on it goes. Neither Carly nor Nick is entirely my preferred sort of romantic lead (I lean towards characters who keep their emotions in check and talk things out; Carly has quite a bit of a temper, and Nick in particular is not exactly keen on open communication), but they're well done, and I appreciate that they're quite different characters than Heather and Marcus of Pas de Don't.

The speed with which Carly gains social media followers doesn't really make sense to me—she starts to get big jumps in followers as soon as she starts posting, and I would find it more realistic if she'd already had a number of followers that was, like...not big enough to impress publicity directors but big enough to impress your average Joe?...or if there'd been more to-do about other dancers with bigger followings sharing her posts, or something. (The flip side of that is that I expect that professional dancers probably do have an easier time building follower count than...I don't know, UPS drivers...because their work is by nature aesthetic in a way that usually translates well to social media, and it's done literally as a performance for the public. How many times have you looked up a performer on social media after an event? And how many times have you gone looking for your UPS drivers on social media?)

Probably my favorite thing is this, though: Carly's not a principal dancer. She's been in the corps for years, and she knows that if she doesn't make it out of the corps soon, she never will—and that when a principal retires, there will be articles in big-name newspapers; when a corps dancer retires, there will be applause backstage. It's not that prestige is the point, but...we all dream, don't we? And most people don't make it to the top. They don't have their name in the lights, and romance novels aren't written about them. It's nice to see a version of the story where the heroine has the unusual job of dancer but is still playing a quieter role.

Not sorry that this seems to be turning into a series, because I'd like to see more dance romance on my shelves.

Thanks to the author and publisher for providing a review copy through NetGalley.

[b.andherbooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prickly and fiery Chloe who is capital A anxious about her upcoming hope for a contract extension, and maybe even a principle dancer position, with the NYC Ballet, but has to put her ambitions on hold to help her best friend and fellow ballerina get married...in Australia. Ramming into a sexy stranger who turns out to be a surly jerk, and the best man, wasn't in the plans either. But, if he can help Chloe launch herself into fame with photos around the beautiful Sydney, maybe she can shelve her Pride.

I absolutely loved this romance by Chloe Angyal; Chloe is a beautiful disaster who some may describe as "difficult" but i absolutely loved her character ARC so so so much. I don't want to give too much away, as you all should read this, but Chloe has a condition that causes penetration of any sort to result in massive amounts of pain, and the way the author AND Chloe's new love interest handles this is both so so so important and so sweet, and SEXY. Photographer Nick's research and care and acceptance is what we all need in a romance love interest. WILD APPLAUSE.

Just read this one, you will not be disappointed! I also love how the author depicts ballet; all the beauty and pain, and not romanticized in a way that undercuts the real issues inherent in the sport.

I am friendly with the author online; all opinions are my own!

[Brandis Tenbarge · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this book, especially as someone who struggles with pelvic pain. I often don't see myself represented in romance books, but with Carly, I found someone in the romance space I could relate to. The story itself was enjoyable for a cute, fluffy read!

What I loved:
-The characters are in their early 30s and still haven't figured their lives out. It's so refreshing to showcase characters struggling to find their way.
-Representation of pelvic pain and the difficulty of approaching intimacy, as well as having doctors dismiss your pain.
-THE TENSION. Oh my god, the sparks that crackle between Carly and Nick are incredible! It made me so giddy when the enemies turned into lovers.
- loved the theme of finding a home and Nick's struggle to find what home means to him.
-It was really well-written
-Strong and complicated characters

What I didn't love as much:
***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER***
***SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER***
-The third-act breakup was a STRETCH. I didn't believe that Nick's pretending to be a more prominent photographer than he was resulted in Carly fleeing the country.
-It would help if you suspended your disbelief a little bit when Carly and Nick go viral. I always say romance involves fantasy elements, especially with this book. Don't question it too much.


Overall, I really enjoyed Pointe of Pride. If you want a sweet, fluffy romance read that touches on some complex life topics, I highly recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley, Chloe Angyal, and Amberjack Publishing for providing and ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Sydney | sydneys.books · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Being with him felt like falling in love with her own body after years of fighting with it."

(4.5) Reading books set where you're traveling makes for a 10/10 reading experience. I had the pleasure of reading some of my arc when I wasn't listening to The Tortured Poet's Department during my flight to Sydney. Here are some photos I took with the books in some iconic Sydney spots!

CW: pelvic floor dysfunction (dyspareunia), toxic parent

Book two in this series takes place a year after Pas De Don't,
with Carly flying to Sydney for Heather and Marcus' wedding. We see all the familiar characters from book one again, plus we meet Nick, Marcus' best man. Carly and Nick have the ultimate meet disaster, then we follow them in a very Anne of Green Gables fashion.

Much like the first book as well, we get to visit iconic Sydney landmarks, and it was almost all new spots! I will definitely have to visit the Blue Mountains next time I'm in the area. It's also enemies to lovers and no strings sex, two tropes executed well.

Nick is a retired dancer trying to jumpstart his photography career. Carly is facing retirement, and without ever reaching principal dancer status. The two of them decide to collaborate and take photos in the hopes of going viral while they run wedding errands for their friends.

This series adds so much to the world of sports romance, especially because it doesn't portray dancers as machines with eating disorders and missing toenails. The sport is portrayed beautifully and respectfully.

What makes this book so special to me is the inclusion of pelvic floor disorder representation. This is apparently common for dancers due to the tension they have to keep in their core, but it's also common for anyone with a pelvic floor. Carly finally decides to stop putting up with men hurting her during sex, and seeks treatment and swears off f*ckboys. Nick treats her and their no strings sex in a tender yet sexy (!!) way.

I wish the romance was a bit more developed though. The third-act breakup feels fairly one-sided, and I think Carly's actions were a bit of out of character toward the end. But per usual, the ending was quite satisfying, so I only had to dock a half star. The content is also lighter than book one, with fewer heavy parts and more laughter/shenanigans.

GIVE ME BOOK THREE!!!

Thank you so much to the author for sending me an early copy of the book! All opinions are my own and are not affected by the gifted copy.

[Sam I AMNreader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Have you read Chloe Angyal yet?

Between her Australian settings to her insights on the world of ballet, Angyal is offering a lot of competence in her characters and settings that breathe. I really enjoyed this second in the series, set around the prior couple's wedding and their maid of honor and best man.

Although I felt the "enemies" was embarrassingly flimsy and so was the 3rd act break up (and I'm a fan of them), I thought the meat of this romance novel was very enjoyable. I could buy the attraction and the romance completely.

Aside from that, this book has absolutely no penetrative sex. There's sex, and it's pretty well done, but Carly has never experienced penetration that wasn't painful so it's simply not on the table (although she is actively in therapy for it). I thought this was spectacularly done, and I'm not sure I've seen this in a romance novel featuring straight characters who engage in sex.

I didn't feel as strongly about this one as I did the first, but I enjoyed it a great deal and hope this world continues to expand.3.5

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this one even more than the first book. It was certainly an enemies to friends to lovers story. Again, set in Australia and New York in the ballet career world. Loved it having characters from the last book. Carly was my favorite in book one so I’m glad to have had a whole book on her.
I also found the science behind Carly’s condition very interesting and appreciated both the authors and the PT from U of I’s perspective on it. Something I’d only ever heard about once before in Sex Education (Netflix series).
A book where I felt excited to pick it up again and tried to take my time with it. Really glad I own both her books.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the shit out of this book. It's not quite enemies-to-lovers (very hard to do in contemporaries) but it gets really close ("person who embarrassed the shit out of me then I verbally him reamed out and now we cannot get away from each other bc mutual best friends' wedding" to "oh shit we caught feelings" is probably more accurate). I also loved that both Carly and Nick were at a crossroads in their respective careers as professional ballet dancers and joined forces to help each other out (if I could tell Carly anything, it would be that she would always be a dancer, maybe not a "working" or "professional" dancer, but you'll always be a dancer even if you're not being paid to perform, it's just always there). And also also also, the rep for chronic pain and pelvic floor disorders in this book is TEN STARS at least. There is exactly zero PiV sex in this book and yet it is sexy as hell.

The one thing I would say is that the third act breakup seems....a bit too dramatic. (Even for Carly, who is an Anne of Green Gables/Katharine Hepburn ball of energy and emotion.) Maybe a wee bit too forced. But that's pretty minor imo.

[Elizabeth Cruikshank · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers isn’t always my thing. I think it’s hard to nail the balance: Some books tip too far into “OK you’re actually just flirting from the jump,” whereas others present one or both characters as legitimate assholes, making it tough to root for them to overcome their terrible first impressions and get together. Enter Pointe of Pride, the phenomenal follow-up to Pas de Don’t, which walks this tightrope to perfection.

Human hurricane Carly Montgomery has flown around the world from New York to Sydney to support her best friend, PDD’s Heather, as she prepares for her marriage to Marcus. It’s unfortunate timing, because her ballet company’s new director is going to be announcing promotions soon after Carly returns to New York, and Carly is determined not to end her decades-long dance career performing in the corps as Peasant Maiden #4. To make matters worse, she has a horrible run-in (literally) at the airport and then inadvertently switches bags with an uptight jerk—who turns out to be the best man, Nick Jacobs, who has seemingly made a smooth transition from professional ballet dancer to successful ballet photographer while living in Paris, the city that invented ballet and photography. Carly and Nick are forced to team up to help with the final wedding preparations, and along the way they come up with a far-fetched plan to boost Carly’s profile and help secure her promotion—requiring them to spend a lot more time together sniping and, inevitably, kissing.

I freaking loved this book. Carly and Nick both felt completely authentic and fully formed to me. They are complex characters with insecurities and flaws, working on bettering themselves and forgiving themselves and not always living up. Their initial meeting completely worked to both establish them as enemies and lay the groundwork for their future relationship; the transition from sniping to snarking to flirting was seamless, and the banter was next level. I also loved the other interpersonal dynamics that fleshed out the story: The exploration of how to be and stay friends with someone when your lives go in different directions and the ultimately loving but extremely complicated family dynamics of both main characters made the book feel so real and lived in. There was a poignant thread about what it means to call a place home as both you and the place change beyond recognition and, just like PDD, the whole book felt like an extended tourism ad for Sydney and the surrounding areas (with fewer potentially deadly spiders).

This book is also steamy! We learn early on that Carly suffers from chronic pelvic floor pain, which has had huge repercussions for her romantic life and her self-worth. It’s something she’s actively working on throughout the book (with a fantastic pelvic floor PT—we love to see it), and there is no penetration in the entire book. It was amazing to see chronic pain treated with such care and its effects on Carly’s life woven into the story. It was also extremely cool to show a mutually fulfilling sexual relationship in which penetration isn’t the “point” of heterosexual sex and everything else is just a lead-up to the “real thing.” And as with PDD, I loved the portrayal of how embodied these characters are—they are by professional necessity extremely aware of everything going on in their bodies, and that was reflected in the text in a way I think is rare in any kind of fiction.

So if you want a super steamy, believable enemies-to-lovers storyline with authentic characters you will be cheering for set against a stunning backdrop—get your preorder in now!

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

"No feeling is final. The shit ones, the depressed ones, even the great ones, they're all temporary. You have to remember that or they'll swallow you whole."

Pure delight. I loved getting Carly's story after meeting her in Pas de Don't. I will read any and all ballet romances Angyal writes (or non-ballet romances, I'm up for that too.)

[Jessi · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, thank you so much to the author for sending me an ARC!

I have been waiting to read this book basically since I finished the first in the series, Pas de Don't. I need to start by saying that, while this story is lovely on it's own, it will make a lot more sense if you have read Pas de Don't first. So go do that now!

Moving on, I absolutely love Carly. She is just so real. She is by no means perfect, but she is fierce, independent, and hilarious. I wish she could jump out of the page and be my best friend (so jealous of Heather on that!)
The male MC, Nick, is returning to Sydney after living in Europe for over a decade. He's more reserved and even-keeled than Carly. He's also a recently retired ballet dancer who has been living in Paris so he's ripped and speaks French. YUM.
Carly is still dancing in the corps of the New York Ballet and hopes to get promoted this year. She knows she likely only has a few more seasons to be able to dance. Nick, since retiring from ballet, is working to become a photographer. Both of them are trying to figure out what comes next for them.

They do not get off to a great start. Their second meeting might even be worse. This brings about a delightful enemies to lovers story with an opposites-attract trope as well. As Nick and Carly work together on wedding errands and a mutual project, there are wonderful descriptions of locations around Sydney that make me want to hop on the next plane and see them for myself. I was so drawn into the story. The book also contains some amazing cultural references, everything from Anne of Green Gables to "Yeah" by Usher (ft. Lil Jon and Ludacris). It was also an emotional journey that had me laughing and sending people highlighted quotes to tearing up and putting the book in time out while I got my shit together.

I would be remiss if I did not talk about the fact that there is no penetrative sex in this book. And it is still one of the hottest stories I have read this year! Carly suffers from pelvic floor issues and severe vaginal pain. It is something she works on throughout the book, and there is a whole range of emotions attached to that. But, it also gives the author the opportunity to show that penetrative sex isn't always the goal, and it is not the definition of sex. It is just one way to have it.

If you're looking for a book about ballet, romance, or Australia, this is perfect. If you are looking for a bit of an escape, this delivers. If you want a book that will make you laugh and cry- choose this. And if you read and loved Pas de Don't you must read this absolutely perfect sequel.

[Lindsey Toso · Rating 4 out of 5]

Being a pelvic floor therapist, I really appreciate how dyspareunia (pain with intercourse) was explained and integrated throughout the book. Many times this is an isolating condition, and the author did a great job of writing an FMC WITH a pelvic floor concern not an FMC whose sole identity is her pelvic floor condition.
Story line was basic and predictable, but 4/5 stars simply due to the respect the author gave to those with pelvic floor concerns and the amount of research she put in!

**if you are dealing with pelvic pain, urinary or bowel concerns, prolapse, or really anything else related to your pelvis/low back/hips, try seeing a pelvic floor therapist. You’re not alone. We can help 😊

[Hannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hey so this was the best representation of vulvovaginal pain in romance that I think I've ever read (though its a very small sample size).

Some things that I loved:
-Protagonist uses dilators on page
-Accurate portrayal of what it can be like seeking treatment for vulvovaginal pain (seeing multiple dismissive doctors who don't diagnose you and offer unhelpful suggestions)
-Shows a partner who is actively interested in learning how to have sex in a way that is pleasurable for their pelvic pain partner, not just pain-free
-Discusses different ways that people can be affected by vulvovaginal pain, beyond what the protagonist experiences
-Features a wonderful and empathetic pelvic floor PT (we love you PFPTs)
-Includes some of the emotional struggles that accompany vulvovaginal pain

Just a great book all around.

Up to 25% of people with vaginas will experience some sort of vulvovaginal/pelvic pain in their lifetime, yet no one talks about it. More of this representation in romance novels PLEASE.

[Hannah⚡️ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe did not disappoint with this one! I always get at least a little worried that a sequel won’t be as good as the first, or that I won’t like the new couple as much as the couple from the first book, but I really loved this one and I loved Carly and Nick! I actually think I liked Nick more than Marcus (sorry Marcus, I do still like you a lot though!). Nick’s struggle to figure out where home is hit close to home for me and is something I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about.

Once again, Chloe excelled in her descriptions of ballet, as I knew she would. There wasn’t as much dancing per se in this one as there was in Pas De Don’t, but the way she wrote the scenes of Carly and Nick taking the dance photos was totally spot on and her descriptions of all the different places around Sydney where they took photos makes me want to plan a trip to Sydney!

[adriana]

DNF @ 30%

Thank you to Netgalley and Independent Publishers Group for providing me the arc of this book, but unfortunately I have to DNF it.
I really tried to push myself to keep reading this book, but overall i'm not really connecting with the story and the characters.
The writing in the pages that i've read so far were at times too repetitive and way too descriptive, Carly and Nick didn't really captivate me as characters. Sadly this book just didn't work out for me.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The ballet world has a reputation of being cutthroat and brutal, so it’s nice to read a story where the author is leading us to a more diverse, inclusive world. But that’s just a side note here. This story is about personal growth and intimacy, and just happens to take place in the dance world. And with both tenderness and spiciness, it’s a truly enjoyable read.

[ML · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you amberjack publishing and netgalley for providing this ARC.

Now this book is such a light read for me.. it really gives off romcom movies vibes but instead being set in NYC like many romcoms this is set in Sydney.

i really like the banter between Carly and Nick and how chaotic their first meeting is! And their dynamic oh i like it!

This book also talks about how Carly has pelvic issues and i love there is PSA about this issue in the end of the book.

Overall i would rec this book for romcom enjoyers

[Erika · Rating 5 out of 5]

Professional ballet dancer Carly Montgomery has flown for nearly 24 hours to Sydney, Australia, to support her best friend, Heather, in the lead-up to Heather and Marcus’s wedding. All she wants is to grab her suitcase, hug her best friend, and enjoy a much-deserved cup of coffee. However, her trip gets off to a rocky start when an errant luggage cart leads to an altercation with another traveler. To make matters worse, the grumpy traveler she nearly ran over with the luggage cart turns out to be Nick, Marcus’s best man, with whom Carly must run wedding errands for the next three weeks.

Despite their mutual distaste, Carly and Nick are determined to help their friends' wedding succeed. They decide to fake collegiality, which leads to a real professional collaboration and then... something more?!

POINTE OF PRIDE is a delight! It’s a joy to be back with Angyal’s professional ballet dancers in Australia as they navigate romance, friendship, ambition, insecurities, and health issues.
Carly is fiery (she’s working on her temper) but also sensitive and fiercely loyal. Nick is kind and contained, holding his cards close but truly seeing Carly and, over time, wanting to open up to her and support her however she needs. Oh, and he’s super hot and, as a former ballet dancer, has a knack for picking up choreography 😏

In addition to enjoying the romance and friendships in the book, I empathized with the characters' professional anxieties. Their struggles are relatable for anyone who has had to navigate career transitions and grapple with professional disappointments.

A big thank you to @chicagoreviewpress and @netgalley for sharing a digital ARC with me. I enjoyed the book so much that I purchased the paperback for myself.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nick is a retired dancer returning home for his best friends wedding. Carly is a hurricane flying into Sydney for her best friends wedding. Nick and Carly have a bumpy start. There is tension and romance and a HEA guaranteed.

Carly kinda annoyed me as the main character. Heather deserved a better best friend

Ballet
Third act break up
Maid of honor x best man
"Broken Vagina"
Enemies to lovers


Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

[Emma Weinert · Rating 5 out of 5]

(review of an ARC received from the author with no promise of review)

There's so much I loved about this book. I cried off and on for the last 60 pages...... I first read this book while on a flight across the world (very appropriately) which was a joy because I was laughing so much I'm sure everyone thought I was insane... and then I got to fantasize about meeting a hot man by accidentally maiming him! (Sadly, this didn't happen to me on this particular journey) I also thoroughly enjoyed all of the callbacks to Pas de Don't and getting to see Heather and Marcus's wedding and further development of their relationship (If you haven't read PDD... go do that now).

Getting to learn more about Carly and her general chaotic energy was really so much fun, and I think Angyal did a great job of creating a convincing enemies to lovers story line. I also really appreciated the representation of vaginal pain and that penetrative sex wasn't the be all end all, and it was really fucking hot without it! I have to say, as a born and bred New Yorker I was mildly disappointed that Heather didn't end up back in New York and I was thrilled that Carly does in fact end up back in New York at the end of this amazing love story.

And frankly, the friendship love story is almost as important a storyline as Carly and Nick's love story which I think is really important lovely.

All I can really do is gush about this book and everything Angyal writes -- go read it as soon as you can!!

[Anya · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a five star read but that third act literally had me rage-reading the rest of the book. For the positives, Nick and Carly had really good chemistry and I really loved the pelvic floor dysfunction representation. Their romance was a bit fast but I didn't hate it until about the 45% mark it started to go downhill because the pacing was all over the place. We never really got to see Nick and Carly's love develop. That third act had me so upset and was definitely difficult to read- Carly got on my nerves to the max. The fact that Nick acknowledged his jealousy but Carly never did even though hers was more apparent in my opinion was so annoying. She's also 31 but acted so immature about the whole situation because in a way they were both in the same boat. The way everything was resolved wasn't satisfying to me. Both Nick and Heather deserve better honestly.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enemies to lovers done right ✅

Two people with developed lives, just trying to figure it out. Carly and Nick’s relationship is fiery from the start but neither character gets away with bad behavior, making them all the more real and lovable. We love a couple that actually challenges each other to be better! (And that has great seggs)

Chloe Angyal nails yet another love letter to rom coms, ballet, and Sydney.

[Karin Bengtsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

.

Det här var en kombination jag inte visste fattades mig: vulvodyni och romance. Det var uppriktigt sagt skitbra hanterat. Realistiskt beskrivet, alla känslor, att det går utmärkt att ha sex på ickepenetrerande sätt. (Sally Rooney, jag tittar på dig) (och alla storkuksälskande förspelslösa kvinnliga romanceförfattare också).

Carly är lite jobbig med sina utbrott och draman men hon är konsekvent och hon har också ett hjärta av guld och det är inte svårt att se vad Nick ser hos henne. Nick är verkligen inte bra på att hantera vissa känslor men han är En Rimlig Jävla Person när det kommer till det ickepenetrerande sexet och det är synd att ribban är på golvet när det gäller män för den delen men Nick skuttar i alla fall över. Nick och Marcus har konversationer om känslor som inte handlar om sina partners bara (föräldrar, sorg, karriär) och det är ju någon sorts Bechdeltest i den här typen av böcker. Både Nick och Marcus är faktiskt personer man skulle kunna tänka sig vara ihop med/bli glad om ens kompis blev ihop med, i verkligheten, och det är ju också rara fåglar i den här litteraturen. (Han som donerar njuren i Alvarez bok, Anabel Monaghans hjältar, Jamie i If I never met you, ja det finns väl fler men ni fattar).

Third act breakup, vad blir det utan svengelskan, den andra vändpunkten? Uppbrottet i tredje akten? I alla fall den, den är ju skitfånig i den här boken och det ser jag att andra stört sig på. Jag tycker de är värdelösa hela tiden i princip så den här är väl inte sämre än någon annan. Den är iaf en kombination av "han har ljugit för mig" och "jag kommer få sparken från mitt jobb som är hela mitt liv". Men absolut, mycket annat är så lätt och snyggt i den här boken, det kunde gjorts bättre.

Plus för balett-temat och problematisering av saker som är crazy i den världen men samtidigt kärlek till den. Plus också för Sydney och Australien, fina miljöbeskrivningar, det känns att Angyal använder ngt hon kan.

Föräldrarna i den här boken, Carlys men framförallt Nicks, är ju så att man vill gråta. Era barn gör andra livsval men de knarkar inte, misshandlar inte, är inte hemlösa. Okej, de är som sura tonåringar ibland men det är förälderns jobb att vara den vuxna? Att älska och vara så villkorslös i det man bara kan? Skärpning.

Ska försöka recensera bok ett också, den var också bra. Vill absolut läsa mer av författaren och hoppas på ett större genombrott för henne framöver.

[Claire Holland · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a firm believer in romance novels as a tool for self-exploration. I think these books are an invaluable way to discover things about your body and sexuality in a manner that is virtually risk-free, whether that be in regard to who and what turns you on, what kinds of activities or types of relationships you might be interested in, and also to explore and discover things you’re not interested in. Romance novels are also a great way to further representation – of unconventional relationship styles, of good communication within relationships, and of lesser-known sexual orientations and preferences (like asexuality or polyamory, for example).

Representation—and I mean good, thoughtful, well-researched representation that actually affects a character and her arc—is a valuable thing. It shows us that the things we’re experiencing and feeling aren’t wrong, and that we aren’t alone in those experiences and feelings. It also shows us all the things that are possible in this world – wonderful possibilities that we might not even be able to imagine for ourselves. And in dark times, it can show us that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

For all of these reasons, I was beyond thrilled to hear of a romance novel featuring a female protagonist with pelvic floor dysfunction: Pointe of Pride by Chloe Angyal, which features a protagonist with dyspareunia, a.k.a. lasting or recurrent genital pain that occurs just before, during or after sex.

I’ve dealt with vaginismus (a form of dyspareunia that is caused by an involuntary tensing of the pelvic floor muscles, which can affect many areas of life but typically makes sex in particular extremely painful or impossible) for most of my life, and it took me well into my twenties to find a doctor who understood my problems and could actually help me overcome them. I like to think that if a book like Chloe Angyal’s book had existed when I was younger, I would have had the knowledge and the vocabulary to find help much, much sooner – and it makes me so happy to know that women today are likely far better off than I was as a teen and young adult.

Pointe of Pride is about Carly Montgomery, a ballerina in the corps of the New York City Ballet with two big current goals in life: 1) to get out of the corps and become a principal dancer before she has to retire, and 2) to work through her dyspareunia (through physical therapy with a PT and by dilating on her own at home) so she can finally have enjoyable, pain-free sex for the first time ever.

While traveling to Sydney, Australia to be the maid of honor in her best friend’s wedding, however, Carly is forced to work together with the best man, Nick—a retired dancer himself who’s struggling to find a new identity as a dance photographer, and with whom Carly immediately gets off on the wrong foot—to not only make her friend’s wedding a success, but also to help boost Carly’s profile as a dancer (via Instagram virality) in the hopes that it might help her get promoted to principal.

I won’t go into the plot too much, except to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this (fairly light) enemies-to-lovers romance. Carly is a fiery, outspoken heroine who can’t help shouting about her “broken vagina” in airport lobbies (and don’t worry – she discovers her vagina isn’t actually broken at all, just in need of some physical therapy and an understanding partner), and Nick is a thoughtful, more reserved foil to her (though not without a temper of his own, which Carly can’t seem to help but bring out). As the pair trek around Sydney in search of perfect locations to take photos of Carly’s dancing, we’re treated to gorgeous descriptions of the country that make this book a perfect vacation read.

But of course, the thing I was most interested in was how Angyal would approach Carly’s dyspareunia as part of the romance. And let me tell you: I could not have been more satisfied.

To say that I related to Carly’s story feels like an understatement. I felt her story in my fucking bones. (Former ballerinas with tight pelvic floors, please stand up!) And not only did Angyal’s portrayal feel incredibly authentic (which makes sense, as I’ve read she based the story largely on her own personal experiences), delving into the physical and emotional pain that this type of disorder can put a person through, especially when you’ve dealt with it for the larger portion of your life – but it was also reassuringly optimistic. Because there are solutions to these problems, and your body is not broken.

Read the rest of my review at LAJayne.com: https://lajayne.com/2024/07/book-revi...

[Jacque Dalton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Chloe Angyal does NOT miss!! This is the first book I’ve ever read that features a straight couple with no PIV (penis in vagina). Carly has a pelvic floor dysfunction that makes PIV painful and this type of representation is so needed in books! Chloe herself said that non-PIV representation isn’t something new, so many LGBTQ+ books are this way.

I’ll get to the plot, but it’s been so cool to see comments of people with pelvic floor pain see themselves in Chloe and feel empowered to either find the right doctor / the right partner, etc. REPRESENTATION IS SO IMPORTANT!!

The chemistry in this enemies to lovers is so well done. They’re definitely cranky with each other, but not in a way where you’d never believe that they wouldn’t get together.

I can understand the criticism of the 3rd act breakup, but after hearing Chloe’s explanation of it, it truly is so “Carly.” I just couldn’t imagine being her bff in this situation! Heather is better than I am, because as someone who’s had a wedding reception, and Heather being as organized as she is — I could not forgive the chaos.

I loved the social media tie in. As a content creator, I loved that it wasn’t overdone or the main focus, but a fun addition.

The depth of these characters is *chefs kiss*. I knew Carly from Pas de Don’t, but even without it, you get to know both her and Marcus on such a personal level, especially because this is dual-POV.

For all the Davo Stans out there, I don’t get the hype. But, I do get the Chloe Angyal hype so please support this wonderful author so we can get more from her!!!

Thank you NetGalley and Indepent Publishers Group for this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carly and Nick are in Sydney, Australia to be the maid of honor and best man at the wedding of Heather and Marcus (from the book, Pas de Don't). Their relationship starts off rocky from the moment they arrive at the airport. I instantly liked Carly, who is fiery and speaks her mind. I appreciate that she isn't afraid to talk about her severe pelvic floor pain and the long term treatment she is working through in order to alleviate her pain. We live in a world that seems to be afraid to talk about anything that has to do with a vagina when it doesn't involve sex, so to have pelvic floor pain discussed in a romance book, let alone introduced very early in the book, is very impressive! Don't let this topic make you think there isn't sex in this book, because there is. Incredibly hot, steamy sex and plenty of it. Oh my, thank you Chloe Angyal! But I digress. The photography work that Nick and Carly work on sounds incredible and had me googling the locations they visited for their shoots. I liked the way their relationship progressed and I was impressed with Nick's maturity. The book ends on a happy note, of course it does, it is romance after all. But I wasn't prepared for it to have such a happy ending. Wink wink. The note to readers at the end of the book was very informative. Thank you for including this information!

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Carrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

Carly and Nick’s first meeting doesn’t go well, but when it turns out they are the Best Man and Maid of Honor for their best friends’ wedding, they have to put their differences aside.

As a dancer, I was so excited for this book, but I have to say it was hard to get through.

This book is set up to be enemies to lovers, but the event that makes them “enemies” is so weak that it’s really not believable. The main characters are very underdeveloped and read more like college students than the fully grown adults they’re supposed to be. They also just had zero chemistry with each other. It felt like there was no build up at all and then out of nowhere they were together. The third act break up was also completely unbelievable. The man just didn’t want to tell everyone that he had been struggling with his new career, and yet she reacted like he committed a full on crime.

My other big issue was that the writing was almost overly descriptive. I found myself skimming paragraphs to find the important parts because there was just too much extra fluff. And on top of that, it was repetitive, so you’re reading the same extra fluff over and over again. It was not enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

[Mel · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best contemporary romances I've read all year and Chloe Angyal is now 2 for 2 for me with her books so she is definitely someone who will take up permanent place on my TBR. Carly is a ballet dancer, not a prima ballerina but a background dancer. Desperate to make a leap into a starring spot, she's in Australia for 3 weeks to help plan the wedding of her best friend (the heroine in Angyal's first book) and immediately butts heads with the best man, a retired ballet dancer turned upstart photographer. They both harbor secrets and a lot of parental baggage and Carly also suffers from a physical condition having to do with her pelvic floor that makes penetrative sex incredibly painful. The way her physical condition is explained and treated and handled and the way that best man Nick tells her he wants whatever she's willing to give him, is the highlight of this book. While Nick's actions aren't great regarding his career as a photographer, I think he redeems himself by the book's end and their HEA feels well earned and sweet.

[Ana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really cannot believe this journey has ended and in the best way possible.

From enemies to lovers with forced proximity and later grumpy x sunshine I really love Carly and Nick and how they accepted each other in a critical phase of their lives. At 30y old the ex ballet dancer and the almost reformed ballet dancer are in a critical position. And an agreement that changes everything for them.

They’ve been through ups and downs but they got over it. Is just amazing 💗

The writing was simple yet involving and transported me to places I’ve never thought I’d love to go and how I really researched all the positions Carly did for her photos.

I simply loved it 💗 thank you thank you Chloe for this magnificent story and also thank you thank you Independent Publichers, I’m so happy to be part of the journey

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

After really loving Pas de Don't, I was so excited to read the newest offering set in this world. There were a lot of things I really enjoyed about Pointe of Pride, but a few things that weren't my favorite too.

Carly is heading Down Under to attend the wedding of her best friend, Heather (from Pas de Don't). After a long plane ride, Carly has a run in with a fellow passenger, Nick, who turns out to be the best man of Marcus, Heather's fiance. Besides that Carly has some professional uncertainty happening back at home. Carly and Nick reluctantly team up to deliver the perfect wedding for their friends and perhaps help Carly and Nick's careers along, but things reach a breaking point as the wedding draws closer.

This was a fun follow up to Pas de Don't. I loved revisiting those characters and being back in the ballet world. I love the Australian setting paired with dance photography. I think Chloe Angyal really brought the setting to life with her vivid descriptions. I also really loved Carly. She's spirited, driven, and loyal. I thought she was given several obstacles that really stretched her character. Nick was not my favorite character. There is a fine line when it comes to enemies-to-lovers, and I think he veered over that line a few times. He does come back from that with a solid second half. The third act break up was predictable, but I do think something needed to happen to further the relationship. I could have just gone for something more egregious.

I would definitely read more from this author. I love this world she's built with representation from various chronic illnesses. This book may not have been as strong for me as the previous one, but I think that was just personal preference about characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for the e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

[Liz · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a strong 4/4.5 star read and then the, oh, last third of the book happened.

First of all, the pacing was all off. Secondly, the third act breakup was ridiculous. Yes, Nick didn't tell Carly the full truth, yes she had made it clear that honesty was a big deal for her. But the fact that he hadn't told anyone the whole truth and that she'd witnessed how adrift he was with his family maybe should have made her pause in her reaction. Even if she wanted to be mad at him, fine. But fleeing the country? Leaving her best friend's wedding over it? It was too much and she never really had to own up to her overreactions, even though she recognized them.

And then the resolution happens in the last chapter? I'm sorry, I need more after all of that and a four month time jump. Even just the fact that we find out Carly is finally seeing a therapist from a single line in the epilogue.

I did enjoy the representation of pelvic floor pain and how that was handled within their relationship. And their relationship chemistry was really good - I enjoyed that they had other issues they were both dealing with and that they became the person the other could open up to about that. Unfortunately, it just wasn't quite enough to outweigh the mess of the end. 2.5 stars.