The Big Reveal / Jen Larsen / Book Review

The Big Reveal

Blurb

Addie knows she has what it takes to be a professional dancer, even without conforming to dancer body standards. She knows it--and others know it, too. She wouldn't have been accepted into the prestigious Angles dance program otherwise. The only problem is, this program is as expensive as it is prestigious, and she didn't get the scholarship she needs along with her acceptance. Addie knows this is the gateway to her future, and she's not going to give up on her dreams--even if that means putting on a secret, invitation-only burlesque show with her best friends to raise the funds. But when their secret gets out, Addie finds herself on display like never before, and not everyone is as accepting of her confidence--and her body--as she is.


Thoughts

I was surprised that I liked this one. There are some problems with it, no doubt, but overall, it was a good read--made better, perhaps, by the fact that it isn't something I'd normally like. 

Pros

  • Confidence: Addie is confident in so many ways, and that's something I'd like to see more of in contemporary YA narrators. Addie is not just confident in her body. She's confident in her friends, in her sexuality and her potential sexuality, and in her dreams for life. Obviously, this confidence is an integral part of the story due to her not-quite-traditional-dancer physique, but it was just great in general to read a teenage girl lead with so much confidence in herself. 
  • Fun Voice: A lot of contemporary YA narrators have voices that sound exactly the same--and end up being perfectly bland due to this fact. That's not the case here. Addie's narrative voice is unique and interesting, full of high spirits and oozing the same confidence that her actions exhibit throughout the story. The narrative voice starts strong and continues that way all the way through. It's a great, peppy style!
  • Funky Friend Group: While a lot of contemporary YA in the same vein as this book includes a group of artsy friends, this friend group definitely stands out. These art kids are wild and expressive, and they're not just there as the backdrop to Addie's story. There are so many (important) scenes of these friends bonding, laughing, and just having fun. It's great to see that represented--friends being friends outside of school and party scenes. These friends are interesting as a group and as a cast of characters--as well as diverse and fun. 

Cons

  • Hyper Sexuality: Though I do appreciate the confidence of Addie and her friends in this book, from a reader's standpoint, this book was a bit too steeped in sensuality. It makes sense to have some experimentation with sexuality in teen books. What could be more relevant than that? But this book was a bit uncomfortable to read on a few levels, especially because the ages of the characters in question were a bit... unclear. They're seniors in high school, so they're potentially legal adults. But without that confirmed, it just didn't seem right to have nipple tassels in the conversation when minors were (potentially) the dancers and the audience involved. 
  • Secondhand Anxiety: Addie's underground burlesque show is just kind of a bad idea. The characters understand some ramifications, but they put any pushback down to others not wanting girls (and not wanting bigger girls like Addie) to embrace their sexuality. That's not really the problem I had with it. No, my bad-idea radar was going off because of the potential of leaked photos from the show. I mean, I know it was invitation-only with people they thought they could trust, but still... Leaked compromising photos still do have an impact on women, especially women who want to work in any professional field one day. The whole #MedBikini scandal can tell us that, as unfortunate as it is, and having pictures of you in a burlesque show leaked before you even get a chance to set foot in the professional world... That might not be the best move, even if it gets you good money. Also, thrift store lingerie (because yes, they thrift lingerie) is pretty... anxiety-inducing as it is. 
  • Happily Ever After: We all love a happily-ever-after, and this book has one. And that's fine. It just doesn't feel realistic here, not the way it played out. Addie gets on a soapbox at the end and shares her feelings, and people just... listen. Her speech is very social-media rhetoric, and it doesn't feel like people would respect that, especially not a school administration (or anyone else in authority, for that matter). So this happily-ever-after was an unfortunate conclusion to an otherwise fun read. 

Rating

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
5/10

Those who loved the glitzy art of Ryan la Sala's Be Dazzled will sink right into this risqué world of glamor. Those who wanted a bit more nuance in Natalie Walton's Revenge of the Sluts will like this deep dive into the societal expectations placed on women's sexuality. 

Details

Publisher: Henry Holt & Company
Date: December 7, 2021
Series: N/A
Buy It HERE

Note: I was provided with an ARC by the publisher through Netgalley and Edelweiss+ in exchange for an honest review. All opinions here are my own.

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