The Ballroom Class - Lucy Dillon

Browsing Waterstones the other weekend I was after a particular book that I had read about on here and then something else a bit light hearted. I suddenly spotted a book that was covered in glitter entitled "The Ballroom Class" The title alone, along with the couple mid dance on the front was enough to make me buy it!

=== The story & Characters ===
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'''ANGELICA'''

...
...and is teaching dance at the local Memorial Centre. We are told very little about Angelica to begin with - only that she is still very beautiful and extremely graceful at nearly 60. There is some mystery surrounding her and slowly this is revealed throughout the book. As well as this, she is teaching some very different couples the art of ballroom and Latin dance - how will she succeed?

'''LAUREN & CHRIS'''

Young 22 ... more

Browsing Waterstones the other weekend I was after a particular book that I had read about on here and then something else a bit light hearted. I suddenly spotted a book that was covered in glitter entitled "The Ballroom Class" The title alone, along with the couple mid dance on the front was enough to make me buy it!

The story & Characters

=======================

ANGELICA

We are introduced to several people during the beginning chapters. Firstly, there is Angelica, she is a professional dancer returning to her hometown of Longhampton and is teaching dance at the local Memorial Centre. We are told very little about Angelica to begin with - only that she is still very beautiful and extremely graceful at nearly 60. There is some mystery surrounding her and slowly this is revealed throughout the book. As well as this, she is teaching some very different couples the art of ballroom and Latin dance - how will she succeed?

LAUREN & CHRIS

Young 22 year old Lauren, recently engaged to her childhood sweetheart Chris, wants to have the big fairytale wedding - complete with Cinderella dress and fancy first dance. Lauren enlists her fiancé and herself in dance classes with Angelica. Lauren's skinny tall and awkward body is transformed on the dance floor but Chris is struggling - and not just with his dance moves. The pressure on them is mounting and we see how they cope.

BRIDGET & FRANK

Lauren's doting parents, still happily married after many years, they go to the classes with Lauren and Chris and this brings back wonderful memories for them - they met on the dance floor and they don't particularly need the classes! Bridget is hiding a secret though from Frank - the first she has ever hidden from him - it is threatening to ruin their lives as well as Lauren's wedding.

KATIE & ROSS

Katie and Ross are at the class due to their relationship counselling. They enrol in the classes as a chance to do something together - Ross is a stay at home dad to their two children whilst Katie works full time. Their role reversal has put immense strain on the couple - Katie resenting the time that Ross gets to spend with the children whilst she has to work full time. Her feelings are changing and she is desperate to get them back on track...will the music work its magic?

My Thoughts

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This was fairly slow going at first -the usual set up of characters didn't really excite me too much but by half way through I was rooting for the characters! I found Katie and Ross' characters the most interesting, and therefore looked forward to the chapters where their story was told. At first, I found Katie annoying - she came in from work late and immediately launches in to a moan about the state of the house and how Ross doesn't do anything all day - so why can't he clean up? Ross, always nice and loving, is exhausted from caring for their two children who are under the age of 5 and tries very hard to make Katie happy. I at first found her selfish and a bit clueless really, but I loved the role reversal and also the development of her character. By the middle of the book, she begins to understand (by the help of her friend Jo's marital problems) that Ross is a good and caring man and is doing a great job. It was interesting to read about how she felt Ross was emasculated due to him giving up his work and how she didn't find him attractive anymore. It contrasted perfectly with their friends Jo's marriage and Katie's struggle is heart wrenching towards the end.

I also loved the relationship between Frank and Bridget. Bridget is the typical mum and wanting everything for her only daughter. The relationship between frank and Bridget is fantastic and came across so well in the book - I can only hope that I am in love as much as that in years to come! I personally found Bridget's struggle with money for her daughter's wedding both frustrating and touching. I completely understood the emotion conveyed about her panic with credit cards and this was done perfectly, how sick she felt, the need to hide the bills etc. I found it touching that she wanted to make things perfect for Lauren but annoying that Lauren hadn't given the spiralling cost of her wedding a second thought. Lauren & Chris we almost my least favourite characters due to this but she did redeem herself towards the end.

All of these stories and characters are interwoven in to the small town where everyone knows everyone else. The back drop of the dance floor is fantastic, I loved the descriptions of the dance, of Angelicas costumes and glamorous past and the emotions that come out through dance. This is a fabulous story combining the glamour and excitement of dance with the trials and tribulations in human relationships. It is all wrapped up rather neatly in the end - a bit like a Christmas special. But considering the time of year I didn't mind... I thoroughly enjoyed it! 

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