Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli is a Persuasion retelling set in the world of figure skating. As a fan of pretty much any sports book, I enjoyed the strong main character and the accessible way the author works in details about skating. While I struggled with some of the character dynamics, I still found this to be a cute sports romance that demonstrates Jennifer Iacopelli’s strength in writing the sports genre.
Title: Finding Her EdgeAuthor: Jennifer Iacopelli
Also by this author: Break the Fall
Publisher: Razorbill
Genres: Contemporary, Retelling, Young Adult Fiction
Publication Date: February 8, 2022
Rating:
For fans of Emma Lord and Abbi Glines, Jennifer Iacopelli’s swoony, romantic new novel follows elite ice dancer Adriana Russo as she finds herself drawn to both her old dance partner and her new one.
Adriana Russo is figure skating royalty.
With gold-medalist parents, and her older sister headed to the Olympics, all she wants is to live up to the family name and stand atop the ice dance podium at the Junior World Championships. But fame doesn’t always mean fortune, and their legendary skating rink is struggling under the weight of her dad’s lavish lifestyle. The only thing keeping it afloat is a deal to host the rest of the Junior Worlds team before they leave for France.
That means training on the same ice as her first crush, Freddie, the partner she left when her growth spurt outpaced his. For the past two years, he’s barely acknowledged her existence, and she can’t even blame him for it.
When the family’s finances take another unexpected hit, losing the rink seems inevitable until her partner, Brayden, suggests they let the world believe what many have suspected: that their intense chemistry isn’t contained to the ice. Fans and sponsors alike take the bait, but keeping up the charade is harder than she ever imagined. And training alongside Freddie makes it worse, especially when pretending with Brayden starts to feel very real.
As the biggest competition of her life draws closer and her family’s legacy hangs in the balance, Adriana is caught between her past and present, between the golden future she’s worked so hard for, and the one she gave up long ago.
Review: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli
For Adriana, the daughter of figure skating legends, winning gold is in her blood. However, despite her family’s fame, her father spends more than they can afford, leaving her family no choice but to host the Junior Worlds time at their own rink to make ends meet and forcing Adriana to train alongside her ex-partner who she still has feelings for. Just as Adriana’s family is about to lose their rink, Adriana is offered a sponsorship opportunity if she pretends to date her new partner–an opportunity to bring in some much-needed profit. Torn between a fake relationship and a real one as the Junior World Championships draw near, Adriana must decide what she wants and which future is right for her.
❀ Strong Main Character
Adriana is an independent main character, and I admired her strength. She feels a lot of pressure from her legendary parents and her Olympics-bound sister, and she has a lot on her plate with her family drama, the fake dating scheme, and the upcoming competition. Despite this, Adriana handles every challenge realistically, and she remains focused on working toward her goals. In terms of character dynamics, I have to admit that some of the side characters could have been better developed, and I know some readers may not be satisfied with the way the love triangle turns out. However, even with this in mind, I admired Adriana’s maturity and her own personal growth.
❀ Readable Competition Story
What I love about Jennifer Iacopelli’s books is the way she writes sports and competition. Similar to the gymnastics in Break the Fall, the figure skating aspects in this book feel well-researched but not overwhelming–we get descriptions of the characters’ skating but with minimum skating jargon, which keeps the story readable. I especially appreciate the way Iacopelli writes dynamics between competitors. Too often in books about women in sports, women are pitted against each other. In this one, and in the author’s other work, the characters are supportive of each other, and I loved reading about their genuine care for one other despite the competition.
❀ A Persuasion Retelling
Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli is a Persuasion retelling about being torn between the past and the future. I enjoyed the main character’s perseverance, and the dynamics between competitors are especially well-written. Fans of books about figure skating will not want to miss this adorable romance.
About Jennifer Iacopelli
Jennifer Iacopelli was born in New York and has no plans to leave, ever. Growing up, she read everything she could get her hands on, but her favorite authors were L.M. Montgomery and Frances Hodgson Burnett, both of whom wrote about kick-butt girls before it was cool for girls to be kick-butt. As a high school librarian, she frolics all day with her students, books and computers and writes at night while cheering on her beloved Yankees.
About The Candid Cover
Olivia ❀ YA book blogger, Starbucks lover, novice New Yorker, & professional bibliophile.
We have this book and we plan to start reading it soon!
I hope that you enjoy it! 🙂
Finding Her Edge sounds like a great book for my granddaughter, thanks for sharing it with me and have a fantastic TGIF!
I hope that it is a book she enjoys if she has the chance to read it! 🙂
I like Iacopelli’s books, but I will never understand why everyone loves writing love triangles.
Right?! I was surprised. 🙂
I haven’t read this author before, but I’m loving the sound of this book! I’m going to check my library to see if they have it.
She does a great job with the sports genre, for sure! 🙂
Thank you for sharing, the book sounds really good
Thanks for stopping by! 🙂
Sounds lovely. I like the cover & title!
The cover is beautiful! 🙂
interesting retelling
I think so, too! 🙂
This so sounds like my kind of read and I really love the cover.
I hope that you love it if you give it a try! 🙂
I loved Break the Fall so I am adding this one to my TBR! Thank you!!
I can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it! 🙂
Nice cover. Great title.
Ohhhh, it’s a Persuasion retelling?! This is my favorite Austen. I may have to try this one. 😉
Yes! I was thrilled by the concept! 🙂
I’m always up for a good retelling!
Same! 🙂
This is a new author to me – looking forward to checking out her work!
She is one of my favourites! 🙂
Wait a minute, a Persuasion retelling? I love this??? Great review!
Kal @ Reader Voracious recently posted…Review: The Wolf and the Woodsman by Ava Reid
Yes! Thanks so much! 🙂
retellings can really be hit or miss. this one seems worth a shot
this sounds interesting. inside and outside forces at work in this one