The Unraveling by Melanie Hamrick was my first dive into ballet-core contemporary romance, and I think I’m hooked for life.

Growing up, I was obsessed with shows like Bunheads on ABC Family (back when it was called that) and Center Stage at way too young an age, so I should’ve known I’d love The Unraveling. While I’m far from the world of ballerinas—my trips to the ballet are mostly limited to The Nutcracker at Christmas or my aunt’s local performances—that didn’t stop me from getting completely absorbed in this book. I finished it in just three days, which, with my hectic schedule, says a lot!

Even though my knowledge of ballet is limited to the cutthroat portrayals in mainstream media, The Unraveling made this world feel approachable and understandable from the start. We’re immediately thrust into the protagonist Jocelyn’s story, and it’s clear that the title isn’t just about ballet—it’s about the unraveling of her life in all its chaos.

Jocelyn faces challenges in her personal life, home life, and career—the trifecta of turmoil in anyone’s world. Naturally, I was hooked.

If you’ve read any of my previous reviews, you know I avoid spoilers, and I’m keeping that promise here. However, I will say that the chaos we’re introduced to at the beginning only intensifies as the story progresses. The author immerses us in a world that’s vastly different from anything I, a homegrown California girl, or Jocelyn, a Louisiana native, could have imagined. It’s a world filled with two-faced friends, luxurious fantasies, a powerful exploration of mother-daughter relationships, and, of course, the intense world of ballet.

Oh, and did I mention this book is spicy? 🌶️🌶️🌶️ It’s not just a mild heat—it’s way spicier than I expected. I’ll leave it at that. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Truthfully, after finishing this book so quickly, I sometimes worry that I missed something important, but I truly savored every word Hamrick wrote. Occasionally, I find books with too much filler, but this one struck the perfect balance. Every word felt purposeful, contributing to the story without wasting a single page.

Jocelyn is a well-written character, and the supporting cast is equally strong. I don’t have many complaints about this book, except for two things. First, while it’s technically classified as a romance, I felt the story was more about self-love, self-discovery, and reconciling past decisions than about romantic love. It’s more about finding yourself and coming to terms with where you are in life rather than seeking a love connection.

Second, the love story that did exist didn’t feel earned. It seemed to just happen without much growth or consequences, which left me feeling it wasn’t entirely justified. But that’s all I’ll say because I don’t do spoilers here.

To wrap things up on a positive note, I really did enjoy this book. It was exciting, intriguing, and I honestly couldn’t put it down. I was eager to see how everything would unfold and how the consequences would play out.

If you’re someone who enjoys fictional stories set in the ballet world, with a mix of lust and luxury, then this book is definitely for you!