A review by hufpa
The Flip Side by A.L. Sonnichsen, Shawn Johnson

3.0

The plot is neither bad nor good. The book to me, as someone who hasn't tried gymnastics, was interesting. The language used in the book is quite simple, which can make it easier to read.

Here's what I disliked, throughout the book there's this tone held by many of the different characters about how Charlotte is different, special, extraordinary and how she should try to hold on to that. Now, there's nothing wrong with being "different", the point is how everyone else was portrayed as "ordinary" just to try to emphasize the uniqueness of Charlotte because she's an athlete. That's not only lazy writing but it's also condescending to many other people who withold different goals in life.

Everyone is unique, everyone has struggles, everyone has to give up things because of various reasons. Yes, being an athlete makes you different as do many diverse situations people find themselves into. I was constantly tired of reading how different Charlotte was from everybody, yes, she has exceptional skills when it comes to her sport but that does not make the life she's living any more worthy than anyone else's.

I like romance so I was not mad when the relationship began, but I think it could've been more interesting and profound.