Can I be totally honest with you? I wasn’t expecting much from The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk.
It wasn’t one of my most anticipated YA books of 2021.
In fact, it wasn’t even on my TBR at all. I picked it up on a total whim.
And you know what?
This 2021 YA release is beautiful dynamite. It is stunningly brilliant, blindingly bold, and it blasted my heart into a hundred tiny smithereens.
So here’s the deal:
If you’re looking for your next favorite read, then stop.
Curious to know why? Jump into my The Other Side of Perfect review to discover 7 irrefutable reasons Mariko Turk’s debut is a must-read YA book of 2021.
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The Other Side of Perfect Summary
Written by Mariko Turk
Published May 11th, 2021 by Poppy
All Alina Keeler thinks about is ballet. It’s her past, her present, and her future.
Or at least, it was.
That all changes when a devastating accident shatters not only her bones but also her dreams of becoming a professional ballerina.
Angry, confused, and mourning the loss of a future she worked so hard for, Alina struggles to adjust to life without ballet.
In an attempt to help her, a well-meaning friend convinces Alina to try out for the school musical.
When she miraculously lands a part, Alina quickly discovers that rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate that she might just be falling for.
FOR FANS OF: YA books about ballet, Japanese American authors, novels with biracial protagonists
Content + Trigger Warnings
Racism, racial slurs, bullying, parental abandonment, broken bones, physical therapy, homophobic comments
The Other Side of Perfect Review
1. Musicals and Ballet!
Let’s kick off my The Other Side of Perfect review with an open secret:
People love musicals. According to The Broadway League, over 15 million people saw a musical in 2019.
Why do I say this?
Because if you’re one of those 15 million musical-loving people, then you’re not going to want to miss out on Mariko Turk’s 2021 debut novel.
The Other Side of Perfect beautifully chronicles one high school’s production of Singin’ in the Rain.
(Which just so happens to be my favorite musical! squee)
Maybe ballet was like beautiful dynamite. Stunning and dangerous at the same time, so you couldn’t love it simply. You had to figure out how to handle it. How to love the beautiful parts and defuse the dangerous ones.
What’s more: the author perfectly captures the pure magic that is musical theater.
Reading it made me wish I could carry a tune outside the confines of my shower. Or at least have the skill to dance something other than the Macarena.
As if that’s not enough, The Other Side of Perfect also spotlights the classic beauty of ballet. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a good ballet drama?
(I may or may not have binged All The Pretty Things on Netflix this weekend.)
Like I said in my Take Me Home Tonight book review, if you’re a lover of the performing arts, this YA book is for you.
2. An Imperfect Protagonist
On the surface, Alina Keeler is your stereotypical teenager.
She’s grumpy, angsty, and does stupid things she later regrets. (Like flipping the bird to a cute boy for no reason.)
She makes silly mistakes and has bad days where all she wants to do is hide in bed and watch YouTube videos.
(I can totally relate.)
“My outside may be sarcasm, but inside I’m cheese.”
She is complex and imperfect—and that’s why I love her so much.
Some readers might argue that her flaws make Alina an unlikable main character. I say it makes her a realistic one.
Turns out: it’s the little imperfections that make a fictional character truly memorable.
3. A Slow Burn Romance
Now, if you’re looking for a speedy romance where the love interests get together in the first ten pages, keep on walking.
But.
If you want an angsty will-they-won’t they romance full of delicious tension that will have you screaming, “JUST KISS ALREADY!” …
Then The Other Side of Perfect is the perfect book for you.
“I should have kissed you at Winter Formal.” A step closer. “I should have kissed you in the parking lot.” Another step. “And I definitely should have kissed you at Fly Zone. Because when I didn’t, I swear I almost cried.”
4. The Boy Next Door
If I had to describe The Other Side of Perfect‘s relationship dynamic, it would be Grumpy Girl Meets Sunshine Boy.
As if that’s not enough, let me introduce you to Alina’s love interest.
His name is Jude. He…
- lives next door to Alina
- sings like an angel
- drinks tea in the bath
- knits his own lumpy gloves
- was easily one of my favorite parts of the entire book.
5. ALL the Messy Feelings
After shattering her ankle during a ballet-practice-gone-wrong, Alina struggles with depression, anxiety, jealousy, and toxic perfectionism.
But get this: her bumpy journey through grief is not a lesson in eternal optimism.
So what is it?
It’s a nuanced snapshot of how overcoming adversity can be messy.
“If I were inclined to be literary about it, I’d say it was like all the pieces of myself had shaken up and flown in different directions, flipping and spinning and rearranging themselves. Like confetti. But in the end, after the whirlwind, all the pieces were still there. Every single one. Just in different places.”
With a gentle hand, Mariko Turk deftly weaves a story of hope, healing, and growth. But above all, her raw portrayal of Alina’s complex battle with loss never fails to be anything but authentic and genuine.
6. Engaging Writing
Some 2021 YA debut novels are slow and take a while to get into.
Still others start out insanely good but waste no time in becoming a colossal disappointment.
The Other Side of Perfect was neither of those things.
Here’s why: Mariko Turk’s writing is excellent. It’s funny, yet sincere. Fast-paced, but nuanced.
It skillfully roped me in. By the end of the first sentence, there was no denying it.
I was hooked.
The reason? I emotionally connected with the writing.
“I always feel better after I let myself be sad. Like, if the sadness has a while to run around and stretch its legs, it’s not so restless.”
From the get-go, it was clear to me that the author poured her whole soul into writing this candid story.
It felt like we were having an intimate heart-to-heart through words and pages.
Simply put, Mariko Turk is now my newest auto-buy author. There’s no doubt that I’ll be picking up her next novel, whatever it may be.
7. Powerful + Timely Themes
Listen up: here’s the most important part of my The Other Side of Perfect review.
As a Japanese American dancer, Alina struggles to reconcile her love of ballet with its inherent racism and elitist history.
Is it morally wrong to love something prejudiced against dancers of color?
This is the question Alina must ask herself as she reexamines everything she thought she knew about her beloved art.
“Beautiful things had bad parts, and bad things had beautiful ones, and I knew now that I could work with that. I could hold on to the beauty and the good. I could try to fix the bad. I wasn’t certain anymore about what I wanted to devote my life to. But that was okay. I was okay. I was here. I was dancing.”
In the end, Mariko Turk expertly suggests that just because something is imperfect doesn’t make it worthless. You can hold on to the good, and try to fix the bad.
The bottom line is this: The Other Side of Perfect is more than just a cute rom-com.
It’s also a timely narrative about confronting systematic racism in the ballet industry.
The Other Side of Perfect Review:
The Final Verdict
So my The Other Side of Perfect review all adds up to this:
If you love YA books about…
- musical theater or ballet
- grumpy girls and sunshine boys who fall in love
- tackling systematic racism and Asian hate
…then The Other Side of Perfect by Mariko Turk is the 2021 YA release you’re looking for.
Rating: 5 Stars
To learn more about how I rank YA books, check out my Book Rating System.
With that, it’s time to hear what you have to say:
What did you think about my The Other Side of Perfect review?
Share with me in the comments one thing about this book that has you interested in adding it to your TBR!
Ohh! I love it when a book you read on a whim turns out to be an incredible read! This one has so many elements that I look for in a contemporary. I will have to make sure it is on my list. 🙂
Thank you so much for your lovely comment! I agree-new surprise favorites are THE best! If you pick up this book, I hope you love it as much as I did!