Balance by Lucia Franco
Okay, so I finally picked up 'Balance' by Lucia Franco, and honestly, I had such high hopes for this one, especially with all the buzz around the 'Off Balance series.' As a fan of sports romance, the premise of a gymnast's story instantly drew me in, picturing intense training and emotional triumphs on the balance beam. But after finishing it, all I could really say was... just no. And I mean that with a capital 'NO'. My biggest struggle, and what ultimately led to my 2-star rating, was the central age-gap relationship between Kova and Adrianna. I'm usually open to age-gap romances, but this one crossed a line for me into what felt genuinely toxic and, at times, predatory. Adrianna, still so young and navigating the pressures of elite gymnastics, seemed completely overwhelmed and manipulated by Kova. The power imbalance was stark; he was her coach, her mentor, and the person holding significant sway over her athletic future. This made the romantic entanglement feel less like a choice and more like an entanglement she couldn't easily escape. The dynamic didn't feel like a consensual, empowering connection; rather, it felt like she was trapped in a situation where her mentor held all the power, both professionally and personally. It made me incredibly uncomfortable to read how their relationship unfolded, and I kept hoping for a shift that never quite materialized. I found myself constantly questioning Kova's intentions and the ethics of their relationship, which made it hard to root for them. The 'sports romance' aspect, while present with the gymnastics setting, often felt secondary to the deeply unsettling personal dynamic. I wanted to see Adrianna shine as a gymnast on the balance beam, facing her athletic challenges, but her journey felt overshadowed by the problematic relationship. The emotional weight of the story came from the toxicity, not from the passion or dedication to the sport. It's a shame because the potential for an inspiring sports story was definitely there, hinted at by the book cover and title. Instead, the focus was heavily on the manipulative aspects and the internal turmoil caused by this ill-fated connection. After reading 'Balance,' I'm honestly hesitant to dive into the rest of the 'Off Balance series,' including 'Execution,' 'Dismount,' 'Twist,' and 'Release.' While I'm curious about how the story progresses and if the dynamics evolve, the foundation laid in 'Balance' was just too shaky for me to fully invest in the series. I understand that some readers enjoy darker, more complex dynamics, but for me, the line between 'dark' and 'problematic' was definitely crossed here. If you're looking for an age-gap romance that feels healthy and empowering, or a sports romance that focuses on athletic triumph and supportive relationships, this might not be the one for you. My experience was one of constant cringing and questioning the ethical implications of the characters' interactions. It really left me feeling disappointed and wishing for a much different kind of 'balance' in the story, one that champions the strength of its protagonist without resorting to such uncomfortable power plays.
