The Cranes Dance by Meg Howrey (2102)

Although the title sounds like a nature book, and as though it's missing an apostrophe, this is a fabulous novel about Kate, a New York City Ballet dancer, and her complicated relationship with her sister, a fellow dancer who has recently had a nervous breakdown and moved home.

The subject matter is serious, but narrator Kate is incredibly witty and deconstructs ballet hilariously. Her synopsis of Swan Lake is deliciously funny. In addition to being funny, it actually provides great insight into the mind and body of a ballet dancer and the art of dance. Not to mention the complex relationship of sisters, especially competitive sisters.

Snarky, hilarious, poignant--I really, really enjoyed this novel to the point that I'll be looking up other works by the author and even works by authors who blurbed this novel. Books like this are total diamonds in the rough; interesting, engaging novels hidden away in a flood of trade paperback original novels with enticing covers.