Overview

Heather Hays finally has everything she’s worked for—she was promoted principal dancer and is engaged to her forever crush, ballet royalty Jack Andersen. But after Jack is caught cheating, Heather's near-perfect life comes crashing down. Determined to prove that she rose to the top on her own merits, she accepts a guest position from the only company that will hire her without Jack: the Australian National Ballet.

There she meets Marcus Campbell, who has had the most hellish year imaginable. When he shredded his Achilles tendon onstage, he lost every chance of his dad seeing him perform before he passed away. Marcus has spent the months since in physical therapy, worrying he'll be too old to dance by the time he's fully recovered. Now he's supposed to play tour guide for the company’s new arrival.

But as they tour Sydney together, Heather and Marcus discover an immediate mutual attraction—one they absolutely cannot act on. ANB has a strict no-dating policy, and even a hint of romance could cost them both their jobs.

Still, Heather has followed the rules her whole life . . . maybe it's time to break one.
 

Reviews

“Pas de Don't sizzles with sexual chemistry between the two leads. It's a kind and grown-up love story between two passionate and ambitious people. Angyal rips the glamorous facade off the world of ballet and exposes the heart and artistry of those who dance. A truly original take on a slow-burn workplace romance." — Andie J. Christopher, USA Today bestselling author of Thank You, Next

“A tender, sexy novel about the forbidden romance between two dancers at the Australian National Ballet, Pas de Don’t will sweep readers off their feet. Chloe Angyal’s deep knowledge of the ballet world gives the story an extra layer of richness and originality. I fell hard for the longing and the chemistry, and started wondering if I should move to Sydney.” —Laura Hankin, author of A Special Place for Women and The Daydreams

“A standing ovation for Pas de Don’t! Chloe Angyal has created a heart-stopping romance filled with lush settings, characters, and chemistry that will make you gasp. Her in-depth knowledge of the ballet world made every detail feel so special and left me yearning for more even after the story ended.” —Alexa Martin, author of the Playbook series, Mom Jeans and Other Mistakes, and Better than Fiction

“Absolutely unputdownable—who needs sleep when a love story is this perfect? Angyal's romance debut is transporting, but not just to Australia or into the world of professional ballet. You will feel the sizzling chemistry and charming wonder of falling in love and the power of taking center stage in your own life. Pas de Don't is the warm embrace and sexy standing ovation you've been looking for, and Chloe Angyal is a new auto-buy author for me.” —Denise Williams, author of How to Fail at Flirting
 

"Women get everything they want and everything they deserve. So they deserve to be treated with respect and in the bedroom and outside of it."—Talk Iowa, Iowa Public Radio

"There’s a lot of backstory to get through before the love story begins in earnest, but readers who stick with it will be rewarded by an emotional forbidden romance that doubles as a love letter to ballet and a travelogue through Sydney. This is a treat."—Publishers Weekly

“A sexy, smoldering romance that pulls back the curtain on the world of ballet and deftly portrays the ambition, drive, and passion of those who live and work in it.”  — Library Journal

“It’s so good! It’s so well-written and smart and I love that it’s grounded in reality. And I love the ending— it’s really strong and satisfying.” —Carol Heikkinen, screenwriter, Center Stage (2000)
 

Author Biography

Chloe Angyal is the author of Turning Pointe: How a New Generation of Dancers Is Saving Ballet from Itself, which was the result of years of reporting on gender and power in American ballet. Her writing about ballet has appeared in Jezebel and the Washington Post and has been quoted in the New York Times. Pas de Don't is her first novel. She holds a BA from Princeton and a PhD in arts and media from the University of New South Wales. She lives in Iowa City, Iowa.