"So dazzling, so sure-handed and fearless, that at times I had to remind myself to breathe." –Maria Semple, author of
Where'd You Go, Bernadette "A novel you must read." –
The Washington Post "I will be paying close attention to Shipstead's career from here on in." –Jeffrey Eugenides
"A breathtaking work of art." –
O, The Oprah Magazine "Precise.... Flawless.... Transcendent." –Maureen Corrigan, NPR
"A grand arabesque into the world of dance. . . . Thrilling." –
Time "Electrifying. . . .
Astonish Me shines." –
San Francisco Chronicle "The inner lives of [Shipstead's] characters feel as real and immediate as the shifting settings they inhabit: still-gritty mid-1970s Manhattan, shabbily elegant Paris, the sunbaked suburban sprawl of Southern California. . . . Shipstead's youth may be a talking point, but her talent transcends it. She's astonishing." –
Entertainment Weekly
"Seamless and full of small elegances . . . Lovely. . . . Reading Astonish Me, I didn't need to be astonished. I was happy." –Annalisa Quinn, NPR
"A searing rumination on insecurity, secrecy, and friendship. . . . Shipstead nails the details of being perpetually en pointe" –
O, The Oprah Magazine
"Maggie Shipstead takes hold of the reader and doesn't let go. Astonish Me is a haunting, powerful novel." –Dani Shapiro
"Sardonic and insightful. . . . [Shipstead] does caustic humor, simmering hostilities, and social envy well." –
New York Times Book Review
"Deeply engrossing . . . [A] thoughtful meditation on the relentless pursuit of perfection and just how far we're willing to go for love." –
BookPage
"A bravura display of high-performance art, the only constant its quest for perfection." –
The Guardian (London)
"The emotionally nuanced tale of barre-crossed lovers and the majestic, mysterious world of professional dance. A supple, daring, and vivid portrait of desire and betrayal." –
Booklist (starred review)
"Shipstead's insights into human nature take center stage. The story's surprisingly satisfying outcome encourages us to accept imperfection and even take refuge in doing so." –
Nylon Magazine
"Bold and thrilling. . . The way the characters come together in new and surprising pairings is one of the book's many pleasures." –
Boston Globe
"Full of delights. . . . Maggie Shipstead is a writer to watch." –
The Washington Times
"Impressively sure-footed." –
Elle
"Sharp and memorable . . . Full of the kind of keen observations about people and relationships that made her first book,
Seating Arrangements, one of 2012's most delightful literary surprises." –
San Diego Union-Tribune
"Exhilarating." –
Columbus Dispatch
"Spans continents, decades, and generations . . . . A total pleasure to read." –
The Rumpus