BookFronter
Balancing Act by Paula Chase

Balancing Act

Balancing Act

Paula Chase

St. Martin's Press · Print & ebook · October 21, 2025

A Sweet Valley High for a new generation, a dishy, dazzling YA drama set against the backdrop of an elite charter school where stars are made—or fade.

Contemporary YA RomanceBasketballSports Storiesschool
More
blackgrief
Buy on AmazonLists with this book

We earn from qualifying purchases.

Who it’s for
A tight, character-first read with enough edge for staging and a steady pull for immersion.
Genres
Sports Stories, Contemporary YA Romance, Basketball
Published
St. Martin's Press, October 21, 2025

Nearest books

Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.

  1. The Dark Cove Theatre SocietySierra Marilyn Riley63% match
  2. How Girls Are MadeMindy McGinnis58% match
  3. Pretty Girl CountyLakita Wilson56% matchShares Contemporary YA Romance
  4. The TournamentRebecca Barrow62% match
  5. Kat's Greek SummerMima Tipper59% matchShares Contemporary YA Romance
  6. The Ping-pong Queen of ChinatownAndrew Yang59% matchShares Contemporary YA Romance
  7. D.j. Rosenblum Becomes the G.o.a.t.Abby White57% match
  8. Run Like a GirlAmaka Egbe58% matchShares Contemporary YA Romance

For younger readers: The Beautiful Game, The Squad: a Graphic Novel (the Tryout #2), The Right Call

Start with three books, and this one can be the first.

Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.

Start with this book

About this book

A Sweet Valley High for a new generation, a dishy, dazzling YA drama set against the backdrop of an elite charter school where stars are made—or fade. When Chyna gets a scholarship to the newest, most prestigious sports school in the city, it’s the best opportunity to do the gymnastics she loves. But between caring for her ailing mother and dealing with the elitist girls on her gymnastics team, she’s not sure she belongs.

Continue reading

Meanwhile, Jamaal is reeling from the death of his brother—who was also secretly Chyna’s boyfriend. Becoming star of the Power Panthers basketball team is his way to honor his brother’s memory and nothings going to stand in his way. Not even his health. Filled with gossip, high-stakes sports drama, and tons of heart, BALANCING ACT is the first in a riveting new series about teens fighting for their dreams in a city where picking a side is no game.

Why It Clicks

A tight, character-first read with enough edge for staging and a steady pull for immersion.

Come here for

  • boarding-school dynamics
  • friendship under pressure

Expect

  • teen relationships with real friction
  • mental-health threads in the mix

Where it sits

Sports Stories72%
Contemporary YA Romance52%
Basketball46%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • YA Stories About Girls & Women
  • Boarding School YA
Authors
Paula Chase
Publisher
St. Martin's Press
Published
October 21, 2025
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
YA Stories About Girls & Women