REVIEWS OF 'THE PILATES CLASS':
Anastasia's review Aug 19, 2023
It was amazing (5 stars)
The Pilates Class by Stevie Turner is about the lives of a group of people who join a Pilates class at a gym. An entertaining and fun book which I enjoyed more than I thought I would. A group of very diverse characters with different wants and needs.
4 likes ·
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5 stars on Goodreads by Abbie Taylor on May 9th 2023
Author Stevie Turner and I have been following each other’s blogs. Recently, she offered a promotion code on Smashwords that would allow readers to get The Pilates Class for free. I took her up on this and am glad I did.
This book definitely has some humor. Although I didn’t care for some of the characters, I liked how others evolved in the course of the story and how some connected with others as a result of the class. I would like to have seen a more satisfying outcome for a couple of the participants. But overall, the ending isn’t bad.
The Pilates instructor does an excellent job describing the various moves. You could try some of them at home before joining a class. But even if, like me, you’re happy with your current workout, you’ll find this book highly
entertaining.
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https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/379611
5 stars 30/09/22
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this story. I was pleasantly surprised how the author was able to give us an insight into the lives of the characters in the Pilates class. As I saw relationships develop outside of class I began to feel more and more connected to the characters and wanted to see them happy. Thankfully, there were some happy endings but not for them all. This book was a tiny reflection of all of our lives. The descriptions of the Pilates exercises were pretty good and I suppose I might try some. I enjoyed this easy read and recommend it.
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5 stars on Goodreads by Janice Spina 25/7/22
The Pilates Class was an enjoyable and comical story that made me laugh out loud at the antics of the some of characters in the class. The author has a wonderful sense of humor and displayed this in the cast of people she created in this tale.
There are several characters, both men and women, who interact in this story, some more favorably than others. They connect and get together while others cannot stand to be in the same room. Each has their own story to share which makes for an intriguing read.
I would recommend this lovely short story.
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The Pilates Class:
Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars
* I received this book for free, in exchange for an honest review. *
Who knew a Pilates class could be so interesting?
Each person who attends Petra's Pilates class at the local gym has their own story. Their own reason for being in the class. Roger and Julian their arms aren't working properly and they need to stretch it. Judith because she needs to get away from all the boys in her life! Edie, she needs something to do. Neville to pick up chicks cause he is striking out. Thelma, because she is a spinster who needs to get away from her mum. Roz, well because she is addicted to exercising.
But as the book goes, their lives entwine. The people change from resistant to the Pilates class to enjoying it because they have grown. Each character has their own wit and charm. I love Roger for being a clout. The things that he thinks of in class are a RIOT! His part alone made the book. I was upset that Edie just faded away, I thought for sure she'd be in the thick.
This is a quickie, but a good quickie! I was surprised at some of the ending. Not shocked, just didn't want it to end that way.
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The Review BoardOur board members provide in-depth, honest reviews on books, movies, TV shows, and webisodes. Leave your ego at the door when you dare to step inside!MenuSkip to content
KARR: Unleashed Speaks on The Pilates Class
Greetings! No Labels here.
I was first introduced to this writer when she submitted her work, The Porn Detective for TRB to review. She was one of the first works that we covered when TRB decided to go “open submission”.
Not too long ago, I saw her latest work, The Pilates Class was available so I decided to grab it based on my enthusiasm for her previous work. Would these good feelings be repeated? Let’s stretch right on in!
Blurb: The Pilates class is a humorous look at the lives and loves of several different characters attending a Pilates exercise class for the first time.
There is a bit more than meets the eye with this blurb, and that is what I adore about this short, yet delightful write.
Strengths:
Pleasant Hook: I really like how the author doesn’t waste any time in luring the reader into the story, yet she is able to outline each of the main participants in the story without it feeling overly rushed.
Consistent Conflict: Amidst the comedy, there was quite a bit of individual conflict with the characters as well as group conflict once certain characters began getting deeply involved with each other.
Engaging Characters: I really like that a lot of the characters went beyond how they were stereotyped by Petra (the fitness lady).
I loved Roger. He was rough around the edges, yet I really adored how down to earth he was. He never censored himself for the sake of others.
I had a lot of respect for Neville’s character. You hear so much about guys that don’t care about the substance of a woman if she tends to look good. He really seemed to know what he was looking for. I’m also glad that the author dared to make him a virgin. You rarely hear about guys his age being one.
I could also relate to Julian’s plight: the worry about still being alluring and sexy enough for your partner when there is a significant age difference (Side Note: There’s a ten year age difference between my husband and myself).
I also felt for Thelma’s dilemma: going from working to not working, yet didn’t agree with the self destructive way in which she tried to deal with the changes.
Each character invoked some type of emotional response from me, and that is a sign of awesome writing.
Setting/Mood: As I was reading this work, I found myself trying to pull “in my navel” and “my pelvic floor”. (Well, the mental image of me was trying to.) That is how engaged I was in the book. I was actually at the Pilates class, watching Roger tumble off his ball, and Edith looking in disdain.
Side Note: Now, I’m wondering if I should invest in Pilates. Perhaps they have it as a Kinect game on Xbox360.
Oops, I got sidetracked.
Like I was saying, the author did an outstanding job of making the reader feels like she was actually there.
Make You Go Hmm…Moment
Lingering Conflict: I do like the fact there was conflict because it proved great assistance in keeping the pace of the story steady. However, there were certain parts where I wondered if the author did it intentionally (in anticipation for a possible expansion or follow up) or were there loose ends that needed tidying?
One example was when Judy’s ex-husband decided he wanted full custody of Elliot, yet it never circled back to whether the ex-husband was still going to go through with it or was he just trying to get under Judy’s skin. Another example is what exactly happened with Mark after what transpired between him and Roz. He didn’t get mentioned much after the confrontation. What else happened to Edith after she dropped out of Pilates? Just little things here and there.
Opportunity
Punctuation/Formatting: I did notice an instance of punctuation where a colon was used at the end of a sentence, yet there was nothing to follow the colon (Chapter 43 before going into Chapter 44). Other than that and a little bit of spacing (could be contributed to formatting), it was quite a smooth read.
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Unleashed Verdict
The Pilates Class gets a 10 out of 10 Stars from The Review Board.
The comedic value, intermingling storylines, and inviting characters make The Pilates Class a definite win for me. Although it is marketed as women’s fiction, I could see something in there for the men, too, due to how narrative strength of the male characters.
From her bravery to address the issue of pornography in The Porn Detective to the lighthearted zeal of The Pilates Class, Stevie Turner is effectively demonstrating her range as a writer. She is definitely an indie writer to be on the watch for, and I will wait in anticipation for her next work.
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Recommend, October 21, 2015
By
Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: The Pilates Class (Kindle Edition)
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was chosen for a book club read and was perfect. A fast read with several different characters and diverse life's to make it interesting. It was mostly just entertaining but with some difficult adult situations. Not to mention what a great deal in the pricing.
If you want something fairly quick and a fun read choose "The Pilates Class" you won't be disappointed.
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Thoroughly enjoyable, 1 Jun. 2016
*****
By
Mrs. Joanne Price
This review is from: The Pilates Class (Kindle Edition)
I whizzed through this hilarious book in one sitting. The characters were engaging, likeable and a typical mish mash of what a Pilates class would contain. The individuals background stories were feasible and I identified with them all. The class itself brought back vivid memories of when I attempted Pilates years ago, especially trying to scoop belly button to the backbone & breathe normally . I was like Roger I'm afraid, he made me laugh the most. Funniest short read I have purchased in a very long time. Loved it.
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This 5 star review is on Goodreads from Anita McCormick:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1388478113?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
Anita Mccormick's review
Nov 08, 2016
It was amazing
Read from September 01 to October 01, 2015
We read this book for our first book in our book club. I was so happy with this choice, although not a lengthy book it had lots of depth of it's characters and was a super fun read. I intend on reading more of Ms. Turner's books as she has a great way of writing and getting you interested right away.
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A must read!, 3 July 2017
By
Verified Purchase(What is this?)
This review is from: The Pilates Class (Kindle Edition)
A must read! Thoroughly enjoyed it...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/review/R2E93S3VDIG04O/
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4 stars by Darlene Foster on 4/11/19
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3033694358?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
A fun read about a motley cast of characters who meet at a Pilates class. They couldn't be more different. A builder, a librarian, a banker, a single mother, a senior citizen, a trendy housewife and a gay couple. Each has his or her own story and reason for joining the class. As the reader gets to know each character, it is evident there is more to them than meets the eye. Romances bloom, relationships flounder, friendships form and lives change after joining the Pilates class. Some laugh out loud moments as they try to balance on the exercise ball. For anyone who has attended a Pilates class and for those who haven't, this is an entertaining book.
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Anuradha rated it 5 stars it was amazing
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3650786796?book_show_action=false&from_review_page=1
November 17th 2020
I loved this book for many reasons. It was light reading yet very captivating & the pace was quick and even. All the characters and their individual stories were believable, detailed and brought to their logical conclusions. The book made me chuckle, reflect & nod along. The writing is funny and descriptive without wasting words. A thoroughly enjoyable read !
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