TV Tuesdays: On the occasional Tuesday, I will review a book series or novel that has been made into a TV Series. I will then answer the question that everyone asks: which is better, the TV adaption or the book?
Book Series: Finding Her Edge by Jennifer Iacopelli (2022 – ongoing) | Show: Finding Her Edge (2025)
Which did I read/see first? Books
Series: Finding Her Edge
Author: Jennifer Iacopelli
# of Books: 2 (Full Reading Order Here)
Book Order: Chronological
Complete?: No
Genre: Young Adult, Sports, Romance
Heat Rating: cool
Point of View: First Person, Single
Publication Date: February 2022 – ongoing
Source & Format: Public Library–eBook
I didn’t love the book. It’s definitely written for a YA audience – which isn’t a bad thing – but it feels tame compared to others.
I also felt like it was a lot of “telling” and not showing when it came to the relationships Adriana has. Her previous relationship with Freddie is told as nauseum yet they hardly interact once he returns — and don’t forget they haven’t spoken in 2 years by that point. Meanwhile, she has been cultivating her partnership with Brayden in that time and trains with him on the daily. I had hoped for more moments of Brayden and Adriana’s fake romance becoming a little more but that isn’t the case; which surprised me because that’s not always how this trope usually plays out.
But I loved the whole premise and the setting; there’s a lot of potential here, it just never reached its peak. Everything seems muted. So I was hoping the TV show could take the book’s foundation and build upon it because the idea is great albeit not flushed out as much as it could be.
Series Rating: 3/5
Were My Expectations Met?
As I read the novel, I thought it was interesting that it was developed into a TV series as there are some better sports novels out there that would be more engaging. As far as I know, the book doesn’t have a large fanbase. However, I see the draw to the world the novel takes place in. The high stakes world of figure skating and the drama of competitors living together — that’s entertainment! So I was excited to see how they’d bring it to life!
I expected the show to be a little cheesy and much lighter than say the adaption of Tiny Pretty Things and it was. Sometimes you just want a feel-good show and this hit that mark. It’s easy to binge.
How Close is it to the Books?
Not much is the same. The only things that have really stayed the same from the book is the return of Freddie, the financial ruin of the Russo skating program, the “fake” relationship between Brayden and Adriana for publicity, and Elise’s struggle to be the top female skater. But how that all plays out has been changed for the show — and I actually think it is for the better.
It’s interesting to me that the entire premise of Adriana’s story has changed from the book but I think it does wonders for her character. I enjoyed watching her find her love of skating again – literally finding her edge as she re-enters the skating world and a new partnership with Brayden in the TV series. While the idea that Adriana is struggling to make her own mark in the figure skating world is the “edge” in the novel as the same time it focuses more on her navigating her feelings towards Freddie now that he has returned and him getting over her “betrayal” in their previous partnership.
But the key difference for me was the enhancement of the relationships. Side characters like Elise, Freddie and Adriana’s dad have more screen time to establish their characters. You actually get to see Adriana build her partnership with Brayden from the ground up. So I found it easier to become invested in their stories more than I had in the books because these characters had a few more layers to them.
Also: I have to say as a pretty knowledgeable figure skating fan, I was disappointed by both mediums portrayal of ice dance. I don’t feel like either the author nor the writer’s really bothered to learn the differences between pairs vs ice dance and it shows even in the small things, like the lingo use of “routine” instead of “program”. Even when the show uses skating doubles, they aren’t actually doing any of the key components of ice dance. And the book had a few misses as well.
Did I Like the Cast?
Some of the acting was a little…rough. It seemed worse in the pilot or maybe I just got use to it after 8 episodes so I’m going to say it is the writing and the cast trying to make the best out of a meh thing. I really liked Madelyn Keys as Adriana from the start though!
My Expectations for Season 2?
I will admit that I’m hoping Adriana realizes that she has true feelings for Brayden rather than Freddie but maybe season 2 can change my mind and make me Team Freddie in the end. Especially now that the partnerships have changed in the show — that isn’t how the book ends.
With a sequel book coming out but a very different ending to the TV show, I am curious about where things are going to go next. I’m ok that things a diverging because I think the TV storyline is a little more intriguing.
I feel like the TV format just gives this story and its characters time to evolve and provides a depth I was missing from the book. While it isn’t the greatest show out there, it was good for a quick binge!
Do you agree? Leave a comment below!
Synopsis for Finding Her Edge (from Goodreads):
Adriana Russo is figure skating royalty, born to gold-medalist parents and an equally talented sister. Adriana’s dream? To conquer the Junior World Championships and uphold the family legacy. But when the family’s legendary skating rink faces financial ruin, everything she’s worked for is at risk.
Training with her new partner, Brayden, sparks an let the world believe their on-ice chemistry isn’t only for show. The fake-dating gains traction, and Adriana realizes maybe she actually is falling for Brayden. But then her past crashes into her present and changes everything, when Freddie, her former partner-and first crush-reenters the scene.
As the biggest competition of her life draws closer and her family’s legacy hangs in the balance, Adriana is torn between the future she’s worked so hard for with Brayden, and the one she gave up long ago with Freddie. Will she find her edge and claim her place at the top, or will her heart lead her in a different direction?
Trailer:
