For fans of Meg Howrey, a coming-of-age story of two ballerinas, friends and rivals, whose choices after getting pregnant—one before Roe v. Wade and one after—affect their friendship, careers, and life paths.

When friends Gemma and Patrice receive their first lead roles in the Rocky Mountain Ballet’s Nutcracker, they’re on their way to the life of their dreams. Then Gemma discovers she’s pregnant. It’s 1972; abortion is illegal. Her lover, an opera singer, wants to marry, have the baby, and move to New York to continue their careers. Gemma has performed in enough ballets to recognize a fairy tale when she hears one, but Madame, the strict company director, whispers another story in her ear—one that hinges on Gemma leaving her lover entirely.

While Gemma decides what her future will look like, Patrice is botching her romantic pas de deux. Madame demands that she dance with authentic passion; Patrice has never had a boyfriend—her religious mother warned her against men—but ballet is her first love, and she’ll do almost anything to succeed. To her delight, her sexual exploration lifts her dancing up to Madame’s rigorous standards—until she too discovers she’s pregnant.

Secrets are revealed and careers are derailed as the two ballerinas face impossible choices and their meddling Madame. Will the young women struggle on, or will they give up on ballet—and each other