Thank you so much to the publishers, The Write Read and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.
As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything–including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he’s only just met.
Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it’s that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?
Books do not really make me cry anymore but Instructions for Dancing made me sob like a baby. It is beautiful, heart-breaking and full of hope! Nicola Yoon has yet again proved that she is a spectacular author who writes vivid, inspirational and entertaining novels. I highly recommend this one.
Evie and X are two of the sweetest characters I’ve read about in YA. Evie loved romance books but after finding her father cheating on her mother she has grown skeptical. She is a loveable character who I adored straight away. I mean, any character that lists their favourite romance tropes is up there for me. X is caring, sweet and a guy I think so many people will adore. Individually the characters are incredible and as a pair they are outstanding. Also, the side characters in this book are well-rounded and unique. I particularly loved Evie’s best friend and the dance instructor X and Evie have.
There is a magical realism aspect to this book which I enjoyed. Evie can see a couples fate and future when she sees them kissing which was a really interesting addition to the book. I would have liked to see this in a little bit more detail throughout the book but when it was there I adored it. There is something about seeing a couples relationship pan out over a couple of pages that brought me a whole lot of emotions. It was a really unique take on romance for me.
Why has no other author made dance lessons a part of a book plot before? This book made me want to learn how to dance and I have two left feet. I adored the dance storyline of this book and all the characters that the dance studio brought. If you know nothing about dance do not fear because it is so easy to understand and not confusing in any way.
This book managed to bring me so much joy and destroy me at the same time. One minute I was laughing and then the next I was sobbing. I think that is a skill that Nicola Yoon has with her writing. She manages to break your heart and fix it whilst you read such a beautiful story. I already want another Nicola Yoon book in my life.
I read this book in a couple of sittings and loved the pacing of it. It kept me engaged, slowing down when it needed to and quickening the pace when necessary. It never breezed over the important aspects and it just read really easily. It is the perfect book to read this summer.
Overall, I would highly recommend this book to all contemporary YA loved and fans of magical realism. Just be prepared to have your heart broken and glued back together again. It is beautiful, hopeful and an inspiring story that I will not be forgetting quickly. Nicola Yoon has done it again and I would highly recommend it.
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