Reviews

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

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annrouhani's review against another edition

funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I received an e-ARC of this book from St. Martin's Press through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!

Trigger warnings: abandonment, surgery, injury, medical debt, lying

TAKE THE LEAD is an adult contemporary romance set in the world of reality tv. It follows Gina, a veteran dancer on a ballroom competition show who is hoping to finally earn the coveted trophy. Her plans go awry when she learns her producers are trying to set her up for a showmance with her reality tv survivalist partner, Stone. Neither of them wants to follow along with the ruse, but their chemistry and attraction to each other could change their plans.

All I can say about this book is FINALLY! I am so happy to have finally read a Latinx romance that I actually really love. I really liked Gina as a character, her integrity and passion jumps off the page and makes her such a great protagonist. Stone is the mountain man of my dreams. He’s so earnest and sweet. I wish the romance would’ve developed differently, it was hard not to feel like it was doomed from the start. But I really enjoyed the ending! I really hope the second book in the series gets re-released because I would jump on it. Definitely recommend this book!

christinescorner's review against another edition

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5.0

🌶 | kinda hard to think of what trope but they were strangers who were paired up for a dance reality show

5 stars for this for how unique the story is and was actually written well

allhdvm's review against another edition

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4.0

I really enjoyed this story. I've never watched one of the dancing competition shows, but after reading this I am very intrigued. Stone is a giant cinnamon roll, and Gina is a consumate professional who is trying to fight stereotypes. He wants to do right by her, and she fights her growing attraction in an effort to remain professional. We know how that goes.

There is an appropriate amount of steam, and it is steamy! My only critique is that the narrator of the audio sounded pretty stiff through the steamy bits, making it feel a bit perfunctory.

I would read this author again!

idk_indigo's review against another edition

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lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Cute little love story :)

ninalem's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

marieintheraw's review against another edition

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5.0

I have been interested in this one for years, so getting to read the "newer" version is always exciting. I loved the way this focused both on the dancing and the romance. Pros for people who like those TV reality shows, just saying.

I received an ecopy of this book through Netgalley; however, my opinions are my own

seyermk's review against another edition

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5.0

literally so grateful to St. Martin’s Press + NetGalley for letting me read this early, i’m a huge fan of alexis daria’s work and was hoping this would be another 5 star read for me from the start. i can honestly say it definitely earned that rating! this book felt like a breath of fresh air (cheesy i know) and a perfect escape from all my semester assignments and readings. it was so FUN and easy to get lost in, stone and gina pulled me in in a way not many characters usually do in romance books, their struggles and emotions were so powerful i couldn’t put this down.