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bellarinabookworm's review
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-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? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Homophobia and Racism
Minor: Religious bigotry
nikkihastings67's review
5.0
I am a Patreon supporter of Heidi, so I received an ARC copy a few days ago.
The author has expressed that the idea of this story came to her because she realised just how much the legal rights situation in her state and country has changed, that her prior work can almost now be considered 'historical'. I have actually noticed myself elsewhere, when I read a novel and the MC's express their frustration at being unable to marry, how disjointed it feels. I am Australian (unbelievably, we don't yet have marriage equality), yet often I have to remind myself that the book was likely written at a time when marriage equality was not yet fully legal for the author, or its American readers.
I loved the first book in this series, [b:Dance With Me|26153131|Dance With Me (Dancing, #1)|Heidi Cullinan|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1440366843s/26153131.jpg|16423496], because a big part of it explored what it is like to live with chronic pain (which I do). While the issues and themes in Enjoy the Dance are very different, it was in Dance with Me that readers first met Duon, a black, queer teenager with an iffy home life. This book chronicles the step-by-step progress the State of Minnesota made towards marriage equality, ending in the campaign's eventual nation-wide success in 2015. As a queer Australian, reading this work reminds me just how far we need to go, but also how much hate comes out the woodwork when we are so close to achieving equality. I do read this with a sense of disconnect, because of how far behind Australia is legally in this regard, but it does give me hope.
This book wasn't as fast-paced, or as intense, as most of Ms Cullinan's other work, and I think in this case the historical background did constrain things a little. Each step and advance brought new hope to the characters, but it did mean with every vote and court decision, there were multiple story "climaxes", and moments of intensity throughout the book. This in turn reduced the overall effectiveness of the final climax and resolution.
There have been come concerns raised by others regarding racial issues and stereotypes (in addition to Duon, one of the MCs is Latin,whose parents are undocumented ), but having followed Ms Cullinan through Patreon for so long, I was reassured at her multiple calls for PoC sensitivity readers, long before she released any work to her main body of fans. She wasn't just sending her manuscript to professional sensitivity readers out of requirement, but was being proactive at approaching PoC to make sure her work was appropriate. From my (WASP, Australian) perspective, it seems like she is doing the right thing in terms of racial respect and sensitivity in her work, but I know whatever comment I make will be from a position of privilege. What I can reassure readers about is that Ms Cullinan is proactive, and if she has written something that is offensive, she is willing learn from the mistake.
I finished this book in a single sitting, before going back the next day to reread the first book. I am already planning on rereading this one within the week, just so that I can read it through with the first book fresh in my mind. It might not be quite as good as Dance with Me, but I still loved it.
The author has expressed that the idea of this story came to her because she realised just how much the legal rights situation in her state and country has changed, that her prior work can almost now be considered 'historical'. I have actually noticed myself elsewhere, when I read a novel and the MC's express their frustration at being unable to marry, how disjointed it feels. I am Australian (unbelievably, we don't yet have marriage equality), yet often I have to remind myself that the book was likely written at a time when marriage equality was not yet fully legal for the author, or its American readers.
I loved the first book in this series, [b:Dance With Me|26153131|Dance With Me (Dancing, #1)|Heidi Cullinan|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1440366843s/26153131.jpg|16423496], because a big part of it explored what it is like to live with chronic pain (which I do). While the issues and themes in Enjoy the Dance are very different, it was in Dance with Me that readers first met Duon, a black, queer teenager with an iffy home life. This book chronicles the step-by-step progress the State of Minnesota made towards marriage equality, ending in the campaign's eventual nation-wide success in 2015. As a queer Australian, reading this work reminds me just how far we need to go, but also how much hate comes out the woodwork when we are so close to achieving equality. I do read this with a sense of disconnect, because of how far behind Australia is legally in this regard, but it does give me hope.
This book wasn't as fast-paced, or as intense, as most of Ms Cullinan's other work, and I think in this case the historical background did constrain things a little. Each step and advance brought new hope to the characters, but it did mean with every vote and court decision, there were multiple story "climaxes", and moments of intensity throughout the book. This in turn reduced the overall effectiveness of the final climax and resolution.
There have been come concerns raised by others regarding racial issues and stereotypes (in addition to Duon, one of the MCs is Latin,
I finished this book in a single sitting, before going back the next day to reread the first book. I am already planning on rereading this one within the week, just so that I can read it through with the first book fresh in my mind. It might not be quite as good as Dance with Me, but I still loved it.
mary_the_librarian's review
4.0
I enjoyed this story more than the first. There was so much to this story - fostering kids, immigration, plus romance.
reader_fictions's review
4.0
After how much I enjoyed Dance with Me, I was ready for more adorable m/m dance romance, and I wasn’t disappointed, though there is less dancing in this one. Enjoy the Dance has a sweet romance set against the backdrop of the fight for marriage equality.
When I first started Enjoy the Dance, kindergarten teacher Spenser Harris finds Duon, a teen from the community center in book one, bleeding on his doorstep; I was afraid this was going to be a creeptastic ship, but no worries it’s absolutely not. Duon, having been caught with another boy, got beat up by his cousins and kicked out of the house by his grandma. He came looking for one of his dance teachers, Tomás, who lives across the hall from Spenser.
Enjoy the Dance tackles a lot of heavy subjects, like the fight for marriage equality, immigration, and the foster system. Cullinan keeps the tone fairly light given how much the book deals with and how dark it can be. There’s a big focus on how, though things do work out for these guys, it’s only because of the connections they have. It’s a reminder of how fucked up the system is for homeless kids, for foster kids, and for undocumented immigrants.
Tomás and Spenser are very sweet together, though they also use that same barrage of endearments and it just does not work for me. They do seem like a really good fit, constantly building one another up and pushing each other to try for good things. My favorite part of the ship is how much literally everyone ships them. Duon really encourages them, and Tomás’s mom is the literal cutest in her support of them.
I very much did enjoy this dance. I added a whole bunch more Cullinan to my tbr when I finished, which is the best endorsement I can offer.
When I first started Enjoy the Dance, kindergarten teacher Spenser Harris finds Duon, a teen from the community center in book one, bleeding on his doorstep; I was afraid this was going to be a creeptastic ship, but no worries it’s absolutely not. Duon, having been caught with another boy, got beat up by his cousins and kicked out of the house by his grandma. He came looking for one of his dance teachers, Tomás, who lives across the hall from Spenser.
Enjoy the Dance tackles a lot of heavy subjects, like the fight for marriage equality, immigration, and the foster system. Cullinan keeps the tone fairly light given how much the book deals with and how dark it can be. There’s a big focus on how, though things do work out for these guys, it’s only because of the connections they have. It’s a reminder of how fucked up the system is for homeless kids, for foster kids, and for undocumented immigrants.
Tomás and Spenser are very sweet together, though they also use that same barrage of endearments and it just does not work for me. They do seem like a really good fit, constantly building one another up and pushing each other to try for good things. My favorite part of the ship is how much literally everyone ships them. Duon really encourages them, and Tomás’s mom is the literal cutest in her support of them.
I very much did enjoy this dance. I added a whole bunch more Cullinan to my tbr when I finished, which is the best endorsement I can offer.
rhodered's review
2.0
Although there were a few, disparate lovely bits, this suffered from a lack of focus around the main characters. It can feel like characters from the author's other books get more page time than key secondary characters from this one - for example I'm sure we see Laurie way more than we see Tomas' father who the leads actually live with.
The story itself was also perhaps too crowded for the length of the book. Complex back stories for the two leads, plus Tomas' sister, his parents and Duon. Plus all sorts of challenges piled up to battle through: immigration and ICE, caring for an addict's children, foster care for homeless LGBT youth, private organizations treating LGBT staff unfairly, the gay marriage battle, challenges for gay youth of color, foster child adoption, economic challenges & how to juggle three jobs plus a family plus a private life. Oh, and fear of dancing. Not to mention a romance.
As a result, to cover all the bases, the author did a lot of telling not showing. She also got kind of preachy, given her readership, probably mostly to the choir. And the ending, which felt rushed but with so much going on I don't know how else it could have been, tied up so many of the challenges with big lovey dovey shiny bows it felt absurd. HEA on steroids.
I plowed through, after a break, many just to plow through. By the end though, everything felt like a good vs evil sock puppet on the author's fingers.
Clearly she feels strongly about all these causes, and that's great. She's also donating portions of the proceeds to related organizations, which is great as well.
But this didn't feel like a romance book to me. It felt like a book written by a passionate activist who doesn't understand how to turn the lessons they want to teach into compelling fiction.
The story itself was also perhaps too crowded for the length of the book. Complex back stories for the two leads, plus Tomas' sister, his parents and Duon. Plus all sorts of challenges piled up to battle through: immigration and ICE, caring for an addict's children, foster care for homeless LGBT youth, private organizations treating LGBT staff unfairly, the gay marriage battle, challenges for gay youth of color, foster child adoption, economic challenges & how to juggle three jobs plus a family plus a private life. Oh, and fear of dancing. Not to mention a romance.
As a result, to cover all the bases, the author did a lot of telling not showing. She also got kind of preachy, given her readership, probably mostly to the choir. And the ending, which felt rushed but with so much going on I don't know how else it could have been, tied up so many of the challenges with big lovey dovey shiny bows it felt absurd. HEA on steroids.
I plowed through, after a break, many just to plow through. By the end though, everything felt like a good vs evil sock puppet on the author's fingers.
Clearly she feels strongly about all these causes, and that's great. She's also donating portions of the proceeds to related organizations, which is great as well.
But this didn't feel like a romance book to me. It felt like a book written by a passionate activist who doesn't understand how to turn the lessons they want to teach into compelling fiction.
ld2's review
4.0
Tomas and Spenser are both young men striving to do good in a world full of complications. Tomas has the responsibility of providing for his family. Spenser is doing the best he can as both a teacher and foster father. Together they overcome obstacles both internal and external, while falling in love with each other.
The story is a little cheesy, but it’s sweet with an edge of angst. The writing is good, but there’s a bit of too much telling for my taste and it can sometimes sound preachy. Overall, this is a sweet story and full of tenderness.
The story is a little cheesy, but it’s sweet with an edge of angst. The writing is good, but there’s a bit of too much telling for my taste and it can sometimes sound preachy. Overall, this is a sweet story and full of tenderness.
swamphag's review
3.0
This is a weird review because for me personally this book would get three stars, but I think for a lot of other people this book would get a solid four star rating. What I didn’t like about it has less to do with the quality of the book itself and more to do with my personal reading preferences and pet peeves. So please keep that in mind when reading this review, and if stuff I don’t like is something you enjoy then I say go for it and read this book!
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Cullinan did a good job setting up all the plot points she wanted to juggle and developing the characters. Spenser (the spelling of this name distracted me the entire book!!) was my favorite because he was a shy nerd with a big heart. The only problem is that some of his background/family history felt more like a convenient plot point than anything I ended up caring about, and distracted from other character development.
For all that he was a major plot point, Duan was the least developed main character for me. It was like he was there to drive the plot more than to be a person. He spent the majority of the book being talked about instead of talking, which is fine, but it was odd seeing as he lived with Spenser.
That being said the first half of the book these characters were really great. I was on board and ready for their character development and growth, and that’s where they started falling flat for me. Less flesh and blood, and more wooden.
Where the book lost me completely was at about 80% of the way through. The pace suddenly picked up and ALL OF THE THINGS happened at once. For me the suddenness of the plot twists made a lot of them unbelievable, because they did not seem true to the characters or their relationships. It ended up just stuffing the book full of unnecessary plot topics instead of focusing on what she was already developing.
There was work drama, gay marriage drama, immigration drama, foster/adoption drama, etc. all at once, and I kind of checked out because it was stressful and made things become shallow instead of developed. The book is kind of dense for these reasons, but it isn’t until the end that they get to be too much. I feel that if she had trimmed some of the major focus points of the book then it would have been fine, but I think she lost the rhythm of the book trying to do too much.
To top this off things got wrapped up too neatly, so it was like build, build, build, sudden resolution. Total let down. If there was less drama handled better it would have been a stronger book, but for me the payout at the end of the book wasn’t enough.
The characters reaction to the injustices they faced was a little too Scarlett O’Hara I’ll never go hungry again. Works in a movie, but in real life you’d be like, “Calm down. Sheesh!!!” What I am getting at with this analogy is that people got pretty preachy and it disrupted the flow of the dialogue. I get it. This was obviously a book that dealt with things Cullinan is passionate about (immigration, gay rights, foster parenting), and I respect that, but the end result was blah.
It was a shame because I really enjoyed the first book. This one kind of got bogged down and it wasn’t because it was dealing with heavy topics. However, if you like books with conflict or you are personally passionate about these things you’ll enjoy this book a lot more than I did.
Side note that does not affect my rating: I LOVE the covers to this series.
I really enjoyed the first half of the book. Cullinan did a good job setting up all the plot points she wanted to juggle and developing the characters. Spenser (the spelling of this name distracted me the entire book!!) was my favorite because he was a shy nerd with a big heart. The only problem is that some of his background/family history felt more like a convenient plot point than anything I ended up caring about, and distracted from other character development.
For all that he was a major plot point, Duan was the least developed main character for me. It was like he was there to drive the plot more than to be a person. He spent the majority of the book being talked about instead of talking, which is fine, but it was odd seeing as he lived with Spenser.
That being said the first half of the book these characters were really great. I was on board and ready for their character development and growth, and that’s where they started falling flat for me. Less flesh and blood, and more wooden.
Where the book lost me completely was at about 80% of the way through. The pace suddenly picked up and ALL OF THE THINGS happened at once. For me the suddenness of the plot twists made a lot of them unbelievable, because they did not seem true to the characters or their relationships. It ended up just stuffing the book full of unnecessary plot topics instead of focusing on what she was already developing.
There was work drama, gay marriage drama, immigration drama, foster/adoption drama, etc. all at once, and I kind of checked out because it was stressful and made things become shallow instead of developed. The book is kind of dense for these reasons, but it isn’t until the end that they get to be too much. I feel that if she had trimmed some of the major focus points of the book then it would have been fine, but I think she lost the rhythm of the book trying to do too much.
To top this off things got wrapped up too neatly, so it was like build, build, build, sudden resolution. Total let down. If there was less drama handled better it would have been a stronger book, but for me the payout at the end of the book wasn’t enough.
The characters reaction to the injustices they faced was a little too Scarlett O’Hara I’ll never go hungry again. Works in a movie, but in real life you’d be like, “Calm down. Sheesh!!!” What I am getting at with this analogy is that people got pretty preachy and it disrupted the flow of the dialogue. I get it. This was obviously a book that dealt with things Cullinan is passionate about (immigration, gay rights, foster parenting), and I respect that, but the end result was blah.
It was a shame because I really enjoyed the first book. This one kind of got bogged down and it wasn’t because it was dealing with heavy topics. However, if you like books with conflict or you are personally passionate about these things you’ll enjoy this book a lot more than I did.
Side note that does not affect my rating: I LOVE the covers to this series.
krystolla's review
3.0
There is a lot going on in the novel - a lot of important social issues, cultural issue, and ideas about family. I think the thread of these particular characters stories gets a bit lost under the weight of all those big issues, and the issues (and important history) get a bit shortchanged competing with each other.
In order to balance the weight of the social issues the book is relentlessly upbeat, the characters may get discouraged but are never without support. Family plays a big role. Oliver the magic rich guy also plays a large role - dispensing skilled lawyers as though he keeps them in a back pocket.
Overall, not one of my favorites. It feels rushed and sort of crammed together without the polish I normally see from this author. That said, I still enjoyed it. Cried like a baby, held my breath and bit my lip.
In order to balance the weight of the social issues the book is relentlessly upbeat, the characters may get discouraged but are never without support. Family plays a big role. Oliver the magic rich guy also plays a large role - dispensing skilled lawyers as though he keeps them in a back pocket.
Overall, not one of my favorites. It feels rushed and sort of crammed together without the polish I normally see from this author. That said, I still enjoyed it. Cried like a baby, held my breath and bit my lip.
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