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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I want to give this more stars, but I just found it so sad, that I can't round up. Lots to like and be prepared, it's a hard book, at least for me. Not a romance (which the author makes clear at the beginning, but I didn't fully believe her!)
"Here’s what I think. If you get very, very lucky in this life, then you get to love another person so hard and so completely that when you lose them, it rips you apart. I think the pain is the proof of a life well lived and loved.”
"But I know that to love is human. We can’t help ourselves. The philosopher-poets say love is the answer, but it’s more than that. Love is the question and the answer and the reason to ask in the first place. It’s everything. All of it.”
"But I know that to love is human. We can’t help ourselves. The philosopher-poets say love is the answer, but it’s more than that. Love is the question and the answer and the reason to ask in the first place. It’s everything. All of it.”
emotional
hopeful
sad
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:
Yes
I swear if I read one more book that makes me cry I may go insane. This book hurt but it was such a fun story to read. I loved reading the dancing aspects and seeing them prepare for the competition and just becoming friends. I related to Evie so much and the issues she was having with her father really hurt me somewhere deep inside. I kind of wish that her “powers” would have been more fleshed out and we got to learn more about them. I also kind of wish that X and Evie’s relationship was shown more in the book. Don’t get me wrong they were adorable and I love them I just wish there was more of them honestly.
medium-paced
Acknowledging first off that, as a middle-aged adult, I am not the target audience for this book, and that is surely a reason why I didn't much enjoy it.
But. There are plenty of young people out there whose itch would be scratched by reading about a couple of teenagers of color who fall in love in a very contrived way. Everyone deserves romance novels that make them feel good. But I found it predictable and by-the-numbers. Everyone was pretty one-dimensional, and it didn't make me feel anything. However, I do recall being 18, when the sight of my love interest without a shirt would have caused me to trip over my own feet. This is for you guys.
But. There are plenty of young people out there whose itch would be scratched by reading about a couple of teenagers of color who fall in love in a very contrived way. Everyone deserves romance novels that make them feel good. But I found it predictable and by-the-numbers. Everyone was pretty one-dimensional, and it didn't make me feel anything. However, I do recall being 18, when the sight of my love interest without a shirt would have caused me to trip over my own feet. This is for you guys.
Super cute and romantic
Loved the meaning and ending
Broke my heart, picked up the pieces, and put it back together
Also loved the magical element
Loved the meaning and ending
Broke my heart, picked up the pieces, and put it back together
Also loved the magical element
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I have enjoyed Nicola Yoon's previous books so I happily can say that I enjoyed this one as well. While I thought X's name was generally kind of stupid, at least it came Xavier and not something 'uniquely YA'. Evie is a cynical teen who no longer believes in love when she decides to take up ballroom lessons and is paired with X for competitions. Since I didn't read the summary beforehand, I went in blind and was interested by the sudden magical turn. Evie has a power to see the beginning and end of relationships when she sees the couple kiss. It makes Evie somewhat more cynical and open to love at the same time. Her relationship with her dad is tumultuous at best but I'm glad that things really thawed out. The ending is kind of bittersweet since you know what is eventually going to happen. It's sad yet refreshing to get the immediate HEA while also knowing where the characters will eventually end up.