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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This was my eighth book since joining Book of the Month (BotM), my selection for June 2021.
This book was fine. Once again faced with five unappealing selections I ultimately chose this one because of the premise: a young girl with the ability to see how a relationship will end whenever she witnesses a couple kiss. It seemed like this could explore a concept I've come to think of as the Battlestar Galactica effect - learning to appreciate the positives in something that ends horribly. Even when we're talking Dexter finale level bad. I've worked to apply this to past relationships.
This is the first YA romance novel I have ever read, and being an OA curmudgeon, I didn't expect to have a good experience. I think this was actually a good choice for my inaugural, and most likely only, foray into the genre. It helped that this was structured as a meta romance with the author lampshading the tropes used in her plot. Because of this, my cynical old heart never fully rejected the story and I was able to appreciate it as well done, even though it isn't really meant for me. Not for me in that I realized while reading that I was not invested in whether or not the main character forgives her father, wins the dance contest, or ends up with her love interest. The magical realism element was the only piece I cared about and that wasn't that big a part of the story. Although there were a few moments as I rounded into the last 1/3 of the book that it started getting too saccharine for my taste, the ending ultimately didn't annoy me.
Any other positives? Queer representation. Also, I will always appreciate a Zoltar reference...
Negatives? ...although it was immediately followed by an explanation for the young, intended audience who wouldn't know the reference. And there was that thing I hate where characters withhold information from each other because otherwise the conflict would immediately dissipate.
Would I recommend it? To someone who enjoys romance, yes I would.
Will I read anything else by the author? Maybe I'll just watch one of the movie adaptations of her work and if I like it then I'll read the source material.
BotM ongoing impression(s): I think I'm getting better at translating their descriptions in order to pick the better book for me.
As always, I will end with the BotM review I posted: "You can get in and out fairly quickly with nothing lost and nothing gained. Reading this was like watching a sparkly dragonfly skimming the surface of a pond; pretty, relaxing, but never getting deep."
This book was fine. Once again faced with five unappealing selections I ultimately chose this one because of the premise: a young girl with the ability to see how a relationship will end whenever she witnesses a couple kiss. It seemed like this could explore a concept I've come to think of as the Battlestar Galactica effect - learning to appreciate the positives in something that ends horribly. Even when we're talking Dexter finale level bad. I've worked to apply this to past relationships.
This is the first YA romance novel I have ever read, and being an OA curmudgeon, I didn't expect to have a good experience. I think this was actually a good choice for my inaugural, and most likely only, foray into the genre. It helped that this was structured as a meta romance with the author lampshading the tropes used in her plot. Because of this, my cynical old heart never fully rejected the story and I was able to appreciate it as well done, even though it isn't really meant for me. Not for me in that I realized while reading that I was not invested in whether or not the main character forgives her father, wins the dance contest, or ends up with her love interest. The magical realism element was the only piece I cared about and that wasn't that big a part of the story. Although there were a few moments as I rounded into the last 1/3 of the book that it started getting too saccharine for my taste, the ending ultimately didn't annoy me.
Any other positives? Queer representation. Also, I will always appreciate a Zoltar reference...
Negatives? ...although it was immediately followed by an explanation for the young, intended audience who wouldn't know the reference. And there was that thing I hate where characters withhold information from each other because otherwise the conflict would immediately dissipate.
Would I recommend it? To someone who enjoys romance, yes I would.
Will I read anything else by the author? Maybe I'll just watch one of the movie adaptations of her work and if I like it then I'll read the source material.
BotM ongoing impression(s): I think I'm getting better at translating their descriptions in order to pick the better book for me.
As always, I will end with the BotM review I posted: "You can get in and out fairly quickly with nothing lost and nothing gained. Reading this was like watching a sparkly dragonfly skimming the surface of a pond; pretty, relaxing, but never getting deep."
emotional
hopeful
reflective
A massive thank you to @penguinbooksya for gifting me this review copy in exchange for an honest review.
I thought this was going to be a fun, wholesome read (I mean look at that cover!) but it ended up being sad but happy and sweet but bitter. This book has characters that you will root for. Its fun, its quirky, its heartfelt, honest and will make you feel things. The two main characters give me Naveen and Tiana vibes(The princess and the frog movie). I love Evie and X’s relationship and watching them grow and develop. They are so cute together. Evie and X’s journey was heartwarming and funny but also heart wrenching and completely unforgettable.
This is not your typical YA book. This book is about Evie’s struggle with relationships, specially with the idea of endings. I liked how realistic the story was and that Evie is the angry daughter while everyone else in the family pretends like nothing is wrong. The ending for the family was very well written and like the ending of the book it isn’t sugarcoated and forced into ending with closure. Another thing I loved about this book is that we got to explore Evie’s friendships. There was also hardships in keeping her circle from breaking up and we all know that friendship breakups are just as painful.
I didn’t expect to resonate and learn as much as i did from this book. There was so many amazing quotes in this book but the thing I love the most is the different perspectives of love and life and what they mean to each character. Nicola Yoon says this book isn’t a love story but this book talks about love in so many levels. It doesn’t only talk about romantic love, but also our love for our friends, the love parents have for their children and children’s love for their parents and even finding hope in unrequited love. This book makes you look at love in a different light.
This book thought me that love is pain and pain is part of loving someone and if we understand that pain better, we can allow ourselves to love that person more.
This lesson that you learn from this book, especially in the last chapter, will stick with you forever.
Warning : This book will smash your heart to pieces and then put it back together.
I thought this was going to be a fun, wholesome read (I mean look at that cover!) but it ended up being sad but happy and sweet but bitter. This book has characters that you will root for. Its fun, its quirky, its heartfelt, honest and will make you feel things. The two main characters give me Naveen and Tiana vibes(The princess and the frog movie). I love Evie and X’s relationship and watching them grow and develop. They are so cute together. Evie and X’s journey was heartwarming and funny but also heart wrenching and completely unforgettable.
This is not your typical YA book. This book is about Evie’s struggle with relationships, specially with the idea of endings. I liked how realistic the story was and that Evie is the angry daughter while everyone else in the family pretends like nothing is wrong. The ending for the family was very well written and like the ending of the book it isn’t sugarcoated and forced into ending with closure. Another thing I loved about this book is that we got to explore Evie’s friendships. There was also hardships in keeping her circle from breaking up and we all know that friendship breakups are just as painful.
I didn’t expect to resonate and learn as much as i did from this book. There was so many amazing quotes in this book but the thing I love the most is the different perspectives of love and life and what they mean to each character. Nicola Yoon says this book isn’t a love story but this book talks about love in so many levels. It doesn’t only talk about romantic love, but also our love for our friends, the love parents have for their children and children’s love for their parents and even finding hope in unrequited love. This book makes you look at love in a different light.
This book thought me that love is pain and pain is part of loving someone and if we understand that pain better, we can allow ourselves to love that person more.
This lesson that you learn from this book, especially in the last chapter, will stick with you forever.
Warning : This book will smash your heart to pieces and then put it back together.
emotional
funny
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
brb bawling. all i can say is that ms nicola yoon does NOT miss
I love this book with all my heart. It was my first romance book and the story line was great
A fast-paced romance that tackles the uncertainties of love through romance novels, the art of dance, and magical realism that gives the ability to see the highlight reel of a kissing couple with just a glance.
Evie Thomas used to spend her hours reading romance novels and dreaming about what her future could hold. After her parents' divorce, she no longer believes in true love. When she is given the ability to see the most important parts of a couple's relationship by watching them kiss, Evie is greeted with a ton of unhappy endings. Knowing that love never lasts, Evie is desperate to get rid of this strange power that is plaguing her existence. Her quest soon brings her to La Brea's dance studio where she finds herself paired with X, a charismatic young rock singer who makes Evie feel things she's never experienced before. Can Evie find true love when all relationships seem to end in broken hearts and gallons of tears?
The ending to this book brought tears to my eyes. Once again, Nicola Yoon plays with my heart strings and has me thinking about the lengths that humanity goes for love. I couldn't imagine being put in the position that Evie faces at the end of this book, but I know that I would have made the same choice that she did in the end. It would be so hard, but I know it would be worth it for the happiness in the now.
Going into this book, I wasn't aware that it is a story that contains magical realism. Evie's ability was really neat, but I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. It would be horrible seeing so many people deeply in love only to see how they are separated in the end. It would be very depressing, but it would also be a great reminder that our time on this planet is finite and it is really important that we use it wisely.
This element of Evie trying to break her curse and get rid of her ability really felt like a bit of an "Ella Enchanted" moment, especially with the events that go down at the dance competition and the restraints that Evie is faced with when it comes to loving X and their future together. I wonder if Yoon was at all inspired by the story of "Ella Enchanted" when writing this book?
Books involving dance always pique my interest and this one was no different. The scenes that show Evie and X in the dance studio are some of my favorites. I love seeing their chemistry both in their romantic relationship and as dance partners. Spending so much time together learning dance routines can certainly lay down a solid foundation, and I loved watching the two of them grow closer together. The way that these two encourage each other to pursue their dreams and overcome their challenges is inspirational, and it also gives hope that some love can last forever. On a side note, their dance teacher is a crazily fierce woman with a strong accent, and I equally feared and adored her.
This book reads like a sped-up version of events, but that didn't take much away from this book for me. Honestly, this book could have ended up being rather repetitive if it would have gone into too much depth on many events. I must say, this may have led to me caring less about the side characters, but I ate up this book due to all the questions it raises about love and the finiteness of life and everything in this world. It really had me reflecting on my own life, so I'm glad it wasn't bogged down by too many distracting details.
Overall, "Instructions for Dancing" was a quick romantic read that had me deeply thinking about love while also tugging hard on my emotions. I really enjoyed Evie and X's conversations and I found many aspects of their circumstances to be quite amusing. The elements of magical realism brought interesting questions to the table and had me considering what I would do if I knew how the romantic relationships in my life would end. This book had me laughing, pondering life, and indeed, crying my eyes out. This is honestly a perfectly balanced romance that is both swoonworthy and heartbreaking; I know that I will be thinking about the ending for quite some time. If you are a fan of bittersweet or happy for now romances, this would be a great one to check out!
Evie Thomas used to spend her hours reading romance novels and dreaming about what her future could hold. After her parents' divorce, she no longer believes in true love. When she is given the ability to see the most important parts of a couple's relationship by watching them kiss, Evie is greeted with a ton of unhappy endings. Knowing that love never lasts, Evie is desperate to get rid of this strange power that is plaguing her existence. Her quest soon brings her to La Brea's dance studio where she finds herself paired with X, a charismatic young rock singer who makes Evie feel things she's never experienced before. Can Evie find true love when all relationships seem to end in broken hearts and gallons of tears?
The ending to this book brought tears to my eyes. Once again, Nicola Yoon plays with my heart strings and has me thinking about the lengths that humanity goes for love. I couldn't imagine being put in the position that Evie faces at the end of this book, but I know that I would have made the same choice that she did in the end. It would be so hard, but I know it would be worth it for the happiness in the now.
Going into this book, I wasn't aware that it is a story that contains magical realism. Evie's ability was really neat, but I wouldn't wish it upon my worst enemy. It would be horrible seeing so many people deeply in love only to see how they are separated in the end. It would be very depressing, but it would also be a great reminder that our time on this planet is finite and it is really important that we use it wisely.
This element of Evie trying to break her curse and get rid of her ability really felt like a bit of an "Ella Enchanted" moment, especially with the events that go down at the dance competition and the restraints that Evie is faced with when it comes to loving X and their future together. I wonder if Yoon was at all inspired by the story of "Ella Enchanted" when writing this book?
Books involving dance always pique my interest and this one was no different. The scenes that show Evie and X in the dance studio are some of my favorites. I love seeing their chemistry both in their romantic relationship and as dance partners. Spending so much time together learning dance routines can certainly lay down a solid foundation, and I loved watching the two of them grow closer together. The way that these two encourage each other to pursue their dreams and overcome their challenges is inspirational, and it also gives hope that some love can last forever. On a side note, their dance teacher is a crazily fierce woman with a strong accent, and I equally feared and adored her.
This book reads like a sped-up version of events, but that didn't take much away from this book for me. Honestly, this book could have ended up being rather repetitive if it would have gone into too much depth on many events. I must say, this may have led to me caring less about the side characters, but I ate up this book due to all the questions it raises about love and the finiteness of life and everything in this world. It really had me reflecting on my own life, so I'm glad it wasn't bogged down by too many distracting details.
Overall, "Instructions for Dancing" was a quick romantic read that had me deeply thinking about love while also tugging hard on my emotions. I really enjoyed Evie and X's conversations and I found many aspects of their circumstances to be quite amusing. The elements of magical realism brought interesting questions to the table and had me considering what I would do if I knew how the romantic relationships in my life would end. This book had me laughing, pondering life, and indeed, crying my eyes out. This is honestly a perfectly balanced romance that is both swoonworthy and heartbreaking; I know that I will be thinking about the ending for quite some time. If you are a fan of bittersweet or happy for now romances, this would be a great one to check out!
Nicola Yoon has done it again. This is not just any romance novel. This book explores the beauty of love and the pain of loss in the most spectacular way. I loved it.
Schade.
Hatte es bei TikTok gesehen und es wurde empfohlen, vor allem weil das Ende wohl traurig sein sollte.
Ich mochte die Hauptperson leider gar nicht. Die Charaktere waren alle sehr flach und die Story war sehr schnell. An sich gar nicht schlecht, manchmal mag ich das, so fixe Sachen zu lesen. Aber hier war irgendwie alles underdeveloped. Und so traurig fand ich das Ende nicht, da ich schon einige Kapitel vorher wusste, was am Ende passiert. War also kein krasser Twist.
Außerdem ist es anscheinend ok wenn man jemanden betrügt und dann die neue Frau heiratet und auch noch will, dass die Töchter zur Hochzeit kommen lol. Fand ich dezent strange. Und die Love Story war auch bissl zu Klischee und Insta. Und sorry, aber mit 18 kann man einfach noch nicht sagen, dass das die Liebe des Lebens ist. Die große Liebe bisher, ja ok, aber nicht des Lebens.
Hatte es bei TikTok gesehen und es wurde empfohlen, vor allem weil das Ende wohl traurig sein sollte.
Ich mochte die Hauptperson leider gar nicht. Die Charaktere waren alle sehr flach und die Story war sehr schnell. An sich gar nicht schlecht, manchmal mag ich das, so fixe Sachen zu lesen. Aber hier war irgendwie alles underdeveloped. Und so traurig fand ich das Ende nicht, da ich schon einige Kapitel vorher wusste, was am Ende passiert. War also kein krasser Twist.
Außerdem ist es anscheinend ok wenn man jemanden betrügt und dann die neue Frau heiratet und auch noch will, dass die Töchter zur Hochzeit kommen lol. Fand ich dezent strange. Und die Love Story war auch bissl zu Klischee und Insta. Und sorry, aber mit 18 kann man einfach noch nicht sagen, dass das die Liebe des Lebens ist. Die große Liebe bisher, ja ok, aber nicht des Lebens.
Spoiler
I actually really loved this book.. I liked the main character Evie a lot because she does such a character growth within herself and it’s so nice to see.I think each one of her visions she only sees what she wants to see in the moment…which is heartbreak. I think that’s the way that the story is told too at that point.
I think what made me the most upset about the book is about how she finds out about X dying. I was hoping she would see them have a long life together, but now it’s cut short, that really cut deep for me. I love them together and I’m so glad she didn’t tell him, she actually listened to what he said. He helped her become a newer version of herself which is so refreshing to see
And then once she talks to the lady that gave her the visions she realizes that yes heartbreaks exist, but you don’t always have to look for that part… YEA it’s there but there’s usually so much love before heartbreak comes.
I really enjoyed this book a lot.