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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
I was so excited when this book showed up in my Once Upon a Bookclub order! I have loved Nicola Yoon ever since reading The Sun is Also a Star (which I still think about ALL THE TIME). I was a little weary of the premise of this story, but I trust Nicola as an author and she delivered yet again. My only disappointment is the predictability of a major plot point that had me hoping for a twist.
why am i crying?? such a good outlook on love and dancing :)
3.5 ⭐
I'll be honest, the author's note at the end made me look at this book with a new perspective and I was able to appreciate it more.
At first glance, this book looks like a fluffy, meet-cute romantic comedy, but don't be fooled by the vivid cheerful colours and dancing figures on the cover. This book had a very bittersweet tone, and it resonated with what the author was going through in her life at that time.
What I didn't like : Strong start & end but the story draggeda bit in the middle, Side character stories were a bit slow and felt forced.
Sometimes love lasts.
Other times it ends, falls apart, doesn't work out or simply dies.
Doesn't mean it wasn't worth the journey.
I'll be honest, the author's note at the end made me look at this book with a new perspective and I was able to appreciate it more.
At first glance, this book looks like a fluffy, meet-cute romantic comedy, but don't be fooled by the vivid cheerful colours and dancing figures on the cover. This book had a very bittersweet tone, and it resonated with what the author was going through in her life at that time.
What I didn't like : Strong start & end but the story draggeda bit in the middle, Side character stories were a bit slow and felt forced.
Sometimes love lasts.
Other times it ends, falls apart, doesn't work out or simply dies.
Doesn't mean it wasn't worth the journey.
emotional
funny
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
Do NOT read this book if you're looking for a fun, light-hearted jaunt that will cheer you up. It's a good read, but it's not at all what I was expecting.
I don't know what I was expecting.... Maybe I was expecting a cute little romance read. Maybe I was expecting a beach read.... But I was not expecting to be totally wrecked when I finished reading this book.
This book is ultimately about love, but not in the way you expect. Evie is a high school senior and her life has been turned upside down. She found her dad cheating on her mom, and once her parents divorced, it left her cynical. Way more cynical than a high schooler should feel. She thinks if my parents who really loved each other can fall out of love then maybe this love thing isn't all it is cracked up to be. So she grabs all of her romance books and takes them to a Little Free Library, where a lady tells her that she has to take a book since she left a book. The only book in there is Instructions For Dancing. So Evie takes the book... And this book and the chance Evie takes changes her life.
"Love is too small, too singular a word for the feeling it's trying to hold. Just one word isn't enough, so I want to use them all. Sometimes I think love is the reason language was invented."
I am not going to give any more of the plot away. Have your tissues ready, and be prepared to have all the emotions. Also, please read the author note at the end of the book, it explains everything. 4.5⭐
Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte Press, Random House Children's and Nicola Yoon for this amazing eARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is ultimately about love, but not in the way you expect. Evie is a high school senior and her life has been turned upside down. She found her dad cheating on her mom, and once her parents divorced, it left her cynical. Way more cynical than a high schooler should feel. She thinks if my parents who really loved each other can fall out of love then maybe this love thing isn't all it is cracked up to be. So she grabs all of her romance books and takes them to a Little Free Library, where a lady tells her that she has to take a book since she left a book. The only book in there is Instructions For Dancing. So Evie takes the book... And this book and the chance Evie takes changes her life.
"Love is too small, too singular a word for the feeling it's trying to hold. Just one word isn't enough, so I want to use them all. Sometimes I think love is the reason language was invented."
I am not going to give any more of the plot away. Have your tissues ready, and be prepared to have all the emotions. Also, please read the author note at the end of the book, it explains everything. 4.5⭐
Thank you Netgalley, Delacorte Press, Random House Children's and Nicola Yoon for this amazing eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Nicola Yoon is one of my favorite authors. Her books are not too plot-twisty, you'll get shocked at some point. And the fact that it is not the kind of romance that you'll want to swoon. Her books are raw and honest. It's what you'd expect in the normal day-to-day life of an average person. She makes her readers love and appreciate the smallest of things that can happen in reality.
The story feels close to home and more realistic than other narratives. Instructions for Dancing showed me different types of love, and that it doesn't always have to be cheesy, dramatic, and glamorous like the ones we see on TV. I'm leaving this book with mixed emotions, but I'm glad I've picked it up. It's full of insights that we've always known of, but sometimes need reminding on.
Spoiler
Like, no, X won't be able to rent out the whole mall for you on your first date, even on your second or third... But he sure as hell will listen to your worries and make you feel better. There is no special treatment just because Evie is the main character of the story. And most importantly, happy endings are not for everyone, but it still works out- the characters still find a way- because it's their decision and they own up to it.The story feels close to home and more realistic than other narratives. Instructions for Dancing showed me different types of love, and that it doesn't always have to be cheesy, dramatic, and glamorous like the ones we see on TV. I'm leaving this book with mixed emotions, but I'm glad I've picked it up. It's full of insights that we've always known of, but sometimes need reminding on.
