Take a photo of a barcode or cover
4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
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 love how Nicola Yoon writes YA stories. Her writing is both thought-provoking and vivid and her characters are emotional and realistic. Nothing feels too contrived, even the magical realism that was a major component of Evie and X's journey. The elements of family, friendship, love, and romance were pitch perfect. I have complicated feelings about the bittersweet ending for how it pulled on my heartstrings.
“
“
THIS BOOK IS DEVASTATINGLY RUDE, I have half a mind to pull a Karen and call the police for the absolute injustice of it all!!!!
(But also it was amazing and lovely and I didn't really want it to end.)
(But also it was amazing and lovely and I didn't really want it to end.)
A BAD VALVE IN HIS GODDAMN HEART MRS YOON PLEASE IT IS 2 IN THE MORNING AND I AM CRYING LIKE A WHALEEEEEEE
This book is so sweet, funny, and heart breaking. Without giving too much away, it ends in a happy for now but we know that it won't be happy for long. And that wasn't how I thought this book would end.
Thank you to The Write Reads, Penguin, and Netgalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
I’ve been sitting here, looking at my screen, trying to figure out a way to write a post the encapsulates the feeling of utter enjoyment that enveloped me after I finished this book. Mostly, I just want to flail my arms and beg you all to read it in all caps. But I’m going to attempt to be coherent.
Instructions for Dancing follows a young girl named Evie who has fallen out of love with romance after the recent divorce of her parents. Evie idolized her father and now she’s having to grapple with her feelings for him when she knows the reason behind the divorce. At this very inopportune time, she is given the power to see how a couple’s past, present, and future just by witnessing them kiss. For someone who has recently become very jaded to love, you can guess just about how well Evie takes this. Not only that, but when a mysterious dance manual leads her to a dance studio, she bumps into a boy that she could find herself falling in love with. Evie thinks a relationship is the last thing she wants or needs… but it could it help her break free from her curse?
Y’all, this book was SO SWEET! Seriously, there were moments where I could feel myself just melting into a pile of goo over how sweet it was! But it wasn’t the kind of sweet that can feel cloying, no. This was a sweet and beautiful story that packed a wallop. When I say be prepared to shed a few tears, I’m not joking around. Nicola Yoon will having you feeling all the feelings, one right after another! I was an emotional puddle after I read the last page and I still don’t know if I’ve fully recovered. I mean, I’m still thinking about the book on the daily, so probably not recovered, right? Ugh… it’s so good…
I think my favorite thing about this book is how it presents relationships and love as not just this wonderful, happy thing. Love is great, yes, but love can also hurt. The inspection of grief is so well done in this book. And it’s not just exploring grief due to death. It looks at grief from seeing someone you love and idolize, like Evie does her father, in a completely different light. It looks at grief from losing friends. It explores so many different aspects of grief and I think Nicola Yoon does it with a deft hand. It also explores so many different aspects of love, as well, and shows the reader that it can be messy and it can be hard, but it can also be so, so worth it.
What else can I say besides, well, I loved this, lol! I loved everything about it! I loved the characters (Evie and X are just the best). I loved the representation. I loved the setting and how I felt like I was biking around Los Angeles right with Evie. Also, can I get a Surf City Waffle in Massachusetts? I know it doesn’t exist, but it sounds like absolute heaven! This book was a breath a fresh air. It’s the perfect summer read: light, sweet, with a touch of the harder emotions and a spattering of beautiful life lessons. I want to read it again already and young adult romances are not typically my thing! It’s just an incredible, heartfelt story and I want everyone to read it pleeaaaase. What a way to kick off June!
Final thoughts: No thoughts, head empty PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! Seriously, though, this was a fantastic young adult romance/contemporary that pulls you into the story and wrecks every single one of your emotions along the way. If you enjoy romance that delves into some harder subjects, but still leaves you feeling like a hopeless romantic, with strong characters and beautiful writing, I think you’ll love Instructions for Dancing!
I’ve been sitting here, looking at my screen, trying to figure out a way to write a post the encapsulates the feeling of utter enjoyment that enveloped me after I finished this book. Mostly, I just want to flail my arms and beg you all to read it in all caps. But I’m going to attempt to be coherent.
Instructions for Dancing follows a young girl named Evie who has fallen out of love with romance after the recent divorce of her parents. Evie idolized her father and now she’s having to grapple with her feelings for him when she knows the reason behind the divorce. At this very inopportune time, she is given the power to see how a couple’s past, present, and future just by witnessing them kiss. For someone who has recently become very jaded to love, you can guess just about how well Evie takes this. Not only that, but when a mysterious dance manual leads her to a dance studio, she bumps into a boy that she could find herself falling in love with. Evie thinks a relationship is the last thing she wants or needs… but it could it help her break free from her curse?
Y’all, this book was SO SWEET! Seriously, there were moments where I could feel myself just melting into a pile of goo over how sweet it was! But it wasn’t the kind of sweet that can feel cloying, no. This was a sweet and beautiful story that packed a wallop. When I say be prepared to shed a few tears, I’m not joking around. Nicola Yoon will having you feeling all the feelings, one right after another! I was an emotional puddle after I read the last page and I still don’t know if I’ve fully recovered. I mean, I’m still thinking about the book on the daily, so probably not recovered, right? Ugh… it’s so good…
I think my favorite thing about this book is how it presents relationships and love as not just this wonderful, happy thing. Love is great, yes, but love can also hurt. The inspection of grief is so well done in this book. And it’s not just exploring grief due to death. It looks at grief from seeing someone you love and idolize, like Evie does her father, in a completely different light. It looks at grief from losing friends. It explores so many different aspects of grief and I think Nicola Yoon does it with a deft hand. It also explores so many different aspects of love, as well, and shows the reader that it can be messy and it can be hard, but it can also be so, so worth it.
What else can I say besides, well, I loved this, lol! I loved everything about it! I loved the characters (Evie and X are just the best). I loved the representation. I loved the setting and how I felt like I was biking around Los Angeles right with Evie. Also, can I get a Surf City Waffle in Massachusetts? I know it doesn’t exist, but it sounds like absolute heaven! This book was a breath a fresh air. It’s the perfect summer read: light, sweet, with a touch of the harder emotions and a spattering of beautiful life lessons. I want to read it again already and young adult romances are not typically my thing! It’s just an incredible, heartfelt story and I want everyone to read it pleeaaaase. What a way to kick off June!
Final thoughts: No thoughts, head empty PLEASE READ THIS BOOK! Seriously, though, this was a fantastic young adult romance/contemporary that pulls you into the story and wrecks every single one of your emotions along the way. If you enjoy romance that delves into some harder subjects, but still leaves you feeling like a hopeless romantic, with strong characters and beautiful writing, I think you’ll love Instructions for Dancing!
I liked this book probably 3.5stars. It was not my favorite book from Yoon though. It just was sssssllllloooowwww. And while the book was called “Instructions for Dancing” there wasn’t actually a lot of dancing.
This book is really about endings - the ending of relationships, love, high school, friendships, marriages, dreams. It’s definitely a valuable perspective for young people too think about. BUT it just felt like it missed the mark a few times. Like how many times do you have to learn to “live in a moment” before you start reminding yourself. Overall It’s just great to have BIPOC main characters. Especially with a basic romance. Not fitting them into any boxes besides - young people growing up and life changing.
It’s really a sweet little romance.
Shout out to the audiobook reading queen Bahni Turpin, for delivering another amazing performance.
This book is really about endings - the ending of relationships, love, high school, friendships, marriages, dreams. It’s definitely a valuable perspective for young people too think about. BUT it just felt like it missed the mark a few times. Like how many times do you have to learn to “live in a moment” before you start reminding yourself. Overall It’s just great to have BIPOC main characters. Especially with a basic romance. Not fitting them into any boxes besides - young people growing up and life changing.
It’s really a sweet little romance.
Shout out to the audiobook reading queen Bahni Turpin, for delivering another amazing performance.
emotional
hopeful
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