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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
This book was so unexpected. I picked this up because it's Nicola Yoon so I knew I would love it, and I knew it would be a romance, yes, but so much more. But I was not expecting this!
Evie's parents have divorced and she has given up on love. Then a book called Instructions for Dancing falls into her hands, and she ends up at a dance studio which will set her life on a new path. I liked this little magical twist to the story, even though it made Evie a bit frustrating for me personally. This was my only gripe with the story, and probably the only thing holding me back from giving this a full five stars. She sees people together for literally the rest of their lives, but still feels like that means love doesn't mean anything. Lady! I absolutely get why she felt like love wasn't worth it. My parents divorced too and it does knock you and make you re-evaluate love. I understand why she was focusing on the end of every relationship. But if I saw death being the reason a relationship ended, I wouldn't focus on that as meaning that relationships don't work.
Other than my frustration at 200 pages (!) of pessimism, I absolutely adored this book. I loved the characters so much. They're all great, and I loved how much her parents cared. I adore Fifi and X. Nicola Yoon has created this really unique cast of characters that work together so well that I felt like I was reading about real people. The way she slotted the magic into this was excellent, and the way she used it with X was so heart-breaking.
Speaking of X, the romance in this is just too cute. Nicola Yoon is so good at this! I really like the way she does HFNs and this one was so expertly done. My heart is so full and so heavy from this romance. I loved their relationship and how the dancing brought them together. The dancing was such a lovely touch, I loved the way it brought them together and also loosened them up. You can see the way she's more confident and more comfortable in herself. I really appreciated that.
This review is a mess but, ultimately, I absolutely recommend this book. It's such an easy read but tackles grief, love and divorce so well. It was really nice to see the way divorce was represented in this book and I definitely wish I'd had it when my parents divorced. I can't wait for more by Nicola Yoon.
Evie's parents have divorced and she has given up on love. Then a book called Instructions for Dancing falls into her hands, and she ends up at a dance studio which will set her life on a new path. I liked this little magical twist to the story, even though it made Evie a bit frustrating for me personally. This was my only gripe with the story, and probably the only thing holding me back from giving this a full five stars. She sees people together for literally the rest of their lives, but still feels like that means love doesn't mean anything. Lady! I absolutely get why she felt like love wasn't worth it. My parents divorced too and it does knock you and make you re-evaluate love. I understand why she was focusing on the end of every relationship. But if I saw death being the reason a relationship ended, I wouldn't focus on that as meaning that relationships don't work.
Other than my frustration at 200 pages (!) of pessimism, I absolutely adored this book. I loved the characters so much. They're all great, and I loved how much her parents cared. I adore Fifi and X. Nicola Yoon has created this really unique cast of characters that work together so well that I felt like I was reading about real people. The way she slotted the magic into this was excellent, and the way she used it with X was so heart-breaking.
Speaking of X, the romance in this is just too cute. Nicola Yoon is so good at this! I really like the way she does HFNs and this one was so expertly done. My heart is so full and so heavy from this romance. I loved their relationship and how the dancing brought them together. The dancing was such a lovely touch, I loved the way it brought them together and also loosened them up. You can see the way she's more confident and more comfortable in herself. I really appreciated that.
This review is a mess but, ultimately, I absolutely recommend this book. It's such an easy read but tackles grief, love and divorce so well. It was really nice to see the way divorce was represented in this book and I definitely wish I'd had it when my parents divorced. I can't wait for more by Nicola Yoon.
This book was so much more than I expected it to be!
When I was in college, I had a wonderful dance professor who used to tell me that I had to learn how to “throw yourself at the ground”, by which she meant that I had to learn how to get out of my own head and my own way and throw myself full speed into what I was doing. Evie’s journey in this book encapsulates that concept, as she learns to get our of her own way and throw herself full speed into life, into love, and into possibilities…even of by “throwing herself at the ground” she risks getting hurt. Evie really felt like such a real teenager to me, on the cusp of next things and grappling with what it means to be in the middle of so much change. Even in her curmudgeonly “love is dead” ways, she is a joy to spend time with, in part because she is surrounded by such equally complex and well drawn out characters. From X, who starts as a Mysterious Loner Dude and quickly morphs into something so much more, to her tight knit friend group, to her family relationships and learning how to forgive each other even when you cannot forget what happened, to her funny (and accurate) dance teachers…the whole cast was just marvelous. Nicola Yoon paints such a vivid picture of each person and every scene that the book felt alive to me. The only thing that pulled me out of this was the “magical book” which felt like a convenient plot device that didn’t really go enough of anywhere to make me feel like it fit in with the rest of the story. I’m not sure it as needed, and the ending (specifically the epilogue) felt a little rushed to me. But these were small prices to pay for what was ultimately just such a lovely book that I will be recommending again and again to friends and students for years to come. 4.5 stars.
Cheers to NetGalley—many thanks for the copy in exchange for a review!
Cheers to NetGalley—many thanks for the copy in exchange for a review!
Screw what goodreads thinks, it is12:47 AM. I finished two books in one day.
What? Who AM I?
For real though, this was my favorite book of hers so far and it was cute and good and predictable but in the best type of way because it also... wasn’t. But it was. That doesn’t make sense... but it does.
What? Who AM I?
For real though, this was my favorite book of hers so far and it was cute and good and predictable but in the best type of way because it also... wasn’t. But it was. That doesn’t make sense... but it does.
I dont like sad endings....especially from a book with so much joy in it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death
Wow! This story hit all the buttons for me. It made me laugh, it made me cry, it gave me hope, and ultimately, it brought me joy.
I have to say; friends warned me ahead of time that this might be a tear-jerker. I thought I was prepared, but no, I was not.
The story started simply enough. Evie's parents are divorcing, and she has trouble dealing with her emotional reaction. Planning an after-high school graduation road trip with her besties will hopefully bring her out of her doldrums.
The magic begins when a mysterious woman gives her a book titled "Instructions for Dancing." An inscription leads her to a small dance studio, where she meets a unique group of characters. While there, she has her first experience with precognition.
From this point on, I won't divulge more of the story as you must read this for yourself. The tale is unique, funny, heartbreaking, poignant, and so much more.
The characters are so well-developed that you instantly feel like you know each of them. Admittedly, sometimes you love them, and sometimes you wish to shake some sense into them. But, you will never be bored with them.
Through Evie, you can explore your feelings, hopes, dreams, reminisce, and plan for the future. Will you learn the same lessons she does? I promise you won't be unaffected.
No matter your age or gender, this book is a must-read 5-star recommendation from me.
I received a copy of the book for a "The Write Reads" Book Blog Tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
I have to say; friends warned me ahead of time that this might be a tear-jerker. I thought I was prepared, but no, I was not.
The story started simply enough. Evie's parents are divorcing, and she has trouble dealing with her emotional reaction. Planning an after-high school graduation road trip with her besties will hopefully bring her out of her doldrums.
The magic begins when a mysterious woman gives her a book titled "Instructions for Dancing." An inscription leads her to a small dance studio, where she meets a unique group of characters. While there, she has her first experience with precognition.
From this point on, I won't divulge more of the story as you must read this for yourself. The tale is unique, funny, heartbreaking, poignant, and so much more.
The characters are so well-developed that you instantly feel like you know each of them. Admittedly, sometimes you love them, and sometimes you wish to shake some sense into them. But, you will never be bored with them.
Through Evie, you can explore your feelings, hopes, dreams, reminisce, and plan for the future. Will you learn the same lessons she does? I promise you won't be unaffected.
No matter your age or gender, this book is a must-read 5-star recommendation from me.
I received a copy of the book for a "The Write Reads" Book Blog Tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon was a swoon worth romance following a cursed teenager girl who is just trying to finish out her last semester of high school and take the road trip of her life with her three best friends. Unfortunately, she's got her parents' divorce and an ability to see when couples will break up when she sees them kiss stopping her from believing in love when destiny pushes her into meeting X, a rocker boy with a heart of gold.
This story broke my heart and healed me. It was so sweet, so sincere. Yoon really knows how to capture the YA experience and translate some of the most raw events from adolescence into lessons. I laughed, I cried, I danced. This book has everything from quirky characters to real life events that kids go through to believable adults also existing in those hard, everyday moments. Every character in this story is so raw and so real. It made my heart hurt. But I also loved the style, bouncing back and forth between texting, and following the different dances on the page. This book is not one to miss!
This story broke my heart and healed me. It was so sweet, so sincere. Yoon really knows how to capture the YA experience and translate some of the most raw events from adolescence into lessons. I laughed, I cried, I danced. This book has everything from quirky characters to real life events that kids go through to believable adults also existing in those hard, everyday moments. Every character in this story is so raw and so real. It made my heart hurt. But I also loved the style, bouncing back and forth between texting, and following the different dances on the page. This book is not one to miss!
Oh this was so cute! It was like one of my favorite 80s teen rom-coms: charming, a bit magical, and yet still somewhat serious. The moment where Evie notices she’s noticing a lot of things about X - that’s exactly what was missing from … I can’t even remember what book it was now, I just remember thinking that THIS is how a teen girl (or let’s be honest, anyone) would fall for someone who is incredibly attractive. I loved Evie’s banter with X and with her friend group. I could see this making a very cute movie which I would 100% watch (I want even MORE banter though).
I did not know what to expect of this book but it was none of what I read.
It was happy, it was SAD
It was happy, it was SAD