Reviews

Dance with Me by Georgia Beers

tootaytwista's review

emotional funny lighthearted relaxing

4.25

kb13's review

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The setup for this novel gives real 'Of all the gin joints in all the world' type energy. The main character has some of the worst - or maybe best? - luck when she joins the dancing class at the heart of the plot. It's a really endearing story and I really enjoyed reading it. 

celltheory's review

3.0

I'll always have a soft spot for Georgia Beers, but her last few books haven't hit for me. I'm not a huge fan of first person in romances, even if it seems really common, and Scottie's head wasn't my favourite place to be in. The chemistry between Scottie and Marisa and their main conflict didn't land for me. I find romances hard to rate because they never really hit higher than a 3 star for me, but that doesn't mean I think they're bad. Overall, I think it was a decent read and it's impressive that Beers can keep coming up with new plots/characters, but this one isn't one of my favourites.

neencohen's review

funny 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? It's complicated

5.0

I kinda love this book. It’s a mostly happy romance comedy with fluffiness and heart, and maybe just a little angst 😜. But I really loved the things in Dance with Me, that aren’t as common as in a lot of romances that I’ve read. 

1. Single Point of View (I’m a total sucker for this)
2. 1st person Point of View (not many can pull it off well but it works so well with the writing and humour) 
3. The characters did not meet in the first two chapters and it had me guessing for awhile.

I know, I know I hear you all gasp and say, but they HAVE to meet in the first two chapters. Well, in this book it felt so right to establish more of Scottie’s life before she sees and then meets the one that makes her heart thumpety thump. 

I also cried. Ok, I sobbed like a little baby near the end and oh it was cathartic and felt oh so good. 

The narration was divine. This is the first book I’ve listen to that’s been narrated by Lula Larkin and she really nailed the story for me. 

If you are in for a fun listen, with friendships, family, complications and awkwardness that isn’t awkward I absolutely recommend this book. 

kjanie's review

lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes

3.5

This was a super sweet new read from Georgia Beers. Wonderful chemistry, a heartwarming story and plenty of loveable characters. This is the kind of book that leaves you feeling all warm inside and with a silly smile on your face.

The chemistry between Scottie and Marisa is what made this book worthwhile. The dancing scenes were on fire and just so engaging to read. Scottie is a very relatable heroine, and her awkwardness to begin with when dancing made me giggle to myself because I know that’s exactly how I would be. But once we got past that awkwardness, the dance scenes added a whole lot of passion and sexiness to an otherwise very sweet and light story. The tension between them at the beginning due to their unusual prior relationship was also a unique and fun twist to their relationship. 

The side characters are also really loveable in this book, especially Scottie’s grandma and friends. We had lots of fun chatting and banter moments between friends that felt so natural, adding to the enjoyability of the book.

women_using_words's review

emotional hopeful inspiring relaxing 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? It's complicated

4.0

Georgia Beers will always be one of my favorite romance authors. She’s been steadily producing books for 23 years and she never fails to capture the magic of love and romance between women. I may not remember the who, what and where of all her books, but I can usually recall the way they made me feel. She knows how to stir feelings and tap into relatable—and sometimes raw—emotions. Each book leaves an impression and that’s huge when it comes to the business of penning romance books.

When I picked up Dance With Me, Beer’s latest book, I was immediately drawn to its plot. It’s a spin on the old ‘we’re both forced to be here; I guess we better grit our teeth and make the best of it’ trope. Of course, somewhere along the line the gritting stops and the stolen glances start, followed by the fluttering of hearts and the desire to kiss. Readers know they will hook up; it’s only a matter of time. But, until the women do, those angsty moments sure have readers pealing through the pages! 

This romance is a bit different though; there’s nothing textbook about it. Beers plays with the trope and gets pretty creative. It’s a sapphic twist that any respectable, card carrying wlw romance reader would find hard to resist. Lord knows I couldn’t! Two exs of an ex dancing their way into a relationship—let me pull up a seat!

Silliness aside, Beers toys with this trope in all the right ways. It’s smart and fresh, adding a complexity that deepens the storytelling. The choice is clever, but it’s not the only thing that makes the romance work. Beers chooses to tell this romance from Scottie’s perspective in first person. It’s equally as effective and suits the narrative well. Scottie’s inner dialogue sheds a light on some of the deep-seated hurts and frustrations she has with her family. Because Scottie is trying to recover from a low point in her life, it’s interesting to see how she processes the exchanges with her family. Her vulnerability feels real, making her a sympathetically relatable character. Overall, she’s genuinely appealing and readers want her to get the happily ever after she deserves.

As compelling of a character as Scottie is, there’s no denying the appeal of Marisa, the other ex of the ex. She’s a gorgeous character; it’s easy to see why Scottie is drawn to her. She displays a magnetism that’s hard to resist. Plus, she’s easy to like; her soft kindness and sense of responsibility are especially attractive. Readers connect to her. Furthermore, they like who she is when she’s with Scottie.

Final remarks…

Beers works hard to make this romance interesting. Besides giving it well-crafted leading ladies, she infuses it with healthy doses of subplot and subtext, ensuring space for the romance to expand and breathe properly. She also fortifies this tale with nicely rounded supporting characters. They work to enrich the storytelling in their own ways, making the narrative more dynamic and engaging. Overall, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this romance. It’s a fun romance and completely entertaining.

Strengths…

• Original story concept
• Likable characters
• Interesting secondary characters
• Sweet romance