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betweentheshelves's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
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
4.5
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for providing me with an advanced copy of this to review! First of all, can we appreciate the gorgeous cover for this book? Nicola Yoon’s books are always pretty in some way, but I think this one takes the cake.
Right from the beginning, it’s easy to fall in love with Evie and her cynical ways. She’s transformed from a hopeless romantic to someone who doesn’t believe in true love. Evie’s voice carries you throughout the novel, fully enveloping you into her world. I think Yoon has a knack for writing strong characters, and this shines in this book.
The premise also felt fresh and unique to me. While the basic plotline isn’t one that’s necessarily anything new, I think Yoon put a spin on it that made it feel that way. The way that dancing contributes to Evie and X’s relationship also drives the story forward, and watching their relationship evolve as Evie opens herself back up again is a truly magical thing.
Don’t be fooled, though! Even though this book looks like an upbeat, happy book, it’s also about heartbreak. And the fact that just because there may be heartbreak in the future doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve to be happy in the moment. Trying to prevent tragedy just takes away from your happiness.
Seriously, I read this entire book in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down. I think this might be Yoon’s best book yet. It had everything you could want in a summer romance, and I highly recommend it!
This is definitely Yoon's best book to date. Mostly romance with discussions of some deeper topics. Honestly, I couldn't put it down. Stay tuned for a full review to come soon!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death and Grief
teamoxfordcomma's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
inspiring
reflective
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
4.75
🌶️
Yoon's latest novel is tender, evocative, raw, and completely binge-worthy. It may be Young Adult, but the themes and questions raised within this book are univeral regardless of age: how does one reckon with human fallibility? With infidelity? With heatache, grief, and death? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but Yoon's INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING is a pitch-perfect, well-written attempt to digest some of those all-important inquiries.
Yoon's latest novel is tender, evocative, raw, and completely binge-worthy. It may be Young Adult, but the themes and questions raised within this book are univeral regardless of age: how does one reckon with human fallibility? With infidelity? With heatache, grief, and death? There's no one-size-fits-all answer, but Yoon's INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING is a pitch-perfect, well-written attempt to digest some of those all-important inquiries.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Infidelity, Car accident, Child death, and Death
rachelreadthese's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-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? No
5.0
This was my first Nicola Yoon book, and I have to admit that I was drawn to the book because of the cover. Can you blame me?! The cover is breathtaking...
...and the actual story is even better.
It's a story about the importance of love and friendship. It's about understanding that those relationships are impactful and worthwhile, even if they don't last forever. It shows us that a happy ending may not be what you expect...and it may not actually be an ending, after all.
...and the actual story is even better.
It's a story about the importance of love and friendship. It's about understanding that those relationships are impactful and worthwhile, even if they don't last forever. It shows us that a happy ending may not be what you expect...and it may not actually be an ending, after all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death
divorcemaybeangela's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
This was my first Nicola Yoon book, so I wasn't sure what to expect. I loved the magical realism element throughout the book, and the way Evie's visions helped her reach acceptance for multiple, but I don't think I was expecting such a bittersweet ending. That's just personal preference, of course, but the bittersweet ending did kind of color my entire experience with this book.
I loved a lot, though, including the dance subplot. It felt rushed, particularly at the end, but those bits with Evie and X learning how to dance, and the dance lessons serving as a jumping off point for their relationship to grow were really lovely to read. I also loved all of the details pertaining to Evie's (former) love of romance novels. It helped ground the character and make her feel familiar, like she was "one of us."
I received an ARC from Random House Children's/Delacorte Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I loved a lot, though, including the dance subplot. It felt rushed, particularly at the end, but those bits with Evie and X learning how to dance, and the dance lessons serving as a jumping off point for their relationship to grow were really lovely to read. I also loved all of the details pertaining to Evie's (former) love of romance novels. It helped ground the character and make her feel familiar, like she was "one of us."
I received an ARC from Random House Children's/Delacorte Press and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity
Moderate: Death
catladyreads's review against another edition
emotional
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, and Infidelity
marywahlmeierbracciano's review against another edition
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
Evie doesn’t believe in true love anymore—not since her parents decided to get a divorce. Her newfound skepticism has her donating all her favorite romance novels to the neighborhood little free library. But her trip takes a magical twist, and Evie heads home with a book on ballroom dancing and a mission to believe in love again. Enter X, the handsome musician grandson of the owners of a local dance studio who’s been roped into dancing in a competition with Evie. Evie’s determined not to fall for him—how can it be worth all the heartbreak? Nicola Yoon is back with a stunning story about Black love and living in the moment.
Content Warnings
Minor: Infidelity and Death
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