A review by judeinthestars
Dance with Me by Georgia Beers

emotional funny hopeful medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

I got an ARC of Peaches and Cream and was about to start reading when I realized the main character was this book’s MC’s best friend. I’m pretty sure it, like this one, can be read as a standalone but I really struggle with not starting from the beginning. Lucky for me, it so happens that I own Dance With Me in paperback. And now that I’ve read it, I look forward to Adley’s story even more.

Agreeing to be her friend’s dance partner didn’t prepare Scottie for the super hot dance substitute teacher. And not just any hot teacher: Marisa is the woman Scottie’s ex left to be with her… The premise of the story is fun but what makes it really enjoyable is the succession of (tiny) twists that keep both the MC and the reader on their toes. Because who would have expected… Sometimes, too many coincidences turn the story into an implausible mess but Beers hits the right amount.

And as usual, she writes characters you can’t help loving and rooting for. Scottie is adorable. A puppy. She’s still reeling from her ex breaking up with her and getting engaged to someone else six months later, so she’s not all sweetness, there’s some bitterness in the mix as well. I wish she didn’t just let life happen to her, had a little more agency. She’s a people-pleaser but thankfully, her loved ones push her out of her comfort zone now and then, for the best. Since the story is told in first person from Scottie’s POV, all we know of Marisa is what Scottie sees and feels. I want to like her, I do like her, but I would have loved to know her better.

There are a few repetitions and other slightly distracting flaws, which I didn’t let get in the way of my enjoyment of this easy (in a good way) and sunny read. On to Peaches and Cream now!

Read all my reviews on my blog (and please buy from the affiliation links!): Jude in the Stars