Take the Lead (Dance Off, #1)

by Alexis Daria

[llamareads]

Look, I have like zero interest in Dancing with the Stars or Strictly Come Dancing or, honestly, pretty much any reality show besides The Great British Bake-Off.  So, I'm not sure how Ms. Daria did it, but I was still absolutely swept away by the descriptions of the different dances and choreography.

Stone is the "strong, quiet, and serious" out of his seven siblings (it says so right on the show website!).  He hates his role on Living Wild, but goes along with it to help his family.  Gina is vivacious and affectionate and driven!  She loves being on The Dance Off and knows exactly what she wants out of life.  When the two dance partners come together, there's an instant attraction, and the slow build of their friendship and their relationship that follows is both sweet and hot!  Somehow the book made me simultaneously believe in their relationship and be on the edge of my seat because there's no way they can end up together.  Gina treats Stone like her dirty little secret, and she can't get over the optics of how it looks for her, especially as a Latina, to be sleeping with her partner.

I loved the growth of the characters, both individually and as a couple.  Ms. Daria did a wonderful job of showing us readers how they complement each other, and how each helps the other grow.  By the end of the book, they're truly better people than they started - they understand themselves better, and are more balanced on reaching their goals.

This is a lovely exploration of how expectations, both our own and others', can either tie us down or set us free.  Definitely recommended!