Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Before reading, please be aware that this is an advanced review of this book, which will be published on June 1st, 2021.  The review is spoiler-free but does contain my thoughts and reactions to the story, which I know some readers prefer to avoid before they read the book.  Special thank you to Random House Children's Books and Delacorte Press for the ARC of this book I received through NetGalley!  This review can also be found on my Goodreads page here.

Photo from my bookstagram

This is the perfect book for romance novel enthusiasts; the main character, Evie, is one of us. Or, she used to be, before she stopped believing in love.  After giving away her romance books, Evie gains the power to see a couples’ love story from the sweet beginning to tragic end.  In an effort to learn how she got this strange gift of sight, she follows the trail to La Brea Dance Company. At the studio, Evie meets X, and through a twist of fate they enter into a ballroom dance competition, which means they have to get to know each other more. (Romance trope spotted: forced proximity alert!) As they get to know each other, they compare contrasting life philosophies and Evie gets a firsthand look at the difference between risking it all or playing it safe.  When a choice comes up for Evie, she has to decide the true meaning of her ability to see love and heartbreak and find out what it means for her. 

The writing is phenomenal and the story is so unique!  The love stories going on around Evie is a great addition to everything going on in her life, even as it all piles up in front of her. And her friend group has a great mix of personalities - I’m a sucker for good characters in a story and these ones all hooked me in. In addition to the writing, I really love that some chapters are interludes describing the best romance tropes, leading man characteristics, or best shifter romance groups. All in the main character’s voice, they not only help with characterization (and comparison to events in the story itself) but give the book a meta-feel that increases the fun as you wait for the ball to drop.

The romance between Evie and X builds up in the best possibly way - slowly at first and with plenty of banter, and then it reaches the moment that makes you squeal and smile. Opposites make some of the best pairings, and Evie and X are pretty different as far as characters go. However, they learn from each other (which is so cute), and when they dance together - wow.  I also appreciate that their romance isn’t the only one in the novel!  It’s a book about love, and the author really explores that in a variety of relationships and through a variety of windows (through Evie’s visions, through other characters, through side stories). Like all the greatest romances, this one breaks your heart and patches it back together again as you learn what it really means to love.