I could easily have read this in less time but decided to save the last part of the book for another day. I almost regretted that decision when there was a big twist in the story and I had to wait to find out what happened lol

Evie’s view on love had changed a lot in recent days. She used to live for romantic books. Then her parents got divorced. She didn’t believe in love lasting after that.
One day she scooped up all of her romance novels and dropped them off at a little free library in another town. In return she takes a book called Instructions for Dancing.
Then a magical thing happens, when Evie sees a couple kiss she can see their entire love story. She sees the first kiss, the first date, the day they fell in love and the way it ended.
This is a hard pill to swallow, especially for a girl who is already having a hard time believing in love lasting.
She only tells her best friend what happens. He thinks that it’s like the scene in Big when Tom Hanks character had something magical happen. He thinks Evie got this magic power when she dropped off her books and met a mysterious lady at the Little Fred library. Together they decide that she should go to the address listed in the Instructions for Dancing book that the lady gave her.

When she goes to the dance studio, she meets a handsome boy her age named Xavier (who goes by X).
X has had to deal with some really rough stuff too.

Evie enrolls in the dance school and X becomes her dance partner.

As much as Evie is afraid of love, she knows she’s falling for X.

This story is sweet and beautiful, sometimes sad and sometimes funny. It has the absolute potential to make you cry. But it’s also a really beautiful lesson about love.

I got to read an early ebook edition from NetGalley. Thank you!

4.5/5 stars

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!

I absolutely adored this! If you weren’t wanting to take dance lessons before, you will once you’re done reading this beautiful story! It’s like the Caribbean meets That’s so Raven with a little bit of supernatural powers, a little bit of love, and whole lot of DANCING! Definitely recommend this one!

Since her parents’ divorce, Evie Thomas has harbored a lot of anger toward her father and has soured on the idea of love, so much so that she gives away all her beloved romance books. A chance encounter leads Evie to have the power to see the course of a couple’s romantic history when they kiss in front of her -- from the sweet beginning, to the comfortable middle, to the inevitable and heart-breaking end. Seeing the arc of these real-life love stories strengthens Evie’s resolve to not get involved, to not let herself fall in love, because the data shows her empirically that love doesn’t last. However, her determination is sorely tested when she agrees to enter a ballroom dancing contest with a swoon worthy boy named X.

In Instructions for Dancing, Yoon asks us (and Evie) to consider if love, for however long it lasts, is worth the pain we are sure to experience when it’s over. Although the concept was a little gimmicky, the characters are well-drawn, and I especially liked the development of Evie’s relationships with her mom, dad, and sister. As far as romances go, I much preferred Yoon’s The Sun Is Also a Star to Instructions for Dancing; nonetheless, I enjoyed the novel, and I’ll wager that Yoon’s legions of fans will too.

NetGalley Advanced Review Copy | Gah, Yoon got me again, and the ending of this sweet YA June release had me in tears. I loved the messaging about forgiveness, love, living in the present, and families.

You can find our full review on The Uncorked Librarian here: https://www.theuncorkedlibrarian.com/june-2021-book-releases/

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a free advanced copy in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Definitely worth reading. Yoon captures teen angst and all of the big feelings that accompany it so well. All of the characters were believable and the story added fresh twists to keep me interested. Perhaps my favorite of hers so far.

"In the end, is love worth the risk?" And I am crying. No, seriously big tears were had with this. I really enjoyed Evie as a character. Yes, this is really cheesy at times, but it was a good cheese.

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon has reached an impeccable balance of dedicated friendships, unexpected romance, coming of age, and personal growth. The heroine, Evie, is a senior in high school trying to face the challenges that the divorce of her parents has caused in her world. Her dad was her rock and she found him cheating on her mom. Evie was a huge romance book fan and now believes that love is unattainable.

Evie has an unexpected meeting when she donates all of her previously beloved romance books. She is given an unexpected gift or perhaps even a curse depending on your viewpoint. Evie has a great support system of true blue friends that are worried about her. In the midst of her trying to navigate her new normal she meets X and ends up becoming his partner in an important dance contest.

Nicola Yoon has created a world where the characters are fully fleshed out and perfectly imperfect. This is not pegged as a love story and is far from a happily ever after, but what it is is a true literary gift. I am not the target YA audience but I have loved her other two books so I was eager to read Instructions for Dancing.

This book provides the perfect blend of magical realism, amusing hijinks, and pushing away your previously held beliefs. The gyrations between Evie and X will have you rooting that they can find their own happily ever after, but it is far from a sure thing. Instructions for Dancing met all of my must haves by engaging the reader, tugging at my heartstrings, and keeping me guessing.

I was provided a free advance reader copy from Random House Children’s Delacorte Press in exchange for my honest review on Net Galley. The opinions shared in this review are my own.

Fans of Nicola Yoon’s writing will not be disappointed with her newest release, Instructions for Dancing. The combination of teen angst, young love, and a touch of psychic abilities yield one fun yet touching work of YA fiction. If you are looking for a quick beach read, this one fits the bill.

Thank you to NetGalley, author, and publisher for the opportunity to read this book. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.

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Wow – I have loved all Nicola Yoon’s books but to me this one packed even more of an emotional punch than Everything, Everything or The Sun is Also a Star.

Yvette “Evie” Thomas is cynical about love since the break-up of her parents’ marriage. She’s even ditching all her favorite romance books at a Little Free Library! A mysterious woman urges her to take a book in return. The only one there is about ballroom dancing, so Evie takes that. Afterwards, she can see the romantic future of couples she sees kissing, a power that makes her feel even more pessimistic about love.

Since I was a kid, I’ve LOVED books in which characters have magical Freaky Friday-style experiences that turn their lives upside-down. So I really enjoyed this aspect of the book, and the mini-chapters that chronicled the romances of the couples that Evie sees.

But then Evie, desperate to undo this strange and disturbing power, ends up at a local dance studio. She receives a free lesson and, before she knows its, she’s entering dance competitions with the attractive grandson of the studio’s owners. As Evie falls in love herself, all her cynicism about romance will be challenged.

Instructions for Dancing had a lot of elements: Evie’s family relationships, her friend group, her visions, and the dance lessons and competitions. The ending was not what I was expecting. But I definitely recommend Instructions for Dancing!

Instructions for Dancing had me when I saw the main character;'s name was Evie. What can I say? I'm biased.

This book was a true delight, and although the first lines say that the book is not a love story, I would beg to disagree. It was a love story, in that it was about learning to love, even when it's scary, even when you could get hurt, it was about loving in the moment. It was platonic and romantic. The love between a parent and child, between lovers, and between friends.

Yoon wrote a book that pulled at my heartstrings, showed vulnerability, and created joy. And it all felt real--the loss after feeling betrayed, the pain from the loss of love, but still remembering all the tender, sweet moments from when you were in love.

One of my favorite lines was from Evie's mom: "You think because your father and I didn't last, our love was any less real? Once a upon a time, your father and I loved each other enough to make you and your sister. That alone makes all the other nonsense worth it."

What a very real way to say, no matter what happens, what you have in the moment is still real, and true, and doesn't make the love anything less than love.

Nicola Yoon knows how to write swooping, sweet stories about teenagers; her newest venture, Instructions for Dancing, is wonderful. Evie is a sympathetic and believable character who is wrestling with some Big Things, and her story is one of heartbreak and redemption and (*extremely Huey Lewis voice*) the power of love.

I was not emotionally prepared for this lovely, heartbreaking, uplifting book! First of all, the plot is just adorable. Evie used to love romance novels, but after her parents' divorce, her heart is hardened and her belief in love is all but gone. As she dumps her romance books into a little free library, she finds a weird book that leads her to dancing lessons and to a hot dancing partner that will put her feelings about love to the ultimate test. I will leave it at that but I loved it just as much as The Sun is Also A Star. Evie is hilariously snarky and stubborn, her dancing instructor is classic, and the story is so touching.

Nicola Yoon has done it again. Reading her words get better with every book.
I want to say “don’t go into this expecting a fairytale because my heart hurts.” However, even with the hurt this was still a fairytale. Evie felt so much pain during this book from beginning to end, but she learned so much about herself and love.

I truly enjoyed Evie and X. I think the lesson Evie learned was inspiring.

“Maybe the whole point of love is to make more of itself.”

Nicola Yoon’s highly anticipated novel, Instructions For Dancing does not disappoint. It is where we meet high school senior Evie who is grappling with more than she should have to. Her father and mother have recently divorced (Evie caught him cheating—ouch). Evie and sister Danica are forced to leave their family home for an apartment with their mom and a future that she could not be prepared for. In protest, Evie parts ways with any previous notions of love, romance and happiness and even goes so far as to pack up her favorite romance novels to give away. It is then, on an otherwise normal day, something extraordinary happens. She runs into a woman who encourages her to take a book as she leaves her own behind. After hesitating, she picks up book titled, “Instructions For Dancing”. Considering it a “sign” of sorts, Evie returns the book to its rightful owner, a dance studio where she signs up for a random class that changes her life forever. It is here that she will meet X, her assigned dance partner who will help show her the power of ‘YES’ and that not all love affairs end in heartbreak.

This is not simply a romance novel. It is also a coming of age story about a young woman who is trying to find her place among friends and family and have her faith in love restored. Who has come to know heartache but in time does not allow it to define her. It is also a story about dancing and flowing and sometimes just simply being and enjoying the here and now and I enjoyed it very much. There were quite a few layers unpeeled.

4.5 stars rounded up! Let me just say that I read books oftentimes cover to cover and her acknowledgement section — grab your tissues!! I know I did!

Thanks to NetGalley & Random House Children’s for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest

4/5 Stars

** I received this as an E-ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review, Thank you!**

I really had a great time reading this book. I loved reading about Evie's life and her cynical view of love. I think it's an accurate view that people go through after they've been hurt. Her story is very relatable and realistic. I love the magical element that these visions play with. It was really interesting and I feel like it really added something great to the book. I would highly recommend this book, it gave me all the feels and was quick and easy to read. Honestly, this might be my favorite Nicola Yoon book yet!

This is magical realism. Let me make this clear. I was not informed of this before I went into this book, so I was thoroughly baffled and just pissed off when the magical realism aspect kicked in. Basically (don't worry this happens within the first five chapters, and the chapters are short, so it's not a spoiler), Evie looked at her sister, Danica, and her boyfriend kissing, and she got a flash of how they met and what will happen with their relationship in the future. She predicts everything exactly, that Ben, Danica's boyfriend, cheats on her with his ex. Every single detail was exactly on point. I was disappointed at this point. It was just so unrealistic. I was disappointed. But then, I found out that this was magical realism. And everything made so much more sense.

I was informed that this book would wrench my heart out and shatter it. Sorry, but it didn't. Yeah, there was a sad scene, but it didn't really get to me and make me emotional. So, from my perspective, if you want a sad, sobbing romance, this book is not the one you should go for.

Instructions for Dancing is not devoid from tropes. Nope, definitely not. No, no, no. In the past, I feel like I could just ignore tropes and enjoy the book, but since then, I've read so many more books, that I just can't help but notice them and be annoyed by them. Instructions for Dancing has almost every little YA contemporary romance trope that exists. X is a hot boy. He's perfect at everything. Wow, amazing calf muscles and abs. Smirks and cocks eyebrow a lot... yeah, all of those and more. If you hate tropes, then, well, maybe this isn't right for you.

"The problem with broken hearts isn't that they kill you. It's that they don't."


So far, this review has mostly focused on the bad aspects, but there are so many good things about this book. More, or else I wouldn't have rated this book four stars. The magical realism part added a lot to the book. It did really add something special. The whole premise is amazing, as well. The synopsis only covers half of the whole premise.

The romance overall is comforting, and how Evie narrates is special. She talks about heartbreak and brings so many situations up in a different perspective than how I would view them. It's some great insight and writing style.


This book teaches you about the journey of love, if it's worth the pain or not. Is it about the ending or the expedition? How do we cope with heartbreak and loss?

Instructions for Dancing is a great YA contemporary romance (not unique, though) that has great, funny humor (though I unfortunately didn't laugh out loud). I would recommend this for sure, even though the ending and many events are predictable.

I adored this book! I had very little expectations for this book, it appealed to me because I am currently obsessed with dancing, so I thought it would be a cute YA to sink my teeth into. However, it is a really strong book for which i totally fell for. The characters are adorable, the story is heart wrenching and moving and of course I loved all the dancing. But more than that it was unpredictable and clever in its handling of her visions and what could be a gimmick that is weird to understand is quite beautiful. Totally my type of book and would definitely recommend you read it.

Book: INSTRUCTIONS FOR DANCING by Nicola Yoon

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Release Date: June 1, 2021
Publisher: Delacorte Press
ISBN-13: 978-1524718961

Position in Bibliography: This is Nicola Yoon’s third novel.

Numbered Pages: 289
Chapters: 60
Word Count: Approx. 61,000 words

Jacket Design: Neil Swaab
Jacket Lettering: Jyotirmayee Patra
Interior Design: Ken Crossland
Text Font: 12-point Adobe Garamond

Audiobook Run Time: 7 hours and 48 minutes (Unabridged)
Audiobook Narrator: Narrated by Bahni Turpin

Genre: Contemporary Romance
Setting: Los Angeles
Tense: Present Tense
Point of View (POV): First Person
Themes/Subjects: Love, Heartbreak, Infidelity, Divorce, Trust, Forgiveness, Racism, Relationships, Endings, Choices

Triggers: Grief, Death

Purchase: Bookshop I Barnes & Noble I IndieBound I Amazon
Add it to Goodreads: Here

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Synopsis:

Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began . . . and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.

As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything–including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he’s only just met.

Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it’s that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?

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Dedication: “For my mom, who is still smiling despite it all. And for my father-in-law, who smiled through it all.”
Find the Acknowledgements: End of Book

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Cover Blurb:

“Nicola Yoon knows how to make you fall in love.” – Jasmine Guillory, New York Times bestselling author

Jacket Copy Blurbs:

“Beautifully crafted.” – People

“Gorgeous and lyrical.” – The New York Times Book Review

“Fresh, moving.” – Entertainment Weekly

“Vibrant, thrilling, and, ultimately, wholly original.” – Bustle

“Heartwarming and inventive.” – Mashable

“Powerful, lovely, heart-warming.” – Jennifer Niven, #1 New York Times bestselling author of ALL THE BRIGHT PLACES

“Extraordinary.” – Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of SMALL GREAT THINGS

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Characters + Identifiers (In Order of Named Appearance):

Yvette “Evie” Antoinette Thomas – High school senior, warm complexion, high round cheeks, full pink lips (p. 20)

Mom – Single Mom, ER Nurse, short Afro (page 3), tall and straight (p. 200)

Dad / Larry Thomas – Afro with some gray in it, mustache with some gray in it (p. 153-154)

Danica “Dani” – Evie’s Sister, Jamaican (p. 5), enormous Afro, bright glittery makeup and vintage clothes (p. 9), same warm complexion, high round cheeks, full pink lips as sister but more dramatically on her (p. 20)

Martin – One of Evie’s Best Friends, 18-years-old, white, curly blond hair that grows faster than he can cut it (26)

Sophie – One of Evie’s Best Friends, Mixed – Black French Mom & Korean American Dad (p. 54)

Cassidy – One of Evie’s Best Friends, White (p. 54)

Grandma

Grandpa

Ben – Danica’s Boyfriend, white, tall, muscled, long and messy blond hair (p. 10)

Dwayne – Evie’s First Boyfriend

Shelley – Sheldon’s Girlfriend

Sheldon – Shelley’s Boyfriend

Dwight – Joel’s Boyfriend

Joel – Dwight’s Boyfriend

Mr. Armstrong – U.S. History Teacher

Archibald Johnson – La Brea Dance studio co-owner, Maggie’s husband, Black (p. 37), tall, thin, bald head, salt and pepper mustache (p. 40)

Maggie Johnson – La Brea Dance studio co-owner, Archibald’s wife, Black (p. 37), regal, thick gray dreads, bright brown face (p. 40)

Jess – X’s Ex-Girlfriend

Xavier “X” Darius Woods – Archibald & Maggie’s Grandson, 18 years old (p. 223), Guitarist & Singer for X Machine, Brown skin, dark eyes and cheekbones, gratuitously tall, long skinny dreads dripped in blue, giant hands (p. 44), tattoo on the back of his biceps (p. 45), small gap between his front teeth, hipster-hot (p. 46), nice calves that are wide and muscular with just a modicum of hair(p. 67), eyes are bright black (p. 159)

Archer – Danica’s New Boyfriend

Fiona “Fifi” Karapova – Dance Instructor, White, tiny, severely cut jet-black bangs (p. 38), heavy Eastern European accent (p. 39)

Clay – X’s Late Friend, Former Bassist for X Machine

Jamal – X’s Friend, Drummer for X Machine, taller than X (p. 101)

Kevin – X’s Friend, Keyboardist turned Bassist for X Machine

Ricky – Owner of Ricky’s Club, thick English accent, white, short, mohawk, covered in tattoos (p. 98)

Shirley – Evie’s Father’s Fiancée, short and curvy, big & wild Afro (p. 200)

Bob – Mom’s Date, Oncological Pediatrician

Aunt Collette – Dad’s Older Sister

Denise – Evie’s Cousin, Collette’s Daughter

Ms. Gene – Shirley’s Mother

Dr. Bob – Mom’s New Boyfriend

Kevin – X’s Friend

Jamal – X’s Friend

Olivia Cortez – Valedictorian

Principal Singh – Bevshire High School Principal

Uncle Allan

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Fun Facts:

There are pop culture references to Peter Tosh, Jimmy Cliff, Big, Swing Time, Mad Hot Ballroom, Alicia Keys, Emily Dickinson, Edgar Allan Poe, Abba, The Roxy, Whisky a Go Go, Bob Marley and the Wailers, George Benson, Jane’s Addiction, The Doors

This might be my favorite Nicola Yoon book yet. I love how creative Yoon is with her romance concepts, and this was wonderfully written. Instructions for Dancing is a realistic, heartfelt ode to the abstraction of love itself and I heartily recommend it!