Take the Lead by Alexis Daria was an okay book. I wish the main character had been more loveable because then I would have enjoyed this book more.

DNFed - I chose to DNF this book in the past. I am typing as a review so it doesn't harm my %. I haven't chose to pick the title back up.

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria was just okay for me. Through NetGalley I am realizing that a lot of romance is not for me, but it was still a good read.

I loved this book.

It made me feel like I was reading a season of Dancing with the Stars with all the behind-the-scenes and drama we don't see on TV.

Stone is so sexy. His big muscle man, mountain man, and gruffness turning into such an amazing dancer who laughs and jokes.

I love Gina's Latina sassiness. I felt seen, which is what all of Alexis Daria's books do. Make me feel seen and connected to the Latino culture a lot of romances are missing which is why I love all her books so much. This one was no different and she has quickly become a 1-click author to me.

Highly recommend!

I MEAN LOOK AT THIS COVERRRRRRRRRR!

Loved the Latina representation in this book! Love to see it!
Loved the tension and the sweetness on this book!

A mountain man dancing? Obsessed. I am extremely obsessed with this book and these characters.

GIna îs strong and knew how she wanted to present herself on her dance off show and Stone is a man that has gone with the flow when it comes to how he presents himself on his family show. He doesn't stand up for himself a lot, and their chemistry is just instant and I love them. I love how they start to care for each other and how the dances make them connect.

So great. I love this.

Let it be known that my family went through quite a serious Dancing with the Stars phase in my teenage years, so a romance novel set on a similar but fictional show is like catnip for this reader. Take the Lead gives us the showmance turned real that we all deserve to fantasize about.

Gina Morales' introduction to her new dancing partner has all the hallmarks of great reality TV, and she's wise to the narrative the producers hope to tell. Stone Nielson is already a reality TV star on a show about his family roughing it in the wild. Their first meeting includes a shirtless Stone chopping wood and then protecting Gina from a "bear" they hear in the wilderness, gallantly and literally sweeping her off her feet. It's going to be a showmance, and Gina has always been clear she's not interested in that kind of scheme. It will feed stereotypes about her and other Latina women and potentially make her seem unprofessional when she gets ready to make big career moves outside of reality TV. Gina's an all-business, competitive force. Passionate about dance and sunny on camera, she's always got an eye on her career's future and the treacherous path to success. She refuses to be derailed by what the producers have in mind or even her own feelings. Denial it is, then.

The thing with reality TV, of course, is that it's fake af. I'm not just talking about the showmance, but also the secret Stone's obligated to keep and his family's conviction that he won't be able to. He reluctantly agreed to do another, different reality TV stint, yet further outside his comfort zone, because the monetary prize would help pay off some of his mom's medical bills. The cost is the mounting pressure under media scrutiny and drama-sniffing producers to keep his family's curated story about themselves untarnished. Stone's been branded the strong, silent type on his family's show, but really he's a people pleaser with more to say than he's been given space for. Reality TV means even his family relationships are scripted, but dancing with Gina gives him a new way to communicate and be vulnerable. It's freeing and like nothing he expected.

The romance behind the scenes is a case of opposites attracting, and boy do they ~attract~. From an impromptu hot and heavy salsa lesson when they're not being watched by cameras to a strangely tantalizing spray tan session (who knew?), the two can't keep their eyes off each other. For all the fact that the producers are manipulative assholes, they have an eye for setting people up. My one complaint is that
the slow descent into a final-act breakup is never my vibe. Both protagonists assume it could never work between them long-term, even though they fall for each other pretty quickly. With those mental barriers up, they can't see a path forward, even should one exist. In their defense, a high-pressure competition isn't exactly the best environment for self-reflection and creative problem-solving. It IS a good environment for passions to flair, however.

I appreciate that not all the drama is from internal angst. We have all these cameras, producers, and the public ready to interfere and assume at a moment's notice should it suit them. We also have a rival (in the competition, not in a romantic sense) in the form of a grabby ice skating Olympian. We do see one of these villains get her comeuppance after a fashion, but it's indirect. I would have preferred a more straightforward response to all her harassment on the show, touching Stone though he never wants it and lets it be known.

I love a reality TV romance, and this one delivers on the drama both on camera and off. With sparkling protagonists like I've come to expect from Daria, the story covers both steamy and emotional ground. While the relationship mourning stage (R.I.P.) was early, extended, and not my flavor, I love the series concept and remain a firm fan of the author. Thanks to SMP Romance for my copy to read and review!

I originally gravitated towards this book because I love to watch the show Dancing with the Stars and the description sounded so much like that but with some romance and spice! Well this hit that spot perfectly! I loved the instant chemistry our main characters had. It set the stage for a magical romance.

3✨ this was cute & fun and entertaining!

while i wanted & expected more drama i did enjoy this! i was giggling and laughing throughout. dancing with the stars turns book. couldn’t have wanted anything else. and i loved the cultural representation here. also more men from alaska please & thank you.

stone was a brute. a shirtless wood chopping man of a man. loved seeing him open up and come to life more. his struggles and his kindness and he just ended up being so sweet. we always love the quiet ones.

gina is so kind and funny. she shows her affection and she’s so strong. i would’ve liked to see a bit more vulnerability from here given the things she’s been through. i think we needed more from her that made her a bit more relatable.

overall this was fun and spicy and entertaining! i’m not big on reality tv irl or in books but i am a fan of fake dating and i really enjoyed how this played out with their little “showmance”. loved their chemistry and vibes!

thank you st. martin’s, netgalley, and alexis for the arc!

A spicy romance on a dance show? Yes, please!

This was a fun romance! From the very beginning, there’s sexual tension between our main characters, a burly Alaskan wilderness guy, Stone, and a bubbly Latina, Gina. However, Gina is against the idea of a show romance even if there could be a chance for some chemistry, preferring to let her skill do the talking versus playing into her stereotype and gaining popularity through sexualizing herself. And Gina has never truly found herself attracted to her dance partners before, that is until Stone. Is she willing to throw her one rule out the window for him?

I loved that we got to see both perspectives within this romance. We got to see the thoughts from both sides which led to some entertaining moments between our lovers. The sexual tension was on fire! Especially being on a dance show where they’re forces to be intimately close. Wowza!

While this was predictable, none of the twists truly shocked me. I still found this to be very enjoyable. I danced my way through this with ease while the pun is definitely intended, I really did read with ease. I highly recommend this if you enjoy spicy romances mixed with some reality tv, especially around dance!

I am no stranger to reading stuff by Alexis Daria. After reading, You Had Me At Hola, I knew I had to read more from this author. Take the Lead was no different. I enjoy Daria's writing style and the FMC's she writes. This book had me laughing out loud and kicking up my feet at the chemistry between Gina and Stone. I enjoyed everything about Gina and Stone. I can't wait for the next installment. Definitely recommend!

✨ PRINCEMAN REVIEW ✨

📝 Gina is a professional dancer on hit reality TV show-The Dance Off. She's never made it to the finales, but this year things MAY be different. Now, she's paired with Stone, the star of an Alaskan wilderness show. Unfortunately, Stone has made it really clear he's not about this show, and producers want them to give the audience a showmance. This just sounds like a recipe for a mistep! Can these two come to terms, or, is can dance bring them together.

What I 🤍:
💃 Sports Romance- Dancing
🌟 Celebrity Romance
🪩 Dancing with the Stars Vibes

I loved this story so much! If you love Dancing with The Stars, this book is for you! For some reason, I've always felt like dancing is a way of falling in love with your partner. The eye contact, movement, etc...and this book NAILED that. The passion and chemistry was so intense, and I couldn't help but root for Gina & Stone.

This was such a fun read! The writing was so visual and engaging it felt like I was truly watching the reality with an amazing behind the scenes.

I loved the chemistry between Gina and Stone, their interactions were so entertaining. I was hooked waiting to learn what the next dance style was and how they were going to execute it. This is the perfect read for when you are looking for a rom-com and watching or reading the same old classics isn't doing it for you.

It was a fast-paced read, perfect to take your mind of the stress of the day while you devour the reality and the romance between the characters.

Thank you to netgalley and to the publisher for providing me with an eARC of this book. Unfortunately it was only okay, not quite to my tastes but nothing wrong with it.

Alexis Daria did it again and has solidified herself as an autobuy author for me.

I'm not a fan of reality TV so I was a little skeptical on that front, but my lord did I love it! I thought the reality TV aspect was done very well. It wasn't over the top crazy dramatic (it definitely had some drama, but not to the point where I wanted to throw the book across the room because it was too much). I enjoyed how much it focused on the actual dancing.

This is a super quick, cute rom-com that will leave you laughing out loud and swooning over the romance. Add characters that feel real and are easy to connect to and root for, along with spice, and what more can you ask for?

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The chemistry and character growth of Gina and Stone was so good in this story and when they were competing? I was absolutely on the edge of my seat, blocking the page so my eyes wouldn’t skip ahead and spoil it for me😂 Alexis Daria really pulls you into her stories and makes you feel like you are truly in the scenes with these characters like you’re there with the reality tv camera with her writing! I’m so excited for the third installment of her Primas of Power series and to see what other books she comes out with! (A book for Tasha maybe??👀)

Thank you for allowing me to read this book early. I had a very hard time reading and ended up DNFing at 30%.

Gina Morales is on her fifth season of Dance off a dancing reality show. She has never won but shes hoping this season will be the one. She's matched with Stone he's a reality star for his family's wilderness Alaska show. As they get to know each other sparks fly.

I really enjoyed this spicy fun romance. 🥵 I enjoyed this book immensely.

this was a quick read, not the best by Alexis, i absolutely ADORE her Primas series and I’m simply looking forward to her newer works.

I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.