In February 2023, Alexis Daria, is re-releasing her debut book "Take the Lead", with a new cover and bonus material. Since I've never read this book the first time, I jumped at the chance to read it now. It's not usually a genre or topic I would read, but I absolutely loved Alexis Daria's book, "You Had Me At Hola", which is when I discovered Alexis Daria. So, I gave it a whirl. As usual, I love the writing style because it is so fluid and down to earth. The reader gets connected with the characters and their story as if they were friends. I unfortunately found it a bit slow and basic. It took me a while to invest in the story, mostly because I'm not into reality shows or dance shows. There was a bit too much description on dance styles or dance positions for my taste. But as always, I enjoyed and appreciate, every day, humanistic development of the characters.
The story tackles the age-old question: Do opposites attract? Gina Morales, a native New Yorker, is a professional dance, who currently stars on a reality dance show in Los Angeles. She has been on the show for quite a few seasons and has never won. This year. she has made it her mission to win this year. Stone Nielson, lives in Alaska and is the epitome of what everyone envisions when the word "Mountain Man" is used. He currently stars in a reality show depicting Alaskan wilderness life with his parents and siblings. He would never have willing agree to appear on a dance show, but he has his reasons. When Gina and Stone meet, they both realize that their goals for competing on show couldn't have been more different and may not accomplish their ultimate goals. However, Gina and Stone, will soon learn that by being placed as dance partners together, life or should I say fate, has a way of producing unknown results for the better. Of course, one can't rule out thrown some love curve in the mix. Enjoy.

Thank you to San Martin Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.
This is my first time reading any novel by Alexis Daria. When I saw that this one was about dancing, I knew I had to read it. There were many times in which I had Dancing with the Stars while reading, but the plot became really interesting for me.
Very spicy that even my husband read a few chapters with me.
Fun reading for Valentine's.

A reality tv star and a pro dancer team up for a dance contest - think DWTS - and sparks start flying! I was completely hooked from their first meeting, and the slow build friendship felt authentic, with some definite heat just underneath the surface of all their encounters. Behind the scenes of the dance show was super fun to experience through this couple. And I was surprised at a few serious topics that were handled with care and took time to resolve - which is much more realistic than instantaneous resolutions. I honestly wasn’t sure how they were going to get their HEA, but it’s a romance so….!
Thanks so much to the publisher and author for my early eARC. I loved it and highly recommend!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book had a really interesting premise and something completely different from anything I've read so far. I mostly liked the plots involving the reality shows and the behind the scenes stuff. It was also fun to try and see if any of the characters were based off real people (as some seemed to be).

Overall, the book was fine. It wasn't my favorite book but I didn't dislike it. I would still recommend it to other people who are interested in it.

CW: gun violence, ableism, alcohol consumption, sexual harassment, absent parent, physical injury, arson (recounted off-page), substance abuse (mentioned), social anxiety (mentioned)

I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with a free e-ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This Valentine’s Day, we have a swoon worthy reality TV dance show romance that you got to keep your eye on.

Gina Morales has been a seasoned dancer on The Dance Off for years. However, this year’s celebrity pairing finds herself matched up with Alaskan wilderness expert Stone Neilsen. Despite the numerous differences between their lifestyles, Gina and Stone find themselves vying for the coveted first place prize while dealing with the meddling hands of production to make them this season’s showmance. At the same time, Gina and Stone find themselves falling more and more for each other with each dance.

Alexis Daria’s Take the Lead has exceeded my expectations for this book. Daria has created such delightful characters that really have chemistry with each other. I enjoyed getting to see Gina and Stone dance together throughout the book and how that really builds their relationship off-stage, which makes the book interesting to read. While I would have been fine with less spice, this book might be perfect for readers who want a spicy read this winter.

Overall, Take the Lead will be a nice addition to your romance reading for Valentine’s Day this year. If you’re a reader who likes an insta-attraction slow burn romance with two leads that are undeniably perfect for each other, this book is for you.

Just think of a splash between Dancing with the Stars and Jungle Jim.
It's Gina's fifth season on the Dance Off and she has never won once but for this season she is determined to win.
She is then paired with a reality TV star of the popular TV show, Living Wild. From there first meeting Gina and Stone would identify the sizzling attraction between them.
Soon the secrets they are both keeping threatens to tear them apart.
I really loved this book and I would definitely recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin & NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this digital ARC

This book was fun and engaging. Cute little humor and plenty of steam. I can’t get enough of this author and will keep reading all of her books. I am waiting for the final installment of the cousins books

this book was so unique and immediately caught my attention. I loved the concept and similarity to dwts, it was so glamorous and fun!
Stone and Gina had so much chemistry.

Stone is a giant outdoorsy reality tv guy and Gina is an ambitious city girl who is a professional dancer on the competition show ‘the Dance Off’.

This was a fast, show-stopping read, and I enjoyed it so much! Definitely grab a copy when it comes out on Feb 14, 2023!

Thanks to @netgalley for the arc!

I love everything Alexis Daris writes and this is no exception! She's so talented at weaving believable love stories and the setting of this one with the DWTS vibes was so fun. And I'm obsessed with the new cover for this re-release of her debut. Highly recommend! Thanks to SMP and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I received a copy of Take the Lead via NetGalley to read and review.

I feel like Alexis Daria is a super fan of Dancing with the Stars. I feel like this story could have actually happened to a couple (or multiple couples) over the course of the show. The conflict was great without being over the top or over dramatic. My only minor complaint is the initial attraction between Stone and Gina seemed a little forced at the beginning but became more believable as the story went on. Thankful to have been given an advance copy of Take the Lead!

I'm kinda torn because this originally debuted in 2017--I'm not sure if it underwent edits or just a cover change (which is a better reflection of the book so I approve)--but it reads as a debut with some cheesy lines. I'm sure Alexis has grown as a writer since 2017. I don't want to bash this book, it had good moments, there were just some problem areas with pacing and plotting.

BUT I did enjoy two reality shows in one book, with the main storyline being the dancing one, and I enjoyed both MCs. Being dance partners adds delicious tension and Alexis delivered on that and their chemistry. Their love grew naturally and I enjoyed their story.

It is the perfect book Valentine’s Day. It is cute romance of city girl vs country guy. You should def read it@

Tremendously good fun, light and upbeat, with sexy leads and lots of forced contact during dance rehearsals. I enjoyed how thoroughly the reality show setting was fleshed out in this one, realized with descriptions of how staging works, mic'ng the cast, and creating story/drama with carefully constructed interview questions. The details made the setting feel real, with real stakes and real challenges for the characters. Naturally, I also loved the descriptions of the costumes, and Daria does a bang-up job describing the dances so we can visualize them and feel the emotion of the movement and the partners' connection through the prose. Triumphant, energetic, and brimming with physical attraction from first awkward meetup to eagerly anticipated HEA.

This was tender, sweet and sexy. Looking forward to more stories from this author. The pacing really set the tone and the MC was actually very likeable.

Ooohh they have such chemistry! This was really good. A perfect follow-up novel. Alexis Daria is going to be an auto buy author I love her writing.
I just reviewed Take the Lead by Alexis Daria. #NetGalley
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I recently came across Alexis Daria this year and the first book I read was You Had Me at Hola. I couldn’t help but notice the similarities between the Hola characters and Take the Lead characters, both having characters in the “spotlight” and trying to resist each other. Regardless, this book was different enough that had me intrigued since the beginning. I loved the dance/reality TV setting, I enjoyed the storyline, I fell in love with Gina’s character because she’s just a hard-working woman and I respect that she wants the spotlight and fame but only in her own terms. Stone, he may be the quiet one but he has a big heart, he did the competition and reality TV show for his family, but I also loved how much he cared and respected Gina. I just loved the way the story unfolded and how their relationship developed, I literally did not want to put it down. Excited to own my own copy in February.
I give this 4.5/5 stars.

Fun and sexy look behind-the-scenes of reality tv life! Alexis Daria knows how to make us care about characters and feel invested in their lives. You'll love rooting for these two - in the competition and in love.

Dancing with the stars but make it Latinx 😜

Gina and Stone’s diynamic together was perfect!

Gina life’s hasn’t always have an easy life and the pressure of expectations that everyone around puts on her is not gonna define who she is! HELL NO! She will not let anyone make a stereotype out of her! And definitely not gonna let anything or “anyone” get in her way to achieve her long lasting *DREAM*

Omg I loved this book so much and I’m just so upset I got to read it NOW! But hey! It’s never too late to fall in love with Alexis Daria even more 💃🏼

I am a massive fan of Alexis Daria so I was so excited when SMP sent me this arc!! I hadn't read TAKE THE LEAD before and as a HUGE fan of reality show stuff, I was immediately drew in. The dancing is hot and the smut is even hotter. And not only that, but like any Alexis Daria book, the heart of the characters is the true driving force. It would be work for me not to care about any character that Daria writes and TAKE THE LEAD was no different.

Thank you so much for an eARC in exchange for an honest answer! This one wasn't quite for me, unfortunately, but I do hope to try it again in audiobook, form!