Take the Lead is a fantasticly written novel from Alexis Daria. The character interactions and banter was funny and engaging and the heat was spicy. The family dynamics were intense and I loved seeing Stone stand up to his family after years of not. I enjoyed seeing the dance competition plot was great.

4.5 ⭐️

Thank you Alexis Daria for giving me the boricua rep I needed!

Last night I finished reading the arc of "Take the Lead" by Alexis Daria. This book came and dominated the dance floor of my brain with the outstanding writing, great characters, the tension, and that slow burn that once it started to burn, it set the whole thing on fire.

Gina Morales, is part of a reality TV show called The Dance Off and her mission for her 5th season on the show is to win. But then she gets paired up with Stone, a celeb from a survivalist TV show set in Alaska. Stone has never danced in his life, and his conunication skills could also use some work. But what the two of them do have when combined is an undeniable chemistry that follows them around and not just at the dance floor.

If that doesn't convince you to read it, then let me tell you something else I highly enjoyed. The dances that appear in this book are described so well that I could see Stone and Gina dancing in my mind. It was a lot of fun being able to picture everything so vividly.

Also, the puerto rican representation? Yes, pleas and thank you! I loved to see my culture represented and how realistic it was. The way Gina greets everyone in this book is what we all do over here. We may not know you well, but we will shower you in lots of love.

As a dancing with the stars fan, I loved the premise of this book. At first it was a little confusing with the writing style because sometimes mid chapter it switches perspectives of the characters while being in third person but after a bit I got used to it. I wish it had been a little more clear either written in first person or separate shorter chapters- I think it could have strengthened the storytelling. Also, the love story felt more lust/physically focused than I’m a fan of and it definitely is a more steamy kind of romance even just in the way people are described outside of romantic scenes- which is not as much my kind of romance, I’m more of a closed door romance girl. Other than that, I enjoyed the storyline. It was a fun book to read during this season of DWTS but I did have to stop reading it at about 55% because it was too open door for me and focuses on the physical for me.

So what’s interesting about book set on reality tv shows is that I never expect to like them and then I always absolutely adore them!! This rom com is no exception!

The chemistry between these two is good and realistic and while FMC is borderline judgmental and rude to the wholesome MMC at times, I still found a way to move past it since they are cute on page together. The book also does a great job of describing and involving the “dancing with the stars”esque tv show story line without over powering the love story. Overall, another great Alexis Daria book!

Take the Lead is a fun romance that centers around reality television, primarily a dancing competition, but also delves a little bit into a series the one of the protagonist's family does. While the romance is fun between Gina and Stone, feeling like I had a behind-the-scenes look at what the people participating could go through was the more compelling part for me. Having spent several years watching Dancing with the Stars, it was easy to imagine the staged romance with a strategic pairing, genuine friendships that form between dancers and judges over seasons, and the celebrities participating in a particular season, ultracompetitive athletes that are set up to win, and the intensity of a relationship that forms between a dancer and their partner during the season. It's easy to see how some pairings don't work, some have a friendly, working relationship, and how in Stone and Gina's case it can easily lead to romance. Both have their reasons for competing - Gina is trying to establish a more promising career, and has to fight every stereotype to be taken seriously. This means she doesn't want to be seen in a romance with Stone; she wants to win because of her abilities. Stone participates reluctantly because his family pushes him to do so for the financial benefits it will reap. But a grudging interest turns into enthusiasm as he falls for Gina and increasingly feels at odds with how the show his family creates contrasts with reality. The push and pull between the characters is dynamic, and how a relationship could work after the season ends is a legitimate sticking point for the pair. Daria did a good job of making the relationship feel believable and creating a backstory that's interesting and different from a lot of other contemporary romance novels. A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I requested to read and review this book from St. Martin Publishing Company. This story is about romance, mystery, drama and forgiveness and strength. Stone is a reality TV wilderness star that doesn't know anything about dancing and Gina is a city girl that doesn't have a clue about wildlife wilderness. But when they join forces in a dance off competition they will learn each other strength and weakness. They will each learn that they are stronger then they both know. And will try to work hard to prove the stereotypes wrong and also the ones that want them to fail. The biggest hurdle will be can they trust whenever ? This book can be read anywhere and by a mature audience.

Gina is a pro dancer on The Dance-Off, a fictionalized version of Dancing With the Stars. In an attempt to create a showmance, the producers partner her with Stone, the hot but quiet star of an Alaskan wilderness TV show. Neither one wants a showmance, but… the sparks fly. I loved this behind the scenes look at two types of reality TV shows, and the author went into a lot of fun detail on the dancing / rehearsal process that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have never seen Dancing With the Stars but I still found this book so fun! Really well-written romance that felt contemporary and intelligent rather than ditzy – I highly recommend this, in spite of the cover making it look like a Harlequin romance novel ;)

This was a light and fun read. I liked reading about a Dancing with the Stars type setting. Normally, third-act breakups are not a favorite of mine, but I did think the characters had legit issues they needed to work through. I will say the characters felt flat at times. But I would recommend for anyone looking for a fun romance that takes place in a reality TV setting.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of these updated version!

This was such a fun read! I loved how the characters worked through things. Gina’s scenes with her family ring so very true. Can’t wait to read more!

This re-release of Alexis Daria’s debut novel was so fun, sweet, and steamy.

Gina is the professional dancer on a Dancing with the Stars-esque reality show, and she is paired for her next season with Alaskan reality tv star and outdoorsman Stone. It’s clear from the beginning that the show is trying to make the two of them an item for ratings, which is not going to fly with Gina. However sparks DO fly and as the finale creeps closer questions on if this city girl and the forest man can make it, while keeping the networks focus on their dancing rather than their chemistry.

Great Latina representation, fun premise, hella chemistry, and an all around good time. It drug a bit in place, which keeps it from 5 stars, but I would recommend it all the same! It comes out next February and is perfect for the month of love!!

Fun and spicy romance set in a reality show dance contest. A fun look behind the scenes of reality television.

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria was so amazing; I was swooning from page one. Alexis Daria has such a great voice and her writing is amazing, I truly enjoyed every second I spent reading this book.
This book was so much fun, I literally couldn't stop reading it.
The characters Gina and Stone are freaking phenomenal.
I loved their dynamic was so much fun. They instantly pulled me into a world I was completely enthralled by.
A funny, sexy and beautiful story set against a reality dance tv show. Remarkable!
This rerelease is bound to be a show stopper. If you enjoy Dancing With the Stars you'll fall head over heels for TTL!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

St. Martin's Press & St. Martin's Griffin,
Thank You for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this eARC!

A fun and uplifting (get it? Like a lift in dance?) romp about a professional dancer trying to win on The Dance Off to secure her job being paired with a big, burly Alaskan man who stars in his own family’s reality show. She’s also fighting the producers (fucking Donna), who want her to have a showmance, at every turn to stop them from over sexualizing her as a Latina. Lots of emotional baggage in this one and a clear message about the meaning and power of family and familial duty at the price of one’s happiness. Thoroughly enjoyable 4/5

A DANCE OFF NOVEL, COMING 14 FEB,2023

The book is beautiful, charming, hilarious and fun.
I absolutely loved the setting of Alaska.

Absolutely adored Stone & Gina❤️❤️💗✨️💫

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

LOVE LOVE LOVE!

This.book was the perfect mixture of romance and reality television. I loved the chemistry between the two main characters and their journey to loving each other. Stone and Gina have now become one of my favorite couples! Such a quick read but an even enjoyable one!

literally so grateful to St. Martin’s Press for letting me read this early, i’m a huge fan of alexis daria’s work and was hoping this would be another 5 star read for me from the start. i can honestly say it definitely earned that rating! this book felt like a breath of fresh air (cheesy i know) and a perfect escape from all my semester assignments and readings. it was so FUN and easy to get lost in, stone and gina pulled me in in a way not many characters usually do in romance books, their struggles and emotions were so powerful i couldn’t put this down.

can’t wait to get a physical copy of this in february!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an ARC.

I thoroughly enjoyed the setting of this book - seeing the behind the scenes of a reality show and dance competition show was just plain fun! Stone was a sweetheart and the writing was very well-done.

I appreciated some of the side characters, as well! Especially Jackson 🧛🏻‍♀️🐺

What held me back from enjoying this more were the very “typical” dramatic moments. Gina displayed some immaturity in these moments that seemed out of character, and so did Stone sometimes. I’m all for a little bit of drama in the relationship, as long as it seems natural and reasonable. While what happened caused the characters to be understandably upset, the way they behaved during it was a little aggravating.

I’d say this was a 3-3.5 star read - it was enjoyable, and had plenty of fun and steamy moments. I think a lot of people could really like this story, as Alexis Daria is a talented writer and always provides a fun setting for her lovable characters!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it was a very well-paced and entertaining experience! The chemistry was great between these characters, and I genuinely enjoyed reading about bot hStone and Gina! Usually, I find that in romance novels, one of the leads is much more developed than the other. However, that wasn’t really the case here. In Take the Lead, Gina was motivated by qualities intrinsic to her character, such as her identity, backstory, and traits such as ambition and pride. Stone was motivated by his past as well, and I found his attraction to Gina really sweet. I really like it when the man is more in love than the woman. Also, I liked that these characters instantly had an attraction. In a fast-paced story such as this where romance is basically the entire plot, I often find the build-up tedious, so I liked that the author basically elected to skip straight into the romance. Also, I loved Gina’s friend and roommate, Natasha. I always love a supportive best friend character. Additionally, I read a book with a similar reality TV premise earlier this year, and I thought this story did a comparably better job of balancing the amount of time focusing on the reality TV aspect and the romance. An appropriate amount of time was devoted to fleshing out the show, and it didn’t take away from developing the characters/A-plot. Finally, I love a good happy ending, so the way the pieces all fell into place near the end made me seriously happy!

My only criticism is that I generally hate third-act breakups, especially in a novel where romance is the central plot. I find them to be predictable and drag the book’s plot to a halt, as readers often can infer that the couple will reunite by the end. Additionally, I found that many of the side-characters were either arbitrarily ‘good’ or ‘evil.’ This was especially apparent in the film crew, most notably Donna, who was comically cruel and seemed motivated only by a desire to oppose whatever Gina wanted.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this book to anyone that is a fan of the romance genre, as I thought the relationship between the two characters was very well executed! This book was light, fun, enjoyable, and cute!

GIna has been a dance instructor for a competitive dance show for years, though she has never been able to win a season yet. This year, when she is partnered with a hunk from a wilderness survival show, Stone, she knows she is being set up for a showmance she can't resist. This book follows them as their relationship forms and they compete in the show.

Loved this book, quick easy read and well written. I love Alexis Daria's writing style! definitely a must read

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria
“Success is a fickle thing, and the entertainment industry isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”
~~~~
I would like to thank Alexis Daria, St. Martins Press, and NetGalley for granting me access to an eARC.
I absolutely adored this book; the theme of the two different world’s combining. Then for this book just the overall great feeling when reading; is hard to put into words.
The FMC and MC were the perfect duo. And the side characters also had great personalities.
I also thought there was some really good life lessons in this book that people should take to heart. I won’t say what they are cause that would be spoiling; and others might see it differently.