I don't know what it is about ballroom dancing that's so steamy, but it really elevates the tension of the characters. Daria is very good at picking a niche setting or predicament and capitalizing on it, this is no exception.

📚✨Book Review✨📚

Take the Lead
Author: Alexis Daria

Rating:⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Note: I received a copy of this book as an advanced reader from Net Galley but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

What I Liked:
💃🏻I was a faithful fan of Dancing With the Stars for many years, so this book had me hooked from the very beginning. I also found the “behind the scenes” aspects to be so interesting.

💃🏻The tension between these two was off the charts! Once they danced together at the club early on, every time they were in the room together I was screaming for them to kiss already!

💃🏻I adore when we we are females supporting females. The relations between Gina and Natasha was so sweet and relatable. Truly enjoyed the scenes with them.

What I Didn’t Like:
💃🏻There is one character who will remain nameless that I really wish got her comeuppance in the end. I’d really have liked to karma swoop in and serve her a little poop on a platter.

Final Thoughts:
💃🏻 It had been awhile since I read a book from Alexis Daria, but damn she is epic. Honesty, I will sing her praises far and wide. If you haven’t read any of her books, start here!




#bookreview #reviewsneedlovetoo #readforeverpub #unpopularopinion #booktok #bookstagram #bookfriend #books #bookish #booklover #instablog #romancereader #romcom #fantasybooks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
Gina and Stone provided a wonderful dynamic for a brewing romance. While competing on a fictional version of Dancing With The Stars, you get to see Gina and Stone build a connection through dance. I think the banter and conversation between these two had a natural progression. Trust plays a big role in any relationship, including this one.

The contrast between a city-loving Puerto Rican woman and an Alaskan man give a great character contrast. It is hard to get over barriers a people with such different backgrounds. I think the one downfall of this book was the 🌶 was slightly underdeveloped for me but I still loved every minute of it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Alexis Daria for the ARC of this novel set to release in February 2023. I WILL be doing an in depth review again once it is obviously published.

I thought this was new by Alexis Daria but it is a re-issued version of the book. I am a huge fan of her Hola series featuring the Primas of Power but this was a little different. Fake dating mixed with dancing with the stars was really good. Stone couldnt help but fall hard, no matter how hard he resisted.

This is a re-release of a book that was originally published in 2017.
I will say, I do like the new cover more than the original. It captures the characters and mood of the story more.

If you're a fan of Dancing with the Stars, Take the Lead is the book for you. It has two wonderful leads trying to break free from expectations put upon them by others. Gina is such a relatable heroine and I really liked her journey throughout the book. Stone is the perfect grump with a heart of gold. He was so sweet and a secret cinnamon roll.
Gina and Stone's romance starts as a fake dating scenario for the cameras but soon develops into something real. I really loved their romance. They were so soft for each other, especially Stone. He fell so hard! I love when this happens in books.
Overall, Take the Lead is an enjoyable romance with a great message about perseverance and breaking the mold.

Take the Lead truly shows off the authors raw talent in both writing and bringing characters to life. While I'm not a big fan of dance/like tv shows I found his to be entertaining!

Complimentary copy provided by NetGalley and the publisher for my honest review and opinion. This was a fun read about Stone and Gina. It has you wanting to find your own dancer.

Alexis Daria has done it again! Take the Lead is another easy to read, fun romance book for the author. Opposites attract in this steamy, dual POV slow burn that sizzles on the page. Unlike a lot of romance novels, I feel like these characters were very well written and their actions were realistic. Additionally, while some may not love the miscommunication trope, I feel like the conflict of the book was very believable. I love that the main female character was a strong and ambitious Latina woman. I also love that the author always includes beautiful cultural representation and the use of both English and Spanish in all her novels. All in all, I would definitely recommend this book as the tension was good, the characters were authentic, and the writing was witty and fun.

Take The Lead by @alexisdaria 💃🏻

Pub Date: February 14,2023 👏🏼✨

Thanks to @netgalley and @stmartinspress for sending me this E Arc .

I love reading books from Latine/x Authors
Especially when they show case my Puerto Rican Culture 🇵🇷❣️🫶🏼.

Soy Boricua aunque naciera en la luna 🌙

I felt seen reading this book and I love how Gina talks with her family and friends. Love that she curses in both Spanish and English. We LOVE a bilingual baddie👏🏼.

⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️

Gina Morales wants to make it big. In her four seasons on The Dance Off, she’s never even made it to the finals. But her latest partner, the sexy star of an Alaskan wilderness show, could be her chance. Who knew the strong, silent, survivalist-type had moves like that? She thinks Stone Nielson is her ticket to win it all—until her producer makes it clear they’re being set up for a showmance.

Joining a celebrity dance competition is the last thing Stone wants. However, he’ll endure anything to help his family, even as he fears revealing their secrets. While the fast pace of Los Angeles makes him long for the peace and privacy of home, he can’t hide his growing attraction for his dance partner. Neither wants to fake a romance for the cameras, but the explosive chemistry that flares between them is undeniable.

As Stone and Gina heat up the dance floor, the tabloids catch on to their developing romance. With the spotlight threatening to ruin everything, will they choose fame and fortune, or let love take the lead?

🏷 #kindle #kindlepaperwhite #ereader

Alexis Daria never disappoints! I enjoyed this book from the very beginning. She has a way with her writing that's so easy to read and hooks you. The Dancing with the stars theme of this book was so fun. I really enjoy a good romance where opposites attract and this one defiantly hit the mark for me.

Okay I’ve loved Dancing with the Stars since I was a young girl so the premise of this book immediately excited me. As a Latina I love Daria’s writing as she represents our culture so beautifully in all of her stories.

In this book we follow professional ballroom dancer, Gina Morales as she begins a new season of the reality show the Dance Off. This season she bas been partnered up with Stone Nielson, a reality tv survivalist. This slow burn had me on the edge of my seat waiting for the moment when Gina and Stone finally caved in and got together. They are opposites in essentially every way but there was just something so special about their chemistry and the attraction between them.

The vulnerability of both characters was beautifully written and there was so much soul in the whole book. The only thing I truly wish we had seen more of is Stone’s character development. That being said I still really enjoyed this book and as always am a huge fan of Daria’s writing style! Thank you so much to the author and St. Martins press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

What a book!! I did not realize this was the author's debut when reading it. Absolutely loved it and is now my favourite from this author!
I loved the dance competition aspect, the secrets and hidden lives, the romance, basically everything. Recommend to all romance and dance lovers

Super fun and engaging read. If you are a fan of Dancing With The Stars or other competition-based reality TV, you'll love this! The characters are fleshed out and compelling, the stakes are high enough to drive the story along, and the setting feels realistic. I enjoyed watching the couple fight their attraction and the way they brought out the best in each other. Highly recommend this story

A celebrity dance competition, a dancer who wants nothing more than to win and establish herself in the industry, and a reality tv show nature survivalist who needs money to help his family, what could go wrong? Gina Morales wants to make it big, she wants to finally win The Dance Off, her celebrity dancing show after four seasons because she’s never won. Hoping she would finally get a break and get maybe an Olympian skater.... she is in for a shock when she gets Stone Nielson, a handsome and silent guy who is a nature survivalist with his family on their own tv show. Gina wants to win more than ever but she has one strict rule: no show romances, not after her disastrous relationship with her past partner, and the fact that she refuses to let herself be type cast as a sexy and promiscuous Latina. Yet Stone is absolute temptation personified, he’s sweet, caring, listens to her, and is the most attractive man she’s ever met. Stone doesn’t want to do a celebrity dance competition but he has to, with his mother’s medical bills piling up and their family debt, it’s his job once again to do whatever his family wants. All Stone ever wanted was to just live peacefully in the beautiful Alaskan landscape... yet he was sucked into his family’s tv show and forced to do it, he’s sick of it. Now he is forced to do a dancing show... yet his partner might be everything he never knew he wanted. The explosive chemistry between them is palpable but Gina will not let her reputation be ruined, and what happens when the show ends and they go their separate ways? Will they be able to work out what they’re both willing to risk for what they want, and in an industry that is designed to spill all your secrets, can they keep their feelings under wraps? This was such a sexy and fun read, I adored Stone and Gina. They make such an amazing couple and their chemistry was HOT. So yes, absolutely read this book!!

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

I have been interested in this one for years, so getting to read the "newer" version is always exciting. I loved the way this focused both on the dancing and the romance. Pros for people who like those TV reality shows, just saying.

I'm not a fan of Dancing with the Stars, but this book made me want to watch to see if I think it's like this book behind the scenes. :) I enjoyed Stone and Gina's love story and as a fan of all dance stories loved the way dance and emotion mixed in this story.

I am on a mission to read all of Alexis Daria’s works, and I think I’m almost there!!

I have LOVED absolutely everything she has published, from her Primas of Power series to all her witchy novellas…

When she announced that we could request this from NetGalley, I jumped on it immediately and to my surprise I was chosen to read it!! (this is my first book through #netgalley so I was VERY excited!)

It’s no surprise that I love it though…Alexis Daria has a way of writing that just flows into your heart.. I’ll always love a strong, determined, Latina main character who follows her dreams and makes her own opportunities. And only recently I’ve started to fall for fictional males with a man-buns lol Plus Stone can dance!?! Yes! Lead the way!

Last thing… I love that she updated the cover for this re-release! It’s stunning and truly reflects the characters!

“Take the Lead” releases 2/14/2023.

Take the Lead made my Latina heart melt. It was fun, steamy, and most of all a very good story of a grump-that's-not-really-a grump and a bad boss lady like Gina. The slow burn between Stone and Gina had me at the edge of my bed waiting for that moment when they finally gave in and I was not disappointed. I am a fan of Alexis Daria's writing, and yet this time the lack of Stone's character development didn't feel right to me. The author showed some of his past before his family's reality TV show, and the whole plot of it was a bit confusing. I personally found it a bit underdeveloped and it could've made Stone's character stronger. Although overall, it was a very nice story aside from that, and Gina and Stone's love story truly is one I enjoyed experiencing.

I don’t know what it is about Alexis Daria’s books (magic, possibly?), but each one I’ve read has been absolutely fantastic! Take the Lead (which was new to me) was no different!

In this book, we follow Gina Morales, professional dancer, as she begins a new season on the Dance Off. This year, she is partnered up with TV survivalist, Stone Nielson. Stone, one of 7 and a star in his family’s show set in Alaska, has been living a life that’s not exactly how their show portrays it to be. Gina and Stone are complete opposites in almost every way, but their attraction to one another is instantaneous. As their choreography and chemistry heat up on the show each week, so does their relationship off the dance floor. But will their budding romance hurt their chances at winning?

Take the Lead had so much heart and soul. The tension, build up, and vulnerability between Gina and Stone was so beautifully done. The characters felt so unbelievably real, I could almost picture Gina and Stone as real people on my television. I honestly loved the Dance Off world that Alexis Daria created and cannot wait to read the next one.

I am pretty sure this book will have a spot on my shelf soon (once it’s finally in print) alongside You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adios!

Many thanks to St. Martin’s press for the advanced e-book copy!

I loved this book. I’m a bit obsessed with Dancing with the stars so this book was a perfect fit for me. Loved Alexis and stone and the chemistry between the two. Stone is exactly the kind of hero I love. You had me at man bun. 5 stars for sure.