Alexia Casale manages to present extremely moving themes in a light hearted way. Somehow, this makes the point more impactful, less Hollywood, and more real life. There were times I had to put this down to take a breather and then needed to pick it back up to find out more - Casale manages to immerse into the main character's life that you empathise beyond what is usually possible in literature of this nature.

Loving the amount of disability rep I'm seeing in fiction at the moment. This was went a bit down the negative side at the start, authentically portraying the doubt and issues shown by someone still coming to turns when they have a disability, but it ended really upbeat. I was really happy that it showed how once you get the right support you can still live your life.

Support in general was a big message of this book. I loved how every one of the Singers had something going on in their life and how they grew to support one another, even when it had nothing to do with the singing group. It really showed how important friendships can be.

The author chose not to disclose what disability this is based on and I respect her choice so I won't make any guesses into what it might be, but I have to say I feel this choice was made assuming the potential readers would be abled. If someone was disabled in the same way that Ven is and was looking for a book to help them deal with it, I'm not sure whether they'd find this book. It's a pity really.

This was a fantastic YA summer romance featuring a teen girl who is forced to give up her dancing dreams when she starts showing symptoms of an unnamed condition (very hEDS-like in nature).

Full of a cast of great supporting characters and a sweet love interest, this story does such a great job illustrating the challenges of living with a chronic illness and chronic pain. Highly, highly recommended and great on audio!!

Favorite quote:
"I'm not what's wrong with my body, I'm what I do with myself. I'm the life I make happen."

CW: recovering alcoholic and drug addict side character

I don't know if I just didn't pay close enough attention to the description when requesting this, but I hadn't realised or had forgotten that it was YA and how young the characters are. That being said, this was a great read and I know this will be incredible for so many young people learning to live with a chronic illness. The symptoms I deal with aren't as severe, and I seem to be one of the lucky few who hasn't had their symptoms disregarded and ignored by doctors, there was still so much of this that resonated with me. Ven is severe and sharp and angry but I don't think you could read what she goes through and not understand why she has such a short temper and so little patience. Her determination to live her life the way she wants is incredible even while you're also screaming at her to take a break and accept some help. The relationship between Ven and Ren screams teenager, it's tentative and soft but also full of mistakes and wrong turns but I think that makes it more believable. They've both gone through huge changes and it would be wild if they were both meek and perfect.

This was such an interesting read! I found myself so engrossed in the story, the characters had such incredible arcs, and I can't wait to follow this author's journey!

“”(…) You’re always so busy being brave and indomitable, that sometimes you make pretty foolish choices.”” (Alexia Casale, 2023, quote from ARC)

A very entertaining story, dealing with serious issues, that held my interest throughout, “Sing If You Can’t Dance”, by Alexia Casale (Faber and Faber), is a realistic and vibrant incursion into teens’ universe.
The heroine is a 16-year girl full of life, talent, snark. I liked that Ven is as much demanding with others as with herself, sometimes bordering the irrational.
I liked watching Ven and Ren experiencing young love as Ven is also learning to deal with a cruel, debilitating disease.
The trials and tribulations she’s going through make her braver and stronger. The stoicism often collides with reasonability. Perhaps it’s a teen thing, perhaps it’s Ven.
She’s a vibrant, energetic girl, often betrayed by a debilitating condition and constant pain.
I loved how she rises from the ashes and builds a new project (from dancing to singing), involving so many people. The way old and new friends connect, reconnect, and wrong perceptions are cleared, is very interesting.
The sweetness and depth of the blooming love is heartwarming. The doubts, fears, jealousy, or the magic of the first kiss, are full of warmth.
Ren, the hero, is a tender young man learning to live with his own scars. I
I liked how Ven was so smitten with him from the beginning and how the mutual crush evolved.
The adults are supporting, loving and trying to give the right feedback.
I felt frustrated that the diagnosis wasn’t revealed, although I understand the reasoning. I felt some procedures regarding dislocated articulations were too medical to be dealt with by Ven, but who knows? But it felt odd.