Sing If You Can't Dance

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.