Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Evie Thomas doesn’t believe in love anymore. Especially after the strangest thing occurs one otherwise ordinary afternoon: She witnesses a couple kiss and is overcome with a vision of how their romance began…and how it will end. After all, even the greatest love stories end with a broken heart, eventually.

As Evie tries to understand why this is happening, she finds herself at La Brea Dance Studio, learning to waltz, fox-trot, and tango with a boy named X. X is everything that Evie is not: adventurous, passionate, daring. His philosophy is to say yes to everything—including entering a ballroom dance competition with a girl he’s only just met.

Falling for X is definitely not what Evie had in mind. If her visions of heartbreak have taught her anything, it’s that no one escapes love unscathed. But as she and X dance around and toward each other, Evie is forced to question all she thought she knew about life and love. In the end, is love worth the risk?  

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Evie doesn't believe in love, not since her perfectly partnered parents divorced. When she discovers a strange new ability, it only hardens her belief. Being able to see how relationships end shows her that most of them end in heartache. So she doesn't plan to fall for anyone, ever. But then she didn't plan for being shanghaied into a dancing contest, with steps she barely knows, partnered with the most beautiful boy ever. But it doesn't matter. Evie knows there's heartache at the end of every relationship and she has no intention of letting herself be hurt.

I signed up for this blogtour not too sure what I was going to think of the book. I've flicked through other Nicola Yoons, but never read one properly. The mildly fantasy/mostly contemporary vibe of this one appealed to me, and I decided to give it a try.

I'm so glad I did. There are amazing lessons here, buried under a fabulous story. I was right there with Evie (for most of it...see my note further down) feeling her feelings, following her story. This is an amazing read.

Here's my note further down; near the end of the story, Evie makes a decision I didn't agree with at all. I can't honestly say what I would have done in the same circumstances, but I was begging her to change her mind as I read. (A good sign when I care about a story this much!)

I loved reading this. I'm going to try to keep its lessons with me. And I'll be waiting when Nicola releases a new book.

Thanks for letting me read it.

I received a free copy as part of the blogtour and am giving an honest review.