Take the Lead by Alexis Daria

A playful, steamy romance set in the world of competitive dancing.

I love Dancing with the Stars. The drama, the contrast of celebrity and talent, the glitz and glamour and sparkly dresses. With Take the Lead, we get to go behind the curtain with a dancer who’s desperate to win and her reluctant partner, a wilderness expert.

I loved Stone and Gina. They were both realistic, well-rounded characters fighting against the roles that society had decided for them. They did fall into that time-worn trap of miscommunication but they each had understandable motives and worked to make things right as soon as they realised how badly they screwed up. There is a satisfying scene where they both get their grovel out and hash out their issues. Better yet, Stone doesn’t ask Gina to give up her dream for him and doesn’t give it up. In the end, they both win.

The start of the story did seem a little slow but I enjoyed how the dances showcased the slowly growing relationship between Stone and Gina. I feel like the wealth of characters added depth but slowed down the plot - but if they get their own book (and I especially hope Tash does) it will all have been worth it. I understand the conflict being the show itself and the desire for ratings, but I was slightly put off by both the antagonistic characters being fame-hungry women with boundary issues.

I enjoyed reading this book and if you like a slow burn romance against the backdrop of fame, I definitely recommend giving this a go.

Four quickstep stars

I received a copy of this story from the author through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.