“‘Here’s what I think. If you get very, very lucky in this life, then you get to love another person so hard and so completely that when you lose them, it rips you apart. I think the pain is the proof of a life well lived and loved'” (Yoon 2021).
I picked this book up expecting a cute little romance, and came out of it emotionally destroyed in the best way possible. The characters were charming and relatable, the premise was cute, and the book was full f heart and excellent messages about love and living in the moment. I’d never read a Nicola Yoon before this, so I was really excited to dive into some of her work. I was certainly not disappointed! At the risk of going on and on about this book forever, let me just leap right in.
Instructions for Dancing follows the story of Evie Thomas, who has given up on love after catching her dad cheating on her mom with another woman. After the news of their divorce, Evie decides she’s through with love and donates her romance novels to a Little Free Library. While there, she meets a mysterious woman who encourages her to take a book called Instructions for Dancing from the library. From this point on, every time Evie sees a couple kiss, she is shown a vision of how their relationship will end. Desperate to be rid of this unwanted power, Evie goes to the address listed on the book for answers… and is immediately volunteered to be an amateur competitor in a dance competition to help a failing dance studio. She soon finds herself swept up in her own whirlwind romance when she meets the charismatic and charming Xavier, who becomes her unwitting dance partner. It’s up to Evie to figure out what her mysterious visions mean… and she might just learn to believe in love again after all.
I’m not even sure where to start with this book, as I absolutely adored every second of it from beginning to end. I am a notorious sucker for romances, especially those with relatable characters. What makes Evie relatable is her cynicism for romance. She loves the idea of being in love, but has become jaded from seeing so many relationships end in heartbreak. On top of this, she is kind and trusting, but finds it hard to forgive someone after she’s been hurt or wronged. As someone who also loves romance in theory, I find myself constantly needing to be reminded that not all real life romance ends in disaster. From the very beginning, Evie became a character I could really root for, and I loved her hilarious little one-liners about “not being in a romance novel” (I’m kind of a sucker for fourth wall jokes).
Another thing I loved was Yoon’s unapologetic description of the diverse cast of characters, right down to their natural hairstyles and skin tones. I may not be a person of color, but I understand how astronomically important it is for black and brown girls and boys to find themselves represented in media. What’s better, Nicola Yoon is herself a black woman, making this very much an “Own Voices” novel. Though race doesn’t play a big part in the book, there are occasional references to cultural prejudice. An example can be found when Danica and Evie go to their new step-mom’s bridal shower, when Evie remarks that it must be weird to see so many black women dressed up for a garden party. Though race isn’t a huge issue in this book, I really appreciate the casual representation of both black and LGBTQ+ characters (in Sophie and Cassidy) in the narrative.
As this is a romance, I would be remiss if I didn’t also talk about how adorable the romance was. Xavier (or “X”) is jokingly described as “the perfect romance novel love interest,” though he really is a wonderful character. Much like Augustus Waters in The Fault in Our Stars, X is a quirky risk-taker who prefers living in the moment to worrying about the future. He’s also incredibly sweet, and has a passion for music that he hopes will help him become famous one day. From the first time they meet, Evie and X have fantastic chemistry, and both feel like real people that the reader could easily be friends with. Their banter is absolutely adorable, and I love that their romance never feels rushed or insincere. I also like how they help one another to grow; Evie encourages X to finish his education, while X encourages Evie to live for the moment and let her guard down for the sake of her relationships. Their relationship throughout the book begins as a strong friendship, and I like that they represent a healthy teen relationship.
I’ll also briefly touch on the non-romantic relationships in the book, as I think they’re just as important to the story. At the beginning of the novel, Evie’s attitude towards love leads her to hurt those around her, barring her from good experiences because she fears she will only be hurt. Once again, I really related to her relationship with her dad, as my relationship with my dad is equally strained. Evie struggles to forgive her father for what he’s done, but still craves the strong bond they once had. Similarly, when Evie learns that Cassidy and Sophie’s break up will ultimately end the group’s friendship, she chooses to push them away rather than face the hurt. This is not only relatable, but leads to the book’s most important lesson: that love is worth it even if it ends in heartbreak. This not only applies to romantic love, but to the love shared by family and friends as well. I really enjoyed seeing that message tied together throughout Evie’s relationships, and that it focused on more than one type of love.
While I won’t spoil this book for anyone (as I think everyone needs to read it), the ending had me shedding quite a few tears. It’s both touching and bittersweet, and really drives home the message that living in the moment is extremely important. While I was not expecting this book to be sad (I wanted a cute, harmless romance darnit!), what I got was a surprising life lesson that made me reflect on my own relationships. If it could do that for me, a 28 year old adult, I can only imagine the wisdom it could offer to a young teen girl reading this book.
As I said above, I really could rave about this book for several more paragraphs. In the interest of time, however, I will say I HIGHLY recommend this to fans of realistic romance. While there is a small magical element to the story (after all, real people can’t see the future), the heart of the book is very much rooted in reality and the human experience. This book is perfect for high school fans of romance (there is some swearing and slightly sexual content), especially those who love a book that will make them cry. I truly think it’s one of those books that will stick with me, as the lessons really are universal. This book might have also cured me of just a little of my cynicism, reminding me that real love exists and is worth the risks we take to obtain it. After this book, I REALLY need to read Yoon’s other work, as I can clearly see why she’s become so popular in the YA scene. This book was a pure work of art, and I can’t wait until everyone else is able to read it as well.
Reference:
Yoon, N. (2021). Instructions for dancing. New York: Delacorte Press.
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