I’m not sure how I feel about this one still. I liked it while I was reading it but I found it very forgettable. I did really like the characters and the story line.

I think I might be a little to old for this one. I couldn't connect to nova and I hated the ending. Also something about the writing style wasn’t for me.

Nova in New York is a cute novella about a girl going to New York for dance. It's about being on your own for the first time. Great for younger readers. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

love stories about the performing arts! As someone born with a physical disability I was never able to do ballet. Though I did ballet for an episode of Sesame Street I never became a professional. So I love reading about characters that are interested in it whether or not they wish for it to be a career.

This is a mini-novel so it was a quick read that I finished within a day. My favorite part was the author's descriptions of how dance made nova feel. How the world around her felt when she danced and how the rest of the world fell away when she was in the midst of her movements. It helped me feel close to her and truly feel the joy that she felt when she was dancing.

I also appreciated the family relationships she had. Though she was not part of a traditional nuclear family it was no less filled with love. I especially liked the relationship between Nova and her aunt. You can tell they were very close and both truly loved dance and that her aunt understood her.


There is absolutely no reason why you should NOT pick up this book. It is quick, heartfelt and uplifting so go out and get it!

I'd go with two and a half stars.

Perhaps tis book would work better for a middle-grade reader or someone whose not that big on reading. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. Because I liked the idea of this book when you got to the end but it was absolutely lacking in depth otherwise. It's too short but if this is all the story its just right.

Like Nova goes to New York to a top of the line dance academy.
She's criticized. She has a lot on her mind.
She practices.
She does better.

There's not enough there to make it an interesting book although it definitely could have been. The writing's not awful and Nova has potential to be engaging. But all in all I'd go back to the drawing board on this one.

While the writing wasn't amazing to me, the story itself was interesting. Dealing with subjects such as self esteem and discovering who you are and what you want.

The main character sounded more like a young child at times so her voice could have been a little more experienced, as a ya, but the whole basis is fabricated on being in awe, discovering more than just your little world, so in some weird ways it works.

This is a short and sweet read. I think this short story would be excellent for middle grade lovers. I love the aspects of the ballet and New York. What’s better than the two combined? If you’re looking for a light read, then look no further!

Sweet novella about a girl learning how to stand on her own as she takes on the world of dance in NYC. While she worries about her family at home and doubts if she has the talent to make it as a dancer, she finds a strength she did not know she possessed. This is a short but entertaining book.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a complimentary arc of Nova in New York by Katherine Richards in exchange for my honest review.*

The story begins with Nova about to leave her father and Aunt Ivy, who has cystic fibrosis, and attend a pre-professional ballet workshop in New York City. Nova is not only dancing for herself, but for her aunt Ivy, whose career ended due to her cystic fibrosis. Nova battles expectations from teachers at the school and her own questioning of whether or not ballet is her passion, or if she feels obligated to be a professional dancer for her aunt.

this was a really quick and easy read, it was very short so you weren't able to super get to know the characters, but for the most part i really enjoyed her relationship with her father and their love of stars. there was a scene where she mentions why her dad picked out her name and it was very sweet, along with all of the memories of her and her aunt Ivy.

For much of the book, everyone discusses Nova's potential and her getting into this very selective program, despite her not seeming like that great of a dancer. she had very fond memories of dancing but always with Ivy. she just seemed more passionate about her aunt versus the actual dancing.

i really liked the cover and the idea of new york and the struggle between if it was for her or her aunt, but there should have been more of the novel to really grow that story line.

i would suggest this is you enjoy dancing, family, and light stories!

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of NOVA IN NEW YORK by Katherine Richards in exchange for my honest review.***

Nova, away from home for the first time, feels tentative about her ballet intensive workshop. Dancing not just for herself, but for her aunt Ivy, whose career ended due to cystic fibrosis, Nova carries extra expectations and the questioning whether ballet is her passion, or if she feels obligated to her aunt.

Teens and tweens will identify with Nova and her struggles to detangle her goals from those of her family. She’s thoughtful, sympathetic, easy to embrace and felt like a real person rather than a character. I loved her supportive friendship with Beth.

As a ballet fan, I didn’t enjoy the reading experience as much as I had hoped. I didn’t understand the technical names for the jumps and twists, so I had a hard time envisioning them in my mind. Readers who dance won’t have this issue, but I think younger folks may be frustrated with the many descriptions of practicing the turns. Katherine Richards also includes some extra scenes that didn’t advance the plot or character, like the process of her instructor getting the go ahead for Nova to use the studio after hours. Devoting pages to such unimportant factors slowed down what should have been a great read.

Dancers and those who love dance will enjoy NOVA IN NEW YORK. #NovaInNewYork

This is a great book for a middle school student or a high school student who doesn’t love reading (yet) or even for an upper level ESL student! This story is heavy on dance terminology, but explains each move so that even a non-dancer can understand it. Watching our main character Nova leave home where he dad and her aunt will be alone in order to pursue a dance opportunity in NYC is relatable for teens thinking about college or striking out on their own. Nova’s aunt Ivy was a dancer before she became sick with cystic fibrosis, and she is Nova’s biggest fan. Nova must decide if she can really focus on dancing or if she needs to be home to be with Ivy as her health declines. This was a great story with friendship, family, and dance that I would highly recommend giving a try,

Thank you NetGalley for an early copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

It was really nice to read a YA book about a girl's family life and goals, instead of her love life and romance. This book was short and an easy read, but there was angst, too. Nova is from Canada. She is accepted into the Joffrey Ballet's prestigious intensive summer program, where she has the chance to become an apprentice. She explores New York. She challenges herself and works hard. She makes a new friend, but she also worries about her family at home.

Her mother died when she was young. Her father is alone and her aunt, who danced when she was younger and encouraged her dreams of being a ballet dancer, has cystic fibrosis.

This was a really sweet book and is perfect for teens and pre-teens.