Two things before I get into my thoughts on this book. First I want to thank St Martin's Griffin and the author for providing me with a copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. This was originally released in 2017 and it was the authors debut novel. They did a rerelease of it that includes a new cover, updated text and bonus material. This was my first time ever reading it so I can't comment on the differences between them, all I can comment on is how I enjoyed this version.

Being a fan of Dancing with the Stars when I read the synopsis for this book I was immediately interested. I was curious about how a dance show would be brought to life on page. I think the author did a great job of making a reality tv show come to life in book form but there were also aspects that didn't work for me. Even though I watch Dancing with the Stars I am not well versed in all the different dance styles so I couldn't really visualize each of the dances and I feel like talking about pretty much every dance was a little bit much for a book. It made the book drag a little for me. Also I know reality TV isn't all it's cracked up to be and I am sure that a lot of what the author does in this book actually happens in real life but it felt like every horrible thing/person was thrown in just for the dramatics. It would have been nice if there were some good things (besides the romance) included as well. If you've read this then you know what I am talking about.

What really hooked me was the romance. Gina and Stone had amazing chemistry from the very beginning and I loved watching that develop more throughout the book. Gina is a woman of color in a brutal industry and I understand why she had all of her rules but I wish she could have been a little more confident in herself and not cared so much about what everybody else thought of her. I loved seeing Stone grow in confidence throughout the book as well. The romance between these 2 is what I was invested in. I didn't really care about the reality show side and plus it was pretty obvious how that was going to end anyways. Each of the characters made very obvious stupid decisions but I loved them.

This season on The Dance Off, Love will dance its way into your heart. On the set of the celebrity dance competition show, the sexual tension is palpable between Stone, Alaskan survivalist reality show star, and Gina, his professional dance partner. When the two are clearly marked as this season’s “showmance”(completely against Gina’s wishes), neither can hold for long as just dance partners.

This was such a fun read!! I loved the description of dance in this novel, and really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at shows like this. I often enjoy behind the scenes stories rather than the shows themselves (though I will get sucked in if someone is watching one 🙈)

Stone and Gina were HAWT and I loved how in tune with each other they became as they continued to progress on the show. This spicy romance will have you wanting to get up and dance(at least, that’s what it made me want to do!)

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for allowing me to read this book. This one was cute! It was tense, steamy, loving, romantic, and personable in all ways. I always love a good Hollywood setting with romance so this was right up my alley and I was not disappointed. A solid 4 ⭐️stars.

Anyone who reads my reviews knows I don’t watch much television and I have a huge disdain for reality television with the exception of Dancing with the Stars until about 4 years ago when IMHO it “jumped the shark” and if you don’t know that term Google it. However, the minute I read the synopsis for this book I knew I had to read it and I am so glad I did despite being bleary eyed for staying up way too late to finish it. This story was complex with many layers and each one proved to be equally interesting and while at times I got frustrated with the characters for different reasons, I could also understand where they coming from and how incidents in their past caused them to react the way they did. Take The Lead was thoroughly entertaining, completely engrossing, and a simply wonderful romance between two people who seemed so different, yet they complemented each other perfectly.

Our heroine Gina is a Puerto Rican dance pro who has been with the show for 5 years. She has never won the competition and is known for her wonderful choreography. She is the consummate professional refusing to play in to the producers tricks of “showmances” and sleeping with other crew members or the stars brought in for the show. She is a New York City native, the Bronx, and loves her hometown but resides in Los Angeles for the show with a childhood friend also a Latina. She is shocked to find out her “star” for this season is Stone, the star of a reality star about living “off grid” in Alaska.

Stone was opposed to doing the Dance Off but his family needs the money to pay off his mother’s medical bills and hopefully make a dent in his student loans. Yes, you read that right, Stone’s family’s show Living Wild is a bit of smoke and mirrors and not all it’s made out to be (big surprise a reality show that isn’t all that real). Stone hate the limelight, he hates lying and he’s bad at it, and he fears he’ll say something that will cause his family’s sole source of income to come tumbling down. He isn’t a big talker, think strong, silent type and you’ve got Stone.

From the first meeting between Gina and Stone I could feel the fire between them. Stone was protective of Gina but also he felt calm around her and that continued throughout this book. Gina was bubbly and fun and Stone was reserved mainly because he worried about saying to doing something wrong. I loved watching Stone’s tough exterior being to crumble as this book went on, it was subtle and because he came from a reality show background he understood the absolute audacity the producers sometimes asked of them yet at times he was also blindsided by them. I appreciated that this author showed a big man like Stone (he’s 6’7”) be sexually harassed by another contestant and he wasn’t shy about letting on that he didn’t like it or appreciate it. As the show progresses and Stone as the underdog keeps going forward we really begin to see a difference in him and the chemistry between Stone and Gina boils over into more which creates an even bigger problem. Gina wants it kept on the down low which bothers Stone but he goes along with it because they both know that when the show is over they go back to leading very different lives.

I felt this author did a great job of showing the ins and outs of reality television and how hard it can be on the people who participate in them. I loved the varied cast of the show and how competition brings out the worst in some people. I didn’t care for the drama towards the end that in all honesty made Gina look like an irrational shrew, I was happy with the outcome.

Take The Lead featured a wonderful cast of characters, a full and rich plot, and a slow burn romance that sizzled; I not only loved this book but I highly recommend it.

I’m a huge fan of Alexis Daria romances, and TAKE THE LEAD is no exception. It has all the hallmarks of a classic Daria book, and shows how her more recent books were developed from an already incredibly enjoyable debut. While I didn’t read the original version of TAKE THE LEAD, I certainly enjoyed this new version, and I would definitely recommend it to romance lovers.

In the world of reality TV, reality is anything but. Our MC, Gina, wants to be beloved for her dance skills, not for some fake showmance cooked up by a pushy producer. But when they pair her with an Alaskan reality TV survivalist, it doesn’t have to be faked, but Gina still doesn’t want it to be in the spotlight.

Through the development of Gina and Stone’s romance, their character development and the tension between truth and lies is central, which just made the fact that it’s dual-POV all the better. I rooted for the two of them throughout, and definitely appreciated the smidgen of slowburn before everything really heated up. While the somewhat cliche third-act-breakup didn’t feel as well written as the rest of this book, it still fit well in the pacing. And most of all, I appreciated how mutual responsibility plays a role in their relationship, instead of one character being completely at fault.

While its clear the book’s faux reality dance show is based off a real one, I still felt as if the world was its own. The book may focus on Gina and Stone, but their lives and those around them are still developed outside of that, even if some of the characters are a bit reality tv cliche (those cliches do exist for a reason).

One thing I wish had been developed more were some of the dances and the relationship-building of Gina and Stone outside of the very first and last few dances of the season. There were dances or episodes that felt like they could’ve truly added something but were mostly mentioned as an introduction to what was happening next. Some of it just comes down to the length of the book overall, but I think it might have helped steam up the dance floor just a little bit more.

As a whole, I’m glad I picked up this book and it’s just made me more excited for more of Daria’s books in the future. And while the Primas of Power still hold the first place spot in my heart, TAKE THE LEAD has a well-deserved honorable mention.

Think Dancing with the Stars meets Yukon Men. While I really enjoyed Stone's and Gina's chemistry it was more fascinating to read about the seedy side of reality shows. I know there was a lot of playing up the villain narrative and sometimes exaggerating storylines but having no boundaries to what can be used for ratings was truly ick. Gina's desire to not be stereotyped made the stakes even higher. I really felt for her.

I really enjoyed this book! It's now one of my favorites by Alexis Daria! There were times when it felt like the main characters did things that were out of character for them and some of the book felt repetitive but it was so fun to read! I loved the heart of the novel and the relationship between the two main characters.

Not my favorite Alexis Daria book but still fun nonetheless. This was fun and flirty and I liked the dancing aspect though I wish there was more of it in the book. It was kind of put downable at times. and took me awhile to read, but the spice was good and kind of funny. I don't regret reading it and looking forward to more books from this author.

Whyyyy am I not seeing more about this book!? It was so cute and I'm so happy it's a series because your girl needs MORE. The showmance storyline, the banter, the chemistry, the ROMANCE, swoon. This was such a cute read and I really enjoyed the characters and related to them, which is important to me as the reader. Thoroughly enjoyed this!

"Take the Lead" is a good book for those who like romances but will be particularly appealing to fans of "Dancing with the Stars" and reality TV shows. Gina Morales is a professional dancer but her future on "The Dance Off" depends on her and her celebrity partner making the finals. Gina is an attractive Puerto Rican woman, and she takes pride in her heritage, but she does not appreciate being typecast as the "Sexy Latina" and having to deal with the assumptions people make about her based on that stereotype. That is one reason why she is so opposed to her producer's efforts to "create" a "showmance" between Gina and her celebrity partner, Stone Nielson. Stone and his family star on a wilderness reality show set in Alaska called "Living Wild", where they live off the grid. He does not really want to take part in a dance competition, but his family could use the money he will receive to pay for his mother's medical bills. However, he has to endure the spotlight and media attention that comes with "The Dance Off", while protecting the image of "Living Wild", as the family's reality show had even less "reality" than many reality shows. Of course, as they train and dance together, Gina and Stone's relationship will develop and change, and they will have to contend with what their feelings for each other mean for their identities and their futures, while also trying to win the competition and dealing with the machinations of the producers and some of their competitors.

Such a great book! I was in a massive reading slump but this book picked me up. I was immersed in their universe.
This was such a fantastic read. I definitely recommend it.

As someone who hates reality dance competitions, this made me want to go watch it. It dives through what actually goes on behind the scene and to me that was so refreshing to see beyond what we know.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC

I adore Alexis Daria, and have always wanted to read her debut so seeing it get republished was everything!

I love that this is a reality dancing competition and loved the way the episodes were incorporated into the book. It was so easy to picture the story in my head. I loved Gina and Stone and the reality of what a showmance might mean for Gina's career and public perception. The way that they grew together and learned to trust and open up to one another was beautifully done. And I hope we get to see the next book republished soon!

3.5 stars!

This was just so fun. I could picture this romance so easily and I've definitely watched shows lile dancing with the stars with hopes of romances! The writing was really well done and kept me hooked the entire time.

Thank you netgalley and St Martin's Press for the earc in exchange for an honest review

3.5 rounded up to 4

This book was adorable. It’s basically if a Chris Hemsworth doppelgänger from Alaska: The Last Frontier went on Dancing with the Stars and fell in love with his gorgeous and ambitious dance partner.

I adored almost all of the characters in this book (except you, Donna 🙄). Gina is passionate and headstrong and is an amazing character for Latina representation. She refuses to be typecasted as only a sexy/promiscuous Latina. Her character shows the unfortunate reality of how Latin American woman are perceived in media and the lengths that they have to go through to not be sexualized or viewed in a certain way. And Gina’s character stays true to that for the entire story.

Stone is your strong and silent, but not brooding type. He has a big heart and an even bigger….state that he lives in which is Alaska. He’s not on board with the whole dancing show (even though he can breakdance???), but you can see his character develop overtime and become more comfortable with himself.

Stone and Gina’s relationship is insta-attraction, but not insta-love. They have great build up, and even just the description of the tension they had while dancing had me sweating. For half of the book it was a “will they/won’t they” scenario, but once they finally accepted their feelings for each other??? Incredible. 🔥🔥🔥.

I really enjoyed how the author introduced all the characters in this book. At first I thought it would be overwhelming keeping track of so many characters, but it wasn’t difficult at all! I especially loved Gina’s best friend, Natasha and her unwavering support of Gina. She’s also a tough love type of chick and makes Gina realize when she’s being dumb.

That being said, my only issue with this book was the conflict. While I understood the reasoning behind why each character was upset, it went on for a long time. It got to the point where I was frustrated with both of them and felt like they were being immature. It definitely has some miscommunication that made me dislike the characters. The way Gina held a grudge felt a bit out of character for me.

Overall, this was a cute read and such a unique story line!

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

If you love reality dance competitions like Dancing with the Stars, you'll love this book! It's sweet, funny, swoony and sexy! Alexis does such a great job of making you feel like you're really backstage during one of these competitions. The chemistry between the main character Gina Morales and Stone Nielson jumps ofGf the page from their first on page interaction.

Gina Morales is a pro-dancer on Take the Lead, a reality dance competition. After not winning for five seasons, Gina hopes that she finally gets paired with a partner that will go all the way to the finals. Cue Stone Nielson, famous for the reality show Living Wild (in Alaska) that he does with his family. Stone isn't thrilled to be leaving Alaska or having to dance on TV. But if dancing means he can help cover his mom's surgery bills, then he's going to give it his best shot. After their electric first meeting, it's clear there is something between them. But Gina has a rule: she doesn't date her partners. And Stone is grabbling with his own secret. But the more they keep dancing together, the harder it is for them to deny their feelings.

But with their careers and reputations on the line, will they chose love or security?

I loved this book and couldn't put it done. I highly recommend. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc of this book.

I love this book! It has everything you want in a romance read: humor, heart, big romantic gestures, and spice (all the spice!). And as a big Dancing with the Stars fan, I loved the added behind the scenes drama that both Gina and Stone go through.
What I loved most was that this story was believable. Sometimes romance reads get a little fantastical on the way to the happy ever after. But Take the Lead made me feel like I was in thick of the all the backstabbing, competitive crap that must go on behind the cameras, and I was rooting for Stone and Gina as if this really were a full season of a competition dance show.
Take the Lead was an enjoyable read from start to finish. This is the book that will make a lifetime Alexis Daria fan.
4.5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and the publilsher for the advanced copy.

Thank you @stmartinspress & @netgalley for this ARC of Take the Lead by @alexisdaria !! Alexis is one of my top authors ever since i read #youhadmeathola she has a way with her words and really knows how to write some spice scenes! This was a fast pace and fun read for the valentine season! Highly RECOMMEND!

A dance-centric romcom? Sign. Me. UP!!! This was my first book read by Alexis Daria and I really enjoyed it! I feel like the market can be so over saturated with cartoon cover romcoms and it’s hard to make them stand out, but Daria did a great job adding some depth to this story.

I loved that Gina really explores her privilege throughout this book and what that means. Her decision to work toward not just being another sexualized Latina dancer added a lot to her character and I love a strong female lead!

As a theater kid, this book was a lot of fun and I’m only taking one star off because the pacing felt a little off at certain points. Really excited to see what Daria gives us next in this series!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I love Alexis Daria and I am glad they a rereleasing this series as I had no idea it was out there! Take The Lead is set on a dance competition like Dancing With The Stars and it was a fun look behind the scenes of a competition like that and the drama that might be behind the scenes. Stone was an interesting character that I am not sure was as well described as I might have liked but it was a fun and sexy read.

This is a perfect summer read! It felt just light enough but also had enough drama to keep me reading. I love a "I hate to love you" trope and this executed it perfectly. Gina and Stone had wonderful chemistry. I am not a fan of reality tv at all so I was worried it would play too large of a role in the book but honestly I didn't struggle to read it at all. I will say I was slightly annoyed how long their inability to tell each other what they were feeling lasted but once all said and done I really enjoyed this Alexis Daria book and would recommend it for anyone that wants a steamy light read.