Alexis Daria shines through at her brightest in this re-write and re-launch of her first romance Take the Lead. Embracing both the celebrity and reality television tropes, this Dance Off themed romance was fun, flirty, and a slow burn in just the right way as the characters figured out whether their happily ever after was possible.

The story centers Gina, a Latina dance expert on the show dedicated to winning yet also avoiding flirty stereotypes, and Stone, a tall, blonde white man who had been "Living Wild" with his family's reality tv show i. Alaska. Gina and Stone were both well fleshed out and their decisions and regrets made sense even when they were aggravating.

I hope the rest of the series is re-released too because the other characters deserve their HEAs too.

Thank you to the author Alexis Daria, publishers St. Martin's Griffin and St. Martin's Press, and as always NetGalley, for an advance audio copy of TAKE THE LEAD.

Gina is a professional dancer on a Dance Off style show, who treks to the middle of the Alaskan wilderness, <i>facing death</i>, to snag her sexy dancing costar-- Stone, who oh so humbly only lives on ice mountain in order to help out his backward family, otherwise he'd definitely be in LA. Stone drives Gina crazy with his lack of polish, and she, with her curt one liners and ice-queen maneuvers dialed up, never gives him a chance to charm her with his towering beard and fourteen and a half pack..
.
.
Until she does and he accidentally impales her. Honestly, is he having sex with her or competing in a one man track meet and she'sthe discus, shotput, hurdle, and pole vault? Bowling ball?

I probably would have liked this book better if it focused more on these antics, honestly. They were funny. The sex scenes were pretty funny too, though I don't think that's what the writer was shooting for.

Unfortunately, for a book about dancers, there aren't too many dancing descriptions, like what dancing looks like, or feels like in the body. Or how the dancers sync to music, how the audience responds. Whatever. Most of the details about dancing are super dry and technical, tons of jargon, and I couldn't connect with any of it. And it makes up a huge portion of the storyline.

I'm not always in favor of the character driven story, but in this case, I would have liked to see less focus on the dance competition plot, and more focus on developing the two characters, and then their romance.

Rating: 🩰🩰🩰 / 5 dancing shoes
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶 / 4 (for gymnastics)
Recommend? Sure, it's not bad
Finished: February 22 2023
Read this if you like:
🌶 Spicy romance
💃 Stories about dancing
🎥 Stories about TV shows
❤️‍🩹 Enemies to lovers trope

If you love reality TV, but also all the romance. This is your book! I loved the fact that it takes place in a Dance reality show (very much like Dancing with the Stars) but with more drama, lots of humor, and of course the undeniable romance. I've loved everything Alexis has written, and I'm so excited to find out what's next!!

I finished this book on Valentines Day and it was a great way to finish it. I'm a sucker for reality shows so pair that with romance and I'm in! Gina and Stone are the perfect duo and you can't help but fall in love with them. If you're a fan or dancing with the stars with a romance twist (who wouldn't be?) Then this is the book for you!

Take the Lead is a flirty romance that does not shy away from the explosive chemistry between characters. I especially loved how Stone and Gia slowly allow themselves to fall for each other despite the obstacles they'll face in their careers if they chose to pursue a relationship.

This fun romance is perfect for any reality tv show fan. And I recommend it for readers who enjoyed Daria's "You Had me at Hola."

I. Loved. This!!

Stone is a star of a reality show with his family and their reclusive life in Alaska. Gina is a professional dancer on The Dance Off, a popular TV show that pairs pro dancers with celebrities (sound familiar...?). They come from very, very different backgrounds but when they're paired to dance together on the show, sparks fly. Can Gina resist temptation and lead Stone to victory?

Alexis Daria is becoming one of my favorite contemporary authors. She writes her characters so well and her books are always a lot of fun, this one included.

Take the Lead has so many tropes I love in a good romance book. I used to watch Dancing with the Stars growing up so I was so excited to read this book. However, I wish I liked this story more than I did. By no means is this story bad, but it just didn't serve what I thought it would.

It's a very cute story! I really enjoyed the visuals of the the main pairing and seeing how their showmance played out. Reality TV shows have all the drama and this book captured that drama really well. I just think it felt flat across the relationships between the main couple and their interactions with friends and family as well. I just didn't get Stone's family at all.

I expected the reality TV drama and the showmance was supposed to show the fake, heightened 'made for TV' love and relationships. Then when the cameras were turned off, the quiet moments, the development, the conversations of substance would take place. I felt like the showy drama just continued off camera as well. Relationship drama between Gina and Stone is justified but the insta-lust to love plot didn't settle with me considering the short timespan from first meeting to the end of the show. The final act resolution and the passion during their dances fell a little flat for me as well.

I mean no doubt that if they were really on Dancing with the Stars, I'd probably be voting for this pairing. After reading this book though I don't think Gina, Stone and the entire ensemble cast have left much of an impression on me.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Gina and Stone have a lot at stake in The Dance Off! While they come from very different backgrounds, they have a strong connection and chemistry between them. But they also have secrets between them and those can be dangerous.

As they prepare for the competition, they may encounter challenges due to their different personalities and ways of approaching things. However, they may also be able to learn from each other and find ways to complement each other's strengths. Gina's job and Stone's family both depend on their success in the competition, so the pressure is on. However, if they are able to work together and support each other, they may be able to overcome any obstacles and come out on top. Of course, there are forces at play in the show that cause issues and the paparazzi also gets in their heads. It's a mental game as much as a physical one.

Ultimately, The Dance Off will be a test of their skills and their ability to work together as a team. If they can channel their chemistry into a winning performance, they may be able to achieve their goals and come out on top. The real test will be to see if their hearts can survive.

I thought this was a sweet and somewhat spicy book. The characters were likable and easy to cheer for. I'll be interested to see how the rest of this series is.

Thank you to NetGalley for this complimentary copy. I chose to read and review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Gina, a professional dancer with big aspirations, and Stone, a reality TV mountain man who lives “off the grid” with his family, get paired up to compete on The Dance Off. With Gina’s struggle to make it to the finals in previous seasons, she’s more determined than ever to win; she just has to make sure she doesn’t let her feelings get in the way of her success.

I enjoyed the storyline, but could’ve done with less drama between Stone and Gina. As a Latina, I can empathize with Gina not wanting to be typecasted and refusing to put her private life on display. however, I was also kinda torn because she was a bit selfish throughout the novel and didn’t really care about Stone’s feelings.

Overall, a solid read and would def recommend.

Thank you to St Martin’s Press + NetGalley for the ARC!

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria is a perfect book for people who are fans of Dancing with the Stars and big, strong, Alaskan men.
This story follows Gina, who works as a professional dancer on a competition dance show. She wants to make it big but has never even made it to the finals. With her latest partner, a big strong Alaskan man from Living Wild named Stone Nielson, she might stand a chance. She thinks that this will be her ticket to winning until her producer hints at her and Stone being set up for a showmance. Neither wants to fake a romance for the cameras, but they can’t hide their attraction for each other either.
I have this book 4/5 stars. I loved how the characters were opposites and how different they were. I also loved how Gina was the only one who made Stone comfortable about dancing and being touched. Gina was always so professional and she was a strong character. I also loved Stone. He was so quiet and shy. He would also do anything for his family. These two together were so cute and the attraction between them was undeniable. I liked this book and would read it again but it is not five stars to me. Thank you NetGalley for the review copy. All opinions are my own.

If you book has a behind scene of TV shows, like sign me up.

Spice rating - 🌶🌶🌶.5

This book opened a lot for me about the manipulation and emotional abuse that goes on in the industry, and also that dancing is also a form of intimacy.

I loved how mentally strong Gina was, like I want to be like that. The miscommunication that dragged on forever wasn't fun at all and also we understood that stone was a giant man the first time, why was it mentioned over and over again.
The writing was good, the characters were likable at best.

Thanks to netgalley and the author for a eARC, in exchange for a honest review.

This book was pretty good. I can't say more than that for two reasons. First, I feel I'm in the minority, but I dislike reality T.V. a great deal. Bachelor/bachelorette, Survivor, following other people's lives, Dancing with the Stars, ugh. I will not watch them, so I should have read the blurb when I was offered the ARC of this book before agreeing to read and review. I mean I'm reading this and shuddering thinking about cameras and mics on them all the time. Total nightmare. So, the fact that Gina and Stone are reality stars - you have to weigh my review through that filter. The book itself was well written, but my second issue was I did not like Gina with Stone. I liked her pretty well with her family and Tash, but frankly she was horrible to him, treating him as if his opinion, thoughts and feelings were nothing. Now, I will say her character as a Latina working as a reality dance instructor I can empathize with her feelings and can totally see her point of view when it comes to showmance and her reputation, but not to the exclusion of all else and the man she supposedly has feelings for, could have fooled me. Stone on the other hand was a wonderful character. Was he perfect, no, but he was a hell of lot nicer than Gina. And all she did was mirror how his family treated him as well (another reality show nightmare.) If this story had been taken out of the reality realm, I might have liked it a bit better depending on how Gina acted in a different situation....

Thank you to St. Martin's Press, St Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing an ARC for an honest and unbiased review.

What a fun story and a look into the world of reality television! Not a fan of any of those shows really, I wasn’t sure that I would stay engaged with this one. Not so – it was a great read and the reality show was somewhat of a side story within the whole picture. Both of the main characters were participants in their own reality shows when the two cross over. I’m pretty sure that even if it isn’t true in Hollywood, many of us know similar situations. Enjoy the tough guy who really wants the girl but isn’t sure how he will get her in the end! Of course there is a HEA!

I’m a big Alexis Daria fan and I really liked this book. Her characters always seem like real people that I would want to hang out with I thought the main love story was great and I didn’t want to stop reading.

When I first read Alexis Daria’s debut novel, Take the Lead, I knew she’d be a romance author I would follow. Now with the updated cover and story, it reminded me why I loved the characters so much.

Gina Morales is a Puerto Rican pro dancer on “The Dance Off” who is vying for a win on the 14th season of the competition show. She’s built her reputation on being a good choreographer and refuses to play into showmances so that viewers will vote for her. But when she’s partnered with Stone Nielson, a super hott reality star who lives in the Alaskan wilderness, she’ll have to decide if risking her reputation for her heart is worth it.

I used to watch DWTS and reading this felt like a behind-the-scenes of that world. Gina’s POV about not wanting to play into the “promiscuous Latina” stereotype made me think about how the Latinx celebrities were sexualized on DWTS, especially the men who would often be shirtless for one or more dances. I appreciated that Gina calls it out, and that she’s career-focused, refusing to repeat past mistakes that could ruin her goals. And Stone is perfect for her! He’s on the show to help pay for his mom’s medical bills, and once he learns Gina’s job is on the line, he wants to win even more.
I especially liked that Gina doesn’t have to choose between Stone and her career. He never liked being on reality TV and the updated part of him working with an Alaskan conservation group and using his engineering degree was a good addition to the story. Whether as a dance partner or boyfriend, Stone is willing to support Gina in achieving her dreams, and it’s so sweet!

I really enjoyed Take the Lead! It was fun, light-hearted, and just what I needed after reading quite a few heavier books in a row.

The characters were enjoyable and while some were ones I disliked, (Donna, the 'showmance'-pushing producer, I'm looking at you.) most of the characters were interesting and gave me some new insight into an aspect of their lives or into the dancing part of the book.

I've never watched Dancing With the Stars or anything similar, but I enjoyed learning what various dances required, the info about how hard dancers train for a show like this, and how tough it must be for people who aren't dancers to suddenly be thrust into this environment.

I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series. Thanks to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for an ARC at my request. All thoughts are my own.

Thank you for the arc appreciate it so much. This book was amazing I loved so much. Love the dancing aspect it made me want to dance. Loved how the romance came about so beautiful written .

This is a highly entertaining peek into a reality dancing show like “Dancing With the Stars “. Gina is an experienced dancer on the show, and she’s hoping her partner will be an Olympic skater, someone who can help her finally win the trophy.
Instead, she gets a reality show star from Alaska named Stone who’s family builds their own house etc. He doesn’t have any dance experience but he is absolutely gorgeous. Tall with lots of muscles.
As they learn the dances together, they get closer and closer, literally during the sexier dances. But, Gina has a rule, never fall for your partner.
The behind the scenes look at the producers and other dancers is fun and interesting, and I liked the ending a lot. 4 stars.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

This is an original and entertaining rom-com set on the stage of a dance off set. Gina is a professional and is totally unprepared to dance with the star of a show about living in the wilds of Alaska. From the first scene when they meet in Alaska, the author had me hooked. I really wanted to know how Stone and Gina could form any kind of bond, on or off the dance floor since they were so different. I loved the vulnerability of Stone and his willingness to make a huge sacrifice for his family. And I really enjoyed getting to know Gina with all of her perfectionism and tendency to lead when she knew that she had to teach Stone to lead in order to win the dance competition. The banter between the two was noteworthy and played like a movie in my mind. The characters were realistically portrayed if slightly quirky, but that was part of their charm. The plot moved along at a moderate pace, with some drama added along the way and some other characters trying to thwart the couple in their determination to win and to follow their hearts. Fun to read and a great book to discuss at book club, too!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is the perfect read that I needed! Alexis Daria has rereleased and remastered her first novel that originally came out in 2017 and I am so glad that I read this one! I cannot believe I am saying this but this was my first Alexis Daria book, but it will not be my last!

This story will leave you smiling once you finish but it will also make you giggle throughout with all the extra characters you meet throughout the novel! I loved watching Gina and Stone figure out their relationship and man the tension between them was hot! There was angst too!

Gina has been on Dance off for 4 seasons and has yet to win one, but her fifth season will be the one, until she meets sexy wild reality tv star Stone and she believes she will be once again a loser on the show. But then she sees him dance and thinks maybe she does have a shot to win this season. That is, until she is informed all the duo is good for is for the showmance that viewers want to see.

This is such a cute story and if you are looking for a romance with dancing, spice, and angst then this will be the story for you!

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martins Press for giving me an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!