This book was so cute! I hadn't read the original version but I've read You Had Me at Hola and A Lot Like Adiós and really loved them. this book did not disappoint! highly recommend, 5/5 stars. perfect romcom to read while unwinding from a long (or short!) day of work. characters/storyline felt very believable. wish there was more...

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I would give this somewhere from 3.5-4 stars. It was a cute and fun read, and I loved how it was set in the world of dance and reality TV. The protagonists were incredibly easy to love and root for, and the conflicts felt realistic in the context of the setting and their identities. This was my first read by Alexis Daria, and now that I've finished it, I'm definitely planning to check out her other works!

I absolutely adored this book! My first read of an Alexis Daria novel and it was wonderful- I'll definitely be checking out her other books! Stone and Gina were such a cute couple, and the supporting cast were great (excluding Donna, obviously!) I don't watch Dancing With The Stars but the premise made for such a sweet book and I was so invested in their journey! I also love that the cast were diverse in many ways- not just with race/ethnicity. Supporting characters included a Paralympic gold medalist and a nonbinary Broadway casting director.

This was a super fun read! I will definitely recommend to friends. It'll be a perfect read for valentines next year to make you feel all the things!

Made me want to dance while reading. Really good detailed descriptive writing. Captured the tense emotions with the lead characters. Those dance scenes were amazing. Felt like a movie, like I wasn’t actually reading a book. These kind of books are my favorites. Gina and Stone felt like real characters with emotional paths. Great ending, the story felt complete and not forced. I did have a bit of doubt reading a book about a dance competition, but I blown away at how good this on is.

I was given an ARC by Netgalley and St Martins Press in exchange for an honest review! I absolutely loved this book! Fans of dancing with the stars will eat this up!!

It’s Gina’s fifth season on the Dance off and all she wants to do is win! She is paired up with Alaskan wilderness star Stone. He had no dance experience, hates LA and is only here for one purpose, He wants to pay off his mothers medical bills! Neither of them are looking for a romance or showmance for that matter! But feelings rise and things heat up on and off the dance floor. Gina and Stone will have to decide if love comes before their careers or not?

I absolutely loved this book! It reminded me of my favourite TV show dancing with the stars! I loved seeing the progression of Gina and Stone’s relationship! I loved seeing the two dance and practice and could picture each of the shows segments in my head. I loved the setting of Alaska throughout and Stone’s family! The spice was on point! Really excited to see what the final book in this duology brings!

Be sure to grab your dancing shoes and pick this up on Valentine’s Day Feb 14,23!

Oh, I loved this. Stone and Gina are incredible characters who I was rooting for the entire time, and I think Alexis Daria did an amazing job of setting the story against the backdrop of a dancing competition and she built out the side characters in such a fun way. I'm so happy for her that Take the Lead is getting a new cover to build off the success her Primas of Power series is getting and introduce this book to new audiences.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced copy. These opinions are mine alone.

This was a cute book! I like watching Dancing with the Stars, so reading a book about it was really fun. Sometimes it did feel like it was dragging on and even towards the end it even felt with the writing that the author was over it and rushing. But overall it was really enjoyable! There’s a little bit of spice thrown in to top it off as well.

A reality tv dancer Gina wants to finally win on the Dance Off show. Stone is reluctant to be on the show but agrees to it because of his family.

Both characters are terrific. Both kind, smart and caring. They are great for each other and absolutely sweet together. Anyone who likes reality shows or dances will love this book.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

As someone who's obsessed with Dancing with the Stars, the second I learned about this book I knew I needed to read it, and it did not disappoint! I loved Gina- she would definitely be one of my favorite pros. Stone was the perfect contestant and the two of them together?? I loved every second. I loved the journey through their season of dancing and how their relationship grew. It was everything I wanted.

I will say, I finished this book on a DWTS night and couldn't stop thinking about it as I watched the show. They are completely right- the audience (aka me) sure loves a showmance!

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the arc! <3

Take The Lead is a fun contemporary romance by Alexis Daria. Ms. Daria has crafted a well-written book and populated it with a phenomenal cast of characters. Gina is a professional dancer on The Dance Off show, where couples compete with one pro dancer and one non-pro dancer. Stone and his family are on a reality tv show and he's selected to be Gina's partner for the upcoming competition. Stone and Gina's story is packed with humor, drama, angst, sizzle and backstabbing. I didn't think I'd enjoy a dance show book but the characters in this one made me a fan. Take The Lead is book 1 of the Dance Off Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliffhanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Take the Lead by Alexis Daria is a typical romance/rom-com story. That's not a knock; it's a compliment. When choosing to read a book like this, I want a good story with interesting characters and Daria delivers.

Gina is a professional dancer on a show, The Dance Off, that is extremely similar to "Dancing with the Stars". She is itching to win the trophy and her producer has made it clear that she has to win or she may not have a job next season. Stone is an outdoor survivalist living in the Alaskan bush with his family while filming a reality tv show. Stone's family needs money, so he goes on The Dance Off. When Stone and Gina meet, they sizzle. As the story progresses, we see the tension increase with Gina, with Stone and with Gina and Stone.

Again, though the ending is predictable, I enjoyed the journey to get there. Stone and Gina's motivations were clear and I was rooting for them. Overall, Take the Lead is a fun romance.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for an #ARC of #TakeTheLead

This book is perfect. I genuinely had a smile on my face the entire time. Stone and Gina are my new comfort couple! 10/10.

I recently got obsessed with dancing with the stars so seeing this book I knew I had to request it right away. It was cute and fun. It wasn't just a simple romance which is what I liked. Also that cover is gorgeous!!

I love dance shows and drama and that is what this book reminded me of. What we imagine happens behind the scenes of a dance show.

I read this within a day and I had a great time reading the whole thing. I loved Gina and her narrative - she is a determined woman who wants to win the whole thing.

I found Stone's silent sexiness the best part of this book. He was for sure a gentle giant that we all love.

I enjoyed the romance between these two because it was urgent, sexy, and just downright sweet most of the time, I mean both characters had their own reasons and motivations for the future.

I absolutely will be reading the other books in this series - I am officially investing

Selena Gomez and Thor find love 😂 Yes, yes, yes!! This book was everything! I’m so excited to read more of this series. I love dancing and Latine culture. It made me smile :)

The book has:
- Guy Falls First
- Opposites Attract
- Film Romance (Reality TV Dance Show)
- Friendly Giant

Thank you to Alexis Daria and St.Martins Press for the ARC. I’m excited that this book will travel across the US so other readers can enjoy it.

This book was so much fun! I grew up dancing so its always fun to read a story I relate too. I also felt the author did a great job describing the scenes and the emotional aspects of dancing and partner dancing. When adding the book on my goodreads, I did see that it came out in 2017 and I read the second book right away. So fun to jump into this world and learn about the characters.

Take the Lead is officially my new favorite Alexis Daria novel.

Set during a celebrity dance-off show, Take the Lead features Gina, a professional dancer who badly wants to win the latest series of Dance Off, and Stone, the Alaskan survivalist who is burdened by his family's secrets. Their chemistry is instant and only builds as they dance together week after week, but Gina's rules against dating coworkers and Stone's belief that all of this is fake make them question everything they're feeling.

I literally could not put Take the Lead down. It's a fun celebrity romance that explores deeper emotional issues, and it's very evident that Daria put in the time to research ballroom dancing and thought through the choreography in detail. I felt as if I were backstage on a dancing reality show.

I also loved the story between Gina and Stone. For me, the best romance novels not only feature a thousand reasons why the main couple should be together.... they also have to feature at least one compelling reason why the couple should not be together. Take the Lead delivers, wrapping me up so tightly in this romance. Stone and Gina are so different -- and beautifully drawn by Daria -- and yet I felt their compatibility on every page.

Finally, I have to say that I loved how Daria handled the representation in this book. It's lightly handled but every touch is deft, particularly Gina's Latinidad. I hope that more authors will follow in Daria's example, in the diverse and well-done representation, and in the craft aspects of this story as well, because Take the Lead was truly, truly excellent.

I enjoyed every page of this book and I highly recommend it.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for an early review copy of Take the Lead. All opinions are my own.

This was so cute! I devoured it. I’m a sucker for reality tv storylines, although this is my first dancing storyline. I loved reading about the choreography and the behind-the-scenes moments. I was rooting for Stone and Gina the whole time. I only wish I got an even more extended epilogue.

I received this ARC for an honest review. This is the first book I have read from Alexis Daria, and it won’t be the last. Alexis Daria is a must read author! Alexis Daria knows how to get the reader invested in the story. You feel a connection with the characters.
This story is about Stone and Gina. Stone is famous from being on a reality show with his family about living in Alaska and Gina is a dance choreographer and teacher on the reality show “Dance Off”. Stone is reluctant to be on the show, but agrees because his family needs the money to pay off his mother’s hip surgery. Gina is determined to finally win and use that win to further her dancing career. The chemistry between the two is off the charts since the beginning. But will Gina stick to her rule to never get involved with a co-worker or will she put caution in the wind? I’m not telling because you have to read the book.
I know this a re-write, so I can’t give you comparison between the two books. I can only say I’m glad I gave Alexis Daria a try. It’s well written and has a good flow. Alexis Daria’s characters are multidimensional and grow through the story. I highly recommend to give the book a try. You won’t be disappointed.