There were parts of Take the Lead that I liked... but for the most part it was just "meh" for me. Gina is a professional dancer on a "Dancing with the Starts" type show and her partner Stone is from a family reality series. Gina prides herself on using her talent (and nothing more) to advance her career, so when the producers try to engage her in a "showman" for ratings, she isn't keen on the idea. Even if she is rather fond of her partner.
I felt like the character development was missing a little something. Stone went from cold to hot quickly and couldn't decide if he was closed off or an open book. I didn't feel the any sparks between the MC's and would have liked to see a little more tension and a little less insta-relationship vibes.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you for the eARC of this book! If you’re a fan of dance reality shows like Dancing with the Stars, you will enjoy this book! The setting is a dance off competition show where we also get a taste of how the backstage production goes (taking some video clips without the dancers knowledge, pairing couples together to fill certain roles on the show,etc). Gina and Sloan develop something bigger than the show and it’s fun to see their relationship progress. This is a really enjoyable read.
3.5 stars!

This was a lot of fun and I genuinely enjoyed these two together. Not too much conflict and the resolution was a touch fast as well.

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.