Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me free access to the advanced digital copy of this book, as this book has already been published, I will not share my review on Netgalley at this time.

This was my first read by this author, and I won't let it be my last. This was such a heartwarming and cute ya read that had my emotional all over the place. The author really did her thing with this story. It felt like I was watching a movie in my head. Although it's a YA read, it captured teen emotions that all of us have felt at that age. Lelia learned a lot of lessons that will contunue on with her throughout her life. This is one of those book that I would like to see how they are doing in the future. (Truthfully I hope they are able to make it and stay together), like maybe at a reunion or something like that. It was such a cute and enjoyable read and I can't wait to see what the author does next.

This book was so fun and so cute. I smiled so much and just its perfection. Thank you to there publisher for the copy.

This was recommended by Priyanka Taslim!! It’s such a fun coming of age novel. It’s cute and it’s perfect for all kids in middle school and up.

I adored the story, the world building was amazing. I love meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it. The writing was also really nice. I couldn't put the book down and I can't wait for others to read and enjoy this story as well.

3.5
This book, while was enjoyable, everything felt very surface level to me. I wanted to know the characters more, especially the main character since the story was told from their perspective in first person. I still found the story entertaining and there were some exciting moments, but I just couldn't fully connect with the characters. I felt like there wasn't enough depth to them and I didn't get a chance to really understand their motivations and inner thoughts. Overall, I would recommend this book if you're looking for a quick and entertaining read.

DNF @42%

Honestly, there's nothing bad or offensive about this book. In fact, I found the writing style easy to get lost in and read quickly. Butttttt I didn't care about the plot or the main character. I also found the book extremely predictable and don't think I need to finish it to know what happens.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Giving 3 stars because NetGalley requires a rating. I'd say this is middle of the road.

💃Book Spotlight💃🏿
Last Chance Dance
By: Lakita Wilson
Publisher: Penguin
Published: February 21. 2023

A great big thank you to Penguin for my digital copy of the book.

Synopsis: "Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.
A high school tradition, the Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices—and with someone she never expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.
Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission—trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn’t her true love—then maybe someone else is. She knows it’s definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he’s right for her.
But as graduation and the dance approaches, and each date seems to change her mind (and her heart)—Leila must figure out what—and who—she really wants. It’s her last chance, right?"

I really liked the premise of this book, which is why I picked it for review. It sounded so cute and fun! It turns out, however, this was not the book for me. The level of high school drama seemed a bit much, even for a YA book. Maybe everything just seemed a little superficial for me. I ended up DNF'ing about halfway through. One positive I will give the book, though, was the diverse characters. There seemed to be a wider range than normal.

💃🏿#qotd : What was the last book you DnF'd OR did you enjoy going to dances in high school?

I only went to one dance in high school (prom) and honestly it wasn't great. Putting on a fancy dress was the best part.

#Penguin #lastchancedance #ya #yaromance #diversity #penguinteen #yafiction #fiction #newrelease #glitter

Thank you to penguin teen for the advanced copy.

I thought this story was very interesting and definitely not something I have read before. I loved the queer representation and family dynamic pictured.

The integration of bookstagram and or books featuring representation was such a great touch. As well as the self exploration completed by the main character involving matters of the heart. It really felt like she was trying to figure out what it's like to love and lose.

This was a great ya book especially if your looking for a yabook set in senior year with a bunch of drama.

I really adored Last Chance Dance, this was such a sweet and cute romance! Full of humor, compelling characters and a rich story line this is definitely one you want to pick up. A very heartwarming and charming coming of age book!

Leila is devastated when her high school boyfriend dumps her before graduation. But all the sudden she gets paired with four unrequited crushes in her lead up to her schools annual Last Chance Dance. Even though she’s not over her ex, this could be just thing she needs to find herself and maybe a new love.

This book was like “speed dating” in high school. I liked Leila rediscovering herself and new interests as well as reconnecting with ex friends. The story gives inspiration to starting “fresh” and definitely had its own Own Voices.

Adorable adorable adorable. Hands down a strong 4.5⭐️

A perfect read for the Valentine's season. What do you do after your first love breaks your heart? You take some time to brood and then you take control of the love narrative.

If you are a fan of Elise Bryant you will love this book. I'm so looking forward to reading whatever comes next from this author.

Thank you Penguin Teen for the e-galley and physical copy! #PenguinTeenPartner

Such a beautiful, sweet ya romance. The author broke my heart and then put it back together through humor, incredible side characters, and the BEST character development in the main character. It felt so true to that period of life and had the perfect amount of ya romance charm and heartwarming coming of age.

I received an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Honestly I really enjoyed this book. Leila’s growth journey was very enjoyable and Tre’ was so funny. Overall, good book, not much to say beyond that.

I picked this book up because of the premise. The concept of a Last Chance Dance is interesting, if not entirely realistic for a high school to sponsor, but this book was fun! Last Chance Dance explores new beginnings at the end of high school.

Leila has been dating her boyfriend Dev for the entirety of their high school career. She thinks they’re the happiest couple ever—that is, until he breaks up with her out of the blue. After wallowing for a few days, she’s determined to show him he made a big mistake by going out with her matches for the Last Chance Dance, an annual dance her school throws where people try to mutually match with old and new crushes before everyone graduates. Unfortunately, her wild card match turns out to be the boy she dislikes the most, Tre.

Like I said before, the concept of the Last Chance Dance was pretty fun. You pick three people you either once had or currently have a crush on; if they mutually pick you, you have a week or so to go on a date with any of them before deciding on a date to the dance. There’s also a wild card match for each person, picked by an algorithm, which is how Leila matches with Tre.

I liked the support Leila has, with her best friend Bree always by her side and her close relationship with her mom and her younger sister. Despite the sudden heartbreak she’s experienced, she’s able to at least try to move on from Dev with their help. Even Tre, whom she finds annoying at best, turns out to be a good shoulder to lean on.

It was also fun to follow Leila as she goes on dates with three people she’s interested in: Kai, an influencer; Mason, a teen activist; and Eva, a bookstagrammer. Even if she’s still not fully over Dev, I liked seeing her grow out of her shell, especially because she’s never really been able to pursue a relationship outside of him.

The romance was cute. Even though Leila doesn’t really like Tre, it’s clear that they have a good rapport. As she gets to know him more, she learns that he has another side to him than the class clown who’d do anything to get a laugh.

Last Chance Dance was a cute book about new doors opening after one has closed. I liked the characters and found the plot to be fun. If you’re looking for a cute rom-com, you should look into Last Chance Dance!

I enjoyed this story of giving others a second chance, particularly with the high school crowd. I won't be recommending this book to my own students as it is too old, BUT I will recommend it to teachers/librarians of middle and high school students.

My smile is so wide and my heart is so happy! This was so adorable, charming, and relatable that I could not put it down. Love triangles are great fun when they're done right, and the confusion of new loves vs exes was done perfectly. Watching Tella's growth throughout this book was an absolute pleasure and it was one of the best romance subplots I've ever seen. I loved the concept, and no doubt schools across the country will be begging for this type of homecoming ritual. I can't wait to see what this author does for YA next!

So cute. I posted a review on TikTok and Goodreads. This is perfect to highlight in school libraries around March because that's the beginning of Prom season. If you're an advisor I could see school's adopting this Last Chance Dance as part of the end of year activities.

Lakita Wilson's LAST CHANCE DANCE is bursting with voice and vibrant characters. Leila is such a dynamic character; it's a thrill to get her perspective and inner thoughts throughout her journey. One of the standout characters is Leila's best friend Bree who is so funny and deliciously opinionated yet grounded and true to her friends. Huge bonus points for butch representation, too! That is so lacking in YA right now. LAST CHANCE DANCE is a book I'll be highlighting and recommending to my students this upcoming semester!