4.5 stars

First off, what a STUNNING cover! Sapphics with dogs? Yes, please!

This is a hard-hitting story about former friends turned rivals becoming teammates and, not only rebuilding their connection as friends, but exploring the beginnings of a romance too. Meanwhile, Taylor is dealing with her dad's kidney failure, and Mari struggles to essentially be a parent to her younger twin siblings. All of this is set against the backdrop of cross-country.

My favorite parts included the dogs. This is a slooooow burn, but the times that Mari and Taylor got along best for the most part were while walking dogs. I think this book captures teenagers really well, but I was a little jarred by the speed at which how hot and cold Taylor and Mari acted. Also, I wish something would have happened to Sarita... Some kind of final confrontation or news of her being punished or something. Can't have everything, I guess.

Thank you to NetGalley and publisher for the opportunity to read and review!

Don’t let the cute doggy cover fool you. Out of Step, Into You tugs hard at your heartstrings.

Seeing how the abrupt ending of Mari and Taylor’s friendship stayed with both of them is authentic and relatable. It brought me back to a similar moment when I had to say goodbye to friends as our paths went separate ways.

With all the heavy themes this book discusses, I appreciated how the romance remains a subplot.

One of my biggest pet peeves is when romantic love seemingly cancels out all problems. People have issues that aren’t automatically fixed with love. Thank you to the author for recognizing this.

Also, another thank you to the author for writing a story featuring multiple sapphic characters without homophobia. Readers like me deserve safe spaces to see LGBT+ relationships develop.

Out of Step, Into You being equal parts sweet and sad is exactly why I think it’s so enjoyable.

Bottom line: Who’s running to get a copy?

A good YA coming of age story with some romance and heavy focus on cross country.

This story centers around ex-best friends Taylor and Marianna in their senior year of high school, trying to overcome their differences and family drama while leading their cross country teams.

The strength of this story is the characters. Like most YA coming-of-age novels, the plot is pretty mild and it's mostly their day-to-day lives, trying to balance their needs/wants/feelings and lots of drama. Taylor is the reserved, maybe-on-the-spectrum Type A personality while Mari is outgoing and passionate. I liked seeing them wrestle with each other and their own feelings, sorting out what is real and what is just and old grudge they can't shake off. I liked the diverse cast of friends, the discussion about economic classes, and different parenting styles. I think the plot is a bit too slow, with not a lot of development until around the 70% mark (forget about the cute dogs on the cover, their barely there), but overall I'd recommend.

Thank you Netgalley and Farrar, Straus and Giroux for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

“Out of Step, Into You” by Ciera Burch is a heartfelt and tender YA contemporary that beautifully captures the ache, vulnerability, and hope of reconnecting with someone who once meant everything. With a strong focus on friendship, healing, and slow-burn romance, this book will resonate deeply with those who appreciate character-driven stories and authentic emotional journeys. This is also a pretty clean YA book, and I would recommend this story for younger YA readers and mature MG readers.

The story follows Taylor and Mari, two former best friends turned silent rivals on their high school cross-country teams. After a painful falling out years earlier, their only interactions have been glances at races—until Mari moves back to town and circumstances force them to work together. Told through a dual POV and sprinkled with flashbacks, Burch masterfully brings their shared past into the story, showing how much love and hurt still linger between them.

The romance here is soft, realistic, and slow-building, grounded firmly in the messy process of rebuilding trust. While there's plenty of adorable tension—the shy glances, the quiet longing—"Out of Step, Into You” prioritizes friendship first, allowing the romantic feelings to unfold naturally. This is the part I enjoyed the most; I really loved the focus on friendship, which is often missing from more fast-paced and insta-love centered YA romances. Their connection feels believable, never rushed, and free from over-the-top dramatics, making it a refreshing entry in the YA romance genre.

Both girls have rich, well-developed individual arcs. Taylor navigates the heavy emotional toll of her father’s chronic illness, while Mari struggles under the weight of family responsibility with a mother who’s often absent. Burch does an excellent job differentiating their voices and backgrounds, giving depth to their struggles without ever losing the tender focus of the story. These real-world challenges add gravity and realism to the otherwise sweet and hopeful tone of the book.

The ending did feel a little rushed. After such a carefully developed story, the final chapters sped by too quickly, leaving me longing for a deeper glimpse into Taylor and Mari’s future—especially given how much the story is about rebuilding and dreaming ahead. An epilogue showing them further along in their journey would have been a perfect, satisfying close.

Overall, “Out of Step, Into You” is a touching, emotionally intelligent story about forgiveness, growth, and first love. With beautiful sapphic and Black girl representation, relatable characters, and a careful balance between youthful hope and real-life challenges, Ciera Burch offers a romance that feels genuinely earned and tenderly crafted. If you’re looking for a thoughtful, slow-burn romance that leaves your heart full, this book is a must-read.

Ｅｂｏｏｋ Ｒｅｖｉｅｗ
🌟🌟🌟🌟
This is a cute YA sapphic contemporary Black romance. This book touches on some heavy topics: a parent battling cancer, and a parent who is never home. These two girls go through two different battles while also trying to figure out where and why their friendship has boomed, or could bloom, into something more. Taylor and Marianna were each other's whole world—best friends, running partners, practically sisters—until Marianna moved away, and Taylor promptly ghosted her. When the former best friends turned rivals end up on the same cross-country team three years later, everything is a competition…and a reminder of old feelings, as well as blossoming new ones.

Thank you, NetGalley, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for the ebook in exchange for my honest review.

This was a really cute, fun YA book! I love the inclusion in this book, and the dynamic of the characters. Friendship is always a solid foundation for romance. Super cute and love a good ending!

This was such a cute YA book! Sapphic, black rep, and talk of pups every once in a while? Sign me up!

Taylor and Mari grew up together and the author does a good job weaving their history into the book. One day, Mari tells Taylor that she's moving away and Taylor proceeds to ghost her. Years pass and they both become cross-country athletes with their schools. They see each other at meets and compete, but never speak to each other. Then the rivals end up having to work together when Mari moves back. Having to face each other, navigate their families, and bring their team to victory - this is a story of two young girls rekindling their friendship and growing into themselves.

The way these two were so obviously keeping an eye on each other, even when they weren't speaking had me kicking my feet. This was such a sweet romance. Their crushes were extremely adorable!

The angst of teenage emotions amid the realities of their lives and circumstances was so well-written. I think the author did a great job differentiating the characters and aligning their actions/personality with their backgrounds and individual stories. I do wish the last few chapters were a little more written out. It seems like the end of the book wrapped up really fast. An epilogue would have been nice to look into the future, although I understand why maybe it didn't feel necessary. I just personally would have loved to see a small glimpse into their future.

All in all, I completely recommend this book if you are intrigued by the blurb or reviews!

I have been on a sporty and sapphic kick lately, apparently! This YA romance is lovely. I adore how it was not just about their relationship and was about their friendship rebuilding, too. Taylor and Mari’s relationship only works because their friendship does. As someone with kidney issues, I was partial to the kidney replacement representation as well. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Never read a lesbian book before, so this was a good introduction. At points, Mari and Taylor both read more like middle schoolers rather than highschool students. Those parts were kinda cringe. I love how all our characters connected though, happy ending!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC in exchange for my honest review!!

I’m on a black girl sapphic romance kick and I’m loving it. This one focuses on ex best friends who have to work together on their cross country team. Mari has to deal with her mother always working and leaving her to watch her siblings all the time while Taylor deals with her father’s kidney disease and him being constantly sick and in the hospital. I can understand why Mari was so wary of Taylor. The way she ended their friendship was actually almost exactly what happened to me, so I get it. I don’t think Taylor was a bad person, but she for sure didn’t know how to get herself in check and understand her feelings. The dog walking part of this was very minimal but very cute. I liked seeing them interact with the doggies. Cross country seems like such a hard thing to do and I love running! Kudos to those girls.

This was a fast cozy read!! I loved the characters so much and they had really good chemistry! I even got really into the sports side of the story which doesn't happen a lot. The side characters were very enjoyable as well. It was a very good quick read.

Marie and Taylor both had some complicated issues in their lives. I loved that both characters found their path and grew closer together, eventually sparking a friendship that could lead to something more. The story showed a lot of character growth and determination, that made the book a heartwarming read. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book. It was sweet. It had a lot of good character growth. It was such a sweet book!

This was an arc read.
Thank you to netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

While I was enjoying this one, I’ve had an extremely busy few months and I simply was not able to finish it within the given timeframe.

From what I was able to read, it was a cute YA sapphic romcom. I would like to get my hand on this one again to finish it up.

Thanks for the opportunity to read.

<b>4.5🏅</b>
As a black sapphic girly that’s ran track (sprinter) It was only right I tuned into <b><i>Step into You</b></i> by <i>Ciera Burch</i>! And thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Children's Publishing Group, and Ciera Burch. I was able to

From the start, the rivalry and the yearning is felt! The similarities of running and chasing for sport vs their relationship is just <b>good food!</b>

Reading this made me so giddy as if I had my own friend to crush. And the yearning throughout the rivalry is so so good.

How they express their memories of each other to theirselves or to the other is so lovely and soft and all consuming how they feel regarding each other.

<b><i>‘I don’t know why this sleepover feels different, this hundredth sleepover of ours, but Mari is pre— I mean Mari is beau— I mean Mari is my friend.’’</b></i>

<i>I feared I kicked my feet</i>

<b><i>‘I lean forward, just a little, slow enough that she can move back and I can shut my eyes and go to sleep and pretend it didn’t happen. But she doesn’t move away so I don’t close my eyes and then my lips are on hers, and she still isn’t moving away, and her hand is still on my cheek and everything is so, so purple.’’</b></i>

<i> See purple color haters?? Purple is the color of good, softness, and loveliness (said biggest purple fan)</i>

The medical representation and the health anxiety (so real), the pressure of the older black child having to take on parental duties so young. All so well and clear that’s it’s easy to digest especially since this is <b>YA</b>.

<b><i>"We wanted her to rate the last person she kissed," Khyris clarifies from across the circle. She's a haze through the fire, light brown hair glowing almost copper.
"She gave you a seven," Kerri adds.’</b></i>

<b><i> She laughs, locking eyes with me as she takes another greedy bite of her snack. "Maybe I just like girls who are easily manipulated."’</b></i>

<i>The hell? How did Mari even allow herself to be involved with this girl, forget the benefits she’s messed up! And why’d she just disappear with no repercussions after her meddling of our besties/ship??</i>

<b><u>Departing Thoughts</b></u>
Some of the chapters, specifically the last chapters before #46 being short lived was unsatisfactory and resulted into my immersion flickering. I feel the emotions and actions between our two mains and their situations could’ve been depicted a bit better so it wasn’t just 10 pages with a single paragraph leaving us with only 2 full chapters. Felt like a rush to get past the meat and to the end, perhaps unfinished in ways?

Wanted a glimpse of them in their senior year or first year of college. While I appreciated the friendship rekindling and felt it was natural and well done, I do wish we were with them as a couple more, after all that yearning and angst we deserved more of them just sappy and in love. This could’ve been given if our 10 pages of single paragraphs were used differently and fleshed out.

Also would’ve appreciated Mari and her mom’s dynamic being more fleshed out as well; it is on Mari’s side but not so well on her mom’s, some more depth and energy with that and her would’ve done so well!


<b><i>The Styrofoam cup, even half burnt with a crisp black void inside instead of noodles, is easy to recognize.
I sigh in relief and then try not to hack my lungs out.
I glance at Moses, who's still waving his towel in the air. "You forgot the water," I say. It's not a question.’</b></i>

<i>This was too funny, but one of the only ‘black experiences’ I’ve never experienced lol. Like howww?</i>

*4.25 Stars*

I really liked this book. Both the main characters were layered and interesting and I actually got into the competition and sports part of the story. The plot grabbed me from start to finish. It was such a fast and good read. I enjoyed the side characters as well, the friends and the family. I liked seeing the characters grow too. So yes, it was a really good read.

This book wonderfully illustrated and conveyed a story of two ex-best friends and their journey to becoming best friends again while also finding out more about themselves in the process. I empathized with both, their journeys, their struggles and how they overcame it all or at least took a step in the right direction. I loved the little hints at their romance and angst, it hit me every time and I loved how it ended/began again. Will keep this short and sweet to avoid spoilers. Overall, this was a wonderful YA platonic/romantic story!

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Children's Publishing Group, and Ciera Burch for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillian Publishing for this ARC! This was such a fun light read. Although there was something some moments that got me a little misty eyed, I enjoyed Mari and Taylor’s relationship. The growth of having a friendship breakup and finding that friend years later to rediscover what that relationship looks like and how different it can be is beautiful. Even down to the light romantic elements which were so sweet. I enjoyed how they found themselves and found their way back to each other.

Enjoyed the overall story and the relationship between the main characters. Taylor’s family story was one of the strongest and more interesting parts of the book, and it has me quite tense until the very end. I liked how even though it has romance in it, it’s very much so about their friendship, what losing it meant for them and how they try and sometimes fail to fix their mistakes. As the description said, they were each other’s whole world, so seeing them learning to trust each other, and getting to know the other all over again was done really well. And also dealing with the feelings they kept hidden back then that are present still. I do wish there was a deeper exploration into their past friendship, more flashbacks I think. I also would have liked Mari and her mother’s relationship to be more fleshed out. Also, i was hoping for a look farther into both Taylor and Mari’s future, since that’s part of what Mari’s plans were about; really wanted to see what their lives would be like after high school. Or at least in senior year. And of course, I just wanted more of them together, in love🥰

I loved the story, the world building and meeting the different characters. I felt completely immersed in the story and couldn't stop reading it.

Out of Step, Into You is a story of two ex-best friends reconnecting because of their track team. The story is dual point of view and uses flashbacks throughout the book to show their falling out in comparison to their relationship today. The two girls are paired up as punishment for their behavior by their coach, resulting in some fun forced-proximity situations.

The book is described as a young adult contemporary romance, but in my opinion it’s a story of two friends rebuilding their friendship after a falling out. The romance is very much a slow burn set on the ground of friendship, with them realizing they do have feelings at the end. In my opinion, there’s no major (romantic) climax, but nevertheless the story is really beautiful. The main characters, Mari and Taylor, are leading different lives with their own challenges, which tackle real issues, such as medical problems and family dynamics.

Overall this book wasn’t what I expected but I enjoyed reading it. I also really liked the ending where the chapters were quite short (a page at most) & switched point of view to juxtaposition big events in each of the girls lives. This was such a cool way to drive the story.

Thanks so much for the ARC from NetGalley! 3.5 stars.