Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

Instructions for Dancing by Nicola Yoon

       Yoon, N. (2021). Instructions for dancing. Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780593434949

      🚨Content warning:  Divorce, grief, death🚨

       In Instructions for Dancing, Evie Thomas doesn't believe in love anymore after seeing an earth-shattering event happen before her eyes.  She definitely doesn't believe in love once she starts to see strangers' love story and their tragic ends after witnessing their kiss.  As Evie struggles to navigate life after the earth-shattering event and attempts to find out why she's seeing everyone's love life through visions, Evie meets the mysterious "X," who challenges her and makes her question, is love worth the risk after all?

       Nicola Yoon has a way of having each of her books have a major twist that you don't see coming, and Instructions for Dancing was no exception.  You find out early on in the book that Evie gave up on love after walking in on her father cheating on her mom, and as a result, Evie has sworn off love, and you can feel her distrust of love and her father after the event.  One day after going to the library to donate her romance books, she receives a book from a mysterious woman, and it leads Evie to a dance studio where she meets X, and after some convincing from the owners, she enters a dance competition with him.  Throughout the book, we follow Evie as she gets to know X better and as she tries to make sense of visions.  

       Instructions for Dancing covers several real-life topics, such as death, divorce, and grief, and Nicola Yoon does an amazing job of portraying all these events and emotions through Evie.  She has a way of making you love the characters so much that when Evie is mad at the world, you're mad at the world with her.  When she's furious at her father for cheating, you are as well.  When she finally makes up with her dad, your crying happy tears for her. And finally, when Evie kisses X and finds out, he's going to die soon, and she feels her whirlwind of emotions, you are there along for the ride feeling all the emotions she is too.   Evie grieving over X's future death feels so real, and you wish you could be there to comfort her.  In the end, Evie chooses to spend the little time she has remaining with X, together, and you will rejoice for her decision.  Instructions for Dancing was a beautifully written contemporary romance book with well-written characters, a major plot twist, and a satisfying end.  It's a book full of laughter, heartbreak, love, and a heartwarming message that, throughout it all, love is worth everything.

       Kirkus Review states that Instructions for Dancing is "A remarkable, irresistible love story that will linger long after readers turn the final page."  Joce from The Quiet Pond book blog they were "expecting a jovial, humorous jaunt through a dance competition, and while there was a good portion that took on that tone, there were so many layers that the book was the most perfect combination of relatable and heartbreakingly captivating." You can also watch Pauline's review from Tiktok here, her username is @thebooksiveloved! 

        If you loved reading Instructions for Dancing, you will also love Everything,   Everything by Nicola Yoon and If the Shoe Fits by Julie Murphy.

Awards and Recognition for Instructions for Dancing:

• 2021 Kids' Indie Next List Selection
• New York Times "10 YA Books to Add to Your Reading List This Summer" title
• TAYSHAS Reading List selection
• GMA June pick
• Junior Library Guild selection

Sources: 

Joce. (2021, August 4). Book review: Instructions for dancing by Nicola Yoon – a heartwrenching contemporary novel about the definition of love and the power of dance. The Quiet Pond. https://thequietpond.wordpress.com/2021/08/06/book-review-instructions-for-dancing-by-nicola-yoon-a-heartwrenching-contemporary-novel-about-the-definition-of-love-and-the-power-of-dance/

Pauline. (n.d.). Pauline ☀️ on TikTok. TikTok. https://www.tiktok.com/@thebooksiveloved/video/6974832989947563269?_t=8dbVpu6J4w6&_r=1

Yoon, N. (2021). Instructions for dancing. Delacorte Press. ISBN 9780593434949

Yoon, N. (n.d.). Instructions for dancing by Nicola Yoon. Penguin Random House. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/551521/instructions-for-dancing-by-nicola-yoon/

Yoon, N. (2021, June 1). Instructions for dancing. Kirkus Reviews. https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/nicola-yoon/instructions-for-dancing/