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Evie used to adore romance books. She had a cherished collection of well-read paperbacks. But after her parents’ divorce (caused by her father’s affair), she doesn’t believe in happily ever after or any of the other satisfying tropes. Then after a brief encounter at a little library, she gets the power to see the love stories, beginning to end, of people she sees kissing. Every one starts off happy, then eventually, they inevitably end with broken hearts.
Right after picking up a book about dancing at the little library, she decides to go check out the dance studio whose address is in the book. There she meets an insistent dance teacher, the older and very sweet couple who owns the studio, and a young man named Xavier, or X. She ends up being (kindly) pressured into learning a number of ballroom dances — with X — to enter a competition the owners of the studio (X’s grandparents) hope will be good promotion.
Of course, Evie finds herself falling for X, but she doesn’t know how to handle her feelings. She is still trying to deal with her father’s infidelity, his new love and her broken family. But the whole experience may, if she lets it, help her learn more than just how to dance.
Instructions for Dancing is a sweet young adult romance book, one that deals with loss and heartbreak, but also which allows the main character to grow and deal with some tough realities everyone faces. It is poignant and hopeful.
Rated: High. Profanity includes 11 uses of strong language, a dozen instances of moderate profanity, around 10 uses of mild language, and about 20 instances of the name of Deity in vain. Sexual content includes kissing, references to a man’s infidelity, and mentions that a couple have sex, but it’s “offscreen.” There are a number of instances of teen (17- and 18-year-olds, seniors in high school) drinking.
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