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Every Black Girl Dances
A searing exploration of femininity and womanhood , Every Black Girl Dances hits the truth-telling mark. Fans of Jayne Allen’s Black Girls Must Die Exhausted and Candice Carty-Williams’ Queenie will rejoice at the tight writing and honesty.
JC Burke catapulted straight from film school to Hollywood darling, churning out “Black trauma” films that have made her a household name¾but at what price? When she abandons the set of her latest production to flee to her hometown Parable, Texas, JC is forced to reconsider the career that made her a superstar, as well as reexamine her deteriorating relationship with her producing partner, Hudson Pyke.
A romantic connection with high school Media Technology teacher Luke Favors (dubbed The Hottie Professor in a viral social media post) alleviates a bit of the sting from her disappointments, but is Luke enough to keep JC away from Hollywood forever, or will she return to the privilege she turned her back on?
JC Burke catapulted straight from film school to Hollywood darling, churning out “Black trauma” films that have made her a household name¾but at what price? When she abandons the set of her latest production to flee to her hometown Parable, Texas, JC is forced to reconsider the career that made her a superstar, as well as reexamine her deteriorating relationship with her producing partner, Hudson Pyke.
A romantic connection with high school Media Technology teacher Luke Favors (dubbed The Hottie Professor in a viral social media post) alleviates a bit of the sting from her disappointments, but is Luke enough to keep JC away from Hollywood forever, or will she return to the privilege she turned her back on?
256 pages, Paperback
Published December 26, 2023
44 people are currently reading
2613 people want to read
About the author
Candice Y. Johnson
18 books50 followersAlso publishes as Candice "Ordered Steps" Johnson.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 1, 2024
I enjoyed this book so much! I could definitely relate to the female character in this book. This book has a lesson and a blessing inside of it. Make sure to grab a copy. Author Candice Y. Johnson did an amazing job.
September 1, 2024
3 ☆
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The premise of this story sounded highly interesting: "A searing exploration of femininity and womanhood, Every Black Girl Dances is for women of color who shrink to be heard and sacrifice to be seen." Unfortunately, I wasn't getting those vibes at all. At the 40% mark of the book took a turn that I didn't like. This is a trauma bond book, and I just can't do it.
𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎!
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Thank you, Netgalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.
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The premise of this story sounded highly interesting: "A searing exploration of femininity and womanhood, Every Black Girl Dances is for women of color who shrink to be heard and sacrifice to be seen." Unfortunately, I wasn't getting those vibes at all. At the 40% mark of the book took a turn that I didn't like. This is a trauma bond book, and I just can't do it.
𝙽𝚘𝚠 𝚕𝚒𝚟𝚎!
-
Thank you, Netgalley, and Black Odyssey Media for the eBook in exchange for my honest review.
May 3, 2024
This book is like a Colleen Hoover book but with black trauma.
Something devastating would happen almost every chapter. The chapters were short in length. And then the following chapter would be a dramatic time jump. I was left asking how did we get here what happened to the problems in the last chapter? How did it get resolved? OH everyone just moved on I guess.
I would have loved for this book to be multiple POV.
The main relationship that our protagonist was in was unbearable to read. But I also could not stop reading. Just reading about a black woman with a man who is racist and culturally insensitive and she knows it, is almost unbelievable.
The title of the book didn’t really come into play until the end of the novel. I was reading the book and just searching for what any of it had to do with dance even metaphorically.
I was entertained reading the book. I finished it in two days.
Something devastating would happen almost every chapter. The chapters were short in length. And then the following chapter would be a dramatic time jump. I was left asking how did we get here what happened to the problems in the last chapter? How did it get resolved? OH everyone just moved on I guess.
I would have loved for this book to be multiple POV.
The main relationship that our protagonist was in was unbearable to read. But I also could not stop reading. Just reading about a black woman with a man who is racist and culturally insensitive and she knows it, is almost unbelievable.
The title of the book didn’t really come into play until the end of the novel. I was reading the book and just searching for what any of it had to do with dance even metaphorically.
I was entertained reading the book. I finished it in two days.
February 22, 2024
4.5
The first part of this book I just was not fond of the main character because she saw everything and everyone as something negative and her walls were soooo tall and thick. Then I realized she was on her journey. I loved Luke and his niece sooooo very much. I want a Luke in my life. Life is messy and hard and this journey shows much of that bluntly. I did not like how repective certain symbolism was but it was still beautiful ones. This book handled so many topics. I got mad and threw it and then hugged it proud of some parts. Take a chance on the read I am sure there will be diverse ratings on this one. Conversation starter for sure.
The first part of this book I just was not fond of the main character because she saw everything and everyone as something negative and her walls were soooo tall and thick. Then I realized she was on her journey. I loved Luke and his niece sooooo very much. I want a Luke in my life. Life is messy and hard and this journey shows much of that bluntly. I did not like how repective certain symbolism was but it was still beautiful ones. This book handled so many topics. I got mad and threw it and then hugged it proud of some parts. Take a chance on the read I am sure there will be diverse ratings on this one. Conversation starter for sure.
August 8, 2024
so many moments..🫶🏾
“..every Black girl dances to someone else’s expectations. It’s about time I choreograph for myself.” This quote resonated with me for the entirety of this book. In the book, the author highlights various challenges black women face and the struggles of overcoming them.
The leading character, JC Burke, is a film writer and director who makes films exploiting black trauma. Throughout the story, JC faces a variety of challenges that include relationship issues, unresolved grief, and health problems, amongst other things. I empathized with JC and was simultaneously frustrated with her lack of understanding that she deserved all her heart's desires. It appeared JC was content with being in a loveless relationship with Hudson, who “dogged” her too many times. But once Luke came around, it seemed like a lightbulb went off for JC, and I couldn’t be more proud of her growth.
I appreciated the mention of therapy and healing because experiencing JC do “the work” was inspiring. Many thought-provoking moments in the story were encouraging, and I hope readers will find this book helpful and entertaining. One thing I loved about this book was it felt balanced. There was drama, uncomfortable truths, and a love story. I loved the message of this book and would recommend it. Ps, any slander towards Hudson is warranted!
4.5⭐️
“..every Black girl dances to someone else’s expectations. It’s about time I choreograph for myself.” This quote resonated with me for the entirety of this book. In the book, the author highlights various challenges black women face and the struggles of overcoming them.
The leading character, JC Burke, is a film writer and director who makes films exploiting black trauma. Throughout the story, JC faces a variety of challenges that include relationship issues, unresolved grief, and health problems, amongst other things. I empathized with JC and was simultaneously frustrated with her lack of understanding that she deserved all her heart's desires. It appeared JC was content with being in a loveless relationship with Hudson, who “dogged” her too many times. But once Luke came around, it seemed like a lightbulb went off for JC, and I couldn’t be more proud of her growth.
I appreciated the mention of therapy and healing because experiencing JC do “the work” was inspiring. Many thought-provoking moments in the story were encouraging, and I hope readers will find this book helpful and entertaining. One thing I loved about this book was it felt balanced. There was drama, uncomfortable truths, and a love story. I loved the message of this book and would recommend it. Ps, any slander towards Hudson is warranted!
4.5⭐️
August 12, 2024
I loved this book. I find that many times when I read I get attached to the characters and the journeys that they go through and all of the people who influence their lives along the way. For those that come out stronger and wiser in the end, I smile. Highly recommended.
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review
Thank you to the author and NetGalley for gifting me this book in exchange for my honest review
January 31, 2024
Such a beautifully written story! Candice truly has a way with words. So poetic. I loved Jonica “JC” Burke’s journey on self discovery and what true love really means. Every Black Girl Dances is not just for black girls but anyone who strives to be a better version of themselves. I loved it!
November 3, 2025
JC Burke is catapulted straight from film school to Hollywood darling, churning out “Black trauma” films that have made her a household name. After finding out devastating news about her relationship with her producing partner, Hudson, she abandons the set of her latest production to flee to her hometown of Parable, Texas. JC is dealing with major health concerns, juggling her deteriorating relationship, and potentially falling for a man who is worth her time.
This story is relatable and will likely hit hard for women. I appreciated the message about therapy and healing, not settling for less, and staying true to yourself. Even though JC dealt with so many struggles throughout the book, she demonstrated her resilience and it was inspiring.
One thing that brough my rating down was the lack of relationship building between JC and Luke. Luke shows us he’s a good guy, but their romance takes a back seat to the rest of what is happening to JC in the book. It felt like the reader was supposed to fill in the blanks for their relationship but I would have rather saw the development on page. I felt like we went from just chatting as friends to saying “marry me” rather quickly without all the build-up in between.
This book was definitely reminiscent of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted. Both books are great reads that I highly recommend adding to your TBR.
Quotes I enjoyed:
Content warnings: infertility, endometriosis, manipulative relationship
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
This story is relatable and will likely hit hard for women. I appreciated the message about therapy and healing, not settling for less, and staying true to yourself. Even though JC dealt with so many struggles throughout the book, she demonstrated her resilience and it was inspiring.
One thing that brough my rating down was the lack of relationship building between JC and Luke. Luke shows us he’s a good guy, but their romance takes a back seat to the rest of what is happening to JC in the book. It felt like the reader was supposed to fill in the blanks for their relationship but I would have rather saw the development on page. I felt like we went from just chatting as friends to saying “marry me” rather quickly without all the build-up in between.
This book was definitely reminiscent of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted. Both books are great reads that I highly recommend adding to your TBR.
Quotes I enjoyed:
“Every Black girl dances to someone else’s expectations. It’s about time I choreograph for myself.”
“Why do we allow complete strangers to play on our insecurities and grant them access to our peace of mind?”
Content warnings: infertility, endometriosis, manipulative relationship
Thank you to NetGalley and Black Odyssey Media for the opportunity to read an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
May 5, 2024
What a beautiful book! I picked it up at the bookstore because I love the cover and then I read the description on the back and was immediately enthralled because I am a filmmaker as well. On this front it was super relatable for me because I hate this idea of perpetuating black drama within films, which is something that Hollywood has been doing for decades now. I also love how the topic of colorism was touched on in a positive light, because we rarely see how women beat the odds and overcome colorism.
The author is a beautiful writer. The book is so poetic and the way the story is told with the vibrant word choice the uses of metaphors it’s just beautiful.
At times, however, the main character was simply insufferable. So insufferable that it made it hard to read at times. She made poor decisions and had a negative attitude about everything except for her no good boyfriend. I mean seriously this man did not have a single redeeming quality. Not a single one. Which made it very unbelievable that she kept going back to him. On the other hand, the other man pursuing her had only redeeming qualities. Yet she kept writing him off like something was wrong with him. Which was just so annoying. There were so many times where I wanted to just shake her and be like: “girl stand up!!!”
I did like the ending though and the writing style of the book overall. The author is a pen, master With the way, she explicates her words! I just wish the characters were characterize different. I would’ve liked to see JC have more breakdowns to really empathize with her and understand why she made some of the decisions that she did. Yes, she had a lot going on, but we didn’t really see how it affected her, which made it hard to relate when she kept making poor decisions.
The author is a beautiful writer. The book is so poetic and the way the story is told with the vibrant word choice the uses of metaphors it’s just beautiful.
At times, however, the main character was simply insufferable. So insufferable that it made it hard to read at times. She made poor decisions and had a negative attitude about everything except for her no good boyfriend. I mean seriously this man did not have a single redeeming quality. Not a single one. Which made it very unbelievable that she kept going back to him. On the other hand, the other man pursuing her had only redeeming qualities. Yet she kept writing him off like something was wrong with him. Which was just so annoying. There were so many times where I wanted to just shake her and be like: “girl stand up!!!”
I did like the ending though and the writing style of the book overall. The author is a pen, master With the way, she explicates her words! I just wish the characters were characterize different. I would’ve liked to see JC have more breakdowns to really empathize with her and understand why she made some of the decisions that she did. Yes, she had a lot going on, but we didn’t really see how it affected her, which made it hard to relate when she kept making poor decisions.
August 23, 2024
Every Black Girl Dances takes us through JC’s journey to shed old habits in pursuit of what she truly deserves. After years in a career and relationship that take more from her than they give, we witness her quest to create a more gentle and meaningful life.
As a reader, it’s both frustrating and extremely realistic watching JC hobble between making the choice you know is best for her and falling into old habits. You root for her, and want to shake her, the entire time. Candice Johnson’s writing throughout is full of powerful statements and metaphors capturing the experience of being a Black woman at work, in a doctors office, as a daughter, and in romantic relationships.
The strengths listed above, as well as some stylistic writing choices, made this book difficult to read. JC seems wholly unable to catch a break; a new difficulty is presented or revealed in nearly every chapter and her response is often to just continue rolling with the punches without taking steps toward meaningful change or giving herself time to process and heal until the last 30% of the book. There is also a lot of abrupt movement between timelines to throw in anecdotes to add depth to the characters, but this ends up interrupting the flow of the narrative.
Overall, I’m glad I gave this book a chance, but I’d be hesitant to recommend it to others. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted, with more trauma and less character development (both of JC and the rest of the cast). I did love that this story focused more on JC’s journey as a woman, with romance in the background rather than the foreground. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
As a reader, it’s both frustrating and extremely realistic watching JC hobble between making the choice you know is best for her and falling into old habits. You root for her, and want to shake her, the entire time. Candice Johnson’s writing throughout is full of powerful statements and metaphors capturing the experience of being a Black woman at work, in a doctors office, as a daughter, and in romantic relationships.
The strengths listed above, as well as some stylistic writing choices, made this book difficult to read. JC seems wholly unable to catch a break; a new difficulty is presented or revealed in nearly every chapter and her response is often to just continue rolling with the punches without taking steps toward meaningful change or giving herself time to process and heal until the last 30% of the book. There is also a lot of abrupt movement between timelines to throw in anecdotes to add depth to the characters, but this ends up interrupting the flow of the narrative.
Overall, I’m glad I gave this book a chance, but I’d be hesitant to recommend it to others. It’s somewhat reminiscent of Black Girls Must Die Exhausted, with more trauma and less character development (both of JC and the rest of the cast). I did love that this story focused more on JC’s journey as a woman, with romance in the background rather than the foreground. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
December 17, 2024
*Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book for review, all opinions are my own*
What can I say about this book?
I liked and disliked this book. I think it's a very quick read. If you want, you can read it in one day.
What I liked the most about this story was following the development of our protagonist. I think the journey she goes through of self-discovery, of imposing limits and of growing as a woman and as a professional, is very beautiful and one of the best things done in the book.
The part I liked least about the book was the romance. I think the focus of the book is not the romance, but really the growth and development that our protagonist goes through on her journey. But since the romance is there, and her romantic relationship is very important to her journey I thought the romance was poorly done.
But I think what irritated me about the romance was the fact that it was poorly developed, because the protagonists take a long time to make some decisions and sometimes she makes them very quickly without development or reasons and sometimes she goes back on decisions and it was a bit confusing.
Another point that I didn't like about the story, it was the time construction part. Sometimes things seem to happen very quickly, sometimes I had no idea if a month had passed, two months, three months, four months, 24 hours, a day, a week. It was all very confusing in that part, but other than that, I really enjoyed the book.
I recommend it if you want a quick but in-depth read about the journey of a protagonist finding herself in the world as a black woman.
What can I say about this book?
I liked and disliked this book. I think it's a very quick read. If you want, you can read it in one day.
What I liked the most about this story was following the development of our protagonist. I think the journey she goes through of self-discovery, of imposing limits and of growing as a woman and as a professional, is very beautiful and one of the best things done in the book.
The part I liked least about the book was the romance. I think the focus of the book is not the romance, but really the growth and development that our protagonist goes through on her journey. But since the romance is there, and her romantic relationship is very important to her journey I thought the romance was poorly done.
But I think what irritated me about the romance was the fact that it was poorly developed, because the protagonists take a long time to make some decisions and sometimes she makes them very quickly without development or reasons and sometimes she goes back on decisions and it was a bit confusing.
Another point that I didn't like about the story, it was the time construction part. Sometimes things seem to happen very quickly, sometimes I had no idea if a month had passed, two months, three months, four months, 24 hours, a day, a week. It was all very confusing in that part, but other than that, I really enjoyed the book.
I recommend it if you want a quick but in-depth read about the journey of a protagonist finding herself in the world as a black woman.
May 7, 2025
Every Black girl dances portrays the many challenges Black women face, and JC Burke's journey really resonated with me. I felt the frustration within herself – staying in a relationship with Hudson who definitely didn't deserve her time nor air, Seeing her realize she deserved better, and finding happiness with Luke, was refreshing.
Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this Advanced copy for my honest unbiased opinion.
This book tackles tough topics – grief, mental health, relationship struggles – and it all felt so real. I loved that therapy was a focal point of JC's journey; it made her growth feel even more relatable. It's a great mix of drama, uncomfortable truths, and a really sweet love story. If you need a book that's both entertaining and inspiring, and makes you feel seen, this is it. Highly recommend!
Thank you to Black Odyssey Media and NetGalley for this Advanced copy for my honest unbiased opinion.
This book tackles tough topics – grief, mental health, relationship struggles – and it all felt so real. I loved that therapy was a focal point of JC's journey; it made her growth feel even more relatable. It's a great mix of drama, uncomfortable truths, and a really sweet love story. If you need a book that's both entertaining and inspiring, and makes you feel seen, this is it. Highly recommend!
December 8, 2023
When I finally sat down to read this book. I devoured it. The title every black girl dances is so fitting. It just reminds me that black women have to dance through so much and JC had to do just that. Through the betrayal, through the loss, through the hurt and health issues just to be right where she was supposed to be. I loved the bond between JC and Myzi, I’m not going to lie JC pissed me off in the beginning of this book they way she let Hudson do her. But I think it was necessary in order for her to know what she wanted and needed. The love between her and Luke. Like can I get a Luke, someone who is willing to put your needs above his own and giving her time to figure out herself while loving her. Squeal, Yasss!!! I loved this book!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 19, 2023
I have to be honest at the beginning I wanted to DNF this book and it took me longer to read. However, I’m glad I stayed the course because this book touched on depression, racism, feminism, Being string for every one else and conforming to what everyone else says you should be and sees you as!! JC frustrated me several times because she just couldn’t seem to let Hudson (narcissist) go. This book truly holds to its title Every Black Girl Dances - through the storm, through defeat, through heartbreak, through self sabotaging and doubts. We dance!!! Every black girl needs to read this!!! This is definitely one of my top 2023 reads.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2024
Every Black Girl Dances" by Candace Y. Johnson is my first read by this author, and it was an intriguing experience. The story of JC Burke, a young Black filmmaker navigating the complexities of her career and personal life, is compelling and thought-provoking. I particularly enjoyed the well-developed characters, each bringing their own unique perspectives and depth to the narrative. While I found some parts of the plot a bit slow, the overall story kept me engaged. Candace Y. Johnson's writing style is engaging, and I appreciated the themes of self-discovery and resilience. I look forward to exploring more of her work in the future. #netgalley #everyblackgirldances
September 27, 2023
**ARC Reader**
This book was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed! This author’s prowess with words is amazing! This story was raw but extremely tasteful. The fact that as black women we tend to endure pain as a familiarity is disturbing. I loved the connection between Luke And JC. But I also loved how JC gave herself time to process before allowing Luke to be her man. The bonds that JC built with Luke’s niece was special and how she availed herself to a mentally deteriorating Luke Sr. was beautiful! JC is so worthy of every good thing and I’m so proud of her for giving herself permission to go after it all.
This book was EVERYTHING I didn’t know I needed! This author’s prowess with words is amazing! This story was raw but extremely tasteful. The fact that as black women we tend to endure pain as a familiarity is disturbing. I loved the connection between Luke And JC. But I also loved how JC gave herself time to process before allowing Luke to be her man. The bonds that JC built with Luke’s niece was special and how she availed herself to a mentally deteriorating Luke Sr. was beautiful! JC is so worthy of every good thing and I’m so proud of her for giving herself permission to go after it all.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 2, 2024
As a black woman, I could appreciate the themes that the author is trying to convey throughout the story. It is expected of us to always be strong, even in the darkest of times when we are at our lowest. Yet, somehow through it all we make it and are stronger for it. It took a lot to get into the book, but once it reached a certain point it was easy to follow. There was an overabundance of metaphor/simile use that was annoying. Lastly, the romance part was completely rushed and didn’t feel necessary to the story. Overall, it was a decent read.
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March 9, 2024I absolutely LOVED it, I'll admit it was a little hard to swallow because of the honesty and the brutal nature of the "strong" woman. At least what the main character JC's definition of a strong woman was. And it hit me so deeply, it's what so much of my past experiences looked like and how hard it is to accept true love and kindness, when you know hurt so well and are afraid of stepping into the light. It was very touching to add the symbolism of the dragonflies. I was truly blessed to read this.
August 23, 2024
I wanted to love this book and it had potential. It failed. The over use of similes is pretentious. I felt like the book was over descriptive and full of run on sentences. There was so much word vomit that it was difficult to stay focused on the actual story and impossible to connect to the characters. The MC was so infuriatingly stupid that she didn’t deserve a HEA. I actually found all of the characters annoying. So many words but still felt no connection to the 1 dimensional characters that lacked depth.
November 3, 2024
A good story about making choices in your life and the effect that they have on you. I found the main character, JC Burke, to be a part of every woman at some point in her life. Her story of healing and redemption was very well written. I would recommend this novel to anyone who needs to dance in her life to make it better. Who knew that dancing could be therapy. As the author stated, Just Dance.
April 7, 2025
The book does way too much telling and not enough showing. Grasps at every stereotype and tries to make them fit. Everything is predictable because with every page it’s foreshadowing for everything. The premise of this book is lost on me. Fully unhappy with this cause everything the author tried to portray about the MC is exactly what can be said about the book. Too many Instagram quotes and attempts at witty comebacks or sayings and beyond cheesy….
May 12, 2024
This book is for the women who put others first, need to go a different direction in their career, struggle with a narcissistic relationship, needing to find the fire everyone sees. It was a great read!
August 5, 2024
This is the type of fiction that is obviously autobiographical. It is very episodic but doesn’t move well. All of the characters surrounding the main character deserve their own story. The author writes well and I look forward to more from the author.
January 10, 2024
It was a good read and I enjoyed it i was upset at times but I’m glad it ended the way it did.
June 4, 2024
I wish there was a way I can express how terrible this was😕
July 18, 2024
3.6785
October 17, 2024
Every Black Girl Dances
The Author did an excellent job with the characters; even though I did not read every line, I would recommend this book to every young black girl to read...
The Author did an excellent job with the characters; even though I did not read every line, I would recommend this book to every young black girl to read...
December 14, 2024
I enjoyed this book and the story line. The MC was aggravating at times and you wanted to yell at her to stop being so stupid. Great ending. Won a copy on Goodreads Giveaways
February 14, 2025
The decisions the main character made really upset me and I almost DNF’d. Luke saved her and this book.
Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews