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How to Dance
Opposites attract and sparks fly as a passionate dancer and a ladies’ man who's given up on love fall for each other—one tango at a time—in this charming debut romance perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert and Blair Fell.
Nick Freeman works hard as the star of the weekly karaoke night at his bar, hoping his singing talent, quick wit, and winning smile will distract from his cerebral palsy. But one night at the bar, watching a professional dancer light up the dance floor with her boyfriend, he realizes that entertaining strangers will never give him a fraction of the joy he sees in this woman’s eyes.
When Hayley Burke notices Nick’s reaction to her dancing, she urges him to acknowledge his passion and try a few moves himself—only to be mortified when she realizes Nick can only walk with the aid of a metal walker.
As Nick and Hayley fumble through misunderstanding into friendship, Hayley begins to enjoy Nick’s company more than that of her self-centered boyfriend. Nick tries to fight his attraction to Hayley, believing she deserves a dance partner who can move like her boyfriend does—but as Hayley and Nick continue to find their rhythm together, she shows him that “dancing” is about so much more than moving your feet.
In this fresh-voiced and utterly charming debut novel, Jason B. Dutton takes readers on a swoon-filled journey as two lost souls learn that neither physical disability nor emotional scars disqualify us from finding beauty, validation, and love amidst the chaos of being human.
Nick Freeman works hard as the star of the weekly karaoke night at his bar, hoping his singing talent, quick wit, and winning smile will distract from his cerebral palsy. But one night at the bar, watching a professional dancer light up the dance floor with her boyfriend, he realizes that entertaining strangers will never give him a fraction of the joy he sees in this woman’s eyes.
When Hayley Burke notices Nick’s reaction to her dancing, she urges him to acknowledge his passion and try a few moves himself—only to be mortified when she realizes Nick can only walk with the aid of a metal walker.
As Nick and Hayley fumble through misunderstanding into friendship, Hayley begins to enjoy Nick’s company more than that of her self-centered boyfriend. Nick tries to fight his attraction to Hayley, believing she deserves a dance partner who can move like her boyfriend does—but as Hayley and Nick continue to find their rhythm together, she shows him that “dancing” is about so much more than moving your feet.
In this fresh-voiced and utterly charming debut novel, Jason B. Dutton takes readers on a swoon-filled journey as two lost souls learn that neither physical disability nor emotional scars disqualify us from finding beauty, validation, and love amidst the chaos of being human.
1 pages, Audio CD
First published February 6, 2024
31 people are currently reading
6226 people want to read
About the author
Jason B. Dutton
1 book54 followersJason B. Dutton lives in Columbus, Ohio, where he does all he can to nurture his lifelong love of song, dance, and books. When he's not writing, Jason loves to watch and passionately discuss movies, particularly anything involving Spider-Man. He can often be found singing, whether bystanders want him to or not, and as a writer with cerebral palsy, he delights in finding the humor, beauty, and possibility in life with a disability.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 208 reviews
February 21, 2024
It’s not an exaggeration that I simply couldn’t put this book down. I have a paper copy and I bought the audiobook so I didn’t have to stop reading it while driving to work, walking the dog or doing laundry. The reader on Audible is great by the way. While reading this book, I was either laughing (It’s very funny) or marveling at the beauty of the writing.
Do yourself a favor and get this wonderful book. I know you’ll fall in love with the characters too.
Do yourself a favor and get this wonderful book. I know you’ll fall in love with the characters too.
March 10, 2024
I honestly felt like I couldn’t get into this one. I really wanted to like it too because I think that more people should write about those with disabilities to make the genre more inclusive. I guess I really didn’t like that she was in a relationship and even though it ended it still rubbed me the wrong way. A lot of breakthrough from these characters though, which I did appreciate.
🌀Synopsis
Nick and Hayley meet in a very non-traditional manner. He’s paralyzed and she’s a dancer, so when he tries to get him to dance she immediately regrets her actions because she realizes he can’t. The two fall into a very unlikely friendship though and that begins to grow with time. They get to know each other and both try to pursue their dreams.
It all comes to a halt when Nick realizes he has feelings for her even though she is seeing someone else. Or, at least she was. When her boyfriend and dance partner leaves, Hayley is devastated. Thankfully Nick is there to help pick her back up and finally be more than just a friend.
🌀Synopsis
Nick and Hayley meet in a very non-traditional manner. He’s paralyzed and she’s a dancer, so when he tries to get him to dance she immediately regrets her actions because she realizes he can’t. The two fall into a very unlikely friendship though and that begins to grow with time. They get to know each other and both try to pursue their dreams.
It all comes to a halt when Nick realizes he has feelings for her even though she is seeing someone else. Or, at least she was. When her boyfriend and dance partner leaves, Hayley is devastated. Thankfully Nick is there to help pick her back up and finally be more than just a friend.
January 16, 2024
⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧—𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Opposites Attract
• Disability Rep
• Found Family
• Singing/Dancing
This was a fun read, I’ve been trying to read more diverse books and this was a great one that had disability representation.
I absolutely enjoyed the dancing aspect in this book, I thought it was fun and loved how the story portrays that anyone can do anything (regardless of their situation). In this we follow Nick and Hayley, I found both of them to be interesting. Nick does have Cerebral Palsy, which I thought the author expressed perfectly.
This is a debut novel which was quite surprising. I loved the way this story pulls on your emotions (tears and giggles). I also loved the Dual POV in this, I got a better understanding of the characters and there was more depth to them.
It did take me a while to actually get pulled into the story. The beginning wasn’t my fav, but the second half of the book was great. While I loved the side characters in this, some of the decisions they made weren’t very enjoyable.
Overall, the characters in this were super relatable and rootable. I had not heard of this book prior to requesting it on NetGalley, but it sounded so unique and interesting. I’m so glad I gave it a read.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
𝙊𝙥𝙥𝙤𝙨𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙠𝙨 𝙛𝙡𝙮 𝙖𝙨 𝙖 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙡𝙖𝙙𝙞𝙚𝙨’ 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤'𝙨 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚𝙣 𝙪𝙥 𝙤𝙣 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚 𝙛𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙚𝙖𝙘𝙝 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧—𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙜𝙤 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚.
📍 Read if you like:
• Opposites Attract
• Disability Rep
• Found Family
• Singing/Dancing
This was a fun read, I’ve been trying to read more diverse books and this was a great one that had disability representation.
I absolutely enjoyed the dancing aspect in this book, I thought it was fun and loved how the story portrays that anyone can do anything (regardless of their situation). In this we follow Nick and Hayley, I found both of them to be interesting. Nick does have Cerebral Palsy, which I thought the author expressed perfectly.
This is a debut novel which was quite surprising. I loved the way this story pulls on your emotions (tears and giggles). I also loved the Dual POV in this, I got a better understanding of the characters and there was more depth to them.
It did take me a while to actually get pulled into the story. The beginning wasn’t my fav, but the second half of the book was great. While I loved the side characters in this, some of the decisions they made weren’t very enjoyable.
Overall, the characters in this were super relatable and rootable. I had not heard of this book prior to requesting it on NetGalley, but it sounded so unique and interesting. I’m so glad I gave it a read.
Thank you so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the review copy in exchange for my honest review!
June 16, 2025
I’d like to say that I don’t adjudge the characters of How to Dance for their feelings, but boy, do I judge them for their behavior. I honestly don’t think that there was a single character in this entire book who didn’t behave absolutely abhorrently or at the very least excuse awful behavior from time to time. After all, if everyone is acting like an asshat, it’s kind of difficult for the author to also write their friends in a way that calls them out repeatedly for that behavior.
I’ll give a tiny bit of credit for the friends, though, since most of them do pull their heads out of their asses for the final plot saving advice at the end.
I initially gave this book a 2-star rating, but the more that I think about it, the more it truly feels that this is really a 1-star book. And what I feel this ultimately boils down to is pure loss of potential. You see, I picked this up because I really thought it would be brilliant to see an inclusive romance about someone with a disability. We don’t get many of these and I’m always thrilled when I see them.
The problem with How to Dance is that all of its important characters just suck.
Let’s start with Nick: Nick is your typical angry asshat. And I would even go as far as to say he really does not have the reasons to be angry that he thinks he does. Shout out to his friend who points out this asshatery in the end, but should have opened her mouth SO much earlier. Nick’s anger literally borders on incel behavior, so much so that I gagged far too many times when he went off on his bullshit. Nick, you see, isn’t really angry that he has a disease that has left his legs immobile. No, Nick is truly angry because no one wants to fuck him. And he uses his legs as an excuse.
The problem is that no one wants to fuck him because he’s a…wait for it…total asshat. Credit where credit is due—the author does have someone call Nick out for this. Unfortunately, she just waits until the very, very end.
It’s pretty hard to root for a character when he engages in pure incel behavior, angry at all the women in the world because they don’t want a relationship with him. He never really looks internally to wonder why these people run for the door and instead just assumes that all these women are shallow monsters who only see his disability. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are women like that out there in the world. But the vast majority of us run for the hills when men act like entitled dicks who misattribute their failures to shortcomings that most of us could not care less about and likely don’t see as shortcomings in kind and compassionate people.
So…fuck Nick.
Hayley is…pure emotional cheater who lives on some stupid high horse pretending that cheating emotionally isn’t cheating. And I just have to say I am real sick and tired of romance novels thinking it’s okay to insert cheating plot a/b/c here and pretend the woman did nothing wrong. The author is relying on readers to see what Hayley’s asshat boyfriend Kevin does and says and excuse all of her behavior because he is kind of a jerk at times. I fucking hate this.
So, fuck Hayley as well.
And finally, there’s Kevin who is truly an asshat of a boyfriend and an asshat of a person because he pretty much does genuinely think it’s totally okay to ask a guy in a wheelchair to babysit his girlfriend for him because a) he’s not willing to be there for her emotionally and b) he doesn’t think there’s even the slightest chance she could be romantically interested in the dude because of his disability.
Holy fuck, why are there so many incel thoughts in this book???
So, fuck Kevin also.
What’s most frustrating about all of this is the fact that out of all these awful characters, the only one I can really excuse some behavior of is actually Kevin. And by all accounts, Kevin is literally one of the worst people you could ever possibly know. Honestly, what sort of jackass makes the decision to not be there for his partner and instead to choose someone to fill that role based solely on his own personal appraisal of that person’s sex appeal? I was rooting for this breakup. Kevin is a horrible person.
And it’s worth noting that he did create the situation for his girlfriend to cheat on him. Which she did, emotionally and a little bit physically. I know Nick started the kiss—wow, fuck you for kissing someone in a relationship, Nick—but it’s also not like Hayley shut that shit down immediately and explained the situation to the man she was actually dating. So Kevin being angry at her for cheating? Yeah, that’s fucking fair.
I can’t excuse Hayley’s behavior, despite her being with a shitty person who set up conditions for her to feel the way she did because ultimately, this was a sure fire sign that she should have broken up with Kevin. Plain and simple. And she didn’t. She waited for him to ditch her before running to the other dude she had feelings for. This would have been…okay-ish…were it not for the fact that she also seemed to flounder on whether or not to go back to this guy when he returned.
And I can’t excuse Nick’s behavior because for near the entirety of the novel, he acted like an entitled and unnecessarily angry douchebag. This is painful and does not get called out until we’ve almost reached the very end of the book—and props, I guess, for his ability to change when he finally gets his ass handed to him verbally…but that doesn’t excuse any of the bullshit he put everyone around him through prior to that conversation. I’m glad he changed…but that development only existing in the last few chapters/pages of the book was awful writing. I needed this much earlier for the book to be saved.
I just feel so frustrated at how awful these characters were. I really, really do. But I’ll give Nick that. He became a better person right at the end. I dunno if I care for the fact that he “got the girl” because of it, though.
Ugh.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll give a tiny bit of credit for the friends, though, since most of them do pull their heads out of their asses for the final plot saving advice at the end.
I initially gave this book a 2-star rating, but the more that I think about it, the more it truly feels that this is really a 1-star book. And what I feel this ultimately boils down to is pure loss of potential. You see, I picked this up because I really thought it would be brilliant to see an inclusive romance about someone with a disability. We don’t get many of these and I’m always thrilled when I see them.
The problem with How to Dance is that all of its important characters just suck.
Let’s start with Nick: Nick is your typical angry asshat. And I would even go as far as to say he really does not have the reasons to be angry that he thinks he does. Shout out to his friend who points out this asshatery in the end, but should have opened her mouth SO much earlier. Nick’s anger literally borders on incel behavior, so much so that I gagged far too many times when he went off on his bullshit. Nick, you see, isn’t really angry that he has a disease that has left his legs immobile. No, Nick is truly angry because no one wants to fuck him. And he uses his legs as an excuse.
The problem is that no one wants to fuck him because he’s a…wait for it…total asshat. Credit where credit is due—the author does have someone call Nick out for this. Unfortunately, she just waits until the very, very end.
It’s pretty hard to root for a character when he engages in pure incel behavior, angry at all the women in the world because they don’t want a relationship with him. He never really looks internally to wonder why these people run for the door and instead just assumes that all these women are shallow monsters who only see his disability. Now, don’t get me wrong, there are women like that out there in the world. But the vast majority of us run for the hills when men act like entitled dicks who misattribute their failures to shortcomings that most of us could not care less about and likely don’t see as shortcomings in kind and compassionate people.
So…fuck Nick.
Hayley is…pure emotional cheater who lives on some stupid high horse pretending that cheating emotionally isn’t cheating. And I just have to say I am real sick and tired of romance novels thinking it’s okay to insert cheating plot a/b/c here and pretend the woman did nothing wrong. The author is relying on readers to see what Hayley’s asshat boyfriend Kevin does and says and excuse all of her behavior because he is kind of a jerk at times. I fucking hate this.
So, fuck Hayley as well.
And finally, there’s Kevin who is truly an asshat of a boyfriend and an asshat of a person because he pretty much does genuinely think it’s totally okay to ask a guy in a wheelchair to babysit his girlfriend for him because a) he’s not willing to be there for her emotionally and b) he doesn’t think there’s even the slightest chance she could be romantically interested in the dude because of his disability.
Holy fuck, why are there so many incel thoughts in this book???
So, fuck Kevin also.
What’s most frustrating about all of this is the fact that out of all these awful characters, the only one I can really excuse some behavior of is actually Kevin. And by all accounts, Kevin is literally one of the worst people you could ever possibly know. Honestly, what sort of jackass makes the decision to not be there for his partner and instead to choose someone to fill that role based solely on his own personal appraisal of that person’s sex appeal? I was rooting for this breakup. Kevin is a horrible person.
And it’s worth noting that he did create the situation for his girlfriend to cheat on him. Which she did, emotionally and a little bit physically. I know Nick started the kiss—wow, fuck you for kissing someone in a relationship, Nick—but it’s also not like Hayley shut that shit down immediately and explained the situation to the man she was actually dating. So Kevin being angry at her for cheating? Yeah, that’s fucking fair.
I can’t excuse Hayley’s behavior, despite her being with a shitty person who set up conditions for her to feel the way she did because ultimately, this was a sure fire sign that she should have broken up with Kevin. Plain and simple. And she didn’t. She waited for him to ditch her before running to the other dude she had feelings for. This would have been…okay-ish…were it not for the fact that she also seemed to flounder on whether or not to go back to this guy when he returned.
And I can’t excuse Nick’s behavior because for near the entirety of the novel, he acted like an entitled and unnecessarily angry douchebag. This is painful and does not get called out until we’ve almost reached the very end of the book—and props, I guess, for his ability to change when he finally gets his ass handed to him verbally…but that doesn’t excuse any of the bullshit he put everyone around him through prior to that conversation. I’m glad he changed…but that development only existing in the last few chapters/pages of the book was awful writing. I needed this much earlier for the book to be saved.
I just feel so frustrated at how awful these characters were. I really, really do. But I’ll give Nick that. He became a better person right at the end. I dunno if I care for the fact that he “got the girl” because of it, though.
Ugh.
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
January 24, 2024
3.5 rounded up
This was a great #ownvoices debut featuring a MMC with cerebral palsy and his journey of self-love and romantic love as he falls for a dancer coworker who's already in a relationship and she helps him with the giant chip on his shoulder.
On the surface this was a fun friends to lovers romance but it also had a lot of depth and great disability rep. Good on audio and definitely one not to miss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: some open door scenes, mild details
This was a great #ownvoices debut featuring a MMC with cerebral palsy and his journey of self-love and romantic love as he falls for a dancer coworker who's already in a relationship and she helps him with the giant chip on his shoulder.
On the surface this was a fun friends to lovers romance but it also had a lot of depth and great disability rep. Good on audio and definitely one not to miss. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
Steam level: some open door scenes, mild details
September 19, 2023
I LOVED THIS BOOK!!
Jason does a fantastic job writing about passion, and falling in love.
Nick Freeman, swoon, is our male lead with a huge heart. However, he also has some pretty big inner demons when it comes to how people see him due to his cerebral palsy. He struggles to let people in too close, afraid they can’t see past the physical to the amazing person he is.
Cue our darling Hayley. She’s a new to town dancer hoping to make it into the local dance company, along with her boyfriend. However, not all is great in paradise. Her and Nick, after a fumbled start become fast friends. But neither of them can keep their heart from getting too invested. When nothing is left to keep them from being together will they both be willing to take down the walls they have built up in their hearts to let each other in?
Note to the Author/editor: I have to say, the reason I gave this story four stars instead of five is mostly due to Nick. I LOVE NICK. Please don’t get me wrong. After reading the author’s note I understand nick a little better too. However, there may have been too much of the authors projection into the character. I understood that Nick struggled with accepting love, accepting help, accepting basically anything, but I felt I was repeatedly beat over the head with the sentiment. It made it harder to see the characters growth throughout the book too. I genuinely love Nick and want the world for him. So feeling like I also want to roll my eyes at him for saying or thinking the same thing for the hundredth time in five chapters. *End of rant/thought*
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read such an incredible debut Author’s ARC!!
Jason does a fantastic job writing about passion, and falling in love.
Nick Freeman, swoon, is our male lead with a huge heart. However, he also has some pretty big inner demons when it comes to how people see him due to his cerebral palsy. He struggles to let people in too close, afraid they can’t see past the physical to the amazing person he is.
Cue our darling Hayley. She’s a new to town dancer hoping to make it into the local dance company, along with her boyfriend. However, not all is great in paradise. Her and Nick, after a fumbled start become fast friends. But neither of them can keep their heart from getting too invested. When nothing is left to keep them from being together will they both be willing to take down the walls they have built up in their hearts to let each other in?
Note to the Author/editor: I have to say, the reason I gave this story four stars instead of five is mostly due to Nick. I LOVE NICK. Please don’t get me wrong. After reading the author’s note I understand nick a little better too. However, there may have been too much of the authors projection into the character. I understood that Nick struggled with accepting love, accepting help, accepting basically anything, but I felt I was repeatedly beat over the head with the sentiment. It made it harder to see the characters growth throughout the book too. I genuinely love Nick and want the world for him. So feeling like I also want to roll my eyes at him for saying or thinking the same thing for the hundredth time in five chapters. *End of rant/thought*
Thank you NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read such an incredible debut Author’s ARC!!
January 30, 2024
Book 9 of 2024 - ☑️! Thank you so much to NetGalley, Dreamscape Media & Jason B. Dutton for the ALC of How to Dance by Jason B. Dutton in exchange for my honest review.
I don’t remember how I came upon How to Dance (I believe it was via Bookstagram) but I was very much looking forward to this own-voices rom-com. It’s also a M/F rom-com written by a man, which isn’t quite as common in the genre. In this book (which I would consider a grumpy/sunshine pairing) - Nick Freeman is a talented singer, a movie buff and a math teacher who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a mobility aid (walker) to get around. Hayley Burke is passionate dancer who moves to town with her boyfriend in the midst of their complicated relationship with each other and dance.
I very much enjoyed the representation here - I don’t think I’ve read a book with a character who has CP at the center. Nick is sharp and quick-witted. He is able to connect with just about anyone in any room, and has the sweetest relationship with his young niece. Hayley is someone I related to on a personal level in the sense that she’s so in love with her creative career (dance), that it’s so entangled with her identity - she loves it so much, and because she loves it so much, she feels so deeply about it (both the good parts and the darker sides).
A note that Chapter 46 on my ALC didn’t work - I refreshed it, rewound it, fast-forwarded it, left the app and came back and checked other chapters around it (they all worked). I’m unsure if this happened to anyone else…
3.5/5 (rock) ⭐️’s for this one. On the pepper scale, without having listened to chapter 46, there’s a chapter where the characters go to what the kids call 2nd base, so I’d give it a 1.5/5 on the 🌶️ scale. I enjoyed Jason’s writing and thought this was a good debut novel. The book comes out on 2/6/24! 🎶 💃🏻 🧮 #NetGalley #HowtoDance
I don’t remember how I came upon How to Dance (I believe it was via Bookstagram) but I was very much looking forward to this own-voices rom-com. It’s also a M/F rom-com written by a man, which isn’t quite as common in the genre. In this book (which I would consider a grumpy/sunshine pairing) - Nick Freeman is a talented singer, a movie buff and a math teacher who has Cerebral Palsy and uses a mobility aid (walker) to get around. Hayley Burke is passionate dancer who moves to town with her boyfriend in the midst of their complicated relationship with each other and dance.
I very much enjoyed the representation here - I don’t think I’ve read a book with a character who has CP at the center. Nick is sharp and quick-witted. He is able to connect with just about anyone in any room, and has the sweetest relationship with his young niece. Hayley is someone I related to on a personal level in the sense that she’s so in love with her creative career (dance), that it’s so entangled with her identity - she loves it so much, and because she loves it so much, she feels so deeply about it (both the good parts and the darker sides).
A note that Chapter 46 on my ALC didn’t work - I refreshed it, rewound it, fast-forwarded it, left the app and came back and checked other chapters around it (they all worked). I’m unsure if this happened to anyone else…
3.5/5 (rock) ⭐️’s for this one. On the pepper scale, without having listened to chapter 46, there’s a chapter where the characters go to what the kids call 2nd base, so I’d give it a 1.5/5 on the 🌶️ scale. I enjoyed Jason’s writing and thought this was a good debut novel. The book comes out on 2/6/24! 🎶 💃🏻 🧮 #NetGalley #HowtoDance
February 18, 2024
This story was just plain delightful! I couldn’t put it down and bawled my happy eyes out.
February 4, 2024
I received the audiobook and I thought it was an amazing book to listen, usually I’m not a big fan of audiobooks but I really enjoyed this one. In general the story and the characters were very well written, I liked the disability representations due to Nick having cerebral palsy and the way the character always tries to show how this doesn’t affect him and that he can live his life as anyone else, the courage and strength were demonstrated perfectly. I loved Nick and I loved Hayley, it was so good to listen about them, the tension, the chemistry, the sweet moments they have are so cute I love them.
I totally recommend reading or listening to this book if you want a book with a different story than the rest and if you want a very easy, quick and lovable book.
Put a reminder because his book comes out February 6th!
Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media, Jason B. Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
I totally recommend reading or listening to this book if you want a book with a different story than the rest and if you want a very easy, quick and lovable book.
Put a reminder because his book comes out February 6th!
Thank you so much to Dreamscape Media, Jason B. Dutton and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
February 29, 2024
I couldn't get enough of Jason B. Dutton's marvelous writing in his novel How to Dance. The characters are so unusual, and the romance is cleverly crafted. What a charming and unique story!
The audio version of How to Dance is narrated by David Bendena who delivers a wonderful performance.
an audiobook copy of How to Dance was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
The audio version of How to Dance is narrated by David Bendena who delivers a wonderful performance.
an audiobook copy of How to Dance was provided by Dreamscape Media, via NetGalley, for the purpose of my honest review, all opinions are my own
July 9, 2024
4.5/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨
You guys 🥹 I cannot with this book. I loved it. It was so profound and so genuine and so EPIC. What a beautiful love story. I only docked it .5 stars because I wasn’t hooked at the very beginning, it started a little slow for me. BUT. Once I got to the meat of the story, I didn’t want to stop reading. I will forever be a Haley and Nick Stan.
Overall, I’m so glad to add this to my list of reads and to the top of my favorites💞🩰🎤🎭
You guys 🥹 I cannot with this book. I loved it. It was so profound and so genuine and so EPIC. What a beautiful love story. I only docked it .5 stars because I wasn’t hooked at the very beginning, it started a little slow for me. BUT. Once I got to the meat of the story, I didn’t want to stop reading. I will forever be a Haley and Nick Stan.
Overall, I’m so glad to add this to my list of reads and to the top of my favorites💞🩰🎤🎭
February 16, 2024
Nick and Hayley appear great in public, both able to put on a show. But deep down they each have their own hidden pain and secrets. This was a sweet story of two broken people finding hope, meaning, and love in each other.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this review.
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this review.
February 29, 2024
Wow! I’ll never be able to thank the owners of the Birch Tree Bookery in Marion, Ohio enough for recommending this book to me. This is quite possibly the most beautiful rom-com I’ve ever read. Haley and Nick are true relationship goals. Rosie, Mel, Gavin, Cal, and Mimi are all great characters, the writing is terrific and I can’t wait to read more. I’ve been singing the praises of this book since it touched my greedy little hands. ❤️❤️❤️I loved this book!
May 26, 2025
The middle of this book drug on and I almost didn’t finish. I’m glad I did finish because the main characters have some major growth in the final pages.
October 5, 2023
REVIEW
cw: ableism, anxiety, emotional cheating
When professional dancer Hayley Burke meets charismatic karaoke singer Nick Freeman and asks him to dance, she doesn't immediately realise he has cerebral palsy, or that he requires the aid of a walker, and she's mortified. Nick doesn't want people's pity. He wants to be seen. But as they find their rhythm with each other, they discover they're more alike than either knew.
I wanted to love this book so much, and it was very much a story of two halves. The premise was cute, and the representation of everyday life for someone with cerebral palsy using a walker was sensitively but also accurately written, especially Nick's frustrations with how some people reacted to or treated him. I loved his snarky sense of humour, and he was an absolute cinnamon roll to the people he loved. Hayley was an interesting character, but I sometimes felt like she was talking in riddles, rather than really saying what was on her mind, so I struggled to connect with her until halfway through. There were some fun supporting characters. I particularly liked Gavin and Mel (who actually gave great advice), and Cal was adorable.
While I loved Nick and Hayley's chemistry, I didn’t enjoy the emotional cheating, even though we only really discovered what Kevin was like halfway through, and I wish he hadn't played as big a part in the overall story. That said, once Hayley and Nick started to really share their emotional conversations, I began to love her more. I particularly loved how both were there for each other in their most vulnerable moments, and I loved the dance analogies throughout, as well as their more tender moments. I also loved the moment Nick realised what Hayley actually needed from him, and I ADORED Nick's speech at the end as well as the epilogue.
A solid debut that flourished in the second half.
Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥
Emotional Rating: 😬💓😬💓😂😕🥰💓👏🏻🤔💓🥰💓😬💓👏🏻😊😂💓😏💓🤔💓👏🏻💓😊🙄🤔😒💓🥰😢💓🥰💓😂😊💓😍😂💓🥰😂😊💓🥰😢💓😂💓🥰😍😏💓🙄😉😒👏🏻😬🤬🤦🏻♀️👏🏻💓🥰👏🏻💓🥰
*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review. How To Dance is published on 6th February in the UK*
Favourite Quotes:
"I can always choose where to look. I don’t always look in the right place, but there’s always beauty and there’s always pain, and it’s always up to me."
“Do I help you look at the sky?”
“You are the sky,” he said.
"...when you really needed someone, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have a plan or a charming story. I was just me.” He smiled. “And it turns out when I stop trying to be someone else, being there for you is easier than breathing. So as long as I’m not taking someone else’s job, you can lean on me all you want.”
“He tries so hard to be charming, but honest to God, all he has to do is be himself.”
cw: ableism, anxiety, emotional cheating
When professional dancer Hayley Burke meets charismatic karaoke singer Nick Freeman and asks him to dance, she doesn't immediately realise he has cerebral palsy, or that he requires the aid of a walker, and she's mortified. Nick doesn't want people's pity. He wants to be seen. But as they find their rhythm with each other, they discover they're more alike than either knew.
I wanted to love this book so much, and it was very much a story of two halves. The premise was cute, and the representation of everyday life for someone with cerebral palsy using a walker was sensitively but also accurately written, especially Nick's frustrations with how some people reacted to or treated him. I loved his snarky sense of humour, and he was an absolute cinnamon roll to the people he loved. Hayley was an interesting character, but I sometimes felt like she was talking in riddles, rather than really saying what was on her mind, so I struggled to connect with her until halfway through. There were some fun supporting characters. I particularly liked Gavin and Mel (who actually gave great advice), and Cal was adorable.
While I loved Nick and Hayley's chemistry, I didn’t enjoy the emotional cheating, even though we only really discovered what Kevin was like halfway through, and I wish he hadn't played as big a part in the overall story. That said, once Hayley and Nick started to really share their emotional conversations, I began to love her more. I particularly loved how both were there for each other in their most vulnerable moments, and I loved the dance analogies throughout, as well as their more tender moments. I also loved the moment Nick realised what Hayley actually needed from him, and I ADORED Nick's speech at the end as well as the epilogue.
A solid debut that flourished in the second half.
Overall Rating: ❤️❤️❤️.5
Heat Rating: 🔥
Emotional Rating: 😬💓😬💓😂😕🥰💓👏🏻🤔💓🥰💓😬💓👏🏻😊😂💓😏💓🤔💓👏🏻💓😊🙄🤔😒💓🥰😢💓🥰💓😂😊💓😍😂💓🥰😂😊💓🥰😢💓😂💓🥰😍😏💓🙄😉😒👏🏻😬🤬🤦🏻♀️👏🏻💓🥰👏🏻💓🥰
*Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to leave an honest review. How To Dance is published on 6th February in the UK*
Favourite Quotes:
"I can always choose where to look. I don’t always look in the right place, but there’s always beauty and there’s always pain, and it’s always up to me."
“Do I help you look at the sky?”
“You are the sky,” he said.
"...when you really needed someone, I wasn’t ready. I didn’t have a plan or a charming story. I was just me.” He smiled. “And it turns out when I stop trying to be someone else, being there for you is easier than breathing. So as long as I’m not taking someone else’s job, you can lean on me all you want.”
“He tries so hard to be charming, but honest to God, all he has to do is be himself.”
July 26, 2023
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
4.5 stars.
A very entertaining story with an interesting plotline and featuring fresh characters, “How to Dance”, by Jason B. Dutton (Alcove Press), presents a captivating, extrovert hero, able to charm a rock.
Nick Freeman’s authenticity as a very affectionate, outgoing person, but a bit guarded, and also dealing with serious mobility issues, make this wounded hero fascinating.
The friendship and romance between Nick and Hayley is slow, although their connection is instantaneous and powerful.
I loved how the love and joy of dancing and singing were shown throughout the story and play such an important role in it. The beauty, sensuality and creativity of dancing and also the pleasure of watching it.
Seeing Nick so smitten with Hayley is really sweet and endearing.
The secondary characters are wonderful, each with its own personality and role in the narrative.
I also liked the irony of pairing a dancer passionate about dancing and a hero who cannot dance, at least in the conventional way.
I loved how Nick’s disability is portrayed, with realism and authenticity, and the fact his character is so unique and captivating with this and the other traits that make him special.
It’s rare to have a realistic approach on such mobility issues. No rose-colored glasses about the effort, struggles, tiredness, even exhaustion, sweat, discomfort, pain and logistics of it all.
4.5 stars.
A very entertaining story with an interesting plotline and featuring fresh characters, “How to Dance”, by Jason B. Dutton (Alcove Press), presents a captivating, extrovert hero, able to charm a rock.
Nick Freeman’s authenticity as a very affectionate, outgoing person, but a bit guarded, and also dealing with serious mobility issues, make this wounded hero fascinating.
The friendship and romance between Nick and Hayley is slow, although their connection is instantaneous and powerful.
I loved how the love and joy of dancing and singing were shown throughout the story and play such an important role in it. The beauty, sensuality and creativity of dancing and also the pleasure of watching it.
Seeing Nick so smitten with Hayley is really sweet and endearing.
The secondary characters are wonderful, each with its own personality and role in the narrative.
I also liked the irony of pairing a dancer passionate about dancing and a hero who cannot dance, at least in the conventional way.
I loved how Nick’s disability is portrayed, with realism and authenticity, and the fact his character is so unique and captivating with this and the other traits that make him special.
It’s rare to have a realistic approach on such mobility issues. No rose-colored glasses about the effort, struggles, tiredness, even exhaustion, sweat, discomfort, pain and logistics of it all.
February 5, 2024
If you're looking for a cute, entertaining, slow burn, clean romance then this is for you!
This book follows the MMC, Nick, and his friendship turns romance with the FMC, Haley. The main characters were loveable and both grew throughout the book. I like that the author focused on a character with a disability (cerebral palsy), as I think there were lots of lessons to be learned by the characters in the book but also for the reader, and I don't think we see characters with disabilities highlighted often, especially in romance reads.
For this author's debut, great job! And bonus points for mentioning Nick reading one of my favorite authors, Louise Penny, at the end!
Note: I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was perfect for this.
Thanks to Jason B. Dutton and Dreamscape Media for providing me with this ARC audiobook.
This book follows the MMC, Nick, and his friendship turns romance with the FMC, Haley. The main characters were loveable and both grew throughout the book. I like that the author focused on a character with a disability (cerebral palsy), as I think there were lots of lessons to be learned by the characters in the book but also for the reader, and I don't think we see characters with disabilities highlighted often, especially in romance reads.
For this author's debut, great job! And bonus points for mentioning Nick reading one of my favorite authors, Louise Penny, at the end!
Note: I listened to this on audiobook and the narrator was perfect for this.
Thanks to Jason B. Dutton and Dreamscape Media for providing me with this ARC audiobook.
May 27, 2025
Loved supporting a local author - cool to see things like the Ohio Theatre and even Melt pop up in the story! I also appreciate how honest the author was about writing a character that’s not himself, but still based on his own experience with cerebral palsy (I will never skip an author’s note!)
It ultimately wasn’t my favorite read - honestly could’ve used things being MORE fleshed out. I often felt like things were happening too quickly without much justification, and it was hard for me to root for the FMC leaving her long term boyfriend when we weren’t shown hardly any issues with him or the relationship for pretty much the first half of the book. But it had a beautiful message!
It ultimately wasn’t my favorite read - honestly could’ve used things being MORE fleshed out. I often felt like things were happening too quickly without much justification, and it was hard for me to root for the FMC leaving her long term boyfriend when we weren’t shown hardly any issues with him or the relationship for pretty much the first half of the book. But it had a beautiful message!
July 19, 2023
3.75 Stars. Clean Romance, Dual POV, Third Person.
"Do I help?"
"Help with what Sweetheart?"
"Do I help you look at the sky?"
"You are the sky"
This was such a beautiful, emotional story, following two people that needed to learn to love themselves and trust in each other. The connection between Hayley and Nick was so believable, right from the beginning.
This is Jason Dutton's debut novel, and I hope he plans on writing more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
"Do I help?"
"Help with what Sweetheart?"
"Do I help you look at the sky?"
"You are the sky"
This was such a beautiful, emotional story, following two people that needed to learn to love themselves and trust in each other. The connection between Hayley and Nick was so believable, right from the beginning.
This is Jason Dutton's debut novel, and I hope he plans on writing more.
Thank you to Netgalley and Alcove Press for sending me an advanced copy of this book.
August 4, 2023
I want to start off by saying thank you to Netgalley and Jason Dutton for my advance readers copy. I really did like the premise of this book. The representation in this book felt spot on. I could feel the hero frustration at time with people around him and I really felt connected with him. I think the part I struggled with was the romance. It just fell flat to me and I did not get the angst that I am sure the author was striving for. For me is was just ok. For this debut author I think it was a great start to a long career ahead of him. Will I be reading this author again absolutely👏
December 4, 2023
I love that this is an #OwnVoices story and written by a man - not my typical experience in contemporary romance. The author wrote Nick to be much snarkier (and meaner?) than I would have expected from a MMC, but that allowed his story to be so much sweeter. None of these characters are perfect, they each make poor choices, and the story resonates so much more because of that.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
February 29, 2024
A nice story but the characters felt a bit underdeveloped and the romance sudden. The main conflict event felt juvenile and motivations difficult to follow. Two stars.
July 24, 2023
This novel was an absolute jewel! It's even more amazing that this is the author's debut novel.
A touching novel about two people learning to trust each other and dance. Hayley is a professional dancer who has just moved into town. She and her dance partner / longtime boyfriend Kevin go to a local bar, the Squeaky Lion, and perform a joyous swing dance. At the end of the dance, she catches Nick's gaze and he has a strong, immediate reaction. Nick is there for his weekly karaoke night - he's a beloved regular. When Hayley urges him to try a few moves, Nick declines - and Hayley is stricken when she realizes that he can only walk with the use of a walker. Nick and Hayley begin a friendship as Kevin is dancing solo while Hayley waits tables at the bar as she awaits the fall season to join the dance troupe. Both Hayley and Nick have a skewed view of themselves - Nick has blinders about how others see him due to his cerebral palsy and Hayley thinks that she ends up hurting those who get close to her. As the story progresses, they each learn to dance - with each other, with life. They each have their bumps and scars, but eventually learn to trust each other.
I was very impressed with the accurate portrayal of a MC with a disability. Nick is not a saint. He is not an inspiration just because he's living his life - he's an inspiration because he's a decent person who has an ability to make others comfortable. I was reminded of my daughter (who fought cancer for almost 4 years and spent the last year of her life in a wheelchair because she was paralyzed) who said she was just trying to live - as well as she could, for as long as she could - and she didn't think it was about being brave, she just didn't have another choice. Nick was like that - this was his life and he just wanted to be seen, as a person, not as a disability.
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!
Quotes I liked:
You're looking for your joy in the wrong place.
You've got to earn the ending, rock star. All the bad stuff makes the good stuff sweeter.
Everything else is on the other side of that door. All those expectations are out there in the dark, okay? It's just you and me in here, and you don't have to do anything or be anything for anybody. I've got you, Hayley. I've got you.
He wanted Hayley to chose him when she could've chosen anyone else.
I can always choose where to look. I don't always look in the right place, but there's always beauty and there's always pain, and it's always up to me...I put that picture there because sometimes the path's going to be hard no matter what I do.
Sometimes it's about how other people interpret your dance.
He was trying to dance in a world that wasn't built for him.
I absolutely refuse to treat you like anything less than the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Getting through the hard stuff makes you stronger...Not just individually. If you do it right, it fuses you together.
A touching novel about two people learning to trust each other and dance. Hayley is a professional dancer who has just moved into town. She and her dance partner / longtime boyfriend Kevin go to a local bar, the Squeaky Lion, and perform a joyous swing dance. At the end of the dance, she catches Nick's gaze and he has a strong, immediate reaction. Nick is there for his weekly karaoke night - he's a beloved regular. When Hayley urges him to try a few moves, Nick declines - and Hayley is stricken when she realizes that he can only walk with the use of a walker. Nick and Hayley begin a friendship as Kevin is dancing solo while Hayley waits tables at the bar as she awaits the fall season to join the dance troupe. Both Hayley and Nick have a skewed view of themselves - Nick has blinders about how others see him due to his cerebral palsy and Hayley thinks that she ends up hurting those who get close to her. As the story progresses, they each learn to dance - with each other, with life. They each have their bumps and scars, but eventually learn to trust each other.
I was very impressed with the accurate portrayal of a MC with a disability. Nick is not a saint. He is not an inspiration just because he's living his life - he's an inspiration because he's a decent person who has an ability to make others comfortable. I was reminded of my daughter (who fought cancer for almost 4 years and spent the last year of her life in a wheelchair because she was paralyzed) who said she was just trying to live - as well as she could, for as long as she could - and she didn't think it was about being brave, she just didn't have another choice. Nick was like that - this was his life and he just wanted to be seen, as a person, not as a disability.
A HUGE thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for this ARC!
Quotes I liked:
You're looking for your joy in the wrong place.
You've got to earn the ending, rock star. All the bad stuff makes the good stuff sweeter.
Everything else is on the other side of that door. All those expectations are out there in the dark, okay? It's just you and me in here, and you don't have to do anything or be anything for anybody. I've got you, Hayley. I've got you.
He wanted Hayley to chose him when she could've chosen anyone else.
I can always choose where to look. I don't always look in the right place, but there's always beauty and there's always pain, and it's always up to me...I put that picture there because sometimes the path's going to be hard no matter what I do.
Sometimes it's about how other people interpret your dance.
He was trying to dance in a world that wasn't built for him.
I absolutely refuse to treat you like anything less than the best thing that's ever happened to me.
Getting through the hard stuff makes you stronger...Not just individually. If you do it right, it fuses you together.
July 26, 2023
3 ⭐️
The book cover is undeniably adorable, adding an enticing element to the overall charm of the story. Although I generally lean towards first-person narratives, the choice of dual POVs and third-person storytelling in this novel appears to strike an excellent balance, offering a comprehensive understanding of the characters' inner worlds while maintaining a broader perspective on their unfolding romance.
The plot itself sounds captivating, as it follows the magnetic journey of Nick Freeman, a determined karaoke performer battling cerebral palsy, and Hayley Burke, a passionate dancer seeking fulfillment. Their encounter sparks an undeniable connection, leading them to explore the beauty of dance and the depths of their emotions together.
I'm particularly intrigued by the exploration of themes such as self-discovery, human connection, and the transformative power of passion. As Nick and Hayley navigate their way from friendship to a deeper bond, the story promises to be heartwarming and engaging.
Overall, this debut romance by Jason B. Dutton sounds like a delightful and enchanting read, appealing to fans of romance and those who appreciate stories about personal growth and overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of love. The novel's potential to tug at the heartstrings and leave a lasting impression makes it a promising addition to any reading list. Happy reading to all who embark on this swoon-filled journey!
The book cover is undeniably adorable, adding an enticing element to the overall charm of the story. Although I generally lean towards first-person narratives, the choice of dual POVs and third-person storytelling in this novel appears to strike an excellent balance, offering a comprehensive understanding of the characters' inner worlds while maintaining a broader perspective on their unfolding romance.
The plot itself sounds captivating, as it follows the magnetic journey of Nick Freeman, a determined karaoke performer battling cerebral palsy, and Hayley Burke, a passionate dancer seeking fulfillment. Their encounter sparks an undeniable connection, leading them to explore the beauty of dance and the depths of their emotions together.
I'm particularly intrigued by the exploration of themes such as self-discovery, human connection, and the transformative power of passion. As Nick and Hayley navigate their way from friendship to a deeper bond, the story promises to be heartwarming and engaging.
Overall, this debut romance by Jason B. Dutton sounds like a delightful and enchanting read, appealing to fans of romance and those who appreciate stories about personal growth and overcoming obstacles in the pursuit of love. The novel's potential to tug at the heartstrings and leave a lasting impression makes it a promising addition to any reading list. Happy reading to all who embark on this swoon-filled journey!
January 28, 2024
Thank you to Dreamscape Media and Jason B. Dutton for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
3.75 stars round up to 4 out of 5.
How to Dance tells a sweet yet also realistic look into love in a life with a disibility.
I enjoyed Nick’s point of view, and how honest and truthful he expressed himself and his frustrations of his circumstances and the way he was treated. You can tell the author put a lot of his own journey into the story. The relationships with his friends and others in the town gut you by the end because you realize your own reading has been swayed by his thoughts.
I didn’t really love the romance aspect though. I found Haley’s reactions to things confusing and I genuinely just didn’t connect with her view. This could partly be because I have never been into dancing and thus couldn’t connect to her passions.
Overall though, the story was beautiful and I would recommend it to those who love music and dancing, and those who are willing to question their own view and treatment of people with disabilities.
3.75 stars round up to 4 out of 5.
How to Dance tells a sweet yet also realistic look into love in a life with a disibility.
I enjoyed Nick’s point of view, and how honest and truthful he expressed himself and his frustrations of his circumstances and the way he was treated. You can tell the author put a lot of his own journey into the story. The relationships with his friends and others in the town gut you by the end because you realize your own reading has been swayed by his thoughts.
I didn’t really love the romance aspect though. I found Haley’s reactions to things confusing and I genuinely just didn’t connect with her view. This could partly be because I have never been into dancing and thus couldn’t connect to her passions.
Overall though, the story was beautiful and I would recommend it to those who love music and dancing, and those who are willing to question their own view and treatment of people with disabilities.
February 4, 2024
Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced reader copy. These opinions are my own.
Nick is the star of karaoke night at his favorite bar every Friday night. But his attention is captured one evening watching Haley dance. When she approaches him, she challenges him to dance as well, only to learn he uses a walker and can't dance the way she can.
I greatly appreciated this debut novel from Jason B. Dutton. It's an own voices book, and the cerebral palsy he writes about for Nick matches his own. I've come to understand more about accessibility since my moved moved in with me with her walker. But reading this opened my thinking in new ways. The first person perspectives from Nick, showing how he thought about other people's perceptions of him, were especially powerful. Although love triangles are not always my favorite trope, I found it really worked well here for exploring Nick's feelings about his disability and his romantic prospects.
I also really appreciated the use of both boxing and dancing metaphors throughout the book. They added to the beauty of the prose. Nick's friends were also great characters who added more depth. I wanted to join Nick and Haley at their dance studio.
3.75 stars rounded up
Nick is the star of karaoke night at his favorite bar every Friday night. But his attention is captured one evening watching Haley dance. When she approaches him, she challenges him to dance as well, only to learn he uses a walker and can't dance the way she can.
I greatly appreciated this debut novel from Jason B. Dutton. It's an own voices book, and the cerebral palsy he writes about for Nick matches his own. I've come to understand more about accessibility since my moved moved in with me with her walker. But reading this opened my thinking in new ways. The first person perspectives from Nick, showing how he thought about other people's perceptions of him, were especially powerful. Although love triangles are not always my favorite trope, I found it really worked well here for exploring Nick's feelings about his disability and his romantic prospects.
I also really appreciated the use of both boxing and dancing metaphors throughout the book. They added to the beauty of the prose. Nick's friends were also great characters who added more depth. I wanted to join Nick and Haley at their dance studio.
3.75 stars rounded up
March 1, 2024
Oh, how I loved this fabulous debut rom-com by Jason B. Dutton! The male MC has cerebral palsy and falls in love with a professional dancer, and the sparks and snarky banter begin to fly. While How to Dance definitely falls into the rom-com genre, it offers so much more from understanding the personal aspect of disability experiences (physically navigating city buildings as well as emotionally navigating people who get, well, too people-y) and what diversity and inclusion really mean. Nick and Hayley both grow as individuals as they navigate their new feelings and ponder their place in this chaotic world. This inclusive, own voices book should be on the top of everyone's TBR pile. Mild spice but lots of double entendre humor to keep things sizzling. The audiobook narrators did a wonderful job and were pleasing to listen to.
Note: How to Dance takes place in Columbus, OH and is written by a local author. This book and author deserve all the Buckeye love... read and share with friends! I am so glad we picked this for our March Book Club!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read/listen to this audiobook ARC.
Note: How to Dance takes place in Columbus, OH and is written by a local author. This book and author deserve all the Buckeye love... read and share with friends! I am so glad we picked this for our March Book Club!
Thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to read/listen to this audiobook ARC.
February 15, 2024
What a fun ride. How to Dance was a breath of fresh air with a main character with a life-altering disability. Our male main character suffers from Cerebral Palsy, and it was very interesting to read about it and how harshly it can affect someone’s mental health and self-esteem. Everyone in this world is deserving of love, no matter what you look like, and this book painted a beautiful picture of that. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and it’s actually quite exciting that the author just so happens to be visiting my city next week. I got my own physical copy of this book and I can’t wait to meet him and hear more about it directly from him.
Huge thank you as always to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my thoughts on the story! <3
Huge thank you as always to Net Galley and Dreamscape Media for the ALC in exchange for my thoughts on the story! <3
August 3, 2025
Man I was so hopeful for this book. The cover was so cute and I loved the cerebral palsy representation and own voices aspect but I felt so let down by the book.
The whole book fell very flat but the characters and their relationship especially felt underdeveloped. They were both unlikable characters who made horrible decisions and hurt others without caring. I found myself unable to root for them as a couple and I never really felt their connection either.
Also there was LOTS of emotional cheating which I do not condone and they were both in the wrong for that…
Overall this was a miss for me.
The whole book fell very flat but the characters and their relationship especially felt underdeveloped. They were both unlikable characters who made horrible decisions and hurt others without caring. I found myself unable to root for them as a couple and I never really felt their connection either.
Also there was LOTS of emotional cheating which I do not condone and they were both in the wrong for that…
Overall this was a miss for me.
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January 4, 2024Not a review but rather a question, why is this kindle book so expensive. It is to be released in the UK In Feb, it is the first novel of this author and to be honest I wouldn’t buy any book over £4 at a push but even then it would have to be part of a series or an author I follow. Feel very disappointed that the current pre order price is £10.26. In the Uk at the moment our taxes, utility bills and gas prices are high squeazing our income to very little so books are a luxury and a cost to justify and this price is an unjustifiable spend.
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