Sing If You Can’t Dance: All of Me, Book 1

by Alexia Casale, Lucy Rayner (Narrator)

Ven has her future all planned out. Her dance group is going places and so is she . . . Then she collapses. On stage.

In hospital, Ven discovers that she has a medical condition—one that threatens to ruin everything. No more dancing . . . walking is challenging enough. But she doesn't want your pity. Ven is determined to have a big, exciting life. Sure, her future might be different, but it's not over . . . Because if you can't dance, you can always sing!

Refreshing, uplifting and original, Sing if you Can't Dance is the unforgettable story of a teenager living life on her own terms.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Disability, Fiction, Contemporary, School, Psychology

Audible Audio

Published July 4, 2023

About the author

Shortlisted for the Waterstone's Children's Book Prize. Longlisted for The Branford Boase Award. A Book of the Year 2013 for the Financial Times and Independent.

A British-American citizen of Italian heritage, Alexia is an author, editor and writing consultant. She also teaches English Literature and Writing.

After an MA in Social & Political Sciences (Psychology major) then MPhil in Educational Psychology & Technology, both at Cambridge University, she took a break from academia and moved to New York. There she worked on a Tony-award-winning Broadway show before returning to England to complete a PhD and teaching qualification. In between, she worked as a West End script-critic, box-office manager for a music festival and executive editor of a human rights journal.

She’s not sure which side of the family her dyslexia comes from, but is resigned to the fact that madness runs in both. She loves cats, collects glass animals and interesting knives, and has always wanted a dragon.

Alexia is represented by Claire Wilson of Rogers, Coleridge & White.

Her debut novel, The Bone Dragon, is published in English by Faber & Faber, and in German by Carlsen.

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a fantastic YA summer romance featuring a teen girl who is forced to give up her dancing dreams when she starts showing symptoms of an unnamed condition (very hEDS-like in nature).

Full of a cast of great supporting characters and a sweet love interest, this story does such a great job illustrating the challenges of living with a chronic illness and chronic pain. Highly, highly recommended and great on audio!!

Favorite quote:
"I'm not what's wrong with my body, I'm what I do with myself. I'm the life I make happen."

CW: recovering alcoholic and drug addict side character

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

connected instantly to the title due to what was going on in my life at that time
In the beginning the main chara was a bit much at times for me, and some parts for example the fundraising at the end etc seemed a bit exaggerated...

Buuuut it's a wonderful story about fighting back, not letting life happen to you but actively living it
Be who you are, try to stay positive
Finding friends that will always have your back
Finding and doing sth you love
Striving for happiness

I didn't expect to annotate and mark so much, a pleasant surprise
and there are quite a few quotes that I will read back, and some parts and more so towards the end hit me right in the feels
I'm glad I read this🥰

[misfantasyfiction ☆ﾟ.*･ · Rating 5 out of 5]

i sobbed

[Zara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored this book!! 🥹

It was exactly what I needed to read at the moment as I’m going through a chronic illness flareup and it can be hard reading books about people doing things I can’t do ❤️‍🩹

I highly recommend that anyone going through chronic illness or living with a disability/chronic pain

It’s got such wholesome romance, but it isn’t the whole plot because there’s a lot of friendship involved too and it really reminded me of all the different dynamics I had to face in high school/college

Overall, I really relatable and highly accurate depiction of what chronic illness can look like for a teen

[claire ⋆ ★ (Juliette) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I don't have a lot to say about this book, but I'll still try to write a review...

Firstly, what I liked:

- the love story was cute
- the setting (music group, choir)
- the characters were interesting, but some (like Benjo) were very roughly characterized (maybe I just overread it)
- the description of the pain and the way Ven found a way to live with them (I have no idea if that was an accurate description, but for me it dives like that)

Secondly, what I didn't like:

- very long beginning (250 pages more or less preparation, that could have been shorter, the real story is just the last 50 pages
- and I don't know, but I missed something. Maybe a big plot or something that makes the book very special

Conclusion:
Rec for everyone who wants to read a cute, nonthrilling romance book in a choir setting.

[Chloe Carey · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve wanted to read this for a while and I’m so glad I finally got round to it. I felt instantly connected to this book, especially living with a chronic condition myself. I wish I had read it in my early teen life, I know it would’ve helped me get through some tough times. Contains some heavy topics like addiction, depression and talks of domestic violence

[hannah! (lowkey gone) · Rating 3 out of 5]

loved the story and the narrator

[Georgina · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a sucker for a coming of age story. This was like watching a comforting tv show. There are parts that could have been tied up better but this just means a lot to me. I teared up towards the end and I would recommend for those wanting a coming of age YA story with good disability representation.

Content warning: medical content

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved it was adorable and I really enjoyed the book however I can understand how Ven can be over the top for some people but when you get to feel who she is then you’ll be obsessed with her I love how firece she is and how she’s not afraid to shy from her emotions

[Girllovesbooks · Rating 3 out of 5]

So.. honestly.. i dont know, i liked the ending part, i didnt like the rest very much. While i was reading i kept thinking when i finish this im never gonna read it again or im gonna dnf it. Because of the writing style i couldnt understand some of the situations or world building that happened. Sometimes i think things happened pretty fast like that her friend yelled at someone for parking in disabled and then was happy about it and bam on to the next thing. Sometimes i wanted just a little more depth. Also in the other caracters stories. For me suddenly her friend was dating someone, i cant recall they ever really talked about the new boyfriend untill the ended up at the festival and she was together with him. How? When? I would like to know about more then only ven and ren thank you very much.

About the part where she peed blood and her kidneys were bad or something. I got really invested in that, then it was just suddenly all over and at the festival it started again. To just end it all happy happy but girl you still peeing blood what the … is happening with your health after. It felt that the story was around ven and her disability and coping, and i felt like the festival was a side piece. But in the end the focus was on the festival and the disability was the side piece, i missed some closure there.


But also, given the title and the description. I really felt this book would also go in more into the singing and dancing aspect which i also missed. Because that is where my interests lay

I do have to say that when i finished i was happy that ven didnt feel alone anymore and she asked for help, im glad she found something to live for with her condition. And I thought, i have to save this book so i can gift it to someone who might struggle with a similar situation at a young age. Because it could give them also some hope at the end..

[Hannah · Rating 4 out of 5]

'There are people who love me and sometimes they want to be a bridge between what I want and what I can do - I just need to learn to let them without feeling like I'm giving in.'

Sing if you can't dance follows our main character Ven (bossy organized, independent, determined and hilariously sarcastic student) as she attempts to whip her singing group into shape whilst simultaneously juggling preparations for the family festival, relationships new and old, mean girls, and a chronic pain condition. After dancing is no longer possible for Ven due to circumstances out of her control, she feels like a huge part of her has been taken away. She hates that her body can't do the things it used to and is focused only on getting the best grades possible on her A-levels. But on her quest to academic success, will she end up finding something much better?

This book was so good!!! Ven is probably the feistiest, yet one of the most likeable and relatable characters I've had the pleasure of encountering this year. I loved getting to see her vulnerable side as well as her "planning world domination" side. Alexia Casale is a brilliant writer and I really enjoyed the focus on friendship, hope and perseverance. The festival was a unique backdrop and I also learnt a lot about chronic conditions and mobility impairments so that's another big reason I loved this book - the representation was amazing.

[Monica Haak · Rating 2 out of 5]

Echt een worsteling. Heel origineel, dat 100%, maar zulke lange zinnen, zoveel side gedachten en opmerkingen tussendoor. Was steeds de draad kwijt. En ondanks dat het mega sterk is dat er een aandoening besproken wordt die vrij zeldzaam is, was het echt mega overheersend negatief (en dat zegt een YA mental health auteur). Hoewel het hoofdpersonage "adrem" moet lijken met haar sarcasme, vond ik haar vooral bitter. Jammer!

[Rosina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was going to be a slightly cringey, overly positive book. But it wasn’t. And that’s good.
It really showed how hard having a disability can actually be and didn’t make it seem like nothing or ignore how hard it can make life.
It was really refreshing and I think I enjoyed the book a lot more than if it had been any different.

[Emily Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 and a half stars.
This was excellent. I don’t think I’ve ever consumed a piece of media before where the character is so angry the whole way through and completely understood why that was the case, and consistently sympathised with her. Ven deserved to be sad and frustrated and at times rude, and we also got a character arc where she learns to see beyond herself without detracting from her own real and valid feelings. I read the synopsis at some point and took a picture of this book as one I wanted to read, but since then forgot what it was about and all I remembered was I thought it had disability rep. From the second chapter I was so invested in everything. The first chapter set things up in a way that felt a little cliche but cliches are cliches for a reason, and the specificity of the character’s experience and the importance of that moment for the character’s grief through the book made it such a perfect beginning. The romance also felt cliche but it WORKED, it added a new dimension to the character and the two sides of her- the sarcastic, brash, angry side and the softer side of a teenager falling in love and wanting to be loved made her such a complex and engaging protagonist.
Despite the pretty realistic setting (barring the festival which required a little suspension of disbelief that also worked to lighten the book despite harsh topics being discussed so candidly), this story was full of action and things happening and dramatic moments and plot twists and just so much going on externally as well as internally.
The story felt so complete, so many loose ends wrapped up (SPOILERS) from the bookending of the performances where Ven learns to sit, the giving Maddie a love interest to further enforce the fact she does nottt like Ren like that, to the Roks and Orla storyline which leads to Ven realising things outside herself. The title is so fitting and the book absolutely does what it says on the tin and does it WELL. I respect the decision at the end not to make her condition obvious and I’m confused by some reviews which say they feel that should be wrapped up- the book literally tells you so much about her, how do you even need more info at this point? It was such a powerful note to end such a powerful and self-assured character on but I didn’t notice that it was supposed to be a THING that they didn’t tell you.
I can accept some ridiculous things in this very well written book, such as Fred and George Wesley.
Ven helped me further understand experiences of friends, and I saw myself in Maddie and other characters and I think this book does an incredible job conveying that everyone has their own issues to work with and supporting eachother in various ways even if the balance of ways of support is sometimes unconventional. I even saw myself in Ven a tiny bit in the form of her grief for once living a different life and now having to live a worse life forever, even though her situation is very different from mine.
The one critique I have- why are the two main characters called Ven and Ren? Did that need to happen? Why couldn’t Ren have any other name that doesn’t rhyme with Ven?
Also- by the stage of getting to a professional festival you’d think they could’ve come up with a better name than The Singers. Not to mention Family Festival. This book isn’t for 8 year olds, get some good names.

[CC · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a damn good YA depiction of chronic pain and disability. I loved almost everything about it.

- great diversity

- well-developed side characters (so much unexpected nuance, and it flowed so well)

- romance without it dominating the whole story!

- many important life lessons peppered throughout, integrated well into the storyline! I think it's great given the target audience.

- a bully side storyline that didn't dominate the whole story!

Just community and friendship and growth and learning that asking for help and support is a sign of strength, not weakness and- ಥ⁠‿⁠ಥ

Books like this would have been so meaningful for me when I was a teen. I'm so glad and grateful that more and more stories that depict a far more hopeful, but still realistic side of chronic conditions and disabilities are being written more often now.

This book needs so much more love and attention!

[Olivia-Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made me do the internal sob thing that for me, a non-crier, means "this book made me cry."

The synopsis and title sound basic but I PROMISE this book is a contender for my best books of the year list.

The disability rep is outstanding! It was so realistic, especially in that pushback when you have a deterioration in ability and having to learn to accept aids and help. Without the self-loathing and 'this is the end of my life' bemoaning that some people like to think comes with this. But more so a "this is what it's really like" emotional journey. I'm finding this hard to describe in words. But rest assured, the disability representation in this one is handled brilliantly, and oh so close to reality.

The romance was so sweet and cute! The love interest had his own struggles and disability journey to work through. And the way he fit with her, supported her and understood her? I just loved it.

The parents in this get an A+. They were there for Ven, and let her be independent while stepping in (as parents should) when they needed to. And they always, always, loved her.

I feel like each secondary character grew as the story went on, and they each faced their own conflicts. And I internally happy sobbed at the end because everyone had come so far and I was so so happy for them all 😭😭😭

I learned particular things about her own individual disability life that I hadn't known before. I saw myself and my sister in the Maddie / Ven storyline a little too much 🥲 (So again, points for being realistic).

And the main character, Ven, is super bossy and a know it all and just owns that side of her personality 🤭 It took me a few pages to get used to her but tbh, in her shoes, I think it's okay to be a little unlikeable as your whole life changes drastically in a very short period of time.

[Olga Garcia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Este libro no es para mí, tanto por el estilo de escribir de la autora que parece que seas la mejor amiga de la protagonista, la trama, una adolescente que tiene una enfermedad de repente no puede volver a bailar y su vida cambia radicalmente 365 grados. Empieza en el coro del instituto y acaba con una bonita amistad, un amor de instituto, adolescente, bonito y dulce.

No me gusta, que la trama solo se centre en la enfermedad de la protagonista, quiero decir, cada capítulo es lo mismo de “estoy enferma “ pero aún así me gusta la forma en que retrata las ganas de vivir de no conformarse y como poco a poco vuelve a rehacer su vida y a ganarse nuevos amigos y amores.

Se me ha hecho bastante largo y pesado de leer, sentía que cada vez era la misma historia. Y la historia de amor, solo a pinceladas, ya que 190 páginas son sobre la protagonista y su enfermedad y día a día y el resto el romance con Ren. O el poco romance que tiene con Ren porque habla muy poco o hay pocos momentos solos que están juntos y interactúan como pareja. Entiendo que son adolescentes y demás, pero hay pocas escenas románticas en el libro.

Para mí, y en mi opinión el mejor personaje es Ren el protagonista masculino, lo encuentro tan buena green flag y como está en todo momento, pendiente de ella, y siempre queriendo sorprenderla y ayudándola en todo momento. Creo que no me lo volvería a leer. 😕

[Kier Scrivener · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love, love, love disability rep and as someone who also became chronically ill young in life this was very meaningful.

I apperciated the fleshing out if so many minor characters, supportive but not sacchrine parents and a cute love story.

My approach to disability is different, for instance I'm pro labelling. I don't think diagnosis or explanation should be needed as criteria for care but the truth is that one does not get adequate care. I don't think diagnoses are limiting, I think they are expanding. Because it allows the simple fact to exist, be acknowledged and accomodated and not to be a noisy cat prowling in every conversation but awkwardly ignored.

I know there is a nuanced discussion, I just have a deep rejection of it because of the barriers I've had to diagnosis.

Them all sitting down with her. I cried.


Cw: ableism, alcoholism (off screen), domestic violence (mentioned).

[Solveig · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has an interesting story to tell with important points such as chronic diseases shouldn't be used as people's defining characteristics, just because something you have put a major part of yourself into doesn't work for you doesn't mean your life is over, asking for help doesn't make you weak, most people are too busy with their own thing to even notice your weirdness. Sadly it sets this in a UK secondary school and then completely fails to recognise some of the most basic things about UK secondary schools, such as the pupils wear school uniforms to school, not cute outfits they put together, a severely disabled person can get a provisional driving license at 16, but that doesn't mean they are allowed to drive independently. These jarring details kept knocking me out of the story and rather ruined the experience for me.

[Rebecca R · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Ven collapses on stage during a dance group performance she doesn't realise that everything is about to change. Not only will she not be able to dance anymore, but she will struggle to walk, her joints will frequently dislocate and she will have to live with chronic pain. But Ven is not willing to let her disability define her and she is not willing to live a small, quiet life in deference to her limitations. Since she can't dance anymore, she will sing instead.

Ven is a wonderfully angry, sarcastic and determined character and her story is absolutely captivating. I loved this!

[Coraly · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a disabled young person, I felt this. I didn‘t know I needed this book but I had never read such an accurate representation before. At first I was a little irritated by Ven‘s stubborn attitude towards everything, everyone and herself and I wasn‘t immediately convinced by Ren‘s character. It felt like this was just gonna be another „love on first sight“ story which I usually don‘t like. But over time I found all the characters extremely likable, I loved that it was not just about love but also about friendship and I liked how Ven learned how to ask for help.

[Dagmar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, it is very easy written. But there are a few things why I gave this book 3 stars.

For me it was a little complicated to get to know what mentail issue Ven really had. There were too much things happening with her health what made it a little confusing for me.

Also, there were so much details and to much things happening which, for me, didn't add much for the story.
I could not really find me in the personality of Ven, but away from this, it is story where you fly trough.

Conclusion: not the best book i've read, but it is defenitly a fun and easy story to read.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

A cute YA read with an interesting storyline, I thought it was going to include more about before Wren’s accident but the book starts just following it. The characters’ journeys were sweet and of course any book with dancing/singing is a good one for me! Now having read 2 YA books back-to-back, I deffo feel the writing is a bit young for me, but I enjoyed it & pleased it was another spontaneous read picked up from my local library 🫶🏻

[Tia Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best #ownvoice books open a sliding door. I learned so much in @AlexiaCasale's #SingIfYouCan'tDance. Ven is the kind of leading girl I love: grumpy, sharp, funny, golden-hearted, and doesn't take life's knock's lying down (except she has to). YA at its best. Her on-off relationship, the un-chocolateboxness of it all, the humour -- gusty YA at its best.

[Diya Nair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sing If You Can't Dance is an amazing book I don't think I have ever read something like it. It's so good and I love how it's about a girl who couldn't dance anymore because of a medical condition. But she finds the same love for singing with the support of her friends and a new potential love interest.

[Debra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyable YA story about Ven, who refuses to be defined by her illness when she is struck with an unidentified medical condition which stops her dancing. A lovely story about resilience, independence and knowing your limits, when to ask for help and a bit of romance thrown in.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Teen romance. Liked Ven, the main character - hearing her voice and empathising with her - trying to understand her bitterness and vitriol.. Other interesting characters, too, but the festival backdrop wasn't quite believeable enough for me - maybe for a teen?

[Sapphire Quick · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ read for SSBA
this book is really beautiful, i think it would mean a lot for teenagers with chronic pain to read and all the messages are so realistic and important. never would have chosen to read it but glad i did

[Alice Visser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A YA novel from the UKLA longlist exploring disability, overcoming adversity, friendship and romance, with a large dose of music festival excitement. The first person protagonist Ven has a compelling voice. Key message us that disabilities don't define you.

[xinying ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

i just know younger me would have loved this