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Chispa
Claire Beauchene has always dreamed of competing at the Blackpool Dance Festival. But when her boyfriend and partner, Sebastian Alvah, breaks up with her to pursue a dance career in Los Angeles, she is forced to dance with the only available partner. Her dance studio’s bad boy, the brooding and antisocial Luca Ortiz.
As they navigate the demanding world of competitive dance, a complex romance blossoms, marked by shared struggles, emotional growth, and the challenges of their divergent lives. This romance, set against the high-stakes backdrop of a prestigious dance competition, highlights the power of love and partnership in overcoming life's obstacles.
As they navigate the demanding world of competitive dance, a complex romance blossoms, marked by shared struggles, emotional growth, and the challenges of their divergent lives. This romance, set against the high-stakes backdrop of a prestigious dance competition, highlights the power of love and partnership in overcoming life's obstacles.
386 pages, Unknown Binding
First published April 29, 2025
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May 23, 2025
There’s a reason Ruby Fink titled her novel Chispa—Spanish for “spark.” The story moves with restraint, tension, and control, but the undercurrent is always heat. It’s a slow-burn romance rooted in identity, pride, and what happens when two people try to outmaneuver their own emotions and end up colliding anyway.
Claire Beauchene trains hard, aims high, and doesn’t suffer mediocrity. As the star dancer at her parents’ studio—Beauchene Dance Academy—Claire is used to being the best, and she doesn’t see much reason to question that. But when her longtime partner and boyfriend, Sebastian, bails on her to chase fame on a dance reality show, everything she’s planned starts to unravel. With the biggest competition of the year looming, her only shot at staying in the game is teaming up with Luca, a dancer she barely tolerates and doesn’t begin to understand.
Luca is grounded and driven, with no time for Claire’s drama or her privileged expectations. He works two jobs, watches his little brother, and still makes space for dance. It’s the one thing he can’t seem to let go of. It’s a part of him, no matter how hard he sometimes tries to deny this. Their clashes are immediate and frequent—but behind the disdain is chemistry neither of them expected.
Chispa was an absolute delight to read—a sweet, high-energy romance with emotional clarity, subtle tension, and a story that moves with purpose. Fink’s writing is confident and fluid—chapters flow cleanly, the dialogue lands with ease, and each scene feels natural and organic to the story. Her experience with dance shows in the details, but more importantly, in how she captures the emotional discipline behind it. This is a world that feels alive—lived in, and that honesty gives the story its emotional pull—especially through the characters, which is where the novel really shines.
Claire’s not an easy lead, and that’s a big part of what makes this story work so well. She’s pouty, entitled, and quick to hand out criticism, but she’s also scared—of losing control, of not measuring up, of losing her grip on her perfectly choreographed future. She does grow over time, and the story doesn’t rush that process. Luca’s the more understated of the two, and if anything, I wanted more of his internal world on the page. He’s strong, layered, and someone you root for without needing a grand gesture to earn it. Sebastian, on the other hand, is the classic manipulator. He always makes Claire feel like she’s the problem—even when he’s the one bailing, rewriting the truth, or twisting her words into guilt. On the surface, he’s polished and charismatic, but behind the scenes, everything is calculated, and it’s frustrating precisely because it feels so real.
What gives the story depth is the thread of class tension running beneath the romance. Claire is used to structure, resources, and the assumption that success is earned by talent alone. Luca’s reality is different—he’s juggling responsibilities she’s never even had to think about. The friction between them is shaped by the very different lives they come from. This layer keeps the story grounded and gives their dynamic extra bite.
If there’s a softer spot in the story, it’s the supporting cast. Luca’s brother and Abuela stand out, and there’s a bit of meaningful backstory from Claire’s parents, but most of the side characters stay in the background. They serve the plot, but they don’t leave much of a mark.
Overall, Chispa by Ruby Fink is tightly written, emotionally honest, and smart about where it puts its focus. Whether you’re in it for the slow-burn tension or the nuance that gives the story weight, this one stays focused on what matters and delivers.
Claire Beauchene trains hard, aims high, and doesn’t suffer mediocrity. As the star dancer at her parents’ studio—Beauchene Dance Academy—Claire is used to being the best, and she doesn’t see much reason to question that. But when her longtime partner and boyfriend, Sebastian, bails on her to chase fame on a dance reality show, everything she’s planned starts to unravel. With the biggest competition of the year looming, her only shot at staying in the game is teaming up with Luca, a dancer she barely tolerates and doesn’t begin to understand.
Luca is grounded and driven, with no time for Claire’s drama or her privileged expectations. He works two jobs, watches his little brother, and still makes space for dance. It’s the one thing he can’t seem to let go of. It’s a part of him, no matter how hard he sometimes tries to deny this. Their clashes are immediate and frequent—but behind the disdain is chemistry neither of them expected.
Chispa was an absolute delight to read—a sweet, high-energy romance with emotional clarity, subtle tension, and a story that moves with purpose. Fink’s writing is confident and fluid—chapters flow cleanly, the dialogue lands with ease, and each scene feels natural and organic to the story. Her experience with dance shows in the details, but more importantly, in how she captures the emotional discipline behind it. This is a world that feels alive—lived in, and that honesty gives the story its emotional pull—especially through the characters, which is where the novel really shines.
Claire’s not an easy lead, and that’s a big part of what makes this story work so well. She’s pouty, entitled, and quick to hand out criticism, but she’s also scared—of losing control, of not measuring up, of losing her grip on her perfectly choreographed future. She does grow over time, and the story doesn’t rush that process. Luca’s the more understated of the two, and if anything, I wanted more of his internal world on the page. He’s strong, layered, and someone you root for without needing a grand gesture to earn it. Sebastian, on the other hand, is the classic manipulator. He always makes Claire feel like she’s the problem—even when he’s the one bailing, rewriting the truth, or twisting her words into guilt. On the surface, he’s polished and charismatic, but behind the scenes, everything is calculated, and it’s frustrating precisely because it feels so real.
What gives the story depth is the thread of class tension running beneath the romance. Claire is used to structure, resources, and the assumption that success is earned by talent alone. Luca’s reality is different—he’s juggling responsibilities she’s never even had to think about. The friction between them is shaped by the very different lives they come from. This layer keeps the story grounded and gives their dynamic extra bite.
If there’s a softer spot in the story, it’s the supporting cast. Luca’s brother and Abuela stand out, and there’s a bit of meaningful backstory from Claire’s parents, but most of the side characters stay in the background. They serve the plot, but they don’t leave much of a mark.
Overall, Chispa by Ruby Fink is tightly written, emotionally honest, and smart about where it puts its focus. Whether you’re in it for the slow-burn tension or the nuance that gives the story weight, this one stays focused on what matters and delivers.
Displaying 1 of 1 review