Teach Me to Fly: A Dark Ballet Romance

by Tanisha Headley

She came home to escape her demons.
He’s never stopped feeding his.
A match made in...ruin?

ANGELIQUE
Trauma always leaves a mark, and mine is buried deep beneath scar tissue and muscle memory. I fled New York to escape the ballet world that broke me—and the man who ruined everything—swearing I’d never dance again.
But Imperium isn’t New York. They’re here to challenge the rules, starting with a darker, grittier Swan Lake retelling with an Odile who finds her own redemption.
I’m partnered with the boy I once knew…except Reign Harrington isn’t a boy anymore. Now he’s a man filled with quiet rage, and too many secrets.
And somehow, he sees straight through my façade.
As we dance a story too close to my own, I find myself coming undone all over again. Because healing isn’t linear, and surviving might not be enough.

REIGN
I was raised to lead Imperium. To dance until my body breaks, and to carry a legacy I never asked for. I dance because it’s expected but I play the piano because it’s the only way I know how to breathe.
When I play, I see her. Always her. The girl who once kissed me like I was someone worth staying for. I’ve composed entire symphonies just to survive missing her.
And now she’s back.
Angelique Sinclair—too fragile to touch,and too broken to stay.
Watching her dance feels like breathing for the first time in years, so I make it I’ll dance Swan Lake, but only if she lets me stay in the guesthouse with her.
Close enough to stop her from disappearing.
Close enough to teach her to fly.

CLICK ‘BUY NOW’ TO MEET ANGELIQUE AND REIGN!

Genres: Dark Romance, Romance, Contemporary, Dark

362 pages, Paperback

Published July 22, 2025

About the author

Tanisha Headley is a Canadian author, and a fresh voice in the world of romance fiction. Tanisha brings to life relatable and flawed characters, heartfelt angst, and laugh-out-loud banter while exploring the steamy corners of romance.

Residing in the beautiful landscapes of Alberta, Canada, Tanisha shares her life with her husband, son, and a four-legged adventure buddy. When she's not immersed in writing swoon-worthy stories, you can find her exploring the scenic mountains and charming small towns with her family, seeking inspiration in the beauty of her surroundings. An expert of the perfect chai tea latte, Tanisha is always on the lookout for new and delightful coffee shops.

Connect with Tanisha on social media @authortanishaheadley for updates, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and more. For a complete list of her books and more, visit tanishaheadley.com.

Reviews

[Shawnaci Schroeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5/5
- This is my favorite dark romance I’ve EVER read and I never thought I’d say that because I rarely enjoy dark romance. Love how this story was written and LOVE how Reign would literally do anything for her!!
- I immediately went online to buy another book from this author because I NEED more of her writing!!
- I wish this book were a series because I really want more of Reign’s brother’s storyline or even more of the main characters. I just loved this book so much!! So many deep topics in this one and it truly ripped my heart out!!

[joni ౨ৎ (vacation hiatus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── 4.6 stars

*no spoilers*

⤿ 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘥: [aug 29]
⤿ 𝘧𝘪𝘯𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘦𝘥: [aug 29]

✧˖°🩰 ⋆｡˚꩜ 𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝘀 / 𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲
⤷ dark romance
⤷ ballet dancer MCs
⤷ second chance
⤷ almost lovers to strangers to dance partners
⤷ best friend’s brother
⤷ trauma
⤷ healing

⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆ 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴:
this is me trying - taylor swift

ᝰ.ᐟ 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
i started this book expecting a meh, okay ish dark romance yk with like lots of tension and pining and etc . what i didn’t expect was to binge this in less than 3 hours and fall in love with the characters. words cannot begin to describe the pain i felt for angelique, reign, and lando. it was such an authentic story and i can tell the author poured her heart and soul into this, it’s a fictional story with things that are very real and happen to people in the day to day lives.

please check trigger warnings for this book as any other dark romance, your mental health is the most important thing !! ❤️‍🩹

moving on to the characters, i think this story being dual pov was such a key part in depth and intimacy of the emotions between these two characters. (main couple = angelique & reign, lando is his younger brother and her bsf)

going into this specific genre i’m always a bit hesitant since insta-love/LUST is a huge trope used but this was wonderful because it took around 200 pages for them to KISS 🤭 like yes please give me all the yearning and years of no contact

guys this man is DOWN BADDD like i can’t even say because they’re spoilers but he has paid attention to all the things about her and even in the years they spent apart, he was there supporting her accomplishments.

broken girl and a guy who loves her unconditionally has to be one of the top tier tropes, especially when she doesn’t think she deserves to be loved but it’s all he can live to do.

angelique is a beautiful ballerina who left her hometown / childhood behind after her father passed many years ago with her mother to new york where she became the principle. after something that made dance not feel like the welcoming and safe space it had been for years, she flees new york back to her best friend in england.

reign is the principle at imperium, the studio his father owns. he has struggled with people leaving him so cutting them out of his life first is the way he protects himself. he has a lot of regrets about thatttttt (both characters are very this is me trying core 😭

the romance and love was so tender but also fierce, the had boundaries and walls that slowly went down between them. their rekindling was built on honesty and trust. the second reign saw her feeling uncomfortable he’d give her all the space she needed. lots of forgiveness and growth and i think it’s so beautiful when people find themselves again with their past lover at another point in their lives where they can give themselves a real chance and genuinely help the other heal.

the bond between the brothers on the way to being restored made me tear up, i think family and sibling bonds are one of the most important relationships a person could have in their lives. we see a lot of regret and pain here, with their mother leaving them when they were young. the father acknowledging the bias he’s has for a brother and stereotypical things. in a way angelique brought them back together.


i would recommend this book to all my dark romance fans on here or if you’re maybe testing the dark romance waters and fine with a few sensitive topics!! there wasn’t any dubious consent between the main characters which i really appreciated bc that is way too normalized these days. everything was very consensual and not even that kinky, just one that’s a bit… dangerous might i say.


⋆.˚✮🦢✮˚.⋆ 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
i don’t want to say too much but i think if this sounds up you’re alley you should definitely read this book, it’s so haunting and beautiful i can’t find the right words to describe it. kinda surprising and also very easy to read so if you want a quick read this is perfect !! please be aware of tw <3
the way this is the fastest i read a book the whole summer 😭



꒰ ⚠︎ ꒱ 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀:
⤿ 16/17+
⤿ explicit language / scenes
⤿ sexual assault (not between main characters)
⤿ non con / dubious con
⤿ self harm
⤿ suicidal mentions
⤿ suicide attempts
⤿ depression
⤿ emotional trauma
⤿ parental neglect

not exactly a spoiler but the SA scene is in the first chapter so just be aware!



𐙚⋆°｡⋆♡ ── pre-read
i was recently sent a copy of this book by the author and randomly started it today & somehow binged 200 pages in an hour?!! who am i wth - hoping this fast reader era stays for a while
- loving it so far !!


✧ thank you to tanisha for sending me a copy !! so so grateful ✧


—
mwah,
joni 🤍

[Jody smutsvegasreads · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️


ARC review of Canadian author Tanisha Headley’s
Teach Me to Fly.
Angellique is running fast from her past and back to where she grew up. Only to find her first love, Reign, still there.
They are quickly cast in a dance production together and he learns fast, she has unresolved baggage. He fights hard for her and she resists just as hard.
I can honestly say I know, no ballet jargon or positions but I could follow the scenes easily. As if I was watching them dance.It was beautiful, truly.
Their story is harsh and beautiful at the same time. I will say this wasn’t as smutty as I usually read but the smut was filthy and kinky and I was down for it.

I don’t have trigger warnings....... But I will say check these ones if you do! Please don’t judge me!!!!!!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teach Me To Fly - Tanisha Headley

RATING: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
SPICE: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

“You don’t have to be okay right now, but I’m not going anywhere.”

Please, please make sure you read the trigger warnings prior to diving into this book. There are some sensitive subjects that can be hard to read for some.

Now that my warning is out of the way. Oh. My. God. Tanisha… 🫠

This was an absolutely perfect! The plot progressed along at a perfect rate, although you seriously caught me off guard with that opening chapter. Although it was the best way to just dive into it. Ripping the bandaid off.

Angelique and Reign were well written characters! Reign was such a well written morally grey MMC but has a soft side when it comes to the woman he loves. Angelique is such a strong character. She has faced sooo much hurt and trauma but yet is able to grow.

I already cant wait to reread this book!

[Emmy Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece that resonated so much with me that I’m a sobbing mess and emotional wreck now that it’s over. This plot was amazing, I’m just going to put it out there because it’s the first scene, Angelique gets sexually assaulted and then she goes back to where she grew up and lives with her best friend Lando. And Reign is Lando's older brother who’s very closed off but still deeply feels for Angelique after the summer they spent together. This is a story of healing for both of them when they are put together as the main dancers of “Swan Lake”. Reign has his baggage but being with Angelique again really heals him in an unimaginable way and it’s so sweet. The way he’s patient and caring is so beautiful. He may have left her but she was always in his heart, even if he wasn’t ready to admit it yet. I may also be biased because I love a man who composes songs for his girl. Angelique goes through a lot in this book and I love how it’s realistic. The amount of growth she goes through in this book is so beautiful. This book contains one of the reasons I love dark romance, yes I love masked men, stalkers and mafia bosses but it’s also that in these books we see characters who’ve been through so much, they feel so real and they make readers feel seen. This book is an amazing example of that. Minor spoiler: One thing that resonated with me the most is that healing isn’t linear, like in this book Angelique was feeling like herself again but a major trigger made her trauma and pain come back stronger than ever. I got so emotional because it felt like someone understood me, how it feels to be teetering over the edge about to fall, not sure if there’s anything worth holding onto. But there’s also the other part of the story, that there are people who would break if you did give up and I cried so hard because people who were in that position (like me) don’t know that. It’s just a book but reading this made me feel seen, understood and safe in a way nothing ever has. This masterpiece of a book is so beautiful and empowering in away I can’t even put into words, but i can give it a 10000000/5

[Jessica’s Book Nook · Rating 4 out of 5]

4+⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
ARC Review

“What if I fall apart in front of everyone?” I whisper.

Lando squeezes my hand. “Then you fall, and I’ll be right there, hauling your ass off the floor and feeding you chocolate ice cream until you’re human again . . . . But if you give it your all,” he continues. “You might not fall; You might fly.”


This was such a beautiful story about trauma, brokenness and healing. It was so much more than I anticipated!

First, let’s talk about the plot. I was hooked right from the start! After escaping New York following a life changing trauma and leaving behind her status as a principal dancer in her mother’s company, Angelique returns to her hometown in England. There she reunites with her best friend, Lando, and his older brother (and previous fling), Reign. Without spoiling anything, this story follows Angelique as she attempts to heal and find joy in her dancing once again. It is dark and raw and emotional, dealing with some very big issues, so definitely check your trigger warnings!

Next, characters. They are all written so perfectly! Angelique is the exact right combination of resilience and brokenness. She struggled with some real mental health issues following her trauma, and I think Tanisha Headley wrote about them quite well! Lando is the perfect levity in the story. He is the best of the best when it comes to friendship. And then there is Reign. Whewww 🔥 The things that man does for her! I refuse to spoil it. Just go read it!!

Finally, the writing. Tanisha writes beautifully! This book is well paced, it flows naturally and I don’t recall ever being “pulled out” of the story. I felt like I was actually transported into the scene every time they danced. I have zero dance background and was still able to follow this seamlessly. My very last note: someone PLEASE recreate this version of Swan Lake! I feel like I need to see it!

This was easily a 4/4.5⭐️

[⋆˖⁺‧₊&#x131a9;&#x1d58d;&#x1d586;&#x1d593;&#x1d593;&#x1d586;&#x1d58d;&#x131aa;₊‧⁺˖⋆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰 ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰

teach me to fly is a book about getting broken, dealing with trauma, and then healing from said trauma. this book accurately shows that healing isnt linear. everyone heals differently. it was a beautiful read. i havent read many ballerina romances so this was a nice change. i feel like the plot was perfectly developed.. it didn’t feel rushed and it didn’t feel extremely slow. it was a nice balance.

i loved the characters in this book! you have Angelique, Reign, and Lando:

- Angelique is our fmc. she goes through something dark and her mental health is really affected by that trauma. she’s broken but she’s also still so strong at the same time. my heart hurt for her majority of this book! i just want to hug her ang tell her everything will be okay eventually!
- Reign is our mmc. he’s angry.. he’s also broken due to personal issues but he’s so perfect. the way he treats Angelique is beautiful. he’s so patient and tender with her. i fell in love with him. he’s dark, possessive, and protective. he does everything he can to save Angelique. the scene with him at the graveyard was so beautiful. his love runs so deep for Angel.
- Lando is Reign’s brother and Angelique’s best friend. i loved his character and i loved him and angelique’s friendship! he was a nice supportive character in the story! and i just felt like he deserved a shoutout too.

♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰 ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰

the first chapter of this book is a tough read so just check your triggers before reading!! it’s not a dark dark book per say, but the topics/themes in this book are heavy and could definitely be a trigger to a lot of people.

overall i loved this book and would definitely recommend it!

♡ second chance
♡ best friend’s brother
♡ trauma/healing
♡ protective mmc
♡ roommates
♡ who hurt you

♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰 ♡₊˚ 🦢・₊✧ 🩰

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW✨

Wow. That was a BEAUTIFUL story. I had different expectations going into the story since it was classified as a dark romance - I was expecting something like Haunting Adeline style. Although it did contain some very dark themes (READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS) it was an incredible story of trauma, resilience, growth, healing, trust, found family, retribution, and love. I cried, laughed, gasped, raged, celebrated, all of it.

I will say, take the trigger warnings seriously. There is a very graphic SA scene in chapter one that was difficult to read but I'm so glad I kept going beyond that.

All the stars!!

[hey it’s dar · Rating 5 out of 5]

arc review

♾️ ⭐️
🌶️🌶️.75

Teach Me To Fly, an emotional, dark ballet romance, following Angelique Sinclair and Reign Harrington, is a recipe to rip your heart out of your chest and crush your soul. Not to be overtly dramatic, as this read is seriously in my top all 5 this year, but I sobbed more than in lived life-or-deaths scenarios. Either take that as a warning, or a hook for you to pick up this read ASAP.

Angelique and Reign are two tortured souls - Reign, a mix of brooding, angry & brokenness at his mother abandoning their family; and Angelique, from her father’s passing five years prior, her cold relationship with her mother, and her horrifying sexual trauma. These two are barely holding themselves together, and come to lean on each other, and mend one another back together. Lando, Reign’s younger brother and Angelique’s best friend, brings Angelique to their family estate in Marlow, England - giving her a safe place to land and mourn following the events of her departure from the New York ballet; it’s here that she runs into and reignites her past flame with Reign.

Reign is so darkly protective and possessive over Angelique - and hello the 🔪 for you vibes are off the charts. Reign is just doing everything to help and support Angelique, and to help her fly again. I love how Angelique’s come back to Marlow, and back to so many friends. I love how even in the worst of times, these old and new relationships provide such a safe place for her. The found family trope is immaculate. I love how in the later story, Charlie - they boys’ father - lets his love and protection come through for Angelique; and how the Harrington men are working their way to mending their brotherly and father-son relationships further - they’ve too long lingered in their trance of anger and grief, from their mother and wife’s abandonment.

This book is so well developed emotionally. The triggering topics of SA, SH, suicidal ideation/attempts, grief and trauma and more; there was extremely great care taken into the writing throughout, which does not go unnoticed for me. This story delivers these topics in an elegant matter, not shying away from the uncomfortable topics, and taking the reader through the characters hardships and a healing journey.

Thanks (I think) Tanisha for the Advanced Reading Copy & for my honest review - and for stealing all the tears in my body. 😭😭❤️‍🩹

[Shay Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are new to the dark romance genre this a great book to get you started. Though it is heavily focused on the romance between the two main characters there are some darker elements involved. Please check your triggers.

Reign and Angelique are a second chance where both characters need each other but do not realize it until they reconnect.

When Reign and Angelique were young they had a summer where their friendship turned into something more. However, Angelique’s father tragically passed which lead her to New York where she and Reign lost contact with each other.

Watching the relationship between these two rekindle was raw and honest. The heartbreak and pain of both characters felt raw and honest.

Both Angelique and Reign are dealing with trauma that neither truly know how to discuss with others. Angelique was sexually assaulted by her ballet partner in New York, where she was let go of her position when she brought up what happened. This lead her back across the pond to Marlow. Reign had lost his passion for dance but seeing Angelique training alone one day reignites his passion and some underlying feelings he thought didn’t exist.

Reign is closed off and distant from those close to him, after his mother left when he was younger. Watching him realize how deep his feeling for Angelique truly run was everything. Seeing how patient, caring and kind he was to her when he saw how broken she had become was so important.

The discussion around help and getting therapy after such a traumatic event taking place was so important. Seeing how Reign took so much care of Angelique even when she was fighting hard against help was so honest and heartbreaking.

Their relationship was haunting and heartbreaking. But it was beautiful and healing. The support Reign gives Angelique is what healthy relationship dynamics need. Watching Angelique learn to see outside help and support as a benefit and not weak so was important.

Mental health is such an important topic and getting help does not make you less than or weak. You are enough and your hurt or pain does not make you unworthy of what life has to offer

[melissareadseverything · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teach Me to Fly by Tanisha Headley | 5⭐️

Holy. Smokes. When I say this book wrecked me, I actually mean it completely shattered my heart, then put it back together again. Tears were shed, gasps were had and I loved every bit of it.

Teach Me to Fly is Tanisha Headley’s latest release, and my girl absolutely nailed this dark romance. In the beginning, it was giving me ‘Center Stage’ (iykyk 😉) vibes, but it evolved into something so much more beautiful.

Angelique is a trooper. This girl went through so much. She’s the type of character that makes you want to hug her the whole way through so she feels safe. No one who should’ve been there for her, was and it’s so heartbreaking. I think she hit home with me because we have shared experiences and reading her go through so much trauma and eventually begin to heal had me in emotional shambles.

And Reign! This man 😭. He literally would do anything for Angelique. His number one goal is to care for her and protect her, even if it breaks him in the process. The scene where Reign washes and detangles her hair made my heart explode.

Lando also deserves a major shoutout. In terms of supporting characters, he’s one of my top five. Every main character needs a Lando in their life!

Please prioritize your mental health before diving into this one and check those trigger warnings. That said, it is so beautifully written. I loved the ballet theme, I loved the diverse characters, and I especially loved the mental health representation.

Thank you Tanisha Headley for writing this and allowing me to arc read!

IG: @melissareadseverything

[Tiffany Kusu · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 ⭐️

I was immediately drawn into this story and apart from being a little thrown off with how intense the first chapter was I enjoyed this read. I know it says it’s a dark romance, but I honestly didn’t really get that vibe from this story. Yes there are some triggering content and some darker topics, but I don’t think it went into enough details during these moments and scenes to feel like a dark romance in my opinion. That being said this didn’t take away from my reading experience, I just was expecting more dark aspects since it says it’s a dark ballet romance and with how the story starts in chapter one. I think both Angelique and Reign had good chemistry and seeing them come back together after being apart from one another for so long was sweet. I also liked the ballet aspect of this book and it was interesting to read about and easy understand for someone who isn’t a dancer. I did however find that Angelique got over her a trauma a little easily considering how closed off she was for the first half of the story. It just felt like a sudden switch when she finally gives into her feelings and relationship with Reign and I would’ve liked to see them struggle to become a couple, maybe a little more pushback from Angelique. I did really like how the mental health aspect in this story was discussed and carried out. Reign was very understanding and went at Angelique’s pace to make her feel most comfortable always which was really great to see. Tanisha has a good writing style and the flow in this story was good. Overall I enjoyed the story.

Thank you to Tanisha and her team for providing me with an ARC and I am leaving a voluntary review.

[Binded Books · Rating 4 out of 5]

🩰Book Review 🩰
Thank you so much for the advanced copy of this book!! Releasing today, July 22nd, you will not wanna miss this book! Forbidden Library is hosting a book signing July 26th if you want to get in on a signed copy.

Fiction: Romance

Reader: 👩🏻

This book encompasses so many things I’m obsessed with: ballet, piano and music composition. So the minute I laid eyes on that stunning cover, I was dying to read it! Definitely read the trigger warnings as there is some hard content to read but what a beautiful and courageous novel about the transformation of healing from trauma. The character development was incredible, I instantly fell in love with both Reign and Lando. They were the perfect dynamic and support system on Angelique’s healing journey. Her heart wrenching experience was so beautifully and powerfully written with an amazing redemption.


Reader: 👩🏻‍🦰

This is a beautiful story of growth after trauma, loss, and overcoming fear and self-doubt. After experiencing the unimaginable, Angelique returns to her hometown to escape, swearing to never dance again. Bumping into her old friend Reign allows her to begin to heal, reopening her wounds, while challenging her to restore the passion and love for dance that she truly deserves. This is my first ballet themed romance - and it will not be my last!

[Millie Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible, i physically couldn’t put it down and finished it in one sitting, the writing was so vivid i could picture every scene perfectly and was truly immersed into this story. I LOVED the characters, Lando is also definitely one of my fav side characters 🤭 I can’t wait to read more from this author

Tropes
- Best friends brother
- Hurt / comfort
- Second chance
- Forced proximity
- Touch her and die
- Emotional read


Quotes <3

“The way she dances has always taken my breath away.”

“There’s something raw and honest in the way she moves, like she’s telling a story without saying a single word, and somehow, I understand all of it. It’s the kind of performance that makes you stop breathing, just so you don’t miss a second.”

"I’ll give her everything I’ve got left. And if she doesn’t have the strength to keep going some days, then I’ll carry her. Crawl into her darkness and drag her out, even if it tears me apart."

“She could tear me apart, and I honestly think I’d thank her for it. Because this love… it’s not soft or safe. It’ll ruin me, I can see that coming, but I’m already in the wreckage, crawling toward her like I don’t know how to stop. Like I never wanted to.”

“You could never be the supplementary pages, Angelique,” I breathe. “You’re the whole plot.”

“You bloomed, Angelique. Even after everything.”

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book truly blew me away. Tanisha's writing has leveled up from her past books. This made me feel a lot of deep emotions, I was upset, happy, angry, crying, all the feels. This book this was written so beautifully and eloquently, there were points in the book I felt completely transported as if I was watching them dance. The themes of grief, trauma, healing, strength, and love were so well done, very relatable and pulled at my heart strings. This book had me crying several times.

The pace was perfect, and had me turning the pages quick. It starts off with a bang that will hook you immediately. While it is a dark romance (check trigger warnings if certain things trigger you), I found it to be not too dark, and for someone like me that is not a big fan of dark romance, this was just right. Spice level was perfect. Obsessed with the characters; Angelique’s pain and strength to overcome her trauma, Reign’s broody protective energy, and special shoutout to Lando, he brought light heartedness and humor when needed, everyone truly needs a best friend like him! And while I’m not much into ballet, her recreation of the Swan Lake sounds so intriguing I want it to come to life and to be able to go watch it live!

[Akku · Rating 4 out of 5]

✦ 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 - 4✨

✦ 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞 - July 22, 2025

✦ 𝐓𝐫𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐬 -
• second chance romance
• ballerina x music composer
• forced proximity
• broken but healing
• emotional damage
• dark fairytale retelling
• he fell first

✦ 𝐌𝐲 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 -
This book felt like poetry in motion. The angst, the emotions, the softness hidden in chaos—it was all so beautiful. Angelique’s pain and strength were written so well and Reign had that quiet intensity I love in a hero. Their past made the tension sizzle and the ballet setting added that dreamy, graceful touch I didn't know I needed.
The writing had this lyrical flow that made some scenes hit even harder. I could literally feel the weight of their memories, their regrets, and that slow pull back to each other. Reign’s protectiveness gave me butterflies and Angelique’s journey felt raw and empowering.
It felt a bit slow-paced in between, but I still couldn't stop turning the pages. Their chemistry, the buildup, and the emotional healing arc were so satisfying. If you love messy love stories with passion, pain, and a touch of art this one’s for you.
Thank you so much author for the free ARC! 💗

[Olivia Bowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 🌶️ 🌶️🌶️
“I’ve got you Angel - even if you don’t know it yet”

WHAT. A READ. Angelique Sinclair, once a rising star in New York’s elite ballet world, fled the city to escape both the physical scar tissue and emotional trauma she endured—especially from one man. Her ballet partner turns out to be Reign Harrington, the boy from her past. Despite her efforts to remain guarded, Reign sees through Angelique’s defense. As they rehearse and perform a ballet narrative that echoes Angelique’s own struggles, old wounds resurface forcing both of them to confront their pasts.
This was an incredibly slow burn read between the 2 main characters. But when they finally find each other it is EXPLOSIVE. I couldn’t put this book down. Tanisha Headley has done it again with a spicy read but this one with is more dark and I am here for it! I was incredibly thankful to be given an opportunity to read this as an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Please read the trigger warnings before diving in.


TW: attempts of suicide, knife play

[Aastha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so raw and pure. I was hooked from the beginning. There were parts that hit a bit too close to home but the way they were described felt like somebody was talking about me. The way Tanisha portrayed Angelique’s struggles is truly beautiful. It not only showed everybody that there are always ups and downs when you’re struggling but if you just try to hold on, eventually there is light at the end of the tunnel (even when 90% of the time you feel like you have nothing left)
The book explored Angelique’s character in depth and how with the right support she finally had “hope”.
Tanisha wrote all the tough topics with such care that I felt like I was right there with the characters.
Lando and Reign’s constant support for their friend was commendable. They had both struggled with their own things and had different personalities but one thing they both wanted was for Angelique to not give up.

This book was different than the saltwater series but is one of the best books I’ve come across in a while.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️
I have some conflicting feelings and I don’t know if I’m wording how I felt properly. I loved the main characters. I think Reign was a great MMC who was nurturing and understanding. And Angelique was a decently strong FMC trying to live with her trauma however she could. I didn’t really like how they kept sleeping together after she was (idk how to word this without spoilers) re-traumatized in a way, it didn’t feel like the most productive way to comfort her given the circumstances.

Also the writing at times felt a tad repetitive and in certain spots overly descriptive every once in a while (not necessarily a bad thing).

But I did really love the love in this. The care while Angelique sleepwalks, the “field trips” to watch the swans, the love confessions, and the honorable mention of using Plan B and that care taking.

This book held my attention really well, I just don’t think I was into a couple small things like the knife play wasn’t necessarily for me lol. Overall a good book and I’ll be looking for more by Tanisha in the future.

[Alyssa · Rating 4 out of 5]

ARC review!

“Teach Me to Fly” is a raw, emotionally charged reimagining of Swan Lake that confronts themes of abuse, trauma, and resilience with unflinching honesty.

Set against the graceful world of ballet, the story follows Angelique, a former New York principal dancer who returns to her UK hometown after a career-ending trauma. There, she's unexpectedly paired with Reign—her childhood crush and her best friend’s older brother. As Angelique struggles to rediscover her passion for dance and life, Reign, battling his own demons, becomes her new dance partner and protector.

What unfolds is a beautifully poignant journey of two souls entwined by past pain, healing, and love—an intimate exploration of mental health and redemption.

What I loved:

♡ best friend’s older brother
♡ slow burn
♡ touch her & die
♡ forced proximity
♡ mental health rep
♡ trauma healing

Trigger warning: This narrative delves into dark and sensitive subject matter.

[maria❀ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4/5)

“You bloomed, Angelique. Even after everything” 🩰 ✨

This book was so beautifully written.

✨“Teach me to fly” follows Angelique, a fragile ballerina navigating the slow, aching process of healing her broken soul and mind. She is offered a new opportunity in her career, even though she wasn’t focused on that, but the Swan Lake retelling becomes the journey of rediscovery, resilience and love (or maybe that was her partner 🫣).

And then there is Reign.
Mysterious, morally grey, but with that soft and careful kind of affection that only Angelique ever gets to see. I loved how his presence became part of her trauma recovery.

I adored Reign and Angelique’s dynamic, how the relationship wasn’t only based on pure romance, but on pain, patience, and the quiet love with twisted parts for both of the characters.

✨ I’m not sure if this book cured me or caused me depression, but whether it’s one or both I loved every dark and twisted part of it. 🩰⭐️

[Cassidy · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC REVIEW (Available 7/22/25)✨

First and foremost please read the trigger warnings before reading this as there is a very graphic SA scene within chapter 1 and now that we have that outta the way, I absolutely loved this with my entire being, it was so gripping and fast paced that I couldn’t put it down. The story follows Angelique, a ballerina who goes through something very traumatic which ends her dancing career until she goes back home and agrees to do a Swan Lake performance with none other than her best friend’s older brother Reign, her first love. It is such an amazing story that not only follows their love story but also her journey through grief of her former self, healing, acceptance and self exploration. Highly recommend reading!

A huge thank you to Tanisha Headley for an e-arc of this amazing story

[Briitta (Momma_Shligga) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Teach Me to Fly by Tanisha Headley completely swept me off my feet. From the very first page, I was captivated, drawn into a world of passion, pain, and the haunting beauty of ballet.

The characters are layered and real, their emotions almost tangible. I felt every heartbreak, every small victory, every moment of vulnerability. There were scenes that made me pause just to breathe, and I shed several tears before the final page. This story isn’t afraid to explore difficult themes, and it does so with honesty and compassion.

Please be aware of the trigger warnings, this book delves into sensitive and potentially distressing topics. But if you’re able to read it safely, you’ll find a deeply moving story of strength, survival, and love that feels both painful and healing at once

[Dee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ballet, trauma, and a love story that aches as much as it heals.

Teach Me to Fly is a dark, haunting ballet romance that hooked me from the first page. Angelique and Reign are raw, broken, and magnetic—two people scarred by the past, drawn back together through the brutal beauty of dance.
Tanisha Headley blends passion, pain, and artistry into a gritty reimagining of Swan Lake that feels both devastating and hopeful. The middle lagged a little, but the ending more than made up for it.
Perfect for readers who love second-chance romance, emotional depth, and stories where art becomes a form of survival.

[Sybrenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25⭐️ this broke my heart a million times over starting at chapter 1. I went into this blind only knowing two things: that it’s a dark romance and ballet is a theme. But, i didn’t expect it to pull on my heart strings the way that it did. God, Angelique went through so so much and there were parts of me that understood her. Raine was a gem that took her darkness and helped her through it, like if “burn the world for her” had a name attached to it, the name would be Raine because he simply did not play about her. This was actually so so good, but also raw, heartbreaking, and bingeable. (CHECK TW!!!)

[Kayla McMullen · Rating 4 out of 5]

“𝘐’𝘮 𝘯𝘰𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘺𝘰𝘶. 𝘚𝘰 𝘱𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘦, 𝘥𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘮𝘦. 𝘋𝘰𝘯’𝘵 𝘨𝘪𝘷𝘦 𝘶𝘱.”
This book is heavy, pleasssee check the trigger warnings before diving in. Tanisha captures the feelings of trauma and depression in such a raw and beautiful way.

I loved both Reign and Angel. Being someone who has dealt with some heavy things of my own and loved someone who dealt with heavy things - I related to both main characters and found them both just so real.

All the characters are well rounded and perfect mixes of broken and strong. The book is well paced, the plot is wonderful, the spice was *chefs kiss*.

Thank you, Tanisha for another fantastic read.

[Krystal O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

To say I enjoyed this book feels.. Wrong? The subject matter was incredibly dark, and the trigger warnings are severe - but it was beautiful. The story of a woman going through something like this, and her story through every bump felt incredibly real.

This story is about abuse, its about the loss of something you held sacred and how to try to gain it back even if its cutting you as you clutch it harder. It was a beautifully dark story.

If you suffer from suicidal idealation please be cautious and check all triggers. Stay safe ♡

🌟 3.75
🌶 2.5

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an emotional read. I was completely blown away by the depth given to Angelique as a character. She felt incredibly real, and watching her grow and evolve on the page was both powerful and deeply moving. Her journey stayed with me long after I finished the book.
Even with a darker subplot woven into the story, the overall tone never felt overwhelmingly sad. Instead, it was hopeful, balanced, and emotionally rich. This book handles heavy themes with care while still delivering a story that feels uplifting and meaningful. A truly emotionally powerful read that I highly recommend.

[Julia · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ ok I was really enjoying this but the third act was A LOT. Really heavy and kind of through off the vibe a little, but I think it’s also partially because of how short of a read it is. I really loved Reign and his devotion to Angelique and I LOVE swan lake so it was fun for that to be the center of the exposition

[Rebecca Jameson · Rating 5 out of 5]

moving

Wow this book was just wow. Heavy topics dealt with so beautifully. I wish the result in this book was the norm, not the exception. This was beautiful, dark, emotional. So well handled by the author. Check your triggers but outside of that I recommend to everyone.