e-Audio, 08:05:08
Narrated by: Yinka Ladeinde
Release Date: February 21, 2023
Published by: Viking Books for Young Readers
Read from: February 10-13, 2023
Stand-alone
Source: PRH Audio App
TW: Body shaming
For fans of: Realistic Fiction, Romance, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, LGBTQIA+, YAAn utterly charming YA romance perfect for fans of Elise Bryant and Leah Johnson. Leila is devastated when her high school boyfriend breaks up with her right before graduation, but when she gets paired with four unrequited crushes in the lead-up to her school’s annual Last Chance Dance, she might just fall in love with someone new.
Leila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.
A high school tradition, Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices–and with someone she never, ever expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.
Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission–trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn’t her true love–then maybe someone else is. She knows it’s definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he’s right for her.
But thoughts of Dev keep sneaking back into her mind, and as graduation and the dance approaches, Leila must figure out what–and who–she really wants. It’s her last chance, right?
*MY THOUGHTS*
So much to unpack with this one! While there were some things I did like, there were also some things I found hella annoying. Like the main character lol She had a sense of everyone is wrong but me. She didn’t listen to anyone when they tried helping her. But also I had to remember she was a teen so I just let it go. But still, I think even teens know sometimes they need a little help. She didn’t want to take any from anyone.
Ok so I guess we’re starting with the MC. Like I said she thought she knew everything. But when it came down to it she didn’t know anything. I liked that this book makes the reader figure this out with her. it served as the realization that she needed to grow up and that was good. Because she really needed to get her life together. I can’t lie, I was secretly cheering each time her dates failed. I could tell by how she was treating one of them that she wasn’t ready to find what she needed yet.
The plot of this was different too. It was like they all had a bunch of suitors that they picked, but then there was one that was picked for them because of their personality. The three dates she went on were all weird. LOL I saw that because it didn’t seem like any of them EVER knew her. The one person that did, also went cray cray after awhile. I thought the whole time she blew her matches for no reason. I was glad she finally came to her senses and also realized what I did.
The romance was a bit non-existent tho. There were some swoony moments, but at the same time, she kept acting like he was terrible. I almost didn’t want to call this a contemp romance. Because it was like a super slow burn. She didn’t even want to acknowledge the two of them. And though I knew where it was going, she was obtuse lol Idk I felt cheated out of more time seeing them as a couple.
This was my first foray into Wilson’s writing tho. It definitely made me interested in reading her middle grade book. I thought it was cute, but I found out about it when it already had 2188454 holds on it at work lol Now that her new book is out, maybe I’ll be able to get to it lol
The narrator of this book was really good. I haven’t listened to anything by them before tho. The other books they have done are on my TBR but I just haven’t read them yet. Listening to them in this book really got me to hurry up and put a move on it. Yes I enjoyed it that much!
I really hope to read/listen to more from this author and narrator. I’m interested in seeing all the things that they do in the future! If you’ve read or listened to either one of these, let me know!
Overall, I give this
