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Everywhere You Want to Be
From author Christina June comes Everywhere You Want to Be, a modern tale inspired by the classic Red Riding Hood.
Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior year, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes--not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go off to college.
Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends ... and new enemies. Tilly isn't the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can't help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.
As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.
Matilda Castillo has always done what she was told, but when she gets injured senior year, she watches her dreams of becoming a contemporary dancer slip away. So when Tilly gets a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend the summer with a New York dance troupe, nothing can stop her from saying yes--not her mother, not her fears of the big city, and not the commitment she made to Georgetown. Tilly's mother allows her to go on two conditions: one, Tilly will regularly visit her abuela in New Jersey, and two, after the summer, she'll give up dancing and go off to college.
Armed with her red vintage sunglasses and her pros and cons lists, Tilly strikes out, determined to turn a summer job into a career. Along the way she meets new friends ... and new enemies. Tilly isn't the only one desperate to dance, and fellow troupe member Sabrina Wolfrik intends to succeed at any cost. But despite dodging sabotage and blackmail attempts from Sabrina, Tilly can't help but fall in love with the city, especially since Paolo, a handsome musician from her past, is also calling New York home for the summer.
As the weeks wind down and the competition with Sabrina heats up, Tilly's future is on the line. She must decide whether to follow her mother's path to Georgetown or leap into the unknown to pursue her own dreams.
284 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2018
39 people are currently reading
3,855 people want to read
About the author
Christina June
6books403followersChristina June writes young adult contemporary fiction when she’s not writing college recommendation letters during her day job as a school counselor. She loves the little moments in life that help someone discover who they’re meant to become � whether it’s her students or her characters. Christina is a voracious reader, loves to travel, and hopes to one day be bicoastal � the east coast of the US and the east coast of Scotland. She lives just outside Washington DC with her husband and daughter.
She is the author of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, and NO PLACE LIKE HERE.
***I am no longer accepting friend requests due to Amazon's review policy, but please feel free to follow me <3 ***
She is the author of IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE, and NO PLACE LIKE HERE.
***I am no longer accepting friend requests due to Amazon's review policy, but please feel free to follow me <3 ***
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
April 17, 2018
Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced ebook in exchange for an honest review.
I clicked on this YA contemporary fiction ARC for the Red Riding Hood retelling label and I stuck around for the incredible female friendships that Tilly has with her roommate, Charlotte and stepsister, Tatum and also for the world of contemporary dance. As an aside, when I owned a television I spent a couple of summers totally obsessed with SYTYCD USA & SYTYCDCanada. So many great routines, but it was the contemporary dance routines that were my absolute favorite. I have so many students that have been and are dancers and I see so much of them in Tilly and her classmates. Dance is blood, sweat, and tearsand I loved that the author explores how hardworking and passionate a person must be to navigate the dance world.
Although there is some conflict between Tilly and a fellow dancer, I absolutely am thrilled that Tilly continuously tried to make headway with Sabrina rather than resort to being a mean girl. There is also conflict with a love interest of Tilly's, but this might have been the only area of the story I was a bit ho-hum about. I guess it's a given that Tilly must have boy troubles, but IMHO the story had tons of meat without him. The third of the conflicts is between Tilly, her mother, and the future each sees for Tilly. So relatable because so many of us (me definitely) have been there and it developed and resolved in a fantastic way.
So if you're a parent, educator, or teen looking for a book with a mature female protagonist that is passionate about what she sees in her future and the work ethic to achieve it, look no further than Everywhere You Want to Be
I clicked on this YA contemporary fiction ARC for the Red Riding Hood retelling label and I stuck around for the incredible female friendships that Tilly has with her roommate, Charlotte and stepsister, Tatum and also for the world of contemporary dance. As an aside, when I owned a television I spent a couple of summers totally obsessed with SYTYCD USA & SYTYCDCanada. So many great routines, but it was the contemporary dance routines that were my absolute favorite. I have so many students that have been and are dancers and I see so much of them in Tilly and her classmates. Dance is blood, sweat, and tearsand I loved that the author explores how hardworking and passionate a person must be to navigate the dance world.
Although there is some conflict between Tilly and a fellow dancer, I absolutely am thrilled that Tilly continuously tried to make headway with Sabrina rather than resort to being a mean girl. There is also conflict with a love interest of Tilly's, but this might have been the only area of the story I was a bit ho-hum about. I guess it's a given that Tilly must have boy troubles, but IMHO the story had tons of meat without him. The third of the conflicts is between Tilly, her mother, and the future each sees for Tilly. So relatable because so many of us (me definitely) have been there and it developed and resolved in a fantastic way.
So if you're a parent, educator, or teen looking for a book with a mature female protagonist that is passionate about what she sees in her future and the work ethic to achieve it, look no further than Everywhere You Want to Be
April 12, 2021
An easy to read YA contemporary about contemporary dancing set in New York. It's recommendable if you're looking for something to pass the time. Tilly is a likable enough character who is dedicated and passionate about her art.
There's a mean girl, there's a cute love interest, there's an awesome friend, an even more awesome stepsister, there's that mother and daughter conflict but everything settles nicely in the end so basically it's a Hallmark movie.
But if you're looking for substance, deep emotional connection and all that, then maybe look elsewhere. Most of the story is told through dialogue and that's basically the reason for the three stars. I would have preferred a little more action in the plot.
There are little gems of thoughts scattered throughout the novel though and there's a character whose name is Sage, so that's reason enough to make me like the book. Plus, look at that cute cover.
There's a mean girl, there's a cute love interest, there's an awesome friend, an even more awesome stepsister, there's that mother and daughter conflict but everything settles nicely in the end so basically it's a Hallmark movie.
But if you're looking for substance, deep emotional connection and all that, then maybe look elsewhere. Most of the story is told through dialogue and that's basically the reason for the three stars. I would have preferred a little more action in the plot.
There are little gems of thoughts scattered throughout the novel though and there's a character whose name is Sage, so that's reason enough to make me like the book. Plus, look at that cute cover.
May 13, 2018
This is my 2nd book by this author, and once again I enjoyed it. You can read my review of the first book here: It Started With Goodbye. While both books are standalones, they both include the same characters. We met Tilly, our main character in the first book. But this time she gets her own story, as she goes off to NYC to hopefully make her dream of being a professional dancer come true, in what is her last hope she feels after the accident that caused her ankle injury. This was a pretty quick read, like the first one. I loved all of the NYC bits, as well as the grandma/abuela. It made me want to go back to NYC if I ever get the chance. The dance aspects of the story were fun to read, I used to want to be a dancer myself. And the romance was sweet as well. There was a bully in the story, Sabrina, and I really, really like the way the author went with that at the end of the book. Throughout the story it worked perfectly as well, but the way the author took it at the end, while not typical for YA stories, was definitely more realistic in my opinion. I don't know for sure that I get the feeling of the fairy tale it was supposed to take after, but that's okay, I still really enjoyed it.
May 9, 2018
Thanks to everyone who has read and rate/reviewed! I would be so grateful if you would copy and paste your review onto Amazon, B&N, and any other favorite retail site. Thank you!
September 4, 2018
Warning, unpopular, sarcastic opinion below!
Billed as a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE is more a case of writer Christina June shoving down readers� throats who to root for and against and how to feel about characters. We’re supposed to empathize with poor, sweet Matilda, dancing for her last chance at a professional career or she’ll be forced to **gasp** go to college at Georgetown.
On the first day of class our angelic heroine meets a not so nice girl named Sabrina Wolfrik (get it, wolf <� insert rolling eyes icon). Imagine the horror at meeting a competitive, unfriendly dancer in a pre-professional dance class. I thought passive-aggressive Tilly was a worse kind of mean, smiling while she stabs her rival in the back, lying about her motives.
Of course we have a love interest. We know that because Matilda TELLS (no showing whatsoever) the entire two-date rocky romance in a dialogue with her roommate.
I have a rule. Whenever I want to throw my kindle across the room, I stop reading. It saves a lot of money; new kindles aren’t cheap. DNF at 45%
A lot of readers liked the story. I did not. Maybe you will.
Billed as a retelling of Little Red Riding Hood EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE is more a case of writer Christina June shoving down readers� throats who to root for and against and how to feel about characters. We’re supposed to empathize with poor, sweet Matilda, dancing for her last chance at a professional career or she’ll be forced to **gasp** go to college at Georgetown.
On the first day of class our angelic heroine meets a not so nice girl named Sabrina Wolfrik (get it, wolf <� insert rolling eyes icon). Imagine the horror at meeting a competitive, unfriendly dancer in a pre-professional dance class. I thought passive-aggressive Tilly was a worse kind of mean, smiling while she stabs her rival in the back, lying about her motives.
Of course we have a love interest. We know that because Matilda TELLS (no showing whatsoever) the entire two-date rocky romance in a dialogue with her roommate.
I have a rule. Whenever I want to throw my kindle across the room, I stop reading. It saves a lot of money; new kindles aren’t cheap. DNF at 45%
A lot of readers liked the story. I did not. Maybe you will.
July 9, 2018
2.75 stars
If you like New York you might enjoy this book for this reason alone .. there was no story to mention, or at least that would stick with you .. the romance was barely there and no much context in it
it was a story about self growth and discovering yourself .. but it was really boring for me
If you like New York you might enjoy this book for this reason alone .. there was no story to mention, or at least that would stick with you .. the romance was barely there and no much context in it
it was a story about self growth and discovering yourself .. but it was really boring for me
October 14, 2021
Ignore the references in the blurb, it's inspired by that story the same way that if you cook a meal with garlic and oregano in it it's inspired by Italy. Very loose and just has a few of the components thrown in there.
This was a bit of a cute fluffy book about a girl who spends her summer in New York at a dance academy with dreams of landing a role in a dance company instead of going to college. She broke her ankle and missed all the other auditions, so it's Tillie's last shot at making her dreams come true. But every other girl in the troupe has the same dream, there's limited places, and one of them isn't above sabotage.
I don't think the author is a dancer (the characters eat a lot of junk food in this book, and no one ices or soaks or heat packs muscles, or tapes their feet etc), but I didn't really want a hugely detailed dance life story, so this is more the abridged version.
The friendships and family in this were beautiful. Loved her stepsister and roommate, and the way they instantly connect and bound on the same wavelength. It made the adventures way more fun.
It's a quick read, with very low levels of angst/drama. Tillie is pretty mature for an MC in YA, very much the 'rise about it' sort. I totally would have dobbed.
This was a bit of a cute fluffy book about a girl who spends her summer in New York at a dance academy with dreams of landing a role in a dance company instead of going to college. She broke her ankle and missed all the other auditions, so it's Tillie's last shot at making her dreams come true. But every other girl in the troupe has the same dream, there's limited places, and one of them isn't above sabotage.
I don't think the author is a dancer (the characters eat a lot of junk food in this book, and no one ices or soaks or heat packs muscles, or tapes their feet etc), but I didn't really want a hugely detailed dance life story, so this is more the abridged version.
The friendships and family in this were beautiful. Loved her stepsister and roommate, and the way they instantly connect and bound on the same wavelength. It made the adventures way more fun.
It's a quick read, with very low levels of angst/drama. Tillie is pretty mature for an MC in YA, very much the 'rise about it' sort. I totally would have dobbed.
June 4, 2018
I loved everything about this book. Like, so so much, I cannot even explain. I'm a huge fan of Christina June's debut, It Started with Goodbye, and was so excited to learn that this book's MC is Tatum's stepsister, Tilly (who's an antagonist for a good portion of It Started...) Tilly always fascinated me and I wanted so badly to learn everything about her, so this book is a gift!! Tilly is an incredibly rich and beautifully developed character.
What I loved: DANCE!!! I've always had a fascination with dancers, as they seem to make the impossible look easy. I learned so much about the layered, beautiful, sometimes cruel world of dance.
New York City!! It's a character in itself!!
Swoony Paolo!
Tatum!! I was overjoyed by the growth within the family, and to see the girls as friends made my heart happy.
If you love YA contemp, you will love this book!
What I loved: DANCE!!! I've always had a fascination with dancers, as they seem to make the impossible look easy. I learned so much about the layered, beautiful, sometimes cruel world of dance.
New York City!! It's a character in itself!!
Swoony Paolo!
Tatum!! I was overjoyed by the growth within the family, and to see the girls as friends made my heart happy.
If you love YA contemp, you will love this book!
February 11, 2021
ocena: 2.5
Precej povprečna mladinska romanca, ki pa se mi je zdela rahlo dolgočasna, saj se v resnici nič kaj ni zgodilo (zato sem ji odbila dodatno polovičko)-če sem iskrena sem parkrat rahlo zakinkala med branjem.
Od knjige nisem pričakovala veliko, prebrala sem jo zaradi sobranja in ker sem mislila, da jo bom lahko uvrstila pod izziv priredba pravljice, vendar me tudi pri tem ni prepričala.
Precej povprečna mladinska romanca, ki pa se mi je zdela rahlo dolgočasna, saj se v resnici nič kaj ni zgodilo (zato sem ji odbila dodatno polovičko)-če sem iskrena sem parkrat rahlo zakinkala med branjem.
Od knjige nisem pričakovala veliko, prebrala sem jo zaradi sobranja in ker sem mislila, da jo bom lahko uvrstila pod izziv priredba pravljice, vendar me tudi pri tem ni prepričala.
May 8, 2018
Center Stage meets Little Red Riding Hood! Christina nails the atmosphere of NYC and its magicalness. I love NYC and this book took me right back there (which I needed because I'm skipping BookExpo this year as it's still too soon after the loss of my mom to go on vacation). I loved this even more than It Started With Goodbye, although Tatum and Abuela make appearances throughout, which was lovely. I also tend to read a lot of YA thrillers where female friendships often lead to murder, so it was refreshing to read a book that shows the uplifting nature of true friendship. :)
September 3, 2018
Cute, fun and sweet. Loved the NYC setting and I have an urge to go back just to walk the Brooklyn Bridge (ideally without the rain). I said it with It Started with Goodbye and it still applies here, I need abuela in my life.
July 27, 2019
This was a Little Red Riding Hood retelling but I forgot that it was.
Honestly, it doesn’t remind me of anything about the fairytale except that she has a grandmother and there’s a mean girl which I suppose was the wolf.
I loved It Started With Goodbye (a Cinderella retelling about Tatum, Tilly’s stepsister) and I was excited about this. So believe me when I say that I’m really, really sad that this turned out to be a disappointment.
I wanted to drop this so bad. I just held on because I thought things would get better. But what I felt when I reached the end was relief, not because everything went well but because I was finally done with it.
I am sorry to say this but it was boring. Tilly is not a very interesting character. Sometimes, I feel like this book is a diary with way too much detail on what she’s doing. The plot was formulaic: nice girl chasing her dreams, mean girl getting in her way, cute love interest. It didn’t offer me anything new and I didn’t care for the characters. The only thing I found a little bit interesting in this book was the romance but it was basically non-existent.
What I didn’t like the most was how Tilly was a little too nice and forgiving and let Sabrina get away with things. I didn’t like the way their conflict was resolved in the end because it’s all too good to be true. Most people are mean just because they truly are and not because other people want them to be.
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Honestly, it doesn’t remind me of anything about the fairytale except that she has a grandmother and there’s a mean girl which I suppose was the wolf.
I loved It Started With Goodbye (a Cinderella retelling about Tatum, Tilly’s stepsister) and I was excited about this. So believe me when I say that I’m really, really sad that this turned out to be a disappointment.
I wanted to drop this so bad. I just held on because I thought things would get better. But what I felt when I reached the end was relief, not because everything went well but because I was finally done with it.
I am sorry to say this but it was boring. Tilly is not a very interesting character. Sometimes, I feel like this book is a diary with way too much detail on what she’s doing. The plot was formulaic: nice girl chasing her dreams, mean girl getting in her way, cute love interest. It didn’t offer me anything new and I didn’t care for the characters. The only thing I found a little bit interesting in this book was the romance but it was basically non-existent.
What I didn’t like the most was how Tilly was a little too nice and forgiving and let Sabrina get away with things. I didn’t like the way their conflict was resolved in the end because it’s all too good to be true. Most people are mean just because they truly are and not because other people want them to be.
"But if we only live our lives paying attention to unicorns and rainbows, we miss out on all the stuff that makes us human."
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May 24, 2018
I just adored this book. I loved watching Tilly navigate the city, new friends, and her newfound independence. And of course a cute fella. And cameos from Christina’s first book, which I LOVED. Highly recommend.
September 3, 2018
Tilly's biggest dream has always been to dance professionally, but when she misses every important audition because of a severe injury, she doesn't know if she can make it happen. There's one last chance for her to show the world how well she can dance, a prestigious summer dance program in New York. Tilly doesn't hesitate and packs her bags to explore the city. She hopes she'll secure her future as a dancer here, because she's just deferred her admission to Georgetown University. Tilly has lied to her family about her plans, so she can go to New York. Will this come back to bite her later?
While in New York Tilly gets to spend time with her beloved abuela. She also makes fast friends with her roommate, a fellow dancer. Tilly is willing to work hard to achieve her goals, but not everyone is happy with her progress. She's being sabotaged by one of the girls in her dance group. Can Tilly find a way to deal with this? After her accident Tilly was heartbroken and the guy she gave up because she couldn't handle what she was facing, is now in the city as well. Is there a chance Tilly can fix the mistakes she's made? Her stay in New York will definitely be eventful, but will it also bring happiness?
Everywhere You Want to Be is a beautiful story about hopes, dreams, family, friendship and love. Tilly is a strong and determined person. She has a sweet and caring nature. I liked how she enjoys sharing food and eating with others. She has to keep her body in top condition, but she doesn't forget the joy of eating something delicious. I liked that combination a lot. Tilly is on a professional and personal journey in New York and it was fun to see her grow up. She learns how to make difficult decisions, to solve conflicts and to be open about her feelings. Her abuela makes her smile and Tilly makes use of her wisdom to overcome obstacles and face challenges. The main characters are making this story, every single one of them is well described and fascinating and they all kept me glued to the pages.
Christina June has a wonderful engaging writing style. It was easy to completely lose myself in her story. Everywhere You Want to Be is set in New York and I loved how she perfectly captures the vibrancy of the city. The energy of Everywhere You Want to Be is exactly right and due to the amazing atmosphere the story comes to life in a fantastic way. Christina June has written a gorgeous book with many interesting twists and turns and heartwarming unconditional love. I really enjoyed reading this mesmerizing book.
May 11, 2022
Do you ever finish a book and just kinda shrug and move along? That was this book for me. 😬 It’s cute and has SOME character development happening, but I’ll be honest I wasn’t hooked. I’ve read a couple 🩰 ballet-themed books over the years and so far they’ve all been similar. Takes place in a “romantic� city (NYC for this one 🍎🏙), lots of pressure to be the best ballerina, and always a mean girl. And usually a cute boy mixed in. 😆 I do think I would have liked this book more if I had read it in high school, so keep that in mind!
February 9, 2021
Povprečna romanca, hitro berljiva, ki se vrti mlade plesalke, ki je prišla po zadnjo priložnosti v New York.
Konec predvidljiv in tudi med samim branjem sem velikokrat ugotovila, kaj se bo zgodilo.
Mi je bilo pa zelo všeč, da se je zgodba vrtela okoli plesa in rivalstva, ki ga prinaša. Pisateljica je (kolikor poznam) lepo zadela boj, s katerim se mladi plesalci borijo za svoj trenutek na velikih odrih.
Konec predvidljiv in tudi med samim branjem sem velikokrat ugotovila, kaj se bo zgodilo.
Mi je bilo pa zelo všeč, da se je zgodba vrtela okoli plesa in rivalstva, ki ga prinaša. Pisateljica je (kolikor poznam) lepo zadela boj, s katerim se mladi plesalci borijo za svoj trenutek na velikih odrih.
May 14, 2018
Captures the magic of visiting NYC for the first time. Is an awesome follow up to fans of the characters from IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE, but you can read it as a stand-alone too.
April 30, 2018
#FirstLine ~ I hated lying to my mother.
This book was fantastic. Within this book there were some amazing characters who will take up residence in your heart. I adored that this book has deep themes and explores friendships, dreams and New York City. It is one of those books that makes you believe in dreams and in the people who chase them. Everywhere You Want To Be is a story loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood a book that you will not soon forget and may even become a new favorite.
This book was fantastic. Within this book there were some amazing characters who will take up residence in your heart. I adored that this book has deep themes and explores friendships, dreams and New York City. It is one of those books that makes you believe in dreams and in the people who chase them. Everywhere You Want To Be is a story loosely based on Little Red Riding Hood a book that you will not soon forget and may even become a new favorite.
May 2, 2018
Last year, I read 's debut novel, , and could not get enough of it. I'm still recommending it all the time. I feel the same way about . In fact, it's possible that I love it even more! Christina managed to make me laugh and cry several times. I also was smiling a lot and nodding in sympathy with Tilly.
I loved seeing New York City through Tilly's eyes. It made the city feel even more exciting than it already is. The whole dance aspect reminded me of a cross between Fame and A Chorus Line. My only concern was that teenage girls were randomly walking around the city at night, sometimes by themselves. I ended up worrying for their safety.
There were times when I was reading the story and it would reference something I had recently said or did. I thought the psychic connection there was funny. (For instance, I had a piece of banana bread one morning and then a moment later, I was reading about Tilly baking banana bread.)
Overall, I just loved this book so much and didn't even mind that it wrapped up neatly. I am excited to hear that there will be a third in this series. I hope there will eventually be a book about Sabrina, as I want to hear more of her story. Everywhere can be read as a stand-alone, but there are spoilers for It Started with Goodbye, in case you were planning to read that one too. (And you totally should!)
Dream cast (some were chosen for It Started with Goodbye and some may be spoilers for that book)
Tilly:
Paolo:
Charlotte:
Sabrina:
Tatum:
Seamus:
Sage:
Belen:
Blanche:
I loved seeing New York City through Tilly's eyes. It made the city feel even more exciting than it already is. The whole dance aspect reminded me of a cross between Fame and A Chorus Line. My only concern was that teenage girls were randomly walking around the city at night, sometimes by themselves. I ended up worrying for their safety.
There were times when I was reading the story and it would reference something I had recently said or did. I thought the psychic connection there was funny. (For instance, I had a piece of banana bread one morning and then a moment later, I was reading about Tilly baking banana bread.)
Overall, I just loved this book so much and didn't even mind that it wrapped up neatly. I am excited to hear that there will be a third in this series. I hope there will eventually be a book about Sabrina, as I want to hear more of her story. Everywhere can be read as a stand-alone, but there are spoilers for It Started with Goodbye, in case you were planning to read that one too. (And you totally should!)
Dream cast (some were chosen for It Started with Goodbye and some may be spoilers for that book)
Tilly:
Paolo:
Charlotte:
Sabrina:
Tatum:
Seamus:
Sage:
Belen:
Blanche:
June 22, 2018
I love everything about Christina June’s second book, EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE. Matilda Castillo is a girl readers can root for as she struggles to find her place in the world. Like so many girls, Tilly is torn between what her parents believe is best for her and her own dreams of the future and a career in dance. This book also has a sweet romance, a great friendship, New York City, and a fairy tale re-telling. What else could a reader ask for? I loved it!
June 15, 2017
I love this book so so much. If you love Stephanie Perkins and Miranda Kenneally, Christina June is your next addiction.
Full disclosure: Christina's my CP ;)
BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK. You should definitely read IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE and then join me in eagerly awaiting EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE!
Full disclosure: Christina's my CP ;)
BUT I LOVE THIS BOOK. You should definitely read IT STARTED WITH GOODBYE and then join me in eagerly awaiting EVERYWHERE YOU WANT TO BE!
May 11, 2018
This book is so sweet and honest and beautiful. GREAT characters--I love how the main character tries as hard as she can to show compassion towards the rival dancer who's making her life so hard. There's a sweet romance underlying the story, but it's really about following your dreams, even when it means risking everything. Plus, it will transport you to New York City!
February 7, 2017
Lucky me -- I scored a very early read. More on this book's adorableness to come, but for now, contemporary dance + NYC + cute drummer boy = yes, please!
February 25, 2018
Taking a nod at Red Riding Hood, this tale follows a girl's decision between dancing dreams or a path her mother laid out for her.
Tilly is all set to go to Georgetown as soon as summer ends, but until then, she has the chance to dance with a temporary troupe in a show in New York. Little does her mother know she's actually already informed the college that she'll be enrolling first a year later. She's determined to use the troupe as a stepping stone into a dancing career. If she can. There aren't many spots available, she's still coming to terms with an injury and not all of her troupe members are willing to work together. In other words, there's more stumbling blocks on her journey than she could have ever expected.
Although this is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, it is a distant one. The main character is on her own in New York with plans to take a different path than her mother expects her to take. She's determined but not always sure of her decision or, at least, how it will affect those she loves. Her vulnerability makes her a character to cheer for and one that touches the heart. Her intentions are good, and she has tons of support from all sides. Not only does she meet great friends, who offer tons of wise words, but the grandmother, her abuela, is one anyone would love to call their own. There's a bit of romance too, which adds a sweet twist but never overpowers the main plot.
This is a heart and soul read, which follows Tilly on her personal journey of discovering who she is and what she wants. The author does a fantastic job at capturing a girl just leaving high school and ready to embark on what her life might be. There are some tough decisions to be made, ones with several possible solutions or outcomes. And it's exactly this which makes it flow so naturally and stay true to life.
The pacing holds steady the whole way through as Tilly turns from one situation to the next and tries to work her way through. It's not an action read but a deep exploration of decisions, possibilities and learning to remain true to oneself. Drama is key in this book, the kind which makes the reader sigh, cheer or even grab a cookie and snack along the way. It's perfect for readers who love to dive into a character, feel her emotions and be enveloped with a caring warmth with the end of the last page.
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and was so engulfed in the story that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
Tilly is all set to go to Georgetown as soon as summer ends, but until then, she has the chance to dance with a temporary troupe in a show in New York. Little does her mother know she's actually already informed the college that she'll be enrolling first a year later. She's determined to use the troupe as a stepping stone into a dancing career. If she can. There aren't many spots available, she's still coming to terms with an injury and not all of her troupe members are willing to work together. In other words, there's more stumbling blocks on her journey than she could have ever expected.
Although this is a retelling of Red Riding Hood, it is a distant one. The main character is on her own in New York with plans to take a different path than her mother expects her to take. She's determined but not always sure of her decision or, at least, how it will affect those she loves. Her vulnerability makes her a character to cheer for and one that touches the heart. Her intentions are good, and she has tons of support from all sides. Not only does she meet great friends, who offer tons of wise words, but the grandmother, her abuela, is one anyone would love to call their own. There's a bit of romance too, which adds a sweet twist but never overpowers the main plot.
This is a heart and soul read, which follows Tilly on her personal journey of discovering who she is and what she wants. The author does a fantastic job at capturing a girl just leaving high school and ready to embark on what her life might be. There are some tough decisions to be made, ones with several possible solutions or outcomes. And it's exactly this which makes it flow so naturally and stay true to life.
The pacing holds steady the whole way through as Tilly turns from one situation to the next and tries to work her way through. It's not an action read but a deep exploration of decisions, possibilities and learning to remain true to oneself. Drama is key in this book, the kind which makes the reader sigh, cheer or even grab a cookie and snack along the way. It's perfect for readers who love to dive into a character, feel her emotions and be enveloped with a caring warmth with the end of the last page.
I was lucky enough to receive an early copy and was so engulfed in the story that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.
May 1, 2018
I received a copy of this book from Blink publishing. All opinions expressed are my own.
This turned out to be the perfect weekend palate cleanser for me. I've been rereading so many fantasy books that I haven't wanted to read anything. I picked this up on a Saturday afternoon and it just reinvigorated my reading brain! To that end, while I did enjoy every minute, I found it slightly forgettable. Allow me to explain.
1. The characters. So this is a companion novel to Christina June's debut, , and while they don't need to be read in any particular order, I think it definitely increased my enjoyment to have previous knowledge of the two sister's relationship (It Started With Goodbye is Tatum's story and this novel is her sister's story). I have to say, I enjoyed the banter so much in the book! I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions (so it's probably a good idea that I didn't read it in public!) and I think I'm going to reread it for that aspect alone. Matilda (Tilly) and her roommate have such well written scenes together and I really felt like I got to know them through the course of the book. I'm really glad the author took some time for Tilly's antagonist to explain her reasons and develop as a character instead of just running with the 'mean girls will be mean' attitude.
"'Some stay. Some get crushed and go home right away. Some stick it out the summer and then go back to college or Iowa or wherever they came from. But some stay. Some get the city in their blood.'"
2. The plot. This was also very well done. Tilly is recovering from an accident where she broke her ankle and she's chasing her dream of being a dancer. With that industry, comes the inevitable mean girls and performance stress. I don't really know anything about dancing and I found it to be immersive without being overly technical which is definitely a good thing if you're like me. The way Tilly dealt with her problems was also superb and well thought out. Typically, I get frustrated by YA contemporaries because the characters make the strangest decisions but I identified with Tilly extremely well and I found her struggles interesting and absorbing. Overall, the light and contemplative plot made for a quick and easy read.
"Emotion-power-exploded through my limbs, forcing me through the motions until time and music and movement began to blur into pure freedom."
3. The romance. This was by far one of my favorite elements. One of the main reasons why I don't read YA contemporaries (or contemporaries in general for that matter) is because the romance is always so predictable and slightly insta-lovey and it has a tendency to take over the plot. However, this romance was just so perfectly balanced and it was also handled in such a mature way. To avoid spoilers, I'm just going to say that there is no love triangle (thank goodness!) and the two people involved in the romance find their way to each other in the sweetest and most well-developed way.
"All the people who loved and supported me, in a row. It was enough to put the pieces of me that seemed to be floating in midair back together into one, solid Tilly. And just in time. When the first few strains of music began, we flew. With every step, I leapt into orbit, around the moon, and then back down."
The Final Verdict:
A very solid contemporary with thoughtful themes, a well-balanced plot, light dialogue, and a strong romance. While not my favorite, it's sure to be someone else's.
4 stars
This turned out to be the perfect weekend palate cleanser for me. I've been rereading so many fantasy books that I haven't wanted to read anything. I picked this up on a Saturday afternoon and it just reinvigorated my reading brain! To that end, while I did enjoy every minute, I found it slightly forgettable. Allow me to explain.
1. The characters. So this is a companion novel to Christina June's debut, , and while they don't need to be read in any particular order, I think it definitely increased my enjoyment to have previous knowledge of the two sister's relationship (It Started With Goodbye is Tatum's story and this novel is her sister's story). I have to say, I enjoyed the banter so much in the book! I found myself laughing out loud on numerous occasions (so it's probably a good idea that I didn't read it in public!) and I think I'm going to reread it for that aspect alone. Matilda (Tilly) and her roommate have such well written scenes together and I really felt like I got to know them through the course of the book. I'm really glad the author took some time for Tilly's antagonist to explain her reasons and develop as a character instead of just running with the 'mean girls will be mean' attitude.
"'Some stay. Some get crushed and go home right away. Some stick it out the summer and then go back to college or Iowa or wherever they came from. But some stay. Some get the city in their blood.'"
2. The plot. This was also very well done. Tilly is recovering from an accident where she broke her ankle and she's chasing her dream of being a dancer. With that industry, comes the inevitable mean girls and performance stress. I don't really know anything about dancing and I found it to be immersive without being overly technical which is definitely a good thing if you're like me. The way Tilly dealt with her problems was also superb and well thought out. Typically, I get frustrated by YA contemporaries because the characters make the strangest decisions but I identified with Tilly extremely well and I found her struggles interesting and absorbing. Overall, the light and contemplative plot made for a quick and easy read.
"Emotion-power-exploded through my limbs, forcing me through the motions until time and music and movement began to blur into pure freedom."
3. The romance. This was by far one of my favorite elements. One of the main reasons why I don't read YA contemporaries (or contemporaries in general for that matter) is because the romance is always so predictable and slightly insta-lovey and it has a tendency to take over the plot. However, this romance was just so perfectly balanced and it was also handled in such a mature way. To avoid spoilers, I'm just going to say that there is no love triangle (thank goodness!) and the two people involved in the romance find their way to each other in the sweetest and most well-developed way.
"All the people who loved and supported me, in a row. It was enough to put the pieces of me that seemed to be floating in midair back together into one, solid Tilly. And just in time. When the first few strains of music began, we flew. With every step, I leapt into orbit, around the moon, and then back down."
The Final Verdict:
A very solid contemporary with thoughtful themes, a well-balanced plot, light dialogue, and a strong romance. While not my favorite, it's sure to be someone else's.
4 stars
February 6, 2018
I don't know where to start with this book because I just love it that much. I read It Started With Goodbye and enjoyed it; was one of my favorite reads of 2017. But this one blow past that one. I don't know if it was because it's based around dance, I love anything to do with dance. Or because of the lead character passion. Or because I already know a bit about this world & characters because of her other book. I just found that Christina's writing had grown in this book, the pacing and characters are perfect.
The lead, Matilda Castillo aka Tilly, is a girl who's following her dreams. Even when it could get her in trouble with her Mom. For me, I love that she's overcome an injury still has the passion and drive to go for her dreams. It inspires me to want to keep going after mine.
The way the New York and the city plays into the book is neat. I always enjoy books more with the characters' environment plays into the story.
I enjoy the balance of different relationships from new roommates, stepsisters, to mother & daughters, grandmother, to her and Paolo. Just a nice mix, that fit together nicely.
I love how this book it is woven together with It Started With Goodbye. I love that you can read these books as stand-alone or together. With that said, I think this will be one of my favorite reads of 2018. This book just warmed my heart.
The lead, Matilda Castillo aka Tilly, is a girl who's following her dreams. Even when it could get her in trouble with her Mom. For me, I love that she's overcome an injury still has the passion and drive to go for her dreams. It inspires me to want to keep going after mine.
The way the New York and the city plays into the book is neat. I always enjoy books more with the characters' environment plays into the story.
I enjoy the balance of different relationships from new roommates, stepsisters, to mother & daughters, grandmother, to her and Paolo. Just a nice mix, that fit together nicely.
I love how this book it is woven together with It Started With Goodbye. I love that you can read these books as stand-alone or together. With that said, I think this will be one of my favorite reads of 2018. This book just warmed my heart.
December 12, 2018
Wait, this was supposed to be inspired by Little Red Riding Hood? I guess I can see the barest outline of that (there's a grandmother, a red piece of apparel, and some food)...
It's a cute YA read but a little short on tension. I'd have loved to see the stakes raised: Tilly enters the book with a bit of romantic drama, but she solves that pronto, so that's the end of the relationship tension. She's the star student and never struggles in class, so there's never really any doubt that if anyone gets a last-minute position in a dance company, it'll be Tilly. (And if not...she has a spot waiting for her at Georgetown. A deferred position, yes, but there are plenty of things to do with a gap year.) Sabrina's machinations don't really come with more risk than Sage getting a little annoyed with Tilly. So it's all fine but there's not a ton of story there.
I read this largely for the dance element. It's there, but that's another place I'd have liked to see more. I'm guessing that the author has about as much dance background as I do (which is to say that I took a ballet class with my sister when I was about seven...one of my only memories of it is of looking in the mirror on the first day and seeing a long line of little girls in black leotards and pink tights, and then me and my sister in shorts and T-shirts, and knowing that we Did Not Belong). That's not a problem in and of itself, but I wouldn't be making that guess if there had been more, you know, dance in this book about dance.
Light read with some good messages, but it's overall not as substantive as I would have liked.
It's a cute YA read but a little short on tension. I'd have loved to see the stakes raised: Tilly enters the book with a bit of romantic drama, but she solves that pronto, so that's the end of the relationship tension. She's the star student and never struggles in class, so there's never really any doubt that if anyone gets a last-minute position in a dance company, it'll be Tilly. (And if not...she has a spot waiting for her at Georgetown. A deferred position, yes, but there are plenty of things to do with a gap year.) Sabrina's machinations don't really come with more risk than Sage getting a little annoyed with Tilly. So it's all fine but there's not a ton of story there.
I read this largely for the dance element. It's there, but that's another place I'd have liked to see more. I'm guessing that the author has about as much dance background as I do (which is to say that I took a ballet class with my sister when I was about seven...one of my only memories of it is of looking in the mirror on the first day and seeing a long line of little girls in black leotards and pink tights, and then me and my sister in shorts and T-shirts, and knowing that we Did Not Belong). That's not a problem in and of itself, but I wouldn't be making that guess if there had been more, you know, dance in this book about dance.
Light read with some good messages, but it's overall not as substantive as I would have liked.
November 28, 2023
Tilly's dance career stalled out after she had a terrible accident that resulted in her being too injured to dance. Instead, she threw herself into applying for colleges to appease her mom. Now she's healed and her summer program is her last shot for a dance career. But can she overcome mean girls, lying to her mom, and a run-in with the boy she ghosted to do it?
This book is one of those stories that gives the impression that there's nothing that cannot be overcome with determination and openness, that the world is full of magic, that bad things are distant if you find the right people or places. It's a fantasy of a romance, and it's charming. I loved the friendship that Tilly and Charlotte strike. I love Tilly's determination to see things through the right way. I love Blanche. I enjoyed the sweet ending. Lots of things about it drove me bananas, but the message of it was so good and sweet and I was so in need of it.
This book is one of those stories that gives the impression that there's nothing that cannot be overcome with determination and openness, that the world is full of magic, that bad things are distant if you find the right people or places. It's a fantasy of a romance, and it's charming. I loved the friendship that Tilly and Charlotte strike. I love Tilly's determination to see things through the right way. I love Blanche. I enjoyed the sweet ending. Lots of things about it drove me bananas, but the message of it was so good and sweet and I was so in need of it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 16, 2018
YAYYYY
- I love the dance aspect, especially when they finally performed!!
- Red sunnies and sassy Abuela = ICONIC
- Great step-sister (also step-dad tho not as prominent) relationship
- Good resolution on the mean girl arc, really uplifting ending
- Latinx rep (tho not ownvoices)
- Really fresh YA contemporary retelling of Red Riding Hood
- I really wanna check out Tatum's book now!!
- Was really touched by the theme/message of pursuing your dreams
- NEW YOOORK <3
HMMM
- I wanted more dance feels during rehearsals as well but those were overlooked and focused more on the mean girl dynamic
- Usually a book like this I would finish in one sitting but the pacing dragged a little bit for me with this one and I had to put it down a couple times and I think that's because I found the girl hate coming from Sabrina frustrating
- I love the dance aspect, especially when they finally performed!!
- Red sunnies and sassy Abuela = ICONIC
- Great step-sister (also step-dad tho not as prominent) relationship
- Good resolution on the mean girl arc, really uplifting ending
- Latinx rep (tho not ownvoices)
- Really fresh YA contemporary retelling of Red Riding Hood
- I really wanna check out Tatum's book now!!
- Was really touched by the theme/message of pursuing your dreams
- NEW YOOORK <3
HMMM
- I wanted more dance feels during rehearsals as well but those were overlooked and focused more on the mean girl dynamic
- Usually a book like this I would finish in one sitting but the pacing dragged a little bit for me with this one and I had to put it down a couple times and I think that's because I found the girl hate coming from Sabrina frustrating
May 1, 2018
Labeled as a retelling of Red Riding Hood, Everywhere You Want to Be goes deeper with life lessons that hit home and should be taken to heart.
After a serious injury takes Matilda Castillo away from her dream of becoming a dancer for a year, she is afraid all hope of achieving her dream is lost. But when a once in a lifetime chance comes her way, she jumps at it. She has been offered the opportunity to spend the summer in New York and perform. She has already made a commitment to go to Georgetown in the fall and doesn’t want to disappoint her mother but also knows she can’t pass up the chance to finally chase down her dream. Her grandmother has given her a pair of bright red sunglasses as good luck and she uses them to help her launch herself into her new career. Day one finds her making herself a target as the one to beat and Sabrina Wolfrik is intent on doing everything she can to stop her competition. Matilda also has a second chance at love when the boy she lost her chance with is in the city for the summer and willing to give them another shot. Not only is Tilly’s future with dance on the line, but also much more, and she is going to give her all to make her dreams come true.
For me, the best thing about this novel was the lessons taught. I loved how June brought bullying into light but in such a different way than would be expected. Tilly was able to show that even though it might be hard, being the bigger, better person always pays off in the end. She had some tough choices to make but showed how it can still be done. Her interactions with Charlotte and Paolo were well played out, as well as the dynamic between her and her family. The teenage years are hard with many life decisions that need to be made and learning to deal with what comes your way can be very difficult. I loved the way the story line with Sabrina played out. Very different than I would have first expected, but still very natural. I recommend this book especially for teenage readers, they will gain a lot from what is written on the pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
After a serious injury takes Matilda Castillo away from her dream of becoming a dancer for a year, she is afraid all hope of achieving her dream is lost. But when a once in a lifetime chance comes her way, she jumps at it. She has been offered the opportunity to spend the summer in New York and perform. She has already made a commitment to go to Georgetown in the fall and doesn’t want to disappoint her mother but also knows she can’t pass up the chance to finally chase down her dream. Her grandmother has given her a pair of bright red sunglasses as good luck and she uses them to help her launch herself into her new career. Day one finds her making herself a target as the one to beat and Sabrina Wolfrik is intent on doing everything she can to stop her competition. Matilda also has a second chance at love when the boy she lost her chance with is in the city for the summer and willing to give them another shot. Not only is Tilly’s future with dance on the line, but also much more, and she is going to give her all to make her dreams come true.
For me, the best thing about this novel was the lessons taught. I loved how June brought bullying into light but in such a different way than would be expected. Tilly was able to show that even though it might be hard, being the bigger, better person always pays off in the end. She had some tough choices to make but showed how it can still be done. Her interactions with Charlotte and Paolo were well played out, as well as the dynamic between her and her family. The teenage years are hard with many life decisions that need to be made and learning to deal with what comes your way can be very difficult. I loved the way the story line with Sabrina played out. Very different than I would have first expected, but still very natural. I recommend this book especially for teenage readers, they will gain a lot from what is written on the pages.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.
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