Book Shelf: Eyes on Me by Rachel Harris

Look up the word “nerd” and you’ll find Lily Bailey’s picture. She’s got one goal: first stop valedictorian, next stop Harvard. Until a stint in the hospital from too much stress lands her in the last place a klutz like her ever expected to be: salsa dance lessons.

Look up the word “popular” and you’ll find Stone Torres’s picture. His life seems perfect—star of the football team, small-town hero, lots of friends. But his family is struggling to make ends meet, so if pitching in at his mom's dance studio helps, he’ll do it.

When Lily’s dad offers Stone extra cash to volunteer as Lily’s permanent dance partner, he can’t refuse. But with each dip and turn, each moment her hand is in his, his side job starts to feel all too real. Lily shows Stone he's more than his impressive football stats, and he introduces her to a world outside of studying. But with the lines blurred, can their relationship survive the secret he's been hiding?

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Review:

Eyes on Me is Rachel Harris’s latest release and is a sweet and endearing contemporary read with a passionate and adorable love story that sees two teens more alike than they think dance their way into love.

High school senior Lily Bailey has a plan; first valedictorian, then Harvard, but when too much stress takes a toll and she’s emitted to hospital her father is puts his foot down. She’s to take one night a week off studying and signs her up for dance lessons, hoping she’ll find a way to relive the stress that is eating away at her. Lily knows she’s a klutz and wouldn’t describe herself as graceful so she doesn’t expect to enjoy dancing, even if her dance partner is her schools golden boy. As quarterback, Ágoston “Stone” Torres is the star of his small town football team, but behind his perfectly practiced smiles, he’s worried. His family’s dance studio isn’t doing so well and more than anything Stone wants to help. So when Lily’s father offers him extra money to be her fulltime dance partner during lessons, Stone agrees, but what started out as an easy way to make some money to help his family soon spirals into a crushing secret as Stone and Lily find themselves falling for one another. Will Stone find a want to tell Lily the truth and save his family’s studio? Or will he loose the girl he loves AND his family’s livelihood?

Eyes on Me was a really effortless and fun story to read. Unfolding through the back and forth perspectives of main characters Lily and Stone, Eyes on Me was a sweet but saucy YA in the tradition of all the best dance movies/books. It’s a case of opposites attracting as our two protagonists connect and come to realise they’re not as different as they think.

The story Rachel Harris tells may not be all together unique—nerd girl and sports star falling for one another as they dance together—but it’s still very well told with Eyes on Me a fun and lively tale. Both Lily and Stone are highly likable and have a fabulous chemistry together. They grow sweetly as friends and then ultimately become a couple and manage to bring out the best in each other. They’re supported by some great side characters including Stone’s twin sister Angela who becomes a good friend to Lily and Stone’s vivacious family including his mother Viktoria.

I liked the honesty of Lily’s foray into dancing. She didn’t begin dancing and find herself a natural talent, but by hard work and a lot of effort she slowly improved as she learnt to let go and not overthink the steps and moves. I saw myself in Lily—I can’t dance for my life—and enjoyed seeing her take a chance and find happiness in something that gave her a different perspective. It didn’t hurt that Stone was sexy-as-sin and very much the swoon worthy love interest as well.

Sizzling kisses on love seats lit up the pages and endearing moments of tenderness between the two teens won me over as the story progresses more and more. Coupled with your typical teen concerns—studying, dances, football games—the problems Stone and Lily faced were well explored and resolved alongside their romance.

Adorable YA contemporary, Eyes on Me builds to an ending right out of your favourite dancing movie (literally and with inspiration in this case) and leaves me satisfied with Lily and Stone’s tale. I’m hopeful that Rachel Harris might one day write a sequel/companion novel as I would love to explore Angela and Chase if given the chance and think that would make for a great story!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher via Netgalley (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Entangled: Teen
Format: Kindle ebook via Netgalley
Release Date: March 26th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A fun and enjoyable YA contemporary, Eyes on Me is definitely worth a read.