Bound To Stay Bound

Booklist - 05/01/2021 *Starred Review* After catching her dad cheating, Evie stopped believing in Happily Ever Afters, but when a trip to donate her romance-novel collection leads to an eerie encounter with a witchy old woman, Evie finds that she’s been bestowed with a supernatural power: whenever she witnesses a couple kissing, she receives a vision of their entire relationship, from hopeful beginning to inevitable end. Her search for an explanation leads her to La Brea Dance studio, where she meets gorgeous, spontaneous aspiring rocker Xavier (or X), and the two are paired in an amateur dance contest. As Evie and X practice, they develop their undeniable chemistry, but Evie’s visions—and her father’s impending remarriage—continue to shake her faith in love. Yoon returns with another irresistible romance, this time with a metafictional look at the genre and a dash of magic that makes the proceedings all the more engaging—and fun. There may be nothing easier than slipping into Yoon’s smooth, flowing prose and into the hearts of her characters. The story layers in Evie’s troubling superpower, her reluctant crush, the dance competition, the changing relationships in her friend group, and the fallout with her father without stumbling or overcomplicating matters. And the resonance only grows when Evie and X share a climactic kiss on the dance floor and Evie’s ensuing vision changes everything. An endearing, affecting exploration of the journey of love.HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Everything Yoon touches turns to gold—and gets a film adaptation—and this cinematic supernatural romance will be no exception. Stock up! - Copyright 2021 Booklist.

School Library Journal - 06/01/2021 Gr 7 Up—This heartfelt, swoon-worthy love story cements Yoon's reputation as a must-read writer of teen romance. High school senior Evie used to believe in love, with romance novels her favorite genre. But ever since she caught her father with another woman, she's given up on love in real life as well as in books. When she goes to donate these novels to a Little Free Library, she winds up with a book called Instructions for Dancing. This book leads her to a ballroom dance studio, and to an intriguing boy named X. His open heart, adventurous spirit, and personal philosophy to say "yes" to everything is the opposite of Evie's cynicism. Soon the pair are preparing for a ballroom dance competition, with their rehearsals slowly breaking down Evie's emotional walls. This seemingly straightforward love story is complicated by Evie's new psychic ability to see the beginning, middle, and end of the love story of every couple she sees. Surrounded by constant reminders that all romances come to an end, can she open her heart to X, knowing that even the greatest romances are finite? Evie and X's thoughtful, respectful relationship is engaging and easy to root for. Their conversations are fun, energetic, and wholly believable. Alongside the love story, Evie's personal journey toward a broader understanding of interpersonal relationships is satisfying and relatable. Evie and X are both Black; secondary characters have a variety of ethnicities. VERDICT This tender love story is sure to appeal to fans of Yoon's previous novels, as well as to anyone who enjoys a heartfelt romance. A sweet, genuine love story sure to pull on the heartstrings.—Ann Foster, Saskatoon P.L., Sask. - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.