My life before me, undone: OUT OF STEP, INTO YOU.

Out of Step, into You by Ciera Burch
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Taylor and Mari are former childhood best friends after a large misunderstanding has gone unaddressed for many years. But then Mari winds up back at Taylor's high school and the two girls are on the same cross country team--finding themselves forced together at every turn.

This is a cute story--nothing revolutionary, but an interesting YA lesbian romance is always a plus. I believe this would resonate well with its intended audience.

There's plenty of drama (so much drama). Some of it seems a little forced, but they are teens, after all. Somehow teenagers are seeming both incredibly juvenile and wise beyond their years anymore (I say this as a parent of two teens). Mari feels the burden of caring for her younger siblings while her mom works multiple shifts to make rent, and Taylor is dealing with a critically ill father. The book plays off the stereotypes of class, between Mari's working class background and Taylor's wealthier one.

Overall, this story is simplistic at times and can rely on tropes, but Mari and Taylor are well-drawn teen characters, and the younger audience should identify with their struggles, including best friend troubles, parental drama, sports teams dynamics, and Taylor's quest to figure out her sexual identity.

I received a copy of this book from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group / Farrar, Straus and Giroux and Netgalley in return for an unbiased review.

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