The Kicker and the New Girl

This one really tugged at my heartstrings.

Dealing with the loss of a loved one is always hard, and everyone deals with grief in their own way. While Goody Two-shoes Cora mostly hides her broken heart and pastes on a smile to make those around her feel better, Austin cultivates a bad-boy image by breaking rules and pretending not to care.

Although it was easy for me to fall in like with Cora, it took a bit longer for me to warm up to Austin and his rebellious behaviour. But I enjoyed their not-so-cunning fake-dating plan, and it was fun to see these two opposites become reluctant friends and finally more.

Despite once again tackling serious issues, this story features the trademark humor and swoon-worthy kisses that I love about this series.

Unlike in the other books of the series I've read so far, the ballerinas - and dance in general - played a rather minor part in this story, and I would have liked to spend more time at the academy.