An utterly charming YA romance perfect for fans of Elise Bryant and Leah Johnson.
"An ode to love in all its beautiful chaos. Leila is funny, irreverent, and next-level charming, and her story is an actual joyride. Sheer delight through and through."--Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens AgendaLeila is crushed when Dev, her boyfriend of four years, breaks up with her right before graduation. Just when she’s thinking she wasted her entire high school experience on a dead-end relationship, her best friend Bree reminds her that Last Chance Dance is just around the corner.
A high school tradition, the Last Chance Dance gives all the students one last opportunity to find love before they graduate. All Leila has to do is submit three unrequited crushes to the dance committee and if any of her crushes list her too, they’ll get matched. Presto: new relationship, just like that. To her utter amazement, Leila is matched with all three of her choices—and with someone she never expected, Tre Hillman, her chemistry partner and low-key nemesis.
Though at times skeptical, Leila embarks on her Last Chance Dance mission—trying out her matches and going on dates. If Dev wasn’t her true love—then maybe someone else is. She knows it’s definitely not Tre, even though he seems more and more determined to convince her he’s right for her.
But as graduation and the dance approaches, and each date seems to change her mind (and her heart)—Leila must figure out what—and who—she really wants. It’s her last chance, right?
On sale: February 21, 2023
Age: 12 and up
Grade: Grade 7 & Up
Page count: 336 Pages
ISBN: 9780593525616
Reading level: Lexile: 770L
Lakita Wilson is the author of several novels and nonfiction projects for children and young adults, including
What Is Black Lives Matter? a part of the
New York Times bestselling Who HQ Now series, and
Be Real, Macy Weaver.
Lakita was born in Washington, DC, and grew up in Prince George's County, Maryland. A 2017 recipient of SCBWI's Emerging Voices Award, Lakita received her MFA in writing for children and young adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts. She is currently on faculty at Prince George's Community College in the education department. Lakita lives in Prince George's County, Maryland, with her two children and shih-tzu. She can be found online at lakitawilson.com.
"An ode to love in all its beautiful chaos. Leila is funny, irreverent, and next-level charming, and her story is an actual joyride. Sheer delight through and through."
--Becky Albertalli, New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda"Fun, fast-paced, and laugh-out-loud funny,
Last Chance Dance will throw readers right back into the final few weeks of their senior year. You can't help but to root for Leila as she picks up the pieces of her broken heart and embarks on a delightful mission to find new love before graduation."
--Priyanka Taslim, author of The Love Match*"Wilson’s part breakup tale, part rom-com isn’t just about falling in and out of love; it’s also a story about Leila’s rediscovering herself in the face of loss, learning from her mistakes, and giving people a chance to redeem themselves...A charming and hopeful story about life post-heartbreak."
--Kirkus Reviews (starred review)*"Wilson (
Be Real, Macy Weaver) showcases an expert sense of comedic timing and an emphatic understanding of contemporary adolescent trials in this sparkling rom-com...Leila's struggles...are brilliantly rendered...[in] this optimistic tale of heartbreak and recovery."
--Publishers Weekly (starred review)"This reality-dating-show-worthy premise is plenty of fun . . . [and] Wilson’s snappy, funny dialogue effectively builds chemistry between Leila and her chosen date. This book has a valuable message about embracing life’s ups and downs, letting go of your past, and learning to choose your own happiness in spite of what others may think."--
BCCB"Wilson’s breezy narrative and the inventive Last Chance Dance premise make a winning combination in this romance where Leila learns how to trust again while figuring out how to define herself outside of her relationship status."--
Booklist
