Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is Nicola Yoon doing what she does best: taking a high-concept premise (magical visions of doomed love) and grounding it in real, messy human emotion. The result is a romance that's sweet without being saccharine, and sad without being nihilistic.

The ballroom dancing angle is legitimately charming and gives the book a sensory, kinetic energy that keeps it from drowning in feelings. X is a great foil to Evie's cynicism without being a manic pixie dream boy—he has his own arc. And reviewers consistently highlight the parent-child dynamics, which suggests Yoon isn't just writing about teen angst in a vacuum.

The emotional weight is real, though. This isn't a breezy beach read. Evie's gift means we experience heartbreak over and over, and her parents' divorce looms large. But the payoff is a story that actually earns its 'is love worth it?' question instead of just posing it.

Solid pick for teens who want romance with substance, or who are working through their own questions about risk, vulnerability, and whether opening your heart is worth the inevitable pain. Just maybe not the book to hand a 12-year-old looking for fluff.

Age Fit

Best for ages 13+ who are ready for emotionally complex romance. The magical realism hook and dance competition make it accessible, but the themes of heartbreak, divorce, and vulnerability require some emotional maturity. Older teens and adults will appreciate the philosophical depth.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

A sweet, emotionally grounded YA romance that deals maturely with heartbreak, grief, and parental divorce. Multiple reviews praise the intimate parent-child moments and the protagonist's emotional growth. The tone is poignant but hopeful, modeling vulnerability and resilience without being preachy. Loses a few points for the heavy emotional weight of watching relationships fail repeatedly through visions.

Imaginative

78

The magical realism element—seeing visions of how romances begin and end through kissing couples—is a fresh, creative hook. The ballroom dancing setting (waltz, fox-trot, tango) adds sensory richness and a unique world. X's 'say yes to everything' philosophy invites readers to think about risk and adventure. Not groundbreaking conceptually, but Yoon executes it with originality and heart.

Safe

88

This is a YA romance, so expect kissing and relationship content, but reviews consistently describe it as 'sweet' with no red flags about explicit content, violence, or triggering material. Common Sense Media and Rated Reads both note it's appropriate for teens. The themes of heartbreak and parental divorce are emotionally heavy but handled with care. A younger teen stumbling on this wouldn't encounter anything shocking.

Enriching

84

Goes beyond typical YA romance to explore grief, betrayal, family dynamics, and the philosophical question of whether love is worth the risk of pain. Evie's character arc involves confronting cynicism and learning to be vulnerable. The ballroom dancing competition thread builds themes of discipline and partnership. Reviews highlight it as thought-provoking about 'the definition of love' and growing from loss. Strong empathy-building potential.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Nicola Yoon (Everything, Everything) brings her signature emotional punch with a creative twist: visions that show how every romance will end
The ballroom dancing setting is genuinely fresh and sensory—waltz, fox-trot, tango as metaphors for connection and risk
Tackles heavy stuff (parental divorce, grief, heartbreak) with nuance and hope, not melodrama
Multiple reviewers rave about the parent-child scenes, which is rare praise for YA
X's 'say yes to everything' philosophy vs. Evie's cynicism creates real tension and growth

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What to Watch For

This is emotionally heavy—watching relationships fail through magical visions means repeated scenes of breakups and heartache
Parental divorce is a central wound for Evie, so if your teen is processing something similar, this could hit hard (or be cathartic)
It's a romance, so expect kissing and relationship intensity appropriate for teens
The philosophical 'is love worth the pain?' question might feel too mature or abstract for younger middle schoolers

Conversation Starters

"If you could see how a relationship would end before it started, would you still want to fall in love? Why or why not?"
"Evie's parents' divorce made her stop believing in love. Do you think one bad example can change how you see everything?"
"X says yes to everything, Evie says no to protect herself. Which approach do you relate to more?"
"The book asks if love is worth the risk of heartbreak. What do you think?"
"Have you ever tried something scary (like Evie with ballroom dancing) and been surprised by how it changed you?"

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