A very charming queer retelling of Dirty Dancing, with plenty of Easter eggs for those of us who love the movie! I spent part of the book wishing it were dual POV, because I wanted Mateo’s perspective on the story—but in the end, I think I was perfectly satisfied only seeing the summer through Archer’s eyes. A great summer read!

This is such a fun m/m romance between an accountant from Ohio who is trying to break in to Broadway and a former Broadway star whose been through a rough patch. They both find themselves performing in a cabaret in the Catskills and well…. Over the tango, they fall in love, duh. It was excellent on audiobook! Thanks to the publisher for the copy via NetGalley!

So this was cute, but it definitely needed some work.

Archer is 27 and making a career change, going from being an accountant to moving to New York to be on Broadway. With no success at all, he finally books a show as a dancer at a resort in the Catskills for the summer, and when he arrives, is surprised to find that an old Broadway performer, Mateo, he had a crush on when he was in high school is also in the show. Mateo was basically blacklisted from Broadway years ago and is brooding in the Catskills.

The relationship builds between Archer and Mateo, but Archer ends up with Caleb first. Instead of a third act breakup, we get a series of dramatic moments, dancers being late, relationship drama, media scandals, and cheating.

Everything feels very surface level, we have a lot of characters but nothing gets too deep. They’re hiking and partying and no one seems to care about this show that much except for Mateo.

Once Archer and Caleb finally split maybe halfway through? It feels like the novel finally gets started, but it’s already almost over.

The second half is fine, but the ending is so weird, there’s a random thing that happens with a random side character at like 96% that made no sense why it was in there. Archer has a random friend we get calls from occasionally trying to propose to her girlfriend but it adds nothing to the storyline.

This just didn’t really feel finished. All the drama felt more summer camp with teenagers than adults in their late twenties/thirties. The main story was there, and could have been really great, I think maybe the writing just wasn’t strong enough and could have used some editing to tighten it up.

If you’re looking for something light, super quick read, you could pick this one up.

Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Flirty Dancing follows Archer Read as he finally lands a job to hopefully help him on his journey to become a Broadway dancer: working at a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills. When he arrives for his first day, he sees his teenage celebrity Broadway crust, Mateo Dixon.

This was an overall enjoyable read, with a lot of drama that felt realistic to the close-quarters of a resort like Shady Queens. The relationships they all had with each other way my favorite part. Not only did the main characters create a strong relationship between each other, but also with their coworkers and even resort guests. I would recommend this for someone who is looking for a quick summer romance full of messy drama and heartfelt queer characters.

Thank you to St Martins Press and NetGalley for a copy of Flirty Dancing in exchange for my honest review. Rounded up from 3.5 stars. Gay summer resort in the Catskills with broadway style performances??? Sign me up. This was giving dirty dancing but instead following only the staff. I was rooting for Archer and was so happy with his story arc. I did feel like there was one too many romantic problems in the book. It was also a bit slow burn for the true romance in the book which was tough to get too.

Do I really need to tell you how much I loved this? Because it has everything I'm looking for in a romance book. Fun, romance, and most broadway references that went right over my head. I had a fun time with this book.

I ended up really enjoying Flirty Dancing. It gave me gay Dirty Dancing vibes with the summer dancing group and all the messy relationships/ hooking up goin on. Archer moved to New York after a later-in-life career change at the age of 28 with the dream of performing on Broadway. But after months of auditions and callbacks with no roles in sight, he is beginning to wonder if it is time to return to Ohio with his tail tucked between his legs. The only light in the darkness if a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills called Shady Queens. Here he may just be performing for geriatrics and vacationing families, but a role is a role and, who knows, maybe this will be his break into show business. Enter Archer's former teen crush, Mateo, disgraced Broadway star and all around grouchy human being. What starts out as a tense partnership between the two, slowly morphs into friendship and as the two grow even closer begins to grow into something more.

This was an enjoyable read. I liked the characters and the storyline. This cast of characters could get very messy, but they owned up to mistakes and tried to be better. A great book for a quick, summer read!

Archer Read is 27 years old. He is desperate to find his place in life. Five months ago, he quit his soul-destroying accounting job in Ohio and moved to Manhattan with dreams of making it on Broadway. But, now he has nothing to show for it but a string of rejections. A musical revue at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills, is his last chance to break into show biz or it’s back to Ohio, broke and hopeless. He arrives ready to dance his heart out, only to find he’ll be working with his teenage celebrity crush, the Broadway star Mateo Dixon. Athur finds that Mateo ignores him. Meanwhile his bunk mate Caleb has gotten Arthur into a “romance” with him. Will Arthur and Mateo than become more “aware” of each other?

A romantic comedy that shows what can happen when in love. It’s a delightful book to read. It answers if love is withal sacrifice.

Show Biz is the setting. Love is in the air. Pettiness and jealousy flare up. And....we have Broadway caliber dancers rehearsing and performing a dance extravaganza seven nights a week during a summer season at an upstate New York resort. Partners are unfaithful and egos get bruised. Lots of LGBTQ characters whose talents shine as relationships and friendships are worked out. It is a fun and funny read that is well worth your time. My thanks to the author and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book.

Overall: ⭐⭐⭐.25 / 5
Spice 🌶️: 0 / 5

This is a sweet, easy, comforting read. It’s full of nostalgia and feels more like a summer camp romance than anything else, set at a richly described fictional LGBTQ+ resort. There’s plenty of dance and Broadway talk to tickle the fancy of fans, but not enough to overwhelm or annoy those with a casual appreciation.

As for our leads…Archer is almost painfully naive and oblivious, despite the fact that he’s in his late 20s. It takes him too long, in my opinion, to both stand up to Caleb and realize how he feels for Mateo. That aside, he’s an easy character to root for. Endearingly earnest and the kind who becomes the glue that people in the group don’t realize is holding them together.

And Mateo? He’s a masterpiece. Complex and layered, a broken bad boy suffering from guilt and a lack of confidence. He’s a powerful former Broadway star who likes to bake and I want to wrap him in a fluffy blanket and protect him from the world.

The friendships forged with the entertaining cast of side characters are genuine and heartwarming. It’s overall a light, low angst read with some cute puns and an HEA that feels like end game.

For fans of Dirty Dancing, So You Think You Can Dance, Casey McQuiston, Broadway musicals, and summer camp drama.

📚Fast facts📚
✨ Dirty Dancing but make it gay
✨ Fallen Broadway star & former accountant
✨ Love triangle
✨ Found family
✨ Contemporary MM
✨ Standalone
✨ Third person limited, single POV, past tense

I am grateful to the author, St. Martin’s Griffin, and NetGalley to have received an advanced copy of this story! This is my honest and unbiased review.

This gay romcom was EVERYTHING I needed t to be. I loved the references to Dirty Dancing as well as theater throughout this book. The characters were so lovable, even the ones who weren't. This is a hella slow burn so if you are not interested in that, this may not be for you. But the tension and heat between the love interests was wonderful I also love the grump/sunshine trope so that added extra flair.

MM Romance
Gay Dirty Dancing

DNF @ 40%


I am sooooo disappointed 😭😭😭😭 The minute I saw this book was gay Dirty Dancing, I <i>needed</i> the arc and I was so excited to be approved. Dirty Dancing is one of my all time favorite movies and the ultra gay version sounded like heaven but I’m bored to tears and this is just not what I had in mind. I didn’t expect this to be exactly like DD but I’m not vibing with the choices this author made. I also feel like this is reading very YA while also reading too adult for it to be YA and it’s not working for me.

The characters are in their late 20s but feel like they should be in their early 20s for this concept to make any kind of sense. Instead of having dancers who are at this camp for the summer before going off to school, we have dancers who are almost washed up and this is their last chance to do something with their career. It makes this camp feel very high stakes and takes away some of the whimsy I wanted to feel while reading this. But my biggest issue has to do with the main couple. When Archer & Mateo are on page dancing together, this book sings but unfortunately Archer is involved with another dancer for at least the first 40% of this book and I’m not down with this at all. It takes away from the couple I care about and it’s ruined the tension filled enemies to lovers vibe that I love. This other dancer is a total ass too so I feel like it was just such a bad decision to incorporate him into so much of this book therefore I am struggling trying to pick this back up and am choosing to DNF.

I’m choosing not to rate this because I didn’t make it to 50% and it’s an arc so thanks netgalley but I’m super disappointed. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Since I saw the cover and read the blurb, this became one of my most anticipated reads of 2025 and it hit the spot!

One thing that drew me in from the start was Archer being 27 and going for a dream, one which others continue to tell him he's too old to reach. He's committed and ready for this new part of his life, actually loving what he does. When he's struggling, he decides to give it one more try and it's the big break that he needs. When he gets the job at Shady Queens, he knows it's not the dream, but it's a step. And when Mateo, a Broadway star who he absolutely had a poster of on his wall, ends up being in the show too, well... it can only be a good sign, right?

The summer camp vibes were so strong and also so MESSY which I loved. It's giving adult summer camp, where they don't really have supervision besides the fact they have a job to do. With that in mind, they definitely get involved (and cause) a bit of drama, but it's all in good fun.

Highly recommend as a summer read due to the summer setting (and the camp vibes). Perfect for messy gays. And those who love Broadway! If you're not a huge Broadway fan, you'll miss out on a few references, but nothing that'll affect your overall reading comprehension. Overall - truly loved it, and loved seeing the chemistry grow between Archer and Mateo!

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

Look who showed up to class today. I had to pop in and share this review though. It’s a fun take on dirty dancing with all the dancing, romance, drama, insecurity, heartbreak, self exploration and ultimately love.

Archer after a string of lost auditions finally gets his chance at a resort in the Catskills. He wasn’t expecting his childhood crush and broadway star Mateo to also be there.

These two had instant chemistry but their desire to focus on the show leads them to be friends and sometimes not so friendly.

While Mason has a small fling with his roommate which ends in disaster the show must go on. The queer ensemble of dancers and guests made this a Tony worthy performance. With Mateo and Archer winning best off broadway duo.

Dirty Dancing but make it gay???
Say less!!!! This was closed door spice which was a bummer but I still love the riffraff, the drama and of course the unlikely couple dancing their way to a HEA.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was so comforting, cozy, and fun! The slow-burn romance was adorable, and this book had me laughing on each page. I loved that each character had growth, even the "foil" to the main characters. I can't wait to read more from Jennifer Moffatt!

Thank you again for the ARC!

Overall, I liked this book, but it has some flaws. The Dirty Dancing references made me feel nostalgic. The main characters were delightful and strong. I felt the beginning a bit slow and inconsistent, but as we reach the last third of the plot the pace gets better and the story becomes more compelling.

Definitely a fun quick read. The characters are a little messy but it's so satisfying to see them rally together in the end. The development of the two MMCs from frenemies to lovers was so sweet. and the whole plot is on brand for theatre kids (adults) at a camp in the Catskills. Loved it!

I received an eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely DEVOURED this book. Like could not sleep or do anything until I finished. It felt like queer summer camp and tbh there’s nothing better than that.

I originally picked this one because of the cover. Overall the story was fun and I enjoyed the characters, but I didn’t really enjoy the love triangle. Mateo and Archer were cute though and they had great chemistry. I liked Mateo’s backstory.

Thanks for advanced copy to review St Martin’s Press