Thank you, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advance reader copy! You can pick up Flirty Dancing on May 27, 2025!

This book is sweet and heartwarming!

I adore Archer and Mateo--their dances and flirty banters were adorable. The writing is fast paced and bingeable! It's perfect for fans of Broadways, romance, and summer flings!

I'd recommend this book if you're looking for:

- LGBTQ representation
- summer fling
- M/M romance
- slowburn
- workplace
- forced proximity

I wanted to love this because I thought it would give out gay Dirty Dancing vibes but what a let down. I feel like the only thing that was happening for most of the book was rehearsing/dancing, followed by partying, followed by a love triangle of sorts with unecessary drama. Not for me unfortunately.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.75
Spice: 🌶️.5

Mateo and Archer had a sweet, youthful, and messy (as the early 20s can be). I loved that Mateo was somewhat of a mentor for Archer, in that he could help him stay on track, professionally, and learn from his mistakes. There was some drama between the two characters that felt a bit forced, but overall, I loved the story.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: May 27, 2025

Take a cozy summer romance and mix it with the drama of a drag show…you’ll get something close to this M/M frenemies to lovers romcom! Typical 20-something messiness, but there are so many gems of characters in this (minus Caleb, ugh!). It’s fun and very heartwarming at times…I felt transported to this resort in the Catskills. Obvious flowers given for the throwback Dirty Dancing inspo.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for the eARC.

Did Not Finish.

I'm all for a slow burn, but not a "one of the main characters is still making out and in a relationship with not the other MC at 60% of the book" kind of slow burn. Is it so much to ask to read a book about the romance between the predefined main characters?

This was honestly almost a perfect book to me! I easily gave it 5 stars. I loved Archer as a character and truly felt empathetic for all of his struggles throughout the story. I know a lot of people hate Caleb, but I think he needed to happen in order for Archer to get his happy ending. The only part that confused me was there were two instances where an Eva was mentioned and I had no idea who that was and there was no explanation.

Flirty Dancing is what you’d get if Glee, Schitt’s Creek, and a glitter bomb had a chaotic, musical love child, and I mean that in the best way possible.

Archer is 27, adorable, and spiraling (same, but make it 29). After quitting accounting (cheers my dude), he heads to NYC with Broadway dreams and ends up at Shady Queens, a summer resort that’s equal parts camp, chaos, and queer joy (LOVE TO SEE IT IN 2025). His mission? Land a spot in the revue or pack it up and return to Ohio. The stakes are high (because like..Ohio. OHIO).

Enter Mateo Dixon, his teenage Broadway crush turned grumpy, growly choreographer (listen, we've all got one. Mine is Derek Klena, obviously). Add in Caleb, the hot-and-cold bunkmate and Archer’s got himself a full-blown love triangle. Honestly it's not my fave trope, but Jennifer Moffatt made it work and she deservers all the stars for that.

The drama is delicious and the one-liners come faster than quick changes at intermission, which we all know is FAST. Between dance-offs, breakdowns, and glitter-induced bonding, Flirty Dancing is a hilarious, heartfelt tribute to chasing dreams, finding love, and embracing every fabulous, messy moment along the way. It's the positivity we all need in our lives rn.

Bonus points for the Broadway puns (ICONIC)

I’m DNFing at 30%. I was so excited for this one but sadly it was a miss for me. I feel like I’m reading about 14 year olds at sleepaway camp rather than 20-something professional dancers.

DNF @ 59%

I adore Dirty Dancing so I was really excited to see a queer take on the story. Unfortunately this version didn’t work for me. There were too many threads that didn’t quite come together into a cohesive story. My main issue with the story is that Archer engages in a relationship with someone who is not the love interest all the way to the 59% mark. I wanted to see more of his relationship with Mateo but we haven't gotten much of that so far and I don't see how a satisfying love story can be built when half the book has been spent on another character. If you don't mind the central romance taking a backseat then you will likely enjoy this story because Archer himself is a very likable main character.

Thank you NetGalley, Jennifer Moffatt, and St. Martin’s Press for the Arc! The entire book was such a fun little vacation for me! It was far from boring with all the drama and cute little cheesy moments. And of course the dancing! It made me want to see the performances.

Firstly, Archer sweetie you’re never too old to chase your dreams! I’m so glad that he still tried and tried, and he ended up going to Shady Queens and ended up doing a phenomenal job there. And then Mateo, grumpy sunshine for sure! But I really loved him, even at the beginning when he acted so distant. It was nice to see his background story and why he was the way he acted. Granted, it was a dick reason, but it was still understandable. Archer and Mateo are just so cute together 😉

It wasn’t just them that I loved. Each character was lovable in their own way, even Caleb and his dick move. They all felt like such a close and dysfunctional family that really cares for each other even with their ups and downs. I think that’s what really sold the story for me and made me laugh and smile as I read it.

Thank you again for the Arc and I can’t wait to buy the physical book! 10/10 would read again.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I give this 4 stars and 1 chili pepper for spice. I loved this story so much. As a dancer I really connected to the plot. Mateo and Asher’s slow burn love story was perfect and I really liked the love triangle with Caleb. I really wish this story had more spice. It was very closed door. The tension build up between Asher and Caleb was so strong that when the intimate scene finally happened it was slightly underwhelming. But that being said, the story was still amazing and I loved the plot. I’m super happy I read this.

Archer leaves his job as an accountant & moves to New York to peruse his dream of being a dancer on Broadway, but after thirty-some failed auditions, he is ready to give up. However, he books a Summer gig in the Catskills where he discovers he will be working with his childhood celebrity crush, Mateo.

when I saw the cover of this book, i knew i needed to read it! dirty dancing is my favorite movie & this definitely had the vibes of the movie! this book was MESSY but so entertaining & i had so much fun reading this. I thought it was interesting, however, that Mateo & Archer didn't get together until so deep into the book. In fact, Archer dates someone else, despite the flaming hot sexual tension with Mateo. I didn't expect the love triangle! The end wrapped up a bit quickly & I wish we saw more of Mateo & Archer's relationship, but this was such a fun read!

tropes:
✨LGBTQ+ representation
✨summer camp vibes
✨M/M romance
✨Dirty Dancing meets Dancing with the Stars
✨workplace
✨closed door
✨lots of messy fun

"That's it. That feeling. You love dancing; Your soul is dancing. You need to share that with the others. They need to feel that love."

thank you so much to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press & Jennifer Moffatt for an ARC of this book!!!

This was such a cute and sweet read. Asher and Mateo are partnered for a summer dance show, and the chemistry between them really shines through the dancing. Even though this is a low-spice romance, the way the author describes their connection on the dance floor feels intense and intimate. You can feel the attraction without needing anything explicit.

My only con was that the story didn’t feel very focused. There were a lot of side characters and relationship threads, and I wished it was more focused on the 2 main characters. But overall, it was a lovely, light read that left me smiling. I’d recommend it if you’re in the mood for something soft and heartwarming.

Thank you Netgalley, st martins griffin, and MacMillan audio for the free alc and earc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. This was such a delight. I loved the characters I loved the narration I enjoyed the banter. So so good.

Suggest giving it a try.

4.5/5☆

loved this romance and finding love and remembering love before the one. love the friends and the chemistry between the couple was on fire and loved the banter.

This was such a fun read! As a former theatre kid I literally felt in my core the drama and genuinely enjoyed the characters in this book. At times I had to stop reading because I was mortified over what was happening but the ending was great and well written!

This was a really well done romance novel, it had that element that I was looking for and was engaged with what was going on. I enjoyed how unique the characters were in this and getting to go on this journey with the characters. Jennifer Moffatt was able to weave a strong storyline and was invested in the characters and their romance going on. I enjoyed the dancer element to this and thought it worked as a realistic romance novel.

This was a fun, easy read with a large cast of likable characters. I enjoyed the dancing, lighthearted flirting, and serious heat.

Archer and Mateo had great chemistry and their slow-burn romance developed nicely with a bit of a “two steps forward, one back” trajectory. The other characters added romantic drama and a few steady, supportive friendships balanced the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

This book is PERFECT for fans of Broadway, romance, celebrity crushes, and summer flings. I could not put this down. It is the perfect book for sitting outside and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Archer Read is a struggling dancer trying to get his big break on Broadway, but can't seem to book anything. That is until he books a summer gig at Shady Queens, a LGBTQ summer camp (essentially) where he will be performing 6 nights a week. Enter Mateo Dixon, former Broadway star and major hottie (in Archer's words). Mateo is the lead dancer at this camp and Archer is immediately star struck. But what's summer camp without a little drama? Archer gets involved with another dancer which makes Mateo kind of jealous and MORE DRAMA.

I loved the flirtiness between literally everyone, but i especially loved the chemistry between Archer and Mateo. It came through magnificently through the pages. I would 100% read more about these two and I can't wait to pick up Jennifer's next book!

Warning: Spoilers for the novel follow.

As both a writer and a reader of queer romance, I continue to be in awe of some of the amazing talent that’s out there. Flirty Dancing is one of those books that happened to catch my attention while I was perusing NetGalley, and I knew when I read the description–a gay version of Dirty Dancing–that it was going to be a delight. Let me assure you, dear reader, that I was right. This is my first time reading the works of Jennifer Moffett, but I know that it won’t be my last.

When the novel begins, Archer Read is on the threshold of turning 30, and his dreams of being a Broadway star seem even further away than ever, leaving him with few options other than moving back to Ohio and becoming an accountant. As luck would have it, though, he manages to secure a place at a resort in the Catskills, where he’ll be a part of their dance show for the summer. Once there, however, he soon finds himself a bit in over his head, particularly when he comes face-to-face with none other than Mateo Dixon, a former Broadway star with whom Archer has been obsessed since he was a teenager. As the summer progresses their relationship deepens, though obviously there are more than a few hurdles they have to jump through before they reach their happily ever after.

There’s immediate chemistry between the broody Mateo and the much flightier Archer. This isn’t quite an enemies-to-lovers story, but it’s still clear that the professional Mateo is both drawn to and slightly annoyed by his younger colleague. For Archer’s part, he’s very starstruck but, to be real, he’s kind of a dunce at times, which means that he keeps missing the very obvious cues that Mateo is very into him. Archer is an endearing hero, but he’s not always very quick on the uptake. He has a knack for putting his foot right in it, though his good heart and genuinely kind demeanor keeps him from ever becoming truly annoying or unlovable.

It’s only when Mateo and Archer start dancing that the spark between them starts to turn into something more, though at first neither of them want to acknowledge the truth of their attraction. Moffatt has a real ease with describing the raw physicality of dancing that sweeps you up in the rhythm, allowing you, the reader, to feel as if you’re right there with the characters. Though I’m not a dancer myself, my partner is, and the way that Moffatt describes these moments accord with his own recollections of what it’s like to lose yourself in your body’s movement, an experience that becomes that much more intense when it’s shared with another person. While they’re on stage, Mateo and Archer are just two bodies joining in rhythm, and there’s a real power in that.

Mateo makes for a good choice of romantic lead. There’s just enough mystery to him that you don’t quite know what to make of him, particularly since our point of view is limited to Archer. (As always, I have to say that I prefer dual-POV when it comes to romance, but the singular viewpoint works well enough here). With his smoldering good looks and his surly attitude, he’s just the type of man that I would fall for were I in Archer’s shoes, and the fact that he was once the toast of Broadway just makes him that much more appealing. As if all of that weren’t enough, he also has more than a little tragedy and personal heartbreak in his background, and if there’s one thing that I love as a romance reader it’s a sad boy who just needs someone to show him the kindness that he so desperately needs and deserves.

And then there’s Caleb.

Flirty Dancing is one of those romances that gives you a character who is easy to hate, since he stands as the major impediment in the burgeoning romance between Archer and Mateo, largely because he starts hooking up with Archer almost right away. As if that weren’t enough, he’s also kind of a jackass, constantly acting out and acting up. Fortunately, Moffett is a savvy enough writer that Caleb is more than just a roadblock. He has his own demons that he’s grappling with and, while this doesn’t excuse some of his less appealing behavior–which includes engaging in a dalliance with someone who already has a boyfriend–it does at least allow us to understand him a little more.

Flirty Dancing is also filled with lovable and entertaining secondary characters, all of whom add texture and depth to the dance world in which Archer finds himself. The fact that the Catskills resort is called Shady Queens is also delightfully queer and a clear callback to The Golden Girls. Moffett certainly does know her audience (though I would have liked to see a bit more description of the natural beauty of the Catskills, which is one of the most beautiful places in New York State).

If I have one complaint, it’s that it wasn’t quite steamy enough. I know that sex scenes aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but I would have liked to see more of the physical relationship between Mateo and Archer, particularly since we get so much attention paid to their dancing prowess and their connection on the stage.

In short, I really loved Flirty Dancing. It was one of those books that it was just a genuine pleasure to read. Archer is such a relatable protagonist that you can’t help but want what’s best for him, because who among us hasn’t experienced a little bit of panic over the fact that our lives haven’t turned out like we wanted? I mean, I’m now 41, and though I have a PhD, I have yet to achieve some of my dreams, so I can definitely feel for Archer (and Mateo, whose own dreams were put on hold thanks to his behavior). Fortunately there are romances like this one, which remind us that it’s never too late to find that which makes us happy.