I really wanted to love this one but I don't feel like it met the romance genre requirements. The main charachters spent 64% of the book not even trying to be together. Plus love triangles are an ick for me and the only on page spice was with the guy he doesn't wind up with.

Struggling Broadway hopeful Archer lands a gig at a Catskills resort, where he must navigate a chaotic dance troupe, a fling with temperamental bunkmate Caleb, and a rekindled crush on Matteo, a complicated down-on-his-luck celebrity.

What a fun book! On the cusp of gay fiction and romance, this novel is as much the story of Archer’s character growth as his budding romantic relationship. (It’s a love triangle, but it’s clear from the start who Archer will end up with.) The vibe is lighthearted but with a bit of drama.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

This was very cute! If you’re looking for a fun summer rom-com, this is a great choice. It’s not groundbreaking but it is a nice homage to Dirty Dancing.

Also, the side characters all stood out (mostly) which was a nice addition.

Okay, so "Flirty Dancing" by Jennifer Moffatt was... a trip! Imagine if a cute YA summer camp story about finding your place suddenly got all sequined up with the drama and dance moves of Centre Stage, plus a little So You Think You Can Dance thrown in for good measure. That's kinda what you get here.
I really liked Archer's story. This 27-year-old accountant chucking it all to chase his dance dreams at an LGBTQIA+ camp/retreat cabaret? You gotta root for that. And seeing him go from this slightly dorky, doe-eyed fan to someone who really finds where he belongs? Sweet! Mateo, the grumpy ex-Broadway guy, was a decent character too, and you see how Archer kinda melts his icy exterior.
Now, the pacing... let's just say it was a slllllooooooowwwwwww burn. Like, I could've knitted a sweater in the time it took for some things to happen. The payoff at the end was nice enough, but I kinda wished we'd gotten a bit more oomph in the middle to keep things moving.
And speaking of the middle... the dance company drama? Ugh. Some of those characters, especially Caleb and his crew, were just so juvenile. Seriously, grown adults acting like that? My patience was definitely tested.
BUT. The dancing scenes between Archer and Mateo? Okay, Moffatt brought the heat! Forget "murder on the dance floor," this was something else entirely. That tango? The pas de deux? Seriously well done.
So, yeah, nobody put Archer in a corner, but with all the drama and disrespect flying around, I wouldn't blame him for needing a time-out. It was a bit of a mixed bag for me – some parts I really enjoyed, others... not so much.

Steam: 🔥 (from the dancing)
Heart Flutters: ❤️

🩵💜 Flirty Dancing ARC Review 💜🩵

Thank you so much to Jennifer Moffatt and St Martins Griffin for the opportunity to read and review this book

Flirty Dancing is a standalone contemporary gay novel. Archer has moved to New York City and dreams of performing as a dancer on Broadway. When he gets a job dancing in a cabaret for the summer, he learns that his idol crush is also part of the cast. Can they overcome their chemistry and keep it professional?

This was an interesting read. I struggled a little bit with Archer and his choices in the first part of the book, but he got better over the last 40ish% of the book. Most of the first 60% of this book was Archer meeting, flirting, sleeping with and being in a relationship with a character that isn’t Mateo. I really enjoyed Mateo and would have enjoyed his PoV. I felt like he deserved a little better than what happened in this book since a majority of it was not centered around his love story

Overall this was a 3 star read. I struggled with calling this a romance book as Archer spent 60% of the book with another character. But I did like Mateo. This book did have some heavy topics, so please check triggers if you’re sensitive. This book did have some fade to black spicy scenes, so one flame for spice

If you’re a fan of summer novels with lots of messy drama and cabaret vibes, then pick this one up.

I enjoyed this book but so many of the characters were childish. I could not stand Caleb and don't understand why Archer stayed with him for so long. Mateo was cute and I loved seeing him be awkward around Archer.

I received an arc through netgalley.

This was so good. I loved the plot and characters. It was paced perfectly. I didn't wanna put it down and was on the edge of my seat

It was entertaining but I didn’t love it, Archer was a doormat to Caleb for too long, in fact I wished he wasn’t such a big part of the book, and Mateo was more developed had more presence than he had, because when Archer and Mateo interacted it was great but they were kept apart too long in my opinion.

Flirty Dancing stars Archer, a latecomer to professional dancing and Mateo, a Broadway star that had experienced a fall from fame. This book was such a sweet romance and the interactions between Mateo and Archer were steamy, however what really made this book shine was the characters.
Archer is late in life experiencing all the silly shenanigans of being in your early twenties. He's spent much of his early twenties doing what is considered respectful and dutiful instead of going for his passions. Archer sometimes reads as being younger than he is because he's trying to experience all the things that he put off until later in life.
Mateo was amazing and stole the scenes when he was there.

Overall this was an enjoyable and a quick read. It's a perfect low stakes summer read for when you are on vacation or need to turn off your brain for a bit. It's silly and campy, although it is closed door for any sexual content if that's important.

Thank you to NetGalley and St.Martin's Griffin for giving me the chance to read and review this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I was very excited for the Dirty Dancing vibes, but it kinda missed the mark for me. Way to much drama between everyone, all the time. I knew there was gonna be a sort of love triangle, which I’m never a fan of, but Archer ended up being with the other guy for most of the book. He only ends up with Mateo at 87%

Quick read, lots of dancing and drama.

After moving from Ohio to New York at the ripe old age of 27 to pursue his dreams (seriously, when did 27 become OLD!?!), Asher is about to give up after his 30 something rejection. When he finally lands a role after 5 months of searching, little does he know its about to change his entire life... and sends him straight into the arms (literally, as his dance partner) of former Broadway star and teenage celebrity crush Mateo Dixon.

Oh this was such a fun book. A LGBTQA+ resort called Shady Queens, an Dirty Dancing inspired title and an array of queer characters? Sign me up. All the dancing was right up my alley and as a fan of SYTYCD and musicals, i really enjoyed the context of this book. I enjoyed the subtle vulnerability Mateo was showing, despite Archer not seeing much of it until its almost too late, and i liked the idea of Archer pursuing his dream of being a dancer even when everything keeps telling him to jump ship and return home.

The show itself seemed like something i would LOVE to see, different nights of different styles and all that, and the smoldering tango had me wishing i really could see it. BUT I will say this: this is a MESSY story. Lots of things happening, and with all the drama and missed rehearsals and shenanigans, not to mention ALL the partying, this show probably should not have been as successful. BUt hey, it is a story and im always ready for some suspension of belief.

The one thing that was a bit of a miss for me was all the bed hopping and cheating and the focus on a relationship that was not endgame for most of the book threw me a little. Some of the drama happening read more like college/early twenties characters and while yes, some of the side characters might have been more around that age, both MCs were supposed to be older and that didnt really track with the events of the book. And while i enjoy a good slow burn, i really wish we had been more of Mateo and Archer together than what we actually got.

Overall, this was really entertaining and i would recommend if you enjoy shenanigans in the Catskills, a cast of diverse and colorful characters (BRING ME MORE EILEEN!) and a SLOW slow burn.

Thank you to the author, her publisher, and NetGalley for an electronic ARC of this novel.

So, I'm not going to lie. I think I really really would have enjoyed this book if one of the main characters did not share a name with my toddler. I have a really hard time when my kids names are in books and had I realized before I likely wouldn't have picked this book up.

BUT, that being said, if you are not weird like me and don't have children with the same name as people in a romance novel, you'll really enjoy it. What I read of it was very sweet and fun. The banter was great. The pacing (of what I read) was solid. I have no complaints other than the author's choice to use my son's name (and I mean really, how dare they right? lol)

Archer's found his bliss - or has he? He's at the Shady Queens Resort to dance and best of all-Mateo is there too. Except that Mateo is a pain and Caleb, Archer's bunk mate isn't, Or is he? There's lots of drama here and the characters, who are meant to be in their 20s act like teens all too often. You'll find yourself rooting for Archer to get his head together and to get together with Mateo. The resort atmospherics are good. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. An easy read.

This was a decent read, however, I wasn't as into the characters and plot as I was hoping to be. Archer was with Caleb a little too long for my liking, and I would have liked to see a little more of Mateo. I did the love the setting and the amount of LGBTQ+ characters, though, and would recommend this for anyone who enjoys contemporary gay romance.

This book follows Archer Read, a 27-year-old aspiring dancer looking for his big break. Unfortunately for him, all his auditions since moving to NY have been a bust. Landing a role in the cabaret at Shady Queens resort in upstate NY for the summer is his last-ditch effort to make it as a dancer before giving up and returning to his hometown in Ohio. As soon as Archer arrives at Shady Queens, he's thrown right into the chaotic life of the dance troupe and has to try to hold it together while dealing with his own drama, along with everyone else's, to keep the show from completely falling apart.

If you're looking for drama, you've come to the right place! This book featured an eclectic cast of characters and an almost summer camp feel as we are thrown in the middle of this dance troupe. There were tricky group politics, lots of partying, lots of hooking up, breaking up, making up, and lots of other chaos that kept the nightly shows at Shady Queens teetering on the edge of failure vs success. I'm not someone who likes drama in my everyday life, but I sure do like reading about other people's drama, and there was plenty to be had here.

The romance was almost secondary to the main story, I thought. Archer is meant to end up with Mateo, the grumpy former Broadway star whom Archer had a teenage crush on and whom he now has to dance with every night. But Archer spends a large portion of the book wrapped up in a (clearly doomed) romance with his bunkmate instead. There were so many little things, though, that showed us that Mateo liked Archer, but Archer was so wrapped up in everything else that he was blind to it. I felt bad for Mateo and wanted to shake some sense into Archer! They finally get there, but it happens so late in the story. There was so much tension between these two throughout, I just wish they actually acted on it a little sooner than they did.

But all in all, it was a sweet book with lots of dancing and lots of fun drama that kept me pulled in.

Flirty Dancing is a queer take on Dirty Dancing, the 1987 dance movie starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. It's a romance with a lot of heart, a lot of drama, and so many intense dance scenes.

Archer is in his late 20s and recently moved to New York City to finally chase his dream of being a Broadway dancer. His auditions haven't been going well, but he finally books a Summer gig at a queer-friendly resort. There, he meets a group of fellow dancers, including Mateo, a legendary Broadway dancer whom Archer had a serious crush on as a teen.

This has a great, large cast full of distinctive and colorful characters. We spend the most time with Archer and Mateo's fellow dancers. Caleb is Archer's roommate, with whom he has a quick fling. There's also Betty, a new friend and frequent dance partner. Back home in New York City, Archer's best friend is Lynn, with whom he stays in close contact. There's a lot of drama and relationship strife with the supporting cast that keeps this book fun and exciting at all times. Of course, Archer and Mateo are the real highlights of the book.

Archer and Mateo are coupled together to be a same-sex pair for Latin night at the lounge. The steamy dances have them in close proximity, and their chemistry is palpable. The duo has a little Grumpy/Sunshine dynamic. Archer is excited to have a job and hopes this Summer will be a starting point for his career. He's confused by Mateo's hot-and-cold attitude toward him and is convinced that he must hate him. He's also very curious why the Broadway star is dancing at a Catskills resort instead of somewhere more prestigious. Mateo is mysterious and closed-off, but charming. He's an intriguing character, and the author gives us just enough early moments that hint at who he really is to make him likable early on.

Mateo and Archer slowly learn more about each other and grow closer, but this is a slow burn with plenty of obstacles. I don't want to spoil too much, but there's so much great growth in this. The dance group is full of complicated characters with messy and ever-changing relationships. I enjoyed the ups and downs of their group and their shows almost as much as I loved seeing Archer and Mateo's development (separately and together).

Flirty Dancing is a great romance book for Summer. It's dramatic, romantic, and the kind of book that you'll speed through and enjoy every minute of. I had so much fun reading this!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt. I had high hopes going into this one. Dirty Dancing is my favorite movie, so I was excited for a romance with a similar vibe. The book started strong, but too much of the story was spent with Archer dating Caleb (the antagonist), which made the main romance feel like an afterthought. Archer and Mateo don’t even share a kiss until 85% in, and with only a small portion of the book focused on their relationship, it was hard to get invested. The emotional and romantic payoff just wasn’t there. The spice was vague or happened off-page, which was disappointing, and the ending felt rushed with too much packed in. By the last page, I felt like I knew more about Archer’s ex than I ever did about Mateo. A promising premise, but ultimately underwhelming.

Perfect book for if you're looking for a fun, low-spice queer rom-com. However, characters could be hella immature at times. Overall, a cute and entertaining fast-paced read.

Got this ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

3.5 stars

Let me start by saying this isn’t a bad book (3 stars always throw people off) the premise is cute and the cast of characters are messy and entertaining

I think for me personally I didn’t like that that you could clearly tell who the MMC’s were but they focused on a third MMC for most of the book and it was frustrating to read. I didn’t hate the book but I was frustrated throughout most of it

It’s a fun summer read about a messy dance troupe

2.5 stars
Flirty Dancing is essentially about Broadway's "rejects." The dancers who can't get a role, the ones who are just trying to make it. We follow Archer and Mateo at this summer retreat in the Catskills where they perform with a bunch of their peers every night for the guests.

I wanted to love this. At first glance, this book has everything to make the perfect rom com:
Grumpy x Sunshine
M/M
Finding yourself
Summer drama

... it just absolutely didn't work. There were parts of this story where I was so engrossed in the characters, and then the next page I would find myself skimming for a full chapter. The writing was inconsistent. The characters were extremely one dimensional. There is no way someone like Caleb would not be fired in real life.

This story was supposed to be about adults but it felt childish... elementary. The romance was off page - which is fine, not everything needs spice - but that made it boring. It felt like without any true depth in any part of this book it was one big stereotype about LGBTQIA+ community.

I did enjoy the nod to Dirty Dancing with the "so you carried a watermelon" reference in the beginning.

Thank you to Netgalley and publishers for this ARC. All opinions are my own.