So, I devoured this in one sitting. The narration was wonderful and so natural for these characters. The story was messy and made me angry but I really enjoyed many areas of this book.

My issues… Archer was 27 and acted like a child half of the book, like this is your big break and you aren’t taking this serious??? Like hello??? but maybe he acted this way since he has never done a serious show before? But It still annoyed me. Archer just annoyed me throughout, but i really did like him and was rooting for him to achieve this dream. You are never too told for a career change, and I appreciate that message.

Mateo was really where this book shined, i loved him and my heart ached for what he went through and his road to recovery. I wish we got more from him as he was my favorite character.

To wrap up, this book shined in the detailed dance depictions, I could really imagine the movements and passion in some dance scenes. All characters were well developed and held very distinct personalities, which this messy story come to life. The romance was passionate and you could feel the chemistry between them.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

As a general rule, I’ve started to shy away from M/M romances written by women—especially straight women. It’s not that I don’t appreciate LGBTQIA2S+ visibility, because I do. I just strongly believe that stories centering around queer lives should, ideally, be told by those with lived experience. We need authenticity. We're more than just a fetish or entertainment. With the current administration and the way they are trying to erase us and our history, now, more than ever, we should be telling our own stories. That said, I received a copy of this book and an ALC from the publisher, and the Dirty Dancing-inspired title got me curious enough to give it a shot.

And I’ll say this: the book is cute. It’s light. It delivers on everything you'd expect from a rom-com. The tone is fun, the setting is summery and theater-kid adjacent, and the characters are largely likable. If you’re looking for a comfort read with a Broadway flair and just enough romantic drama to keep things moving, this fits the bill.

The story follows Archer Read, a 27-year-old who recently ditched his accounting job in Ohio to chase a dream of making it on Broadway. After a string of rejections, he finds himself auditioning for a musical revue at Shady Queens (insert eyeroll), a queer-friendly Catskills resort that feels like a cross between summer camp and gay drama boot camp. The big twist? He’ll be working with none other than Mateo Dixon, his former celebrity crush and Broadway legend turned grumpy dance captain.

From there, the book takes you through rehearsal chaos, flirtations, misunderstandings, hookups, heartbreak, and all the tension you’d expect from a story where characters share bunks and spotlight dreams. There’s also Caleb, Archer’s hot and hot-headed bunkmate, who brings his own fire to the storyline. Is it all a little predictable? Sure. But it’s delivered with enough charm that I still had fun along the way.

Now, here's where I had a bit of a hangup—and it’s one I’ve run into with other M/M romances written by straight women: the reliance on tired gay clichés. One of the side characters is an aging theater director who’s dramatic, over the top, and obsessed with Judy Garland. I’ve seen this archetype so many times. Yes, some of us love Judy. And Liza. And Barbara. But reducing us to these one-note personalities feels lazy. We’re more than pop culture references and feather boas.

Still, the heart of the story: Archer’s earnestness, his journey to find himself, and his big, gooey romantic hopes, is relatable. And I will say that the audiobook narrator, Mark Sanderlin, did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. His voice work added a layer of personality that helped soften some of the more trope-heavy moments.

Would I recommend it? Yes. If you’re craving a light, queer rom-com with dance montages and Broadway banter, you’ll probably enjoy this. Just go in knowing it leans into the familiar—both the comforting kind and the cliché eye-roll-inducing kind. For me, it was a fun, low-stakes read. Not perfect, but certainly not without charm.

*** I received this ARC audiobook through NetGalley from the publisher and author***

Story - 3.5 / 5 ⭐️
Audiobook - 4 / 5 ⭐️
0.5 / 5 🌶️

This is a MM slow burn romance. I loved the chemistry between Mateo and Archer. I so prefer my contemporary romance with more spice typically, but if you’d prefer more of a light spice slow burn this is perfect for you.

Pros:
- sweet slow burn love story
- being obsessed with dirty dancing helped visualize the setting even more
- character growth for both mmcs
- comeback story for one mmc
- funny moments throughout the whole story with side characters


Cons:
- I felt like the side romance with Archer and Caleb got more attention than it should have
- I wish there was more actual relationship between Mateo and Archer on page
- the narrator for the audiobook sounded way younger than the 27 years the mmc is supposed to be

Overall I’d recommend this book if you like MM slow burn romances with not so much spice!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and Jennifer Moffatt. I was given this audiobook as an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

If it is not evident from the title and description, this book has Dirty Dancing movie vibes but with male main characters. It is a cute story about Archer who is trying to become a professional dancer “later in life.” He gets a job at Shady Queens resort where he runs into an ex-dancer, celebrity crush, Matteo. We have a lot of great tropes like age gap and grumpy / sunshine. It has lots of drama between all of the characters so be sure to grab your popcorn.

Overall, there was minimal spice in the book. I would rate it between a 2 or 3. There are a few sexual scenes but they are behind closed doors. I am a spicy reader so I wish there was a little more however the minimal spicy-ness fit in with the rest of the story.

I think the voice actor did a good job. The book is written as single POV so it was not difficult to distinguish between the characters. He seemed to flow between voices effortlessly and added different tones when the story required.

If you are looking for a hot spicy M M romance, this book may not be for you. Nonetheless, I would still recommend this book. I enjoyed these characters and will be keeping an eye out on this author for future releases.

I will be posting to Amazon and Instagram soon

Happy reading friends
~ Maebae 💚

Flirty Dancing is exactly as adorable as it sounds — a contemporary homage to the film painted with a queer lens. The novel takes readers behind the scenes of the musical revue at Shady Queens resort where the onstage performances and backstage drama are scorching hot. After striking out in the NYC audition circuit, Archer Read lands a gig dancing at the queer-friendly Catskills resort. When he arrives for rehearsal, Archer finds himself partnered with his childhood crush and former Broadway star Mateo Dixon. What ensues is an eventful summer full of secret trysts, messy feuds, and a vibrant cast of memorable personalities.

This audiobook was such a delight and every time I was forced to put it down I was daydreaming about when I could listen to it again. Narrator Mark Sanderlin captures Archer’s unbridled passion for theater and his naivety of the professional dance scene. The tone of the novel is upbeat even in its more dramatic moments and Sanderlin is able to capture it in this performance.

This was such a special book and I highly recommend the audio! It has the perfect summer vibes and a raucous cast you won’t soon forget!

Thank you Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC!

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffett
Contemporary M-M romance.
Archer Read takes the summer to try for a career onstage as a dancer. It’s always been his dream. He’s quit his accountant job and moved from Ohio to New York and has gone on interview after audition over and over. So far Archer hasn’t gotten a second look, let alone a call back. As a last ditch effort, he takes a job at the Shady Queens in the Catskills, a queer friendly resort. Archer meets teenage crush, Mateo Dixon there but while they smolder on the dance floor, Mateo isn’t friendly offstage at all. Archer starts a casual sexual relationship with roommate Caleb as most of the dancers seemed to have teamed up. Lots of show performances, lots of drinking and board games and as the summer progresses, the show gets sloppy as relationships break down and change. Something has to change or Archer may end up back in Ohio at a job he doesn’t want, and the loss of his dreams.

🎧 I alternated between an ebook and audiobook which is narrated by Mark Sanderlin. The performance is wonderful and helps to bring the characters to life. I heard the indecision, the angst, the career and inadequacy concerns.
I did listen to this at slightly above 1.5 to more closely match my reading speed. I prefer reading the two formats together and in this case the audiobook held my attention a bit more during the angst and uncertainty of new relationships.

Career transition and uncertainty and temporary relationship conflicts made this book angsty and feel almost young or new adult even tho the characters are a bit older.
Mostly closed door, or at least nothing exceedingly graphic.
Loved the way it all came together in the end.
3.5
I received a copy of this from NetGalley and publisher Macmillan Audio.

This was a fun quick read! Going into it, I didn't have super high expectations because I read a few not so great reviews... that was my fault. I should know better than listen to what other people think! There were a lot of complaints that these characters acted way too immature for their age, but I think the oldest was like 27. I am not going to pretend I wasn't reckless and immature in my 20s! So honestly, the immaturity didn't bother me that much, definitely not enough for me to being taken out of the story. I really enjoyed the development of these characters and I loved that it all took place at a queer, adult summer camp! All in all a solid 4 stars for me and I would definitely recommend this one to others!

Oh, and I listened the audiobook (thank you netgalley!) and totally loved it! Mark Sanderlin did an excellent job and I will definitely be on the look out for more books narrated by him!

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt is a fun, queer summer romp that blends the heart of Dirty Dancing with the chaotic energy of Wet Hot American Summer. Set at a queer-friendly Catskills resort called Shady Queens, this MM romance follows 27-year-old Archer, an ex-accountant chasing Broadway dreams, and Mateo, his icy former celeb crush now working behind the scenes.

There’s a lot to enjoy here—especially the campy setting, vibrant supporting cast, and the warm, queer community feel. I loved Lynn (Archer’s roommate) and Eileen (resident resort legend). Narrator Mark Sanderlin brought great energy to the audiobook, making it easy to breeze through.

That said, the story leans more into coming-of-age/life reset territory than true romance. The chemistry between Archer and Mateo is promising but underexplored, partly because of a prolonged subplot involving a shallow fling with Caleb. The romance takes a backseat to the larger ensemble drama, and while the ending is sweet, it felt a bit abrupt after such a slow build.

If you're looking for a cute, theater-loving, queer summer story with big camp energy, this one fits the bill. Just know the romance is more of a subplot than the main focus.

Flirty Dancing was a Macmillan Audio pick; of course I needed to read a gay Dirty Dancing retelling! Did you know Dirty Dancing took place in the Catskills? That’s where I’m from! I’m so glad this book stuck to that setting too—Archer Reed’s dream of becoming a professional dancer is about to come true when he joins a musical revue at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort! There, he makes new friends, and even a few lovers. The cast of this book was so colorful, with elderly lesbians, flamboyant directors, dramatic on-again-off-again boyfriends, and taciturn non-binary persons.

Imagine meeting your teenage crush? Archer finds himself partnered with the former broadway star whose poster hung on his childhood bedroom wall, Mateo Dixon. The chemistry between the two is palpable to everyone, except Archer himself. The tension in this book is just right and not too drawn out. The subplots, including a sapphic proposal, a hospital emergency, and some mild betrayal, hit all the right story arc spots.

I give this book 4 stars, I’d read another Jennifer Moffatt for sure! The audiobook narration by Mark Sanderlin was great, I’d definitely listen to him again!

First off, I got the audiobook, and I love Mark Sanderlin. He's great with various voices and he plays the emotions so well. I love listening to him.

Back to the book. The title and headline blurb made it sound like it's a bit like Dirty Dancing. But this is from the modern version from the staff's point of view. Archer is 27 and got lots of pressure from his family to go home since the pursuit of his dream to be a B'way dancer is not going well. Luckily, he has an awesome roommate, Lynn - I want her to be my best friend. And just when he thought he had to pack his bags, tail between his legs to go back home, he got a callback for a resort in Catskill.

When he got there, it really feels like high school X summer camp, but they can drink and party. The pranks, the drama, the shows, the drama, the people.

Archer was just so enamored to see his idol, Mateo. Except, it's true about what they say, never meet your idol. Mateo kept giving him cold shoulder, and yet he makes these small gestures for Archer. And Archer is so dense and not realized that's Mateo showing that he likes him. If it's not because of their pasa doble and the pas de deux that confirm their heat for each other, neither would've thought much. That said, drama in the middle with that many yet small group of people. They both were the mature ones and hold off of their feelings to get the job done. And done they did. They're cute.

I appreciate how Archer stuck to his goals despite being discouraged left and right. He also knows in his gut what sits right and what doesn't, even though he often made silly mistakes, but overall, he has such a good heart. And Mateo sees that. So happy they came together. Great summer (camp) read.

Thank you NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for the AudioARC

This was such a good book. I loved the story and the writing so much. The characters were great and the story flowed smoothly. Will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for lending me the audiobook in exchange for a fair and honest review.

*ahem*
More 80s movies need to be retold with queer characters. This was exactly what I wanted from a story like this.
Archer Read, our 27 year old accountant turned dancer, is struggling trying to make his dream a reality. In a last ditch effort to convince himself he’s doing the right thing, he auditions for an LGBTQ+ friendly resort in the Catskills. Successful, he packs up and prepares to spend four months with consistent pay and oop, his boyhood crush, the sexy, smoldering, obviously trauma-ridden delight that is Mateo Dixon. Mateo was a rising Broadway star before a sharp turn that derailed his career and now naturally, Archer and Mateo have found an explosive chemistry in their dancing that is getting harder and harder to deny outside of the rehearsal hall, the show and Archer’s summer fling, Caleb.
My favorite part of this book was the descriptions of the dancing. This author is either a dancer or did an incredible amount of research to make it feel like I was there or performing myself. I loved every moment of that. The tension between Mateo and Archer was driving me up the wall and if you are not a fan of the miscommunication trope, this is one you might want to skip. This is also a closed door romance which is great and I never really mind but it did feel like a bit of a tease with how salacious the dancing was written at times.
The real thing that bothered me was that Caleb, Archer’s fling, is NOT A GOOD PERSON. We spend way too much time with this character and I wanted to shake Archer at times because he was way too pure and sweet for this red flag of a man.
I am glad that I read this because I am a fan now of this author but I don’t think this book will be something I’m adding to my bookshelf.

I was given an ALC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you, NetGalley!

Archer is a 27-year-old dancer who quit his dreadful accounting job in Ohio and moved to Manhattan with dreams of making it on Broadway. After months of auditioning and nothing happening in a last-ditch effort before he gives up and goes back home, he auditions and lands a musical dance role at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills for the Summer. When he arrives, he finds out that he’ll be working with his teenage celebrity crush, the Broadway star Mateo Dixon.

Mateo is there to work and wants to try to forget his troubled past, he is a former Broadway star who let the fame get to his head and lost his fans when he made a mistake.

Along the way, Archer navigates drama between his colorful LGBT friends, including Beau and Ben, two Canadian French lovers, his hot but temperamental bunkmate, Caleb, a sweet girl named Betty, and a former artist named Eileen, along with his Roommate Lin who is constantly in crisis about trying to figure out the perfect proposal to her girl friend while Archer is away, just to name a few of the colorful characters that this book has in it that Archer makes friends with during his summer in the Catskills. With everything that happens along the way in this book, the performances should've failed. Missed rehearsals, drama between the dancers, and a flighty producer/director who isn't always present. But all turns out well, and readers get several romantic scenes that make it feel possible.

Flirty Dancing is the gay contemporary romance twist on Dirty Dancing that I heavily enjoyed listening to.

Narrated by Mark Sanderlin, Mark brings Archer's character to life and does a great job of delivering the emotional rollercoaster that the characters go on throughout this book. He was able to portray all the characters in this book delightfully, and I enjoyed his accents for the B-boys.

If you are a fan of Dirty Dancing, this is a win. I enjoyed the references it had to the movie throughout the book.

I enjoyed the ride that this audiobook took me on and would definitely recommend giving it a read or listen.

Flirty Dancing is a fun, low-spice queer rom-com that was fast paced with the story and didn't seem to go on for too long and had a HEA for most of the characters that are featured in this book.

This started off really strong. Has all the good bones of a romance story. At some point it fell flat and I had to DNF. I think the narrator just wasn’t for me. I love with the book is brought to live by the narrator and this just wasn’t it for me. The story is cute and the premises. I will still recommend the book as a whole

Unfortunately this one just wasn’t a hit for me.

I found the drama to be very high school, and kept having to remind myself that this was about a 27 year old man and not a teenager.

This was a pretty good book. I think for me it was hard only having one person‘s perspective as I’m used to romance novels having multiple perspectives.

I did enjoy the concept of a dancer down on his luck, trying to find his space in the dancing world after coming from small town, Ohio, joining a bunch of other dancers at a LGBTQ resort in a remote area.

The love triangle aspect again is not my favorite, but I think they kind of worked in this book. It may have been more positive on my side of things if I would’ve gotten Mateo’s point of view.

This was a closed door book. There were multiple scenes where they alluded to something happening, but there was no description.

The narrator did a good job bringing a motion to the story. Overall, I thought this was a solid read.

I love a good queer retelling and this one definitely hit the mark. It was a fun story of a group of dancers putting on a show at a resort in the upstate New York.

The leads were sweet and their chemistry jumped off the page. I love the opposites attract trope and this had it in spades.

A fun read, perfect for summer!

The audio was done well, loved the narrator.

Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt is a lively and heartwarming LGBTQIA+ romance that blends charm, chemistry, and choreography into an irresistibly feel-good read. True to its title, the novel is filled with playful flirtation and romantic tension, but it also offers a solid emotional core that gives the story real substance.

Moffatt crafts a slow-burn connection between her lead characters that feels authentic and engaging. Their relationship builds with just the right balance of sweetness and spark, while the story’s flirtatious tone is underpinned by sincere emotional beats. The romance is complemented by a steady thread of “spice,” keeping things fun and exciting without losing sight of the characters’ deeper arcs.

Dancing is not just a backdrop but a vibrant, integral part of the narrative, and Moffatt does an excellent job weaving it throughout. The dance scenes are energetic and vivid, capturing the rhythm and movement that mirror the emotional tempo of the romance itself. Flirty Dancing is a spirited, feel-good story that celebrates queer love, self-expression, and the joy of moving through life—on and off the dance floor.

This one wasn't for me. I'll start by saying that I didn't really dislike the narrator, however, he wasn't my favorite. My issues are centered around the story itself which lacked chemistry between the MCs, focused too much on unnecessary side characters and plots involving them, and a love story that can't even be categorized as slow burn because it seemed more like an afterthought at around the 90% mark in this book that oh yeah there's supposed to be an HEA. These are just the beginnings of the issues I had with this book. The idea was super cute and I was excited for this book, but it just wasn't for me.

This was somehow bad and boring? How do you take Dirty Dancing… make it queer… and then end up with a boring book!? Typically when I think a book is bad, I am at least entertained by how bad or cringe it was. Not the case here. I just wanted it to be over because I was bored.

The romance was not good, the main character spends more than half the book dating someone other than the end game love interest. They don’t really have much chemistry, Archer is star struck by Matteo and it’s weird. Like do you like him or do you like who he is as a dancer?

MEH.

- the audiobook was good, I like Mark Sanderlin as a narrator. No issues specifically about the format, my complaints are with the book itself