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.

Given my literary tastes range widely, I'm always on the hunt for a variety of books. Flirty Dancing filled the need for a romantic m/m story set in a place I've been. My family vacationed in the Catskills for a week each summer during my early teens, plus I read a charming vintage mystery series that took place in the same local by a cozy author I adore. And who can forget Dirty Dancing, which is what this book attempts to be, tho on a much lighter scale, for a mostly gave venue not too far from NYC. Mateo is a former Broadway star who let the fame get to his head and lost his fans when he made a mistake. Archer is coming to Broadway with the hopes and dreams of a newly graduated high school student but he's actually 27 and being told despite how hot he is and how amazing of a dancer, he's too old. They both end up at this upstate NY venue, and sparks fly. But so do bedhopping shenanigans, way too much partying, and frequent misunderstandings. By all truths, this show 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.

Mostly, I enjoyed the book. So much of it is manufactured drama and the things we all did in our 20s... Perhaps a few decades later I'm turned off by the silliness of youth and the ease of swapping lovers. Archer is supposed to be a clean-cut, good boy, but he goes way overboard and becomes a little too naive. Mateo is the star of the books. He's rebuilding his life. He has an attitude with everyone but knows it's a show and when in the privacy of one-on-one moments, he's charming and sexy. Caleb is useless and should have exited sooner... he was too rude for Archer to tolerate. But that's what's good about this book - readers can get angry at what is happening because perhaps they have invested in the characters?

Not many sexual scenes, so if you're looking for something risqué, this probably isn't it. But there are some hot moments, and also a few tender ones... and the flash-forward makes for a great ending.

3.5 stars

Dancing and romancing are coming your way with this newest release from Jennifer Moffatt.

Archer and Mateo are dancers in a music review at a place called Shady Queens, and they are both there because of their own perceived failures. Archer, at 27, isn't getting many bites when it comes to his dance career (his parents are way more enthused about his potential life as an accountant), and Mateo was a well known and respected dancer who has now, somehow, ended up here. While neither dancer's career is showing much promise in the moment, a burgeoning romance just might be changing the game.

I'm always here for queer romance, and this is a fun and relatively light read. I did want some more depth in characterization and in the development of the central relationship, but this is enjoyable overall, and I'll be back for more from this author.

I requested and received an eARC of Flirty Dancing by Jennifer Moffatt via NetGalley. When I saw the combination of the title and cover I knew that I needed to read this! Archer Read is 27 and starting to think that his move to New York City to pursue his dream of being a dancer might have been a mistake. After a string of rejections, he finally earns a part in a musical revue at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills. He arrives ready to prove himself but is thrown through a loop when he discovers he’ll be working with his teenage crush, one-time Broadway start Mateo Dixon.

Archer and Mateo were an interesting pair! Once I was able to get past the storm cloud that made Mateo seemingly unbearable, I found myself wanting these two to connect beyond the stage. For a while I also found myself invested in the other staff at the camp, hoping that Ben and Beau’s squabbling wouldn’t be too serious or wishing Caleb could see things a little bit more clearly (or act more maturely.) The more I read, however, the less I seemed to want of them. There seemed to be such a concentration on infidelity and a notion that gay men are unable to tame their lust that it felt a bit off for me, at least in the setting of a romance novel.

All in all, Flirty Dancing was a fun read. I admit that there were moments and plot choices that left me slightly puzzled, but I think the overall premise worked rather well. Archer and Mateo had great chemistry, although I would have loved to see a bit much depth to their connection on the page. This a mostly closed door romance, so there isn’t much in terms of spice, but it is packed with humor and heart and a splash of melodrama. I appreciated the color cast of supporting characters, but I think the most compelling of them has to be Lynn, Archer’s roommate in Manhattan. Her story is revealed through texts with Archie throughout the story and I loved the occasions when they popped up!

iturn0image1⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ — *Flirty Dancing* by Jennifer Moffatt is a delightful queer rom-com that blends the charm of *Dirty Dancing* with the vibrant energy of a Broadway summer camp.

The story follows Archer Read, a 27-year-old who leaves his accounting job in Ohio to chase his Broadway dreams in New York City. After numerous rejections, he lands a spot in a dance troupe at Shady Queens, a queer-friendly resort in the Catskills. There, he encounters his teenage crush, Mateo Dixon, a former Broadway star turned brooding dance instructor. As Archer navigates his feelings for Mateo and a budding romance with his bunkmate Caleb, he becomes entangled in the troupe's drama, discovering that personal issues often spill onto the dance floor citeturn0search0.

Moffatt's writing shines with its witty dialogue, heartfelt moments, and a cast of lovable, messy characters. The slow-burn romance between Archer and Mateo is both tender and electric, capturing the complexities of love and ambition. While some readers noted a desire for deeper exploration of certain themes, the novel's charm and emotional depth make it a standout in the genre citeturn0search1.

Perfect for fans of Casey McQuiston and anyone craving a story filled with dance, drama, and heart, *Flirty Dancing* is a summer read that will leave you smiling.

I had such a wonderful time reading 'Flirty Dancing' that I finished it in one sitting, which is something I don’t often do.

It's been a while since I've cared about characters as much as I did about Archer, the optimist, and Mateo, the supposed grump. I immediately felt the chemistry between them, and the atmosphere definitely had that *Dirty Dancing* vibe. The book also features a great cast of supporting characters, some of whom create chaos, while others... well, you’ll have to read to find out!

Flirty Dancing was a cute LGBTQ rom com inspired by Dirty Dancing. Five months after leaving his accounting job in Ohio to try to make it as a dancer in New York City, Archer finally gets his first job - part of a dance troupe at an LGBTQ resort in the Catskills for the summer. Once there, he realizes that his teenage crush, Mateo Dixon, is also among the cast members.
I really liked most of this book. The characters were well developed, the setting was interesting, and the Dirty Dancing inspired plot added a fun take. My biggest issue with the book is that Archer starts dating another character, and they are in a relationship for a good part of the book, so the relationship building between Archer & Mateo felt very rushed. All around, however, I did enjoy this book, it was a fun summer romance.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of Flirty Dancing in exchange for my honest review.

I just need to start with how big of a fan I am of this cover art. I would 100% pick this up from a book store if I saw it on the shelves!

I really did enjoy this story. Mateo is the perfect brooding and grumpy love interest, and Archer the sweet, optimistic MMC. I enjoyed the side characters and love that we spent time with many of them throughout the story. Basically, I felt like I was at summer camp and I loved that!

If you love a lighthearted, cheesy and easy romance, this book is for you! Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this ARC!

I'm just gonna say it; This felt really juvenile for a non YA book. I would almost consider this YA, in fact, irregardless of the fact that it was about a 27 year old man who still seemed stuck in his starry 14 year old self's body. He claimed that he was upset at being told 27 was too old for Broadway dancing, and yet acted like a child, and it never really got better. Mateo almost seemed too old for him. I like a good slow burn too, but not when I'm not made aware the MC spends most of the book being with someone else. A disappointing flop.

This m/m grumpy/sunshine rom-com really swept me off my feet! I mean, I was GLUED to this! I can’t remember the last time I devoured a book so fast, but I just couldn’t tear myself away. It was comforting and cozy and dramatic and sexy and frustrating and so f*cking cute I couldn’t put it down. I think I just found a new gay fave!

I was a dancer and musical theater kid most of my life… Did I ever go off and chase my dreams of being on Broadway? No. But can I relate to wanting to? Absolutely! So this book really worked for me. I found so much of myself in Archer’s character, which really helped this book hit home. We’re both from Ohio, we both struggle with self-doubt, we both undersell our talents, we both have big dreams, we both have an unnatural love for blueberry pie… I could go on and on and on.

I’ve always been a Showtunes kid at heart, and maybe that’s partly why this worked so well for me, with all the references to very specific things I know and love. But I really think this could appeal to just about any romance reader. If you’ve ever had a celebrity/Broadway crush… If you’ve ever watched Dancing With The Stars and swooned over the Argentine Tango… If you enjoy books like The Charm Offensive and Red, White & Royal Blue… you should totally give this a go! Personally, I know I’ve found a new cozy favorite and will totally be rereading this at some point, no question.

Thank you so much to SMP for the advanced copy! I truly loved this book so much, and can’t wait to watch other people fall for it too when it releases in May.

Thank you to Netgalley for this ARC!

As a Dirty Dancing fan, I was totally charmed by this LGBTQ+ twist on the classic! The dancing was full of energy, the found family vibes were adorable, and Mateo absolutely stole my heart. His backstory added so much depth, and while there’s an age gap between him and Archer, it didn’t really read that way aside from his life experience, he didn’t feel significantly older.

The book is fade-to-black in terms of spice, but wow, is it full of drama. Normally I’m not big on that, but given the high-stress, close-quarters dancing environment, it worked. That said, I really disliked Caleb and both of the B-boys.

My biggest issue? I wanted more of Mateo and Archer’s romance. The build-up while Archer was still with Caleb had some solid tension, but once Archer became single, the switch to Mateo felt almost instant and a little rushed. I think a slower development post-Caleb would've given the romance more impact.

Still, if you're into dance, drama, and queer romance with a found-family flair, I’d say give this one a shot!

Flirty Dancing is obviously a take on Dirty Dancing, but it left me fairly cold and bored. I didn’t care much about the protagonists, but I especially didn’t care about the secondary characters. Not a very interesting read for me.