The follow-up to Kristin Casey’s widely acclaimed memoir Rock My Life with Joe Walsh
Casey Dancer is the true story of a thirty-nine-year-old part-time stripper, full-time real estate agent, and struggling writer navigating the chaos of love and ambition. Fresh from a tumultuous breakup and newly sober, Kristin finds herself struggling to re-enter the dating scene. When she falls for Lalo, a charming but troubled ex-coke dealer, their steamy affair leads to deep emotional conflict, testing her boundaries and stirring memories of past relationships. Through the highs of passion, the lows of financial strain, and the harsh realities of erotic labor, Kristin fights to reclaim her sense of self. Bold, raw, and unapologetically honest, Casey Dancer is a story of resilience, vulnerability, and self-discovery.
Kristin Casey is a writer and recovered alcoholic and addict. Her first memoir, Rock Monster: My Life with Joe Walsh, documents their tumultuous six-year relationship and drug-fueled, train-wreck breakup. Her second, Casey Dancer: A Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga, chronicles her journey overcoming fear of intimacy in early sobriety.
She's survived clinical depression, numerous addictions, the panhandle of Texas, and seventeen years of Catholicism. Her writing has appeared in the Foliate Oak Literary Magazine, The Nervous Breakdown, Please Kill Me, $pread, and elsewhere. She writes about addiction, dependency, dating, sex,, and relationships.
She resides in Austin, Texas, where she's a retired certified sexuality counselor, intimacy coach and IPSA-trained surrogate partner.
I found Casey Dancer through our Around the Year in 52 Books Club, and it ended up being one of the more memorable books I've read this year.
What I liked most was how honest it felt. Kristin doesn't try to present herself as perfect, and that's what made her story work for me. She's messy, makes questionable decisions, gets hurt, gets back up, and keeps trying to figure life out. It felt like reading about a real person instead of a carefully crafted heroine.
The book doesn't shy away from difficult topics like addiction, heartbreak, financial pressure, or the realities of stripping, but it also isn't trying to shock for the sake of it. Underneath everything, I thought it was really a story about learning to value yourself after you've lost your footing.
I don't think every character is meant to be liked, and I certainly didn't agree with every choice that was made, but that's part of what made it feel authentic. It sparked a lot of thoughts, and I found myself reflecting on it after I finished.
I'm glad our book club introduced me to this one. If you enjoy memoirs that are candid, emotionally layered, and unafraid to tell the truth, I'd recommend giving Casey Dancer a read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Casey Dancer is an honest, fearless, and deeply personal memoir that goes far beyond its eye-catching title. Kristin Casey shares her experiences with vulnerability, humor, and remarkable honesty, inviting readers into the highs and lows of her life without holding anything back.
What I appreciated most was the author's authentic voice. Rather than sensationalizing her experiences, she reflects on relationships, self-discovery, personal growth, and the search for meaning with insight and wit. The memoir explores themes of resilience, identity, and finding confidence through life's unexpected twists.
The writing is engaging and conversational, making it easy to connect with the author's journey. While some topics are mature, they are handled thoughtfully and add depth to the story rather than existing for shock value.
If you enjoy candid memoirs that combine humor, honesty, and emotional reflection, Casey Dancer is well worth reading. It's a compelling reminder that our most challenging experiences can often lead to our greatest personal growth.
REVIEW OF THE BOOK "CASEY DANCER : A MEMOIR ABOUT DATING, STRIPPING AND A LITTLE HOT YOGA " BY KRISTIN CASEY
This memoir is a raw, unflinching look at a woman trying to rebuild her life from the ground up. It’s the follow-up to her first book, Rock Monster, but it stands on its own as a story about the "aftermath" of a chaotic life
Character Quality The main character (Kristin herself) is refreshingly honest. At 39, she isn’t a wide-eyed girl; she is a woman who has "seen it all"—from dating rock stars to battling addiction. Relatability: She’s incredibly human. She’s a professional real estate agent by day, a stripper by night, and a struggling writer in between. Growth: What makes her a great "character" is her vulnerability. She doesn't pretend to have all the answers. Watching her navigate "sober dating" is awkward, painful, and deeply relatable for anyone who has ever tried to change their life habits.
Plot Quality Unlike a fictional thriller, the "plot" here is the messy, non-linear journey of recovery and self-discovery. The Conflict: The heart of the story is her relationship with Lalo, a charming but troubled ex-drug dealer. This relationship serves as a mirror, showing her where she still has weak spots in her boundaries and self-worth. The Pace: It moves quickly because it feels like a diary. It jumps between the physical grit of the strip club, the spiritual heat of yoga, and the emotional exhaustion of the dating world. It doesn't feel like a lecture on "how to be sober"; it feels like a conversation over coffee.
This book is a "survivor’s manual" wrapped in a memoir. My View: Most memoirs about addiction or "taboo" jobs like stripping either romanticize the lifestyle or make it feel like a tragedy. Kristin Casey does neither. She writes about these things with a "matter-of-fact" tone that is very rare. She treats her work as a stripper as a job—with its own stresses and financial realities—rather than a character flaw. This is a solid read. It’s a story for anyone who feels like they are starting over a bit later in life than they expected.
Kristen Casey writes a hilarious, introspective and intensely personal memoir about dating, working, and stripping while in her late-30s to early-40s. This romp of an emotional roller-coaster ride will bring readers to tears, as well as laughter, as the author details her life over just a few years from 2006 – 2010.
Casey has always been a stripper, having started as a young adult, before moving in with rock star Joe Walsh (of the Eagles). This tumultuous time, which includes a full-blown addiction to drugs and alcohol, is hinted at throughout the book because it informs the actions that Casey takes as an adult. When readers meet Casey she is living in Austin, TX and working as a realtor. However, this is in the mid-aughts and things are starting to get dicey. To make ends meet, she returns to stripping after 10 years sober.
Immediately, she meets Lalo and they begin an emotional up-and-down year-long relationship. When she and Lalo finally call it quits, she is left to deep dive, with yoga and therapy, into who she really is and what she really wants. This is only made more difficult by the Great Recession, which is even making stripping a precarious undertaking. All this starts Casey on a serious contemplation about her future occupation in both the sex industry and as a writer.
This snapshot of a few years will lead readers on a whirlwind introspection filled with musings on human nature, relationships, learning to love one’s self, and how an unconventional life can be a personally rewarding one. While there are explicit sexual descriptions, Casey is an adept writer, and readers will be awed by how she rather tastefully manages this aspect of her memoir. Her personal musings on the greater issues in life are what make this a most compelling read, and readers will be surprised to see themselves reflected in her life.
Kristin Casey continues her personal story in Casey Dancer, a book spanning the period of time from 2007 to 2010, after her relationship with music legend Joe Walsh. This was accounted for in her first book, Rock Monster: My Life with Joe Walsh. Casey Dancer is deeply personal, entertaining, real, and a bit raunchy, all culminating in a fast-paced read that’s perfect for women looking for a sense of self.
Kristin, newly sober and trying to get her life together, struggles to find real connections. She enters a tumultuous relationship with Lalo, and recounts the ups and downs of the time they spent together. Both Kristin and Lalo had their own troubled pasts which took a heavy toll on their relationship, and it eventually fizzled out. During this time, she worked as a stripper, real estate agent, and writer during the recession era. This book is about her journey to find her identity and confidence through her less-than-typical lifestyle, and learning to embrace it while still working on herself. She writes, “I had no choice but to plug away, day after day, hoping and striving for something better. What shape that took, I didn’t know exactly. But something having to do with writing and sexuality, certainly.”
Casey Dancer includes excerpts from Kristin’s blog that she ran at the time, giving a unique insight into her experiences as they happened, while also reflecting on them from the present day. It is broken down into three parts, each of which revolves around a key lesson or series of events that had a profound impact on her outlook on life and self-growth. I found myself rooting for her every step of the way, even through the downfalls and mistakes. In the end, this is a story about sexuality, intimacy, and self-discovery that I couldn’t put down!
“I need to maintain my dignity in the throes of passion; keep my self-respect while giving in to the heat of the moment; share something of myself without necessarily giving it away.”
It's difficult to rate a work of fiction that has many layers, but it's even more difficult to do so if it's a true story, about a real person. What kept me hooked is how honest Casey is in narrating her life; no embellishments, no pretty words, she's clear and direct, and that, believe it or not, is very rewarding and even inspiring for one to be honest with oneself.
A woman's love life will always be like an ocean, deep, beautiful and stormy, and in Casey Dancer: a memoir about dating, stripping, and a little hot yoga, you can see it.
Although I haven't had experiences like hers, it doesn't change the fact that in the area of romantic relationships, in how one often becomes dependent on those moments of "affection," i too was able to find myself in that situation. Begging for them to love us a little more, confusing the hours of passing the time thinking this is the person who understands me.
I think it's a book to learn to respect and cultivate empathy for its own sake, and for everything else of course.
This is a Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga by Kristin Casey is a candid memoir that intertwines vulnerability, humor, and emotional honesty and also self-worth. Casey's bold and witty voice invites readers into her complex world, where she confronts loneliness, addiction recovery, family issues, and the quest for connection without seeking sympathy or glamorizing her choices. The memoir's emotional depth and intelligence shine through her reflections on sexuality, power dynamics, and the contradictions women face. This memoir stands as a powerful testament to the messy nature of reinvention and self-discovery. Author has tried to put her thoughts on motivation for readers. Nice book
Casey Dancer: A Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga is one of the most refreshingly honest memoirs I’ve read in a long time. Kristin Casey writes with raw vulnerability and a sharp, self-aware voice that pulls you in from the very first pages. This isn’t a polished, sanitized comeback story — it’s a deeply personal, sometimes messy, and often painfully human account of a woman navigating love, lust, trauma, recovery, and identity in her late thirties. What I loved most is how authentic the book feels. Casey doesn’t try to portray herself as a flawless heroine or a victim. She lays bare her contradictions: a sober woman who returns to stripping, a romantic who repeatedly falls for unavailable men, and a writer who uses words to make sense of her wounds. Her relationship with Lalo — the married, charismatic, deeply flawed man she meets at the club — is written with such electric chemistry and emotional complexity that it stays with you. You feel the pull, the excitement, the danger, and the sadness all at once. The memoir beautifully weaves together several threads: the realities of stripping (both empowering and physically taxing), the long shadow of childhood wounds, the challenges of maintaining sobriety while craving connection, and the complicated nature of desire. Casey’s reflections on intimacy, self-worth, and using sex as both medicine and distraction are insightful and often profound. If you’re someone who enjoys deep character analysis, psychological introspection, and memoirs that explore the gray areas of human behavior, this book is a treat. I’d happily recommend it to anyone interested in addiction recovery stories, modern relationships, or the psychology of women who have historically been judged for their sexuality. Casey’s writing style is conversational and engaging — like having a long, candid conversation with a smart, funny, and complicated friend. She makes you laugh, cringe, ache, and root for her even when her choices are questionable. There’s real courage in this level of openness. That said, the book isn’t without its flaws. The most obvious ones are: • The extremely explicit and detailed sexual content — while honest, it can feel overwhelming or gratuitous at times. • The central relationship with a married man, which is romanticized to a degree that may sit uncomfortably with many readers. • The recurring self-destructive patterns that the author acknowledges but continues to engage in, which can become frustrating to watch over the course of the story. Additionally, some sections lean into repetition as she processes the same emotional wounds, and the book may serve as a strong trigger for readers with histories of addiction, toxic relationships, or trauma.
My Final Verdict: Despite its imperfections, Casey Dancer is a bold, heartfelt, and worthwhile read. It’s the kind of memoir that stays with you because it refuses to tie everything up in a neat bow. If you appreciate raw honesty and complex characters over comfort or moral clarity, you’ll likely find it compelling. I’m glad I read it and would recommend it — with the above caveats — to fellow lovers of introspective nonfiction.
‘I need the thrill’ – A life beautifully explained
Author Kristin Casey continues her memoir ROCK MONSTER: A LIFE WITH JOE WALSH with this excellent volume CASEY DANCER – further sharing a life filled with excitement as a pole dancer and stripper, an alcohol and drug addict (and the impact of recovery), a real estate agent, a poet, author, and very special communicator!
Reading Casey’s book provides a ‘confessional’ that invites entry into the psyche of professional ‘satisfiers’ – one of the best written revelations of a world too infrequently explored. Her skillful scriptive technique encourages understanding and empathy. An example of her skills follows: ‘I need thrill. I need to maintain my dignity in the throes of passion; keep my self-respect while giving in to the heat of the moment; share something of myself without necessarily giving it away; indulge in some hedonism while staying accountable for my actions.’ From life in Las Vegas to her move to Texas her history is illuminating and entertaining, but the impact of this excellent book is the author’s keen skill for inviting insights and understanding of an entertainer and an insightful apologist into the realm of many modes of relationships and a balance of physical needs and integrity of commitments.
The provided synopsis distils the book’s content well: ‘Casey Dancer is the true story of a 39-year-old part-time stripper, full-time real estate agent, and struggling writer navigating the chaos of love and ambition. Fresh out of a tumultuous relationship and newly sober, Kristin finds herself struggling to re-enter the dating scene. When she falls for Lalo, a charming but troubled ex-coke dealer, their steamy affair leads to deep emotional conflict, testing her boundaries and stirring memories of past relationships. Through the highs of passion, the lows of financial strain, and the gritty realities of sex work, Kristin fights to reclaim her sense of self. Bold, raw, and unapologetically honest, Casey Dancer is a story of resilience, vulnerability, and self-discovery.’
CASEY DANCER is hugely successful on many levels, not the least being the excellent writing by a woman who has ‘been there, done that’ and able to open windows of understanding of the resilience in dealing with relationships and success. Very highly recommended!
Former Rock Star Girlfriend Kristin Casey Pulls Back the Curtain on Another World Foreign to Mere Mortals.
Buckle up, book lovers, because Kristin Casey's memoir, Casey Dancer, is a rollercoaster of romance, sex, and a dash of hot yoga! This sizzling read is penned by the celebrity rock star girlfriend of Joe Walsh of the Eagles and it promises to be as entertaining as it is enlightening. Get ready for a journey filled with passion, humor, and raw honesty.
Kristin Casey pulls back the curtain on another world foreign to mere mortals. She doesn't hold back as she dives into her dating escapades, offering rich opportunities for self-exploration. Kristin finds her value through unconventional means. Her blog posts from the time provide unique insights, capturing her thoughts in real-time and allowing for reflective moments.
Casey Dancer isn't afraid to tackle the tough questions, embracing the messy, beautiful, and sometimes painful realities of being a woman just trying to get ahead. It's a celebration of resilience and an invitation for readers to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery. Kristin explores three key ideas for healthy relationships—vulnerability, authenticity, and boundary-setting—as they connect to her relationships and career.
Kristin's aspirations as a writer shine through as she submits short stories to literary magazines and receives encouraging feedback. Ultimately, Kristin's journey is one of personal growth, embracing her goals and boundaries, and finding fulfillment in her unconventional life.
Casey Dancer is a must-read for anyone looking for a memoir that is raw, emotional, and deeply personal. Kristin Casey's skillful writing encourages understanding and empathy, offering real-life lessons for women and a confessional that reveals her inner most thoughts. This book is a whirlwind introspection filled with musings on human nature, relationships, learning to love oneself, and her unconventional life.
Casey Dancer will take you on a wild ride that's as fun and interesting as it is insightful.
This sizzler of a book is literally fifty shades of play. Written by former stripper, former celebrity rock star girlfriend and successful internet escort Kristin Casey, it details her life as she winds through mattress hopping with a variety of men from friends, lovers, customers and a multitude of others. Casey, who has written a successful blog about being a stripper, a how-to book for strippers and screenplays and memoirs, has an easy entertaining style that draws you in and has you wanting more. She writes passionately about some of her sexual experiences in a way that doesn’t just titillate, it fascinates. And she also writes about areas of her life that have nothing to do with sex or stripping, including overcoming a battle with addiction and her journey to stay sober amid lovers and friends who are not. And then there are the celebrity tidbits. Her six-year relationship with the Eagles’ Joe Walsh, to whom she was engaged, is a topic that recurs throughout. And then there is the long fling with Alejandro and although she never gives his last name, it’s clear that he is a fairly well-known national musician from Austin, Texas. She tells all about their relationship and talks about why, ultimately, they weren’t compatible. A recurring theme throughout the book is her financial struggles and her efforts to overcome them. But her diligent work ethic always finds a way and you find yourself rooting for Casey to succeed. In addition to her work as a writer and as a stripper, Casey also worked as a real estate agent for many years and is a certified sexuality counselor and intimacy coach and she is trained in the practice of Surrogate Partner Therapy. Her intelligence comes through clearly in her writing and even though in the book she exercises some poor judgment with regards to her choices in men, she seems to make good decisions about the path of her career and her independence. Her life Is relatable in many ways to single and divorced women and their effort to make it on their own. And many could learn a lot from her journey. Highly recommended.
Having heard of Kristin Casey's first book, ‘Rock Monster,’ which delves into her tumultuous years with rock legend Joe Walsh, I was intrigued but hadn't read it. Kristin, a talented writer with a sharp sense of self-awareness, embarks on a new journey in Casey Dancer, chronicling her life before and after her intense relationship with Walsh, and her path to sobriety. This memoir, aptly subtitled ‘A Memoir About Dating, Stripping, and a Little Hot Yoga,’ promises to keep readers on the edge of their seats, wondering what twist lies ahead.
The book is a whirlwind of sex, money, desires, and relationships, encapsulating her wild life in one compelling package. Kristin's experiences as a stripper in the sex industry are laid bare, revealing the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges she faced. Her candidness about her "sexcapades" and how she compartmentalized her emotions for protection is both enlightening and courageous. Her honesty in sharing these intimate details is commendable and adds a layer of bravery to her narrative.
Biographies often highlight the difficulty of reinventing oneself mid-life, and Kristin's story is no exception. She skillfully guides readers through her pivotal moments, making us root for her to find the serenity and emotional connection we all seek. Her ongoing journey and introspective analysis of life resonate deeply, offering a hopeful glimpse into the pursuit of personal growth and fulfillment.
I have read many memoirs in my decades-long reading life. But I have to say that Casey Dancer, by Kristin Casey, is unlike anything I have read before. This is Kristin’s second book. Her first was about her years with Joe Walsh of The Eagles. I haven’t read it…but I intend to!
So what is Casey Dancer about? Well, it’s all about her years as a dancer in various strip clubs, primarily in Austin, Texas. And I can assure you that Kristin does NOT hold back with her experiences inside and outside the clubs. She is very up-front about her sexual experiences, along with her deep love for writing. We learn how, in graphic detail, she was able to support herself so that she could ultimately carve out a career in writing. We read about her many boyfriends and how she still managed to support herself and successfully continue her quest to become a published author.
Let me say that this is a very well-written book. Although her language and descriptions of her sexual adventures leave nothing to the imagination, it is all in the context of the story and makes perfect sense. What you will come away with is how determined she was to get the happy ending. You might even say that she often comes across as a psychologist and is very philosophical in evaluating her lifestyle choices. I feel confident in saying that Casey Dancer is a memoir that you will be glad you read.
I just finished reading CASEY DANCER, the second book by author Kristin Casey, which follows her story after ROCK MONSTER My Life With Joe Walsh. CASEY DANCER seizes the readers attention with the first sentence, holding its clutch with every descriptive chapter onto its finale, leaving its captors wanting to read on past the books 'End'. In this second installment, we follow the author into sobriety, trying AND succeeding to get comfortable in her own skin, learning to navigate her own wants and needs and finally becoming confident in her abilities as a writer to share this most excellent adventure with us. I have no doubt this book will encourage, inspire and titillate its readers. Thank you Kristin Casey for this and I look forward to your third book.
From the moment I started reading this, I found that I admired Ms. Casey's openness. After all, what's the point of a memoir if you're not going to tell it like it is? Why tell half the story? I felt there was a confidence in the way she expressed herself, and at the same time, there was a vulnerability behind that. I found parts of this memoir quite raw and emotional to read, to a point where I was close to tears.
I found this an eye opener to read, because I think that whatever your experiences in love, relationships or just life in general, everyone could relate to the author, because she writes in a very thought-provoking way that just makes sense. She takes the reader on a journey with highs and lows and everything in between, and I found it rewarding.
My first time reading a memoir and I loved this! Kristin writes in such a way that I kept forgetting that this is not fiction and is a memoir. I’m so glad she didn’t give up on her writing because she is an ace in that aspect too.
At 32, I’ve had my moments where I’ve felt like it’s all too much, the constant hustle, but it’s always been worth it and I’m so happy that this was written, it made me feel seen and encourages me even more.
This book holds the honesty and how unapologetically Kristin Casey is out and about in all of phases of life.
The way this book is written is making me easily invested in her journey. The level of vulnerability, humor she brings is totally commendable.
I felt like I am listening to a friend rather than reading a book and would recommend this memoir to anyone who wants to see life in her perspective. The explicit content was little bit much for me but overall it’s a compelling memoir.
Casey Dancer is really a book about spiritual understanding & growth. I loved it! In Casey Dancer I see and feel Kristin, as I did in Rock Monster as VERY empathetic. That quality really stands out. She's learning to use a very strong intuition partially by understanding herself and others through extremely taxing, painful emotional & physical trials and through times of emotional and physical ecstasy! It's not always just about pain OR pleasure though. It was sometimes a mixture. A lot of bittersweet moments. It's so easy to feel this book. Kristin Casey has such an authentic, open, honest, engaging writing style. I highly recommend
Casey Dancer is an incredible memoir. The fact that the author is so open about her experiences and feelings makes it an easy book to love and connect with. This book takes readers on a rollercoaster of emotions, and the stories are both relatable and as crazy as you would expect. I enjoyed it very much and 100% recommend it!
I’ve been waiting for this book since reading Kristin’s first memoir, Rock Monster and it Casey Dan er does not disappoint! Such a wonderful, gifted and beautiful author. This book is another by Kristin Casey I cannot put down.
I liked the openness in this book. This memoir of a part time stripper and full time real estate developer is a very good read. Her real life struggles and her writing Carrier is fun to read. It reads like a tv show.