While You're Dancing

by Kelsey Painter

Phoebe Barlowe needs a comeback.

After a traumatic event puts her stand-up comedy tour on hiatus, she’s out of material and out of options. Her agent pitches something different—Ballroom for Better, a charity ballroom dancing competition show. Phoebe can earn money for others while also earning back the public’s favor. Reluctant but desperate, she agrees. Now all she has to do is survive her snobby dance partner.

When Cyrus Hayes agrees to dance on Ballroom for Better, he thinks his only problem will be that one of the judges is his runaway bride. But when he meets his celebrity partner, he realizes he is in for more than he bargained for. Phoebe Barlowe is crass, sloppy, and worst of all—tardy. He isn’t sure he can stand this stand-up comic.

Despite their animosity, learning to dance gives Phoebe something she thought she lost forever. And dancing with Phoebe gives Cyrus the spark he was certain his ex had taken. Long hours at the dance studio lead to longer conversations outside of it. Before they know it, staying in the competition means more to them than they ever thought it would.

Everything changes when their hearts are at stake.

Genres: Romance

361 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 20, 2025

Reviews

[mariah ♡ · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️
this book was such a good read for my DWTS loving self! i really enjoyed the book overall, just some small problems i had with the ending feeling unnecessarily rushed. i was actually finding myself to enjoy Erin not being an "evil" ex cliche throughout the book so for the ending to have her suddenly do something of that essence felt unnecessary and really threw off the vibes for me :/. BESIDES THAT this really was a great read and i really enjoyed the book! <33

[Emilie [Vitals and Villains] · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was so damn good! I have always loved watching dance and was a huge fan of Dancing with the Stars and SYTYCD in my youth. This book really brought back that nostalgia for me. I appreciated that the author always included the title of the song they were dancing to (all bangers btw). That combined with the beautifully descriptive writing really allowed me to fully picture the dances.

Cyrus is the high-brow, armani wearing professional ballroom dancer paired with Phoebe in a Dancing With the Stars type reality show. They get off to a rocky start but the enemies to lovers type banter and verbal jabs are top notch. As they get to know each other, the banter turns more into flirting. The chemistry and tension is off the charts! Cyrus is so hot 🔥. He defends and fights for Phoebe (literally) and delivers scorching praise that had me unwell 🫠.

Phoebe's career as a stand up comedian was realistic, girlie had me laughing out loud 😂. If she was real I would 100% be watching her Netflix specials. Her journey through trauma and grief throughout the book was done so well. I was rooting for her the way I would root for a friend, sometimes I wanted to hype her up and other times I wanted to slap some sense into her.
* I promise being my friend IRL is fun, and doesn't involve physical violence 😉

I live for the thrill of finding a new to me author and loving one of their books because that means a whole host of other books to add to my TBR. I'm looking forward to reading Kelsey's previous books as well as whatever she comes out with in the future!

[Allie Duax · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was soooooo cute!!! I’ve been a huge fan of DWTS ever since I was a kid, so it was really nostalgic to read and see the world of dance from this perspective. And this book was just absolutely adorable and emotional at the same time. I need book two NOWWWW!!!!

[Haley Kinser · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Kelsey for the ARC of this book! I loved it. I loved the Dancing With the Stars vibes. I loved both main characters - they were very relatable. The story had great pacing and I learned quite a bit about ballroom dance! Overall a fantastic read and I would highly recommend!

[Amelia Sprouse · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute little book for a DWTS fan, a little too insta-lovey for me cause I swear in pg 50 they were already talking about how they liked each other but it was still cute

[Alaina Pitts]

If you love DWTS, this was a fun read! It has same set up as if these characters were really on DWTS & I really liked it! Thought it would be cheesy/underdeveloped but it was neither of those! Pleasantly surprised by this one & would recommend for an easy read 😌😌

[Kyla VanParker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was EVERYTHING. I get emotional thinking about it! I don’t want to seem Willy nilly with picking my vital books, but this one fills me with a maelstrom of emotions every time it crosses my mind. It is going to be hard to write a review about how much I love this book while steering away from specifics. I don’t want to give any spoilers! This story deserves an authentic reading experience.

Kelsey Painter wrote her characters in a way that made them feel very real to me. They both had incredibly positive attributes but also had genuine, relatable flaws. Her story follows comedian Phoebe as she tries to process a personal traumatic event. To try and save her career she joins a ballroom reality show with the winner gets to donate a large prize to a charity of choice. She is not prepared for the strong personality of her professional dance partner, Cyrus.

One of my favourite aspects in this book was the friendship between Phoebe and Cyrus. It took time and effort on both their parts to start meeting each other in the middle. But through it all they showed up for each other, no question. The bond they built as friends before becoming lovers was exquisite and made their romance story more impactful to me as a reader.

Dancing has always been my happy place - seeing how it shaped Phoebe’s story and was integral to her healing was beautiful. Her character arc is probably my favourite of any FMC in any of the romances I read. Phoebe and her close friends are the kind of people I’d want to surround myself with in real life. I love representation of strong, positive female friendships. Phoebe, Esther, and Sloan are a hilarious trio, I hope to see more of them in further books!

My caption limit will not let me give Cyrus the praise he deserves. He brings yearning, tension, compassion, banter. He is perfection, you can’t change my mind. 🥵

I am so so so thankful to @authorkelseypainter and @bookfunnel for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review for this arc! This slow burn, enemies to friends to lovers, forced proximity romance was truly phenomenal!

[EJ Richard · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best things really do happen while you're dancing.

Kelsey Painter has done it again. I laughed, I cried, I paced the room with anger, and I jumped for joy at the end. I could not put this book down, and so I simply didn't. This might be the fastest I've read a book in a long time, I was simply so invested. This book felt like it was specifically made for me, every aspect was something I had been wanting in a book. The dance competition, a grumpy dance teacher, hilarious banter, White Christmas references, and an emotional throughline that has made a home in my heart. I don't think it is possible for me to praise this book enough.

I knew from the get-go that I would like While You're Dancing, having really enjoyed the Stanmore FC Soulmates series. This book goes beyond all of those. I don't know if I can truly put into words how seen and validated this book has made me feel. Pheobe and I have a lot in common, for better or for worse, and being able to read her journey that is so close to mine really meant the world to me. And the fact that Cyrus also had some past trauma that he was working through? Love. I don't often get to read stories that have a traumatized male lead that is also written well, and Painter succeeded here. Seeing two people be able to come together and communicate with each other was incredibly moving.

It would be completely remiss of me to neglect to mention just how funny this book was. Kelsey Painter has brought her signature wit and sarcasm to the next level in these pages, and it was a joy to read every joke and banter-filled argument. I laughed out loud so much that I woke my brother up at 1 am - that's how funny this book was. It is heartfelt and healing, yes, but it is also so damn hilarious.

While You're Dancing has earned a permanent spot on my bookshelf and place in my heart.

Thank you so much to Kelsey Painter for the advanced copy!

[Kayla · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️

𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒆 𝒇𝒖𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒐𝒖𝒕𝒇𝒊𝒕 𝒐𝒓 𝑰 𝒎𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒈𝒐 𝒔𝒍𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒍𝒚 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒂𝒏𝒆 𝒐𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒔𝒆𝒙𝒚 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒔 𝒍𝒐𝒐𝒌 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕𝒔. 𝑯𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒔 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒇*𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒆 𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒏𝒌𝒔. 𝑯𝒆 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒍𝒅 𝒍𝒆𝒈𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒏𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 𝒃𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒐𝒘𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒔𝒆𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.

Have you ever thought to yourself, "man, I really wish there was romance book that was like if the characters from Frasier were on Dancing with the Stars"? Well I have excellent news. This is that book. And it's incredible.

Phoebe Barlowe is a comedian who was at the top of her game until 6 months ago, when she suddenly cancelled her tour for personal reasons (check TWs). Now she is trying to get back out there, and what better way than to compete in a local version of Dancing with the Stars for charity? Cyrus Hayes is a former competitive ballroom dancer who just wants everyone to leave him alone. A dance partner match made in heaven?

I love Phoebe. She had me laughing and then crying and then laughing again in the span of a few pages. She has such an incredible journey to reclaiming her body, her life, her career... She's awe inspiring and I am obsessed with her.

Cyrus is made of green flags. He is an Armani wearing Consent KING. Even in the throws of their "hatred" (sure, Jan), he is still so aware and respectful of Phoebe's boundaries. Which I think we can all agree shouldnt be grounds for a gold star, but alas, the bar for men is buried in hell. Even if it weren't, Cyrus would be soaring over it. He is a considerate grump and I love him.

This book is "enemies to lovers" and while I generally don't consider many contemporary romances to be enemy-y enough for the label, this one gets really freaking close. These two do not like each other. And they aren't quiet about it. But there is no cure for disdain quite like forced proximity. And there's no forced proximity quite like practicing to compete in a ballroom dancing competition every day for months. Over time these two wear each other down and that grows into a friendship that grows into romance. This is a SLOW BURN. It is delicious and Kelsey is honestly a bit diabolical about it.

Of course another star of this book is Cyrus's brother Felix. He is an absolute delight & I am gnawing at the bars of my enclosure for his book.

Stop what you're doing immediately and read this book. I mean it.

“𝑾𝒆 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒉𝒂𝒗𝒆 𝒇𝒍𝒂𝒘𝒔. 𝑰 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒊𝒏 𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒕𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒔𝒆, 𝑰 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒃𝒆𝒄𝒂𝒖𝒔𝒆 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒎. 𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒇 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇, 𝑰 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝒍𝒐𝒗𝒆 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒆𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒐𝒕𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒖𝒔.”

Read May 11, 2025

[Emily Holbrook · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you’re looking for something to fill that void in your heart after Dancing With the Stars ends, look no further because I’ve got the perfect book for you.

Phoebe is a famous comedian who recently canceled her tour after a sexual assault and is trying to piece herself back together in the aftermath. Cyrus, a professional dancer, has been out of the spotlight for a couple of years after being left at the altar by his fiancée, Erin. The two get roped into joining a Dancing With the Stars-type show, where they end up partnered together. We watch their relationship shift from enemies to friends to lovers, and we get to see some truly fantastic character growth from both of them.

While I wouldn’t call this literary perfection, it was exactly what I needed. It’s such a fun read. I loved watching Phoebe and Cyrus grow, both individually and together, and how they each wrestle with their past trauma. The show’s setup mirrors Dancing With the Stars so closely that I could clearly picture everything happening - which made it even more enjoyable. Major props to the author, because describing those complicated dances is no easy feat!

This does have a third-act breakup, so be warned for all my friends who hate that in their stories. And personally, I think their relationship moved a little too quickly, but that’s just my taste.

Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone, especially if you’re feeling that post-season slump like I am.

Rating: 4⭐️
Recommended for: dancing with the stars fans, readers who love the enemies to lovers trope or a celebrity romance, feels good energy mixed with the right amount of drama

[Elora Maxwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

While You're Dancing is a deep and poignant rom com centered around two very different people who are on their own paths to healing from past traumas.

This novel was very well crafted and I really enjoyed the elements that felt like Dancing with the Stars. I've always wanted a series of books that play at some of my favorite competition tv series (Survivor, The Amazing Race etc.) so this was a fun read for me. Those shiny and posh elements did not overshadow the heart of this novel, which is Phoebe's journey to overcoming past demons. I thought this part of the story was handled with grace and great care.

As someone who doesn't really enjoy any kind of stand up comedy, I didn't really connect with that part of Phoebe, but I did admire her courage and the way that she used her passion for humor to bring her out of a very dark place. On the opposite side of this, I adored Cyrus. He was a Frasier Crane-like character that I definitely had a crush on.

I do think this novel sagged toward the middle, and could have done with the competition itself being a little shorter. I'm also not a fan of the sudden third-act breakup trope. While I feel like the explanation was there for this in the novel, the story elements after it felt rushed and expected.

Overall, this is another Painter novel that I greatly enjoyed and know many will resonate with! Definitely pick it up if you are a DWTS or Frasier fan, or if you're looking for a rom com with a serious heart.

I received a digital Advanced Reader's Copy of this novel. All thoughts and reactions are my own.

[Beth Grossmann · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I wonder if I will ever be content without her again."

I have never once watched Dancing With the Stars but I think I might need to binge a few seasons now.

Phoebe, a comedian with a few Netflix specials under her belt, takes an unexpected break from touring and needs something to give her career a little life for a comeback.
She agrees to a charity ballroom dancing competition show and naturally gets paired with the grumpiest of pros.
They're polar opposites. They both have trust issues.

Can they make it work? Luckily, all the best things happen while you're dancing.

Kelsey manages to make me belly laugh, cry, and want to punch at least one person in every book she writes and this one might've had the most laughs yet. Add in just the right amount of pop culture references, soul affirming moments, and a killer playlist and you've got a winner.
Plus, l'd feel safe leaving my drink unattended with every single one of Kelsey’s MMCs.

It’s a SLOW burn so be prepared for frustration but I promise it's all worth it.

READ. THIS. BOOK.

[Allie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks so much to Kelsey for an eARC of this book!

This started so strong. At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to enjoy Phoebe’s character, but the opposites attract trope was executed perfectly and I really enjoyed her and Cyrus’ Odd Couple dynamic. When they finally got together the tension and chemistry was totally there.

I definitely thought the 3rd act felt a little rushed, in particular the conflict. The whole miscommunication thing bothered me, because it really didn’t make sense for Phoebe to take Erin at her word when she constantly told Cyrus she trusts him. It felt a little contrived and didn’t make sense with the character growth that had already happened. That being said, I was really glad it resolved quickly.

This book made me want to take ballroom lessons! It’s clear the author has a deep love for this style of dance and that shines through.

Read indie authors!

🌶️🌶️/5

[Lauren Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A broken stand-up comic and an uptight (read: a lil snobby) ballroom pro are forced to dance together in the ballroom version of Dancing With the Stars—for charity. Phoebe’s career needs saving, Cyrus needs a distraction from his runaway bride, and they might be the ✨worst✨ thing to happen to each other.

This is a really stellar enemies-to-lovers first for Kelsey Painter—I was just living for the banter. Both MCs were incredibly refreshing characters and they’re really relatable. Although, dear Cyrus, please put the damn Amontillado in the fridge, my guy. Or, better yet, your fancy little wine cooler. 👀 Proper storage is important!

It was so hard to put this one down, I absolutely loved it!

I think my biggest wish was that this was longer. The ending felt a little rushed, even though it came together beautifully, and I would have happily read another hundred pages. I’m looking forward to what’s next for this series!

Kelsey, thank you so much for the ARC!

[Belle LouAllen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I mean this is fabulous if you’ve ever had unclean thought about Maks or Val Chmerkovskiy 😭

It’s such a fun romance!!! It’s not overly cheesy and the dance parts are so fun! I love that the author actually does ballroom and really uses that to her advantage. I thought Phoebe was so annoying at first. Like grated my gears to the max, but she definitely grew on me. I really think the third act conflict could have been drawn out more, it was resolved super quickly. Overall, LOVED it!!!

[Rachelle LeBlanc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my fifth @authorkelseypainter book. I have enjoyed them all. This is the only one that doesn’t have a historical component.

Cyrus is a professional dancer that hasn’t danced much since he was left at the alter. Phoebe is a stand up comedian who hasn’t been able to write a joke since that fateful night. They were both convinced to be on the Ballroom for Better show and were partnered up.

OMG….the banter was amazing. I laughed so much when they were arguing or being frustrated with each other. They well just so well written.

There are some tough topics discussed in While You’re Dancing. Please check trigger warnings before reading.

Thank you @authorkelseypainter for the ARC of While You’re Dancing.

[Lyndsey Olzacki · Rating 5 out of 5]

EEEEEEEEE YOU GUYS!!!!!! the joy this book brought me is unmatched. if you are a lover of dancing with the stars and specifically Val…. this one is for YOU! The pacing in this book is really similar to elsie silver which is my favorite romance author. i absolutely ate this up, it was hilarious and sweet and the emotional growth the characters went thru was beautiful.

[Melanie Byrd · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is essentially the book form of Dancing With the Stars but follows one couples enemies to lovers story. It wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read but it was enjoyable and perfectly timed for the premier of DWTS ✨🪩

[Savannah White · Rating 3 out of 5]

kinda liked this one but was also really cheesy lol. loved the DWTS vibes obviously. i just need to stay away from cheesy romances for a while, they’re not even my preferred drama and i feel like i’ve read so many lately lmao

[Halie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read the first 50% then switched to audio. The audio did help bring the book back to life, but in general I didn’t really like this. It was simple, predictable, and just okay. I also hate a third act breakup. The dance elements were cool, I just didn’t love it.

[Leila Bouhussein · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was cute. I liked the concept but the writing definitely could use some work. Side characters needed more developing, plot could’ve used a little more to it, etc

[Rachel Snider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the dancing aspect, but I thought the romance moved very fast and was extremely codependent.

[Abbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5

[Arianna Sequenzia · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Dancing with the Stars, you should read this. What a feel good, fun story!

[Maya Patel · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was so fun for my dwts fangirl heart. some lines were so cringy it hurt me a little bit and i hate “i love yous” after 4 months but it was a fun read

[Verónica Doble · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was cute

[Aubrey Armes-Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. The guy main character was kinda frustrating but I loved the DWTS aspect and was entertained