On Dancer

An Annabeth Albert Christmas

by Annabeth Albert

Can holiday magic transform this crush into a happily ever after?

Rudy:
I’ve had a crush on Alexander Dasher, the legendary ballet star, since I was fifteen years old. A decade of pining from a distance.
This holiday season, I’m assisting my mother with our small-town production of The Nutcracker, and guess who’s agreed to take the leading role?
Alexander is rehabbing a knee injury and looking for distraction. I teach him my favorite nerdy game, and soon, we’re talking and playing late into the evening.
One kiss is all it takes to nearly derail our growing friendship. Alexander is reluctant to step into the starring role for my first time. Even if our time together is short, I’m ready to turn my crush into reality if Alexander will give us a chance.

Alexander:
I’ve returned to my hometown after traveling the globe and establishing my reputation among the very best in the world of ballet.
My recent injury threatens all I’ve worked for, but I’m not ready to retire, even as the clock ticks louder.
Gaming with Rudy is the perfect diversion. With him, I’m seen as more than simply Alexander the famous dancer. Developing feelings for Rudy is all too easy, but he deserves far more than a holiday fling.
Our connection burns brighter than a yule log, but I worry we’ll both end up with broken hearts. The whole town, including our mothers, is rooting for us, but a future seems impossible. Can we pirouette our way into a happy ending?

On Dancer is an Annabeth Albert (author of The Geek Who Saved Christmas) holiday romance that will have you cracking nuts and humming along as an aging, grumpy ballet dancer encounters a sunny, younger production assistant determined to save their small hometown ballet company. On Dancer offers heaping servings of meddling mothers, quirky secondary characters, an age-gap, first times, and all the vibes of your favorite holiday romance movies.

Genres: Romance, M M Romance, Christmas, Holiday, Contemporary, LGBT, Friends To Lovers

286 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 4, 2025

About the author

Frequent tweeter, professional grammar nerd, and obsessive reader, Annabeth Albert is also a Pacific Northwest romance writer in a variety of subgenres.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two toddlers.

Reviews

[Carol [Goodreads Addict] · Rating 4 out of 5]

RATING 3.5 STARS

On Dancer by Annabeth Albert is a stand alone, MM, holiday romance. It is part of her Annabeth Albert Christmas collection of holiday romances. This is a sweet story of a ballet dancer who is recuperating from an injury and perhaps nearing the end of a very successful career. And a sweet, somewhat innocent man who has had a crush on him for a decade!



Alexander Dasher is thirty four years old. He is a very successful ballet dancer. He has been rehabbing his knee injury for a year now. The process was slower than he would have wanted. For a change, he is going home to Hollyberry, Pennsylvania to continue his rehab there.



Rudy is twenty four years old. He graduated from college two years ago with a communications degree but when his mom became ill and her job running the local ballet school became too difficult for her, he was hired as her assistant to make things easier for her. Hollyberry Ballet has been around forever, and is an old building, losing popularity. With Alexander Dasher coming home, if they could convince him to dance in their Christmas production of Nutcracker, it might revive interest! Even more than that, Rudy is so overwhelmed with seeing Alexander again since he’s been dreaming or rather fantasizing of him for over ten years.



Alexander attended Hollyberry Ballet as a child so he is more than happy to help them out. It will be a good way to test his knee before returning to Seattle and his own ballet company. He feels drawn to Rudy’s calm, caring nature from the start. He tries to ignore the attraction because he doesn’t want to hurt Rudy. He’s returning to Seattle after New Years. But the sparks are too strong to deny. Rudy also introduces Alexander to a popular board game and they quickly fall into the routine of playing nightly.

The closer these two get, the more their end date looms over their heads. Feelings grow stronger. But their lives are on separate sides of the country. Long distance relationships don’t work. Alexander was worried about Rudy’s broken heart but it’s looking like his own is broken as well.



So while this was a very sweet story, I just couldn’t get invested in it. It was hard to love Alexander. Especially in the beginning. He was very prickly. There was a lot of talk of their game time together and I found myself zoning out some with that as well. I do love this author’s holiday stories but I think this one just wasn’t one of my favorites. It did have a very lovely ending though that left me satisfied.

[Meags · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

It’s been nearly 5 years since I read my last Annabeth Albert book, so I thought her 2025 holiday romance, with its playful title and cutesy cover, might be a good way to dip my toes back into her writing.

For the most part, this is a really light-hearted, cozy, seasonally-apt read.

I enjoyed the hurt-comfort themes and the opposites-attract/May-December vibes between MCs Rudy and Alexander, but, mostly, I appreciated the emphasis on the importance of proper funding for the arts (so very important!).

What I didn’t love so much was the slow pacing of the story or Alexander’s perpetual moodiness. There was something about his character that simply displeased me, and I can’t rightly put my finger on what my problem was exactly… I just know I didn’t like the guy very much, which definitely impacted my overall enjoyment of the piece.

Still, on a whole, On Dancer is a decent, very easy-to-read M/M holiday romance—one that’s left enough of a positive impression that I’m determined to do better at reading Albert’s work more regularly (like I used to, many, many, many moons ago).

[~✡~Dαni(ela) ♥ ♂♂ love & semicolons~✡~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is so clever! One of the MCs is named Alexander Dasher, you see, and he's a dancer.

Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!

(Sorry, couldn't help myself.)

With that title and the cute cover, I expected a light, feel-good story, and that's exactly what I got.

There were too many overly involved secondary characters and family interactions for my taste. The men's mothers, especially, were all over this story.

I spend a small fortune on theatre tickets every year, but I'm not as fond of ballet, so maybe that's why this was a slowish read for me. That's okay though. Not every book has to be a wild thrill ride.

Tropes:

- age gap (Alexander has 10 years on Rudy);
- opposites attract (Rudy is personable and mellow; Alexander, not so much);
- hurt-comfort (Alexander is recovering from an injury, and Rudy does an excellent *ahem* job taking care of him);
- HEA as bright as Rudolph's nose (Rudy's full name is actually Rudolph, how about that?).

[Heather K (dentist in my spare time) · Rating 3 out of 5]

RTC

Thank you to Sparkling Elf for the gift!

[Cadiva · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a lovely book to read not only at this time of year but at any time because it's a super sweet romance between two very different men who find a connection.

As a former ballet student (although only until my early teens when I switched to contemporary dance), this book ticked so many of my boxes. I used to love the thrill of a Christmas show, going to see The Nutcracker was always a highlight.

Here, Annabeth gives us a dancer returning from injury and, in his early 30s, also facing the impending end of his career on stage versus the youthful concerns of a young man who hasn't really yet found his place in a high achieving family.

I loved the way the friendship developed between Rudy and Alexander as the rehearsals for the small town ballet school's performance too place.

There's a really nice sense of community surrounding the ballet school and the theatre and a great bunch of secondary characters to bring depth.

Throw in a geeky game (which has appeared in Annabeth's wider universe) and I'm sold!

#ARC kindly received from the author, I am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Ben Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

A very cute Christmas romance. I especially loved the inclusion of the Odyssey game from this author's True Colors series! (I loved Conventionally Yours and Out of Character. I'm still holding out hope for a third book!)

[Lily Loves 📚 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love Annabeth Albert’s Christmas stories! On Dancer was sweet and fun! It was a story that left me with a smile and was a nice addition to her previous Christmas books I’ve read.

[Caz · Rating 3 out of 5]

C+ / 3.5 stars

On Dancer is this year’s seasonal offering Annabeth Albert, a sweet, warm-hearted romance between a famous ballet dancer and the geeky admin of a regional ballet company and school who has had a crush on him from afar for years. It’s cute and the characters are likeable with some depth to them, but I didn’t feel any real chemistry there, which was a disappointment despite the author’s always excellent character work.

Alexander Dasher is a well-known and highly respected principal dancer with a Seattle-based ballet company. He’s worked damned hard to get to the top of his profession, but is under no illusions that his fame will keep him there; there are always plenty of younger, hungry dancers out there jostling for position, so having to take time away from the stage while he recovers from a knee injury isn’t something he’d have had on his bingo card for the year. But it is what it is; his rehabilitation programme is going well, his knee is getting stronger every day and he’s looking forward to making a triumphant return to the stage in the next couple of months. He’s home in Hollyberry (a small town in Philadelphia) for his father’s birthday celebration when his mentor and friend, Tavio, asks him to dance the role of the Cavalier in the local ballet company’s production of The Nutcracker. Alexander’s participation will undoubtedly help to sell tickets and raise funds for the town’s ballet school – and it will be a good way to make sure his knee is fully rehabbed and ready for his return to the company in Seattle in February. He maintains his usual aloofness when considering the request, but deep down, can’t deny that it’s nice to feel needed… besides, it makes sense to test out his knee in a less-pressured environment, so he agrees to appear in the production.

Rudy Cole has known (or known of) Alexander for most of his life (their mothers are good friends) and has nursed a crush on him since he was fifteen. His mother runs the ballet school, but her recent health scare means Rudy is currently pretty much running the show, and although he knows there isn’t the funding to make his position as her ‘assistant’ a permanent one, he enjoys the work and figures that at least he’s getting some experience that will be useful in future. The fact that Alexander Dasher is going to be appearing in this year’s holiday production is just the icing on the cake – not that Rudy expects to have a great deal to do with him, or that Alexander could ever be interested in a short, nerdy guy like him.

Although as it turns out, Rudy isn’t quite right about that. He generally closes the school once rehearsals are over, and is going around one evening when he finds Alexander in one of the studios, preparing to go through his regular post-rehearsal routine of stretching and icing his knee. It’s clear Alexander is feeling a bit down, so Rudy – after bringing him some ice-packs and pillows and making sure he’s comfortable – suggests they pass the time in playing a game of Odyssey while the ice does its job.

Alexander has heard of Odyssey but has never played it or anything like it, but figures he might as well try it – he could use a distraction - and finds, to his surprise, that he enjoys the game… and Rudy’s company. He’s sweet and kind and funny and, Alexander realises, is one of the few people around him who sees him rather than the famous dancer – and he hadn’t known until now just how much he needed that. And evenings spent together quickly become a regular thing; Rudy shows up at the end of the day with ice-packs, pillows and the game boxes, and they play and talk and get to know each other a bit more. There’s a definite spark of attraction there, too, and just as it seems as though Rudy might get his Christmas wish for more than friendship with Alexander, Alexander slams on the brakes; he’ll be going back to Seattle soon and Rudy deserves so much more than a short-lived holiday fling.

The author captures the pressures of the professional ballet world – with its rivalries and single-minded focus and intense physicality – very well, and she does a good job of exploring Alexander’s worries and insecurities about his post-injury future. At thirty-four, he knows he won’t be able to dance at this level forever, but he’s not ready to hang up his ballet shoes quite yet; although he doesn’t yet have a plan for what comes after. Like most top-flight professional ballet dancers, he’s put dance first all his life and doesn’t often meet people outside that world; the few relationships he’s had were with other dance professionals and didn’t last for a variety of reasons. He’s jaded about love and is a bit of a grouch – but Rudy’s cheery honesty, his enthusiasm, competence (and dimples) really do it for him, and Alexander can’t help liking and secretly admiring the way Rudy so easily sees through the veneer of polite indifference he shows to the world and won’t him get away with any drama or self-pity.

Rudy is a decade younger – I liked that he just rolls his eyes and tells Alexander to knock it off whenever he mentions their age difference – and has always felt overshadowed by his overachieving and successful older siblings. But over the course of the story, Rudy starts to see himself in a different light and to realise that the skills and qualities he has to offer – dedication, enthusiasm, kindness, empathy – and his love for the job he’s doing, are just as valuable as the many qualifications and high-powered jobs held by his siblings. He'd convinced himself that Alexander could do better than him - but realises he was wrong and that he’s as deserving of love and happiness as anyone else.

This is all nicely done; there’s a cute little secondary romance involving one of the student dancers – which gives Alexander some useful perspective on his own love life and enables him to demonstrate some character growth by giving some sincere advice - and I enjoyed watching his competitive spirit grow as he joins Rudy at a game night. I liked that he sees Rudy clearly and helps Rudy to get a clearer perception of himself. BUT – while Alexander and Rudy are convincing as friends, their love story falls flat because there’s just no romantic chemistry between them, and the burning attraction between them described in the blurb just isn’t there.

And that’s a big shame because there’s much to enjoy in the story overall. I’ve read all of Annabeth Albert’s previous Christmas romances – Better Not Pout is a favourite, and I liked The Geek Who Saved Christmas and the different setting of last year’s Deck the Palms . But unfortunately, the grand jeté of the romance in On Dancer fails to land.

[Aki · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super cute. Vier Sterne, wenn nicht ein gewisses Ungleichgewicht zwischen Alexander und Rudy wäre. Irgendwie macht Rudy immer nur alles für Alexander. Das hat mich ein bisschen gestört in der Dynamik.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Annabeth Albert is one of the few authors who has been bestowed the title of "obe of the few people from whom I can read and actually enjoy a holiday romance", and this one is no exception. I really liked the ballet theme, as the Nutcracker is a staple of the season no matter where. If there are dancers, there's a Nutcracker show for December, and that is the pinnacle and main goal of the season. I liked having that as the focus date, more than Christmas itself. I also really liked how the relationship between Rudy and Alexander was weaved between rehearsals and planning and off time, it was believable and felt natural to me. I really liked the book overall, and Annabeth gets to keep the title.

[Marcos “MSMDragon” · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super sweet! Very festive! And a nice amount of spice. And I really appreciated that the main character was a virgin, even though he was in his twenties.

[Edga · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cosy Festive Read 🎄

This story is a lovely and cosy escape, perfect for curling up with during the holidays. My heart really went out to Alexander, a famous ballet dancer dealing with a serious injury, so vulnerable. Also, I absolutely adored Rudy, the sunny production assistant who has crushed on Alexander for years.
It's so touching to watch these two find friendship together. Even though they seem like opposites, they help each other heal while working on The Nutcracker. Between the moments of bonding over Rudy's love of gaming, and the meddling of their mothers, their journey from friendship to romance is handled with such care. Annabeth has put together a tender slow burn that really celebrates character growth and the joy of a well earned happy ending. The epilogue is delightful. I did find it a little repetitive in parts, but nothing much to take me out of the story. It's the perfect escape for the Christmas season. 🎄🩰🎮👨‍❤️‍💋‍👨🥰

[Vinnie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Oh, we're so back. This is probably the best holiday romance Annabeth Albert has written thus far. Alexander and Rudy were the epitome of grumpy/sunshine, and I really liked how it persisted throughout the entire story while Alexander also treated Rudy with a lot of kindness. Rudy was a precious little cinnamon roll, and I loved his intuition with all of the ways he could help Alexander be at his best.

I'm so tempted to give this 4 stars, but I still feel like there's something a little off with this whole holiday series. There was still something that kept me from being 100% all-in on this book, and I just don't know what it was. That being said, this is the clear winner of the bunch.

LOVED the Odyssey card game cameos, and that just makes me want to read "Conventionally Yours" again.

[Elizabeth D · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25/5 This is a thoroughly enjoyable holiday romance. Alexander is a grumpy dancer recovering from an injury, and Rudy is younger, cheerful, and struggling a bit with not having the career ambitions that are considered “standard”.

Rudy’s unfailing kindness (and teen crush) start the connection with Alexander, and I loved how they’re able to connect through gaming. I thought the author did a great job of showing Alexander’s ballet excellence but how that had also left a bit of a void in the rest of his life, which Rudy starts to fill.

There’s a little bit of tension with Alexander’s recovery, and then there’s the “this is supposed to be a holiday fling because we don’t live near one another” tension. The characters take it seriously, have reasonable hang-ups, and ultimately prove the power of love. I like the two of them together and the richness they bring to one another’s lives.

[Heather MMRomanceReviewed]

I love a grumpy/sunshine holiday romance, and add it a long time crush, a ballet school to save and a veteran dancer at a crossroads in his life, you get this wonderful story from Annabeth Albert. I truly enjoyed watching Rudy orbit Alexander, helping him manage his injury and also take care of himself. This slow burn story builds on a friendship and also learning to compromise and find the important parts of your life...

I enjoyed getting to know both MCs as well as their families, friends and fellow dancers! This was a lovely world to visit and I'd love to see more of these characters in future books. I truly appreciate the epilogue and the way the story felt complete.

[Laura¡! · Rating 4 out of 5]

i loved it, that's the review

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

RTC

[Theodore · Rating 3 out of 5]

As someone who plays MTG, YGO, I thought the amount of detail the author put into describing the card game Rudy and Alexander played was pretty impressive since the book could've just realistically handwaved it to some "we played cards and I won" sort of deal. The scene at the game store where the individual players list out their deck types and play styles (as well as the use of "mythic" as an adjective) made it clear that the author had a good amount of familiarity with TCG/CCGs or at least consulted someone who did.

Wasn't a big fan of the explicit internal thoughts, like when Alexander noted that he hadn't been worried about his injury, recovery, and ballet while he was playing the card game. I wish that internal revelation had been more subtle instead of going all "Oh! This card game Rudy taught me has helped me keep my mind off things that stress me out!"

I didn't personally care for the Kitty/Victoria subplot thing. Idk why they were featured so prominently when their weird teenage romance didn't really contribute to the dynamic between Rudy and Alexander. At best, I could see them as a weak foil to Rudy and Alexander's relationship but there were too many differences between the two situations to really make that a strong connection (aka them being teensand Victoria going to college for her future whereas Alexander was going to work somewhere he didn't need to and should've been considering taking a step back from anyways with his injury) and at worst it was just unnecessary padding that distracted from the main couple. Also, Victoria's character confused me. She's supposedly this rising star of a ballerina that already has a spot in a prestigious school and apprenticeship, yet the way she acts doesn't really reflect that? Presumably, she'd have performed enough times to catch the eye of multiple parties responsible for getting her into said school + so many people praised her for her prowess, so you'd think she'd be used to performing for audiences. She acted like she'd never performed one in front of people before with how nervous she was and how people needed to constantly reassure her that she was going to do great.

I was not a fan of how the seeds of Alexander staying with Rudy were set up. Tavio being the one to try and poach Alexander from what he'd been working for since the beginning left a bad taste in my mouth because it didn't seem altruistic for an old mentor to try and convince his protégé to move down from a prestigious company by playing into Alexander's insecurities by pointing out that the top was cut throat (as if Alexander didn't already know that). Rudy guilt tripping him by acting all hurt when he heard Alexander reject the offer to stay local was super annoying too because of all the people, he knew that Alexander wasn't planning on staying, so wtf was up with being upset when he heard it out loud? I would've bought sadness, but not being mad.

The melodrama was thankfully short and the reunion was cute. I liked that Alexander came back but that Rudy was also prepared to go to him, showing that they both cared for their relationship enough to do something about it. I also liked the acknowledgement that they'd try long distance considering it wasn't going to be for very long anyway. Still mixed feelings on Alexander giving up his old job but it was more palatable after his conversation with Victoria and his show of affection towards Rudy.

Them being scared of their mothers was weird though considering there wasn't really anything in the earlier parts of the story that told us it was something to be afraid of? Seemed like a weird bit of fake conflict.

The resolution was decent. Tied up all the loose knots and left me with a generally fuzzy feeling inside.

TL;DR: Pretty standard romance. Nothing standout, but also nothing particularly bad. Not too fluffy, had actual conflict that needed to be addressed (even if it was addressed pretty quickly, there was still decent justification for it). Not a fan of the focus on Kitty and Victoria. I enjoyed the card game scenes and descriptions. 3 stars.

[Samantha Ortega · Rating 4 out of 5]

FR- Alors alors.... alors j'aime beaucoup les romances de noël d'Annabeth Albert et celle ci ne fait pas exception.

Je ne suis pas plus fan que ça des romances de noël mais j'aime particulièrement celles de cette auteure. Et dans On Dancer, Annabeth Albert mèle romance de noel et danse classique. Ce qui ne pouvait que me plaire.

On Dancer mêle deux éléments que j'aime.

J'adore la danse classique et les romances MM dans cet univers sont vraiment trop rares à mon goût. Ajoutez à ça l'ambiance small town et un léger Age Gap et il était évident que ce roman allait me plaire.

J'ai beaucoup aimé la romance entre les deux personnages, même si comme Rudy j'ai trouvé que parfois Alexander faisait trop ressentir son âge. Si je me suis énormément attachée à Rudy j'ai également beaucoup apprécié Alexander et j'ai aimé le contraste entre les deux hommes.

L'univers de la danse est particulièrement bien exploré et j'ai adoré suivre les répétions et les performances des danseurs. C'est toujours impressionnant de voir le travail derrière le spectacle, surtout quand les danseurs nous donnent l'impression que tout est facile. Cette romance de noël réuni tous les éléments que l'on aime et les personnages secondaires apportent beaucoup à l'histoire.

En résumé, encore une réussite pour Annabeth Albert. On Dancer fait parti de ces romances de noël que je relirai avec plaisir.
ENG-So, so... so, I really enjoy Annabeth Albert's Christmas romances, and this one is no exception.

I'm not a huge fan of Christmas romances in general, but I particularly like this author's. And in *On Dancer*, Annabeth Albert blends Christmas romance with classical dance, which was bound to appeal to me.

*On Dancer* combines two elements I love.

I adore classical dance, and MM romances in that genre are far too rare for my liking. Add to that the small-town atmosphere and a slight age gap, and it was obvious I was going to love this novel.

I really enjoyed the romance between the two characters, even though, like Rudy, I felt that Alexander sometimes showed his age a little too much. While I became very attached to Rudy, I also really liked Alexander, and I enjoyed the contrast between the two men.

The world of dance is explored particularly well, and I loved following the dancers' rehearsals and performances. It's always impressive to see the work behind the show, especially when the dancers make it all look so easy. This Christmas romance has all the elements we love, and the secondary characters add so much to the story.

In short, another success for Annabeth Albert. On Dancer is one of those Christmas romances I'll happily reread.
 

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rudy is a young man in transition who has come home to Hollyberry to help his recovering mother run her dance studio. He’s a bit of a nerd, but sweet and trying to help his family. Alexander is a ballet star who has also come home from Seattle to recover from an injury. Their mothers are friends, but his is the first time they’re really spending time together. But Rudy has had a crush on the older Alexander for a decade.

Alexander is a bit grumpy and struggling with his injury and what to do with his free time, and is worrying about his future. When Rudy makes a proposition for Alexander to perform at their studio over the holidays to train and see how he holds up, he can’t pass it up. But along the way, they are spending more time together, and Rudy is introducing him to some of his interests. Rudy never thought that his celebrity crush would be interested in him, but Alexander finds him fascinating.

It’s really a sweet, hot, age-gap, teenage crush, ballet dancer and nerd, coming home for the holidays, holiday romance. I really loved these two guys together and how they balanced each other out. Rudy is such a caretaker, and Alexander had never really had that. And Alexander gives Rudy more confidence because he sees how smart and dependable he is, but also makes him feel attractive and interesting. Where Rudy has always just thought of himself as this kind of scrawny nerd and Alexander as this unattainable celebrity crush. But they go from playing nerdy card games together to an unexpected fling to messy feelings that make them question everything.

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[Greg · Rating 5 out of 5]

On Dancer by Annabeth Albert I feel is one of her best holiday romance stories ever. This story feels real, down to earth, and not like the Hallmark Christmas channel's norm. The story revolves around Alexander, a principal ballet dancer, and Rudy, your everyday normal acting nerdy gamer guy who has a 10 year old crush. The age gap, although it only be 10 years, is a favorite troupe of mine and compliments the nerdy/artsy/first timer MM romance story that Annabeth brings to life in On Dancer.

The story weaves in and out of both character's insecurities about life, family, career, compassion, and love. Alexander, although not the prema-donna of the stage usually associated with the performing arts type, is somewhat cynical and scared not only for his career, but opening his heart from prior bad experiences and the solitude life that competitive dancers waiting in the wings can bring. His time away from the main stage opens his mind, his heart, and possibilities to be more, and to feel more. Rudy awakens all of the possibilities in him that he's afraid to take a leap on.

Rudy, a self-proclaimed nerd, loner, gamer, family disappointment, is doing his best to fit in, live up to his siblings successes, and help keep his mother's ballet school afloat. It just so happens that a rare encounter with his childhood crush embarks him on his own personal growth journey and chance to be in the spotlight. Can Rudy change the coal locked heart Alexander possesses and can he build his own confidence to be worthy of love and feel accomplished in his family's eyes?

On Dancer has all of the feel good moments and sweet spiciness that Annabeth puts in her books. You as a reader will feel connected to the story and characters in many ways. We've all had self doubt in our careers, with our families, and in love. You'll cheer on Rudy and Alexander and want to smack them throughout the book over their inability to see what's in front of them and for their own insecurities or self-doubt. But don't fear, the story wraps up nicely with both characters getting what they both deserve and need.

[Glenn Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

On Dancer was my first Annabeth Albert novel, and it definitely won’t be my last. This low-angst MM romance works beautifully as a standalone and blends holiday charm with a surprisingly thoughtful exploration of life as an artist.

The story follows Alexander, a grumpy, guarded—and undeniably sexy—professional ballet dancer, and Rudy, a younger ballet school assistant who is fiercely determined to save his mother’s struggling school. While the book leans into familiar holiday romance tropes, Albert’s understanding of the artistic mindset gives it real emotional weight. As someone who works in theatre, I deeply related to Alexander’s anxieties about aging, relevance, and the fear of losing the one thing that defines you. When you’re consumed by your craft and chasing that next performance high, it’s easy to forget why you fell in love with it—or to make room for personal and romantic connection. Albert captures this tension with impressive authenticity, and it genuinely made me reflect on my own experiences.

Alexander and Rudy are a delightful pairing, and I found myself rooting hard for both of them—from their growing emotional intimacy to Rudy’s tentative, tender first sexual experience. Their relationship unfolds naturally, grounded in mutual respect and growth. The side characters, especially Kitty and Victoria, add warmth and dimension, rounding out the story nicely.

Add in The Nutcracker, a festive ballet setting, and a heartfelt romance, and this book had me completely hooked. I’m a sucker for ballet—and now, clearly, for Annabeth Albert.

[ButtonsMom2003 · Rating 5 out of 5]

★彡 𝟓 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐑𝐒 彡★

I have to fan-girl a little bit…I’ve been a huge Annabeth Albert fan ever since I read my first book by her back in August 2015 – over ten years ago! (It doesn’t seem like that long ago.) Her Christmas books are some of my favorites and On Dancer is no exception. Rudy’s long-time crush turns into more when Alexander returns to his hometown to recover from a serious injury that has kept him away from his role as principal dancer for a Seattle ballet company.

This story is grumpy/sunshine, age-gap at it’s finest. I’m a little embarrassed that I’ve had a copy of this book since before it released (I support Annabeth on her Patreon) and have just now made time to read it. But I’m not sorry that I chose Christmas Day to read such a sweet, with mild heat, slow-burn romance.

There was pretty much no angst other than the fact that Alexander had to return to Seattle after the holidays and leave Rudy behind in Pennsylvania. That really didn’t feel too angsty to me because I knew that Annabeth would give them a wonderful HEA and she did. I also appreciated the epilogue that let us know what Rudy and Alexander were doing a few years down the road. I also liked how inclusive the story was with a little side romance budding between a couple of young women.

I hope Annabeth continues to write her annual Christmas stories.

[Vicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a delightful holiday romance between the rather blunt and cranky ballet dancer Alexander and the sweet, nerdy production assistant Rudy. It all revolves around a Christmas ballet performance where Alexander (don’t call me Alex) is recovering from an injury. There’s an unfortunate misunderstanding when Rudy and Alexander initially meet but it’s not long until these two wonderfully written characters start a friendship. A friendship that includes board games and highlights the very competitive nature of Alexander!
Rudy sees past the public facade of Alexander to the kind and empathetic man he can be and in return Alexander uplifts Rudy causing him to reevaluate his self worth.
I giggled at the game’s night competitive nature of Alexander, enjoyed the interesting cast of side characters, loved the ballet terms explanation with each chapter heading and closed the book with a warm heart and a sappy smile. This is a very enjoyable and engaging read with a little bit of angst, sweet mixed with steam and a heartwarming HEA.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really sweet low angst holiday themed story

I really enjoyed this story set in the ballet world, a different setting a a refreshing change. I loved all the definitions at the beginning of each chapter. Always fun to learn new things as I read. This athlete/nerd, age gap, grumpy/sunshine story is sweet and a low angst holiday story.

Alexander is a ballet dancer, one of the top male dancers in the country who is in rehab from a knee injury. He’s in his hometown recovering and agrees to dance a part in his small town dance school’s performance of The Nutcracker. Rudy is the youngest son of the director of the dance school, and the assistant director. He’s has had a crush on the decade older dancer for ten years. As they get to know each other over the course of several weeks a friendship blooms and then something more.

The book does a good job presenting the tough life and sacrifices of the top ballet dancers. I like the way dancers are presented in a similar way as in books about athletes as dancers are clearly athletes. It was an enjoyable holiday read.

[Laura Chambers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always love Annabeth Albert's holiday books so it was no surprise to me that I ate up On Dancer.

On Dancer is such a sweet story featuring Alexander and Rudy. Alexander is back home rehabbing his knee. Rudy is working with his mother at the local dance school and company. For their annual The Nutcracker production, Alexander agrees to dance for the local company while in town.

Rudy has had a crush on Alexander for years and hopes to make a good impression on him. What ensues is them forming a bond of playing games and sharing their insecurities. At one point, Alexander broke my heart when discussing not having a favorite game. I could feel the longing for his childhood game room and the time he didn't have to be in there.

Alexander has to return to Seattle for work, and due to the distance both him and Rudy realize they are feeling so much more.

This was such a cozy read, which is what I love about all of Annabeth Albert's holiday books.

[SNik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Holiday standalone. Age gap. Opposites attract. Friends to lovers. Slow burn. Dual POV.

Rudy has had a crush on famous ballet dancer and family friend Alexander for years, and now Alexander has agreed to dance in their small town production of The Nutcracker. Ballet is all Alexander knows, but the kind friendship that Rudy gives him with his fun gaming and caring personality makes Alexander wonder if he’s missing something.

Any fan of ballet will enjoy the chapter descriptors and understand the love the many characters have for ballet and the performing arts. The tentative friendship that Alexander and Rudy build is sweet, and I enjoyed that Alexander and Rudy spend time playing cards together and learning about each other. Alexander tries and fails to keep Rudy just a friend and he is honest about not wanting to take advantage when he would be leaving soon. Luckily, Alexander finds it's not so easy to leave Rudy behind and the epilogue is especially satisfying.

[Kristy Lynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is such a cute story. I love the play on words and bringing the Nutcracker, the quintessential holiday performance, to life. Alexander is a principal ballet dancer in recovery, close to the end of his physical therapy. He is home to finish and is enlisted to help with the local ballet company to perform The Nutcracker. Alexander, not Alex, started learning at the Hollyberry Ballet School so performing there again was like a walk down memory lane.

Rudy, the non dancing son of the ballet teacher and administrator, is on full time to make the production a success. Alexander is the one who helped awaken Rudy as a young boy. Their working closely together leads to some fun late night game playing and lots of talks.

This story is lots of heart, plot, and steam. A perfect holiday story. I do recommend reading On Dancer.

I received an arc of this story

[Barb ~rede-2-read~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my Christmas Eve and early Christmas day story this year and it was all the sweetness and twinkle lights I could have hoped for. Slow burn, great character, interesting premise, age gap, gaming, long-distance relationship, and more.

Annabeth Albert delivered on her signature romance novel style, the one I first fell in love with many moons ago. I wouldn't even consider this explicit though there was some bedroom action but it was more about the story and the relationship development and Alexander's personal struggles with recovery from injury and his hoped-for return to dancing. For Rudy, it was about his invisibility in his job, his worry for his mother who's been ill and with whom Rudy is working, and for his long-time crush on Alexander that is growing into a deeper love day by day.

Great depth, very sweet, and just what I needed to make the holiday bright.

[Kristel (hungryandhappy) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love ballet, it's so pretty to watch, the dancers make it seem so effortless when you know just how much work and sweat it takes for each performance. The discipline, the passion, the everything.
So I knew I was going to love this book because it's a love story between a ballet dancer and the 10 years younger ballet school assistant, also his fan.
While The Nutcracker is front and center in the story, a crucial part of the plot, what shines more than the wonderful costumes and the sweat of their foreheads, is the sizzling chemistry and longing between the two guys. They couldn't fight it, it brought a little angst but they got a wonderful HEA. Plus I love the cameos from my fave Annabeth Albert book, The Geek Who Saved Christmas, now I need to reread, again!!