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Stage Left, Heart Right
Two dancers. One duet. Zero chill.
uptight, laser-focused, and ready to dominate ballet camp.
chill, chaotic, and totally not here for rules.
They’re polar opposites. And now? They’re dance partners.
It’s four weeks of shared rehearsals, shared space, and one very ill-timed, very confusing kiss. (Which Grace is definitely not thinking about. At all.)
But when rival dancers stir drama, choreography falls apart, and emotions get real, Grace and Fallon might just discover that their worst matchup… is their best chance at something real.
Enemies to lovers? Maybe.
Dance partners? Absolutely.
Disaster? TBD.
If your dream book is I Kissed Shara Wheeler meets Center Stage, welcome to this sweet, no-spice enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance.
uptight, laser-focused, and ready to dominate ballet camp.
chill, chaotic, and totally not here for rules.
They’re polar opposites. And now? They’re dance partners.
It’s four weeks of shared rehearsals, shared space, and one very ill-timed, very confusing kiss. (Which Grace is definitely not thinking about. At all.)
But when rival dancers stir drama, choreography falls apart, and emotions get real, Grace and Fallon might just discover that their worst matchup… is their best chance at something real.
Enemies to lovers? Maybe.
Dance partners? Absolutely.
Disaster? TBD.
If your dream book is I Kissed Shara Wheeler meets Center Stage, welcome to this sweet, no-spice enemies-to-lovers sapphic romance.
- GenresLesbian
500 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 18, 2025
11 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 13, 2025
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.
There’s so much good about Cameron Tate’s Stage Left, Heart Right but there’s also some issues that really did affect my overall enjoyment of this book and that is a shame. It made this one quite hard for me to rate because there are aspects that really do knock it down, but it feels unfairly harsh to go lower.
The story really is enjoyable. This novel follows Grace Whitmore and Fallon Reyes as they attend a dance camp at Echo Pines. This seems to be quite a prestigious camp particularly as the showcase at the end can lead to the campers being awarded scholarships for dance programs. Grace is a ballet dance who dreams of a conservatory place, and there’s a scholarship for one up from grabs. Fallon, meanwhile, is much more a force of energy. A Freestyle dancer, at face value she is very much the opposite of the technically precise and overly controlled Grace. It is, therefore, unsurprising that with a camp theme of fusion that these two are paired together. It’s an interesting dynamic especially as they are sharing a cabin as well. I did like the way in which their relationship developed – although there are some issues here which I’ll explore later. But for the most part, I did like these characters. Grace’s growth over the course of the story felt particularly rewarding.
I think this is a good read for anyone who has a real interest in dance. While this is not something I’m particularly passionate about (unless you count being an avid watcher of Strictly Come Dancing), I did enjoy these elements of the story. I think if I was a little bit more knowledgeable, I would have found it easier to picture the different moves that the characters were performing but unfortunately that really isn’t my area. I would be interested to know from someone with more experience whether this is realistically written.
I do think this story suffered though from pacing issues. At 449 pages, I think, that this could have done with being a little bit shorter. There are sections of this book that were perhaps given a little bit too much room to breathe in the way it was allowed to unfold while others felt overly rushed. This was especially apparent to me during the early sections of the book where I wondered if I was going to stick with it while later on once Fallon and Grace were together, I would’ve liked the book to have slowed down. Ultimately I am glad that I kept reading though!
However, I think what frustrated me most was the continuity. Early in the book, Savannah has almost exactly the same conversation with Grace in two separate chapters. It’s something that I ended up going back to check because I was confused at having read the exact wording already. There’s also a later instance where a sentence is duplicated.
Continuity wise, there’s issues where the mid-camp battle dance is referred to as being days in the future, then there’s chapter 8 where it’s referenced as being the next day before it reverts to being multiple days in the future. This definitely pulled me out of the story because it was such an obvious change in the timeline. This is also made more obvious because after all the chapter 8 references to the battle being the next day; it’s actually an event for local children being held.
Later, there’s a scene where Grace takes a phonecall from her aunt Jill where it is clearly set early morning with references to the morning sun, the camp beginning to stir with breakfast preparations underway and a few early risers stretching. Yet later in the scene while Grace is still talking to Jill there’s reference to her watching the afternoon light dancing on the water. While I appreciate calls can take a long time, it would be very unlike Grace to miss classes to take a call. There are other similar issues like Fallon being paired with Riley during a swap yet the following paragraph mentioning that not being so bad because Miles is her buddy.
I did read an e-ARC copy so these issues may be corrected in the version that is released, and I hope that they are because this book really does have so much potential. I do think that I would try Cameron Tate’s writing again in the future. The character work especially really made this book.
There’s so much good about Cameron Tate’s Stage Left, Heart Right but there’s also some issues that really did affect my overall enjoyment of this book and that is a shame. It made this one quite hard for me to rate because there are aspects that really do knock it down, but it feels unfairly harsh to go lower.
The story really is enjoyable. This novel follows Grace Whitmore and Fallon Reyes as they attend a dance camp at Echo Pines. This seems to be quite a prestigious camp particularly as the showcase at the end can lead to the campers being awarded scholarships for dance programs. Grace is a ballet dance who dreams of a conservatory place, and there’s a scholarship for one up from grabs. Fallon, meanwhile, is much more a force of energy. A Freestyle dancer, at face value she is very much the opposite of the technically precise and overly controlled Grace. It is, therefore, unsurprising that with a camp theme of fusion that these two are paired together. It’s an interesting dynamic especially as they are sharing a cabin as well. I did like the way in which their relationship developed – although there are some issues here which I’ll explore later. But for the most part, I did like these characters. Grace’s growth over the course of the story felt particularly rewarding.
I think this is a good read for anyone who has a real interest in dance. While this is not something I’m particularly passionate about (unless you count being an avid watcher of Strictly Come Dancing), I did enjoy these elements of the story. I think if I was a little bit more knowledgeable, I would have found it easier to picture the different moves that the characters were performing but unfortunately that really isn’t my area. I would be interested to know from someone with more experience whether this is realistically written.
I do think this story suffered though from pacing issues. At 449 pages, I think, that this could have done with being a little bit shorter. There are sections of this book that were perhaps given a little bit too much room to breathe in the way it was allowed to unfold while others felt overly rushed. This was especially apparent to me during the early sections of the book where I wondered if I was going to stick with it while later on once Fallon and Grace were together, I would’ve liked the book to have slowed down. Ultimately I am glad that I kept reading though!
However, I think what frustrated me most was the continuity. Early in the book, Savannah has almost exactly the same conversation with Grace in two separate chapters. It’s something that I ended up going back to check because I was confused at having read the exact wording already. There’s also a later instance where a sentence is duplicated.
Continuity wise, there’s issues where the mid-camp battle dance is referred to as being days in the future, then there’s chapter 8 where it’s referenced as being the next day before it reverts to being multiple days in the future. This definitely pulled me out of the story because it was such an obvious change in the timeline. This is also made more obvious because after all the chapter 8 references to the battle being the next day; it’s actually an event for local children being held.
Later, there’s a scene where Grace takes a phonecall from her aunt Jill where it is clearly set early morning with references to the morning sun, the camp beginning to stir with breakfast preparations underway and a few early risers stretching. Yet later in the scene while Grace is still talking to Jill there’s reference to her watching the afternoon light dancing on the water. While I appreciate calls can take a long time, it would be very unlike Grace to miss classes to take a call. There are other similar issues like Fallon being paired with Riley during a swap yet the following paragraph mentioning that not being so bad because Miles is her buddy.
I did read an e-ARC copy so these issues may be corrected in the version that is released, and I hope that they are because this book really does have so much potential. I do think that I would try Cameron Tate’s writing again in the future. The character work especially really made this book.
June 2, 2025
When I saw Cameron asking for ARC readers for this book in social media, I had to reach her and sign up as soon as I saw the cover. It’s a beautiful illustration, and although I’m not into the dancers trope, I was inmediately attracted to the main characters. Fallon curvy and powerful figure. Grace’s ballerina and strong pose! While reading this book, I’ve been revisiting this illustration so often!
I didn’t need to check the synopsis, I was all in for the book. The first surprise was that the characters are young adults. Yes, my fault for not checking the synosis hahahaha I know a lot of people don’t read romance books with young adults as MC, but please give this book a chance!
It’s the perfect book to read in between more angsty books (not looking to any particular author LOL) It’s fluffy, cute and so full of meaning!
How to portrait an ice queen as a young adult character? The way Cameron did it, it was brilliant! And more than enemies to lovers as announced in the cover, I would say it’s an opposites attracts trope. And the chemistry/tension between Fallon and Grace is over the charts! It’s a self discovery journey, that will warm your soul in the way!
I didn’t need to check the synopsis, I was all in for the book. The first surprise was that the characters are young adults. Yes, my fault for not checking the synosis hahahaha I know a lot of people don’t read romance books with young adults as MC, but please give this book a chance!
It’s the perfect book to read in between more angsty books (not looking to any particular author LOL) It’s fluffy, cute and so full of meaning!
How to portrait an ice queen as a young adult character? The way Cameron did it, it was brilliant! And more than enemies to lovers as announced in the cover, I would say it’s an opposites attracts trope. And the chemistry/tension between Fallon and Grace is over the charts! It’s a self discovery journey, that will warm your soul in the way!
October 5, 2025
would like to thank the author for letting me read this book and i have to say i was captivated by it...
grace and fallon both at summer school where the theme is dancing but the opportunity for scholarships are high on the agenda....
grace is the ballet queen and fallon hip hop style isnt quite what grace is use to.... could that even be classed as dancing
but the theme for this years school is fusion and when grace and fallon are paired together can their elements come together the rigidity of ballet and the free form of hip hop
it can only end in disaster right.....
ohh this story had it all.... angst, jealousy, betrayal, but the magic of dance is compelling and this story covers it all... and i was hooked right from the first page and i cried tears of joy at the ending
wow just wow
looking forward to reading more from this author
grace and fallon both at summer school where the theme is dancing but the opportunity for scholarships are high on the agenda....
grace is the ballet queen and fallon hip hop style isnt quite what grace is use to.... could that even be classed as dancing
but the theme for this years school is fusion and when grace and fallon are paired together can their elements come together the rigidity of ballet and the free form of hip hop
it can only end in disaster right.....
ohh this story had it all.... angst, jealousy, betrayal, but the magic of dance is compelling and this story covers it all... and i was hooked right from the first page and i cried tears of joy at the ending
wow just wow
looking forward to reading more from this author
June 24, 2025
Review of Stage Left, Heart Right
by Cameron Tate
I received an ARC of the book, and this is my independent review.
Stage Left, Heart Right is the love story of Grace and Fallon, two polar opposite teenage dancers who meet at a prestigious dance camp. It’s listed as an “enemy to lovers” story, but that isn’t quite precise. I wouldn’t call them enemies, especially when there is a side character that is much more an enemy to Grace. But there is most certainly animosity and less than warm feelings from the beginning. Their feelings quickly heat up though – although reluctantly so, the spark between them cannot be denied, but they will need to not only accept their feelings for one another but find common ground as dance partners. When they do, the magic happens, both on and off stage…
The story hooks you right off the first page, when we’re introduced to Grace and her reasons for coming to camp. She has pinned her entire future on the outcome of the ballet program, and while I find her reasons mostly believable, I wish her relationship with her ambitious mother was fleshed out a bit more. Likewise her long standing rivalry with the other ballerina.
There is a wide gallery of supporting characters of varying importance, they all fill their roles sufficiently, even if I get the sense that there is a bit of an imbalance in character development and therefore the need for supporting characters to help advance the characters; Grace’s aunt and cousin do help Grace very much more along her path than what Fallon’s friend do for her, to the point that I get the feeling that Grace is more of a main character than what Fallon is, which I don’t really think is the intention. However, and this is an important point, since this is a sapphic romance with one of the characters having a coming out moment, her journey obviously does carry more weight and needs more attention than those of previously out and proud characters in the group. I found the dialogue between Grace and her confidantes here very beautiful and uplifting, the support and love she received in the decision to take the leap into a relationship with Fallon was heartwarming.
Plot wise, there is a steady movement forwards on the trajectory set forth from the start. I see some find it a bit repetitive, personally I don’t mind at all. The setting does in a way force it to be so, and we know going in what we’re going to get: four weeks of intense dance rehearsals leading up to an important performance. Within these dance sessions, though, we get immense romantic development and internal character growth in the MCs, and my! Are the dance sessions hot! A closed door romance only hinting to bedroom activity is the best way this could be written, because anything more than that would detract from the dance scenes which are intensely sensual.
The readers do not need to have ballet or other dance experience to enjoy this book, but the teenage ballet dancer in me really enjoyed this story, even if it’s been many decades since I last tied on a pair of pointe shoes.
All in all, it is a well written book that keeps the interest up from start to finish. I love how the “opposites attract” really brought out the best of the two characters and made them so much more together. I will remember this book for a long time.
June 6, 2025
Rivals to lovers in dance camp, and they're forced to choreograph and perform a duo piece. That's a recipe for some angry kissing if I ever saw one.
(I received a free ARC for this book)
Grace and Fallon are polar opposites in how they go about their life - cold and hot, regimented and carefree, ballet and hip hop. Their slightly smug teachers are surely having a laugh after assigning them together, but I forgive them, because watching these two clash truly is an irresistible spectacle.
Tate manages to weave together friend circles around these two young women that make sure to not allow them to burn out, though. They both have supportive and well meaning friends who, of course, tease them endlessly, but are there for them when they need it. The supporting cast of this book is truly a delight - friends, villainous mean girls, and slightly fucked up families alike.
The way Grace and Fallon both manage to grow into something slightly less childish and slightly more adult is a delight. These two slowly learn to give up the childish resistance to change they're holding on to, good reasons or no, and learn to find what they want and to not fight and hide their shame and guilt. They're good for each other.
All this is symbolically and textually made clear with the third main character of the book - dancing. I'm a hobbyist, myself, but I can see Cameron Tate's devotion and love of dance, of the way it can connect people, of the beauty it holds in letting you wordlessly connect to another person. I admire every description in this book; I can almost see the dancing, almost hear the music, as it comes to an emotional crescendo time after time.
This is a sweet book. It's a book where conflict is resolved with love and care, and communication, and understanding. Some of my favorite scenes are just phone calls where one girl sits next to the other and, with no words or touch, helps them through a conversation they've been putting off.
This is a book that makes me want to find someone who's just right, and take them dancing.
(I received a free ARC for this book)
Grace and Fallon are polar opposites in how they go about their life - cold and hot, regimented and carefree, ballet and hip hop. Their slightly smug teachers are surely having a laugh after assigning them together, but I forgive them, because watching these two clash truly is an irresistible spectacle.
Tate manages to weave together friend circles around these two young women that make sure to not allow them to burn out, though. They both have supportive and well meaning friends who, of course, tease them endlessly, but are there for them when they need it. The supporting cast of this book is truly a delight - friends, villainous mean girls, and slightly fucked up families alike.
The way Grace and Fallon both manage to grow into something slightly less childish and slightly more adult is a delight. These two slowly learn to give up the childish resistance to change they're holding on to, good reasons or no, and learn to find what they want and to not fight and hide their shame and guilt. They're good for each other.
All this is symbolically and textually made clear with the third main character of the book - dancing. I'm a hobbyist, myself, but I can see Cameron Tate's devotion and love of dance, of the way it can connect people, of the beauty it holds in letting you wordlessly connect to another person. I admire every description in this book; I can almost see the dancing, almost hear the music, as it comes to an emotional crescendo time after time.
This is a sweet book. It's a book where conflict is resolved with love and care, and communication, and understanding. Some of my favorite scenes are just phone calls where one girl sits next to the other and, with no words or touch, helps them through a conversation they've been putting off.
This is a book that makes me want to find someone who's just right, and take them dancing.
July 10, 2025
I really enjoyed Stage Left, Heart Right: it's a sweet, opposites attract, enemies-to-lovers YA romance, set at a dance camp with a scholarship up for grabs. I've never been a dancer (two left feet and a serious issue with just letting go), but I didn't need to be, the story was great even without that firsthand experience. I loved both Grace and Fallon, and really felt for them both with all the pressure they were under, just in different ways. They were distinct characters who seemed so different, but really complemented each other well.
I loved the plot and all of the character development and growth. If I have one criticism of the story, it's that it was a bit repetitive at times. It could have done with a bit more weeding out of some of that, just trimming it up and making it a bit cleaner and more concise. Overall, though, it was a great story, and I'd definitely recommend it!
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
I loved the plot and all of the character development and growth. If I have one criticism of the story, it's that it was a bit repetitive at times. It could have done with a bit more weeding out of some of that, just trimming it up and making it a bit cleaner and more concise. Overall, though, it was a great story, and I'd definitely recommend it!
I received a free ARC from the author, but my review is unbiased and left voluntarily.
June 2, 2025
I rarely pay attention to covers, but I liked this one and hope it is accurate!
I’m only 5% in but really liking this book. The differences between the mains seems stark. I love that one mains sort of defended the other, with no witnesses, when another character said, basically what our main had been thinking. I like the different but forced to work together grouping rather than rivals vibe.
I also like the friends group, the support group both mains have.
I am gripped and loving the way the author is laying everything out.
The physical impact of the mental struggles I found particularly compelling. I often complain of cartoon baddies in many books I read. This writer manages to avoid caricature, but oh I am riled against the baddy!
I am pleased to say the baddy didn’t win in the end and all worked out for our heroes. 4.5
I’m only 5% in but really liking this book. The differences between the mains seems stark. I love that one mains sort of defended the other, with no witnesses, when another character said, basically what our main had been thinking. I like the different but forced to work together grouping rather than rivals vibe.
I also like the friends group, the support group both mains have.
I am gripped and loving the way the author is laying everything out.
The physical impact of the mental struggles I found particularly compelling. I often complain of cartoon baddies in many books I read. This writer manages to avoid caricature, but oh I am riled against the baddy!
I am pleased to say the baddy didn’t win in the end and all worked out for our heroes. 4.5
June 1, 2025
I really liked the book. It had a Center stage or step up feel to it, with the collaborations between different dance styles. But with the sapphic twist to it. The characters are well written, and has lots of personality with each one of them. There was a lot of angst in the book, with a lot of the problems most teenagers face when embarking into the adult world. All the stresses and decisions that needs to be made to live a happy life.
The chemistry between Grace and Fallon is amazing, from the start. They fought a lot, but that was only because they didn't understand each other. In the end, Grace broke out of her doubting spirals with the help of Fallon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The chemistry between Grace and Fallon is amazing, from the start. They fought a lot, but that was only because they didn't understand each other. In the end, Grace broke out of her doubting spirals with the help of Fallon.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
June 22, 2025
This novel was one of those sweet and cozy novels that I just love to read in my spare time. Grace Whitmore and Fallon Reyes attend a dance camp at Echo Pines, and it creates a great setting for an enemies to lovers trope that I was hooked after the first chapter. Both characters were quirky and their lines were kinda funny.
Definitely worth the read if you are looking for a sweet and sapphic book to fill your days home with during this hot weather.
This is an ARC review and my opinion.
Definitely worth the read if you are looking for a sweet and sapphic book to fill your days home with during this hot weather.
This is an ARC review and my opinion.
June 19, 2025
This really was such a cute, heartfelt YA sapphic romance. I didn't know a lot about dance but I feel like I learned a bit from the book. Even if the story was a bit long, I was hooked from the beginning. It was amazing. It felt real and believable. I really liked the relationship that Grace had with her aunt.
You'll definitely like the book if you like:
⚫Femme for femme
⚫Low-angst
⚫No spice
⚫Lots of feelings
⚫Enemies to lovers
You'll definitely like the book if you like:
⚫Femme for femme
⚫Low-angst
⚫No spice
⚫Lots of feelings
⚫Enemies to lovers
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2025
Sequel please!
Loved this story. I really liked the way they supported each other and made them want to try harder and be better for the other. Looking for more from this couple!
Loved this story. I really liked the way they supported each other and made them want to try harder and be better for the other. Looking for more from this couple!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews