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It's Only Dancing
New York Times bestselling author Jasmine Guillory makes her highly anticipated young adult debut with a Dirty Dancing-inspired contemporary romcom!
It's the summer before her senior year of high school and Kat (Kitty to her family) planned to spend it reading good books, working on her college applications, and enjoying her independence. Instead, she's stuck for an entire month with her family at a camp in the desert in Southern California.
When she stumbles across a staff party on the first night, she's jealous of their joyful, uninhibited dancing. She hasn't danced like that since two years ago, when she was forced to quit ballet, which she once loved more than anything. She's determined to leave dance where it belongs -- the past.
But Jordan, the handsome and magnetic hip-hop dance instructor, keeps dragging it into her present. As Kat begins sneaking around and lying to her parents to spend time with Jordan, she'll have to ask herself -- what is she willing to risk to finally feel free? And is it possible her feelings for Jordan could reignite her love for dance?
It's the summer before her senior year of high school and Kat (Kitty to her family) planned to spend it reading good books, working on her college applications, and enjoying her independence. Instead, she's stuck for an entire month with her family at a camp in the desert in Southern California.
When she stumbles across a staff party on the first night, she's jealous of their joyful, uninhibited dancing. She hasn't danced like that since two years ago, when she was forced to quit ballet, which she once loved more than anything. She's determined to leave dance where it belongs -- the past.
But Jordan, the handsome and magnetic hip-hop dance instructor, keeps dragging it into her present. As Kat begins sneaking around and lying to her parents to spend time with Jordan, she'll have to ask herself -- what is she willing to risk to finally feel free? And is it possible her feelings for Jordan could reignite her love for dance?
320 pages, Paperback
Published October 6, 2026
About the author
Jasmine Guillory
30 books24.4k followersJasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels including The Wedding Date, the Reese's Book Club selection The Proposal, and Flirting Lessons. Her work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Cosmopolitan, Bon Appetit, and Time, and she is a frequent book contributor on The Today Show. She lives in Oakland, California.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
October 7, 2026
Babes when I saw Southern California + dance I knew I needed this book.💃🏾☀️ And as someone who grew up loving dance I was ready to step into this one.🤌🏾🔥
🩰 It’s Only Dancing follows Kat who is a former ballet dancer who has stepped away from dance after being made to feel like her body wasn’t “right” for ballet. She’s off to family camp for the summer and meets Jordan. A hip hop dance instructor and dance starts finding its way back into her life.
This book was about rediscovering something you once loved, learning to trust your body again, letting go of perfection, and figuring out who you are when you stop letting other people define you.🥹
Kat is such an overthinker, and BABE… I felt a little too much😂. It had me remembering what it felt like to be a teenager questioning everything, especially when it comes to your body, confidence, friendships, and figuring out where you fit. And at times, as an adult too.
Jordan was so freaking sweet and supportive Jordan. Their connection grew through dance, friendship, trust, and getting to know each other. Dance becomes their language.
And Toni….at first I was like “what is up with this chick?”👀👀 But she deserves her flowers too. She had the attitude, the loyalty, and the honesty.
As a Dirty Dancing fan I loved seeing a beloved story get reimagined for a younger, more diverse generation. It has those familiar bones but this version feels much more reflective of the world today’s teens are growing up in.
This was such a sweet feel good summer read with heart.☀️
🌴 As a Southern California babe and a lover of dance…this one felt especially close to home.💃🏾
🩰 It’s Only Dancing follows Kat who is a former ballet dancer who has stepped away from dance after being made to feel like her body wasn’t “right” for ballet. She’s off to family camp for the summer and meets Jordan. A hip hop dance instructor and dance starts finding its way back into her life.
This book was about rediscovering something you once loved, learning to trust your body again, letting go of perfection, and figuring out who you are when you stop letting other people define you.🥹
Kat is such an overthinker, and BABE… I felt a little too much😂. It had me remembering what it felt like to be a teenager questioning everything, especially when it comes to your body, confidence, friendships, and figuring out where you fit. And at times, as an adult too.
Jordan was so freaking sweet and supportive Jordan. Their connection grew through dance, friendship, trust, and getting to know each other. Dance becomes their language.
And Toni….at first I was like “what is up with this chick?”👀👀 But she deserves her flowers too. She had the attitude, the loyalty, and the honesty.
As a Dirty Dancing fan I loved seeing a beloved story get reimagined for a younger, more diverse generation. It has those familiar bones but this version feels much more reflective of the world today’s teens are growing up in.
This was such a sweet feel good summer read with heart.☀️
🌴 As a Southern California babe and a lover of dance…this one felt especially close to home.💃🏾
March 26, 2026
Jasmine Guillory, author of adult romance novels including The Proposal, The Wedding and Flirting Lessons, debuts her first novel for high school readers of romance, especially designed for those who love to dance or have a fondness for the 1987 box office hit, Dirty Dancing.
Katherine/Kat who used to go by Kitty and her dad just can’t get it, was serious about ballet since elementary school but as her body began to develop curves not usually seen on the most successful ballerinas, a spiteful instructor took away her joy of dance with belittling critiques and lesser roles leading to her quitting and swearing off dance of all types. A forced togetherness summer camp family experience just may change that…if gruff Toni and gorgeous Jordan, dance instructors at camp, have anything to do with it! A chance discovery of a staff only hip hop dance party leaves Kat wondering if there is a place for dance in her life and then when Jordan needs a partner for an important performance, Toni is sure of it even with Kat isn’t! Ten days of intense practice results in not only a great partnership on stage but Kat and Jordan find their hip hop heat extends to their hearts, too.
Guillory throws in a variety of relationship complications-staffers not permitted to date campers, Kat’s heart wounds from more than just an ignorant ballet instructor, a bigoted camp director with bad ideas, as well as a protest in town that results in an undeserved arrest and dismissal from employment at the camp. The parallels between It’s Only Dancing and Dirty Dancing are clearly present but Kat and Jordan are not simply a Black Baby/Francis and Johnny. Readers will not be able to predict every scene and will not burst into “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” as they read.
Recommended for high school libraries, especially if there is a large dancing population present.
*Profanity: less than 30 instances of mild cursing with the acronym WTF used once which may sound like a lot, but it really didn’t feel that way to this retired librarian
*Violence: A protest at a bookstore hosting a drag story time gets verbally abusive and patrons were berated and harassed to the point of fear; a camp protest of the firing of an employee and unfair treatment of others is loud but not abusive or threatening
*Sexual content: None, but Kat and Jordan do kiss often and with great passion, there is discussion of how physically attractive he finds her, and Kat definitely toys with the idea of more than just kissing him but neither make any move in that direction.
*Representation: Kat’s family is Black as are Jordan and his father. Other staffers have names indicating diversity and several staffers are noted as being racially discriminated against by the camp director. Toni’s partner is non-binary and their identity is a significant factor in the storyline.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Scholastic Press.
Katherine/Kat who used to go by Kitty and her dad just can’t get it, was serious about ballet since elementary school but as her body began to develop curves not usually seen on the most successful ballerinas, a spiteful instructor took away her joy of dance with belittling critiques and lesser roles leading to her quitting and swearing off dance of all types. A forced togetherness summer camp family experience just may change that…if gruff Toni and gorgeous Jordan, dance instructors at camp, have anything to do with it! A chance discovery of a staff only hip hop dance party leaves Kat wondering if there is a place for dance in her life and then when Jordan needs a partner for an important performance, Toni is sure of it even with Kat isn’t! Ten days of intense practice results in not only a great partnership on stage but Kat and Jordan find their hip hop heat extends to their hearts, too.
Guillory throws in a variety of relationship complications-staffers not permitted to date campers, Kat’s heart wounds from more than just an ignorant ballet instructor, a bigoted camp director with bad ideas, as well as a protest in town that results in an undeserved arrest and dismissal from employment at the camp. The parallels between It’s Only Dancing and Dirty Dancing are clearly present but Kat and Jordan are not simply a Black Baby/Francis and Johnny. Readers will not be able to predict every scene and will not burst into “I’ve Had the Time of My Life” as they read.
Recommended for high school libraries, especially if there is a large dancing population present.
*Profanity: less than 30 instances of mild cursing with the acronym WTF used once which may sound like a lot, but it really didn’t feel that way to this retired librarian
*Violence: A protest at a bookstore hosting a drag story time gets verbally abusive and patrons were berated and harassed to the point of fear; a camp protest of the firing of an employee and unfair treatment of others is loud but not abusive or threatening
*Sexual content: None, but Kat and Jordan do kiss often and with great passion, there is discussion of how physically attractive he finds her, and Kat definitely toys with the idea of more than just kissing him but neither make any move in that direction.
*Representation: Kat’s family is Black as are Jordan and his father. Other staffers have names indicating diversity and several staffers are noted as being racially discriminated against by the camp director. Toni’s partner is non-binary and their identity is a significant factor in the storyline.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Scholastic Press.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you, Hear Our Voices Tours for the gifted copy of It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory
It’s Only Dancing is a retelling of Dirty Dancing. If you enjoyed the movie (or Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights which I enjoyed watching on DVD many times in high school), you will like this book.
Kat (NOT Kitty) and her family travel to Camp Ochoa for family bonding at her mom’s request. The camp provides the opportunity to spend the summer connecting, relaxing, and enjoying various activities including arts and crafts, dance, and sports.
During the first night, Kat takes a walk to get fresh air (and to escape the close quarters of her family’s shared cabin) and stumbles upon a staff party. She can’t look away from two of the counselors dancing. There are strict rules about staff maintaining a professional distance from the campers, but Kat is curious about the handsome hip-hop dance instructor, Jordan (even though she initially tries to deny it).
Kat decided she was through with dancing when she quit ballet two years ago, but when she finds out that Jordan needs a dance partner for an important performance, she wants to give hip-hop dance a chance.
Will Kat rediscover her confidence and enthusiasm for dance and find summer love?
I appreciated that Kat and her family had the luxury of spending the summer in a relaxing setting together. This is Jasmine Guillory’s first YA book and I appreciated the sweet romance between Kat and Jordan. I liked that the family time did result in a growing bond between sisters as Kat began to confide in Ella. The book also did a good job of incorporating social justice issues without making the story too heavy. I also loved that Kat’s parents were loving and understanding. They knew that they could be enthusiastic and overbearing and made an effort to give their daughters space to grow into young adults.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining read. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy
coming of age stories with loveable characters. if you liked One True Loves by Elise Bryant, you will like this book.
It’s Only Dancing is a retelling of Dirty Dancing. If you enjoyed the movie (or Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights which I enjoyed watching on DVD many times in high school), you will like this book.
Kat (NOT Kitty) and her family travel to Camp Ochoa for family bonding at her mom’s request. The camp provides the opportunity to spend the summer connecting, relaxing, and enjoying various activities including arts and crafts, dance, and sports.
During the first night, Kat takes a walk to get fresh air (and to escape the close quarters of her family’s shared cabin) and stumbles upon a staff party. She can’t look away from two of the counselors dancing. There are strict rules about staff maintaining a professional distance from the campers, but Kat is curious about the handsome hip-hop dance instructor, Jordan (even though she initially tries to deny it).
Kat decided she was through with dancing when she quit ballet two years ago, but when she finds out that Jordan needs a dance partner for an important performance, she wants to give hip-hop dance a chance.
Will Kat rediscover her confidence and enthusiasm for dance and find summer love?
I appreciated that Kat and her family had the luxury of spending the summer in a relaxing setting together. This is Jasmine Guillory’s first YA book and I appreciated the sweet romance between Kat and Jordan. I liked that the family time did result in a growing bond between sisters as Kat began to confide in Ella. The book also did a good job of incorporating social justice issues without making the story too heavy. I also loved that Kat’s parents were loving and understanding. They knew that they could be enthusiastic and overbearing and made an effort to give their daughters space to grow into young adults.
Overall this was a fun and entertaining read. I recommend this book to readers who enjoy
coming of age stories with loveable characters. if you liked One True Loves by Elise Bryant, you will like this book.
October 12, 2026
”I didn’t know very much about hip-hop. But I knew that this dance was about falling in love."
- Jasmine Guillory, It’s Only Dancing
The Woods-Joneses have signed up to an outdoor camp (Camp Ochoa) for ”family togetherness" as they called it. There’s Katherine who wants to coop up in her tent and her extrovert sister Ella wants to be the centre of all attention. Katherine can’t take her eyes off Jordan, a hip-hop instructor that had a hypnotic effect on her. One fine night, Toni confesses about a dance competition that's going to take place two weeks down the line and about her partner, Frankie, Katherine offered to help. For someone who has only trained in Ballet, will Katherine rise up to the challenge?
”It’s there in you; you just need the right music or the right mood to let it out.”
It's been a long time since I read a good YA rom-com. I was putting off reading them as I felt that: I was too old for it. Guess I was wrong and how?!. Katherine learns a lot more than hip-hop, she understands familial values and being there for her people. From a person averse to attending Camp Ochoa, to being someone who embraced change, Guillory has traced an organic character arc for her. Thing that this book tackles are mental health, BIPOC characters, LGBTQIAP+ representation and body image issues.
It's Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory can be thought of as a great introductory read for YA audience and a great palate cleanser for adults.
- Jasmine Guillory, It’s Only Dancing
The Woods-Joneses have signed up to an outdoor camp (Camp Ochoa) for ”family togetherness" as they called it. There’s Katherine who wants to coop up in her tent and her extrovert sister Ella wants to be the centre of all attention. Katherine can’t take her eyes off Jordan, a hip-hop instructor that had a hypnotic effect on her. One fine night, Toni confesses about a dance competition that's going to take place two weeks down the line and about her partner, Frankie, Katherine offered to help. For someone who has only trained in Ballet, will Katherine rise up to the challenge?
”It’s there in you; you just need the right music or the right mood to let it out.”
It's been a long time since I read a good YA rom-com. I was putting off reading them as I felt that: I was too old for it. Guess I was wrong and how?!. Katherine learns a lot more than hip-hop, she understands familial values and being there for her people. From a person averse to attending Camp Ochoa, to being someone who embraced change, Guillory has traced an organic character arc for her. Thing that this book tackles are mental health, BIPOC characters, LGBTQIAP+ representation and body image issues.
It's Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory can be thought of as a great introductory read for YA audience and a great palate cleanser for adults.
September 19, 2026
You had me at Dirty Dancing. I ate that movie up as a kid, and I loved how Jasmine Guillory reimagined it for the current age. This book does a great job of representation, not just for the BIPOC community but the LGBTQ+ community and political activism. The complex family dynamics between Kat and her parents were so cute in this day and age. So many teens deal with helicopter parents, and it was funny that she didn't want to tell them about hip-hop because she didn't want them to get over the top. I also like how the parents turned it around on her and opened her eyes to them being real people and not just her parents. I always thought parents had all the answers growing up, and I wish I had seen that my parents are regular people at a younger age.
This would have been a perfect YA summer romance, and I think it missed the mark by publishing in October. It just felt out of season. I could see so many kids going to sleepaway camp with this in their bags.
Look, I've come to terms with the fact that I just don't jive with YA anymore. I am too far past it in age to relate as much. Don't get me wrong, I still related to a lot of what was going on. Sometimes it just feels juvenile, and I also sometimes feel creepy that I am reading about teenagers' love lives 😂 But overall, this book had a little bit of something for everyone and had me reminiscing about my camp years.
Read if you like a coming-of-age dance romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases on 10/8
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This would have been a perfect YA summer romance, and I think it missed the mark by publishing in October. It just felt out of season. I could see so many kids going to sleepaway camp with this in their bags.
Look, I've come to terms with the fact that I just don't jive with YA anymore. I am too far past it in age to relate as much. Don't get me wrong, I still related to a lot of what was going on. Sometimes it just feels juvenile, and I also sometimes feel creepy that I am reading about teenagers' love lives 😂 But overall, this book had a little bit of something for everyone and had me reminiscing about my camp years.
Read if you like a coming-of-age dance romance. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review. This book releases on 10/8
Like what you hear? Follow me on Tiktok and Instagram
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
September Read: It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory 4 ⭐️ Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this before the release date!
This was such a fun YA romance with a little bit of a Dirty Dancing feel. Katherine heads to family summer camp expecting to be bored out of her mind, but instead she finds herself caught up in dance rehearsals, new friendships, and feelings for Jordan, a talented hip-hop dancer who is also her camp counselor. What starts as Kat stepping in to help Toni turns into something much bigger, and I loved watching the friendship between the three of them grow. The family dynamic was another highlight for me. Kat’s parents and younger sister Ella were supportive, funny, and genuinely felt like a real family.
Kat and Jordan’s relationship had that sweet, forbidden feel, and the dance element made the story even more enjoyable.
This was such a fun YA romance with a little bit of a Dirty Dancing feel. Katherine heads to family summer camp expecting to be bored out of her mind, but instead she finds herself caught up in dance rehearsals, new friendships, and feelings for Jordan, a talented hip-hop dancer who is also her camp counselor. What starts as Kat stepping in to help Toni turns into something much bigger, and I loved watching the friendship between the three of them grow. The family dynamic was another highlight for me. Kat’s parents and younger sister Ella were supportive, funny, and genuinely felt like a real family.
Kat and Jordan’s relationship had that sweet, forbidden feel, and the dance element made the story even more enjoyable.
September 16, 2026
Although this was a quick read and had some cute moments, I found it to just be very mediocre. It’s essentially a Dirty Dancing retelling but it falls flat.
Kat goes to summer camp with her family only to be intrigued by Jordan, a beloved counselor who teaches Hip Hop classes. Kat used to do ballet but quit after a series of bad events that I won’t spoil here. Along with Toni, Jordan’s best friend and dance partner, Kat finds her love of dance again and her and Jordan find young love.
The story just seemed repetitive and was missing that spark. I know it’s a YA novel but it threw in too many things to seem relevant, like a curse word that wasn’t needed, or more importantly, too many social justice issues. Trans sports and Drag Queen Story Time earn some serious page time, not to mention little digs at cops, or racial issues, worker’s conditions, and all the protesting, it just took away from the story and seemed like the author was presenting a narrative. That’s where the book lost me.
I still appreciate the chance to read this and thank the author and publisher for this ARC.
Kat goes to summer camp with her family only to be intrigued by Jordan, a beloved counselor who teaches Hip Hop classes. Kat used to do ballet but quit after a series of bad events that I won’t spoil here. Along with Toni, Jordan’s best friend and dance partner, Kat finds her love of dance again and her and Jordan find young love.
The story just seemed repetitive and was missing that spark. I know it’s a YA novel but it threw in too many things to seem relevant, like a curse word that wasn’t needed, or more importantly, too many social justice issues. Trans sports and Drag Queen Story Time earn some serious page time, not to mention little digs at cops, or racial issues, worker’s conditions, and all the protesting, it just took away from the story and seemed like the author was presenting a narrative. That’s where the book lost me.
I still appreciate the chance to read this and thank the author and publisher for this ARC.
August 4, 2026
Written for high school but middle school readers could find relevant. This is a retelling of the movie Dirty Dancing which succeeds in bringing the story to new audiences. The element of the main character’s experienced with ballet added nice depth. While predictable, the ending was highly satisfying. The dialogue at the beginning felt a tiny bit off but the main character felt like a good representation of a teenage mindset. I liked the dynamic between the sisters and the way the parents were handled at the end was interesting. I didn’t think I would enjoy this story so this was a nice surprise.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Such a refreshing summer YA romance! Following Kitty as she rediscovers her passion for dance and falls for Jordan was pure joy. It captures that sweet, thrilling feeling of breaking rules to find yourself again.
October 11, 2026
Such a perfect YA book loved it
October 11, 2026
A story about being a teenager, the importance of self confidence and assurance, as well as the place of community and healthy communication
September 30, 2026
Thank you, Partners @coloredpagesbt and @ireadya for a #gifted copy!
YA contemporary romance with forbidden love, friends to lovers, and coming of age.
I enjoyed this book! It was a fun one! The main characters, Kat, Jordan, and Toni, were so funny. I loved how supportive Kat’s family and new friends were.
If you love, summer camp, a supportive family, friends, healing, and dancing, then you should definitely read this one!
YA contemporary romance with forbidden love, friends to lovers, and coming of age.
I enjoyed this book! It was a fun one! The main characters, Kat, Jordan, and Toni, were so funny. I loved how supportive Kat’s family and new friends were.
If you love, summer camp, a supportive family, friends, healing, and dancing, then you should definitely read this one!
July 14, 2026
It has been awhile since I’ve picked up a YA book, but how could I resist an Advanced Readers Copy I stumbled upon in a little free library!
Overall, a delightful read. Rounded down - my true rating is a very solid 3.5 stars! - mainly for the dialogue, which often threw in a crass word for the sake of relatability and did not quite match Guillory’s delectable descriptions of Kat’s inner monologue and ever-developing feelings about dance, which were real stand out passages in the story. A bit repetitive in both prose and plot, with characters often having the same conversation over and over again, but this minor repetition was balanced out by a summer camp background that felt truly immersive. While I know this is a young-adult read after all, I often wished the characters had a bit more reflection, work towards rectifying a situation when they initially presented wrongdoings, and depth to their conversations. With such self-aware and introspective characters, there were moments that called for a bit more accountability, and without it, made their past growth a bit wishy washy.
All in all, a wonderful structure and story for younger readers, with identifiable themes, characters worth rooting for, and a full story arch. A welcome age-appropriate addition to the YA genre!
Overall, a delightful read. Rounded down - my true rating is a very solid 3.5 stars! - mainly for the dialogue, which often threw in a crass word for the sake of relatability and did not quite match Guillory’s delectable descriptions of Kat’s inner monologue and ever-developing feelings about dance, which were real stand out passages in the story. A bit repetitive in both prose and plot, with characters often having the same conversation over and over again, but this minor repetition was balanced out by a summer camp background that felt truly immersive. While I know this is a young-adult read after all, I often wished the characters had a bit more reflection, work towards rectifying a situation when they initially presented wrongdoings, and depth to their conversations. With such self-aware and introspective characters, there were moments that called for a bit more accountability, and without it, made their past growth a bit wishy washy.
All in all, a wonderful structure and story for younger readers, with identifiable themes, characters worth rooting for, and a full story arch. A welcome age-appropriate addition to the YA genre!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
4.5 stars. After quitting ballet two years ago, Katherine doesn't dance... but an opportunity arises to help out the cute and charming hip-hop dance instructor, Jordan, on a family camping retreat-- and despite having no experience with hip-hop dancing, Kat is willing to try and bust some moves. It's Only Dancing is Guillory's foray into YA romance, and just like her previous work for adults, it's such a fun, page-turning story of love and self-discovery!
July 3, 2026
Read a free ARC from NetGalley.
Former ballerina Kat is forced to go to family summer camp with her mom, her dad and her younger sister Ella. She was not looking forward to all of the family bonding time but starts to have fun. She stumbles upon a staff dance party where she runs into handsome, kind hip-hop dancer, Jordan, and his bestie Toni. Kat thinks that Jordan is good looking and charming but believes that he is dating Toni and is not interested. When she sees Toni crying one night, she finds out Toni has a significant other, Frankie, who is running in an important track meet soon and she would like to be there to show her support. Unfortunately, Toni is Jordan’s dance partner and on the same day as the track meet, she and Jordan are dancing at a festival. This is a chance for dance scouts to see Jordan dance and offer him potential scholarships, which he’ll need to afford school. In an impromptu decision, Kat offers to take Toni’s place if Toni teaches her the routine. Jordan agrees and the three of them form a friendship through many dance practices, all of which Kat is hiding from her family. Soon it seems that Kat and Jordan are becoming more than friends, but the camp staff are not allowed to fraternize with the guests. The main characters are great. I loved the family dynamic- the parents and Ella are written as supportive, funny, caring and their dialogue seems true to life.
This is somewhat of a take on Dirty Dancing, with some added commentary on race, social class, LGBTQ+ issues with the supporting characters, and the unequal treatment and pay of the camp staff by their boss. There are no spicy scenes if you are concerned about that in your YA books. I’ve never read any Jasmine Guillory books before, I really enjoyed this one, so I may have to check out some of her adult novels.
Former ballerina Kat is forced to go to family summer camp with her mom, her dad and her younger sister Ella. She was not looking forward to all of the family bonding time but starts to have fun. She stumbles upon a staff dance party where she runs into handsome, kind hip-hop dancer, Jordan, and his bestie Toni. Kat thinks that Jordan is good looking and charming but believes that he is dating Toni and is not interested. When she sees Toni crying one night, she finds out Toni has a significant other, Frankie, who is running in an important track meet soon and she would like to be there to show her support. Unfortunately, Toni is Jordan’s dance partner and on the same day as the track meet, she and Jordan are dancing at a festival. This is a chance for dance scouts to see Jordan dance and offer him potential scholarships, which he’ll need to afford school. In an impromptu decision, Kat offers to take Toni’s place if Toni teaches her the routine. Jordan agrees and the three of them form a friendship through many dance practices, all of which Kat is hiding from her family. Soon it seems that Kat and Jordan are becoming more than friends, but the camp staff are not allowed to fraternize with the guests. The main characters are great. I loved the family dynamic- the parents and Ella are written as supportive, funny, caring and their dialogue seems true to life.
This is somewhat of a take on Dirty Dancing, with some added commentary on race, social class, LGBTQ+ issues with the supporting characters, and the unequal treatment and pay of the camp staff by their boss. There are no spicy scenes if you are concerned about that in your YA books. I’ve never read any Jasmine Guillory books before, I really enjoyed this one, so I may have to check out some of her adult novels.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to Netgalley and Scholastic Press for an eARC. All opinions are my own.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for the summer camp vibe and family dynamics
This was just okay to me. The writing felt a bit repetitive (same words being repeated, or characters having the same conversations just pages apart). I also wished that there was some more depth to the feelings our characters had but everything was quite surface level (maybe that’s because it’s YA?).
The best part of the book for me was her being honest with her parents about why she doesn’t dance anymore. I thought it was a lovely show of support from them, and I’m happy she got a chance to let them know how she felt so they could also reflect on their actions. And I am glad that she grew in her confidence. I was definitely rooting for her the whole book.
While I loved the premise of two teenagers falling in love through dance, Kat and Jordan’s relationship fell a little flat for me. Much like when she opened up to him for the first time, I wish there had been more heartfelt conversations and moments like that to draw us in to their love.
The summer camp vibe was definitely a nice touch and seeing the story unfold alongside the descriptions of all the fun activities made me wish I was at Camp Ochoa! If you’re looking for a quick, lighthearted summer read with two teenagers, dancing, and rediscovering your passion, I think you might enjoy this.
2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for the summer camp vibe and family dynamics
This was just okay to me. The writing felt a bit repetitive (same words being repeated, or characters having the same conversations just pages apart). I also wished that there was some more depth to the feelings our characters had but everything was quite surface level (maybe that’s because it’s YA?).
The best part of the book for me was her being honest with her parents about why she doesn’t dance anymore. I thought it was a lovely show of support from them, and I’m happy she got a chance to let them know how she felt so they could also reflect on their actions. And I am glad that she grew in her confidence. I was definitely rooting for her the whole book.
While I loved the premise of two teenagers falling in love through dance, Kat and Jordan’s relationship fell a little flat for me. Much like when she opened up to him for the first time, I wish there had been more heartfelt conversations and moments like that to draw us in to their love.
The summer camp vibe was definitely a nice touch and seeing the story unfold alongside the descriptions of all the fun activities made me wish I was at Camp Ochoa! If you’re looking for a quick, lighthearted summer read with two teenagers, dancing, and rediscovering your passion, I think you might enjoy this.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
Kat is not thrilled that she has to spend an entire month at Camp Ochoa in California with her parents and older sister Ella. The four will have a three room cabin and WAY too much time together. Kat would much rather stay home, read, and have some time to herself. Instead, she finds herself scheduled into watercolor painting classes, bird watching, yoga, and pottery. Needing some time to think, she goes for a walk alone one evening and happens upon a group of counselors who are not too much older than she is, dancing. She makes eye contact with Jordan, who is a dance instructor, and gets invited in, but another counselor, Toni, is very negative, and tells Jordan that they should not be fraternizing with campers. THe next day, Kat comes across Toni crying, and gets to talking to her. Toni's nonbinary partner, Frankie, is running in a state track meet, and she really wants to go and be supportive, but the meet is on the same day she is supposed to be dancing with Jordan so he can perform for some college scouts. His father is the chef at the camp, and Jordan hopes he can get a college scholarship for his hip hop dancing. Kat had been an avid ballet dancer, but as she got older and got curves, was told she didn't have the "right" body for ballet. This put her off dancing, but she tries some of the moves with Toni and decides she likes hip hop. She tells Jordan that her parents won't mind if she goes with him to perform, but she just plans on sneaking off and not telling them, as her mother has made negative comments about the clothing and movements included in this style of dance. The two are soon practicing their moves, and becoming closer. Kat is a good technical dancer, but still adheres to the very stiff and formal strictures of ballet. Jordan feels that if she were more comfortable with him, her dancing would be more relaxed, and promises that he won't step over any lines. The two do like each other, and spend a lot of time kissing even though this could get Jordan in trouble with the uptight director, Susanna. The two manage to perform for the scout, and hope to dance again at the camp Show, but their relationship is revealed and Jordan is fired. Kat comes clean to her parents, who are just glad that she is happier, since she took leaving ballet so hard. The camp rallies behind Jordan and mounts a protest to get his job back. Will they be successful?
Strengths: I didn't know that family camp was still a thing; this book loosely reimagines the movie Dirty Dancing, which was set in a 1960s Borscht Belt family resort. It's updated nicely, with a more diverse cast, and good details like the father working remotely instead of driving up every weekend from the city. Jordan was a great guy, and he treated Kat with a lot of respect. The parents give Kat a lot of freedom (as one might do in a family camp setting), and are extremely understanding, since they trust her to make good choices, but they are just the right amount of annoying! The romance is very sweet, and nothing happens except for a lot of kissing. There aren't too many books about hip hop dancing, so this was fun to read.
Weaknesses: Do modern teens care about forty year old movies? This would be roughly equivalent of people my age being obsessed with Casablanca when I was in high school. It was interesting to see the chapter headings, which were titles of 1980s movies, including The Breakfast Club and When Harry Met Sally.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like young adult romance books that are also appealing to middle grade readers like Watson's Love is a Revolution, Rigaud's Simone Breaks all the Rules, or Kasie West's or Michelle Dalton's romance titles.
Kat is not thrilled that she has to spend an entire month at Camp Ochoa in California with her parents and older sister Ella. The four will have a three room cabin and WAY too much time together. Kat would much rather stay home, read, and have some time to herself. Instead, she finds herself scheduled into watercolor painting classes, bird watching, yoga, and pottery. Needing some time to think, she goes for a walk alone one evening and happens upon a group of counselors who are not too much older than she is, dancing. She makes eye contact with Jordan, who is a dance instructor, and gets invited in, but another counselor, Toni, is very negative, and tells Jordan that they should not be fraternizing with campers. THe next day, Kat comes across Toni crying, and gets to talking to her. Toni's nonbinary partner, Frankie, is running in a state track meet, and she really wants to go and be supportive, but the meet is on the same day she is supposed to be dancing with Jordan so he can perform for some college scouts. His father is the chef at the camp, and Jordan hopes he can get a college scholarship for his hip hop dancing. Kat had been an avid ballet dancer, but as she got older and got curves, was told she didn't have the "right" body for ballet. This put her off dancing, but she tries some of the moves with Toni and decides she likes hip hop. She tells Jordan that her parents won't mind if she goes with him to perform, but she just plans on sneaking off and not telling them, as her mother has made negative comments about the clothing and movements included in this style of dance. The two are soon practicing their moves, and becoming closer. Kat is a good technical dancer, but still adheres to the very stiff and formal strictures of ballet. Jordan feels that if she were more comfortable with him, her dancing would be more relaxed, and promises that he won't step over any lines. The two do like each other, and spend a lot of time kissing even though this could get Jordan in trouble with the uptight director, Susanna. The two manage to perform for the scout, and hope to dance again at the camp Show, but their relationship is revealed and Jordan is fired. Kat comes clean to her parents, who are just glad that she is happier, since she took leaving ballet so hard. The camp rallies behind Jordan and mounts a protest to get his job back. Will they be successful?
Strengths: I didn't know that family camp was still a thing; this book loosely reimagines the movie Dirty Dancing, which was set in a 1960s Borscht Belt family resort. It's updated nicely, with a more diverse cast, and good details like the father working remotely instead of driving up every weekend from the city. Jordan was a great guy, and he treated Kat with a lot of respect. The parents give Kat a lot of freedom (as one might do in a family camp setting), and are extremely understanding, since they trust her to make good choices, but they are just the right amount of annoying! The romance is very sweet, and nothing happens except for a lot of kissing. There aren't too many books about hip hop dancing, so this was fun to read.
Weaknesses: Do modern teens care about forty year old movies? This would be roughly equivalent of people my age being obsessed with Casablanca when I was in high school. It was interesting to see the chapter headings, which were titles of 1980s movies, including The Breakfast Club and When Harry Met Sally.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like young adult romance books that are also appealing to middle grade readers like Watson's Love is a Revolution, Rigaud's Simone Breaks all the Rules, or Kasie West's or Michelle Dalton's romance titles.
October 8, 2026
Huge thank you to Scholastic Inc. and Colored Pages Book Tours for a copy of: ‘ It’s Only Dancing’ in exchange for an honest review. Not only is the book amazing, but the cover and spray edges are absolutely beautiful.
We Meet Kat (not Kitty), who’s going on a family trip with her sister and parents to Camp Ochoa. Her mom thought it would be ideal to have some family bonding time and also for the girls to explore their own identities and what they like doing. Camp Ochoa offers a place where adults and children alike can participate in activities such as: bird watching, arts and crafts, meditation, dancing, and yoga. Kat isn’t too thrilled about spending a month cooped up in a small space with her family. All she wanted to do was read, chill out, and be left alone.
After feeling smothered, she decided to venture out for a walk. She ends up at a barn where she oddly hears some hip-hop music bumping. She takes a closer look and realizes everyone is dancing and having a good time. She notices Jordan. The hip-hop instructor who she oddly is attracted to. She knows it’s wrong, especially since counselors cannot be seen fraternizing with campers. After the dancing Jordan approaches her along with Toni. His dancing partner. At first Toni isn’t the nicest, but that doesn’t stop Jordan from being nice to Kat. One day Kat stumbles upon Toni crying and she explains how her partner has a big event coming up and needs to be there for them, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint Jordan and not be there for his competition. That’s where Kat comes into play. After being in Ballet for many years ago, Kat argues she’ll be great with choreography. Even though she hadn’t danced in two years after having to quit Ballet because of a crappy instructor and another traumatic experience, she knows she has this dance in the bag, besides she really wants to help out both Toni and Jordan. She decides to fill in for Toni while she goes away, and so starts the incredible relationship between Kat and Jordan.
I absolutely LOVED this book. This is Jasmine Guillory’s first YA book and it didn’t disappoint. The writing was amazing and easy to follow, plus it's a retelling of the amazing 80's movie: 'Dirty Dancing". I loved the representation in the book. From different ethnic backgrounds, to the LGBTQ+ community. It also touched on social justice instances as well. The character development was on point, especially with Kat. She learned how to love herself and not feel ashamed of her curves, and that she still has that fire in her to dance again. She just needed the right partner to bring it out of her.
We Meet Kat (not Kitty), who’s going on a family trip with her sister and parents to Camp Ochoa. Her mom thought it would be ideal to have some family bonding time and also for the girls to explore their own identities and what they like doing. Camp Ochoa offers a place where adults and children alike can participate in activities such as: bird watching, arts and crafts, meditation, dancing, and yoga. Kat isn’t too thrilled about spending a month cooped up in a small space with her family. All she wanted to do was read, chill out, and be left alone.
After feeling smothered, she decided to venture out for a walk. She ends up at a barn where she oddly hears some hip-hop music bumping. She takes a closer look and realizes everyone is dancing and having a good time. She notices Jordan. The hip-hop instructor who she oddly is attracted to. She knows it’s wrong, especially since counselors cannot be seen fraternizing with campers. After the dancing Jordan approaches her along with Toni. His dancing partner. At first Toni isn’t the nicest, but that doesn’t stop Jordan from being nice to Kat. One day Kat stumbles upon Toni crying and she explains how her partner has a big event coming up and needs to be there for them, but she also doesn’t want to disappoint Jordan and not be there for his competition. That’s where Kat comes into play. After being in Ballet for many years ago, Kat argues she’ll be great with choreography. Even though she hadn’t danced in two years after having to quit Ballet because of a crappy instructor and another traumatic experience, she knows she has this dance in the bag, besides she really wants to help out both Toni and Jordan. She decides to fill in for Toni while she goes away, and so starts the incredible relationship between Kat and Jordan.
I absolutely LOVED this book. This is Jasmine Guillory’s first YA book and it didn’t disappoint. The writing was amazing and easy to follow, plus it's a retelling of the amazing 80's movie: 'Dirty Dancing". I loved the representation in the book. From different ethnic backgrounds, to the LGBTQ+ community. It also touched on social justice instances as well. The character development was on point, especially with Kat. She learned how to love herself and not feel ashamed of her curves, and that she still has that fire in her to dance again. She just needed the right partner to bring it out of her.
October 8, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5 Stars
It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory 💜🩰💃🏾
Some books are more than just a love story, and It’s Only Dancing is one of them!
I went into this book expecting romance, but I found myself connecting with so much more. Jasmine Guillory gives us a story filled with love, dancing, friendship, self-discovery, and the courage to take up space in a world that sometimes makes us feel like we don’t belong.
As a plus-size Black woman, the conversations surrounding body image and the expectations placed on bigger women really resonated with me. One particular moment about the assumption that fat girls couldn’t be dancers stopped me in my tracks. It was such a powerful reminder of how easily other people’s perceptions can make us question our own abilities and worth.
What I especially appreciated was the message that you don’t have to shrink yourself, physically or emotionally, to deserve happiness, love, or the opportunity to pursue your passions.
And let’s talk about the DANCING! 💃🏾 I loved how music and movement were woven into the story. So much so that I created an entire playlist inspired by the book! From old-school favorites to R&B and hip-hop, I could practically hear the soundtrack playing as I turned the pages.
The romance was sweet, the themes were meaningful, and the representation made my heart happy. I found myself wanting to finish the book while simultaneously wishing it wouldn’t end. That’s always a sign of a good read for me!
My biggest takeaway? You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to follow your dreams. You are allowed to be loved exactly as you are. And most importantly, you don’t need anyone’s permission to dance. 💜
If you love Black romance, plus-size representation, music, and stories about finding yourself while finding love, add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to @hearourvoicestours for providing me with an advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
— Brittney | @msbrayblooms 💜📚
It’s Only Dancing by Jasmine Guillory 💜🩰💃🏾
Some books are more than just a love story, and It’s Only Dancing is one of them!
I went into this book expecting romance, but I found myself connecting with so much more. Jasmine Guillory gives us a story filled with love, dancing, friendship, self-discovery, and the courage to take up space in a world that sometimes makes us feel like we don’t belong.
As a plus-size Black woman, the conversations surrounding body image and the expectations placed on bigger women really resonated with me. One particular moment about the assumption that fat girls couldn’t be dancers stopped me in my tracks. It was such a powerful reminder of how easily other people’s perceptions can make us question our own abilities and worth.
What I especially appreciated was the message that you don’t have to shrink yourself, physically or emotionally, to deserve happiness, love, or the opportunity to pursue your passions.
And let’s talk about the DANCING! 💃🏾 I loved how music and movement were woven into the story. So much so that I created an entire playlist inspired by the book! From old-school favorites to R&B and hip-hop, I could practically hear the soundtrack playing as I turned the pages.
The romance was sweet, the themes were meaningful, and the representation made my heart happy. I found myself wanting to finish the book while simultaneously wishing it wouldn’t end. That’s always a sign of a good read for me!
My biggest takeaway? You are allowed to take up space. You are allowed to follow your dreams. You are allowed to be loved exactly as you are. And most importantly, you don’t need anyone’s permission to dance. 💜
If you love Black romance, plus-size representation, music, and stories about finding yourself while finding love, add this one to your TBR!
Thank you to @hearourvoicestours for providing me with an advance reader copy (ARC) in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
— Brittney | @msbrayblooms 💜📚
October 10, 2026
One of my absolute reading pleasures is stepping into a world that is not my own and experiencing it through books. True YA literature is a way of doing this so that, even though I am aging, I never lose touch with the world as it is being lived by someone else.
In It's Only Dancing, Jasmine Guillory invited me into a story structure I know well from Hollywood—one I experienced as a teen—and remade it entirely into her own. She completely exploded the narrative's representation to reflect the wide, diverse world that today's youth actually live in. This book features not just BIPOC representation, but also vibrant LGBTQIA+ youth set in a world where tomorrow's leaders are already showing up and claiming their spaces in the political sphere—not just in their local communities, but at a national level.
What made me feel truly privileged was getting to know Kat, her parents, and everyone at Southern California's Camp Ochoa. With clear nods to the classic coming-of-age story Dirty Dancing, this book explores the themes of growing up in real-time within a teen setting, rather than the more retrospective feel that Baby brought to her story.
Kat is a talented dancer who, after facing cruel body shaming, feels she must give up ballet because she doesn't "have the right body." But camp offers her something she hasn't explored: Hip-Hop dancing and a seriously breathtaking instructor named Jordan. Here, she discovers her confidence, her power, her love for herself, a dance style she wouldn't have otherwise considered, and a summer romance for the history books.
Jasmine Guillory did a wonderful job of bringing me right back to those days when you felt an urgent need to change the world because you had so many years left to live with the outcome. It brought out a powerful sense of why activism matters and what it feels like to know you are actively working to be on the right side of history.
Thank you Scholastic Books for the gifted copy I read
In It's Only Dancing, Jasmine Guillory invited me into a story structure I know well from Hollywood—one I experienced as a teen—and remade it entirely into her own. She completely exploded the narrative's representation to reflect the wide, diverse world that today's youth actually live in. This book features not just BIPOC representation, but also vibrant LGBTQIA+ youth set in a world where tomorrow's leaders are already showing up and claiming their spaces in the political sphere—not just in their local communities, but at a national level.
What made me feel truly privileged was getting to know Kat, her parents, and everyone at Southern California's Camp Ochoa. With clear nods to the classic coming-of-age story Dirty Dancing, this book explores the themes of growing up in real-time within a teen setting, rather than the more retrospective feel that Baby brought to her story.
Kat is a talented dancer who, after facing cruel body shaming, feels she must give up ballet because she doesn't "have the right body." But camp offers her something she hasn't explored: Hip-Hop dancing and a seriously breathtaking instructor named Jordan. Here, she discovers her confidence, her power, her love for herself, a dance style she wouldn't have otherwise considered, and a summer romance for the history books.
Jasmine Guillory did a wonderful job of bringing me right back to those days when you felt an urgent need to change the world because you had so many years left to live with the outcome. It brought out a powerful sense of why activism matters and what it feels like to know you are actively working to be on the right side of history.
Thank you Scholastic Books for the gifted copy I read
October 11, 2026
Special thanks to the author, @hearourvoicestours @scholastic for my gifted copy‼️
Dirty Dancing meets Save the Last Dance in Jasmine Guillory’s YA debut where 17-year-old Kat Woods spends the summer at Camp Ochoa with her family rediscovering her love for dancing and rebuilding her confidence. Guillory delivers the perfect YA summer romance full of fun, humorous, fluffy and cozy heartwarming moments.
Kat’s journey was beautiful to witness we see a girl whose self-esteem was initially destroyed by people she thought were her friends and a dance instructor who continuously attacked her appearance. Imagine doing something you love being ruined not because you aren’t capable of doing it but because you don’t fit the look. When Kat met Jordan and Toni at camp her defenses were high but they brought out a side of her that she thought was gone forever. Forcing Kat to step outside her comfort zone, break a few rules, face her fears and embrace who she is was all it took for her to rediscover her passion for dancing.
The author gives us a full cast of lively well developed characters. I adored Kat and Jordan’s relationship their chemistry was palpable. Jordan was sweet, charming and the perfect gentleman. He truly liked Kat for who she was and even when she questioned things it was his reassurance that helped her realize he was nothing like her past boyfriend Aiden. I loved her sister and Toni’s character as well they were sassy and so self-assured. These were the kind of people Kat needed in her corner.
Overall this was such a cute read that will resonate with many young readers. Exploring themes that go beyond dancing such as the complexities of forging your own path, being independent, standing up for what you believe in, the pressures of being a teen, healing, body image and loving the skin you’re in. If you love YA romances with bittersweet endings this is worth adding to your TBR‼️
Dirty Dancing meets Save the Last Dance in Jasmine Guillory’s YA debut where 17-year-old Kat Woods spends the summer at Camp Ochoa with her family rediscovering her love for dancing and rebuilding her confidence. Guillory delivers the perfect YA summer romance full of fun, humorous, fluffy and cozy heartwarming moments.
Kat’s journey was beautiful to witness we see a girl whose self-esteem was initially destroyed by people she thought were her friends and a dance instructor who continuously attacked her appearance. Imagine doing something you love being ruined not because you aren’t capable of doing it but because you don’t fit the look. When Kat met Jordan and Toni at camp her defenses were high but they brought out a side of her that she thought was gone forever. Forcing Kat to step outside her comfort zone, break a few rules, face her fears and embrace who she is was all it took for her to rediscover her passion for dancing.
The author gives us a full cast of lively well developed characters. I adored Kat and Jordan’s relationship their chemistry was palpable. Jordan was sweet, charming and the perfect gentleman. He truly liked Kat for who she was and even when she questioned things it was his reassurance that helped her realize he was nothing like her past boyfriend Aiden. I loved her sister and Toni’s character as well they were sassy and so self-assured. These were the kind of people Kat needed in her corner.
Overall this was such a cute read that will resonate with many young readers. Exploring themes that go beyond dancing such as the complexities of forging your own path, being independent, standing up for what you believe in, the pressures of being a teen, healing, body image and loving the skin you’re in. If you love YA romances with bittersweet endings this is worth adding to your TBR‼️
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3 - 3.5 Stars
Think Dirty Dancing, but make the FMC an ex-ballerina, the MMC a hip-hop instructor, the dancer who can't go to the performance a snarky teen, and you have 'It's Only Dancing' in a nutshell.
As one whose always loved the movie and watched it many times I know the logistics of the plot well. The novel sticks to it almost entirely with only the surface details changed. Think of it like swapping one shirt for another in a different color. Same exact shirt simply a different color. While part of me is glad the storyline was followed so true to the original a bigger part is not. Because it made everything too predictable. Frankly, that predictably makes it a little boring.
I did love the characterizations the author crafted. Kat, Jordan, and Toni played off each other so well. I especially loved Toni with her rough exterior, bluntness, and fierce loyalty. This is a girl who'll tell you like it is, one you'd be lucky to have as a friend.
I wasn't feeling the chemistry between Kat and Jordan at all. The dominant Telling style simply doesn't cut it for me when it comes to feeling the attraction. I want to be shown, to feel connected to the characters especially when it comes to romance! Even a situation with heightened tension in the town didn't make me feel what these characters were feeling. Which is really too bad because it's this lack of emotionality, the absence of showing through descriptive language what these characters are feeling throughout these moments that made this a 3-3.5 star instead of 4 star read for me.
If you love Dirty Dancing, hip-hop culture or dance in general you'd probably enjoy It's Only Dancing. The spice level is low so this is a good one for teens and those who prefer Kisses Only romance.
Thanks to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.
Think Dirty Dancing, but make the FMC an ex-ballerina, the MMC a hip-hop instructor, the dancer who can't go to the performance a snarky teen, and you have 'It's Only Dancing' in a nutshell.
As one whose always loved the movie and watched it many times I know the logistics of the plot well. The novel sticks to it almost entirely with only the surface details changed. Think of it like swapping one shirt for another in a different color. Same exact shirt simply a different color. While part of me is glad the storyline was followed so true to the original a bigger part is not. Because it made everything too predictable. Frankly, that predictably makes it a little boring.
I did love the characterizations the author crafted. Kat, Jordan, and Toni played off each other so well. I especially loved Toni with her rough exterior, bluntness, and fierce loyalty. This is a girl who'll tell you like it is, one you'd be lucky to have as a friend.
I wasn't feeling the chemistry between Kat and Jordan at all. The dominant Telling style simply doesn't cut it for me when it comes to feeling the attraction. I want to be shown, to feel connected to the characters especially when it comes to romance! Even a situation with heightened tension in the town didn't make me feel what these characters were feeling. Which is really too bad because it's this lack of emotionality, the absence of showing through descriptive language what these characters are feeling throughout these moments that made this a 3-3.5 star instead of 4 star read for me.
If you love Dirty Dancing, hip-hop culture or dance in general you'd probably enjoy It's Only Dancing. The spice level is low so this is a good one for teens and those who prefer Kisses Only romance.
Thanks to Scholastic Press and NetGalley for the gifted e-arc. All opinions are my own and freely given.
September 30, 2026
Thank you to Scholastic and Netgalley for the ARC.
I enjoyed reading this sweet story even as an adult and would recommend it for high school ages and up.
Jasmine Guillory threads the needle perfectly between upbeat and real life issues. The book doesn't get too heavy, eliciting chuckles at least once per chapter, yet manages to touch on topics such as body positivity, harassment, etc. I've read this author's other books and this one did not disappoint!
It also teaches (without being preachy) valuable lessons about not judging someone based on a first impression (i.e. Toni) and giving people the benefit of the doubt. The main character learns about healthy risk-taking, growth mindset (honoring her progress over perfection), among other self-esteem related themes.
The story is written through the first person POV of Kat(herine), who is somewhat bitter and cynical but also humorous. She's a great character and has standards and pushes back when she thinks someone isn't behaving kindly. Her romantic interest, Jordan, is portrayed as a decent guy that I was happy to cheer on as the reader.
The narrative includes a lot of Kat's internal dialogue, which allows the reader to get a strong sense of her character. From a teacher perspective, an excerpt cold be used to teach story writing using dialogue/inner dialogue/narrative etc.
The cursing is pretty reasonable/PG-13. S--t appears 9 times, along with b- and maybe some others. I did not see the f-word at all. The explicit content goes as far as kissing. This isn't a book I'd read with students in the classroom because of these things, but I think it would be great for HS libraries, public library YA sections, buying for teenage kids, etc.
I enjoyed reading this sweet story even as an adult and would recommend it for high school ages and up.
Jasmine Guillory threads the needle perfectly between upbeat and real life issues. The book doesn't get too heavy, eliciting chuckles at least once per chapter, yet manages to touch on topics such as body positivity, harassment, etc. I've read this author's other books and this one did not disappoint!
It also teaches (without being preachy) valuable lessons about not judging someone based on a first impression (i.e. Toni) and giving people the benefit of the doubt. The main character learns about healthy risk-taking, growth mindset (honoring her progress over perfection), among other self-esteem related themes.
The story is written through the first person POV of Kat(herine), who is somewhat bitter and cynical but also humorous. She's a great character and has standards and pushes back when she thinks someone isn't behaving kindly. Her romantic interest, Jordan, is portrayed as a decent guy that I was happy to cheer on as the reader.
The narrative includes a lot of Kat's internal dialogue, which allows the reader to get a strong sense of her character. From a teacher perspective, an excerpt cold be used to teach story writing using dialogue/inner dialogue/narrative etc.
The cursing is pretty reasonable/PG-13. S--t appears 9 times, along with b- and maybe some others. I did not see the f-word at all. The explicit content goes as far as kissing. This isn't a book I'd read with students in the classroom because of these things, but I think it would be great for HS libraries, public library YA sections, buying for teenage kids, etc.
October 7, 2026
I’m a huge fan of Jasmine Guillory, so I was so happy to have the opportunity to read and review an ARC of It’s Only Dancing, her YA debut novel. This book takes place at Camp Ochoa in California, where families go to enjoy nature and do camp activities together. Kat is a high school junior who is dreading having to spend her summer in a small cabin with her parents and younger sister. When she arrives at camp, she soon meets Toni and Jordan, who teach hip hop dance and are preparing for a big performance in LA. When Toni can’t make the performance, they convince Kat to fill in, and lots of fun ensues.
This book is very loosely based on the plot of the Dirty Dancing movie, which I really enjoyed. I love that movie, especially the dancing. The author does a wonderful job adapting the movie to a YA romance. Learning hip hop and preparing the big performance brings Jordan and Kat closer together, and helps her build her confidence again after a negative experience ended her ballet studies. Jordan and Kat are a really cute match, and they get to know each other and share physical chemistry that is very sweet and totally age-appropriate.
As the narrator, Kat’s voice perfectly represents a teen from her feelings about her family and her outrage over social justice issues that come up in the book. This book is totally appropriate for both middle-school and high-school age readers. While quite different from her adult romance novels, It’s Only Dancing is a cute read with lots of fun characters and an excellent adaptation of a classic love story. If you like dance, or sweet love stories, you will love this book.
Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This book is very loosely based on the plot of the Dirty Dancing movie, which I really enjoyed. I love that movie, especially the dancing. The author does a wonderful job adapting the movie to a YA romance. Learning hip hop and preparing the big performance brings Jordan and Kat closer together, and helps her build her confidence again after a negative experience ended her ballet studies. Jordan and Kat are a really cute match, and they get to know each other and share physical chemistry that is very sweet and totally age-appropriate.
As the narrator, Kat’s voice perfectly represents a teen from her feelings about her family and her outrage over social justice issues that come up in the book. This book is totally appropriate for both middle-school and high-school age readers. While quite different from her adult romance novels, It’s Only Dancing is a cute read with lots of fun characters and an excellent adaptation of a classic love story. If you like dance, or sweet love stories, you will love this book.
Thank you to Scholastic and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
It’s only dancing by Jasmine Guillory is a YA, contemporary rom com, that follows Kat, a highschool dancer who has to spend a month at a Southern California camp and learns to rediscover her connection to dance. Right away I was intrigued with the story, I had a lot of questions about why she’d quite and what could have possibly made someone loose that passion so I found myself hooked to figured it out.
What stood out to me most about this was actually the fact that Kat is such an over thinker. She spends a lot of time in her head and it reminds me of my highschool self. So I found her extremely relatable and at times found her thought process nostalgic. It also felt a bit retrospective, like “woah this is what I sounded like; this is how I felt”. I love the exploration of the concept of being a teen and outgrowing your peers, especially in an activity where the preferred size is small. I love the way “fatphobia” is handled and dealt with in this book, with care and once again relatability, that I think many growing teens understand.
I love the dancing aspect of this story and how hard all the main characters work at protecting the craft. I also love how the parents are portrayed in this book aswell, how the way they parent affects the children. There’s also a sisterhood aspect in this story as well that’s compelling.
Overall I really liked this book, it’s very YA which I love! Something about the innocence of growing and learning who you are when everything feels unsure, I feel like this book captures that in so many ways, as a fellow overthinker I appreciate the concept!
What stood out to me most about this was actually the fact that Kat is such an over thinker. She spends a lot of time in her head and it reminds me of my highschool self. So I found her extremely relatable and at times found her thought process nostalgic. It also felt a bit retrospective, like “woah this is what I sounded like; this is how I felt”. I love the exploration of the concept of being a teen and outgrowing your peers, especially in an activity where the preferred size is small. I love the way “fatphobia” is handled and dealt with in this book, with care and once again relatability, that I think many growing teens understand.
I love the dancing aspect of this story and how hard all the main characters work at protecting the craft. I also love how the parents are portrayed in this book aswell, how the way they parent affects the children. There’s also a sisterhood aspect in this story as well that’s compelling.
Overall I really liked this book, it’s very YA which I love! Something about the innocence of growing and learning who you are when everything feels unsure, I feel like this book captures that in so many ways, as a fellow overthinker I appreciate the concept!
Review of advance copy received from Author
This is a subtle retelling of DIRTY DANCING that hits on so many levels. I am sure you don't need to be familiar with the classic film to enjoy it, but it definitely adds to the pleasure if you are. Kitty (or Kat, if you don't want her to roll her eyes at you) was a devoted student of ballet before the microaggressions and body-shaming of her teacher and classmates made her turn in her toe shoes. She has vowed not to dance anymore and is focusing on her college application process. Well, she is actually using that as an excuse to spend time along while her family is attending an all-ages camp the summer before her senior year.
You're not going to believe this, but when she is out exploring, she comes across a dance party for the employees of the camp and meets a hot and sweet dance teacher and his partner and forms a friendship! At first she thinks Jordan and Toni are romantically involved, but she learns that they are just besties and dance partners. Well, shockingly, it seems that Jordan needs a dance partner for a big performance and Toni has another obligation so guess who volunteers to step (ha!) in and learn hip-hop dancing in a very small window of time. Guess!! Yep, it's the Sheldrake all over again.
Sparks fly, misunderstandings are overcome and this book is shockingly not at the mercy of bad communication between the potential lovers. I adore Jasmine's adult romances (ROYAL HOLIDAY is the best post-menopausal romance ever written and I will fight anyone who says otherwise) and was thrilled that she nailed a younger demographic. This book was a joy to read - touching on themes of reinvention, acceptance, obligation, and, yes, romance.
You're not going to believe this, but when she is out exploring, she comes across a dance party for the employees of the camp and meets a hot and sweet dance teacher and his partner and forms a friendship! At first she thinks Jordan and Toni are romantically involved, but she learns that they are just besties and dance partners. Well, shockingly, it seems that Jordan needs a dance partner for a big performance and Toni has another obligation so guess who volunteers to step (ha!) in and learn hip-hop dancing in a very small window of time. Guess!! Yep, it's the Sheldrake all over again.
Sparks fly, misunderstandings are overcome and this book is shockingly not at the mercy of bad communication between the potential lovers. I adore Jasmine's adult romances (ROYAL HOLIDAY is the best post-menopausal romance ever written and I will fight anyone who says otherwise) and was thrilled that she nailed a younger demographic. This book was a joy to read - touching on themes of reinvention, acceptance, obligation, and, yes, romance.
September 17, 2026
Thank you Scholastic Books for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
Jasmine Guillory does it again!
Look, I’m very on the record that I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Jasmine Guillory, so it’s no surprise that I’m completely sold on her YA debut! A re-imagining of Dirty Dancing, we meet Katherine and her family on their way to Camp Ochoa in central California for a month of family camp. She is NOT impressed at the forced family time, even as she runs into Jordan, a camp counselor her age who runs the dance classes at camp. Kat does NOT dance anymore, thanks to her ballet trauma, so even though Jordan is super cute, no thanks! But upon wandering the camp at night, she finds a staff party where Jordan and Toni are performing a hip hop routine that she can’t look away from. An friendship soon starts as the three of them work together to help Jordan as sparks continue to fly between Jordan and Kat.
I loved how the author takes inspiration from a beloved 80s movie (set in the 60s) and updated it for 2026, making it more inclusive with more supportive adults (mostly). There’s great stuff with Kat’s family as well as her learning how to trust herself again, making friends and moving her body (that she doesn’t always love). There’s no abortion this time, but the third act drama feels very of the moment, even (or especially) in California. The teens felt like teenagers without veering too heavily into dramatics, hysterics, or precociousness. Great work as always!
https://jenninsf.wordpress.com/2026/0...
Jasmine Guillory does it again!
Look, I’m very on the record that I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by Jasmine Guillory, so it’s no surprise that I’m completely sold on her YA debut! A re-imagining of Dirty Dancing, we meet Katherine and her family on their way to Camp Ochoa in central California for a month of family camp. She is NOT impressed at the forced family time, even as she runs into Jordan, a camp counselor her age who runs the dance classes at camp. Kat does NOT dance anymore, thanks to her ballet trauma, so even though Jordan is super cute, no thanks! But upon wandering the camp at night, she finds a staff party where Jordan and Toni are performing a hip hop routine that she can’t look away from. An friendship soon starts as the three of them work together to help Jordan as sparks continue to fly between Jordan and Kat.
I loved how the author takes inspiration from a beloved 80s movie (set in the 60s) and updated it for 2026, making it more inclusive with more supportive adults (mostly). There’s great stuff with Kat’s family as well as her learning how to trust herself again, making friends and moving her body (that she doesn’t always love). There’s no abortion this time, but the third act drama feels very of the moment, even (or especially) in California. The teens felt like teenagers without veering too heavily into dramatics, hysterics, or precociousness. Great work as always!
August 23, 2026
Jasmine Guillory’s young adult debut is a retelling of Dirty Dancing with a touch of Save the Last Dance (2001 rom-com starring Julia Stiles and Sean Patrick Thomas). It is told in first person by the main character – Kat Woods-Jones.
The summer before her senior year of high school, Kat is (reluctantly) going to a month-long family camp when she would rather be spending the summer doing something to prepare her for upcoming college applications. An introvert in a family of extroverts, Kat slips away to get some quiet time and stumbles on a staff party where she sees Jordan and Toni dancing a hip hop routine that reminds her of the joy she once felt when dancing ballet.
Kat steps in to dance with Jordan at an event so that Toni can support her partner at a state track meet. This is not a straight retelling of Dirty Dancing with Black characters (and no inappropriate age gap); there are enough differences to keep readers engaged. Topics include past bullying and body dysmorphia, along with on page racism and LGBTQ+ discrimination. All are handled well without becoming “preachy.”
The one part of the story that really stood out for me is Kat’s relationship with her sister Ella. No spoilers, but I think their perceptions of each other are very common among siblings.
I would definitely recommend this novel for teens (and also for adults). It shows a teen rediscovering her joy and confidence, as well as the need to support friends and stand up for what’s right.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
The summer before her senior year of high school, Kat is (reluctantly) going to a month-long family camp when she would rather be spending the summer doing something to prepare her for upcoming college applications. An introvert in a family of extroverts, Kat slips away to get some quiet time and stumbles on a staff party where she sees Jordan and Toni dancing a hip hop routine that reminds her of the joy she once felt when dancing ballet.
Kat steps in to dance with Jordan at an event so that Toni can support her partner at a state track meet. This is not a straight retelling of Dirty Dancing with Black characters (and no inappropriate age gap); there are enough differences to keep readers engaged. Topics include past bullying and body dysmorphia, along with on page racism and LGBTQ+ discrimination. All are handled well without becoming “preachy.”
The one part of the story that really stood out for me is Kat’s relationship with her sister Ella. No spoilers, but I think their perceptions of each other are very common among siblings.
I would definitely recommend this novel for teens (and also for adults). It shows a teen rediscovering her joy and confidence, as well as the need to support friends and stand up for what’s right.
I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for my honest review.
October 11, 2026
When Kat is forced to attend summer camp with her sister and parents, there’s nothing she wants to do less than forced family time. After dedicated much of her life to ballet, Kat suddenly quit and hasn’t wanted to discuss dance or much else for that matter. However, after meeting Toni and Jordan, camp counselors who dance, Kat is in for the most surprising and fulfilling camp experience of her life.
This book is Guillory’s first YA release, and it reminds me of Save the Last Dance, an age appropriate Dirty Dancing, and The Hate U Give. The pace of this story is pretty moderate, and it is an age appropriate romance. Kat and Jordan help each other overcome some pretty serious social issues, and the subject matter is a great tool to help younger readers think more broadly about issues affecting people of different backgrounds and identities. That said, some of the details and plot points toward the middle and end of the book drift a bit from the main focus (or at least what I thought was the main focus). I would have liked to see more development and commentary from Frankie’s character, since that minor character leads to a major plot development. There’s also not much development between Kat and her sister Ella to explain the existing strain in their relationship before the last parts of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this read.
This book is Guillory’s first YA release, and it reminds me of Save the Last Dance, an age appropriate Dirty Dancing, and The Hate U Give. The pace of this story is pretty moderate, and it is an age appropriate romance. Kat and Jordan help each other overcome some pretty serious social issues, and the subject matter is a great tool to help younger readers think more broadly about issues affecting people of different backgrounds and identities. That said, some of the details and plot points toward the middle and end of the book drift a bit from the main focus (or at least what I thought was the main focus). I would have liked to see more development and commentary from Frankie’s character, since that minor character leads to a major plot development. There’s also not much development between Kat and her sister Ella to explain the existing strain in their relationship before the last parts of the book.
Overall, I enjoyed this read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
When you see a Jasmine Guillory book, you add it to your to read list. When you see it on NetGalley you send a request and cross your fingers. I was so excited to receive an advanced e book copy of It' Only Dancing, a YA rom com written by Jasmine Guillory. This is a Dirty Dancing style novel that teens and young adults will love. Main character Katherine is brought to a month long family camp against her will. She has no desire to be there. Kat does not want to take the classes that are offered especially the dance classes. She is a former ballet dancer with a bitter taste in her mouth for dance. But when she meets Jordan and Toni, the hip hop dance instructors, her view on dance and her body begin to change. It does not hurt that Jordan is good looking, sweet, and that sparks begin to fly. But rules are rules, and Kat is not supposed to hang out with the employees after hours. Well, nobody buts Kat in the corner! I really enjoyed this book. I liked how strong Kat was and how supportive her parents were in this book. I could totally see this book during into a TV mini series showcasing this love story as well as all of the dancing! A really good summer camp read!
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