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It's Only Dancing
Not yet published
Expected 6 Oct 26New 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 Katherine (Kitty to her family) wants to be spending it interning for an important organization or doing something impressive--instead, she's spending an entire month with her family at a camp on the coast of 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 the insults forced her to quit ballet, which she once loved more than anything.
When she and a hip hop dance instructor named Jordan start to fall in love, she realizes that getting too close with a handsome and magnetic employee could tarnish her good girl reputation. As Kitty begins sneaking around and lying to her parents in order to spend time with Jordan, she'll have to ask herself--what is she willing to risk in order to finally feel free? And is it possible her love for Jordan could reignite her love for dance?
It's the summer before her senior year of high school and Katherine (Kitty to her family) wants to be spending it interning for an important organization or doing something impressive--instead, she's spending an entire month with her family at a camp on the coast of 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 the insults forced her to quit ballet, which she once loved more than anything.
When she and a hip hop dance instructor named Jordan start to fall in love, she realizes that getting too close with a handsome and magnetic employee could tarnish her good girl reputation. As Kitty begins sneaking around and lying to her parents in order to spend time with Jordan, she'll have to ask herself--what is she willing to risk in order to finally feel free? And is it possible her love for Jordan could reignite her love for dance?
320 pages, Paperback
Expected publication October 6, 2026
About the author
Jasmine Guillory
27 books24.3k 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 - 29 of 29 reviews
March 27, 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.
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.
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 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.
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
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.
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.
August 26, 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.
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!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kat gave up ballet years ago due to body shaming by an instructor. (A side note that I also gave up ballet due to body consciousness issues but thankfully no shaming so I really identified with this character.) Her family goes to a family camp for a month the summer before her senior year. Kat starts out pretty sulkily (as I think most teens would lol) but that all changes when she meets two instructors who she observes dancing with incredible joy. As the story progresses, she falls in love with one instructor Jordan who helps her to start to dance again.
First, I think this whole family camp thing sounds fun! I loved how the classes that Kat begrudgingly signed up for helped her to come out of her shell.
Second, the parallels between this and the Dirty Dancing movie are obvious but at the same time, it's an homage and not a like-for-like plot which I appreciated.
Great story with great characters! I've enjoyed Guillory's books before but this is her first foray into the YA genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.
First, I think this whole family camp thing sounds fun! I loved how the classes that Kat begrudgingly signed up for helped her to come out of her shell.
Second, the parallels between this and the Dirty Dancing movie are obvious but at the same time, it's an homage and not a like-for-like plot which I appreciated.
Great story with great characters! I've enjoyed Guillory's books before but this is her first foray into the YA genre.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
I was really excited to read this book when I first heard about the premise, because I love the movie "Dirty Dancing" so much. While I think this book does bring up some really good points, and I don't necessarily dislike the plot, I felt no emotional connection to any of the characters. Maybe that's just me, but I didn't really think any of them reflected the characters they were based on at all, which really upset me. Especially Kat and Baby. I always LOVED Baby. She was strong, resilient and learning to make her way in the world. And while I see Guillory tried to do that with Kat, the whole book just ended up feeling like one big apology to Kat for things in the past. I think there was too much dwelling on things that happened before the book started and that's why I felt a lack of connection. I don't necessarily think this is a bad book, I just think as a Dirty Dancing Loyalist, it wasn't for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.
Jasmine Guillory makes her YA debut in this contemporary update based on "Dirty Dancing".
Kat was all about ballet, until she gave it all up 2 years ago. At Camp Ochoa, a summer camp for families that Kat is forced to attend with her sister and parents, she stumbles across a staff dance party and draws the attention of Jordan, the camp dance instructor. When Jordan needs a new dance partner for an important hip hop demonstration, Kat steps up. Over the course of the 4 week summer camp, Kat opens up about what made her quit ballet and begins the healing process while rediscovering her passion for dance.
I enjoyed the journey of this story as Kat learns and grows through her time at camp. The story addresses many important themes without being overly dramatic; and the romance between Kat and Jordan is realistic and sweet. I would definitely recommend this book for ages 12+.
Jasmine Guillory makes her YA debut in this contemporary update based on "Dirty Dancing".
Kat was all about ballet, until she gave it all up 2 years ago. At Camp Ochoa, a summer camp for families that Kat is forced to attend with her sister and parents, she stumbles across a staff dance party and draws the attention of Jordan, the camp dance instructor. When Jordan needs a new dance partner for an important hip hop demonstration, Kat steps up. Over the course of the 4 week summer camp, Kat opens up about what made her quit ballet and begins the healing process while rediscovering her passion for dance.
I enjoyed the journey of this story as Kat learns and grows through her time at camp. The story addresses many important themes without being overly dramatic; and the romance between Kat and Jordan is realistic and sweet. I would definitely recommend this book for ages 12+.
August 10, 2026
I enjoy this author’s work a d this one did not disappoint. It is an engaging and heartfelt story that explores relationships, personal growth, and the unexpected ways life can lead us toward new beginnings. I enjoyed watching Katherine and Jordan navigate their feelings, challenges, and choices. The story reminds us that sometimes the moments we consider small or insignificant can have the greatest impact on our lives. Dancing becomes more than movement, it represents freedom, vulnerability, trust, and the courage to step outside of your comfort zone. Overall, this was an enjoyable read with a meaningful message about embracing life and being open to where the journey takes you. I do recommend this reading journey. Thank you Scholastic Press and NetGalley for this e-ARC. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Guillory has penned her young adult debut and it's a modern Dirty Dancing retelling! This is not a drill! Katherine is reluctantly headed to a family summer camp with her family for a month of family bonding. But the last activity she's up for is hip hop dancing. Or dancing of any sort really, after having quit ballet a few years ago. But her big heart (and a tiny crush on one of the dance instructors) has her offering to sub in for a big dance in a few weeks. However, she's going to have to get her hips and face to show some emotion if she's going to succeed. This fun retelling is the perfect summer read!
July 18, 2026
Received as an ARC from NetGalley. Jasmine Guillory is an auto-buy author for me and I was so excited to see her enter the YA space! This book is about a former ballerina finding her love for dance again at a family summer camp with the help of a handsome hip hop dance instructor. It gave a mix of dirty dancing meets save the last dance, and I really enjoyed it! I loved the cast of diverse characters and the way they encountered and moved through a variety of difficult situations. The characters felt appropriate for their ages (not too whiny and young, but not overly mature imo), and super easy to read. I devoured this in a day and would loooove to get Toni and Frankie’s story!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Two important elements to the story- the retelling/spinoff of Dirty Dancing in the book but also social commentary on the LGBTQ community, specifically drag queens, drag story times, and sports competitions for trans athletes. Swapping out the abortion storyline from the movie, Guillory weaves in the other story but otherwise, it's a general carbon copy.
So those wishing to see the romance, the dancing, the fighting for what's right, and the standing up to your family and becoming your own person (no one's going to put Kitty in the corner), are going to get all of that in the retold version in YA prose format. It worked. A good summertime read.
So those wishing to see the romance, the dancing, the fighting for what's right, and the standing up to your family and becoming your own person (no one's going to put Kitty in the corner), are going to get all of that in the retold version in YA prose format. It worked. A good summertime read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Great YA debut! Fun and funny romance inspired by the movie Dirty Dancing. Kat and Jordan were great main characters, and I liked all the secondary characters as well.
Side note, I did think the entire time that maybe a character from her other novels would pop in like they do in her other books. Just for a bit of overlap haha But not that I noticed.
Thanks to Scholastic for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for It’s Only Dancing to come out October 6, 2026.
Side note, I did think the entire time that maybe a character from her other novels would pop in like they do in her other books. Just for a bit of overlap haha But not that I noticed.
Thanks to Scholastic for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Watch for It’s Only Dancing to come out October 6, 2026.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
oh how i love dirty dancing. Jasmine takes us along on Kat’s journey of self discovery and love at a “forced family fun” summer camp trip. I cried throughout the entirety of this book, watching Kat grow into herself and find her independence. Absolutely beautiful book that i will be recommending to everyone.
Dance, love, and sticking it to the man. 10/10. 🫶
Dance, love, and sticking it to the man. 10/10. 🫶
July 9, 2026
she quit ballet two years ago because of cruel words. this summer might bring it back. 💃☀️
kitty: good girl. resume-builder. accidentally spending a month at a california coast camp. 😤
first night: stumbles onto a staff party.
watches people dance freely and feels the loss of something she used to love. 💔
then jordan: hip hop instructor. magnetic. handsome. 👀
and suddenly kitty is sneaking around and lying to her parents. 😳
the reputation she's built so carefully — at risk. 🚨
but for the first time in two years?
she feels free. 🌊
Congrats to Jasmine on writing her first YA romance! A sweet nod to Dirty Dancing...except this time Jordan is not the "bad guy" and baby is NOT put in a corner. It's a story that's really about reclaiming yourself, with a summer romance thrown in. Dance brings them together. Thanks Scholastic for the PB arc!
kitty: good girl. resume-builder. accidentally spending a month at a california coast camp. 😤
first night: stumbles onto a staff party.
watches people dance freely and feels the loss of something she used to love. 💔
then jordan: hip hop instructor. magnetic. handsome. 👀
and suddenly kitty is sneaking around and lying to her parents. 😳
the reputation she's built so carefully — at risk. 🚨
but for the first time in two years?
she feels free. 🌊
Congrats to Jasmine on writing her first YA romance! A sweet nod to Dirty Dancing...except this time Jordan is not the "bad guy" and baby is NOT put in a corner. It's a story that's really about reclaiming yourself, with a summer romance thrown in. Dance brings them together. Thanks Scholastic for the PB arc!
July 23, 2026
I really enjoyed this YA debut from Jasmine Guillory..
Read for:
Dirty Dancing vibes
Family dynamics
Dance
California
Romance
Activism.
I think my 14 year old would really enjoy this one too so I'll hand it to her next.
Thank you Net Galley & Scholastic for the digital ARC. Opinions are my own.
Read for:
Dirty Dancing vibes
Family dynamics
Dance
California
Romance
Activism.
I think my 14 year old would really enjoy this one too so I'll hand it to her next.
Thank you Net Galley & Scholastic for the digital ARC. Opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Loved this modern Dirty Dancing retelling! Kat, a former ballerina, learns to love dancing, for herself, in a whole new way through hip hop! And her budding friendship and romance with Jordan was too cute. The family dynamics that Kat had were so real, and not going to lie, I would love to go to one of these family camps.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
I received an arc from the publisher but all opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Edelweiss+
Modern, California version of Dirty Dancing.
Read
June 10, 2026Work read - sweet romance on the younger side of YA that reinforced my belief that we need age appropriate romances for this demographic
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Kudos on the cute retelling and wholesome family life, but this whone thing reads as how adults think kids think and not really for the YA set at all.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A lot of the lines felt overused, but give me an " I hate Sussana sign.
Did Not Finish
August 17, 2026I did not like this and unfortunately had to DNF at page 195.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4 1/2 stars
rtc for blog
Thank you to Netgalley for my earc.
rtc for blog
Thank you to Netgalley for my earc.
August 13, 2026
Katherine and her family are spending a month at camp and she is not happy about it. While there she meets two of the dancing instructor counselors and is drawn into their world after giving up her ballet career two years prior. I adored the cast and characters in this book and how varied their circumstance were and personalities felt so distinct.
This was so very wholesome, while being so transparent regarding things such as body image, racial bias and gender identity. This one packed a punch while also just putting a dang smile on my face. It was like YA dirty dancing and I mean that in the best of ways. 4.5⭐️
This was so very wholesome, while being so transparent regarding things such as body image, racial bias and gender identity. This one packed a punch while also just putting a dang smile on my face. It was like YA dirty dancing and I mean that in the best of ways. 4.5⭐️
August 13, 2026
A strong YA debut from one of the reigning queen of romance! While this story is influenced by the movie Dirty Dancing, it stands completely on its own. As Guillory has said, she updated it for a younger audience and to reflect different realities. Camper Kat and dance instructor Jordan have little in common with Baby and Johnny, which is a good thing. They are more connected to their friends and families, and way less messed up as people! Dance is the through line of the story and the characters. It’s what allows them to understand themselves and each other. The supporting characters are well drawn and stand on their own, especially Jordan’s best friend Toni. It could use a little editing down of some repetitive sections, but that’s a minor quibble. It’s a very sweet story with amazing summer vibes!
Thanks to Scholastic for an ARC.
Thanks to Scholastic for an ARC.
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