Every body can be a dancer’s body!All her life, Fiona has dreamed of becoming a dancer but she was always told that dancing was not for “fat girls” like her. Now, at age thirty-five, Fiona is again confronted with her weight issues when the HR department kindly encourages her and a co-worker, Stu, to attend a support group for people with “health” issues. When quilting is suggested as a hobby to … suggested as a hobby to help with their total opposite eating disorders (Fiona loves everything calorie, Stu tries to avoid any), Stu insanely suggests they enter a local version of Dancing With the Stars instead…
What follows is a fantastic journey with a lot of ups and downs, sore feet, self-doubt, sweat and tears mixed in with ghosts from the past.
Dancing Queen is a warmhearted and humorous story about self-doubt, dancing, friendship, and the courage to follow your dreams no matter what size you are.
“If you love fast-paced, feel-good books, with snappy dialogue, lots of humor and heart, this is the book for you.”
“Dance your heartbreak away with Dancing Queen.
Flagged by a new program at their mutual workplace for weight issues, co-workers Fiona and Stu are thrown together as an unlikely pair of unwilling participants. When quilting is suggested as a hobby to replace their total opposite eating disorders, they come up with their own plan to enter a dancing contest, a local version of Dancing With the Stars. Fiona, dubbed Fat Fiona nearly all her life, has long given up her ‘closet dream’ of dancing, thanks to her mother, whose bias towards Fiona’s older, thinner, more successful sister, Violet, is as obvious as Fiona’s big butt. Stu, on the other hand, is a calorie-counting, veggie-crunching skinny man with his own set of self-esteem issues, also thanks to sibling bias from a cruel-tongued parent–his father.
The transformation of Fi and Stu’s unlikely friendship into two skilled dance partners is a marvelous story! Charlotte Roth uses stories from both characters’ pasts to deal with life-altering self-image and self-worth issues. It’s a joy to watch them slowly work through feelings of disappointment and heartbreak for ones of self-acceptance and finally hope, eventually leading to forgiveness and much more. With superb character development and a well-executed storyline, Dancing Queen was a joy to read, from start to up-lifting finish. There were several typos but none that took me out of the story, so I’m not deducting for them. I give this highly recommended read a solid five stars! Well done, Ms. Roth!” ~ L. Leger.
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Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth is a heartwarming example of a story that takes body image issues and flips hem on their head.
This boo has everything. Not only does it tackle an issues that is so prevalent in today’s society but it does so with wit and humour. So many times I found myself chuckling at what was going on with the characters and the story.
But at the same time it gracefully handles an issue that most people, not just females, go through. It highlights body weight concerns and the author shows exactly why they should not hold you back.
This was, for me, a surprisingly refreshing read and one I enjoyed more than I expected.
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth
5 Stars
Ok so I totally loved this book. It hit some emotions I had buried long ago and I was totally able to relate to Fiona, which just made me enjoy the book that much more.
I loved the characters even the ones I loved to dislike immensely, I wanted to slap a couple along the way, especially that sister, and the Mom at some points. I loved how this story progressed and the strength that ensued by Fiona as the book went on, Lance became one of my favorites towards the end and totally made me smile and that other little twist at the end totally threw me and actually made me tear up.
I’ve read a few books by this author and I am in love with her writing style, I love knowing when I pick one of her books up that I never really know what I’m going to be reading, which always means a one click for me.
I highly recommend this story and I just know you will fall in love with Fiona and Stu just as I did.
Can’t wait for more from this author.
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth
Five Stars
Dancing Queen is a heartwarming, witty and entertaining romance by Charlotte Roth. This book had me smiling and laughing throughout the book while at the same time dealing with some serious health issues. Fi and Stu are lovable characters that were brought together in a support group by the HR department of the company that they work for. They are encouraged to take up a hobby like quilting to deal with their unhealthy eating habits. When they find that they both have a love of dancing, after discussing fears of not being able to do it, Stu and Fi decide to enter in a community dancing contest. The antics that follow are amazingly funny and insightful. I love the progression of this story and the growth of the characters. This is my new favorite book by Ms. Roth. If you are looking for a really great romance this is the book for you.
Dancing Queen
By Charlotte Roth
I absolutely loved reading this heartwarming story. There was laughter, tears and triumphant moments in this wonderful story. I loved how Fi’s and Stu’s confidence grew stronger as the story went. Relationships were mended and close friends were made. The characters in this story are so real and made me wish I was friends with them. I became completely invested on their growth and outcome. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, I found it to be fun and inspirational. I highly recommend it.
Charlotte Roth did it again. She wrote Dancing Queen which is a fast steady read with all kinds of humor, sass, and love all wrapped in one. One thing about Charlotte Roth is when I am feeling down I just pick up a book by Charlotte Roth and I find myself in a better mood instantly. This story will keep you giggling all the way through. Fiona is a “fat girl” that was told she could not dance because of it. Her work urges her to join a support group for her weight issues. There she meets Stu. Stu and Fiona become friends. Stu brings this wacky idea to Fiona that they should compete in a local dancing with the stars. That is when the story takes off and let the comedy, friendship, and love dance right in. I will be recommending this book to anyone that needs that release from the tortures of the world around them to join Stu and Fiona in their world of friendship.
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth
Rated 5 stars!
Dancing Queen is a true inspiration. The main character was very easy to identify with. Her thoughts and feelings could have been mine. With that being said it is interesting how this made me look at people differently. It’s easy to make a judgement on someone but it’s harder to make a friend of that person.
I love the relationship between the main characters. The whole cucumber thing…was great! I couldn’t help but *shiver* at the thought of the first one. Ugh! I really liked Fiona but Stu? He really was the my favorite. He has a great attitude and he always made me smile. His calorie counting was crazy! As for secondary characters Diane was the best! She is quirky and an amazing friend. That’s not to say I didn’t love Lizzie, Lance and the whole rest of the cast.
The writing is so very smooth. It was easy to get brought into the plight of Fiona and Stu. I loved watching them become friends. The author does a good job of making me think one way then changing my opinion later. I really enjoyed this story.
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth is a fun and inspirational read. Fiona has always been the “fat” girl. She gets paired up with Stu in a healthy life support group. Stu has a crazy idea that the two should sign up for a dancing competition. Fiona has always been told that she shouldn’t dance because of her size. Will she stand up and take the challenge?
I really enjoyed the characters and their relatability. The story is fun and deals with body issues in a light way but that doesn’t ridicule the subject. The writing is smooth and the story just flowed. I did not want to put the book down and was disappointed to see the story end. I will definitely be looking for more from this author in the future.
A great read about dancing. Fiona Madsen has always loved to dance, but has been held back by everyone opinions since she was seven. When her boss tries to get her and co-worker Stu on a dieting course, they both think it is a waste of time. When they are forced to do quilting as a hobby, Stu finds an alternative they might love; a dance competition in town. What follows is a wonderful adventure about doing what you love and following your dream. Can Fiona dance without worrying about what others think?
A great read. Well developed plot with twists and turns that I just couldn’t put down. Well developed characters like Fiona standing up for herself but still struggling with insecurities or Stu as a funny friend who is supportive and kind underneath. Great cast of supporting characters like the optimistic Diane or the bright and bubbly Lizzie. Fiona’s love of dancing was beautifully written as something that makes your heart fly forever and always. Her struggles with her weight and comfort eating were emotive and relatable and perfectly written.
I loved the visual detail throughout the novel like in the vivid colours like with Stu’s colourful scarves and umbrellas bight and bold against the plain walls of the office and coffee shop contrasting beautifully to put a smile on your face. Or the dance rooms later on filled with life and people and music with piles of colourful costumes everywhere for that true feel to a dance stage performance. Overall, a wonderful read and I would give it five stars.
Dancing Queen is a funny and fabulous tale by Charlotte Roth. The story centres around Fiona. Noe, Fiona has struggled with self image issues all her life. She loves to dance, but was cruelly told to reconsider due to her size. In a world where being a size zero is most women’s life goal, Fiona battled with herself every day. Fitting into this superficial world was hard for her. Her and her co-worker, Stu, join a dance competition, and the rest is a beautiful tape of self discovery, self worth, self belief, hard work, conquering seemingly impossible hurdles, and courage. Lots and lots of courage.
As a person who has had a lifelong battle with weight, I totally related to Fiona and her struggles. A tale told beautifully and honestly. A story I cannot recommend enough. 5 stars.
I just want to hug this book, the heroine, this author. This fun and inspirational read had me on the best kind of emotional rollercoaster. The main character, Fiona, is heartfelt and relatable. I was immediately pulled into this story and couldn’t walk away without finishing the book in full. Loved it from beginning to end and cannot wait to go back and reread this tale. Just wonderful!
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth . This is such a fun read. Fiona Madsen has always dreamed of being a dancer until on her 7th birthday her mom told her “Fat Girls” can’t dance. She is again basically told she’s fat when her work wants her and her coworker Stu to participate in a support group for people with “Health Issues”. She and “skinny” Stu connect over their opposite issues and Stu suggests they enter a dance competition to help with their “health issues”. Stu & Fiona realizes they have so much in common and they really hit it off but when all your life you’ve been told you can’t do something and then your own sister threatens to have you disqualified from the competition Fiona wanders if its really even worth trying. This is such a positive body image book and I loved every second of it. You won’t be disappointed.
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth was a sweet lighthearted read, that had me hook from the first chapter title. In a cheesy way, this book had me at hello.
Not my first read by this author, so I knew going in that this book was going to be well written, witty and fun. I was not disappointed in the least. This book tackles both spectrums of the body image issues. Too Skinny and too fat. As someone who is on their own weight loss journey, I know how hard using the word fat, can be. I connected deeply with Fiona, and the path she walked, and the path she chose to overcome.
I have to say, as fun and as lighthearted this book may have appeared, it got down to the nitty gritty, and shoned a much needed light on the people, that we as a society have considered “unworthy” or “undesirable”. Both Fiona’s and Stu’s backstories are riddled was pain, and mental scarring that have affected their adult life. This book strips away those layers, so we can see the people that lay underneath all that social negativity.
Both Fiona and Stu are phenomenal multi layered characters. I loved both their personalities, and their blunt, straightforwardness to life. Fiona may have called herself a pleaser, but I sided with her BF Diane. Her personality shone bright, and her kind, no BS heart, stole the show. In my eyes, her and Stu where never the underdogs. Stu on the other hand, though came across as quiet and reserved, soon became a quick favourite. He isn’t anything but, and frankly, if the author chose, could have him narrated this whole book, and carried the story on his own. Have two such powerhouse characters come together for a common goal, was something I tell you.
And this is where I leave you, cause I might be here forever telling you how much I love and thoroughly enjoyed this unique, fresh book. About real people, with real problems, that learned how to overcome them, in a real life way. So please take my super high recommendation and my stamp of approval, that you will fall head over heels for not only this book, but for Stu and Fiona.
Happy Reading
-E.A. Walsh
4 Stars
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth was such a great story to read. It is inspirational, uplifting, humorous, witty, interesting, and fun. And again, Ms. Roth showcases what a versatile and talented author she is in this captivating read. The story, for me, was all about courage, facing challenges, overcoming obstacles, believing in yourself and being true to yourself, following your dreams, hope, and mending relationships along the way.
This book has become one of my favourite reads of Ms. Roth’s, and is so worth you time to read!
Thank you, Ms. Roth!
I have read books by this author so was familiar with her writing style. I read the book based on her name alone and had no idea what it was about.
Funny funny stuff yet emotionally charged as well. The observations of life are spot on and rhe characters are a perfect fit for the story (if you don’t have a BFF like Diane, I beg you to find a friend like her). The story is told validating and breaking down stereo types and was entertaining and interesting.
This book was a quick and easy read and I read it cover to cover in one sitting.
I absolutely recommend this to younger cousins and book clubs alike.
I loved this book! This is a sweet book that has a little bit of everything in it from humor to romance. Fiona and Stu took me on an emotional journey of ups and downs and self-discovery. Their story is inspirational and shows us that sometimes love pops up when it’s least expected. Fiona has been made to feel ashamed of her weight issue but then you have Stu who gives her some hope. She is talked into entering a dance competition but wait to you see what happens! A must read!
Dancing Queen by Charlotte Roth is a little different, easy to read and a little quirky that makes for a light read. It is fun and witty and had me laughing from the very start but there are also a lot of painful memories for our characters which made them all the more endearing to me. It is a story where by people are forced to look at themselves. It’s a story of people who finally do something for themselves. It is a story of pain and passion of being to fat or too thin. It is a story where the main characters are not what society consider the norm. It is a story of it is not always what you see on the outside but what is inside. It is a story of love and acceptance, hopes and dreams.
It is a sweet and heartfelt journey that the characters are on, with the support of their misfit family and friends.
This is a very uplifting and relate-able story. The story line has you turning page after page. The characters are so real. This book makes you want to reach for your dreams. It will make you laugh and tug at your heart strings. I did not want to put it down. The ending is perfect.