BBNYA 2025 Semi-Finalist Spotlight| Ariel: Dancing on TV (Castle Dancers #1)
When talent meets trauma, can one girl dance her way toward healing, love, and a future she never imagined?
💖 Welcome to the BBNYA 2025 Semi-Finalist Spotlight Tour!
Welcome to another BBNYA Semi-Finalist Spotlight, where I have the pleasure of highlighting standout indie novels recognized by the Book Bloggers’ Novel of the Year Award.
Today’s feature is Ariel: Dancing on TV by Ailish Sinclair, a young adult contemporary romance that blends resilience, first love, and the complicated glare of public attention. Set at a prestigious Scottish dance school housed within a castle, this story opens with a shocking act of betrayal and follows a young girl determined to redefine her future on her own terms.
Through dance, friendship, and unexpected connection, Ariel explores what it means to be seen—not just by the world, but by yourself. If you’re drawn to emotionally rich YA stories that don’t shy away from difficult beginnings, this BBNYA semi-finalist is one you’ll want to keep reading about.
📚 All About the Book
Ariel: Dancing on TV
By Ailish Sinclair
Series: Castle Dancers #1
Published by Independent Author on January 2025
Genres: Contemporary Fiction, Young Adult Fiction, Romance, Young Adult
Formats: eBook, Paperback
Pages: 266
The night before Ariel, a sixteen-year-old girl with a deformed hand, starts at the most prestigious dance school in Scotland, her mother tries to kill her.
Torn from a life where she never fitted in, Ariel quickly becomes the focus of a reality TV show. In the castle school, she forms deep friendships and meets Alexander, the best looking boy she’s ever seen. Together, they unravel the mysteries of the castle's shadows and confront the demons of Ariel's past.
Can she rise above a lifetime of pain and embrace the possibilities of fame and love that beckon to her?
‘ Dancing on TV’ is a mesmerising tale of resilience and the pursuit of a brighter future against all odds.
🛒Purchase Links
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✍️ Meet Ailish Sinclair
Ailish Sinclair trained as a dancer and taught dance for many years, before working in schools to help children with special needs.
She now lives beside a loch with her husband and two children where she still dances (medical conditions allowing) and writes and eats rather too much chocolate.
Connect with Ailish:
Bluesky X Instagram TikToc Facebook
More from this series!
Ariel: Dancing on TV Bubbles: Dancing Though History Alexander: Dancing with Fire
💚About BBNYA
The Book Bloggers' Novel of the Year Award (BBNYA) is a yearly competition judged by book bloggers, for book bloggers — and most importantly, for readers who love discovering hidden gems in the indie world.
Want to learn more?
📚 Visit the BBNYA Website
🐦 Follow @BBNYA_Official on X (Twitter)
💬 And don’t miss @The_WriteReads, the powerhouse community behind this amazing event.
🌟 Closing Thoughts
Ariel: Dancing on TV is a story about survival, self-discovery, and the courage it takes to step into the light after a lifetime of being told you don’t belong. With its unique blend of dance culture, media exposure, and emotional healing, this novel offers a compelling look at how art and connection can become lifelines.
If you enjoy young adult fiction that balances romance with real emotional stakes—and celebrates resilience in all its forms—this BBNYA Semi-Finalist deserves a spot on your TBR.
Be sure to check out more of my BBNYA features listed below, explore the purchase links, and follow along as we continue celebrating the incredible indie voices featured in this year’s BBNYA spotlight tour.
You can browse all my BBNYA 2025 spotlights HERE—updated throughout the tour!
- Nighthawks by Kaitin Corvus
- Strange Grey Everything By Rebecca Crunden
- The Cyclopes’ Eye by Jeffrey Haskey-Valerius
- Saving Grace by Jon McConnell
- My Dark Self by Jessica Huntley
- Love Awaits by Harshita Nanda
- Mary and Bright Nikki Perry & Kirsti Roby
- Lady of Dragons by Shelby Elizabeth
- Excavating the Buried Heart by Estelle Tudor
- Enigma by Ryan Southwick
Discover more from Gina Rae Mitchell
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