Slow Dance was a mesmerizing romance told through a present day lens with significant use of flashback to fill in the history of before for Cary and Shiloh.
Cary and Shiloh both live in the same neighborhood in Omaha, Nebraska in the 80s- their friendship gradually evolves as something more - after graduation Cary joins the Navy and Shiloh goes to college.
The novel explores their teen relationship to their young adult relationship and now their reunion 14 years later. Now Shiloh is a divorced mom of 2 and Cary is headed to retirement from the Navy.
Rainbow Rowell has an authentic voice and knows how to write a nostalgic novel that has you rooting for her characters at every step of the slow dance. I admit I was going to write her a letter if the ending was not as sweet as a slow dance. I can’t say more, but you need to read this if you love slow burning and solid love. I also loved the supporting cast of characters, how Rainbow makes you sentimental for the 80s and 90s - one of the best romances of the summer.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell is a second chance romance between Cary and Shiloh and switches between 1991 and the present with a few time periods in between. The two main characters are best friends and high school seniors in 1991. The present day has them meeting up at an old friend's wedding (Mikey, who I found to be extremely loveable) after not having spoken to each other for 14 years. The story revolves around the second chance they have at love together. Things I really liked about the book include how real the characters are, how real the setting is, and how wonderfully gen-x the whole book is. Things that I didn't like as much include how the book seems to lag in some places, how weirdly pokey Shiloh gets around Cary (like seriously, she is always wanting to poke him or put holes in his clothes), and finally I found the miscommunication trope to be frustrating in that it lasted way too long and seemed a bit extreme to me. I still liked this book and this author will continue to be one of my must reads but this is never going to be my favorite of her books.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. This is a classic story of high school friends who didn't realize they had something more than that until years later. Shiloh, Carey and Mikey were a high school trio of friends that reconnect at Mikey's wedding where they take many trips down memory lane and realize Shiloh and Carey should be together now. But how? The flashbacks through the coulda, woulda, shouldas is one most of us has either experienced, or lived vicariously through a friend. Very relatable, very in the high school or first love feels, very entertaining banter between the friend group.

Rounded up to a 3...
Second time reading a Rainbow Rowell book after quite a few years so when I heard about this one I thought I’d try it. My reactions were definitely up and down. I was astounded by some of the “spot on” insights in early chapters - they ended up being an outstanding positive for me. But, as it turned out, the philosophy reflected in the quotes I bookmarked didn’t seem to quite line up with Rowell’s characters. Another plus, the setting, especially in terms of place as well as time periods, seemed very realistic and built a solid foundation for the plot.

On the flip side, there were some minor but troublesome negatives. I actually had trouble identifying the intended audience for this novel – on the one hand this was described as Rowell’s first novel for adults yet, especially during the “before” sections, it read like a YA. The two main characters had depth and evolved over the course of the story. Each with their own quirks which, in some cases, particularly Shiloh’s, the pokes and incessant urge to touch or set fire – both puzzled and worried me. This side of Shiloh (fortunately) did not appear in her relationship with her children. Messy I get but in this case it was too hard to either like or root for either Shiloh or Cary. In contrast, Junie and Gus were delightful – they were believable as were most of the secondary characters.

Even though I finished it and some aspects are still in my head, not sure I'm destined to be a fan.



FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a charming and heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and second chances. I loved how the author weaves together the past and present lives of Shiloh and Carey. Their story is sweet but filled with emotion and the complications of everyday life. This was such a delight! I couldn’t put it down and I loved the ending.

Not sure why this is my first Rainbow Rowell but this definitely won't be my last.

Full of themes of longstanding friendship, unrequited love, and second chances, this book was such fun little journey. I adored getting to watch Shiloh and Cary's relationship evolve from the present many years after highschool to the past in numerous flashbacks, giving us key insights to every moment that molded them into the people they are. I liked that they were imperfect characters, as it made them more realistic and relatable and I liked how naturally the romance progressed.

The only thing that annoyed me about this book was the pacing. Some parts seemed to drag and then other parts seemed to be too quickly resolved.

Despite that, I still adored how honest and genuine this book felt and how the story was character driven over plot driven.

4/5⭐

Rainbow Rowell is back with her newest title Slow Dance, a second chance romance that has it all!

Shiloh and Cary were the kind of best friends that everyone in high school thought would end up together. Fourteen years after high school, the two are reunited at their friend Mikey’s wedding.
Shiloh is a prickly, impatient and messy character who planned on going to college and escaping her hometown in Omaha to become an actress. But her life goes nothing like she planned and she finds herself divorced with 2 children living back in her mother’s house. Cary has a career in the Navy just as he planned in high school. When his mother becomes ill, his messy family life gets even more complicated.

The reader routes for these two to finally resolve their long history of miscommunications. An emotional, up beat, funny and thought provoking story with realistic characters. I highly recommend this title to romance lovers and readers of Emily Giffin and Annabel Monaghan. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the advanced reader’s copy.

I like to think that I am above nostalgia. I sniff at kids-on-bikes. I roll my eyes at the latest 90s film remake. I am steely when a favorite song from my teen years is used to sell soda pop. But Rainbow Rowell puts out a book set (at least partially) in 1990s Omaha and I’m jumping feet first into that river of rose-colored memories. An Omaha native myself and about the same age as the author, my relationship with Rowell’s Nebraska-set novels is different than that of my nieces, who have only really known Arizona. Rainbow Rowell is writing about places and people know. That said, I thought her other more adult novel, Landline, was fine. Slow Dance, on the other hand, I couldn’t put down.

I define YA as stories where the main characters asks, “Who am I going to be?” Adult novels often ask, “How did I end up here?” Slow Dance combines those two plot kernels and weaves them together in a story about friends who have grown apart and then find each other again. What could be kind of sappy isn’t because Shiloh and Cary feel like real people. They are complicated and occasionally contradictory, but relatable. And besides, who doesn’t want a second chance (or a third chance) to get something right in their life?

Title: Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell
Publication Date- 07/23/24
Publisher- William Morrow
Overall Rating- 6 out of 5 stars

Review: Review copy given to me by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: I’m not sure I can do this book justice in this review. A few things before I say the things I’m able. 1) This might be my top book of the year and/or the best romance I read this year and 2) I did a video review of this as well you can check out on my channel linked above.

I don’t even know where to start, I didn’t expect this to be this good. We follow Shiloh and Cary from the ages of about 14 to 33. The story goes back and forth in time, giving us a lot of context along the way. We are uncovering the past while we try to understand the present.

I personally felt so much humanity within this story. There is a lot of miscommunication, however, it was done in a very realistic and mature way. We as humans, hardly ever, are able to say everything we want to in intense moments. Some things might be so clear to others watching us that are not so obvious when emotions are high. Rainbow Rowell, wrote two incredibly human and flawed characters trying to find their way to each other with complicated backgrounds and a tainted history.

I loved every second of this story. To write a review about a book that could be your favorite of the year is so hard because I just want you to read it so you can see for yourself. I cannot put into words, the way Rowell tells this story except to ask you to read it.

Rainbow Rowell is back, and this time with an emotional, thought-provoking, tear-jerking second-chance romance. I found both main characters equally captivating, and enjoying reading through both POVs. An excellent book from an excellent writer!

Ever since I listened to Katherine Center’s afterword from The Rom-Commers regarding her advocacy for the love story, I have been considering the romance genre. Unfortunately, in no way related to Katherine Center, I have begun decreasing the romances that I am willing to read, which is semi-amusing because I think most of the books I reviewed initially on this blog were YA and adult romances. Most romances no longer feel romantic and I refuse to call them love stories because that certain je ne sais quoi that is intrinsic to a love story is palpably missing. What makes a love story great? I think the answer can in part be obtained by reading Rainbow Rowell’s Slow Dance. Sometimes great love stories are small love stories.

Shiloh, Cary, and Mikey were inseparable best friends in high school. All their classmates and even Mikey presumed that Shiloh and Cary were a couple but no. At Mikey’s wedding, years after the three went their separate ways, Shiloh and Cary start opening a badly needed line of communication and begin sorting through their past and present and all of the baggage both contain.

So, if you expect hugeness, this isn’t the novel for you. As I was reading, it felt like everything was occurring on a cellular level. This is a story that mimics real life with its imperfections and especially its imperfect characters.

Shiloh is prickly, messy, impatient but the years have softened her edges, given her patience, kindness, empathy. Like most of us (if we’re lucky), she’s changed since high school. Except for her feelings for Cary that she has not admitted to anyone, not even herself. I take that back. She subconsciously knows that she is and always has been in love with Cary.

Strangely (because he’s a man and at this stage in my life it doesn’t feel like a stereotype or any other term you’d like to apply) Cary has always been a bit more in touch with his feelings than Shiloh, but he’s had a lot to deal with family-wise. His mother is really his grandmother; his sister is really his mother; his niece is really his sister; and all this equals a huge amount of messy, not to mention that he comes from the bad part of town. An even worse part of town than Shiloh. (I’ve just got to mention that one of the funniest observations was when his mother (grandmother really) says that Cary was the easiest birth out of all her kids. 🤣)

Throw all of this together with some communication that is off-the-walls bad and you have a relationship that in many ways reflects relationships you might have witnessed (or been a part of) in your own life. And maybe that’s part of what makes some bits of Slow Dance so achingly painful to read. Here are two people in love (whether they know it completely or not) who just can’t seem to get it together. Honestly I kept waiting for the other shoe to fall. For something bad to happen, the ultimate bad that would keep them apart because there have been so many books and movies made that have destroyed this kind of love. Thankfully we have the tears without the tearjerker.

But, what, in my opinion stops this from being one of those works is the gentleness with which Rainbow Rowell has written Slow Dance. It’s not that she doesn’t let bad things happen to these characters. It does, time and time again. Dreams aren’t entirely realized. Years are missed. The characters face infidelities and pain. But I felt as I read the very tangible love Rowell had for these two characters. And despite the big numbers of books I’ve read in the past ten years, I have seldom felt this all-encompassing author-embrace for her characters and the story she is telling. This is part of what makes this a great read.

Now, I’d be remiss (I always feel like a middle-aged professor when I use that word (haha)) if I didn’t mention that this book is also funny. So it’s pretty much got it all. I only wished I’d saved it for vacation.

Many thanks to William Morrow books for sending me a copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for gifting me a digital ARC of the new book by Rainbow Rowell, an August pick of Reese's Book Club! All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 4.5 stars!

Shiloh and Cary were the best of friends in high school. Everyone thought they would get together as a couple, but they never crossed the friends line. Fourteen years later, Shiloh is divorced with two young kids, back living with her mom; Cary is still in the Navy. They meet again at a friend's wedding, but has too much changed between them?

This was a wonderful story of two kids who fell in love too young, before they knew enough to realize it. Now as adults, they both feel lost, but can they get back to where they started? I loved the banter here - you really felt part of this story. Shiloh's kids were the best and added needed light moments to the book. It's the story of just how important communication is between people, and second chances. Told in dual timelines between high school and now, we see how their story plays out. To me, the few more graphic sex scenes didn't fit with the rest of the story and could easily have been left out. But the rest was sparkly!

Rainbow Rowell’s Slow Dance is a beautifully crafted exploration of friendship, love, and the passage of time. The story centers around Shiloh and Cary, two childhood friends whose seemingly mismatched personalities—Shiloh, the free-spirited, anxious artist, and Cary, the disciplined and determined ROTC student—mask a deep, shared bond. As the novel unfolds in a non-linear narrative, we witness their journey from inseparable high school companions to estranged adults, and finally to a tentative reunion in their 30s. Rowell deftly captures the complexities of their relationship, showing how time and distance can strain even the strongest of connections, yet also how enduring love and friendship can be.

Rowell’s talent for sharp, engaging dialogue and vivid character development shines through in Slow Dance. Shiloh and Cary are both flawed, relatable, and endearing in their own ways. While the slow-burn nature of the story may test some readers’ patience, it ultimately pays off as both characters grow and mature. The emotional tension between them is palpable, and their journey toward reconciling their past and present selves is as heart-wrenching as it is heartwarming. The supporting characters, particularly Shiloh’s children, Junie and Gus, add a layer of warmth and realism to the narrative, making the story feel deeply lived-in and authentic.

For fans of friends-to-lovers stories and second-chance romances, Slow Dance is a must-read. Rowell’s signature blend of literary and commercial fiction elements creates a rich, character-driven narrative that resonates on multiple levels. This is a novel about missed opportunities, the challenges of communication, and the enduring power of love to heal old wounds. While it may take some time to fully immerse yourself in Shiloh and Cary’s world, the journey is well worth it, offering a poignant reminder that some connections are too strong to be broken, no matter how much time has passed.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Rainbow Rowell for an ARC of this book!**

"Last dance
Last chance, for love..." - "Last Dance", Donna Summer

When it comes to high school year book superlatives, if there were a category labeled "Most Likely to become Harry and Sally...but they have NO IDEA", you couldn't have picked better candidates than Shiloh and Cary. Close in a way that only friendships born in youth can be, the two discussed every tiny aspiration, struggle, and dream with one another...and had enough inside jokes to line the back page of the aforementioned yearbook to boot. Living in the 90s in Omaha, Shiloh's dreams were of the Great White Way, while Cary had his sights set on the Great Blue Sea: he was determined to join the Navy. Although neither knew if their friendship could withstand this sort of dramatic shakeup (especially when their shared hometown was no longer part of the equation) life took over, as it does, and both of them lives out some variation of the aspirations of their youth...while time and distance eventually dragged them a bit too far apart.

...Until fate beckons them back into the same room, 14 years later: their mutual friend, Mikey, is getting married. Shiloh is fresh off a divorce from hunky theater dad Ryan, and has two children...and they are all crashing at Shiloh's mom's house until she finds her new normal. Although she hopes to see Cary, her expectations are low and she's feeling more than a bit uncomfortable in her own skin, and watching old high school friends reunite around banquet tables and brag about their own happiness isn't exactly helping to boost her confidence. But when Shiloh DOES see Cary and they lock eyes, they both become transfixed by all that was, all that is...and all that could be. When Cary asks her to dance, the butterflies take over...and for the very first time, she wonders if maybe they have more than just memories between them. But once the pair begin to spend time together, Cary's job in the Navy, the aftermath of Shiloh's divorce and navigating dating as a single mom, family troubles, and some well-worn communication and relationship problems start to reemerge...and both begin to wonder if perhaps the past BELONGS in the past.

Was this the second chance both friends and potential loves NEEDED to break them out of their indecision and put them in one another's arms for a lifetime? Or like the last dance at prom, will this final chance at romance fade along with the song's final notes...and send them each on their own unknown path?

There have been very few times in my life when I've nearly screamed when getting approved for an ARC...but getting approved for this title was one of those times. I have been a DIEHARD Rainbow fan for ages (aside from Simon Snow, which is perfectly lovable but just not my jam) and her adult books ESPECIALLY have left me a crying and laughing mess (particularly Attachments and Landline. STILL two of my favorite books I've read in the last 10 years!). There is something so real and so raw in all of these stories, with characters so lifelike you can't say for certain that they AREN'T real...just that you've never had the pleasure of meeting them in person. So when I heard Rainbow Rowell had a new adult romance coming out...I floated up past Cloud 9 and landed oh, let's say on Cloud 42 or so!

But as much as I adored the concept of this one, the fact that it was partially set in the 90's, and the trademark Rainbow Rowell charm of two flawed and REAL characters popping off the page and falling in love...this Slow Dance was more of a Slow Burn AND a Slow Read...and I QUICKLY came to the realization it would not be sitting alongside Attachments or Landline in my collection of Rainbow Rowell five star reads.

One of the main reasons I struggled so much with this book at times was our MC, Shiloh. While I liked her overall quirkiness and respected her as a mom (don't get me started on her two adorable kids - Rainbow NEVER disappoints in that area!), she seemed to be at least 70% of the reason why this relationship didn't take off in the first place. Her constant barrage of barriers would be enough to make anyone crazy...even someone as patient as Cary. It seemed like every time she seemingly got somewhere in her relationship, or even in reestablishing her friendship with Cary...up went the roadblock. While this did make her character very REAL (as Rowell always does), it did make her more and more frustrating as the book went on. I just kept wanting to tell her to stop overthinking and making things complicated at the WORST possible times for often no reason at all.

Cary, on the other hand, doesn't seem to contribute much to the couple's issues at all...to the point where at times, I almost wished he would just stand up for himself a bit more. I almost needed MORE conflict on this end to give his character some depth. I got the firm sense that he was steadfast and reliable, and also very loyal to Shiloh...but I guess I was just wanting more. We spent so long in Shiloh's head that it would have been nice to perhaps relive some memories etc. through Cary's lens, to figure out what really made him tick and get a little bit deeper insight into the sort of man he was vs. perhaps the teen he was in high school. It seemed like Cary was also the one making so many of the sacrifices and being so accepting of Shiloh's eccentricities and she didn't always necessarily have to make any concessions of her own...a bit frustrating in my mind, because EVERY good relationship should be a two way street.

But perhaps the biggest hurdle I faced in this particular read was the timeline...because it was TRULY all over the place. Essentially, our current day story takes place in 2006, but we are also treated (for about half the book or so at least) to flashbacks of various points during Shiloh and Cary's friendship/relationship. In theory, I have no problem with this and would even argue the book couldn't really exist without it. Where the difficulty came in, however, is that every section of the past that is discussed is labeled the SAME WAY: simply "before," no matter where it occurs in the narrative. This made it difficult not only to keep track of where we were and how old Shiloh and Cary were at any given time, but also to give the timeline a SOMEWHAT linear feel. I wouldn't have even minded the timeline hopping back and forth at all if it had just been denoted more clearly throughout...even a device as a simple as listing the year under "before" would have helped IMMENSELY.

The last aspect of this one that caused me to struggle so much more than I would have liked was simply PACING. I have never noticed this in another Rowell book prior to this one, but this was a 400 page book that definitely FELT 400 pages. While I think this a bit long in general for this kind of story, having it told in this back and forth fashion at times made it feel even longer. Luckily, Rowell uses plenty of short chapters or to be honest, there are times this would have felt interminable. I also just wanted more spice and more actual ROMANCE scenes between the characters...but again, this speaks to my desire to maybe have this feel a little LESS realistic and a little more 'flight of fancy' at times. There's nothing wrong with a slow burn....but once the flame is lit, it should IGNITE (especially after 14 years of waiting!)

And while we had to wait 10 FULL years for a new full length adult romance novel from Rainbow Rowell, I still hope that Shiloh and Cary's long overdue courtship hasn't inspired Rowell to wait 14 years before putting out another relatable and nuanced adult romance book:

...I'm just not sure my heart can wait that long.

4 stars, rounded up from 3.5

I feel incredibly privileged to have been granted an advance copy of Slow Dance through NetGalley. Rainbow Rowell is a stunning writer who has won my heart over again and again, and I couldn’t believe it when I had a chance to read this book early!

I always know Rainbow will take me on a worthy and impactful journey, but Slow Dance was on another level. This book is the perfect cocktail of nostalgia and yearning. It has a jumpy timeline that builds on itself and illuminates Shiloh’s and Cary’s experiences with context, heart, and complexity.

These two characters….I feel every year they lost and so full of hope and love for them that they get to build a future together. And as always, the side characters are compelling and have depth. (I want Mikey to be my friend, too.)

I have no notes on this book. My heart is full and I’m kind of bewildered that a writer who I love and whom I have read so much from already can still write a book that surprises me. But this did exactly that, gripping me and not letting me go until I finished it.

Thank you, Rainbow, for writing this book. I love it.

Rainbow Rowell's books are always a treat, and Slow Dance is no exception. Main characters Shiloh and Cary absolutely shine in this story of lasting love, missed chances, and reconnection. Highly recommended.

This was not for me. I’m sure many will consider it a great book, but I just can’t. I so badly wanted to jive with everyone, I wanted to love this book. The characters are unlikeable and lack any form of depth.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

3.5 rounded down. This one is a hard one to review. I actually didn't like it at all, but I can see the bones of a good book. Rainbow Rowell continues to deliver very real characters living in very real places, but I just personally found them all strange and annoying. I also think this romance is doomed, which doesn't help. But I can definitely see others liking this book a lot, so take this with a grain of salt.

Unfortunately I had to dnf this. This book was one of my most anticipated reads and I was over the mood excited to get the ARC but it didn't keep my attention and I ultimately decided not to pick it back up. Got maybe 20% in.

3.5 ⭐️
Slow Dance is a sweet, second chance book. I have read a few other Rainbow Rowell books and enjoyed them. She writes 'normal' characters that aren't perfect but are perfect for the story.

~~What I liked~~
-The characters are well written and are easy to relate to because they are average. If you enjoy your characters to be hot and sexy, you might not like this book.
-The writing was easy to read and I was able to finish this book in one afternoon. The book jumps back and forth to tell the history between Shiloh and Cary. The plot, much like the characters, is very 'average' and follows Shiloh's life which happens to be pretty uneventful.
-The other characters are good and add to the book. I especially liked Juniper, she had some good lines.

~~What I didn't like~~
-The pacing was slow. I think part of it is the nature of the book, which is to tell the story of two average characters who do normal things, like take care of their kids or deal with their frustrating family members.
-The plot was overall pretty boring. It was a well-told story and I didn't mind reading it, but I felt like I spent a lot of time 'meandering' through the story.
-I wish we could have seen the very beginning of Shiloh and Cary's story AND I wish we had more of an epilogue. There was a happy ending, but I wanted more and I don't feel like everything was fully addressed by the end of the book.

Overall, I enjoyed this book. I'm on the fence about if it goes in my 'recommend' pile, only because while it was sweet, it was also pretty uneventful.