"Slow Dance" by Rainbow Rowell starts off a bit slow, but it’s worth sticking with. The story focuses on Shiloh and Cary, two characters whose lives intertwine in a heartfelt and emotional journey. As the story progresses, it really picks up and becomes more engaging. Rowell's ability to create relatable characters shines here. By the end, I found myself wanting to spend more time with them as adults; I also wanted a little bit more out of their best friend Mikey. Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced copy

Amazingly heartfelt and wonderful, this book hit me in all the feels. I loved watching the characters grow and change while finding their happiness.

Rainbow Rowell never disappoints. Slow Dance deals with serious mental and family issues while imbibing humor throughout the novel. One of my favorite characters is the precocious Junie who provided comic relief and heart in the novel. The interconnecting storylines makes Slow Dance a true slice of life and the passage of time relatable. So much can change in 14 years, let alone one year. This one is for all those romantics out there who aren’t afraid of shedding a tear in the name of love.

If you like Rainbow Rowell, you'll like this book. She writes with a tremendous depth and understanding of emotion. That said, I struggled a bit with Shiloh's character and thought the ending was a little (a lot) rushed.

If you like Rainbow Rowell, read this. If you like will-they-won't-they, read this. If you enjoy your heart being crushed, built up, and then nervous to trust. read this. The nitty-gritty, messy realism of this story made it one that will stay with me for a long time. If you are tired of saturated romance market, let this fresh read into your TBR.

"Slow Dance" by Rainbow Rowell is a poignant exploration of lost connections and unfulfilled dreams. This contemporary fiction novel delves into the complexities of friendship, life's unexpected turns, and the weight of unresolved past relationships.

The story follows Shiloh, a 33-year-old woman whose life has veered far from her youthful aspirations. Once inseparable from her best friend Cary, Shiloh now finds herself divorced with two children, living in her childhood home. The impending wedding of an old friend forces her to confront the possibility of reuniting with Cary after 14 years of silence.

Rowell skillfully weaves themes of nostalgia, regret, and the passage of time into a narrative that will resonate with many readers. The author's strength lies in her ability to capture the bittersweet nature of revisiting one's past and the anxiety of facing long-lost connections.

4.5 stars. This is my first book by Rainbow Rowell, and I can see why she’s such a popular author. She’s such a skilled storyteller, and literally from the first chapter, I was drawn to Shiloh as a character. She felt so realistic. And even from the very first scenes between her and Cary, you could feel the tension and attraction. Second chance romance normally isn’t my favorite trope, because it is often accompanied by a lot of flashbacks. And to be honest, I typically hate when a book jumps back and forth between time periods… which Slow Dance did. I always feel like I get in the groove with one time period, only to be yanked away to a different one. The flashbacks were more prevalent in the first half of the book, and I think that’s why it took a bit for me to really get into the groove. So even though I loved the characters, writing, and story telling from the get go, it still took me a minute to jive with the style. But once I did, I couldn’t put it down. Shiloh and Cary’s story was just so damn realistic. My heart broke during all the scenes where they couldn’t figure it out. And it seemed at times they had everything working against them. I think this is Rowell’s adult debut, and I can totally see why she’s such a popular YA author. Cary and Shiloh’s flashback scenes take place in high school, and she really did such an excellent job writing characters of that age, but also portraying the confusion and angst and emotion associated with first love. If you like character driven angsty/ emotional romances, then I highly recommend checking out Slow Dance (which btw, is perfectly titled, because this book is one long slow dance between Cary and Shiloh).

Thank you so much to Rowell and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me an e-arc!

I have to start off by saying I love Rainbow Rowell’s mind, so I went in sure that I would like this book. I was not disappointed! No one writes genuine, charming, unique, quirky and realistic character quite like Rainbow does.

Slow Dance follows Shiloh and Cary’s friendship and relationship over the years, going back and forth between present day adults and their teenage and college age years. Present day (which I believe is actually 2006) Shiloh is a divorced mom of two adorable kids who works at a local children’s theater. Cary is still in the navy, as he has been since he graduated high school. (Cary even participated in the ROTC program while in high school) Shiloh and Cary were very close friends in high school, but lost touch over a decade ago. The two are reunited at Mikey’s wedding, their other close friend from high school. While the night doesn’t go as anticipated, Shiloh and Cary reconnect, trying to figure out what they are to each other along the way.

I really enjoyed Shiloh and Cary, as friends and as more. they’re both so odd in different ways, but also both so caring and kind. Their miscommunications are so realistic, and refreshingly I didn’t find them to be frustrating as they are in so many other books. I also really enjoyed Cary’s mom, and Shiloh’s daughter, Juniper. They were such great additions to the collection of characters in the book.

Shiloh and Cary definitely aren’t our typical romantic leads, but I mean that in the best way.

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who enjoys romance, and I hope readers will appreciate Shiloh and Cary the way I did. For the young adult readers who read Eleanor & Park and loved it, I have a feeling you will enjoy Shiloh and Cary’s story too!

A new Rainbow Rowell book? YES PLEASE AND THANKS!!! I have read every single Rainbow Rowell book and loved them and this is no exception. I loved the characters as they are so very real. It is told by both Shiloh and Cary in the past and the present. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.

5/5 Stars

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the eARC of this book. All thoughts are my own. I was so excited to get this book, both the eARC and the physical ARC. I've read her Simon Snow trilogy and some other books as a teen and absolutely loved them. When I heard she was writing an adult romance I knew I needed to read it ASAP.

And let me tell you, she didn't disappoint! I was hooked from the very beginning with Shiloh, and Cary only reeled me in further. I love how their chemistry is portrayed, but also how the author shows that love can be really hard sometimes, and at any age. I also adored Junie and Gus, and loved the humor they added on. The author was able to make you feel like you were really there with them in 2006 Omaha, Nebraska. It made me feel very nostalgic and made me devour the book even faster. This book touched on a lot, from divorce to co-parenting to sexual intimacy issues to sexuality. I genuinely recommend this to anyone who enjoys contemporary romance or has read the author's books before.

I am a huge Rainbow Rowell fan so when I saw a new book I was so excited. I didn't even know what it was about but I jumped at the chance to read it. I hate to say it is a romance novel as there is so much more going on. It is really the story of Shiloh and Cary and how they navigate their lives and finally come together. I love the format of the present and then the flashbacks to the important events of their past. It kept me excited to read as we learned of how they were in high school, college and how they couldn't fit their lives together but finally after 14 years manage to make things work.
Shiloh has major baggage in this story, and it is so real to read about a divorced woman that is just confused about life. She as it all figured out in high school but the older you get the less you feel like you know. It is truly a very familiar narrative. Cary is a miliary man that has the responsibility of a very complex family. Dealing with an aging parent, dealing with a rough upbringing, dealing with not living in the same state. How do you make these two characters fit together.
I loved Juniper. She was a sassy little character and I love that the story doesn't paint the single parent dating as easy. Navigating child custody and shared time without bashing your ex (even though he deserved it) while trying to figure out a new old love. Messy and complex like real life. The whole story is so good.
Yes, it is a second chance love story but it is also a love story for real people with real problems. I love the writing, I love the past and present story narratives, I love the complex and real love story that this is.
Highly recommend for those that love a lot of story and character development with their romance.

Shiloh and Cary are crafted so beautifully, and they are so intensely connected that their story felt very real and very personal. I love a flawed character, and they were both described with a level of detail that included all the unflattering traits that bring them to life in 3D. Overall, I had a hard time getting invested in the plot here and it wasn’t something that I couldn’t put down.

Omg this was such a fantastic read!❣️✨ I've been a Rainbow Rowell fan from the moment I read Fangirl ten years ago and it still hasn't changed! Her writing has always been amazing with realistic characters and stories that always hit you in the feels. At first glance, it's a second chance romance between two childhood friends - but there's a lot more to it too!

Shiloh and Cary were best friends during high school and super close - to the point that everyone thought that they were dating each other. They almost got together when Shiloh was at college but things took a turn when Cary went back to the Navy and they slowly drifted apart. Fast forward fourteen years and Shiloh has gone through a divorce and is a single mom to two kids while she works at the children's theater - quite different from the adult life that she'd envisioned when she was a teen. When their other high school best friend - Mikey invites her to his wedding, she decides to go while feeling both anxious and excited at the thought of seeing Cary again. And she does reconnect with him - though they might have changed somewhat, the connection between them remains the same - but will they be able to find their way back to each other?

I loved the characters in this one and how realistic they felt, with flaws and all. Shiloh and Cary aren't perfect but they're doing their best to play the cards they've been dealt with. The romance between them is very much similar to the title - a slow dance. It's slow and sweet at times, with some missteps but the connection is always there!
Junie and Gus - Shiloh's kids were pretty funny and amazing too along with Shiloh's mom, her friend, Tom and many others! I think I enjoyed everything about this one! I'd definitely recommend it if you're a Rainbow Rowell fan or if you're just looking for an emotional second chance romance with wonderful characters!❣️✨

A beautiful decade-spanning love story filled with humor and hope.

The love story of Shiloh and Cary is anything but linear in this sweet and emotional romance. What starts as a typical reunion after many years apart - from high school best friends to adults with careers and kids - turns into a complicated and raw rekindling of feelings as our characters look to their pasts to try to make sense of their future. Cary’s in the Navy, Shiloh’s divorced with two kids, but they’re still thinking about what happened when their friendship turned into something more so many years ago. It takes a few tries to get things right, with many steps forward and a lot of steps back, but it’s all about the journey between these two that makes the story so compelling.

With duel perspectives, Rowell weaves moments past and present to give readers a captivating romance that is realistic and satisfying. Cary and Shiloh’s chemistry is off the charts, and what may seem on the surface to be a typical second chance romance, turns into a rich and moving story about accepting the love in front of them, being honest about their feelings, both good and bad, and facing their fears of the unknown future. It’s funny, hopeful, and oftentimes euphoric in letting the characters’ love and passion for each other take center stage.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

A huge thanks to William Morrow for a copy of Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell! This was such a beautiful love story.

Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school and everyone thought they'd end up together. She went to college and he joined the Navy. It's been 14 years since they last talked and when their high school friend is getting married they reconnect at his wedding. But a lot has happened, she's now divorced with 2 kids and he's still in the Navy. Can they make something work with messy adult lives?

The writing and this story was what I really liked. I struggled with Shiloh's character a few times and while I wanted to see her and Cary get together, they just needed to communicate better. I did love the emails when he was deployed. This had a unique 90s/early 2000s vibe between the flashbacks to before. Shiloh's kids were adorable and the characters felt real.

Overall I enjoyed this second-chance romance! Slow Dance comes out on Tuesday - July 30th!

4.5/5 stars

This is a standalone contemporary(ish) adult book. This is adult/general fiction with some romance.

It is about two best friends Shiloh (female) and Cary (male).

This story is told in a past/present timeline. The before starts in 1991 when they are high school seniors. The now is 2006.

The book starts in 2006. Shiloh receives a wedding invitation to one of her high school best friend's weddings. Shiloh is the female main character. She is 33, divorced with two small children.

The book is about friendships. There is romance. However for much of the book it is not clear what Shiloh and Cary are to each other.

Past/Present timelines are not my favorite. So it did take me a bit of time to really become invested in the story. But the second half of the book was so good. I could not put it down.

This definitely isn't like most romance books. There is some romance. However the characters are super unique. And the problems that they face are written in a very realistic way.

It was so interesting to see the main characters be so close and then not speak for 14 years. The story of friendship and romance was amazing to read. I really ended up enjoying this book.

This book lived up to my expectations and then some! Everything about the characters was raw and real and relatable; so often we read romances that are picture-perfect, everything goes right, and the MCs lead charmed lives (and there's a time and place for those books) but this story felt beautifully authentic. The MCs were real people facing real problems and leading messy but normal lives and it was so nice to see their stories unfold as you could imagine in real life.

For as much as I loved the book's authenticity, my one complaint is that I wish there was more conflict. I could feel tension building as I read but then everything turned out fine! I was waiting for the other shoe to drop and it never did.

Overall I loved this romance; Rowell did it again and I can't wait to read more!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing the ARC.

I absolutely loved this book. This coming together of two people who seem to be made for each other, trying to navigate real life and messy feelings and complicated upbringings to get to a point where they're able to find happiness with each other. Where the anxiety of someone always leaving and making plans that don't include you leaves a visible scar on your heart and where people write you off the second things get too hard or too real in an effort for self-preservation.

Shiloh and Cary are messy. They are not perfect people. They're not even a level of "messed up but still endearing." They have communication issues, emotional hang-ups, impossible family situations, and all of this is overshadowed by Cary's naval career taking him away for months and years on end. It is as frustrating as it is endearing. These two somehow find a way to move beyond all of that to get a point where they're able to finally communicate that they're ready for each other in all conceivable ways.

I love Rowell's writing style. It's frenetic when the anxiety ramps up, and it's languid when they finally are able to take a breath and relax. I felt all of the emotions as I was reading them. I felt Shiloh's heartbreak, Cary's frustration, the acceptance when they finally were able to get to the root of their issues, and most importantly, the ongoing undercurrent of love between these two characters. Even when they were apart, even when they weren't speaking, you could still feel everything.

One of Rowell's best works.

I have been reading Rainbow Rowell since 2014 and i am confident in saying that this is her best work BY. FAR. I went in to this book pretty blind, just knowing it was a romance and this felt so real - like i was reading about two people who were a few grades above me in high school. Both scary and Shiloh had their flaws and hang ups about their past, present, and future relationships, but all their feelings felt so real and deeply personal. One of the better second chance romances i have read in a while. I am so glad i took a chance on this one! If you’re on the fence, just do it! You won’t regret it.

SLOW DANCE – Rainbow Rowell
William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0063380196
July 30, 2024
Contemporary Romance

North Omaha, Nebraska

It’s 2006 and single mother Shiloh is running late for the wedding of her high school friend, Mikey. Her ex, Ryan, arrived late to pick up their children Junie and Gus. He finally arrives but Shiloh is too late for the wedding, so she heads to the reception, where the celebration is in full swing. She runs into a few old high schoolmates, though she wonders if Cary came. Just as she decides he didn’t show up because he couldn't get away from his job in the Navy, she spots him across the room—just as he does her. Things are awkward at first because so much has changed since they’ve seen each other. But Shiloh can’t forget that she was attracted to Cary all through school, even though he, Mikey, and Shiloh were the best of friends, a trio that did everything together. Will fifteen years later result in a long-ago friendship turning into a romance?

So begins SLOW DANCE, a tale about the reunion of Shiloh and Cary. Both came from families barely able to support themselves and they learned to lean on each other. Mikey was their goofy friend who egged them in the threesomes’ adventures in high school. Shiloh had aspirations to attend college and become an actress, while Cary planned to join the Navy. Well, Shiloh did attend college, but she encountered Ryan and fell in love. She now works at a theater but isn’t acting. They married and had two children, but unfortunately, Ryan cheated on her and they divorced. Cary did indeed join the Navy and has worked his way up in the ranks. At the wedding reception, they reconnect and get caught up on what each other is now doing.

SLOW DANCE jumps back and forth between 2006 and their past in high school. It does hop and skip some, as readers will see them in their last year of school, then jump back to earlier. The flashbacks give readers a better sense of the relationship between Shiloh and Cary, plus how their lives were shaped growing up. Through it all, they supported each other. Move back to 2006 and we see our couple tentatively start to move forward on staying in touch—and much more. With two young children, Shiloh doesn’t feel she is ready to get involved with someone, while Cary is starting to see the end of his Naval career with retirement and starting a future with the woman he loves—Shiloh. Things don’t always go smoothly, especially when his mother, who is really his grandmother, has a medical emergency. It is Shiloh who steps in and helps Cary out as he is now back in San Diego where he lives. In the meantime, can they keep their romance afloat long distance?

If you love second-chance romances and characters who are facing tough decisions in their life, then you will love SLOW DANCE. As the title suggests, their path to a life together is one big slow dance. Don’t miss this intriguing tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today