Slow dance was "slow" all right.
Look, I LOVED Eleanor and Park, LOVED Landline, so I jumped at the chance to read the newest Rainbow Rowell--- and it is even my VERY favorite type of story-- friends turning to lovers. But this one fell flat for me. It was extremely boring, I cannot care less than I do about the characters.
Shiloh and Cary were besties in high school, they are 33, connected at a mutual friends' second wedding. It takes place in Omaha- Shiloh is a divorced mom of two and Cary is retired Navy.
Felt myself skimming a lot. This was a bit of a disappointment.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC.

I’ve been meaning to read more Rowell since loving her Simon Snow trilogy and just never got around to it. I took getting approved for this arc as a sign from the universe.

Slow Dance is a slow burn romance between two childhood friends that had a huge falling out after freshman year. And when I say slow burn, I mean slooooooooow. Between the short chapters and shifting timelines, I found this to be a very fast and easy read. There were some odd instances of repetitiveness and I wasn't sure if it was intentional but it felt very jarring at times. That definitely took me out of the story. And while our two leads certainly loved each other, I never felt like they actually liked each other. I felt a bit of whiplash at the fast paced ending and wish we got to spend more time with the characters at the end as opposed to the fast forward version we were given.

Read if you love: childhood friends to lovers, opposites attract, second chance romance, older MCs, and a very slow burn.

Overall, not my favorite Rowell book but I’m still eager to tackle her backlist. I might just enjoy her YA more than her adult books.

I have always been such a big fan of rainbow ever since I read Fangirl then seeing that she came out with a new book , slow dance gave me all the feels and made me remember why I love her work so much ! This book was a 10/10 for me I totally recommend!!!! Not just this book but all of rainbow work is amazing

First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC.

Listen, I gave this book the benefit of a doubt for a long time but ultimately, it’s 2.5 stars at best. Shiloh and Carey are reallllllly annoying characters for most of this book. And I just couldn’t get behind the Navy of it all, not to mention the political parties.

Maybe if you’re from Omaha, Nebraska or anywhere like that you’ll appreciate this more for the nostalgic factor, which although I can’t relate to personally I can at least appreciate, but it just doesn’t really make up for the fact that the romance was kind of infuriating.

I think the best part of this story are the moments with Shiloh’s kids and how she grows into a more mellow, and decent human being (I can’t stress enough how annoying she was!). The side characters shine through: from the kids, to Carey’s mom, to his siblings, they felt like very cute and interesting additions to the story. As for Carey, even though I think he means well, I found something about him really chilling. There was a slightly unsettling rigidity to his character that I just didn’t love.

And I just hate military stories, personally, so his military arc is just not my jam.

I will say that the parts of the book where Shiloh and Carey email back and forth are, in my opinion, the most compelling. Rowell is just extremely good at writing that direct back-and-forth repartee (no surprise that Attachments is my favorite of her books!).

I wish I could say different but this is perhaps my least favorite RR novel thus far!

Fantastic author! Great pacing and great development for the characters. I was heavily invested in the plot and descriptive settings.

RR books are ALWAYS a 5 star for me. Fangirl was my first and I have been in love ever since! AND this is a second chance romance?!?! One of my favorite genre's!! This one did however hit soo close to home it GUTTED me in the best way. Of course RR is a lyrical genius with words and this new soon to be classic hit is no different!

I loved this adult contemporary romance book by the queen of YA fiction. Rainbow Rowell’s books have always entertained me, even though they are for YA, and I am decidedly not a YA. So, to read this adult romance (and I am not a romance reader) was so much fun!

I loved the characters, all of them! But Cary… so much love. Shiloh bugged me at first because she was so wishy washy and weird, but then she totally grew on me. The dialogue between the characters had me laughing out loud multiple times, their banter was so witty and hilarious.

And that last line. Made me tear up. What a great book. If you love Rainbow Rowell, you’ll love this book, because, as always, she delivers. And if you’ve never read her work, what are waiting for?

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.

As a huge RR fan, Eleanor and Park being my gateway novel, I was so excited to receive this copy through NetGalley! I love how RR always writes a really good quirky main, and I was so looking forward to meeting Shiloh and watching her relationship with Cary.

Predictable? yes. But does it take you back to high school and make you think of all the times you were with the guy you fell in love with? No? Just me?!

My favorite lines/moments:
1. He wanted to shower her husband into a wall. He wanted to ask her how she could just stand there, alive and not in love with him. —GUTTED LIKE WOW

2. He was halfway across the ballroom before he realized what he as doing. he was going to end up on his knees, crawling to her. —ROMANCE, I DIE

3. When I think about the last 14 years and everything I’ve missed in your life, i feel like I’ve squandered something precious. -RAINBOW I KNOW THIS FEELING SO WELL

So yeah, it was a solid novel. Full of angst and growth and love and spirit. At times, the writing was clunky and the nature of Shiloh’s sensory issues needed a little more of a deep dive but this is such a solid read I don’t even care. Ugh. Go read it when it comes out and buy one for your old lover from back in the day and mail it anonymously and see what happens. 3.5/4 stars for me!

This book turned out to be a DNF for me. I felt the writing style was awkward and way too slow. I was having to force myself to keep reading. I feel that the story over all was Just dragging and pointless.

I loved this book so much, what an excellent second chance romance full of heart and witty banter and so so much angst and love. Which is exactly what I expect from Rowell. I cannot recommend this highly enough. So good.

I was lucky enough to get a review copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I have read several of Rainbow's books, including Simon Snow, Fangirl, and Eleanor & Park, all of which I greatly enjoyed. I requested this review copy strictly because Rainbow wrote it; I had no idea what I was about to read and it was amazing.

Slow Dance is the perfect mix of childhood friendship, growth, fear, and the journey to adulthood love. There are several timeframes the book follows and I loved each one. Shiloh is a single mother living with her two kids in her childhood home; Cary is a single man in the Navy. It has been 14 years since they last spoke and they are reunited at their friend's wedding. Rainbow takes you thru their journey of friendship and love. You feel their fears, their joys, their anxieties, and desperations. It was reminiscent to me of Kristin Dwyer's Some Mistakes Were Made or The Atlas of Us where you just hurt and care so deeply for the characters. I loved reading this book and highly recommend anyone who wants a good hurt and happy.

Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow Books, and Rainbow Rowell for the chance to review this ARC version of the novel Slow Dance.

Slow Dance is a novel that is just that: a slow dance between two people who have known, loved, and respected one another for their whole lives. With "before" chapters telling a backstory, we learn that Shiloh and Cary have danced around one another for years, starting in High School, all the way through college. Reunited at their mutual best friend's wedding, Cary is back in Iowa on leave from the Navy and his eyes are for Shiloh only. And Shiloh has her sights set on Cary. Newly divorced she knows what she wants, and it's Cary. But she doesn't realize that Cary wants her, too, but not just for one night.

Anyone who has gone back and forth with a lover will relate hard to this novel. Shiloh does not exactly come off as likable, but the more we learn about her and her life, she becomes relatable, and that is enough. The flirty and comfortable anxiousness between Cary and Shiloh can be interpreted as chemistry and spark, but cringe at times. I felt this was a very emotionally heavy book, carrying with it loads of reality, all the way to the end. It was both exhausting and enjoyable. This will not be for everyone but will be perfect for some.

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow for the advanced readers copy!

I love the way Rainbow tells a story. She hooks the reader into her character’s world and before you know it you’re completely invested. This was such a perfect love story. Very realistic portrayal of a high school love never fully realized and, yet, burning in the soul over the course of so many years. Perhaps it is just my age when love doesn’t always conquer all that had me yearning so desperately for a happy ending. All I know is I am very content now. Thank you!

I love Rainbow Rowell, but this book frustrated me enough that I didn't finish it. Cary and Shiloh were close friends in high school who haven't seen each other in years and meet again at a high school friend's wedding. They had a brief fling after high school that blew up because of miscommunication and they haven't spoken since. These characters are just so miserable and 99% of their problems could be solved by actually communicating with each other. I'm also just not in the mood for unhappy people and need something a little lighter right now.

Rainbow Rowell truly writes the most intimate and intricate stories without hiding or polishing up the sides of life you'd rather not look at.

SLOW DANCE offers a "Then and Now" look into the lives of Shiloh and Cary and asks us to believe in a love that lasts a lifetime. How can love survive 14 years apart never knowing the true extent of each other's feelings, and often times not having the courage to admit their own?

Rowell proceeds to weave a safety net of flashback "before" chapters and reconciliation "now" chapters so Shiloh and Cary can fall with confidence.

We see how good they've been together in the "before" chapters. Shiloh and Cary have similar childhoods - poor, unstable families. Each have dreams getting out of their small town life for bigger opportunities. High school and their friendship allows them happiness (and lots of shenanigans) they create for themselves. The trauma and joy they experience then directly informs how they process the world in the years they are apart.

We see how good their potential is in the "now" chapters. Present day Shiloh and Cary could have fallen into a nostalgia trap and never truly seen each other for who they've grown into. But there is so much work done on page to understand what real life is for the other. They never balk at showing up for the other as a true friend would. Shiloh always had a meal ready for Cary. Cary gets Shiloh moving and out of her routine. And they listen to each other just as much as they talk and talk and talk.

Rowell truly understands dialogue. The banter and sass between friends immediately sets the tone to their personalities and relationship. Even if its miscommunication, its written so well. Yes, you want to give the book a shake, but make no mistake, this is masterclass use of one of the most despised story devices.

SLOW DANCE will stay with me long after I've closed the book, and is definitely a story I will return to reread. I feel there are clues and small details that will have new meaning with every experience. And as often as I've written "Shiloh and Cary" together, as if they are inseparable (and for truth, even an ocean can't separate their love), they each are beloved characters. I'll hold their happiness in my heart always.

Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow / HarperCollins for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Shiloh and Cary, despite their flaws, are relatable characters with an authentic journey from high school to reconnecting later in life. The flashbacks to the 90s and 2000s added depth to their story, but at times, the pacing felt a bit rushed, affecting my overall enjoyment.

This book, with its well-crafted characters and emotional depth, is a great read for fans of contemporary and second chance romances. Despite some pacing issues, the genuine storytelling warmed my heart, making it a recommended pick for those seeking a heartfelt tale.

I want to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC!

This will absolutely be one of my favorite reads of this year, hands down.

I loved Rowell's Eleanor & Park years ago but I hadn't read another novel by her in a long time. I wasn't sure if this would read like YA even though it's not. I was worried I might not like it.

But I was wrong.

I fell in love from the moment I started this story. Shiloh and Cary have known each other forever. They were best friends. And then they fell out of touch. And suddenly they see each other at a wedding. And they find their way back to each other.

Shiloh and Cary broke my heart and then put it back together. The emotion is so palpable and so beautiful in this story that it was impossible not to root for these two broken souls. It's impossible not to fall in love with them.

Rowell knows how to write love. She does an exquisite job here. I won't forget this story for a long long time.

with gratitude to netgalley and William Morrow for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Some of my favorite lines were actually about parenthood. I knew even before I looked it up that Rainbow Rowell is a mother, because her characterization of motherhood was spot on. The actual love story was pretty swoon-worthy too. 😂

I’ve read Rainbow Rowell before but it was a long time ago. So I forgot that her writing style is a LOT of dialogue and not much non-dialogue. It took me a while to get used to.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.

I loved this book! It took me about 20% to really get into the story line but then it really took off. The characters were so realistic and interesting. Shiloh and Carys love story was relatable and enjoyable. What really get me to sink my teeth into the story was the writing style of the dual timelines and the stings that connected them. I have read multiple Rainbow Rowell books, but this is my new favorite and so excited to recommend it to everyone! Thank you Netgalley!

This was one of my most anticipated books of 2024 as Rainbow is one of my favorite authors and it's been so long since she has released an adult book. Sadly, it has ended up being a letdown for me, and it isn't because it was written bad or had a bad concept, it was just that I didn't connect or vibe with any part of this book. I found the characters grating and so frustrating to read from, making it really hard to care about, let alone cheer for. I think the premise had a lot of promise and could have made for a fantastic second chance romance, but it just didn't work for me because neither lead seemed to deserve to get exactly what they wanted. From a technical standpoint it is written well and does often have Rainbow's unique style of writing that I typically fall head over heels for. I did have a few moments or lines that did catch my heartstrings a bit, but not enough to do a turn around and like the characters or their romanced. I will still order this for my library because I know this type of story will work for some people, some will eat this up and love every second of it and I am happy for those people.