Slow Dance is a second chance, friends to lovers romance. This is the first Rainbow Rowell book I've ready in awhile, and I was excited to jump in because it's an adult romance as opposed to her usual YA. I have to say though, that it ended up just being ok.

There were a few things that threw me off about the story, the main being the pacing. It truly was SO slow. I kept waiting for something to happen, but honestly nothing ever really did. It was very just day to day life for them, so if that is something you enjoy then you will probably really enjoy this book. The other thing that bothered me the use of the past/present storylines. There was chapters of the past weaved throughout the story, but it was non-linear so it felt so disjointed to me. There was no flow, no reasoning to the 'past' chapters, that I often found myself wondering why they were included. I wish it had been a progression, so you were able to feel the growth of their relationship from when they were young to adults.

Now looking at the main characters, I have to say that I struggled to connect with Shiloh. She wasn't nice, or likeable and it made me not fully root for her. I did relate to a lot of her anxieties that she struggled with, but it just hindered any type of growth in their relationship. She was one foot out the door the entire book, and none of the issues were ever resolved. Cary was a little better, but he just did not communicate AT ALL. I hate miscommunication in stories, and this had so much of that. So many of their problems would have been easily solved if they just bothered to talk to each other. And considering they were best friends, it was weird that they didn't. I enjoyed when they reconnected at their friends wedding, and how their relationship built from there. I didn't love the midwest feel of the story, it just felt so down in the dumps and I wanted to scream at the book multiple times for Shiloh to just clean her house. Even reading about it gave me the ick when she constantly talked about how dirty it was, and how she just had no time to clean because like job and kids. Sorry lady, no excuse I also have a job and children, and my house is not disgusting like yours is described. When I'm reading a romance, it's usually a palette cleanser for me, so I want something fun and I don't really want to read about dirty houses, and main characters covered in moles with eczema, or called sasquatch. If I want something that feels real, I would go to literary fiction where their dire circumstances were part of the plot.

This is all to say, it was a sweet story, and if you like your romance with a lot of realism, that takes place in Omaha, and is super slow paced you will probably enjoy this a lot! As it stands, it was well written, but just not really for me. Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

This was my first time reading a book by Rainbow Rowell and it won’t be my last. I might be slightly biased since this story takes place in Omaha, NE.

5 ⭐️ Stars!

Shiloh and Cary are such real characters. Their love story made me so happy 🥰 Second chance romance. Best friends to lovers.

Past: Shiloh and Cary are best friends growing up, they do everything together. Present: Shiloh and Cary haven’t spoken in 14 years.

Shiloh is now 33, divorced, with 2 kids. She gets invited to a mutual friend’s wedding and has anxiety and anticipation about seeing Cary again. This story follows Shiloh as she navigates single motherhood, sharing her kids with an ex she despises, and confronting her feeling for Cary. Rainbow wrote such real characters that show love is messy and complicated. This story is a lot about character development. There are also the struggles of living in poverty in North Omaha and dreaming of moving away. Shiloh has to grow and come to terms it is okay to move back to your hometown.

“I can’t give you the past,” Cary said. He squeezed her hands. “But we could have a future.”

Slow Dance is a beautifully written novel that will linger in my heart for a long time. Highly recommended ♥️

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review

Rainbow Rowell does character studies so well, and this is yet another example of how she brings to life individuals in ordinary or mostly ordinary circumstances for her readers. Shiloh and Cary and their relationship are the feature here, and all the other characters are definitely in supporting roles. Which works really well. The alternating POV between Shiloh (mainly) and Cary (occasionally) as well as the glimpses into their past together work well to build out the story and make you really root for these two to figure things out. My one complaint is that it felt like they took forever to actually talk to each other and realize that they had missed opportunities.

Shiloh is a mom struggling to find the balance between being a mom part time, since her ex has the kids part time too, and a woman who wants to move on. Cary seems to be more stuck in some ways, never moving past his feelings for Shiloh from when they were kids, even as he has to step into a role with his family. I do kind of wish we had seen his relationships with Angel and Jackie play out just a little more, and I did wish there was more interaction with Shiloh's ex towards the end of the book. No spoilers, but there was just a lack of full satisfaction where that one was concerned.

If you enjoyed Landlines and other Rowell books, then you'll like this one. I felt like it had some Eleanor and Park vibes to it, but without being as draggy. I really did not like Eleanor and Park!

i was really excited to be approved for this ARC because i love rainbow’s books

this one is giving Melancholy Nostalgia
and it’s just a very different read than some of her YA stuff, imo
the pacing can be slow which i think is part of the point of this story but some of it felt dragging or repetitive at times

the characters, main and supporting, are intricate and realistically flawed and fleshed out and the two main characters/love interests are described as very real and blemished and normal versus the typical most attractive person in the room which interesting and added a layer of that “realness”

my other critique was the ending felt rushed after the rest of the book felt super drawn out

thanks to netgalley for the ARC!

If I had to sum this book up, I’d say it was high school sweethearts whose love story takes the path of most resistance.

Shiloh is a divorced mom of two who solidly exists in Omaha. She reconnects with her best friend Cary after 14 years. Cary left Omaha after graduating high school and eventually becomes a Navy officer which means he’s never stayed in one place for too long.

Their reconnection opens up memories of their past and reasons why they both feel inadequate for each other in the present.

I didn’t love this book for a few reasons. First, the pacing was weird. Second, the characters seemed to be written for me to intentionally not like them, and finally - some of Shilohs insecurities hit uncomfortably close to home.

None of these things make this a bad book, all of my dislikes are preference. Some readers who don’t always like shiny, happy, sassy, main characters will probably actually be drawn to this book because Shiloh is none of those things.

This book is a lot more realistic and gritty than a lot of romances. If you’re looking for something that feels like an escape this isn’t the book to choose. If you want something that has imperfect characters and feels personal it’s worth giving a shot.

Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC! I really enjoy Rainbow Rowell’s writing and was excited to read this book. As usual, her characters were really well written. She did a great job portraying Shiloh’s and Carey’s idiosyncrasies and complex emotions. The jump back and forth in the timeline was intriguing and helped develop a connection with the main characters relationship over the years. Unfortunately, I did not enjoy how the flashbacks were out of order and how the length of them varied greatly. The romance aspect was a very, very slow burn that frustrated me at times. The ending was very sweet but it seemed so rushed compared to the rest of the book and slow development of the main characters’ relationship.
Overall, I really enjoyed the well written characters and the ending but the timeline and flow of their relationship was hard to get through.

The title works as there is a sweet slow dance at the beginning, and overall this book is an incredibly slow burn. Fans of RR will enjoy this. The pace was too slow for me, but I did see it through and appreciate the courage Cary & Shiloh had to find their way to each other. Some things were brought up as issues late in the book that felt clunky, like they should have been more directly addressed earlier. I think the author does a good job of showing how life and love are generally messy, even when you’re feeling 100% invested, and how pushing through with honesty can open the way for grace, hope and happiness.

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC e-book

I don't usually give 5 stars, but this book deserved it! I've read several other Rainbow Rowell books before and I think this one is my new favorite.

Rainbow Rowell's "Slow Dance" is a poignant and captivating exploration of love, friendship, and the complexities of life. Set against the backdrop of Omaha, the story follows Shiloh, a woman who finds herself back in her hometown after years away. Rainbow’s narrative beautifully captures the essence of small-town life, with its familiar haunts and lingering memories.

At the heart of the novel is Shiloh's journey of self-discovery. Despite her best efforts to escape her past, she finds herself grappling with the same insecurities and doubts that plagued her in her youth. As she navigates the challenges of adulthood – including divorce and single motherhood – Shiloh is forced to confront her own vulnerabilities and confront the choices that have shaped her life.

Central to Shiloh's story is her relationship with Cary, a childhood friend who has always been by her side. Rainbow skillfully portrays the depth of their bond, capturing the nuances of their friendship with warmth and authenticity. Cary's unwavering support and understanding provide a source of comfort for Shiloh, even as she struggles to come to terms with her own feelings for him.

As Shiloh prepares to attend a high school friend's wedding, she is filled with a mix of anticipation and anxiety. The prospect of seeing Cary again dredges up long-buried emotions, forcing her to confront the truth about her feelings for him. Rowell expertly navigates the complexities of love and longing, painting a nuanced portrait of a woman torn between her past and her present.

Slow Dance is a testament to Rainbow Rowell's talent for crafting compelling characters and richly textured narratives. Through Shiloh's story, she explores themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of friendship. Readers will find themselves swept up in the emotional depth of the novel, rooting for Shiloh as she embarks on a journey of self-discovery and second chances.

Slow Dance is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will linger in the hearts of readers long after they turn the final page. With its vivid characters, evocative prose, and heartfelt storytelling, it is a must-read for fans of contemporary fiction. Rainbow has once again proven herself to be a master storyteller, and "Slow Dance" is sure to captivate audiences with its timeless tale of love, loss, and the enduring bonds of friendship.

Well… I have loved and read most of Rainbow Rowell's books., this one was a bit too slow for me. I love the characters, but I feel it needed more drama


thank you, NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this book for my honest opinion

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an early copy of this book! Below is my honest review.

Summary of the plot:
Shiloh and Cary have been best friends since high school. Well, up until fourteen years ago. Now Cary is in the Navy and Shiloh is back at home with two kids and no husband (anymore). They rekindle their romance at their mutual best friend's wedding, Mikey, but things aren't as easy as it seems.

Thoughts on the book:
Overall, I enjoyed reading this book, but it definitely wasn't a favorite or anything. I haven't read much of Rainbow Rowell's books ever since "Fangirl" came out, so I was excited to get an early copy of this book.

Things I did like: the protagonists' friends and family members had personalities outside of pushing the romance; there was a plot outside of the romance; scenes of the protagonists doing every day life stuff and not just having sex or dates. The author's writing style also made it really easy to imagine the scenes playing out and the scenes were very realistic. I also really enjoyed seeing Gus's and Juniper's personalities grow (Shiloh's children). Also, I love me a good slow burn.

Things I didn't like: the before-POVs chapters. They jumped back and forth between the timelines. One moment we're learning about how Cary's mom got married while he was in high school, then in the next chapter, we're in Shiloh's POV, as she's getting proposed to. It was very chaotic and not enjoyable. I also didn't like the miscommunication trope. I mean, no one really does, but in some books, the miscommunication trope could be done well. But it was not done well in this one. Shiloh and Cary basically didn't communicate at all until the very end and the only reason why they did communicate was because Cary proposed out of nowhere (and they weren't even technically dating at the time).

Would I recommend picking up this book? Yeah, I guess so. Just be prepared to be confused by the flashback chapters, despite how interesting they may be.

Star rating could possibly change once it settles in more.
I would read Rainbow’s (yeah, we’re cool like that) grocery list. I adore her writing, her characters, and the ups and downs she takes us on.
This felt real. It was relatable. It made my heart ache (seriously, I told 2 people today it was depressing but in the way that sometimes her work just makes me SO sad).
This was a lot of jumping from past to present, and abrupt changing in POV’s. My complaint about this book is the pacing. It was too much of a slow burn for me (truly didn’t know if I’d get an ending that would leave me feeling okay after all this!) But her humor was magnificent so that helped.

If you’ve read Elenor & Park, whatever feelings you had with that, you’ll have with this.

You will not get the feelings you got from Simon & Baz in this one!
Overall, another well written book by an absolutely incredible author.

Eleanor & Park was the first book I ever read of Rainbow Rowell in my early 20s. Since then it’s been hard for me to still engage with YA although I’ve still read many books from Rowell. Slow Dance was the perfect blend of adult fiction and YA as a former YA lover. Clay was the perfect male lead as I couldn’t get over how … tender he was with Shiloh while still being so direct. Shiloh is an awesome mother who is navigating single motherhood just amazingly and the two of them really did make the perfect team, then and now. I really enjoyed this sweet book about first love and second chances

it's been a very long time since i've read anything by rainbow rowell. that being said, i was pleasantly surprised by how much i enjoyed 𝘴𝘭𝘰𝘸 𝘥𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦. a bit of a slow burner book because its "plot" is driven by its characters and their decisions. nonetheless, i found myself thoroughly engaged from start to finish. the structure/pacing of the book is different than what i am use to reading, but it very much keeps to the same style of writing that rowell does (though, the last book i read was eleanor and park so take my word with a grain of salt). it felt very reminiscent of the YA novel because of the writing.

our characters, cary & shiloh, are childhood friends who reunite about 14 years later at a mutual friend's wedding and includes past timelines to give context to their dynamic. as teens, they've always skirted around what their relationship means to one another. when cary joins the navy after high school, they go their separate ways and never really address what happened between the two of them. now as adults, cary and shiloh hope to explore what they couldn't when they were kids, but in a way that isn't limited by their life circumstances. it's messy, lots of miscommunication, and just very human feelings that these characters are going through that i found endearing and relatable.

thank you william morrow for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review!

Rainbow Rowell is back in a new adult novel and she doesn't disappoint. Reading Rowell is like coming home - her expertise with incredible, realistic dialogue and real-world challenges always make her stories stand out. Slow Dance is about a second chance romance between Shiloh and Cary. Their story is told in chunks alternating between Shiloh and Cary's high school and college days to present (2006) when they meet for the first time in over a decade at their mutual friend's wedding in their early 30s. I loved seeing the evolution in their relationship and how the time they missed was crucial to their growth. They both learned a lot of lessons that led to them finally getting it right. I also really liked reading about Shiloh as a single mother who has to navigate her responsibilities to her children and her children's father. When you're a mother, your relationships aren't just between you and your partner anymore. Rowell did a great job of writing a realistic way their lives could fold in together. I wish there was a bit more romance, but that's just the reality of a romance with two adults and one who has kids. Rowell also shines in the back and forth Cary and Shiloh have when they write to each other over email in 2006 - no checking your smart phone! You have to open your computer and wait for a response. I loved that. It felt very reminiscent of her debut novel Attachments.

Overall, highly recommend this fun, second chance romance with heart. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an e-galley of this title in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A beautiful slow dance of a love story about friendship and teenage crushes blossoming into true love. This was a character driven novel about how lives can be going in one direction and how teenage memories can pull you towards the one that got away.

Shiloh and Cary are high school friends who both have secret crushes on the other. When Shiloh goes away to college and Cary joins the military, their lives drift apart. Fifteen years later, they both attend the same wedding and their relationship re-ignites. Shiloh and Cary are each living very different lives, but come together to help each other through hardships that arise.

Some chapters are written in the present, and other chapters tell of Shiloh and Cary’s past lives that brought them to where they are today.

I enjoyed this book until about 75% into the story, there was a chapter or two that made no sense with the rest of the story and was very unnecessary. If the author would have left that out, I would have rated this book higher. Other than that, this was an enjoyable book. #SlowDance #NetGalley

This book was true to its title. The main characters have a "slow dance" of a love story that spans many, many years. There were moments in their story that made me laugh, and a few that made me tear up. I read this story in 2 sittings, and I was happy that it ended with a nice, tidy conclusion.

I don’t typically enjoy books that have really drawn-out, up and down, happy and sad, back and forth, angsty romance. But Ms. Rowell has a way of leading you by the hand through the story and you don’t want to let go. I read this in one day. It was all of the things I mentioned at the beginning and I enjoyed it and was content with the ending.
As always, her character development was top notch.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this read. All opinions are my own.
Incredibly sweet, slow burn of a romance set in middle America. After spending years apart, Shiloh and Cary are reunited at a friend's wedding. Depending on who you asked they were best friends, childhood sweethearts, or maybe even "the one that got away". Shiloh seems poised on the brink of discovering who she truly is. Her path through life has left her with 2 children and 1 ex=husband. Cary's reappearance is both a comfort and a disruption. Flashbacks take us through their high school and college years. I enjoyed seeing the glimpses of who they were, compared with who they are now. One of my favorite things about the author's writing is how much I feel like I get to know her characters. One of the things I enjoyed most was the development of their relationship. Both Shiloh and Cary were encumbered by their jobs, families, and ties to their past selves. But somehow, they managed to push past that and find a deep connection together.

I wanted to love this book, I really did. I like Rainbow Rowell's writing style, but this one didn't have me hooked like I was hoping for. I felt like it was a slow read and then it kind of just ended. I did enjoy the book, just not as much as I could.