I love Rainbow Rowell's books and was so excited to read her latest, Slow Dance. Cary and Shiloh were best friends in high school, and there was always a hint of more, but now it's many years later and Shiloh is newly divorced with two kids and Cary has been in the military for the past 15 years. They reconnect at a mutual friend's wedding at the start of the story. The rest of the book flips between present day and flashbacks to the past. It was a little bit too much of a slow burn for me, with too much of an angsty-high school vibe. I got a little frustrated with some of the lack of communication and the will they/won't they aspect. There were definitely some enjoyable aspects, and if you like feelings of nostalgia and second chance romance, you would likely enjoy this one.

This started off SO STRONG and was giving me all the feelings. And then the second half kind of went off the rails for me. It was like slow burn straight to inferno and sadly, I was left wanting. The story went in a direction I wasn’t totally happy with, which I could have accepted, however the uneven pacing from the first to the last half made it hard to move past. Id say still worth reading if you were otherwise planning on it.

Rainbow Rowell has this way of bringing characters to life. I don't even have to know the premise of the story to know that I will be hooked in no matter what. <i>Slow Dance</i> was no exception. This is the type of book that could seem lackluster and normal - two high school best friends that never let their true feelings for each other known. They were transformed into main character vibes the second Rowell started telling their story.
<i>Slow Dance</i> is a second chance to say the things they wanted to say 14 years ago but were too afraid because they thought they knew what the answer would be before asking. The story switches from Cary and Shiloh now to when they were best friends 14 years ago. It is told seamlessly, as if the reader was there experiencing their days in real time as well as their flashbacks. I couldn't believe how fast I finished this one and even doublechecked to make sure I hadn't skipped any parts because it went by too fast.

Slow Dance is a tender, emotionally rich adult romance that showcases her signature strengths: sharp, witty dialogue and characters that feel deeply authentic. The setting is wonderfully realized, drawing on Rowell’s own experiences to create a place that feels lived in and personal. The non-linear narrative may not be for everyone, but it adds a unique layer to the storytelling, allowing the reader to peel back the characters’ emotions and histories at just the right pace.

While Shiloh, the protagonist, can be difficult to love, Rowell’s ability to write flawed, complex characters shines through, making her all the more intriguing. Cary, however, lacks the depth of his counterpart, which might disappoint some readers hoping for a more balanced dynamic. Despite some questionable decisions from the characters, the story remains compelling, largely due to Rowell's irresistible prose.

Ultimately, Slow Dance may not be the perfect starting point for new readers, but long-time fans of Rowell’s work will find plenty to love. Her writing, as always, is engaging and fresh, making it hard to put this book down. If you enjoy nuanced characters and a thoughtful exploration of relationships, this novel will likely resonate with you.

Slow Dance had its ups and downs for me. The middle section, where Shiloh and Cary’s friendship starts to evolve into something more complex, was genuinely engaging. Rowell skillfully handles the emotional tension of their misunderstandings and repeated missteps, creating a gripping and vivid story. I also appreciated the authentic Omaha backdrop and how Shiloh’s life as a single mom was portrayed—it felt realistic and relatable. However, the frequent miscommunications and the characters’ avoidance of key conversations became frustrating. When the romance finally progressed, it oddly lost some of its charm, feeling anticlimactic after all the buildup. Despite these shortcomings, it was still an enjoyable, lighthearted read that provided a nice escape.

"Slow Dance" is a touching second-chance romance about Shiloh and Cary reconnecting years after high school. Shiloh, now a single mother, and Cary, a Navy officer, meet again at a wedding and explore their old feelings and life choices.

The book shines with relatable, well-developed characters. Rowell’s use of flashbacks adds a nostalgic touch, enriching the story. However, some cultural references were confusing for me—at least, I assume they were cultural references, and being not American, I didn't fully grasp them. The themes of unrequited love and personal growth are well-handled, but some parts of the book drag and feel repetitive. Shiloh’s indecisiveness can be frustrating, even if it reminds me a little too much of myself, and Cary’s character lacks depth.

Overall, "Slow Dance" is heartfelt and engaging with strong emotional depth, but it has pacing issues and some underdeveloped characters.

There was a lot love about Rainbow Rowell’s newest adult romance, Slow Dance. The characters felt genuine, and the dialogue was compelling and clever, as it always is with Rowell. The setting felt lived in and real (which makes sense, given the autobiographical nature of the location and timeframe), and the structure of the book itself was great (I’ve seen some complaints about the non-linear narrative from other reviewers, but I personally loved it and found it worked beautifully).

Unfortunately, there were some things that didn’t work as well. Cary was weak, as characters go, not as well fleshed out as I would have hoped from the counterpart to Shiloh. Shiloh herself is hard to love in many ways, though whether that is a deal breaker or not will depend entirely upon the reader — personally, I don’t mind reading books about people I dislike, but your mileage may vary.

Fundamentally, I had a hard time supporting the decisions the characters were making throughout the book. Again, not a deal breaker (I feel the same about another Rowell adult novel, Landline), but something that might turn some readers off.

I ended up enjoying this book much more than I think it really deserved, simply by virtue of it being new Rainbow Rowell prose I haven’t read to death. Without the fact that her writing style works very well for my brain, the characters and plot would likely have made this more of a 3 star book for me. Fans of Rowell will likely enjoy it, but if you’ve never read anything of hers before, I wouldn’t start here.

So happy to be able to jump back into the world of Rainbow Rowell. I’ve been patiently waiting for a new adult novel from her and Slow Dance had all the classic Rainbow Rowell charm. It was a bit difficult to follow the Now and Then timeline on audio, but I felt like I comprehended most of what was going on. The adult love story felt a bit rushed but I guess when you meet your soul mate as a kid why waste any more time? Cute.

I really love Rainbow Rowell's writing and that she sets so many of her books in the Omaha area. I went to school in Lincoln and spent some time in Omaha during my grad and undergrad years so I'm familiar with some of the areas in her books. Unfortunately, Slow Dance didn't jive for me like her other books did.

I enjoyed the second-chance and friends-to-lovers tropes that were present in this novel. The butt-headed nature of Cary regarding Shiloh and her actions got on my nerve really quickly. It seemed that his character saw her for so long as the girl she was not the woman she is. I did want Shiloh also to grow up some on her end as well. While we see them come together as a couple, I really wish we would have seen more of them together. I know a lot of it was spent apart, but it was so fast-tracked at the end that I missed that element. Unlike other books of hers that I could easily re-read, Slow Dance will not fit in that category.

Thank you to William Morrow and Netgalley for a copy in exchange for review consideration.

If Rainbow Rowell has one fan, it's me. If Rainbow Rowell has no fans, then it's only because I clearly keeled over from the feels from reading yet another one of her beautiful, heart-wrenching books. I love her, I love this book, and I love just how angsty I am after finishing Slow Dance. Cary and Shiloh are estranged high school besties who never quite had their moment when they were young; Slow Dance tells their story as they come together and reflect back on their fraught past while (maybe) falling back in love with each other.

I'll start by saying that I loved, loved this book. No surprise. It was a phenomenal slow burn/friends to lovers/second chance romance, and I stayed up way past my self-imposed bedtime to finish this, because once the feels started hitting, I couldn't put it down. But I do understand that some of the choices Rowell made while writing might not feel right for other readers. Like some other reviewers have mentioned, Cary and Shiloh are not the most likable characters. But that's just one of the things I love about Rainbow Rowell's books! She takes these deeply flawed, vaguely frustrating people, and she shows how well they fit together and how well they can love each other. They're not everyone's cup of tea, but they're the exact right person for their frustrating counterpart. It's a really nice change of pace from so many romance books where the biggest flaws characters deign have are being messy, brooding, or awkward. Give me these broken, messy characters, and give them some love!

Another (potentially controversial) choice that Rowell made was to switch timelines and switch perspectives with seemingly no set pattern throughout the book. But I actually really appreciated this because it only swapped when it was genuinely necessary for the plot or for the readers to understand what high school drama was impacting current Shiloh and Cary. Sometimes the patterned swapped perspectives can feel forced, and this just never felt that way.

Really, the only real complaint I have is that some of the sexy situations felt a little out of place. I know Rowell has touched on these in the past, and I do normally love some spice, but there were some wording choices that just felt awkward. Feelings are definitely Rowell's area of expertise - spice may not be. And that's ok!

TLDR: if you want a second chance romance about two very flawed characters who simply pine for each other, check this out! 4.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, William Morrown and Rainbow Rowell for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

This novel tells the story of Shiloh and Cary, high school best friends who slowly find their way back into each other's lives as adults. This is a very character-driven story. There is not a great deal that happens in terms of plot; rather, it is primarily a detailed look into the lives, personalities, and relationships of these two characters. The chapters alternate between present day and various moments in Shiloh and Cary's pasts, slowly revealing more about each character through the flashback sections. I enjoyed learning about these characters and coming to understand how their relationship ebbed and flowed over the years. However, due to the primarily character-driven nature of the novel, I did feel that it was somewhat slow and a bit boring in places. Overall, I enjoy Rainbow Rowell's insights into relationships and her way of telling a story and look forward to reading future works by her. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Oof - this one has all the feels. It is most definitely a slowburn romance, following two childhood friends, Shiloh and Cary, who reconnect in their 30s. They were inseparable in high school; however Cary went off to join the Navy and Shiloh never left Omaha. They reconnect at their best friend, Mikey's, wedding and begin to navigate their complex emotions as adults, working through a lot of emotional baggage, miscommunication, and unacknowledged feelings. While there were many moments I wanted to throw the book across the room due to unnecessary miscommunication, I found the characters authentic, imperfect, and very much worth rooting for.

Sincere thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

Rainbow Rowell does it again with another touching story that taps into one’s emotions. The portrayal of friendship and growing up and the challenges that are inherent.

i really wanted to love this, but it fell flat for me. i kept waiting for major events/ conflicts to happen, and i just don't feel like i got it. the overall book moved too slowly for me, i think. i wanted to be soooo wrapped up in this, but i honestly had to force myself to finish it.

Such a great read! Highly recommend this one.

Many thanks to the author, the publisher, and Netgalley for my ARC. All opinions are my own.

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked this book but I didn't love it. I really liked how realistic the characters felt and I loved Shiloh's kids. But I couldn't stand Shiloh when she was in high school, I thought she was obnoxious especially during the prom chapter. I would have left her there. I was very curious to know how Shiloh and Cary became friends in the first place.

3.5 stars rounded up

I really loved this book! Shiloh and Cary have my heart. Shiloh's kids made me laugh out loud. Cary's family dynamics were interesting and endeared me even more to him. I feel like I learned a lot about the Navy and also Nebraska. Mikey is hilarious. I loved everything about this book, except for the ending. It felt a little abrupt, but it might've been that I just wasn't ready for the book to be over. I want a sequel already. I loved this so much. Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC!

I'm not a big fantasy reader so it has been a few years since I've slipped into the world of Rainbow Rowell's writing - and boy, was it good to be back. This wasn't my favorite book of hers (Fangirl holds that honor, it is my go-to comfort read), but it is definitely one that I'm looking forward to re-reading in the future.

Shiloh and Cary are both so real on page - they're flawed, they're messy, life is definitely not perfect - and I think that is why I found their story so compelling. The dual timelines added depth to this story, and I found it easy to follow along as the voices, like the character, had matured. I think we could have dug deeper into the characters' family trauma, but if we had the book wouldn't have been as enjoyable as it was.

I think Rainbow Rowell could rewrite a phone book and I would find it enjoyable, so I may be a bit biased - but this was a great read!

I was waiting for the other shoe to drop with this one because hey, it IS Rainbow Rowell - and we never got it! It was genuinely just a chill, lax novel. Which is fine but it wasn't like heart-throbbing either. Meh.

Rowell does a great job of writing super annoying characters that spend way too much time overthinking things in their head instead of talking to anyone.