I will 100% give this book 5⭐️ for being so very emotional and tender. I love a slow burn that reveals the longing, the yearning, the pining, and (at some points) the sheer angst of its characters.

Shiloh, Cary, and Mikey were best friends in high school. The story starts at Mikey’s wedding with Cary, a Naval officer, coming back to stand as Mikey’s best man. At this point, he and Shiloh haven’t seen each other in 14 years. Shiloh is now a divorced mom with 2 young kids. Told in two timelines, (past and present) Shiloh and Cary’s friendship has been anything but simple. Their feelings were always complicated, their ability to communicate was always stunted due to how they saw themselves. They grew up on the wrong side of Omaha, both desperate to escape, to achieve more for themselves yet unwilling to ask for anything from each other that would jeopardize their futures.

Cary holds himself together tightly, unable to express what he feels, stretched thin by family, his job, his desire to finally make Shiloh see him. Shiloh is exhausted, by her ex, her young kids, her job, and living with her mom as a 33 year old. I love how opposite they are, until it’s revealed over time how alike they are.

Honestly, I just want to return to the first page and start all over again.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Shiloh and Cary were inseparable in high school, but only as friends... At least that's what they kept telling themselves. Afterwards, they went their separate ways and haven't talked in over fourteen years. Now, at thirty-three, divorced, and with two kids, Shiloh isn't sure if she is hoping Cary will or won't show at their friend's wedding. Maybe, there could be something between them after all!
I loved that this was a story about that innocent high school love (that they don't even recognize as love), and yet also a story about thirty year olds dealing with the messiness of life. These characters were flawed and relatable!
Thanks to @netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read this one and provide my honest opinion! It is set to be published in the US tomorrow, 30 July, so definitely add this one to your TBR!
#NetGalley #SlowDance

High school best friends Shiloh and Cary have had a tumultuous relationship since high school, with a handful of “will they, won’t they” moments, followed by years of no communication while Cary served in the Navy. With Cary back around for their friend Mikey’s wedding and Shiloh fully divorced from Ryan, has timing finally worked out for Cary and Shiloh to reconcile their friendship and see if it can blossom into something more?

This was my first Rainbow Rowell book and while I’d definitely give her another chance, this one was not it for me. While the book was an easy read, I also was not super invested until the last 25% or so. I did enjoy reading a book about imperfect people, and people that showed they were imperfect, rather than just saying they felt that way. Junie was definitely the highlight of the book and both of Shiloh’s kids were absolutely precious. The 2006 touches throughout the book was fun, and I overall enjoyed the setting of the novel.

I found both of the main characters so incredibly frustrating, and the book was ripe with miscommunication. The book was very slow-moving and in-depth for the majority of the book and then the end went so quickly and there were conversations that I felt should have been had, but never happened. For example, Shiloh and Ryan’s rules around dating around the children were a major part of the conversation, but then that was suddenly forgotten at the end.

Cary and Shiloh are high school best friends. Two parts of a trio (completed by their friend Mikey) who grew up together on the wrong side of the tracks in 90s Omaha. After graduation they largely go their separate ways as high school friends often do. In 2006 they reunite at Mikey's wedding. Now in their 30s, Shiloh a single mother whose life doesn't look anything like she expected, and Cary, an officer in the navy, a path he always intended; the two are given a second chance, but will they take it?

Slow Dance is a familiar, comforting, but somehow fresh and different, friends to lovers romance. It reads like something of a John Hughes film in the absolute best way. Told with dual timelines, set in 2006 with flashbacks to their teen years in the 90s, the story is chock full of nostalgia and youthful missteps, the kind of almost romance that makes your heart pitter patter, or it did when you were 16, and realistic romance your heart recognizes in your 30s.

Rainbow Rowell is a favorite of mine, but it had been so long since I read one of her books I was almost a little nervous about how this read would go. I needn't have worried though as Slow Dance reminded me exactly why I love Rowell: she writes perfectly imperfect characters SO well! You can't help but get all tangled up in these characters and their story, cheering them on along the way. I loved this one and couldn't put it down once I started reading! One of those books I wanted to slow down and savor, but couldn't help but inhale as quickly as possible.

A moving second chance romance between two high school best friends who find themselves reunited at a friend's wedding. I loved the friendship between the two main characters and how they were always there for one another through ups and downs over the years. It was great on audio and highly recommended for fans of authors like Christina Lauren or Casey McQuiston. Many thanks to NetGalley and @Libro.fm for an early digital and ALC copy in exchange for my honest review!

I haven’t read a book from Rainbow Rowell since her last full-length novel titled “Landline” was released ten years ago. I didn’t enjoy that one so much, but I was a RR STAN during her peak YA years. Eleanor and Park & Fangirl were staples in my book collection and favorites list. I didn’t realize Rowell was releasing another book until I saw it one day on Netgalley. I couldn’t believe my eyes! I also couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw I was approved for the ARC.
Slow Dance follows Cary and Shiloah, two high-school best friends as they reconnect years later. This novel utilizes a “then” and “now” format which I didn’t hate. I thought it worked well for 90% of the book, but there were a few instances where I wasn’t sure what point in their lives I was reading about. I enjoyed the usage very much for the most part.
As I stated before, I haven’t read a RR book in so many years and she has such a distinctive writing style that it took me a good 100 pages to fully immerse myself in the book. However, I found myself absolutely loving what was happening once fully immersed.
My biggest problem with the story was the characters, but the thing I liked most was the characters. Quite the conundrum, huh? The characters are what made me love the story, but I also found myself frustrated with them at times. My problem was primarily with Shiloah. She seemed almost one-dimensional at times, but then fully transparent at other times. I wish I could have learned more about her, but also why they even liked each other. Sure, they were childhood best friends, but I had a hard time liking Shiloah periodically. She just seemed very… average to me. I really really loved Cary as a character. I did find myself frustrated with him at times, but they good definitely outweighed the bad regarding him.
Overall, I really enjoyed this new novel from Rainbow Rowell. I can’t wait to see what she produces next.

I received this as an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

I have long been a fan of Rainbow Rowell. I loved ELEANOR AND PARK and FANGIRL. I enjoyed the Simon Snow novels inspired by the fan fiction in FANGIRL. I will also admit that this was the first adult novel of Rowell's that I've read. This novel bears all the hallmarks of a Rainbow Rowell novel, complicated characters with difficult backstories and life situations. However, it is an interesting mix of adult and young adult novel. It revolves around Shiloh a young thirty-something divorcee with two kids and Cary, her former best friend. The two are brought together after fourteen years by the marriage of their mutual best friend Mikey.

Here are the things I love about this book. First, I love that Rowell seems to make it seem effortless to depict characters whose lives are messy, who don't have it all figured out, who had life goals only some of which they've achieved. I love that Shiloh is both protective of the life she has built for herself but also embarrassed by it. On the one hand, she is raising her two kids and sharing custody of them with her ex-husband, while also feeling she's taken a step backwards by moving in with her mom. Shiloh enjoys her job working at the local Children's Theatre, but also feels she has to apologize for it because it means she's traded living in her hometown for what could have been a bigger life pursuing a stage career for herself. It is so realistic of what life can be, a mix of pride at what you have carved out for yourself while still feeling you need to apologize to the wider world for not being what the world sees as a breakout hit or success. Yet, as Shiloh grows and changes throughout the story, her growing realization of what brings happiness makes her less apologetic and instead proud. Proud to admit her love for her best friend and proud to build a life with him where they can be happy.

I also loved that Cary is everything wonderful in a love interest, loyal, tender, willing to listen, but also complicated, sometimes surly, and often clueless about articulating his feelings. When he finally decides to risk giving his heart to Shiloh again, the results of that are messy, uncertain and unexpected. But Rowell still manages to make the moment tender and heartbreaking in the best way. Cary, unlike Shiloh, left home and never expected to look back. He's made a career for himself just as he set out to do in the Navy. However, he has still retained his ties to his mother, who is actually his grandmother, and has never stopped looking out for her and taking care of her. In spite of her mistakes, in spite of all the people she brought into his life, all the siblings, step-siblings, half-siblings, cousins she's always taking in and caring for, adding to the people, by extension, Cary has to care for or worry about. In this way, both Cary and Shiloh understand each other on a deep level as both come from broken homes with mother's who made questionable choices. I also like that each of the moms own up to their mistakes to some degree, but also don't apologize for living their life the way they wanted. Again, it is genuine and makes them fully fleshed secondary characters because they are messy, flawed and yet supportive and loving toward their children, though Shiloh's mom is much less maternal and nurturing than Cary's.

What makes this book an interesting blend of adult and young adult is the fact that it is told through a mix of chapters set in the current timeline for the adult versions of the characters with flashback chapters of the teen versions of the characters. At least half of the novel is made up of chapters about the before versions of Shiloh and Cary. Some even give alternate points of view of the same parts of the story from the other character's viewpoint. So, for example, one set of chapters told from Cary's point of view after bootcamp is later retold from Shiloh's viewpoint. It was a surprise to me that the story was told this way. I will admit that while I think that Rowell was able to pull it off overall, at times, I was frustrated to have to read some of these before chapters. I felt that there were times when I could have done without some of them and would have preferred to see some of that information worked into the current timeline for the adults, instead. Telling the story from dual timelines slowed the pace of the novel for me. I was most invested in the storyline for Cary and Shiloh as adults and while I do think some of the before chapters are important to understand the roadblocks that exist between Cary and Shiloh as grownups and to understand why they've not be in touch for so long after being so close as teens, I still wish there had been fewer before chapters. That is the main reason I give this a 4 out of 5 stars. That may be a pet peeve for me though, and some will likely feel differently.

If you like contemporary romance with compelling, realistic characters, then I highly recommend reading SLOW DANCE. I did enjoy it and I found the love story between Cary and Shiloh to be touching, and heartbreakingly beautiful.

What I really loved about this story is getting to go on this journey with the two characters, Cary and Shiloh, from their time in high school to adulthood. I love the flashbacks to high school and the background it provided to their relationship.

It was a bit long at times and Shiloh could be annoying, but overall I liked her character and didn’t feel like the story dragged on too much.

"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.