I received this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a fun intense version of a beach read. I loved some of the tropes used and thought it was a nice plot.

Slow Dance is a tale about a woman that feels like she was never able to escape her life. I feel like this theme is overdone so I was a little bored with this book. I do like how Rainbow Rowell writes though.

I didn't know I was in the mood for a slow burn, adult, realistic romance until I picked this up. Fair warning, I love a lot of Rowell's work, but have been reading darker lately. But this was sad and real and beautiful. Long term pining, good friendships, good parenting, cute kids. I felt like I was learning about people I care about and wanted to cheer for, even if they aren't perfect. Because who of us is? Beautiful and I think romance and Rowell fans will love this.

Rainbow Rowell has a special way of writing that feels so cozy. It's warm and comforting and completely midwestern in a way that only midwesterners can capture. I loved how all of her books feel like coming home but with big hearts and swoony romance.

Slow Dance is Rainbow Rowell for grown ups. It's sweet and swoony, but with a little more spice that normal. It's the second chance-ish, friends to lovers, slow burn story of Cary and Shiloh. They were best friends in high school who meet again at a wedding 15 years later. In completely different phases of life, they connect deeply and instantly. We get both their past and present stories (in the way of Love and Other Words) and both timelines kept me wanting more. I sat down to read half and read all. It was totally worth the binge.

FIVE STARS! I cannot begin to describe how much I loved the WRITING of this book!

Rainbow Rowell gives readers a complicated, frustrating, lovely, and endearing novel about Cary and Shiloh, two friends with insecurities that only the other can appreciate. I’m being vague about plot because it was my favorite part about the book.

Rowell effortlessly takes us on a non-linear tour of these people’s lives through the years that fills my curiosity with great dialogue, plot, and resolution at perfect intervals. Shiloh and Cary (great use of gender neutral names, btw) are the perfect imperfect literary couple. Their complicated upbringing gives them battle scars they take with them throughout the story. Their lives connect at various points in their adulthood, but not without frustration and disappointment. Who do they choose? Why is life hard? Will their lives become simple for once?

For me, a bonus came at 90% into the book, where I felt it could have ended, but the last 10% became the third act. We know what happens to Cary and Shiloh, how they live beyond the final act, and the choices they make. This is how all books should end: without readers wondering what happens next?

In the case of Slow Dance, I already know and I’m not left wondering. Instead, I’m left satisfied with the ending, with the writing, with the whole arc. And you should, too. Highly recommend if you like the idea of a John Hughes film getting a reimagining by a nostalgic, forward-thinking author with magical storytelling superpowers!

Such a lovely, quiet story. At turns frustrating, sad, achingly romantic, and hopeful, this was a magical novel.

Rainbow Rowell is masterful at conveying these complex, layered human emotions. The first time Cary and Shiloh speak, in the current timeline, I could already feel the wistfulness. I knew nothing about their backstory at this point, who they had been to each other, what happened between them - but it didn't matter. I was so wrapped up in Shiloh's head, and her feelings twined through the prose in a way that made them impossible to escape. From there, I only grew more attached to this messy, loving relationship.

Cary and Shiloh are wonderfully realized characters. Their stubbornness, quirks, and humor complement one another so well. Perhaps even more impressively, their characteristics are so thorough and so well conveyed that the miscommunication that leads to our starting point feels earned. You want to shake these characters and tell them to open their eyes, but you also fully understand why they worded it that way, and why the other interprets it differently. As the story continues to unfurl, this sense only gets deeper. The way Shiloh thinks about herself, and how that tracks through high school and to her divorce, all feels so organic. The characters felt real - even the children, which is an area in which I feel many authors struggle.

The story is rather light on plot - it's about these characters, the winding paths of their life and where that leads them, how they get in their own way - in one another's way. And that, too, feels amazingly real and grounded. There are aspects of the story that feel like they might lead to some big moment, but end with an understated discovery instead. Other plotlines are left open at the end, works in progress just like our lead characters.

I loved it. It had all of Rowell's trademark humor, with perhaps even more than the usual amount of heart.

**3.25⭐️ rounded down to 3**

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Books for early access to this ebook. It publishes on 7/23!

There was just a general awkwardness between the FMC, Shiloh and MMC, Cary. I buddy read this with @lloydreads and we both really thought these characters definitely loved each other but did they like each other? Unclear 😂 They were just odd both together and separately.

And they were just generally forgettable. Cary was a bit better but still an oddball that definitely had unresolved childhood trauma that probably should’ve been dealt with lol

The past/present timelines were good at first, but then they started jumping randomly. Sometimes we’d go back to the same part already told but from the other perspective.. but the story was told in third person??? So, I got confused with that a few times.

And the pivotal part of the story was really abrupt with the end of the book going too fast in comparison to the rest of it.

Overall, it was a quick read (super short chapters) with good writing overall, I just wasn’t sold on the story or romance. I would like to read a book by Rainbow Rowell that’s adult contemporary but without romance 🤔 I think that would be great!

Easily one of my top reads of 2024. Cary and Shiloh's relationship is riveting to watch and so grounded in reality that I feel like I've watched my two best friends fall in love. There's a depth to their relationship that is so stunning to read, they don't blindly love each other and think the other perfect. They see each other's faults (and even get frustrated with them) but they're so dedicated to one another that it doesn't diminish their love and devotion to one another. I adored this book, stayed until 1:30 in the morning to finish it. I wish I could experience reading it for the first time again. Also -- one of my favorite last lines of any romance book...ever. Beautiful!!

Really enjoyed this adult romance book from Rainbow Rowell who typically writes YA books. This book reminded me a bit of Normal People by Sally Rooney in that you knew every thing the female character was thinking. She's quirky, she's funny, she's insecure, she's afraid, she's all of the above when we sees her long ago best friend who she hasn't talked to in years. They meet again at a wedding of their "third" best friend and what follows is the two of them trying to figure out who they are now versus who they were then. Has time changed them? Has time hurt their friendship? What happened that they didn't talk for years?

I really liked these characters - flaws and all - as we have all them and it was so nice for an author to show the flaws.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rainbow Rowell and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Overall this was a cute romance. I wasn't blown away by this story like I have been with some of Rainbow Rowells other romances. This romance was not what I was expecting but it was a good story overall. I will say that there were some slow moments but overall it was a steady storyline. My biggest challenge with this story was that it took me much longer than normal to start to like the main character. They were both a little annoying in the present time but especially for the flashback chapters. I think that a lot of people will relate to this story and the idea of second chances and fate.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me the chance to re this book early. The thoughts and opinions of this post are mine and mine alone.

Rainbow Rowell’s books are always full of heart, and Slow Dance does not disappoint. Told with dual timelines and points of view, Slow Dance tells the story of three high school friends and their lives 15 years later.
It is primarily the unfolding of a funny and heartfelt second chance romance. I recommend this book to anyone needing hope for a second chance. I rate this book 5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for sharing an advance copy of this book for my review.

I do enjoy a good Rainbow Rowell story!! And Slow Dance was definitely enjoyable. It's about Cary and Shiloh, who were best friends in high school but went their separate ways as adults. They reunite and slowly begin to rebuild their friendship and discover that there may be more between them.

This story is flashes back and forth between Cary and Shiloh in high school and Cary and Shiloh in the present. I enjoyed both time periods and liked watching their relationship unfold through both timelines. Both characters were likeable but they also felt real. I read this around the same time that I watched the One Day series. The two are similar in that they are both stories about long time friends who are obviously meant to be more. And in both stories, I was very emotionally invested in their relationships! I needed them to be together already.

Slow Dance features all the things I love about Rainbow Rowell with genuine characters, witty banter and an engaging story.

Slow Dance, a perfect title for this book, that high school dance moment you kind of dreaded, or maybe really wanted, or maybe wanted and dreaded at the same time...and also the feeling of that slow intimacy that unfolds in that just right relationship even if it takes time to elegantly come together.

Thank you to William Morrow for the free review copy of a highly anticipated read.

I LOVED the chance to read a new Rainbow Rowell again, I have always loved how she creates characters who feel like someone I know, want to know, or even feel a little like me. Slow Dance, with it's gorgeous and perfect cover, captures the delicate balance of a high school friendship (love?) from the past and the chance to return to that relationship again, after years of being apart during the early adult years; how do you balance your past, who you were and how you knew someone, with the present, who you are now, who that person is, and the missing in between years... can you go back and then also forward?

Rowell gets relationships, she captures insecurities, and she also understands yearning, that underneath insecurities and hurts and messiness in relationships there is the hope for love, intimacy and connection. While wanting Shiloh and Cary to be together, I was also just there for the story itself, for the characters, for the exploration of the high school stories and the present day reunion, driven by that high school friend who was that one who always seemed to get their dynamic. This is an all the feels kind of book but in the best possible way.

Shiloh and Cary have been best friends since seventh grade. Together, they are oil and water but make their friendship work. Cary, a ROTC member with plans for the Navy after graduation, is serious and silent. Shiloh is artistic, anxious and a drama kid.

These two befriend a guy named Mikey, and all throughout high school this group is inseparable. Mikey compares Cary and Shiloh to being different on the outside, but inside they perfectly fit together. Only, neither addresses feelings, and skirts around them in college.

Fast forward thirteen years, they've lost touch until Mikey brings them back together at his wedding. The reader flashes back and forth between the past and present, to their school years, estrangement and reunion in their thirties. Slow Dance is a slow-burn as Shiloh and Cary face the tension of their past, and how to finally claim what the heart wants.

Rowell's written an engaging story with real characters. My heart is reeling at its ending...

Thank you, William Morrow

Beautiful, heartbreaking and somehow healing all at once. I feel like no one writes characters and dialog like Rainbow Rowell, and Slow Dance is no exception.

This book was so visceral that I laughed and cried, and I fell in love with the characters.

Must read. A million percent, all the stars- must read.

This also left me in such a hangover that I reread my other Rainbow Rowell books just to have more of that same feeling. Relationships can be beautiful and complicated, and she nails emotion like no other.

"Waste" is exactly the right word. When I think about the last 14 years and everything I've missed in your life, I feel like I squandered something precious. Like I was given something rare and valuable, a true blessing, an unearned gift—and all I had to do was hold on to it. And I let go.”

I truly loved reading Slow Dance By Rainbow Rowell! Nobody writes nostalgia quite like her. I found myself crying and laughing and then crying again and I think my pregnancy hormones definitely aided me in that department. I loved Cary’s deep commitment to his family and his undeniable love for Shiloh. She was a mess, but I loved her! The struggles she faced in motherhood with her two kids was so relatable and her story was well written.

“Shiloh had had big ideas about not letting the television raise her children. But then she'd actually had children. And then she'd gotten divorced. And now every day felt like something to get through alive. Something to try and stay awake for. At least her kids were being raised by actual children's programming, and not Match Game and Days of Our Lives, like Shiloh had been.”

It is a long novel with over 80 chapters so buckle up for the ride because it’s definitely worth it! Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the ARC.

Outlier here. First book I have read by this author and did not like at all. Seemed unfocused and messy. Characters were underdeveloped.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!

Rainbow Rowell has once again captured the essence of nostalgia in her latest book, Slow Dance, transporting readers back to the familiar territory of heartfelt connections and deep emotions.

The relationship between Shiloh and Cary evokes memories of beloved characters from Rowell's previous works. While there are parallels to be drawn, Shiloh and Cary's friendship stands strong on its own, captivating readers with its depth and authenticity.

The slow burn romance in the story is perfectly paced, with each page brimming with emotion and longing. Initially skeptical about where the narrative was heading, I found myself fully immersed in the journey of Shiloh and Cary, surrendering to the allure of their evolving relationship.

The characters are beautifully developed, their past intertwined with the present through flashbacks to high school and college. It's evident how Shiloh and Cary's bond has endured over the years, drawing them back to each other as adults. Shiloh's voice in their email correspondence particularly resonated with me, reminding me of my own best friend and deepening my connection to the character.

As I eagerly await the release of Slow Dance this summer. It is a poignant reminder of the power of friendship and love, and I can't wait to add it to my collection.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.

I'm a big fan of the author and was excited to get my hands on a new fiction that wasn't already part of another series/franchise. It's been a long time coming. The book is what you'd expect from the author with fun dialogue, complex characters, and all the feels. The pacing is slow but kept me interested with flashbacks to the past to help us understand their history. I wasn't sure I really liked Shiloh or that I understood why Cary liked her, but the author managed to win me over. Their relationship had a lot of miscommunication (which can get tedious at times), but I liked seeing how they worked to fit into each other's lives now.

This definitely felt like a romance for adults, not because of spicy content exactly, but because of the life circumstances the characters dealt with. It felt real and relatable. I read somewhere that this is like Eleanor and Park, but for adults, which I think is an apt description. I felt the same melancholy throughout much of the book, but with more mature themes.

3.5 stars rounded up. Though I liked the book, I think it fell slightly short due to the slow pacing and sometimes confusing third-person narrative.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I had been waiting and waiting for the next non-fantasy RR book and this one just... fell a little flat. There were some points that were really nice-- you had the banter, the tension, the longing-- but other parts were just so stiff and the leaning into the miscommunication trope is so heavy that it's frustrating. Obviously the book is set back in the day so communication is much different, but with how often they began writing each other letters, it's not like there wasn't opportunity to talk about important things. I also felt the initial "break-up", or whatever you want to call it, was so confusing and didn't feel fully fleshed out. Another giant miscommunication that they let drag on for years and years. This also leans heavily on the I Still Love You trope, but like... y'all haven't seen or spoken to each other for over a decade and you have had very different life experiences and you are not the same people so let's not put the cart before the horse here. I just didn't connect with their relationship the second time around and thought the timing was rushed but parts also somehow dragged.

Rowell's writing is always guaranteed to make you feel, but I think this one just wasn't as well executed as it could have been.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for my honest review*