Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it.

Such a good second chance romance!! Although this book follows our main characters primarily in the present, I really liked that we got some flashbacks to Shiloh and Cary’s past as well. For me as a reader that’s a recipe for a great romance! With a second chance romance, I feel like having both the past and present timelines together create such a validity to the love story. Shiloh was definitely a tortured heroine and I could see how a lot of readers may struggle reading from her perspective. I personally loved her growth and thought that she was a really realistic character. Cary was also just THE BEST. This was a 5 ⭐️ romance for me and I highly recommend it!

I talk about this one more on episode 167 of the Book Talk Etc podcast.

This was a poetically written story about second chance love in a potentially realistic manner where life is messy, love is messy, and no matter how much we may resist it, we sometimes can't stay away from the love we're meant to have.

With the dual timeline where we get to see these two together as friends earlier in their lives, watch their relationship blossom, and then ultimately witness their drifting apart from one another due to life and an inability to voice what they truly want, we also get their present day connection where they're thankfully thrown back into one another's lives time and again and they eventually get out of their own ways.

This wasn't my favorite Rainbow Rowell book, but it was exceptional nevertheless.

I was really excited by this book at first but overall had a hard time connecting to Shiloh which made it hard to read. While not a book I’d recommend it was still a decent read

I normally really love Rainbow Rowell, but something about this one felt off to me. Maybe it was the heavy dialogue or the subject matter, but I found myself feeling a bit bored. This was easy to put down and not as easy to pick up again. This might be a case of wrong time for this one because I loved the flashback scenes, and I think I enjoyed them more than the present tense. Overall, this is another Rainbow book full of absolutely flawed people making flawed decisions, so it hurts to watch, but it's also still written in her incredible voice.

Oh, Rainbow Rowell. For the past 14 years no other author has failed to let me down quite like you. Book after book is a gem and Slow Dance is no exception.

If you've read Rowell's previous works, you know that she trades on authentic characters and not in tropes. You won't find any bizarre third act breakup here. You'll find a quiet, sweet story of two friends finding their way to each other. Slow Dance ups the ante in realness by portraying a love story that involves a blended family and characters well into adulthood. Those looking for a sweet, realistic love story will enjoy this one immensely.

It was great to read Rainbow Rowell again. I didn't love this one as much as a couple of her other ones (Attachments anyone?!), but, it was still up there in the "very. much enjoy" category. It had more mature content than I remember other Rainbow Rowell books having. I liked the characters and it felt like a Rainbow Rowell book in the best way. I will definitely reread.

This book was a delight, the characters felt so real and I loved the way their relationship built over time. Rowell is a master writer and I really enjoyed her return to adult romance.

Did not enjoy this book at all. It was not well written. Nothing of substance and not even able to be considered a sweet, fluffy romance book. Definitely do not recommend.

"Slow Dance" by Rainbow Rowell has moments of charm, but it ultimately feels underdeveloped. While the characters are relatable and the themes of love and self-discovery are appealing, the plot lacks depth and tension. I found myself wanting more from the storyline and wishing it had explored its ideas more thoroughly. It’s an enjoyable read but didn’t leave a lasting impression.

Ah. A classic friends to lovers where they were always in love. There was no third act miscommunication. The book just took a slice of Shiloh and Cari’s life. I’m sure they are living their best life in Omaha. I refuse to believe these are made up characters.

Rainbow Rowell gives us all the feels in her latest novel Slow Dance. The sense of nostalgia and aching slow burn romance was absolutely wonderful.

Rainbow Rowell does it again with another amazing romance. The main characters in this story take a long time to finally come together, but when they do, it is so rewarding. The characters are so realistic, and I loved that this was an unconventional structure and setting for a love story. It's not often we see characters with children and ex-husbands getting their whirlwind romance. Slow Dance was a sensational slow burn. I loved this book, would recommend it to a friend, and will definitely read it again, which is why I'm rating it five stars.

No one does quirky and heartfelt loves stories like Rainbow Rowell. Her authorial voice is utterly authentic and 100% captivating—a breath of fresh air. Shiloh is very much a 30-something damsel in distress. She's divorced, her kids are pull-your-hair-out young, her ex is a jerk, and she's never left her hometown. She never became the person her angsty, outspoken, justice-seeking 16-year-old self thought she would be. For starters she never imagined a life where she didn't know every single thing about Cary, her best friend from high school. But it's been so long and when she runs into him at a mutual friends wedding... it feels like fate. And then if feels like a mistake. Something too big and all encompassing for her small, messy and complicated life. I fell in love with Shiloh and Cary HARD. I loved their relationship as kids and the many realistic hurdles of their relationship as adults. But, mostly, I loved the way they loved each other. As friends. As humans. Love stories are great. Romance is yummy. But Rainbow Rowell will make you believe in earth shattering, messy, soulmate deep love, like no author you've ever read.

Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school. Everyone could see they were perfect for each other. But no, they were just friends. After high school they each went their separate ways; he joined the navy, and she went to college. Fast forward 15 years and they are 30-somethings attending their friend's wedding. Time for them to reconnect.

One thing that worked for me: Love is love and appearance and odd behavior don't matter. Shiloh and Cary are not traditionally attractive people. Shiloh is very touchy with Cary (like poking and pulling hair), and he is fine with it. He is described in a way that makes him seem unattractive, or at least not conventionally attractive, with moles all over his face and body.

One thing that was a problem for me: Shiloh and Cary act like teenagers. Is it because they're developmentally stunted? I'm not sure. They are both quirky (Shiloh more than Cary), so maybe this is just one of the quirks. They have trouble talking about anything that matters and they have a hard time being honest with each other and with themselves. I kept whispering, "find a good therapist."

I really like Rainbow Rowell and I wish I liked this book more. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great for me.

My thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

beautiful little work with some awesome romance in there. totally love it and would recommend it, tysm for the arc

I enjoyed this and the writing style, and the story was compelling. I am very interested in reading this author’s future work and this was a very solid romance. Would definitely recommend to others.

When they were in high school, Shiloh and Cary were best friends. They were both committed to leaving their hometown— Shiloh for college and a new life somewhere far away from where they grew up and Cary for the Navy. Everyone thought they would get together. But despite their strong connection, that never happened.

Nearly 15 years later, Shiloh is divorced, with two kids, and living in her hometown with her mother. Cary pursued his goal of joining the Navy and has spent the years since high school traveling the world. When Shiloh attends the wedding of one of her old friends from high school, she runs into Cary for the first time in years. Shiloh senses they still have some of their old connection but isn’t sure what can come of it now their that their lives are in such different places…even though Cary still feels like the only person who has really ever understood her.

This is a touching story about the enduring power of first love. As the novel moves back and forth in time, from present day to the past, we see all the ways that Shiloh and Cary both find connection in one another but also can’t seem to get out of their own way.

Highly recommended.

I've liked some of Rainbow Rowell's books, this is not one of them. It felt like something fished out of the unbaked slush pile and then fussed with some more in hopes it'll turn out good. The idea had some promise but it just didn't sing off the page, give me all the feels and keep me on edge to read all night/nor was this a book that I wanted to savor and read slow. This was a book I picked up, stopped to read other books, get back to in an effort to finish, wander astray again in hopes of something better, etc. 1.5 stars

This book!! I'm obsessed! Rainbow has outdone herself. I had trouble putting this book down. Really great character development and it has me thinking about my highschool years and the things I was too shy to say then. Thought provoking and so well written. I love this book with my whole heart! So many feelings and a must read! Highly recommend! Shiloh had my heart from the very beginning.