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Slow Dance
Back in high school, everybody thought Shiloh and Cary would end up together . . . everybody but Shiloh and Cary.
They were just friends. Best friends. Allies. They spent entire summers sitting on Shiloh’s porch steps, dreaming about the future. They were both going to get out of north Omaha—Shiloh would go to college and become an actress, and Cary would join the Navy. They promised each other that their friendship would never change.
Well, Shiloh did go to college, and Cary did join the Navy. And yet, somehow, everything changed.
Now Shiloh’s thirty-three, and it’s been fourteen years since she talked to Cary. She’s been married and divorced. She has two kids. And she’s back living in the same house she grew up in. Her life is nothing like she planned.
When she’s invited to an old friend’s wedding, all Shiloh can think about is whether Cary will be there—and whether she hopes he will be. Would Cary even want to talk to her? After everything?
The answer is yes. And yes. And yes.
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It’s the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
They were just friends. Best friends. Allies. They spent entire summers sitting on Shiloh’s porch steps, dreaming about the future. They were both going to get out of north Omaha—Shiloh would go to college and become an actress, and Cary would join the Navy. They promised each other that their friendship would never change.
Well, Shiloh did go to college, and Cary did join the Navy. And yet, somehow, everything changed.
Now Shiloh’s thirty-three, and it’s been fourteen years since she talked to Cary. She’s been married and divorced. She has two kids. And she’s back living in the same house she grew up in. Her life is nothing like she planned.
When she’s invited to an old friend’s wedding, all Shiloh can think about is whether Cary will be there—and whether she hopes he will be. Would Cary even want to talk to her? After everything?
The answer is yes. And yes. And yes.
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It’s the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 30, 2024
4066 people are currently reading
120739 people want to read
About the author
Rainbow Rowell
142 books141k followersRainbow Rowell writes all kinds of stuff.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
Sometimes she writes about adults (ATTACHMENTS, LANDLINE, SLOW DANCE).
Sometimes she writes about teenagers (ELEANOR & PARK, FANGIRL) .
Sometimes — actually, a lot of the time — she writes about lovesick vampires and guys with dragon wings. (THE SIMON SNOW TRILOGY).
Recently, she’s been writing comics, including her first graphic novel, PUMPKINHEADS, and the monthly SHE-HULK comic for Marvel.
She lives in Omaha, Nebraska.
More at rainbowrowell.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 9,766 reviews
August 13, 2024
Some things I liked some I didn’t. 2.5 stars
This is a second chance romance. Shiloh and Cary were best friends throughout high school, but they never truly connected in a romantic relationship until she was in college. They then went their separate ways and reconnect again at their other best friend Mikey's wedding fourteen years later. Shiloh is now divorced with two young children and Cary is still in the Navy. Do they have a chance to rekindle their flame?
I liked:
Rowell is great with authentic characters and dialogue. I felt like the place and time was incredibly well portrayed and I felt like I was actually there.
Junie and Gus (the kids) were amazing. I loved every scene they were in and they gave me a huge number of laugh out loud moments. Were they a bit precocious for their ages? Yes, but I didn't mind it because it was a relief from the angsty relationship drama.
Short chapters kept things flowing even though this was a very slow burn overall.
What I didn't:
I hated Shiloh. She had some weird touchy/clothes ruining/etc thing going on that to me seemed a lot like abusive behavior, particularly when Cary would tell her to stop and she wouldn't. Especially as a grown adult this was bizarre and never sat right with me. And then her indecisiveness and full on tantrums and whiny behavior, I felt like Cary was a saint for putting up with all of it. I can't believe he didn't walk away and find someone mentally healthier. After reading about their senior prom I was thinking--"run away from her! run far far away!"
Cary's character wasn't very well developed. I never got a sense for him and his motivation past the few tidbits about a not-so-great upbringing. I didn't understand why he was so tied to Shiloh.
The past and present timelines occasionally worked and occasionally didn't. I didn't like how they weren't chronological, so it always felt like I was playing catch up to what the characters knew and had already experienced and were talking about.
The miscommunication, the overanalyzing everything, it was just a big negative. I honestly didn't see how or why these two characters became a couple. I didn't have buy in and if I had to guess, they won't make it as a couple without some therapy.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
This is a second chance romance. Shiloh and Cary were best friends throughout high school, but they never truly connected in a romantic relationship until she was in college. They then went their separate ways and reconnect again at their other best friend Mikey's wedding fourteen years later. Shiloh is now divorced with two young children and Cary is still in the Navy. Do they have a chance to rekindle their flame?
I liked:
Rowell is great with authentic characters and dialogue. I felt like the place and time was incredibly well portrayed and I felt like I was actually there.
Junie and Gus (the kids) were amazing. I loved every scene they were in and they gave me a huge number of laugh out loud moments. Were they a bit precocious for their ages? Yes, but I didn't mind it because it was a relief from the angsty relationship drama.
Short chapters kept things flowing even though this was a very slow burn overall.
What I didn't:
I hated Shiloh. She had some weird touchy/clothes ruining/etc thing going on that to me seemed a lot like abusive behavior, particularly when Cary would tell her to stop and she wouldn't. Especially as a grown adult this was bizarre and never sat right with me. And then her indecisiveness and full on tantrums and whiny behavior, I felt like Cary was a saint for putting up with all of it. I can't believe he didn't walk away and find someone mentally healthier. After reading about their senior prom I was thinking--"run away from her! run far far away!"
Cary's character wasn't very well developed. I never got a sense for him and his motivation past the few tidbits about a not-so-great upbringing. I didn't understand why he was so tied to Shiloh.
The past and present timelines occasionally worked and occasionally didn't. I didn't like how they weren't chronological, so it always felt like I was playing catch up to what the characters knew and had already experienced and were talking about.
The miscommunication, the overanalyzing everything, it was just a big negative. I honestly didn't see how or why these two characters became a couple. I didn't have buy in and if I had to guess, they won't make it as a couple without some therapy.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
June 30, 2025
For years, I've been diving into Rainbow Rowell's young adult romance novels, even though I'm not exactly in the targeted audience range. However, her queer Simon Snow series stands out as a favorite of mine. So, when I heard she had written an adult romance, I couldn't contain my excitement. This heartwarming and realistic new adult fiction resonated with me more than I had expected. Interestingly, my recent binge-watch of the adaptation of "One Day" on Netflix only intensified the emotional impact of this book. The themes of long friendship, unrequited feelings, flawed and realistic characterization, second chance love, and found family are strikingly similar in both concepts.
Shiloh and Cary are both likable characters, despite occasionally frustrating the reader with the choices they make and the patterns of their thoughts that lead them down the wrong paths. Their imperfections make them unique, lovable, and real.
Shiloh, raised in the troubled side of Omaha, first crosses paths with Cary at the age of sixteen. Cary, the boy who can make her laugh and tolerate her eccentric antics, dreams of joining the army. They become good friends throughout high school, secretly harboring crushes, but both have other life choices mapped out and deal with their own insecurities that prevent them from taking a step into vulnerability that could lead to more than friendship.
Fast forward fourteen years, and we find both of them unhappy with the hands life has dealt them—or perhaps, the hands they have chosen. Shiloh, now thirty-three, is a single, divorced mother of two, working at the Children's Theater. She realizes she has become the very mother she once criticized, a less entertaining version of herself without the flirting and enjoyment of life.
A wedding ceremony for a common high school friend brings Cary and Shiloh together again. Cary takes a leave from the army to address his family issues, and he also has complex feelings about seeing Shiloh, who is barely containing her excitement, wearing a new dress and a silk flower over her heart, showing effort after years to be seen by the boy who got away. The same boy she never realized how much she cared for until he was gone.
I would give five stars to the storyline and the perfectly developed characterization of this book. The dialogues, banter, level of sauciness, and sassiness blended in humorous and sentimental moments make you smile and also bring tears to your eyes. The numerous flashbacks take us on a journey through the 90s and 2000s, which didn't irritate me; in fact, it provided a much more realistic picture of the characters' life stories, struggles, fears, potentials, and dreams. The only thing that bugged me about this book was the pacing, which led me to deduct one star from my rating. Some parts of the book felt a little rushed, and the last third was a bit repetitive and dragged for my taste, making me wish the story would cut to the chase and give us a happily ever after.
Despite the slightly unusual pacing, the genuineness, honesty, and poignancy of this book warmed my heart. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to contemporary and second chance romance lovers, as well as Rainbow Rowell's devoted fans.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this wonderful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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Shiloh and Cary are both likable characters, despite occasionally frustrating the reader with the choices they make and the patterns of their thoughts that lead them down the wrong paths. Their imperfections make them unique, lovable, and real.
Shiloh, raised in the troubled side of Omaha, first crosses paths with Cary at the age of sixteen. Cary, the boy who can make her laugh and tolerate her eccentric antics, dreams of joining the army. They become good friends throughout high school, secretly harboring crushes, but both have other life choices mapped out and deal with their own insecurities that prevent them from taking a step into vulnerability that could lead to more than friendship.
Fast forward fourteen years, and we find both of them unhappy with the hands life has dealt them—or perhaps, the hands they have chosen. Shiloh, now thirty-three, is a single, divorced mother of two, working at the Children's Theater. She realizes she has become the very mother she once criticized, a less entertaining version of herself without the flirting and enjoyment of life.
A wedding ceremony for a common high school friend brings Cary and Shiloh together again. Cary takes a leave from the army to address his family issues, and he also has complex feelings about seeing Shiloh, who is barely containing her excitement, wearing a new dress and a silk flower over her heart, showing effort after years to be seen by the boy who got away. The same boy she never realized how much she cared for until he was gone.
I would give five stars to the storyline and the perfectly developed characterization of this book. The dialogues, banter, level of sauciness, and sassiness blended in humorous and sentimental moments make you smile and also bring tears to your eyes. The numerous flashbacks take us on a journey through the 90s and 2000s, which didn't irritate me; in fact, it provided a much more realistic picture of the characters' life stories, struggles, fears, potentials, and dreams. The only thing that bugged me about this book was the pacing, which led me to deduct one star from my rating. Some parts of the book felt a little rushed, and the last third was a bit repetitive and dragged for my taste, making me wish the story would cut to the chase and give us a happily ever after.
Despite the slightly unusual pacing, the genuineness, honesty, and poignancy of this book warmed my heart. I truly enjoyed it and highly recommend it to contemporary and second chance romance lovers, as well as Rainbow Rowell's devoted fans.
Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for sharing this wonderful book's digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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November 13, 2024
the second the weather turns warm, i only want to read romance.
as i review this, it's november and i have to wear a coat to take the recycling out, but still.
welcome to the ellipsis capital of the literary world.
this book has a whole lot to ... about.
it's about two people who were best friends in high school, and then lost touch, but were maybe in love, and also maybe still are, even though now they're adults and their lives are messy with stuff like disney sing-along CDs and naval assignments and minivans.
there is something about a rainbow rowell book that soothes my soul (fangirl is my comfort read for life), and this was no exception. i read this when i was mostly reading things that weren't drawing me in, and curling up with it was such a treat.
this did not meet my standards for a great romance (why on earth these things happened in this order i will never understand), but it did meet my standards for having fun.
bottom line: here for a good time not a great time.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
as i review this, it's november and i have to wear a coat to take the recycling out, but still.
welcome to the ellipsis capital of the literary world.
this book has a whole lot to ... about.
it's about two people who were best friends in high school, and then lost touch, but were maybe in love, and also maybe still are, even though now they're adults and their lives are messy with stuff like disney sing-along CDs and naval assignments and minivans.
there is something about a rainbow rowell book that soothes my soul (fangirl is my comfort read for life), and this was no exception. i read this when i was mostly reading things that weren't drawing me in, and curling up with it was such a treat.
this did not meet my standards for a great romance (why on earth these things happened in this order i will never understand), but it did meet my standards for having fun.
bottom line: here for a good time not a great time.
(thanks to the publisher for the e-arc)
October 6, 2024
I don't know what happened here. This must be the most boring and unromantic story I've read in a while. I felt no connection to it or the characters.
Shiloh irritated me to no end. I couldn't stand her and I have no idea why Cary loved her. She is awful to him and ruins most of their conversations with her tantrums. Not that I think that Cary is that much better. The intimate scenes are extremely cringey.
Another thing that didn't work for me were the timelimes. The 'now' happens chronologically, mostly. However, the 'before' jumps around across their highschool years, college and their adult years with no clear direction. It feels random, disjointed and all over the place. That's what the relationship between Shiloh and Cary feels like, too. If you can call it that.
The story is way too long. There's no real plot here and it feels very repetitive. I only finished it because of the audiobook.
Shiloh irritated me to no end. I couldn't stand her and I have no idea why Cary loved her. She is awful to him and ruins most of their conversations with her tantrums. Not that I think that Cary is that much better. The intimate scenes are extremely cringey.
Another thing that didn't work for me were the timelimes. The 'now' happens chronologically, mostly. However, the 'before' jumps around across their highschool years, college and their adult years with no clear direction. It feels random, disjointed and all over the place. That's what the relationship between Shiloh and Cary feels like, too. If you can call it that.
The story is way too long. There's no real plot here and it feels very repetitive. I only finished it because of the audiobook.
February 23, 2025
this started off pretty promising. second-chances romances are my favorite kind of romance stories. add in the childhood sweethearts factor and im immediately sold.
and i think this could have been a book i really loved if the characters were better. primarily shiloh. oh boy. you know those kind of people who just scream “i peaked in high school” and all they talk about is high school this and high school that? well, shiloh is one of those people. i understand that she and cary were best friends growing up, so it makes sense that the flashback scenes would take place in high school, but for her to talk about high school as an adult was very exhausting. it was definitely showing some sort of arrested development and wasnt exactly enjoyable to read about.
so if i had liked shilohs character more, this would have been a fantastic book. i think her relationship with cary growing up is pretty sweet. i actually think this could have been a really successful YA coming-of-age story if RR had only focused on them as high schoolers. but for what this is, its a nice story, just with a character i didnt personally care for.
↠ 3 stars
and i think this could have been a book i really loved if the characters were better. primarily shiloh. oh boy. you know those kind of people who just scream “i peaked in high school” and all they talk about is high school this and high school that? well, shiloh is one of those people. i understand that she and cary were best friends growing up, so it makes sense that the flashback scenes would take place in high school, but for her to talk about high school as an adult was very exhausting. it was definitely showing some sort of arrested development and wasnt exactly enjoyable to read about.
so if i had liked shilohs character more, this would have been a fantastic book. i think her relationship with cary growing up is pretty sweet. i actually think this could have been a really successful YA coming-of-age story if RR had only focused on them as high schoolers. but for what this is, its a nice story, just with a character i didnt personally care for.
↠ 3 stars
September 3, 2024
Let me preface this by saying I've read and enjoyed all of Rainbow Rowell's books, so I bought this immediately and I regret everything.
First of all, never have I read such boring monotonous dialogue in a romance before. I wasn't sure if these people even liked each other, let alone had a lifelong slow burn, because the things they say to each other made me want to drown myself to escape. It's 400 pages of small talk and miscommunication and it drove me BONKERS.
Rowell really phoned it in with this one because she usually has such a talent for banter, balancing heartwarming with funny teasing and real life missteps. But, I don't know what happened here.
There just wasn't a lot happening here plot wise, either. Shiloh and Cary (the names were not hitting) see each other at their friend's second wedding and are immediately drawn to each other, slow dancing all night (the title, see). We then go back and forth from present to past to find out why these two people are obviously in love but not speaking to each other anymore. The answer to that question is hopelessly anticlimactic and I might have even forgiven the book all that but the characters are just, instant ick. Cary is the strong silent type and his personality is being in the Navy, he doesn't give anything away and doesn't know how to talk about his feelings but likes to tell everyone how they feel and what they should think and do. Shiloh is big-boned (this is important because we hear about it in every other chapter... her broad shoulders and voluptuous hips, giantess height and her super thick hair like a rope and big ol titties, it's apparently probably why she married only the second person she ever kissed) she also is so freaking annoying I wanted to punch her. Her thing is poking Cary. All the time and pinching and biting and playing with his hair. Yeah, totally believable that he wouldn't know she was into him. They're just both giving *nothing*, personalities of a rock wall you don't even want to climb.
So, yeah, they reconnect and then don't and then do and then don't and I can't bring myself to care about any of it, ever. I'm so mad I paid money for this. I'm so mad Rowell wasted my time with this when she usually delivers in spades.
BOOOO TOMATOES TOMATOES
And this quote from the book (wtf):
"The only thing wrong with Shiloh was her crooked bottom teeth, and Cary wanted to touch them. He wanted to kiss them. He wanted to stick his dick in her mouth and cut himself on them."
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME HE EXPRESSES THIS INTEREST.
Wtf wtf Rainbow? Go home, you're drunk.
First of all, never have I read such boring monotonous dialogue in a romance before. I wasn't sure if these people even liked each other, let alone had a lifelong slow burn, because the things they say to each other made me want to drown myself to escape. It's 400 pages of small talk and miscommunication and it drove me BONKERS.
Rowell really phoned it in with this one because she usually has such a talent for banter, balancing heartwarming with funny teasing and real life missteps. But, I don't know what happened here.
There just wasn't a lot happening here plot wise, either. Shiloh and Cary (the names were not hitting) see each other at their friend's second wedding and are immediately drawn to each other, slow dancing all night (the title, see). We then go back and forth from present to past to find out why these two people are obviously in love but not speaking to each other anymore. The answer to that question is hopelessly anticlimactic and I might have even forgiven the book all that but the characters are just, instant ick. Cary is the strong silent type and his personality is being in the Navy, he doesn't give anything away and doesn't know how to talk about his feelings but likes to tell everyone how they feel and what they should think and do. Shiloh is big-boned (this is important because we hear about it in every other chapter... her broad shoulders and voluptuous hips, giantess height and her super thick hair like a rope and big ol titties, it's apparently probably why she married only the second person she ever kissed) she also is so freaking annoying I wanted to punch her. Her thing is poking Cary. All the time and pinching and biting and playing with his hair. Yeah, totally believable that he wouldn't know she was into him. They're just both giving *nothing*, personalities of a rock wall you don't even want to climb.
So, yeah, they reconnect and then don't and then do and then don't and I can't bring myself to care about any of it, ever. I'm so mad I paid money for this. I'm so mad Rowell wasted my time with this when she usually delivers in spades.
BOOOO TOMATOES TOMATOES
And this quote from the book (wtf):
"The only thing wrong with Shiloh was her crooked bottom teeth, and Cary wanted to touch them. He wanted to kiss them. He wanted to stick his dick in her mouth and cut himself on them."
THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME HE EXPRESSES THIS INTEREST.
Wtf wtf Rainbow? Go home, you're drunk.
January 23, 2025
Finished in a single day 🤗 This lifelong love story had all the feels 😍 I loved these characters and their human flaws ❤️
May 15, 2024
I feel bad that I didn't enjoy this book, but I just could not get along with the main characters.
A disjointed start to the story, with the timeline constantly jumping around meant that I struggled to pick the book up even at the beginning, which never bodes well for the rest of the book.
I never really found anything to like about our two main characters. They were just so unlikeable that it killed any relatability that they may have had. Especially Shiloh, who in both past and present seems to hate and find fault with everything and everyone and it was never endearing.
It was utterly frustrating to read about these two because they're morons and they needed to get their shit together. I could not believe that Shiloh is such a shitty character that it would take her 15 years to attempt to give Cary a go and let him in.
Character motivation was never very strong, I'm not sure why these people's stories got told. I guess it was just a second chance at love romance trope, but it was only their own stupidity and stubbornness (mostly Shiloh's) that they never got together when they were teenagers.
When I felt like the book should be heading towards a solution to the problems that the characters were throwing up in their pursuit of getting back together, I was only halfway through the book. It was such slow going. The pacing was awful and there's no real plot to keep the reader's interest, just two fucked up characters having minor drama and conflicted feelings about each other whilst not seeing each other for months and years at a time.
I feel like I've been trapped with these characters for far too long. What sort of adult human still resolves their pent up emotions by biting and poking and hair pulling another human being? Shiloh is awful. Cary was too much of a pushover of a character, willing to put up with any shit she throws at him.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
A disjointed start to the story, with the timeline constantly jumping around meant that I struggled to pick the book up even at the beginning, which never bodes well for the rest of the book.
I never really found anything to like about our two main characters. They were just so unlikeable that it killed any relatability that they may have had. Especially Shiloh, who in both past and present seems to hate and find fault with everything and everyone and it was never endearing.
It was utterly frustrating to read about these two because they're morons and they needed to get their shit together. I could not believe that Shiloh is such a shitty character that it would take her 15 years to attempt to give Cary a go and let him in.
Character motivation was never very strong, I'm not sure why these people's stories got told. I guess it was just a second chance at love romance trope, but it was only their own stupidity and stubbornness (mostly Shiloh's) that they never got together when they were teenagers.
When I felt like the book should be heading towards a solution to the problems that the characters were throwing up in their pursuit of getting back together, I was only halfway through the book. It was such slow going. The pacing was awful and there's no real plot to keep the reader's interest, just two fucked up characters having minor drama and conflicted feelings about each other whilst not seeing each other for months and years at a time.
I feel like I've been trapped with these characters for far too long. What sort of adult human still resolves their pent up emotions by biting and poking and hair pulling another human being? Shiloh is awful. Cary was too much of a pushover of a character, willing to put up with any shit she throws at him.
I received this ARC through Netgalley.
Read
July 6, 2024Her books just LAND for me - this one gave me some of the same vibes as Romantic Comedy although they're very different books.
I just did puzzles all morning long so I could keep listening.
I just did puzzles all morning long so I could keep listening.
October 21, 2024
If I could drink this book, like the perfect cup of coffee, I would be wholly satisfied. From the beginning to the end, I was fully engrossed. This is the season for getting cozy, and 'Slow Dance' delivers every book nook, fireplace, and leaves falling evening. I savored the last few pages, reading slowly, not wanting it to end. It's disappointing looking at Goodreads and seeing the reviews aren't as wonderful as you loved the story, alas, it only matters what you think.
I've read reviews by readers criticizing one of the main characters for being 'on the spectrum'--I challenge this notion--Why can't we embrace a neurodivergent character, with flaws and various idiosyncrasies. Do all characters have to fit into a blonde hair, blue-eyed, perfect-brain mold? We meet colorful people in our lives. It's important to embrace the jagged, beautiful edges of all.
This is the story of a trio of friends, Micheal, Cary (a boy), and Shiloh following their lives in small-town Omaha. Best friends since high school, everything they did, was together. Shiloh and Cary have a strange, unspoken connection. Neither willing to admit a space between banter and attraction. We follow along in their slow burn, a careful 'Slow Dance.'
'Slow Dance,' jumps timelines of high school and adulthood, seamlessly. Cary, now in the Navy—a decision Shiloh struggles with
When Cary returns home for Micheal's wedding, he wonders who will be there. Shiloh, with two young children, newly divorced, anxious about how Cary is doing--it's been 14 years. Will seeing each break a lifetime of misunderstandings and almost moments? Will they bind the past?
I've always loved Rainbow Rowell's writing. A huge fan of almost all her work. Her writing is simple and gorgeous. Her characters are likable, yet flawed. Shiloh can come off as awkward, unsure, unusual, and unpredictable, but it adds to the beauty of her character. There is an honesty to her. Cary, holding the fort in his own home, with a mother, mostly absent, struggles with control. Finding love with two imperfect characters was raw and real.
Shiloah and Cary have complicated families. Cary learns the truth about his lifelong family secret which changes his entire perspective. Shiloh struggles living with her mother, things from the past are still lingering unresolved. There was a connection between Cary and Shiloah, an invisible string of struggle, change, and wanting to do the right thing.
While reading 'Slow Dance,' I thought of 'Normal People, 'One Day,’ and ‘Alone With You in the Ether.’ The dialogue was crisp and languid in its pain and tenderness. There was so much hope and love--and I sat at the edge of my seat, anxious for a favorable outcome. Each perspective is explored with depth and understanding, it’s easy to imagine inner monologues even when it’s not the current characters' POV.
Often, books divided between timelines disengage, without a seamless transition, but Rowell leads you into each new chapter with a connection to the last.
Overall, this book was lovely and it's left me with a reading hangover.
5 beautiful ⭐️
I've read reviews by readers criticizing one of the main characters for being 'on the spectrum'--I challenge this notion--Why can't we embrace a neurodivergent character, with flaws and various idiosyncrasies. Do all characters have to fit into a blonde hair, blue-eyed, perfect-brain mold? We meet colorful people in our lives. It's important to embrace the jagged, beautiful edges of all.
This is the story of a trio of friends, Micheal, Cary (a boy), and Shiloh following their lives in small-town Omaha. Best friends since high school, everything they did, was together. Shiloh and Cary have a strange, unspoken connection. Neither willing to admit a space between banter and attraction. We follow along in their slow burn, a careful 'Slow Dance.'
'Slow Dance,' jumps timelines of high school and adulthood, seamlessly. Cary, now in the Navy—a decision Shiloh struggles with
"Like, you know the military has committed atrocities. Atrocities. And you still want to be a part of it." ...You really think that killing babies won't corrupt your soul? There are no baby free bombs. Bombs don't discriminate"
When Cary returns home for Micheal's wedding, he wonders who will be there. Shiloh, with two young children, newly divorced, anxious about how Cary is doing--it's been 14 years. Will seeing each break a lifetime of misunderstandings and almost moments? Will they bind the past?
I've always loved Rainbow Rowell's writing. A huge fan of almost all her work. Her writing is simple and gorgeous. Her characters are likable, yet flawed. Shiloh can come off as awkward, unsure, unusual, and unpredictable, but it adds to the beauty of her character. There is an honesty to her. Cary, holding the fort in his own home, with a mother, mostly absent, struggles with control. Finding love with two imperfect characters was raw and real.
Shiloah and Cary have complicated families. Cary learns the truth about his lifelong family secret which changes his entire perspective. Shiloh struggles living with her mother, things from the past are still lingering unresolved. There was a connection between Cary and Shiloah, an invisible string of struggle, change, and wanting to do the right thing.
Shiloh made friends in school and at work, with people she was trapped with all the time anyway. The idea of making friends in the wild? Inconceivable. And completely unappealing
Shiloh had wanted Cary before she'd even known how to recognize want. Before she had words for it. Before she had some sense of these things and their dimensions
While reading 'Slow Dance,' I thought of 'Normal People, 'One Day,’ and ‘Alone With You in the Ether.’ The dialogue was crisp and languid in its pain and tenderness. There was so much hope and love--and I sat at the edge of my seat, anxious for a favorable outcome. Each perspective is explored with depth and understanding, it’s easy to imagine inner monologues even when it’s not the current characters' POV.
She’d spent more years missing Cary than knowing him. All those years burnishing his memory with nostalgia
Often, books divided between timelines disengage, without a seamless transition, but Rowell leads you into each new chapter with a connection to the last.
Overall, this book was lovely and it's left me with a reading hangover.
5 beautiful ⭐️
June 10, 2025
**Many thanks to NetGalley, William Morrow, and Rainbow Rowell for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 7.30!**
"Last dance
Last chance, for love..." - "Last Dance", Donna Summer
When it comes to high school year book superlatives, if there were a category labeled "Most Likely to become Harry and Sally...but they have NO IDEA", you couldn't have picked better candidates than Shiloh and Cary. Close in a way that only friendships born in youth can be, the two discussed every tiny aspiration, struggle, and dream with one another...and had enough inside jokes to line the back page of the aforementioned yearbook to boot. Living in the 90s in Omaha, Shiloh's dreams were of the Great White Way, while Cary had his sights set on the Great Blue Sea: he was determined to join the Navy. Although neither knew if their friendship could withstand this sort of dramatic shakeup (especially when their shared hometown was no longer part of the equation) life took over, as it does, and both of them lives out some variation of the aspirations of their youth...while time and distance eventually dragged them a bit too far apart.
...Until fate beckons them back into the same room, 14 years later: their mutual friend, Mikey, is getting married. Shiloh is fresh off a divorce from hunky theater dad Ryan, and has two children...and they are all crashing at Shiloh's mom's house until she finds her new normal. Although she hopes to see Cary, her expectations are low and she's feeling more than a bit uncomfortable in her own skin, and watching old high school friends reunite around banquet tables and brag about their own happiness isn't exactly helping to boost her confidence. But when Shiloh DOES see Cary and they lock eyes, they both become transfixed by all that was, all that is...and all that could be. When Cary asks her to dance, the butterflies take over...and for the very first time, she wonders if maybe they have more than just memories between them. But once the pair begin to spend time together, Cary's job in the Navy, the aftermath of Shiloh's divorce and navigating dating as a single mom, family troubles, and some well-worn communication and relationship problems start to reemerge...and both begin to wonder if perhaps the past BELONGS in the past.
Was this the second chance both friends and potential loves NEEDED to break them out of their indecision and put them in one another's arms for a lifetime? Or like the last dance at prom, will this final chance at romance fade along with the song's final notes...and send them each on their own unknown path?
There have been very few times in my life when I've nearly screamed when getting approved for an ARC...but getting approved for this title was one of those times. I have been a DIEHARD Rainbow fan for ages (aside from Simon Snow, which is perfectly lovable but just not my jam) and her adult books ESPECIALLY have left me a crying and laughing mess (particularly Attachments and Landline, STILL two of my favorite books I've read in the last 10 years!). There is something so real and so raw in all of these stories, with characters so lifelike you can't say for certain that they AREN'T real...just that you've never had the pleasure of meeting them in person. So when I heard Rainbow Rowell had a new adult romance coming out...I floated up past Cloud 9 and landed oh, let's say on Cloud 42 or so! ⛅
But as much as I adored the concept of this one, the fact that it was partially set in the 90's, and the trademark Rainbow Rowell charm of two flawed and REAL characters popping off the page and falling in love...this Slow Dance was more of a Slow Burn AND a Slow Read...and I QUICKLY came to the realization it would not be sitting alongside Attachments or Landline in my collection of Rainbow Rowell five star reads. 😟
One of the main reasons I struggled so much with this book at times was our MC, Shiloh. While I liked her overall quirkiness and respected her as a mom (don't get me started on her two adorable kids - Rainbow NEVER disappoints in that area!), she seemed to be at least 70% of the reason why this relationship didn't take off in the first place. Her constant barrage of barriers would be enough to make anyone crazy...even someone as patient as Cary. It seemed like every time she seemingly got somewhere in her relationship, or even in reestablishing her friendship with Cary...up went the roadblock. While this did make her character very REAL (as Rowell always does), it did make her more and more frustrating as the book went on. I just kept wanting to tell her to stop overthinking and making things complicated at the WORST possible times for often no reason at all.
Cary, on the other hand, doesn't seem to contribute much to the couple's issues at all...to the point where at times, I almost wished he would just stand up for himself a bit more. I almost needed MORE conflict on this end to give his character some depth. I got the firm sense that he was steadfast and reliable, and also very loyal to Shiloh...but I guess I was just wanting more. We spent so long in Shiloh's head that it would have been nice to perhaps relive some memories etc. through Cary's lens, to figure out what really made him tick and get a little bit deeper insight into the sort of man he was vs. perhaps the teen he was in high school. It seemed like Cary was also the one making so many of the sacrifices and being so accepting of Shiloh's eccentricities and she didn't always necessarily have to make any concessions of her own...a bit frustrating in my mind, because EVERY good relationship should be a two way street.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle I faced in this particular read was the timeline...because it was TRULY all over the place. Essentially, our current day story takes place in 2006, but we are also treated (for about half the book or so at least) to flashbacks of various points during Shiloh and Cary's friendship/relationship. In theory, I have no problem with this and would even argue the book couldn't really exist without it. Where the difficulty came in, however, is that every section of the past that is discussed is labeled the SAME WAY: simply "before," no matter where it occurs in the narrative. This made it difficult not only to keep track of where we were and how old Shiloh and Cary were at any given time, but also to give the timeline a SOMEWHAT linear feel. I wouldn't have even minded the timeline hopping back and forth at all if it had just been denoted more clearly throughout...even a device as a simple as listing the year under "before" would have helped IMMENSELY.
The last aspect of this one that caused me to struggle so much more than I would have liked was simply PACING. I have never noticed this in another Rowell book prior to this one, but this was a 400 page book that definitely FELT 400 pages. While I think this a bit long in general for this kind of story, having it told in this back and forth fashion at times made it feel even longer. Luckily, Rowell uses plenty of short chapters or to be honest, there are times this would have felt interminable. I also just wanted more spice and more actual ROMANCE scenes between the characters...but again, this speaks to my desire to maybe have this feel a little LESS realistic and a little more 'flight of fancy' at times. There's nothing wrong with a slow burn....but once the flame is lit, it should IGNITE (especially after 14 years of waiting!)
And while we had to wait 10 FULL years for a new full length adult romance novel from Rainbow Rowell, I still hope that Shiloh and Cary's long overdue courtship hasn't inspired Rowell to wait 14 years before putting out another relatable and nuanced adult romance book:
...I'm just not sure my heart can wait that long.
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
Now a Reese’s Book Club Pick!
"Last dance
Last chance, for love..." - "Last Dance", Donna Summer
When it comes to high school year book superlatives, if there were a category labeled "Most Likely to become Harry and Sally...but they have NO IDEA", you couldn't have picked better candidates than Shiloh and Cary. Close in a way that only friendships born in youth can be, the two discussed every tiny aspiration, struggle, and dream with one another...and had enough inside jokes to line the back page of the aforementioned yearbook to boot. Living in the 90s in Omaha, Shiloh's dreams were of the Great White Way, while Cary had his sights set on the Great Blue Sea: he was determined to join the Navy. Although neither knew if their friendship could withstand this sort of dramatic shakeup (especially when their shared hometown was no longer part of the equation) life took over, as it does, and both of them lives out some variation of the aspirations of their youth...while time and distance eventually dragged them a bit too far apart.
...Until fate beckons them back into the same room, 14 years later: their mutual friend, Mikey, is getting married. Shiloh is fresh off a divorce from hunky theater dad Ryan, and has two children...and they are all crashing at Shiloh's mom's house until she finds her new normal. Although she hopes to see Cary, her expectations are low and she's feeling more than a bit uncomfortable in her own skin, and watching old high school friends reunite around banquet tables and brag about their own happiness isn't exactly helping to boost her confidence. But when Shiloh DOES see Cary and they lock eyes, they both become transfixed by all that was, all that is...and all that could be. When Cary asks her to dance, the butterflies take over...and for the very first time, she wonders if maybe they have more than just memories between them. But once the pair begin to spend time together, Cary's job in the Navy, the aftermath of Shiloh's divorce and navigating dating as a single mom, family troubles, and some well-worn communication and relationship problems start to reemerge...and both begin to wonder if perhaps the past BELONGS in the past.
Was this the second chance both friends and potential loves NEEDED to break them out of their indecision and put them in one another's arms for a lifetime? Or like the last dance at prom, will this final chance at romance fade along with the song's final notes...and send them each on their own unknown path?
There have been very few times in my life when I've nearly screamed when getting approved for an ARC...but getting approved for this title was one of those times. I have been a DIEHARD Rainbow fan for ages (aside from Simon Snow, which is perfectly lovable but just not my jam) and her adult books ESPECIALLY have left me a crying and laughing mess (particularly Attachments and Landline, STILL two of my favorite books I've read in the last 10 years!). There is something so real and so raw in all of these stories, with characters so lifelike you can't say for certain that they AREN'T real...just that you've never had the pleasure of meeting them in person. So when I heard Rainbow Rowell had a new adult romance coming out...I floated up past Cloud 9 and landed oh, let's say on Cloud 42 or so! ⛅
But as much as I adored the concept of this one, the fact that it was partially set in the 90's, and the trademark Rainbow Rowell charm of two flawed and REAL characters popping off the page and falling in love...this Slow Dance was more of a Slow Burn AND a Slow Read...and I QUICKLY came to the realization it would not be sitting alongside Attachments or Landline in my collection of Rainbow Rowell five star reads. 😟
One of the main reasons I struggled so much with this book at times was our MC, Shiloh. While I liked her overall quirkiness and respected her as a mom (don't get me started on her two adorable kids - Rainbow NEVER disappoints in that area!), she seemed to be at least 70% of the reason why this relationship didn't take off in the first place. Her constant barrage of barriers would be enough to make anyone crazy...even someone as patient as Cary. It seemed like every time she seemingly got somewhere in her relationship, or even in reestablishing her friendship with Cary...up went the roadblock. While this did make her character very REAL (as Rowell always does), it did make her more and more frustrating as the book went on. I just kept wanting to tell her to stop overthinking and making things complicated at the WORST possible times for often no reason at all.
Cary, on the other hand, doesn't seem to contribute much to the couple's issues at all...to the point where at times, I almost wished he would just stand up for himself a bit more. I almost needed MORE conflict on this end to give his character some depth. I got the firm sense that he was steadfast and reliable, and also very loyal to Shiloh...but I guess I was just wanting more. We spent so long in Shiloh's head that it would have been nice to perhaps relive some memories etc. through Cary's lens, to figure out what really made him tick and get a little bit deeper insight into the sort of man he was vs. perhaps the teen he was in high school. It seemed like Cary was also the one making so many of the sacrifices and being so accepting of Shiloh's eccentricities and she didn't always necessarily have to make any concessions of her own...a bit frustrating in my mind, because EVERY good relationship should be a two way street.
But perhaps the biggest hurdle I faced in this particular read was the timeline...because it was TRULY all over the place. Essentially, our current day story takes place in 2006, but we are also treated (for about half the book or so at least) to flashbacks of various points during Shiloh and Cary's friendship/relationship. In theory, I have no problem with this and would even argue the book couldn't really exist without it. Where the difficulty came in, however, is that every section of the past that is discussed is labeled the SAME WAY: simply "before," no matter where it occurs in the narrative. This made it difficult not only to keep track of where we were and how old Shiloh and Cary were at any given time, but also to give the timeline a SOMEWHAT linear feel. I wouldn't have even minded the timeline hopping back and forth at all if it had just been denoted more clearly throughout...even a device as a simple as listing the year under "before" would have helped IMMENSELY.
The last aspect of this one that caused me to struggle so much more than I would have liked was simply PACING. I have never noticed this in another Rowell book prior to this one, but this was a 400 page book that definitely FELT 400 pages. While I think this a bit long in general for this kind of story, having it told in this back and forth fashion at times made it feel even longer. Luckily, Rowell uses plenty of short chapters or to be honest, there are times this would have felt interminable. I also just wanted more spice and more actual ROMANCE scenes between the characters...but again, this speaks to my desire to maybe have this feel a little LESS realistic and a little more 'flight of fancy' at times. There's nothing wrong with a slow burn....but once the flame is lit, it should IGNITE (especially after 14 years of waiting!)
And while we had to wait 10 FULL years for a new full length adult romance novel from Rainbow Rowell, I still hope that Shiloh and Cary's long overdue courtship hasn't inspired Rowell to wait 14 years before putting out another relatable and nuanced adult romance book:
...I'm just not sure my heart can wait that long.
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
Now a Reese’s Book Club Pick!
May 5, 2024
There is a stretch in the middle of this book that is so so good. Where we see old high school friends Cary and Shiloh veer towards becoming more than friends, and then learn that they have tried this once before. It ends badly both times. The passion and then the misunderstanding and then the stubborn escalation repeats from their different points of view and these different points in time and it totally breaks your heart. There's a reason so many romances insert the specific obstacle of misunderstanding, if you do it right there isn't much that is more wrenching as a reader. Rowell does this really well, the dialogue is sharp, and the characterization is so good that I kept recognizing myself and other people in these characters. The rest of the book doesn't quite reach these heights, but it had an awfully long way to fall.
There is a lot to like here. I particularly loved the Omaha setting, the real lives these characters lead. I grow more and more frustrated with stories where we are told characters are broke but they do not live like broke people. Shiloh and Cary and their families live on the edge in a way that feels much more real, and only gets more complicated as they get older. Nothing is simple and easy, and that feels very right. Shiloh's status as divorced single mom also felt real real, this isn't the kind of book where her kids disappear as soon as it's inconvenient for them to be around.
But even though I enjoyed spending time with these characters they drove me up the wall. Shiloh and Cary are incapable of having a goddamn conversation, which I know is what makes these stories work, but none of them seems to realize a conversation needs to be had. Still, it felt realistic, who wants to have a difficult conversation? And when we shifted into a higher gear in the romance department, when they started actually being deliberate, things got suddenly and weirdly boring just when they should have gotten interesting. The whole issue these two face is the apparent impossibility of how to be together, this looms over them (twice!) and is the reason they don't get together for so long and then when they do it is just fine and we are swept past it as if all that worrying was for nothing when it didn't really feel like nothing! It felt reasonable, like real questions worth answering, but the two of them barely bother to answer them.
This happens more than once. Like how young Shiloh is disgusted by Cary's decision to join the Navy. It's one that makes sense for him, given his financial position and family resources, but seeing him in this giant organization of violence hurts Shiloh. And this feels real and correct and then when they are older Shiloh is like, "Yeah I was just being a dramatic teenager, it's totally fine." Just when we've gotten to what should be the interesting part, it is batted away like nothing.
I should say for the record that I am not much of a romance reader. And in many ways this book suits me because it is interested in a lot of things just as much (or more) than it is in being a romance. It may be clear that we're heading for a HEA but it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time, and those are the best parts. I get that what Rowell is doing that I find most annoying may actually please the people this book is for.
I still enjoyed it and it was a very welcome fluffy read when I couldn't tolerate any more tension and devastation.
There is a lot to like here. I particularly loved the Omaha setting, the real lives these characters lead. I grow more and more frustrated with stories where we are told characters are broke but they do not live like broke people. Shiloh and Cary and their families live on the edge in a way that feels much more real, and only gets more complicated as they get older. Nothing is simple and easy, and that feels very right. Shiloh's status as divorced single mom also felt real real, this isn't the kind of book where her kids disappear as soon as it's inconvenient for them to be around.
But even though I enjoyed spending time with these characters they drove me up the wall. Shiloh and Cary are incapable of having a goddamn conversation, which I know is what makes these stories work, but none of them seems to realize a conversation needs to be had. Still, it felt realistic, who wants to have a difficult conversation? And when we shifted into a higher gear in the romance department, when they started actually being deliberate, things got suddenly and weirdly boring just when they should have gotten interesting. The whole issue these two face is the apparent impossibility of how to be together, this looms over them (twice!) and is the reason they don't get together for so long and then when they do it is just fine and we are swept past it as if all that worrying was for nothing when it didn't really feel like nothing! It felt reasonable, like real questions worth answering, but the two of them barely bother to answer them.
This happens more than once. Like how young Shiloh is disgusted by Cary's decision to join the Navy. It's one that makes sense for him, given his financial position and family resources, but seeing him in this giant organization of violence hurts Shiloh. And this feels real and correct and then when they are older Shiloh is like, "Yeah I was just being a dramatic teenager, it's totally fine." Just when we've gotten to what should be the interesting part, it is batted away like nothing.
I should say for the record that I am not much of a romance reader. And in many ways this book suits me because it is interested in a lot of things just as much (or more) than it is in being a romance. It may be clear that we're heading for a HEA but it doesn't feel like it a lot of the time, and those are the best parts. I get that what Rowell is doing that I find most annoying may actually please the people this book is for.
I still enjoyed it and it was a very welcome fluffy read when I couldn't tolerate any more tension and devastation.
August 11, 2024
4.5 stars
Slow Dance is about friends Shiloh and Cary who were inseparable in high school, but now they haven't spoken in years. When their best friend gets married, the two are reunited at the wedding. But Shiloh doesn't know if Cary wants to know her anymore, and we flash back from the past to the present as we follow along their love story.
Rainbow Rowell is one of my all time favorite authors and I was glad to see she was writing adult contemporary fiction again. I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully done, and had the best time listening along to Shiloh and Cary. Reading Rowell's books feels like being enveloped in a hug a lot of the time and this one felt like that too. I'm gonna be thinking about Cary and Shiloh for a long time.
I received an advanced listening copy via the libro.fm librarian alc program
Slow Dance is about friends Shiloh and Cary who were inseparable in high school, but now they haven't spoken in years. When their best friend gets married, the two are reunited at the wedding. But Shiloh doesn't know if Cary wants to know her anymore, and we flash back from the past to the present as we follow along their love story.
Rainbow Rowell is one of my all time favorite authors and I was glad to see she was writing adult contemporary fiction again. I listened to the audiobook which was wonderfully done, and had the best time listening along to Shiloh and Cary. Reading Rowell's books feels like being enveloped in a hug a lot of the time and this one felt like that too. I'm gonna be thinking about Cary and Shiloh for a long time.
I received an advanced listening copy via the libro.fm librarian alc program
March 23, 2024
I struggled with this story. This just wasn’t my cup of tea. I thought Shiloh was the absolute worst. I honestly couldn’t stand her character. She was so annoying and if I were Cary I would have moved on and stayed moved on. Cary wasn’t great either. He’s the definition of the miscommunication troupe. I think the whole “I was in love with you how couldn’t you tell” is the worst and he uses this as an excuse during all of the conversations in the first half of the book. Junie and Gus were highlights of the story. There is a HEA but geez you have to go through so much stuff to get there. I felt mentally exhausted by the time I hit the end that the HEA didn’t even feel worth it.
October 15, 2024
Oof.. this hurts to write, but why was this 84 years long???
July 13, 2024
I was nervous going into this because I've read plenty of Rainbow Rowell books in the past and enjoyed or adored almost all of them. But those were either young adult or I was a young adult when I read them. If I reread them today would I have the same rating a less experienced/critical/cynical Katie would have?
But, that fear was put to rest with this book. Her characters are always the focal point of the story. If you're looking for plot, you won't be left sated by her stories. It's there but you aren't supposed to care so much about what's happening. You're meant to care about who it's happening to and how they react and grow. And boy howdy do you care.
I will say that this book was definitely too long. It felt like I was listening to it for a week when it was honestly two or three days. A romance book being over 400 pages is almost always unnecessary. But it's been a while since I've seen an adult romance from her (the only one I can recall is Attachments). So I will give her grace on the page count. She probably had a lot pint up, ha.
All in all, highly enjoyed but it's been two weeks since I read it and I don't remember the characters names. Which automatically means it isn't a 5 star. But I know I had a great time reading it.
But, that fear was put to rest with this book. Her characters are always the focal point of the story. If you're looking for plot, you won't be left sated by her stories. It's there but you aren't supposed to care so much about what's happening. You're meant to care about who it's happening to and how they react and grow. And boy howdy do you care.
I will say that this book was definitely too long. It felt like I was listening to it for a week when it was honestly two or three days. A romance book being over 400 pages is almost always unnecessary. But it's been a while since I've seen an adult romance from her (the only one I can recall is Attachments). So I will give her grace on the page count. She probably had a lot pint up, ha.
All in all, highly enjoyed but it's been two weeks since I read it and I don't remember the characters names. Which automatically means it isn't a 5 star. But I know I had a great time reading it.
September 9, 2024
4 stars
I love a good second-chance romance. This book gave me Eleanor and Park vibes if they were adults and the hea was more satisfying. The friends to lovers was immaculate. It was a slow burn that felt real and raw and I loved both Cary and Shiloh. Overall a great read!
I love a good second-chance romance. This book gave me Eleanor and Park vibes if they were adults and the hea was more satisfying. The friends to lovers was immaculate. It was a slow burn that felt real and raw and I loved both Cary and Shiloh. Overall a great read!
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 4 stars
Narrators: Rebecca Lowman
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 11h 31m
August 19, 2024
Worst book I’ve read in a long time. The main character has the self confidence of a toad and the personality of a dinner roll. So sad I wasted my time.
August 5, 2024
3 stars, maybe unpopular opinion but this was just okay and IMO isn’t a must read. the synopsis gave me second chance romance vibes (my fave trope) but it was more “right person wrong time” x friends to lovers.
the beginning started strong—old besties reunite at a wedding 14 years later and one is freshly divorced and you can tell there’s something there. butttt then it went low key downhill.
what bugged me most was the MC, there is no way these people were 33+ years old and behaving this way? they felt so immature to me!! i couldn’t get over it. and the FMC making fun of the navy/the MMC wanting to serve? that gave me an ick. also the miscommunication trope is my least fave so that was a big no go here.
overall it was a quick audiobook binge and i like the narrator, but this story didn’t hit the way i hoped!
the beginning started strong—old besties reunite at a wedding 14 years later and one is freshly divorced and you can tell there’s something there. butttt then it went low key downhill.
what bugged me most was the MC, there is no way these people were 33+ years old and behaving this way? they felt so immature to me!! i couldn’t get over it. and the FMC making fun of the navy/the MMC wanting to serve? that gave me an ick. also the miscommunication trope is my least fave so that was a big no go here.
overall it was a quick audiobook binge and i like the narrator, but this story didn’t hit the way i hoped!
Want to read
October 6, 2024RR's 'The Attachment' is one of my favorite adult romance books of all time, I was hoping all these years for her to release a new adult book and here we are her publishing a new book.
I'm so excited, though by reading the summary it seems like my heart will break a few times.
I'm so excited, though by reading the summary it seems like my heart will break a few times.
August 20, 2024
Shiloh living inside you POV was my personal hell
December 4, 2024
2/5 ⭐️
- I’m so surprised I didn’t love this one because I really thought it would be a book that I was obsessed with!! Wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style in this book. It felt like something I would have loved in high school, but not so much anymore.
- If you like military stories with lots of letters and emails back & forth, you’ll love this. You could really see their love for each other growing within their correspondence.
- I do feel like there wasn’t much going on in the story. It felt like all the characters did was bicker and make out. Also kids rarely frustrate me in books, but I hated how these kids talked to their mom throughout this book! She was just trying her best :(
- I’m so surprised I didn’t love this one because I really thought it would be a book that I was obsessed with!! Wasn’t the biggest fan of the writing style in this book. It felt like something I would have loved in high school, but not so much anymore.
- If you like military stories with lots of letters and emails back & forth, you’ll love this. You could really see their love for each other growing within their correspondence.
- I do feel like there wasn’t much going on in the story. It felt like all the characters did was bicker and make out. Also kids rarely frustrate me in books, but I hated how these kids talked to their mom throughout this book! She was just trying her best :(
February 21, 2025
SALE ALERT...Amazon deal 1.99 here 21Feb25
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 Best Friends and Second Chances Stars
It has been a few years since I've read a Rainbow Rowell book and man I have missed her. There is something about her characters and stories that just pulls me in. I read all the time and I caught myself sneak reading at work and staying up until 2am to finish this book, which is almost unheard of for me now. Her characters always feel like real people, full of imperfections and quirks that make them all the more interesting for them.
Cary and Shiloh almost happened in high school, sorta happened in college at least for a weekend but then it all fell apart. Cary was in the Navy while Shiloh was finishing school. Now it is over a decade later and they might have another shot at figuring this thing that is between them out. Shiloh is a divorced mom of two, living with her mom. Her life is messy and Cary is still in the Navy, only in town for a wedding, but there is something between them that has lasted through the years. All they need to do if figure out how to be the friends they once were and move into the lovers they should have been.
I pulled so hard for this couple. I was beyond invested in how they were going to work out the hurts of the past and fall in love all over again. The story unfolded letting us see the Shiloh and Cary of the past while we got to also know them in the present. It is all teased out how Cary, Mikey and Shiloh were like the three musketeers in high school. But everyone assumes Cary and Shiloh were or would be together. How they didn't figure themselves out at nineteen and now at thirty three, maybe just maybe they will find a way.
I adored that Shiloh and Cary are not prefect and absolutely pretty people. They are real with blemishes, freckles and moles. Shiloh is a little on the spectrum (in my opinion) and struggles a bit with intimacy. Cary likes to be in control and in charge. He is a natural at it but when his mom's health takes a dive he needs to lean on Shiloh to help while he is away for the Navy. I enjoyed the struggles they overcame as they hashed out some of the past and figured out their now and their future. I thought that the parts with the kids were written by someone who definitely has kids and knows what it is like to try to date while also being a mom. The parts with how the kids reacted to a new person in their moms life seemed very true.
I'm not sure what it is about Rainbow Rowell's writing but it just works for me. I get so drawn into all of the stories I've read by her and absolutely adore the characters that feel like real people. After getting to the end I was almost ready to start the journey all over again just to hang out with these characters a little longer. If you have enjoyed Rainbow before, this should fit right into the catalog. If you are new to Rainbow then this will be a good tester if you will enjoy that magic of her writing like I do.
This review was originally posted on Books of My Heart
Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
4.5 Best Friends and Second Chances Stars
It has been a few years since I've read a Rainbow Rowell book and man I have missed her. There is something about her characters and stories that just pulls me in. I read all the time and I caught myself sneak reading at work and staying up until 2am to finish this book, which is almost unheard of for me now. Her characters always feel like real people, full of imperfections and quirks that make them all the more interesting for them.
Cary and Shiloh almost happened in high school, sorta happened in college at least for a weekend but then it all fell apart. Cary was in the Navy while Shiloh was finishing school. Now it is over a decade later and they might have another shot at figuring this thing that is between them out. Shiloh is a divorced mom of two, living with her mom. Her life is messy and Cary is still in the Navy, only in town for a wedding, but there is something between them that has lasted through the years. All they need to do if figure out how to be the friends they once were and move into the lovers they should have been.
She’d spent more years missing Cary than knowing him. All those years burnishing his memory with nostalgia.
I pulled so hard for this couple. I was beyond invested in how they were going to work out the hurts of the past and fall in love all over again. The story unfolded letting us see the Shiloh and Cary of the past while we got to also know them in the present. It is all teased out how Cary, Mikey and Shiloh were like the three musketeers in high school. But everyone assumes Cary and Shiloh were or would be together. How they didn't figure themselves out at nineteen and now at thirty three, maybe just maybe they will find a way.
"We were friends."
"No." He motioned between them with his fire stick. "we were friends. You and Cary were caught up in some sexually charged will-they, won't-they fuckery."
I adored that Shiloh and Cary are not prefect and absolutely pretty people. They are real with blemishes, freckles and moles. Shiloh is a little on the spectrum (in my opinion) and struggles a bit with intimacy. Cary likes to be in control and in charge. He is a natural at it but when his mom's health takes a dive he needs to lean on Shiloh to help while he is away for the Navy. I enjoyed the struggles they overcame as they hashed out some of the past and figured out their now and their future. I thought that the parts with the kids were written by someone who definitely has kids and knows what it is like to try to date while also being a mom. The parts with how the kids reacted to a new person in their moms life seemed very true.
I'm not sure what it is about Rainbow Rowell's writing but it just works for me. I get so drawn into all of the stories I've read by her and absolutely adore the characters that feel like real people. After getting to the end I was almost ready to start the journey all over again just to hang out with these characters a little longer. If you have enjoyed Rainbow before, this should fit right into the catalog. If you are new to Rainbow then this will be a good tester if you will enjoy that magic of her writing like I do.
“It’s just embarrassing. I kind of hate to tell you all this. I’d rather you remember me the way I was when we were young.”
“Manic and relentless?”
Shiloh kicked him in the ankle. She wasn’t wearing shoes. “Shiny and full of potential!”
August 2, 2024
“The only thing wrong with Shiloh was her crooked bottom teeth, and Cary wanted to touch them. He wanted to kiss them. He wanted to stick his dick in her mouth and cut himself on them.”
sorry, but what the fuck lol
sorry, but what the fuck lol
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 12, 2024
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this eARC!
A new Rainbow Rowell book is a banner occasion - I should have waited, I should have taken more time to savor this one, because I know it will be a while until I have another book from Rainbow. But I'm not perfect, and so I gulped this down in 24 hours, neglecting some things I needed to do in favor of spending time in Omaha with Shiloh and Cary, two of Rainbow's most perfect imperfect characters.
They were best friends in high school, and reunite years later at their third musketeer (Mikey's) wedding. As adults, their lives are complicated - Shiloh is divorced with kids and Cary is in the Navy, with some extended family issues of his own. Even after all those years and all that baggage, though, Cary and Shiloh are drawn together. Like all of Rainbow's books, this was EMOTIONAL. The story is told out of order and from both main characters' perspectives, but Rainbow uses short chapters and her time jumps to give us the character beats we need when we need them. I laughed, I cried, I thought about my own choices. Her characters are so real and flawed, but that is just what makes them beautiful. Obviously, Rainbow is a genius and I loved this so much. Now, to wait for the next book, which, because I'll still be me, I'll tear through it too - why wait for something as good as this?
A new Rainbow Rowell book is a banner occasion - I should have waited, I should have taken more time to savor this one, because I know it will be a while until I have another book from Rainbow. But I'm not perfect, and so I gulped this down in 24 hours, neglecting some things I needed to do in favor of spending time in Omaha with Shiloh and Cary, two of Rainbow's most perfect imperfect characters.
They were best friends in high school, and reunite years later at their third musketeer (Mikey's) wedding. As adults, their lives are complicated - Shiloh is divorced with kids and Cary is in the Navy, with some extended family issues of his own. Even after all those years and all that baggage, though, Cary and Shiloh are drawn together. Like all of Rainbow's books, this was EMOTIONAL. The story is told out of order and from both main characters' perspectives, but Rainbow uses short chapters and her time jumps to give us the character beats we need when we need them. I laughed, I cried, I thought about my own choices. Her characters are so real and flawed, but that is just what makes them beautiful. Obviously, Rainbow is a genius and I loved this so much. Now, to wait for the next book, which, because I'll still be me, I'll tear through it too - why wait for something as good as this?
June 23, 2024
I was so lucky to read an ARC of Slow Dance. It's everything you're hoping it will be and more. I started slowing down toward the end, because I could not stand the idea of not having these characters in my everyday life anymore. I feel like this book loves its readers back. Rainbow Rowell is always incredible and I love all of her books. And somehow, impossibly, I love this one EVEN MORE. Pre-order it. Block off a few days. Live in this book. It's a wonderful place to be.
August 8, 2024
Nope. No. Hate them both. Only characters that show any development are her kids.
July 10, 2024
Let me be honest, Rainbow Rowell may not be the only author I will read Romance from, but she is the one I trust most not to fall into the boring tropes of contrivance that most romances showcase. We all know that the couple will get together in the end, but I just get bored with the artificial roadblocks that litter the ultimate consummation in the average romance.
In SLOW DANCE, Rowell has created dynamic, and layered characters, who may not always be the easiest to root for, and throws legit obstacles in their path. We pay witness to Shiloh and Cary’s friendship/courtship over a span of around 20 years, through many non-linear flashbacks. They both come from the ‘scary’ part of town with challenging family dynamics. Cary’s more so than Shiloh’s. I found teenage Shiloh particularly difficult to care for. She was the epitome of ‘too cool for school’. At least on the surface. We had glimpses of her deep-rooted insecurities which were exasperated in a marriage to a charming narcissist. Cary is doggedly ‘good’, and still wildly enthralled to Shiloh, but lugging about the baggage of his very messed up family. Not to mention the fact that he is carrer Navy, which doesn’t lend itself to a steady relationship, centered in landlocked Omaha.
As heavy as some of the situations are, this book was never a burden to read. Rowell’s trademark dancing dialogue was on full display, particularly in Shiloh’s six-year-old daughter, Juniper. Side characters get the full layered treatment as well. Many characters, who are living in the squalor of their own choices are still painted with respect and patience. With the exception of Cary’s, sort-of, older sister. Jackie is just awful.
Sometimes I am so sad she has only given us three adult romances, but I will take what is offered and hope for more.
As an aside: another aspect I appreciate about her books are the descriptions of throughly midwestern food. Yes, I do presently have all the ingredients to make a Hummingbird Cake.
52 Book Club24: #44 - Includes a wedding
Summer mini24: 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!
In SLOW DANCE, Rowell has created dynamic, and layered characters, who may not always be the easiest to root for, and throws legit obstacles in their path. We pay witness to Shiloh and Cary’s friendship/courtship over a span of around 20 years, through many non-linear flashbacks. They both come from the ‘scary’ part of town with challenging family dynamics. Cary’s more so than Shiloh’s. I found teenage Shiloh particularly difficult to care for. She was the epitome of ‘too cool for school’. At least on the surface. We had glimpses of her deep-rooted insecurities which were exasperated in a marriage to a charming narcissist. Cary is doggedly ‘good’, and still wildly enthralled to Shiloh, but lugging about the baggage of his very messed up family. Not to mention the fact that he is carrer Navy, which doesn’t lend itself to a steady relationship, centered in landlocked Omaha.
As heavy as some of the situations are, this book was never a burden to read. Rowell’s trademark dancing dialogue was on full display, particularly in Shiloh’s six-year-old daughter, Juniper. Side characters get the full layered treatment as well. Many characters, who are living in the squalor of their own choices are still painted with respect and patience. With the exception of Cary’s, sort-of, older sister. Jackie is just awful.
Sometimes I am so sad she has only given us three adult romances, but I will take what is offered and hope for more.
As an aside: another aspect I appreciate about her books are the descriptions of throughly midwestern food. Yes, I do presently have all the ingredients to make a Hummingbird Cake.
52 Book Club24: #44 - Includes a wedding
Summer mini24: 9) FENCING: Dialogue with witty banter! Touche!
July 22, 2024
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
DNF 21%
Woof I was not feeling this one at all. I was thinking about DNFing earlier but I wanted to make it to around 20% before I threw in the towel.
The writing just seemed really weird, almost lazy to me. And I was not connecting with either character at all. Just the whole thing was very two dimensional. Shiloh thought this. Shiloh did this. Shiloh, Shiloh, Shiloh.
Sorry, Rainbow 💚
DNF 21%
Woof I was not feeling this one at all. I was thinking about DNFing earlier but I wanted to make it to around 20% before I threw in the towel.
The writing just seemed really weird, almost lazy to me. And I was not connecting with either character at all. Just the whole thing was very two dimensional. Shiloh thought this. Shiloh did this. Shiloh, Shiloh, Shiloh.
Sorry, Rainbow 💚
September 5, 2024
I was charmed…and, I was annoyed.
Slow Dance is a second chance romance about Cary and Shiloh, who were best friends in high school before making a failed attempt at something more after graduation. Now, Shiloh is a divorced mother of two young children, and Cary is an officer in the Navy. When they reunite at their friend’s wedding, the sparks are still flying…but is their undeniable chemistry enough to overcome all the real-life obstacles standing in the way of their love?
I’ve read nearly all of Rainbow Rowell’s books and have enjoyed each of them to some degree. She has an uncanny ability to create quirky, interesting characters, and to write them so tenderly, with so much authenticity. In Slow Dance, I particularly enjoyed the portrayals of Shiloh’s precocious kiddos, Junie and Gus, and Cary’s mother Lois, who totally stole every scene they were in. And I liked how Rowell delves into so much more than just the romance aspect. Both Shiloh and Cary come from an impoverished area of Omaha, Nebraska, and their economic struggles and messy family relationships were portrayed so realistically.
Slow Dance is told in both a past and a present timeline, with the past chapters organized in a non-linear way meant to enhance something happening in the current narrative. I didn’t mind that the high school chapters jumped around in time, but it bothered me that I didn’t see a lot of growth in the characters from teenagers to adults – particularly in the case of Shiloh. Even as a grown mother of two with lots of life experiences under her belt, I felt like Shiloh was childish, both in regards to her behavior and her thought processes. She annoyed me to no end with her tactile tendencies – constantly messing with Cary’s clothes or otherwise touching him oddly – and with her emotional immaturity. I definitely understand where Rowell was going with this – that sense of how falling in love makes you feel giddy and silly and ridiculous – but Shiloh was just too much for me.
I also grew weary, after a while, of Shiloh and Cary’s tendency to overanalyze each other’s every word and action, but to then blatantly misunderstand the other person’s intentions despite their constant conversations. Slow Dance just felt very YA to me overall, which would have been fine, because Rowell’s YA books have been my favorite – but reading about adults acting like teenagers was just incredibly aggravating.
Slow Dance is a second chance romance about Cary and Shiloh, who were best friends in high school before making a failed attempt at something more after graduation. Now, Shiloh is a divorced mother of two young children, and Cary is an officer in the Navy. When they reunite at their friend’s wedding, the sparks are still flying…but is their undeniable chemistry enough to overcome all the real-life obstacles standing in the way of their love?
I’ve read nearly all of Rainbow Rowell’s books and have enjoyed each of them to some degree. She has an uncanny ability to create quirky, interesting characters, and to write them so tenderly, with so much authenticity. In Slow Dance, I particularly enjoyed the portrayals of Shiloh’s precocious kiddos, Junie and Gus, and Cary’s mother Lois, who totally stole every scene they were in. And I liked how Rowell delves into so much more than just the romance aspect. Both Shiloh and Cary come from an impoverished area of Omaha, Nebraska, and their economic struggles and messy family relationships were portrayed so realistically.
Slow Dance is told in both a past and a present timeline, with the past chapters organized in a non-linear way meant to enhance something happening in the current narrative. I didn’t mind that the high school chapters jumped around in time, but it bothered me that I didn’t see a lot of growth in the characters from teenagers to adults – particularly in the case of Shiloh. Even as a grown mother of two with lots of life experiences under her belt, I felt like Shiloh was childish, both in regards to her behavior and her thought processes. She annoyed me to no end with her tactile tendencies – constantly messing with Cary’s clothes or otherwise touching him oddly – and with her emotional immaturity. I definitely understand where Rowell was going with this – that sense of how falling in love makes you feel giddy and silly and ridiculous – but Shiloh was just too much for me.
I also grew weary, after a while, of Shiloh and Cary’s tendency to overanalyze each other’s every word and action, but to then blatantly misunderstand the other person’s intentions despite their constant conversations. Slow Dance just felt very YA to me overall, which would have been fine, because Rowell’s YA books have been my favorite – but reading about adults acting like teenagers was just incredibly aggravating.
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