The story follows Cary and Shiloh, who have been best friends since they were at school. Despite always having feelings for each other, things never progressed between them. Will they take the chance to connect at last or

First of all, things I liked:

Rowell's writing is very strong. They wrote some brilliant side characters who strengthened the story immensely, and the dialogue is witty and creative.

I did like Cary, although I feel like we didn't learn enough about him. However, he worked well as an authentic love interest.

Now on to the rest...

My main issue is, I really didn't like Shiloh, I found her super annoying. I also didn't understand why Cary adored her so much because she must have been so irritating to be around. I'm not sure they fitted well as a couple either, I just felt he deserved more if I'm honest, because she's such hard work.

I don't know, it didn't fill me with joy when I was reading it; despite the fact that it was a 'love story' it had an almost negative sombre feel that I didn't like.

The story is also quite disjointed, and with very short chapters, sometimes I felt like we were jumping back and forth very quickly without much development. I also found it a little long at times, dragging out the story slightly more than was necessary... there's only so much miscommunication that is passable.

Not for me.

Like the title this book was very slow paced and at one point I did debate whether to continue. I was really not a fan of Shiloh initially, her attitude in the younger sections annoyed me and I hated the way she kept messing with Cary and that part didn't quit.

Cary himself was bland. He had a fairly well-developed family. I really wanted a big blow-out fight between him and his "sister" about all the lies, and a proper conversation with his "mum" about it all. Otherwise his personality was the Navy, he had no interests.

Despite all that something drew me in to their story and I was rooting for them as a couple. I liked the flashbacks but it was a little annoying the way they jumped around time so much. It also felt like not enough time was dedicated to certain parts like Shiloh's first marriage. On the whole I felt that the ending was very rushed. There was no mention of navigating the new relationship within the context of Shiloh's ex and the book just stopped. It felt very anti-climactic.

Throughly enjoyed this book! From page one I was hooked and couldn’t wait to pick the book back up.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Carey and Shiloh and their story had me hooked from the start, I loved the characters, loved their story and didnt want it to end. I found myself deeply invested in them and thoroughly enjoyed every minute reading Slow dance. A lovely, sweet, moving story of love and friendship

Thanks to NetGalley and publishers for an ARC of Slow Dance.

I nice cozy story which eventually goes the way you expect. Nice and easy to read although the characters can by slightly irritating at times.

Good for rom-com fans and fans of happy endings.
3.5 stars

A delightful story of finding love from friendship across the years. I loved the style of the book with flashbacks to the past helped me understand and fall
In love with the characters.

I enjoyed this second chance ‘will they won’t they’ romance. Funny and perceptive with some very witty lines. This could have been a 5 star but the sex scene!!! I just don’t know what to say but it is not for the faint-hearted!

Thank you to NetGalley and Michael Joseph for the advance reader copy.

I don’t think anything really happens in this book - there is a lot of dialogue and yet it feels like you aren’t actually going anywhere.
Shiloh and Cary both need to probably have therapy cause there’s definitely some issues he they need to individually work out.

I don’t think I believed it would be a ‘happy ending’ until I had finished the book and even then I wasn’t sure.

I haven’t read anything by the author before and I’m not sure if this is a one off in style or what their writing is like.

Overall this is a 2.5 rounded up to 3 star review.

This book is exactly the reason why I thoroughly enjoyed reading Eleanor & Park and Fangirl during my teens. An easy read that will make you smile.

It's a classic trope of right person but wrong timing. The story follows Cary and Shiloh from high school to adulthood. They were the best of friends during school but drifted apart. A mutual friend's wedding provides them an opportunity to reconnect and maybe rekindle something that they both buried deep within.

Shiloh is a divorced mom of two and Cary is always away because he's in the Navy. Read to find out how they navigate through their midlife crisis to be with each other.

I adore Rainbow Rowells books so it will come as no surprise that I loved this, it was fantastic, one of the funniest and loveliest books, o full of the sweetest characters, heartmelting moments and so much humour. I never wanted it to end, but sadly it has to and I regretted devouring it in one day,but it’s such a fab read, I can go read it again anytime

This was a little slow paced for me but it wasn’t until I finished it that I realised the clue was in the title - Shiloh and Cary’s relationship is literally a slow dance and it’s a sweet, easy to read romance, peppered with realism and diverse personality traits and clumsy miscommunication which is something you don’t often see.

I DNF'd at 10%.

I couldn't connect to the characters and felt like everything was being explained twice.

I’ve been reading Rainbow Rowell’s books for years now. Her YA books were a staple in my teenage years and as I’ve gotten older so have her adult novels. So, of course I was excited to see that she was releasing another adult romance this year. I was even more excited when I found out it was a second chance, friends-to-lovers romance. It lived up to all my expectations and turned out to be such a captivating and beautiful story.

Back in high school, everyone though they Cary and Shiloh would end up together. Everyone except Cary and Shiloh. They were just best friends. The pair spent entire summers together, dreaming about the future. Shiloh was going to be an actress and Cary was going to join the navy. And, nothing was ever going to change between them.

Shiloh did go to college and Cary did join the navy. But, somehow everything changed. Now it is fourteen years since Shiloh has spoken to Cary. She’s been married and divorced has two kids and is back living in the same house she grew up in. Her life is nothing like she planned. When Shiloh gets invited to an old friend’s wedding, all she can think about is whether Cary will be there and what she would do if he is.

From the very first page of this book we are drawn into the world of Shiloh and Cary. I was worried this was going to be a book that took me some time to get into but that wasn’t the case. I read the first chapter and I was hooked. And, it kept me hooked the entire way through.

I loved that this book has flashbacks to Shiloh and Cary throughout their lives. I loved seeing how the pair are now, compared to how they were in the past. It shows readers how they’ve changed, the issues they’ve faced and how they got to how they are now, which I thoroughly enjoyed.

Both of the main characters in Slow Dance are full of personality and authenticity. I liked that we saw the story told from both the perspectives of Cary and Shiloh as I feel like it gave us as readers a closer look at each of the characters.

I found Shiloh difficult to get along with at first, especially in the flashback chapters. But, as the story goes on you realise why she is the way she is and by the end of the book I loved her. She is a wonderful mother who cares so much for her children and those around her. I loved Cary from the moment we were introduced to him. He is dealing with so much but still manages to be one of the most caring characters I’ve ever read. I loved seeing his love for Shiloh and also how much he cares for her children.

I have to give a shoutout to Shiloh’s children Junie and Gus. They are both hilarious. Gus is a determined kid and then Junie knows exactly what she wants which I loved. Another special shoutout goes to Grandma Lois. It has been so long since I’ve seen a character with my name and it was a wonderful surprise.

Shiloh and Cary together were wonderful. They were awkward at first but throughout the book we see them both relax more around one another and get back to what they used to be. I loved watching the romance develop and the interactions between them both.

This book covers a lot of hard-hitting topics from loss, moving on, personal development and finding love again. These topics are all discussed excellently and honestly which I appreciated. Rainbow Rowell is still one of my favourite authors. Her writing is captivating, fun and heart-warming. I cannot wait for there to be another book from her hopefully in the near future.

Overall, Slow Dance is a heart-warming novel that explores love, loss and the joy of human connections. If you are looking for a book that will grip you whilst allowing you to slow down and appreciate the little things, then this is one for you. I would highly recommend giving it a read.

Rainbow Rowell is an instant read for me, whenever I see she has published a book I am all over it! I am obsessed with this, it gives me Landline and Attachment vibes in just the best way. Slow burn, rooting for the couple and the reality of life mean this is an excellent story that I cannot recommend enough.

They were friends inseparable but time drifted them apart until a wedding brought them back together. Can they truly find a way through all their changes and issues to be happy. Is it even possible anymore.

I do love Rainbow Rowell so much. I have to admit this wasn't my favourite story but I still enjoyed it. The plot jumps from the past to the present throughout the story. It can be a little confusing at times but I liked seeing their history that got them to this point. Its very real and not sugar coated like some stories can be. Shiloh's hesitation as a mother make sense and often get glossed over so i like that this felt much more realistic. The ending felt a little rushed but it also fitted with the pace of the story. A good open read.

A big, sentimental, extremely romantic, sweep of a book. It isn’t for everyone, but I enjoyed that this novel wore its heart on its sleeve and dared to believe in romance.

I have always loved ‘rowells writing and this one was no exception. I recommended it to one of my friends and she is super looking forward to reading it as I feel the story will resonate with quite a few people .

Really good adult outing from Rainbow Rowell following the lives of two almost-lovers who reunite at a friend's wedding. This is a very real fiction, very grounded. Heartwarming in places and tear your hair out in others.

Oh wow. I have missed Rainbow's romances!!!

Fangirl, Attachments, Ellenor and Park, Landlines... she just has a way of writing love that speaks to my heart.
Slow Dance is a perfect mix of drama, tension (will they, won't they?!?) and swoon.

- Second Chance
- Friends to lovers
- Dual timeline

A great read. Easy to follow as it jumped between now and then. I wanted everything to work out for them and liked that we got to see both points of view. I would have liked more of an epilogue though.