I absolutely love Rainbow Rowell’s books – she delivers real-people romances filled with plenty of angst, witty conversations and a nostalgia for earlier decades.
Shiloh, Cary and Mike are a best-friends trio at high school in Omaha in the 1990s, a friendship that’s a lifeline for all three as they try to keep their heads above water and dream of their futures. Shiloh and Cary have a special connection and everyone assumes they are dating or will end up together, even Mike, but it doesn’t quite work out that way. Cary has a lot he’s trying to cope with in his family and Shiloh has her reasons for being rather prickly.
The story moves between different timelines, starting with the present where Shiloh is a divorced young mom dreading the thought of seeing Cary again at Mike’s wedding and moving to various points in the past as the pair get closer and move apart.
There are times when the obstacles keeping them apart feel a bit forced but Rowell writes so engagingly and has created such lovely characters that it’s easy to forgive.
This is not a romance filled with fireworks, it’s exactly as the title says, it’s a slow dance as Shiloh and Cary figure out what they mean to each other and if they are ready for a second chance. An absolute delight, especially if you remember the 1990s.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC.

Not usually a fan of this genre but I loved Eleanor and Park so thought I would give this a go.

Very easy to read, and thought the narrative voice was quite interesting and fresh. I’ve always liked how Rowell’s characters feel like real people: completely imperfect, flawed, not always likeable, but *so* realistic. I was super invested in their relationship: I enjoyed the will-they-won’t-they teasing from Rowell and was rooting for Shiloh and Cary! Read this within a couple of days so it would be a great holiday, easy read.

Thanks to NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A charming exploration of friendships, love and second chances.
We are shown the past and present lives of Shiloh and Cary, which is told in flashbacks and helps you understand why they’re not together yet.
A very nostalgic read
It’s about missed opportunities and shows that the road to love isn’t always easy - it’s a slow dance
Had all the vibes of Normal People or One Day
Thanks @rainbowrowell, @michaeljbooks & @netgalley for the nostalgic read

A good slow burn read - actually better than most of her other books! Sweetly romantic and heart-warming.

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell is moving, compelling and the "what if". Hopes and dreams, what if we did get together? A beautiful love story that is sensitive and sweet on multipl levels. Gorgeous

Thank you to NetGalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House | Michael Joseph and Rainbow Rowell for this beautiful ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

Friends to lovers is my favourite romance trope, and I really enjoyed Slow Dance! This is my second Rainbow Rowell book and I really like her writing and her way of describing the characters. This features a lot of miscommunication, which I know is a red flag for some people, but personally I think it felt convincing in the context of the characters, their ages and their experience. I would definitely recommend!

Obviously a writer that many enjoy, but I am not one of them. I started the book got a few pages in and then left it to read something that I enjoyed, returned and couldn’t remember anything, left it to read another book, went back to it and read probably about 50% then skipped to the end….and still didn’t enjoy the reading experience.
Sorry to author, publisher and Netgalley but thank you anyway for the ARC,

I found this a difficult book to finish, as at times the main characters made me so frustrated that I had to keep putting it aside. The only thing that kept me returning was the quality of the writing as I’ve loved previous books by Rowell. The writing is as strong as you expect but the personalties of Shiloh & Cary were grating and instead of being lured in by their past encounters, I became disaffected by their trials & tribulations. Due to my lack of connection with Shiloh or Cary, I didn’t believe in the relationship that they had.

Unfortunately, this made the wrong impact on me but I look forward to future books by Rowell.

Is it a little predictable? Yes. Of course..
But is it also warm and clever and thought provoking? Absolutely.

We flick back and forward in time, following Shiloh & Cary, who should have gotten together in high school, but are now in their 30s and life hasn’t panned out like they thought.

I can’t say this is my favourite Rainbow Rowell book, but only because the bar is so high with past books. But I would absolutely recommend for a great read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC

This was quite a slow paced book for me that took a while to engage me and get going. I didn't find the lead character particularly likeable but did enjoy that slow burn romance tale of friends who could / should have been more.

This was a simple, fun, easy and quick read. The perfect type of book for your holiday, beach, pool kind of read. This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

A beautiful ‘slow burn’ romance about two ordinary people with ordinary lives. I loved this book so much, the pace was just right for an unfolding love story told back and forth between the years.

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.