A really lovely story that had me hooked all the way through. Really enjoyed the different timelines that helped build the story. Lovely read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher’s for giving me access to an early copy of this book.

A captivating second chance romance about estranged best friends Shiloh and Cary. Modern day interspersed with a series of flashbacks to their childhood and teenage years, we see how a series of misunderstandings and insecurities separated them, both in the past and now.
Absolutely avoid if you can't stand the miscommunication trope, because if these pair had been open and honest with each other from the start, there would have been no book here.

But I quite enjoyed it. I though Shiloh was a really likeable character, despite her insecurities, and it was lovely to see the pair work through their past. Shiloh's daughter Juniper was really the star though, I loved every scene with her!

A sensitive, adult exploration of the 'teen friends to adult lovers' story that avoids cliche and had the kind of subtle characterisation that I love Rowell for.

I loved the beginning of this book, and it tugged at my heart strings from the very start. I really thought it was going to be a 5* book.
However, it lost a bit of momentum the more the book went on. Firstly, I think the book was far too long and therefore the pacing at times felt very slow. Also, it felt a bit repetitive too.

I enjoyed it, but think I would have enjoyed it more if it was more pacey.

This was a really good book that I thoroughly enjoyed & will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it

Cary and Shiloh decide over decades whether they are meant to be more than just best friends. And Rainbow Rowell smashes it again, a lovely touching and sentimental (not in a bad way) story of an evolving relationship over the decades, from school to marriage, parenting and mid-life relationships.

Told in a very real and bittersweet fashion, this is a story full of reality and truth from start to finish, with characters to care for and an ending to love.

I've read a few other Rainbow Rowell books and generally enjoy them so I was looking forward to reading this one.  It was nice for it to be an adult novel for a change!  Having said that, the main characters (Shiloh and Cary) didn't really read like adults.  The story flicks back and forth between them as older teenagers and their current adult state, but they didn't seem to be any more mature or adult in the later timeline. 

I couldn't get over Shiloh's name.  I had to look online to find out how to pronounce it and even then, I kept reading it as Shiloah for some reason.  I've read many books with unfamiliar names - lots of fantasy, sci fi, and more recently, books set in India - but for some reason, the name Shiloh was incredibly jarring for me.  I really struggled with it and it seemed to bring me out of the story constantly. 

The main issue I had with the book was that it was so incredibly dull.  I was bored within a matter of chapters.  The plot goes nowhere and the characters are all really flat.  I didn't care about any of them at all.  Rowell has previously done the whole friends-to-lovers thing in Fangirl, granted it wasn't the main plotline there, but it still felt like a bit of a rehash.  Overall, the book was quite disappointing really. 

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy to review.

I loved Rainbow Rowell's Fangirl so was excited to give one of her adult novels a try! Rowell's newest novel, Slow Dance, is a master in character development, with each one feeling authentic. A really lovely Summer read for fans of One Day, something that tugs on the heartstring, and a classic second chance romance.

What a lovely story of high school friends Cary and Shiloh who have tried to be more than friends but it does not work out for them. I felt the author was brilliant at the characters miscommunication, they have different perspectives and ideals and as they get older they finds their lives taken in different directions.
As we watch them meet at a wedding we feel their connection is still there, despite living very different lives. Shiloh is a single mother, navigating life sharing children with her ex husband and her life is full and complicated. I felt the characters struggled to communicate effectively with each other, things were never said and the tension and angst between them was real. The pair had a 'slow dance' around each other for most of this book and I liked both characters perspectives. I always like a book with a past and present time line and this one was no exception.
SUch a wonderful read and romance readers will love this one.

"She imagined herself holding him at every moment she'd known him, like a pearl-ended pin stuck through time and space".

Shiloh and Carey, once inseperable as teenagers, meet again for the first time in years at a mutual friends wedding. Maybe, finally, this is the time something will happen between them - but real life isn't so easy.

I had read some of Rainbow Rowell's books for teenagers years ago, and I had forgotten just how well she does ordinary yet really compelling characters, but I think this is key to why I enjoyed Slow Dance so much. It's certainly missing the glamour of the romance novels I might normally enjoy, and isn't a romantic fantasy but is instead really lovely about romance in the mundane - the messiness of dysfunctional families, divorce, long distance, finance problems, and all the rest.

The book jumps back and forth in time, which I originally wasn't crazy about, but it really grounded the characters in my imagination, helping to understand the characters as they are when they meet once again as well as speaking to how timing really is everything, but eventually, they might just get the timing right.

Show Dance is out next week ✨

This was my second book by Rainbow Rowell and I really enjoyed it!
I went in blind not having a clue what it was about (sometimes that’s the best way!) and was pleasantly surprised. It sort of felt real and raw, the characters were well developed - flawed, relatable yet unique, the plot was good/sweet. At times I felt frustrated, like I wanted to bang the two main characters heads together - their miscommunication was just rahhhh but that’s what makes a good book I think!
Thank you to NetGalley for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

I am not the very target audience for this, and I am not as familiar with Rowell’s other works as the fans, and I liked this book.
I liked the realistic depiction and characterisation of Cary and Shiloh, and how life looks like for many people in their 30s and 40s.
A few of the Shiloh’s mannerisms around Cary are a little awkward to me, Besides, this is a complex character study. and I do not care much for the romance element if the characters weren’t complex.
3.5 stars rounded up for the good writing.

Slow Dance is an enjoyable romance that dances through time (sorry, you just have to run with the title cheese sometimes) as it builds up to romance in the past and present.

Shiloh and Cary are our hero and heroine, with Shiloh the main viewpoint character. This story's about a second chance at love - it begins when they're in their thirties, meeting after a long absence. But then we also flashback to when they were teens and best of friends, sometimes wishing for more but never communicating properly about it.

Shiloh's divorced with two kids, Cary's in the military, still with years to serve. Can they make it work even if they want to? Can they get over past misunderstandings and all the years apart?

This is the second romance I've read recently focusing on female main characters post-divorce, and I like the exploration of this age and the challenges therein. It's a bit more refreshing than seeing yet another 20-something main character who hasn't experienced much of the world yet.

The flashbacks back and forth worked well and the conflicts felt real - at least in the present. A lot is made of 'I can't believe you two weren't together back then' and that element is slightly frustrating. Why weren't they? Why didn't they communicate better?

It doesn't help that Shiloh is flawed enough to be verging on annoying. She gave so many mixed messages!

Nevertheless, I was pulled into the story and pulled for Cary and Shiloh to get over their differences and find a route to love again. An interesting romance.

I absolutely adore Attachments by Rainbow Rowell, so as soon as I saw this book available for review I knew I had to read it!

This book has all of my absolute favourite tropes - friends to lovers, will they won’t they (or rather, when will they?!), slow burn, and different timelines. Not only this but they’re all executed to perfection,

I absolutely fell in love with this story and the characters - if you’ve read Rowell before you won’t be disappointed. If you haven’t - you’re in for a treat and are sure to go back through her back catalogue for more when you’re done!

5 star read for me, ideal for any holidays coming up, and a definite to recommend to my friends.

This is a second chance childhood friends to lovers romance. I used to love rainbow Rowell as a teen so I was excited to pick up her adult book.

This was ok, maybe some would love it but I didn’t. I felt Shiloh was annoying at times and hard work. I liked Cary but didn’t find out enough about him.

I would have liked more time with each character individually to fully get to know them.

However I did really enjoy the dialogue Rowell has written here, it felt very real and authentic.

I found the jump in timelines in no particular order felt a bit hard for me to keep up with at times and kept me disconnected from the characters.

I also didn’t like how much this book had miscommunication. It’s one thing that annoys me in romances.

Overall the story was sweet and I would recommend you give it a go, Rowell’s writing is very good, just maybe not my style of romance. Thanks to netgalley and publisher for this arc.

Love with pitfalls. This is a lovely book from start to finish. It charts the on-off romance of Cary and Shiloh over many years from schooldays onwards. They’re well-fleshed, believable people and you really root for them. There are lots of poignant moments and a hilarious scene with too many people packed into a car, singing ‘The Bear Necessities’ at the top of their voices! Enjoy!

Rainbow Rowell’s "Slow Dance" is a masterclass in character development and lyrical storytelling. From the first page, readers are drawn into a world where the lines between reality and emotion blur, creating a rich tapestry of human experience that is both intimate and universal.

The characters in "Slow Dance" are meticulously crafted, each one imbued with a depth and authenticity that is rarely seen in contemporary fiction. Rowell’s ability to delve into the intricacies of her characters' inner lives is nothing short of extraordinary. Each protagonist is a vivid, multi-dimensional being, whose hopes, fears, and dreams resonate profoundly. Whether it's the aching vulnerability of a love unspoken or the quiet strength found in unexpected friendships, Rowell captures the essence of what it means to be human with unparalleled skill.

The writing in "Slow Dance" is equally commendable. Rowell’s prose is elegant and evocative, painting scenes with a poet’s touch while maintaining a narrative flow that is both compelling and accessible. Her dialogue is sharp and realistic, often infused with a wit and warmth that brings her characters to life. The descriptive passages are lush and immersive, allowing readers to fully inhabit the world she has created. There is a musicality to her writing that mirrors the novel's title, inviting readers to sway gently with the rhythm of the story.

One of the standout aspects of Rowell’s writing is her ability to balance light and dark, joy and sorrow, in a way that feels natural and true. "Slow Dance" is filled with moments of poignant beauty and quiet reflection, but it also bursts with humour and hope. This delicate equilibrium makes for an emotionally rich reading experience that lingers long after the final page is turned.

In "Slow Dance," Rainbow Rowell has crafted a novel that is not only a testament to her literary prowess but also a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection. It is a book that invites readers to slow down, to savour each word and emotion, and to dance through the pages with a full heart. An absolute triumph.

I have only ever read one book by Rainbow Rowell, but I’m going to be exploring the Back catalogue In due course, because this was a wonderful book.

It is a friend to lovers ‘will they or won’t they’ Love story Told in the present time and in flashbacks to past events which obviously impact the current day.

It’s really lovely, definitely worth a read, and I’m recommending it to all my friends.


Thanks to #NetGalley For the opportunity to have read this book ahead of publication and exchange for an honest review.

Shiloh and Carry have known each other their whole lives, going through school together, when Carry joins the Navy Shiloh misses him like she wouldn’t believe and when he comes to visit the relationship is totally blown up, 15 years later they meet again.
A really lovely story going backwards and forwards the story unfolds beautifully

Oh my heart Rainbow Rowell - Shiloh and Cary have stolen it!

Perfect for those who enjoy:
- Short sharp chapters
- Different timeframe storylines
- Best friends with unfinished business stories
- Books that tug at your heart strings

With thanks to Penguin Random House, Michael Joseph and Netgalley for an ARC copy in return for an honest review.