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.

I loved Eleanor and Park by Rainbow Rowell, so when I saw this book I got very excited.

We follow Shiloh and Cary in two time periods: modern day as Shiloh navigates life as a divorcée with two kids and Cary is a naval officer, and "before", their friendship as children all the way to late teens. Where Eleanor and Park showed the simplicity of young love, Slow Dance highlights the realities of middle aged love as Shiloh and Cary find their way to a second chance romance.

Rainbow Rowell has a gift for writing characters and situations that feel inherently real, and this is very much the case here. The plot is made up of all the tiny moments of life that may seem insignificant but build up to a whole. It's very much a slow burn, but you instantly root for the characters.

A recommended read for fans of Eleanor and Park, Jane Austen's Persuasion, and second chance romance.

Thank you to Netgalley and Michael Joseph for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If, like me, you enjoy a slow, exquisitely lingering burn, then I recommend this one. It’s been a while since I’ve read one of Rowell’s books and reading this I found myself constantly wondering why. Her writing is so good and smooth, you feel completely safe in her hands. Her characters are believable and relatable, as is the world they inhabit. She shows environments that aren’t shiny and have harsh edges, but without vilifying them. The characters feel real and Rowell had me rooting for them from the off.

A will they wont they where you actually can believe that they wont!
Shiloh is a refreshing different female lead for this type of novel- not the head turningly beautiful but quirky girl who has the boys circling her- she is of course both those things but so much more as well.
The complexity of the characters and the relationships make this a fresh take on the genre and readable in one sitting!

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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.

Shiloh is a tricky one. I could understand her and her motives at times but for the majority of the book, I just felt this massive misconnect. She left incredibly whiny and immature which was incredibly frustrating because I could sense that this was not the intention at all - but that is how she ended up. Adult life is tough but it almost felt like she was waiting for a fairytale to begin and sweep her away. Shiloh really wasn’t my cup of tea.
Cary felt so unreadable and all over the place that I couldn’t relate to him. Sure he’s gone through struggles but he appears to be so emotionally constipated that it is extremely hard to work out what he want. Even when he explicably tells you what he would like and how he’s made it obvious, I just could not see it in the slightest. A male live interest is meant to make you swoon and giggle and enjoy his time on the page. Cary didn’t do that for me.

Being a lover of Rowell’s YA novels, when I saw the opportunity arise to read this newest book, I jumped at it. However, it just did not appeal to me like I hoped it would and it was such a shame for me! The plot was okay but generally felt rather dull. There weren’t any high stakes to add tension or truly hold my attention and whilst I liked the fact we got present and past moments, it just felt like we were going around and around in circles. The characters were not too bad but I felt like we didn’t get to know them very deeply. It was almost like secrets were kept from the reader despite our main characters being such a massive focus - and withholding that information didn’t make a positive difference to the story as a whole. The romance didn’t draw me in. It felt stilted and unnatural - which may have been intended? However, if this was the case, it didn’t work in my eyes. Even the ending just didn’t feel right. It didn’t feel like this wonderful wrap up like I’d hoped it would. It kind of happened and then just stopped. I just was not a fan of this one and it truly is a shame.

Overall, Slow Dance is a book I had high hopes for but very sadly missed the mark for me.

⭐️⭐️/5

Thank you again to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for an advanced copy of this book. Review will be live on my blog on 23rd August and is immediately available on Goodreads.

I was asked by NetGalley to review this book

This is a beautiful book about two good friends who fell in love ( really before they understood just what love is) this story goes from the past and present and the author keeps the storyline going well.

Will they or won't they - well readers you need to read this book to find out

Due to be published 8th August 24 so will be a good read for long summer holidays.

I enjoyed this book. It was a cute, quick read with well written, likable characters. I really enjoyed the dual timeline, it really gave a lot of back story to the characters and let you get to know them all slowly.

The relationship and miscommunication between the two main characters was so so frustrating (in a good way!) I wanted to scream at them both to just be honest with each other! On the whole this made them both more relatable, in real life often people don’t communicate correctly and it was refreshing to read something that depicted this so well.

This is only my second book by this author (the other being Eleanor and Park) and I’ll definitely be looking into reading some more now.

I have loved Rainbow Rowell since I began reading her novels as a teenager and as I’ve grown I look back at her young adult novels with a fondness and happy memories. Her adult novels have joined me in my adult years, Landlines being one of my favourite books of all time. And yet again she has met in my life when I have need of her. Slow Dance is another immaculate novel from Rowell, she truly is a master of romance that ultimately feels real and raw. In a will-they, won’t they romance, Shiloh and Cary’s story kept me enthralled to the very end. I will be pressing this book in as many hands as possible. All of the stars!

Struggles to get into this book and couldn’t relate to the characters due to these issues I didn’t finish reading it.