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me_alley's review
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? N/A
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
1.0
Slow dance was "slow" all right.
Look, I LOVED Eleanor and Park, LOVED Landline, so I jumped at the chance to read the newest Rainbow Rowell--- and it is even my VERY favorite type of story-- friends turning to lovers. But this one fell flat for me. It was extremely boring, I cannot care less than I do about the characters.
Shiloh and Cary were besties in high school, they are 33, connected at a mutual friends' second wedding. It takes place in Omaha- Shiloh is a divorced mom of two and Cary is retired Navy.
Felt myself skimming a lot. This was a bit of a disappointment.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC.
Look, I LOVED Eleanor and Park, LOVED Landline, so I jumped at the chance to read the newest Rainbow Rowell--- and it is even my VERY favorite type of story-- friends turning to lovers. But this one fell flat for me. It was extremely boring, I cannot care less than I do about the characters.
Shiloh and Cary were besties in high school, they are 33, connected at a mutual friends' second wedding. It takes place in Omaha- Shiloh is a divorced mom of two and Cary is retired Navy.
Felt myself skimming a lot. This was a bit of a disappointment.
Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow Books for the ARC.
keepingyouonread's review against another edition
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Thank you William Morrow for the gifted copy. Slow Dance is out July 23.
This is my first Rainbow Rowell book but Eleanor and Park has been on my tbr for years. Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school, they meet up again years later at a mutual friend’s wedding. The timeline jumps between the present day and before (various points of their relationship).
What I liked: The chapters are short so for someone who likes to end at the end of a chapter, this was easy to do.
I think some people will fall for the characters that aren’t perfect and feel real. There is an element of them struggling out of their past lives that I liked. Cary is much more successful than the rest of his family and feels a lot of pressure to help them.
What didn’t work for me: I’m sorry but I couldn’t stand Shiloh. She’s odd, not very nice, not very social, not a great friend…For most of the book, I wondered why Cary and Mickey were so invested in the friendship. Cary felt underdeveloped to me - he’s a nice guy, in the Navy and comes from a dysfunctional family - I just never felt super connected to him either.
They spend years apart because they (especially Cary) aren’t clear about their feelings and what they want. It was frustrating. Then their actual relationship felt so rushed.
Who should read it: you like characters that are flawed, friends to lovers romance and miscommunication.
mirrormir's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
First, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
Listen, I gave this book the benefit of a doubt for a long time but ultimately, it’s 2.5 stars at best. Shiloh and Carey are reallllllly annoying characters for most of this book. And I just couldn’t get behind the Navy of it all, not to mention the political parties.
Maybe if you’re from Omaha, Nebraska or anywhere like that you’ll appreciate this more for the nostalgic factor, which although I can’t relate to personally I can at least appreciate, but it just doesn’t really make up for the fact that the romance was kind of infuriating.
I think the best part of this story are the moments with Shiloh’s kids and how she grows into a more mellow, and decent human being (I can’t stress enough how annoying she was!). The side characters shine through: from the kids, to Carey’s mom, to his siblings, they felt like very cute and interesting additions to the story. As for Carey, even though I think he means well, I found something about him really chilling. There was a slightly unsettling rigidity to his character that I just didn’t love.
And I just hate military stories, personally, so his military arc is just not my jam.
I wish I could say different but this is perhaps my least favorite RR novel thus far!
Listen, I gave this book the benefit of a doubt for a long time but ultimately, it’s 2.5 stars at best. Shiloh and Carey are reallllllly annoying characters for most of this book. And I just couldn’t get behind the Navy of it all, not to mention the political parties.
Maybe if you’re from Omaha, Nebraska or anywhere like that you’ll appreciate this more for the nostalgic factor, which although I can’t relate to personally I can at least appreciate, but it just doesn’t really make up for the fact that the romance was kind of infuriating.
I think the best part of this story are the moments with Shiloh’s kids and how she grows into a more mellow, and decent human being (I can’t stress enough how annoying she was!). The side characters shine through: from the kids, to Carey’s mom, to his siblings, they felt like very cute and interesting additions to the story. As for Carey, even though I think he means well, I found something about him really chilling. There was a slightly unsettling rigidity to his character that I just didn’t love.
And I just hate military stories, personally, so his military arc is just not my jam.
I wish I could say different but this is perhaps my least favorite RR novel thus far!
samanthaxe's review against another edition
2.75
I love all things Rainbow Rowell so I’m sad to say I didn’t connect with this book. I really struggled with Shiloh and Cary because I didn’t find either of them very likable. I also couldn’t be certain they were actually good for each other—the partial/miscommunications continued to the very end which just didn’t feel healthy. That said, Rowell shines where she always does—the dialogue, the strong side characters, the Nebraska setting.
pawsomereads2's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
heidikundin's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 stars, rounded up
I enjoyed the first half of Slow Dance, but by the second half, the ultra-slow pacing started to drag for me. I found myself getting a bit annoyed with the characters, and I felt like I lost some of the connection that I had been building with them.
I really liked a bunch of things about this book—the emotions felt authentic and deep, Mikey's third-wheel character was fun and well-developed, and the throwback to past decades was a nice nostalgic touch. But halfway through, things started to feel repetitive, and we continued to go over the same old stuff and cover the same ground again and again. Unfortunately, this made me less invested in whether Shiloh and Cary's relationship would survive and progress to the next level. When we got to the final resolution, things suddenly picked up speed quite quickly, making the conclusion feel a little rushed in comparison to the rest of the story.
I mostly enjoyed this book, but I think it would have hit the mark better for me if it was a bit shorter, maybe two-thirds of its current length.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed the first half of Slow Dance, but by the second half, the ultra-slow pacing started to drag for me. I found myself getting a bit annoyed with the characters, and I felt like I lost some of the connection that I had been building with them.
I really liked a bunch of things about this book—the emotions felt authentic and deep, Mikey's third-wheel character was fun and well-developed, and the throwback to past decades was a nice nostalgic touch. But halfway through, things started to feel repetitive, and we continued to go over the same old stuff and cover the same ground again and again. Unfortunately, this made me less invested in whether Shiloh and Cary's relationship would survive and progress to the next level. When we got to the final resolution, things suddenly picked up speed quite quickly, making the conclusion feel a little rushed in comparison to the rest of the story.
I mostly enjoyed this book, but I think it would have hit the mark better for me if it was a bit shorter, maybe two-thirds of its current length.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
hideyourspoons's review
5.0
Rainbow Rowell truly writes the most intimate and intricate stories without hiding or polishing up the sides of life you'd rather not look at.
SLOW DANCE offers a "Then and Now" look into the lives of Shiloh and Cary and asks us to believe in a love that lasts a lifetime. How can love survive 14 years apart never knowing the true extent of each other's feelings, and often times not having the courage to admit their own?
Rowell proceeds to weave a safety net of flashback "before" chapters and reconciliation "now" chapters so Shiloh and Cary can fall with confidence.
We see how good they've been together in the "before" chapters. Shiloh and Cary have similar childhoods - poor, unstable families. Each have dreams getting out of their small town life for of bigger opportunities. High school and their friendship allows them happiness (and opportunity for shenanigans) they create for themselves. The trauma and joy they experience then directly informs how they process the world in the years they are apart.
We see how good their potential is in the "now" chapters. Present day Shiloh and Cary could have fallen into a nostalgia trap and never truly seen each other for who they've grown into. But there is so much work done on page to understand what real life is for the other. They never balk at showing up for the other as a true friend would. Shiloh always had a meal ready for Cary. Cary gets Shiloh moving and out of her routine. And they listen to each other just as much as they talk and talk and talk.
Rowell truly understands dialogue. The banter and sass between friends immediately sets the tone to their personalities and relationship. Even if its miscommunication, its written so well. Yes, you want to give the book a shake, but make no mistake, this is masterclass use of one of the most despised story devices.
SLOW DANCE will stay with me long after I've closed the book, and is definitely a story I will return to reread. I feel there are clues and small details that will have new meaning with every experience. And as often as I've written "Shiloh and Cary" together, as if they are inseparable (and for truth, even an ocean can't separate their love), they each are beloved characters. I'll hold their happiness in my heart always.
Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow / HarperCollins for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
SLOW DANCE offers a "Then and Now" look into the lives of Shiloh and Cary and asks us to believe in a love that lasts a lifetime. How can love survive 14 years apart never knowing the true extent of each other's feelings, and often times not having the courage to admit their own?
Rowell proceeds to weave a safety net of flashback "before" chapters and reconciliation "now" chapters so Shiloh and Cary can fall with confidence.
We see how good they've been together in the "before" chapters. Shiloh and Cary have similar childhoods - poor, unstable families. Each have dreams getting out of their small town life for of bigger opportunities. High school and their friendship allows them happiness (and opportunity for shenanigans) they create for themselves. The trauma and joy they experience then directly informs how they process the world in the years they are apart.
We see how good their potential is in the "now" chapters. Present day Shiloh and Cary could have fallen into a nostalgia trap and never truly seen each other for who they've grown into. But there is so much work done on page to understand what real life is for the other. They never balk at showing up for the other as a true friend would. Shiloh always had a meal ready for Cary. Cary gets Shiloh moving and out of her routine. And they listen to each other just as much as they talk and talk and talk.
Rowell truly understands dialogue. The banter and sass between friends immediately sets the tone to their personalities and relationship. Even if its miscommunication, its written so well. Yes, you want to give the book a shake, but make no mistake, this is masterclass use of one of the most despised story devices.
SLOW DANCE will stay with me long after I've closed the book, and is definitely a story I will return to reread. I feel there are clues and small details that will have new meaning with every experience. And as often as I've written "Shiloh and Cary" together, as if they are inseparable (and for truth, even an ocean can't separate their love), they each are beloved characters. I'll hold their happiness in my heart always.
Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow / HarperCollins for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
emilybredberg's review against another edition
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
alltoowellread's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Some of my favorite lines were actually about parenthood. I knew even before I looked it up that Rainbow Rowell is a mother, because her characterization of motherhood was spot on. The actual love story was pretty swoon-worthy too. 😂
I’ve read Rainbow Rowell before but it was a long time ago. So I forgot that her writing style is a LOT of dialogue and not much non-dialogue. It took me a while to get used to.
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.
I’ve read Rainbow Rowell before but it was a long time ago. So I forgot that her writing style is a LOT of dialogue and not much non-dialogue. It took me a while to get used to.
Thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for this ARC.
blushinurcheeks's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0