Author: Rainbow Rowell

Genre: Contemporary Romance/Coming-of-Age

Publication Date: July 23, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐ (2/5)

Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell examines the long-term, meandering, relationship between Shiloh and one of her high school besties, Cary. The third member of their trio, Mikey, is a supporting character in a story that revolves around whether or not Shiloh and Cary can ever figure out their relationship, and whether it is romantic or platonic.

I loved Eleanor & Park, and I think I went into this book expecting to fall in love with the main characters like I did in that story. Unfortunately, that was not the case this time around. I found Shiloh impossible to like; I could not find anything about her character that redeemed her more annoying, childish qualities and behaviors. Cary was more likable than Shiloh was, but not by much, especially towards the end. The one character I enjoyed was Junie, Shiloh’s six-year-old daughter. In an adult romance novel, a child should not be the best part of the story.

I was so distracted by Shiloh’s quirks and insecurities that it was hard to get fully immersed in the story, and this continued to happen as the book moved along to its conclusion. Their backstories were sad, their adult lives were lonely, and the way they were unable to open up to each other time and time again was very frustrating. I still enjoy the author, and will give her future books a try for sure, but Slow Dance just wasn’t for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.