Slow Dance: A Reese's Book Club Pick

It’s always endearing to read an adult romance and characters like Cary and Shiloh, although take some time to grow on you, live with you way after the book is done. The last time I felt the same was after reading Sally Rooney’s Normal People and comparisons are imminent.Rainbow Rowell’s Slow Dance oscillates between two time periods as we see the bond between the teenage protagonists evolve through the years- as the individuals rekindle their love 14 years later upon a chance encounter at their best friend’s wedding. In a way, the slow dance is a symbolic second chance romance both of them embark upon. Their lives are messed up- Cary with a dysfunctional family trying to put his mother through assisted living while Shiloh is now a divorcee with two kids and going through the rigors of co-parenting with an ex who had cheated on her. Will the longing for each other triumph over stubbornness and missed opportunities of teenage years form the crux of the tale.“When I think about the last 14 years and everything I’ve missed in your life, I feel like I squandered something precious. Like I was given something rare and valuable— a true blessing, an unearned gift”The banter during the school days, the email exchanges between the two (it made me nostalgic) and the beautifully etched-out supporting cast of characters (Mikey, the kids or Shiloh’s mother) are major highlights for me. Although Cary comes across as the mature of the two, it’s Shiloh as the introvert and complexities that stood out for me.Make no mistake- this is not everyone’s cup of tea- the dialogue between the two is the essence of the book and quite honestly, the miscommunication between the two as teenagers and the subsequent separation might feel repetitive and a tad slow but just hang on and the book does reward you. The title Slow Dance is apt as this is a good, old-fashioned slow-burn romance- it’s a ballad- take your time and enjoy the ride.“I think that when two people are slow-dancing to ‘Hey Ya!,’ everyone leaves them alone”

This book intrigued me because I recognized the author as a journalist from years ago. It was a great book that broke my dry spell. I could easily see this book being a movie.

I went into this book wanting to love it, but I struggled to do so with some parts. Shiloh and Cary are best friends who love each other but don't know the other feels the same. Standard story with a predictable ending. That's what I signed up for, and that's not the disappointing part.Shiloh was a bit insufferable. Cary holds a grudge when others are not able to read his mind. Even at 33 years old, they still act like children at times when their feelings are involved. In other areas, they behave as responsible adults taking care of their obligations.I liked the before-and-after timeline, but it didn't follow a chronological order, which could be a bit confusing at times.Chapters 67-69 were poorly written in comparison to the rest of the novel and didn't match the style.Overall, I'm glad I read it and enjoyed many parts of it, but the novel didn't give me the same joy as "Eleanor & Park."

Cary and Shilo's high School story... You remember as you read when you felt that way. When you were head over heels for someone who was probably completely in love with you, but you assumed they weren't and never said anything. Rainbow Rowell books always do that... Remind you how it was to feel the way the characters in the books feel.

I’m not sure how I feel, but it’s a great feeling! It’s that feeling of finishing a good book. Time well spent getting to know these characters! They won’t make me rich, or improve my health, but I was transported out of this crazy reality and into the lives of these characters that were rooting for! I love reading! I know it doesn’t say much about the story, but Rainbow Rowell, your stories take me places!

I can’t even tell you why exactly, I adored this book so much! I cried when it was over. These characters were so brilliant.

I really liked the book. Liked the back stories spread throughout the book to help understand the relationships.Easy read!

This is the second time I read this book in 6 months and I loved it even more the second time around. You can’t help but fall in love with the characters, they are so beautifully developed. I have read all of Rainbow Rowell’s adult novels (this was my first), and I wish there were a dozen more. They are all so well written, I can put them down.

The dynamic between Shiloh and Carey at times was so painful! Shiloh would second guess herself in the worse way. She had little confidence or faith in love. It was obvious she loved Carey since high school. When he made a move she was over analyzing the situation. She just couldn’t live in the moment. The one that she seemed to let take control of her for some odd reason was her ex-husband. Carey was faced with breaking down all of Shiloh walls just to have to debate the reasons behind it. Mikey knew both of them loved each other. He said it himself you two are alike in a lot of ways. The ending was good but, felt unfinished. I spent the whole book wanting them to get it together when they finally did it ended! I wanted a two or five years later update. Felt like some parts (when both of them were intimate) especially with Shiloh was like pulling teeth! (Spoiler Alerts!!!)

Not the best from Rainbow Rowell, but a nice story nevertheless. The characters are likable. The situations are real enough to make sense to the readers. It was good, not great.

Cute story, but very predictable. Had to force myself to finish it. Not a lot of depth, but some people may enjoy this type of book, just not me.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this book, but decided to take a chance anyway. Boy am I so glad I did!! It's not that it had lots of action or heat, it was genuinely one of the better books I have read in a long time. I think Cary and Shy are going to stick with me for quite some time. We all have that one friend/love from high school and I think all wonder "what if" at some point in our lives. This author did such a spectacular job with this story, just can't get over it!

I enjoyed Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell because the main character, Shyla, was unlike female characters in other stories. She has trouble looking people in the eye and accepting good things for herself. In this novel Shyla learns how to receive love and care. More than a romantic love story it is a story of love among friends and complicated love of family.

It pulled you in hoping that two high school friends finally find love together. Will the baggage they “Cary” keep them apart?

It was slow to start, and it wasn’t my favorite RR book, but it was worth the read for sure!

Slow Dance by Rainbow RowellVery good. Fascinating inside look into the character of FMC Shiloh (Aspie?). She and MMC Cary and Mikey had been bff's (all three even went to prom together) until they were separated by college and the Navy for Cary.Cary was pretty clearly enamored of Shiloh but she didn't recognize the signs, didn't believe she could sustain a relationship, and wouldn't hold him back. He believed she loved him but recognized that she wasn't ready. 14 yrs later they reunite at Cary's wedding. Both of them have lived full lives while still being in love with the other. The story begins at this point with multiple flashbacks. Their efforts at trying to get to know each other again is touching and poignant.Side note:I believe that if the readers who'd given negative reviews had understood that Shiloh was neurodivergent they would have had a whole lot better reading experience, in my humble neurodivergent opinion.

As the Amazon description says, it’s definitely lost love and second chance romance. The main characters are not Woman 01 and Man 01 - they do have quirks and flaws, and they benefit from the maturity of time and wisdom to start talking about their assumptions of each other as they grew up. Both characters are old enough to where life has happened with their families - aged parents, needy relations, ex-spouse issues, parenting, and more; finding a way to each other with all the external factors is the best part of the book since it’s so much easier to share and carry each others burdens in the difficult times. Good read for me, yet missing that spark for the instant 5th star.

Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school and did everything together. Often, they would include Mike. The three of them even went to prom together. They hadn’t seen each other in 14 years until they saw each other at Mike’s wedding. Shiloh is divorced with 2 kids and Cary is single. What will it be like when they reunite? Will it be like they never left?I love how this author highlighted the ups and downs of relationships from the parent/child to friendships, to sexuality, to marriage, to divorce, and remarriage! A fun and entertaining book that will make you laugh out loud at times! I can see how it is a Reese Book Club pick and all the attention the book is getting! So well deserved! Perfect for book clubs as it will lead to many interesting discussions!

This story affirms that everyone deserves love and everyone is capable of giving and receiving love. It is a breath of fresh air that the characters aren't billionaires, or gorgeous, or rock stars, or movie stars, or the popular "kids". They are normal people making their way in the world with all their baggage, and they still get to love.

These two lovers are unusual for a modern love story in that they are not particularly attractive, and very old school in their morals. He is described as having small pouch eyes , lots of moles and a thin top lip. She was called “Sasquatch” in high school as she was taller, with broader shoulders and wider hips than most of the boys, and her bottom teeth were a wreck. And yet