A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments comes Slow Dance—a novel about a love so true it refuses to be forgotten.
"Sexy, sweet, wise, and nostalgic – Jane Austen's Persuasion for our times." — Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
"A will-they, won't-they second chance romance for the ages, this one is poised to be one of summer's breakout hits." —PEOPLE
"Deeply human, profoundly romantic. Rowell will break your heart and you'll thank her for it." — Leigh Bardugo
"I loved every page of Slow Dance, a book that is romantic to its core, and as funny and smart as its wonderful characters." — Emma Straub
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 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.
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It's the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK
AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Eleanor & Park and Attachments comes Slow Dance—a novel about a love so true it refuses to be forgotten.
"Sexy, sweet, wise, and nostalgic – Jane Austen's Persuasion for our times." — Gabrielle Zevin, New York Times bestselling author of Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
"A will-they, won't-they second chance romance for the ages, this one is poised to be one of summer's breakout hits." —PEOPLE
"Deeply human, profoundly romantic. Rowell will break your heart and you'll thank her for it." — Leigh Bardugo
"I loved every page of Slow Dance, a book that is romantic to its core, and as funny and smart as its wonderful characters." — Emma Straub
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 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.
Slow Dance is the story of two kids who fell in love before they knew enough about love to recognize it. Two friends who lost everything. Two adults who just feel lost.
It's the story of Shiloh and Cary, who everyone thought would end up together, trying to find their way back to the start.
Reviews-
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April 1, 2024
Bestselling YA author Rowell (Eleanor & Park) serves up a powerful and poignant tale of first love for adult romance readers. Growing up in underprivileged north Omaha, Neb., best friends Shiloh, Cary, and Mikey relied on each other—but Shiloh and Cary always had something more than friendship simmering between them. Shiloh asks Cary to be her first sexual experience shortly before he leaves for the Navy. Mike, too, leaves town, heading for New York City, where he becomes a sought-after artist. Only Shiloh is left behind. Fourteen years later, she’s still stuck in town, divorced, with two young children, and living with her mother. After Mikey moves back to Omaha and invites both her and Cary to his wedding, the old friends have a chance to start over—but will they take it? Rowell’s skillful plotting makes the path to the answer deeply affecting, illustrating how regret holds back her imperfect but appealing characters. Though readers may be irked by some of the obstacles Shiloh and Cary toss into their own paths, it’s still easy to root for these two to get a happy ending. Rich, real, and emotionally raw, this satisfying contemporary is sure to impress. Agent: Christopher Schelling, Selectric Artists. -
Listeners will savor this story of high school soulmates reuniting under less-than-ideal circumstances. Narrator Rebecca Lowman has a subtly elegant voice that allows the story to shine. Shiloh and Cary were best friends in high school who were secretly in love, but self-doubt and immaturity kept them apart. Eventually, they lost touch. Now 33 and divorced with two kids, Shiloh desperately hopes to see Cary at a mutual friend's wedding. Cary prays Shiloh attends the wedding. Telling the story from alternating perspectives, Lowman aptly portrays different characters with subtle vocal changes. Cary and Shiloh have relatable real-world obstacles to overcome. Lowman captures complicated emotions in her performance with her pacing and tone. A.M. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine
