I admire Rainbow Rowell's ability to write in several genres, but I only read her adult novels so it's been years since I read something by her. Slow Dance is set in Omaha, the city where Ms. Rowell and I live, so I highly anticipated reading it. Rebecca Lowman did a fine job of narrating the audiobook.
While in high school, Shiloh, Cary, and Mikey were close platonic friends. Shiloh and Cary were inseparable and many assumed their relationship was more than friendship. They made big plans for their futures and vowed to keep in touch, but as often happens, plans change and relationships fade. Fourteen years after high school graduation, Shiloh and Cary both attend Mikey's wedding. Shiloh's divorced and has two young children. Cary lives around the world as a Naval officer. Can they renew their friendship? Could it become more?
Told in dual timeline, the past (high school and post-high school years) segments are shared in non-chronological order which was sometimes a bit confusing. I wouldn't have enjoyed a book with only the 'past' segments, but they were interesting to provide more context to the characters in 'current' time.
The story felt deeply rooted in its time and place, especially since I loved the Omaha references throughout. I related to Cary's challenges with his mom and family members and also enjoyed the antics of Shiloh's son and daughter. Shiloh isn't the most likeable character, and there's so much angst between her and Cary, but I wished good things for both of them by the novel's end.
Thank you to William Morrow and HarperAudio for the review copies of this novel which could provide many topics for book clubs to discuss.
While in high school, Shiloh, Cary, and Mikey were close platonic friends. Shiloh and Cary were inseparable and many assumed their relationship was more than friendship. They made big plans for their futures and vowed to keep in touch, but as often happens, plans change and relationships fade. Fourteen years after high school graduation, Shiloh and Cary both attend Mikey's wedding. Shiloh's divorced and has two young children. Cary lives around the world as a Naval officer. Can they renew their friendship? Could it become more?
Told in dual timeline, the past (high school and post-high school years) segments are shared in non-chronological order which was sometimes a bit confusing. I wouldn't have enjoyed a book with only the 'past' segments, but they were interesting to provide more context to the characters in 'current' time.
The story felt deeply rooted in its time and place, especially since I loved the Omaha references throughout. I related to Cary's challenges with his mom and family members and also enjoyed the antics of Shiloh's son and daughter. Shiloh isn't the most likeable character, and there's so much angst between her and Cary, but I wished good things for both of them by the novel's end.
Thank you to William Morrow and HarperAudio for the review copies of this novel which could provide many topics for book clubs to discuss.
