Slow Dance Audiobook By Rainbow Rowell cover art

Slow Dance

A Novel

Preview

Get this deal Try for $0.00
Offer ends April 30, 2025 at 11:59PM PT.
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 3 months. Cancel anytime.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Slow Dance

By: Rainbow Rowell
Narrated by: Rebecca Lowman
Get this deal Try for $0.00

$14.95/mo. after 3 months. Offer ends April 30, 2025 11:59PM PT. Cancel anytime.

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $25.19

Buy for $25.19

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

A REESE’S BOOK CLUB PICK

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell comes Slow Dance – her smartest, funniest, most romantic novel yet.

“If you, like me, think thirty-somethings methodically working through their issues is very hot, Slow Dance is the book for you. The people in it feel like people you know or maybe even people you’ve been. Slow Dance is 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

Back in high school, everybody thought Shiloh and Cary would end up together . . . everybody but Shiloh and Cary.

They were just friends. Best friends. They spent entire summers sitting on Shiloh’s porch steps, dreaming about the future. They promised each other that, no matter what, 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 thereand 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.

©2024 Rainbow Rowell (P)2024 HarperCollins Publishers
Coming of Age Contemporary Genre Fiction Heartfelt Funny Feel-Good Divorce

Critic reviews

A REESE'S BOOK CLUB PICK

“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

“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

“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

What listeners say about Slow Dance

Highly rated for:

Beautiful Love Story Realistic Character Portrayal Engaging Friendship Dynamics Heartwarming Emotional Depth
Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    372
  • 4 Stars
    149
  • 3 Stars
    90
  • 2 Stars
    44
  • 1 Stars
    31
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    446
  • 4 Stars
    121
  • 3 Stars
    53
  • 2 Stars
    16
  • 1 Stars
    18
Story
  • 4 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    354
  • 4 Stars
    144
  • 3 Stars
    87
  • 2 Stars
    33
  • 1 Stars
    35

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Well-written but didn't get the full effect

3.5 stars. This second-chance romance is well-written, with a believable plot, dialogue which feels genuine and refreshingly regular, flawed, non-glamorous people at its center. The story alternates between the past and the present, starting off with the reunion of friends for a wedding and gradually filling in the backstories with narratives and scenes which shed light on their characters and relationship. There is definitely a quirky element to the friendship between Cary, Mikey and Shiloh, and I could believe how Cary and Shiloh didn't hold on to their friendship the same way after high school or allow romance to blossom because life got in the way and they made decisions based on their perceptions and insecurities. Romance novel fans will find much to enjoy that is not within the typical romance formula. However, I found myself emotionally detached from the characters and their situation. I wanted to finish reading to see how they would resolve their situation, but I did not feel connected to them. The novel dragged on too much for my taste and I often felt impatient with the characters.
About the audiobook: Rebecca Lowman does a very good job narrating, bringing the characters to life and moving the plot along with good energy.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

10/10!!!

Ugggh this was just so wonderful!!! Had me beaming!!! 🥰🥰🥰 Such a feel gewwwd!

This was my first Rainbow Rowell novel. I’ve seen her books around for the last year or so and as usual, the cover to this one really grabbed me so I decided to read! I loved every page of this! You are invested into the dynamic of Shiloh and Cary from the get-go! What I probably love the most is that like most books like this, it is NOT predictable! It was surprising at every turn, and whatever I thought I was going to happen happened another way - often better than what I had in mind! In fact, I thought this book was going to be way different than what I figured. Honestly, most juvenile. One of those cases where the cover is better than the actual book. I was geared up for a possible let down or meh, 3 out 5 stars. BUT… NO 😃

Its humor in the dialogue really carries you through the story too. It keeps you engaged and totally gushing!! You root for these characters and also care about the sub charters too! They aren’t forgettable which is such a refreshment! Each role plays a very important part in these people’s lives. Rowell is a fabulous writer and now I just want to read everything she’s written!

10/10!!!

Ps. The sex scene is 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥!!!

Narrator was fantastic! Enjoyed her narration here than when she narrated "Rules of Civility" by Amor Towles! In "Slow Dance" her voice for the character Lois sounded so much like Sadness from Disney Pixar's "Inside Out" which was really cute and fun to hear! Anyone else pick up on that?

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Unexpected gem

This was a great story about relationships. It’s not overly exciting but the character development is great. You really feel for what the main characters are going through. It’s not your typical romance but it’s much more realistic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Great book. Great narration

Such a sweet story of deep, unwavering love. This book is beautifully narrated. It doesn’t matter how amazing a book is, if the narrators voice is hard to listen to, but it’s always a no go.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Real life love story

I love Rainbow Rowell!! Ever since Eleanor and Park, but the ending of this book was just so perfect. The story itself wasn’t like other novels. It’s real people and real life but still with the feels of a great love story. And of course Rebecca Lowman always delivers. I saw this was being narrated by my favorite Rebecca Lowman and didn’t even have to read the description before I clicked purchase. She always delivers a great story with that wonderful voice of hers.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Frustrating but good

Shilo and Carey were so frustrating and stubborn. Can someone please explain to me why in all the time that Carey was away at deployment Shilo never once offered to help or go see Carey’s mom? I mean they lived only blocks away! Not to mention when she was recovering from her hip surgery!!! This left me with too many unanswered questions.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Really cute!

I find it so lovely that people can have second chances when they miss the first one, love is never perfect but it can be so beautiful even tho.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

The most realistic, relatable book ever. 5 stars are not enough!

This book was so honest. From teen angst to adult issues. It was realistic. A journey of growth even for the shall I say damaged or children who did not have the best start… This book kept my throat wobbling…tears in my eyes but in a good way.. It took two days because of work. But I could have done it in one because it was so hard to put down. Not a book you want to miss a word of. Not a word.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Fun and Nostalgic

This was a fun and nostalgic book. I loved that it was about the military and the early 90's.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

It was fine

This book was fine, but I honestly don’t see what all the fuss is about. It’s more of a character study than anything, and somewhat anti-climactic.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful