LEWIS: Rainbow Rowell’s 'Slow Dance' is purely authentic

Art by Ariana Garber

“I love you. Backwards and forwards. Coming and going.” 

“Slow Dance” by Rainbow Rowell is exactly what its title claims: a slow dance through time, a story of love and life. Rowell, a University of Nebraska-Lincoln alumn and critically acclaimed author, provides a breath of reality with her new contemporary romance novel. 

The book follows Shiloh and Cary, childhood best friends from North Omaha, who have complicated and intertwined pasts. When a mutual friend’s wedding brings them together after years of no contact, the two have a second chance to rekindle what might have been there before. 

Shiloh is a single mother with two young children. She works at the children’s theater and lives in her childhood home with her mother, splitting her kids’ time with her ex-husband. Hesitantly, she tries to start dating again, but finds she simply doesn’t like most people.

Cary has committed himself dutifully to the Navy. He is often moving to different locations because of his military work. However, Cary is unable to escape Omaha entirely. His family needs his help financially and his best friend has recently moved back to start a family. 

Through intertwining timelines, readers uncover the lives of Shiloh and Cary gradually. There’s time jumps, with sections labeled “before,” and the present plot in 2006. Sometimes this juggling of asynchronous timelines gave me a little whiplash. I needed a second to figure out when these actions were supposed to be happening. 

Both Cary and Shiloh are human. Truly, they’re flawed and messy, cruel and sweet, but both entirely people I wanted to root for. They make choices I wanted to scream at them for. They broke my heart. They made me laugh. Rowell has mastered the art of writing the most lovable characters. Her prose is uniquely intimate. 

Yes, “Slow Dance” is a romance novel, but the story is about so much more than that. Rowell explores family dynamics and escaping circumstances. 

Shiloh struggles with the split custody of her children after her divorce. She worries about becoming like her mother, who was less-than present. Cary’s family relies on him, yet doesn’t return the favor. He must lean on Shiloh for help in certain situations. 

Additionally, Shiloh and Cary come to realize the importance of showing up for each other in ways that matter. They must toe the line of love and ask themselves, “Where do platonic feelings stop and romance begin? Is there a difference?” It’s a will-they-won’t-they stretched across distance and time. 

Since the book is set in Omaha, Nebraska residents may recognize locations Shiloh and Cary visit. Rowell herself is from Omaha, with Nebraska being an important part of other books of hers. “Eleanor & Park” and “Attachments” are set in Omaha and “Fangirl” is set almost entirely at UNL. Whether readers are from Nebraska or not, Rowell effortlessly stages the story of Shiloh and Cary. 

Overall, “Slow Dance” felt like a song of truth, a lungful of fresh authenticity. Unearthing the story of Shiloh and Cary was like coming to know a best friend.

Seeing the pair grow from highschool to college, through a divorce and to new beginnings was nostalgic and hopeful at the same time. Rowell is definitively at the top of her class. 

“Slow Dance” receives five shining stars from me. The characterization of Shiloh and Cary is the highlight of the book for me. Readers who enjoy a character-driven narrative and second-chance romance will find joy in Rowell’s return to adult books. 

Originally published for the Daily Nebraskan, read here.