Two high school friends Shiloh and Cary are inseparable. They live in the same neighbourhood in Omaha. Both come from broken families and find solace in each other’s company. They have secret crushes on one another but they never express it and hit it off romantically. After school and senior prom, they both get busy with their separate lives and lose touch completely. They meet 14 years later at a common friend, Mikey’s wedding in their hometown. The only difference now is that Shiloh is now 33, divorced with two children. Her irrational self-centred ex-husband comes to visit their kids on Fridays. She is more inclined toward art and now works at the Children’s Theatre. While Cary is a strapping officer serving in the Navy.
Bestselling author Rainbow Rowell’s latest romcom, Slow Dance starts on a fast-paced note from the very first page. Both Shiloh and Cary come across as ordinary people with their insecurities and vulnerabilities. This makes Rainbow’s characters relatable. Shiloh was tall and lanky compared to the other girls in school. Cary had bony hands and swollen knuckles. He was pale and had many moles on his face. He was always tall and strong. Fastforward 14 years, Cary is now a mature adult man. He looked more muscular, sharp, and attractive. There are many laugh-out-loud moments and drama in this modern love story. But Shiloh and Cary are very old school when it comes to morals and matters of the heart. Throughout the book, the readers keep wondering whether these two best buddies rekindle their love again.
Rainbow’s dialogues are racy, but there are times when you feel the scenes are dragged unnecessarily. Despite this, the author seamlessly weaves in the values of friendship, work-life pressure, unrequited love, family drama, and second chances in love and life in this senior-prom turned mature love story. Shiloh and Cary have their flaws, but that is what makes them so relatable and adorable. There are saucy and sassy bits in this poignant mature adult love story which makes you believe in second chances, happily-ever-afters, and the magic of a slow dance!
