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The Slowest Burn
Love could be a recipe for disaster, or the best thing they ever cooked up...
Kieran O'Neill should be on top of the world. He's just won a cooking reality TV show, he's on track to open his own restaurant before he turns thirty, and he's even got a high-paying cookbook deal. Still he can't impress his stuck-up family, his ADHD makes planning ahead impossible and, worst of all, his ghostwriter is the most uptight, humourless woman he's ever met. But to be seen as a serious chef like he's always wanted, he needs to finish this book...
Ellie Wasserman is barely holding it together. She's a thirty-year-old widow living with her needy in-laws, her little brother won't adult without her help, and instead of working on her own cookbook, she's ghostwriting one for the chaotic, impulsive Kieran O'Neill. Or would be, if he'd ever answer her emails. But to own her own home like she's always dreamed of, she needs to finish this book...
As their deadline gets closer and the heat between them builds, can these two driven, lonely people let go of their past hurts and make something truly sweet together? Or will their fragile new love go up in smoke?
The ultimate will-they-won't-they, enemies-to-lovers romance that readers everywhere are falling in love with! If you love THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION, WILDFIRE and Ali Hazelwood, you will love THE SLOWEST BURN . . .
Kieran O'Neill should be on top of the world. He's just won a cooking reality TV show, he's on track to open his own restaurant before he turns thirty, and he's even got a high-paying cookbook deal. Still he can't impress his stuck-up family, his ADHD makes planning ahead impossible and, worst of all, his ghostwriter is the most uptight, humourless woman he's ever met. But to be seen as a serious chef like he's always wanted, he needs to finish this book...
Ellie Wasserman is barely holding it together. She's a thirty-year-old widow living with her needy in-laws, her little brother won't adult without her help, and instead of working on her own cookbook, she's ghostwriting one for the chaotic, impulsive Kieran O'Neill. Or would be, if he'd ever answer her emails. But to own her own home like she's always dreamed of, she needs to finish this book...
As their deadline gets closer and the heat between them builds, can these two driven, lonely people let go of their past hurts and make something truly sweet together? Or will their fragile new love go up in smoke?
The ultimate will-they-won't-they, enemies-to-lovers romance that readers everywhere are falling in love with! If you love THE SPANISH LOVE DECEPTION, WILDFIRE and Ali Hazelwood, you will love THE SLOWEST BURN . . .
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 24, 2024
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September 20, 2024
3.45!
So this wasn't the slowest burn but a slow burn for sure.
I have so many mixed feelings regarding this book like at one side it was so enjoyable and easy to read but the other side had me rolling my eyes because the characters did not act the way people in their age gap would. I would say that fans of Tessa Bailey would enjoy this book quite a bit as the writing was very similar and easy to read as Tessa has and the spicy scenes were a mix of hot and cringe so take what you will from this. The book follows two point of views, Kieran and Ellie. These two were charming characters and I had a good time but I feel like I will forget them soon
Ellie and Kieran were both had me interested with the way things started and oh my god the second hand embarrassment when Kiernan asks Ellie to have sex randomly like?? it was out of place but truly though it was fun reading about them and they made a good dynamic, their chemistry was there and so was the banter, I just feel like seeing these two together was all I was waiting for and it did eventually happen (for a slow burn, I thought it would be very slow, but it was not. ) and after they got together things just sort of dulled?? this is the exact same problem I had with the fine print by Lauren Asher but this was more enjoyable. The plot was there and it elevated the book for me but I still wanted it to be more gripping. It failed to grasp the characters full potentials and added a useless third act breakup :(
It was overall an enjoyable read, many may like it and it is easy to get you out of a slump!
___
The slow burn better be slow
(the covers so pretty 😍)
*Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book*
So this wasn't the slowest burn but a slow burn for sure.
I have so many mixed feelings regarding this book like at one side it was so enjoyable and easy to read but the other side had me rolling my eyes because the characters did not act the way people in their age gap would. I would say that fans of Tessa Bailey would enjoy this book quite a bit as the writing was very similar and easy to read as Tessa has and the spicy scenes were a mix of hot and cringe so take what you will from this. The book follows two point of views, Kieran and Ellie. These two were charming characters and I had a good time but I feel like I will forget them soon
Ellie and Kieran were both had me interested with the way things started and oh my god the second hand embarrassment when Kiernan asks Ellie to have sex randomly like?? it was out of place but truly though it was fun reading about them and they made a good dynamic, their chemistry was there and so was the banter, I just feel like seeing these two together was all I was waiting for and it did eventually happen (for a slow burn, I thought it would be very slow, but it was not. ) and after they got together things just sort of dulled?? this is the exact same problem I had with the fine print by Lauren Asher but this was more enjoyable. The plot was there and it elevated the book for me but I still wanted it to be more gripping. It failed to grasp the characters full potentials and added a useless third act breakup :(
It was overall an enjoyable read, many may like it and it is easy to get you out of a slump!
___
The slow burn better be slow
(the covers so pretty 😍)
*Thank you to Netgalley for an arc of this book*
Want to read
August 15, 2024Watch me read this and then complain about the slow burn
July 21, 2024
I hated every second of it.
May 26, 2024
Great story plot with a definite slow burn build.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say, I was a tad concerned when this book started. The author wasn’t kidding when she said slow burn. It felt like half of the book they were at odds with each other, then drip by drip, they started warming up.
There was a lot going on with this book other than the budding heat in the kitchen. We are also faced with intense grieving, which in itself was a lot for Ellie to deal with on top of trying to move forward. The guilt is strong in this one!
We also face parental neglect, mean personalities, and a multitude of other tropes popping in a out. There was a lot to unpack here. Some of the secondary characters you love to hate!
Once the two main characters started working with each other instead of against each other, I really got involved with the story. These two have a fabulous connection which allowed for understanding and feeling to grow. The romance was sweet, not overly hot, and in the end, the two stood for and with each other.
Overall, The Slowest Burn offers a wonderful plot that slowly grows and develops into a lovely romance. I love the fabulous ideas and foods they are cooking up together. Too bad the cookbooks don’t really exist!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-slowest-...
~~~~~~~~~~~~
I have to say, I was a tad concerned when this book started. The author wasn’t kidding when she said slow burn. It felt like half of the book they were at odds with each other, then drip by drip, they started warming up.
There was a lot going on with this book other than the budding heat in the kitchen. We are also faced with intense grieving, which in itself was a lot for Ellie to deal with on top of trying to move forward. The guilt is strong in this one!
We also face parental neglect, mean personalities, and a multitude of other tropes popping in a out. There was a lot to unpack here. Some of the secondary characters you love to hate!
Once the two main characters started working with each other instead of against each other, I really got involved with the story. These two have a fabulous connection which allowed for understanding and feeling to grow. The romance was sweet, not overly hot, and in the end, the two stood for and with each other.
Overall, The Slowest Burn offers a wonderful plot that slowly grows and develops into a lovely romance. I love the fabulous ideas and foods they are cooking up together. Too bad the cookbooks don’t really exist!
~~~
* I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
* Full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-slowest-...
July 19, 2025
Ngl kinda a confusing slow burn
September 30, 2024
2/5
where do i even start with "the slowest burn"? how about with the title. this is not even a slow burn, let alone the slowest. this felt like the definition of throwing tropes together and see what sticks but it just did not jive. from grieving widow to trauma childhood to fake dating to coworkers... did we need all of it?
when i first cracked this open, i thought i was in for an emotionally grueling story of a widow who is opening her heart back up to love. ellie and max initially were portrayed as beshert and the happiest couple to ever be. instead of honoring that memory and letting ellie grow as a character, chamberlain chose to rewrite/recontextualize that relationship and villainize max (and her in-laws). i wished so badly that it would be about how she still loved max but was finding her way in a new relationship with kieran rather than "rewriting history." i understand that the whole point of this is ellie realizing she can do things for her own happiness but i don't like how that had to come at the expense of villainizing every supporting character: her brother, her boss, her in-laws, her husband.
beyond this, there was not a page about ellie having feelings/worries about dating again after the death of her husband. she has a whole chapter of anxiety and nervous talking with her friend about having sex but not a single sentence about being emotionally intimate with someone who was not her partner of 9 years. for a character who reportedly plans so much and is so in her head, i don't buy for one second that she didn't think about this.
there are so many parts of this book that could have been plotlines but instead are just... unresolved. one that comes to mind is kieran's adhd and the subsequent trauma he has from his childhood. he may be 29 but he acts like a moody teenager and ellie is his mother. so many storylines that could have been so interesting to explore that were left untouched and teased at.
additionally, the writing is truly flabbergasting. there is no other word. i will include a quote: “If Kieran looked any better than he did now, I’d be pounding the table and howling like the horndog in the old cartoons.” what is this? even for romance novels, that is cringe. however, aside from things like this, there is this very odd over explanation that chamberlain provides in her book. it feels like what she *thinks* creative writing should be.
details are over explained to the point where sometimes i can't tell what it's supposed to be. "just say it's blue" is a sentence i repeated many times while reading this. an example is provided here:
"Speckled brown eggs that the farmer promised had been laid just that morning, two dark loaves of sourdough that crackled when I squeezed them gently. Meaty bacon from happy pigs, a chunk of salmon glowing coral and smelling like the sea. Little waxy potatoes firm to my touch, dirt-skinned onions, bouquets of fresh herbs.”
personally, i appreciate detail but "meaty bacon from happy pigs" is not anything relevant to what i am reading nor want to be. and these overdone descriptions don't stop at just food, they permeate into every aspect of this novel to a point that stops being enjoyable.
there are some small details i want to harp on. the name kieran means black haired/dark one. he is ginger in this book. and aside from that, they call him a happy leprechaun? for a book with a jewish fmc and very strong explanations and roots in jewish culture, i would have thought they would be more sensitive to other groups and how they are generally perceived.
would not read again and you should skip this. find a better cooking romance. i am still on the hunt.
where do i even start with "the slowest burn"? how about with the title. this is not even a slow burn, let alone the slowest. this felt like the definition of throwing tropes together and see what sticks but it just did not jive. from grieving widow to trauma childhood to fake dating to coworkers... did we need all of it?
when i first cracked this open, i thought i was in for an emotionally grueling story of a widow who is opening her heart back up to love. ellie and max initially were portrayed as beshert and the happiest couple to ever be. instead of honoring that memory and letting ellie grow as a character, chamberlain chose to rewrite/recontextualize that relationship and villainize max (and her in-laws). i wished so badly that it would be about how she still loved max but was finding her way in a new relationship with kieran rather than "rewriting history." i understand that the whole point of this is ellie realizing she can do things for her own happiness but i don't like how that had to come at the expense of villainizing every supporting character: her brother, her boss, her in-laws, her husband.
beyond this, there was not a page about ellie having feelings/worries about dating again after the death of her husband. she has a whole chapter of anxiety and nervous talking with her friend about having sex but not a single sentence about being emotionally intimate with someone who was not her partner of 9 years. for a character who reportedly plans so much and is so in her head, i don't buy for one second that she didn't think about this.
there are so many parts of this book that could have been plotlines but instead are just... unresolved. one that comes to mind is kieran's adhd and the subsequent trauma he has from his childhood. he may be 29 but he acts like a moody teenager and ellie is his mother. so many storylines that could have been so interesting to explore that were left untouched and teased at.
additionally, the writing is truly flabbergasting. there is no other word. i will include a quote: “If Kieran looked any better than he did now, I’d be pounding the table and howling like the horndog in the old cartoons.” what is this? even for romance novels, that is cringe. however, aside from things like this, there is this very odd over explanation that chamberlain provides in her book. it feels like what she *thinks* creative writing should be.
details are over explained to the point where sometimes i can't tell what it's supposed to be. "just say it's blue" is a sentence i repeated many times while reading this. an example is provided here:
"Speckled brown eggs that the farmer promised had been laid just that morning, two dark loaves of sourdough that crackled when I squeezed them gently. Meaty bacon from happy pigs, a chunk of salmon glowing coral and smelling like the sea. Little waxy potatoes firm to my touch, dirt-skinned onions, bouquets of fresh herbs.”
personally, i appreciate detail but "meaty bacon from happy pigs" is not anything relevant to what i am reading nor want to be. and these overdone descriptions don't stop at just food, they permeate into every aspect of this novel to a point that stops being enjoyable.
there are some small details i want to harp on. the name kieran means black haired/dark one. he is ginger in this book. and aside from that, they call him a happy leprechaun? for a book with a jewish fmc and very strong explanations and roots in jewish culture, i would have thought they would be more sensitive to other groups and how they are generally perceived.
would not read again and you should skip this. find a better cooking romance. i am still on the hunt.
February 27, 2025
I loved the slow burn romance between Ellie and Kieran and the beautiful, emotional, life changing growth of both characters.
Opposites that struggle with their own issues grief and ADHD and share de non existing love and support from their respective families.
In spite of that they fall in love, make a life together and conquer every obstacle that gets in the way of the happiness they deserve.
The endind was just perfect! ❤️❤️
Opposites that struggle with their own issues grief and ADHD and share de non existing love and support from their respective families.
In spite of that they fall in love, make a life together and conquer every obstacle that gets in the way of the happiness they deserve.
The endind was just perfect! ❤️❤️
October 30, 2025
DIDN’T HOLD UP.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I was intrigued and hopeful going in and then within an hour of listening I almost DNF. It didn’t feel romantic, I wasn’t very interested in the story but I kept going. And it did get better…for a bit.
The middle section was good and had some true developmental moments and the slow burn was working for me. I didn’t mind that it took months to move the relationship along. It felt natural and I was charmed. And I did enjoy Kieran a lot. I loved the ADHD and dyslexia rep too.
I was frustrated with Ellie more often than not. I understood the arc path she was moving on but it took a long time to get to those moments. They came so close to the end by that time I was kind of over the book and wanting to wrap things up.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: 3-4 brief; low explicit open door
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings: loss of a husband (FMC is a widow), mentions of alcoholism, grief, neglectful parenting
BLOG || INSTAGRAM || TIKTOK
I was intrigued and hopeful going in and then within an hour of listening I almost DNF. It didn’t feel romantic, I wasn’t very interested in the story but I kept going. And it did get better…for a bit.
The middle section was good and had some true developmental moments and the slow burn was working for me. I didn’t mind that it took months to move the relationship along. It felt natural and I was charmed. And I did enjoy Kieran a lot. I loved the ADHD and dyslexia rep too.
I was frustrated with Ellie more often than not. I understood the arc path she was moving on but it took a long time to get to those moments. They came so close to the end by that time I was kind of over the book and wanting to wrap things up.
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: moderate
- Romance: 3-4 brief; low explicit open door
- Violence: low
- Content Warnings: loss of a husband (FMC is a widow), mentions of alcoholism, grief, neglectful parenting
September 8, 2024
Please note that I received this book via NetGalley. This did not affect my rating or review.
A great slow burn romance with food.
Full review: Well, this was a great romance to me at least. Fair warning, this is a romance dealing with a widow, I know some romance readers are not a fan of that, but it made sense in this one and I loved that Chamberlain did not try to hide the dead spouse.
"The Slowest Burn" follows Ellie Wasserman, a ghost cookbook author (yes this is a thing I am finding in my romance reads these days). Ellie is still dealing with the death of her husband, Max, from several years earlier. She lives with his parents (in a guesthouse) and finds herself wanting to move on from Max, but is scared to leave since Max's mother depends on her so much. When she gets offered the job to write for Kiernan O'Neill, she jumps at the chance. However, Ellie meets Kiernan and finds herself unimpressed with the new celeb chef. Kiernan finds Ellie bossy and judgmental. However, both start to realize they are interested in each other, way more than they should be.
The book jumps back and forth between Ellie and Kiernan's perspectives. I liked the slow build from enemies to lovers that we get. And I thought Chamberlain did a great job developing Ellie and Kiernan both. They both have hard backstories that just worked. I definitely wanted to beg Ellie to get rid of several people in her life. Also the love scenes were hotter than hot. I definitely enjoyed them.
The secondary characters (their two best friends) were great and I like them though the book moved away from where I thought they were going there.
The ending was wonderful and we get a HEA.
A great slow burn romance with food.
Full review: Well, this was a great romance to me at least. Fair warning, this is a romance dealing with a widow, I know some romance readers are not a fan of that, but it made sense in this one and I loved that Chamberlain did not try to hide the dead spouse.
"The Slowest Burn" follows Ellie Wasserman, a ghost cookbook author (yes this is a thing I am finding in my romance reads these days). Ellie is still dealing with the death of her husband, Max, from several years earlier. She lives with his parents (in a guesthouse) and finds herself wanting to move on from Max, but is scared to leave since Max's mother depends on her so much. When she gets offered the job to write for Kiernan O'Neill, she jumps at the chance. However, Ellie meets Kiernan and finds herself unimpressed with the new celeb chef. Kiernan finds Ellie bossy and judgmental. However, both start to realize they are interested in each other, way more than they should be.
The book jumps back and forth between Ellie and Kiernan's perspectives. I liked the slow build from enemies to lovers that we get. And I thought Chamberlain did a great job developing Ellie and Kiernan both. They both have hard backstories that just worked. I definitely wanted to beg Ellie to get rid of several people in her life. Also the love scenes were hotter than hot. I definitely enjoyed them.
The secondary characters (their two best friends) were great and I like them though the book moved away from where I thought they were going there.
The ending was wonderful and we get a HEA.
September 24, 2024
Told in dual POV (once again, my favorite way to read a romance), The Slowest Burn is exactly as the title advertises, a sweet and (a little) spicy, slow burn romance for the ages.
The CHEM-IS-TRY between Ellie and Kieran was sizzling. This one has a slew of tropes to love.
Coworkers (Ellie is ghostwriting Kieran’s cookbook). Not quite enemies to lovers, maybe more people who are opposites and annoy each other and get in a screaming match in the middle of dinner service to lovers? A sprinkle of fake dating (for one night only). And add in a friends with benefits situation.
We follow Ellie and Kieran over the course of nearly a year of creating and cowriting a cookbook. Each has their own personal things to work through. This touches on topics like sobriety, ADHD, depression, grief, and loss. All are dealt with in a beautiful way that felt genuine and real, not put on.
The plot and story were well paced, especially when you get to the back half of the book. I couldn’t put it down.
(Side note: I want the cookbook they made because it sounds brilliant.)
An excellent debut from Sarah Chamberlain! I hope to read more of her works in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The CHEM-IS-TRY between Ellie and Kieran was sizzling. This one has a slew of tropes to love.
Coworkers (Ellie is ghostwriting Kieran’s cookbook). Not quite enemies to lovers, maybe more people who are opposites and annoy each other and get in a screaming match in the middle of dinner service to lovers? A sprinkle of fake dating (for one night only). And add in a friends with benefits situation.
We follow Ellie and Kieran over the course of nearly a year of creating and cowriting a cookbook. Each has their own personal things to work through. This touches on topics like sobriety, ADHD, depression, grief, and loss. All are dealt with in a beautiful way that felt genuine and real, not put on.
The plot and story were well paced, especially when you get to the back half of the book. I couldn’t put it down.
(Side note: I want the cookbook they made because it sounds brilliant.)
An excellent debut from Sarah Chamberlain! I hope to read more of her works in the future.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
October 11, 2024
Technically a DNF but I got to around 56% of the book.
No pun intended but this was literally a Kitchen Sink. A full kitchen sink dumped with one too many things. I want to make it clear that theres nothing wrong with the writing - but there was a definite lack in creativity for the plot because I felt like the book was so focused on being a booktok book where the author tried to dump as many tropes as possible. Add that to the fact that the story and plot is pretty much confined in one setting. There were also quite a few cliche / corny lines that threw me off with the over usage of hyperbole.
This book was simply trying too hard to be what the masses would want it to be but failed miserably. Had i continued and finished this book, it would have totally put me in a slump. I also want to say that a friend had finished the book ahead of me and told me that it only got worse from where I was at the book.
I had high hopes, the title and cover are absolutely stunning.
No pun intended but this was literally a Kitchen Sink. A full kitchen sink dumped with one too many things. I want to make it clear that theres nothing wrong with the writing - but there was a definite lack in creativity for the plot because I felt like the book was so focused on being a booktok book where the author tried to dump as many tropes as possible. Add that to the fact that the story and plot is pretty much confined in one setting. There were also quite a few cliche / corny lines that threw me off with the over usage of hyperbole.
This book was simply trying too hard to be what the masses would want it to be but failed miserably. Had i continued and finished this book, it would have totally put me in a slump. I also want to say that a friend had finished the book ahead of me and told me that it only got worse from where I was at the book.
I had high hopes, the title and cover are absolutely stunning.
September 9, 2024
This just wasn’t my cup of tea at all. I didn’t feel anything for Ellie or Kieran, so when the fake dating idea came up, and they shared a kiss, I couldn’t care less about it. My interest in the story waned quickly after that.
The only good things I have to say about the story is it’s good to see ADHD and ace people represented in fiction, even if one of them is a side-character. I felt they were handled well, but I’m neither so I can’t tell for sure.
The plot had tons of potential, but fell short for me. If I had been focused more around the book throughout, then I might not have been put off, but the whole fake dating thing in the middle irked me.
The only good things I have to say about the story is it’s good to see ADHD and ace people represented in fiction, even if one of them is a side-character. I felt they were handled well, but I’m neither so I can’t tell for sure.
The plot had tons of potential, but fell short for me. If I had been focused more around the book throughout, then I might not have been put off, but the whole fake dating thing in the middle irked me.
April 25, 2024
The Slowest Burn is just that…. The slowest burn and I loved it!! This is Sarah Chamberlain’s debut and I hope to see more from her in the future. This is just the sweetest love story, dual POV, opposites attract, etc. We get the writing of a cookbook, a chef, and all the right ingredients for an easy 4-star read. Pick this one up- you’ll be so glad you did!!
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book.
Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book.
April 17, 2024
📖 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸.“
This book was quite literally the chef’s kiss! Start to finish I was drawn into the character’s stories and narratives. I have always been a fan of watching cooking shows and competitions, so it was really fun to read a book about two foodies, one a fancy chef and the other a ghost writer for cookbooks.
Both of our leads are overcoming trauma from their childhood along with Ellie still dealing with the loss of her husband. It was so nice to see how they both healed over the course of the book.
The tension and banter was great! I love the forced proximity aspect of the story along with Kieran being neurodivergent.
This is definitely a slowwww burn, but I don’t think it took away from the relationship at all. This man kisses her hand at one point and I seriously MELTED. 😮💨🔥 Kieran is a fantastic MMC and showed his love through little acts of kindness. Ellie prioritized everyone before herself, and Kieran prioritized just Ellie!
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳." 𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦. "𝘐'𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦."
I look forward to reading more books by 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 in the future! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 releases September 24. You are definitely going to want to check this one out!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my early copy of this story so that I could share this honest review! 💖
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
☀️ 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘹 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦
💋 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
🫶🏼 𝘋𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘖𝘝
🍷 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴
💖 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘔𝘊
🥰 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴
🔥 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (1.5 🌶️)
“𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘯 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘮𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘵 𝘮𝘦, 𝘪𝘵 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘭𝘪𝘬𝘦 𝘴𝘩𝘦'𝘥 𝘵𝘢𝘬𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘫𝘶𝘮𝘣𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘶𝘻𝘻𝘭𝘦 𝘱𝘪𝘦𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘪𝘯𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘮𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘰𝘶𝘵 𝘪𝘯 𝘢 𝘤𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘳 𝘱𝘪𝘤𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘦. 𝘌𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘺𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘳𝘳𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘥 𝘯𝘰𝘸.“
This book was quite literally the chef’s kiss! Start to finish I was drawn into the character’s stories and narratives. I have always been a fan of watching cooking shows and competitions, so it was really fun to read a book about two foodies, one a fancy chef and the other a ghost writer for cookbooks.
Both of our leads are overcoming trauma from their childhood along with Ellie still dealing with the loss of her husband. It was so nice to see how they both healed over the course of the book.
The tension and banter was great! I love the forced proximity aspect of the story along with Kieran being neurodivergent.
This is definitely a slowwww burn, but I don’t think it took away from the relationship at all. This man kisses her hand at one point and I seriously MELTED. 😮💨🔥 Kieran is a fantastic MMC and showed his love through little acts of kindness. Ellie prioritized everyone before herself, and Kieran prioritized just Ellie!
“𝘐 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬 𝘺𝘰𝘶'𝘳𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘩 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘧𝘰𝘳." 𝘈 𝘱𝘢𝘶𝘴𝘦. "𝘐'𝘥 𝘸𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳, 𝘭𝘰𝘷𝘦."
I look forward to reading more books by 𝐒𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 in the future! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 releases September 24. You are definitely going to want to check this one out!
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for my early copy of this story so that I could share this honest review! 💖
𝘛𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘦𝘴:
☀️ 𝘙𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘴𝘦 𝘎𝘳𝘶𝘮𝘱𝘺 𝘹 𝘚𝘶𝘯𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘦
💋 𝘍𝘰𝘳𝘤𝘦𝘥 𝘗𝘳𝘰𝘹𝘪𝘮𝘪𝘵𝘺
🫶🏼 𝘋𝘶𝘢𝘭 𝘗𝘖𝘝
🍷 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘦𝘴
💖 𝘕𝘦𝘶𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘪𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘵 𝘔𝘔𝘊
🥰 𝘏𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘒𝘪𝘴𝘴𝘦𝘴
🔥 𝘖𝘱𝘦𝘯 𝘋𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘙𝘰𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 (1.5 🌶️)
October 4, 2024
Out now!
Thank you to my besties at Macmillan Audio!
3.5 stars from me for this one!
I thought this was a super cute story. I ADORED the cooking & food aspect as a Food Network lover. Kieran was a favorite character for me. Being in his head was fascinating and enlightening. Also, the way he stands up for Ellie in the end.... all the YES.
As the title suggests, this is a slow burn but it's nice reading the characters warm up to each other. this wasn't overly spicy but it isn't closed door either.
I was rooting for Ellie to realize that she was taking better care of everyone else other than herself. When finally she breaks free I was so happy for her!
The narrators were both good, but for the love of God y'all have got to edit out the sounds of this male narrator swallowing (gross).
Thank you to my besties at Macmillan Audio!
3.5 stars from me for this one!
I thought this was a super cute story. I ADORED the cooking & food aspect as a Food Network lover. Kieran was a favorite character for me. Being in his head was fascinating and enlightening. Also, the way he stands up for Ellie in the end.... all the YES.
As the title suggests, this is a slow burn but it's nice reading the characters warm up to each other. this wasn't overly spicy but it isn't closed door either.
I was rooting for Ellie to realize that she was taking better care of everyone else other than herself. When finally she breaks free I was so happy for her!
The narrators were both good, but for the love of God y'all have got to edit out the sounds of this male narrator swallowing (gross).
September 9, 2024
As soon as I saw this cover I hit the request button! It's so charming.
The Slowest Burn is such an enjoyable debut! I really liked the main characters, Ellie and Kieran. The dual povs were such a nice touch. Give me storyline based around cooking any day! PLUS, there's a cat named Floyd. Cuuuute!!
Read if you like: slowburn romance, forced proximity and opposites attract
My thanks to St. Martins Press for this gifted copy!
The Slowest Burn is such an enjoyable debut! I really liked the main characters, Ellie and Kieran. The dual povs were such a nice touch. Give me storyline based around cooking any day! PLUS, there's a cat named Floyd. Cuuuute!!
Read if you like: slowburn romance, forced proximity and opposites attract
My thanks to St. Martins Press for this gifted copy!
September 24, 2024
I am stunned that this is Chamberlain's debut novel. It read as though it came from a seasoned, long-published, writing professional. While I'm sad I don't get any backlist, I am genuinely excited for what she does next. The way she treated the various ways that grief presents, as well as the differences in how love "shows up" for people, was done with care and empathy. I also adored that while the FMC was clearly not a size 6, and the MMC was not a jacked 6'5" muscular dude with abs for days, the author didn't beat the reader over the head with their "normalness" (not a word, got it!). I felt like I was reading about real people, with real problems, finding real love, and navigating life. Stellar, lovely first published novel! 💖
January 20, 2025
Ah, le commedie romantiche, così scontate e così banali, eppure spesso anche così difficili da assemblare. Non è facile dosare i vari ingredienti, ma in questo caso chapeu all’autrice, che è riuscita a confezionare una storia con i fiocchi!
Ho amato tutto di questo libro: quel velo di comicità che ovviamente nelle romcom non può mancare, il fatto che ruotasse tutto attorno ai libri e alla cucina, e, perché no, anche le riflessioni che è stato in grado di suscitarmi tra una risata e l’altra.
Ancora più di tutto questo, però, ho amato i protagonisti e la loro unicità. Ho apprezzato molto il fatto che entrambi siano due main characters decisamente anti convenzionali: avete presente quegli uomini e quelle donne descritti come modelli di Giorgio Armani e angeli di Victoria’s Secret? Ecco, dimenticateli. Ellie e Kieran sono buffi, a tratti goffi e soprattutto reali, con quelle caratteristiche che potreste notare anche nelle persone che vi circondano ogni giorno.
Questo libro non vincerà il Pulitzer, ma ci dà esattamente quello che promette qualsiasi buona romcom: un momento di svago, tante risate e anche la possibilità di sognare un po’.
NB: solo a me farebbe impazzire l’idea di una trasposizione cinematografica di questo libro? Mentre lo leggevo avevo già proiettato in testa ogni singolo frame!!
Ho amato tutto di questo libro: quel velo di comicità che ovviamente nelle romcom non può mancare, il fatto che ruotasse tutto attorno ai libri e alla cucina, e, perché no, anche le riflessioni che è stato in grado di suscitarmi tra una risata e l’altra.
Ancora più di tutto questo, però, ho amato i protagonisti e la loro unicità. Ho apprezzato molto il fatto che entrambi siano due main characters decisamente anti convenzionali: avete presente quegli uomini e quelle donne descritti come modelli di Giorgio Armani e angeli di Victoria’s Secret? Ecco, dimenticateli. Ellie e Kieran sono buffi, a tratti goffi e soprattutto reali, con quelle caratteristiche che potreste notare anche nelle persone che vi circondano ogni giorno.
Questo libro non vincerà il Pulitzer, ma ci dà esattamente quello che promette qualsiasi buona romcom: un momento di svago, tante risate e anche la possibilità di sognare un po’.
NB: solo a me farebbe impazzire l’idea di una trasposizione cinematografica di questo libro? Mentre lo leggevo avevo già proiettato in testa ogni singolo frame!!
September 15, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martins Press, and St. Martin's Griffith for this advanced copy! You can pick up The Slowest Burn on September 24, 2024.
Was this chef romance adorable and sweet? Absolutely. Was it also chock-full of grief and emotionally charged moments between loved ones? You bectcha. I really appreciated how Sarah Chamberlain handled so many kinds of moments between characters so well, including Kieran's struggles with his ADHD and Ellie's people-pleasing destructiveness. The way food played a role in their romance was charming, but it also hit home how much food is about people and community.
If you enjoy hate-to-love, fake-dating, and chef romance, this is your book!
Was this chef romance adorable and sweet? Absolutely. Was it also chock-full of grief and emotionally charged moments between loved ones? You bectcha. I really appreciated how Sarah Chamberlain handled so many kinds of moments between characters so well, including Kieran's struggles with his ADHD and Ellie's people-pleasing destructiveness. The way food played a role in their romance was charming, but it also hit home how much food is about people and community.
If you enjoy hate-to-love, fake-dating, and chef romance, this is your book!
September 22, 2024
Wow - what an impressive debut! Kiernan and Ellie were ADORABLE. So different yet perfect for each other and watching them fall in love but pretend it was just a "light" friends-with-benefits arrangement was such fun! I adored all the side characters but especially Ben. What a dream father-in-law! The Jewish rep was an extra treat. Honestly, this book was so beautifully written, funny, and sexy with the perfect amount of steam (in my opinion). It's hard to believe it's a debut and I can't wait to read the author's next book.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my complimentary ARC. All opinions are my own.
October 8, 2024
⭐️ 4 Stars
The Slowest Burn is Sarah Chamberlain debut novel. Take the title literally, it is a slow burn. This is a dual POV romance novel about a chef and his ghostwriter working on a cooking book. There was great character development making this a quick fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The Slowest Burn is Sarah Chamberlain debut novel. Take the title literally, it is a slow burn. This is a dual POV romance novel about a chef and his ghostwriter working on a cooking book. There was great character development making this a quick fun read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 17, 2024
Definitely not my cup of tea. I have tried very much to read this but i couldn’t connect and continue reading about the characters, unfortunately i couldn’t find them enjoyable and although the story was what attracted me to this book, it lacked something im afraid
Thanks you netgalley and the publisher for the arc
Thanks you netgalley and the publisher for the arc
April 18, 2024
This was a cute, fluffy romance! I enjoyed the storyline and the way the characters brought together. Some parts were a bit slow, but interaction between Ellie and Kieran were so sweet.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
ARC kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
May 15, 2024
I picked up an eGalley of The Slowest Burn during one of Netgalley’s Read Now promotions. The cover was gorgeous, and the synopsis sounded fun. Two people with a passion for cooking (one, a sous chef; the other, a cookbook ghostwriter) fall in love. Of course, there is more to the premise than that, but those details alone were enough to hook me. However, this is a debut novel and with that comes issues of execution and craft.
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this review (sorry, I can’t help the cooking puns!), I do want to comment on Chamberlain’s writing style. For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad. The writing felt industry standard for romance novels, if a little shallow. I often found myself commenting on wanting more from the writing: more emotion, more conflict, and more development of the characters.
This is a dual perspective novel, which was unexpected. In truth, Chamberlain could have completely focused on Ellie’s perspective, and she would have had more than enough material to work through and develop. (In some ways, I do wish she had chosen that route.) What I found interesting were the differences in maturity between Ellie and Kieran’s perspectives. Ellie felt like an adult, especially when looking at the backstory she was carrying. Kieran, on the other hand? He felt juvenile, and his voice often bordered on the Young Adult style (apart from those spicy thoughts of his, of course). I did take slight issue with this, considering Kieran has ADHD and dyslexia. Just because mental illness is present doesn’t necessarily mean a character should have a more juvenile voice. The juxtaposition between their voices also detracted from their relationship development; for me, it cut through the chemistry Chamberlain was attempting to create.
The novel also faltered in terms of plot. I would argue this novel had bookend conflicts—in the beginning, when Ellie and Kieran misunderstood each other; and, at the end, when the third act breakup occurs—but there wasn’t that much conflict throughout the middle of the book. Did the novel follow the standard trajectory of a romance novel? Sure. But everything about the romance felt forced and lacked in overall chemistry. I do think that was due to two things: a lack of conflict to bring Ellie and Kieran closer, and a lack of overall emotionality throughout the novel.
The novel was lacking in emotionality to get the story cooking, if you will. I do think that was due to Chamberlain bringing up a lot of major topics (grief, death of a spouse, mental health) and failed to engage with them on the page. A lot of the mental health plots, for example, were resolved off page or disappeared off the page entirely. As for the grief plot line, it bookended the novel. I would have loved to see Ellie working through those emotions a little more as she realized her people pleasing ways were harming her life, instead of enhancing it. Digging into the subplots Chamberlain set up from page one may have been the key to taking this novel to the next level.
As far as debut novels go, this was fine. It carried more weaknesses than strengths, but I did appreciate the diversity on the page. We had a neurodiverse male lead, a plus sized female lead, and a fun concept. It was just disappointing to never feel anything when reading this book—and I wished the story had leaned into the title a bit more. It was the perfect set up! But it’s difficult to label this as a slow burn when the characters were attracted to each other from the jump.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
Before I get into the meat and potatoes of this review (sorry, I can’t help the cooking puns!), I do want to comment on Chamberlain’s writing style. For a debut novel, it wasn’t bad. The writing felt industry standard for romance novels, if a little shallow. I often found myself commenting on wanting more from the writing: more emotion, more conflict, and more development of the characters.
This is a dual perspective novel, which was unexpected. In truth, Chamberlain could have completely focused on Ellie’s perspective, and she would have had more than enough material to work through and develop. (In some ways, I do wish she had chosen that route.) What I found interesting were the differences in maturity between Ellie and Kieran’s perspectives. Ellie felt like an adult, especially when looking at the backstory she was carrying. Kieran, on the other hand? He felt juvenile, and his voice often bordered on the Young Adult style (apart from those spicy thoughts of his, of course). I did take slight issue with this, considering Kieran has ADHD and dyslexia. Just because mental illness is present doesn’t necessarily mean a character should have a more juvenile voice. The juxtaposition between their voices also detracted from their relationship development; for me, it cut through the chemistry Chamberlain was attempting to create.
The novel also faltered in terms of plot. I would argue this novel had bookend conflicts—in the beginning, when Ellie and Kieran misunderstood each other; and, at the end, when the third act breakup occurs—but there wasn’t that much conflict throughout the middle of the book. Did the novel follow the standard trajectory of a romance novel? Sure. But everything about the romance felt forced and lacked in overall chemistry. I do think that was due to two things: a lack of conflict to bring Ellie and Kieran closer, and a lack of overall emotionality throughout the novel.
The novel was lacking in emotionality to get the story cooking, if you will. I do think that was due to Chamberlain bringing up a lot of major topics (grief, death of a spouse, mental health) and failed to engage with them on the page. A lot of the mental health plots, for example, were resolved off page or disappeared off the page entirely. As for the grief plot line, it bookended the novel. I would have loved to see Ellie working through those emotions a little more as she realized her people pleasing ways were harming her life, instead of enhancing it. Digging into the subplots Chamberlain set up from page one may have been the key to taking this novel to the next level.
As far as debut novels go, this was fine. It carried more weaknesses than strengths, but I did appreciate the diversity on the page. We had a neurodiverse male lead, a plus sized female lead, and a fun concept. It was just disappointing to never feel anything when reading this book—and I wished the story had leaned into the title a bit more. It was the perfect set up! But it’s difficult to label this as a slow burn when the characters were attracted to each other from the jump.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book.
*~*~*~*~*
Connect with me on my socials!
nikiashreads' Linktree
August 28, 2024
First things first, I'm not actually sure that I'd consider this to be a slow burn, let alone the slowest burn. It's not even the slowest burn I've read this week, lol. So the title set me up for some expectations that simply were not met, however, I still had a great time reading this debut. There are so many strong elements - I loved the journey from instant enemies to friends to more, the emotional undercurrents, and the representation of a young widow paired with a hero who isn't the kind you typically see in a romance novel. Our hero has insecurities about being short (5'7"), redheaded, sober, and dealing with the everyday realities of his dyslexia and ADHD. He was so sweet and endearing, this playful cinnamon roll of a man. I liked that the heroine was steady and strong, even though she's been dealt a rough hand in her own life. She understands him in a way few others do, and that was the best part of the journey for me. There were a few moments when the story felt slow and a few small time jumps that diffused the tension, but it's strong for a debut, and I'd definitely read more from the author.
The story follows Ellie (30), a ghostwriter who has helped write some of the best cookbooks out there - all without receiving any public credit for her work. When she meets the chef she'll be working with on her next assignment, it's clear that things are off to a rocky start. Kieran (27) is a ball of energy, and he's played up his "pirate leprechaun" persona to gain an audience following a win in a cooking competition. Kieran doesn't seem to be taking his cookbook seriously though, nor does he seem to realize how difficult he's making Ellie's job. Required to work together to get things right, it's not long before Ellie and Kieran discover they're great in the kitchen together. They may be opposites in nearly every other way, but they have an obvious connection. As feuding becomes flirting, Ellie and Kieran's relationship evolves.
To be fair, I can see why some readers would consider this a slower burn. Ellie and Kieran have an instant dislike for each other, which causes plenty of friction between them. They don't acknowledge their feelings to themselves for a while, but there was still internal discussion of falling before the halfway point and spice shortly after, so that's not a slow burn to me. It's not a slow burn if they're banging for almost half the book, lol. Regardless, it does have a laidback, introspective feel that lends itself to a slower burn. They've both got obstacles to overcome before they can even think of getting together in a real way, and I liked that they truly did make each other better. The story tackles some heavier topics while still feeling light overall, and I thought the author did such a good job for a debut. There were a few rougher patches that could've used some fine-tuning (especially that messy conflict), but I really did like it overall.
The story follows Ellie (30), a ghostwriter who has helped write some of the best cookbooks out there - all without receiving any public credit for her work. When she meets the chef she'll be working with on her next assignment, it's clear that things are off to a rocky start. Kieran (27) is a ball of energy, and he's played up his "pirate leprechaun" persona to gain an audience following a win in a cooking competition. Kieran doesn't seem to be taking his cookbook seriously though, nor does he seem to realize how difficult he's making Ellie's job. Required to work together to get things right, it's not long before Ellie and Kieran discover they're great in the kitchen together. They may be opposites in nearly every other way, but they have an obvious connection. As feuding becomes flirting, Ellie and Kieran's relationship evolves.
To be fair, I can see why some readers would consider this a slower burn. Ellie and Kieran have an instant dislike for each other, which causes plenty of friction between them. They don't acknowledge their feelings to themselves for a while, but there was still internal discussion of falling before the halfway point and spice shortly after, so that's not a slow burn to me. It's not a slow burn if they're banging for almost half the book, lol. Regardless, it does have a laidback, introspective feel that lends itself to a slower burn. They've both got obstacles to overcome before they can even think of getting together in a real way, and I liked that they truly did make each other better. The story tackles some heavier topics while still feeling light overall, and I thought the author did such a good job for a debut. There were a few rougher patches that could've used some fine-tuning (especially that messy conflict), but I really did like it overall.
April 22, 2025
There were many things to like in this book. I always like when authors write about their cities with love, and the Bay Area gets all the love here. Wonderful and beautiful attention is given to being part of a Jewish family. Grief and healing for various loved ones are nicely addressed (the FMC was suddenly widowed in her 20s, the book comes in at around the 3-year post-widowhood mark.) The MMC is dyslexic and has severe ADHD. As the mother of an adult son who has the same challenges, I thought Chamberlain did a really nice job of showing how that impacts life. The ways in which we evolve in our 20's, how what we needed in a partner at 20 diverges from what we need in a partner at 30, was addressed with a deft touch. And this focused on food, which is a topic I love. Chamberlain and I differ on the subject of haute cuisine (I love food that is brainy, humorous, and delicious, and shows reverence for the ingredients. Bring on Alinea, French Laundry, and Per Se! Chamberlain thinks all good food has to brim with comfort and love and I don't feel that is always essential, though I love that happy comfort food too.) I never include quotes in romance reviews, but I am leaving one here about shopping at a good farmers market:
"Speckled brown eggs that the farmer promised had been laid just that morning, two dark loaves of sourdough that crackled when I squeezed them gently. Meaty bacon from happy pigs, a chunk of salmon glowing coral and smelling like the sea. Little waxy potatoes firm to my touch, dirt-skinned onions, bouquets of fresh herbs.”
It sounds all good, but two things got in the way of enjoying this. First is that I felt zero chemistry between the leads. Ellie talks about how hot Kieran is, Kieran talks about how hot Eliie is. But noticing people are hot is not the same as wanting. I see hot people every day and appreciate their hotness without being attracted to them. Some people just pull you in somehow, and that spark is how romance begins. Here, I just didn't feel any pull. In romance, that flaw is fatal. The other problem for me was that there were 10 pounds of romance tropes stuffed into this 5-pound bag. This is not a fatal flaw, but it induced a lot of eye-rolling here and took me out of the story. Also worth mentioning, I don't think the sex was well written. it was not off-putting, and it showed sweet and generous engagement from both participants which is amazing, but it all seemed like it was between two people following a recipe. Nothing seemed playful or enveloping, which are things that make sex (in life or literature) appealing for me -- this is a very personal thing, and I hope other readers feel different.
All in all, for me, this was fine, kind of meh for the most part, but it showed promise. I will try the author's next one.
"Speckled brown eggs that the farmer promised had been laid just that morning, two dark loaves of sourdough that crackled when I squeezed them gently. Meaty bacon from happy pigs, a chunk of salmon glowing coral and smelling like the sea. Little waxy potatoes firm to my touch, dirt-skinned onions, bouquets of fresh herbs.”
It sounds all good, but two things got in the way of enjoying this. First is that I felt zero chemistry between the leads. Ellie talks about how hot Kieran is, Kieran talks about how hot Eliie is. But noticing people are hot is not the same as wanting. I see hot people every day and appreciate their hotness without being attracted to them. Some people just pull you in somehow, and that spark is how romance begins. Here, I just didn't feel any pull. In romance, that flaw is fatal. The other problem for me was that there were 10 pounds of romance tropes stuffed into this 5-pound bag. This is not a fatal flaw, but it induced a lot of eye-rolling here and took me out of the story. Also worth mentioning, I don't think the sex was well written. it was not off-putting, and it showed sweet and generous engagement from both participants which is amazing, but it all seemed like it was between two people following a recipe. Nothing seemed playful or enveloping, which are things that make sex (in life or literature) appealing for me -- this is a very personal thing, and I hope other readers feel different.
All in all, for me, this was fine, kind of meh for the most part, but it showed promise. I will try the author's next one.
September 24, 2024
What better word to use to describe this book about two chefs than delicious! This enemies to lovers, opposites-attract romance made my heart do all the fluttery things! Kieran and Ellie were endearing and special. He was incredibly charming, but hiding some deep pain behind a facade of being happy-go-lucky. She was more focused and serious, but has also been damaged by the people she loves. I loved that they each not only accepted their differences and their perceived flaws, but they celebrated them! They both brought out the best—and sometimes even the worst—in each other. Their emotions were raw and real and sincere, and nothing felt right to me when they weren’t together. Their path to their love and their future wasn’t easy, but never has a couple ever deserved a happy ending as Ellie and Kieran did. And we all need someone to be our champion. I received an advance reader copy of this book.
October 11, 2024
This is one of the best books I've read all year. Sure, it has a lot of my personal catnip. I love romances where one or both characters is into food, and since Kieran is a recent cooking show winner and Ellie is the cookbook ghost writer his publisher pairs him with, it was an easy box to check for me. The antagonism that we start off with felt genuine to their characters. Ellie wants to get to work, she knows how long it takes to write a cookbook, and she takes her job very seriously. Kieran has dyslexia and ADHD and keeps pushing off setting up working time with the starchy ghostwriter. This leads to inevitable conflict, and it takes these two a while to get used to the other's rough edges. Of course, that makes their forced proximity sing right off the bat, and also gives their relationship plenty of space to grow and change. It's a lovely romance between two people who complement each other and truly make each other better through their friendship and growing love. And the spice hits.
What really makes this book stand out for me, though, is the way it tackles grief and the toxic relationships that can evolve when one person pours themselves out for others without getting refilled by them. Ellie is a widow, and she lives on the same property as her parents-in-law. She cooks for them, and provides a nightly shoulder for her mother-in-law to cry on, and it's not healthy. She wants to change, but she doesn't know how to care for herself first. Her journey, supported by Kieran who shows her that another way is possible, was deeply powerful and I felt so seen and supported by the narrative from start to finish.
What really makes this book stand out for me, though, is the way it tackles grief and the toxic relationships that can evolve when one person pours themselves out for others without getting refilled by them. Ellie is a widow, and she lives on the same property as her parents-in-law. She cooks for them, and provides a nightly shoulder for her mother-in-law to cry on, and it's not healthy. She wants to change, but she doesn't know how to care for herself first. Her journey, supported by Kieran who shows her that another way is possible, was deeply powerful and I felt so seen and supported by the narrative from start to finish.
October 1, 2024
"The Slowest Burn" is a captivating story about finding love and oneself. It follows the story of Ellie, a young widow who is tasked to work with Kieran, a young and recently famous chef, as a ghostwriter for his cookbook. Despite their differences, they find a way to work together.
I have to admit that initially, the story didn't grab my attention, especially in the first few chapters. I felt that there was no chemistry between the main characters. However, as I continued reading, the chemistry between them became more apparent.
This isn't exactly a romantic comedy, but it is a beautiful love story that feels authentic. The book features complex characters in complicated situations, each trying their best and opening their hearts to love and acceptance.
The second part of the book was particularly difficult to put down, and I thoroughly enjoyed the final chapters. I liked the story and characters, and I look forward to reading more from the author.
May 13, 2024
Let me start by saying this book was not the slowest burn as the title leads you to believe. There was no slow burn at all in my opinion.
The guy kind of insta likes her while the girl hates him. He’s also described as “short and redheaded” like a leprechaun and she’s described as a cookie “ round and sweet”. I’m sorry what the ever loving hell is that!? That was legit in the first 2% of the book and I was immediately turned off.
This was a hard pass for me
Thank you to St.Martin's Press and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.
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