Slow Roasted

by E. M. Hedrick

Slow Roasted is a spicy, fake dating romance between a barista and customer with a contemporary setting and realistic scenarios. It includes explicit content and profanity and is recommended for mature readers only.

Ellie Brooks
What are you supposed to do when a semi-creepy, middle-aged, and overly-flirty customer doesn't know how to take no for an answer? You tell him you have a boyfriend. What happens when he calls your bluff? You hope that one of your regulars who is conveniently at the register plays along. Despite being grateful for Patrick's quick help, I never truly realized how attractive he was until he leaned over the counter and openly flirted with me. Hopefully, Patrick is as cool with it as he seems, and I don't end up fired before the day is done.

Patrick Murphy
What do you do when the cute barista at your favorite coffee shop goes from completely flustered to putting on an act where she calls you babe and talks about seeing you this weekend? You play along. Unfortunately, my assistance with her creepy customer quickly turned into my nightmare when that same customer turned out to be my new boss. I wish there was a better way out of this, but we both have too much at stake to be caught in this lie.

397 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 29, 2025

About the author

E.M. Hedrick is a debut romance author. Born and raised in Virginia, she started reading romance in 2023 and instantly felt the urge to create something of her own. E.M. strives to create romance with realistic scenarios and relatable characters. When she is not writing, she is aggressively reading romance and trying to keep up with her child, two cats, and husband.

Find her on social media:

@e.m.hedrickbooks (on all platforms)

Reviews

[Madison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not normally a romance reader, but this book had me laughing, kicking my feet (with giddiness), angry (sympathizing WITH the characters at the antagonists), and feeling touched at the realness of the characters. I am so happy I got to read this.

Even now a few weeks later, I still find myself chuckling or swooning at the moments between Ellie and Patrick.

I highly recommend this book!

*I received an advanced copy from the author and this review is my own.*

[Margaret Moran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story has all your favorite romance tropes (fake dating, one bed, drunken confessions), and in the care of this author, they feel as fresh and exciting as they did in your first romance novel. Ellie and Patrick are very real, genuinely likeable characters, with adorable banter and steamy sizzle. And they are surrounded by a supporting cast of adorable goofballs and rotten-to-the-core baddies who round out the story so perfectly. It is very fun to watch Ellie and Patrick find themselves as they find each other.

I am also giving the acknowledgments of this book five stars, and the reason for that is 100% because I am mentioned in them. ❤️

[Kristen Waddle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book 🫶🏻🫶🏻

Fake dating ✔️
One bed trope ✔️
Spice 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Definitely a great debut into the romance world by E.M. Hedrick, I’m excited for more!

[Tracy Kuhn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely enjoyed this fake-dating romance. The main characters, Ellie and Patrick, are so relatable. The story was engaging. I found myself not wanting to put it down. What a well crafted book!

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cute and funny romance!

I received an advance copy of this book from the author but the rating/review is my own.
Loved the character dynamic and banter, so funny! Couldn’t put this book down. Also enjoyed having a main character who’s a data analyst, those of us who enjoy spreadsheets need romance too!!

[Morgan Schmidt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my god. What a refreshing read. It was so good. My flabbers have been gasted. The pining? 10/10. The spice? 9/10. The only thing that could have made that part better is more scenes of spice. Otherwise, IMMACULATE. Mental health component. Always love me some of that. And major depth to the main and side characters. I loved this so much I want to reread it again right meow. I really hope there is another book with more to their story.

[Daisy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

[HEATHER · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG this book was so much fun to read! I fell head over heals in LOVE with Ellie and Patrick! This book has such great characters and you will love all of them but a few that are bad seeds. LOL...This book was well written and has the perfect flow to it. I couldn't turn the pages fast enough to see what was next.

Ellie is a barista at a coffee shop with her bestie and roommate Nick. These two have such a great friendship and you will love the time you get with them. Ellie has a customer that won't take the hint and leave her alone so one morning she spots a man that's been coming into the coffee shop for a long time and ends up saying they are dating. Thankfully the guy helps her out and the man leaves. But because of this little incident things are going to get interesting.

Patrick has been coming into the local coffee shop for awhile and when the cute barista says she will see you this weekend he plays along. When Patrick gets to work and meets his new boss Greg he had no idea he'd be the guy that's been bothering Ellie. Now he has company events to attend and Greg wants him to bring his girlfriend. Well now he needs a favor.

Patrick and Ellie will have you laughing, swooning, smiling, and falling in love. This story will have you angry sometimes because there are a few characters that will make you upset but in the end it's worth it. I just loved how strong Ellie will become and I loved how much Patrick cared for Ellie. Nick and Patrick's friends were the best side characters and I loved how they were always there for them. You will have a few moments that will have your heart melting! I HIGHLY recommend this book! I can't wait to see what E.M. Hendrick's writes next!

Thank you E.M. Hendrick's for allowing me to read this ARC for my honest opinion.

[Sabína · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ellie Brooks je mladá baristka, ktorá nemá príliš šťastie na zákazníkov. Keď ju Greg, postarší muž, začne takmer denne obťažovať a dávať jej neslušné návrhy, v Ellie vzkypí zlosť a ukáže na pravidelného zákazníka Patricka Murphyho so slovami, že on je jej priateľ. To Grega na chvíľu odradí, no keď sa ukáže, že je Patrickov nový šéf, Ellie a Patrick sa musia dohodnúť, čo ďalej. Aby Patrick pred novým šéfom nevyzeral ako klamár a zároveň pomohol Ellie „odstrašiť“ mužov ako je Gregory, rozhodnú sa spolu predstierať vzťah. Jednoduché, nie? Čo však začalo ako bozk sem a objatie tam nakoniec nie je také jednoduché, ako si mysleli.

Ak si odmyslíme falošné randenie a plot twist na konci, tak táto kniha je najviac realistická kniha, akú som za poslednú dobu čítala. Stotožniť sa s Ellie bolo naozaj jednoduché, keďže sama som „väčšia“ baba s katastrofálnym milostným životom a síce na rozdiel od Ellie nemám žiadny diplom (a nie som baristka), jej mama je rovnaká ako tá moja. 🫣 Veľmi sa mi páčilo, že Patrick je len obyčajný chalan (dátový analytik), lebo CEO a mafiáni a pod. sú teraz všade. A síce na tom nie je vôbec nič zlé, je osviežujúce, keď hlavný mužský hrdina robí normálnu prácu.
Síce je vek Ellie 25 rokov a Patricka 28, myslím si však, že túto oddychovku ocenia aj starší čitatelia. Kniha sa čítala naozaj ľahko, dialógy boli prirodzené a aj samotné stretnutie Ellie a Patricka bolo uveriteľné, veď kto by niekedy nemal crush na hot baristu?

P. S.: PATRICK MURPHY JE DOKONALÝ BOOK BOYFRIEND a som rada, že vďaka tomuto ARCu vám ho môžem predstaviť. 🤭 Fun fact: miluje veľké vanilkové latté, rovnako ako ja. 🥰

[Lisa Ann D. · Rating 5 out of 5]

My words get stuck in my throat, and her sincerity hits me right in the gut. All I want to do right now is wrap her up into my arms and protect her from everything.
☕️☕️☕️☕️☕️
Slow Roasted by E. M. Hedrick

☕️
Debut novel. 𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘅𝘆 Smart. Very likable man characters. 𝗟𝗶𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗲. ❤︎

There’s so much to like here. The characters are believable and well grounded. The story works itself into your brain and heart very quickly. ❤︎

There’s several types of representation & that always gets kudos from me. The rep that was included felt natural and not forced; not gratuitous.

I like the structure and the presentation of different mental factors. And, Creepy Ass Men… that aspect was addressed well and tactfully.

Patrick is a dirty talking dreamboat. Ellie hits the right notes. (You might want to check for content warnings if you don’t see them as spoilers & have known triggers)

It’s a fun book. The heavy things are done well.

I found a few glitches but they weren’t so bad, and it didn’t impact the story for me.
Hella impressed. I would def read another work by this author when a new one comes out.

4.5 stars rounded up for Goodreads
(I rated a lil light as it’s a first work and I’m ok with that 😍)

Would recommend this novel for sure. ☕️☕️☕️
The spice was great and again like other aspects of the book, felt natural and fluid. ▁▁▁▁▁▁▁❤︎▁▁▁▁▁▁▁

His pupils dilate, and the corners of his mouth turn up when he sees my reaction. “You should close your mouth before I make you use it.”

❤︎▁❤︎


★•*´¨`*•★• Happy reading ┊┊┊┊ ➶ ❁۪ ｡˚ յ

[Jordan R · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️

This book is what happens when a simple moment turns into something that completely shifts your life and I ate up every second of it.

Slow Roasted pulled me in with its light, almost playful setup, but what kept me hooked was how real everything felt underneath it. The emotions weren’t overdone, the connection wasn’t forced, it built in that quiet, believable way that makes you realize you’re fully invested before you even notice.

Ellie and Patrick felt like people you could actually know. Their dynamic had this natural ease to it, but also that underlying tension where you know something is changing between them, even if they don’t fully say it yet. And when it starts to tip from “this is just a situation” into something deeper? That shift was done so well.

I especially loved how the story balanced softness with real stakes. There’s humor, there’s chemistry, but there’s also that emotional undercurrent of figuring yourself out, setting boundaries, and learning what you actually deserve.

Also… the slow burn? Worth it. Every look, every interaction, every moment of “wait… is this still fake?” just builds and builds in the best way.

This is one of those romances that feels cozy on the surface but lingers a little longer after you finish it.

And as someone who got to meet E.M. Hendrick in person and pick this up? It makes it even more special. You can feel the heart in it.

Highly recommend if you love character-driven romance with tension, warmth, and just enough chaos to keep things interesting.

[Hayleigh Huntley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, so I wanna start off with if I could give this book a million stars I would. ✨✨✨✨✨

It made me giddy, giggling and kicking my feet.
It made me angry and have a very mutual hate of a certain someone who shall not be named.
It made me cry a few times in just the last bit of the book!

It was an absolutely amazing read!!!
The aspect of an anxiety ridden barista meeting her match by calling out to a supposedly random customer to help keep a creep off her back? Phenomenally done.

Ellie is a barista who’s got her own tragic past and emotional dilemmas she’s dealing with on a daily and she connected with my heart so hard it actually made me want to cry.

Patrick is a seemingly high strung guy who’s basically a zombie without his vanilla iced coffee. With his success in business yet lack of success with dating it made him the perfect pairing for this book.

I honestly don’t have the words to explain how close to my heart this book now is because of how much representation we got to see. The author did a phenomenal job at showcasing how typical people, running themselves ragged, truly think and act.

Now the fake dating of this story was absolutely top tier. The chemistry was there from the very beginning and had me screaming for them to sleep together already and when they did? Ooooooh boy I was screaming in happiness.

This is an absolute must read for anyone looking for a cozy, barista/customer, steamy fake relationship read. 🥰

[Stella Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book as an ARC, but I'm so glad I did!! This has been one of my favorite books of the summer, and I will read it again and again because the characters are just so believable and sweet.

Here's two people just going about their usual daily events and they get tossed together by circumstance. Enter fake dating. Now, I'm not always one for the fake dating trope, but this one works for all the right reasons (I can't tell the reasons or spoil the plot). The basic goodness of a kind man and the sense of humor of a sweet woman all combine to create a lovely story that sizzles.

The quirks and uniqueness built into each character (both main characters and the supporting ones) are well-written and balance the entire story. There were a couple of nasty folks, too, and they were well placed in the story to move the plot along, rather than in some tales where they take up too much space.

Overall, this is a fabulous book, but also I must give props to the book COVER! I saw this before I was chosen for ARC reading and it immediately made me place the book in my TBR list, so props to the cover artist. It's fabulous!

[H.M. DuVal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a cozy contemporary read with fun dynamics between the two main characters! It was exactly as advertised and delivered what it promises, just like when you order your favorite drink from your local cafe.

Some things that I really liked: the FMC internal narration was believable and relatable; the side characters were fun and I want to know more about them; the spicy was spicing and made me want to jump my husband.

Somethings that took away from the experience for me: I wanted a more solid sense of character development for the FMC. The MMC does some big growth steps, but it felt a bit like the FMC stayed more static and didn't get her *I've stepped into my power* moment (for ME - to each their own!); The wording in certain areas was hard to follow, with tense changes and sometimes grammatical errors that tripped me up.

Overall, a fun low-stakes comfort read, and I look forward to following this author as they continue to hone their skills and bring new stories to print!

[Kayla Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never read a romance novel before, and was recommended this by a friend. I quite enjoyed it! It was a fun, quick read compared to my usual fare, and with just the right amount of spice balanced with more story and romance elements (it could have even used a bit more spice). I wish I could see more of Ellie and Patrick's relationship, but the novel wrapped up well, although a bit fast, and I felt satisfied. I was a bit frustrated at times with the utter lack of communication between them, but it wouldn't have made a very good story if they were up front from the beginning. I feel many of us have met a Greg and it was cathartic to see how he ended up.

Overall a good read and well worth the time.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Roasted is such a cute fake dating story—with just the right mix of charm, spice, and swoon. The overlap and chemistry between the two main characters (almost strangers at first!) made this trope feel fresh and fun.

Patrick is literally the most supportive “boyfriend” ever. Like… where can we find you in real life?! His character totally stole the show for me.

As a debut novel, this was such a strong start—I’m already excited to see what E.M. Hedrick writes next. It’s a quick, spicy, feel-good read that romance fans will fly through.

Thank you to the author for the ARC of this story in return for an honest review!

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Slow Roasted is a charming rom‑com that starts with a perfectly awkward meet‑cute in a coffee shop and just keeps getting better.

Ellie, a quick‑thinking barista, finds herself stuck dealing with an over‑persistent customer - until Patrick, a favorite regular, steps in to play the role of “boyfriend” on the spot. What should have been a one‑time rescue quickly snowballs into a fake‑dating arrangement.

Between office events, playful banter, and some seriously swoony moments, their chemistry simmers in the background until it’s impossible to ignore.

I was grateful to receive an advanced copy of this book; all opinions are my own and shared voluntarily.

[Girls Gone Book Clubbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It’s right up my alley in the romcom genre with open door spice.
Patrick is the definition of gentleman in the streets, daddy in the sheets.
Ellie’s struggles are relatable, so many women can understand and the writing made connecting with her so easy. Her fear of repeating a verbally abusive relationship is just an example of a relatable real world problem.
Wes is seriously one of the best side characters I’ve read in a long time.
Greg is the worst.
*I received this as an ARC read and this is my honest review*

[The Affable Bibliophile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Slow Roasted is my first five star read of 2026! I’m not much for the more contemporary romances, but I’m so glad I opened this book. I laughed, worried, kicked my feet. Ellie felt very relatable with her anxiety, her quirky attitude, and her hectic grad life. Patrick really surprised me. You think he’s this sweet, golden retriever man, but put him in the bedroom? I just about slid out of my seat and had to fan myself the moment he got going. Honestly, when you read this book, you’ll understand what I mean. If you love a good fake dating contemporary romance, I 100% recommend this one.

[FN · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love how the book vibes with warmth overall. Just two regular people pretending for practical reasons and eventually realize how much they matter to each other. The kind of connection that builds in small glances, shared jokes, and quiet understanding. Their interactions are entertaining. Both FMC and MMC radiates comfort from the beginning to the end and i absolutely love it.

Thank you author for ARC opportunity, the review and rating are my own.

[Yellowing Book Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review of Slow Roasted by

I read this book in two days because I wanted to review it as close to release day as possible as I am so glad I did. I loved reading this book, Patrick and Ellie are such a cute couple and I love the way Patrick could immediately sense and support Ellie when she needed him. I was so glad when Greg got what was coming to him, and the resolution of the book was perfect! I loved this book and recommended to all Fake Dating lovers out there <3

[bookasaurushaley · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was my 15th ARC read, and I absolutely adored this cheeky little rom-com! It is touchingly sweet and a little bit spicy, too! The characters have excellent banter! And we love a happy ending! 😉

It came out a few days ago, so if this seems like your vibe, go read it! 😁

Rom-com ✔️
Knight in Shining Armor ✔️
Coffee Barista × Data Analyst ✔️
Fake Dating ✔️
Slow Burn ✔️
Brewing Love ✔️
One Bed ✔️
Happy Ending ✔️

(18+ because there are dashes of 🌶! 🤭)

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chugged Slow Roasted like my morning cold brew! This book was so good, I could not put it down once I got started!

Slow Roasted is a fake dating romance with spice! ✨
The characters are mature and emotionally stable. It was a really refreshing read to have the main character's communicate and be honest with each other. I was swooning and giddy the whole time!
5/5! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I won this copy of the book when e.m.hedrickbooks did a giveaway on threads! Thank you again for the book! I loved it and will forever recommend it to everyone! 🧡

[Zoey Day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book Review
Slow Roasted By E.M. Hedrick
Five Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
This was such a fun read! I absolutely loved Patrick and his career for Ellie throughout the whole book! Mostly when she had her one panic attack! Then the way he stood up for her it made me smile so hard! The way these two were with each other felt so easy and smooth even with some of the stuff going on around them. And OMG I absolutely love Nick, Wes & Natalie!!! Such amazing side characters!!! That ending!!! Love it!

[Kate ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

It felt like the book had all the right pieces for a great story, but the execution didn’t quite live up to its potential.

The characters were interesting and well-developed, which made it easy to stay invested in them, but the narrative itself felt lacking.

There wasn’t a clear or engaging plot to tie everything together, so it ended up feeling a bit directionless even though it had a lot of potential.

[Jessie Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely loved the book! From fake dating to red flags from his boss/her customer...it was such a great story! The way the characters knew of each other from the getgo and knew some stuff about one another but didnt personally know each other was so cute! I loves that they paid attention to things one another did.

[Shay · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good!

I absolutely loved this book it was such a cute different way to go about the characters with the barista and customer falling for each other I love the way that Patrick was so Perfect for Ellie and how compatible they were in all ways. He brought out the best in Ellie and Brought out the best in him. Looking forward to more from this author!

[TrisReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Super cute read. Loved the characters. Excuse me Patrick… I like an expected spicy MC. I found El relatable with some of her thoughts and feelings. It was a cozy read I really enjoyed. I wish there was more at the end and a few lingering questions answered. But I enjoyed it and recommended it to a few friends!

[Patricia Vido · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was pleased to meet E.M. Hedrick at an author event and to read Slow Roasted, her well-crafted fake dating debut novel. Both Ellie and Patrick are appealing and develop genuine feelings for each other, but their desire for the rough and graphic seemed out of character. Their attraction would have been more believable if spicy--and sweet.

[Trevin Sandlin · Rating 3 out of 5]

 It was cute. And sexy. It is competently written, though maybe 50 pages too long and with a plot that's pretty pain my numbers. But I enjoyed the leads and the side characters, I enjoyed the settings and sometimes competently done is what you ask for. This wont set the world on fire, but it was a nice quick read. 3.25 stars.