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Slow Burn
Not yet published
Expected 29 Dec 26In this YA rom-com two teenage contestants compete on a reality cooking show and dish out a fun enemies to lovers romance.
Lizzie Le is determined to win when she's invited to compete on Sweet Heat—a reality cooking show where young cooks compete for a mentorship under a world famous chef. Victory would mean fulfilling her culinary dreams and financially helping her family’s restaurant.
But then Ethan Huang walks into the kitchen.
Lizzie never forgot when the arrogant foodstagrammer nearly tanked the restaurant with a harsh review, and now he’s her competition? Ethan, however, has plans of his own. He's ready to prove to his parents and the world that cooking isn’t just a hobby, it’s his future. And he’s not about to let Lizzie Le stand in his way.
Lizzie and Ethan clash at every turn, but as things come to a boiling point, they begin to realize that their rivalry might be the very thing pushing them to become their best selves…
Can they turn up the heat without getting burned?
Lizzie Le is determined to win when she's invited to compete on Sweet Heat—a reality cooking show where young cooks compete for a mentorship under a world famous chef. Victory would mean fulfilling her culinary dreams and financially helping her family’s restaurant.
But then Ethan Huang walks into the kitchen.
Lizzie never forgot when the arrogant foodstagrammer nearly tanked the restaurant with a harsh review, and now he’s her competition? Ethan, however, has plans of his own. He's ready to prove to his parents and the world that cooking isn’t just a hobby, it’s his future. And he’s not about to let Lizzie Le stand in his way.
Lizzie and Ethan clash at every turn, but as things come to a boiling point, they begin to realize that their rivalry might be the very thing pushing them to become their best selves…
Can they turn up the heat without getting burned?
Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 29, 2026
About the author
Trinity Nguyen
2 books415 followersTrinity Nguyen is a Vietnamese American author and graduate of Franklin & Marshall College. She was born in Viet Nam and raised in Little Saigon, California, and learned English by reading too many young adult novels and never turning off closed captioning. Her debut novel, A BANH MI FOR TWO, is a national independent bookstore bestseller and a 2024 Goodreads Choice Award Nominee. Trinity currently lives in Los Angeles with her cats and the succulents from her mom’s garden.
You can find Trinity on social media as @thetrinitytran on Instagram and Twitter, except for TikTok @eggtarts (because she refuses to retire the username), and otherwise trinity-nguyen.com.
You can find Trinity on social media as @thetrinitytran on Instagram and Twitter, except for TikTok @eggtarts (because she refuses to retire the username), and otherwise trinity-nguyen.com.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Author
ANHPI Month 2026 #12
I'm a Hoang. For now. Close enough.
If you've been following my journey for some time, you probably remember I loved Trinity's debut, A BANH MI FOR TWO. And that I read it on my first trip to Vietnam, while Vivi (MC) was also on her first trip to Vietnam. I, unfortunately, didn't fall in love with a cute Vietnamese girl. Sad.
So if you, too, loved Vivi and Lan, they make a tiny off-screen cameo here. Is there anything better than two pretty Vietnamese girls wearing ao dai? I don't think so.
But I digress. This book features Lizzie Ly, budding chef, and Ethan Huang, broody influencer. Enemies to lovers is overdone, but these two are rivals to lovers, one of my favorite romance tropes. They're competing on SWEET HEAT, a cooking competition. Sparks fly. I didn't just say that because the author is a Taylor Swift fan. Or did I?
As always in an Asian American novel, family is an important aspect, and a character unto itself. Lizzie has lost her mother, the reason she loves cooking Vietnamese food in the first place. Her father is a supporting character in the background. Ethan physically has both parents, but not emotionally. His father, who he calls Father (rich Chinese people and formality, am I right?), looks down on cooking and social media. He expects him to attend Stanford and join the family business. Life is bleak.
Meanwhile, the other trope we have going on is found family. The other contestants each have their quirks. They all cook things from their respective backgrounds. They also try things from different backgrounds. Make cooking fun.
There's a fun little story with bun bo Hue, but I don't want to spoil anything, and in any case, this is a romance, so we expect our HEA. And we get it. And not a minute too soon.
Vietnamese American Cookbooks I Use: DI AN, THE RED BOAT FISH SAUCE COOKBOOK
Vietnamese Restaurants I Recommend in OC: Canton for cha ca, Pho Tau Bay for banh cuon, Pho Thin for northern style pho
The Triple Dippers made it into the acknowledgements! IYKYK
📱 Thank you to Trinity
"Huangs don't make mistakes. Huangs are perfect."
I'm a Hoang. For now. Close enough.
If you've been following my journey for some time, you probably remember I loved Trinity's debut, A BANH MI FOR TWO. And that I read it on my first trip to Vietnam, while Vivi (MC) was also on her first trip to Vietnam. I, unfortunately, didn't fall in love with a cute Vietnamese girl. Sad.
So if you, too, loved Vivi and Lan, they make a tiny off-screen cameo here. Is there anything better than two pretty Vietnamese girls wearing ao dai? I don't think so.
But I digress. This book features Lizzie Ly, budding chef, and Ethan Huang, broody influencer. Enemies to lovers is overdone, but these two are rivals to lovers, one of my favorite romance tropes. They're competing on SWEET HEAT, a cooking competition. Sparks fly. I didn't just say that because the author is a Taylor Swift fan. Or did I?
As always in an Asian American novel, family is an important aspect, and a character unto itself. Lizzie has lost her mother, the reason she loves cooking Vietnamese food in the first place. Her father is a supporting character in the background. Ethan physically has both parents, but not emotionally. His father, who he calls Father (rich Chinese people and formality, am I right?), looks down on cooking and social media. He expects him to attend Stanford and join the family business. Life is bleak.
Meanwhile, the other trope we have going on is found family. The other contestants each have their quirks. They all cook things from their respective backgrounds. They also try things from different backgrounds. Make cooking fun.
There's a fun little story with bun bo Hue, but I don't want to spoil anything, and in any case, this is a romance, so we expect our HEA. And we get it. And not a minute too soon.
Vietnamese American Cookbooks I Use: DI AN, THE RED BOAT FISH SAUCE COOKBOOK
Vietnamese Restaurants I Recommend in OC: Canton for cha ca, Pho Tau Bay for banh cuon, Pho Thin for northern style pho
The Triple Dippers made it into the acknowledgements! IYKYK
📱 Thank you to Trinity
January 24, 2025
I can't wait for you all to meet Lizzie Ly and Ethan Huang :)
July 13, 2026
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.
I picked up with book without even realizing that I already read another book from this author. It was a pleasant surprise since I liked her A Bahn Mi for Two book. This book was cute and sweet. I loved the themes of friendship and family in a food competition setting. Lizzie and Ethan were cute in their rivarly and I liked how ultimately they learned more about each other and eventually became close. Something unique about this book is at the end of some chapters there are confessional or lists made by the characters and personally that was a nice touch and something different than I see from other cooking competition books.
I picked up with book without even realizing that I already read another book from this author. It was a pleasant surprise since I liked her A Bahn Mi for Two book. This book was cute and sweet. I loved the themes of friendship and family in a food competition setting. Lizzie and Ethan were cute in their rivarly and I liked how ultimately they learned more about each other and eventually became close. Something unique about this book is at the end of some chapters there are confessional or lists made by the characters and personally that was a nice touch and something different than I see from other cooking competition books.
July 19, 2026
IF YOU’RE A FAN OF ANN LIANG TRY SLOW BURN! 🔥🔥
We’re gonna start with my favs and then we’ll move into my less-than-favs.
FAVS
—At first I thought the character wants and goals were a little cut and dry, but it goes deeper throughout the story as you get to understand the characters more.
—LOVED the environment, never read a book with a cooking competition setting and all the dishes sounded scrumptious!! The imagery was so good and made me hungry lol
—The whole idea of Sweet Heat felt well developed. Normally we only think of worldbuilding for fantasy books, but I loved parts where it would talk about past seasons of the show, it made it much more believable and immersive.
—Good parallels about how food ties Lizzie’s family together while it spits Ethan’s apart. It was a good source of tension for them.
—Really liked the confessional parts where they’re getting interviewed for the show before/after challenges!
—Couple of seriously funny one liners
—One of my fav parts of their relationship was how they challenge each other to be better. There was no sabotage that messed with the relationship unnecessarily, they were actually supportive of each other.
—appreciated how I couldn’t see a lot of plot points coming!! Refreshing.
Cons
—There were a few phrases where I found it difficult to believe a teen would say that. (At least I wouldn’t.)
—Some parts got a wee bit too cheesy for me but this is a rom com so what’re we expecting, and also it’s a cooking competition so cheese is warranted (see what I did there HAHA laugh rn)
—The full name nickname kind of thing is a bit overdone imo, lots of “Ethan Huang” and “Lizzie Ly”.
We’re gonna start with my favs and then we’ll move into my less-than-favs.
FAVS
—At first I thought the character wants and goals were a little cut and dry, but it goes deeper throughout the story as you get to understand the characters more.
—LOVED the environment, never read a book with a cooking competition setting and all the dishes sounded scrumptious!! The imagery was so good and made me hungry lol
—The whole idea of Sweet Heat felt well developed. Normally we only think of worldbuilding for fantasy books, but I loved parts where it would talk about past seasons of the show, it made it much more believable and immersive.
—Good parallels about how food ties Lizzie’s family together while it spits Ethan’s apart. It was a good source of tension for them.
—Really liked the confessional parts where they’re getting interviewed for the show before/after challenges!
—Couple of seriously funny one liners
—One of my fav parts of their relationship was how they challenge each other to be better. There was no sabotage that messed with the relationship unnecessarily, they were actually supportive of each other.
—appreciated how I couldn’t see a lot of plot points coming!! Refreshing.
Cons
—There were a few phrases where I found it difficult to believe a teen would say that. (At least I wouldn’t.)
—Some parts got a wee bit too cheesy for me but this is a rom com so what’re we expecting, and also it’s a cooking competition so cheese is warranted (see what I did there HAHA laugh rn)
—The full name nickname kind of thing is a bit overdone imo, lots of “Ethan Huang” and “Lizzie Ly”.
August 6, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ebook in exchange for an honest review.
4/5 stars
This was such a fun read! There were a number of fun little nods to real-life cooking/baking competition shows (Hollywood Handshake, meet the Harrison High Five), which I liked. It could’ve been overdone if there were too many of them, but I think the author toes the line without going over. Both of our POV characters, Lizzie and Ethan, are very sympathetic characters and I enjoyed seeing each of their points of view.
I liked how both Lizzie and Ethan ended up with more depth to their story arcs than just “I have to win because my parental unit(s) would like it.” For Ethan, winning Sweet Heat is to try to get approval and attention from his parents, especially his unavailable father. For Lizzie, it’s a way to make her late mother proud of her… but they each discover something along the way that’s so much more than just “Yay! I won! I’m a good chef!” It would’ve been very easy for the author to just have one of them win and create the conclusion that way. I’m so glad the story went the way it did.
Think of this as homemade mac n cheese, or some sort of hearty, warming soup. It’s good, it’s nostalgic, it’s heartwarming, and it’s not complicated. It doesn’t need to be!
4/5 stars
This was such a fun read! There were a number of fun little nods to real-life cooking/baking competition shows (Hollywood Handshake, meet the Harrison High Five), which I liked. It could’ve been overdone if there were too many of them, but I think the author toes the line without going over. Both of our POV characters, Lizzie and Ethan, are very sympathetic characters and I enjoyed seeing each of their points of view.
I liked how both Lizzie and Ethan ended up with more depth to their story arcs than just “I have to win because my parental unit(s) would like it.” For Ethan, winning Sweet Heat is to try to get approval and attention from his parents, especially his unavailable father. For Lizzie, it’s a way to make her late mother proud of her… but they each discover something along the way that’s so much more than just “Yay! I won! I’m a good chef!” It would’ve been very easy for the author to just have one of them win and create the conclusion that way. I’m so glad the story went the way it did.
Think of this as homemade mac n cheese, or some sort of hearty, warming soup. It’s good, it’s nostalgic, it’s heartwarming, and it’s not complicated. It doesn’t need to be!
August 23, 2026
Slow Burn by Trinity Nguyen was the young adult cooking show competition enemies to lovers romance I needed. Besides the romance, it truly captivated vulnerability for both main characters, Lizzie Ly and Ethan Huang, in their own unique ways. I truly admired the fire and determination Lizzie had to win the competition in order to fulfill her dreams and wanting to honor her mother's memory. And as for Ethan, his drive and wanting to prove to his family that his line of work is meaningful to him was admirable. I did enjoy the playful, flirtatious banter between Lizzie and Ethan. I also enjoyed when tasked to be on the same team/work together you could just feel the chemistry and how they mesh very well. In addition to the main characters, I did enjoy the plot/setting of a cooking competition thus getting to know the side characters and their struggles really allowed me to connect to the storyline and feel like I am watching the process of the competition.
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read. Pacing wise it was great. I didn't feel like the plot was rushed or it took too long for the climax of the story. I would highly recommend this book to any young adult reader and those who are inspired for a cooking competition. Thank you NetGalley, Trinity Nguyen, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC read!
Overall, I very much enjoyed this read. Pacing wise it was great. I didn't feel like the plot was rushed or it took too long for the climax of the story. I would highly recommend this book to any young adult reader and those who are inspired for a cooking competition. Thank you NetGalley, Trinity Nguyen, and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group for this ARC read!
June 15, 2026
Slow Burn by Trinity Nguyen was a breath of fresh air in the YA genre. From the very first page I was hooked!
I've always been a huge fan of cooking competition shows. There's just something special about watching people fight for their dreams and seeing how passionate they are about food. Everything I love about watching those shows was in this book. The food competition really sets Slow Burn apart from other YA stories. Both Lizzie Ly and Ethan Huang were such great characters, and I adored that they had a passion for cooking in different ways.
Readers will easily root for both of them (maybe one more than the other haha), but both Lizzie and Ethan are so likable! They each bring charm to the story even though they are dealing with emotional trauma as well. They aren't the only two lovable characters either! I seriously loved all of the side characters, too. If you're a fan of found family stories then I think you will love this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was full of heart and a very (VERY) sweet romance! I'm a sucker for rivals-to-lovers and this one did not disappoint! I would definitely recommend Slow Burn to anyone who loves a wholesome YA story.
I've always been a huge fan of cooking competition shows. There's just something special about watching people fight for their dreams and seeing how passionate they are about food. Everything I love about watching those shows was in this book. The food competition really sets Slow Burn apart from other YA stories. Both Lizzie Ly and Ethan Huang were such great characters, and I adored that they had a passion for cooking in different ways.
Readers will easily root for both of them (maybe one more than the other haha), but both Lizzie and Ethan are so likable! They each bring charm to the story even though they are dealing with emotional trauma as well. They aren't the only two lovable characters either! I seriously loved all of the side characters, too. If you're a fan of found family stories then I think you will love this one.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book! It was full of heart and a very (VERY) sweet romance! I'm a sucker for rivals-to-lovers and this one did not disappoint! I would definitely recommend Slow Burn to anyone who loves a wholesome YA story.
August 8, 2026
I love Master Chef, culinary competitions and so coupled into a story with fantastic competitive and romantic banter? Sign me up! This book was such a fun, quick read.
Lizzie Ly and her mom loved watching the cooking competition show, Sweet Heat. She grew that passion into a culinary journey herself. After her mom passed away, her dad entered her application into the show without her knowing. While she did not think she had what it took, her dad was always so supportive and believed in her.
On the other hand, Ethan or @cookwithethan does not have the same luck with parental support. He is expected to follow in the family footsteps, attend an ivy league and enter the corporate world. On an especially hard day and touring colleges, Ethan and his father end up at the restaurant Lizzie works at. He left a (dishonest) poor review of her food. She has had a vendetta against him ever since.
They both end up on the next season of Sweet Heat and cook against each other. Eventually this turns into passion outside of the kitchen. The ending was unexpected but such a great closing!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
Lizzie Ly and her mom loved watching the cooking competition show, Sweet Heat. She grew that passion into a culinary journey herself. After her mom passed away, her dad entered her application into the show without her knowing. While she did not think she had what it took, her dad was always so supportive and believed in her.
On the other hand, Ethan or @cookwithethan does not have the same luck with parental support. He is expected to follow in the family footsteps, attend an ivy league and enter the corporate world. On an especially hard day and touring colleges, Ethan and his father end up at the restaurant Lizzie works at. He left a (dishonest) poor review of her food. She has had a vendetta against him ever since.
They both end up on the next season of Sweet Heat and cook against each other. Eventually this turns into passion outside of the kitchen. The ending was unexpected but such a great closing!
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.
Read
July 22, 2026Rivals to lovers? Cooking show vibes? Culture rep? Slow Burn by Trinity Nguyen has all of the above, and it is put together perfectly! If you love binge watching those intense cooking shows where everything good and bad happens all at once, this is the perfect read for you. I'll begin by saying how special it is to me that Lizzie Ly keeps her hobby of cooking in honor of her mother. Lizzie's passion was a very important part of the plot for me, everything Lizzie does is for her mother, which gives readers an understanding of why she wants the win so bad. Not only is Lizzie's dedication notable, so is Ethan's, the male main character. In order to prove his parents wrong, Ethan joins the show in hopes to take home the win and make them proud, until the two cross paths. If you're looking for a book filled with romantic dedication, found family, and sweet moments, I would recommend this read for you! Once again, thank you to Net galley and all publishers for this reviewing opportunity, reviews will be posted on Goodreads, Fable, TikTok, and Instagram under username bookiecookie.com!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 26, 2026
This one for all my people who tuned into master chef and master chef junior week after week. This was such a fun and quick read and really took me by surprise. I love the idea of being on a competition cooking show and just so happening to fall in love while you’re there. Food is such a personal thing but an also a beautiful connector and it’s clear that it was going to bring our two main characters together. Trinity also has such descriptive writing and had me craving foods I’ve never heard. There’s just something so earnest about YA romance and it keeps me coming back everytime. This was my first novel by Trinity Nguyen but I can’t wait to read her other book.
Thank you to edelweiss for the advanced copy!!!
Thank you to edelweiss for the advanced copy!!!
July 23, 2026
The way these two main characters play off each other makes me giddy just thinking about it. The chemistry, the vibe, and most importantly… the food. It was such a fun read from the first to last page, and the mixed media kept it so fresh. I only wish I could read it for the first time again… and try Ethan’s omelette.
May 20, 2026
automatic 5 stars for this queen
August 17, 2026
trinity you genius
lizzie is a perfect firecracker of a protagonist
lizzie is a perfect firecracker of a protagonist
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews