I enjoyed this cooking rom com complete with ghost writing a cookbook for an disorganized chef. But of course my favorite part of the book was the banter between Ellie and Kieran.

3.75 star

Dual POV
Slow Burn
Widow
ADHD/dyslexia

Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter who's husband has passed away. She currently lives with her In laws and she is also raising her younger brother.

Kieran is a chef who has won a popular cooking tv show. After going viral his agent now wants him to put out his own cookbook. Due to his ADHD and Dyslexia he is nervous about working on this cookbook.

Ellie and Kieran are paired up to work on this cookbook together. They both have different styles which causes them to butt heads. They are opposites and Kieran does not tell her about his issues. Ellie is unimpressed with Kieran and He thinks she is bossy and judgmental. But you know they say opposites attract and these two ending up liking each other more than either one of them thought.

Both characters are working on building themselves. Kieran is working on building his career and Ellie is trying to move on from the loss of her husband.

This was a slow burn and I loved the Dual POV and the way he kissed her hand and made her his top priority was Chef's Kiss!!!

This book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters and the writing was a bit choppy. First off, Ellie and Kieran felt like a weird combo to put together. Maybe it works for others, but I just didn’t jive with their vibes. Plus, Kieran says some of the strangest things. I couldn’t get the cottage yoga part of the book where Ellie asked him if he’s seen a fat woman do yoga before and what do you think he says?! Straight up NO. Not “oh you’re not fat”, or “I’ve never seen a person do a handstand for yoga”. Just No. 🤦🏻‍♀️
I’m a big fan of romance brewing in the kitchen, there’s some good ones out there! I just did not connect or feel the need to cook anything after reading this.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ebook about which I will give my honest opinion.

This was a slow read to be clear. It's cute but there's not too much substance here. Enjoyable, like cotton candy, but won't stick with you long.

"The Slowest Burn" is about force-proximity romance about two wounded people who find strength in each other's orbits.

Ellie Wasserman is a young widow who has spent her entire life taking care of other people. Neglected as a child, she had to learn to take care of herself and her younger brother at a very young age since no one else would. And that meant that it's been engrained into her that her worth is tied up in what she has to offer others. She rarely ever thinks about what might make her happy, mostly because she doesn't believe she's worth it.

Kieran O’Neill is a dyslexic chef whose family has never understood his learning difficulty or his ADHD, so he's always been made to feel "less than" by those who should have been doing what they could to get him the help he needed.

When these two are paired up to work on a cookbook project together, they're like oil and water at first. Ellie's organization is an anathema to Kieran's puppy-like chaos. Yet when they are forced to take a week away to focus solely on the book, they begin to find common ground as they get to know one another and begin creatively partnering with one another. After a while, they each see that the thing that irritated them about the other is actually a superpower.

This is a sweet story about defining our own self-worth, setting boundaries, and being willing to be happy. I must also add that the romance is open-door and spicy, which is a detraction for me. I much prefer closed-door romances. But if you like the spice, this story has plenty of it.

Thank you to Sarah Chamberlain, the publisher, and NetGalley for an advance review copy.

The title definitely fits this book, and I really enjoyed it. This felt deeper than a lot of romance books, as we learn that Ellie is a young widow and is still reeling from the death of her husband a few years prior. Kiernan is a hotshot chef and their worlds collide. I liked how this was told in alternating perspectives and that we really saw the development of their relationship from ghostwriter and author who don't see eye to eye, to something more meaningful and deep. I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this one and how they helped move the story along. This was definitely a slow burn, but I really enjoyed it!

I requested this one because I thought the cover was super pretty but truly, I don't even like slow burns so idk what I was even doing here. Unfortunately, no longer interested in reading this title. Thank you for the opportunity to be an early reader!

This was a first time read for me by this author. It's a heartwarming, enemies-to-lovers romance that mixes humor, tension, and emotional depth. Kieran is a young, successful chef, and Ellie is a grieving widow with her own dreams. They are forced to work together on a cookbook. Their contrasting personalities—Kieran's chaotic energy and Ellie's meticulous nature—lead to plenty of friction, but as their deadline approaches, sparks undoubtedly fly. The chemistry between them is undeniable. Both are dealing with personal baggage and unfulfilled dreams, making their journey toward love both heartfelt and relatable.
The story was enjoyable and entertaining with well-crafted characters. The blend of humor, wit, and heartfelt moments makes the eventual romance feel satisfying and earned.
I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

I was not able to finish this book. I just didn’t vibe with it like I had hoped. I did not connect with the characters or the writing unfortunately. I genuinely appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book.

My thoughts on this book are all over the place. It was a slow burn for sure but not the slowest burn which I appreciated. The middle of this book was the strongest for me. I struggled to get through the beginning and I felt like there was something missing from the end. Kieran and Ellie’s relationship had so many things going against it that I felt relieved by the time they finally got together. I was happy with the character growth of both main characters. Overall it was an enjoyable read.

THIS BOOK! Ah, this book was so so much fun. I loved the characters so much. I think that Ellie and Kieran so perfectly balance each other out. I loved watching them fall together as they worked through their issues because of the way that they were together. I loved watching them both genuinely grow to be the best versions of themselves and believe the best of themselves because the other one treated them like they already were that version of themselves. That's a big sentence lol. I loved both Kieran and Ellie. I thought they were such well-written characters, so fleshed out, and so amazing and I loved getting to know them both. It was so interesting to see them in relation to each other vs the other people in their lives and see how they gave each other the opportunity to grow in a safe space.

I loved watching Ellie actually deal with her grief and fear when it came to writing her own book while finding out that there is more for her than her co-dependency with her inlaws, perpetually being a ghostwriter, and pleasing everyone in her life except for her by being in a healthy relationship with Kieran. I also loved watching Kieran finally believe that he could be in a committed relationship and have more faith and worth in himself than was given to him by his family by being with Ellie.

This was definitely a slow burn but in the best way possible. It was such a heartwarming, hopeful, and wholesome read and I was just so happy the entire time reading this. Would HIGHLY recommend.

I am very thankful to have been gifted a copy of this book; however, at this point this book will be moving to my DNF shelf. It sounds like something I would have really enjoyed, and will happily come back and re-review once I am in a better mindset for the book.

After winning a cooking reality TV show, being on track to open a new restaurant, and getting a cookbook deal Kieran should be on top of the world. But his ADHD is making things challenging, he has a complicated relationship with his family, and he cannot get along with his ghostwriter. Ellie needs to finish this cookbook with Kieran, but he never responds to her emails. She’s stuck in life - a 30-year-old widow living with her in-laws ghostwriting instead of living out her dreams. The two need to come together to create this cookbook.
This book truly is the slowest burn, I wasn’t sure when Ellie and Kieran would get out of the enemies stage and into the lovers part of the story. But it was so worth it when they did. Their banter was incredible, and I loved all the cooking that was involved. This story handled some tough topics such as dealing with ADHD, moving through grief, childhood trauma, and substance abuse in a way that was very meaningful. While this story was heavy at times, the way Ellie and Kieran dealt with their trauma was handled beautifully.
Hunter Johns and Kate Handford did a phenomenal job narrating the audiobook and bringing these characters to life. I loved listening to the story.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance copy.

This was a cute story. Kinda expected. Kinda slow (in my opinion) but a laid back read when you want something to take your time and enjoy.

Love could be a recipe for disaster, and so could picking up this book (unless 2D characters and lack of chemistry takes the cake for you). The cover is cute though.

I'm love a good dual POV romance and this one was amazing. I binged it in a day and really enjoyed the anticipation between Ellie and Kieran.

Thanks so much for the early digital copy of this one!

I thoroughly enjoyed The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain. It is an incredibly engaging and heartfelt story. The title perfectly describes the book's pace—a slow and steady build filled with tension, emotional depth, and meaningful moments.

The characters are wonderfully developed, and their chemistry feels authentic and captivating. I loved watching their journey unfold; every interaction drew me further into the story. Chamberlain’s writing style is smooth and vivid, making it easy to get lost in the world she created.

If you love stories with well-written characters, emotional depth, and genuine romance, The Slowest Burn is worth picking up.

The Slowest Burn, by Sarah Chamberlain, is the story of Ellie Wasserman, a young widow and cookbook ghost writer, and young hotshot chef and reality cooking show winner Kieran O’Neill.

The story follows the pair as they work together, and at odds, completing his cookbook while exploring hard topics such as grief, learning disabilities, emotional distress, and does so with heart and humor. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

I loved the slow burn in this book! I loved how the characters relationship developed and how the story alternated between their POVs. I wish the plot had a little more going to it but overall a great read that I definitely recommend picking up!

I think this was my first by this author - I really liked the story & the characters. I listened to the audiobook and I didn't love the narrators, but I did like this book a lot.