I actually don’t remember what drew me to this book when I first saw it, but whatever it was I’m so happy it did. It is such a sweet opposites attract romance.
Kieran O’Neill and Ellie Wasserman have nothing in common. He’s 27, has ADHD, and is allergic to commitment and she’s 30, lives by a plan, and is a widow who is taking care of her in-laws. When Kieran’s agent gets him a book deal and Ellie is hired to ghostwrite it the two realize they are more prone to fighting than testing recipes.
I’m not a big fan of spicy bedroom scenes and while the door is definitely open, the spiciness is not over the top. I loved all of the characters and the beautiful descriptions of San Francisco and the food Ellie and Kieran made. This is Sarah Chamberlain’s first book and I hope it’s the first of many.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this. I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it. The Slowest Burn hit the shelves on September 24th.

This book fell short for me. The fake dating just didn’t work, Ellie & Kieran didn’t work. And there were to many tropes, like the author threw everything against the wall & picked what stuck.

This one is for the slow-burn romance lovers who are willing to endure a bit of agony (in the best way possible) while waiting for the characters to *finally* admit their feelings.

The chemistry between Ellie and Kieran was off the charts—so much tension and angst, it kept me hooked. Every shared glance, lingering touch, and accidental brush of hands had me internally screaming, "Just kiss already!" But instead of rushing, Chamberlain lets the romance simmer until it’s absolutely undeniable.

What I loved most was how well-rounded the characters were. Their banter was sharp and funny, and their personal growth throughout the book felt so natural. The way the author sprinkled in vulnerable moments between all the swoony tension was chef’s kiss.

If I had one complaint, it would be that the pacing occasionally dragged in the middle. There were times when I felt like the story could’ve moved just a bit faster, but honestly, by the time I got towards the end, I forgot all about it. The payoff was 100% worth it.

Oh this book gave me ALL the butterflies! Enemies to coworkers to friends to lovers. What a beautiful whirlwind! Kieran and Ellie are complete opposites, who truly balance each other out in the best way. This was a beautiful story that not only made me feel warmth and love, but it also approached the harder topics in life such as grief, abandonment, self doubt, etc. but in the most tender way. I loved everything about The Slowest Burn and I am so thankful to Sarah Chamberlain and Netgalley for this ARC in exchanges for my honest (and raving) review :)

This was adorable! I don’t usually find myself drawn to opposites attract romances but The Slowest Burn absolutely hit different. I adored watching Ellie’s character develop and truly enjoyed getting to know Kieran. The chemistry between these two characters was off the charts and I was absolutely rooting for them. I think this author did a fantastic job creating Ellie and Kieran, as well as the accurate depiction of grief. I’m definitely looking forward to more from this author and will be keeping an eye out for her next book.

Thank you to Griffin, NetGalley, and the author for sending me an early copy!

I have been provided with a review copy of The Slowest Burn from NetGalley for an impartial review. I just absolutely had so much fun getting to go along on these characters journey. I was just swept away and I just absolutely can’t get enough of this series or its wonderful characters. This author just has a way of drawing you in with her wonderful stories and you just can’t get enough of them. I can’t wait to see what’s next from this author.

A great read, the story of Ellie and Kieran. She is the ghost writer for his cookbook if she can get him to start work. I liked how it was told from both points of view. An opposites attract romance.

Stop I loved this! Ellie and Kieran trying to work together after a rough first couple of meetings but finding a way to write together without killing each other was perfection. Their banter had me laughing, their secrets had me melting, him defending her to her brother and ex mother in law had me cheering. Everything about this book was amazing

Generally, slow burns aren't my thing, however this absolutely was! And truth be told, the title of slowest burn is misleading because the burn on this romance develops at a pace that works really well. What I loved about the story of Kieran (a reality TV show star who's writing a cookbook) and Ellie (the ghostwriter for said cookbook) was how that it was a story about them, but it was really a story about a whole lot of layers that they each navigated. It was about the cookbook and their work to build it and the romance they found along the way, but it was also about their people and figuring out where they each fit into life now, while also having some heavy pasts. I was rooting for their love, but I was rooting for them as they figured out their individual paths just as hard. Thanks to NetGalley for the look at this September 2024 release.

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?

Loved it

This is a really nice, well written romance. I liked the characters a lot, I wasn't annoyed by stupid plot devices to drag out any angst or misunderstanding. I enjoyed it.

A solid read. I enjoyed the plot and thought it was very original. Things I appreciated about the book: real-life struggles, believable timeline, supporting characters, Kieran and Ellie’s character arch’s, the very sweet father/daughter relationship, the unusually large cat, the slow burn and moderate level of spice. Things I didn’t love: 95% of people viewing Ellie as a doormat and her allowing it, people viewing Kieran as a joke and him allowing it, the 3rd act breakup, no follow up on the bosses after the workplace blow up’s (I want them to suffer slightly), limited variation in settings, and not hearing how the rest of Ellie’s books went. Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for an early copy in exchange for this honest review.

Kieran has always wanted to be a chef. Having just won first place on a reality cooking show, his career is on the rise. He has one more hurdle to feel like he's made it. He's got to complete a cook book. His ADHD makes concentration and organization difficult. Not to mention the uncomfortable, uptight ghostwriter who has been chosen to help him with the book.

Ellie is a young widow still trying to get her life on track. She lives in a small cottage behind her in laws home, ghostwriting cook books and hoping to save enough money to buy her own place. Getting this book out with Kieran might just put her over the top. But the unorganized, frustrating young chef is making her job difficult.

Both Kieran and Ellie are searching for themselves. Maybe, if they find a way to work together, they can each find what they're working for.

I was really taken by this book. The story took time to develop, but it also provides a chance to really get to know the characters, to become absorbed in their lives, in the problems they face, the frustrations they need to get past in their efforts to move on. While Kieran has to contend with demanding, perfectionist parents who expect things Kieran can't give them, Ellie is trying to make extract herself from a clinging mother in law who hangs on to Ellie in an effort to keep her son alive.

Once Kieran and Ellie take the time to know each other, the story really takes off. I love the way Ellie found a creative way to overcome Kieran's unique problems, giving him confidence and courage to move on. While Kieran shows Ellie the freedom in living for herself, in letting go and just enjoying life.

The romance is a slow burn, but it's tender and sweet, but never overshadows the characters' development and growth. The chemistry between Kieran and Ellie is never explosive, but simmers under the surface. The slow evolution of their relationship makes it that much more poignant.

Somehow books with chef MCs automatically pique my interest.

This was a really sweet slow burn (yes, the title is true) romance. Ellie is widowed and in a stagnant situation with her in-laws, while Kieran is a chef working to be taken more seriously in his work while managing and his ADHD and dyslexia. Together, they shift from enemies-to-lovers and create a meaningful relationship through the work on Kieran's cookbook.

I did find that there was some timeline jumping, not in the sense that there were gaps in plot, but they would make an advancement in work or in their relationship, then the next scene would be weeks or months later. It didn't take away from the story, but it was done frequently enough for me to continually notice it.

Also a moment for the stunning cover art!

Excited to read more from Sarah Chamberlain in the future!

This was such a fun cute read. I loved every second of it. I loved how they worked off each other they meshed well and this is another one where you need to start over and build your life but how do you do it without upsetting people.

This was a perfect moment for this book just side tip don't read when your hungry. haha

Thank you NetGalley for this Audio Arc in Exchange for my honest review.

I liked this book, but I didn't love it. I enjoyed learning about Ellie and Kieran, and how they came together. I enjoyed the evolution of their relationship as well. However, I struggled with how slow the story moved, which made me feel less engaged. I usually like a more fast paced read, so that was hard for me.

Regardless, I did like this book, and I think others will too. It was good, it just wasn't amazing for me personally.

While The Slowest Burn did not capture or hold my attention in the beginning, I have decided to take pause on my reading and pick it up at a later date. When discussing with other readers I give a light suggestion such as "haven't read it yet, but would recommend based on other reviews". Looking forward to posting a more thorough review once I finish!

I really enjoyed this book! It's set in San Fransisco and the setting adds just enough to the book without overwhelming it. I felt like I was there with the characters. While this book features main characters that are a chef and a cookbook ghostwriter; I found that cooking and food were wonderful side characters. They were a central part of the story but in the best possible way; the recipes are described but not in so much detail that the reader feels bogged down.

Ellie is a young widow who is so very afraid to take any chances in life; she is all about safe choices and staying in her lane. She is hired to ghost write the cookbook of the hottest new chef on the scene (and recent winner of a reality cooking show). Keiran is 5'6", has red hair, and is dyslexic. He is hot but he's not the prototypical romantic lead we usually see in contemporary romance. He is a recovering addict and needs someone to believe in him and love him in all his innate chaos.

I thought the plot flowed well. We get good character growth and the third act breakup felt believable to me and not forced.

Towards the end it got a little too sappy and lovey-dovey but it was such a sweet story and I was really rooting for these characters!

BOOK REVIEW: The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain
2024 Publication Date: September 24

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

T.I.M.E. Best Books By Genre | Contemporary Romance
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books Of 2024

Pages: 328
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Sub-Genre: Love After Loss Romance | Steamy Romance
T.I.M.E. Jalapeno Rating:️ 🌶🌶 (Medium Spicy)
Time Period: Contemporary
Location: San Francisco, CA (US)
Publisher: St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin

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All my book reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at thisismyeverybody.com/blog/what-book-should-i-read

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

Unfortunately this was a DNF for me, I had to stop at 72%. I tried to push through, but I couldn’t do it. I HATED how the main guy, Kieran marketed himself as “a little leprechaun” or something like that. I know this had a specific purpose, but I couldn’t get over it. This was such a huge ick factor for me. And then a lot of the other parts were either boring or unrealistic. I don’t remember much else about the book, just that I didn’t like it and it was impossible to get through.