Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was super excited to read this debut novel for its interesting, fresh concept and its diversity. I enjoyed the mental health, neurodivergence, and plus size representation. The romance fell flat for me as I felt that the two main characters didn’t have much chemistry and contrary to the title, they felt very insta-lusty. It took me a little bit to get into the story, and from there the plot never really picked up for me and it was definitely a slow read because of that.

A strong 4.25 star read for me!!! I was so blown away by the beauty of this book in the way that it combined heavier topics and dealing with healing after loss with a light rom com feel. It was SO well done and was such a fun read.

One of my favorite things about this book was the chemistry and growth in Ellie and Kieran's relationship. It didn't feel forced, and it truly felt like a build over a long time that lead to them falling for each other. I am a huge fan of enemies to lovers, and their banter in the beginning of this book sold me right away. But then having it written with such a strong build vs more insta love was absolutely perfect. I felt their relationship grow, I felt and understood their need to be with each other, and I felt all of their emotions through the entire story. It was just incredible.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this book!

I love this cover! This was a cute story and I love chef stories for some reason. I hope to read more from this author

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advance reader copy of The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain.

Ellie is assigned to be Kieran’s ghostwriter for his upcoming cookbook. These two are opposites who start off on the wrong foot but as they work together, their relationship and attraction develops. Ellie and Kieran are two really well written and developed characters. The journey they both go on in this book is written in such a real way. And when these two finally get together, they are absolutely perfect for each other!!

I think this an incredible debut for Sarah Chamberlain and I'm excited to check out future books.

Ellie is a young widow and cookbook ghostwriter who's content with her well-ordered life. When she accepts a commission to help reality-show-winning chef Kieran write a cookbook, she is quickly frustrated by his resistance and the chaos that seems to follow him. Of course Kieran has Reasons for his reluctance to work with Ellie, and both of them are dealing with some big things.

I love a good food romance, and this one delivers. You'll definitely want to stock up on some quality takeout and fresh ingredients before you start reading.

Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for the ARC to review. All opinions are my own.

Ellie is a planner. She knows the details and gets things done. Kieran is not. And when Ellie is assigned as Kieran’s ghostwriter for his forthcoming cookbook, things don’t look promising. When Ellie’s boss sends them away for the week (no, there’s not only one bed), they learn that there’s more than they originally thought to each other.

Delightful supporting cast of best friends and in-laws. Slow burn, enemies to lovers, grief and disability rep, an absolute treat to watch Ellie and Kieran grow together.

<spoiler>And oh my gosh - where can I get a blood orange?! HOT! </spoiler>

I was provided a complimentary e-galley on NetGalley by St Martins Griffin in exchange for an honest review.

So much emotion and obstacles to over come, actually made this book a “slow burn”. I found myself saying “ come on, let’s get this going”. I liked the exchange between Kieran and Ellie, as both are caught in their own misery. The story, in places bogged, then I would hit a place that was a joy to read. This is a good, enjoyable read, great for the beach or vacation.

I loved this heartwarming novel. Just like the title , the romance is a slow-burn. The characters' feelings develop organically, It's a simple story, but one that stays with you long after the last page. I really enjoyed getting invested in the story a feeling connected to the characters. Highly recommend for a summer read!

Thank you net galley for this digital Arc!

💖 Thank you to NetGalley and Author Sarah Chamberlain for this advanced reader copy! 💖

Title: The Slowest Burn
Author: Sarah Chamberlain
Release Date: September 24, 2024

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️

Tropes:

🍴 Dual POV
🍴 Enemies to Lovers
🍴 Slow Burn (duh)
🍴 Forced Proximity
🍴 Open Door Romance!

This ARC was the most anticipated read from my NetGalley TBR! I have really been getting into the Food Network (lol) and I just finished watching Next Level Chef season 3. I figured once the show wrapped up, would be a good time to start the book.

I absolutely adored the chemistry between Ellie and Kieran, I was rooting for them from the beginning. The plot was predictable but unique at the same time, which I really loved. Ghostwriter and Chef were two MC’s I didn’t know that I needed!! The couple's banter really had me kicking my feet at some points.

I have to say that my favourite part of the book was the side-plot of the ex MIL, Diane, and Ellie. Sarah did a great job at bringing in the hard, dark emotions of losing a loved one at a young age. I found myself sometimes with a tear trickling out, but more than once in a full out sob. I loved reading and following along on Ellie’s journey with grief, and overcoming her personal struggles.

I encourage anyone interested in an easy, five-star read, to pick up The Slowest Burn on release day! 🍴💖

#NetGalley #ARCReader #OpenDoorRomance #TheSlowestBurn #BooksBooksBooks #Bookstagram #CurrentlyReading #Kobo #Ebook #MMC #FMC #Bookshelf #ReadingGoals

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.

🖤Work place romance
🖤Opposites attract
🖤He falls first
🖤Dual perspective

One thing to appreciate is that this book doesn't stray away from discussing mental health. Ellie is a young widow and her grief she experiences is raw and real.

Kerian's character was not a favorite of mine at the beginning, however he does grow on you as the story progresses.

The chemistry between the two main characters felt a bit forced to me.

Thank you to netgalley and publisher for allowing me to advance read.

I liked this book and my outward facing reviews say why (GR: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6444892979, YT: https://youtu.be/KTjimqgv0nY?si=xbw4vBZgdGyC7B97&t=614). I tagged this one as: would-read-again, and need-physical-copy

Review on the writing:
Sometimes the tone of the writing wasn't the most polished, especially during the dialogue. I would notice the dialogue sometimes felt basic but then when Sarah gets descriptive, she's so good, almost poetic. I'm sorry I didn't note specific passages to reference with this feedback. I noticed the tonal inconsistencies when reading, but overall, I think those less perfect parts suit a story about a guy with ADHD and a girl who is figuring out how to stand up for herself and want for herself.

The sarcasm/dry humor Ellie uses could be misconstrued. Why would it be a "surprise of the century" that Kieran didn't like formal clothes, if all you ever saw him in was t-shirts and jeans? I get dry humor but some people don't get non-obvious speech. It might have been more helpful to some readers to either: a) be direct and say, "it wasn't surprising that...". Or if Ellie says "well that's a surprise" in a deadpan manner. There was another place earlier in the book where she used sarcasm/dry humor and it is very American and may be confusing for folks from other cultures. Using sarcasm isn't the issue, I just think it's helpful to call it out with narration or another tool, for example, so you don't risk any reader getting confused. For example, the sarcasm of the tailor during Kieran's suit fitting was perfect, as it was transparent and called out, even.

Copyedit note:
Chapter 13, first sentence, I don't think the "on" after "cafe" should be there?

Thanks for the ARC!

Ellie and Kieran; Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter (I'd never actively thought about this as a profession but it makes sense that it exists) and Kieran is a young celebrity chef. Both have their own issues. Buttoned-up Ellie who craves safety and stability (neglectful parents, cared for younger brother who's now absent-minded and self-absorbed/entitled, still caring for her parents-in-law after her husband's death; used to her caretaking role but no one is taking care of her). Chaotic and energetic Kieran who struggles with attention issues (perfectionist and distant parents, recovering and sober, surface romantic relationships). I feel like there were a lot of tropes going on here (fake dating, opposites attract, Ellie even mocks the "only one bed" trope at one point). The misunderstanding/poor communication trope was overused, especially in the beginning of the book, although thankfully it got better. It's not my favorite trope because I find it frustrating. I get why Ellie and Kieran are reluctant to open themselves up, and it's somewhat realistic, but it's still a bit aggravating as a plot device. It was nice to see how Ellie and Kieran complemented one another. Both of them were trying to find a way to want and have more out of their lives, and they each helped the other in getting there. The story was also a nice statement about found family, surrounding yourself with the family you want rather than what you were born in to. This is a dual first-person POV story, which I enjoyed as it gave it more depth so that we could have insights into both of them. The writing was fine, this was a quick read that had some darker themes but ultimately an HEA. I guess my issue with these kinds of books is that they're predictable. The characters were likable and relatable, but there wasn't much new here. Kieran's inner voice had some humor, which I did enjoy. This was a new-to-me author; I'd read her again but probably wouldn't seek her out. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story in exchange for my objective review.

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.

To begin with, I absolutely loved the book cover and the premise of the book. The story started on a solid note with Ellie, a cookbook ghostwriter, meeting Kieran, the winner of a reality TV show. It quickly becomes clear that these two are as different as chalk and cheese. While Ellie is organized and focused on moving out and buying a house, Kieran is still trying to figure out his next steps after gaining fame from the show. The book follows these two as they gradually develop a tentative friendship that eventually blossoms into deeper feelings.

I think debut writer Sarah Chamberlain has a unique voice and fresh style that shines through in her storytelling.

However, I found the pacing of the plot to be slow at times, and the writing style occasionally felt choppy. Despite these minor issues, the book is a decent read with a fresh plot that will appeal to many readers!

Thank you Netgalley for providing me with this ARC.

Where to start with this book? First off, you have two main characters who went through a form of trauma growing up and this shapes them to be how they are in the book. They come off very snotty, entitled, stubborn and a bit bratty. I love how Kieran fell for Ellie first. Even though he hated her guts, there's no denying that he was into her the moment they met. The storyline went very smoothly. I thought they were gonna fall in love when the "forced proximity" was put in place, but i think it was more of them discovering and getting to understand each other better. I found the story lacking further details about Kieran's past when it almost seemed like it would be a focal point (ei. sobriety, scars, him getting in deep trouble, etc). Ellie, on the other hand, is such a strong FMC. She had to grow up at such a young age that her maturity is quite immaculate. Having to take care of people is hard and it's even harder when it's the people you love. Another thing that bothered me was, I felt like Kieran should have gotten some heat for telling Diane about Ellie's plan. It wasn't his place and he kind of just got away with it. The ending was ok. I'm not much into the female being the one taking charge to proclaim their love. However, I definitely got very hungry while reading this book, so be warned, it will make you have cravings! Very cute book and a super easy read.

Thank you to St.Martin's Press and Net Galley for a digital ARC copy of this book in exchange for a review.

I enjoyed this cute romance com. The duel POV . Ellie and Kieren were very cute. He falls first. Live and food... 2 of my favorite things..

Kieran just won a cooking TV show and has a book deal. A book he has to work for with his ghostwriter Ellie. She is 30 and pationate about food and a widow. They must learn to work together, cook together, until they fall for each other.
It was a sweet book about cooking, loving food and family. I found some parts a little long at the beginning. I liked the relationship between the two main characters and also the story with the secondary one.
I recommend this book to everyone who enjoy cooking and romance.

4.5 ⭐️

This was so cute and emotional I was giddy from start to finish!!
I absolutely loved the way grief is treated in this book how you can see three representation of it and very different from one another. Also anxiety is well represented and because of that I think this book has great representation (there’s also LGBTQA+ rep). The romance was, as the title said, a slow burn that made so much sense. The third act breakup as well made a lot of sense and I love how the characters learn to go through their fears in a logical way. Nothing is brushed off in this book and it’s super refreshing because even though it’s a happy silly romance book it’s has serious undertones to it and it’s so important to know that love is a struggle but it’s worth it !

At the heart of the story is Ellie Wasserman, a meticulous ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks, whose orderly life is disrupted by the arrival of Kieran O'Neill, an irreverent chef known for his culinary prowess and chaotic charm. Their initial clash of personalities—Ellie's cool efficiency versus Kieran's laid-back spontaneity—sets the stage for a sizzling dynamic as they're thrown together to collaborate on Kieran's debut cookbook.

As they labor side by side, their professional partnership evolves into a passionate romance, igniting long-buried desires and challenging them to confront their painful pasts. Through steamy days and even steamier nights, Ellie and Kieran embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing, discovering that love can be as sharp as it is sweet.