The Slowest Burn lives up to its name and is definitely a slow burn but once you get to the heart of the romance, it’s totally worth the buildup. I loved the culinary aspect added and I want my own copy of Nourish!

One aspect I really enjoyed about this book is neither Ellie or Kieran were perfect and that was 100% acknowledged and dealt with throughout the book. I loved the ending and was so happy with how things came together.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I thoroughly enjoyed this tale of Ellie and Kieran, two people who don't really want to like each other but ultimately, well, fall in love. Ellie is a widow still struggling with grief three years after the death of her husband and she's been hired to help write Kieran's cookbook. This could easily have gone another way but Chamberlain gives a sensitive portrait of both of them- and of Ellie's in laws. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

The Slowest Burn has one of the most beautiful covers I've ever seen. Beautiful story too. Ellie is a ghost writer. Kieran is a chef. They are thrown together when she agrees to write his cookbook. I'll admit that at first I didn't warm to either mc. But this wonderfully told story uncovered many layers of these complex characters, and I started to love them. Ellie has a lot of grief to wade through, and we are right there with her. And FLOYD THE ADORABLE CAT.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I loved this book so much! It’s a feel good book that also delves into deeper issues. It’s a super cute enemies to lovers but with a unique plot. The banter and chemistry was shown through out the book and I really enjoyed the friendship building and the time line. I was very well written. Thank you St Martin Press and Netgalley for the ARC!

I was really drawn to this book because of the cover. In practice though I struggled to connect with the plot and ended up not finishing it. Thank you for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

This book is a shot straight to the heart! It is sweet, heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, sad, sexy and everything in between! It is a slow burn (play on title not intended, but it is the best description) that builds to a hot and spicy romance. The characters are so realistic that they feel like fully fleshed out people in realistic setting that enhances the storyline as it unfolds. You don't feel as if you are reading a story, but rather are living it along with the characters. The narration on the audiobook brings the emotions and personalities of the characters more fully to life making the emotions that you feel along with the characters even more impactful. You feel his frustration with other's views of his dyslexia and ADHD issues as well as the heart crushing issue of her abandonment fears while recovering from the death of her spouse. She tries so hard to make everyone happy to the detriment of herself, while he is used to focusing on just getting through the day in a manner that is best for him. Toss their baggage in a blender and you have the heartstring pulling book that this author has written. Seriously realistic and impactful. I can definitely see this book becoming a book club favorite in no time at all! Whether you choose to read the book yourself or have it narrated for you via audio, this book will not disappoint! This author has definitely shot to the top of my must watch for more books from list!

A delightful blend of romance and culinary chaos. Kieran O'Neill, a newly crowned cooking show champion, seems to have it all, yet struggles to impress his family and manage his ADHD. His ghostwriter, Ellie Wasserman, is navigating her own challenges as a young widow living with her demanding in-laws. Together, they must finish a cookbook that could change their lives, but the real recipe here is the simmering tension between them.

While it wasn't exactly my cup of tea, I found the characters' chemistry and growth heartwarming. Their journey toward love, set against the backdrop of their culinary aspirations, was cute and engaging. If you're in the mood for a light, sweet read about second chances and finding connection amidst chaos, this one’s worth a try!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the arc!

This was a fun friends to lovers, forced proximity, dual POV romance debut between a dyslexic chef with ADHD and the ghostwriter widow who is tasked with helping him write a cookbook. I loved the disability rep in this book, the passion both protagonists share for food and their undeniable chemistry. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Business casual by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Thank you for the advanced copy! I was truly captivated by the premise of this book, but I found it challenging to stay engaged as the pacing felt a bit slow for my taste. I did appreciate Ellie’s journey through grief and her relationship with her in-laws; that aspect was beautifully portrayed. However, I struggled to connect with Ellie and Kieran’s dynamic, which left me feeling a bit detached from their story.

Publication: September 24th, 2024

Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What an absolutely stunning debut!

Ellie Wasserman likes to keep her life organized; honestly, that's how she prefers it. She’s a top ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks. Still, ever since losing her husband three years ago, she's been avoiding risks—whether it’s writing her cookbook, telling her in-laws (who are still grieving) that she’s ready to move out, or even dipping her toe into the dating world. And let's be real, dating feels as overwhelming as a recipe with fifty steps.

Kieran O'Neill is anything but organized. As a rising star chef who made his mark on a reality TV competition, he's known for cracking jokes and leaving chaos in his wake—a fact his distant family never lets him forget. The only place he feels truly in control is in the kitchen. But when he's teamed up with a no-nonsense ghostwriter with cool blue eyes and curves that catch him off guard, she cuts through his jokester facade as easily as a paring knife slices through an orange peel.

The side characters truly brought this story to life, especially Ben—what a dream father-in-law, He added such warmth and heart to the story. The writing itself was a wonderful mix of humor and emotion. I’m already excited to see what the author comes up with next!

Thank You Netgalley and ST. Martins Press

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

When Ellie is contracted to ghost write hot shot chef Kieran O'Neill's cookbook she immediately at odds with the playboy who can't seem to take anything seriously when he's not in the kitchen.

This was a cute romcom! Here's what I liked:

Ellie: I found her interesting. She's in her 30's and still getting over the death of her husband. Her journey is a good one. The golden retriever energy of Kieran is perfect for helping her along as well. The most interesting thing though was her relationship with her former in-laws. I really loved seeing how close they still were.

Enemies to Lovers: Always top tier! This one was interesting because these two really didn't get along. Being so opposite of each other, it was hard for them to really accept those differences.

On the other side, I did think the pacing was a bit off. The beginning dragged a little but it sped right up after they got together.

All in all, a good romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

A spicy romance that starts in the kitchen - aspiring chef Kieran meets his match with cookbook author / recipe developer Ellie. One focused on driving his career, the other equally focused to lose herself amidst a tragic loss a couple of years prior. Throw in cats, family dynamics and personal struggles - and some great scenery to make you feel like you are there!

Thank you to Netgalley and to St. Martin's Press for the ARC.

Wow - what an impressive debut! Kiernan and Ellie were ADORABLE. So different yet perfect for each other and watching them fall in love but pretend it was just a "light" friends-with-benefits arrangement was such fun! I adored all the side characters but especially Ben. What a dream father-in-law! The Jewish rep was an extra treat. Honestly, this book was so beautifully written, funny, and sexy with the perfect amount of steam (in my opinion). It's hard to believe it's a debut and I can't wait to read the author's next book.

3.5. I ended up enjoying The Slowest Burn much more than I expected. I thought it was going to be a slog to get through after the first few chapters, but I ended up getting pulled in. Along with the romance, both main characters go through a lot of personal growth. Particularly the FMC, Ellie, who works on becoming her own person, after realizing she had allowed herself to be molded by those around her because love had always been conditional.

I wanted to love this book, perhaps because the cover is stunning. However, the book itself didn't work for me. I didn't find the romance very compelling, and the writing sometimes felt awkward to me.

One aspect of the book that I was initially intrigued by was Ellie being a young widow, which is not something I've seen much in romance. I ultimately felt a bit let down because there was a lot of Max (the husband who died) vs. Keiran (the main male character) talk, but not much time to really explore it. I came away feeling like the book was arguing that Keiran was a better fit for Ellie than Max, which I didn't love, nor do I necessarily think the author was trying to say.

I enjoyed reading about Ellie's job as a ghostwriter for cookbooks, which isn't something I'd ever thought about before.

3.5 stars.

It took me quite a bit of time to warm up to Ellie and Kieran in Sarah Chamberlain's "The Slowest Burn." The title does not lie, people! This book really *is* a slow burn, to the point where I was worried about the chemistry blossoming between the main characters! When the chemistry finally comes, it is palpable. Ellie and Kieran are both people who have been jaded by life for one reason or another. They are imperfect people with lots of flaws, and they are unsure of their place in the world. They are polar opposites, but somehow, they work together. They have some fantastic banter with one another. I thought a lot of the reasons for them not getting together were a bit silly. Still, this is a heartfelt story that I enjoyed reading. I love a novel that involves cooking, and this one made my mouth water as Kieran and Ellie work together to write his cookbook. This story also deals with heavier subjects like substance abuse, ADHD, loss, grief, and childhood trauma. It is much heavier than I expected. I will say, the pacing of this book is frequently off. I think it could have been a little shorter and a little faster. A solid debut and a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Chamberlain, St. Martin's Press, and St. Martin's Griffin for the complimentary ARC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

the best part of this book is the cover. I have tried and tried and tried to get into this book but I just can't. Its pace is glacial (should have known that from the cover) and I feel no chemistry between the two leads. I need to put it down.

The Slowest Burn
Sarah Chamberlain
Pub: 9/24/24
4.5☆

Love could be a recipe for disaster, or the best thing they ever cooked up...

Exactly as the title states, this was a delicious slow-burn romance and I adored the heck out of it!

Kieran and Ellie’s heartfelt story was the literal definition of chef’s kiss perfection. I loved these two beauties so much. Both working to overcome past traumas and total opposites. Yet together, they sizzled. The banter, the chemistry and the beautiful healing… all the perfect ingredients to make for one unputdownable romance wrapped up in the cutest cover. A must own for myshelf.

Im still flabbergasted this was a debut. I am already so excited for more from Chamberlain.

What I loved;
🍅 Opposites Attract
🍅 Slow Burn Romance
🍅 Neurodivergent Rep
🍅 Dual POV
🍅 LOL Banter
🍅 Forced Proximity

Absolutely would recommend! I alternated between reading with my eyes and my ears (mostly listening) and loved the mix.

Thank you so much to St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Slowest Burn is a slow-burn (get it) romance set in the San Francisco Bay Area (where I resided for two years). I saw the Golden Gate Bridge on the cover and insta-requested. I loved the mental health representation, multiple mentions of towns around the Bay Area, and how this romance wasn't like the rest. Highly recommend to foodies!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review. The Slowest Burn publishes on September 24, 2024.

This one didn’t work for me. I feel like I was disconnected from the characters from the start and the plot/chemistry was just mediocre