I am stunned that this is Chamberlain's debut novel. It read as though it came from a seasoned, long-published, writing professional. While I'm sad I don't get any backlist, I am genuinely excited for what she does next. The way she treated the various ways that grief presents, as well as the differences in how love "shows up" for people, was done with care and empathy. I also adored that while the FMC was clearly not a size 6, and the MMC was not a jacked 6'5" muscular dude with abs for days, the author didn't beat the reader over the head with their "normalness" (not a word, got it!). I felt like I was reading about real people, with real problems, finding real love, and navigating life. Stellar, lovely first published novel! 💖

This was so sweet and funny! I loved the banter between Ellie and Kieran. While there are some very heavy topics covered (death of a spouse, depression), Chamberlain injects fun and joy throughout. A little slow at times (it's literally in the title), but honestly there was not much I could comment on to improve aside from there needing to be some actual recipes in a book about two people who create a cookbook together. ADHD rep; Jewish rep.

the slowest burn was a solid debut! the depth of the main characters is something refreshing to the romance genre, it gives this story an added layer and it makes the reading experience powerfully emotional. kieran and ellie's story is a story about love, friendship, trust, learning, and realizing what's best for you. i definitely recommend!

The title is definitely true! This burn was slowww & had me aching for the moment where these two characters would finally get together.

Fun tension. Grumpy x Sunshine. Opposites attract. Enemies to lovers vibe. Yes, Chef.

My first chef romance & I had so much fun with that aspect of the story. Definitely not for the faint of heart (aka you better enjoy a truly slow burn)

I should have know by the title this wouldn’t be for me. I’m definitely not a slow burn girlie! DNFd at 20%

RATING: 2/5 STARS

I did not vibe with the writing of this book right off the bat so it was hard to get myself to finish it. The cover is so lovely though.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC of "The Slowest Burn" by Sarah Chamberlain. This one is a captivating read that masterfully builds tension and emotion. The slow-burn romance is beautifully paced, allowing the characters to develop organically and making their journey all the more satisfying. Chamberlain's writing is rich with depth and nuance, drawing readers into the intricate dynamics between the characters. This book is a perfect choice for anyone who enjoys a story that unfolds with deliberate, heartfelt intensity. Highly recommended for fans of slow-burn romance!

Properly named, this book is a slow burn. Once the two main characters started getting along better the book becomes a lot more interesting. If you are a fan of cooking and romance you will enjoy this one. I prefer less of a slow burn, but I still found myself enjoying this one.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:
🫶🏻 enemies to lovers
💜 opposites attract
🧑🏻‍🍳 Chef x ghostwriter
☀️ Reverse grumpy sunshine

The Slowest Burn was indeed the slowest burn 😛

Ellie and Kieran were at odds for half the book and it made me a little nervous we weren’t going to get an HEA but no worries, these two dummies work through their respective issues and earn their HEA.

Taking place over the course of nearly a year, you get to see Ellie, a ghostwriter, and Kieran, a chef, come together to work on Kieran’s debut cookbook while working on their own personal issues and falling in love in the process.

I really loved how much at odds these two were and how they slowly opened up to each other. The Slowest Burn is an ever so slightly spicy romance that is a must read for any foodie!

“The Slowest Burn” is a romance between two real people as they navigate writing a cook book together and finding love and growth along the way. I was surprised to find that this book, unlike many other romance books, is not smoothed over with glossy, perfect people. In this story, we find both characters navigating through a personal growth story - overcoming difficult family trauma, finding their purpose and choosing love. This story had sweet, romantic moments. It was heavy-hearted at times, and while that is not always attractive to readers, it’s important and true to real life.

For those who enjoy:
🥘 Slow Burn
🥘 Forced Proximity
🥘 Chef + Cookbook Writer
🥘 Family Issues
🥘 Neurodivergent Rep
🥘 Dual POV
🥘 Fake Dating
🥘 Grief

Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love this book so much! Books with chefs? Give all of them! Ellie and Kieran start off not working together great due to some lack of communication from Kieran when Ellie is needing information to start ghost writing his cook book. Both Ellie and Kieran have personal issues they they both work in throughout the story. The banter and the heat between these two is so great, I cannot wait to read more from Sarah in the future

The Slowest Burn serves up a delightful mix of sizzling chemistry and slow-cooked romance. Ellie’s perfectly organized life is thrown into chaos when she’s paired with Kieran, a charmingly messy chef who brings the heat both in and out of the kitchen. Their opposites-attract dynamic is a recipe for a steamy, slow-burn love story that’s as satisfying as a well-seasoned dish.
Ellie’s journey from grief to rediscovery is heartwarming, and Kieran’s playful nature adds the perfect dash of spice. Their banter is sharp, their connection is undeniable, and the kitchen isn’t the only place where things get hot. This is a romance that simmers with just the right amount of tension and flavor—perfect for readers who enjoy their love stories with a bit of bite.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

What better word to use to describe this book about two chefs than delicious! This enemies to lovers, opposites attract romance made my heart do all the fluttery things! Kieran and Ellie were endearing and special. He was incredibly charming, but hiding some deep pain behind a facade of being happy-go-lucky. She was more focused and serious, but has also been damaged by the people she loves. I loved that they each not only accepted their differences and their perceived flaws, but they celebrated them! They both brought out the best—and sometimes even the worst—in each other. Their emotions were raw and real and sincere, and nothing felt right to me when they weren’t together. Their path to their love and their future wasn’t easy, but never has a couple ever deserved a happy ending as Ellie and Kieran did.

Steamy Romance that follows a chef and a ghostwriter who're working together to produce a cookbook as they learn to let go of their past hurts to make room for new love.

4/5 stars: This is a stand-alone by Chamberlain which is a Steamy Romance that follows a chef and a ghostwriter who're working together to produce a cookbook must learn to let go of their past hurts to make room for new love. Written in dual POV, Chamberlain's writing and character work are excellent; the characters are well-rounded, complex and yet remain likable. Ellie's a widow dealing with a complicated family situation who dreams of writing her own cookbook and own her own home and Kieran's, a recovering alcoholic who has dyslexia and ADHD, success should make him happy but he still finds himself trying to impress his family. I really liked seeing them working together to create the recipes for the cookbook. And how along the way they get to know each and fall in love and get their HEA. Plus I like that Ellie's plus size and that Kieran's a short ginger. And I love Floyd Ellie's feline escape artist. Chamberlain's humor shines and the banter and flirting are on high and will have you swooning. Oh and the OPS scenes are incredibly steamy. While there are plenty of heartfelt and humorous moments, Chamberlain does takes on some sensitive subjects; so take care and check the CWs.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

3.5/5 ⭐️
A great story of opposites attract, I really enjoyed this sweet book, loved the dual POV, as well as the fresh and sweet characters specially the MMC. I am looking forward reading more books by Sarah Chamberlain. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin”s Griffin for the opportunity to read this ARC

Woooo! This book was a SLOW burn.

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. From the start I was genuinely pulled into the characters stories and narrative. I LIKED the characters and felt super invested in them, as they were both overcoming tough things in the book. That made them relatable and really easy to root for. Add in the chemistry and tension between them, and I couldn't wait until "IT" finally happened for them!

Loved the sweet love story, duel POV, and the opposites attract theme. These are all things that will bring me back to Chamberlin the next time she writes a novel!

Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Thank you to St. Martin's press for the advanced ARC of this title.
I love enemies to lovers and opposites attract, so I was immediately drawn to this book.
Just like the title, this book is definitely a slow burn. The author drums up the tension and frustration between the two opposite characters for the first half of the book. Slowly you start to see the walls come down, and they soften towards each other. I really started to get invested in the characters around the 50% mark and this is where we saw a lot more character depth from Kieran.
I loved the way this book ended, and Kieran wore me down, just like he did with Ellie. You can't help but love the chaotic ginger.
If you are a foodie and like forced proximity, you will enjoy this read.

Ellie Wasserman is a ghost writer of celebrity cookbooks. Kieran O'Neil is fresh off a win on a reality cooking series and has been paired with Ellie as his ghost writer. The problem is that these two opposites get off on the wrong foot from the start. This book really is the slowest burn. Ellie and Kieran do not get on for a lot of the story. They butt heads and have a lot of preconceived ideas about the other that get in the way. The couple do get their in the end. Both Ellie and Kieran felt stuck to me in the start. Ellie is a widow who still lives with her in laws and is dealing with overwhelming grief. Kieran is incredibly talented but he struggles with direction and focus. The dual POV helps the story stay on track by allowing us to see what Ellie and Kieran are masking from others. There are sweet moments that I really enjoyed and the growth that the two experience is the highlight.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review.

Ellie is hired to help Kieran, the newest winner of the hit cooking show, Fire on High, write a cookbook.  Their initial meeting does not go well.  Will they be able to put aside their differences and come together to write a cookbook?

Thoughts 💭
This was hard to get into.  At first, I really didn't like either of the main characters and they only seemed to bring out the worst in each other.  I also wasn't sure Keiran's actions were the best representation for ADHD. They were both really mean and unlikable. About two thirds of the way through the book, things did get better.  They were kinder and more understanding.  But from that initial meeting I would never ne able to see how they would end up together.  I wouldn't say this wowed me but it did get better over time.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

4 stars!

This was a good read! I'm a sucker for any books that include food and reverse grumpy/sunshine. I also always appreciate and relate when there's the topic of mental health. I'll definitely be checking out other books by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!