The Slowest Burn is appropriately titled because it is indeed a slooowwww burn! Ellie is the ghostwriter for Kieran’s cookbook and they couldn’t be more opposite. This “opposites attract” book took me awhile to get into, but I appreciate that it dug deep and didn’t skirt around mental health issues that came up in the story. Not the beach read I was hoping for, but I still enjoyed it.

Took a break from piling-up library holds to take a chance on a debut ARC that I figured could be read in a day. I recognize this for the gamble it was. I like to live dangerously.

I liked the setup. She: widowed cookbook-ghostwriter. He: chef with dyslexia and ADHD. And it was fine. It’s not great, it’s not that deep, but it’s harmless. It for sure needs some editing.

Review: I was so glad I got approved to read this! @sarahchamberlainauthor did a great job with this one!

Not going to lie, I couldn’t get into the book for the first few chapters. I don’t know if it was because I was still in a thriller mindset but after chapter 3, I was completely hooked. First of all, I loved the premise. A ghostwriter who is type A with a chef that is all over the place writing a book together. It didn’t seem forced, it was a natural chemistry. What I loved is that these characters that depth, they had issues to work through, and they dealt with real world problems unlike some of the rom coms I read. It makes it so much more relatable.

I thought the plot was well developed and loved hearing about all the recipes and seeing their love grow. I also loved that the main characters weren’t the typical players, they weren’t the conventional characters that were 6’4 built or a skinny athletic woman. It felt real and made me rethink my current career because I would love to ghostwrite a cookbook (despite my cooking skills being lackluster)!

If you are looking for a wonderful rom com with some depth- look no further! It has it all- a friends to lovers trope, character depth, cooking, and good dialogue!

The book comes out September 24, 2024! Thanks to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing me an eARC in exchange for an honest review!

When Sarah Chamberlain says she's serving a slow-burn romance, believe it is a SLOWW burn romance~
Kieran is chatoic, where Ellie is no-nonsense: you can imagine the clash of those two personalities...

Love that we saw the characters dealing with past trauma in order to find happiness. Spicy sceenes were alright, the sweet romance was satisfying enough to make up for it. Enemies to lovers with a culinary twist --- I'm a huge fan!

Sarah Chamberlain's debut novel whips up a scrumptious romance that's all about finding the right mix. Ellie and Kieran are a classic case of opposites attract—they start off clashing in the kitchen, with her being super organized and him all over the place. But as they're forced to spend time together, the sparks really start to fly, turning their sharp banter into something unexpectedly sweet. The book nails the emotional depth, making you root for them as they tackle their personal hang-ups. With plenty of humor, some seriously steamy scenes, and loads of heart, this book is perfect for anyone who loves a good rom-com that feels like indulging in your favorite comfort food. Super enjoyable and totally heartwarming!

4.75 stars!

This was JUST what I needed after a few heavy historical fictions and "women's" fiction. It was light and fun, but still dealt with some serious issues. The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is I thought it lagged a tiny bit at the end. Opposites attract, forced proximity with some neurodivergence and grief mixed in. I plowed through it in less than a day. Perfect pool read!

Thank you St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review

3.5 stars! this was very unique! i love a good workplace enemies to lovers! it also touched on mental health which i love in a book because its relatable and showed the realness of battling a mental illness. definitely a slow burn (expected and loved) lol!

I really enjoyed the way this book subverted some common tropes I've seen in other romance novels. Kieran isn't the stereotypical alpha male at all in a way that is refreshing and so endearing. He's a chef, unhappy with his image with ADHD, sober and a bit younger than his female love interest and main character. Ellie Wasserman is a widowed cookbook ghostwriter who dreams of writing her own cookbook someday. They are both a little rough around the edges, sort of stuck in lives they don't want and unsure how to get out of them. The name, The Slowest Burn, makes perfect sense, because when they meet each other it's like a slow wake up call, igniting their change into the people they're meant to be. Kieran is a little bit younger, enigmatic and energetic but insecure from a young age, where Ellie is a little older, more reserved, quicker to quiet herself to make others happy, more scared to shine. With each other though, Ellie is fiesty and assertive, softer and more vulnerable, and Kieran is honest, caring, focused, inspired. They make each other brave, and more alive. I've said this before with other netgalley books, but I wish I would watch this book as a movie! I could picture the landscape and the meals so vividly while reading.

Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and Sarah Chamberlain for the chance to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed The Slowest Burn VERY much. If you like: dual pov, enemy to lovers, chef/ghostwriter, Top Chef style shows, parents with stupid expectations, unreliable parents, San Francisco food scene, explosive attraction and Ginger MMCs that I picture as Jeremy Allen White- this book is for you.

Both MC's have deep pasts- and I like how they were explored and how they found growth together. I especially appreciated Ellie's journey through grief- along with the guilt and obligations that get tied to it.

I loved that the characters in this romcom had depth and complexity. There was a wonderful inclusion of neurodiversity and the chemistry was believable and unpredictable.
Kieran might be a celebrity, but he hides deep insecurity and self-doubt behind his charismatic smile.
Ellie spends her life taking care of others, and as a cookbook ghostwriter, has little time to pursue her own dreams.
Ellie's newest assignment from her publisher is to bring Kieran's chaotic vision into a cohesive collection of recipes. She's not looking forward to working with someone who seems so rudderless. On paper, they should be diametric opposed. Instead, the more time they spend together the more they realize they can be the one person that offers confidence and stability.
Both characters have a tangible fragility that they only reveal to each other when they let their guard down.

This book is a foodie, enemies to lovers, opposites attract dream! Ellie is so easy to love and root for as you slowly learn about her first love and loss. Kieran is a neurodivergent lead who you can’t help but cheer on as he realizes he’s worth more than he thinks. Together, this duo will have you laughing, crying, and rooting for the happily ever after they both deserve!

The Slowest Burn was a light and frothy opposites attract romance. Ellie, a cookbook ghostwriter is neat, tidy, capable and focused on stability and making other people happy. Kieran is a bright, disorganized up and coming cook who needs to write a cookbook to cement his career as a celebrity chef. And they have to work together. In a kitchen. Where all kinds of feelings develop.

This was a sweet, charming romance novel. Both Ellie and Kieran are damaged and a bit prickly. For me, that made them more likeable because they exhibited some realistic behavior. The slow development of thier feelings was believable. I was rooting for both their individual growth and their relationship. All the food descriptions were a nice touch. A well-paced enjoyable read.

I wish there had been more details about the secondary characters -- Jay, Nicole for example -- and some storylines felt like they were left hanging. Also, I would have loved a recipe or two.

A fun read and a good choice for fans of Emily Henry and Katherine Center. 4 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for an advance copy of this book.

This relationship was definitely a slow burn, but it was SO worth the wait! I loved Ellie and Kieran's chemistry. It was Hot! And their playful banter made me smile. Kieran was funny and caring, but I think it scared him how much he cared for Ellie. He is not used to putting someone else's needs first. And Ellie is stronger than she thinks, even though she puts herself "on the back burner" most of the time.

Ellie has lived her whole life taking care of others and not herself, taking her 'responsibilities' very seriously. She practically raised her younger brother, and she cooks and cares for her in-laws since her husband died 2 1/2 years ago. Ellie is an accomplished ghostwriter who has put her dreams on hold. Kieran is the crazy, chaotic chef who won a reality food competition. He doesn't seem to have a responsible bone in his body. Now they are thrust together on a project to write his own cookbook and neither of them like it one little bit! At least at first...

I was unsure about this story the first time I heard about it, because of the food network-y vibe, but I took the chance after reading a positive review and I am glad I did! This story grabbed me right from the beginning. The first half of the book was the slowest of burns, but hopeful, and around the half-way mark the heat turned up!

I also enjoyed the characters of Jay and Nicole. They were honest and supportive best friends to the main characters. I also enjoyed the ex in-laws and the grief they worked through together. The story was told from dual POV's and I love being able to see into the main characters innermost thoughts and motivations. Their feelings were realistic and heartfelt; they both struggled with dysfunctional families, self-esteem and mental health. I was rooting along the way for their HEA!

The plot followed a predictable format, but it was unique at the same time, which I enjoyed and appreciated. It gave me what I wanted from a romcom, but it wasn't a cookie cutter plot. It checked the following boxes: 2nd chance romance, enemies to friends to lovers, opposites attract, open door romance, and even a fake dating scene (which was hilarious).

I loved every minute of this story! I highly recommend!

P.S. I really wanted to see the picnic scene on the cover enter the story, but it never did. It was a bit of a disappointment...

**Thankyou to Netgalley, St Martin's Press, and the author for an ARC in exchange for my honest review**

So cute and great characters and setting! Immediately hooked me and would recommend. Will be adding to our library!

Cookbook ghostwriter Ellie Wasserman and the new hotshot TV chef Kieran O’Neill are forced to work closely together to write his cook book in this poignant, slow-burn romance by debut author Sarah Chamberlain.

Ellie's life is stagnant after suddenly losing her fiance several years ago. Still living in her in-law's granny flat, Ellie's people-pleasing leaves her unable to move on as her mother-in-law's grief holds her to ransom. Meanwhile Kieran struggles with self-esteem issues stemming from his ADHD and dsylexia.

Sarah Chamberlain skillfully portrays a beautiful slow-burn romance between the two as Ellie struggles with Kieran. As their friendship develops, we see the two find solace and support in each other. Ellie examines the box she was placed in by her fiance and his parents, and finds the courage to move forward in her life. Kieran, too, loses his feelings of shame.

This book was just divine. I adored Ellie and Keiran and I really love a good slow-burn romance. Highly recommended.

Thanks to St Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

3.5 stars rounded up.
The Slowest Burn was a sweet debut novel from Sarah Chamberlain.

Ellia and Kieran are total opposites. She's regimented and tidy, he's gregarious and messy. Neither of them are even thinking about love and romance. She lost her husband two years ago. He is focused on opening a restaurant after winning a reality TV show contest and he knows with his ADHD, love could make him go off track.

But, they are forced to work together because he needs a ghostwriter for his upcoming cookbook, and she is the best in the Bay Area. Trope check: opposites attract, enemies-to-friends-to-lovers, forced proximity (with a very cute "one bed" joke), and fake dating.

I loved the food descriptions, the Bay Area representation, and how understanding these two were of one another. Also, Kieran is 5'7, so yay for short king hero! Seriously, getting a little tired of the 6'4 heroes.

Thank you St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the ARC for my honest review.

3.5 stars. This was tender and sweet. It wasn’t anything new or super memorable, but I still enjoyed it. I loved how both Ellie and Kieran‘s relationship wasn’t just about love or getting over trauma, but about really growing as better people TOGETHER and for EACH OTHER.

The reason this isn’t rated higher is I forgot who characters were — that’s either on me simply remembering or lots of characters with no strong moments/writing to really give me a chance to remember them, ya feel? I also didn’t care to read the epilogue which is always a sign to me that I didn’t fall in love with the characters.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

This will be great for our summer romance table. The cover pops, and the story is an easy trope to get behind. Was it my favorite romance ever? No. But I did root for the characters and enjoyed the story very much!

First, thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for an advanced e-copy of this book!

The Slowest Burn is just that, a slow burn romance. Ellie is a ghost writer for cookbooks and Kieran is a chef fresh off a win for a cooking show. Paired together to write a book, things don't start off well. Ellie is uptight and organized while Kieran's ADHD makes it difficult to focus. Once they learn to accept each other, however, things start to look up.

This book was slow in the beginning and took awhile for me to get into. However, I loved both the characters Ellie and Kieran. I loved them unpacking each other's backgrounds and figuring out how best to help the other. There are definitely some heavy topics in here (absentee parents, death of a spouse, depression) but I think they were well done. Overall, I enjoyed the book once I got through the first maybe 25 %.

This book ticked a lot of boxes for me — I love a slow burn, books set in the SF Bay Area, and culinary romances.

Ellie is a ghostwriter who works with chefs to translate their recipes into books that will be accessible to home cooks. Her latest client, and biggest challenge to date, is Kieran, who recently won a "Top Chef"-style reality show. The problem: Kieran is a genius in the kitchen, but he can barely get it together to focus on the cookbook project. Eventually, Ellie figures out that not only does he have ADHD, but he's dyslexic, and the two develop a positive working relationship which gradually turns into a mutual attraction.

There are, of course, roadblocks galore, from the fact that they are on a tight deadline and can't afford any distractions, to their various personal issues. Most significantly, Ellie is a young widow whose husband died of an undiagnosed heart defect three years earlier. She's still living in a cottage on her in-laws' property, something that's prevented her from moving on with her life, particularly since her mother-in-law is still disabled by grief.

Along with that heaviness, there's still plenty of fun banter and some cute nods at favorite romance tropes. And like all the best dishes, there's a good amount of spice, but not too much. Fans of culinary love stories will find a lot to savor here.