🖤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.

Told from alternating POVs, The Slowest Burn is about "happy pirate leprechaun" chef Kieran and play-by-the-rules Ellie, an uptight writer who is ghostwriting his cookbook. Opposites attract and sparks fly in the kitchen as they spend more and more time together.

First, what I liked about the book: I enjoyed the non-stereotypical representation of the characters. Kieran had ADHD and dyslexia, and unlike most MMC's, was on the shorter side and was a bit of a hot mess. Ellie was "curvy" and her marriage to her first husband wasn't as idyllic as it was first made out to be. There was also a non-binary character and a character struggling with depression, as well as a Filipino supporting character which is definitely not something I've seen often in books. Also, all the writing about food and recipes was mouthwatering and descriptive. I got hungry every time I picked up the book!

While I loved all the diverse characters and food descriptions, what I didn't love was the writing. I felt no chemistry between Ellie and Kieran. It all felt a little forced. And all the mushy talk between them just made me cringe it was so cheesy. I wanted to root for Ellie, but she kind of came across as spineless, until the end when her Big Romantic Gesture supposedly showed her bravery, but honestly feel kind of random and pointless.

Overall not my favorite, though I'm sure some people will enjoy this opposites-attract romance.

The characters feel genuine, and while there are a few typical rom-com scenarios placed, this really felt quite original. I'm food-centric and the imagery of cooking, meals and strategizing Kieran's coobook and story was really fun. Many moments felt similar to Lucy Score and Tessa Bailey books with a little less spice, which isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you need a nice happily ever after, and this is it.

The title,The Slowest Burn, is a play on words as in addition to an opposites attract romance, it features lots of cooking and writing about food. Told from the two lead characters’ points of view, we get why the two clash from the beginning. Ellie is the ghostwriter for chef Kieran’s cookbook. Since Kieran just won a cooking reality show, his agent and publisher want to capitalize on his fame. Although he is confident in the kitchen, years of feeling inadequate because of his dyslexia and ADHD make him very insecure in other aspects of his life. Ellie is super organized and a relentless planner because of the baggage that came from her unorthodox upbringing. The two have a terrible time getting started on their joint project, but the reader can see that they need to open up to each other to be understood.

I loved all the info about food, cooking, and the writing process. This was an escapist read, but there is definitely substance in seeing how the characters deal with many of life’s challenges.

The Slowest Burn is a cute blend of romance and culinary adventure, telling the stories of Ellie, a recent widow and ghostwriter for cookbooks, and Kieran, a vibrant sous chef with a troubled past. As they collaborate on Kieran's debut cookbook, their initial animosity gradually transforms into a heartwarming partnership and blossoming romance. The book beautifully explores themes of love after loss, self-discovery, and healing from past traumas, portraying both characters' emotional journeys with authenticity.

The chemistry between Ellie and Kieran is heavy, and their slow-burning romance is a joy to witness. It reminds me of early Tessa Bailey novels. Cute, not too much steam, and emotional.

Let me start by saying this book was not the slowest burn as the title leads you to believe. There was no slow burn at all in my opinion.

The guy kind of insta likes her while the girl hates him. He’s also described as “short and redheaded” like a leprechaun and she’s described as a cookie “ round and sweet”. I’m sorry what the ever loving hell is that!? That was legit in the first 2% of the book and I was immediately turned off.

This was a hard pass for me

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

This was a cute slow burn - I mean I would hope so, given the title of the book - the bickering was *chefs kiss* , the bonding they did through cooking together was so wholesome, and any book that has “worshipping” between the MCs is already a win for me.

You’ve got some amazing tropes in this book, we got:
- ❤️ slow burn (of course) ❤️
- ✨forced proximity ✨
- 🌦️reverse grumpy X sunshine ☀️

There was one scene that had fake dating, but I don’t think the story needed it; the trope felt kind of forced in that scenario.

We have a people-pleaser FMC and a neurodivergent MMC. Both characters have their own trauma and insecurities, and as the book develops and the relationship grows we see how both MCs help heal each other and themselves.

I enjoyed how their physical attraction- physical wanting- slowly blurs into an emotional attraction, until they fully realize their feelings for each other. I thought I would hate the “third-act breakup”, but I didn’t, I think the FMC needed that to really overcome her own issues before committing to anything.

I love that instead of being each other’s “other half”, they are two wholes that are so much more than the little things about them.

All in all, this is a solid story and I will definitely buy the physical copy of The Slowest Burn.

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

✅ Ellie, 30, widowed, cookbook ghostwriter; Kieran, 27, chef who just won a reality TV show.
✅ dual POV
✅ grumpy - sunshine, but she’s the grumpy one
✅ ADHD rep
🌶️ : yes but the title does not lie.

The title of this one says it all, a slow burn romance that is SO worth it. I loved learning more about the writing process for cookbooks and how recipes evolve. The MCs were flawed & lovable which always makes for a good trip to HEA. The novel deals with the ramifications of grief on a family & the emotional aspect of absent parents, beware if this is not your thing. There are some fairly explicit sex scenes as well. Overall, a solid 4 star opposites attract romance!

i’m sure you can guess by the title, a slow burn! this book surprised me in the best way. it was so great getting to know both characters, especially with the dual POV. seeing and feeling the tension build between them both was so worth it in the end! i really loved both the tropes and the unique plot of this book!

thank you to the author, netgalley and st. martin’s griffin for the opportunity to receive an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was a cute, fluffy romance with a major slow burn. Some parts were a bit slow, but interaction between Ellie and Kieran were so sweet.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book.