Dual POV, Enemies to Lovers, Chef x Ghost writer, grumpy x sunshine, Opposites Attract

The Slowest Burn does indeed live up to it's title providing an intricate plot that slowly develops into a heart pounding romance. Kieran and Ellie spend a majority of the book in each other's proximity due to her ghost writing his cook book but can't stand each other. Once that tension breaks and they finally get together the romance flourishes and the family dynamics take a back seat. The way grief was handled felt authentic and will connect with many readers.

Thank you, NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This was a sweet romance, but it wasn't anything super special, at least for me. I want to be kicking my feet at the banter and tension, but this didn't really have me doing that.

This is an aptly named novel as it is definitely is a slow burn romance where the characters become friends first. Ellie and Kieran are both fully formed, dealing with their own separate demons. The relationships they had with the secondary characters were great (Ellie & Ben especially!) and I loved how real and raw it all felt. Also, shout out to Chamerlain for giving us a 5’7’’ short king - they don’t all need to be huge, burly men!

This is your typical rom-com type of book. Chef meets girl, thinks she’s cute, but she’s impossible to work with. How will they get this book written? A perfect vacation read.

While the story is entertaining and easy to read, the characters lack the typical behavior of individuals in their age bracket. The hot moments and easy-to-read prose would make it a good choice for Tessa Bailey fans. Kieran and Ellie, the protagonists of the book, are likeable people who have a strong connection. The story's gradual development and subsequent decline disappoint readers, though. It has a plot, but it does not employ the characters to their fullest and throws in a pointless breakup in the third act.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for this copy for an honest review.

"The Slowest Burn" is a captivating story about finding love and oneself. It follows the story of Ellie, a young widow who is tasked to work with Kieran, a young and recently famous chef, as a ghostwriter for his cookbook. Despite their differences, they find a way to work together.
I have to admit that initially, the story didn't grab my attention, especially in the first few chapters. I felt that there was no chemistry between the main characters. However, as I continued reading, the chemistry between them became more apparent.
This isn't exactly a romantic comedy, but it is a beautiful love story that feels authentic. The book features complex characters in complicated situations, each trying their best and opening their hearts to love and acceptance.
The second part of the book was particularly difficult to put down, and I thoroughly enjoyed the final chapters. I liked the story and characters, and I look forward to reading more from the author.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: September 24, 2024

An open door, enemies to friends to lovers gem between a charismatic chef fresh off a cooking competition win and his serious cookbook ghostwriter. A fun read for foodies as this spends a lot of time in recipe development! There are some amazing (and some awful) side characters in this one that help these two complicated MC’s find their way.

Chef Kieran just won one of the most popular reality tv cooking shows and has agreed to a book deal. With his ADHD and dyslexia Kieran definitely needs the help of a ghostwriter for his cookbook. The problem is organized, focused and bossy widow Ellie is the exact opposite of Kieran and they start off on the wrong foot. But when Ellie realizes Kieran is not being difficult on purpose, she finds ways to make Kieran feel comfortable working on recipes and cooking with her. As the two slowly peel back layers of their pasts Ellie and Kieran realize how much they mean to each other. But what happens if the publishing company finds out the two are in a relationship? Ellie’s career could go down the drain.

There are so many things I loved about this book, more than just the San Francisco setting and food. Ellie learning to work with Kieran’s neurodivergent brain made me want jump up and dance in celebration. Kieran being Ellie’s biggest supporter and champion and loving her in her grief was so heartwarming and touching. It takes time to learn each other and all our moods and forms and this book showcases that fundamental message in the most beautiful and delicious way!

Thank you to NG and the publisher for a free review copy.

This was such a cute book. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Kieran or Ellie, but they both grew on me. I loved the growth they both went through, the slow burn romance, and the story that progressed.

Kieran was the most immature main character. I couldn’t stand him, I didn’t like the female MC either. The relationship with the in-laws was not realistic. Not for me!

This book follows Kieran, a chef who has been tasked to write his own book after winning a reality cooking show. Ellie has been hired to be his ghostwriter and their first meeting does not go well. After being forced together to figure out how to get the book done the they learn they just might be perfect for each other. I liked the exploration of Kieran’s thoughts on his ADHD as well as Ellie dealing with being a widow and how the two of them grow together over the course of the book. Overall this was a good romance with some deeper feelings that I enjoyed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Griffin for this ARC.

3.5

This was SUCH a good book. I loved all the food aspects that were told throughout the story. Also, I love a good opposite attracts moment. The black cat and golden retriever dynamic was so well done - the slow burn (pun intended) was chefs kiss (also pun intended). This was such a fun and quick read if you're looking for something to read over the weekend!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The slowest burn? No. But a slow burn? Yes. This story follows Kieran, an ADHD chef/cooking contest winner who is trying to earn his own restaurant by writing a cookbook. Ellie is a young widow/aspiring cookbook writer trying to build her confidence and earn credence with her publishers. Together these two have a lot to prove to their bosses, each other, but mostly to themselves.

This dual-perspective, slow-burn, enemies-to-lovers romance was an original idea that worked for the most part. We see an energetic, unfocused Kieran meet a tightly wound Ellie, and once they take a moment to understand each other, they hit it off. It was fun seeing Kieran fall for Ellie. I think Ellie was for sure the more complicated character as she is dealing not only with familial trauma from her childhood, but also trauma from the death of her husband and the pressure she feels from her in-laws. Character development was pretty strong in this one, and the storyline moved smoothly. Overall it was a fun reading experience with a MMC who is not the overwritten confident talk, dark, handsome.

I love Ben, he is the unspoken hero in this novel. Diane wanted to make me scream at the top of my lungs and I wanted to throw my tablet across the room when Hank took over Ellie's cottage.

This book lived up to it's title, it was quite the slow burn. Kieran is a chef who recently won a TV baking contest, and to keep the hype going he is writing a cookbook with the help of a ghostwriter. Ellie though isn't much of a ghost, she is demanding a lot from Kieran and he refuses to answer her emails. When they finally meet up it is explosive.

I did enjoy their friendship once they do eventually get together. Ellie helps him start to make small steps in getting his life together. Their recipe sessions were mouthwatering.

Ellie was struggling with her own situation, living in the guest house on her in-laws property after her husband passed away. She is the emotional support for them both, but even more so for the mother. With last night sessions she doesn't sleep much and puts everyone above herself.

This had a lot of heavy topics which made it a slower read for me. From Ellie's grief, and relationship with the in-laws to her mooching brother and absent mom to Kieran's troubling relationship with his family, his ADHD and his imposter syndrome.

If you love a red headed short king than this one might just be for you.

Kieran is a chef who just won a cooking competition show, and now wants to write a cookbook. Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter who is trying to figure out life as a widow while still living her in-laws. They don’t get along. Kieran is spontaneous and easily distracted. Ellie is organized and driven. Of course, they don’t start off liking each other, but because they have to work together they are sent off to a cabin by the publisher to learn to tolerate each other for the book. Like turns to lust and then to love as they both work through their pasts. This, yes slow burn, romance has all of the tropes: enemies to lovers, forced proximity, fake dating, and workplace romance. The addition of the food, the backstory, the side characters, and both main characters’ perspectives make the overload of tropes bearable. There were a few seemingly extraneous moments, but they let readers really get to know the characters separately and together. This book was a fun mix of food and romance that any romance reader will enjoy.

Fresh off winning a cooking reality TV show, Kieran O’Neill has a book deal and plans to have his own restaurant. He also has ADHD and has a hard time staying focused when he isn’t cooking. Ellie Wasserman is thirty and a widow. She is a caretaker to the extreme, putting others' needs before her own. She still helps her husband’s parents and her brother. And she is also grieving the loss of her husband. Ellie is hired to ghost write Kieran’s cookbook which means the two need to work together. Especially if they are going to meet the deadline.

I like the storyline of this contemporary romance.. It isn’t really a slow burn book and by the typical 65 percent point they are moving beyond co-workers. I appreciate having the POV from both characters. The food brings a nice extra and I liked their found family or friends. I cringed at some of the banter but for the most part it is good. As a people pleaser myself I was glad to see Ellie’s character grow and see her set some boundaries. And there is some heaviness to both their backgrounds that help add depth to their characters. I thought the cover was cute and fitting as well.

Very enjoyable. I found I really care for Ellie and Kieran and their cat Floyd.

*3.5
I love food and books, so a book centered around good food is always a fun time for me. I, however, was not expecting the book to have the very heavy component of the death of a loved one. The author does a really stellar job of making a literary rhythm that matches how grief works. I swear one moment I was chuckling along to Kieran being Kieran, and the next I am about to lose my entire sanity over the brokenness of Diane and the unmeasurable stability and love of Ben. Very effective. I feel like an English class could dissect this way more thoroughly than anyone would want to and better than I am currently trying to convey.
ANYWAY.
Ellie, as a main character, makes sense. I understand her decisions and her motivations, and I think that says a lot when FMCs in books tend to make me want to pull out my hair. Her friendship with Nicole is genuine, her love for her cat is ADORABLE, and the evolution of her relationship with Max’s parents is such a lovely story.
Kieran is a goober. I love that he is so spunky and open. It is refreshing to have the boy as the sunshine, silly character. I will forever be a fan of the MMC being a literal golden retriever. His character brings such light and flare to the story. However, I will say that there is a major scene where I feel like his actions do not reflect his personality/character, and I am a little bothered by it; it just doesn’t seem to mesh with the person written.
Now, Ellie and Kieran together? They are cute. The dynamic of them works, and their story is overall really enjoyable. There are aspects I didn’t love about how it unfolded, but nothing that made me feel strongly against the story. I think public displays of “affection” are questionable 9 times out of 10, for one. And I think the slow burn should have taken a little longer. I recognize that the book isn’t that long, but that build up could have been fleshed out a little more for my liking.
All in all, I think this was an enjoyable read. It made me think about hard things while also making me chuckle (sometimes cringe with too much sappy/sweet), and drool over the dishes described. Basically, well rounded!

This book was great! I don't know anything about ghostwriting but this book gives you some background info, that I find so compelling.

When I picture Kieran, I really do picture a little Irish elf. In the best way possible. It was refreshing to read about a leading man who isn't 6'2 ... you have to give short guys all the love too!!!

Ellie is so damaged, and needed, by everyone around her. I can't imagine all the pain she holds inside as she tends to the people she loves. It was amazing to see how Kieran SAW her and loved her.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This was very sweet!

It tackled a number of tough topics - grief, dating after losing a partner, navigating neurodivergence, and childhood neglect. I also appreciated the inclusivity amongst characters.

This was a very quick and enjoyable read,

This is a book that really lives up to it's title. There is a very slow burn between Ellie and Kieran, which makes for a very intriguing story and hot chemistry. I really enjoyed getting into this one and would highly recommend it!

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for advanced copy, and I give my review freely.