A chef who recently won a cooking competition is paired with a cookbook ghostwriter to work on a project, and the two of them could not be more different. He's a neurodivergent mess of a man, while she is organized and deadline driven...but their slow burn ignites over time.

I was charmed by Kieran and Allie's love story, which really does take a while to develop, but their mutual attraction is palpable throughout and they have great chemistry. A bit slow at times, but sweet with plenty of spice.

The audiobook narrators were well cast.

I absolutely loved this audiobook! The plot was simply adorable, and the characters were beautifully developed. The way their relationships evolved felt natural and heartfelt, drawing me deeper into the story with each chapter. The narration really brought the characters to life, making it even more enjoyable to listen to. A perfect balance of charm and depth, this story kept me hooked from beginning to end. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a sweet, well-paced tale with endearing characters!
Thank you NetGalley for this opportunity

I enjoyed this. The narrators did a great job, especially bringing Kiernan's quirks & way of thinking to life. The story was good & entertaining, if not a little predictable. Floyd <3 Watching Ellie bend over backwards and sacrifice so much of her life for everyone else irritated me, but I think that's the point especially as a recovering people pleaser (first child!).

4.5 stars. This was surprising. I thought I wouldn't like this book because it's starts off poorly. And the male narrator sounds a little effeminate--and the character description of 5' 7" with red hair and I wasn't all that invested. But the characters really grow on you. As does their relationship. Lots of heavy topics are addressed: parental shortcomings; addiction; grief; ADHD and dyslexia; flaws of self, and depression. I loved how Ellie and Kieran bond over cooking--not just the cookbook and how their relationship becomes a partnership in more ways than one. The spice is perfect and it's certainly a slow burn. Great romance. Thank you to NetGalley for an audio copy

No one, I repeat, NO ONE needs that much Taylor Swift in a book. This should come with a content warning. If you aren’t a swiftie you’ll probably be annoyed- just like I was.

I enjoyed this foodie / ghost writer romance. Both characters have complex pasts that made them vulnerable, but also realistic. It enabled the storyline to have a back and forth pull as the characters get to know each other and themselves. When ultimately the moment comes where the characters split for good or realize what they have is real and lasting if they can get past themselves, it's not surprising but the execution of the way that moment takes place was well done. For me, the downsides of this novel were my pet peeves with two of the main characters. It was clear Ellie didn't really know herself and needed to start making herself happy vs focusing on others happiness and putting herself down/to the side, I wanted to see that self protection - self worth, develop sooner within the novel and grow more. Her mother-in-law is the neediest, most selfish person and her father in law is awful for letting it go on (at all). The woman clearly needed professional help in the immediate aftermath of her son's death and had no respect for Ellie in the way she treated her. While this brought a certain complexity to the novel, it was also annoying and made me want to skip certain parts. Overall, the book was a fun listen (read). I enjoyed the narrators, food, and ending of the novel. I would recommend this book to other romance readers.

3.5 Stars

The audiobook of The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain was an absolute delight. The dual narration by Hunter Johns and Kate Handford was *chefs kiss* perfection.

Ellie, a young widow, likes her life neat and tidy. She is a cookbook ghostwriter, and her well-ordered existence is upended when she’s paired with Kieran, a famous (and famously chaotic) chef, to create a cookbook together. He’s her opposite in every way—but once her frostiness toward him starts to thaw, and once she realizes that his quirks are actually neurodivergent behaviors—he’s dyslexic and also has ADHD—they end up connecting both in the kitchen and out of it. They challenge each other and want the best for each other, and their friendship and their chemistry ultimately result in some truly steamy hookups. But can they break free of other people’s expectations and live for themselves? Or will their pasts interfere with their present?

If you love cooking shows or friends to lovers, slow burns, and explorations of grief and what it means to move on, you’ll love The Slowest Burn, just like I did. Solid five stars. Thanks SMP and MacMillan Audio for my audiobook.

I enjoyed this book. The concept of a ghost writer for a cookbook and them having to work together was great, definitely a slow burn but worth the read!

I really enjoyed this romance between Kieran and Ellie. I loved that it dealt with issues of grief and learning differences. I also really enjoyed the slow burn aspect, and I think it was good that they spent time apart to work on themselves and then come back together. Please see my linked video for full review.

I don't usually read audiobooks so that may have had an influence on my reading experience but I thought this was just okay. I found it a bit confusing at times to keep track of the dialogue as there wasn't a lot of dialogue tags, and since this was in first person it would just flow right into their thoughts from their dialogue without any change or hint at when the dialogue lines were over. I kept trying to figure out if they had said something out loud or just to themselves.
The cover is really cute, but I wouldn't necessarily call this a slow burn romance. I thought the fake dating trope was cute but I was surprised when the characters jumped to a friends with benefits arrangements, it didn't match their relationship or personalities at all. It felt like the author was trying to include as many romance tropes as possible without fully fleshing them out. I thought this would've been better had she drawn out the enemies to lovers tension and not included the friends with benefits storyline at all. My favourite part of the book was when they were working on the recipes at the cottage--the whole book could've taken place there and I would've been happy. I also would've liked there to be more tension between them. it felt like she was telling us about the tension and attraction between them without showing us.
I did like the food descriptions in this and thought the ghost writer x celebrity chef combo was a fun premise.

I swear… I’m so basic when it comes to food. I’ve never had a crazy big pallet… but this book made me want to try all the foods. But only if a hot gourmet chef was in my kitchen cooking for me 😆

Expect —> Opposites Attract, Slow Burn, Chef/Ghost Writer, Forced Proximity, Food, Hate to Love, Dyslexia

Stuck with someone you detest to get your job done? What could go wrong? Not a viral screaming match to put your drama online 👀😅😆

Kieran is a fantastic chef who just won a cooking contest. His star is rising so what better time to write a book? Only, he won’t respond to his ghost writer. He seems to want nothing to do with it.

Ellie is desperate to do her job. She’s 30, widowed and overly depended upon by her in-laws. But she can write. If only her client would take this book seriously.

The book is so perfectly named. It is such a fun slow burn romance and I really enjoyed it. The narrators were wonderful.

Thank you Macmillan audio for the gifted alc

I really enjoyed this one, especially in audiobook format! I thought it was a solid listen and a great debut!

It was hard to connect with the characters. It took me a long time to start liking the book, and even then I never really start loving it.
The cover is cute. The story just okay.

Told in dual POV (once again, my favorite way to read a romance), The Slowest Burn is exactly as the title advertises, a sweet and (a little) spicy, slow burn romance for the ages.

The CHEM-IS-TRY between Ellie and Kieran was sizzling. This one has a slew of tropes to love.
Coworkers (Ellie is ghostwriting Kieran’s cookbook). Not quite enemies to lovers, maybe more people who are opposites and annoy each other and get in a screaming match in the middle of dinner service to lovers? A sprinkle of fake dating (for one night only). And add in a friends with benefits situation.

We follow Ellie and Kieran over the course of nearly a year of creating and cowriting a cookbook. Each has their own personal things to work through. This touches on topics like sobriety, ADHD, depression, grief, and loss. All are dealt with in a beautiful way that felt genuine and real, not put on.

The plot and story were well paced, especially when you get to the back half of the book. I couldn’t put it down.

(Side note: I want the cookbook they made because it sounds brilliant.)

An excellent debut from Sarah Chamberlain! I hope to read more of her works in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The Slowest Burn’s title says it all! 🔥

Ghost writer and chef must collaborate on a cook book and don’t hit it off very well at first. What could possibly happen? I think I know ❤️🔥😊

I appreciated how things built over time between the couple into a believable friendship and attraction. Kieran and Ellie have great chemistry. While this one is chuck full of the best tropes ( fake dating, one bed, forced proximity etc) Kieran and Ellie’s personalities are what pulled me in. With both POVs we see a spot on representation of ADHD in Kieran’s character and its effects. Ellie has her own struggles as a people pleasing young widow with abandonment issues. The depth here is very well written, as is the very real concerns about a workplace romance and how it puts Ellie’s career at risk. The resolution is unique, smart and satisfying 👏👏

I listened to the audiobook alone and loved it! The narrator does a great job of capturing the humor and the slow build! It was a great way to spend a day off. I had to go out and buy a physical copy after because I enjoyed it so much and the cover is beautiful!

Thanks to @macmillan.audio and @Netgalley for the ALC
All opinions shared are my own

Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for the ALC of The Slowest Burn in exchange for an honest review.

"🎧 "The Slowest Burn" by Sarah Chamberlain is a heartwarming audiobook that follows the journey of Ellie, a ghostwriter who, after being widowed at a young age, finds herself working on a book with Kieran, a dyslexic chef known as the "pirate leprechaun." The story beautifully portrays their growing connection as they collaborate on the project.

One of the highlights of the audiobook is the fake dating dynamic that emerges between Ellie and Kieran. It adds an exciting layer of tension and anticipation to their relationship. However, I found myself wanting more from this plotline as it seemed to be introduced but not fully explored. I had hoped to see the potential complications that could arise when the media got wind of their arrangement, but it fizzled out rather quickly.

Another aspect that slightly detracted from the overall enjoyment was the sporadic time skips. While time jumps can help maintain pacing, the frequency and magnitude of the skips in "The Slowest Burn" felt disorienting at times. It would have been beneficial for the story to have a more cohesive and consistent timeline, perhaps with a tighter deadline to create a sense of urgency and propel the plot forward.

However, despite these missed opportunities, the audiobook shines in its depiction of the patient and understanding relationship between Ellie and Kieran. Their gradual bond and genuine care for each other make for an incredibly endearing romance. The emotional growth and self-discovery of both characters is beautifully portrayed, and I found myself rooting for their happy ending.

In conclusion, "The Slowest Burn" is a sweet and heartwarming audiobook that will tug at your heartstrings. While some of the tropes may not be fully explored and the time skips can be disorienting, the genuine connection between Ellie and Kieran is a captivating centerpiece. If you're in the mood for a gentle and poignant romance, this is a worthwhile listen."

100% Recommend!!!

I love a good chef romance! This was an adorable read. At first, I thought the widow aspect would be weird in a romance, but it was really well done by the author. I loved how Kieran championed Ellie. The whole calling out of the one bed trope had me cracking up. And Floyd was hands down my favorite character. So glad I got a copy of this audio from NetGalley!

The Slowest Burn is a beautifully crafted love story that will leave you breathless. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Chamberlain weaves a captivating tale of two friends who slowly realize their feelings for each other.

The novel follows Olive and Ethan, who have been friends since childhood. As they navigate the complexities of their lives, their bond deepens, revealing a connection that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Chamberlain's portrayal of their journey is both tender and passionate, capturing the nuances of their evolving relationship with stunning authenticity.

What sets The Slowest Burn apart is its deliberate pace. Chamberlain takes her time to develop the characters and their relationship, allowing for a deep and meaningful connection between Olive and Ethan. The slow burn is well worth the wait, as it culminates in a love story that is both believable and unforgettable.

In addition to its emotional depth, the novel also boasts a compelling plot, engaging characters, and beautifully written prose. Chamberlain's writing style is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into the world of her characters and making them feel as if they are experiencing their journey alongside them.

The Slowest Burn is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and literary fiction. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish the last page!

Thank you so much SMP for my ARC and ALC!

I had tried to read this book via kindle first - I had a hard time getting into it, but I went the audiobook route and it was much easier to get into and kept my attention throughout. The narration was super well done and if you’re following / reading via kindle just hold out because overall it was an entertaining, enjoyable read.

I only have pretty insignificant, small issues with the book. I almost wanted the slow burn to be slower? I wanted more angst and build up to the drop, but it didn’t take away from the story overall. The writing was super easy to read and follow, but there were certain times where it was a bit too cringey and genetic for me. I had readers second hand embarrassment when he just randomly asked her to have sex. I hated the third act break up, i don’t mind a break up when it helps the characters grow or we handle it like adults but I feel like you could cut that out and the story would be EXACTLY the same.

Overall, it was a super easy read. It entertained me and i would recommend it to my peers. I also really liked the cookbook writing plot line. You got that plot, and the banter was there and spice.

Out now!
Thank you to my besties at Macmillan Audio!

3.5 stars from me for this one!

I thought this was a super cute story. I ADORED the cooking & food aspect as a Food Network lover. Kieran was a favorite character for me. Being in his head was fascinating and enlightening. Also, the way he stands up for Ellie in the end.... all the YES.

As the title suggests, this is a slow burn but it's nice reading the characters warm up to each other. this wasn't overly spicy but it isn't closed door either.
I was rooting for Ellie to realize that she was taking better care of everyone else other than herself. When finally she breaks free I was so happy for her!

The narrators were both good, but for the love of God y'all have got to edit out the sounds of this male narrator swallowing (gross).