This is one of the better debuts I’ve read in a while - The Slowest Burn from Sarah Chamberlain. I enjoyed it immensely and if I didn’t know going in that it was her debut, I never would’ve guessed that it was. The plot was very well developed with well-rounded characters. Banter and chemistry was perfect.

I really enjoyed the reality tv winning chef and his cookbook writing ghost, who clash from the start but being forced into proximity by the publisher in order to get the book written and tested, become friends. The shenanigans to get the recipes and cookbook figured out… that’s where the book magic happens. A great slow burn romance.

The backstory of each character is extremely interesting. The way everything unfolds - yeah, I really enjoyed this book. I definitely recommend it! Excellent for a debut. Very well done.

The audiobook is narrated by new to me voice Hunter Johns, and long-time fave Kate Handford (beloved narrator of one of my long-running detective series). They did a great job and I truly enjoyed both performances. I really look forward to hearing a lot more from them both in the future. I absolutely recommend the audio version of this book over the ebook. It’s a far better experience listening.

I received an advance read and listen copy from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press (St. Martin's Griffin), and Macmillan Audio, and this is my honest feedback.

Thank you @sarahchamberlainauthor @stmartinspress @macmillan.audio
for the ARC and ALC!

A fantastic debut novel & a slow burn it was! I love the lead up to the romance. Ellie and Kieran were at odds for a long time but it just worked! The emotional and mental struggles were handled so well. Everything from being a widow to dyslexia to ADHD and more. Working on a cookbook together seeing how their passion and love for food brought them together was so sweet. The audio narrated by
Hunter Johns and Kate Handford was excellent and kept me sucked right into the story! Grab this one tomorrow and see how these enemies become lovers!

Sarah Chamberlain’s debut simmers on low slowly turning up the heat and the trust between Kieran and Ellie as they let one another into their kitchens and their hearts. Tasked with ghost writing a cook book with the latest celebrity chef winner, Ellie lives a life much like her career—unassuming, behind the scenes, and as the support for others. A young widow, Ellie resides in the guesthouse behind her in-laws taking care of everyone (cute cat Floyd included) more than herself. All she wants to do is her job, but Kieran’s energetic “Happy Pirate Leprechaun” personality seems to be interested in doing anything but putting pen to paper and writing recipes.

In a play by her agent, Ellie and Kieran are sent to his cottage in Sonoma to hash out the book and get the bulk of it written. And as every romance reader knows, forced proximity is one of the best ways for opposing characters to work out tensions and really get to know one another. This was my favorite part of the book; the slow burn. It’s sometimes the most underrated part of a romance novel because it’s the relationship building section. It’s not necessarily sexy, sometimes painful, but the end results are so worth it.

Chamberlain has really thought about her characters. Kieran is so much more than his television persona and although he’s never really had a relationship, he is built to take care of Ellie and be her champion, a task he takes to very well in and out of the bedroom. Likewise Ellie sees Kieran’s neurodivergence and capabilities as a talented chef, and helps show Kieran that he is capable of creating something more than just showing off. Family dynamics play a sensitive role in how Kieran and Ellie function in relationships and the beautiful thing about a slow burn is that there’s time to see growth from them.

I received an advanced listening copy and really enjoyed the dual narration. Hunter Johns and Kate Hanford were well cast and easily gave me a sense of Kieran and Ellie’s personalities. I would definitely listen to them narrate more books in the future. As this was an early copy, I think a few sections where narration switched paused slightly too long and there were a few times Hunter’s reading cut off. I am confident this will be taken care of in the final editing stages.

Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟.5
Steam: 🪭🪭.5 open door

I had the pleasure of reviewing this book a few months ago, and now I get to leave a review for the audiobook! I’ll include my original review below. As for the audiobook, it was well-produced. It’s easy to discern the internal vs. external dialogue (always a concern for audiobooks) and everything flows smoothly. I did think the performance for Kieran was a tad too laid-back, especially given Kieran’s character, but I also loved the performer’s voice and it didn’t detract from the story.

Based on the strength of the story and audio performance, my rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thanks to NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for providing an advanced copy of this audiobook, provided in exchange for my unbiased opinion.

Original review for e-book:

Kudos to Sarah Chamberlain. What a debut! This sort of contemporary romance is my favorite - sweet, grounded characters dealing with real-life issues. Nothing too cutesy or cloying, but rather a (mostly) realistic romance with some depth.

Ellie & Kieran, whether they realize it or not, are two sides of the same coin, both people struggling to leave the confines of their current lives, both needing to graduate into something new. Even though they butt heads initially, they find strength in each other.

Honestly, there is so much to love about this book. It handles various issues such as grief, co-dependence, substance abuse, and neurodivergence in a sensitive and well-informed manner. Kieran and Ellie are great together - their relationship arc is believable and their chemistry is palpable. The plot and pacing were enjoyable, and I found it hard to put this book down.

This is a story about widow cookbook ghost writer, Ellie Wasserman, and hot young reality star chef Kieran O’Neill needed to collaborate on Kieran’s cookbook. The premise is cute. Overcoming their differences to be able to work together is a great plot. I listened to the audiobook. Kate Handford did an amazing job with Ellie’s POV chapters. Hunter Johns was a little hard to listen to at first with his narration of Kieran’s POV. He did not differentiate enough between characters which made it a bit hard to follow at times. I do like his voice and I eventually got used to it. There is a lot of deep topics with grief and difficult home lives growing up (both characters). There were enough light hearted moments that helped the story along. Kieran’s immaturity was super annoying, but that was the point as he comes off as a screw up even though he is not.

In this book:
widow/grief
ADHD/dyslexia
Chef
Writer
San Francisco
Opposites attract
Dual POV

Thank you NetGalley, Macmillan audio, and Sarah Champberlain for an advanced listening copy of this audiobook.

4.5 stars rounded up.

I had some trepidation when I was starting this book - worried that “The Slowest Burn” would equal the slowest book. Happily, I was wrong! This debut turned out to be a cozy and sweet dual POV romance. The book follows the typical romcom outline, but the writing is strong and charming. The audiobook featuring dual MC narrators is always a plus in my book.

Publishing Tuesday - check it out! Thanks NetGalley and McMillan Audio for the advanced audio copy!

An enjoyable book of life and love and discovering who you really are. This is the story of opposites attracting and bringing out the best in each other. I listened to this on audio and the narrators did a good job giving voice to Ellie and Kieran. I did not want to stop listening! Highly recommend this book to romance readers.

This book is a shot straight to the heart! It is sweet, heartwarming, heartbreaking, funny, sad, sexy and everything in between! It is a slow burn (play on title not intended, but it is the best description) that builds to a hot and spicy romance. The characters are so realistic that they feel like fully fleshed out people in realistic setting that enhances the storyline as it unfolds. You don't feel as if you are reading a story, but rather are living it along with the characters. The narration on the audiobook brings the emotions and personalities of the characters more fully to life making the emotions that you feel along with the characters even more impactful. You feel his frustration with other's views of his dyslexia and ADHD issues as well as the heart crushing issue of her abandonment fears while recovering from the death of her spouse. She tries so hard to make everyone happy to the detriment of herself, while he is used to focusing on just getting through the day in a manner that is best for him. Toss their baggage in a blender and you have the heartstring pulling book that this author has written. Seriously realistic and impactful. I can definitely see this book becoming a book club favorite in no time at all! This author has definitely shot to the top of my must watch for more books from list!

This was a fun friends to lovers, forced proximity, dual POV romance debut between a dyslexic chef with ADHD and the ghostwriter widow who is tasked with helping him write a cookbook. I loved the disability rep in this book, the passion both protagonists share for food and their undeniable chemistry. Great on audio and perfect for fans of books like Business casual by Rachel Lynn Solomon. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review!

Overall, it was a pretty cute read. The plot follows Ellie, a meticulous ghostwriter who isn’t quite ready to move on from her past, and Kieran, an up-and-coming chef with a messy personal life. Their relationship slowly builds as they work together on his debut cookbook, and the romance definitely heats up—both in and out of the kitchen!

I listened to the audiobook, and while I really liked the female narrator, the male narrator didn't quite do it for me. His voice felt a bit mumbly and not as sexy as you'd expect for a romance, which made some parts less enjoyable.

At first, I wasn't a fan of Kieran. He came across as a bit of a dork with mommy issues, and it felt like he just wanted Ellie to take care of him. But as the story progressed, I warmed up to him. He turned out to be sweet, fun, and genuinely cared about Ellie’s well-being, which made their relationship more endearing.

I loved how their bond developed around their personal struggles and trauma. While it wasn't a favorite of mine, the story was still heartfelt and adorable. If you're looking for a light, cute romance with some deeper themes, this might be one for you.

The Slowest Burn is a heartwarming tale that skillfully weaves the lives of two beautifully developed protagonists, Ellie Wasserman and Kieran O’Neill. Ellie, a meticulous ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks, embodies neatness and caution after losing her husband three years ago. Kieran, on the other hand, is a laid-back chef whose messy life contrasts sharply with Ellie’s orderliness. Their chemistry is palpable as they navigate the challenges of co-authoring a cookbook, and the way their initial tensions transform into a deep, romantic connection is both delightful and engaging.

The audiobook, narrated by Hunter Johns and Kate Handford, has its highs and lows. While Kate’s narration is fantastic—bringing Ellie’s character to life with warmth and nuance—Hunter's delivery felt a bit flat and monotonous at times. It sometimes felt like he was merely reading rather than truly narrating the story. Additionally, I noticed a couple of instances where it seemed words were skipped in the initial half, which interrupted the flow of the narrative. Despite these minor flaws, the overall experience is a warm and fuzzy escape, making it a worthy listen for anyone who enjoys romance laced with personal growth and healing. A must-read for fans of heartfelt love stories!

Publication: September 24th, 2024

Rating:🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

What an absolutely stunning debut!

Ellie Wasserman likes to keep her life organized; honestly, that's how she prefers it. She’s a top ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks. Still, ever since losing her husband three years ago, she's been avoiding risks—whether it’s writing her cookbook, telling her in-laws (who are still grieving) that she’s ready to move out, or even dipping her toe into the dating world. And let's be real, dating feels as overwhelming as a recipe with fifty steps.

Kieran O'Neill is anything but organized. As a rising star chef who made his mark on a reality TV competition, he's known for cracking jokes and leaving chaos in his wake—a fact his distant family never lets him forget. The only place he feels truly in control is in the kitchen. But when he's teamed up with a no-nonsense ghostwriter with cool blue eyes and curves that catch him off guard, she cuts through his jokester facade as easily as a paring knife slices through an orange peel.

The side characters truly brought this story to life, especially Ben—what a dream father-in-law, He added such warmth and heart to the story. The writing itself was a wonderful mix of humor and emotion. I’m already excited to see what the author comes up with next!

I love the narration of this audiobook

Thank You Netgalley and Macmillan Audio

The publisher provided ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This review is for the audio book, narrated by Kate Hanford and Hunter Johns. This was a dual narration. I was VERY impressed with Kate Handford's adaptation of Ellie. She obviously has a lot of talent, and she's very interesting to listen to. She doesn't try to take the male voices to an impossible range, like some narrators do. Very professional, top quality.
Hunter John's narration leaves at lot to be desired. His voice is flat, dull, monotone and sometimes garbled. I think with Kieran's bubbly personality, he deserved a more appropriate narrator.
The story is definitely slow burn. Ellie has to find her way through many layers of grief. Wonderful romance.
Thank you to netgalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan audio for providing me an audio galley of this book to read and give an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Before I get into the production of this book, I want to talk about characters, plot, and pacing.
I need books that will make me connect with the characters. I want characters who are strong and reliable. Ellie was an interesting character to start off. A young widow who struggles to give the love to herself she deserves. Throughout the book, she shows how she chooses to care for others. Which is admirable. But I was so frustrated with her. She could not recognize people taking advantage of her, which drove me bonkers. Yes, I know this was part of her development, but she truly didn't see any of it until the very end. I didn't feel she developed and changed as she could and then the author chose for her to turn her whole way of looking at things around at the last minute. I wanted a strong character, someone who has gone through a tragedy and come out on the other side learning lessons. But she was just a wet rag that people were stepping all over. Kieran was fun and I really enjoyed his ADHD representation. Had I not been listening to the audio but reading the actual book, I think I would have enjoyed it a bit more. I like that he wasn't your usual sexy, tall, brooding male main character. He's short, and ginger, and has some mental health issues that are shown but not particularly developed. I did feel his anxiety throughout the book. But I would have liked to see more about his addiction issues and how they potentially interfered with his story line.
Pacing was pretty good in this book. I got through it rather quickly. There weren't really times when it was particularly slow. I do understand this was supposed to be part of the plot, the characters slowly getting to know each other and connecting, but it was more than their slow romance. It was just slow with not much going on underneath the surface to keep me particularly interested.
As for plot, I loved the idea of these two coming together to write a book and finding out each other along the way. It is billed as enemies to lovers, but I certainly do not get that. I get two people who now little about each other and who learn that through the story. What I didn't get was the chemistry between the characters. I just did not feel it. Not in the words the author used to convey how they were feeling about each other. The forced proximity trope brought them in close quarters, sure, but as for their attraction and it's development? Well, that was truly flat and I wasn't really rooting for them to be together. I didn't fee like I really cared if they were friends or romantically involved. Plus the sex scenes were super dry. I don't necessarily need spicy, but I do need to feel the attraction between the characters and it just did not strike me that these two were it for each other. Yes, it is supposed to be a "friends with benefits" situation to start, but it is also supposed to evolve away from that and I just didn't feel that there was more than sex between these two.
The cover of this one is quite beautiful. I really love the backdrop setting of the Golden Gate Bridge. At the same time, I don't see it matching any of the scenes in the book so I'm curious why this particular setting was chosen rather than one that would match what the characters were doing.
Now for the production. Unfortunately, I think the production of this book brought what would have been a solid 3 star book down to 2-2.5 stars for me. I did like the dual POV narration. That is something I always want to see in most romance books. And the female narrator, Kate Handford, drew me in. I would definitely try and find more books with her voice. But the male narrator, Hunter Johns, just did not fit the character for me. For a narration of a character with ADHD, his slow and measured candence just did not fit the character. Not to mention his long pauses while he was narrating scenes drove me insane. I had to speed the book up so I would not be taken out of the story. Plus there were a few areas in the book where the narration stalled and then skipped ahead. Finally, there were long pauses between the chapters I was concerned with. I kept thinking I turned the audio off.
All in all, I would not recommend or buy the audio version of this book. I could possibly see getting a Kindle or finished print version, but the audio really turned me off of the story. I do realize this author is a newer author with not much under her belt. Perhaps future books by her will be more fleshed out.

A Chef romance! Yes, count me in. I absolutely loved this. This was definitely a SLOW burn. With A LOT of angst between the two MCs.

Ellie is a ghost writer for a chef's, Keiren, upcoming book. They begin to work closely together. They're constant bickering turn to steamy flirting.

I really liked getting know Ellie's character. She is a heavy people pleaser and always puts herself last. You watch her heal through her grief and loss. I often felt sad and angry for her. The people around her were sucking the life out of her, and she deserved better.

Keiren was very outspoken, and he took no ish from anyone. That stubbornness often put him in situations, but they were humbling experiences.

The audiobooks were pretty easy to listen to and follow. I just kind of wish the voice actor for the MMC put more life into his voice. It was monotone to me.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you netgally for the ALC!

When Ellie is contracted to ghost write hot shot chef Kieran O'Neill's cookbook she immediately at odds with the playboy who can't seem to take anything seriously when he's not in the kitchen.

This was a cute romcom! Here's what I liked:

Ellie: I found her interesting. She's in her 30's and still getting over the death of her husband. Her journey is a good one. The golden retriever energy of Kieran is perfect for helping her along as well. The most interesting thing though was her relationship with her former in-laws. I really loved seeing how close they still were.

Enemies to Lovers: Always top tier! This one was interesting because these two really didn't get along. Being so opposite of each other, it was hard for them to really accept those differences.

The narration: I liked Hunter Johns and Kate Handford in this. Both really gave a lot to the characterizations,

On the other side, I did think the pacing was a bit off. The beginning dragged a little but it sped right up after they got together.

All in all, a good romcom!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

4.5 stars. One of the best romances I've read in awhile. This is a debut, and I cannot wait to see what Chamberlain writes in the future. This romance had so much depth and tackled issues like neurodiversity, addiction, grief, trauma, and more! I loved the way the relationship developed, and how it reflected where each character was at in life and in dealing with past issues and traumas. Very well written and engaging. Oh.....and I always love when a book contains foodie elements!

3.5 stars.

It took me quite a bit of time to warm up to Ellie and Kieran in Sarah Chamberlain's "The Slowest Burn." The title does not lie, people! This book really *is* a slow burn, to the point where I was worried about the chemistry blossoming between the main characters! When the chemistry finally comes, it is palpable. Ellie and Kieran are both people who have been jaded by life for one reason or another. They are imperfect people with lots of flaws, and they are unsure of their place in the world. They are polar opposites, but somehow, they work together. They have some fantastic banter with one another. I thought a lot of the reasons for them not getting together were a bit silly. Still, this is a heartfelt story that I enjoyed reading. I love a novel that involves cooking, and this one made my mouth water as Kieran and Ellie work together to write his cookbook. This story also deals with heavier subjects like substance abuse, ADHD, loss, grief, and childhood trauma. It is much heavier than I expected. I will say, the pacing of this book is frequently off. I think it could have been a little shorter and a little faster. Hunter Johns and Kate Handford do a wonderful job bringing these characters to life with their audiobook narrations. They complement each other so well vocally! A solid debut and a great read!

Thank you to NetGalley, Sarah Chamberlain, and Macmillan Audio for the complimentary ALC of this book. All opinions are my own. I was not compensated for this review.

The Slowest Burn
Sarah Chamberlain
Pub: 9/24/24
4.5☆

Love could be a recipe for disaster, or the best thing they ever cooked up...

Exactly as the title states, this was a delicious slow-burn romance and I adored the heck out of it!

Kieran and Ellie’s heartfelt story was the literal definition of chef’s kiss perfection. I loved these two beauties so much. Both working to overcome past traumas and total opposites. Yet together, they sizzled. The banter, the chemistry and the beautiful healing… all the perfect ingredients to make for one unputdownable romance wrapped up in the cutest cover. A must own for myshelf.

Im still flabbergasted this was a debut. I am already so excited for more from Chamberlain.

What I loved;
🍅 Opposites Attract
🍅 Grumpy x Sunshine
🍅 Slow Burn Romance
🍅 Neurodivergent Rep
🍅 Dual POV
🍅 LOL Banter
🍅 Forced Proximity

Absolutely would recommend. I alternated between reading with my eyes and my ears (mostly listening) and loved the mix. Hunter Johns and Kate Handford’s dual narration was fantastic and so perfectly paired to portray Kieran and Ellie.

Thank you so much to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

The Slowest Burn is a slow-burn (get it) romance set in the San Francisco Bay Area (where I resided for two years). I saw the Golden Gate Bridge on the cover and insta-requested. I loved the mental health representation, multiple mentions of towns around the Bay Area, and how this romance wasn't like the rest. Highly recommend to foodies!

I listened to the audiobook of this book and there were some flaws with the recording. There were long pauses between chapters that kept making me think I accidentally turned off the book. I had to keep checking my phone. Also, the male narrator mispronounced Marin County, which was very distracting to me (he pronounced it MAIR-IN, not Muh-rin). I deducted a star from my rating because of this. The female narration by Kate Handford was excellent.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for this audiobook copy in exchange for my honest review. The Slowest Burn publishes on September 24, 2024.