3.25 ⭐️ | 📚+🎧 | 🌶

I feel conflicted about this book. I liked the story, the diversity of characters the mental health representation and overall just the fact that it didn't follow the typical path of a romance novel...but somewhere along the line there was a disconnect.

I started out this book with the kindle version and I think as soon as Kieran was described as a sexy, very fit, pirate leprechaun is when I could no longer connect with the story. I did end up switching and finishing the book as an audiobook which was the only way I was able to stay focused and enjoy the story to its fullest.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio production and St. Martin’s Press for an Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Slowest Burn follows Ellie, a cookbook ghostwriter, and Kieran, a newly famous chef, as they work on a cookbook together. This cookbook will help both of their careers massively, but what will they do when attraction gets in the way? The Slowest Burn plays into quite a few tropes, such as grumpy x sunshine, fake dating, forced proximity, and opposites attract.

This was such a good book, from the detailed descriptions of Ellie & Kierans’ recipes to how the characters were so well thought out and developed. Kieran was so cute and I loved that he differed from the typical male leads in romances–not quite tall, dark, and handsome but Ellie’s soulmate. “Cookie, I thought when I looked at Ellie,” was such a cute cringy line and I loved it so much.

Ellie was just perfect. I loved her complexity, and the way that she started out struggling to choose herself. I relate to that in a way, and the way that everything eventually wrapped up was super satisfying to me. AND she was a reader!!

I listened to the Netgalley audiobook ARC of this book, and the pauses in between chapters were annoyingly long. I constantly had to check my phone to see whether or not it had turned off, or changed to the next chapter.

I would definitely recommend this book if you’re a fan of slow burn romance books, with some slight spice but not an overwhelming amount (which I enjoyed because those scenes are a skip for me), that doesn’t follow traditional gender roles (which I wouldn’t have expected to enjoy). Overall 4/5 stars and time well spent!

So this wasn't the slowest burn but a slow burn for sure.

I have so many mixed feelings regarding this book like at one side it was so enjoyable and easy to read but the other side had me rolling my eyes because the characters were cringy.

It is a simple and fun story. Might help get you out of a slump.

4.25 stars

Such a cute romance that weaves in substance and deeper themes such as healing, forgiveness and personal growth. I also loved the ADHD representation and dual narrators. Overall an easy listen and enjoyable story. Fans of romance who seek emotional substance will surely love this.

A ghost writer and a chef must work together to write the chef's cook book. Kieran is a celebrity chef and pretty full of himself outwardly. Ellie is a widow living with her in laws.

I thought this was a beautifully written story! I enjoyed Kieran and Ellie as they worked together, driving each other crazy, while they got to know one another. For a first novel, I thought it was a great read!

♥︎𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬-𝐭𝐨-𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬
♥︎𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐃 𝐑𝐞𝐩
♥︎𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐎𝐕

🎧𝐃𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧:
Hunter Johns & Kate Handford

✨thoughts✨
Ellie and Chef Kieran found themselves on the wrong foot while working on a cookbook together. Despite their initial dislike for each other, they were forced to spend time together and eventually formed a great friendship that had the potential to become something special.

♡︎ Their journey from friends to potentially something more was slow and gradual, living up to the title of the story. Ellie was still grappling with the loss of her husband, while Kieran's past was misunderstood.

🎧While their friendship was well-developed, their transition to a romantic relationship lacked chemistry for me. The narration felt a bit flat at times, which made the characters seem distant. However, I appreciated the unique story and the representation of ADHD. I will definitely keep an eye out for this author. her writing is amazing.

♡︎ If you enjoy slow-burn stories, this audiobook is worth a listen.

This book did not work for me. If I weren't listening to the audiobook I would not have finished it.
I was not a fan of the spice and felt there wasn't chemistry between the two main characters. Just loads of lust that came up in the most random moments.

The concept behind this story seemed like it could have the perfect balance of emotional depth and still being fun and playful. Sadly it didn't work for me.

Thank you, NetGalley for the advanced reader's copy!

2.5 ⭐️ (rounded up)

THE SLOWEST BURN is aptly titled. This is a love story between two heavily damaged people that takes a long time to develop. Patience is required to let the relationship between Ellie and Kieran simmer to completion.

Ellie is a young widow hired to ghost write a cookbook with a hotshot chef who rocketed to fame after winning a reality cooking show. Kieran is the chef whose culinary brilliance is hampered by his crippling ADHD. They are opposites in every way imaginable, yet find themselves drawn to each other as they work together on the project.

Sarah Chamberlain packs this book full of familiar tropes: enemies-to-lovers, workplace romance, fake dating, forced proximity, opposites attract; that it sometimes feels overwhelming. The basic love story is enough - Ellie and Kieran are both looking for love, acceptance, and support - and they find that in each other.

There were times I wanted to scream at Ellie for allowing people to treat her like a doormat - her MIL, her brother, her employer - and I’m not sure she ever got the apologies she deserved.

I alternated between print and audio formats, and found the audiobook a bit inconsistent. Kate Handford’s narration of Ellie was spot on. She captured her vulnerability and emerging confidence beautifully. Hunter John provided Kieran’s voice and I thought it did not match the character. For someone with severe ADHD, the narrator’s slow, measured times seemed incongruous.

The cooking components of the book were quite enjoyable and were perfect analogies to the emerging romance between Ellie and Kieran. Overall, this was a satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copies in exchange for my unbiased review.

Thank you to SMP and MacMillan Audio for review copies!
TL;DR: A slow-burn romance that takes its time but ultimately delivers a well-developed, engaging female protagonist and a sweet, satisfying love story.

The Slowest Burn introduces Ellie, a female protagonist whose journey is beautifully narrated by Kate Handford, who truly brought her to life. Ellie’s backstory—marked by unexpected grief as a young widow and a complicated childhood that still affects her adult relationships—felt poignant and relatable. Chamberlain's writing, paired with Handford’s performance, added layers to Ellie's character, offering a powerful exploration of her challenges and personal growth throughout the romance. The nuanced depiction of how grief and loss shaped her connections with her in-laws and brother was especially well done.

Ellie’s evolving relationship with Kieran was another highlight. While "enemies to lovers" isn’t my favorite trope, this felt more like two wounded people learning to open up and realize how much they needed and wanted each other—and it worked beautifully.

While I enjoyed much of the story, I found Kieran’s perspective less compelling. Chamberlain's focus on neurodiversity was appreciated, but his chapters didn’t engage me as much as Ellie’s, and the male narration didn't help (which likely influenced my feelings). The pacing of the first 25% was also a bit slow, especially in the audiobook format. The dual POV may have contributed to the slower start, but once it found its rhythm, the story became much more captivating.

In short, if you find the beginning a bit slow, stick with it! The plot develops into a richly layered examination of Ellie’s character, and the romance heats up as well.

I liked this books a lot. Both characters have had tough pasts. Cooking calms them. When Elle and Kieran meet at first it’s like oil and water. Through communication and banter they have a recipe for success. I liked that they weren’t your typical leading characters. Kieran was short in stature and Elle was curvy. A more realistic love story. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily

It''s really fun to read a well written food romance! This slow burn romance was pretty good and believable. It is important to note the FMC is a widow.

The back and forth between the main characters voices was smooth and I felt like added to the story. I'd recommend for a fun foodie read!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

I have the ALC as well as the galley of this… so I’ve tried multiple mediums to get into this. I know it’s called The Slowest Burn… but the story is very slow. I’m having a hard time caring about the characters and I just think this one isn’t for me.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St Martins for the gifted copy of this book.

This is a sweet, opposites attract love story. Ellie is an uber organized cookbook ghost writer dealing with (or perhaps not dealing with) the death of her husband three years prior. Kieran is a sous chef at one of SF’s fanciest restaurants. As his star continues to rise, he struggles to break out of the box the media and his family put him in. He also deals with a severe case of ADHD.

Both of the characters grow TREMENDOUSLY over the course of the story, both in healing from personal trauma and in their relationship with each other. They go from hating each other to in love, but we mostly just see the hating each other and early signs of thaw, then it skips to having feelings. I wish we’d seen more of the in-between period where they become friends before falling in love. The author sort of tells us that it happens rather than shows us, and I think a few extra scenes in the middle where there’s little to no tension, either antagonist or sexual, would have made their love story feel so much more authentic. Overall, not a deal breaker though — still an amazing story.

I also LOVED the cooking aspect of it. I dare you to read this and not want to learn to make risotto or supreme an orange. Absolutely delightful!

Audio: This dual POV story is performed by two different narrators. Ellie’s POV is handled by Kate Handford, one of my favorite narrators that I didn’t even recognize! In the books I’ve listened to her narrate so far, she has a slight Canadian accent and much of the dialogue requires a Scottish accent. I am so surprised it’s the same voice because there’s no hint of the accent in this performance, just perfect cadence and her soothing voice. Kieran’s POV is performed by Hunter John and it was fine. Generally solid, but there were a few times I heard him swallow or take a break that weren’t part of the story. It’s not hugely distracting and not a dealbreaker for me, especially with Kate Handford narrating the other POV.

Overall ratings
Exact star rating: 4.44
5-pt star rating: 4

Attribute ratings
Characters: 3.5
Atmosphere/Setting: 5
Writing Style: 4.5
Plot/Pacing: 5
Intrigue: 4
Logic: 4.5
Enjoyment: 4.5

Thank you so much NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for giving me access to this audiobook!
The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain will be released on Oct 1st, it's a heartwarming romance where we follow Ellie Wasserman, a meticulous ghostwriter who is still healing from her past who meets the charming and messy chef Kieran O’Neill.
They are tasked with working together on Kieran’s debut cookbook, their initial differences lead to sharp tensions, but over time, their professional partnership turns into an unexpected attraction.
It's a perfect read for foodie lovers, people who love a slow burn romance with personal growth!
As for the audiobook, I loved the narration, especially from the female voice, it was done perfectly! And even as I was listening at 2x speed it still was engaging and not boring.

2.5 stars. I wanted to like this, but unfortunately, it just fell flat for me.

Pros:
- The cover art is so cute, and is what initially drew me into the book
- This has one of the most accurate representations of ADHD that I’ve ever read in a book
- As someone who hates to cook, all of these recipes actually made me want to learn to cook
- There were tender moments that were sweet

Cons:
- I didn’t feel like Ellie and Kieran had chemistry; to me, it felt like they were really ill suited to each other
- Everyone was horrible to Ellie. They all treated her with disrespect, and that’s not something that ever really changed. Her mother-in-law never once apologized for the way she acted and treated Ellie. Her brother didn’t apologize for overstaying his welcome and letting Floyd out. Kieran acted so immaturely and had constant outbursts.
- There were entirely way too many tropes thrown together; she was a widow, fake dating, friends with benefits, enemies to lovers, coworkers, etc. They didn’t work for me.
- It felt like the author was drawing off of so many other author’s works that I didn’t really get a feel for the type of author she is; all of that really made it obvious this was a debut novel

As stated above, I really wanted to like it, and I did stick it out even though I contemplated DNF’ing it several times, but it just wasn’t it for me.

The Slowest Burn is the story of Ellie and Kieran, two lost souls who find comfort in each other. I enjoyed the character development and focus on cooking throughout the book, but I did not care for how the story evolved. Instead of feeling like a delicious, tension-building slow burn, the enemy vibes at the beginning felt caricature-like and the it just felt like the pacing was off. The "spice" also seemed abrupt and just awkward. The narration felt subdued, which ultimately I think worked for this story. Overall, this was a decent read, but it just wasn't my favorite.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for gifting me with an ALC to review! All opinions are my own.

This was the best! Aside from the foodie aspect, it was a great reminder of worth and boundaries. I loved the chemistry and would love to read the cookbooks!

Thank you Netgalley smp and MacMillan audio for the free ALC and earc. My opinions are being left voluntarily. I loved the narration the voices were pleasing to listen to.the story I'm still a little confused what the story was there was lots of little things happening and not a fan of 3rd act breakup...

3.5/5☆

This was such a beautiful love story. I did love both characters, a widow and a chef :) there was two main spicy parts so that wasn’t overwhelming. Seeing how their love grew from making a cookbook together was very special.

I also loved it was based in the Bay Area bc some of the cities mentioned were where I used to live and met my husband.

Both narrators were awesome!

So you like to read romance...lucky for you, I've found your next favorite romance author. Do you enjoy authors like Tarah Dewitt, Katherine Center, Sarah Adams, and Abby Jimenez? Go ahead and add Sarah Chamberlain to the list, because you've stumbled onto the review one of my favorite romance reads of 2024. I can save you a few minutes of reading by telling you to just buy it. This is one you're going to want to chronicle on your bookshelves at home. It's so good. But if you still want the deetz, I got you.

Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter living in the cottage house of her dead husband's parents. He died three years ago, leaving her a widow in her late twenties. Since then, she's thrown herself into her work, saving money to eventually buy her own place and get back on her feet. Unfortunately, the client of her latest project is less than genial. In fact, he's all but openly hostile. She's got the writing & cooking skills she needs to do a great job, but she can't write a book in this guy's voice unless she knows...literally anything...about him. Kieran recently won a prestigious televised cooking contest and his agent is looking to capitalize on the flash of fame. Putting out a cookbook is the obvious step forward, except it feels like schoolwork, and Kieran has never been good at that. In fact, he's been exceptionally bad at it, and this project is stirring up a lot of old insecurities.

Oh, but this book is delicious. There is something in reading about food, even if it's food you'd never want to eat yourself. Happy croissants? I can get behind that. A blood orange and duck confit salad? Yeah, that's not going into my mouth. But reading about it? I mean, it's sexy. It's sexy when someone takes such care in choosing and preparing ingredients to assemble a bite that will do pleasant things in your mouth. Food is romance (or at least it can be, and in this book, trust me, it is).

But I haven't even gotten to the swoony bits yet! Let's take the title, The Slowest Burn. I mean, with a title and a cover like that (LOOK HOW PRETTY IT IS), you just know you're in for a treat, and Chamberlain did not disappoint.

What is it we love about a slow burn romance? The longing. The intimacy of getting to know someone so completely before jumping in the sack, right? The deep and honest friendship with possibility that simmers and fizzles just underneath every interaction. Check. Check. Check.

Ellie and Kieran are both misunderstood. They each have trauma from their formidable years that shaped them into what they currently are: functioning adults with relationship issues (aren't we all). Through the forced proximity of the cookbook project, which they both need to do well, their layers of armor weaken around each other as they connect over the food they're creating together. A true bond forms between them that emulsifies into something simply irresistible.

Both main characters have depth and realistic internal conflict they need to work through. Ellie needs to work on enforcing boundaries, and Kieran has always been too much for most people to handle and is a little too eager to employ his coping mechanisms.

But it's not all about the romance! There are many other types of relationships explored in these pages: professional, familial (siblings, parents, in-laws), and friendships. Themes of grief are discussed as well as learning disabilities. The FMC is plus sized, the MMC isn't super tall, both are simply integrated into the characterization and not flouted around just to be 'Inclusive'. So much good stuff to chew on in this book!

I read this book as an advanced listening copy from the publisher & netgalley. I devour audiobooks like Ellie devours frites, and this one was no exception. Both narrators did a great job. Occasionally I could hear a few mouth sounds from Hunter Johns, but to be honest, I actually liked that. *blushes*

So in conclusion, this book is amazing, and you all should read it. Thank you for coming to my TEDtalk.