Positively gloriously loved this book, very easy to read
Follows story of Kate who gave up career of acting to follow husband to Germany and then bring up daughter Alice. Husband since caught with secretary and Kate living back with sister her daughter at uni she writes to talent agency to see if there any hope of a job ?
Oh yes they have just received book written by an author who wishes to remain anonymous so they need an actor to put a name, face and personality to the book. Kate asks to read it first partly because JoJo the man who owned talent agency has died and his son Charlie now runs it and she needs to see if book is good? But it is amazing
So she agrees to do it , she has to keep it all secret so only tells her sister and her husband she will tell Alice later she’s too obsessed with her Australian boyfriend who wants to take her back there Kate can’t even think about it at the moment
So she is signed up with a team and it begins they change her surname slightly but keep her first name
She is not told the real author identity a good thing then she has no idea
And so she starts to rehearse all the questions she is likely to be asked and answered by social media post and blogs everyone it’s never ending
She sees the book cover its stunning her name and she sees herself as the guardian angel of this book
But will she be able to protect everyone including herself
And what about the gorgeous Charlie she felt something the minute she saw him
Beautiful love story but can Kate protect it ?

4 stars *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
4 stars is meant to be a high rating but this feels like a very low 4 stars. if that makes sense. at the start i really enjoyed the plot of the book and i was really interested in how the story would progress. however, that momentum fell off a bit imo. kate and charlie’s relationship was actually really cute but i do agree with the reviews that said it felt a bit insta lovey. especially in the climactic scene in the cornwell cottage, i didn’t actually feel all that connected to the characters or their relationship. also the reveal of the ghost author felt so underwhelming 😭 it was all this buildup… then just handed to you?

in faaact (this review is just a bit of me rambling 😭😭😭) the last 10% felt like all the plot points were tied up in a neat yet unsatisfying bow. if that makes sense. everything just felt a little too convenient that i didn’t actually feel satisfied when i reached the end.

conclusion *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ
in this MESS of a review, my point is this: i am NOT the target audience and therefore i didn’t enjoy it as much as others will. want a cute contemporary romance? this is a good pick for you :)

Slow Burn Summer releases on June 19, 2025. thank you to netgalley and penguin general UK for providing me with an e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

First of all Thank you to net galley for allowing me to read this advanced copy in return for an honest review.

I LOVED this book. It was very well written and I loved the premise from blurb and was so excited to be given the opportunity to read it.

I loved the characters and especially that background characters still had such strong personalities. I’ve never read any of Josie Silver’ previous books but I am definitely going to make a start on them now.

The way the book is centred around grief not only for the passing of a loved one but also for a life you once lived was portrayed so well and was very inspirational.

The one small thing that bothered me was I felt like there wasn’t as much chemistry with Charlie and Kate as there could have been. It was a very wholesome love story but didn’t really feel as fleshed out of I’d have liked. I enjoyed it nonetheless


4.5 star rating ✨

The synopsis for this book is everything I love and more! Who doesn’t love a slow burn romance, a little bit of spice and a happy ever after.

Kate is freshly divorced and in need of a job. She reaches out to her old talent agent, which is now being run by his son Charlie. Kate is offered an acting job of posing as an author for a romance book, which the real author doesn’t want to be connected with.

This book is wholesome, heartfelt and funny in parts. I rated this book 4 stars as it took a while for me to connect with the story. It is beautifully written and by the end I was completely and utterly in love with the main characters and their journey.

This is going to be the perfect Summer book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin for allowing me to read this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

Another brilliant read from Josie Silver, I always thoroughly enjoy her books & this one was a romantic tale of author Kate

The characters made the book and I especially loved straight-talking sister Liv and the dynamics between her and main character Kate. All of the characters were totally relatable though and the Fiona epilogue was an especially nice touch. I also enjoyed the humour and comedy moments like angry T-Rex and triflegate. However, despite being the premise of the whole book, the fake author thing didn't really work for me. Although hired as an actor, Kate essentially played herself and didn't relish the radio and TV appearances. It also felt odd that daughter Alice didn't make an appearance at all. That said neither things detracted from my enjoyment of the book they just didn't make sense to me. So not my favourite by the author but it was another solid and fun read.

Another original, romantic hit from Josie Silver that I deeply enjoyed. Thank you for the opportunity!

Josie Silver is a romance author I trust and this didn’t disappoint! It’s about starting over after a divorce and love for reading, and what goes behind writing a novel and publishing. I always love characters in Josie Silver books, and I loved the MMCs in this book too. I love that she didn’t make a villain out of someone who seems a bit of a villain. Everyone has a story. Not everything is what it seems

There is a good balance of humorous and emotional. Even though we would never find ourselves in the situation of this book (quite unrealistic and impossible), but somehow the dillema is all relatable. Absolutely enjoyed this one!

I am a huge Josie Silver fan so I always go into her books just knowing they will be good! I loved the story of Kate and Charlie and I loved how they found each other along the way! I enjoy books set in the entertainment and Hollywood world and this was a perfect book that combined that with a cute romance sprinkled in as well!

Very good. Full of romance. Josie Silver just keeps on getting better with every book. This story follows Kate who takes on the role of an author as the actual author doesn't want to be associated with the book. Shows the highs and lows of social media. Full of bookish goodness.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

Kate Elliott is about to turn forty, she recently left her cheating husband, Richard, and her nineteen-year-old daughter, Alice, is at university. She has no money and needs a fresh start. In desperation she writes to her old agent, Jojo, to see if he has any acting jobs available. Unfortunately, Jojo has passed away but his son, Charlie, has taken over and he has the perfect acting job for Kate.

A famous author has written a beautiful romance novel but wants to stay anonymous. Kate will stand in as the author of the book, like a ghost author. At first Kate loves her new role and so does everyone on social media but then something happens and suddenly everyone turns against her and the social media is no longer positive but outright menacing.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin General UK for a copy of this eBook in exchange for an honest review

Oh I loved this book so much, Josie Silver just gets better and better. In fact, the ending made me go back and re-read the beginning, and I couldn’t stop reading it again. I don’t think I’ve even done that before.

If you’ve enjoyed any of Josie’s books before, you will love this one. Even if you hadn’t, it’s such a lovely book. I can’t recommend it enough. Thank you so much for letting me read an ARC.

I was looking forward to reading this book as I have enjoyed all of Josie's previous novels and it did not disappoint.

The story captured my imagination from the first chapter and I enjoyed the pace, characters and events.

I enjoyed Kate and Charlie's story and it moved at a good pace.

Would recommend.

Kate is given an opportunity by Charlie to represent someone else's story by posing as an author. In the meantime, she finds courage to redirect her own life after a divorce and start to follow her dreams.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

A thoroughly enjoyable read to immerse oneself in. An insight to the publishing world and 'ghost writers' when the main character Kate is employed to pretend to be the author of a novel that the original writer doesn't want to be associated with as it's outside their popular public genre. There's quite a lot of humour, especially around Kate as things just seem to 'happen' to her. The book also underlines the venomous world of the internet and social media making some people's life unbearable. Good characters which the reader can no doubt relate to and believe in. Light and easy to read overall and I think one of Josie's best.

A gorgeous read, When newly divorced Kate goes for an interview where she has to pretend to have written a novel as the real writer wants to remain anonymous things get off to a bad start after a series of mishaps on the way there where she meets Charlie who has reluctantly taken over the buisness from his lare father. Its a romantic story beautifully written which makes you laugh and cry full of warmth and charm and will make you fall in love with

A lovely read and didn't want to put it down. I read it when it was cold outside and made me long for the hot summer. Interesting take on the ghost writer and makes you wonder if it does happen and we just don't know about it.

I’ve never read a Josie Silver book that I wasn’t instantly lost in, and this is no exception. Beautifully written, and with a unique storyline, I loved Kate and Charlie and how all the threads of the story come together at the end. A really easy read but one that isn’t just another cookie cutter ‘slow burn’

Love the premise of this one and it’s difference from the usual ‘ghost writing’ trope instead a talent agent hires an actress to play the part of an author on a book tour.

I absolutely loved the characters (even Fiona by the end) and while this is a slow burn romance (true to the title) it didn’t feel too slow, stilted or dull. This is one for the readers who love the books about books trope!

Overall a fun read, filled with loveable, funny characters.

Josie Silver is one of my favourite authors. Sit down with this book and your favourite drink and prepare to feel better. Like a cost chat with a friend this book leaves you feeling warm and glowing.