I lost interest in this book pretty quickly. I think slow burn isn't my favorite, but this definitely was a slow burn. I just wasn't super invested, but I could see the interest if you like slow burns.

This was the perfect summer read! I absolutely loved it! I devoured it way too quickly!! I just adored the story and character so much! Josie Silver is a must read from me!! Highly recommend this one even if it’s not summertime:)

This book was a slow burn... that never burned. I like the start, but then kind of nothing happened that kept my interest.

Josie Silver is a master at romance and slow burn between characters and throwing in some deep development and this novel did not disappoint. First, I adored Kate- she is quirky and romantic and smart. At 39 and a former teen actress, currently burned by her cheating husband and empty-next situation, money is super tight and she is out of options. She decides to take an acting gig with Charlie, who is in need of someone to play an author for an upcoming tour.... and this book is BIG. A huge hit in the romance genre, Kate gets to play author and Charlie seems to just annoy her but the two have some chemistry. At the same time of the tour, Kate is emailing with the actual author of the book 'H' (we really don't know who this is!)..... but this book has some twists that keep you reading.

I loved this book! It was a little slow at first, which is not supposed to be a pun but it quickly picked up pace. Our main conflict reveal happened way earlier than I expected which was so interesting. It was so romantic, with miscommunication tropes kept to a minimum and it was just a very thoughtful, fun, sad and funny. I loved it so much!

Sadly, this book lost my interest quick and I decided to DNF it at 31%. I wasn't immediately hooked, which isn't always a problem, however that coupled with the wordiness and continual use of contemporary references that hamper any timelessness the book could possess made it feel like a chore for me to keep reading.

Thank you Dell for the ARC!

This book was so much fun! I loved the idea of writers pretending to be other writers because there is no way that can go wrong. It was messy, and chaotic and I was laughing a ton. There are a lot of sweet and emotional moments, with them going through post divorce and trying to make this book a success.

Charlie is such a mess with his divorce, the business he didn’t want, and this romance novel that could be huge if only someone would “be” the author on tour. Kate is trying to get her own life together after a rough divorce, and somehow ends up being the perfect fake author!

Charlie and Kate have instant chemistry... full of sparks, friction, and hilarious moments. I loved seeing them try to keep up appearances while slowly falling for each other! By the end I was totally invested in both the chaos of the tour and their romance!

3.5 stars rounded up. This book started off strong and I thought it was going to be at least a solid 4 star rom-com for me. My attention faded in and out though as it went on. I can't say it was one of my favorites, but it was cute and there were definitely some fun parts/tropes.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Another enduring book by Josie Silver. This is the fourth book I’ve read by her and she creates lovable characters that you find yourself rooting for.

In this one, you will meet lovable, sarcastic Kate that says whatever comes to her mind. Kate needs a job after going through a divorce and reaches out to her agent that she had in her 20’s. However, she ends up meeting her agent’s son, Charlie and he offers her a job to pretend to be a romance writer. She must promote the book and go on a book tour posing as the author. After Kate reads and falls in love with the book, she agrees to the job. From there it is nothing short of a rollercoaster. I agree with other reviewers that this seemed like women’s fiction rather than a romance but I absolutely loved Kate’s character.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for allowing me access to advanced digital copy of this book.

If you haven’t read her book, One Night on an Island check it out now!

One of my favorite writers to read is Josie Silver. Her books always make me laugh, cry, and smile a little harder than I mean to. Slow Burn Summer was not different, I'm happy to report. There is something I really enjoy reading about someone starting over again. Finding themselves again and realizing there is no age too old to follow your dreams. Kate and Charlie had instant chemistry from their opening scene and I really appreciated just how slow the buildup was to them realizing their attraction to one another. “A talent agent hires an actress to play the part of “novelist” on a book tour for his agency’s publicity-shy client” is all you really need to know before diving into this one. You won’t regret it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

I really enjoyed this book - honestly, the premise gave me a lot of anxiety because I was waiting for the other shoe to drop but I loved seeing the development in the characters and found the story very engaging and, at times, laugh out loud funny. It was a great sunny day read!

Very cute and lighthearted romcom, I loved the slight mystery about the identity of the author! I love how everything wrapped up at the end with a little insight to how it all started

What I liked most about this book was the unique premise—it didn’t feel like every other romance novel out there. The characters pulled me in and I found myself invested in how their relationship would play out, even if some of the turns were a little predictable. Their chemistry kept me turning the pages though, and I wanted to see them get to their ending. Overall, it was an enjoyable read, just not one that completely surprised me.

I am such a Josie Silver fan, but this book missed the mark for me, at least in comparison to her other books. I’m not sure if it was the pacing, characters, or plot, but something didn’t quite hit for me. Overall this was still a fun and lighthearted summer read!! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eArc in exchange for my honest review!

This had a weird pacing for me. I felt like the main conflict came fairly early, but everything surrounding it was rather slow. I also did not feel like I could feel the chemistry from our main characters. I was glad it all tied up in a neat bow but it fell a little flat for me.

This had such a different feel and writing style to all the other Josie Silver’s books I’ve read which was a little disappointing but still a light enjoyable read! I’ll continue to read everything she puts out because she’s usually a 5 star author for me.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

Slow Burn Summer…emphasis on the slow burn and then a love bomb at the end! I wanted to love this, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The characters felt a little flat, although Kate was a bright light and you really root for her while reading, but the plot wasn’t as cohesive as it should’ve been and didn’t keep me all that entertained. One of those books that had a great concept, but the execution could have been better.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House for the ARC to this book in exchange for an honest review!

Always enjoy Josie Silvers quirky characters and this read was no different. I liked the plot a lot too but at times felt it was running a little slower than I liked. But did enjoy the book.

Slow Burn Summer was my first Josie Silver read and won’t be my last. I enjoyed this! The story has a unique premise and reads as a “romance and” book. Both main characters are trying to remake themselves and their careers. Charlie, who has just taken over as a talent scout hires former soap opera actress,Kate,to “act” as if she is the author for a new book that is being published. The world can’t know who the true author is and neither can Kate. What could go wrong? The writing is good except for some pacing problems in the second half and one icky part in the sex scene. Thank you to #NetGalley and Random House Publishing-Ballantine Dell for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver blends understated romance, astute character growth, and metafictional commentary on performance and identity. Kate Elliott is a stranded ex-actress whose chance to “play” an author offers her a lifeline—and a mirror to reflect who she wants to be. Charlie, a talent agent with his own fragile comeback, becomes her slow-burning counterpart.

What stands out is Silver’s deft writing: witty dialogue, emotional nuance, and surprising depth woven into scenes that are as cozy as they are clever. The support cast—especially Kate’s sister—is delightfully vivid. While I wished for a more fully realized conclusion (the final thirty pages felt hurried), the emotional payoff remained satisfying.

In short, this is an immersive, heartfelt rom-com perfect for readers who love self-discovery as much as slow-burning love. 4 / 5 stars.