Rating: 3.5 out of 5

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the advanced copy of Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver. I discovered this author when my sister recommended One Day in December back in 2021, and I've been a fan ever since. I love reading English authors, especially those who write rom-coms with a touch of fantasy/science fiction.

This summer, plan to spend some time with Kate and Charlie in Slow Burn Summer. Unfortunately, this wasn't my favorite of Josie Silver's recent books. While it has fun characters, a unique premise, and laugh-out-loud madcap humor, I wouldn't consider it a true romance. The title Slow Burn Summer feels misleading because things move fast in this story. The relationship with Charlie is secondary to the plot and doesn't fit the definition of a slow burn romance.

Kate is a former actress hired to pose as a romance author for the publication of an amazing love story where the real author refuses to attach their name. I related to this plot point because what reader wouldn't want this opportunity? This is why the book gets 3.5 stars from me.

What you do get from Slow Burn Summer is a FMC approaching the next stage in life after a divorce and her kid flying the coop. However, the true slow burn between Charlie and Kate is lacking, and (without spoiling) I almost wished her fire burned hotter with another character. The book was supposed to show Kate growing through this next stage of life, but her reliance on certain men, after not being able to rely on her ex-husband or father, left me questioning if she really grew.

I did find the resolution satisfying, and I'm glad I finished the book because it took my rating from 3 stars to 3.5 stars. I found this book enjoyable and hope you will as well.

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I found the concept of this book so unique and interesting that I was more willing to ignore some of the problems that would have bothered me more in a different book.

The chemistry between the characters does not come through well. You don't really feel where it's coming from, so by the end, it's almost a surprise that they feel so strongly about each other. Kate's relationship with her sister is better written and more intriguing. The relationship between her daughter and her ex-husband is abandoned and not sewn up, which feels unfinished. It felt like there was a chapter at the end missing (maybe that's the blank page we're supposed to fill in from the storyline?).

I enjoy Josie Silver's ability to write a main character that you're rooting for but also recognize their flaws. The charm factor takes this book a long way.

This was a solid rom-com read with a very likeable FMC. The idea of a ghostwriter needing the actor to be the "face" of the book was a fun twist on the usual setup, and that plot was interesting. The book lacked a little chemistry for the "rom" bit of this rom-com, but still an enjoyable read.

Very cute, loved the idea and plot. But to me, this was the opposite of slow burn as the FMC was very into the MMC out of nowhere, it seemed. I spent a lot of time confused about her feelings for him as it was out of the blue. Despite that, I enjoyed the book and read it very quickly.

I love Josie’s writing. This was such a fresh and unique perspective for a romance novel. Kate was very easy to cheer for and I loved the relationship she shared with her sister. Charlie and Kate’s story was a bit predictable but sweet! I also desperately want to visit Formentera now. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC.

4.25 stars

“I want to be part of your story”
“You’re my whole book”

As the title suggests, this was a slooow burn but it was really nicely done. The romance is kind of secondary for most of the book, the main plot is about Kate pretending to be the author of the book. However, you do get little snippets of Kate and Charlie throughout that were so sweet and built up tension between them.
I really enjoyed Kate’s character. She was recently divorced and a little bit lost and directionless but I liked that she never changed who she was. She was smart and funny and always looking out for everyone in her life.
Charlie was the perfect match to her; he was sweet and caring and he pushed her out of her comfort zone while still making sure she was happy. I loved all the little moments where he showed up for her. Even as “just her agent” he was her biggest supporter and I loved that you could feel the chemistry between them.
This was a really fun story with a really sweet and healthy romance and I definitely enjoyed it! It was also fun to get a perspective of the book world that you don’t often see.
Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC!!

An easy read. Not quite a romance - more of a "woman finds herself" book but with some romantic, potential love story elements. Recently divorced and desperate for work, former actress Kate Elliot agrees to "act" as the author of a soon-to-be-published novel whose actual writer does not want to be attached to the book. No one can know that Kate isn't actually the author, as she embarks on a pre-publish day publicity tour. With some fun secondary characters, including Kate's sister Liv, her new acting agent Charlie (son of her former agent), and Charlie's colleague - the scary and intimidating Fiona, among others, as well as some trip out of London to the scenic sea side, this is a quick and fun one for the summer.

NOTE: Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a free advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great summer vacation read! It starts off slow then picks up by the second half. I wished there was more character development and a little more organization to the actual story but overall it was a decent book that I would read by the pool in July.

Slow Burn Summer is an absolute delight! With sizzling chemistry, witty banter, and an irresistible slow-burn romance, this book had
me hooked from page one. Kate and Charlie's journey--from reluctant partners to something more--was filled with heart, humor, and just the right amount of drama. The fake author premise was fresh and fun, and the emotional depth made it even better. If you love charming rom-coms with a touch of mystery and plenty of sparks, this is a must-read!

Slow Burn Summer is a charming and refreshing story about Kate, a 39-year-old navigating life after divorce and embarking on an unexpected adventure. When she lands a one-of-a-kind acting job, chaos and hilarity ensue. It’s clear from the start that things could go awry in many ways, but the journey is filled with heartwarming and laugh-out-loud moments—one involving a T-Rex costume that had me grinning.

The book is packed with unique and memorable characters, and I especially loved Liv and Fiona. While it didn’t fully feel like a romance novel until the final stretch, I found it thoroughly entertaining from start to finish.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I went into this with really high expectations since the premise sounded so fun. Kate, fresh off a divorce, wants to restart her acting career and gets hired by Charlie, a talent agent, to be the "author" of a new romance novel. While this was cute, I just didn't feel the connection between Kate and Charlie, and there were a few scenes where I was rolling my eyes (i.e., meeting Hugh in the dinosaur costume, every time she started a letter with "Dear H," and the final confrontation of the trifle bandit).

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for sending me this book!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC for review.

Kate is a middle-aged woman starting over, and she decides to go back to acting. Unbeknownst to her, the son of her agent is now in charge and he has an interesting role: be the public 'author' of a new romance book as the author wants to stay hidden. Of course there is fallout and of course there is romance. I liked the last third of the book the best and felt that the beginning was a bit slow. Kate and Charlie's relationship was fun to follow. overall so I'd say this is 3.5 stars.

I HAVE to thank NetGalley and Dell for the eARC, because this book was impossibly cute! I loved it so much.

Kate is down on her luck. Her husband cheated, her marriage ended, her daughter is away at school, and she’s living above her sister’s dress shop. In a desperate attempt to reclaim something, she writes to her old acting agent looking for work, not knowing he has passed away and his son is now running his agency.

Enter Charlie, who is dreamy and slightly aloof and also going through a lot of life changes. He left LA after his marriage ended to return to London. Then his dad dies unexpectedly. He returns Kate’s hand-written letter, feeling like he has the job for her: being the stand-in face for an author who wishes to remain completely anonymous,

Kate is funny and charming and has a tendency for word vomit. She is vulnerable and heartbroken, but she and Charlie initially butt heads. She takes the job, but can someone really help stitch themselves back together when they’re pretending to be someone else?

This story is for readers. It’s for people who have felt broken and alone and have found friendship and love when they weren’t looking for it. It’s about grief and finding somewhere to belong again when you feel adrift. It’s funny and sad and you will find yourself rooting for Kate, for Charlie, and for the 2 of them together. I LOVED it.

If there’s one thing Josie Silver does well, it’s crafting a romance that simmers with tension before it finally—finally—boils over. Slow Burn Summer delivers exactly what the title promises: a gradual, deliciously torturous build-up of chemistry between two reluctant hearts, all wrapped up in a unique, slightly theatrical premise.

A Role She Never Expected to Play

Kate Elliott, a former soap opera actress, is at a crossroads. Fresh off a divorce and struggling to figure out her next move, she finds herself accepting an unusual job—pretending to be a reclusive author on a summer book tour. Enter Charlie Francisco, a talent agent with a lot on his plate, including an ex-wife, a struggling agency, and an actual author who refuses to show their face. The solution? Hire Kate to play the part.

A Slow Burn Worth the Wait

Kate and Charlie’s relationship starts off on shaky ground, full of witty banter and a fair amount of skepticism. Their interactions are filled with push-and-pull moments, making it impossible not to root for them. Silver’s writing makes the tension between them feel authentic, with just the right mix of miscommunication, undeniable attraction, and emotional baggage. The “fake persona” trope is always a fun one, but what makes Slow Burn Summer stand out is how it intertwines personal growth with romance.

What Worked

✔️ Unique Premise: A fake author on a book tour? That’s fresh and fun, and Silver uses it well to create tension and humor.
✔️ Emotional Depth: This isn’t just about romance—it’s about rediscovering passion, whether in work, love, or life itself. Both characters have real, relatable struggles.
✔️ The Slow Burn: Silver knows how to make the reader wait for the payoff, and when it finally happens, it’s oh-so-satisfying.

What Could Have Been Stronger

❌ Pacing in the Middle: While the slow burn is a strength, there were moments when the story dragged a bit, particularly in the second act.
❌ More Development for the “Real” Author: The mystery of the true author was intriguing but could have been explored a little deeper.

Final Thoughts

Slow Burn Summer is the perfect beach read—witty, romantic, and full of longing. Josie Silver proves once again that she knows how to write a love story that lingers long after the final page. If you love fake dating (or in this case, fake author-ing), forced proximity, and characters who challenge each other in all the best ways, this one’s for you.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. Just be prepared for the slow burn to drive you a little crazy—in the best way possible.

This book should have been called Slow Burn Bummer. I was so not invested in the characters, plot, and the romance was nonexistent. This felt messy and all over the place, which is a bummer because I've enjoyed this authors books.

I am a Josie Silver stan. I’ve loved all her books, and this wasn’t an exception.

Every character was likeable, plot was interesting and refreshingly different. The quirky characters and sweet scenarios sprinkled throughout made kept me entertained.

The only missed mark in my opinion was the two main characters relationship was kind of all over the place. I was questioning whether I missed something as I was reading… also, why is this book called Slow Burn Summer?

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book prior to release! I went in blindly and I’m glad I did. The storyline was charming, easy to follow, and unique. I feel like the title doesn’t necessarily go with the story and that there were some details that could be omitted but I’m a sucker for a romance and this one did not disappoint.

Kate needs a job after a big life change and finds herself in the same office she was in decades earlier interviewing for an acting position after decades of not acting. She agrees to a very unique job that ends up being a lot of drama she didn’t sign up for.. but she also comes away with something pretty great that she also didn’t sign up for!

The premise for this one was good however at least for me the story fell flat. And I think that's because I loved the MMC but FMC got on my nerves for entire book to the point.

A very sweet, heartfelt story about love stories (one of the best kind of stories!). I loved the premise of this. But don't expect this to be much of a romance.

With this type of cover, this title, and the marketing behind the book, I expected a LOT more romance in it. The connection between Kate and Charlie was minimal; it honestly felt thrown in to try to make this marketable as a romance. There wasn't any real build to it, and very few scenes between them existed. Actually, few Charlie scenes existed; so little of his POV was shown, it felt kind of pointless to have it at all.

Such is life. It was still a nice read. And if it does turn out that Josie Silver is actually someone like Stephen King, I won't be too mad about it :)

Thank you to NetGalley and Dell for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

While not my favorite by Josie Silver, I still really enjoyed. I felt like it lacked Silver's typically ability to evoke deep emotions while reading. This one was more fun and light. While it's a romance, the main plot is more about the main character becoming a ghost writer and her journey to self-discovery. I felt the romance portion was a bit rushed and was hoping the letters to "H" would end differently. This is a fun light-hearted read with a unique plot.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.