Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me read this book!

Not sure what it is about romance books lately but this was another non start for me. I wasn’t fond of the main characters and that made it difficult to continue.

So precious! I just love me a chef romance and this one had the added cuteness of cookbook ghost writer + chef and it was just a delight. I wanted to eat all their food. Ellie is a young widow just trying to get by and save up to forge her own way in the world. Kieran is coming off a win on a popular cooking show. Both have their demons but they really did bring out the best in each other.

There was of course a cast of characters who helped them along (and a few that you loathed!) but overall it was just a solid contemporary romance.




For fans of Savor It by Tarah DeWitt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Really sweet story about meeting people where they are even when it's hard. The characters are incredibly loveable. I also really love the structure of the cookbook designed in this story and would genuinely buy something similar. Sweet read with touches of sadness and healing.

Ellie and Kieran’s story was well done. They were an unlikely pairing and I guess enemies to lovers could also be attached as a trope to this novel. Kieran was lovable, but misunderstood by most people around him. Ellie sees his differences and helps Kieran create a cookbook using his neurodivergent brain as a positive, rather than a negative. Ellie has been the caretaker in everyone else’s life and has put herself on the bottom of her own priority list for too long. Kieran sees that and carves out space for her to relax and realize she’s been undervaluing herself for her whole life. Yes, this love story was a slow burn, but the writing was also a little slower paced. While each main character had one solid friend on their side, they were also surrounded by a lot of characters I just wanted to smack some sense in to. Thankfully, Ellie and Kieran also learn to draw some boundaries - very little smacking was necessary.
Overall, a 3.5 stars for this one. Not only do we get a happily ever after, but we end up with two characters who appreciate themselves by the end.

The Slowest Burn is a beautifully crafted love story that will leave you breathless. With her signature wit and emotional depth, Chamberlain weaves a captivating tale of two friends who slowly realize their feelings for each other.

The novel follows Olive and Ethan, who have been friends since childhood. As they navigate the complexities of their lives, their bond deepens, revealing a connection that is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. Chamberlain's portrayal of their journey is both tender and passionate, capturing the nuances of their evolving relationship with stunning authenticity.

What sets The Slowest Burn apart is its deliberate pace. Chamberlain takes her time to develop the characters and their relationship, allowing for a deep and meaningful connection between Olive and Ethan. The slow burn is well worth the wait, as it culminates in a love story that is both believable and unforgettable.

In addition to its emotional depth, the novel also boasts a compelling plot, engaging characters, and beautifully written prose. Chamberlain's writing style is both lyrical and accessible, drawing readers into the world of her characters and making them feel as if they are experiencing their journey alongside them.

The Slowest Burn is a must-read for fans of contemporary romance and literary fiction. It is a powerful and moving story that will stay with you long after you finish the last page!

Thank you so much SMP for my ARC and ALC!

This was so good! The slow burn was well done, and the premise felt original. The dual POV was well written and both main characters were likeable. This was an excellent debut novel for sure!

I received a DIGITAL Advance Reader Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book. I loved that it was an actual slow burn and how it was a true enemies to friends to lovers. These two people really disliked each other when they first met and seeing how they were once they were together was perfection.

Kieran is one of the best golden retriever MMCs I've read in a long time and he's adorable. I also like that he has a real backstory and he's not one dimensional. I also really enjoyed seeing Ellie go from being stuck in her grief and her place in life and learning how to let herself live again.

3.5 rounded up. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC! I'm from the Bay Area, so it was fun to see the hints of all these familiar neighborhoods/cities. I loved how they slowly got to know each other over food and how they were fully developed people with proper backstories. My only gripes were the unnecessary third act breakup and the early attraction (if it's a slow burn let it be a slow burn!), but overall I had a great time with this. Fun, cute summer read to pair with the heat wave we're having right now.

Nice writing, but very immature characters who I struggled to connect with. Took too long to really get to the plot. Not for me.

This was a great book, combining my love for romance and food. Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter and widow, and also an oldest daughter who basically raised her little brother. Kieran is the chef who just won a TV competition show, but has always been disappointing to his parents. The two of them are teamed up for his cookbook, and they start out by butting heads. Once they find their groove, they start to understand each other and support each other. They recognize the past hurts that make them hesitant to trust or love.
I loved all the talk about food and recipe testing. There are some fantastic scenes in this book, like going to the tailor. I rooted for the characters both as individuals and as a couple. The book was a slow burn, but it never felt like it wasn't progressing.

I had tried to read this book via kindle first - I had a hard time getting into it, but I went the audiobook route and it was much easier to get into and kept my attention throughout. The narration was super well done and if you’re following / reading via kindle just hold out because overall it was an entertaining, enjoyable read.

I only have pretty insignificant, small issues with the book. I almost wanted the slow burn to be slower? I wanted more angst and build up to the drop, but it didn’t take away from the story overall. The writing was super easy to read and follow, but there were certain times where it was a bit too cringey and genetic for me. I had readers second hand embarrassment when he just randomly asked her to have sex. I hated the third act break up, i don’t mind a break up when it helps the characters grow or we handle it like adults but I feel like you could cut that out and the story would be EXACTLY the same.

Overall, it was a super easy read. It entertained me and i would recommend it to my peers. I also really liked the cookbook writing plot line. You got that plot, and the banter was there and spice.

This book was the cutest rom-com I've read in a long time. This was such a nice break from my fantasy obsession recently.
This is the book for you if you're looking for:
Enimes to lovers
Work proximity
Opposites attract

The title hits it dead on with The Slowest Burn, haha.

This one took a while to get to the heat.
I was longing for it to get started lol
The two MCs both were trying to find their place in the world.
Once their relationship picked up, they had some really great banter.
The cooking element was a nice touch + the cookbook!

While this seems like a light read,
Some of the themes were pretty heavy.
Check those TWs!

Such a cute romance! I would definitely recommend this book to romance lovers! The story was incredible and I also thought this book was well written.

(4.5 stars) Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the gifted digital copy of this incredibly sweet romance.

Kieran O’Neill, a celebrated chef fresh off a major cooking competition win, is a culinary star in San Francisco. Yet despite his professional success, he struggles with planning and feels like a disappointment to his family. Enter Ellie Wasserman, a meticulous cookbook ghostwriter whose life revolves around precision and order. When they are paired to collaborate on Kieran’s new cookbook, chaos ensues. He’s too scattered for Ellie’s structured world, and she’s too rigid for his freewheeling style. But as the months pass, they uncover deeper layers within each other—Kieran’s ADHD diagnosis and Ellie’s grief over the death of her young husband—and their unlikely partnership blossoms into something much more profound.

This book is a slow burn in the best possible way. The way food serves as a backdrop, anchoring scenes of joy, grief, and connection, is beautifully done. Watching Kieran and Ellie’s relationship evolve from frustration to understanding was a joy, as their contrasting personalities didn’t so much soften each other as complement one another. The exploration of grief was particularly poignant, as Ellie’s journey through love after loss, especially navigating her late husband’s family dynamics, felt raw and heart-wrenching.

One of my favorite aspects was how Kieran championed Ellie both in her personal life and her professional career. He becomes a source of support for her, contrasting the many people in her life who seem to take from her. Their love story is messy, tender, and real, with moments of vulnerability

I'm surprised by all the reviews complaining about the slowburn romance when it's literally the title! I thought it was a really sweet book. Ellie is a cookbook ghost writer for new popular tv chef, Kieran. They get off on the wrong foot & tension is high from the beginning. I like romances that show the characters actually getting to know each other before they jump into bed. I thought it was a sweet book & looking forward to reading more from the author.

Who knew chef romances were a thing and that I’d enjoy it so much?! Yes, Chef, indeed. Ellie is a young widow who struggles with people-pleasing and Kieran is a celebrity chef with imposter syndrome. Their chemistry was a bit of a slow start, but the second half of the book picked up speed (and steam!) and was an overall enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC.

cute coming of age lgbt romance novel that warmed my heart and made me happy. i didn't feel super attached to these characters but still liked the story enough to rate it 4 stars.

A reality TV star chef is partnered with a ghostwriter to write a cookbook. The chef has dyslexia and ADHD and the writer is a parentified overachiever which leads to many mishaps and miscommunication. Cheesy at times but overall a fun lighthearted listen.

Read if you like:
•Forced Proximity
•Enemies to Lovers
•Forbidden Love
•Workplace Romance

🌶️🌶️🌶️ Open Door: At least one intimate scene with the reader present, euphemistic language for act and body parts.

For a debut book this one was really good!

4 ⭐️

I loved how slow slow slow of a burn it was. Initially it didn’t draw me in as much as I’d like, and I wasn’t sold on their chemistry at first but after a few chapters of Ellie and Kieran’s amazing banter, their chemistry really shone through. I loved hearing how they got to know each other and how Kieran talked about Ellie was so beautiful. “ I knew my ghostwriter a lot better now. When she was in the middle of a task, she would make up these dorky little nonsense songs with no tune at all, telling asparagus it was delicious or ordering chicken to cook faster. A tortoise could still dice vegetables quicker than she could, and tortoises didn't even have thumbs. She'd read pretty much every book about food and cooking, and she remembered it all. If they could give out a degree in knowing about food, Ellie would have a PhD.“ it’s just so well thought out and sweet. And when he puts the asparagus behind his ears to make her laugh and cheer up?! Ah I just love them.

It was tough waiting for them to finally get together but as the title suggests, it really is a slooowwwww burn. So worth the wait 😮‍💨😍

Thank you so much for the opportunity to read and review this gem of a book early!