⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4/5 stars
🔥🔥 - 2 spicy scenes, mild details

[ thank you @smpromance for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own! ]

PUB DATE: September 24, 2024 (out now!)

THOUGHTS:

I was pleasantly surprised how much I loved this one by the time I finished!

I liked the dual pov. I liked both Kieran & Ellie’s professions — He’s a cook and she’s a ghostwriter! When those ‘enemies’ started working together, that’s when the magic happened and I was invested in them.

This definitely has some heavier topics weaved in but found the book still enjoyable and easy to read. I appreciated the growth and journeys the characters went through to really commit to their relationship.

Overall, I thought this was a solid debut. I’ll keep an eye out for future books from this author!

What a fun book! Kieran is a famous chef who has just won a televised cooking contest (think Chopped or Hell's Kitchen). He is now supposed to write a cookbook. Ellie is a thirty year old widow who has been asked to "ghostwrite" Kieran's new book. After a rocky start, they start to get to know each other by cooking with each other, preparing the recipes for the cookbook. As they work together, they find that they have more in common than they thought, and begin to help each other through personal changes and challenges.

This delightful title is out now, so pick up a copy and enjoy their developing friendship and eventual relationship. Special thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy of this title.

I don't know if many of you watch anime, but you know how the food is almost always much greater in detail than the characters' detail?

The characters in The Slowest Burn are actually very wonderful, but I want to focus on the beautiful detail Sarah Chamberlain illustrated.

First, it is imperative to know that food is an analogy for a lot of events in this book. And we aren't just talking about a salmon dish, Chamberlain describes the ingredients, how it was cooked, to the point where I'm salivating reading about it!

And the events! The details Chamberlain described made me feel like I could imagine myself actually there.

Kieran and Ellie's relationship had the perfect pace in my opinion, especially given she was a widow. It proves that the slowest burn burns brightest.

So I hated how everyone treats Ellie throughout the whole book; everyone takes advantage of her and explodes on her. And it's never addressed. No one says sorry to her, no one acknowledges her awful treatment. Including the love interest; he kept exploding on her and projecting everything on her.

Thank you Netgalley, author, and publisher for the ARC.

The Slowest Burn is a heartfelt romance that features two people that seem quite different on the surface but are more alike than they think. Ellie is a calm, organized, detailed cookbook ghostwriter, used to dealing with temperamental chefs and bringing order to chaos. Kieran is a talented chef with ADHD and dyslexia. He’s self-taught, brilliant with food, and recently won a reality cooking show but struggles with deadlines and discipline unless he’s in the kitchen.

When Ellie agrees to ghostwrite his proposed cookbook, she has no idea of how hard it will be to keep Kieran on task. Ellie and Kieran initially clash big time, but as they finally start working together and Ellie helps Kieran distill his unfocused ideas into a great cookbook concept, they start to admire and fall for each other.

Both of them have dealt with adversity with little to no support from their families and both are caretakers to the core. It was lovely to see them provide unconditional support for each other with no strings attached when neither has ever experienced this before. For Ellie, who was used to everyone else taking from her and giving nothing in return, it was quite a revelation to have someone unconditionally support and validate her needs. This unwavering support gives them both the strength to move forward and grow in their personal and professional lives.

I really enjoyed this romance, the food descriptions were yummy, and I’d definitely buy Kieran’s cookbook! My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own.

A ghost writer for celebrity cookbooks finds herself meeting her match in a chaotic up and coming chef. Ellie Wasserman is still grieving the loss of her husband and has been working as the top ghostwriter for celebrity cookbooks. When she is paired up with Kieran O'Neill, it should have been another easy book to write... except Kieran is nothing like she could have ever expected. Kieran is an up and coming chef who became famous on a reality tv competition.... but his carefree nature is a nightmare for uptight Ellie. When it gets to a breaking point they are forced to work together in a hot kitchen for weeks in order to work out their judgements of each other and finally open up to one another... yet can Ellie open her heart up after the loss of her husband and can Kieran change her mind? Honestly I really wished I liked this more, I just found myself so annoyed by the characters who definitely did not act their age at all. The romance just didn't feel like it was there, and despite being a slow burn it just felt kinda bland and eh. I really was hoping for some good banter and some good chemistry but sadly things were not heating up in this kitchen at all for me. If you like slow burn romances do give this a go though, maybe you'll have a better time with it than I did.

Release Date: September 24,2024

Publication/Blog: Ash and Books (ash-and-books.tumblr.com)

*Thanks Netgalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review*

This was a good read - like the title states it is a super slow burn! We get to see these two try and work together to complete a cookbook. They have great chemistry but both of them are dealing with things like mental health, grief and sobriety.

This book was more emotional than I expected but it was also heartwarming and charming and I loved Ellie and Kiernan’s journey.

✨What to Expect
💖Forced Proximity
🌤️Grumpy/Sunshine
❤️‍🔥Fake Dating
🔥Slow Burn
🧑‍🍳Celebrity Chef
💜Opposites Attract
📝She’s A Writer
🥙Foodies
💚ADHD/Dyslexia Rep
🐈Floyd

Easy 4/5 star read for me! I love a good slow burn romance, and Sarah delivered on this one. The concept of writing a romance where one character has dealt with the loss of a previous spouse is tough, and this book did it well. It explored the grief and journey to be able to open up and love someone again. From Ellie and Kieran being enemies, to tolerating each other, to fake dating, and actually dating, it was a true slow burn which made SENSE. I can't imagine what it's like, but I'd think that it would take months and months for Ellie to be able to fall in love again, especially as a changed person since Max passed. Kieran truly was the type of guy that Ellie needed <3
I did love the connection between food and love in this book, which made it so unique. I will say though that the beginning of this book was heavily food focused and as someone who isn't super familiar with the culinary world, it kinda threw me for one. I did really appreciate how food brought the main characters together (and everyone else in the story too!).
All in all, I thought that this book was such a realistic representation of going through the process of grief and loss, while growing into new relationships in such a heartwarming way.

4.5 stars. A celebrity chef + the ghostwriter for his cookbook?! Delicious.

Speaking of delicious, do not read this book hungry- there is so much mouthwatering food on the page. I love how much time was spent in the kitchen in this book! The last few books I’ve read with chefs, it’s very background, but not this one… in The Slowest Burn, it’s front and center. From picking ingredients at the farmers market to test cooking recipes together, the entire romance stays pretty firmly in the kitchen and I was here for it!

I adored the clashing personalities and how they both actively worked hard to understand the other. At first because they had to, then because they wanted to. Their banter was top notch… and even as their relationship changed, the banter stayed.

Beautiful portrayals of friendship, complicated family ties, past trauma, and a host of heavy issues woven throughout. All handled amazingly by the author.

There’s lots more I could say, but don’t want to give too much away- go read it!

What a lovely debut from Sarah Chamberlain! I can’t wait to see what she does next!

Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for the chance to review an advance copy.

Beautifully written characters, an emotional roller coaster and lots of yummy foods detailed. The slow build up from a rocky start enemies to friends to lovers made for some angsty moments with tension. The backstory to both MCs was fully developed and helped make Kiernan and Ellie a perfect blend.

✨ARC REVIEW✨

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

🍊chef x ghostwriter
🍊foodie romance
🍊forced proximity
🍊fake dating
🍊co workers to lovers
🍊widow

This book is perfectly titled for many reasons. The Slowest Burn. It’s been 3 years since Ellie’s husband died and she’s coasting, personally and professionally. Kieran may have won first place in a reality cooking show but he still needs to prove he can be taken seriously. They start off butting heads attempting to work together on a cook book but soon Kieran will help Ellie break free from the box she’s been hiding in and Ellie helps Kieran buckle down without losing his fun personality. They both bring joy, excitement and purpose to each others lives in a way they didn’t know they were lacking. It was beautiful to see unfold.

I especially loved the detailed food elements of this book as well. As someone who spent years in culinary school I liked seeing someone take the time to do the research and use proper terms and build a picture I could clearly envision in my head of them making these recipes.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s Press for the ARC.

I just finished reading a book by Sarah Chamberlain and I absolutely loved it! It's a story about a local chef and a widow who come together to write a cookbook. Their relationship evolves from clashing personalities to working together and eventually falling in love. The book handles their personal traumas and family drama with sensitivity. The ending wraps up the story beautifully, and I'm definitely looking forward to reading more of Chamberlain's novels in the future.

This is Sarah Chamberlain's debut and it was really a slow burn... not the SLOWEST ever but the title is accurate. I thought it was very sweet and it kept me invested. I also loved the chef/cooking/recipe elements. This was a very solid rom/com. I will definitely keep a look out for more books by Sarah! I enjoyed her writing style very much :) Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Well THIS was adorable! I didnt expect to like the characters as much as I did - it look a while to feel I truly knew them, but once I did they were delightful. There were some pieces I could have seen more developed, some pieces that seemed forced or too easily glossed over - but I also love angst and emotion and the grand gesture. Overall, a real treat.

The Slowest Burn has the best ingredients for a beautiful, heartfelt romance: characters with depth who have to overcome challenges, opposites attract, and an interesting plot that contributes to the romance in an authentic way. I loved the idea of a ghost writer and a chef. Having the female lead find love after loss was also compelling. Having the male lead be a bit neuro spicy (ADHD) added to the plot. I loved these two together and was cheering on their romance to the very end. For a debut writer, this was so well done and a solid addition to the best of great romance writers of today...like Emily Henry and Abby Jimenez! Can't wait to read more from Sarah Chamberlain.
Thanks to #Netgally and #St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing the ARC.

I just wanted to say while I enjoyed the story overall, this book disappointed me in a lot of ways.

I had a hard time getting invested in these characters. Mostly, I found Ellie to be grating and Kieran to be ridiculous. I understand that both of them have their own respective issues that lend themselves to these characterizations, but the author didn't do much to endear me to them. It was difficult for me to get over my initial impressions of them and get to the heart of the matter.

The romance felt a bit unfinished to me. The progression for these two people didn't feel natural. At times, it felt very stilted and clunky and other times it felt wildly unbelievable. It didn't feel like watching two people fall in love but rather them going down a checklist of things that needed to happen in a romance book.

I enjoyed reading the book, though. I am sure plenty of people will read this and enjoy it immensely. I just wanted more than what I got.

The Slowest Burn is a slow burn, enemies to lovers story, and so much more. Ellie is a 30-something widow, taught from childhood to be a people pleaser in extreme. Kieran is a master chief who has been asked to write a cookbook, but he hates to write and cooks by instinct and taste. This is the sweetest love story, with dual POV, opposites attract, and wonderful side characters.

Thank you NetGalley & St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy of this book.

This was a super sweet romance. MMC Kieran won a reality TV cooking show, and is now putting out a cookbook. Enter MFC Ellie who is his ghost writer. Ellie is ultra organized, and Kieran has ADHD.
The burn was slow... but I absolutely loved both of them! There was so much talk of recipes and food... and I was here for it.
But the character who stole the show for me was Ben. What a gem. And Floyd the cat obviously.

This was a really enjoyable read. I loved the complicated family/ relationship histories. The characters had such depth!
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read early!

This was a cute but kind of average romance for me...with some added depth. It was definitely a slow burn which is one of my favorite tropes, but sometimes it felt a little too slow.

The depth came from both main characters as one was dealing with guilt and grief (both her own and others close to her), and the other was dealing with social issues and emotional abuse. I enjoyed watching as these two began to see outside themselves, recognize each other's needs/pain and step in to provide support and eventually love...that's what I really take away from this story. They both made missteps/mistakes, and there were a few frustrating moments for me, but overall, I admired the growth arc and considered it a good and worthwhile read.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Griffin for providing the free early arc of The Slowest Burn for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

The Slowest Burn made me realize just how much I really love culinary romances. As someone who has always loved cooking shows and competitions, this was a really fun and lovely read, and the cookbook ghostwriter aspect was really unique.

Dual POV is my favorite way to read a romance and this one was exceptional. I will admit that I didn’t much like Ellie at first, but the more she opened herself not only to Kieran, but also to us as the reader, I really enjoyed her and felt for her after all she’s been through. Kieran was very easy for me to fall for, partially due to how very well done the ADHD rep Sarah Chamberlain wrote was. I saw so much of my husband in him and his mannerisms and struggles.
The chemistry between Ellie and Kieran was apparent from the start, which definitely made for a good enemies to lovers trope. They had such good banter and the opposites attract was in full swing. The way they learned to let their guards down and lean into each other was really special and great to read.
This book also really touched on some heavy topics in such a beautiful way, not only ADHD struggles, but sobriety, death and grief, depression, parental neglect and trauma. It was such a rollercoaster of emotions, but done in an incredibly powerful and elegant way.

I really cannot say enough good things about this book, and could go on forever, but I will leave it at, if you read one romance for the rest of the year, make it The Slowest Burn.

Thank you so much St. Martin’s Press/St. Martin’s Griffin for this ARC via NetGalley.