I absolutely loved Slow Burn Summer! Josie Silver captures that delicious, slow-building tension so perfectly—I couldn’t stop rooting for Kate and Charlie. Their connection felt real and messy in all the best ways. The setting, the humor, the quiet emotional moments... everything just clicked for me. It’s the kind of romance I love because it stays with you long after the last page.
Absolutely recommended for anyone who loves a perfect slow burn and deep, heartfelt emotions. I adored every single page!
I can't believe I waited so long to read this ARC!
Huge thanks to Penguin General UK and NetGalley for allowing me to read it.

Kate is fronting a novel written by another writer, it’s a romance and he writes thrillers.
Charlie is her agent and she has his full support. Kate is in contact with the author ‘H’ and all is well. It hits the bestseller list and Kate is an instant celebrity, until……
Engaging, easy to read, a few plot twists that were interesting. I enjoyed it.

As a big Josie Silver fan, I was beyond excited to get my hands on an early copy of her latest book.

The title isn’t kidding around - this really was a slow burn. It was perhaps even a little too slow at times, yet suddenly, Charlie and Kate's relationship goes from zero to 100 - which then felt a bit rushed after all that build-up.

That said, I really connected with Kate's character. Her bond with her sister, Liv, was so sweet in how much they care for each other, and I loved how her overprotectiveness came across in a humorous way. My heart genuinely ached for Kate at everything she went through, so it was lovely to see her overcome this over the course of the book.

All in all, even with the romance taking its sweet time, it was a genuinely enjoyable read. I'd give it a solid 3.5 stars!

*Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Loved the idea of a ghost writer. Kate wasn’t prepared for all the extra work and backlash when the truth comes out that she was an actress trying to rekindle her career not a romance writer. Something just didn’t quite click for me- still an enjoyable read- 3.5 out of 5

4 stars.

Josie Silver delivers another emotionally rich and beautifully written romance with Slow Burn. True to its title, the love story unfolds gradually but with incredible depth and heart. The characters feel real, their connection is tender and complex, and Silver’s signature warmth and lyrical prose shine throughout. It’s a thoughtful, soul-stirring read that reminds you why slow love stories often leave the biggest impact.

Slow Burn Summer lives up to its name. It’s fast-paced in writing style but the actual “burn” takes its time. While the story was easy to follow and featured some fun, lively characters, the plot felt predictable, and the spice didn’t really show up until the final quarter. For me, it lacked that standout spark. That said, this was my first read from the author, and I appreciated her smooth, accessible writing. I’d be happy to give her another try in the future.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Even though this book is fairly entertaining, it wasn't completely what I expected it to be. I think with this cover, it targets the wrong audience - I expected cute romcom in the style of Ali Hazelwood, building to spice in the end, especially with that title. Instead, I got an almost Bridget Jones-kind of story, without the tension the 'slow burn' in the title suggests.

Don't get me wrong, I liked the book. I just don't think I was the intended audience. There was no spice - unless we count that one scene, that had no details and was over in two pages. I didn't feel the attraction between the two MC's, which made the ending pretty cringe, but that might be because I'm used to more tension and longing in my books. This is more similar to the books I read in high school, what we used to call chicklits: tame, but in the end the characters are in love so it must have been steamy, right? I remember there being a stigma on these books, but after <i>50 shades</i> things changed a little...

Anyway, back to the book. Some of the scenes were not my vibe, having the character react in a chaotic way to unexpected situations and building the plot around that. Some solutions were just plain silly - they didn't make any sense to me, and would not be the most logical way out. Again, this leans into the Bridget Jones-style of chicklits of the zeroes.

I enjoyed the plot itself. I think it's a nice spin on ghost authors. The book was a nice insight in the publishing industry, showing some of the backstage happenings of authors, while also raising questions about how far you can go with this whole 'ghost author' thing.

All in all it was a decent read. Like I said, I think there are people who appreciate this more than I did, and I don't think I was the intended audience. But I enjoyed reading it in between my spicier stuff.

Read this if you like:
- characters who get into clumsy situations
- no to little spice
- a love story with a deeper layer of friendship and family
- the British countryside

I don't know if I can put things behind a spoiler here, so I won't mention those. If you want to read them, they're on Goodreads.

Review on Booktok coming soon!

Joie Silver is a favourite of mine, reading all of her books and always ready to jump into her heartfelt and emotional stories.

This new addition to her collection seems to have taken a departure from what I normally expect, being more of a romcom and with that my least favourite.

It was cute, it was sweet, it was an easy and entertaining read. But ultimately, I read this about a month ago prior to posting and the details have already faded.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Looking for a slow burning romance between a couple that are NOT early 20s and actually could happen? Then you need to read this novel.

Slow Burn Summer follows Kate Elliott as she is giving a job to remember- to pretend to be an author of the hottest new Romance novel. The catch, she needs to be the face for all the positives and negatives of fame.

We follow Kate through the newfound twists and turns of fame; issues with her divorce; an overprotective sister; and her hot employer…

Slow Burn Summer is also incredible to listen on audio as it really brings the characters to life. I do love how she is 40 years old and living her best life- we need more!!!

Tropes:
👀 She resisted as long as she could
👩🏼‍💻Employer Employee
❤️‍🔥 Slooooowwwww burn

Absolutely perfect for a summer read and will get you in the feels and get you feeling all kinds of things! (Anger and love mainly…)

3.5 ⭐

Pros:
✅ More realistic characters and ages
✅ Employer x Employee- destined love
✅ Slow burn to the max - the name is correct!

Cons:
⭕️Some parts were slow and I found that some of the plot points didn’t progress.

Josie Silver has long been one of my favourite authors, and Slow Burn Summer is another perfect example of why. It’s everything I look for in a comforting read: warm, tender, and full of quiet charm. From the very first page, I felt that lovely sense of being wrapped up in someone else’s story, where the pace is soft, the emotions run deep and love slowly begins to bloom.
💭 My Thoughts
This is one of those light, cosy reads that you can truly sink into. The characters feel real and relatable, the setting has that sun-drenched glow, and the love story builds in exactly the way the title promises gently, naturally, and with just the right amount of emotional pull.
Josie Silver always writes with such heart. Her stories never feel rushed or overdone—they breathe. And Slow Burn Summer is full of the warmth and quiet magic that makes her books feel like a hug in literary form.
There’s love here, yes, but also healing, friendship, and the soft unfolding of someone finding their way again.
☀️ What I Loved
• A gentle, emotional romance that builds with care and heart
• Beautifully drawn characters who feel like people you know
• A warm, summery tone perfect for slow days and quiet evenings
• That signature Josie Silver feeling cozy, emotional, and completely satisfying

Final Thoughts
Slow Burn Summer is exactly what the title promises, a tender, sun-kissed story of love, second chances, and slow-growing joy. Josie Silver remains one of my go-to authors for a comforting, feel-good read that still carries emotional weight.

3.5 Stars Rounded Down*

Josie Silver has written some incredible books such as One Day in December and A Winter in New York which were both easy five-star reads for me, so I went into this one with high expectations. While I still enjoyed it overall, it didn’t quite have the same spark.

The romance felt more like a casual attraction and often seemed secondary to the story rather than its heart. There wasn’t a lot of chemistry, build-up, or emotional tension between the characters, which left the romantic side feeling a little flat.

That said, I really loved the glimpse into the publishing world and what life as an author can look like. Kate was also a standout. Her charisma and quirky personality made her such an easy character to root for and I appreciated how the plot celebrated her passion for books.

Although this wasn’t my favourite from Josie Silver, it was still a light and enjoyable read and I’ll continue to pick up anything she publishes in the future.

I had such a fun time reading this - it was the perfect palette cleanser that I needed when I was in the mood for a fun romance book. Josie did an absolutely amazing job of crafting a fun, romantic and emotional story!

So glad I had the opportunity to read this and a huge thank you to Josie Silver, Netgalley and Penguin Books for providing me with an arc of this!

A washed-up soap star and a reluctant talent agent fake their way through a book tour—but the sparks between them are very real.
Charlie needs someone to pose as a reclusive romance author for a summer tour, and Kate, freshly divorced and needing a fresh start, is perfect for the part. But neither of them expects the fake setup to feel this real—or that the story behind the book might just change their own. A charming, slow-burn romance about second chances, pretending for the cameras, and unexpectedly finding love when the script says you shouldn’t.

Both books are really easy to read and follow. What really drew me in was that the story doesn’t just focus on the slow-burn romance—it also explores the process of publishing a new romance book and what that whole journey looks like. I liked Kate from the very beginning: fun, composed, even though her past is brought up maybe a bit too often.
Charlie irritated me a little in some parts and didn’t always make sense—lots of mixed signals—but I can still understand their dynamic. Maybe that’s what made the slow burn so appealing to me in the end.
But of all the characters, Liv (Kate’s sister) was the standout—such a relatable, well-written character. You have to read the book, if for nothing else, then for her!
The whole story is a slow burn, and while the book might feel a little long and slightly dragged out toward the end (with a few unnecessary additions, in my opinion), I still definitely recommend reading it. There’s very little drama, it’s fun, the chapters are short—this is 100% a beach read, and it really worked for me.

I enjoyed this book. I chose it thinking it would be nice and lighthearted but I started to get a but upset for Kate! Especially when it seemed she was perceived as the problem. I also thought for a book called "slow burn" then it would gradually lead up to a romance not just smack bang into it suddenly!.

It was a nice easy read though and would be a good holiday book

I enjoyed the book but at the same time there was a lot about it I didn't like. I really liked Kate and Charlie, they were great but I felt like the chemistry between them wasn't developed enough and the few moments between them before they spend the night together came out of nowhere. There needed to be more flirting or something between them before he cages Kate in against a wall and strokes her face!

This book definitely would have been a 4-5 start for me if the chemistry between them was on point and not just thrown in at random occasions. I also think it could have been better to have Charlie's POV more often, especially when it came to his feelings/attraction for Kate.

There are a lot of secondary characters that just didn't really feel necessary, like Kate's ex-husband. I don't think we needed to hear anything from him at all, apart from the fact he's a character we get to hate.

I also felt like the story was jumping from one thing to another with no real link between the two which made it feel a little disjointed.

Overall, I really wanted to love this book and it had so much potential but it just didn't quite hit the mark.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

4 Star Review Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

This is Kate Elliott and Charlie Francisco’s story. Their meet cute was entertaining as was their slow burn romance.

This was a well written, entertaining read that ticked numerous boxes for me. The characters were engaging and easy to relate too. perhaps because the heroine is more mature.

This is a journey of finding oneself after divorce and for Kate it was a bittersweet time.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC of Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver in return for my honest review.
Another beautifully written romance by Josie Silver that pulled me in from the first page till the last, if you’re looking for a slow burn romanic story with really likeable characters and some laugh out loud moments then look no further you won’t be disappointed.

This was a really charming romance, and a really easy read. The idea of a ghost author was a really interesting premise, and not something I'd really seen before.

A gentle, quietly charming read about identity, second chances, and the unexpected paths life can take.

Kate, a divorcee nearing forty, finds herself in the unlikely role of pretending to be the anonymous author behind a bestselling romance novel. Thrust into the spotlight by Charlie—a down-on-his-luck talent agent and the son of her late friend—Kate must navigate media appearances, persistent publicists, and a looming secret, all while managing her daughter's plans to move abroad.

Charlie, reeling from his own divorce and career struggles, is drawn into the whirlwind alongside her, and the connection between them unfolds in a quietly heartfelt way.

The story is warm, sweetly funny, and reflective, with some lovely moments of emotional insight. That said, I found myself wishing for just a touch more tension. The reveal of Kate’s true identity comes fairly early, shifting the focus to the aftermath rather than the full fun of the deception—which, while thoughtful, slightly softened the momentum for me.

That aside, it’s an enjoyable and comforting read, with a sharp eye on the absurdities of fame and reinvention. Kate’s odious ex-husband is kept at arm’s length (thankfully), and the central dynamic with Charlie is endearing throughout.

Perfect for readers after a low-stakes, heartwarming contemporary novel with a quietly original premise.

I loved the synopsis of Slow Burn Summer and with Josie Silver as the author, how could I not read it

Rom coms are not something I gravitate to because I love the more angsty and heartfelt romances, but there are a couple of romcoms that sit on my favourites shelf, so I never dismiss them, and Slow Burn Summer had me invested from the very first page.

Kate was a wonderfully written character and deserved some good fortune in her life after all she went through. I loved her sister Liv too and their banter.

Charles was quite and reserved to Kate’s loud and bubbly personality. He was living in his father’s footsteps in a job he never wanted.

So can a former soap opera actress who hasn’t acted for 20 years pull off the performance of her career in being the ghost author of a romance novel? And will this unique opportunity change the trajectory of her life?

This was a very enjoyable read and with some great little twists and turns.

A huge thank you to NetGalley Penguin Books and Ms Silver for the opportunity to read an early copy of this book.