This author is always a delight to read from. I was duper excited to get to this one. Unfortunately, I was expecting a bit more though. The pacing was a bit off and the story lagged in the plot. I still give it a solid 3 stats, but it definitely needed more to it.

This was a really cute read about a woman in her 40’s recently divorced and finally coming back into her own after losing herself during those years married. She attempts to reach out to her old agent she had in her early twenties to get back into acting to find that he’s dead and his son, Charlie has taken over his business.
Charlie extends an offer to “ghost author” a book for a famous writer that does not want to reveal who they are in their new romance book, a genre they’ve never written.
So Kate accepts the role of author to The Power of Love novel, and of course chaos, hilarity, and romance ensues.

Kate is the quintessential quirky and unhinged FMC that word vomits when she’s nervous. At first it was a little cringey but soon became endearing

There was intermittent and a little underwhelming tension between Kate and Charlie. I wanted there to be more!
I felt their interactions were short throughout the book so we didn’t get to see their relationship develop as much as I would have liked. But when they were interacting, the banter was good and funny.
The romance definitely took a backseat to the plot in this, which wasn’t a bad thing, but I still wanted more out of the romance part of it.
Overally it was really cute and a quick and easy read that had me hooked waiting for the world to find out that Kate didn’t actually write the book and see all the fallout from that!

I really enjoyed this one by Josie Silver! She's very much an auto-buy author for me and this one did not disappoint. I loved the idea of it and the premise of it — such a unique concept! There were a lot of details, but it overall it was so, so good and kept me engaged the entire time.

When a literary agent stumbles across a manuscript written by one of her clients, she is hell-bent on having it published. However, the author has no desire to share this particular story. So she comes up with the idea to hire an actor to portray the writer of the book. After reading the story, Kate is totally on board to be that actor, as she fell in love with the book instantly. In the midst of promoting the book, it is discovered that she is not the actual author of the book and is on the end of terrible social media criticism. While the hoopla is good for the book, it is causing a lot of damage for Kate. But in the end, she finds her true supporters and is overwhelmed by all of the positive support she receives. This is a story about finding oneself after losing oneself before life even gets started, getting married at a young age and devoting your life to your spouse's career, having kids & raising them, and then having your spouse cheat on you, and then find yourself wondering how you are going to support yourself for the remainder of your life. I found myself cheering Kate on & hoping for her happily ever after.

Many thanks to NetGalley & Random House/Ballantine for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was an perfect summer rom-com. The only minor thing in this book to me was the fact that I didn’t really feel the chemistry between the two main characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advance copy. This story offers a fresh, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of publishing with a unique and creative premise. While the romantic storyline between Kate and Charlie has potential, it doesn’t quite land with the emotional depth I was hoping for. That said, the real charm lies in the vibrant supporting characters—Kate’s sharp-tongued sister and Charlie’s savvy business partner steal every scene they’re in.

With its steady pacing and lighthearted tone, this makes for an enjoyable, easy read—perfect for lounging by the pool or curling up indoors on a rainy day.

Another great read by Josie!

At 39, Kate is ready to chase her old acting dreams—and ends up stepping into the role of a lifetime: pretending to be the face of a mysterious romance author who wants to stay anonymous. As she bonds with the hidden writer through letters and spends more time with her charming new agent Charlie, life starts to feel a lot like the love stories she’s promoting. Sweet, heartwarming, and full of charm!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced copy. This review is voluntary.

Books about books always bring me a lot of joy, and this one did not disappoint. Kate is a relatable protagonist as a woman approaching forty who is recently divorced and trying to start over, and this new acting role as a romance author is something that she can embrace. As the publicity grows around the book release, chaos ensues and she turns to her agent, Charlie, and the real author of the book, H, for support.

This story explores the ups and downs of love after heartbreak through the mess that is Kate's role, and subsequent outing, as the author of a romance novel.

Okay, so I liked this book, but all throughout something just felt off. The chemistry wasn’t vibing as much as I thought it should. Like it almost felt like it came out of nowhere. The tension wasn’t shown. The way that Kate took ownership of the book, but at the same time didn’t. Honestly my favorite parts of this book were the messaging back and forth between Kate and the anonymous author she was acting as author for. I wanted to love it so bad, but it just didn’t click.

Thank you NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine and Josie Silver for the ARC. All thoughts and opinions shared in this review are completely my own.

ARC REVIEW

Slow Burn Summer
By Josie silver

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐/5 ( 3 out of 5)

Publishing date: 6/10/25

I want to start by saying, I am a big Josie Silver fan! Christmas in New York is one of my favorite holiday reads. But unfortunately this one wasn't my favorite.

I was never able to fall in love with the characters so I always felt distant from the plot. I didn't FEEL the romance which was a first for me this author. However. I overall enjoyed the story! I think it was a great idea but it fell short for me unfortunately.

A 3 star review means it was an "okay" read! But you may love it. 🙂That's why books are awesome ..we all have different palettes!

As always, thank you to @netgalley and @dellromance for the early read opportunity!

Kate Elliot needs a job. After spending the past 20 years as a stay-at-home mom, her skills have been a little out of practice. Thankfully, Kate has one thing she can rely on: her past career as a working actress on a soap opera. Reaching out to her London agent, she’s stunned to find it’s his son, Charlie, who now runs the agency. Charlie has a unique opportunity for her: to pose as the face of a bestselling love story, since the author prefers to stay anonymous. She’ll attend book signings, give interviews, and essentially pretend to be the author, not to mention after one reading she falls in love with the book! What could possibly go wrong? Post divorce Kate moved out of her beautiful home and is temporarily living in a small flat above her sister’s costume shop, so her life is already full of surprises. But when sparks fly between her and hot, recently-divorced Charlie, the job starts to feel less like a quirky favor and more like an unexpected second chance at love. As their professional relationship turns personal, Kate struggles to keep things professional while her chemistry with Charlie is off the chart. Romantic, sweet, and packed with humor, this novel has it all. With lovable characters and a fast-paced plot, it’s the perfect read for the beach this summer!

3.5 stars! I enjoyed reading this book. This was a quick, easy read, but the romance was lacking for me. I felt like this book was more women's fiction than romance although I did really like the premise. There were just not anywhere near enough interactions between Kate and Charlie for me to be fully invested in and believe in their love story. I think if the book was a little longer and included more moments between them, I would have liked the book more. The book dragged a little bit after the halfway point until the last 10-15% which was done really well. I would recommend this for a light summer read for fans of women's fiction with a small subplot of romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

I always enjoy a Josie Silver book, and this one was no exception. I had just read a romance about a ghostwriter, so this was an interesting book to follow that up with. I really enjoyed the characters, although I wasn't terribly invested in them. It was a fun and easy read, and I liked the drama. Thank you NetGalley and Dell for this ARC!

Thank you so much to Josie Silver and Random House Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read Slow Burn Summer!

Summary (in my own words):
Imagine this: a talent agent in a pinch, a shy romance novelist refusing the spotlight, and a down-on-her-luck former soap star needing a major life reboot — all wrapped up in one sizzling, bookish summer adventure. Kate Elliott steps into the shoes (and the author tour) of a writer she’s never met, pretending to be the mind behind a breathtaking love story she didn’t write. Add one broody talent agent, a heap of chemistry, a few fibs getting way out of hand, and you’ve got yourself a heartfelt, slow-burn rom-com where the lines between fiction and real life start to blur under the summer sun.

Tropes you’ll find:

Fake Identity / Pretending to be Someone Else
Slow Burn Romance (seriously, pack snacks... it’s a journey)
Forced Proximity (tour life, baby!)
Second Chances (both at love and at life)
Healing After Divorce
Grumpy/Sunshine vibes (with a little twist!)
My Review:
This book was such a charming little escape! It had that cozy, chaotic energy that gave me big Bridget Jones vibes — you know, the kind of character you want to simultaneously hug and hand a glass of wine to. Kate is the FMC you just can’t help but root for. Her rambling thoughts and emotional detours felt so real and relatable, especially watching her rise from the ashes of betrayal (seriously, she deserves a slow-clap moment).

Charlie, our broody agent with a heart of cinnamon roll, is also stumbling his way through life post-divorce, and watching them find their footing individually before tentatively reaching for each other? Chef’s kiss.

Now, fair warning: this is a slow burn with a capital SLOW. (At one point, I wanted to lovingly chuck the book at the wall and scream JUST KISS ALREADY, but in the best way.) The writing style was a little chunky in parts — a bit of an extra chew — but it never lost its heart or its humor. Overall, Slow Burn Summer was a super cute, feel-good read, perfect for anyone looking to believe in love (and themselves) again.

3.8 out of 5 stars from me!

This is the perfect summer romcom. Is it predictable? Yes. Are there still hilarious and tear-jerking moments? Also yes. This is cute and touching and you can imagine Renee Zellweger or Sandra Bullock stepping up to the plate in the movie version and knocking it out of the park. Thoroughly enjoyable!

I LOVED the other 2 books I’ve read by this author (One Day in December & The Two Lives of Lydia Bird), so my expectations were high for this one. It ended up being just okay for me. I found the characters to be a bit underdeveloped, and the romance between the two MCs to be pretty unbelievable. It felt like it came out of nowhere for me, and I felt she had way more chemistry with the real author of the book she was ghost authoring! I also thought the premise was pretty unbelievable, there’s no way the publishers/PR people wouldn’t have thought through all of the potential issues with this setup 🫠

Josie Silver has done it again—Slow Burn Summer is a gorgeously written, emotionally rich story that captures all the complexities of love, timing, and second chances. With her signature warmth and lyrical prose, Silver invites readers into a summer that’s equal parts tender, heart-wrenching, and quietly hopeful.

The slow burn here is so worth the wait. The central relationship unfolds with patience and authenticity, building layer by layer until you're completely invested. The chemistry is undeniable, but what really stands out is how deeply human the characters feel—flawed, relatable, and navigating life in the best way they know how.

Silver excels at writing love stories that are more than just romantic—they’re about healing, growth, and finding the courage to move forward. The setting is dreamy (seriously, it made me want to pack up and run away for the summer), and the emotional beats are beautifully nuanced. Every moment feels earned, and by the end, I was a happy mess—in the best possible way.

If you love introspective, character-driven romances with real emotional depth, Slow Burn Summer will hit you right in the heart. Fans of One Day in December and Beach Read will find so much to love here. It’s the perfect book to savor slowly, just like a long summer night.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this ARC. Just after being cheated on and a divorces, Kate Elliott is at a loss, especially since her daughter is off to Uni. Hoping to jump back into the acting game that she gave up when she married, she reaches out to her old agent. Little does she know, he has passed and his son Charlie has now taken over the reigns. He has the most unlikely role for her. She is to be a ghostwriter in a sense that she didn't write the book but she is to pose as the author from release date on. Things are looking on track for a big payday until someone releases the truth. Now her world is crashing down around her. Sweet, sweet story. I don't usually read Rom-coms but Josie Silver is one author I will always read. This being a different kind of story that I had not read before makes it even better! #SlowBurnSummer #JosieSilver #RandomHouseBallatine #June2025

Perfect summer vacation book! This one was really cute and a fun and easy read. I loved the characters so much and I felt like they were well-developed and easy to cheer for, even though the romance angle felt a little convenient and forced. I just didn't feel the chemistry on the page but YMMV. In addition to the main romantic characters, the supporting characters were well-developed, too. (I maintain that the great love in the book is between Kate and her sister, which is why the romance felt slightly clunky to me. The sister love leaps off the page and their scenes together were consistently my favorites.)

Kate is a recently divorced mother of a college-aged daughter who abandoned her burgeoing acting career in London to marry a man who turned out to be a faithless ratfink. When she is offered an oppportunity to "act" once again as the "ghost face" for an author who wants to remain anonymous, hijinks, disaster, love and more ensue.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Josie Silver, and the publisher for this digital ARC. Such a treat to get an early look at an upcoming book for a favorite author.

This was my first book by this author, and it did not disappoint. As a book person, I loved reading about the background process of publishing and releasing the book that the main character is a “ghost author” for. It was so fun to read about, but I also enjoyed how there were serious moments as well that our main character is trying to work through. I wouldn’t say there is much romance in this, but I thought what we did get was very sweet. And, like the title says, is DEFINITELY slow burn! Also there was such a fun little twist at the end that melted my heart a little bit. 3.5 stars for this one.