Another gorgeous, poignant lovestory by Josie Silver! Kate was a loveable FMC that you couldn't help but cheer on as she navigated rebuilding her life after divorce and taking on her new job. And Charlie... **swoon**. He's a top tier MMC with his own compelling arc surrounding grief and loss as well as navigating a new career. I loved the way he supported Kate in her "role" and how he grew and was revealed over time. The side characters are also fabulous - in particular Liv, Kate's sister, and Fiona, Charlies business partner, who added a lot to the story in both levity and supporting our MCs. Thank you NetGalley and Dell for the ARC, 4.5 stars rounded up.

Slow Burn Summer was a fun, easy read with a unique setup. It’s more women’s fiction than straight-up romance, but I didn’t mind that. Kate, a 39-year-old former soap actress, agrees to pretend she wrote a romance novel for a book tour—and ends up finding a little romance of her own. I really liked seeing an older woman as the lead, and her journey post-divorce felt real and relatable. The chemistry between Kate and Charlie was there, but the romance felt a bit rushed. Still, the story had heart, some sweet moments, and a cool book-within-a-book twist. It’s a great pick if you’re looking for something light with a bit of depth.

3.75/5 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Dell Books for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Unfortunately, I decided to DNF this one about a quarter of the way in. I just couldn't get into it, and this year I'm allowing myself to DNF books that I am not enjoying. And this is no shade to Josie Silver as an author. I loved the Secret Lives of Lydia Bird and enjoyed One Day in December.

I'm not sure what it was exactly. Maybe it was that from the start, I didn't sense any chemistry between Charlie and Kate, though maybe this would have happened if I had given it more time.

But maybe this will be a story I'll come back to one day and give it a second chance.

We’ve heard of ghost writers, this is a story of a ghost author. Kate has been asked to take on the identity of an author of a romance book. The actual author wants to remain anonymous. Kate has been hired to play the role of an author. Recently divorced, she’s trying to get her life back on track. Once she reads the manuscript, she can’t help but say yes to get this book out into the world. She has the help of her agent, Charlie.
Charlie has taken over his father’s talent agency. His client who he wants to protect is Kate.
Unforeseen circumstances occur in which Kate’s subterfuge is unveiled causing some serious problems for both Charlie and Kate. This slow burn story tells the tale of Kate wanting to do right by the book and protect the author’s identity while also exploring the feelings she’s developing for Charlie.
I’m here for the slow burn. I enjoyed reading this book. It’s cute and romantic.

This was my first Josie Silver book, despite owning most of her others, and I fell in love. Every moment of this book felt cozy and beautiful.
The premise of this book was so unique and fun, I was excited to go along with Kate for the ride of what her new job would become. It turned out to be much more than she anticipated, with some not so great moments, but became a journey worth taking in the end.
The romance was more of a subplot in this one, but the story was so enjoyable it didn’t subtract from anything at all. The side characters were so endearing, especially Liv, and I fell for Hugh immediately. There were so many funny moments and Kate truly was an unprecedented character.
Slow Burn Summer was a fantastic summer romcom every romance lover should pick up!
Thank you to Dell for providing me with an eARC via NetGalley.
Publication date 6/10/25

I'm not sure how I feel about this book so I'm going to leave it with 3 stars. It was good, but it also could've been better. While this book is not my cup of tea, it doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a fair chance.

What I liked:
*The author's story and their need to be anonymous
*The emails between H and Kate
*Liv, I loved how ferociously she loved Kate, and her humor was amazing
*The portrayal of social media and how it can make and break someone's career/image
*I enjoyed the representation of the book community, especially toward the end

What I disliked:
*I didn't feel the chemistry between Kate and Charlie
*The story felt too choppy, there were bits and pieces, but it didn't really flow together
*I spent a good chunk of the book absolutely hating what happened to Kate and hating her team for not doing more to support her
*Fiona, did not care for her one bit
*The lack of support from Alice, ugh I hope not all teenage kids are that selfish

Format: ebook

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for the arc!

Slow Burn Summer is set in London and stars a 39 year old, recently divorced, former soap actress, Kate. Kate is brought on a by talent agent, Charlie, to act as a ghost author of a romance book whose true author wants to remain anonymous.

I enjoyed the idea of the premise of the book, but feel the actual execution of the plot was a bit all over the place. I was expecting more straightforward romcom vibes, but the focus is more on Kate rediscovering herself post-divorce and moving past her grief. I mostly enjoyed Kate’s story, but was just expecting something different.

The story is told through dual POV…sort of. We get a handful of chapters from Charlie early on and then again nearer the end. But most of the chapters are solely from Kate’s POV. I wish we had gotten more Charlie as it would have provided more insight into his character and their relationship.

The romance portions of the book feel out of place and disturb the rhythm of the story. There was a lack of chemistry between the Charlie and Kate. They felt much more like friends who had shared experiences of horrible divorces and were helping each other work through that time in their lives. On page, they didn’t give enough backstory on Charlie beyond vague references and a few sentences, so I never felt invested in him enough to root for them as a couple.

There was a lot of mystery and a few red herrings around the identity of the true author of the book. I was very invested in this and had several ongoing theories of my own. I found it to be rather anticlimactic and a bit of a let down when the identity was revealed. Though the author and Kate exchanged a few emails, we didn’t know enough about them to be invested by the reveal of an otherwise unknown character being the author.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: June 10, 2025

Cute premise of a former actress who wants to get back in the game and finds herself hired to play the author of a new romance novel because the real author wants to remain anonymous. I really thought this would be about her cosplaying a best selling author, but after violating her NDA (in writing, with no legal repercussions), the majority of this book is about the fallout once the public learns she’s not the author.

Could’ve been fun and whimsical, but was a bit of a downer. Fiona is a jerk, her sister Liv is the best character, and I didn’t even see a hint of a spark between Kate and Charlie but that doesn’t stop them from getting together.

Thank you so much for the ARC! What a great storyline with her as the soap opera actress posing as an author! Hate how it blew up in her fast, and I honestly didn't think Kate and Charlie had very good chemistry when the finally got together.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc and to PRH Audio for the ALC.

Josie Silver is back with another charming and cozy romance. I even enjoyed this book more than I enjoyed One Day in December. I enjoyed the relationship between Charlie and Kate. There were also some LOL worthy moments in the book as well. Furthermore, Anna Acton was the perfect choice to narrate the audiobook and I love how she brought the characters and the story to life. I am excited to see what Josie Silver writes next!

I love Josie Silver. One Day in December is one of my favorite books. The depth that was in the characters of that book took me on an emotional roller coaster that I still think about. I was so excited to have the opportunity to read Slow Burn Summer but it didn’t quite hit me the same way her other books have.

Pros:
- [ ] I loved Kate. Being a woman with four kids in my late 40’s, I felt Kate relatable. The development of her character and the depth put into writing her had me feeling along with her.
- [ ] Kate and her sister, Liv, had such a sweet, loyal relationship. Their relationship is what sisters should be. I loved Liv’s spunk and big heart.
- [ ] H, the mysterious writer, had me wanting to know who the real writer was. I thought he was a very endearing character as we got to know him through his emails.
- [ ] The writing of Josie Silver’s book is detailed but easy to read. I always get swept away in her words every time I read one of her books.
- [ ] The deleted scene and the playlist at the end was a nice touch to the book.
Cons:
- [ ] As much as I liked Charlie, I didn’t feel his character received the depth he should have. It felt like he would disappear for a while then he was there. I felt a disconnection to his character. I would have liked to have learned more about what made him tick.
- [ ] The romantic relationship between Charlie and Kate fell flat for me. In my opinion it felt forced and not organic. Not to mention, the popping in and out of Charlie throughout the story, made it hard to see the development of their relationship. I kept thinking I missed something.
- [ ] Wow, when the secret of Kate and the book came out people were just terrible. The whole time I kept thinking it seemed over the top but maybe I’m abnormal and throwing trifles at people’s shop doors is a way to behave. People were just horrible towards Kate. I kept thinking when it was discovered that Milli Vanilli (I’m totaling dating myself here) were lip syncing their songs, I still listened to Blame it on the Rain because it was (and still is) a good song.
I wanted to rate this four stars but some of my cons really outweigh the pros so I give it a solid 3.5 stars. Will I still buy the book, yes. Do I still love Josie Silver, absolutely yes! I will continue to read anything she writes.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the arc of this book!!

I really enjoyed this story! The romance really took a backseat, but the main plot was interesting and kept me engaged.

Thank you to Ballantine Books and Random House for the eARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)
Effortlessly romantic, wildly charming, and brimming with emotional depth—Slow Burn Summer is Josie Silver at her finest.

This book is everything a summer romance should be: sun-drenched, slow-burning, and filled with characters who feel as real and flawed as your best friends. With a premise that’s pure rom-com gold—an actress hired to impersonate an author on a book tour—it delivers not only laughs and tension, but real heart.

🎭 What makes this a five-star standout:
Kate Elliott is magnetic. A former soap star rebuilding her life, she brings wit, warmth, and vulnerability to every scene. Watching her fall in love with a story—before the man—is a romantic arc that feels beautifully earned.

Charlie Francisco is peak reluctant romantic. Grumpy, guarded, but quietly devoted, his transformation from agent-in-crisis to love interest will have you swooning.

A love letter to books and storytelling. The mystery around the true author, the emotional weight of the novel at the center, and the whirlwind of book tour events give this rom-com literary depth and delicious tension.

Chemistry that simmers. This really is a slow burn—and when it ignites, it burns. Their banter, hesitations, and late-night moments are full of heat and heart.

Silver’s signature voice. Thoughtful, sharp, and emotionally resonant. She never shies away from grief, regret, or second chances—and it makes the love story all the more satisfying.

🌞 Final thoughts:
Slow Burn Summer is the kind of story that sneaks up on you. It’s smart, sexy, and layered with emotional nuance. Whether you’re here for the fake identity hijinks or the heartfelt redemption arcs, this is one summer story that earns a permanent spot on your shelf.

Five stars, no hesitation. Josie Silver proves once again that the best love stories don’t just make your heart flutter—they make it feel.

This was a cute read, although I don't feel like the title fits the story. Kate is a divorcee in need of a job so she contacts her former agent from when she was an actress. He has passed but his son, Charlie, has taken his place and has the perfect job for her. There is a romance book that the author doesn't want their identity known so they need her to be the ghost author. Kate fits the bill and begins the process of promoting the book.

*~*Most Creative Bookish Plot*~*

As soon as I started this book and saw the situation Kate had gotten herself in, I was pretty sold on this book. First and foremost, I laughed during this story. A lot. Probably most during the scene with the T-Rex question. But Kate was funny. Her sister was hilarious and the fact that they clung to each other and backed each other up was so endearing.
I always love books about books, but this plot was so interesting and original with the "Ghost Author" concept. And the partnership that Kate and Hugh grew between one another was so sweet.
I also really enjoyed how, even though romance was definitely there, it didn't overshadow Kate's own journey to get back on her own two feet. To figure out who she is now that her marriage is over, her daughter is grown, and she is on her own.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher, and Josie Silver for an eARC of this story.

Kate is a recently divorced, down on her luck former actress with a cheating ex, an absent daughter, and a stuffy flat above her sister’s shop because of a prenup that left her with next to nothing.

But then she’s given an offer: pose as the author of a book about to be released. The author wants to remain anonymous, so the publisher needs a face, a name, a body.

It’ll be the easiest acting job Kate will ever be offered. Or is it?

It’s all arranged by Charlie, the smoldering, hot son of Kate’s former agent.

But when information gets leaked and everything is put into jeopardy, who can Kate turn to for help?

I wanted to love this but the premise was hard for me to get behind and the romance was so low key it was hardly key at all.

Guys? Zero spark.

Kate becomes so weirdly enamored with this job as a fake author, puts so much importance in her part, that it begins to feel awkward. Like when the book SHE DID NOT WRITE is a bestseller in its first week, she’s gobsmacked…but that game isn’t really hers, she’s just an actress acting like she wrote it.

Besides that there’s a romance with zero spark that ends with two people telling us they’ve been in love from the start…what now?

I thought Kate and Charlie were lovely people. Kate’s relationship with her sister was supportive and full…but that was it.

I was disappointed.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC!

This is a sweet story but it just didn’t sparkle for me. I didn’t feel much chemistry between the main characters. Also the opening scene felt an odd way to open this story. The female male character is asked by a perfect stranger to hold their baby and the baby proceeds to get sick on her. What purpose is this intended to serve??

Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. I was SO excited to get this book early because both of the Josie Silver books I have read were easy 5 stars for me. This one was kinda cute, kinda funny but the romance and slow burn were off the whole book. It felt like the last 15 pages they just dropped that they loved eachother, it didn't feel natural at all. I am so sorry but this one disappointed me. Rounded up to 4 stars.

I really enjoyed the pacing of the book and the characters had great chemistry. The story was creative and the side characters added comedy. Overall, I was invested in Charlie and Kate's love story and tore through the book in one night