this was so different for josie silver and i loved it. i always love her writing, it's like a warm hug. characters were well developed and had great chemistry.

Thank you @netgalley for a copy of the book!

This was one of those books that I started out as a four star, thought about it more, and dropped to a three. Here's why:

There's a lot to like here. There's cute chemistry between our two MCs, lots of adorable rom-com moments, and a lovable sister side character.

However, so many elements of the story just didn't seem to fit together. I'm wondering if this book went though some gut edits, and then certain pieces just never fit together the same way? IDK. If you've read it, let me know what you think about the true author reveal. It let me down a bit, and I'm not certain about the decision to put the prologue at the end?

Bottom line: This is my third Josie Silver book, and I generally love them, but this was a bit of a miss for me.

An actress playing the part of the author on a book tour seems like it's been somehow done before, and yet this version was a new twist for me. Kate is at a juncture in her life - newly divorced, unemployed, and trying to scramble back to her last profession - actress. She writes to her (recently deceased) agent and ends up getting roped into a strange job for his son, Charlie. All that to be said, there are some denied feelings between the two and it's quite nice, really. I think one of the things I really enjoyed about this book was that they are both older - late 30's early 40's - and they manage to find a swoony yet restrained chemistry between them. As far as the storyline goes, everything goes 'tits up' fairly quickly and Kate is thrown under the bus. So how will things be resolved for our tragic heroine? There are quite bold side characters - a quirky protective sister, an old wizened literary agent - as well as dear Charlie, who is a little unexpected. A nice holiday read with that British style that I personally enjoy - so great for fans of Josie Silver, of course, as well as Mhairi McFarlane and Sofie Cousins.
Thanks so much for the ARC!

This was very slow moving for me. I feel like it took me a while to get into it and just wasn't my favorite overall romance story.

I love a Josie Silver summer romance. I really enjoyed Kate's character and her love and devotion for her family and herself. But the romance between Kate and Charlie fell flat for me. I didn't have an emotional connection to the two together.

It was still a great read.

I want to start by thanking the author and the publisher for the opportunity to read an early release/advanced release copy of this book. While the book started slow, it picked up as I went along.

This book was so cute! The characters were fun and well developed. I would definitely recommend this book.

DNF @ 13%. I couldn’t get into this book despite trying multiple times. I appreciate the publisher providing me with an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review

This is the review that will be posted on all social media platforms. Links posted below

Kate is starting over again in her late 30’s. On a whim she writes a note to her old talent agent begging for a chance to get back into acting. Charlie has taken over his father’s talent agency after his sudden passing. He is looking for an actress for an unconventional role when he comes across a letter from his father’s former client. When Kate accepts the role of ghost author for a romance novel she had no idea that her world was about to flip over and change forever.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s the perfect definition of a slow burn summer read. I loved the relationship between the characters. I loved the complexity of being a ghost author for a world wide bestseller. Definitely add this to your summer TBR!

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver promised a heartwarming fake-relationship romance, and while it delivered some charming moments, it ultimately felt like a story that will quickly fade from memory. It's a pleasant enough read for a lazy afternoon, but don't expect it to leave a lasting impression.
The premise has potential: Charlie, a talent agent, needs someone to impersonate the reclusive author of a scorching romance novel, and Kate, a recently divorced actress, steps into the role. Their initial friction and eventual sparks are exactly what you'd expect from this setup. Silver crafts some genuinely sweet scenes, particularly as Kate begins to believe in love again through the very book she's pretending to have written.
However, the "slow burn" aspect felt more like a gentle simmer that never quite reached a rolling boil. The central conflict—the escalating lies and the secret identity of the real author—never felt truly high-stakes. This lack of tension, combined with characters who were amiable but not particularly unique, made the plot easily forgettable. Once I turned the final page, the details of Charlie and Kate's journey began to blur almost immediately. It’s a perfectly fine way to pass the time, but if you’re looking for a romance that stays with you long after the summer ends, Slow Burn Summer might just be a fleeting flicker.

In Slow Burn Summer, Josie Silver takes a risk by veering away from the classic rom-com formula she's known for, delivering instead a novel that feels more like women’s fiction wrapped in the packaging of a lighthearted summer romance. The premise is undeniably intriguing: a freshly divorced soap actress is hired to impersonate the author of a wildly romantic book on a summer tour, while her enigmatic talent agent boss tries to hold the ruse together. It's a setup ripe with potential for both comedy and chaos, and while it doesn’t quite ignite the sparks one might expect, it still makes for an enjoyable read.

The novel shines brightest in its exploration of grief, identity, and reinvention. Kate is a standout character, not because of her love story, but because of her personal journey. Her bond with her sister Liv adds a layer of warmth and grounding to the story, and moments like the infamous T-Rex costume scene provide delightful levity amid deeper emotional currents. Charlie, though a bit underdeveloped as a romantic lead, serves more as a foil for Kate’s evolution than a fully fleshed-out partner. Their chemistry is subtle at best, which may leave romance fans feeling underwhelmed.

That said, Slow Burn Summer is still a worthwhile read, particularly if approached with the understanding that it’s more about self-discovery than love at first sight. The writing is clean and engaging, the pacing steady, and the plot imaginative even if a bit implausible. While it may not stir the same emotional magic as One Day in December, it has moments of charm and heart that echo Silver’s signature voice.

Overall, this is a thoughtful, character-driven story best enjoyed with tempered expectations.

unfortunately i wasn't a fan of the way this book was executed, but i can understand why someone else would enjoy this!! i felt like the plot was underdeveloped and the romance was nonexistent until the end when i literally gasped at the love confession- because what do you mean?? you barely spoke and interacted in a romantic way?? the idea of this story is interesting but i wish it was more thoroughly explored.

Slow burn is right...this was such a slow burn that I wasn't sure there was a spark at all, but I still enjoyed the book! The characters were relatable, if not a bit too quiet. The dinosaur costume scene will forever live in my memories, as will the dessert chaos, without spoiling it for anyone who may not have read it yet. This book was definitely cozy, as I read it without fear of a raunchy sex scene occurring on the pages. I would say this book is great for those who want to read about a romance that seems more realistic than fantasy based, although I would say it skews more toward an older reader since the main character has a daughter in college. As a younger reader, I didn't relate to this as well, but didn't find it off-putting. Overall, it was an enjoyable read that I would recommend to my older friends who prefer a safe, relatable read.

I really wanted to love this—the premise had so much promise with its behind-the-scenes publishing drama, slow-burn romance, and layered characters. But despite the setup, I just couldn’t fully get into it. The chemistry between the leads didn’t quite land for me, and the pacing felt uneven. While the concept was clever, the execution didn’t sweep me up the way I’d hoped.

Slow Burn Summer delivers exactly what the title promises—a gentle, drawn-out romance with moments of charm, heartache, and wit. Josie Silver sets up a fun and original premise: a grieving novelist, a washed-up soap actress, and a publishing lie that spirals into something much bigger. I really did enjoy this Josie Silver rom-com. Slow Burn Summer is sweet and safe romance but just don't expect fireworks.

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

This is my second Josie Silver book, and I really enjoyed it. Definitely perfect for Summer, like the name implies. The forced proximity in this story is delicious. I loved it.

Slow Burn Summer | Josie Silver
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5 stars)

When a washed-up soap actress agrees to pretend she’s the author of a hit romance novel, she doesn’t expect to find her own second-chance love story along the way.

Josie Silver does it again. This book was such a delight—funny, warm, and just the right amount of messy. The characters felt so real I wanted to jump in and hang out with them (or at least eavesdrop on their hilarious banter). Sure, I was practically yelling just kiss already a few times (it’s called slow burn for a reason), but the ending was so sweet and totally worth the wait. The perfect beach read and easily one of my favorite RomComs this year.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Do you ever feel disappointed that you accidentally read an author's best book first and now none of their other books live up to the hype you created in your own head? Because One Day in December is THE book and Slow Burn Summer is just a book.

I'm also not going to forgive Josie for singling out hummus (a quintessentially Arab food) as "revolting" when she could've picked literally any food: pickles, yellow mustard, cottage cheese, blue cheese, sauerkraut. You get the idea.

Thank you to Net Galley for this ARC.

The premise of this book and the story line was very interesting and it was one I’ve never read before! I loved the concept of a ghost author and the mystery of who the writer was. However, the pace was extremely slow and the romance was not great. I also wish the reveal of who the real author was would have been a little more exciting.

This is a very slow burn romance between the two main characters. The narration was wonderful add brought the characters alive. I recommend this book. It’s a great rom com summer read.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance reader copy. I also purchased the audible book.