Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
Rating: 3.5 stars
Pub date: 6/10

Thank you so much to Netgalley and Ballantine for my advanced copy.

The story follows Kate, a struggling actress going through a rough patch, who ends up pretending to be the author of a super romantic novel, while the real author remains a mystery. The agent behind it all, Charlie, has his own baggage, and while there’s a bit of tension between them, the romance felt more like a subplot than the main event. If you're picking this up hoping for a full-on love story, just know the romantic payoff is pretty minimal.

That said, I still enjoyed the ride. Josie Silver always writes with heart, and while this one wasn’t quite what I expected, it still had some really great moments. I loved the focus on books, family, and finding yourself after loss. Kate’s relationship with her sister was a real highlight.

Overall, it wasn’t a new favorite, but I’ll definitely keep reading anything Josie Silver writes!

Thank you to NetGalley and and Random House Publishing Group- Ballantine for an advanced reading copy of Slow Burn Summer in exchange for my honest opinion.

Slow Burn Summer will be released on June 10th.

This is the first Josie Silver book I have read and it won’t be the last. There is so much I enjoyed about this book. The characters were well written, and this book seemed to be more character driven than plot driven at times.

The plot is simple: Kate is down on her luck and sends a last effort email to her old soap opera agent from 20 years ago. His son replies to the email (jojo, her agent, had passed away) and offers her a job as a ghostwriter of sorts. Instead of doing the ghost writing, she would be the ghost author. It all happens quickly and seems to go great; until a stolen, sold email ruins the whole thing. Lots of laughs the whole way through!

Kate was down on her luck, and it just seemed that the hits kept on coming. There are almost some unbelievable moments in the hits. She works for her husband of almost 20 years. He cheated on her, and because of the prenup she got nothing? Usually infidelity will wipe away a prenup… Her daughter Alice, won’t listen to her about the boyfriend; but when he betrays her and Kate, Alice goes to her dad instead? Kate doesn’t get mad and defends her family through it all even though they make everything worse for Kate. The ex husband even takes a swipe at her towards the end of the story and nothing is done to him!

Kate is a walking doormat and her sister is her protector, and a hilarious sort of way. However, Charlie, the literary agent, decides to be the protector, and this is where the love story happens. Hugh, the actual author of the book, becomes a protector of Kate as well, along with a football team that just keeps popping up.

This is a 3.5 ⭐️ read to me. I’ll round up to 4 ⭐️ for Goodreads and Netgalley’s sake. It’s a quick read and enjoyable. I just wish the people that ran over Kate over and over groveled for their mistakes, and not strangers throwing pastries.

An actress standing in to promote an anonymous author’s love story, what could possibly go wrong? This book had my heart in knots from the synopsis, waiting with bated breath for someone to reveal her true identity. Overall, an enjoyable quick read. I liked the author scenes the most - the tv interviews, the book festival, the sneak peek into the world of publishing! Not sure the title spoke to the story though…

I have enjoyed many Josie Silver books but Slow Burn Summer fell flat when compared to her others.

The writing is enjoyable and the outline is original but it lacked depth and seemed far fetched. I missed Josie’s ability to make me feel strong feelings like her other books. The topic of ‘deleted scenes’ was part of the book but I actually felt like needed chapters were deleted.

There was potential but each main storyline came off as underdeveloped. The actual deleted scene in the book gave much appreciated context and should be in the beginning because the author reveal meant nothing to the reader anyway. The romance didn’t add anything to the story itself and the humor felt forced rather than funny.

The best part was the sister dynamic- I love to see strong friends and family relationships!

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review.

This one wasnt my favorite from her to be honest. I didnt like the romance and felt that everything was too rushed. While I did enjoy the MC Charlie I wasnt too crazy about the FMC. Still a fun book though!

This book wasn’t my favorite of Silver’s. I felt that the plot was choppy and the romance was lacking and too rushed.

Tears fell from my face when this was over. Such a unique story - not a ghostwriter but a ghost author.

I needed more romance building between Kate and Charlie because all of a sudden they were in love at the end and I needed more to get there. Also for a minute there in the beginning I thought she'd fall for Hugh with all the letter writing. I liked the relationship between Kate and her sister best of all.

Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Spice: 🌶️ 🌶️
Tropes:
* Hidden identity
* Agent & client romance
* Grief and loss of a loved one
* Moving on from divorce
* Strong family bond

Thank you to NetGalley, Josie Silver, and Ballantine Books | Random House Publishing | Dell for the eARC in exchange for my honest review!

While the summary of this book had me wondering whether I’d be interested in the premise (an actor instead of just a ghost writer or pseudonym?), it actually peaked my interest soon into reading it.

I felt, like most of the characters, that Kate was relatable and interesting, and enjoyed reading most chapters through her view. But also getting some chapters from Charlie’s POV helped a lot with understanding him and his fascination with her. If we didn’t get those, I don’t think I’d be as engaged in this book, so great choice by the author!

The themes of loss, grief, and heartbreak for most of the characters pulled at my heartstrings, so the ending for Liv and Nish and for Charlie and Kate made me feel hopeful and so happy to see the love and happiness they rightly deserve.

The only thing I will say that I felt unexpectedly was that in the middle, I actually wanted Kate and H to end up being the ones together. I loved their conversations and felt they really understood each other and deserved happiness together after what happened in their previous relationships. But by the last quarter, things really did make the most sense for Charlie and Kate, and I’m so glad she could also have H as someone to continue a strong platonic relationship with by the end.
That epilogue was the best way to end this, but I also hope somehow the author can find a way to include that prologue because it brought me to tears to see how this all started. I really want more of H’s story now, so please write something for him next because he’s wonderful! (Or, to really spoil us, write the book within this book 😉🙏🏼).

4.5 ghost author stars

I think I was in the right mood for this book. I enjoyed the characters, the unique plot, and the romance worked for me. I also loved the sneak peek into the publishing world and how agents work. I also watched soap operas in my teens, so I could totally picture the main character. And there were some laugh-out-loud moments for me.

Kate Elliott got her start on a soap opera and was an up-and-coming star, but she left that world behind to marry and raise her daughter. Now that Alice is grown and she’s divorced, she’s ready to get back into the work world. She reaches out to her old talent agent, a man she adored and had a great rapport with when she was acting.

She’s a bit thrown when her agent’s son, Charlie, makes a pitch to her about being the face and name behind a new book coming out. She would go on tour and pretend/act to be the true author. The real author doesn’t usually write in the romance genre and doesn’t want anyone to know their identity.

While non-traditional, bills are calling, and Kate decides to go for it. She’s got the right quirky personality to pull it off, and she loves the book when she gives it a read. She even starts an email conversation with the author, who goes by H. She will have to watch that she doesn’t go on and on and on during interviews.

Kate is fighting her attraction to Charlie as she knows that she shouldn’t mix business with pleasure. There’s a great weekend at a cottage in Cornwall that has some forced proximity vibes. Charlie is a screenwriter but is filling in at the agency after his father’s death. Even though this one is set mainly in London, I got classic Hollywood vibes from Charlie.

Kate’s sister is a gem of a side character. She creates costumes and is a fierce defender of her sister. She really thought she was helping when she jumped into the fray.

Another character I really enjoyed was Fiona, who represents the secretive author as their agent. I would want her to represent me with her no-nonsense approach but a secret soft side.

It wouldn’t be a good book without some drama, so cue secrets coming out, revenge trifle-throwing, and outraged media and fans.

While not my favorite by this author, I truly enjoyed this one and it was a welcome break from darker, denser reads.

Interesting premise but the writing style didn't mesh with my tastes. Have heard great things about this author though, will try another book by the same author instead.

Josie Silver starts Slow Burn Summer with a promising setup and engaging characters, but the story quickly loses its focus. What begins as a compelling summer romance unravels into a scattered narrative with inconsistent pacing. The plot feels unfocused at times, with too many subplots pulling attention away from the central relationship. While Silver's writing is always easy to read and occasionally charming, this one doesn't quite hit the mark. A few heartfelt moments, but overall, a mediocre read that doesn't live up to its potential.

This was a nice slow burn story of romance and figuring life out after the life you had changed.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this book. ~I was given this book and made no commitments to leave my opinions, favorable or otherwise~

Josie Silver delivers yet another emotionally resonant gem in Slow Burn Summer, a novel that feels like a warm, melancholic breeze—comforting and painful all at once. From the very first page, I found myself completely rooting for Kate. Her vulnerability, her quiet strength, and the way she’s just trying to hold herself together in the aftermath of heartbreak—it all hit me deeply. I genuinely ached for her.

Kate’s journey is about more than romance. It’s about finding yourself when life hasn’t gone to plan, and Silver captures that beautifully. The storyline is both clever and emotionally grounded, with the unique premise of Kate pretending to be a reclusive author on a book tour adding layers of both humor and depth. It was such a smart way to set the stage for her to slowly confront who she is and what she wants.

And let’s talk about the romance—because wow, it was so on point. The tension between Kate and Charlie builds perfectly, and even though the burn is slow, every glance, every conversation feels earned and electric. I was completely invested in their connection. You feel the spark, but even more than that, you feel the risk and the fear behind it—two people who’ve been hurt trying to find something real.

By the time things start to really come together, I was flipping pages like mad, desperate for Kate to get the happiness she so deeply deserved. Josie Silver has once again crafted a love story that lingers long after the final page.

🔥⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver – A twisty, bookish escape!

Okay, so I thought I was settling in for a cute summer romance... but Slow Burn Summer had other plans. This book took me on a wild, behind-the-scenes ride through the literary world—with drama, plot twists, and a main character I wanted to grab coffee with (and maybe shake a few times, lovingly).

Kate is incredibly relatable. She’s messy, smart, unsure, hopeful—and watching her figure herself out felt so real. I loved her journey of self-discovery as much as I loved the bookish backdrop (publishers, authors, drama… yes, please!). If you’re a fellow bookworm, this part will feel like home.

And the plot? Buckle up. It’s got twists and turns like a rollercoaster designed by a soap opera writer who binged too many reality shows. Some were jaw-droppers, some were what just happened?? moments—but all of them kept me flipping pages way past bedtime.

It’s a summer read with heart, chaos, and a lot of soul. A little messy, a little magical, and totally worth the read. If you love stories about women rediscovering their spark—with a side of publishing-world shenanigans—this one's for you. 💛📚

Though it greatly pains me to say so, Slow Burn Summer is not Josie Silver's best work. It had an intriguing premise but I'm not sure if it ever quite decided what it wanted to be: an Emily Giffin style chick lit book or a romance. There is almost no tension between the two MCs, wrapped up as they are in the more involved plot, and then they abruptly have sex, just seemingly out of nowhere. That said, if you like your stories more plot oriented and less heavy on the romance, you may prefer this title to other summer releases.

As for the story itself, there was really a lot to like. Our FMC is a middle aged mother of a college aged daughter, divorced and figuring out what her next steps are. Fully realized adult FMCs are one of the things that I love about Josie Silver books. When our FMC is approached with a unique job opportunity, she gets mixed up with the son of her former agent and all sorts of drama ensues regarding the job. A story of family, second chances, and how we are always evolving as people.

I loved this book! It is a slow burn, but one with many wild turns. I found the character of Kate to be incredibly relatable. She was charming in her normal gal sort of way, which I always find to be the type of character I most connect with. While she sets out on this adventure of playing a debut author, she has some incredible support along the way. The first being her sister, Liv. Liv is by far my favorite part of this book. She was hilarious and one of the best supporting characters I have ever read in a book. I would read a whole book about Liv. In addition to her sister, Kate's agent, Charlie, seems always to show up right when she needs him. The moments between Kate and Charlie felt genuine and not at all forced. I enjoyed how their relationship grew over time. Ultimately, the anonymous author played a crucial role in helping Kate on her self-realization journey. Watching their relationship grow was also one of my favorite parts of the book. The story was more than just a romance; it was about a woman finding herself after losing everything, and I was so satisfied with where Kate ended up. I would highly recommend this story.

Josie silver is an auto read author for me and I loved this one as much as her others.

“She’s playing the part of romance author, but has she found her own real life love story?”

This was a very unique story as the main character gets hired to be the face of a book when the original author wanted to remain hidden, they just wanted to story out in the world. You won’t be disappointed if you pick this one up!

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this arc!

I loved this so much! I’m definitely used to Josie’s books being more emotional but this rom com was done perfectly! It was funny, relatable, and I loved the book theme! It was fun and honestly don’t think I’ve read anything like it before! Well done!

Thanks NetGalley for the arc.

A cute and funny story about finding yourself with a touch of romance. The side characters are just as enjoyable and the end gets tied up with a bow. Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.