Slow Burn Summer is more like No Burn Summer. This couple had ZERO chemistry, and their relationship came out of nowhere. The way they acted as adults in their 30s was quite shocking. I have loved books by Josie Silver before but this one was not it. I had to force myself to pick it back up every time I put my e-reader down. I thought the premise was intriguing, but I very quickly stopped caring. I say skip this one.

I really wanted to like this because--because it's Josie Silver.

However, this one fell a little flat for me. The plot just wasn't quite there, and I wanted more development from both characters. I love Josie Silver bc of how much I've loved her romances, but this one just didn't quite do it. I have hope though!

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver was a cute summer read; though I found myself a little uninterested at points.

Of course it included a “deleted scene” at the end! I love it.

This story pulled at some emotions for me. I was more than unsettled with the balaclava wearing man. My mama bear was fierce right alongside Kate trying to protect her sister Liv. And the tears fell hearing H’s story behind the deeply personal book he wrote that started it all.

—————

This book follows Kate Elliot, a recently divorced mom who stumbles into an unexpected second act when she is offered the chance to be the face of a romance novel’s mysterious author. The book is amazing, but outside the other’s usual genre and deeply personal, so they want to remain anonymous.

In comes Charlie, a recently heartbroken screenwriter turned agent. Due to the death of his father, he’s had to step in and fill his dad’s shoes. Something he never wanted for himself.

Tropes: found purpose, book community, strong sister relationship, and comedic moments straight out of a rom-com (A T-Rex costume? A trifle attack? I was laughing, anxious, a little tense, and rooting for our MFC.

This was a story of not only Kate finding herself and her purpose as she rolls into middle age, but also Charlie figuring out how to uphold his father’s legacy while honoring his own desires.

This book shows us that there is life both beyond kids and divorce. That we can reinvent ourselves and our lives at any age. And how you can find community in the most unexpected places and ways.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver is a beautifully written, emotionally grounded story that I absolutely adored. As the title suggests, this was a true slow burn one that kept me fully engaged and invested in the characters from beginning to end.

I especially loved seeing Kate’s personal evolution and how she worked through some heavy emotional territory. Charlie’s journey of figuring out his own path felt authentic and heartfelt. The depiction of online backlash and the emotional toll it takes was raw and incredibly relevant in today’s world.

While I did wish to see more of Charlie and Kate’s romance develop on the page, what we do get is tender, intentional, and meaningful. Their chemistry is quiet but real, and it made me root for them throughout.

One of my favorite parts of the book was how book lovers were portrayed as a supportive, loyal community it felt like a love letter to readers everywhere. This story would translate perfectly into a limited series or movie, with its intimate storytelling and emotional book. I also enjoyed the T-Rex seen and would love to see that on my TV.

Highly recommend if you’re looking for a heartfelt summer read with depth, bookish love, and emotionally rich character development.

Thank you NetGalley and Ballantine team for my ARC

I've read all of Josie Silver's books and LOVED THEM so I was expecting the same with Slow Burn Summer. Thankfully, it didn't disappoint. It was an easy quick read and I couldn't put it down. Kate is one of those book characters that you will be thinking about even after the book is finished. I would recommend this one to anyone wanting a good romance.

Kate Elliot is hired by talent agent, Charlie Francisco, for the role of "Romance Author" for a writer who does not want to publicly claim their novel. Both are healing after messy divorces and trying to re-establish themselves. They work together, along with a colorful cast of characters, to create a persona for Kate and navigate social media/press in the days and weeks prior to pub day.

Loved this one! It was not as much of a slow burn as I would expect for a book with this title. Nonetheless, I really enjoyed the pacing of the relationship between the main characters. Kate going on her journey to find herself after her divorce, while not relatable to me specifically, felt really empowering. I also really enjoyed the mystery of the author's identity. I definitely didn't see that reveal coming! There were a bunch of laugh-out-loud moments (re: dinosaur suit) as well.

3.75 stars. Thanks to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine. I really enjoyed this story. The way I literally LOL at some of the things that happened to Kate (FMC) loved it. Kate now divorced tries to become a actor again and gets hired to be a fake author instead the face of a book. I just wanna say I totally loved this unique concept of this story. I also enjoyed that while there was a romance aspect to it that was not the most important part, the most important part was always Kate and I enjoyed that so much. Also shout out to her sister Liv we should all be blessed to have a older sister as her ( I am the older sister like Liv ;) )

Review will be posted on 6/18/25

Kate Elliott is a former actress, newly divorced, and trying to find her way. She writes a desperate email to her old agent, and finds out her agent's son, Charlie, is running the company. Charlie offers Kate an unconventional job, and Kate, who is short on cash, takes it. Kate will be posing on tour this summer as the author of a romance novel as the actual author is publicity shy and also wants to keep his or her identity a secret. Kate has read the novel and is enthralled, so she immediately jumps at this chance. Charlie, who is also divorced, and did well as a screenwriter of rom-coms, is starting a new page in his life helping run his deceased mother's talent agency. The more time Kate and Charlie spend together, the more sparks fly, but sometimes Katie wonders what is real and what is fiction. Kate is also curious who is the actual author of the novel she is promoting as this is always in the back of her mind. Josie Silver's Slow Burn Summer is a delightful rom-com perfect for fans of contemporary romances.

I enjoyed both characters, Kate and Charlie, but I found their romance to be a bit uninspiring, as they lacked a strong chemistry. Slow Burn Summer focuses more on deeper themes, such as public personas and the distinction between performance and true identity, rather than on romance. I also appreciated the secondary characters, particularly Kate's sister, Liv, who adds a great dynamic to the story. While Slow Burn Summer is a solid summer read, it isn’t my favorite of Silver's novels due to some pacing issues and the lack of chemistry. Nonetheless, I believe Silver's fans, especially those who enjoy books about books, will appreciate it overall.

I really loved the plot and premise. However, I wished for more character development and I felt there was a missed opportunity to really dig deep into what it is like to have to start over after grieving a change in life. I love Silver's other books and this one felt a little forced to me. However, I really appreciated the uniqueness of the set up!

I love Josie Silver’s Christmas/Winter books so I was excited to dive into something different from her. The premise was interesting, an actress hired to represent a book and pretend to be it’s author. A step further than just a ghost writer. I will say, what I thought was going to be a slow burn romcom….was more of a women’s fiction book with some romance thrown in. If that make sense? Like I was underwhelmed by the romance part of the book…but still enjoyed the story for what it was. Kate is a divorced mom, and has lost herself over the years and takes this job to find her way back. That part was so very relatable to me. And can we talk about Kate’s sister for a moment? What a strong, supportive woman! Loved how fiercely she loves her family. There was some hilarious moments, like a T Rex costume that you will just have to read to enjoy. But Charlie and Kate’s story gets lost in all the other moments of the book. Maybe it was never the focus at all and I was trying to make it be? It just didn’t hit like I wanted to. But I dont want that to take away from my feelings for the story, because it was a good one.

Bottom Line: Read it as women’s fiction and not romcom.

**I received a copy of Slow Burn Summer from Netgalley and am leaving this review voluntarily. All opinions are my own.**

Kate Elliott, a former actress crawling out of a divorce, lands a new role, presenting herself as the author of a romance novel. It was all fun and games being the best-selling novelist until she’s exposed and everything comes crashing down!

Slow Burn Summer is the perfect beach read. Mystery, romance, and excitement surround the likable characters, Kate, Charlie, Liv and Fiona. I would wish for the follow up to this book to be Power of Love, the romance novel within the novel!

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group, Dell for the early copy of this fun, summer read!

Beautifully written characters anchor this story, each one vivid and emotionally resonant. The narrative unfolds slowly, sometimes almost too gently, but that quiet pace allows room for layers to emerge—stories within stories, hidden truths, and the quiet complexity of ghostwriting and identity. There's a sense of intimacy that builds gradually, rewarding patience with emotional depth.

The connection between storytelling and the reader is a subtle thread throughout, handled with care and intention. While the romance exists, it often lingers in the background. There’s a longing for more—more tension, more vulnerability, more space for that relationship to fully bloom.

Yet the strength lies in its reflective tone and the way it blurs the lines between fiction and reality. It's not a book that hurries, but one that lingers, asking for time and attention—and offering something meaningful in return.

Well, living up to the title, this book definitely felt slow for me. It is suggested that this is a romance, but I think that it is more of a story of self discovery and pursing dreams after divorce. While there is a side story of romance, I didn’t feel like there was much chemistry between the 2 characters. It felt like things just all of a sudden happened without much build up. The plot just felt a little bit all over the place. Overall, it was not a bad book, it just was not really my cup of tea. Thank to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for this early copy!

I have loved this author’s books before, so I was very excited to receive this book as it was unlike anything I had heard of before. Overall, this book has some great characters and great familial connections. I wasn’t as connected with this romance as I have been with this author’s other works as I just didn’t feel the chemistry the same way. I wish that was a bit more developed. However, this was a fun, quick read for summer!

I enjoyed Charlie (an agent in his late father’s firm) and Kate (former actress getting back into acting post-divorce with a daughter in college) very much, but really enjoyed the story as a whole. My favorite scene comes at the end, involving a ton of supporting characters; you’ll know when you get there.

I actually love Kate, her humor, how grounded she is in her personality and self-image. I love stories about established women and women in their 30s or older (Kate is 39). I also adored Liv (Kate’s big sister); how she supports Kate and is her biggest cheerleader, confidante, and protector.

This one is a slow burn (you could probably tell from the title 🤭). I felt it was more women’s fiction than romance or romcom, but there is that element as well.

It was a perfectly fine book, but nothing groundbreaking. I’ve liked some of the author’s other books more, and though I liked this one, I just didn’t love it. There was nothing overtly bothersome, but I didn’t feel enthralled.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Random House Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Slow Burn Summer is the fifth novel by Josie Silver. In her delightful and original storytelling style, Ms. Silver has penned a tale of second chances for newly divorced Kate Elliott, talent agent Charlie Francisco, literary agent Fiona Fox, and a very mysterious author going only by H.

When Kate Elliott surprised her husband and another woman in a compromising position she is the one who lost everything. Kate had given up a promising acting career to marry Richard and follow him to Germany. She then devoted herself to her home and family especially after Alice was born. It wasn’t until the divorce was imminent that Kate realized that due to a pre-nup Richard convinced her to sign so many years ago that she would leave with virtually only her clothing. Were it not for her sister Liv and her husband Nish, Kate would have had nowhere to go and no means of supporting herself. Liv and Nish gave her use of the small studio apartment above Liv’s fancy dress shop and some part time work in the shop.

Hoping that perhaps her agent from days gone by could have something for her, Kate wrote him explaining her circumstances and that she was seeking work. Sadly, the response comes from Charlie Francisco, the late Jojo’s son. Asking Kate for a meeting, she is hopeful for a small part but is asked to do a very unusual part for a role of a lifetime. And it just may be the role that does change her life.

This is such a lovely story of loss, love, and second chances. With wonderfully drawn characters and a very original plot, Ms. Silver has once again delivered for her readers. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

This was a fun, cute read, perfect for a summer day. The mysterious emails plot line worked really well, and the book overall leaned a bit more toward the comedy half of rom-com for me, which is fine. Love that vibe sometimes. Not everything has to be heavy.

But I do think maybe the title sort of had me expecting something else? The romance was less of a slow burn and more of a plot point that happened quickly at the end. Which, sure, is slow, but it didn’t have enough of the burn and tension for me. Still super fun though

This one was definitely a SLOWWWWWWW burn. I love Josie Silver's writing and continued to love her writing in this book, but the plot and the character development were not as stand out as her others. It felt like the pacing was entirely too slow (even though it was a slow burn) and there wasn't enough action. I will continue to be her biggest fan and read everything she writes, but this was more of a miss for me. 3.5 rounded up because she's Josie Silver!

📔 Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver (releasing June 10, 2025) is a warm, witty story about second chances, rediscovering yourself, and embracing unexpected opportunities. After a tipsy email to her former agent, newly divorced Kate Elliot finds herself accepting a quirky job offer from his son, Charlie—posing as a ghost author for a summer book tour. The premise is clever and fun, and Kate’s journey of self-discovery is full of heart (and chaos). While I loved Charlie’s steady support and Kate’s resilience, I wished their romance had a bit more spark. Still, it’s a feel-good, slightly unconventional story that hits the mark for fans of women’s fiction with a twist. 3.5⭐️ read!