I have read every Josie Silver book and truly have enjoyed every one! This one was cute and good, but tooooooo slow in my opinion. I love a good slow-burn, but I was, at times, forcing myself to continue reading. It just felt monotonous and boring.
However, the premise was fun and unique and the author always writes her characters so well. I felt very connected to Kate and loved getting to see multiple sides of her - a client in a professional setting, a sister, a friend, a mom, a lover. I think that Josie Silver has a way of making her characters feel very relatable which is always refreshing to read!
Charlie was also a fun character and you couldn't help but root for him in his work, but also with Kate.
Still worth picking up if you like this author or a slow-burn romance, but I won't be recommending this to very many people.
Big thanks for my ARC to read and review!

Unfortunately, the title Slow Burn Summer and the description of a romance are somewhat misleading. While the story delivers good writing and an easy read, it lacks any real romance (and quite frankly, I can’t even remember if it mentions at all that this story takes place over the summer). The main characters, Charlie and Kate, are great individually, but I struggled to love them together. Overall, while certain aspects of the story are enjoyable, this was a bit all over the place and was not the summer romance I was expecting, especially since it’s marketed as such. This was more about self-discovery and starting over.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review. I knew from the title that this was gonna be a slow burn but wow was it slow. I started to question if there was gonna be a romance story at all. I did like the characters in this story but not sure how I feel about the plot.

The title and cover of this book do not do the story justice, in my opinion. It’s being marketed as a summer romance, but I found that hard to buy into considering I have more chemistry with a wall than I felt Kate and Charlie had with each other.

I struggled to connect with or really care about any of the characters, except H. His story and the partnership that develops between him and Kate were the most interesting part of the book to me.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing House - Ballentine | Dell for the eARC. I’m sure this will be for many, but it wasn’t for me.

Slow Burn Summer had a promising setup, but it really didn’t work for me. It felt more like a finding yourself story than a slow burn romance, and despite a promising premise and a relatable lead in Kate, the plot moved too slowly to hold my interest the majority of the time. The romance lacked chemistry and tension, and the title felt more like a marketing hook than a true reflection of the story, there were no summer vibes at all! I could see what the author was aiming for, but it just didn’t click for me.

Thanks Dell for the advanced copy through NetGalley!

This was my first time reading a book by the author. It takes me a little bit to adjust to a different writing style, especially since the author is from the UK. It was overall a cute read. I did like that the main characters were aged up instead of reading about characters in their 20’s. I don’t love slow burns, but this wasn’t terrible. Cute, easy read.

Divorcee, Kate Elliot is ready for a fresh start, but first she needs a job. A couple of glasses of wine was all she needed to find the courage to write to her former agent. And as the saying goes, the rest was history. This one opportunity turns her world upside-down and takes her on a journey of a lifetime.

Overall, I thought this book was an entertaining and well-written read. The plot was unique and refreshing. I appreciated the realistic approach to readers and their love for books. I liked the concept of ghost writing and ghost authors. I felt like it highlighted real book world drama and issues regarding an author's right to privacy.

As far as romance goes, it was there, but I didn't feel like it was the star of the show. That being said, the romance that was there was sweet and definitely had a slow burn.

I wouldn't really classify this book as a romance, but more like women's fiction, as ultimately this a story about Kate finding herself again.

Slow Burn Summer wasn't what I expected it to be, but I still found it entertaining and enjoyed getting to know these characters.

I really wanted to love this book, but I felt like it missed the mark for me. It felt a bit all over the place.

What a lovely story! I will always love Josie Silver, and this was another great story.

Kate has been through the ringer with her recent divorce and is just trying to get back on her feet. In an act of bravery, she sends a letter to her old acting agent, Jojo, hoping he will take her back. Unfortunately, Jojo has since passed and his son, Charlie, is filling his shoes. Luckily, Charlie has the perfect job for Kate, and what starts as a small gig quickly snowballs into something nobody expects.

Kate’s character is loveable and flawed, and it made her so endearing. This was a tale of finding your own two feet, finding strength within yourself, and learning to open your heart up to love again. If you are a fan of Josie’s other works, you’ll love this one. Josie will always be an auto-buy author, and I’m so grateful to have received an advanced reader’s copy of this!

4⭐️
Slow Burn Summer really surprised me! It came off as a cute summer beach read but it has some hidden depths to it. I really liked all the correspondence between H and Katie throughout the book. I also thought Katie and Charlie’s romance felt really natural (though if I read “whiskey cola eyes” one more time, I was gonna scream). Most of all, I loved the relationship between Katie and her sister.

Thanks NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for a digital advanced copy of this book!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the digital ARC — I went into this with high expectations, being a longtime fan of Josie Silver’s emotional storytelling. This time around, though, she pivots into lighter territory with a romantic comedy that, while still heartfelt, leans far more into humor and character charm than sweeping romance.

Let me start by saying this: Kate Elliott completely stole the show for me. She’s not just the star of the book — she is the book. At 39, freshly divorced, broke, and a little lost, Kate is chaotic, sharp-witted, and deeply authentic in a way that’s impossible not to root for. She’s blunt, self-deprecating, and has a vulnerability that’s both hilarious and endearing. Honestly, I would’ve been happy to read 300 pages of her just navigating life and cracking sarcastic one-liners.

The setup is clever: Kate, a washed-up former child star, impulsively reaches out to her old agent after hitting rock bottom. Through a strange twist of fate, she ends up impersonating a mysterious romance novelist as part of a publishing ruse — and that’s where she meets Charlie, the son of her former agent and the man tasked with managing her new public persona. Their dynamic is charming, and there’s definite chemistry, but I’ll be honest — the romantic arc between them didn’t fully land for me. It felt more like a connection between two people bonding over shared emotional wounds rather than a true slow-burn love story.

That said, the surrounding elements more than made up for it. The premise is fresh, the pacing quick, and the tone delightfully witty. Side characters, especially Kate’s sister Liv, added so much warmth and personality to the story. And the anonymous author plotline added a fun layer of mystery, even if the resolution was a bit predictable.

If you’re going in expecting a deeply romantic or emotional journey, this may not hit all the marks. But if you’re here for clever dialogue, quirky characters, and a main character you’ll wish was your real-life best friend, this absolutely delivers.

I’d personally call this more women’s fiction with romantic elements than a straight-up romcom — and that’s not a bad thing. It’s a playful, feel-good departure from Silver’s usual tearjerkers, and I really enjoyed seeing her flex her comedic voice. My final rating? 4 stars, entirely for Kate and the joy she brought to every page.

As a book lover, I found the premise of this book to be very interesting! A complete ghost author, different from the the ghost writers that we know are out there. I wouldn’t totally categorize this as a romance book, with all the other plot lines happening, but it did show the love of family, as well as friendship! Kate’s life took one dramatic turn after another, with Charlie there to support her through it all. I enjoyed their banter and all the hilarity they endured together. This will be a fun summer read for all!

I am a huge Josie Silver fan. Her newest book is out in June and it was amazing. Slow Burn Summer was a five star book!

Great book really enjoyed the story. Thanks to the author and publisher for the advanced reader copy. All opinions shared are my own.

Got to about 70% and it was just going no where for me. I felt like this was more of a “finding yourself” kind of book than a slow burn romance. I can see where the author was going with this but it just didn’t click for me. The plot was great, it was just a little too boring for me to be honest.

Took way too long for literally anything to happen. Super boring which is sad because this is such a fun plot idea. Literally no romance at all and then bam k love you with my whole heart?????? Also every time she refers to the author as H I just think of harry styles

Review also posted on goodreads.

3.5 🌟

I wanted more.... and less.

Listen, I've read a few of Josie Silver's books and for the most part I've enjoyed them but this one felt choppy to me. I wanted more from her relationship with her daughter (she seemed to pop in and out) and less.. chaos? So was this my favorite of Silver's? No. Will I be reading more? Yes.

Thanks, Netgalley for the ARC of this book!

Thank you Dell Romance for my #gifted copy of Slow Burn Summer! #SlowBurnSummer #josiesilver #dellromance #randomhouse

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐒𝐥𝐨𝐰 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐞 𝐒𝐢𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐫
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐉𝐮𝐧𝐞 𝟏𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟰.𝟱★

I’ve been a Josie Silver fan for years and Slow Burn Summer was more of a rom-com and on the lighter side compared to some of her other books like One Day in December and The Two Lives of Lydia Bird. With that said, I loved it just the same and have really enjoyed how Silver has been able to write both the heavy hitting novels and also the lighter novels too.

In Slow Burn Summer, Kate Elliott, a former actress, is recently divorced with little money after a prenup has left her with next to nothing. After reaching out to her former agent, she’s directed to his son, Charlie, who inherited his business. Charlie is also recently divorced and looking for someone to play the part of an author for a book tour for the agency’s publicity-shy client who does not want their name attached to their book. After reading the manuscript and falling in love with the romance novel, Kate agrees, knowing that she will be responsible for interviews, signings, all related appearances, without knowing the real identity of the author. As the summer progresses, Kate and Charlie spend more time together, the two start to feel something for one another, and as much as they try to stick to their professional roles, it might be too hard to stick to the script.

I loved watching Kate grow and develop through this novel! I went into this one thinking it was going to be mostly a romance novel, but a large focus was on her personal growth and development and I really loved that aspect. This was definitely a mix of women’s fiction and romance. I really enjoyed Liv, Kate’s sister too! She was such a fun character and I loved the dynamic between the two of them. It was also fun to try to guess who the real author was throughout the book (I was wrong the entire time!) and I love how it all ended.

I can’t wait to read whatever Josie Silver writes next! I am such a fan of her amazing characters and this one certainly delivered! Slow Burn Summer would make a great summer read, but could definitely be read all year long!

Posted on Goodreads on May 13, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 13, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 10, 2025
**-will post on designated date

I came for the romance and stayed for the behind-the-scenes look into publishing and the life of an author. The true growth of the book comes from the character of Kate. As others have said, the romance is more of a side story. I would classify this as women’s fiction and a great overall read - but not a romcom.

Slow Burn Summer
3.25 ⭐️

😅 honestly didn’t know until I was finishing this book up that this was my 5th time reading a book by Josie Silver!

Kate is recently divorced and looking for a new job after 20 years with her ex. When a job as acting as an author lands in her lap, she takes on becoming a real life pen name.

This book felt a little choppy as you read through it, with random characters making sporadic appearances. I don’t know that I fully bought the story line when some parts felt slow and others way too fast for it to be believable. Overall, not my favorite one of hers, but I’m sure I’ll still read more!

Thanks to @netgalley for this ARC!