A contemporary fiction story about a woman who re-discovers herself after a heartbreaking divorce and empty nest. The cover suggests a romance, this book is not that romantic. The plot is a bit all over the place, but it is well written and easy to understand.

Kate was a soap actress in the UK who threw it all away to get married at 19, now her daughter is 19 and she is back to her old agent’s office. Her old agent has died and his son has taken over, although he doesn’t like being an agent and isn’t much of a character.

They hire Kate to be a ghost author- to pretend to be the author of a romantic book that becomes a best seller. It is written by a famous author who doesn’t want to be associated with the book but we don’t know him.

This book is really about Kate, coming to terms with her new life; deciding what to share with the public. There is a tiny bit of romance although I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the two. She does have a great sister who is a god side character.

I liked it but I didn’t love it. Weird plot elements kept being introduced at all points throughout the story and it felt a bit chaotic.

The title is meaningless, it isn’t a slow burn, I am not sure that the book even takes place in the summer. Just a personal pet peeve that I feel like sometimes publishers take a book title out of a hat.

Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC. Book to be published June 10, 2025.

3/5 Stars!!!
Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver can be broken down in three parts:

The plot summary really doesn’t do equate to what this book is about. The cover looks like it’s a rom-com. I found the idea super creative: Kate, divorced after finding her husband with his secretary, is a has been soap opera actress who needs to find a new career and takes the job as a writer for book she didn’t actually write. The actual writer wants his/her identity to be hidden. Her agent Charlie is the love interest, as he’s the son of her original agent when she was acting. Sounds promising and cute right?
I found no chemistry between Charlie and Kate. I wish there was an actual back story. There is a severe lack of story outside of the fake author trope. Would love to have them had an encounter 20 years ago when Kate was an actress. Wish we could have seen more plots involving her ex-husband and college aged daughter who wants to run off to Australia with her boyfriend. Even that storyline is a major plot point and is just brushed under the rug.
But this was more about Kate finding herself along the way, as she rediscovers and attempts to get over her ex-husband’s infidelities. It’s about identity and resurgence after a divorce. There is 10% romance, and 90% fake author plot.
My eyes rolled out of my head the last few chapters involving a trifle assault. No kidding.
What a unique idea for a rom-com, however the focus was all over the place. The title doesn't even match what the plot of the book is.
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If we can never replicate the amazing One Day in December, I will be sad.

I really loved this book!

It had the familiar vibes of your favorite romcom, but it felt so fresh still. I loved that the mc was older than 25. I thought the idea of a "ghost author" was fun and different. And I really loved that there was a low-level mystery in wondering who the real author was that we got to follow along with.

These characters are easy to route for, the story was light and cozy, but also deep and tear-inducing at times.

If you're a fan of Sophie Cousens' "Is She Really Going Out With Him?", I think you would absolutely love this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Slow Burn Summer is a sweet, heartfelt, funny rom-com and the perfect beach read!

Kate is a former soap opera actress who has recently gone through a messy divorce and is looking for work. Charlie is a talent agent, who happens to be the son of Kate’s former talent agent, and is looking for a relatively unknown actress for an unconventional job. When Charlie meets Kate, he knows he has found the right person.

One thing I really liked about this book is that the main characters were older, around 40-ish, which was refreshing. Kate’s character was so relatable and the cast of side characters added so much to the story. Liv, Kate’s sister, stole the show. She is the person that everyone wants in their corner. I only wish the romance in the story had more tension and chemistry. I loved the characters and of course wanted them together after the slowest of slow burns, but that one thing missed the mark for me. But overall, this is a great summer read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the opportunity to read an ARC of Slow Burn Summer in exchange for my honest review.

Slow burn summer is sweet and emotional read with a pace that matches the title. The characters feel real and they’re emotionally complex. I really enjoyed the pacing of the story overall as well the pacing of the romance between Kate and Charlie. I think it’s sweet and hopeful that two divorced individuals are coming together, especially because Kate is older than most heroines are in romance books. It makes it feel a little more relatable, especially because she’s a character who has made mistakes. Overall this was a pretty good read.

This is a cute British romcom. Perfect for a beach read. Slow moving, but kept my interest. Unfortunately, I didn't feel the chemistry between the main characters, Kate, a former actress and Charlie, an agent. There is a side character Hugh, which Kate has never met, but develops a relationship with through emails. I think I would have been more interested in seeing something develop between these two characters.

3.5 Stars. Thank you to Net Galley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the early arc of this book!

I have loved several of Josie Silver's books and this one was just as lovely! This story was all around fun and sweet. I love the banter, the mix of characters, and the premise of the plot. The story was enjoyable and an easy fun read! 📖✨

“I’ve never met anyone quite like you before. You have this … this translucency, you wear your soul close to your skin and it scares me stupid. It’s probably what makes you such a good actor. You look into the lens and show the world exactly who you are, unfiltered.”

A beautiful love story for any bookish person, with Kate's life seemingly at a standstill, she reaches out to her old agent and finds his son is now at the helm. Enter Charlie, who is also fresh off a divorce and trying to live up to his father's legacy, who helps Kate get a job as a ghost author for a new romance novel. As the PR world takes over Kate's life, she finds herself in a tumultuous publication process, showing her the true power of love.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions!

I never pass up a Josie Silver book if I get the opportunity to read one. I admit sometimes they are hit or miss for me, but this one was a hit. The characters are charming and the book is a delight. The MC Kate is relatable and flawed in the best way. She tries to make the best of situations and usually in a way that is quite humorous. There are some scenes that made me actually Laugh Out Loud...T-Rex. It's a great beach or lake read for the summer.

slow burn summer was the perfect book if you’re in the mood for a light summer romance that has unexpected twists and funny banter. while i do recommend this as a summer romance to pick up, i was not fully invested in the romance of our main characters, kate and charlie.

kate is recently divorced after finding her husband having an affair with his secretary, and because of a very aggressive pre-nup, she now finds herself without any money and in desperate need for a job. she contacts her old talent agency from 20 years prior to see if they would hire her again. charlie, the talent agent, offers her a job acting as an author that wishes to remain anonymous for a new romance book they have written.

there are many hilarious twists and turns that kate finds herself in. she also has an older sister that is fiercely protective and supportive. and of course, with charlie as kate’s new agent, a bond forms between the both of them that manifests into friendship and more. kate and charlie had good moments, but ultimately there wasn’t enough on the page for me to believe their romantic evolvement. i needed more from them and it wasn’t believable to me. still, i do think this was an easy read and good for reading on vacation over the summer.

thank you net galley and penguin random house for this arc in exchange for an honest review!

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this ARC.

I love Josie Silver’s books.. this book was a bit heavier. This was more adult-ish book? Meaning, their struggle in life is adult problems. Two wounded people falling for each other (after bad divorces). I also liked characters in this book. I loved Kate and Liv!! I know they are real sisters but their “wo-mance” is hilarious. And almost my most favorite part of the book!

Overall I would say 3.5 stars!!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for an eArc copy of this book.

3.5 ⭐

I really enjoyed the actual story and plot of this book. I felt it was clever- an actress signs up to play an author for a new romance novel that is set to be released. The actress is relatable in her interviews and gains the public's adoration and affection when the book is released. The more public the book and author become, the more likely the secret of who actually wrote the book is threatened to be uncovered.

I liked Josie's writing style and how she made the FMC relatable and down to earth. I really wouldn't call this a romance since the 2 MCs were barely together. The chemistry between them felt a little forced and didn't feel real.

The story and plot had a nice flow to it that kept me interested, albeit wanting more romance, but overall, this was an enjoyable and easy read.

I’m actually upset by this rating as normally I’m such a fan of Josie Silver, her latest unfortunately just fell short for me. I thought the plot was clever and something that I’ve never read before so I was really excited to dive into this one—an ex-actress that left the business for her now ex-husband writes to her old agent hoping to get back into the acting world once more. Instead she finds that her old agent has since passed and his son is now running the family business. The gig she’s given is acting as a romance novelist for the true author wanting to hide their true identity. Along the way does she get her to write her own romance story?

Like I said I really liked the idea of the plot but it just seemed to be missing something or several somethings. I didn’t think that Charlie and Kate’s chemistry was anything special. The book didn’t give me that familiar heart strings tug I’ve come to love about Silver’s novels (especially Two Lives of Lydia Bird and One Day In December). The way things unraveled seemed a bit unrealistic and almost should’ve been handled more professionally in my opinion?It was short and sweet and overall just an okay read, not exactly what I was expecting.

Thank you as always to Net Galley, the publisher and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest opinions☺️

Ready, Set, Action! 🎬
Kate was an up and coming young actress when she gave it all up to follow the man of her dreams. Now years later, she finds herself divorced and virtually penniless. With no other option, she considers restarting her acting career.

Guess what Kate, you’re about to get the role of a lifetime!

Kate’s former agent has passed, but his son Charlie is running the firm and about to drop a unicorn of a job opportunity onto Kate’s lap.

A successful bestselling author has just penned a romance. But they don’t want to be associated with the book, as it’s a completely different genre.

Enter Kate, now starring in the role of ghost author. Doing all the publicity events, acting as though she is the actual author.

I can’t imagine anything going wrong in this scenario…can you?

This was a fun rom-com. Kate’s character gave off a very go with the flow kind of vibe, no matter what was thrown at her. Not sure I could have done the same in her shoes. The romance itself could have used a bit more chemistry but maybe that’s just a me thing?💁🏼‍♀️

Though this may not have been a favorite by Josie Silver, (my previous reads from her were all five stars) I still enjoyed overall. I can never pass up the opportunity to read one of her books and luckily enough I have one more sitting on my shelf whispering "read me Kaceey".

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing

I love every book by Josie Silver! This romance is a slow burn but the chemistry between the two characters draws you in immediately. The plot was unique and help my attention and the writing was swoon worthy.

“I want to be part of your story.” “You’re my whole book, Charlie.”
This is my first Josie Silver book, and I can say, I’m quite pleased and impressed!
Both the characters, Kate and Charlie were great, especially when they were in love (obv), my favorite side characters were Kate’s daughter and sister. I loved how Kate was supportive of her daughter’s actions and how she stood with her as a parent should.
It gave perfect summer vibes, including how short it was that I finished it in one sitting!
Definitely recommend if you want something sweet and light on your soul, but also with awesome story.
And honestly the story was really appealing for me, it felt like of its own kind, so that makes it special!
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for an eArc copy of this book :)

I always enjoy Josie Silver’s writing and how her novels focus more on character development and on the individual storylines vs focusing just on the romance. Unfortunately in this specific book, I just didn’t connect with the characters or feel a connection between Kate and Charlie in a romantic way. I kept waiting for the “sparks” fly moment but didn’t appreciate any tension or any real romantic feelings between the two characters that felt believable. The romantic development lacked in that sense.

I enjoy dual POV’s in romance books, but felt like I would have enjoyed more from Charlie’s storyline, and more of their individual back story to add to the character development.

All in all, I struggled to get through parts of this book but it was still an easy read. I was hoping for more in terms of romance and connection between the characters, but I did still enjoy the writing.

In the aftermath of divorce, Kate decides to re-enter her former career as an actress. She's offered an unusual role as an author which throws her life into a whirlwind. Smartly written, this story has sweet characters and fun plot that keeps the reader engaged.

Slow Burn Summer
Pub date 6/10/25
3.5 out of 5 stars

I have really enjoyed Josie Silver in the past, and while I still enjoyed this book, it wasn't as romantic as I thought it would be. There were lots of side plots and the romance between Kate and Charlie didn't always feel center stage. I think my expectations just didn't match my reality of reading.

I know sometimes the phrase “unlikable character” is an annoyance. Of course we can’t expect characters to be perfect, after all their development and flaws make them human and for a good story.

But Kate, in this story, is SO careless and presumptuous I simply cannot endorse her journey. This plot of the story is interesting, a talent agent hiring an actress to “play” an author of a book whose true author wishes to remain anonymous. Intriguing, right? It would be if the actress they hired doesn’t immediately blab to like, four people about her new job. Of course one expects the conflict in the book to be the reveal of the lie, but her absolute disregard for discretion from the very start is incredibly aggravating. It shows a complete lack of morals on her part, and she clearly wasn’t the right person for the job. On top of that, she’s annoyed when the publisher decides on her pen name because she’s already set her heart on a different last name. As if the book is her own rather than the publishers and true authors. She takes her role in the book way too far, also immediately planning on pushing her own older manuscripts to potentially publish under this new name and on top of the success of the book that IS NOT HERS. She was only ever meant to be the face, the actress, and instead it feels as if she’s is intending to take on the role and make it her real life.

That, my fellow readers, makes for an unlikable character in my book.

Thank you to the publisher for the ARC