A talent agent hires an actress to play the part of a romance novelist. Kate Elliot walks back into the Francisco & Fox Agency 20 years after she gave up her promising acting career to run off with the love of her life. Things are different. Jojo Francisco is no longer there. His son, Charlie has taken over the business. The acting jobs are different as well. Kate is hired to play the part of an author. Of a real book. The real author of an incredible love story wishes to remain a mystery (to everyone, including Kate) but for press and publicity reasons, they need a face so Kate agrees to the role. It’s fairly smooth sailing until word gets out that she’s a fraud and she’s just acting. It all gets so complicated especially when she also finds herself falling for Charlie.
I’ve read quite a few of Josie Silver’s books and I’m happy to report that that she’s back on form. This is up there with her debut, in terms of enjoyment. Love it!

Charlie has taken over his late father’s agency along with Fiona, a somewhat crabby older partner and dear friend of his father. Fiona and Charlie have a manuscript of a love story that the actual author refuses to associate with (the author doesn't normally write romance and don’t want to be viewed as a romance writer) so Charlie needs someone to “play” the author. Kate was a soap opera actress in her youth (until she got pregnant and got married to her ex-husband) and Charlie’s dad was her agent. Now needing work, Kate is the perfect fake author for the book. Charlie and Kate start off with sparring but soon realize that there is more to their relationship, however they know that they have to keep their eye on their job, making sure the book is a success and no one finds out that Kate is not the author.

This is a great throw in your bag and read at the beach book - light, entertaining and a fast read. I enjoyed the story and the characters and I asked my to stop talking to me long enough so I could just finish the last 10% of the book (I never claimed to be a good parent). Why not 4 stars? I didn’t think this is one that will stick with me and some of it was just a little silly - I wouldn’t recommend this one to someone who doesn’t love romances in general. I did really enjoy listening to the audio with the British accent of the narrator though and I ended up listening to to about half of it. I am going to try another of the author’s books because I did like the rom commy style.

3.75 stars

thank you to Ballantine and NetGalley for the ARC to review

In this delightful romantic comedy, talent agent Charlie Francisco is desperate to promote a breathtaking new romance novel, except its real author refuses to go public. To save his agency and the book’s success, Charlie hires Kate Elliott, a former actress recovering from her own divorce, to pose as the mysterious writer on a summer book tour.
What begins as a professional arrangement soon becomes more complicated, as Kate is drawn to the novel’s emotional depth and begins to rediscover her belief in love. Meanwhile, sparks fly between her and Charlie, despite their initial friction and the layers of deception they must maintain.
As the tour progresses and their fake roles start to blur with real emotions, both must decide whether to keep pretending or risk everything for a chance at something real.

I loved One Day in December and was really excited to read this novel! It was an entertaining read. The story was front and center, while the romance felt more secondary and slow.
Both main characters are divorced, and the book explores love after divorce in a thoughtful way. Their relationship wasn’t the all-consuming, blinding love that’s often portrayed in romance novels, but something more mature and practical. I thought it was very realistic.
I also loved the portrayal of the book community and how everyone came together to stand up for one of their own. That was a really heartwarming part of the story.
One Day in December still remains my favorite for now, but I enjoyed this one too!

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

I really wanted to love Slow Burn Summer, but unfortunately, it just didn’t click for me — much like my experience with One Time in December. I went in expecting a romance, but the story felt more like women’s fiction with romantic elements rather than a true romance arc. The pacing was slower than I prefer, and the emotional beats didn’t quite land for me.

The writing style is clearly polished and will likely appeal to readers who enjoy introspective, character-driven stories. But for me, the focus felt a little too diffuse — more about personal growth and less about the relationship, which made it hard to fully invest in the love story.

I can see why this author resonates with some readers, but I think our tastes just don’t align.

I unfortunately did not finish this one, I read 50% and just wasn't invested. I thought the romance was very lacking and I didn't really believe in the plot.

Kate is ready to dive back headfirst into an acting career after her divorce. When Charlie brings her a job that a bit different than she expected she is cautious. Charlie has an author that wants nothing to do with publishing their amazing book. They don’t want their name on the cover, and they most certainly don’t want to go on book tour. So Kate will be the “author.” She will head out and do interviews and publicity as the author of the next best seller. Nothing could go wrong…right?

Romance readers warning-this book has some romance, but it is not the main plot! For me, that was perfect since romance has not been working for me recently, but if that’s what you are looking for, it might not be the best choice for right now. I absolutely adored this story and following Kate as she pretended to be the author of a book that touched her so much. Really this book just made me want to read the book in the book! I can never understand how someone can ghostwrite a book and then just never spill that they were actually the author, so I have a hard time understanding this situation as well, but I enjoyed every twist of this ride! I always love Josie’s books and this one was no different!!

Thank you to @randomhousebooks for my gifted copy of this book!

Slow Burn Summer was…different. Something that makes Josie Silver one of my favorite authors of all time is her ability to make you feel. Each of her books are so different but all consuming in their own way. This is the first time I didn’t feel that. My only dislike is really how slow it felt at times. The romance almost caught me by surprise even knowing the story itself is supposed to be one. It was just there and didn’t have much build up. Overall the story itself was very unique and the message itself very heartwarming. Kate is a relatable and funny character who is served every bad luck outcome possible while still remaining herself and I loved that about her. While it fell a bit flat for me I would still recommend this because it’s witty and above all it’s real.

This was a fun, entertaining rom-com with really likable characters. I found both Charlie and Kate heartwarming and funny. There's definitely chemistry between these 2 but their work relationship is always in the way.

The premise of this story pulls you in if you are an avid reader. It might also make you question who the "real" author of the book your reading is.

Charlie is divorced and has recently taken over his father's agency after he passed away. Kate used to work with Charlie's father JoJo and is still recovering from her own divorce and is looking for work. After she sends a letter to JoJo, which Charlie reads, he determines that she would be a great fit for a new project... an author that wants nothing to do with their new book. Charlie asks Kate to step in and like she wrote the book, going on the book tour and even putting her name on it.

These guys were so fun to root for. There were some parts that dragged a bit, but overall, Kate and Charlie had such a quirky, goofy relationship that was fun to watch bloom.

I’m not quite sure why this book resonated so much with me, but it really did! This was such a unique spin on this story- Kate isn’t a ghost writer and isn’t writing under a pseudonym but a surprise other thing! She’s an actor that takes on the role of pretending to have authored a book that she did not write, at the request of the author who wants nothing to do with the book, and doesn’t want anyone to know that they wrote it. (Side note: where can I sign up for THAT job???)

I really really loved this story. Romance novels inside of romance novels are having a moment right now, and I for one, really love it! This story hooked me from beginning to end- I’ve read A LOT of romance books, especially lately, and this was a fresh story with so much heart.

I loved Kate as a main character- she’s so likable and easy to root for, and I just wanted things to work out for her. Will also say that I LOVED the ending, especially the resolution of what went down in Liv’s store, and the nice detail with the tie to wrap things up perfectly. I’ll definitely be recommending this one to everyone I know!

3.5 rounded up to 4!

This was a quick read for me and perfect for this time of year. I felt the most connected to the FMC and wish that I could have felt the chemistry between the FMC and MMC more. Overall, I would recommend this book to others!

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver is another fantastic rom-com that was truly utterly delightful.
Josie Silver crafts a heartwarming tale that is both relatable and poignant.
The characters were lovely and smart and funny.
Silver is a must-read author for me. This book was sweet and charming with picture perfect romance.
I loved their connection and banter over all... and some great slow burn tension that makes it all worth it.

This was a cute, funny, romance novel where the romance didn’t over power the book at all, it kind of took a backseat to the story and I loved that. This is about Kate, who is hired to play an author releasing a debut romance novel. Charlie is the literary agent who is trying to follow the footsteps of his late father who had a magnificent legacy in the literary world. It’s funny and cute, and endearing. I liked that the characters where a bit older 30’s-40’s and the drama between our main FMC and MMC wasn’t this bit exaggerated production. It was a believable love. Great summer book.

After loving One Day in December and A Winter in New York, I consider myself a Josie Silver fan. That said, Slowburn Summer didn’t quite hit the mark for me. When Kate finds herself in need of work, she reconnects with her former acting agency two decades after leaving the industry and unexpectedly lands a job as a ghost author (not to be confused with a ghost writer). I was immediately intrigued by the premise, but the execution felt a bit off at times, with certain plot points unfolding in a scattered way.

The standout for me was the cast of supporting characters, especially Kate’s sister Liv and the mysterious real author, H. They added feistiness, heart and charm to the story. I just wish we had gotten more depth from the male lead, Charlie. I struggled to feel fully invested in the chemistry between him and Kate without a stronger sense of his character.

Still, there’s a lot to enjoy here. The pacing moved well, and the behind-the-scenes glimpse into the publishing world was fun. And while the journey had its bumps, the ending was genuinely satisfying and brought everything together nicely. I’d still recommend this to fans of Josie Silver, and I’m definitely looking forward to what she writes next.

TechaBooks Review Rubric:
Narrative Elements (Characters, Plot, Pacing, etc.,) - 2.5 STARS
Genre: Romance (Chemistry and Tropes) - 2 STARS
Spice - 4 🌶️ (Open-door scenes w/ some explicit descriptions)
Overall - 2.3 STARS

Much appreciation to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for the gifted e-book. The opinions within this honest review are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC! This was really cute, classic Josie silver with heartwarming vibes and lovely romance

I have loved (truly loved!) Josie Silver’s books in the past, and was looking forward to another slow burn book written by her. Unfortunately this did not hit the same as her previous books. The pacing was off for me, and the plot felt choppy and unfinished. The story more ebbed and flowed rather than built towards a climax of a story, so it felt incomplete and just off. I felt the plot in general had too many holes to feel finished. I didn’t feel invested in any one character to hope for a happy ending so it just felt a bit lackluster for me. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to provide my honest review.

I really enjoyed this, though I'm not completely clear on the title?

Anyhow, I LOVE Josie Silver and will automatically read everything she writes. I'm so happy I got my hands on this one and will definitely recommend it to all.

The characters were lovely and smart and funny. I was obsessed with the relationships and all the back and forth - even though that sometimes annoys me. It was emotional and sweet. 4 stars!

3 stars

Definitely not a lie in the title, it is very much a slow burn to the point that the romance wasn't even the main plot of the story but a minor subplot in my opinion. I enjoyed the premise and can understand why an author would want to use a fake person to represent the book so that it could still get the proper marketing if the actual author doesn't want to be public. Knowing how people can be on social media, I don't fault the decision. And Josie Silver always writes interesting romances that have more than just the romance for plot. This one for me was fine but wasn't my favorite.

Here are some of my issues: it was in third person with views of both MCs but 90% was the FMC. If it isn't close to a 50/50 split, it makes the few times we get the MMCs POV feel a bit pointless or like a tease. Why didn't we get any of his events when he was out of town or when he gets big news? Those would have been interesting to see especially since we got nearly nothing from his POVs about the romance itself or his actual feelings. I also felt the FMCs daughter was only there as a foil to the plot and then gave nothing else. I'm sorry but if I inadvertently caused all of that to happen to my mother, hell if I'd be jetting off on vacation with my cheating father. And how would a daughter be THAT forgiving of her father cheating?? It's not like this happened when she was a small child, it was recent and she is full grown! And the ex-husband's comments to the media were never addressed even though he said something pretty damn horrible. Not to mention, EVERYONE left town when the FMCs life was imploding around her. Her daughter never even came by at all before a surprise vacation, her sister and her family also go on vacation in the midst of this, and the MMC goes to LA. This woman takes care of everyone but when she needs someone, nah they are all gone. What the heck??

Unfortunately, I wasn't a fan of this one overall which is a bummer because there was some stuff I did enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC.

This was a great story! Kate is 39 and newly divorced from Richard. She gave up an acting career at 19 to follow Richard and now that they've divorced, she reaches out to her former agent. Charlie is handling his Dad's agency after his sudden passing. He's going to meet with Kate to possibly offer her an acting job as the ghost author of a potential best selling romance written by an actual best selling author of a different genre. I loved Kate's relationship with her sister Liv.

I adored this clever little plot line that has an actress pretending to be a bestselling author. It is such a fun take on the book community and the life of an author: the process, the fandom and the leap into popularity that can undoubtedly change your life. It can also have the opposite effect when things don’t go as planned.

Kate Elliott is newly divorced, her daughter is away at college and she needs to get a job. Before getting married and becoming a mom, she was an actress on a soap opera and decides to try and get back into acting. Reaching out to her old agent, she learns he has passed away and his son Charlie has taken over the business. Charlie thinks Kate will be perfect for the role of an author of a new and beautiful love story that was actually written by a very popular writer. The writer wants his romance book, which is not his usual genre, to be anonymous.

As the book is released and soars to the bestseller list, Kate is swept up in a whirlwind of book signings, interviews and an explosive online presence. Charlie is always by her side to make sure things go smoothly. But when a private email Kate sends to her daughter is copied and sold to a tabloid revealing that she is an imposter, everything will go to pieces.

This is such an entertaining story. I loved Charlie and his obvious affections towards Kate. I also loved Kate’s sister Liv who is a protective big sister and takes that role very seriously. This book is very heartwarming and I found myself smiling so much at all the book, reader, author and book community sisterhood references. It is sweet, endearing and a wonderful story for any romance loving book nerd.

Many thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @prhaudio for the #gifted ALC and to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, Josie Silver and NetGalley

I liked this book. It was a cute, funny quick listen.

I liked Kate. I felt like she was funny and I admired her for wanting to get back into acting after leaving it behind all those years ago. I like how she was determined to do her absolute best posing as an author for her first job. She was quick to think of responses and was someone everyone loved. I love how much she loved her daughter and sister. I did feel bad for the things that she had to go through towards the end of the book.

Charlie was a great guy. He is Kate’s new agent and is taking over this business after his father passed away. I love how he was always there for Kate when she needed him. He really stuck up for her especially when she is put in a tough situation.

While I liked these two separately, I don’t feel like there was really any chemistry or romance between the two. There were some scenes were they are getting to know each other and a few where they hook up, but I never really felt like there was a true connection between the two.

While this book didn’t really feel like a romance, I did still enjoy it. I liked the plot and everything that happens. If you’re looking for a quick, easy read, I would recommend it. I did listen to the ALC and I did enjoy the narrator. I thought she did a great job.