I really, really wanted to like this book. The premise was so fun and different. However, I couldn’t get into the story and it fell flat for me. I just couldn’t do it and DNF’d at 40%. 🫣

I was given an advanced copy of this book. All opinions expressed above are my own.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver truly lives up to the name "slow burn", but in the most delicious way possible. Kate is recently divorced, and on a whim writes to her old acting agent to see if she can get back in the business. Unbeknownst to Kate, she’s exactly what Charlie and Fiona are looking for – an unknown actress to be the “ghost author” of what becomes the hottest romance of the year, because the actual author doesn’t want their name tied to the book. The premise hooked me from the beginning, because we all know about ghostwriters, but to have someone pretend to be the author of a book had me really thinking how I would feel if this happened to one of the books I hold near and dear to my heart. At the core of it this book is very enjoyable, and truly about our main character Kate putting on someone else’s shoes to really find out who she is and gaining her confidence and finding her sense of self. Kate’s relationship with her sister Liv brought me so much joy and laughter while reading, and then also the verrrrry slow burn between Kate and Charlie was utter perfection (I’m a self-proclaimed sucker for the slow burn) and the way Charlie kept showing up for Kate and just being her anchor in the storm had me in a big ole puddle on the floor 🫠

I’d say this one leans more towards Women’s Fiction, and I would have loved to see a little bit more of the romance develop between Kate and Charlie, but what we did get was absolutely well executed. Josie Silver has been an auto-buy author of mine, since I first read One Day in December and I recommend you add Slow Burn Summer to your TBR!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book provided to me through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to Josie Silver and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for giving me the opportunity to read this book!

this book was not very heavy on romance but I truly enjoyed it. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it since it was mainly about a woman getting her footing. thank you to netgalley for letting me enjoy this book early!

This story reminds me of a calm,summer weekend in the best possible way.
The plot is what reeled me in, Kate’s longing to find herself again and Charlie’s desperation in finding someone and wanting to be the face of this book. I kept wanting to see where the story was going to head into. It was definitely slow paced, but that’s the beauty of this story. It was real. I kept going back thinking of all the events that happened throughout and I loved that this could very possibly happen to someone. The romance was definitely “lowkey” hence the slow burn, but the tidbits given to us was enough for me to kept rooting for them two.

I found myself crying, laughing, even having anxiety(the good kind) during some parts. It’s equally as heartbreakingly beautiful so much I wish I personally read the Power of Love.

I want to thank NetGalley/Random House Publishing Group and Josie Silver for taking a chance and letting me get to know Kate & Charlie.

The title threw me off because I HATE slow burns, but the plot had me really excited. Kate gets hired to be a stand in for an author that did not want to reveal their identity for their new book?? I was like “how is this going to work?” I was intrigued for REAL. How is Kate going to pull this off, Charlie, her agent is right by her side, and so is her very funny sister Liz. But this book was not for me, it was a DRAG, there was no build up between Charlie and Kate, and I started to get bored, I kept on reading because I wanted to know the true identity of who this “mystery” author was, but it was not for me. I see what the author was trying to do when it comes to this book, but it fell short for me. I love that other loved it though.

Thank you Netgalley and the Publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver (author of One Day in December) has a new book coming out June 10, 2025!

Slow Burn Summer is about Kate who is trying to get back into her acting career after leaving many years ago and gets a part being the face of a new book who’s author wants to remain anonymous. Her agent, Charlie, gives her the part but isn’t expecting it to be such a roller coaster ride in the process.

I enjoyed this book and honestly it was refreshing to read a romance about real aged people who are not in their 20s and have given up on love. Kate and Charlie have real world lives and problems they must confront. It was a mature romance and overall I enjoyed it!

Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC!

“I want to be part of your story.”

I enjoyed the book but at the same time feel confused. I expected a slow burn rom com from the title and cover but it was really more of a fun female finding herself kind of story. Which is great… just not what I expected.

The book is about a charming return to work actress who agrees to pose as a debut romance writer. She does a great job promoting “her” book and gets into all sorts of hijinx until the jig is up. I really loved the adorable concept and Kate is an absolutely lovable main character. She’s only outshined by her fiercely protective sister (deserves her own book!) who will do anything for her sister. Their relationship radiates I’VE GOT YOUR BACK🩷. Actually, I think I would have liked even more of their story on the pages!

My only disappointment is in the “rom” part of this “rom-com”. It has barely any air time and so feels very out of the blue and not believable…it’s strange, I wanted Kate and Charlie to be together, but there wasn’t enough buildup/angst to make it real.

Overall, I’m a Josie Silver fan, her writing gives my heart a squeeze and this book is no exception!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

I laughed, I cried and I smiled A LOT while reading Slow Burn Summer. Thank you for the eARC. Recent divorcee and former actress Kate signs on to be the public face of a beautiful love story that she didn’t write- because the true author wants to keep their identity a secret. What could possibly go wrong? Well, everything and then some! Before Kate knows it she’s in the middle of a social media hell fire. H- the mystery author while supportive remains a secret and the energy between Kate and her agent Charlie electric. Thank you Josie Silver for this gem of a book! Add this to your summer reading list!

In Josie Silver’s Slow Burn Summer, Kate Elliot is an almost 40, former soap opera actress and divorced mother. She reaches out to her former talent agent hoping to find work. Instead of finding her former talent agent, she finds his son, Charlie Francisco. He has a role just right for her. He needs an actress to play the part of an author and promote a romance book written by a famous author who wishes to remain anonymous. Kate does interviews and book signings and plays the part well until she can’t anymore. The book is considered romance and women’s fiction. To me, the romance was a background theme in the book. It was more about Kate’s life and starting over. Kate was a fantastic character. I really enjoyed reading her story. The romance parts felt like they came out of no where, maybe a little forced. After I started reading the story, I felt like I was more interested in Kate’s story line and not the romance story line. It was still a great book and I love the characters. Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the eARC.

This was a great read!!! I truly enjoyed it! Josie Silver is becoming one of my favorite authors. This story had all the fun elements: great banter between the characters, fun interesting characters and a wonderful story.

Kate Elliott, former soap star, is recovering from a divorce from her cheating husband. Her sister has taken her in and she is living above her dress shop. Kate decides to reach out to her old agent. His hottie son is now running the business and they have offered her to be the face of a pending book. The author of the book doesn’t want their identity revealed. Kate goes on tour and is wowing audiences. Unfortunately, things go horribly wrong. This is where the fun begins!!

Highly recommend this book! Absolute beach bag required. Thank you to NetGalley and Dell Publishing for this advance read. Be sure to pick yours up on release day June 10th 2025

*I received a copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for this opportunity*

Kate Elliot's life has totally and completely fallen apart. After catching her husband having an affair with his much-younger secretary (and finding out just how iron-clad the pre-nup she'd signed as a blindly-in-love twenty year old actually was), sending her only and much beloved daughter off to college, and starting over in the apartment above her sister's fancy dress shop... it's fair to say life took a wild turn she hadn't been expecting.

So, in part desperation and part hope, when she sent in a letter to her old talent agent, she'd never expected to have a meeting with his son, Charlie Francisco. Back in town after leaving his marriage and career in L.A., Charlie never expected to be taking over his father's agency so soon-- his death was swift and devastating. However, he's determined to keep his legacy alive... even if it is on life support.

When a contract for an unknown actress lands on his desk just as Kate's letter does, it can't help but seem like fate. The job? Acting as a stand-in for the author of a romance novel; the publishing company has decided it wants a face along with the name for promotional reasons, and Kate (with her charming and down-to-earth vibe) fits the bill perfectly. However, the lines between professional and personal begin to blur for Charlie and Kate, and soon things spiral out of control in a way no one expected...

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I loved the premise of this novel. It felt fresh and teeming with possibility; and I really enjoyed the first half. However, <spoiler>once Kate's identity as a ghost writer is publicly revealed</spoiler> the book fell flat for me. It felt redundant and predictable, and I kept waiting for some sort of twist to enliven the plot. All in all, SLOW BURN SUMMER was a fine read, and definitely won't put me off picking up more Josie Silver, but I can't say this will be my favorite book of the summer.

A beautifully written ode to love stories and the people who write and shepherd them. Slow Burn Summer is a sweet and gentle novel about all kinds of love brimming in both the quiet and big moments in our lives. The writing was beautiful. Although it was slow to start, I was pleased with the novel’s trajectory and conclusion.

Thank you to Ballantine/Dell and PRH for the ARC! Slow Burn Summer is something special. Get your copy on June 10.

I absolutely adored Josie Silver’s Slow Burn Summer. It was the most endearing summer read. It’s been three years since I read a book by Silver so I was so pleased to receive an advance copy of this new release. It was a heartfelt and engaging read.

Slow Burn Summer followed Kate, a divorced ex-actress, who took on the role of pretending to be the author of a bestselling romance novel. The novel's real author, whose identity was being kept secret, was missing in action, and Kate's agent, Charlie, was hiding secrets of his own. As Kate and Charlie navigated the book tour and the lies they were perpetrating, their relationship slowly developed into something deeper than just professional collaboration.

Kate and Charlie’s relationship was endearing even though it wasn’t what I expected. Their relationship progressed at a slow pace. I actually ended up liking because it allowed for a more gradual and meaningful development of their relationship. I also found that Kate and Charlie’s personalities were well developed and charming. I enjoyed watching their story unfold. I particularly liked Kate’s persona. Kate's journey of self-discovery and how she regained her life after her divorce showed her strength and determination as navigated new challenges and found her sense of purpose. I also enjoyed learning the backstories of Kate and Charlie and their relationships with others. I had the utmost empathy for them as they faced their struggles.

Besides the richly layered characters, there were a variety of themes portrayed throughout the narrative. When reading romance novels, I always fancy ones that explore themes that focus on second chance at love and the relationships complexities, and Silver delivered both of these tropes in Slow Burn Summer. She also addressed identity, self discovery, grief, loss, and female relationships. Above all the tropes incorporated, I most enjoyed following Kate's personal journey and reinvention. Even more, I liked how the romance added a layer of warmth and potential for a "real-life love story" for Kate. It was heartwarming.

All in all, Josie Silver’s Slow Burn Summer lived up to its title. This was not only a slow burn romance between Kate and Charlie, but it was also about Kate’s self discovery. I’d recommend this to those who love emotionally charged slow burn romances.

Thanks to Net Galley and Random House Publishing for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

3.8/5

I love Josie Silver, and one of my favorite books ever is by her, but I didn’t enjoy this one as much as I thought I would.
The story follows Katie and Charlie. Katie used to be a soap opera actress when she was younger, but after she got pregnant and married, she stopped working altogether. Twenty years later, after discovering her husband is cheating on her, she decides to restart her life. That’s when she contacts her old talent agent, Jojo Francisco — but his son, Charlie, is now in charge. Charlie is a screenwriter, recently divorced, who has just moved back from Los Angeles to London.
He calls Katie because they have a job for her: she needs to play the part of a romance author for a book that is being published, but the real author doesn’t want to be known.
Both Katie and Charlie are going through similar life transitions, and working together on this project teaches them a lot — and maybe even brings to life the romance story they’re trying to sell in the book.
I liked the characters a lot. I think they are very relatable and interesting to read about, but I felt there was a lack of character development. The first half of the book really hooked me, but then it felt rushed. Some unimportant scenes were drawn out, while more meaningful ones felt too short.
Katie is a strong, tender, and realistic female character. Her relationship with Charlie made sense because of the forced proximity, but I felt there should’ve been more romantic buildup leading to the moment they realize they’re in love. For a romance book, I really needed more of those scenes.
I really liked Charlie as a male lead — he was sweet, understanding, and gentle. I also adored the relationship Katie has with her sister; I think that was one of the strongest themes in the book.
Overall, I had a good time reading it. I would have liked some things to be done differently and definitely wanted more slow-burn, romantic moments. I’m a big fan of Josie Silver’s writing, and even though this wasn’t my favorite book by her, I think other readers may enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to @netgalley for the advanced copy of Slow Burn Summer! I loved the chemistry, descriptions, and development of the characters. Kate was a strong, independent, talented older woman-and I LOVE that! It’s fun to read about older women being the stars ⭐️

Thank you @dell @prhaudio for a copy of this book. The premise of the book sounds interesting with Kate, a recently divorced mom looking to get back into acting. Her new job is to play a writer for an author that does not want their identity revealed.

She works with Charlie, her agent, who is also divorced and helps her navigate through this acting job. The story is cute but I did not buy the romance between the two characters.

I enjoyed the nod to the book community. The subplot of the real author was also interesting.

Anna Acton did a great job with the narration. I wished there was Charlie's POV to give me insight to his thoughts.

Thank you NetGalley, Josie Silver, and the publisher for an advanced copy of Slow Burn Summer. I normally fly through Josie Silver books, but this one was a little slower and harder to get into. The concept of an actor taking on the role of pretend author is intriguing and even believable. I just think that the story went on longer than it needed to and it was definitely a slow burn romance, to the point of being almost nonexistent until the end. Josie is still a great author and I will still buy all of her future releases, but this one wasn’t my favorite.

Kate Elliott is throwing herself back into the acting ring. It’s been decades since her short stint in acting before running off with her (now ex)husband & having her now teenage daughter, Alice. She’s at a crossroads in her life & feels like acting could be where she should be headed. Her plea to her old talent agency falls into the lap of Charlie Francisco, son of the deceased powerhouse agent Jojo Francisco. Charlie sees potential in Kate & offers her a very peculiar role…to be the author/face of a novel. The real author does not want their identity to be revealed in any capacity, so Kate would have to handle all of the press, publicity, signings, & social media. How hard could that be?

This story was very unique! I loved all the little “Booksta/BookTok” nods throughout the book, & how big of a role the book community played in the story. Kate was a very lovable character that the reader naturally wants to root for. There was some “slow burn” romance, but I honestly would have loved even more!

3.5 on this ARC. I liked it. I thought that it was a creative idea but I didn’t really buy in to the slow burn of it all? Like the focus was more on the book than the romance. I think the Fiona and Jojo last wasn’t explored enough. I needed more.

Josie Silver is a season-pass, auto-request, must-read author for me. I love how different her books are from one another, but I have loved every one of them. Slow Burn Summer is no exception. This book was a delightful, fun read to kick off my summer.
Recommended for purchase by the Scottsboro Public Library.