3.5 stars rounded up.

Kate, is a recently divorced single mother whose ex of 20 years is a toxic, cheating puke and whose daughter is away at university and feels distant. Down on her luck (and in need of money), Kate reaches out to her old acting agent, only to find that his son, Charlie, has taken over his clients because he has since passed away. Given an opportunity for a very unique acting role as a ghost author for an unpublished romance book by an author who wants to be anonymous, Kate reads and falls in love with the story and is honored to become the face so that others can read the book.

But at what price does becoming a secret fake author come? Only allowed to share this secret with her sister, brother-in-law and daughter, Kate turns to Charlie and the anonymous writer for support and guidance on how to lie to readers while also drum up sales. That is until the tables are suddenly turned and Kate faces the downside of being in the public eye.

She finds herself torn between staying true to herself and trying not to breech her contract. With the help from Charlie, and some people she’s met along the way, she must decide what (and who) matters most.

This story is written in third-person. While the majority is written with Kate as the main character, it sometimes flips to Charlie.

This is where sometimes genres fail certain books because as a work of fiction, this book had some beautiful characters and plot development. It had clever, funny moments mixed with delicate, heartbreaking realities. The main female character, Kate, was endearing and I rooted for her throughout the twists and turns. Charlie had some deep moments of reflection, especially when it came to grieving his father and trying to follow in his footsteps.

That said, this was not a typical romance or romcom. The romance was almost an afterthought or shadow in comparison to the overall story. And even then, it at times escalated out of no where, despite it lacking passion. I did not feel the foundation between Kate and Charlie was properly developed. It was almost such a slow burn that it didn’t happen at all—or it happened between the lines. I wish it would have tied their backstories with their respective divorces together more.

The story was unique enough that I wanted to keep reading. But I wouldn’t recommend as a typical romance book.

Tropes
✔️ Supportive sister relationship
✔️ Grief (Charlie’s father, but other grief is talked about too)
✔️ Divorced FMC / Divorced MMC
✔️ Ghost author/actress and her agent
✔️ Slow burn (I guess)
✔️ Takes place in and around London

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for an advanced copy. These were my honest opinions.

Consider yourselves warned, this book was definitely a slow burn! The set up was unique- I’m not sure that I’ve ever read a book about a person paid to pretend to be the author of a book they didn’t write. It was a bit of a train wreck as I spent most of the book waiting for the fallout. Kate’s relationships were all very messy- daughter, ex-husband, sister, employer, and everyone interacting with her along the way. I didn’t really feel the vibe between Kate and Charlie, indeed we never really got to know much about him or his feelings for anyone except his dad. To be honest, I would have liked the book more if it had skipped over most of the events in the book and picked up closer to the end with the next chapter in the story. That one was more interesting for me!
*Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley

4 stars ⭐️ Kate is going through a lot of changes in life. I would be completely overwhelmed if I were her but this book was a relatable read. I do wish we got to see more of the romance between Kate and Charlie.

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

The story was promising and the burn was certainly slow, but this book was a slog to get through. The plot didn't move very fast and the romance between the two main characters felt contrived. I was hoping for more. Library patrons may enjoy this one, but there are much better books out there.

I was really excited about this book, but it fell way too flat for me and it became really formulaic. I don't think the premise was as entertaining as it was in the blurb, and I could not relate to either of the characters.
This is a pretty bland book, and while it can be fun, I am not the target audience for this romance book at all.

I could not get into this book. I read 30% and still couldn’t remember who certain characters were. I was disappointed because I’ve read other books by the author that I enjoyed. It just wasn’t enjoyable or memorable for me.

I was so excited to receive this and have loved Josie’s writing in the past. Here lately though I have found it hard to connect with her characters and unfortunately, the same can be said with this novel. A very interesting premise, just didn’t quite hit the way I had hoped it would.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver is an absolute gem of a read. From the very first page, I was drawn into the beautifully crafted world of longing, self-discovery, and second chances. The characters are so richly developed that they feel like old friends, and their journeys are both heartbreaking and uplifting in the best possible way. Silver's writing is vivid and immersive, perfectly capturing the emotions of a slow-blooming romance that feels so real and raw.

The chemistry between the protagonists is palpable, and I loved how their relationship developed gradually, with moments of tension and tenderness that made my heart ache. The setting, too, is beautifully described, making me feel like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their highs and lows.

What I really appreciated about Slow Burn Summer was how it balanced romance with deeper themes of personal growth and healing. It's not just about falling in love, but about learning to embrace who you are and making peace with your past. It’s a story that lingers long after you've turned the final page, and I can't recommend it enough for anyone who loves a slow, simmering romance with heart and depth.

Josie Silver has once again proven that she’s a master of emotional storytelling. If you're looking for a book that will make you laugh, cry, and feel all the feels, Slow Burn Summer is an absolute must-read.

This dual-perspective romance novel reads very quickly (I read it in completion during a two-and-a-half-hour flight) but didn't want to put it down, thanks to Josie Silver's now-signature compelling language. Yes, this is a romance novel -- but it's so so slow burn (hence the title) and closed-door in terms of spice that makes this more of a women's fiction book about FMC Kate getting back out there post-divorce and finding herself personally. "Slow Burn Summer" is gripping, witty, engaging, and indulgent that I did not want to put down for even a chapter. Looks like Silver does it again with "Slow Burn Summer".

3.5⭐

Kate is a recently divorced, currently broke former child actor. In an act of desperation she sends a letter to her former agent who never stopped believing in her talent. Charlie is also recently divorced and in an attempt to regain his footing, he's taken over his late father's role as a talent agent. As such, he receives Kate's letter.

Together, the two embark on an ambitious twist on the concept of ghost writers. Charlie's partner has the manuscript for an incredible love story but the author is adamant that it not be attached to their name. Enter Kate. She's going to pose as the author for all the press requirements, while picking the real writer's brain for tidbits to help her pull off the ruse.

While there is romance, it doesn't take the lead and actually fell a bit flat for me. I wanted to root for Kate and Charlie but I couldn't quite get fully on board. The secondary characters are fun; Charlie's partner and Kate's sister were the best, and the pacing is solid.

Overall, a solid read that's great for the beach and pool or even a rainy afternoon.

Review

The concept of this book was something that I haven't read but it seemed very interesting regardless. The summary that is listed on Goodreads gives off the vibes that this book is more than just a regular romance book and I can't wait to see what happens between these characters. Learning about her past! The handwritten letter was a good addition!! The concept of this whole ghost writer thing but she's just gotta play the author? Interesting, it sounds like a very cool opportunity but I understand that she wants to think about it with the way that it was thrusted upon her. The forcefulness of Fiona is so sus to me. The fact that she read the book twice and fell in love with it was amazing. I hope we get information about it throughout this book. I like this book don't get me wrong, I think it's me, but this book is hard for me to keep up with I am kinda one foot it one foot out on understanding what I'm reading. The whole meeting where they explained everything regarding the book was very interesting, it really makes you think about the people who surround people in the publishing industry and how everything works within it. What I would give for a job in publishing!! The quizzing to see her responses to simple questions like what do you like to drink and what are your favorite snacks was interesting to see what people would say to each thing. The photoshoot and her starting to like Charlie? The social media stuff and her ex? Her daughter going to Australia for the whole summer?? The emails. Publication day! The whole train thing before the radio thing and how it went good??! The morning show and the author is a man? The festival and Charlie showing up!! More emails! The whole leak and everything! Them and what happened after whatttt?!? Is liv going to be okay? She's pregnant and the fallout? The fact that the dude scared her that bad, Charlie coming back, the tv appearance after the aftermath of it! Everything came together very well and the epilogue and the deleted scene part made the book feel like it all came full circle.

Quotes: "She couldn't remember the last time she'd heard Nish raise his voice; he had an abundance of patience and was a lionheart when it came to his family."

"You're my book's guardian angel"

I rated it three out of five stars

Kate Elliot stopped acting when she met her ex husband. Now that the divorce is finalized, she has no money and is forced to move into a small efficiency apartment over her sister’s dress shop. She makes a last ditch effort to restart her acting career by contacting her former talent agent.

While he passed away, his son has a job for her. She will be the face of a debut romance novel. The actual writer doesn’t want their identity attached to the book. Kate will do all the press, signings and everything else attached to the novel.

This book was likable and fun to read, but the romance fell a bit flat for me. But, Kate’s character development was top tier and a delight to witness!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC! Kate is newly divorced mother trying to figure out her next phase when she meets with Charlie - also newly divorced, switching careers and a little lost. Charlie offers Kate an opportunity as the face of a new book whose author doesn’t want to be associated with its release. Bring on the shenanigans as I laughed out loud multiple times while reading. While I didn’t feel a ton of chemistry between the leads, the unique premise and Kate’s personality kept me in it to the end.

Oh get ready for a fun love story, and all the summer sweet feels with these two adorable characters and they journey to find love and how that looks for them. Loved it!

A rainy Sunday + no kids was the perfect setting to read this adorable book in one day…okay, one afternoon. I almost always read the synopsis of what the book is about but I didn’t this time, allowing myself to be pleasantly surprised by what happened. This book had a bit of everything - romance, sentiment, and comic relief all wrapped up with a sweet little bow for us to enjoy. I had only read one other Josie Silver book and honestly was not the biggest fan, but this book will definitely make me pick up another one soon!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[ARC received from NetGalley. The opinions of this review are my own.]

I have historically enjoyed Josie Silver’s books and this one was no different. An engrossing, zippy read, I was drawn in quickly and was invested in the characters and their outcomes right outta the gate.

The original premise seemed iffy to me - but it didn’t bother me enough to interfere with my reading experience.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
Publishing date - June 10th 2025
Rating (5/5) ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Random House Publishing - Ballantine and Netgalley for this eARC. Josie Silver is an auto read author for me, so I was happy to get to read this book early. The author never disappoints to deliver a fun, cute book with likable characters. She’s always a fun read! This will make a great beach read for the summer.

Slow Burn Summer is the perfect cute beach read! Josie Silver never disappoints to deliver a fun, cute book with likable characters. She's always a fun read!

Thank you to netgalley for the arc in exchange of an honest review.

Kate is recently down on her luck. One night she writes a letter to an old agent, and it lands itself in the hands of his son. This story follows Kate being the ghost writer for a romance novel. Turns out tho Kate once wanted to be a published author. As this story unfolds, Kate is met with trials that she learns from, and has to figure things out. As things continue….. shouldn’t everyone have their own happy ending?

Josie Silver’s Slow Burn Summer is an ode to the bookish community and to romance readers. With Silver’s signature heartfelt writing, it’s a really lovely read. Talent agent Charlie has just inherited his father’s business and is representing a beautiful romance whose author doesn’t want to be part of the publication, and that’s where Kate Elliot comes in—she’s recovering from her divorce and looking to restart her acting career, so she agrees to be the face of the book, and as the book grows in popularity, lines blur and sparks fly. Kate is such a wonderful lead. She’s smart and quirky and endearing. She’s finding herself and has this wonderful sister Liv who will do anything for her. Her love for the book made me wish that I could read it. I will say I feel like Charlie gets a little lost. He has some chapters that are more of his perspective, but I feel like he’s more of a background character and I wish there had been more of that. Especially because I really enjoyed Charlie. He was so dependable and charming and just believed so much in Kate. There is so much love in this book and the love it has for readers and the book community shines through; that was my favorite part. It’s heartwarming and sweet and just very classic Josie Silver.