This was cute.

I just didn’t connect to the characters in the way I wish I would have. The romance felt a little flat and felt like there should have been more involved.

I did, however, like Kate and I thought the plot was unique and well-written.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an e-ARC of this book.

Reviewed for Netgalley:

This one moved very slow for me (no pun intended) and I just could not connect with the characters.

My first Josie Silver book and it was fun! I wish I could rave about the book but I didn't quite connect with it in the way that I had hoped. While the story was well done - and the slight mystery kept me turning pages - the characters just all felt... flat. Except Kate who, sadly, annoyed the heck out of me.

But my biggest gripe is that the romance felt so unearned. Charlie & Kate barely seemed to flirt until suddenly they're making eyes and making out. Their declarations of love at the end felt inauthentic and I just couldn't get on board.

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

3.5 stars rounded down

This was cute! Just one of those that I probably won’t remember next month, you know? I did enjoy getting a look at the whole publishing side of things but didn’t find myself really knowing any of the characters, it was short!

I enjoyed this story very much and went through a range of emotions as I read it. There were a few things I found hard to believe, but realize it’s written that way so the story works out. For example, after 20 years of marriage, a prenup is still in place that gives her nothing?!

What I liked most was Kate’s passion for the novel, and I wished it was a real book that I could read. Charlie seemed to be more of an action guy, rather than words, and that made me want to get to know him more. I think the age of the characters and a romance fitting that season of life was just right.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

Unfortunately, Slow Burn Summer didn't live up to the hype for me. I love Josie's other novels but had a hard time getting into this story.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Josie Silver is now a must read author for me. Slow Burn Summer is a sweet, story of a woman’s attempt to start over. Kate is an endearing heroine and you can’t help but want things to go well for her. The supporting characters are equally lovable. This was a fun, feel good read .

Many thanks to NetGalley, Dell and the author for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Something new from Josie silver! I loved the characterization, and comedy of this book. The romance wasn't as strong as some of her other works.

4/5 Another wonderful sweet, well written Josie Silver book. Like the title, it does start out a little slow but then developed into a a sweet love story and a testament to friendship and the love of sisters. Love the setting in and around London too.
Thank you @netgalley for the ARC.

This is a truly delightful and touching narrative! Having explored numerous romance novels, I find this one to possess a distinctly original premise that is quite invigorating. The ensemble of characters in this book was enjoyable, and I believe it stands out as a commendable piece of women's fiction, skillfully crafted. It is the type of romance that resonates authentically and lingers in your thoughts long after finishing.

I hate to say it, but Slow Burn Summer really didn’t work for me, and I’m bummed about it. The setup had so much promise, and I really liked Kate- her post-divorce journey into ghostwriting felt relatable. But the romance? Just not there. For a book titled Slow Burn Summer, there was neither a slow burn nor much of a summer vibe; the title felt more like a marketing pitch to grab trope readers than a reflection of the actual story. By the 80% mark there was still no real chemistry, no tension, nothing to root for. The most interesting connection came from Kate’s email exchanges with the mysterious author she was ghostwriting for and I’m annoyed that wasn’t explored more. In the end, it had potential, but the romance and payoff fell flat for me. Thank you random house for the ARC!

Absolutely delightful! I was introduced to Josie Silver with her novel, "One Day in December", and her newest romcom doesn't disappoint! In "Slow Burn Summer", Kate is divorced and in desperate need of a job. Enter an unusual opportunity to break out her acting chops from decades ago as she becomes a ghost author for a new book. I was hooked from the first chapter! Kate is quirky, yet so relatable and you can feel the chemistry between Kate and Charlie almost instantly. "Slow Burn Summer" is filled with humor, some deep moments of sadness, but also love and hope. Josie Silver does a wonderful job of weaving all the emotions together in a novel that will leave your heart full. Thanks to #NetGalley and Random House publishing for the ARC of #SlowBurnSummer !

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the ARC!

Loved the unique plot of a ghost author and her publisher falling in love. Also am loving finally finding books with characters with woman in their 40s!

3.5 stars

An already established author in another genre writes their first romance book but doesn't want their name tied to it in any way for fear of ruining the reputation they've already established. In walks Kate, a former actor who, after going through a nasty divorce and sending her only child off to college, is looking to dip her feet back into the career she left behind. She is presented with the idea of being the ghost author for this romance book, meaning her name and face will be plastered all over press releases and she will be the one responsible for promoting the book in every way - interviews, photo shoots, signings and appearances, etc. But when the book explodes and becomes an overnight sensation, Kate soon realizes that she may have gotten in over her head and it's up to her agent Charlie to make sure she is able to navigate it all successfully. Of course, Charlie and Kate start getting closer along the way, forcing both of them to evaluate their feelings for one another.

The concept of this story is very cute, and it is a quick and easy read. However, aside from Kate and Charlie, there are no likable characters in this aside from the anonymous author whose identity isn't revealed until the very end. Charlie's business partner Fiona and Kate's family are not good people. They cause more harm than good to the story and Kate is the one who suffers because of it. Without spoiling anything, the last third of this book had me fuming at her family and the way they were treating her. It doesn't do anything to build Kate's character or grow her in any way; all they do is make her feel inadequate and inconsequential. Because of that, I could not give this more than 3.5 stars.

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver was a sweet, slow-burn romance that kept me hooked, but it didn’t quite hit all the right notes for me. The pacing was great, and I loved how the relationship slowly developed, but there were a few moments that felt a bit predictable. The setting was beautiful, and the writing had that cozy, feel-good vibe. If you’re into a romance with a little tension and a lot of heart, this one’s still a solid pick. I’d give it 3.5 stars!

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver is a contemporary romance about a 39 year old divorcee and former actress who takes on a role as a debut author in order to help a book get published without revealing the famous author who penned it.

Josie Silver truly excels at crafting her characters. The FMC Kate is endearing. Her authentic “hot mess” charisma draws people in and you can’t help but love and root for her. The other characters are also interesting and help support the story.

I agree with other early reviewers that while there was some chemistry between Kate and Charlie, this could be developed more for the final version of the book. It’s there but there’s not as much slow burn anticipation as I expected, given the title of the book.

But overall this was a heartwarming story that I think fans of Josie Silver will enjoy as much as her other books.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher, and author for granting me a complimentary advanced reader copy of the ebook. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own and based off of this draft; the final publication may be different. Expected publication date is June 10, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

4.5⭐️ rounded down.

Recently divorced, Kate Elliot is struggling to find her place in the world again. As a one time actress turned full time wife and mother, she doesn’t have many options available to her. After the loss of his father, Charlie Francisco finds himself trying to fill big shoes by stepping into the roll of talent agent after being left in charge of his father’s business. At the same time a letter Kate has written to her former agent, Charlie’s father, looking for work, Charlie finds himself on the hunt for an unknown actress to play the role of ghost author for a book that a well known author has written, but doesn’t want to be associated with. When Charlie hires Kate for the job, he isn’t quite prepared for her effervescent personality. Can they keep their relationship strictly professional?

I am a sucker for a bookish book, and this delightful summer read grabbed me by the hand and pulled me along for the ride. I am an avid romance reader, but I’ve found that over time my reviews of romance books have become more critical because they can have a cookie cutter quality to them, where one is not much different from the rest. This one, however, was a breath of fresh air. It was understated and not melodramatic. The characters were incredibly likable, and their interactions felt genuine and full of depth. The plot was unique and interesting, it was well paced, and I felt as though great care was given to the small details. I was particularly drawn to Kate, and as a result, I was fully invested in her story. I loved that she was a forty-ish aged mom, and that she was adorable and funny without being over the top. The supporting characters were each endearing in their own way, and I loved reading about them just as much as the main characters. The fierce sister bond between Kate and Liv was so sweet, and I particularly loved the premise behind their bangle bracelets. My only complaint for Slow Burn Summer is that the burn was so slow in the romance that it almost failed to ignite. The bond between Kate and Charlie was sweet, but it lacked intensity and spark.

This was my first time reading a work of Josie Silver’s, but it certainly will not be my last. I found her writing to be warm and breezy like the feel of a sunny summer day. Overall, this was an easy, entertaining summer read perfect for lovers of authors such as Emily Henry or Abby Jimenez.

The premise of Slow Burn Summer immediately grabbed my attention. However, I hate to say it, but the whole time that I was reading this I was just patiently waiting for things to get interesting and it never did. I really did not feel any chemistry between Charlie and Kate.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

What a wonderful, heartwarming story! I’ve read my fair share of romance and this one has a very unique premise and is so refreshing!! I loved both Kate and Charlie and the whole cast of additional characters. It’s definitely more of a slow burn and the romance is more of a secondary plot point. This is another winner from Josie Silver!

Thank you to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Josie Silver delivers again with Slow Burn Summer. In this book we meet Kate who is recently divorced, out of work, and down on her luck. To try to change her situation she writes a letter to her former talent agent hoping to score a job. Her letter is received by her agent’s son instead and leads to an interesting turn of events for Kate. I enjoyed the “slow burn” aspect of this book and following Kate’s journey to find who she is after her major life changes. You should definitely check this book out.