"Life kind of got in the way, as it does. Or maybe it gets in the way of people who let it, who don't want enough?"

'Grief and love are universal. However lightly you press on that bruise, people are going to feel it and relate it."

Slow Burn Summer is a novel about love, grief, and second chances, I have been a fan of Josie Silver's books since I read One Day in December. This book is about overcoming emotional adversity and finding happiness again. It's total feel good book.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

I’m a big fan of Josie Silver and while I didn’t enjoy Slown Burn Summer as much as her other books, it was still a very sweet summer read. The romance felt less important than some of the other plot lines, but I really loved the romance when it was sprinkled in.

I loved some of Josie Silver’s other books, but this one was a huge miss for me. I wasn’t into the plot, it was pretty boring and I found my eyes glazing over. The best character was the sister, by far. The FMC was all over the place and didn’t seem like a 40 year old. Also her relationship with her daughter was so strange? The MMC barely said anything the whole book and was just disappearing and leaving all the time. There was absolutely no chemistry or romance. It was a miss for me.

**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Josie Silver for an ARC of this book!**

Kate Elliott knows how to play a part...after all, you can't really be a soap opera star without true acting chops. After many long hours and HUNDREDS of episodes later (and let's face it, probably faking amnesia at some point) Kate decided to Take a Chance on Him...a man who would one day be just a footnote on her Wikipedia page with a divorce that would leave her heartbroken. Years later, Kate is trying to put the pieces of her life back together and decides that now is the time to get back into acting. But when she finds out that her former agent has passed away and his son Charlie is now at the helm of the company, she's more than a bit skeptical. Once she gets her assignment, she realizes THIS might be the big break she never saw coming...but can she handle the heat?

The task at hand? A very famous author, one who is famous for writing very different novels, has written a romantic masterpiece for the ages...but since he is so afraid of losing his reputation, he is in the market for a ghostwriter...and that's where Kate comes in. She will handle the press, attend the book tours, and present a carefully curated, quirky persona meant to 'fit' the spirit of the 'perfect' rom-com author. In the meantime, despite her insatiable curiosity, the TRUE author's identity remains a mystery. But although Charlie at first did nothing but inspire her to keep her guard up, after getting to know him...and acknowledging JUST how handsome he is, everything starts to change. But what does that mean for her future? And when she starts corresponding anonymously with the real author, will she learn secrets she wish she hadn't? Can she keep up the facade...AND keep her feelings under wraps? Or will she accidentally out herself AND the author...and ruin BOTH of their reputations for good?

I am ALWAYS in the mood for a breezy summer romance, so when you add the words Josie Silver to the cover and a publishing-world based premise, you'd better also hand me a fishing rod, because I am IN, hook, line, and sinker! I was very eager to begin this story after a pretty solid history with Silver's work (although she has yet to top the heart wrenching, cinematic ending of One Day in December...just thinking about that gets me choked up!), and I was ESPECIALLY thrilled to see her enter summer rom-com territory.

But while this book was charming, fun, and lively...it wasn't QUITE the swoony, sun-kissed romantic daydream I was hoping to while away the hours reading...but it WAS the sort of fun diversion that takes you by surprise on a quiet summer afternoon...and there's NOTHING wrong with that!

Kate and Charlie were both likable MCs from pretty much the beginning of the book, and while some of the surrounding players may have played a bit cartoon-y at times, Silver's trademark heart and wit were ever-present and made them all easy to love from the jump, Kate's sister Liv was also the PERFECT grounding force needed to keep her character's antics from spinning a bit out of control. I also always enjoy the sort of 'peek behind the curtain' that books set in the publishing world provide (and let's face it, it's also a GREAT way for the author to vent incognito.) Kate's eventual byplay with the true author was fun to read as well, as both she and the author divulged so much about their lives through letters (who doesn't LOVE a hidden epistolary by-play!?) and the more they chatted, the more eager I was to find out their true identity. It was delightful to have a cozy mystery sort of wrapped up in a rom-com blanket, and I couldn't wait to snuggle!

If you're looking for a hard-hitting romance, however, this one isn't it. The characters don't really overcome any sort of MAJOR conflicts, and their feelings really aren't the type to draw you in - sure, this title does PROMISE a slow burn so it would be a bit silly if it were anything else. But I didn't necessarily feel as much of a 'the characters are meant to be' as I have in some of Josie's other books. I did feel there was a lot less of a women's fiction feel to help balance this out, however, and I almost wish the relationship between Kate and the author was the TRUE focus of the book and that it wasn't a romance at all. Maybe I've just read too many books with charming octogenarians and the like lately, but this could have EASILY morphed into that sort of story without missing any nuance. When looks and proximity are 80% of the reason characters end up interested, it just generally is missing that little bit of Nora Ephron oomph *I* need to get me swooning!

And although this summer read may have been lacking a little bit of 'hot off the grill' sizzle, it was ABSOLUTELY the sort of satisfying after-dinner fudgesicle that somehow tastes better because it came from the ice cream man on a hot July night: it had JUST the right amount of sweet.

4 stars, rounded up from 3.5

Middle of the road book for me; 3 solid stars. Kate Elliott, former soap star and middle aged woman going through a divorce, takes a leap of faith and accepts a non- traditional ghost writing role. Although the book is successful, the arrangement goes awry, including a new romance.

I received an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! It felt like a slow burn summer romance exactly like the title with lovable characters! I enjoyed both the audio and physical version! I’ll always read by this author :)

Quick enjoyable read with a very misleading title. The plot of this book is nothing that hasn’t been done before but it’s handled well. There isn’t really a romance here, just the start of something new. Mostly about personal growth, family and found tribes. Made for an easy read to curl up with.

This was such a fun read about an actress hired to play the role of author of a book, in place of a very famous author who is publishing something that feels too personal to put their own name on. The talent agent who is the go between is also in a tricky spot: trying to carve his own path and fill his father’s shoes. It was quite funny and poignant and I really enjoyed it. Would recommend!

This was a quick read, but lacking in a few areas. I didn’t understand Kate and Charlie’s relationship at all…it started off strange and they didn’t have much chemistry. The ending was a bit of a let down and I don’t think the title of this book at all matches what it is about! The part I loved most was Kate and H’s emails back and forth.

Thank you Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I have loved Josie Silver since I read One Day in December. This was the perfect summer romance and just like the title said it was a Slow Burn Romance- not even getting to a romance until the very end. Kate is navigating a divorce when she lands a dream job. The job she has to keep a major secret Expecting things to go wrong but was full of chaos and hilarious moments! All the characters were fun and memorable. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
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After changes in her life Kate is looking to get back into acting. Her new talent agent is Charlie and he offers her a job right away, pretending to be the author for a new book.
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What I liked:
-The mystery of who actually wrote this book. I had a couple theories but loved how that story played out.
-Kate and Charlie. I really really like how this is not an insta-love story. It takes awhile for Kate and Charlie to open up and learn to trust each other in both a professional aspect and later in a romantic way.
-Josie’s books always have these emotional pulls to the story and this one was no exception.
-Still a good amount of humor in the story as well.
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4.5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 I really enjoyed Slow Burn Summer! Lydia Bird is still my fave, but this one was excellent still.

First off, thank you to NetGalley for the copy of Slow Burn Summer! As far as the book goes, I loved the idea of this book but it missed the mark a bit in my opinion.
While the romance does eventually show up, it didn’t quite feel like a true slow burn to me. It was more like a suggestion in the background, rather than a steady build I could feeling coming. If you hadn’t told me it was a romance novel, I really wouldn’t have figured it out.
The ending and epilogue were easily my favorite parts. I found myself wishing more of that tone and energy had been part of the rest of the story.

I’m going to try and get my point across here without giving any spoilers or giving too much away. There’s a mystery element of the book that I really wanted to work, but for me, it missed the mark. With a good twist, I expect to feel like the clues were there all along but in this book it just wasn’t there. In this case, the reveal felt more random than anything I could have seen coming.

I wouldn’t call it a bad read and it had moments that genuinely moved me but overall, it left me a little conflicted. I’m going with 3.75 stars for this one.

This was a great quick read. I love Josie Silver and this book wasn’t my absolute favorite of hers but I did enjoy it! The romance while it was a slow burn felt a little like an after thought like all the sudden they are in love. I think I would call this more like chick-lit than romance but again I did enjoy it and the plot was fun!! Something new 💖

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the ARC copy of this book!!

This book was categorized as a romance but there was very little romance throughout. This was a cute quick read dealing with Kate's journey of self-discovery and complicated relationships.

If you are looking for a more of a womens fiction that deals with a somewhat heavy topics (i.e. divorce, finding yourself, grief) then this is a good book to pick up. If you are looking for a true romance, there are much better options.

This was my first non-holiday Josie Silver book and I was so excited to read it!

The good: it has Silver’s signature wit and tone, and I found myself really immersed in the characters and their stories.

The “meh”: although I enjoyed the characters, the love story felt a little forced and less believable than I’ve experienced in this author’s previous work.

All in all, I enjoyed it as a fun read, but I can’t see it sticking with me long term.

Slow Burn Summer is the perfect summer romance with a slow building connection that feels authentic and deeply satisfying. The characters are relatable and layered, and the chemistry simmers throughout the story until it finally ignites in the most rewarding way.

The setting adds a cozy, sun-soaked vibe that makes you want to grab a cold drink and get lost in their world. This isn’t just a quick romance, it’s about real feelings, second chances, and taking the time to get it right.

I really wanted to like this story but it felt very contrived, unrealistic, and surface level.

Kate Elliot takes a suspiciously easy role as ghost-not-the-actual-author but all common sense eludes her. Somehow she makes basic mistakes that make you cringe. She forms deep relationships with the mystery author, and agent Charlie, based on incidental engagements.

It's hard to find her endearing and connect. It felt contrived.

Thank you to Random House Ballantine and Netgalley for an ARC.

Thank you to @netgalley and @berkleypub for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you to @prhaudio for a free download of the audiobook.

★★★☆☆

I really wanted to love Slow Burn Summer, especially given Josie Silver’s reputation for heartfelt storytelling. Unfortunately, this one didn’t quite resonate with me. While the premise had promise and the setting was charming, I struggled to connect with the characters. Their emotions and motivations felt distant, making it hard to invest in their journey.

That said, the audiobook narration by Anna Acton was a bright spot. Her delivery was warm and expressive, and she brought a gentle elegance to the story that made it easier to stay engaged. Even when the plot felt slow, her voice carried it with grace.

Silver’s writing is undeniably polished, and I can see how others might find comfort in the slow unfolding of this summer tale—it just wasn’t the right fit for me.

#books #bookishlife #booklover #readingisfun #iowabookstagrammers #iowabookstagram #netgalley #berkleypub #prhaudio #prhaudiopartner #sponsored #slowburnsummer

Another great Josie Silver read. This was such a cute book and also a sweet love letter to book lovers everywhere!

I love everything Josie Silver writes, and was so excited to learn she had a new romance coming out this year!

While Slow Burn Summer was an enjoyable read, I admit that I didn't love it as much as Silver's other books. The concept was fun, and I enjoyed Kate's journey as she navigated life in the public eye, and then the fallout that came later. But the book felt unbalanced to me--too much time was spent on that storyline, which made her budding romance with Charlie feel like an afterthought. While I liked both Kate and Charlie as characters, I didn't feel the chemistry between them.