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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
I love when the author clues you in to the direction of the book in the title. I was very concerned at first because I really wasn’t feeling that these two had much chemistry. But that eventually showed up and I ended up enjoying this book.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which did not affect my review.
I was provided an advanced copy of this book which did not affect my review.
The characters themselves seem pretty interesting, and work together as a couple. They are diverse and complex characters who have their own personal struggles to overcome as well as those faced as a couple, which I do like.
This book did kind of remind me a the Hallmark movie ‘Recipe for Love’, so I think the uniqueness that a lot of people have been talking about in this book, was maybe not as much because I had watched this film which is about a celebrity chef and his ghostwriter falling love.
I think for me the main thing is that I just never felt like the whole thing was natural. There were multiple moments, build-ups, tropes that felt like they had been pieced together and thrown in because they had been written versus having been the intended part of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book through NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
This book did kind of remind me a the Hallmark movie ‘Recipe for Love’, so I think the uniqueness that a lot of people have been talking about in this book, was maybe not as much because I had watched this film which is about a celebrity chef and his ghostwriter falling love.
I think for me the main thing is that I just never felt like the whole thing was natural. There were multiple moments, build-ups, tropes that felt like they had been pieced together and thrown in because they had been written versus having been the intended part of the story.
Disclaimer: I received an arc of this book through NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Ellie Wasserman and Kieran O’Neill are very different people on the outside. Still, their love of cooking and difficult childhoods make them slowly open up to each other and connect in ways they never expected. Ellie is an organized people-pleaser who is still reeling after the loss of the husband who helped her feel safe for the first time in her life. Kieran is a recovering alcoholic with ADHD who finds peace in cooking. Sparks fly when Ellie is hired to ghostwrite Kieran's cookbook after he wins a cooking competition and they turn into a searing flame that will change both their lives for the better.
It's a sweet story about pain, loss, and finding that one special person that makes you want to change and be better just by being there and supporting you. I did find Ellie's tendency to bend over backward to be nice to people and do what they want a little annoying, but it plays into her character arc so I can't complain too much about it. Other than that, I enjoyed everything about this book. It shows excellent friendships, what true support looks like, and that it's up to the individual to change even if the impetus comes from someone else.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the sweet read!
It's a sweet story about pain, loss, and finding that one special person that makes you want to change and be better just by being there and supporting you. I did find Ellie's tendency to bend over backward to be nice to people and do what they want a little annoying, but it plays into her character arc so I can't complain too much about it. Other than that, I enjoyed everything about this book. It shows excellent friendships, what true support looks like, and that it's up to the individual to change even if the impetus comes from someone else.
Delighted thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Griffin for the sweet read!
The Slowest Burn is such a sweet romance with a bit of spice (yes, that was absolutely a food pun). I really loved that Kieran was not the stereotypical romance MMC in looks and a bit in personality. It was so intriguing to see Ellie and Kieran work together because they were both interesting characters on their own. I loved Ellie’s character, but I just felt so bad for her a lot of the time. She had some of the WORST people around her! I really enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
funny
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
emotional
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The Slowest Burn is a decently written book with great imagery and well-rounded characters. I was very interested in the beginning of the story where we were introduced to the main character (Ellie Wasserman)—it was refreshing to read about a woman that wasn’t in high school/or fresh out of it, that had big personal issues that she had to deal with. And the other main character—Kieran O’Neill—is another very interesting character who really intrigued me from his first moment. The storyline was great, and I was immersed in it almost the entire time—although, it did get very slow at a few different spots.
Particularly, I wasn’t impressed with the formatting of the book—like how the pov’s kept shifting from Ellie to Kieran and the back to Ellie, all within a single chapter instead of either (A) separating the narrators by each chapter, or (B) just using a third person omniscient writing style. That really took me out of the book and was poorly executed, almost like it was fanfiction.
I loved the idea of two very broken people—coming from different parts of their lives—were forced together to learn to trust and rely on one another and build onto that before falling in love. And I think it could’ve been an amazing read if our two main protagonists weren’t constantly bickering and throwing around harsh words to each other. I think I would have appreciated it more if they actually got along better and really, slowly developed their bonds considering they both had major issues with letting people in.
At first, I was blown away with both characters and how unique they were—I don’t see many adult ADHD characters and Kieran really stood out . . . until he made it his whole personality. He’s a 27-year-old man and acted like a crazy teenage ex-boyfriend that kept growling at people he didn’t like or appreciate. And I don’t mean he didn’t it once in annoyance or anger, but continuously growling at people, including Ellie’s little brother at one point. For example, “”He hurt her,” a wolf inside me snarked back. “He made her cry.”” And the way he treated his supposed ‘lover’ was strange. They barely know each other and he’s acting out because she isn’t ready to move in with him—“”You can’t? Or you won’t?” . . . “So I’m a distraction now?” He barks back bitterly.” It’s probably just a me thing, but I really hate romance novels where the male love interest is literary growling at people, like how is that attractive?? Anyway . . .
All in all, I was quite pleased with the overall writing and presentation of the book. I loved the characters despite what I wrote in the review, and loved the final chapter. I can’t wait to read another book by this author!
Thank you Sarah Chamberlain for writing this amazing book and thank you St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.
Particularly, I wasn’t impressed with the formatting of the book—like how the pov’s kept shifting from Ellie to Kieran and the back to Ellie, all within a single chapter instead of either (A) separating the narrators by each chapter, or (B) just using a third person omniscient writing style. That really took me out of the book and was poorly executed, almost like it was fanfiction.
I loved the idea of two very broken people—coming from different parts of their lives—were forced together to learn to trust and rely on one another and build onto that before falling in love. And I think it could’ve been an amazing read if our two main protagonists weren’t constantly bickering and throwing around harsh words to each other. I think I would have appreciated it more if they actually got along better and really, slowly developed their bonds considering they both had major issues with letting people in.
At first, I was blown away with both characters and how unique they were—I don’t see many adult ADHD characters and Kieran really stood out . . . until he made it his whole personality. He’s a 27-year-old man and acted like a crazy teenage ex-boyfriend that kept growling at people he didn’t like or appreciate. And I don’t mean he didn’t it once in annoyance or anger, but continuously growling at people, including Ellie’s little brother at one point. For example, “”He hurt her,” a wolf inside me snarked back. “He made her cry.”” And the way he treated his supposed ‘lover’ was strange. They barely know each other and he’s acting out because she isn’t ready to move in with him—“”You can’t? Or you won’t?” . . . “So I’m a distraction now?” He barks back bitterly.” It’s probably just a me thing, but I really hate romance novels where the male love interest is literary growling at people, like how is that attractive?? Anyway . . .
All in all, I was quite pleased with the overall writing and presentation of the book. I loved the characters despite what I wrote in the review, and loved the final chapter. I can’t wait to read another book by this author!
Thank you Sarah Chamberlain for writing this amazing book and thank you St. Martin’s Press for an early copy of the book in return for an honest review.