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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Thank you to NG and the publisher for a free review copy.
This was such a cute book. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Kieran or Ellie, but they both grew on me. I loved the growth they both went through, the slow burn romance, and the story that progressed.
This was such a cute book. I wasn't sure if I was going to like Kieran or Ellie, but they both grew on me. I loved the growth they both went through, the slow burn romance, and the story that progressed.
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Abandonment
emotional
inspiring
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a lovely read. I enjoyed the chef + ghost writer pairing ad I felt like Sarah did a great job exploring the different ways grief and trauma can present in peoples' lives. My only qualm was that Kieran seemed pretty immature to me and not necessarily someone that Ellie would go for, which made some aspects of the romance unbelievable. He did show growth during the story, but in some ways it felt like too big of a jump; he almost seemed like a completely different person at the end.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance copy!
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
WARNING: There will be some minor spoilers.
š„ SLOW BURN
š„ CHEF ROMANCE
šÆ FAKE DATING
The Slowest Burn is essentially 'The Bear' crossed with your typical romantic drama. I have a new found love for the 'chef' romance genre and its all thanks to this book.
Kieran and Ellie are both complex characters but so incredibly loveable. Kieran's struggled with ADHD are very relatable and perfectly written. There are so many elements that Sarah Chamberlain explores so expertly. The same goes for Ellie's innate sense of people pleasing; Hank's ineptitude is very typical of a second child who views the other sister as a pseudo-parent! I also truly felt Diane's grief throughout.
I love the story, the romance, the tropes... I do have to say, however, that I was not a fan of the references to Ellie being overweight. There were a few comments made without a lot of depth or conclusion to them. It's also worth noting that the woman on the cover of the book is not overweight, or in keeping with the comments made within...
That being said - I would happily reread this book and definitely recommend to others!
š„ SLOW BURN
š„ CHEF ROMANCE
šÆ FAKE DATING
The Slowest Burn is essentially 'The Bear' crossed with your typical romantic drama. I have a new found love for the 'chef' romance genre and its all thanks to this book.
Kieran and Ellie are both complex characters but so incredibly loveable. Kieran's struggled with ADHD are very relatable and perfectly written. There are so many elements that Sarah Chamberlain explores so expertly. The same goes for Ellie's innate sense of people pleasing; Hank's ineptitude is very typical of a second child who views the other sister as a pseudo-parent! I also truly felt Diane's grief throughout.
I love the story, the romance, the tropes... I do have to say, however, that I was not a fan of the references to Ellie being overweight. There were a few comments made without a lot of depth or conclusion to them. It's also worth noting that the woman on the cover of the book is not overweight, or in keeping with the comments made within...
That being said - I would happily reread this book and definitely recommend to others!
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I could not put this book down! Thanks to St. Martins Press for the advance reader copy. I have never read a Sarah Chamberlain book, and was pleasantly surprised. This book is written in both characters' viewpoints, and their story has a great element of enemies to lovers. Kieran, a local chef and reality cooking show champion, is paired with Ellie to write his first cookbook. Their opposite personalities clash at first, and his reluctance to write a book infuriates her. As they get to know each other, they discover they love cooking and working together, and the relationship takes off from there. Both characters have childhood trauma, that Chamberlain addresses in a sensitive way. Also, Ellie is a widow with close ties to her in-laws, which adds more drama and layers to the story. Their personal lives eventually blow up their professional lives, and they part ways. The ending wraps up the story beautifully, and you feel great about their futures, both career-wise and for their relationship. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and will look for more Sarah Chamberlain novels to read in the future!
The Slowest Burn is a fun, reflective and heartfelt rom com, set in a foodie world, complete with close proximity and a wonderful furball of a cat named Floyd.
I really admired the attention paid by the author to create such a diverse cast of characters, and capture the complexity of their experiences. At certain points it felt like there was a bit too much going on, but the overall effect was a story full of heart, reflection, and love, that was heartwarming and satisfying.
The portrayal of grief, particular the dynamic between Ellie and Diane, felt authentic and honest, a mix of sadness, guilt and misplaced love. The journey of self discovery for Ellie and Kiernen was as much if not more a focus on the story than their romance. I loved the way they supported each other to find and celebrate their true selves.
This was a great debut novel, and Iāll be keeping an eye out for the authors next work.
Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for this read. Opinions expressed are my own.
I really admired the attention paid by the author to create such a diverse cast of characters, and capture the complexity of their experiences. At certain points it felt like there was a bit too much going on, but the overall effect was a story full of heart, reflection, and love, that was heartwarming and satisfying.
The portrayal of grief, particular the dynamic between Ellie and Diane, felt authentic and honest, a mix of sadness, guilt and misplaced love. The journey of self discovery for Ellie and Kiernen was as much if not more a focus on the story than their romance. I loved the way they supported each other to find and celebrate their true selves.
This was a great debut novel, and Iāll be keeping an eye out for the authors next work.
Thank you Little, Brown Book Group UK and NetGalley for this read. Opinions expressed are my own.
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
sad
slow-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
Thank you to SMP Romance and NetGalley for the advance reader copy. These opinions are my own.
I really like ghost writing as a means to throw two love interests together. In this book, Kieran just won a reality TV cooking show, and Ellie is helping to write his cookbook. I really enjoyed their forced proximity (with a romance loving FMC who makes a one bed joke).
The cooking scenes and food descriptions are some of the best parts. I especially loved the visit to the farmer's market. I would absolutely buy their cookbook.
Parts were challenging to read, especially in how Ellie was treated. She's such a people pleaser, and I appreciated her character growth. Kieran similarly grew a great deal. They felt like a good pair for each other, but it was a tough (and aptly slow) journey to get there.
3.5 stars rounded up
I really like ghost writing as a means to throw two love interests together. In this book, Kieran just won a reality TV cooking show, and Ellie is helping to write his cookbook. I really enjoyed their forced proximity (with a romance loving FMC who makes a one bed joke).
The cooking scenes and food descriptions are some of the best parts. I especially loved the visit to the farmer's market. I would absolutely buy their cookbook.
Parts were challenging to read, especially in how Ellie was treated. She's such a people pleaser, and I appreciated her character growth. Kieran similarly grew a great deal. They felt like a good pair for each other, but it was a tough (and aptly slow) journey to get there.
3.5 stars rounded up
emotional
funny
lighthearted
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:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and St Martinās Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Iāll be totally honest, 10% in I almost DNFed this one. I donāt love books that read more like food p*rn than romances and this felt like it was heading that way. However it turned around really quickly and here I am, crying a little to myself Iām so in love with Ellie and Kieran at the end of this book. The writing is sweet and light and a good amount of spice and I felt like I understood the buildup of the relationship really well. It felt sincere and not just a gimmick. It doesnāt help that Ellie felt so incredibly real to me because I see so much of myself in her (as Iām sure my therapist would too). Itās nice to see a girl I can identify with getting a well deserved and well thought out happy ending.
Iāll be totally honest, 10% in I almost DNFed this one. I donāt love books that read more like food p*rn than romances and this felt like it was heading that way. However it turned around really quickly and here I am, crying a little to myself Iām so in love with Ellie and Kieran at the end of this book. The writing is sweet and light and a good amount of spice and I felt like I understood the buildup of the relationship really well. It felt sincere and not just a gimmick. It doesnāt help that Ellie felt so incredibly real to me because I see so much of myself in her (as Iām sure my therapist would too). Itās nice to see a girl I can identify with getting a well deserved and well thought out happy ending.
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-paced