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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
So much to consider to rate this book- rounded up from 3.5 because I really enjoyed the characters. Ellie and Kieran both strong and different, the best friends and the in laws all had their moments that I enjoyed. The language during the spicy scenes really cheapened the romance parts of the book. Triggers for young spouse death, surviving, guilt and dysfunctional families are a big overall storyline for the main characters. Thank you Net Galley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. Told alternating between the two main chanters the narrators do a nice job switching and keeping engaged.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief
This was an entertaining, lighthearted read! I enjoyed reading about Kieran and Ellie, and their respective lives. I thought how they lives became intertwined was fun (chef + ghostwriter for a cookbook), and I felt that the characters had some stumbling blocks, but came into their own pretty quickly. I felt that I got to know the characters pretty well, and I didn't feel like I was missing chunks of relevant backstory, which was nice. I appreciated that sometimes it takes a different set of eyes to realize where you're at, and I think Kieran and Ellie did that successfully for each other.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-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
This book was not what I was expecting. The cover did not lend itself to the content. But I enjoyed the characters. I thought it was a little bit slow going at first but overall a solid story.
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 stars
2 spice
Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and the author for an advance copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
4 stars
2 spice
This book is love: romantic, friendship, family, feline, food.
So many lovely things about this one, so I'll just share a few things that made it memorable for me:
- beautifully written character development: genuine character growth-- not just quick or boring mentions of personal problems and solutions as plot devices. And not just for the lead characters but also for the supporting cast. This is rare in romances.
- the trope teasing was so fun, lol:
- a male main character who isn't over 6ft, buff and self-assured, but still exceedingly charming and willing to fight for his girl
- the callbacks and imagery.
- Love when a book describes the sights, sounds and smells cooking/food believably.
My main criticism is actually about the title. I think it's meant to be a cooking pun, and while I love a good pun, I don't think it suits this novel. I don't think either character burns a dish (they're too capable), and the book isn't very steamy (which is not a failing). My point is that there is a slow build of sexual tension, which was nicely done, but neither the build up nor the summit of the passion is as intense as the title implies.
Wonderful debut, [a:Sarah Chamberlain|47932045|Sarah Chamberlain|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1705592470p2/47932045.jpg], looking out for more from you!
** This review is based on an ARC.
So many lovely things about this one, so I'll just share a few things that made it memorable for me:
- beautifully written character development: genuine character growth-- not just quick or boring mentions of personal problems and solutions as plot devices. And not just for the lead characters but also for the supporting cast. This is rare in romances.
- the trope teasing was so fun, lol:
Spoiler
was it a "one bed", a "fake dating", or a "you scratch my back I scratch yours" ?- a male main character who isn't over 6ft, buff and self-assured, but still exceedingly charming and willing to fight for his girl
- the callbacks and imagery
Spoiler
of the oranges- Love when a book describes the sights, sounds and smells cooking/food believably.
My main criticism is actually about the title. I think it's meant to be a cooking pun, and while I love a good pun, I don't think it suits this novel. I don't think either character burns a dish (they're too capable), and the book isn't very steamy (which is not a failing). My point is that there is a slow build of sexual tension, which was nicely done, but neither the build up nor the summit of the passion is as intense as the title implies.
Wonderful debut, [a:Sarah Chamberlain|47932045|Sarah Chamberlain|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1705592470p2/47932045.jpg], looking out for more from you!
** This review is based on an ARC.
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
sad
medium-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
The title sure is true to the book, it darn well felt like a slow burn for all the senses. I was so hungry listening to this book at times š
but makes sense when itās talking about delicious food through out! There were times when i was frustrated and Im like URGH! Just ā¦.!!!! And why canāt ā¦.THIS!?! Lol but youāll have to read it or listen to the book to find out! š
I also Absolutely loved the narrators for this book too! Kate was absolutely fantastic and portrayed Ellie perfectly in my mind! Loved Hunterās voice, but I think i expected him to be a bit more high energy than so monotone. But LOVED his tone of voice regardless and made for a really lovely listen.
ššÆš¼šš ššµš¶š šÆš¼š¼šøā¦
š³Close Proximity
š³Slow Burn
š³Mental Health
š³Grief
š³Open Door - mild
š³Dual POV
I received an advance listening copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily
emotional
funny
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
Ellie is a ghostwriter for cookbooks, and has an opportunity to write a cookbook for or with Kieran OāNeill, the winner of the food competition Fire on High. However, after meeting him, not only is he infuriatingly handsome, but he also doesnāt seem to take anything seriously. And Ellie takes her job VERY seriously.
Kieran won the food competition of Fire on High and now has the opportunity to write his own cookbook, until he meets Ellie and thinks she takes things a little too seriously, and is determined to win her over with his cooking.
Can these opposites really attract?
This book gave me many mixed feelings. On one end, I adored it and thought it was cute and quirky. On the other end, I kind of didnāt like it at all. I ended up giving it 4 stars, leaning more towards 3.5, because I really didnāt dislike it. I enjoyed it more than disliking it, and it is quite the cute read, it just has its moments.
This had a lot of emotion and connecting. Thereās talk about grief, a lot of it, handling grief, learning to continue on with life, ADHD, dyslexia, and learning your own personal worth.
These two people didnāt exactly grow up in the greatest of households, and it seems like they were kind of handed a lame hand in life. They each seem to see the potential in others, but not in themselves. They each had to learn that through the other.
I know this book is called Slowest Burn, but I wouldnāt really say this was a slow burn. I think theyāre the connected pretty quickly and lusted after each other pretty quickly, but itās more the emotional connection and giving into each others feelings, acknowledging those feelings that was the slow burn. Thereās a bit of back and forth and drama, but I think the banter and charm throughout made up for any drama and gave the romance charm.
Itās a deeper thinking book than I expected it to be, and I think it was balanced very well with the romance and everything else that happens in this book. Thereās also a cat named Floyd in here and weāll, Iām a cat lover, so Iām a goner and love Kieran just for his love for the cat š„°
Overall, itās a sweet and cute read with some heavy moments and emotion throughout that made for a charming romance. I would recommend, especially if youāre a foodie. Just give it a go if you love food, cooking and romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Kieran won the food competition of Fire on High and now has the opportunity to write his own cookbook, until he meets Ellie and thinks she takes things a little too seriously, and is determined to win her over with his cooking.
Can these opposites really attract?
This book gave me many mixed feelings. On one end, I adored it and thought it was cute and quirky. On the other end, I kind of didnāt like it at all. I ended up giving it 4 stars, leaning more towards 3.5, because I really didnāt dislike it. I enjoyed it more than disliking it, and it is quite the cute read, it just has its moments.
This had a lot of emotion and connecting. Thereās talk about grief, a lot of it, handling grief, learning to continue on with life, ADHD, dyslexia, and learning your own personal worth.
These two people didnāt exactly grow up in the greatest of households, and it seems like they were kind of handed a lame hand in life. They each seem to see the potential in others, but not in themselves. They each had to learn that through the other.
I know this book is called Slowest Burn, but I wouldnāt really say this was a slow burn. I think theyāre the connected pretty quickly and lusted after each other pretty quickly, but itās more the emotional connection and giving into each others feelings, acknowledging those feelings that was the slow burn. Thereās a bit of back and forth and drama, but I think the banter and charm throughout made up for any drama and gave the romance charm.
Itās a deeper thinking book than I expected it to be, and I think it was balanced very well with the romance and everything else that happens in this book. Thereās also a cat named Floyd in here and weāll, Iām a cat lover, so Iām a goner and love Kieran just for his love for the cat š„°
Overall, itās a sweet and cute read with some heavy moments and emotion throughout that made for a charming romance. I would recommend, especially if youāre a foodie. Just give it a go if you love food, cooking and romance!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the gifted e-ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Loveable characters:
Yes
This was a great debut novel involving Ellie, a cookbook ghost writer, assigned to recent hot shot Kieran who won a cooking contest. If you like enemies to lovers, forced proximity and fake dating, this one is for you.
I didn't feel their slow burn was slow at all and felt very well stewed with how they worked together. I never really thought about chef needing a ghost writer but it totally makes sense. I love the dedication the Ellie had to the craft and make a cookbook that appeals to the masses.
Both Kieran and Ellie had family issues and I enjoyed that aspect and their growth journey.
The narrators, Hunter Johns and Kate Handford both did a good job with the narration. My only complaint is that Kate Hanford, pronounced a Filipino word wrong. It just seems lazy to not research how to pronounce it.
Overall, a great debut novel and I look forward to more from Chamberlain.
Thank you @smpromance @macmillan.audio for a copy of ALC.
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I donāt know why I was so hesitant to read this book, once I started it I devoured it in 2 days. Ellie cares for everyone before she cares for herself. She is a cookbook ghostwriter that is living in a granny suite behind her in-laws house and dealing with the after math of loosing her husband as well as trying to keep her brother afloat. Kieran has accepted a deal for a cookbook off a big reality cooking show win and gets paired with Ellie as his writer. They clash immediately as she is organized and he is chaotic. When forced to stay in a cabin together to finally plan out the cookbook they start to understand each other more and the trauma they both bring with them. Their attraction burns slowly, but when it ignites it is fire! Can they avoid burning each other in the chemistry they have sizzling between them?
I loved this book right up until the last chapters. Them coming together both for the first time and the last was really fun to read but the central conflict was not my favourite and I found Kieran could be really hurtful at times. Ellie was a fun FMC and I loved her cat Floyd. The cookbook writing plot was enjoyable and made for some great moments in the book. Overall a really great read! It was my first time reading anything from this author and I would read more from them, definitely.
An enjoyable book of life and love and discovering who you really are. This is the story of opposites attracting and bringing out the best in each other. I listened to this on audio and the narrators did a good job giving voice to Ellie and Kieran. I did not want to stop listening! Highly recommend this book to romance readers.