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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
Just like the title suggests, The Slowest Burn, is a slow burn romance between young widow Ellie and the hot young chef Kieran. Fresh of his win from the reality cooking show, Kieran has been tasked with writing a cookbook but he needs a ghostwriter and that’s where Ellie comes in. They don’t get off on the right foot but after being forced into a week long writing retreat, they reach an understanding and then begin to develop a friendship from all the time they spend together cooking in the kitchen.
It’s been three years since the death of her husband and Ellie finds herself adrift stuck between grief, being there for her in laws, and finding something for herself. The more time she spends with Kieran has her feeling like a new version of herself is possible where she can flourish. Ellie grounds Kieran and Kieran sets Ellie free; they both helped each other heal and grow into the future they can have together happily.
I sometimes struggle with slow burn stories but Ellie and Kieran’s journey felt right- it was necessary for it to simmer and build up because they both needed that time to accept what was happening between them. Ellie’s best friend Nicole and Kieran’s best friend Jay are just the kind of supportive friends everyone needs because sometimes you need to hear the tough love speech while being supported.
Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback
emotional
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
Ellie and Kieran’s story was so beautiful, so complex, and I truly savored the journey. I loved seeing them go from enemies to cookbook co-conspirators to friends to lovers as they both made peace with big pieces of themselves. The grief in this book is palpable and difficult and bittersweet and the growth is all the more delicious for it. I loved the way food and a solid cast of additional characters buoyed the story to take us to the ending. If you enjoyed Savor It by Tarah DeWitt, I think you’ll really love this too!
This book was painful to get through and took forever! (not helpful when you've got an endless TBR and are falling short on your reading goals) I love most books from St. Martin's Press, but nothing about this novel was good, with the clunky dialogue, absolutely no flow, and always feeling like I've been shoved into a scene with no context. This ain't a slow burn, just a very slow read. I'm also annoyed that this stunning cover and pretty interesting blurb didn't get justice.
Ellie is a cookbook ghostwriter (I'd never actively thought about this as a profession but it makes sense that it exists) and Kieran is a young celebrity chef. Both have their own issues. Buttoned-up Ellie who craves safety and stability (neglectful parents, cared for younger brother who's now absent-minded and self-absorbed/entitled, still caring for her parents-in-law after her husband's death; used to her caretaking role but no one is taking care of her). Chaotic and energetic Kieran who struggles with attention issues (perfectionist and distant parents, recovering and sober, surface romantic relationships). I feel like there were a lot of tropes going on here (fake dating, opposites attract, Ellie even mocks the "only one bed" trope at one point). The misunderstanding/poor communication trope was overused, especially in the beginning of the book, although thankfully it got better. It's not my favorite trope because I find it frustrating. I get why Ellie and Kieran are reluctant to open themselves up, and it's somewhat realistic, but it's still aggravating as a plot device. It was nice to see how Ellie and Kieran complemented one another. Both of them were trying to find a way to want and have more out of their lives, and they each helped the other in getting there. The story was also a nice statement about found family, surrounding yourself with the family you want rather than what you were born in to. This is a dual first-person POV story, which I enjoyed as it gave it more depth so that we could have insights into both of them. The writing was fine, this was a quick read that had some darker themes but ultimately an HEA. I guess my issue with these kinds of books is that they're predictable. The characters were likable and relatable, but there wasn't much new here. Kieran's inner voice had some humor, which I did enjoy. This was a new-to-me author; I'd read her again but probably wouldn't seek her out. Thank you to NetGalley for providing an ARC of this story in exchange for my objective review.
emotional
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
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
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
I loved this book for an easy feel-good read. The characters had a lot of development than what you might initially think. Beautifully written story.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Enjoyable romance with a foodie angle!
THE SLOWEST BURN is a cute romance, though there's nothing hugely original about it. The entire time it nagged me that it reminded me so much of another book I'd read -- believe it was Ashley Poston's Seven Year Slip.
Here we have the usual set-up for a love story: two people with baggage have to get over it if they want to wind up together. Kieran won a reality cooking show and now he's trying to capitalize on that fame by publishing a cookbook. Ellie is the ghostwriter for said cookbook. Kieran is dyslexic with ADHD, but--of course--Ellie is orderly and uptight. The two clash... until they don't.
The serious aspect of the story revolves around a study of grief. Ellie is a young widow who still lives in a cottage behind her late husband's parents, and they depend heavily on her. Kieran has his own family problems, with a family who always had very high expectations for their son.
Kieran and Ellie are frustrating in the beginning, when they lack the ability to communicate. Once they get to know each other, it's an enjoyable book. The two feel they can't have a relationship due to perceptions in the publishing world. And Ellie is hung up on the fact that she can't have anything for herself (the usual) while Kieran is sure he'll destroy anything good he touches. I do feel badly for Ellie, as she has a lot going on, and Kieran seems like a pretty decent guy. Their chemistry is good, and there's a lot of cooking/baking references, if that's something you enjoy.
There are not a ton of major happenings or deep revelations, despite the serious topics covered, but this is still a sweet romance.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.
THE SLOWEST BURN is a cute romance, though there's nothing hugely original about it. The entire time it nagged me that it reminded me so much of another book I'd read -- believe it was Ashley Poston's Seven Year Slip.
Here we have the usual set-up for a love story: two people with baggage have to get over it if they want to wind up together. Kieran won a reality cooking show and now he's trying to capitalize on that fame by publishing a cookbook. Ellie is the ghostwriter for said cookbook. Kieran is dyslexic with ADHD, but--of course--Ellie is orderly and uptight. The two clash... until they don't.
The serious aspect of the story revolves around a study of grief. Ellie is a young widow who still lives in a cottage behind her late husband's parents, and they depend heavily on her. Kieran has his own family problems, with a family who always had very high expectations for their son.
Kieran and Ellie are frustrating in the beginning, when they lack the ability to communicate. Once they get to know each other, it's an enjoyable book. The two feel they can't have a relationship due to perceptions in the publishing world. And Ellie is hung up on the fact that she can't have anything for herself (the usual) while Kieran is sure he'll destroy anything good he touches. I do feel badly for Ellie, as she has a lot going on, and Kieran seems like a pretty decent guy. Their chemistry is good, and there's a lot of cooking/baking references, if that's something you enjoy.
There are not a ton of major happenings or deep revelations, despite the serious topics covered, but this is still a sweet romance.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and St. Martin's Griffin in return for an unbiased review.
Book #116 read in 2024
If a book is about a cooking competition show and a romance, I will pick it up. This one takes place after the reality show and is about the winner, Kieran, who needs someone to write his cookbook with him. Enter Ellie, who desperately needs this job. The two are oil and water, and their interactions are annoyingly immature. I liked Ellie and could see myself in her. I did not enjoy Kieran and found him insufferable. He becomes more relatable as we learn more about him, but I feel that happened too late to make a difference.
Thank you to the publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on September 24, 2024.
If a book is about a cooking competition show and a romance, I will pick it up. This one takes place after the reality show and is about the winner, Kieran, who needs someone to write his cookbook with him. Enter Ellie, who desperately needs this job. The two are oil and water, and their interactions are annoyingly immature. I liked Ellie and could see myself in her. I did not enjoy Kieran and found him insufferable. He becomes more relatable as we learn more about him, but I feel that happened too late to make a difference.
Thank you to the publisher for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. This novel was published on September 24, 2024.