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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
funny
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
emotional
funny
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
hopeful
reflective
Loveable characters:
Yes
This is an entertaining, fun read. Kieran and Ellie are strong, complex, interesting, wounded intriguing, relatable, entertaining, fun characters. I enjoyed their romance and the path it took to get to their HEA. These two are fun to spend time with. I loved the growth of these characters through the course of the story. The secondary characters added to the fabric of the story and my enjoyment. This story has emotional parts as it deals with the grief process and how it differs person to person.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
slow-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 so good! Such a respectful and healthy way to display emotions like grief and traits like ADHD. I loved the immediate pivots each MC took when discovering these things about the other.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the FMC being a widow, but it was beautifully done. The growth she had from her first marriage and being so confident in herself.
I loved the emotional maturity of the arguments and apologies. Each MC sitting down with themselves and self-reflecting where they went wrong in the moment. The ability to immediately apologize and acknowledge those wrongs. Such a healthy representation that I don't think a lot of books include, yet.
What I loved the most, is that we didn't get bogged down in the cooking. I've read a few cooking romances before and it would just go so down into the weeds of the act that I'd get bored and loose myself. Almost as though the author is trying to show off what they know? In fact, I'm currently listening to a different book about a chef and whiskey distiller and thought to myself, "This is it, no more food romances" and then I queued up this ARC and groaned. But, not once did I get that feeling with The Slowest Burn. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down, I stayed up way too late to finish it!
If this is Sarah Chamberlain's debut novel, I cannot wait to see what else she writes! I think she just may be my next auto-buy author.
I was provided an e-ARC of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
I wasn't sure how I'd feel about the FMC being a widow, but it was beautifully done. The growth she had from her first marriage and being so confident in herself.
I loved the emotional maturity of the arguments and apologies. Each MC sitting down with themselves and self-reflecting where they went wrong in the moment. The ability to immediately apologize and acknowledge those wrongs. Such a healthy representation that I don't think a lot of books include, yet.
What I loved the most, is that we didn't get bogged down in the cooking. I've read a few cooking romances before and it would just go so down into the weeds of the act that I'd get bored and loose myself. Almost as though the author is trying to show off what they know? In fact, I'm currently listening to a different book about a chef and whiskey distiller and thought to myself, "This is it, no more food romances" and then I queued up this ARC and groaned. But, not once did I get that feeling with The Slowest Burn. Once I started reading, I couldn't put the book down, I stayed up way too late to finish it!
If this is Sarah Chamberlain's debut novel, I cannot wait to see what else she writes! I think she just may be my next auto-buy author.
I was provided an e-ARC of this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This ARC was provided by St. Martin's Press and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
I loved the initial will they won't they chemistry between Ellie and Kiernan. It was a fun take on the enemies to lovers trope. I thought that portion was really well done and didn't feel too cheesy, more like the perfect amount of cheese for a cute rom-com.
This was a really slow burn just as the the title advertised, and I didn't mind that for most of the book. There was a point about 3/4 of the way through this story just dropped off for me. Something about how their chemistry changed during that portion of the book made it hard to pick up the book again. The ending was a little over the top for me to the point where it stopped being interesting. This surprised me because I was quite invested in both characters. I liked the final resolution, but would have enjoyed it more if everything had been dialed back a bit.
I really appreciate that the author tackled some difficult themes despite this being a romantic comedy. I think it's important to show representation for ADHD, dyslexia, and mental health even in romance books.
I loved the initial will they won't they chemistry between Ellie and Kiernan. It was a fun take on the enemies to lovers trope. I thought that portion was really well done and didn't feel too cheesy, more like the perfect amount of cheese for a cute rom-com.
This was a really slow burn just as the the title advertised, and I didn't mind that for most of the book. There was a point about 3/4 of the way through this story just dropped off for me. Something about how their chemistry changed during that portion of the book made it hard to pick up the book again. The ending was a little over the top for me to the point where it stopped being interesting. This surprised me because I was quite invested in both characters. I liked the final resolution, but would have enjoyed it more if everything had been dialed back a bit.
I really appreciate that the author tackled some difficult themes despite this being a romantic comedy. I think it's important to show representation for ADHD, dyslexia, and mental health even in romance books.
The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain follows newly dubbed celebrity chef Kieran O'Neill and ghostwriter Eleanor "Ellie" Wasserman.
Rating: ββββ.25
π Forced Proximity
π¨βπ³ Slow Burn
π Widowed, over 30 FMC
π¨βπ³βYou can be bad with me."
π Found Family
π¨βπ³ Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
π Learning Disorder and Mental Health Rep
π¨βπ³ Opposites Attract
π Love after Loss
π¨βπ³ He's a short king
Ghostwriter Ellie Wasserman thought writing a cookbook with celebrity chef and recent reality cooking show champion Kieran O'Neill would be a great opportunity for her. The only problem is the man himself is impossible. They are oil and water. Where she's tidy, he's messy. Where Ellie's organized, Kieran flies by the seat of his pants. When she's open, he's evasive. So of course, working on a consumer cookbook together is a nightmare...until it isn't. Until they start to work, blend, and add pinches of their past and personalities. Until they create a recipe for a brilliant book...and maybe even romance.
The Slowest Burn had everything I wanted in a contemporary rom-com. It had me cackling at the witty banter. Sniffling at their backstories. Shaking my fist in frustration. Kicking my feet at the sweetness. Clapping for consent and diversity and inclusion! It had a πWIDOWED πADULT πfemale πmain πcharacter! There was therapy, self-awareness, and so much more. And are you a fan of romance tropes? This story has so many tropes in the best way.
The main characters/couple were lovely and had a lot of depth. I was rooting for Ellie and Kieran's happiness the entire time---and it was a long time. Though the book is a little sluggish at times, the title doesn't lie; it's the slowest of burns but in the most delicious way. The spice is light but worth the wait. I was so happy this story was told in Dual Pov and it helped to stretch that romantic and personal/internal tension. The side characters were also great and lent themselves to the found family trope. If there was a spin-off featuring them, I'd pick up another book.
Sarah Chamberlain cooked up a scrumptious, cozy debut romance that will have you hungry for more.
Favorite Line(s):
"You and me against the world?"
"You and me against this deadline."
"Sad pastry is better than no pastry."
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC.
Rating: ββββ.25
π Forced Proximity
π¨βπ³ Slow Burn
π Widowed, over 30 FMC
π¨βπ³βYou can be bad with me."
π Found Family
π¨βπ³ Reverse Grumpy x Sunshine
π Learning Disorder and Mental Health Rep
π¨βπ³ Opposites Attract
π Love after Loss
π¨βπ³ He's a short king
Ghostwriter Ellie Wasserman thought writing a cookbook with celebrity chef and recent reality cooking show champion Kieran O'Neill would be a great opportunity for her. The only problem is the man himself is impossible. They are oil and water. Where she's tidy, he's messy. Where Ellie's organized, Kieran flies by the seat of his pants. When she's open, he's evasive. So of course, working on a consumer cookbook together is a nightmare...until it isn't. Until they start to work, blend, and add pinches of their past and personalities. Until they create a recipe for a brilliant book...and maybe even romance.
The Slowest Burn had everything I wanted in a contemporary rom-com. It had me cackling at the witty banter. Sniffling at their backstories. Shaking my fist in frustration. Kicking my feet at the sweetness. Clapping for consent and diversity and inclusion! It had a πWIDOWED πADULT πfemale πmain πcharacter! There was therapy, self-awareness, and so much more. And are you a fan of romance tropes? This story has so many tropes in the best way.
The main characters/couple were lovely and had a lot of depth. I was rooting for Ellie and Kieran's happiness the entire time---and it was a long time. Though the book is a little sluggish at times, the title doesn't lie; it's the slowest of burns but in the most delicious way. The spice is light but worth the wait. I was so happy this story was told in Dual Pov and it helped to stretch that romantic and personal/internal tension. The side characters were also great and lent themselves to the found family trope. If there was a spin-off featuring them, I'd pick up another book.
Sarah Chamberlain cooked up a scrumptious, cozy debut romance that will have you hungry for more.
Favorite Line(s):
"You and me against the world?"
"You and me against this deadline."
"Sad pastry is better than no pastry."
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of this ARC.
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
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
I am stunned that this is Chamberlain's debut novel. It read as though it came from a seasoned, long-published, writing professional. While I'm sad I don't get any backlist, I am genuinely excited for what she does next. The way she treated the various ways that grief presents, as well as the differences in how love "shows up" for people, was done with care and empathy. I also adored that while the FMC was clearly not a size 6, and the MMC was not a jacked 6'5" muscular dude with abs for days, the author didn't beat the reader over the head with their "normalness" (not a word, got it!). I felt like I was reading about real people, with real problems, finding real love, and navigating life. Stellar, lovely first published novel! π
emotional
lighthearted
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
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
βThe Slowest Burnβ is a romance between two real people as they navigate writing a cook book together and finding love and growth along the way. I was surprised to find that this book, unlike many other romance books, is not smoothed over with glossy, perfect people. In this story, we find both characters navigating through a personal growth story - overcoming difficult family trauma, finding their purpose and choosing love. This story had sweet, romantic moments. It was heavy-hearted at times, and while that is not always attractive to readers, itβs important and true to real life.
For those who enjoy:
π₯ Slow Burn
π₯ Forced Proximity
π₯ Chef + Cookbook Writer
π₯ Family Issues
π₯ Neurodivergent Rep
π₯ Dual POV
π₯ Fake Dating
π₯ Grief
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
For those who enjoy:
π₯ Slow Burn
π₯ Forced Proximity
π₯ Chef + Cookbook Writer
π₯ Family Issues
π₯ Neurodivergent Rep
π₯ Dual POV
π₯ Fake Dating
π₯ Grief
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.