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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
adventurous
emotional
funny
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:
Yes
Received aKindle Arc of The Slowest Burn in return for an honest review, thank you to NetGalley, the author and St Martin's press for a chance to read prior to publication.
The Slowest Burn is a very cute story of Ellie, a recent widow and ghostwriter for, ... cookbooks (is this a thing?)
Kieran, the chef she will be assisting has some sad stuff in his past and present also that pops up as the two mix recipes and banter.
This book is a light and tame rom-com, but actually has really heavy topics weaved in nicely. Loss of a loved one, alcoholism, childhood trauma, these are all tackled while still keeping an airy feeling to the story line.
The characters feel genuine, and while there are a few typical rom-com scenarios placed, this really felt quite original. I'm food-centric and the imagery of cooking, meals and strategizing Kieran's coobook and story was really fun. Many moments felt similar to Lucy Score and Tessa Bailey books with a little less spice, which isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you need a nice happily ever after, and this is it.
The Slowest Burn is a very cute story of Ellie, a recent widow and ghostwriter for, ... cookbooks (is this a thing?)
Kieran, the chef she will be assisting has some sad stuff in his past and present also that pops up as the two mix recipes and banter.
This book is a light and tame rom-com, but actually has really heavy topics weaved in nicely. Loss of a loved one, alcoholism, childhood trauma, these are all tackled while still keeping an airy feeling to the story line.
The characters feel genuine, and while there are a few typical rom-com scenarios placed, this really felt quite original. I'm food-centric and the imagery of cooking, meals and strategizing Kieran's coobook and story was really fun. Many moments felt similar to Lucy Score and Tessa Bailey books with a little less spice, which isn't a bad thing. Sometimes you need a nice happily ever after, and this is it.
emotional
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Publishing for the ARC! This book was a quick read that really captured my attention and kept it. It is very much a slow burn, as advertised. The only trope I don’t enjoy in slow burns, or any pace romance, is miscommunication/lack of communication. It was resolved pretty quickly. Overall the book was very well written and an exciting debut for this author!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
3.5 ☆☆☆
One thing that really stuck out to me about this book is how unique it was! I've never read or seen a book with this plot before and that made it even more fun!
The tropes in this book? Literally could not stop squealing :) Ellie and Kieran totally gave workplace enemies to lovers and I'm here for it! The way they worked together and slowly started opening up to each other made me swoon. Kieran is such an amazing mmc, he's so so sweet and made me literally laughed out loud so many times, i love him! I also really connected with Ellie and love how strong of an fmc she was. But them together? Unstoppable.
Another aspect of this book I adored was the realness & hard truth of battling mental health. I love when an author can bring real life struggles to a book and make you feel heard, Sarah did just that!
Such a cute story! I'm obsessed with the way these two are together, I could nottt get enough of the cooking scenes because them together is INSANE chemistry!
It was definitely the slowest burn (wink, wink), but so worth the wait!
One thing that really stuck out to me about this book is how unique it was! I've never read or seen a book with this plot before and that made it even more fun!
The tropes in this book? Literally could not stop squealing :) Ellie and Kieran totally gave workplace enemies to lovers and I'm here for it! The way they worked together and slowly started opening up to each other made me swoon. Kieran is such an amazing mmc, he's so so sweet and made me literally laughed out loud so many times, i love him! I also really connected with Ellie and love how strong of an fmc she was. But them together? Unstoppable.
Another aspect of this book I adored was the realness & hard truth of battling mental health. I love when an author can bring real life struggles to a book and make you feel heard, Sarah did just that!
Such a cute story! I'm obsessed with the way these two are together, I could nottt get enough of the cooking scenes because them together is INSANE chemistry!
It was definitely the slowest burn (wink, wink), but so worth the wait!
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a cute read! It took a while for me to get into it, but I caught myself thinking about it throughout my day so that has to count for something! I thought multiple times how this book would be a cute rom-com movie as well.
Ellie and Kieran are total opposites and are forced to work together when Kieran, a chef who’s writing a cookbook, and Ellie, a ghostwriter for said cookbook, get teamed up. Initially they can’t stand each other but over time they grow to understand one another.
I didn’t expect the depth to the characters that this book brought and that was definitely a plus but I still had a hard time loving the book 100%. I think it was their chemistry- I thought they were cute together and at times could see the chemistry more than other times. It just didn’t give me the “swoon-y” feelings that I normally get when I love two characters together, but I’m glad that I read it nonetheless.
3/5 ⭐️
2.5-3/5
Ellie and Kieran are total opposites and are forced to work together when Kieran, a chef who’s writing a cookbook, and Ellie, a ghostwriter for said cookbook, get teamed up. Initially they can’t stand each other but over time they grow to understand one another.
I didn’t expect the depth to the characters that this book brought and that was definitely a plus but I still had a hard time loving the book 100%. I think it was their chemistry- I thought they were cute together and at times could see the chemistry more than other times. It just didn’t give me the “swoon-y” feelings that I normally get when I love two characters together, but I’m glad that I read it nonetheless.
3/5 ⭐️
2.5-3/5
hopeful
fast-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
A little too heart-on-its sleeve for me - Kiernan and Ellie's chef-themed enemies to coworkers to lovers romance fits perfectly inside a Bon Appetit inspired world, but could use a little more maturity, particularly when it comes to Kiernan's character.
I really really appreciated the complex family dynamics in Ellie's life though. Early widowhood (which is also explored in one of my Faves, Float Away) and eldest-daughter syndrome are primed to break your heart here, but not in a cheap way. I loved the conflict between Ellie and her in-laws, and almost wished that had been the primary story line, with the romance as more of a supporting role.
Thank you to St Martin's for the ARC, out 26 September
I really really appreciated the complex family dynamics in Ellie's life though. Early widowhood (which is also explored in one of my Faves, Float Away) and eldest-daughter syndrome are primed to break your heart here, but not in a cheap way. I loved the conflict between Ellie and her in-laws, and almost wished that had been the primary story line, with the romance as more of a supporting role.
Thank you to St Martin's for the ARC, out 26 September
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
“The reason no one has put me in charge of America’s nuclear secrets is that I’d give them all away for a basket of French fries” 🍟
Thank you to the author + NetGalley.com for this Advanced Readers Copy
This was exactly what the title says — slowest burn. BUT that lends so much space for growth and deep communication. I’ll be honest, I noted in chapter 4 that if Kieran (the MMC) hadn’t been as self-aware as he was.. I probably would have DNF’d at that point due to what I considered outward awkwardness, immaturity and cringe. I grew to absolutely love him, even more than Ellie our FMC. Ellie who was widowed young is relatable in the sense that during such a tragic time you want to cling to anything that feels safe/normal. She struggled with creating boundaries and as a reader it was hard to endure how Ellie felt about herself. This felt like a solid 4 star read, and I did cry at least once.
Thank you to the author + NetGalley.com for this Advanced Readers Copy
This was exactly what the title says — slowest burn. BUT that lends so much space for growth and deep communication. I’ll be honest, I noted in chapter 4 that if Kieran (the MMC) hadn’t been as self-aware as he was.. I probably would have DNF’d at that point due to what I considered outward awkwardness, immaturity and cringe. I grew to absolutely love him, even more than Ellie our FMC. Ellie who was widowed young is relatable in the sense that during such a tragic time you want to cling to anything that feels safe/normal. She struggled with creating boundaries and as a reader it was hard to endure how Ellie felt about herself. This felt like a solid 4 star read, and I did cry at least once.
emotional
lighthearted
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I will preface this: this is not a slow burn. More of a slow story and slow build. I wasn’t hooked from the beginning and it took longer for me to get through than most books because I didn’t feel connected to their story. I hope none of us ever can relate to being a widow in our 20s/30s, but I know that’s not the reality. There is a lot of sadness in this book around family dynamics that were rough to read through.
There’s a lot of buzz around this debut novel focused on opposites attract. While I normally love a good contemporary romance, and I wanted to love it, this wasn’t my cuppa.
Ellie and Kieran find their way together while writing his book. There is a third act breakup which is a bit on the nose pertaining to how women are viewed and treated differently in their careers… With the side character best friends, the traumatic family dynamics, and two working professionals so stuck in their people pleasing ways that they don’t even know what they truly want, it is giving meh 90s/00s “straight to VHS/DVD” vibes.
2.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Commentary below…
TROPES
Widow
Ghostwriter/Celebrity Chef
Forced Proximity
Opposites attract
He falls first
Neurodivergent rep: ADHD, dyslexia
Sober rep
Debut novel focused on opposites attracts.
What I want to say based on my original hopes for the hype around this book:
Short Kings rejoice. Kieran O’Neill is here to save your day at 5’7”.
Short and curvy gals rejoice! Ellie is our queeeeen.
…but I don’t know if either are truly worthy of wearing a crown.
Kieran’s parents are absolute trash towards him and cannot forgive him for his adolescent angst and struggle to believe in the adult he has become. No wonder why he is estranged from them and avoided them successfully for 5 years. Ellie comes in and sticks it to both his parents while celebrating the man Kieran is. This was a cute moment in the book where we see Ellie show up and believe in him.
On the flip side, Ellie comes with a lot of baggage. Broken family, widow, living in the cottage behind her in-laws house, with a co-dependent little brother, and people pleasing her way to stay numb while everyone else around her gets what they want from her. Kieran does help her see her worth, because it is a HEA.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.
There’s a lot of buzz around this debut novel focused on opposites attract. While I normally love a good contemporary romance, and I wanted to love it, this wasn’t my cuppa.
Ellie and Kieran find their way together while writing his book. There is a third act breakup which is a bit on the nose pertaining to how women are viewed and treated differently in their careers… With the side character best friends, the traumatic family dynamics, and two working professionals so stuck in their people pleasing ways that they don’t even know what they truly want, it is giving meh 90s/00s “straight to VHS/DVD” vibes.
2.5 ⭐️
2 🌶️
Commentary below…
TROPES
Widow
Ghostwriter/Celebrity Chef
Forced Proximity
Opposites attract
He falls first
Neurodivergent rep: ADHD, dyslexia
Sober rep
Debut novel focused on opposites attracts.
What I want to say based on my original hopes for the hype around this book:
Short Kings rejoice. Kieran O’Neill is here to save your day at 5’7”.
Short and curvy gals rejoice! Ellie is our queeeeen.
…but I don’t know if either are truly worthy of wearing a crown.
Kieran’s parents are absolute trash towards him and cannot forgive him for his adolescent angst and struggle to believe in the adult he has become. No wonder why he is estranged from them and avoided them successfully for 5 years. Ellie comes in and sticks it to both his parents while celebrating the man Kieran is. This was a cute moment in the book where we see Ellie show up and believe in him.
On the flip side, Ellie comes with a lot of baggage. Broken family, widow, living in the cottage behind her in-laws house, with a co-dependent little brother, and people pleasing her way to stay numb while everyone else around her gets what they want from her. Kieran does help her see her worth, because it is a HEA.
Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the eARC.