mandyfg 's review for:

Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver

3.0

adventurous challenging emotional lighthearted medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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This book was good but maybe my expectations were higher? I went into Slow Burn Summer expecting full rom-com vibes, something a bit different and dreamier and maybe that’s on me. The book is still a fun read, though. The premise is: Kate Elliott, fresh off a messy divorce and feeling lost, gets hired to pretend she wrote a bestselling romance. Her boss is a brooding agency owner juggling grief, legacy pressure, and he has a mystery manuscript he can’t publish under the real authors name.

Without giving much away, brace yourself cause the slow burn part is very real. But I didn’t feel THAT spark. It’s more like slow-building tension without delivering big passion or romance. 

Middle of the book dragged for me. I hated that part of the story and how it felt like no one protected Kate in such a difficult spot. I also kind of wished the “real author reveal” and Kate’s ex backstory were explored a bit more - kinda felt rushed.

Still no hate—there’s heart. Kate’s arc about reinventing herself, Charlie’s journey hacking out his own path, and the sister bond grounding everything made it soft and relatable. But for someone expecting full romance, it’s a quiet simmer not a fireworks show.

Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and author for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review!