A review by laurensofar
The Slowest Burn by Sarah Chamberlain

challenging emotional funny hopeful lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

2.75

It felt like all the “best” ingredients were gathered together but not in a way that makes for a good dish. There were so many plot points and tropes that were half baked and then glossed over for the next plot point and to add in another trope. The romance wasn’t really a slow burn but also didn’t really have any chemistry? I think I should have known from the tagline on the cover that this one wasn’t for me. Also, there was one point where the pov was incorrect for a sentence which got me jumbled. The best love story in the book was Ellie and her father-in-law, Ben. 

Still giving it a few stars because I enjoyed the premise and the characters, just wish they had been given more depth to work with.

ALSO — the second they mentioned the age Ellie met her husband, I could not get behind the man and marriage being good. While she was nineteen when they met, he was still 5(?) years older and essentially groomed her (the literally discussed how he and his mother made her into the perfect wife). I had no sympathy for this dead man nor his mother at the end.