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Slow Burn Summer
A talent agent hires an actress to play the part of “novelist” on a book tour for his agency’s publicity-shy client
She’s playing the part of romance author, but has she found her own real life love story?
Talent agent Charlie Francisco has three problems: a divorce that ended his screenwriting career, a business he never planned to inherit, and a take-your-breath-away romance novel whose author wants nothing to do with its publication. The book is a surefire hit, if only his agency can find someone to “play” author on its summer book tour.
Enter Kate Elliott, a former soap actress who’s miraculously right for the part at the very moment her life seems to be going all wrong. Kate is still recovering from her own divorce and Charlie’s job offer is a lifeline. She agrees to the pretense for all interviews, signings, and appearances surrounding the novel’s publication. But she can’t know who really wrote the remarkable story—the one so beautiful it’s made her believe in love again.
When Kate and Charlie meet they’re all friction and sparks—the one thing they have in common is they’re determined to play their respective parts. But as the summer heat ups and the lies get bigger and bigger, can they stick to their lines . . . or will they go off-script?
She’s playing the part of romance author, but has she found her own real life love story?
Talent agent Charlie Francisco has three problems: a divorce that ended his screenwriting career, a business he never planned to inherit, and a take-your-breath-away romance novel whose author wants nothing to do with its publication. The book is a surefire hit, if only his agency can find someone to “play” author on its summer book tour.
Enter Kate Elliott, a former soap actress who’s miraculously right for the part at the very moment her life seems to be going all wrong. Kate is still recovering from her own divorce and Charlie’s job offer is a lifeline. She agrees to the pretense for all interviews, signings, and appearances surrounding the novel’s publication. But she can’t know who really wrote the remarkable story—the one so beautiful it’s made her believe in love again.
When Kate and Charlie meet they’re all friction and sparks—the one thing they have in common is they’re determined to play their respective parts. But as the summer heat ups and the lies get bigger and bigger, can they stick to their lines . . . or will they go off-script?
352 pages, Paperback
First published June 10, 2025
536 people are currently reading
39878 people want to read
About the author
Josie Silver
7 books8,560 followersJosie lives in a small English town with her husband, their two sons, plus a changing cast of cats, dogs and fish. She writes full-time in a studio at the bottom of the garden.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,486 reviews
May 13, 2025
RTC this didn’t really hit for me.
This has been on my CR shelf for over a month lol I'm actually really starting it right now lol.
Time for a summertime romance 😍 I’ll post a trope list in just a bit. Internet is down and operating only on the app sucks 😩
🩷Agent x Actress
✨Hilarious Banter
🔥Slow Burn
📖Contemporary Romance
Expected Pub Date - 06/10/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own.
This has been on my CR shelf for over a month lol I'm actually really starting it right now lol.
Time for a summertime romance 😍 I’ll post a trope list in just a bit. Internet is down and operating only on the app sucks 😩
🩷Agent x Actress
✨Hilarious Banter
🔥Slow Burn
📖Contemporary Romance
Expected Pub Date - 06/10/25
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the advanced digital copy - all thoughts are my own.
June 15, 2025
I love Josie Silver’s tear-jerking, heartfelt romance style, and this time, she decided to write a romcom—though maybe we should call it a comrom because, in my opinion, the funny and silly parts of the book, paired with the brilliant and refreshing sarcastic tone in the creation of Kate Elliott, probably overshadowed the slow-burn romance between Kate and Charlie, which still needs some development. I have to admit,
I didn’t enjoy the romance parts of the book as much. I’d describe them more as attraction between two people who are holding on to each other after enduring terrible divorces. But I’m telling you, Kate’s characterization in this book deserves 10 stars! She’s one of a kind—literally wearing her feelings, unfiltered, honest, genuine, funny, and so easy to resonate with. She creates an urge to give her millions of hugs! I absolutely loved her! And as a supporting character, Liv steals the scenes as the best sister anyone could wish for!
The book’s unique concept immediately grabs your attention. Kate Elliott, at 39, is a former promising teen actress who married young at 19 and moved to Germany for her husband, raising their daughter Alice. Years later, she catches her husband in the worst cliché: cheating with his secretary. Her daughter is off to college, and Kate is left without a penny, thanks to the tight ironclad prenup she signed. After a few glasses of wine, she pens a letter to her former agent, Jojo, asking for any acting job she can get. This leads her to Charlie Francisco, Jojo’s son, who inherited his father’s business and offers her an intriguing job: to pose as a romance author for a new book whose author wants to remain anonymous.
After reading the powerful book, Kate is on board, even though she has to deal with the cutthroat Fiona, Jojo’s longtime business partner, who puts extra pressure on her with condescending comments. But at least Charlie, with his whiskey-cola-colored eyes, is in her corner. She starts to resist the sizzling attraction between them because she has a compelling job to focus on—attending popular radio shows, appearing on morning shows, and signing books at reading festivals.
Meanwhile, Kate keeps corresponding with the real author, who goes by “H,” wondering if he’s a man, while also dealing with her daughter’s possible romance with an Aussie, taking things a bit too far.
Yes, her life is far from easy, and some unexpected events push her into a crisis. Kate is forced to confront her life priorities and make better choices for her future, for the sake of her loved ones.
Overall, while I didn’t love the romance parts, I adored Kate. She may be one of the best romance characters I’ve read about recently. Her intelligence, quirkiness, and goofiness make her even more lovable. I chose to consider this book more women’s fiction and comedy than romance, which is why I rounded up my 3.5 stars to 4 for my unconditional adoration of Kate! This book is a bit different from Silver’s previous works—less dramatic, more entertaining, and hopeful. I actually loved this change and hope she continues to create more colorful characters while sharing her humorous writing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this highly entertaining book’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I didn’t enjoy the romance parts of the book as much. I’d describe them more as attraction between two people who are holding on to each other after enduring terrible divorces. But I’m telling you, Kate’s characterization in this book deserves 10 stars! She’s one of a kind—literally wearing her feelings, unfiltered, honest, genuine, funny, and so easy to resonate with. She creates an urge to give her millions of hugs! I absolutely loved her! And as a supporting character, Liv steals the scenes as the best sister anyone could wish for!
The book’s unique concept immediately grabs your attention. Kate Elliott, at 39, is a former promising teen actress who married young at 19 and moved to Germany for her husband, raising their daughter Alice. Years later, she catches her husband in the worst cliché: cheating with his secretary. Her daughter is off to college, and Kate is left without a penny, thanks to the tight ironclad prenup she signed. After a few glasses of wine, she pens a letter to her former agent, Jojo, asking for any acting job she can get. This leads her to Charlie Francisco, Jojo’s son, who inherited his father’s business and offers her an intriguing job: to pose as a romance author for a new book whose author wants to remain anonymous.
After reading the powerful book, Kate is on board, even though she has to deal with the cutthroat Fiona, Jojo’s longtime business partner, who puts extra pressure on her with condescending comments. But at least Charlie, with his whiskey-cola-colored eyes, is in her corner. She starts to resist the sizzling attraction between them because she has a compelling job to focus on—attending popular radio shows, appearing on morning shows, and signing books at reading festivals.
Meanwhile, Kate keeps corresponding with the real author, who goes by “H,” wondering if he’s a man, while also dealing with her daughter’s possible romance with an Aussie, taking things a bit too far.
Yes, her life is far from easy, and some unexpected events push her into a crisis. Kate is forced to confront her life priorities and make better choices for her future, for the sake of her loved ones.
Overall, while I didn’t love the romance parts, I adored Kate. She may be one of the best romance characters I’ve read about recently. Her intelligence, quirkiness, and goofiness make her even more lovable. I chose to consider this book more women’s fiction and comedy than romance, which is why I rounded up my 3.5 stars to 4 for my unconditional adoration of Kate! This book is a bit different from Silver’s previous works—less dramatic, more entertaining, and hopeful. I actually loved this change and hope she continues to create more colorful characters while sharing her humorous writing.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for sharing this highly entertaining book’s digital review copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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June 10, 2025
Talent agent Charlie Francisco (with his whiskey cola eyes) needs to hire an Actress to play the part of “Debut Novelist” for a Romance book written by an author who writes bestsellers in a completely different genre. It sounds simple at first-create a name and author bio-take a professional photo-and voilà-an author named Kate Darrowby is born! No chance of a pseudonym getting traced back to the author who wants to remain anonymous, when the book has a different name and face attached to the work. The marketing strategy is unique but what could go wrong?
Kate Elliott, a former soap opera Actress, is in need of a fresh start, so after reading “The Power of Love” -which just may be the BEST romance that she has ever read-she signs the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) agreeing to play the part. After all, it should just be a few interviews, and a couple of book signings and Public appearances during a Summer Tour when the novel is released for Publication.
Aided by Kate’s charming personality, the popularity of the book takes on a life of its own UNTIL…🤐 (No spoilers here!)
I was immediately engaged by this story-curling up on my couch with my kitten, and enjoying the glimpse we are given into the World of Publishing and the life of an author! I loved Kate’s relationship with her sister, Liv, and reading this made me miss my Sister who I haven’t seen since last Fall. The first half of the story only hints at a potential romance, which takes a back seat to the story described, which was fine by me, but something to expect when you pick this one up.
The second half, while STILL enjoyable, wasn’t as strong for me as the humor didn’t always hit-becoming a bit too slapstick for my personal taste, and the romance seemed to develop just a little TOO quickly, preventing this from earning all the stars-
BUT it’s still a book that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!
One fun addition to the book-there is a deleted scene after the epilogue which I believe was originally the prologue of this story. I am glad it was deleted but it will be fun to hear if you think it should have been left in!
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews for additional opinions!
This book is NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Dell for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
Kate Elliott, a former soap opera Actress, is in need of a fresh start, so after reading “The Power of Love” -which just may be the BEST romance that she has ever read-she signs the NDA (non-disclosure agreement) agreeing to play the part. After all, it should just be a few interviews, and a couple of book signings and Public appearances during a Summer Tour when the novel is released for Publication.
Aided by Kate’s charming personality, the popularity of the book takes on a life of its own UNTIL…🤐 (No spoilers here!)
I was immediately engaged by this story-curling up on my couch with my kitten, and enjoying the glimpse we are given into the World of Publishing and the life of an author! I loved Kate’s relationship with her sister, Liv, and reading this made me miss my Sister who I haven’t seen since last Fall. The first half of the story only hints at a potential romance, which takes a back seat to the story described, which was fine by me, but something to expect when you pick this one up.
The second half, while STILL enjoyable, wasn’t as strong for me as the humor didn’t always hit-becoming a bit too slapstick for my personal taste, and the romance seemed to develop just a little TOO quickly, preventing this from earning all the stars-
BUT it’s still a book that I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend!
One fun addition to the book-there is a deleted scene after the epilogue which I believe was originally the prologue of this story. I am glad it was deleted but it will be fun to hear if you think it should have been left in!
A buddy read with MarilynW and DeAnn. Be sure to watch for their amazing reviews for additional opinions!
This book is NOW AVAILABLE!
Thank You to Dell for the gifted ARC provided by NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts!
May 16, 2025
First off, thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine for granting me access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Josie Silver is one of my all-time favorite authors! "One Day in December" and "A Winter in New York" are both five star reads for me, so it honestly pains me to say this one didn't quite land in the same park. The cover gives off sweet, cozy, slowburn rom-com vibes but that's not what this story delivers.
If you're picking this up expecting a heartfelt romance, be warned! The romance feels like an afterthought, maybe 10% of the plot at best. There's little build-up, no real chemistry or development between the main characters, and when they suddenly declared their love, I found myself thinking, Wait, what?!! It just didn't feel earned.
That said, it's not that I didn't enjoy the book, because I did. It simply wasn't the story I thought I was getting. If I had gone in with the mindset that this was women's fiction rather than a romance, I think it would have hit differently. There are definitely fun and heartfelt moments scattered throughout. The T-Rex costume scene? Absolutely hilarious!! I'm still smiling thinking about it.🤣
I also really appreciated the unique plot centered around a reader's love for books and authors. Kate's sister was a standout character that is both strong, supportive, and someone I genuinely loved. At its heart, this is a story about grief, not just the grief of losing a loved one, but also the grief of losing yourself, and ultimately, finding your way back.
In conclusion, while this wasn't a new favorite, I still enjoyed it overall. And will I keep reading Josie Silver's books? Without question, resoundingly yes! ⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫
*3.5 stars rounded up to 4 stars*
May 4, 2025
Ready, Set, Action! 🎬
Kate was an up and coming young actress when she gave it all up to follow the man of her dreams. Now years later, she finds herself divorced and virtually penniless. With no other option, she considers restarting her acting career.
Guess what Kate, you’re about to get the role of a lifetime!
Kate’s former agent has passed, but his son Charlie is running the firm and about to drop a unicorn of a job opportunity onto Kate’s lap.
A successful bestselling author has just penned a romance. But they don’t want to be associated with the book, as it’s a completely different genre.
Enter Kate, now starring in the role of ghost author. Doing all the publicity events, acting as though she is the actual author.
I can’t imagine anything going wrong in this scenario…can you?
This was a fun rom-com. Kate’s character gave off a very go with the flow kind of vibe, no matter what was thrown at her. Not sure I could have done the same in her shoes. The romance itself could have used a bit more chemistry but maybe that’s just a me thing?💁🏼♀️
Though this may not have been a favorite by Josie Silver, (my previous reads from her were all five stars) I still enjoyed overall. I can never pass up the opportunity to read one of her books and luckily enough I have one more sitting on my shelf whispering "read me Kaceey".
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing
Kate was an up and coming young actress when she gave it all up to follow the man of her dreams. Now years later, she finds herself divorced and virtually penniless. With no other option, she considers restarting her acting career.
Guess what Kate, you’re about to get the role of a lifetime!
Kate’s former agent has passed, but his son Charlie is running the firm and about to drop a unicorn of a job opportunity onto Kate’s lap.
A successful bestselling author has just penned a romance. But they don’t want to be associated with the book, as it’s a completely different genre.
Enter Kate, now starring in the role of ghost author. Doing all the publicity events, acting as though she is the actual author.
I can’t imagine anything going wrong in this scenario…can you?
This was a fun rom-com. Kate’s character gave off a very go with the flow kind of vibe, no matter what was thrown at her. Not sure I could have done the same in her shoes. The romance itself could have used a bit more chemistry but maybe that’s just a me thing?💁🏼♀️
Though this may not have been a favorite by Josie Silver, (my previous reads from her were all five stars) I still enjoyed overall. I can never pass up the opportunity to read one of her books and luckily enough I have one more sitting on my shelf whispering "read me Kaceey".
Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing
Want to read
June 10, 2025Happy publication day to Slow Burn Summer! 🥳🎉
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
I was just offered my first ever VIP package from Random House/Dell Romance for this book! 🤗🎉
I loved One Day in December and I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work!
So excited! 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼ ҉ ✼
I was just offered my first ever VIP package from Random House/Dell Romance for this book! 🤗🎉
I loved One Day in December and I’m looking forward to reading more of this author’s work!
So excited! 🤸♀️🤸♀️🤸♀️
July 17, 2025
If you want to know the truth about me, there is this one little fact. I am usually a fan girl of Josie Silver. Every time I find out she has written a book, I want to read it. I love to get lost between the pages of one of her stories. I typically find myself engaged with her lovable, and deserving characters who are usually in the midst of second chances or something life-changing in their lives.
Silver has a way of telling her story that allows readers to step right in and want what is best for her characters, too.
With this book, Silver introduces readers immediately to her protagonist Kate. Readers learn that about 20 years ago, Kate gave up a promising acting career for love. Only to be burned by her husband and his pre-nup, about 20 years later. Can Kate hope that maybe her former agent might take her back?
As it so happens, her former agent died. But, his son, Charlie who has taken over his father’s business (reluctantly) may have a job for her. A different kind of job.
Never could Kate imagine that this “acting” job would be serving as the “ghost author” of a romance novel that the established author does not want to be associated with because it does not “fit their brand.” Could this be the beginning to something that Kate actually wants for herself?
But most importantly, can Kate pull off this acting fete? Can Charlie step comfortably into his father’s shoes as an agent? Are these the roles these two were meant to have? And, let us not forget the original author. Because readers don’t know who this author is, either! What mystery surrounds them?
As a ‘slow-burn’ romance it is a pleasant, witty, and heart-felt charmer. Not perfect, or my favorite of Silver’s, but still an easy read that most readers will most likely gravitate to this summer!
Silver has a way of telling her story that allows readers to step right in and want what is best for her characters, too.
With this book, Silver introduces readers immediately to her protagonist Kate. Readers learn that about 20 years ago, Kate gave up a promising acting career for love. Only to be burned by her husband and his pre-nup, about 20 years later. Can Kate hope that maybe her former agent might take her back?
As it so happens, her former agent died. But, his son, Charlie who has taken over his father’s business (reluctantly) may have a job for her. A different kind of job.
Never could Kate imagine that this “acting” job would be serving as the “ghost author” of a romance novel that the established author does not want to be associated with because it does not “fit their brand.” Could this be the beginning to something that Kate actually wants for herself?
But most importantly, can Kate pull off this acting fete? Can Charlie step comfortably into his father’s shoes as an agent? Are these the roles these two were meant to have? And, let us not forget the original author. Because readers don’t know who this author is, either! What mystery surrounds them?
As a ‘slow-burn’ romance it is a pleasant, witty, and heart-felt charmer. Not perfect, or my favorite of Silver’s, but still an easy read that most readers will most likely gravitate to this summer!
June 22, 2025
3.5-4⭐️ Divorced talent agent, Charlie Francisco, is in need of someone to “play author” for the book that’s sure to be the biggest hit of the year, but whose actual author wants to remain anonymous. Kate Elliot, a recently divorced former soap opera actress, needs a job quickly. But as their arrangement leads to chaos, and the lies grow bigger, their slow burn summer begins to spark.
I usually find myself chomping at the bit the second a new Josie Silver is announced. Offering her readers the quintessential cozy (and British) romance, her books are like balm to the soul even as they tackle some of the more emotional topics. While this one ended up not quite a favorite, there is still quite a lot I enjoyed about it.
The romance is slow burn (I mean, HELLO, it’s in the name). But it is the type of slow burn that gives us that great tension building dynamic between our main characters, as we also get to know each character individually as well. As always, the side characters add sparkle and humor to the story, particularly Liv and their sweet sisterly bond, but my favorite character was definitely Kate who has to be one of the most relatable characters I have ever read.
🎧 I read this book primarily with my ears, and while I don’t think the audiobook or narrator added or subtracted from the story, it was still a fun, charming listen.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️late 30’s MCs
▪️books about books
▪️slow burn romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️ghost writing chaos
▪️forced proximity
▪️emotional romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Random House and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
My updated Josie Silver Ranking:
One Night on the Island
One Day in December
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
A Winter in New York
Slow Burn Summer
I usually find myself chomping at the bit the second a new Josie Silver is announced. Offering her readers the quintessential cozy (and British) romance, her books are like balm to the soul even as they tackle some of the more emotional topics. While this one ended up not quite a favorite, there is still quite a lot I enjoyed about it.
The romance is slow burn (I mean, HELLO, it’s in the name). But it is the type of slow burn that gives us that great tension building dynamic between our main characters, as we also get to know each character individually as well. As always, the side characters add sparkle and humor to the story, particularly Liv and their sweet sisterly bond, but my favorite character was definitely Kate who has to be one of the most relatable characters I have ever read.
🎧 I read this book primarily with my ears, and while I don’t think the audiobook or narrator added or subtracted from the story, it was still a fun, charming listen.
Read if you like:
▪️women’s fiction
▪️late 30’s MCs
▪️books about books
▪️slow burn romance
▪️friends to lovers
▪️ghost writing chaos
▪️forced proximity
▪️emotional romance
Check out my Bookstagram post here ♥
Thank you Random House and PRH Audio for the gifted copies.
My updated Josie Silver Ranking:
One Night on the Island
One Day in December
The Two Lives of Lydia Bird
A Winter in New York
Slow Burn Summer
July 27, 2025
*Many thanks to NetGalley for providing me an E-Arc in exchange for an honest review!*
4 out of 5 stars!
Josie Silver once again proves why she’s a standout voice in contemporary romance with Slow Burn—a beautifully written, emotionally layered story that lives up to its name in the very best way. Known for her ability to capture the quiet intensity of love, Silver crafts a heartfelt narrative full of longing, vulnerability, and hope.
The characters are richly developed, with emotional arcs that feel authentic and deeply human. The romance unfolds gradually, allowing readers to savor every glance, every unspoken feeling, and every moment of connection. Silver’s prose is lyrical without being overdone, and her attention to emotional detail creates a love story that lingers long after the last page.
Slow Burn isn’t just a romance—it’s a meditation on timing, healing, and the slow, sometimes painful, beauty of letting someone in. Fans of her earlier work (like me) will recognize the emotional intelligence and warmth that defines her writing, but this novel feels even more mature and resonant.
An absolute gem for readers who love romance that simmers with quiet intensity and delivers a satisfying, soul-deep payoff.
___________________________
I’m expecting infinity amount of yearnings to be in this book!
4 out of 5 stars!
Josie Silver once again proves why she’s a standout voice in contemporary romance with Slow Burn—a beautifully written, emotionally layered story that lives up to its name in the very best way. Known for her ability to capture the quiet intensity of love, Silver crafts a heartfelt narrative full of longing, vulnerability, and hope.
The characters are richly developed, with emotional arcs that feel authentic and deeply human. The romance unfolds gradually, allowing readers to savor every glance, every unspoken feeling, and every moment of connection. Silver’s prose is lyrical without being overdone, and her attention to emotional detail creates a love story that lingers long after the last page.
Slow Burn isn’t just a romance—it’s a meditation on timing, healing, and the slow, sometimes painful, beauty of letting someone in. Fans of her earlier work (like me) will recognize the emotional intelligence and warmth that defines her writing, but this novel feels even more mature and resonant.
An absolute gem for readers who love romance that simmers with quiet intensity and delivers a satisfying, soul-deep payoff.
___________________________
I’m expecting infinity amount of yearnings to be in this book!
July 4, 2025
This book had me trying to predict and figure out what was going to happen throughout the ENTIRE read. It’s safe to say I was surprised multiple times and never expected what was around the corner. There were so many laugh out loud moments too it was just so good.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
When Kate Elliot was younger, she enjoyed her job as a soap opera actress. But life drastically changed when she met the so called “love of her life” and dropped her dreams to marry and start a family. Now years down the road, she wishes she would have listened to the advice on not to throw her passions away—because all she’s been left with is a nasty divorce and no career plans… that is until she reaches out to an old boss and gets called in for an interview for a very specific job.
Charlie Francisco is a talent agent who is struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps and attempting to run the business he unexpectedly inherited when his father died. Not only is he overwhelmed with a job that he can’t seem to fill the shoes of, he also has to find someone to act as the author of a romance novel for a summer tour in which the real author wants no part of other than to get the book published.
It seems like a true moment of fate when Charlie finds Kate’s letter that she sent to his dad, and she seems like the perfect fit for the ghost author job. Enter in “Kate Darrowby”—the new author of The Power of Love.
Come along for a bumpy ride full of twisted lies & complicated feelings as Kate and Charlie get closer together and tangled up in what’s true and what’s not. Will they make it through the summer, or will the lies catch up to them and bring them down?
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The plot for this story was phenomenal. I was engaged 100% through the entire read. I rate it a 4.5 ⭐️ only because the romance really took a seat in the back for a large chunk of the story. I feel like the chemistry between the two main characters wasn’t near as deep as I was anticipating. The story in and of itself made up where the relationship aspect lacked though. I loved seeing the real struggles and growth Kate dealt with and how she came out stronger in the end. I cannot stress enough how impressed I was with her character and morals, too. She’s so honest and truly wants the best for everyone else around her—even if that means she gets drug through the dirt. She is a 10/10 character 🤝🏼
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things to know about the book ↓
📖 slow burn
📚 strangers->friends->lovers
📖workplace romance
📚 dual pov
📖 written in third person
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Josie Silver for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
When Kate Elliot was younger, she enjoyed her job as a soap opera actress. But life drastically changed when she met the so called “love of her life” and dropped her dreams to marry and start a family. Now years down the road, she wishes she would have listened to the advice on not to throw her passions away—because all she’s been left with is a nasty divorce and no career plans… that is until she reaches out to an old boss and gets called in for an interview for a very specific job.
Charlie Francisco is a talent agent who is struggling to follow in his father’s footsteps and attempting to run the business he unexpectedly inherited when his father died. Not only is he overwhelmed with a job that he can’t seem to fill the shoes of, he also has to find someone to act as the author of a romance novel for a summer tour in which the real author wants no part of other than to get the book published.
It seems like a true moment of fate when Charlie finds Kate’s letter that she sent to his dad, and she seems like the perfect fit for the ghost author job. Enter in “Kate Darrowby”—the new author of The Power of Love.
Come along for a bumpy ride full of twisted lies & complicated feelings as Kate and Charlie get closer together and tangled up in what’s true and what’s not. Will they make it through the summer, or will the lies catch up to them and bring them down?
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
The plot for this story was phenomenal. I was engaged 100% through the entire read. I rate it a 4.5 ⭐️ only because the romance really took a seat in the back for a large chunk of the story. I feel like the chemistry between the two main characters wasn’t near as deep as I was anticipating. The story in and of itself made up where the relationship aspect lacked though. I loved seeing the real struggles and growth Kate dealt with and how she came out stronger in the end. I cannot stress enough how impressed I was with her character and morals, too. She’s so honest and truly wants the best for everyone else around her—even if that means she gets drug through the dirt. She is a 10/10 character 🤝🏼
-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-
things to know about the book ↓
📖 slow burn
📚 strangers->friends->lovers
📖workplace romance
📚 dual pov
📖 written in third person
A huge thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Josie Silver for allowing me to read this arc. These are all my honest opinions in this review.
May 19, 2025
I was so excited for this book, but unfortunately, it just didn’t deliver. I promise I tried to love it—I really did—but I just couldn’t get past the premise. I mean, how can a sane person be okay with taking credit for someone else’s work? That’s just not something I can get behind morally. And then you’re scared the lie will be discovered? Yeah, no thanks.
I ended up DNF’ing at 60%. Up to that point, there was absolutely no romance—it’s supposed to be a slow burn, but honestly, it felt like there wasn’t going to be any romance at all. It leaned way more into women’s fiction. And hear me out: if it had actually been marketed as women’s fiction, I might have enjoyed it more. But I think my expectations going in are what led to my disappointment.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I just screamed when I saw that I got approved for this 😭 thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the eARC 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
I ended up DNF’ing at 60%. Up to that point, there was absolutely no romance—it’s supposed to be a slow burn, but honestly, it felt like there wasn’t going to be any romance at all. It leaned way more into women’s fiction. And hear me out: if it had actually been marketed as women’s fiction, I might have enjoyed it more. But I think my expectations going in are what led to my disappointment.
⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚𝕻𝖗𝖊-𝖗𝖊𝖆𝖉˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆
I just screamed when I saw that I got approved for this 😭 thank you Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and Netgalley for the eARC 💕💕
Find my review on Instagram
June 11, 2025
2,5 stars
I don’t know what this book was—surely not a romance.
Kate is almost forty, freshly divorced, and broke. She badly needs a job, so she accepts a very strange gig: posing as the author of a romance novel. The real author is a big name in a different genre and doesn’t want to be associated with the book, so Kate’s job is to lie to the world and pretend she wrote it.
The whole idea was so bizarre I had trouble relating to it. Kate’s emotional investment—and the way she acted like she’d actually written the book—didn’t sit well with me. She might have been likable if it weren’t for her penchant for lying. Sure, she was hired to fake it, but the ease with which she did it gave me the ick.
The romance between her and her agent, Charlie, felt like an afterthought. They had zero chemistry—really, zilch. The one spicy scene had all the heat of a traffic violation report, and the love declarations made me roll my eyes.
Somehow the book had a decent flow, and the writing wasn’t terrible, so it wasn’t torture to read—but the story was weird, and it didn’t give me the summer-romance butterflies I’d been hoping for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
——
A heroine nearing forty 👀
Thanks Penguin UK and NetGalley for the arc.
I don’t know what this book was—surely not a romance.
Kate is almost forty, freshly divorced, and broke. She badly needs a job, so she accepts a very strange gig: posing as the author of a romance novel. The real author is a big name in a different genre and doesn’t want to be associated with the book, so Kate’s job is to lie to the world and pretend she wrote it.
The whole idea was so bizarre I had trouble relating to it. Kate’s emotional investment—and the way she acted like she’d actually written the book—didn’t sit well with me. She might have been likable if it weren’t for her penchant for lying. Sure, she was hired to fake it, but the ease with which she did it gave me the ick.
The romance between her and her agent, Charlie, felt like an afterthought. They had zero chemistry—really, zilch. The one spicy scene had all the heat of a traffic violation report, and the love declarations made me roll my eyes.
Somehow the book had a decent flow, and the writing wasn’t terrible, so it wasn’t torture to read—but the story was weird, and it didn’t give me the summer-romance butterflies I’d been hoping for.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
——
A heroine nearing forty 👀
Thanks Penguin UK and NetGalley for the arc.
April 27, 2025
4,5 ★
“𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.”
This was soooo goooddddd😮💨😮💨😮💨 this is the first arc that I genuinely enjoyed from start to finish and the sole reason for this is bc it was fun. This was such a fun story to follow along 🥹🥹 I loved the sister dynamic, the small and unbelievable slow romance that we got and everything in between. Getting into this I was expecting a true romance story, but even though this wasn’t the case I wasn’t disappointed at all bc this story truly delivered.
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜?”
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚.”
The romance felt soooo little but the snippets that we got? Incredible. It was truly fun to follow them go from strangers to friends to lovers. I did think that the “I love you” was very abrupt. I would have liked it if we moved towards that instead of having them like each other and then have them say “I love you”. The slow burn was good, the I love you was abrupt. We also had one smut scene??? do you know how amazing that felt 😭 there was no lust, no sexual talk- just a romance story with a separated smut scene that didn’t mix itself into the story by making the relationship sexual.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡.”
There are some things I wish were different:
- I wish we got to see parts or quotes of the book, that would have made the story feel a little bit more real.
- More of the daughter. She is such a big part of the moms life but we get nothing of her- the scenes or mentions we did get of her just made me dislike her bc what do you mean you fck up your moms life and you don’t even think about going to her to apologize and stay by her side but instead go on a holiday with your dad and the woman he cheated with??? And let’s not even TALK about the fact she is only emailing and texting her mom bc she never picks up the phone for her????? I don’t understand some people.
- At times, I felt like I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to and idk why. I just felt…distant from them.
- Even though I loved the romance, I do feel like it should have been more “romantic” I didn’t really believe them when they said they loved each other. It didn’t feel real so even though I loved the romance, I do think the romance wasn’t romantic enough to make me believe they loved each other.
Overall:
I loved this.
You should read this.
Thank you NetGalley & the author for the arc!
Smut:
1 scene
“𝙍𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙧𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙪𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙤𝙣𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙧 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧, 𝙬𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙡𝙤𝙨𝙚 𝙨𝙤𝙢𝙚𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙚 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚.”
This was soooo goooddddd😮💨😮💨😮💨 this is the first arc that I genuinely enjoyed from start to finish and the sole reason for this is bc it was fun. This was such a fun story to follow along 🥹🥹 I loved the sister dynamic, the small and unbelievable slow romance that we got and everything in between. Getting into this I was expecting a true romance story, but even though this wasn’t the case I wasn’t disappointed at all bc this story truly delivered.
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨 𝙝𝙚 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜?”
“𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙖𝙧𝙚.”
The romance felt soooo little but the snippets that we got? Incredible. It was truly fun to follow them go from strangers to friends to lovers. I did think that the “I love you” was very abrupt. I would have liked it if we moved towards that instead of having them like each other and then have them say “I love you”. The slow burn was good, the I love you was abrupt. We also had one smut scene??? do you know how amazing that felt 😭 there was no lust, no sexual talk- just a romance story with a separated smut scene that didn’t mix itself into the story by making the relationship sexual.
“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙨𝙤 𝙙𝙖𝙢𝙣 𝙗𝙚𝙖𝙪𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙪𝙡.”
There are some things I wish were different:
- I wish we got to see parts or quotes of the book, that would have made the story feel a little bit more real.
- More of the daughter. She is such a big part of the moms life but we get nothing of her- the scenes or mentions we did get of her just made me dislike her bc what do you mean you fck up your moms life and you don’t even think about going to her to apologize and stay by her side but instead go on a holiday with your dad and the woman he cheated with??? And let’s not even TALK about the fact she is only emailing and texting her mom bc she never picks up the phone for her????? I don’t understand some people.
- At times, I felt like I wasn’t able to connect with the characters as much as I wanted to and idk why. I just felt…distant from them.
- Even though I loved the romance, I do feel like it should have been more “romantic” I didn’t really believe them when they said they loved each other. It didn’t feel real so even though I loved the romance, I do think the romance wasn’t romantic enough to make me believe they loved each other.
Overall:
I loved this.
You should read this.
Thank you NetGalley & the author for the arc!
Smut:
1 scene
June 17, 2025
4 solid stars for this bookish rom-com!! A great look at today’s publishing world as we follow a “ghost author” and actress, Kate and her hot literary agent, Charlie, through a big and popular book launch. Lots of humor (loved the sister!) and a charming romance - I enjoyed it a lot!!
July 24, 2025
Nice enough :)
March 28, 2025
This book comes with love, sweetness and a splash of humor! While I enjoyed the book, I feel like the characters didn’t have enough chemistry and the romance was just not there for me. It did not get me feeling the deep emotions I usually have while reading a romance. Furthermore, I was not fully immersed into the book while reading it. The setting fit the storyline and it was beautifully written. I do feel that it is an overall good book for the Summer! I give this book a 3 out of 5 stars rating.
Slow Burn Summer is about a thirty-nine year old divorcee woman named Kate who is seeking a job and a guy named Charlie who is a talent agent. Charlie is also a divorcee and is seeking out someone to play the author of a book. Kate ends up being the novelist who plays the romance author. Does this story end up as a happily ever after between the two of them or do they go their separate ways?
Thank you to NetGalley, author Josie Silver, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Slow Burn Summer is about a thirty-nine year old divorcee woman named Kate who is seeking a job and a guy named Charlie who is a talent agent. Charlie is also a divorcee and is seeking out someone to play the author of a book. Kate ends up being the novelist who plays the romance author. Does this story end up as a happily ever after between the two of them or do they go their separate ways?
Thank you to NetGalley, author Josie Silver, and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Dell for this digital advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
August 31, 2025
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Random House - Ballantine, and Josie Silver for an ARC of this book!**
Kate Elliott knows how to play a part...after all, you can't really be a soap opera star without true acting chops. After many long hours and HUNDREDS of episodes later (and let's face it, probably faking amnesia at some point) Kate decided to Take a Chance on *Him*...a man who would one day be just a footnote on her Wikipedia page with a divorce that would leave her heartbroken. Years later, Kate is trying to put the pieces of her life back together and decides that now is the time to get back into acting. But when she finds out that her former agent has passed away and his son Charlie is now at the helm of the company, she's more than a bit skeptical. Once she gets her assignment, she realizes THIS might be the big break she never saw coming...but can she handle the heat?
The task at hand? A very famous author, one who is famous for writing very different novels, has written a romantic masterpiece for the ages...but since he is so afraid of losing his reputation, he is in the market for a ghostwriter...and that's where Kate comes in. She will handle the press, attend the book tours, and present a carefully curated, quirky persona meant to 'fit' the spirit of the 'perfect' rom-com author. In the meantime, despite her insatiable curiosity, the TRUE author's identity remains a mystery. But although Charlie at first did nothing but inspire her to keep her guard up, after getting to know him...and acknowledging JUST how handsome he is, everything starts to change. But what does that mean for her future? And when she starts corresponding anonymously with the real author, will she learn secrets she wish she hadn't? Can she keep up the facade...AND keep her feelings under wraps? Or will she accidentally out herself AND the author...and ruin BOTH of their reputations for good?
I am ALWAYS in the mood for a breezy summer romance, so when you add the words Josie Silver to the cover and a publishing-world based premise, you'd better also hand me a fishing rod, because I am IN, hook, line, and sinker! 🎣 I was very eager to begin this story after a pretty solid history with Silver's work (although she has yet to top the heart wrenching, cinematic ending of One Day in December...just thinking about that gets me choked up!), and I was ESPECIALLY thrilled to see her enter summer rom-com territory.
But while this book was charming, fun, and lively, it wasn't QUITE the swoony, sun-kissed romantic daydream I was hoping to while away the hours reading...but it WAS the sort of fun diversion that takes you by surprise on a quiet summer afternoon...and there's NOTHING wrong with that! 🌞
Kate and Charlie were both likable MCs from pretty much the beginning of the book, and while some of the surrounding players may have played a bit cartoon-y at times, Silver's trademark heart and wit were ever-present and made them all easy to love from the jump. Kate's sister Liv was also the PERFECT grounding force needed to keep her character's antics from spinning a bit out of control. I also always enjoy the sort of 'peek behind the curtain' that books set in the publishing world provide ( and let's face it, it's also a GREAT way for the author to vent incognito! ) Kate's eventual byplay with the true author was fun to read as well, as both she and the author divulged so much about their lives through letters (who doesn't LOVE a hidden epistolary by-play!?) and the more they chatted, the more eager I was to find out their true identity. It was delightful to have a cozy mystery sort of wrapped up in a rom-com blanket, and I couldn't wait to snuggle!
If you're looking for a hard-hitting romance, however, this one isn't it. The characters don't really overcome any sort of MAJOR conflicts, and their feelings really aren't the type to draw you in - sure, this title does PROMISE a slow burn so it would be a bit silly if it were anything else. I didn't necessarily feel as much of a 'the characters are meant to be' as I have in some of Josie's other books. I did feel there was a lot less of a women's fiction feel to help balance this out, however, and I almost wish the relationship between Kate and the author was the TRUE focus of the book and that it wasn't a romance at all. Maybe I've just read too many books with charming octogenarians and the like lately, but this could have EASILY morphed into that sort of story without missing any nuance. When looks and proximity are 80% of the reason characters end up interested, it just generally is missing that little bit of Nora Ephron oomph *I* need to get me swooning!
And although this summer read may have been lacking a little bit of 'hot off the grill' sizzle, it was ABSOLUTELY the sort of satisfying after-dinner fudgesicle that somehow tastes better because it came from the ice cream man on a hot July night: it had JUST the right amount of sweet. 🍦🥰
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
Kate Elliott knows how to play a part...after all, you can't really be a soap opera star without true acting chops. After many long hours and HUNDREDS of episodes later (and let's face it, probably faking amnesia at some point) Kate decided to Take a Chance on *Him*...a man who would one day be just a footnote on her Wikipedia page with a divorce that would leave her heartbroken. Years later, Kate is trying to put the pieces of her life back together and decides that now is the time to get back into acting. But when she finds out that her former agent has passed away and his son Charlie is now at the helm of the company, she's more than a bit skeptical. Once she gets her assignment, she realizes THIS might be the big break she never saw coming...but can she handle the heat?
The task at hand? A very famous author, one who is famous for writing very different novels, has written a romantic masterpiece for the ages...but since he is so afraid of losing his reputation, he is in the market for a ghostwriter...and that's where Kate comes in. She will handle the press, attend the book tours, and present a carefully curated, quirky persona meant to 'fit' the spirit of the 'perfect' rom-com author. In the meantime, despite her insatiable curiosity, the TRUE author's identity remains a mystery. But although Charlie at first did nothing but inspire her to keep her guard up, after getting to know him...and acknowledging JUST how handsome he is, everything starts to change. But what does that mean for her future? And when she starts corresponding anonymously with the real author, will she learn secrets she wish she hadn't? Can she keep up the facade...AND keep her feelings under wraps? Or will she accidentally out herself AND the author...and ruin BOTH of their reputations for good?
I am ALWAYS in the mood for a breezy summer romance, so when you add the words Josie Silver to the cover and a publishing-world based premise, you'd better also hand me a fishing rod, because I am IN, hook, line, and sinker! 🎣 I was very eager to begin this story after a pretty solid history with Silver's work (although she has yet to top the heart wrenching, cinematic ending of One Day in December...just thinking about that gets me choked up!), and I was ESPECIALLY thrilled to see her enter summer rom-com territory.
But while this book was charming, fun, and lively, it wasn't QUITE the swoony, sun-kissed romantic daydream I was hoping to while away the hours reading...but it WAS the sort of fun diversion that takes you by surprise on a quiet summer afternoon...and there's NOTHING wrong with that! 🌞
Kate and Charlie were both likable MCs from pretty much the beginning of the book, and while some of the surrounding players may have played a bit cartoon-y at times, Silver's trademark heart and wit were ever-present and made them all easy to love from the jump. Kate's sister Liv was also the PERFECT grounding force needed to keep her character's antics from spinning a bit out of control. I also always enjoy the sort of 'peek behind the curtain' that books set in the publishing world provide ( and let's face it, it's also a GREAT way for the author to vent incognito! ) Kate's eventual byplay with the true author was fun to read as well, as both she and the author divulged so much about their lives through letters (who doesn't LOVE a hidden epistolary by-play!?) and the more they chatted, the more eager I was to find out their true identity. It was delightful to have a cozy mystery sort of wrapped up in a rom-com blanket, and I couldn't wait to snuggle!
If you're looking for a hard-hitting romance, however, this one isn't it. The characters don't really overcome any sort of MAJOR conflicts, and their feelings really aren't the type to draw you in - sure, this title does PROMISE a slow burn so it would be a bit silly if it were anything else. I didn't necessarily feel as much of a 'the characters are meant to be' as I have in some of Josie's other books. I did feel there was a lot less of a women's fiction feel to help balance this out, however, and I almost wish the relationship between Kate and the author was the TRUE focus of the book and that it wasn't a romance at all. Maybe I've just read too many books with charming octogenarians and the like lately, but this could have EASILY morphed into that sort of story without missing any nuance. When looks and proximity are 80% of the reason characters end up interested, it just generally is missing that little bit of Nora Ephron oomph *I* need to get me swooning!
And although this summer read may have been lacking a little bit of 'hot off the grill' sizzle, it was ABSOLUTELY the sort of satisfying after-dinner fudgesicle that somehow tastes better because it came from the ice cream man on a hot July night: it had JUST the right amount of sweet. 🍦🥰
4 stars, rounded up from 3.5
July 1, 2025
As good as this was it felt a little boring. There was too much filler. I was more interested in the letters back and forth between the fmc and the secret author than the romance.
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the ARC! ♥︎
ೃ⁀➷ Thank you NetGalley and Penguin General UK for the ARC! ♥︎
August 29, 2025
3.5 stars
Slow Burn Summer is a enjoyable read with likable characters. I enjoy Josie Silver’s writing, and I liked watching the relationship between Charlie and Kate build. Overall, this was good, but it didn’t hook me the way I hoped. The ending was really cute, though.
Slow Burn Summer is a enjoyable read with likable characters. I enjoy Josie Silver’s writing, and I liked watching the relationship between Charlie and Kate build. Overall, this was good, but it didn’t hook me the way I hoped. The ending was really cute, though.
Audio book source: Libby
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Anna Acton
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Romance
Length: 8h 51m
June 27, 2025
4.5 ⭐️
Truthfully this was such a whimsical and fun read. Another absolute delight from Josie Silver.
I loved Kate, and found her relatable and charming. Both Charlie and Kate are trying to navigate life after divorce. I loved how we saw the MC’s carry such real, messy emotions.
I will say I expected the theme to be more romance heavy given the title. The romance took on less of the plot than the comedy of it. For me it didn’t take away from how enjoyable it was, but just something to note.
Thank you so much to Random House - Ballentine and NetGalley for the e-copy!
Truthfully this was such a whimsical and fun read. Another absolute delight from Josie Silver.
I loved Kate, and found her relatable and charming. Both Charlie and Kate are trying to navigate life after divorce. I loved how we saw the MC’s carry such real, messy emotions.
I will say I expected the theme to be more romance heavy given the title. The romance took on less of the plot than the comedy of it. For me it didn’t take away from how enjoyable it was, but just something to note.
Thank you so much to Random House - Ballentine and NetGalley for the e-copy!
June 4, 2025
A contemporary fiction story about a woman who re-discovers herself after a heartbreaking divorce and empty nest. The cover suggests a romance, this book is not that romantic. The plot is a bit all over the place, but it is well written and easy to understand.
Kate was a soap actress in the UK who threw it all away to get married at 19, now her daughter is 19 and she is back to her old agent’s office. Her old agent has died and his son has taken over, although he doesn’t like being an agent and isn’t much of a character.
They hire Kate to be a ghost author- to pretend to be the author of a romantic book that becomes a best seller. It is written by a famous author who doesn’t want to be associated with the book but we don’t know him.
This book is really about Kate, coming to terms with her new life; deciding what to share with the public. There is a tiny bit of romance although I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the two. She does have a great sister who is a god side character.
I liked it but I didn’t love it. Weird plot elements kept being introduced at all points throughout the story and it felt a bit chaotic.
The title is meaningless, it isn’t a slow burn, I am not sure that the book even takes place in the summer. Just a personal pet peeve that I feel like sometimes publishers take a book title out of a hat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC. Book to be published June 10, 2025.
Kate was a soap actress in the UK who threw it all away to get married at 19, now her daughter is 19 and she is back to her old agent’s office. Her old agent has died and his son has taken over, although he doesn’t like being an agent and isn’t much of a character.
They hire Kate to be a ghost author- to pretend to be the author of a romantic book that becomes a best seller. It is written by a famous author who doesn’t want to be associated with the book but we don’t know him.
This book is really about Kate, coming to terms with her new life; deciding what to share with the public. There is a tiny bit of romance although I didn’t feel a lot of chemistry between the two. She does have a great sister who is a god side character.
I liked it but I didn’t love it. Weird plot elements kept being introduced at all points throughout the story and it felt a bit chaotic.
The title is meaningless, it isn’t a slow burn, I am not sure that the book even takes place in the summer. Just a personal pet peeve that I feel like sometimes publishers take a book title out of a hat.
Thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the ARC. Book to be published June 10, 2025.
June 18, 2025
This was a puzzling read for me. There were some fundamental issues that frustrated me at times—but I also really liked it…?
Recently divorced Kate reaches out to her old talent agency in search of work. She connects with Charlie, the son of her former agent who recently passed away. Charlie lands her a job as a “ghost author,” She acts as the author of a new novel doing PR and social media for an anonymous writer. Everything goes according to plan—until it doesn’t.
The first 35% of the book was great, but it started to veer off course after that. I felt like the major plot twist came too early, and the back half went a bit off the rails. A lot of things happened that felt extraneous, and there were too many secondary characters who didn’t feel fully developed or even necessary.
That said, I did enjoy the book. It was cute and sweet—a quick, easy read. I’ll definitely check out more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
Recently divorced Kate reaches out to her old talent agency in search of work. She connects with Charlie, the son of her former agent who recently passed away. Charlie lands her a job as a “ghost author,” She acts as the author of a new novel doing PR and social media for an anonymous writer. Everything goes according to plan—until it doesn’t.
The first 35% of the book was great, but it started to veer off course after that. I felt like the major plot twist came too early, and the back half went a bit off the rails. A lot of things happened that felt extraneous, and there were too many secondary characters who didn’t feel fully developed or even necessary.
That said, I did enjoy the book. It was cute and sweet—a quick, easy read. I’ll definitely check out more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine for providing access to this book in exchange for an honest review.
July 2, 2025
Slow Burn Summer is a great read for anyone who's craving that late 30s/ early 40s romance that's not hot and heavy. SBS follows Kate's journey from divorce to picking herself back up, a healthy relationship with her adult daughter and moving on to bigger and brighter things for her own future.
Slow Burn Summer was GREAT - but I didn't feel like it was exactly a romance? It seemed more like our main character, Kate, needed to find herself again after divorce, and the romance was a subplot.
🌶️ - A few cracked door scenes -but not overwhelmingly smutty!
A bit of romantic lag from about 30% to 70% but all is right in the end.
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Slow Burn Summer was GREAT - but I didn't feel like it was exactly a romance? It seemed more like our main character, Kate, needed to find herself again after divorce, and the romance was a subplot.
🌶️ - A few cracked door scenes -but not overwhelmingly smutty!
A bit of romantic lag from about 30% to 70% but all is right in the end.
Follow me on Instagram for honest reviews, bookish freebies & giveaways! 🦋 || Southern Lady Reads YouTube channel coming soon!!
May 7, 2025
3/5 Stars!!! This book doesn’t have bad writing, but the focus is all over the place.
Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver can be broken down in three parts:
1. The plot summary really doesn’t do equate to what this book is about. The cover looks like it’s a rom-com. I found the idea super creative: Kate, divorced after finding her husband with his secretary, is a has-been soap opera actress who needs to find a new career and takes the job as a writer for a book she didn’t actually write. The actual writer wants his/her identity to be hidden, so she steps in pretending to be the author, signing books, going on TV & radio, etc. Her agent Charlie is the love interest, as he’s the son of her original agent when she was acting. Sounds promising and cute right?
2. However, I found no chemistry between Charlie and Kate. I wish there was an actual backstory. outside of the fake author trope. Would love to have them had an encounter 20 years ago when Kate was an actress. Wish we could have seen more plots involving her ex-husband and college aged daughter who wants to run off to Australia with her boyfriend. Even that storyline is a major plot point and is just brushed under the rug.
3. But this was more about Kate finding herself along the way (instead of being the cute rom-com as portrayed), as she rediscovers and attempts to get over her ex-husband’s infidelities. It’s about identity and resurgence after a divorce. There is 10% romance, and 90% fake author plot.
My eyes rolled out of my head the last few chapters involving a continuing trifle (cake) assault. No kidding.
What a unique idea for a rom-com, however the focus was all over the place. I didn't even find the title matching the book, when there's zero lack of oomph in the love and career department.
If we can never replicate the amazing One Day in December, I will be sad.
Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver can be broken down in three parts:
1. The plot summary really doesn’t do equate to what this book is about. The cover looks like it’s a rom-com. I found the idea super creative: Kate, divorced after finding her husband with his secretary, is a has-been soap opera actress who needs to find a new career and takes the job as a writer for a book she didn’t actually write. The actual writer wants his/her identity to be hidden, so she steps in pretending to be the author, signing books, going on TV & radio, etc. Her agent Charlie is the love interest, as he’s the son of her original agent when she was acting. Sounds promising and cute right?
2. However, I found no chemistry between Charlie and Kate. I wish there was an actual backstory. outside of the fake author trope. Would love to have them had an encounter 20 years ago when Kate was an actress. Wish we could have seen more plots involving her ex-husband and college aged daughter who wants to run off to Australia with her boyfriend. Even that storyline is a major plot point and is just brushed under the rug.
3. But this was more about Kate finding herself along the way (instead of being the cute rom-com as portrayed), as she rediscovers and attempts to get over her ex-husband’s infidelities. It’s about identity and resurgence after a divorce. There is 10% romance, and 90% fake author plot.
My eyes rolled out of my head the last few chapters involving a continuing trifle (cake) assault. No kidding.
What a unique idea for a rom-com, however the focus was all over the place. I didn't even find the title matching the book, when there's zero lack of oomph in the love and career department.
If we can never replicate the amazing One Day in December, I will be sad.
May 20, 2025
2.75 ⭐️
This was definitely an interesting story! I liked the concept a lot, and it sure was a whirlwind story. The romance plot of it all just kind of fell flat for me. It was kind of all over the place, and I just did not really see the chemistry between them, or see them as a couple at times. Also, the phrase "whiskey-cola eyes" is a phrase I do not want to see for at least a month lol.
This was definitely an interesting story! I liked the concept a lot, and it sure was a whirlwind story. The romance plot of it all just kind of fell flat for me. It was kind of all over the place, and I just did not really see the chemistry between them, or see them as a couple at times. Also, the phrase "whiskey-cola eyes" is a phrase I do not want to see for at least a month lol.
May 3, 2025
I know sometimes the phrase “unlikable character” is an annoyance. Of course we can’t expect characters to be perfect, after all their development and flaws make them human and for a good story.
But Kate, in this story, is SO careless and presumptuous I simply cannot endorse her journey. This plot of the story is interesting, a talent agent hiring an actress to “play” an author of a book whose true author wishes to remain anonymous. Intriguing, right? It would be if the actress they hired doesn’t immediately blab to like, four people about her new job. Of course one expects the conflict in the book to be the reveal of the lie, but her absolute disregard for discretion from the very start is incredibly aggravating. It shows a complete lack of morals on her part, and she clearly wasn’t the right person for the job. On top of that, she’s annoyed when the publisher decides on her pen name because she’s already set her heart on a different last name. As if the book is her own rather than the publishers and true authors. She takes her role in the book way too far, also immediately planning on pushing her own older manuscripts to potentially publish under this new name and on top of the success of the book that IS NOT HERS. She was only ever meant to be the face, the actress, and instead it feels as if she’s is intending to take on the role and make it her real life.
That, my fellow readers, makes for an unlikable character in my book.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
But Kate, in this story, is SO careless and presumptuous I simply cannot endorse her journey. This plot of the story is interesting, a talent agent hiring an actress to “play” an author of a book whose true author wishes to remain anonymous. Intriguing, right? It would be if the actress they hired doesn’t immediately blab to like, four people about her new job. Of course one expects the conflict in the book to be the reveal of the lie, but her absolute disregard for discretion from the very start is incredibly aggravating. It shows a complete lack of morals on her part, and she clearly wasn’t the right person for the job. On top of that, she’s annoyed when the publisher decides on her pen name because she’s already set her heart on a different last name. As if the book is her own rather than the publishers and true authors. She takes her role in the book way too far, also immediately planning on pushing her own older manuscripts to potentially publish under this new name and on top of the success of the book that IS NOT HERS. She was only ever meant to be the face, the actress, and instead it feels as if she’s is intending to take on the role and make it her real life.
That, my fellow readers, makes for an unlikable character in my book.
Thank you to the publisher for the ARC
March 21, 2025
This is a charming and heartfelt read that perfectly captures the essence of a slow-burning romance. The characters are very relatable and the way Silver balances emotional depth with light, summery vibes is so good. The story follows two protagonists who navigate their complicated feelings for each other while dealing with personal growth and past regrets. The slow-paced development of their relationship feels authentic and satisfying, making the eventual payoff all the more rewarding.
However, the pacing could feel a bit sluggish at times, with certain sections dragging on longer than necessary. While the emotional moments are touching, the conflicts were resolved a bit too neatly, which slightly detracted from the realism. That said, the book’s strengths lie in its ability to create a warm, immersive atmosphere and its exploration of themes like second chances and self-discovery.
Overall, it’s a great read for fans of contemporary romance. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that leaves you with a smile and a longing for sunny days and new beginnings. If you’re looking for a story that feels like a fun summer escape, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
However, the pacing could feel a bit sluggish at times, with certain sections dragging on longer than necessary. While the emotional moments are touching, the conflicts were resolved a bit too neatly, which slightly detracted from the realism. That said, the book’s strengths lie in its ability to create a warm, immersive atmosphere and its exploration of themes like second chances and self-discovery.
Overall, it’s a great read for fans of contemporary romance. It’s not without its flaws, but it’s the kind of book that leaves you with a smile and a longing for sunny days and new beginnings. If you’re looking for a story that feels like a fun summer escape, this one is worth picking up.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC
June 10, 2025
This was unbelievably mid. This was wayyyy beyond a slow burn romance, there was a 3rd act break up before the 2 main characters even got together which I didn’t even know was possible. I normally love Josie Silver’s books but this one lost me. In typical Josie Silver fashion the external relationships & friendships were great! I adored Liv and felt like she brought a lot to the story but the main characters were flat. Also, romance? chemistry? WHERE? I have read thrillers with more chemistry between the 2 main characters than between Charlie & Kate in this book. Anywayyyy, I would only recommend reading this book if you like painfully slow literary fiction with a hint of romance. 2.75 stars!
Thank you to Random House Publishing, Josie Silver, & NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
Thank you to Random House Publishing, Josie Silver, & NetGalley for sending me an early copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion!
June 1, 2025
This is my first Josie Silver book and it was Okay...I personally don't think this book was for me. I enjoyed Katie and Charlie individually but together I didn't feel/see their chemistry. There weren't enough interactions between Kate and Charlie, to consider this a slow burn. A good chunk of the book is about Kate's career/personal life. We get sprinkles of her and Charlie and it's mostly work related. I will say there is good humor and even some emotional moments.
Thank you Netgalley and Josie Silver for the ARC 🫶🏾
Thank you Netgalley and Josie Silver for the ARC 🫶🏾
June 10, 2025
4 stars. A fun and unique summer rom-com with an enjoyable bookish premise and relatable characters that had me in stitches. The friends to lovers romance is secondary to the story but I can see why Silver chose to focus on Kate’s journey over the latter. This is definitely more character driven bringing Kate to the forefront detailing her individual self through the chaos.. she’s a one of a kind gal and its what makes this story work so well. And I really liked the sister relationship of looking out for one another - loved Kate and Liv! ❥ Pub. 6/10/25
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reading copy in exchange for an honest review.
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