Slow Burn Summer by Josie Silver
Published by Dell on June 10, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Goodreads
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?
Kate had given up her burgeoning acting career to marry the man she loved, but twenty years later, she finds herself divorced and in need of a job. It so happened that her former agency was looking for an unknown to play the role of a ghost author - be the face for a book in order to conceal the true author's identity. Things were amazing until they weren't, but this journey proved to be a valuable one for Kate.
I can always count on Josie Silver to make me feel something. I can attribute many tears to her books, but this time, she crafted a comeback story of sorts that was filled with humor and heart. I had no trouble embracing both main characters - Kate and Charlie, as they attempted to navigate this new and tricky situation.
Both had suffered multiple losses with them sharing the pain of divorce, and they were attempting to start anew and figure out who they were post married life. Charlie sort of fell into his role as an agent when his father unexpectedly passed away. Once a lauded Hollywood rom-com screenwriter, he was now doing a job a never wanted. He was, however, very invested in helping Kate fulfill her role as the ghost author of a love story for the ages.
Kate had spent the past twenty years being a wife and mother. She had very little time to feed her creative side but was so taken by this book that she had to be part of its story. Her role involved book signings and media appearances which Silver filled with many comedic moments, but they also served as opportunities for Kate and Charlie to spend time with each other.
There was an instant attraction which they both fought hard to resist, but a natural friendship did form. I was very happy with this pairing. I enjoyed their rapport and chemistry. I thought it was important that Kate knew Charlie's father, and that coupled with their marriage failures allowed her to relate to him in a meaningful way. Charlie was truly sweet and caring, and I wanted that for Kate. The more I learned about her ex, the more I wanted her to be with a wonderful and tender man like Charlie.
I will admit that I did not see the romance as the main focus of this tale, but I was not disappointed because I felt Kate's story was one worth reading. It was a thrill to cheer this woman on as she picked up the pieces and attempted to rebuild her life post-divorce. She was thrust into a very unique situation which was trying at times, but ended up helping her learn so much about herself.
Overall, I loved spending this slow burn summer with Kate and Charlie as they both healed and figured out their futures together.
Never Been Shipped by Alicia Thompson
Published by Berkley on June 10, 2025
Age/Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Goodreads
A band reunion may be enough to change two musicians' tune on love in this electric romance from USA Today bestselling author Alicia Thompson.
Micah's relationship to music is complicated. As teenagers, her band took off after being featured on a popular TV show, but the group barely released their sophomore album before breaking up. Now, over a decade later, the band is reuniting for one more performance on a themed cruise, and Micah is determined to learn from her past mistakes -- no losing herself in the music, and no losing her heart along the way.
John misses playing in a band, and mostly he misses Micah, who'd been his best friend until the music stopped. Back then, he didn't take the lead, either in his guitar parts or while he sat back and watched her date another bandmate. John's never been one to rock the boat, but he's faced with another chance now that this cruise has brought music -- and Micah -- back in his life.
Onboard, Micah can't help but see John with brand new eyes, and John's feelings only intensify as the discordant band's tension grows to a breaking point. With five days at sea, there's a ticking clock on anything that might develop between them, and they'll have to decide if their relationship is destined to be more than a one-hit wonder.
It's been over a decade since Micah cut ties and blew up the band. When ElectricOh! is invited to play their one-hit-wonder on a fandom cruise, Micah reluctantly agrees, but she soon finds that the years have changed the way she felt about her experience and some of her bandmates as well.
This book had so many elements I love. Great characters, fun setting, an intriguing history, a friends-to-lovers romance I was rooting hard for, and even appearances from a few of Thompson's past characters. I felt so much love for Micah and John and crossed my fingers and my toes that this cruise would give them the healing and/or closure that they needed in order to forge a new future for themselves.
I was thrilled when I started this book and found a few of my friends from With Love From Cold World. I always find it a special treat to get an opportunity catch up characters from previous books and see how they made out. I must admit, I don't remember much about John from that book, but he absolutely won my heart in Never Been Shipped.
John had a tough upbringing, but he found solace and strength in the friendship he built with Micah when they were just middle school kids. Their friendship grew and flourished over the years, and though he harbored more-than-friends feelings for her, John never wanted to jeopardize the most important relationship he ever had by mixing friendship and romance.
Being pushed together aboard the ship reminded him of how much love and affection he had for Micah, and it seemed to remind her of some things too. They both missed each other, and I was happy to see them taking steps to get back to one another. I adored these two together, and yes, I shipped them.
I loved the characters and the romance, but I also thought the setting was a lot of fun. I am cruiser and enjoyed being aboard the ship. I also liked that it was a fandom aspect. It gave the characters some interesting opportunities to mix and mingle while rebuilding their friendship.
Overall, it was wonderful to spend time with Micah and John on this emotional and heartwarming journey as they reconnected and embarked on a new future together.
*ARCS PROVIDED BY THE PUBLISHER
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