The Slow Burn

By: Ali Rosen

Narrated by: Dominique Salvacion

A USA Today bestseller.

From the bestselling author of Unlikely Story comes a warm, witty novel about a chef whose unexpected summer in Italy turns messier and richer than any recipe she ever would’ve planned.

Between a breakup and a burned-down restaurant, there’s nothing left in New York for Kit Roth except the ashes of her success.

Needing distance and distraction, she agrees to work for her best friend’s pasta-making nonna in the Italian countryside. But instead of providing a quiet sabbatical to eat up time while her kitchen is rebuilt, the small town of Manciano keeps pulling Kit into its rituals and rhythms. And before long, it shows her everything she’s been missing. Simpler cooking, community…and Nico Ruspoli, an olive oil producer with his own scorched past. But with Kit determined to leave after three months, and Nico rooted to his grove, their growing chemistry is at odds with what they both want for their future.

Yet with each passing week, Kit finds herself measuring less and tasting more. And when it’s time to go back to her life in New York, she doesn’t know what—or who—she’s willing to leave behind.

©2026 Ali Rosen (P)2025 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“With pages of mouthwatering Italian recipes and more than a sprinkling of spice between the two main characters, Rosen mixes up a heartwarming and delicious romance. A pasta-perfect romance.”—Kirkus Reviews

“Rosen fans will enjoy the focus on food, community, adventure, and self-acceptance. It’s a heartfelt and endearing story.”—Publishers Weekly

“Full of warmth and humor, The Slow Burn digs into life’s deeper questions of purpose, passion, and connection, all while delivering a swoon-worthy romance that left me giddy. Ali Rosen’s picture-perfect prose captures that magical feeling of stumbling upon a quaint, quirky village, or being welcomed into someone’s kitchen for a home-cooked meal. Readers will love escaping into Rosen’s slice of Italian life.”—Kate Spencer, bestselling author of All’s Fair in Love and Pickleball

Foodie Romance

This was my first Ali Rosen book and I loved the writing. - This book explored the importance of slowing down in a world that is so go, go, go. The Italian Nonna is like the gold standard in cooking so I loved her and the relationship between her and the FMC. The moment of silently being praised by the pasta being placed in the same drawer - so heart warming. I also loved the food knowledge that was layered into this romance as a foodie - knowledge such as the olive DNA. - The narrators did a good job on bringing the story to life.

Beautiful heart filling story

Five stars! Great story filled with beautiful descriptions of Italy, the art and culture of making good food, and of finding community whether in a village, a big city, or at work. All wrapped around beautiful love story with a surprise ending.

Great story

Such a beautiful story that highlights the restorative nature of fire, not necessarily focusing on the destruction. Kit is super relatable, navigating her hyper independence and thinking she knows best in an environment that forces her to reevaluate all of her priorities. I love that the story found Kit staying true to her nature, but allowing necessary changes to better her life instead of a full overhaul.

The way books used to be: shown not told.

I simultaneously read and listened to this and found it to be such a refreshing story to experience. The characters were well thought out, the relationships were robust, the entire thing felt cohesive in a way that seems rare these days. The main characters’ relationship developed at a steady pace while the setting and supporting characters brought the entire thing to life. It’s not a swoon-worthy book - it’s one you’ll be really, really glad you spent time with.

Strong women, kind men, Italy, and food

The slow burn extends to the story, but it is a good read. I think it serves as part of the next generation in the romance genre - everybody gets a say, everybody gets to be their full selves, and unlike in the past this does not prevent the HEA.