Filled with scenes of sizzling passion, plot beats of swoon-worthy romance, and a cast of Black female characters that you’ll fall in love with, the unputdownable debut novel from Oti Mabuse brims with heat and heart. Perfect for fans of Talia Hibbert, Laura Jane Williams, Tia Williams, Farrah Rochon, Hannah Grace and Bolu Babalola.
For dancer Lira, Latin Ballroom is everything. Whilst her dreams of fame were cut short aged 19, she’s never forgotten the connection she felt dancing with a stranger at the Paris World Championship afterparty 13 years ago.
Now, with her younger sisters pursuing their own successful dancing careers, and the responsibility of running the family dance studio falling to her, Lira’s ambitious flame is about to flicker out. Until a chance encounter sees her secretly auditioning for Slow Burn, a new dance show about to embark on a 6-week European tour, and coming face to face with a blast from her past that sends her reeling.
Gabriele is the quintessential bad boy of the Latin Ballroom scene. Slim of hip, with long, lean muscles that pop, a chiselled jaw, dark eyes, obscenely long lashes, and a mouth that just won’t give, it's no surprise when he lands the principal male lead role on Slow Burn. But, with just a few weeks to go till the tour starts, he still hasn't found his female co-star. All it takes is one audition to set his world on fire...
On the dance floor they’re smouldering, off it, they’re on fire.
Title: Slow Burn
Author: Oti Mabuse
Published By: Simon & Schuster
Publication Date: 12th Feb 2026
Links: UK: Amazon
Our Review
First of all how gorgeous is the cover, with really appealing vivid bright colours. Slow Burn is Oti Mabuse's debut novel and will definitely warm you up on a cold winter's night. Lira is the oldest of three sisters and runs her family’s dance school in a place called Castlebury where she teaches wedding dances to couples and has a lot more than exercise sessions with her personal trainer. (Ooh it's getting hot in here.)
Gabriel is a famous hot blooded Italian dancer. Known for being a lothario with the ladies he is also sleeping with his regular dance partner Daniella who unfortunately for him is beginning to become a bit too attached and he doesn't need that when he has a number of women he can go to.
But when famous choreographer Carlos decides to hold auditions for his brand new dance show Slow Burn at Lyra’s dance studio, Lyra is shocked to find that Gabriel is the principal dancer and he was also the guy she had had a one night stand with many years before.
Carlos is unimpressed with the auditionees and asks Lyra to be Gabriel’s partner but neither of them are keen on the idea and both have other worries on their minds.
Both Lyra and Gabriel had very strong family commitments, one of them was loyal to their family whilst the other one had made decisions that had disappointed their parents which was a shame.
What they both had in common was the overwhelming guilt at constantly letting their parents down and I thought that was such a shame especially when something really sad happens.
I felt really sorry for Lyra because of the expectations placed on her by her family meant she couldn't tell them about the show, yet her sisters were allowed to take off and do their own thing. The book centres around the complex relationships between parents and their grown up children. I'm sure lots of people will relate to the guilt they feel about wanting to be there for them but also wanting to have their own lives as well. It's a difficult area to navigate in life and both Lira and Gabrielle are affected by this situation and it was great to see Lira stand up for what she wanted.
I found this a fascinating insight into (possibly) a behind the scenes peek at Strictly and would love to know who the main characters were inspired by. The sexiness of the dances plus the electricity and passion between Lyra and Gabriel made for a sizzling read.
Sincerely
Book Angel x
About the Author
As one of the most instantly recognisable faces in the UK and one of the country's most beloved broadcasters, presenters and talent show judges, Oti Mabuse is a dancer of international success and renown, winning titles and championships across the world. The only professional on Strictly Come Dancing to win twice concurrently, she left after seven years on the show and became a judge on Dancing on Ice appearing on our screens to over five million viewers per week. Family and connection means everything to her and in December 2023 she welcomed her first child into the world. Oti spends her (hard won) downtime getting used to the rhythm of Mum-life and escaping into romantic fiction, which, second only to her love of dance, is her other passion in life. Her favourite authors include Colleen Hoover, Bernadine Evaristo and Dolly Alderton. "My name, Otlile, means 'I am here' in Setswana, and that's exactly what I am – here. For too long women like me – empowered, curvy, black women – haven't been able to see ourselves in swoon-worthy, heart-racing romances... I want to change that." Oti Mabuse
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