There's a reason slow burn romance has such a devoted readership. It's about building something that feels earned.

What makes a slow burn work

The sweet spot is when you're simultaneously desperate for these characters to get together and satisfied by the tension of them not being together yet.

The enemies-to-lovers pipeline

If the "enemies" are obviously attracted from page one and just bickering, that's not enemies to lovers — it's flirting with extra steps.

A good slow burn doesn't make you wait for the payoff. It makes the waiting itself the payoff.