megwilli's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Domestic abuse
i_love_read_ing's review against another edition
4.0
This was a fast read! I really enjoyed this historical fiction YA novel and completed it in one sitting. It was well written and I loved the characters. I am just very confused about what happened in the last paragraph...
bookishbki's review against another edition
2.0
1.5
This book was a car crash. I don't even think I can string together a proper review. All I can say is don't waste your time
This book was a car crash. I don't even think I can string together a proper review. All I can say is don't waste your time
bestdressedbookworm's review against another edition
3.0
As a concept this was really interesting, a little superficial but I was expecting that to be honest. But here is the thing, as main characters go, I think you were supposed to be rooting for Emmaline, but i couldnt stand her. i wanted Fiona to get the guy, Emmaline was made out to be a victim of a bad situation and in some ways she was, but it didnt stop Anders and Fionas true feelings. I enjoy this genre, some really great YA is this angst filled love triangle stuff. will I remember this in a couple of weeks though, honestly...probably not.
missprint_'s review against another edition
4.0
Chicago, 1871: Emmeline Carter is about to blast her way into Chicago's high society, helping her father make good on his rise to wealth with her engagement to Chicago's most eligible bachelor.
Living in luxury and the envy of so many society debutantes should be enough for Emmeline. It isn't. Instead, as her engagement looms, Emmeline can't stop thinking about her carefree days she used to share with her best friend Fiona Byrne and her sweetheart Anders Magnuson. Now Fiona is Emmeline's maid and Anders a distant memory.
Fiona hopes that Emmeline's engagement will bring her friend everything she wants--and allow Fiona to pursue Ander's herself without guilt. Then Emmeline surprises everyone by risking everything she has gained to see Anders one last time.
As friendships are tested and bonds are broken, even the smallest spark might change everything for these three friends and the city they all call home in When We Caught Fire (2018) by Anna Godbersen.
This standalone novel plays out over the course of the summer as Emmeline, Fiona, and Anders move toward the cataclysmic Great Fire. The novel alternates between chapters following Emmeline and Fiona's points of view.
Godbersen once again brings the past to life with evocative descriptions of the city (and, of course, the fashions) of the time. While the main focus is on the Great Fire, When We Caught Fire also explores the inequality and corruption that ran rampant through the Gilded Age.
At its core, When We Caught Fire is a story about a friendship and a love triangle. The relationships between the three characters remain the driving force of the story even as the events of the fire play out in the novel's explosive final act.
An open ending and nuanced characters allow readers to draw their own conclusions while fleshing out the story. When We Caught Fire is frothy, slightly sensational, and utterly entertaining. Recommended for readers who want their historical fiction filled with all the gory details and juicy parts.
Possible Pairings: A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper, Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz, Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl, Vixen by Jillian Larkin, Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration at BookExpo 2018*
Living in luxury and the envy of so many society debutantes should be enough for Emmeline. It isn't. Instead, as her engagement looms, Emmeline can't stop thinking about her carefree days she used to share with her best friend Fiona Byrne and her sweetheart Anders Magnuson. Now Fiona is Emmeline's maid and Anders a distant memory.
Fiona hopes that Emmeline's engagement will bring her friend everything she wants--and allow Fiona to pursue Ander's herself without guilt. Then Emmeline surprises everyone by risking everything she has gained to see Anders one last time.
As friendships are tested and bonds are broken, even the smallest spark might change everything for these three friends and the city they all call home in When We Caught Fire (2018) by Anna Godbersen.
This standalone novel plays out over the course of the summer as Emmeline, Fiona, and Anders move toward the cataclysmic Great Fire. The novel alternates between chapters following Emmeline and Fiona's points of view.
Godbersen once again brings the past to life with evocative descriptions of the city (and, of course, the fashions) of the time. While the main focus is on the Great Fire, When We Caught Fire also explores the inequality and corruption that ran rampant through the Gilded Age.
At its core, When We Caught Fire is a story about a friendship and a love triangle. The relationships between the three characters remain the driving force of the story even as the events of the fire play out in the novel's explosive final act.
An open ending and nuanced characters allow readers to draw their own conclusions while fleshing out the story. When We Caught Fire is frothy, slightly sensational, and utterly entertaining. Recommended for readers who want their historical fiction filled with all the gory details and juicy parts.
Possible Pairings: A Brief History of Montmaray by Michelle Cooper, Alex & Eliza by Melissa de la Cruz, Ten Cents a Dance by Christine Fletcher, Keeping the Castle by Patrice Kindl, Vixen by Jillian Larkin, Cinders and Sapphires by Leila Rasheed
*An advance copy of this title was provided by the publisher for review consideration at BookExpo 2018*
meredithmc's review against another edition
3.0
A good summer reading romance kind of book. It was a little predictable at points but still entertaining and enjoyable.
crystalcollectsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
3.5 ⭐️ I enjoyed this book. The only thing that bothered me was Emmeline. She is definitely no heroine, I found her rather selfish and self absorbed. It was an easy read, flew through it. Enjoyable historical fiction.
elizafiedler's review against another edition
2.0
I've seen this plot a thousand times; only the setting is different. Selfish girl thinks she wants the rough handsome guy, he's obsessed with her but should really love her sweet plain friend instead. Sweet plain friend puts her job on the line for stupid selfish girl's impossible plan to elope. Blah. Yawn.
stenaros's review against another edition
1.0
I think I put this down four times to read other books. I probably would not have finished it, but I kept running out of books I wanted to be reading.
Things it's got going for it: Chicago right before the great fire is an interesting setting; the social climbing aspect is interesting, as is one character's navigation of being both the servant and the best friend of another character.
Unfortunately, this book suffers from a lopsided love triangle--there was no reason for me to believe that the choice was impossible and all the drama associated with the dithering was just dumb. Plus, all the characters made repeated idiotic choices and the ending was completely unbelievable.
Things it's got going for it: Chicago right before the great fire is an interesting setting; the social climbing aspect is interesting, as is one character's navigation of being both the servant and the best friend of another character.
Unfortunately, this book suffers from a lopsided love triangle--there was no reason for me to believe that the choice was impossible and all the drama associated with the dithering was just dumb. Plus, all the characters made repeated idiotic choices and the ending was completely unbelievable.