Things You Save in a Fire
I was given an advanced copy from St Martin Press in exchange for my honest review. (This book will be published August 2019).
There were so many times that this book *almost* had me hooked, and then would lose me again. Cassie is a “not a girl, I’m a firefighter” (her words, not mine.. EYE ROLL) whose ailing, estranged mother has asked Cassie to come stay with her. It’s perfect timing too, because Cassie has recently assaulted a bigwig in the city of Austin, as he was presenting her with an award for valor. She arrives in small-town Lillian and starts working for the good-ole-boy fire department. Craziness ensues. Potential Spoilers Ahead: Here’s the thing... so much of this story fell into unoriginal cliches that it felt like the author was going down a “novel plot point” checklist.
Cassie hates and shames anything feminine (which alone is problematic) and the trope of “I’m not like other girls” is not what we are here for in 2019 (publishing date).
Her "stalker" plot line seemed forced- one instance of bullying and she is calling them a 'stalker'
Her "refusal to love" due to a past traumatic incident and then immediately falling in love with the first guy she meets was disingenuous. She just decides one day "to get over her trauma", so she can pursue a relationship with the first eligible bachelor she meets.
Her mother's dire prognosis was unsurprising- why else would she ask you to come live with her for exactly one year?
The constant "monologuing" throughout the story is so unrealistic; what group of men (or anyone for that matter) is going to sit and listen to you go off on a rant about your feelings for 15 minutes?
Final thoughts: The story was forced. There were many chances for it to develop into something great, but the author kept jumping from plot point to plot point trying to make it all work. It didn't.
I had high hopes, but am left disappointed.
