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Emma on Fire
From the bestselling thriller writer, discover the emotionally gripping new novel about a young woman who plans to do the unthinkable in order to change the world.
You—all of you—are sleepwalking through global catastrophe. And I intend to wake you up.
What Emma Caroline Blake has planned at New Hampshire’s Ridgemont Academy is shocking.
Her school blames a heartbreaking tragedy in her family.
Her best friends point to her most recent social media.
Her teachers, even her father, say it’s a drastic cry for help.
But Emma doesn’t want help. She wants to make a difference. Not tomorrow. Today. Now.
She’s going to walk through fire to change the world.
____________________________________________________
PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON
'It's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply nobody does it better.' JEFFERY DEAVER
'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' LEE CHILD
'Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind.' MICHAEL CONNELLY
'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' IAN RANKIN
'The master storyteller of our times' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' PATRICIA CORNWELL
'Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried ... there's no stopping his imagination' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
'Patterson is in a class by himself' GUARDIAN
You—all of you—are sleepwalking through global catastrophe. And I intend to wake you up.
What Emma Caroline Blake has planned at New Hampshire’s Ridgemont Academy is shocking.
Her school blames a heartbreaking tragedy in her family.
Her best friends point to her most recent social media.
Her teachers, even her father, say it’s a drastic cry for help.
But Emma doesn’t want help. She wants to make a difference. Not tomorrow. Today. Now.
She’s going to walk through fire to change the world.
____________________________________________________
PRAISE FOR JAMES PATTERSON
'It's no mystery why James Patterson is the world's most popular thriller writer ... Simply nobody does it better.' JEFFERY DEAVER
'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is what Jim has, in spades.' LEE CHILD
'Patterson boils a scene down to the single, telling detail, the element that defines a character or moves a plot along. It's what fires off the movie projector in the reader's mind.' MICHAEL CONNELLY
'James Patterson is The Boss. End of.' IAN RANKIN
'The master storyteller of our times' HILLARY RODHAM CLINTON
'One of the greatest storytellers of all time' PATRICIA CORNWELL
'Patterson knows where our deepest fears are buried ... there's no stopping his imagination' NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW
'Patterson is in a class by himself' GUARDIAN
248 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2025
738 people are currently reading
10936 people want to read
About the author
James Patterson
955 books355k followersOfficial US Site
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
Official UK Site
JIMMY Patterson Books
ReadKiddoRead
James Patterson is the most popular storyteller of our time and the creator of such unforgettable characters and series as Alex Cross, the Women’s Murder Club, Jane Smith, and Maximum Ride. He has coauthored #1 bestselling novels with Bill Clinton, Dolly Parton, and Michael Crichton, as well as collaborated on #1 bestselling nonfiction, including The Idaho Four, Walk in My Combat Boots, and Filthy Rich. Patterson has told the story of his own life in the #1 bestselling autobiography James Patterson by James Patterson. He is the recipient of an Edgar Award, ten Emmy Awards, the Literarian Award from the National Book Foundation, and the National Humanities Medal.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 359 reviews
July 29, 2025
Just an FYI - I’m in Australia, where this book has already been published. This is a short, sharp and super fast-paced read from the master James Patterson, and Emily Raymond. It was only 240 pages, but what a uniquely powerful message. In my eyes, Patterson never ever fails to deliver a 5 star thriller, and this one is brilliantly done.
August 19, 2025
This is a powerful book with a loud statement about listening to those who are hurting or grieving, really listen. Emma has a wealthy father who is a lawyer, but he does not really listen to her when she cries for help. Her teachers are at an exclusive school for the rich in New Hampshire, but all they hear is what she might do to the school’s reputation if she carries out her threat. Her threat is revealed in the first two chapters and the rest of the book is about whether she will actually carry it out or not. She wants someone, anyone, to really hear her when she says that the world is falling apart, so she writes and presents an essay about self-immolation. Her desire becomes an obsession and those responsible for helping her don’t know how or if they can. Excuses are made about why she would choose such an awful and painful way to kill herself, but no one seems to try to stop her roller coaster ride to self-destruction. I was on the edge of my seat and begging one character after another to take Emma seriously and to really hear the cry of her heart. This is not like any other James Patterson book I have ever read because it begs to be read in one sitting and is not just unputdownable but a compelling and relevant story that just wouldn’t let me go. The story of Emma and her school and the tragedies that have led her to write the essay all have the theme of finding out where one’s strength lies and the ability to find hope in a future that looks bleak. This is a character study as well as a social commentary on getting involved and really listening and hearing what others say, especially if they are hurting and need compassion. This book, in my opinion, is best suited for mature teens or young adults, but I also think it should be read and discussed in a group setting in order to bring out the nuances and warnings inherent within its pages.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.
July 6, 2025
Very different from the usual James Patterson books. Felt like a Young Adult story.
September 30, 2025
“Emma on Fire” left me feeling hit by a train. One I never saw coming and BAM! I am left splattered mentally and emotionally. Gob smacked to say the least.
This is a very different book from James Patterson and his writing partner, Emily Raymond. Very different. Very, very, different.
I didn’t expect it to be so original, unique, thought provoking, and highly emotional on several levels. For me it was all those things.
It was also a difficult read with lots of emotional and painful triggers that are quite prevalent in today’s world. It addresses real issues involving grief, sadness, and depression head on without pulling any punches, as well as dealing with self-harm and suicide in ways that I haven’t seen in print before. It is raw, unflinching, and even shocking in its truth.
Usually, I provide a general description of the story, but all I am going to say is that this is the story of Emma Caroline Blake. Emma is a high school junior at Ridgemont Academy prep school for the elite and rich. Tuition per student is $75,000 a year. When she is asked to share an experience essay, she stands in front of the class and commits to doing something that is absolutely shocking and disturbing. She has a message to share and delivering it is all that she cares about.
Like I said, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything (fictional) that deals so directly and honestly with such serious issues head on and doesn’t pull any punches. This one will definitely stay with me for quite a while after finishing it. And as parent and grandparent, its lessons will linger even longer as I reflect on my own daughters and grandchildren and my relationships with each of them. We cannot forget that everyone deals with loss and adversity in different ways. Each individual is different and there is no one-size fits all solution to getting through grief. Loss can be devastating to even the strongest of people.
Consider yourself warned. This book is not for the casual reader. It requires a level of emotional awareness and understanding that makes the payoff incredibly high.
For me personally, this is not only the most different Patterson novel you will read, but it may also very well be his most profound and powerful work to date.
This is a very different book from James Patterson and his writing partner, Emily Raymond. Very different. Very, very, different.
I didn’t expect it to be so original, unique, thought provoking, and highly emotional on several levels. For me it was all those things.
It was also a difficult read with lots of emotional and painful triggers that are quite prevalent in today’s world. It addresses real issues involving grief, sadness, and depression head on without pulling any punches, as well as dealing with self-harm and suicide in ways that I haven’t seen in print before. It is raw, unflinching, and even shocking in its truth.
Usually, I provide a general description of the story, but all I am going to say is that this is the story of Emma Caroline Blake. Emma is a high school junior at Ridgemont Academy prep school for the elite and rich. Tuition per student is $75,000 a year. When she is asked to share an experience essay, she stands in front of the class and commits to doing something that is absolutely shocking and disturbing. She has a message to share and delivering it is all that she cares about.
Like I said, I don’t think I’ve ever read anything (fictional) that deals so directly and honestly with such serious issues head on and doesn’t pull any punches. This one will definitely stay with me for quite a while after finishing it. And as parent and grandparent, its lessons will linger even longer as I reflect on my own daughters and grandchildren and my relationships with each of them. We cannot forget that everyone deals with loss and adversity in different ways. Each individual is different and there is no one-size fits all solution to getting through grief. Loss can be devastating to even the strongest of people.
Consider yourself warned. This book is not for the casual reader. It requires a level of emotional awareness and understanding that makes the payoff incredibly high.
For me personally, this is not only the most different Patterson novel you will read, but it may also very well be his most profound and powerful work to date.
July 1, 2025
I really did not enjoy this book one little bit. It's constantly going on & on about the world & the environment and a girl who thinks she can change the world by setting herself on fire. Nothing thrilling about this book whatsoever just a delusional girl that needs help. I like thriller books not ones that preach about the world so definitely would not recommend this book and it should not be classed as a thriller
August 24, 2025
An angry review
From page one this book made me angry. I saw no point and a lot of harm that could come to people who might read it. In the end, that was message.
I would have stopped after chapter one, but because it was Patterson, I did not. If you feel you must read it because of who the author is, then go right ahead. Be prepared to be disgusted and angry.
From page one this book made me angry. I saw no point and a lot of harm that could come to people who might read it. In the end, that was message.
I would have stopped after chapter one, but because it was Patterson, I did not. If you feel you must read it because of who the author is, then go right ahead. Be prepared to be disgusted and angry.
August 17, 2025
Talks about a very important topic, in a chilling manner...
My blog post on a similar topic, incidentally, is here:
https://www.aniblogshere.com/mental-h...
My blog post on a similar topic, incidentally, is here:
https://www.aniblogshere.com/mental-h...
September 22, 2025
Summary: a rant-filled, lecture!
There are very few redeeming qualities to this co-authored abomination of a “thriller”. One is its short length. The rest are negatives. Why Patterson would put his name to something like this is beyond me!
Skip, skip, skip!
There are very few redeeming qualities to this co-authored abomination of a “thriller”. One is its short length. The rest are negatives. Why Patterson would put his name to something like this is beyond me!
Skip, skip, skip!
August 31, 2025
Wow - what a powerful book. I literally read it in a couple hours - just couldn't put it down. Mental health is so important. We need to be better to each other and that starts with listening, not hearing, but truly listening. I pray and vow to be a better listener - I hope more people will do the same.🙏🩷
July 1, 2025
I’m a big James Patterson fan and this book was a such disappointment. The characters were two dimensional and the ending was twee. Very disappointing read.
September 6, 2025
988
crisistextline.org
(866)488-7386
teenline.org
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Please don't read this book or this review if you are suffering from depression or suicidal ideation. Please reach out to someone for help. You aren't alone.
---
Emma spends 228 pages of this 239 page book wanting to, planning to, and practicing how to complete suicide by self-immolation.
One page 8, she reads an essay out loud to her class that describes in graphic detail what will happen to her when she does it.
On page 209 she douses herself in gasoline, still ready and planning to carry out this act. On page 224 another student texts her, saying that she understands, and she wants to kill herself the same way.
This might the only reason that Emma does not light the fire. By page 229, she agonizes, saying into a live stream camera, "I want to do this... I've been planning it for months... I freaking practiced for it." But she has only just realized that her actions would inspire others to follow her path, and she remembers her own pain after her sister's suicide. She briefly tells her disturbingly large audience that there's still hope and people can make a change (it's one paragraph on page 231), tells her classmate not to do it, and ends the livestream.
She's only kept in the hospital overnight. She isn't held for her own safety. The conflict seems to be over, just like that. She's "hopeful" and "alive."
I find this book to be dangerous and irresponsible. I lost a family member to suicide. I have been in treatment for major depressive disorder since I was 11, and I have experienced suicidal ideation. I don't think the authors treated the subject with as much care as they should have.
For honesty's sake, I only fully read the beginning, a few sections in the middle, and the end of this book (maybe 50% total). I was shocked by the content, and after I read the first few chapters, I skimmed ahead to find out how long it took for Emma to get help or stop wanting to kill herself. It took until almost the very end. Ten pages out of 239. I read a bit along the way, and there are some hints that she's hesitating and scared to carry it out, but she goes as far as burning her arm at school and putting out videos explaining why she's going to do it and inviting the internet to watch a live stream of her suicide. Every person in her life failed her, and we do see that failure: a school counselor who should have taken the threat more seriously, school officials afraid of losing money, a father who doesn't provide any help, other students who also don't take it as seriously as they should. She's failed at the end too, in an entirely unrealistic way, because I'm pretty sure she'd face a mandatory hold after a suicide attempt that extreme, but in the book, she just tells everyone she's fine and no one seems worried that she'd try again.
If this book had been 10 pages of a suicidal girl planning her death and 200+ pages of getting help and finding hope, as messy as it could be, with all the backsliding and bad days that come with recovery, that would be one thing. There is a content warning in the beginning that says, "Please be aware that this book contains multiple references to suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and depression." In the author's note on page 241 Patterson provides links to websites that provide help and education. I don't think that's enough. All the work Emma does is towards fulfilling her goal until it just isn't and she's suddenly hopeful. She doesn't learn any tools that could help her through the next downward spiral, and we aren't given any reason to believe that she will seek help and learn those tools. Her support system is still broken, and she still exists in the world with all the same problems she's been talking about.
Maybe this book just triggered something in me, that scared teenage girl who didn't see any other way out and the scared adult woman who also feels hopeless in the world and wants to make a difference. I don't experience suicidal ideation anymore, but my mental health is a battle I've never stopped fighting. The end of our stories is never as neat as it can be in books, and with a topic like this... Maybe I'm wrong. But I hated this book.
crisistextline.org
(866)488-7386
teenline.org
suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Please don't read this book or this review if you are suffering from depression or suicidal ideation. Please reach out to someone for help. You aren't alone.
---
Emma spends 228 pages of this 239 page book wanting to, planning to, and practicing how to complete suicide by self-immolation.
One page 8, she reads an essay out loud to her class that describes in graphic detail what will happen to her when she does it.
On page 209 she douses herself in gasoline, still ready and planning to carry out this act. On page 224 another student texts her, saying that she understands, and she wants to kill herself the same way.
This might the only reason that Emma does not light the fire. By page 229, she agonizes, saying into a live stream camera, "I want to do this... I've been planning it for months... I freaking practiced for it." But she has only just realized that her actions would inspire others to follow her path, and she remembers her own pain after her sister's suicide. She briefly tells her disturbingly large audience that there's still hope and people can make a change (it's one paragraph on page 231), tells her classmate not to do it, and ends the livestream.
She's only kept in the hospital overnight. She isn't held for her own safety. The conflict seems to be over, just like that. She's "hopeful" and "alive."
I find this book to be dangerous and irresponsible. I lost a family member to suicide. I have been in treatment for major depressive disorder since I was 11, and I have experienced suicidal ideation. I don't think the authors treated the subject with as much care as they should have.
For honesty's sake, I only fully read the beginning, a few sections in the middle, and the end of this book (maybe 50% total). I was shocked by the content, and after I read the first few chapters, I skimmed ahead to find out how long it took for Emma to get help or stop wanting to kill herself. It took until almost the very end. Ten pages out of 239. I read a bit along the way, and there are some hints that she's hesitating and scared to carry it out, but she goes as far as burning her arm at school and putting out videos explaining why she's going to do it and inviting the internet to watch a live stream of her suicide. Every person in her life failed her, and we do see that failure: a school counselor who should have taken the threat more seriously, school officials afraid of losing money, a father who doesn't provide any help, other students who also don't take it as seriously as they should. She's failed at the end too, in an entirely unrealistic way, because I'm pretty sure she'd face a mandatory hold after a suicide attempt that extreme, but in the book, she just tells everyone she's fine and no one seems worried that she'd try again.
If this book had been 10 pages of a suicidal girl planning her death and 200+ pages of getting help and finding hope, as messy as it could be, with all the backsliding and bad days that come with recovery, that would be one thing. There is a content warning in the beginning that says, "Please be aware that this book contains multiple references to suicide, suicidal ideation, self-harm, and depression." In the author's note on page 241 Patterson provides links to websites that provide help and education. I don't think that's enough. All the work Emma does is towards fulfilling her goal until it just isn't and she's suddenly hopeful. She doesn't learn any tools that could help her through the next downward spiral, and we aren't given any reason to believe that she will seek help and learn those tools. Her support system is still broken, and she still exists in the world with all the same problems she's been talking about.
Maybe this book just triggered something in me, that scared teenage girl who didn't see any other way out and the scared adult woman who also feels hopeless in the world and wants to make a difference. I don't experience suicidal ideation anymore, but my mental health is a battle I've never stopped fighting. The end of our stories is never as neat as it can be in books, and with a topic like this... Maybe I'm wrong. But I hated this book.
November 5, 2025
A very powerful powerful story. It is one that you really need to read the warning at the beginning of the book and take it seriously if you struggle with mental health. It was very hard for me to get through but I'm glad I did. Just be advised it is difficult and sometimes painful but a very powerful tale of loss and grief.
August 20, 2025
EMMA ON FIRE is either a 5 star or 1 star book for me. My enjoyment was a 5, I loved every minute of it, despite the predictable ending. 1 star would be for representation of how adults in loco parentis are legally bound to deal with suicidal students. James Patterson may have worked as an aide in a psych hospital over 50 years ago, but he ought to have brushed up on today’s laws.
The precipitating issues for Emma were her mother’s death from breast cancer and her sister’s recent suicide.
In chapter 1, Emma reads part of an essay detailing her plans to set herself on fire to call attention to the state of the world/environment. She details a plan and date, which would require a 72 hour hold to assess whether she’s a danger to herself or others. She poses an immediate threat to both herself and others if she sets fire to herself in her dorm.
The next day, Emma purposely burns herself in science lab, as a trial run. HELLLLLOOOO? If she wasn’t taken to the hospital the day she threatened to kill herself, this purposeful self-injury the same as her self emmolation in front of an audience would have necessitated she be taken immediately to the psych hospital even though the burn wasn’t life threatening. The call to her father should have come later.
The Headmaster instead calls his attorney for advice after Emma’s father dismisses her behavior. The decision to have her stay in a room with a nurse/therapist sitting outside to give her privacy is ridiculous. Hasn’t Patterson ever heard of people committing suicide with bedding? That Emma needs to be so closely monitored means she ought to be hospitalized.
I truly didn’t know where the story would end, hoping it wouldn’t be open ended, letting the reader hang. Ir turns out Emma realizes rather than saving the planet, she might encourage others to kill themselves so she decided to live. She’s hospitalized overnight (again she’d require a 72 hour hold at the very least), her father realizes he should push her so hard and everything is going to be okay.
The precipitating issues for Emma were her mother’s death from breast cancer and her sister’s recent suicide.
In chapter 1, Emma reads part of an essay detailing her plans to set herself on fire to call attention to the state of the world/environment. She details a plan and date, which would require a 72 hour hold to assess whether she’s a danger to herself or others. She poses an immediate threat to both herself and others if she sets fire to herself in her dorm.
The next day, Emma purposely burns herself in science lab, as a trial run. HELLLLLOOOO? If she wasn’t taken to the hospital the day she threatened to kill herself, this purposeful self-injury the same as her self emmolation in front of an audience would have necessitated she be taken immediately to the psych hospital even though the burn wasn’t life threatening. The call to her father should have come later.
The Headmaster instead calls his attorney for advice after Emma’s father dismisses her behavior. The decision to have her stay in a room with a nurse/therapist sitting outside to give her privacy is ridiculous. Hasn’t Patterson ever heard of people committing suicide with bedding? That Emma needs to be so closely monitored means she ought to be hospitalized.
I truly didn’t know where the story would end, hoping it wouldn’t be open ended, letting the reader hang. Ir turns out Emma realizes rather than saving the planet, she might encourage others to kill themselves so she decided to live. She’s hospitalized overnight (again she’d require a 72 hour hold at the very least), her father realizes he should push her so hard and everything is going to be okay.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2025
Absolute boring, I didn’t connect with it at all. It was just depressing from beginning to end and the story didn’t go anywhere much except about this girl who had a crap life and wanted to die. I love James Patterson, but if it didn’t have his name on the book, I wouldn’t even of touched this book or given it a glance. this is the first book this year that I can say was truly gastly
May 23, 2025
Disturbing
October 24, 2025
Grief can take on so many forms. You read this story having one opinion, and next thing you know, you find yourself begging for someone to give this girl a hug and a Xanax. Leave it to James Patterson to throw a little quick read that will pack a punch bigger than 1000 philosophy book ever could! 3.75⭐️
August 16, 2025
Wow! This was such a powerful book with a powerful message. I devoured it and when I finished I was so overcome with emotion at the message that this book conveys.
When I started the book I had mixed feelings about Emma but as the book progressed I saw her. I felt what she felt. The way that James Patterson and Emily Raymond were able to use words to make me feel emotions was such a beautiful thing in this book.
I will scream this from the rooftops until my last day, MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS and we as humans need to listen to those around us even when we are too busy or just really don’t think there’s anything to worry about. WE. NEED. TO. LISTEN.
Thank you so much to the publisher and James Patterson for an advance copy of this book as part of the James Patterson Street Team!
When I started the book I had mixed feelings about Emma but as the book progressed I saw her. I felt what she felt. The way that James Patterson and Emily Raymond were able to use words to make me feel emotions was such a beautiful thing in this book.
I will scream this from the rooftops until my last day, MENTAL HEALTH MATTERS and we as humans need to listen to those around us even when we are too busy or just really don’t think there’s anything to worry about. WE. NEED. TO. LISTEN.
Thank you so much to the publisher and James Patterson for an advance copy of this book as part of the James Patterson Street Team!
August 23, 2025
I am typically a fan of James Patterson books and have read a mountain of them. However, while I appreciate the message and quick pace of this book, it really felt like it should be classified as young adult. I understand that the main character is 17, but it really felt like 17 was the target audience as well. Not my favourite.
July 13, 2025
WOW!
This was a very powerful story!
Not what I expected but great nevertheless!
Teenagers show definitely read this one!
This was a very powerful story!
Not what I expected but great nevertheless!
Teenagers show definitely read this one!
November 4, 2025
Really enjoyed that - it was a very different book from what I was expecting but the message was so clear and needed 🌍🔥
Read
August 29, 2025I couldn’t finish this book. A girl is literally talking the entire book about putting herself on fire. And is telling everyone. Begging for help and no one does a thing. She wants to set herself on fire because of political reasons and I just couldn’t continue. I don’t think this book will be helpful to anyone. I think it encourages self harm. She needed serious therapy and her parents and teachers should have done more. Obviously unsure of how it ends but this isn’t one I’d recommend.
July 30, 2025
Emotionally heavy book. Check your TW. Fast-paced. More geared to YA, but not too young with the topics. Thank you for the ARC, Goodreads.
August 16, 2025
The premise, with its promise of a shocking event and a deep dive into the mind of a troubled teen was definitely attention-grabbing and felt very much in line with other James Patterson books I've read.
On the one hand, the book was a very quick and easy read: living up to the fast-paced, propulsive style. The short chapters and constant shifts in perspective kept the story moving, building a palpable sense of unease as you waited to see just what Emma was going to do. The portrayal of her grief and her desire to make a difference however misguided, was handled with a certain level of poignancy and the mystery surrounding her plan kept me turning the pages.
However, the book's signature style also felt like its biggest shortcoming. The fragmented narrative and simplified prose, while great for speed, often prevented me from truly connecting with the characters on a deeper level. Emma's inner world, while the central focus, felt more like a surface-level exploration than a genuine, fully fleshed-out character study. The final twist, while impactful, felt a bit too convenient and didn't quite deliver the emotional punch it was built up to have.
Overall, while it was a solid page-turner, it traded some emotional depth and character development for its quick-fire pace.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
On the one hand, the book was a very quick and easy read: living up to the fast-paced, propulsive style. The short chapters and constant shifts in perspective kept the story moving, building a palpable sense of unease as you waited to see just what Emma was going to do. The portrayal of her grief and her desire to make a difference however misguided, was handled with a certain level of poignancy and the mystery surrounding her plan kept me turning the pages.
However, the book's signature style also felt like its biggest shortcoming. The fragmented narrative and simplified prose, while great for speed, often prevented me from truly connecting with the characters on a deeper level. Emma's inner world, while the central focus, felt more like a surface-level exploration than a genuine, fully fleshed-out character study. The final twist, while impactful, felt a bit too convenient and didn't quite deliver the emotional punch it was built up to have.
Overall, while it was a solid page-turner, it traded some emotional depth and character development for its quick-fire pace.
(Thank you Edelweiss and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own)
June 18, 2025
Emma on Fire is profound, eye-opening, and thought-provoking. This book takes a deep dive into loss and pain and how devastating it can be to even the strongest people. Emma is a high school student at a private school with a 75k tuition. She is surrounded by the brightest, richest, and most affluent people. Appearing to have a picture-perfect life, Emma is hurting, she has had to face loss that most her age cannot even fathom and she's drowning in grief. Emma's father is tough, strong, and powerful and expects Emma to be the same. He doesn't seem to see her cries for help, or does he just choose to ignore them?
Emma on Fire touches on many sensitive topics. Be aware of possible trigger warnings. These include cancer, loss of loved ones, suicide, bullying, and others.
I was given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a free unbiased review. Thank you to James Patterson and Little Brown publising for this opportunity.
Emma on Fire touches on many sensitive topics. Be aware of possible trigger warnings. These include cancer, loss of loved ones, suicide, bullying, and others.
I was given the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a free unbiased review. Thank you to James Patterson and Little Brown publising for this opportunity.
May 10, 2025
Emma on Fire is a bold, emotional story about a teen who’s had enough of people ignoring all the ways the world is falling apart at the seams!! After a several personal tragedies, Emma decides to do something drastic, not to get attention, but to shake the world awake.
This book is intense and thought-provoking, with a main character who’s both brave and heartbreaking. It dives into activism, grief, mental health, and the urgency of change. A quick, powerful read that sticks with you.
Content Warning: Includes themes of suicide, depression, and grief.
Recommended for Ages 14+ due to mature topics and emotional intensity.
This book is intense and thought-provoking, with a main character who’s both brave and heartbreaking. It dives into activism, grief, mental health, and the urgency of change. A quick, powerful read that sticks with you.
Content Warning: Includes themes of suicide, depression, and grief.
Recommended for Ages 14+ due to mature topics and emotional intensity.
July 1, 2025
Powerful, disturbing. A scream for help from Emma that not everyone hears. Till the end I thought that she would do it ( I feel bad for this!) , the message would have been more effective: do you listen your sons , students, friends. But this book ends well, because the teens are resilient and because there always hope too.
December 19, 2025
4.5/5
This was a very difficult read with triggers that are prevalent in this world today and is a book that’s going to stay with me for a long time. It addresses real issues of grief, loss, and depression as well as suicide and self-harm. I would definitely take the warnings at the beginning very seriously.
One thing that really stood out to me as I was reading this book and something I needed a reminder of is that everyone processes grief differently, there’s not a one size solution that fits when processing grief. I think it’s important to remember that mental health matters, it’s real and it affects a lot of people, everyone deserves to be listened to. Really listened to, like no distractions and actively listening to one another.
This was a very difficult read with triggers that are prevalent in this world today and is a book that’s going to stay with me for a long time. It addresses real issues of grief, loss, and depression as well as suicide and self-harm. I would definitely take the warnings at the beginning very seriously.
One thing that really stood out to me as I was reading this book and something I needed a reminder of is that everyone processes grief differently, there’s not a one size solution that fits when processing grief. I think it’s important to remember that mental health matters, it’s real and it affects a lot of people, everyone deserves to be listened to. Really listened to, like no distractions and actively listening to one another.
September 4, 2025
Real rating 3.5. Patterson and his coauthors have the amazing ability to write simplistically and somehow still convey extremely strong emotions. This story is a prime example of that. What is different about this story compared to other Patterson novels is that it deals with a young woman’s desperate need to kill herself in hopes it will make people take action to save the world. It’s very raw, touching, an, in my eyes, realistic.
October 18, 2025
Read this book in one sitting and woah did it blow me away. I applaud Patterson and Raymond for tackling a brutal subject matter through such a vulnerable and lovable character. It was smart to make this a quick read, i’m not sure my heart could handle having to invest any more time worrying for Emma. If PL Travers wrote Mary Poppins to save the parents, Patterson and Raymond wrote this one to save the kids. 🩷
October 29, 2025
This book hooks you at the beginning but the statement she is trying to make has nothing to do with her story. The dad is an idiot who brushes off all of her feelings and dumps her in a private boarding school rather than being a loving, caring parent who should be a bit more concerned about his daughter and her well-being. After the first few chapters this book drags on. No real twists or turns. A sad representation of the mental health of our kids.
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