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That Time Everything Was On Fire
A warm, funny, painfully relatable debut novel about friendship, coming of age in your thirties and finding your purpose. For fans of Anna Hope, Nina Stibbe and Holly Bourne.
Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. Back then Daisy was a wild, Fleetwood Mac-obsessed girl descended from the Yorkshire Moors, while Sam’s youth was misspent traipsing around Liverpool on shopping trips and nights out.
But as they lean against each other on a wooden bench in the tired garden of their beloved local pub, gazing out at Sam’s wedding, they have no idea that their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time.
As Sam’s desire to become a mother consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her, these best of friends will lose sight of themselves – and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal the gulf widens. But can they build a bridge, or will they let it burn?
Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. Back then Daisy was a wild, Fleetwood Mac-obsessed girl descended from the Yorkshire Moors, while Sam’s youth was misspent traipsing around Liverpool on shopping trips and nights out.
But as they lean against each other on a wooden bench in the tired garden of their beloved local pub, gazing out at Sam’s wedding, they have no idea that their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time.
As Sam’s desire to become a mother consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her, these best of friends will lose sight of themselves – and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal the gulf widens. But can they build a bridge, or will they let it burn?
- GenresFictionContemporary
384 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 22, 2025
9 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
June 23, 2025
Heartwarming and relatable tale of friendship and the complexities of life
May 19, 2025
3 stars, but a good 3 stars! I didn't want to put the book down at any point (although it felt longer than it actually was, perhaps a little more editing wouldn't have gone amiss!), and I thought it was well-written. I feel like star ratings are subjective: for me, a 3 star read is a good read, it's just not fantastic. I probably won't want to reread the book, but I'm in no way suggesting that it was not worth reading.
This is Kerry Downes' debut, and it covers the first few years of four best friends in their thirties, a decade one of their mothers described as 'when everything was on fire'. Certainly, they have a lot to contend with! The story is covered from two perspectives, Sam and Daisy, and we see a lot more of their experiences as a result. I did wonder why we see less from the other characters; why did Downes choose these two middle class cis white women to tell the story from?
Honestly, it was a good book; I just think there was nothing hugely new to take from this. I empathised with the characters; there was a lot explored about infertility and the choice of whether or not to have children, and what this means (or whether it has to mean anything). The pacing is fairly good (although it felt a tad long, as I have said), and the writing was self-assured and fluid. The characters were a little generic, but I still found them relatable. (What does that say about me? :P)
The framing helped the story move along - it is told over the course of four summers and winters, missing out the intervening months. I think this was my favourite part, leaving these missing months to inference and not spoon-feeding the reader every detail of these women's lives. We didn't need to know everything, and Downes as a storyteller understood that.
Definitely accomplished writing, and (has been said) will probably appeal to fans of Holly Bourne's most recent work. I hope to see something a little more adventurous from Kerry Downes in the future - she has the writing talent!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
This is Kerry Downes' debut, and it covers the first few years of four best friends in their thirties, a decade one of their mothers described as 'when everything was on fire'. Certainly, they have a lot to contend with! The story is covered from two perspectives, Sam and Daisy, and we see a lot more of their experiences as a result. I did wonder why we see less from the other characters; why did Downes choose these two middle class cis white women to tell the story from?
Honestly, it was a good book; I just think there was nothing hugely new to take from this. I empathised with the characters; there was a lot explored about infertility and the choice of whether or not to have children, and what this means (or whether it has to mean anything). The pacing is fairly good (although it felt a tad long, as I have said), and the writing was self-assured and fluid. The characters were a little generic, but I still found them relatable. (What does that say about me? :P)
The framing helped the story move along - it is told over the course of four summers and winters, missing out the intervening months. I think this was my favourite part, leaving these missing months to inference and not spoon-feeding the reader every detail of these women's lives. We didn't need to know everything, and Downes as a storyteller understood that.
Definitely accomplished writing, and (has been said) will probably appeal to fans of Holly Bourne's most recent work. I hope to see something a little more adventurous from Kerry Downes in the future - she has the writing talent!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.
January 15, 2025
Extremely relatable and beautifully written. I can’t believe it’s a debut. This is a phenomenal book.
April 13, 2025
A debut novel involving female friendship for a group of thirty somethings. The story is covered from the perspectives of two of the group, Sam and Daisy, who are at different points in life. The book covered ideas of parenthood including an in depth plot around infertility which I felt was handled really well.
It’s true that this book isn’t exactly ground breaking in its themes, but what it did well was portray the realistic trials and tribulations we all face at one point or another. It’s written with humour and care and I loved it loads. I would love to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
It’s true that this book isn’t exactly ground breaking in its themes, but what it did well was portray the realistic trials and tribulations we all face at one point or another. It’s written with humour and care and I loved it loads. I would love to read more from this author.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
May 21, 2025
Sam, Daisy, Jas and Imogen are best friends in their thirties. It’s that period of time where lives start moving in different directions as marriage, babies, careers and relationships start to take precedence over drinking and partying. These four girls are facing it all. And as things don’t quite go to plan, cracks in their relationships develop - will their friendship stand the test of time?
This was a really solid, well written snapshot of life as a millennial. The four characters all brought something to the story and I felt like it was such an accurate representation of growing up and navigating the changes in adult life, especially when the road you travel doesn’t take you where you want to be.
Sam’s struggles with infertility were incredibly accurate and felt almost personal. The same thing happened to me in my thirties and looking back while reading this, I can now see that everyone walked on eggshells around me, scared of adding to my grief. Sam described it perfectly & I felt huge empathy for her.
With a realistic plot and relatable characters, this is a book to get lost in. There’s humour and emotion and depth and authenticity. A fantastic debut novel.
April 14, 2025
LOVED this. I’m a sucker for books about female friendship and this was just a gorgeous read. Brilliant debut! Thank you so much to Kerry for sending me a copy, out next month!
August 26, 2025
Being a lot older than the women in this novel, I was happy to find I loved reading about the trials and tribulations of these women in their 30s. A group of four friends, we hear from newly married Sam who soon discovers starting a family isn't as easy as she thought it would be. She undergoes fertility treatments and has to deal with other people’s pregnancies and the heartbreak and disappointment of not having a child. Daisy appears to be the opposite of Sam - still looking Mr Right and a career she enjoys. Over the course of 4 years see the ups and downs of their lives and friendships.
I enjoyed the friendship between these women, who all felt very real. I tend to avoid books by much younger protagonists because I often don’t have much in common with them but I’m so glad I listened to this. It was so well written, a wonderful character driven novel.
I enjoyed the friendship between these women, who all felt very real. I tend to avoid books by much younger protagonists because I often don’t have much in common with them but I’m so glad I listened to this. It was so well written, a wonderful character driven novel.
March 13, 2025
Thank you to netgalley, the publishers, and the author for the opportunity to read this beautiful book!
"You said your mum described her thirties as that time when everything is on fire..."
And isn’t that relatable?
Millennials Sam and Daisy, two best friends, navigate their 30s in London, trying to find their purpose and path in life. Though they are inseparable, they have very different views on what their future should look like. Sam, newly married, is planning to start a family, but this comes with unexpected struggles. Daisy, on the other hand, feels lost—trapped in a job she hates, caught in toxic relationships with men, and unsure of her true purpose.
Their story is told over four summers and four winters, and it's really well-paced, which allows us to truly experience the ups and downs of their journey.
One of the aspects I loved most was that the story is told from both perspectives, letting us understand each character’s emotions and personalities.
Sam and Daisy are incredibly relatable, each with their own quirks and flaws. As someone in her late 30s, I found their experiences familiar—the societal expectations that come with this decade of life: marriage, children, buying a home, and securing a stable, well-paying job. Over the course of four years, their friendship is tested by betrayals, disagreements, and emotional distance, but ultimately, it is also filled with love, hope, and understanding.
The author does a fantastic job of tackling important topics, particularly the struggles of infertility and a subtle yet important mention of postpartum depression. Sam’s pain, guilt, and emotional turmoil are written with such authenticity that it mirrors the real-life experiences of many women facing infertility. The novel also highlights how society often assumes that marriage must immediately lead to parenthood, with people thoughtlessly asking intrusive questions without considering what a couple might be going through. This is something we should all be more mindful of.
Another aspect I truly enjoyed was how Kerry explores the alternative choice—choosing not to become a mother. Daisy struggles with this idea, but we also see her inner conflict about how society might perceive her decision. As a mother myself, I completely understand and respect those who decide not to have children. I firmly believe that no woman should feel pressured to compromise on this decision. Motherhood is hard—it changes you, sometimes making you feel like you’ve lost yourself. It can alter relationships and take a long time before you feel like yourself again. Of course, not everyone has the same experience, but I loved how this book touches on these realities in such an honest way.
Above all, this novel beautifully illustrates the importance of female friendship—how, even when we choose different paths, we can still support each other without judgment, without dismissing one another’s values, emotions, or experiences.
This is a beautifully written story about life in your 30s, adulthood, love, friendship, and the pressures society places on us. A very relatable read.
"You said your mum described her thirties as that time when everything is on fire..."
And isn’t that relatable?
Millennials Sam and Daisy, two best friends, navigate their 30s in London, trying to find their purpose and path in life. Though they are inseparable, they have very different views on what their future should look like. Sam, newly married, is planning to start a family, but this comes with unexpected struggles. Daisy, on the other hand, feels lost—trapped in a job she hates, caught in toxic relationships with men, and unsure of her true purpose.
Their story is told over four summers and four winters, and it's really well-paced, which allows us to truly experience the ups and downs of their journey.
One of the aspects I loved most was that the story is told from both perspectives, letting us understand each character’s emotions and personalities.
Sam and Daisy are incredibly relatable, each with their own quirks and flaws. As someone in her late 30s, I found their experiences familiar—the societal expectations that come with this decade of life: marriage, children, buying a home, and securing a stable, well-paying job. Over the course of four years, their friendship is tested by betrayals, disagreements, and emotional distance, but ultimately, it is also filled with love, hope, and understanding.
The author does a fantastic job of tackling important topics, particularly the struggles of infertility and a subtle yet important mention of postpartum depression. Sam’s pain, guilt, and emotional turmoil are written with such authenticity that it mirrors the real-life experiences of many women facing infertility. The novel also highlights how society often assumes that marriage must immediately lead to parenthood, with people thoughtlessly asking intrusive questions without considering what a couple might be going through. This is something we should all be more mindful of.
Another aspect I truly enjoyed was how Kerry explores the alternative choice—choosing not to become a mother. Daisy struggles with this idea, but we also see her inner conflict about how society might perceive her decision. As a mother myself, I completely understand and respect those who decide not to have children. I firmly believe that no woman should feel pressured to compromise on this decision. Motherhood is hard—it changes you, sometimes making you feel like you’ve lost yourself. It can alter relationships and take a long time before you feel like yourself again. Of course, not everyone has the same experience, but I loved how this book touches on these realities in such an honest way.
Above all, this novel beautifully illustrates the importance of female friendship—how, even when we choose different paths, we can still support each other without judgment, without dismissing one another’s values, emotions, or experiences.
This is a beautifully written story about life in your 30s, adulthood, love, friendship, and the pressures society places on us. A very relatable read.
February 25, 2025
this was good, but also felt like it was too long? and why were daisy and james/jono/blake so intense with eachother so fast? and why were they all SO posh but acting like they weren't? and why was sam so obsessed with daisy and james being together? and I will forever seethe when characters just argue instead of just saying what they mean.
I think maybe I'm just the wrong reader for this book, which is surprising as a woman in her thirties, so I don't want to shit on it, but I also just can't sing it's praises.
thank you to Netgalley for the ARC :)
I think maybe I'm just the wrong reader for this book, which is surprising as a woman in her thirties, so I don't want to shit on it, but I also just can't sing it's praises.
thank you to Netgalley for the ARC :)
May 6, 2025
That Time When Everything Was On Fire by Kerry Downes is a powerful contemporary debut novel that gripped me from the start.
This is a book about women, friendship and life. It is a roller coaster read as we celebrate the highs and lows of life. Life is a journey, and it is a journey that is better together, but there are some roads that we traverse alone.
The reader joins four female friends who are roughly thirty years old. The book is told through the eyes of lifelong friends Sam and Daisy. It is split into ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ over several years.
We see the extremely difficult road of infertility as we follow a character through several rounds of IVF. “Infertility is like a shadow of grief, shimmering in the background of every aspect of your life… And who can understand such an experience other than those forced to enter its dark vicinity.” Kerry Downes really speaks straight from the heart and of personal experience.
We witness the loneliness of the character who is excluded from events/conversations as her friends for fear hurting her. “Don’t decide for me what I’m capable of.” She is far stronger and more resilient than her friends think. “I don’t feel like a warrior. I don’t feel brave; I feel tired.” IVF takes its’ toll physically and mentally. “The endless roller coaster of hope, grief and uncertainty.” There are some absolutely heart-breaking scenes as well as those of love and support.
In contrast, there is an unplanned pregnancy and decisions to be made. This too, is a lonely journey as it cannot be shared with the one person, they really want to share it with.
And there is the happy news of a planned pregnancy. We witness the love and chaos of the early days with a new baby.
Relationships come in many guises but ultimately “kindness is everything.”
This is a powerful book that is sensitively written and that will tear your heart in two. A character declares, “You have to find the beauty in the world, remind yourself of the good parts.”
This is a very beautiful book about friendships that loves and supports through all the seasons of life.
I look forward to reading more from Kerry Downes.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
This is a book about women, friendship and life. It is a roller coaster read as we celebrate the highs and lows of life. Life is a journey, and it is a journey that is better together, but there are some roads that we traverse alone.
The reader joins four female friends who are roughly thirty years old. The book is told through the eyes of lifelong friends Sam and Daisy. It is split into ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ over several years.
We see the extremely difficult road of infertility as we follow a character through several rounds of IVF. “Infertility is like a shadow of grief, shimmering in the background of every aspect of your life… And who can understand such an experience other than those forced to enter its dark vicinity.” Kerry Downes really speaks straight from the heart and of personal experience.
We witness the loneliness of the character who is excluded from events/conversations as her friends for fear hurting her. “Don’t decide for me what I’m capable of.” She is far stronger and more resilient than her friends think. “I don’t feel like a warrior. I don’t feel brave; I feel tired.” IVF takes its’ toll physically and mentally. “The endless roller coaster of hope, grief and uncertainty.” There are some absolutely heart-breaking scenes as well as those of love and support.
In contrast, there is an unplanned pregnancy and decisions to be made. This too, is a lonely journey as it cannot be shared with the one person, they really want to share it with.
And there is the happy news of a planned pregnancy. We witness the love and chaos of the early days with a new baby.
Relationships come in many guises but ultimately “kindness is everything.”
This is a powerful book that is sensitively written and that will tear your heart in two. A character declares, “You have to find the beauty in the world, remind yourself of the good parts.”
This is a very beautiful book about friendships that loves and supports through all the seasons of life.
I look forward to reading more from Kerry Downes.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.
May 5, 2025
For fans of Expectation by Anna Hope, you will love this.
👯♀️The Story: Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. But they have no idea that their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time. As Sam’s desire to become a mother consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her, these best of friends will lose sight of themselves – and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal the gulf widens. But can they build a bridge, or will they let it burn?
🔥My Thoughts: I found this book so relatable and real. It was an easy read and I flew through it. It felt like I was reading about myself and my best mate. Being a South London girl myself, I could picture all the places so well. Having some tinnies in Brockwell Park was one of them.
I loved the writing style and it flowed. It was an honest book about female friendship and being a woman in your 30s and the pressures society puts on us - to get a career, a house, to get married and have children etc etc. What if you decide to take a different path? What if your best friend isn’t doing the same things as you? Is your friendship strong enough to survive this? Everything about this novel felt relatable. I’ve experienced this myself and also drifted from some of my friends because we chose different paths. It felt like we had nothing in common anymore. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to support our friends even if their choices and decisions don’t reflect our own.
The importance of female friendship is so strong in this book. I loved Sam and Daisy. I was rooting for them both and I was hopeful throughout. A debut novel that was full of heart and I loved it. ♥️
👯♀️The Story: Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. But they have no idea that their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time. As Sam’s desire to become a mother consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her, these best of friends will lose sight of themselves – and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal the gulf widens. But can they build a bridge, or will they let it burn?
🔥My Thoughts: I found this book so relatable and real. It was an easy read and I flew through it. It felt like I was reading about myself and my best mate. Being a South London girl myself, I could picture all the places so well. Having some tinnies in Brockwell Park was one of them.
I loved the writing style and it flowed. It was an honest book about female friendship and being a woman in your 30s and the pressures society puts on us - to get a career, a house, to get married and have children etc etc. What if you decide to take a different path? What if your best friend isn’t doing the same things as you? Is your friendship strong enough to survive this? Everything about this novel felt relatable. I’ve experienced this myself and also drifted from some of my friends because we chose different paths. It felt like we had nothing in common anymore. Sometimes we need to remind ourselves to support our friends even if their choices and decisions don’t reflect our own.
The importance of female friendship is so strong in this book. I loved Sam and Daisy. I was rooting for them both and I was hopeful throughout. A debut novel that was full of heart and I loved it. ♥️
June 20, 2025
Downes' new novel, That Time Everything Was on Fire, is an exploration of adult friendships. Over the course of four summers and winters, we see the journey of four women in their 30s and their messy friendship unravels as their reality, priorities and expectations varies.
Centre stage we have Sam, who we see getting married at the beginning of the novel and embarks on the journey of trying to conceive with her husband Marvin. Her best friend Daisy, is in search for love while battling what she wants for herself vs societal expectations. Jas and Imo, the other two women in the group, are seen going on their journeys however, they play more of a supporting role in the novel.
Kerry Downes does a great job of capturing the awkwardness, envy, love, and unspoken competition that can exist between close female friends. The themes of motherhood and fertility are woven through showing the weight of both longing and expectation. There is a strong commentary on the societal pressures for women in their 30s; What women "should" want and how quietly destructive those narratives can be.
The writing is clear and engaging with a strong narrative voice. However, the story did story did lose some momentum in the middle. That said, this is an assured debut with a clear voice, emotional depth, and important things to say about womanhood and identity. I'll be looking out for the next Kerry Downes novel.
I rate this book 3.5 stars
Centre stage we have Sam, who we see getting married at the beginning of the novel and embarks on the journey of trying to conceive with her husband Marvin. Her best friend Daisy, is in search for love while battling what she wants for herself vs societal expectations. Jas and Imo, the other two women in the group, are seen going on their journeys however, they play more of a supporting role in the novel.
Kerry Downes does a great job of capturing the awkwardness, envy, love, and unspoken competition that can exist between close female friends. The themes of motherhood and fertility are woven through showing the weight of both longing and expectation. There is a strong commentary on the societal pressures for women in their 30s; What women "should" want and how quietly destructive those narratives can be.
The writing is clear and engaging with a strong narrative voice. However, the story did story did lose some momentum in the middle. That said, this is an assured debut with a clear voice, emotional depth, and important things to say about womanhood and identity. I'll be looking out for the next Kerry Downes novel.
I rate this book 3.5 stars
June 5, 2025
This was a book that taught me again not to give up too early, it was a brilliant read.
To start with I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this. There was lots of fast moving, witty, cool chat but I felt I couldn’t quite connect with it. Like being not part of a group, and I got a bit bored with the conversation. I know this was mostly about setting the scene and give a feeling for the friendship group this book is about. This might also be a me-problem cause I don’t really know anything about London living and all that comes with it (it’s a thing, right?).
Told in dual POV, it’s about a group of female friends turning 30 and their various journeys. It dives into themes of infertility (this is explored in a lot of depth), IVF, loneliness, mental health, sexuality, friendship and love. I could definitely connect with a lot of these and they were very well written about.
I ended up really enjoying this book and really felt for the characters. I connected with their stories, their messiness and ups and downs. Their opposing point of views made for very interesting insights. I almost feel a bit sad to say goodbye to them now.
I would definitely recommend That Time Everything Was On Fire!
To start with I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this. There was lots of fast moving, witty, cool chat but I felt I couldn’t quite connect with it. Like being not part of a group, and I got a bit bored with the conversation. I know this was mostly about setting the scene and give a feeling for the friendship group this book is about. This might also be a me-problem cause I don’t really know anything about London living and all that comes with it (it’s a thing, right?).
Told in dual POV, it’s about a group of female friends turning 30 and their various journeys. It dives into themes of infertility (this is explored in a lot of depth), IVF, loneliness, mental health, sexuality, friendship and love. I could definitely connect with a lot of these and they were very well written about.
I ended up really enjoying this book and really felt for the characters. I connected with their stories, their messiness and ups and downs. Their opposing point of views made for very interesting insights. I almost feel a bit sad to say goodbye to them now.
I would definitely recommend That Time Everything Was On Fire!
May 15, 2025
‘That Time Everything Was On Fire’ is a generic account of infertility and the struggles of white middle-class women in their early 30s. As such, it will suit readers who have never engaged with such stories before or who have but are looking for the familiar comfort of well-trodden ground. Anyone looking for unpredictable plot or fresh perspective will be disappointed. It’s one of those books where there is more intrigue in the synopsis than there is in the book itself.
Overall, I found there was nothing to really love or hate about the book. It’s okay. The writing is fluid, and the pacing is good. However, the characters are indistinct (I had a hard time remembering who was who, how they are connected, and their individual biographies), and their actions often feel OTT and cartoonish. I wanted something more—a new take on infertility and the shift in friendship dynamics as women age, or fresh plot points. Anything to differentiate it from all the other stories out there on the same topic and make it memorable.
It promised fire, and gave electric blanket.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Downes and HQ for the ARC.
⚠️ Infertility
Overall, I found there was nothing to really love or hate about the book. It’s okay. The writing is fluid, and the pacing is good. However, the characters are indistinct (I had a hard time remembering who was who, how they are connected, and their individual biographies), and their actions often feel OTT and cartoonish. I wanted something more—a new take on infertility and the shift in friendship dynamics as women age, or fresh plot points. Anything to differentiate it from all the other stories out there on the same topic and make it memorable.
It promised fire, and gave electric blanket.
Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Downes and HQ for the ARC.
⚠️ Infertility
May 18, 2025
‘𝑭𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔𝒉𝒊𝒑𝒔 𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝒆𝒃𝒃 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒍𝒐𝒘 𝒂 𝒍𝒊𝒕𝒕𝒍𝒆- 𝒚𝒐𝒖’𝒍𝒍 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆.’
A beautiful story of friendship and navigating the highs and lows of being in your early thirties.
This is told in a dual POV format between best friends Daisy who is still figuring everything out, her career, her love life and her next steps, and Sam a recently married teacher ready to take the next step in her life and try for a baby.
I won’t give too much away but Sam’s story heavily centres around her fertility journey and some of the unfortunate difficulties that can be experienced. We also see the topic of deciding whether or not to have children covered in Daisy’s story.
I liked that the story covered only summer and winter so we were able to follow both of their journeys throughout several years without skipping over any pivotal plot points.
As someone who is in their early thirties and is still trying to figure out what my next steps are, I found this to be a relatable and powerful read. It helped me to remember that it’s okay to not have everything figured out.
A beautiful story of friendship and navigating the highs and lows of being in your early thirties.
This is told in a dual POV format between best friends Daisy who is still figuring everything out, her career, her love life and her next steps, and Sam a recently married teacher ready to take the next step in her life and try for a baby.
I won’t give too much away but Sam’s story heavily centres around her fertility journey and some of the unfortunate difficulties that can be experienced. We also see the topic of deciding whether or not to have children covered in Daisy’s story.
I liked that the story covered only summer and winter so we were able to follow both of their journeys throughout several years without skipping over any pivotal plot points.
As someone who is in their early thirties and is still trying to figure out what my next steps are, I found this to be a relatable and powerful read. It helped me to remember that it’s okay to not have everything figured out.
May 23, 2025
A beautiful story of four friends navigating life into their thirties. I adored the description of why the book is called 'that time everything was on fire'. I enjoyed following each character on their journey and found even though they were all different, each of them to be somewhat relatable.
I guessed where it was going at times, but sometimes intrigued where it was going to go. I enjoyed the back characters and the wholesomeness of the morals surrounding the book. This is a fantastic debut and it is so beautifully written. I loved how the writing was split between Summers and Winters alongside two different perspectives. I wasn't too much of a fan of the long chapters, but found the writing easy to read to read at a good pace.
All in all, I loved the real aspects of this book. It is ok not to conform to what 'society' is telling you to do. Remember you're on your own path. This beautiful story is about love, friendship and loss and reminds us 'there's plenty of times for us to put those fires out.'
Thankyou to HQ stories f0r my gifted copy.
I guessed where it was going at times, but sometimes intrigued where it was going to go. I enjoyed the back characters and the wholesomeness of the morals surrounding the book. This is a fantastic debut and it is so beautifully written. I loved how the writing was split between Summers and Winters alongside two different perspectives. I wasn't too much of a fan of the long chapters, but found the writing easy to read to read at a good pace.
All in all, I loved the real aspects of this book. It is ok not to conform to what 'society' is telling you to do. Remember you're on your own path. This beautiful story is about love, friendship and loss and reminds us 'there's plenty of times for us to put those fires out.'
Thankyou to HQ stories f0r my gifted copy.
January 27, 2025
That Time Everything Was On Fire is about a millennial friendship group (with a focus on BFFs Sam and Daisy), navigating motherhood, relationships, careers and the the impact of these on their friendship in their early-30s.
The plot moved along at a good pace, helped by the framing of the story over four summers and four winters. Although this is Downes' debut novel, the writing felt accomplished and I certainly look forward to any future books from her.
Ultimately the story doesn't really cover any new ground, but nevertheless it was an incredibly enjoyable and relatable read that's perfect for fans of Holly Bourne.
The plot moved along at a good pace, helped by the framing of the story over four summers and four winters. Although this is Downes' debut novel, the writing felt accomplished and I certainly look forward to any future books from her.
Ultimately the story doesn't really cover any new ground, but nevertheless it was an incredibly enjoyable and relatable read that's perfect for fans of Holly Bourne.
May 15, 2025
I really wanted to love this book more than I did. It's a light, character driven book about heavy topics - exactly my style. But somehow it just missed.
It felt at point as though the author wasn't completely sure what the book was "about", who the reader was supposed to be rooting for, and how it all related together. The feeling of disconnect between yourself and your friends was clear, but there felt like so much else going on that was never fully explored
Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Downes and HQ for the early copy of the novel
It felt at point as though the author wasn't completely sure what the book was "about", who the reader was supposed to be rooting for, and how it all related together. The feeling of disconnect between yourself and your friends was clear, but there felt like so much else going on that was never fully explored
Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Downes and HQ for the early copy of the novel
March 16, 2025
‘That Time Everything Was on Fire’ is a beautifully paced and engaging novel about how even the best friendships can stretch and potentially break when we are under pressure.
Kerry Downes took me right back to my thirties; the big decisions you don’t feel ready for, the changing dynamics as friends couple up, the pressing questions of motherhood and career.
Fans of Holly Bourne will love this honest and warm debut. It most definitely has one of my favourite titles of the year!
Kerry Downes took me right back to my thirties; the big decisions you don’t feel ready for, the changing dynamics as friends couple up, the pressing questions of motherhood and career.
Fans of Holly Bourne will love this honest and warm debut. It most definitely has one of my favourite titles of the year!
July 20, 2025
A deft debut
—
Four female friends in their thirties go through ups and downs, pregnancies (unplanned, IVF), relationships, arguments, reunions, all seen from the POVs of Sam and Daisy whose journeys are about to diverge big time. Well-written, if a tad repetitive in its strict adherence to summers and winters only, this deft debut is a sign of better things to come.
Three and a half stars
—
Four female friends in their thirties go through ups and downs, pregnancies (unplanned, IVF), relationships, arguments, reunions, all seen from the POVs of Sam and Daisy whose journeys are about to diverge big time. Well-written, if a tad repetitive in its strict adherence to summers and winters only, this deft debut is a sign of better things to come.
Three and a half stars
April 26, 2025
I enjoyed this book which is the story of a group of female friends who have known each other since university and during their young friends single times in their 20s. They have got to the point in their life where some of them have children someone are married and some are desperate to get pregnant and using Fertility treatment.
There’s a very strong feeling in this book about the fact that sometimes in your life you’re in a different period or life stage to your closest friends what happens then and it’s almost inevitable is that you lose your support structure. What happens when you’re close friends who you shared all your experiences with suddenly start to have different experiences to you.
The title refers to a comment that one of the young women’s mother told her about how she felt when she was in her 30s. That time when everything was on fire This story describes that time in these young women’s lives and without giving away spoilers their experiences are eerily similar.
This book was perhaps slightly more along the “chick lit” light reading genre of book that I normally read but having said that I did find it and enjoyable read and read in one sitting without putting the book down
The author has a clear flowing reading style. The book was an easy comfortable read.
I’d recommend this novel for lovers of character novels with strongly based female solidarity.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased view. The book is published in the UK on the twenty second of May 2025 by H Q.
This reviewed that UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. It was also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones after publication.
There’s a very strong feeling in this book about the fact that sometimes in your life you’re in a different period or life stage to your closest friends what happens then and it’s almost inevitable is that you lose your support structure. What happens when you’re close friends who you shared all your experiences with suddenly start to have different experiences to you.
The title refers to a comment that one of the young women’s mother told her about how she felt when she was in her 30s. That time when everything was on fire This story describes that time in these young women’s lives and without giving away spoilers their experiences are eerily similar.
This book was perhaps slightly more along the “chick lit” light reading genre of book that I normally read but having said that I did find it and enjoyable read and read in one sitting without putting the book down
The author has a clear flowing reading style. The book was an easy comfortable read.
I’d recommend this novel for lovers of character novels with strongly based female solidarity.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased view. The book is published in the UK on the twenty second of May 2025 by H Q.
This reviewed that UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. It was also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones after publication.
December 15, 2025
Brilliantly well drawn characters, and a thoroughly relatable and realistic portrayal of the coming-of-age that happens in your thirties, as a group of friends negotiate some big life decisions. Told with humour, charm and real warmth.
June 8, 2025
Rounded up 4
Girls in their thirties trying not to burn the place down. The place being their friendships and relationships and careers and sanities
Girls in their thirties trying not to burn the place down. The place being their friendships and relationships and careers and sanities
July 16, 2025
A solid read, it lost me a few times due to its length but a good story of female friendships and modern life!
November 30, 2025
Painfully accurate description of adult female friendships.
March 5, 2026
Thank you for portraying the beginnings of a healthy relationship!!
April 5, 2025
This was a really great read, taking place over 4 years of friendship. It’s a great exploration of friendship in your 30s. I enjoyed that it showed different life paths as equally valid, whether the characters wanted the marriage and kids route or not, and I thought the friendships were written really authentically. It was a really easy read and I’d recommend it!
January 25, 2026
Downes’ novel portrays the plethora of ways women’s lives can turn out as they’re on the cusp of their thirties, and her exploration of friendships diverging as we age is a bittersweet nod to the growing pains of truly growing up. The way she writes about the breakdown of a friendship, is truthful and honest in its painfulness.
Personally I didn't enjoy the characterisations of some of the women, and found the way certain parts of the novel were written were not to my taste. I found it hard to connect to what they found important, but that is definitely a me problem.
Personally I didn't enjoy the characterisations of some of the women, and found the way certain parts of the novel were written were not to my taste. I found it hard to connect to what they found important, but that is definitely a me problem.
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