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The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society
It's never too late to start over - sometimes all you need is a spark. In the tradition of Sophie Green, Joanna Nell and Tricia Stringer comes an absolutely sparkling, feelgood delight of a novel, where four very different women are thrown together in a creative writing course in the library of a small country town.
When international lawyer Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia's wine country, she expects to close a billion-dollar deal in a matter of days. Instead, she's handed an ultimatum: stay for a month and serve as the town's only solicitor, or watch the opportunity slip away. Setting up shop in the Beechwood Cafe, Tilly braces for a brief detour, but life in Watervale Downs soon proves to be anything but simple.
Drawn into the orbit of three very different women - fierce matriarch Bev Jackson, fallen TV star Fenna de Vries, and warm-hearted librarian Jane Robertson - Tilly unexpectedly finds herself joining a local writing group and training with the country fire service. Slowly, friendships form, long-held secrets surface, and the rhythms of country life begin to change her in ways she didn't anticipate.
As the season turns and challenges mount, each woman finds herself at a crossroads. Bev must confront a past she has kept hidden for sixty years, Fenna must decide whether she is ready to stop running, Jane must summon the courage to reimagine her future, and Tilly must ask whether the life she has built is truly the one she wants. And in the meantime, bushfire season is approaching and a day of reckoning is coming for them all.
Sparkling, warm, heartfelt, wise, and irresistibly uplifting, The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a story of friendship, second chances, and the bravery it takes to begin again. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, adrift, or quietly wondered, 'Could there be more to life for me?', this novel will feel like an open door.
When international lawyer Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia's wine country, she expects to close a billion-dollar deal in a matter of days. Instead, she's handed an ultimatum: stay for a month and serve as the town's only solicitor, or watch the opportunity slip away. Setting up shop in the Beechwood Cafe, Tilly braces for a brief detour, but life in Watervale Downs soon proves to be anything but simple.
Drawn into the orbit of three very different women - fierce matriarch Bev Jackson, fallen TV star Fenna de Vries, and warm-hearted librarian Jane Robertson - Tilly unexpectedly finds herself joining a local writing group and training with the country fire service. Slowly, friendships form, long-held secrets surface, and the rhythms of country life begin to change her in ways she didn't anticipate.
As the season turns and challenges mount, each woman finds herself at a crossroads. Bev must confront a past she has kept hidden for sixty years, Fenna must decide whether she is ready to stop running, Jane must summon the courage to reimagine her future, and Tilly must ask whether the life she has built is truly the one she wants. And in the meantime, bushfire season is approaching and a day of reckoning is coming for them all.
Sparkling, warm, heartfelt, wise, and irresistibly uplifting, The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a story of friendship, second chances, and the bravery it takes to begin again. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, adrift, or quietly wondered, 'Could there be more to life for me?', this novel will feel like an open door.
432 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 26, 2025
11 people are currently reading
299 people want to read
About the author
Mette Menzies
1 book13 followersMette Menzies is the pen name of longtime best friends and writing partners, Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler. For more than two decades, they've shared a passion for great storytelling, spirited banter, and the kind of friendship built on sharp wit, triple-shot espressos, and a mutual affection for Oxford commas and sun-soaked holidays.
They both live on Sydney's leafy North Shore, where they can often be found in local cafes, bookstores, and wine bars, sketching characters inspired by the world around them and quietly observing the magic in everyday lives.
Their debut novel, "The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society," is a celebration of friendship, second chances, and the quiet strength of women who show up-for themselves and each other.
They both live on Sydney's leafy North Shore, where they can often be found in local cafes, bookstores, and wine bars, sketching characters inspired by the world around them and quietly observing the magic in everyday lives.
Their debut novel, "The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society," is a celebration of friendship, second chances, and the quiet strength of women who show up-for themselves and each other.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews
August 29, 2025
EXCERPT: 'Righto, ladies,' Viv barked, 'given the unfortunate condition of Mr Veal, I'm taking over. This is clearly a group of intelligent and capable women, given the way you dealt with Roger, both before and after his unfortunate turn. I'm proud to be leading you. I'm also teaching Positive Psychology and Abseiling for Beginners on Wednesdays, if you're at all interested.'
Tilly wondered if they were two courses or one - with Viv at the helm, anything seemed possible.
'Pottery is on hold this term, given the fire risk from Brenda's kiln. We hope to have it back next winter. But we're not doing anything in here,' she said, looking around the room. 'I can't have you spending the twelve weeks staring at that spot on the floor where Roger almost died. Bad energy, as you'll learn if you enrol in Feng Shui and the Modern Workplace. I've had word this afternoon that we can relocate to the Arts and Recreation precinct, which is handy to the firefighting training ground, where you'll be joining me on Saturday week for your first practical session.'
'Firefighting? I thought this was a writing class!' said Tilly, her irritation rising. She didn't have time for any of this.
'It's both, young Marr. Council took an important decision last month. Given the ongoing risk of bushfire, every class on the Adult Education calendar will include a thirty-minute component of fire theory, followed by two hours of practical fire safety training every second Saturday. Other people from the town will be joining us for the practical sessions.'
'I can't fight bushfires! This is ridiculous!' said Tilly. The weekends were when she might have a chance to catch up on her real work and defend herself from Georgia's white-anting. 'Don't you have professional firefighters for that?'
'What do we wear?' asked Fenna.
'Not that,' said Bev, nodding to Fenna's elegant attire.
'Ladies, ladies,' Bev said, raising her palms. 'We'll explain everything in due course, but I assure you the commitment is non-negotiable. Fighting the next fire when it comes - and it will - might be voluntary, but there's nothing voluntary about this training. We have to be prepared. To answer your question, young Marr, we do have a wonderful Regional Fire Corps - run by volunteers. Jane here is a trained radio operator . . .'
Jane gave a modest nod.
'And Bev is a champion fundraiser and Brigade Patron. It might be news to those recently arrived from the big smoke, but around here we have to help each other. Is that understood?'
Tilly and Fenna nodded meekly.
'Righto - follow me,' said Viv and marched out of the room.
ABOUT 'THE WATEVALE LADIES' WRITING AND FIREFIGHTING SOCIETY': It's never too late to start over - sometimes all you need is a spark.
Four very different women are thrown together in a creative writing course in the library of a small country town.
When international lawyer Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia's wine country, she expects to close a billion-dollar deal in a matter of days. Instead, she's handed an ultimatum: stay for a month and serve as the town's only solicitor, or watch the opportunity slip away. Setting up shop in the Beechwood Cafe, Tilly braces for a brief detour, but life in Watervale Downs soon proves to be anything but simple.
Drawn into the orbit of three very different women - fierce matriarch Bev Jackson, fallen TV star Fenna de Vries, and warm-hearted librarian Jane Robertson - Tilly unexpectedly finds herself joining a local writing group and training with the country fire service. Slowly, friendships form, long-held secrets surface, and the rhythms of country life begin to change her in ways she didn't anticipate.
As the season turns and challenges mount, each woman finds herself at a crossroads. Bev must confront a past she has kept hidden for sixty years, Fenna must decide whether she is ready to stop running, Jane must summon the courage to reimagine her future, and Tilly must ask whether the life she has built is truly the one she wants. And in the meantime, bushfire season is approaching, and a day of reckoning is coming for them all.
Sparkling, warm, heartfelt, wise, and irresistibly uplifting, The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a story of friendship, second chances, and the bravery it takes to begin again. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, adrift, or quietly wondered, 'Could there be more to life for me?', this novel will feel like an open door.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm so glad I wandered through this open door - what a delightful, uplifting, heartwarming debut novel.
But it's not ALL warm fuzzies. The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society encompasses the very real and serious topics of bushfires, which each year seem to become bigger and more frequent; professional integrity; infertility; closed adoption; domestic abuse and more . . .
Structured around friendship and community, Mette Menzies (a writing duo, but more about them later) have constructed a chore character base of four very different women - Tilly, Bev, Fenna and Jane - very different and yet all with something missing from their lives. Tilly and Fenna are the newcomers to town, Tilly intending to stay only long enough to complete the task her father has set her, Bev and Jane long-term residents.
There is a romantic thread running through the narrative, but it is not the reason for the book. This thread is entertaining and felt totally right and natural.
I was engaged and absorbed from the opening chapter and read well into the night, absorbed in and enchanted by the storyline. The setting is so realistic I felt I was living in Watervale right along with these characters. I was rooting for each of them as they faced their personal demons. Do they emerge unscathed on the other side? Not telling. What I will say is that I finished this read late last night with tears trickling down my face; some of sorrow and some of joy. A beautiful read.
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a stunning debut novel and I will be first in line for more from this duo.
Some quotes which touched my heart:
We all have our own lives, our own dreams and preoccupations. But we survive and flourish when we reach out to each other and offer encouragement and support, and when we help without the expectation of anything in return. It's a myth that this comes naturally in the bush, or anywhere. Community is a choice we make, and something we need to work on every day.
We're all wearing armour . . . We put it on because we need it to survive. But there comes a point when all it does is keep us hidden. It's too tight. We can't grow and it stops us from accessing our gifts. Keeping it on is a choice (we) can make, but it's not without penalty.
Real friends are fierce. . . They hold you accountable for your bullshit, and you do the same for them. That's rare and we should be grateful when we find it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheWatervaleLadiesWritingandFirefightingSociety #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: METTE MENZIES For best friends Viktoriya Butler and Steven Reynolds – who write together under the pen name Mette Menzies – a love of storytelling has turned into an extraordinary partnership. These pals are now co-authors of their debut novel, The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society.
Both Viktoriya and Steven work full-time in corporate roles, so writing fits into evenings and weekends – often over FaceTime if one is travelling. “It’s not glamorous,” Viktoriya laughs. “A lot of edits were done while I was in Singapore, red pen in hand, with Steven on screen beside my salt and pepper tofu.”
Still, deadlines and discipline have served them well. “A contract is a powerful motivator,” Viktoriya admits. And for Steven, limited time keeps him productive. “If you’ve only got a few hours, you have to get on with it. No procrastinating! Writing can be a lonely business, but there’s something magical about working as a pair. We can create entire worlds over a few glasses of wine!” (SOURCE: Australian Writers' Centre - abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
Tilly wondered if they were two courses or one - with Viv at the helm, anything seemed possible.
'Pottery is on hold this term, given the fire risk from Brenda's kiln. We hope to have it back next winter. But we're not doing anything in here,' she said, looking around the room. 'I can't have you spending the twelve weeks staring at that spot on the floor where Roger almost died. Bad energy, as you'll learn if you enrol in Feng Shui and the Modern Workplace. I've had word this afternoon that we can relocate to the Arts and Recreation precinct, which is handy to the firefighting training ground, where you'll be joining me on Saturday week for your first practical session.'
'Firefighting? I thought this was a writing class!' said Tilly, her irritation rising. She didn't have time for any of this.
'It's both, young Marr. Council took an important decision last month. Given the ongoing risk of bushfire, every class on the Adult Education calendar will include a thirty-minute component of fire theory, followed by two hours of practical fire safety training every second Saturday. Other people from the town will be joining us for the practical sessions.'
'I can't fight bushfires! This is ridiculous!' said Tilly. The weekends were when she might have a chance to catch up on her real work and defend herself from Georgia's white-anting. 'Don't you have professional firefighters for that?'
'What do we wear?' asked Fenna.
'Not that,' said Bev, nodding to Fenna's elegant attire.
'Ladies, ladies,' Bev said, raising her palms. 'We'll explain everything in due course, but I assure you the commitment is non-negotiable. Fighting the next fire when it comes - and it will - might be voluntary, but there's nothing voluntary about this training. We have to be prepared. To answer your question, young Marr, we do have a wonderful Regional Fire Corps - run by volunteers. Jane here is a trained radio operator . . .'
Jane gave a modest nod.
'And Bev is a champion fundraiser and Brigade Patron. It might be news to those recently arrived from the big smoke, but around here we have to help each other. Is that understood?'
Tilly and Fenna nodded meekly.
'Righto - follow me,' said Viv and marched out of the room.
ABOUT 'THE WATEVALE LADIES' WRITING AND FIREFIGHTING SOCIETY': It's never too late to start over - sometimes all you need is a spark.
Four very different women are thrown together in a creative writing course in the library of a small country town.
When international lawyer Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia's wine country, she expects to close a billion-dollar deal in a matter of days. Instead, she's handed an ultimatum: stay for a month and serve as the town's only solicitor, or watch the opportunity slip away. Setting up shop in the Beechwood Cafe, Tilly braces for a brief detour, but life in Watervale Downs soon proves to be anything but simple.
Drawn into the orbit of three very different women - fierce matriarch Bev Jackson, fallen TV star Fenna de Vries, and warm-hearted librarian Jane Robertson - Tilly unexpectedly finds herself joining a local writing group and training with the country fire service. Slowly, friendships form, long-held secrets surface, and the rhythms of country life begin to change her in ways she didn't anticipate.
As the season turns and challenges mount, each woman finds herself at a crossroads. Bev must confront a past she has kept hidden for sixty years, Fenna must decide whether she is ready to stop running, Jane must summon the courage to reimagine her future, and Tilly must ask whether the life she has built is truly the one she wants. And in the meantime, bushfire season is approaching, and a day of reckoning is coming for them all.
Sparkling, warm, heartfelt, wise, and irresistibly uplifting, The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a story of friendship, second chances, and the bravery it takes to begin again. For anyone who has ever felt stuck, adrift, or quietly wondered, 'Could there be more to life for me?', this novel will feel like an open door.
MY THOUGHTS: I'm so glad I wandered through this open door - what a delightful, uplifting, heartwarming debut novel.
But it's not ALL warm fuzzies. The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society encompasses the very real and serious topics of bushfires, which each year seem to become bigger and more frequent; professional integrity; infertility; closed adoption; domestic abuse and more . . .
Structured around friendship and community, Mette Menzies (a writing duo, but more about them later) have constructed a chore character base of four very different women - Tilly, Bev, Fenna and Jane - very different and yet all with something missing from their lives. Tilly and Fenna are the newcomers to town, Tilly intending to stay only long enough to complete the task her father has set her, Bev and Jane long-term residents.
There is a romantic thread running through the narrative, but it is not the reason for the book. This thread is entertaining and felt totally right and natural.
I was engaged and absorbed from the opening chapter and read well into the night, absorbed in and enchanted by the storyline. The setting is so realistic I felt I was living in Watervale right along with these characters. I was rooting for each of them as they faced their personal demons. Do they emerge unscathed on the other side? Not telling. What I will say is that I finished this read late last night with tears trickling down my face; some of sorrow and some of joy. A beautiful read.
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society is a stunning debut novel and I will be first in line for more from this duo.
Some quotes which touched my heart:
We all have our own lives, our own dreams and preoccupations. But we survive and flourish when we reach out to each other and offer encouragement and support, and when we help without the expectation of anything in return. It's a myth that this comes naturally in the bush, or anywhere. Community is a choice we make, and something we need to work on every day.
We're all wearing armour . . . We put it on because we need it to survive. But there comes a point when all it does is keep us hidden. It's too tight. We can't grow and it stops us from accessing our gifts. Keeping it on is a choice (we) can make, but it's not without penalty.
Real friends are fierce. . . They hold you accountable for your bullshit, and you do the same for them. That's rare and we should be grateful when we find it.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
#TheWatervaleLadiesWritingandFirefightingSociety #NetGalley
MEET THE AUTHORS: METTE MENZIES For best friends Viktoriya Butler and Steven Reynolds – who write together under the pen name Mette Menzies – a love of storytelling has turned into an extraordinary partnership. These pals are now co-authors of their debut novel, The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society.
Both Viktoriya and Steven work full-time in corporate roles, so writing fits into evenings and weekends – often over FaceTime if one is travelling. “It’s not glamorous,” Viktoriya laughs. “A lot of edits were done while I was in Singapore, red pen in hand, with Steven on screen beside my salt and pepper tofu.”
Still, deadlines and discipline have served them well. “A contract is a powerful motivator,” Viktoriya admits. And for Steven, limited time keeps him productive. “If you’ve only got a few hours, you have to get on with it. No procrastinating! Writing can be a lonely business, but there’s something magical about working as a pair. We can create entire worlds over a few glasses of wine!” (SOURCE: Australian Writers' Centre - abridged)
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Harper Collins Publishers Australia via NetGalley for providing an e-ARC of The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
August 24, 2025
Matilda 'Tilly' Marr is an international lawyer summoned back from London to a small town in South Australia, called Watervale Downs to close a deal for her father. Somehow she's talked into a staying a month and serving as the town's solicitor as the last one did a runner, and she sets up business in the Beechwood Café.
Tilly meets local three ladies, Bev Jackson the person she’s trying to convince to sell her family property, a TV garden show star Fenna de Vries, and Jane Robertson the town lovely librarian.
Tilly finds herself doing many unexpected things, she joins the local writing group and training with the country fire service, enjoying the peace and quiet of the country, gazing at the stars and Xavier the hot owner of Beechwood Café.
Over this time the four women look closely at their lives and reflect on the past, Bev and Fenna have secrets, and Jane has to decide if she’s willing to give up on her dream of having children with her husband Tom; does Tilly want to return to the rat race and became a partner in her father’s law firm and marry Lachlan.
I received a copy of The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies from HarperCollins Australia in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The narrative it explores what it’s like to live in a small South Australian country town, and be part of the community, especially in summer when the threat of a bushfire breaking out is a constant worry (I know how this feels, it brings people together or causes friction), you have to be vigilant, know what to do and have an action plan.
It highlights the importance of female friendships and helping each other during good and bad times, sticking up for what’s right and serious topics such as forced adoption, domestic abuse, corruption, the loss of a parent at a young age and coming to terms with being childless.
The characters are realistic, three in particular made me laugh out loud poet Roger Veal, Viv the fire brigade captain and Bev, I shed some tears as well, a gem of a debut, five stars from me.
I highly recommend for readers who are fans of well written and refreshing Australian contemporary fiction, if you enjoy books by Tricia Stringer or Meredith Appleyard you would like The Watervale Ladies’ Writing & Firefighting Society.
Tilly meets local three ladies, Bev Jackson the person she’s trying to convince to sell her family property, a TV garden show star Fenna de Vries, and Jane Robertson the town lovely librarian.
Tilly finds herself doing many unexpected things, she joins the local writing group and training with the country fire service, enjoying the peace and quiet of the country, gazing at the stars and Xavier the hot owner of Beechwood Café.
Over this time the four women look closely at their lives and reflect on the past, Bev and Fenna have secrets, and Jane has to decide if she’s willing to give up on her dream of having children with her husband Tom; does Tilly want to return to the rat race and became a partner in her father’s law firm and marry Lachlan.
I received a copy of The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies from HarperCollins Australia in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
The narrative it explores what it’s like to live in a small South Australian country town, and be part of the community, especially in summer when the threat of a bushfire breaking out is a constant worry (I know how this feels, it brings people together or causes friction), you have to be vigilant, know what to do and have an action plan.
It highlights the importance of female friendships and helping each other during good and bad times, sticking up for what’s right and serious topics such as forced adoption, domestic abuse, corruption, the loss of a parent at a young age and coming to terms with being childless.
The characters are realistic, three in particular made me laugh out loud poet Roger Veal, Viv the fire brigade captain and Bev, I shed some tears as well, a gem of a debut, five stars from me.
I highly recommend for readers who are fans of well written and refreshing Australian contemporary fiction, if you enjoy books by Tricia Stringer or Meredith Appleyard you would like The Watervale Ladies’ Writing & Firefighting Society.
August 19, 2025
This is a beautiful and moving story about starting over in Watervale Downs a small country town in the heart of wine country in South Australia, four woman all so very different take up a course for writing that changes their lives, come along and meet them.
Matilda “Tilly” Marr is an international lawyer doing her best to make partner in her father’s firm she travels the world but when she is told by her father to drop the case she is working on and make her way to Watervale Downs to convince a local to sell her property for billions she is not happy at all but arrives in this small town and is soon known at the new solicitor and instead of a week is there for a month.
Bev Jackson matriarch of the town her huge property has been in her family for one hundred and fifty years and when a smart young lawyer arrives to do her best to convince her to sell, Bev sets Tilly a task stay for a month then she will discuss her offer.
Jane Robertson, the local librarian grew up in Watervale Downs her and her husband Tom who is a journalist have wanted a family of their own but sadly that has not happened and Jane is heartbroken but carries on as if all is good but she also has dreams of writing a book.
Fenna De Vries Fallen TV star she used to have her own gardening show but that has been cancelled and she has also walked away from a terrible marriage and has made her home on a property in Watervale Downs but making friends for Fenna is very hard.
These four woman come together at a writing course run by Viv who pulls them in to learning all about firefighting as well but this course brings them together in so many ways they are all soon confronting things from their past for Bev it is a secret that has been kept for sixty years, will Fenna decide that staying here and becoming part of the community is what she wants and Jane must now really think about her future and look to a different one and Tilly is the high flying lawyer is this the job she really wants or is it to live in Watervale Downs with the gorgeous barista the life that is best for her?
This is such a moving story, one that pulled me in getting to know these woman was fabulous, I felt their emotions the story is so well written, this story made me smile and cry it is heartfelt and uplifting and one I highly recommend, to any lover of a good story, it is truly a gorgeous story,
My thanks to the author and Harper Collins for my copy to read and review.
Matilda “Tilly” Marr is an international lawyer doing her best to make partner in her father’s firm she travels the world but when she is told by her father to drop the case she is working on and make her way to Watervale Downs to convince a local to sell her property for billions she is not happy at all but arrives in this small town and is soon known at the new solicitor and instead of a week is there for a month.
Bev Jackson matriarch of the town her huge property has been in her family for one hundred and fifty years and when a smart young lawyer arrives to do her best to convince her to sell, Bev sets Tilly a task stay for a month then she will discuss her offer.
Jane Robertson, the local librarian grew up in Watervale Downs her and her husband Tom who is a journalist have wanted a family of their own but sadly that has not happened and Jane is heartbroken but carries on as if all is good but she also has dreams of writing a book.
Fenna De Vries Fallen TV star she used to have her own gardening show but that has been cancelled and she has also walked away from a terrible marriage and has made her home on a property in Watervale Downs but making friends for Fenna is very hard.
These four woman come together at a writing course run by Viv who pulls them in to learning all about firefighting as well but this course brings them together in so many ways they are all soon confronting things from their past for Bev it is a secret that has been kept for sixty years, will Fenna decide that staying here and becoming part of the community is what she wants and Jane must now really think about her future and look to a different one and Tilly is the high flying lawyer is this the job she really wants or is it to live in Watervale Downs with the gorgeous barista the life that is best for her?
This is such a moving story, one that pulled me in getting to know these woman was fabulous, I felt their emotions the story is so well written, this story made me smile and cry it is heartfelt and uplifting and one I highly recommend, to any lover of a good story, it is truly a gorgeous story,
My thanks to the author and Harper Collins for my copy to read and review.
September 18, 2025
⭐️4.5 Stars⭐️
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies is an engaging and well written story that I highly recommend you read. It absolutely had me hooked, there was mystery, beautiful Australian landscapes and delightful characters that stole my heart.
The story is set in rural wine country, South Australia and features four unlikely women who become friends when they come together in a creative writing course. Each of the women are facing harrowing challenges in their lives. Their stories are relatable and encompass situations that are experienced by many women in one way or another. I loved the focus on the growing friendship of these women.
International lawyer Tilly Marr has flown in from London to close a billon-dollar deal, after being summoned to drop everything.
Bev Jackson is a local property owner and matriarch of Watervale Downs with a tragic secret or two.
Disgraced TV garden show Star Fenna de Vries has escaped her past life and has just moved into town.
Local librarian Jane Robertson is stuck and needs to sort out her future.
And then there is Xavier, the hottie barista at the Beechwood Cafe and then at the other end of the spectrum we have the poet Roger Veal who will have you cringing and laughing at the same time.
This is such a charming and heartfelt story, each time I had to put this book down I’d look so forward to picking it up again!
The book is written by writing partners and best friends Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler and Mette Menzies is their pen name.
Publication Date 26 August 2025
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzies is an engaging and well written story that I highly recommend you read. It absolutely had me hooked, there was mystery, beautiful Australian landscapes and delightful characters that stole my heart.
The story is set in rural wine country, South Australia and features four unlikely women who become friends when they come together in a creative writing course. Each of the women are facing harrowing challenges in their lives. Their stories are relatable and encompass situations that are experienced by many women in one way or another. I loved the focus on the growing friendship of these women.
International lawyer Tilly Marr has flown in from London to close a billon-dollar deal, after being summoned to drop everything.
Bev Jackson is a local property owner and matriarch of Watervale Downs with a tragic secret or two.
Disgraced TV garden show Star Fenna de Vries has escaped her past life and has just moved into town.
Local librarian Jane Robertson is stuck and needs to sort out her future.
And then there is Xavier, the hottie barista at the Beechwood Cafe and then at the other end of the spectrum we have the poet Roger Veal who will have you cringing and laughing at the same time.
This is such a charming and heartfelt story, each time I had to put this book down I’d look so forward to picking it up again!
The book is written by writing partners and best friends Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler and Mette Menzies is their pen name.
Publication Date 26 August 2025
Publisher Harper Collins Australia
Thank you so much Harper Collins Australia for giving me the opportunity to read this book.
July 8, 2025
Set in the heart of South Australia’s wine country, The Watervale Ladies’ Writing and Firefighting Society brings together four very different women whose lives unexpectedly entwine in a small country town. When high-flying international lawyer Tilly Marr is forced to trade London skyscrapers for the quiet streets of Watervale Downs, she thinks she’ll be in and out in days. Instead, she’s drawn into the town’s daily rhythms — helping out as the local solicitor, joining a writing group in the town library, and even training with the local fire service.
There’s much to enjoy here: the warmth of country life, the growing friendships between Tilly, matriarch Bev, former TV star Fenna, and librarian Jane, and the individual stories that gently unfold as each woman faces her own reckoning. There are moments of heart, humour, and hope, all tied together with a distinctly Aussie flavour.
That said, I found it a little slow to get into, and it didn’t quite capture me in the way I’d hoped. It’s a bit different to what I usually read, and although I did enjoy it once I settled into the story, it felt a touch too long for the type of book it is. Still, it’s a light and pleasant read — one that could suit readers after a feelgood story to pass the time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
There’s much to enjoy here: the warmth of country life, the growing friendships between Tilly, matriarch Bev, former TV star Fenna, and librarian Jane, and the individual stories that gently unfold as each woman faces her own reckoning. There are moments of heart, humour, and hope, all tied together with a distinctly Aussie flavour.
That said, I found it a little slow to get into, and it didn’t quite capture me in the way I’d hoped. It’s a bit different to what I usually read, and although I did enjoy it once I settled into the story, it felt a touch too long for the type of book it is. Still, it’s a light and pleasant read — one that could suit readers after a feelgood story to pass the time.
⭐️⭐️⭐️½
October 6, 2025
Big thanks to Mette for gifting us a copy to read and review.
Like a well stocked picnic hamper this story oozes delight and variety. Humanity and nature share a harmony but like any relationship can become fractured and volatile.
The complexity of life and all its pressures can bring people from all walks of life together and form bonds of loyalty and respect.
Four very different women from the country town of Watervale Downs find themselves in the same writing and fire safety group.
Behind each facade a trove of secrets, desires and inadequacies lurk.
Each at different stages of life and each shaped by different life experiences creates a platform for friendship.
Natural disasters, revelations, betrayals and harsh realities all coerce the boundaries of the newly formed relationships.
Love and realisation are also essential elements.
A collaborative story that has nailed the contemporary fiction genre.
I would describe it as a cross between a Monica McInerney and Fiona Lowe and derived much pleasure from its pages.
It’s funny how evocative and nostalgic a simple reference to Oil of Olay can be.
Every cloud does have a silver lining and often beauty can rise from devastation both in nature and in humanity.
Get comfy and enjoy this picnic.
Like a well stocked picnic hamper this story oozes delight and variety. Humanity and nature share a harmony but like any relationship can become fractured and volatile.
The complexity of life and all its pressures can bring people from all walks of life together and form bonds of loyalty and respect.
Four very different women from the country town of Watervale Downs find themselves in the same writing and fire safety group.
Behind each facade a trove of secrets, desires and inadequacies lurk.
Each at different stages of life and each shaped by different life experiences creates a platform for friendship.
Natural disasters, revelations, betrayals and harsh realities all coerce the boundaries of the newly formed relationships.
Love and realisation are also essential elements.
A collaborative story that has nailed the contemporary fiction genre.
I would describe it as a cross between a Monica McInerney and Fiona Lowe and derived much pleasure from its pages.
It’s funny how evocative and nostalgic a simple reference to Oil of Olay can be.
Every cloud does have a silver lining and often beauty can rise from devastation both in nature and in humanity.
Get comfy and enjoy this picnic.
June 20, 2025
(Thanks to the publishers on Netgalley for the ARC!)
(Spoilers ahead)
3.25 stars – I hear creative writing + small town Australia + bushfires and I’m immediately sold on a book. This was a really wholesome and fulfilling story about the power of female friendship and discovering that the life you thought you wanted perhaps isn’t actually what’s best for you. I really empathised with Tilly’s character, having ended up in a corporate-ish job that is now antithesis to the small country town life I desperately crave. I think Jane, however, was my favourite character of the bunch – she felt the most real to me, the most human. I disliked Fenna at first but slowly came to appreciate her towards the end, and the same can be said for Bev. I felt myself nearly shed a tear during that final scene while they’re evacuating Bev from her house as the fire rages behind them, if anything that was more emotional to me than finding out Bev passed away at the end. Overall it was an enjoyable and well-paced read, if a little long, but definitely worth picking up!
(Spoilers ahead)
3.25 stars – I hear creative writing + small town Australia + bushfires and I’m immediately sold on a book. This was a really wholesome and fulfilling story about the power of female friendship and discovering that the life you thought you wanted perhaps isn’t actually what’s best for you. I really empathised with Tilly’s character, having ended up in a corporate-ish job that is now antithesis to the small country town life I desperately crave. I think Jane, however, was my favourite character of the bunch – she felt the most real to me, the most human. I disliked Fenna at first but slowly came to appreciate her towards the end, and the same can be said for Bev. I felt myself nearly shed a tear during that final scene while they’re evacuating Bev from her house as the fire rages behind them, if anything that was more emotional to me than finding out Bev passed away at the end. Overall it was an enjoyable and well-paced read, if a little long, but definitely worth picking up!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 24, 2025
Thank you HarperCollins Australia and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
Set in South Australian wine country, a pretty cover and promises of a feel good read were all I needed to be drawn to this book!
Bev, TIlly, Jane and Fenna find themselves together in a writing class in Watervale. Bev and Jane have been in Watervale for years and are part of the geography, Fenna and Tilly are thrust into the community and both have big adjustments from their previous city dwelling experiences, mot at least with their usual clothing choices. Things are slower and more laid back here as Tilly and Fenna are about to find out.
Through their writing class we learn of their sadnesses and pain throughout life, we learn the coming together of females to prop one another up and offer support, love and fresh starts in the most unlikely places.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and I particularly liked Tilly, although sometimes I wondered why she did some of the things she did.
The ending was a little different from what I expected, I was anticipating a significant tie-in but that didn’t occur.
This was a book I didn’t want to end. Highly highly enjoyable and I could feel myself in the heat of the fires and the chill when Tilly was near her father and her fiancé (who is so despicable I’ve wiped his name from my mind !!).
What really stands out and sets this book apart however is the at is is written with dual authors.
Mette Menzies is the pen name of two best friends and writing partners; Steven and Viktoriya. I was really taken back to discover that this fabulous book was the brains trust of two friends, written and inspired together. I am so intrigued as to how this occurs as the writing is so seemless and shows no hint of being more than one author.
I highly recommend this fabulous book.
4.5 stars.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
Set in South Australian wine country, a pretty cover and promises of a feel good read were all I needed to be drawn to this book!
Bev, TIlly, Jane and Fenna find themselves together in a writing class in Watervale. Bev and Jane have been in Watervale for years and are part of the geography, Fenna and Tilly are thrust into the community and both have big adjustments from their previous city dwelling experiences, mot at least with their usual clothing choices. Things are slower and more laid back here as Tilly and Fenna are about to find out.
Through their writing class we learn of their sadnesses and pain throughout life, we learn the coming together of females to prop one another up and offer support, love and fresh starts in the most unlikely places.
I really enjoyed this book, the characters were well developed and I particularly liked Tilly, although sometimes I wondered why she did some of the things she did.
The ending was a little different from what I expected, I was anticipating a significant tie-in but that didn’t occur.
This was a book I didn’t want to end. Highly highly enjoyable and I could feel myself in the heat of the fires and the chill when Tilly was near her father and her fiancé (who is so despicable I’ve wiped his name from my mind !!).
What really stands out and sets this book apart however is the at is is written with dual authors.
Mette Menzies is the pen name of two best friends and writing partners; Steven and Viktoriya. I was really taken back to discover that this fabulous book was the brains trust of two friends, written and inspired together. I am so intrigued as to how this occurs as the writing is so seemless and shows no hint of being more than one author.
I highly recommend this fabulous book.
4.5 stars.
Thank you for the opportunity to read and provide my honest review.
August 9, 2025
This is a book about life, changing, starting over and more importantly friendships and family. Our main character is Tilly, an international lawyer who has her life mapped out for her. But when her father sends her to country South Australia to procure some land for a client she never thought she would fall in love with the place and the people.
This is not just her story but a story of the people and I loved the South Australian connection as I could relate to the places, the wines, the country and the bushfires. This brought all of that together into a wonderful story. I love that Tilly fell in love with this place and its people but she went through a lot to get to this point.
This is a book that is very easy to read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. It kept me engaged and I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the place and the characters. A great read and I look forward to seeing what this author will write in the future.
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society
Mette Menzies
HarperCollins
This is not just her story but a story of the people and I loved the South Australian connection as I could relate to the places, the wines, the country and the bushfires. This brought all of that together into a wonderful story. I love that Tilly fell in love with this place and its people but she went through a lot to get to this point.
This is a book that is very easy to read and I enjoyed it from start to finish. It kept me engaged and I really enjoyed the quirkiness of the place and the characters. A great read and I look forward to seeing what this author will write in the future.
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society
Mette Menzies
HarperCollins
August 3, 2025
I was lucky enough to read this early on NetGalley, and I loved it! Tilly, Bev, Fenna and Jane are wonderfully observed as they gather in a writing group and volunteer with the local fire service (both under the supervision of their hilarious mentor, Viv). Together these women face secret pasts and forge unexpected new beginnings. The writing is warm and witty and in places quite moving. Overall, this is an uplifting read about the power of change, brimming with humour and heart. A cut above. Strongly recommended.
September 6, 2025
Best suggested read I have had in years.
I didn't know what to make of this novel when I got it. This isn't a kissing book is it?
It isn't. this is a unique journey into the lives of four distinctly different ladies that find themselves a little broken inside and in a writing class in country South Australia.
I'm a bloke and not supposed to read a book about relationships and such, but damn if I didn't fall in love with these people.
Be prepared to suspend your life for a while. Laugh out loud, cry inside and nurture the best parts of you to come and shine as a result.
"Do yourself a favour" as Molly Meldrum would say...
I didn't know what to make of this novel when I got it. This isn't a kissing book is it?
It isn't. this is a unique journey into the lives of four distinctly different ladies that find themselves a little broken inside and in a writing class in country South Australia.
I'm a bloke and not supposed to read a book about relationships and such, but damn if I didn't fall in love with these people.
Be prepared to suspend your life for a while. Laugh out loud, cry inside and nurture the best parts of you to come and shine as a result.
"Do yourself a favour" as Molly Meldrum would say...
September 5, 2025
The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzie
I requested this book for two reasons: one, the cover art is lovely! The flowers, the handbag, the colours; perfect. Two, I liked the premise that the title (and the blurb) promises "The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society, is a celebration of friendship, second chances, and the quiet strength of women who show up for themselves and each other."
Strong female leads, writing and fighting fires! Let's go!
Four women enrol in a creative writing course in the library of a small town in the heart of South Australia's wine country. The writing group classes become country fire service training sessions after the teacher becomes ill, and a new teacher has to take over.
Unexpected friendships develop alongside a very slow-burning romance, secrets emerge, books are written, and an endless amount of coffee, avocado toast, and wine made by monks is consumed, all under the threat of the upcoming bushfire season.
Body count = spoilers!
If you like your books cosy, set in small towns and strong female leads who don't let boys get in the way, then you'll enjoy The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzie. Thumbs up!
Side note: Mette Menzies is the pen name of writing partners, Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for providing me with the EARC of The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society in exchange for my review.
@harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #TheWatervaleLadiesWritingandFirefightingSociety @mette_menzies_books #NetGalley @NetGalley #deevaadoesbrunch #brunchismyfavouritemeal #DesignandLattes #BooksandLattes #AustralianAuthor #AussieAuthor #CreativeLife #DesignInspiration #SupportArtists #ArtAndDesign #Chicklit #Romcom #Bookish
I requested this book for two reasons: one, the cover art is lovely! The flowers, the handbag, the colours; perfect. Two, I liked the premise that the title (and the blurb) promises "The Watervale Ladies' Writing & Firefighting Society, is a celebration of friendship, second chances, and the quiet strength of women who show up for themselves and each other."
Strong female leads, writing and fighting fires! Let's go!
Four women enrol in a creative writing course in the library of a small town in the heart of South Australia's wine country. The writing group classes become country fire service training sessions after the teacher becomes ill, and a new teacher has to take over.
Unexpected friendships develop alongside a very slow-burning romance, secrets emerge, books are written, and an endless amount of coffee, avocado toast, and wine made by monks is consumed, all under the threat of the upcoming bushfire season.
Body count = spoilers!
If you like your books cosy, set in small towns and strong female leads who don't let boys get in the way, then you'll enjoy The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society by Mette Menzie. Thumbs up!
Side note: Mette Menzies is the pen name of writing partners, Steven Reynolds and Viktoriya Butler.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Australia for providing me with the EARC of The Watervale Ladies' Writing and Firefighting Society in exchange for my review.
@harpercollinsaustralia #harpercollinsaustralia #TheWatervaleLadiesWritingandFirefightingSociety @mette_menzies_books #NetGalley @NetGalley #deevaadoesbrunch #brunchismyfavouritemeal #DesignandLattes #BooksandLattes #AustralianAuthor #AussieAuthor #CreativeLife #DesignInspiration #SupportArtists #ArtAndDesign #Chicklit #Romcom #Bookish
September 6, 2025
What a brilliant read! Beautifully written, interesting and dynamic characters, great plot, lovely small town Australian setting, and dialogue with a great sense of humour. The banter in this book is a stand out! Highly recommended!
September 14, 2025
I did not expect this book to take me on the adventure that it did, but that's how all the best stories sneak up on you, isn't it? You know the moment you're hooked, because you have to pause as you read, simply to close the book and take it in for a second.
The four main women are endearing and unique, almost begrudgingly falling into friendships with one another through an odd mix of circumstances that made for a captivating journey throughout the book. Their individual stories play into dynamics with one another and that small-town country life.
And as an Australian, reading a story that truly does justice to the rare beauty of our countryside, and the delicate balance we all live in, made it all the more enchanting. This will definitely be a comfort read to return to.
The four main women are endearing and unique, almost begrudgingly falling into friendships with one another through an odd mix of circumstances that made for a captivating journey throughout the book. Their individual stories play into dynamics with one another and that small-town country life.
And as an Australian, reading a story that truly does justice to the rare beauty of our countryside, and the delicate balance we all live in, made it all the more enchanting. This will definitely be a comfort read to return to.
November 21, 2025
If I could give this more stars I would. I loved how well the IVF/miscarriage side of things was handled and written.
Read
September 5, 2025Such a great effortless read : Thankyou 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
September 18, 2025
What a wholesome book. I absolutely loved every bit of it and it was the uplift that I needed. Would recommend to anyone looking for a fiction with, meaning humor, self discovery and good solid friendships ♡
August 29, 2025
Tilly is sitting in the airport lounge awaiting her flight to Washington - with her identical lawyer posse - when she is suddenly re-routed to Adelaide and instructed to close a property deal that will be the making of her career.
But, of course, things are never that easy!
Enter Bev, Jane, Viv, Fenna and dreamy Xavier - the backbone of Watervale Downs. What ensues are chance friendships, heartbreaking decisions and more pro bono work than Tilly could ever have imagined. Of course, these locals are going to get under her skin - isn't that always the making of a great narrative?
I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this one. A great holiday read.
But, of course, things are never that easy!
Enter Bev, Jane, Viv, Fenna and dreamy Xavier - the backbone of Watervale Downs. What ensues are chance friendships, heartbreaking decisions and more pro bono work than Tilly could ever have imagined. Of course, these locals are going to get under her skin - isn't that always the making of a great narrative?
I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this one. A great holiday read.
November 11, 2025
An easy, fun, enjoyable read. Will seek out more from this author. :)
October 14, 2025
Wow- what a lovely story centered around four very different yet brave and unique women within a writing club- Fenna, Bev, Jane and Tilly who, with the help of the organizer Viv learn not only to channel their inner creativity and face the different realities of the events in their lives but who are also trained in the art of fighting fires within the South Australian bushland.
This book was a breath of fresh air- in every sense of the word- the lush, vibrant landscape within South Australia and its surroundings as well as the fast paced, suspenseful plot and the immersive events in the lives of all the characters involved- a truly magical and captivating read which I absolutely devoured in two sittings. I look forward to reading future works by this very talented author duo.
A huge thankyou to Net galley and Harper Collins Publishers for an advance arc of this wonderful book.
This book was a breath of fresh air- in every sense of the word- the lush, vibrant landscape within South Australia and its surroundings as well as the fast paced, suspenseful plot and the immersive events in the lives of all the characters involved- a truly magical and captivating read which I absolutely devoured in two sittings. I look forward to reading future works by this very talented author duo.
A huge thankyou to Net galley and Harper Collins Publishers for an advance arc of this wonderful book.
December 14, 2025
Jane, Fenna, Bev and Tilly, all very different women facing their own challenges whose lives collide in Watervale Downs, a quiet hamlet which exists in the constant threat of bushfire. I felt the country town vibes were painted so perfectly! And as a country lawyer the matters Tilly encountered in Watervale reminded me of so many of my own.
Laugh out loud funny, heartwarming whilst heartbreaking at times. It is a story of the beauty of friendship found in unexpected places. I found myself invested in all of the characters but Bev was a standout! I couldn’t get the start out of my head waiting for that to unfold.
Laugh out loud funny, heartwarming whilst heartbreaking at times. It is a story of the beauty of friendship found in unexpected places. I found myself invested in all of the characters but Bev was a standout! I couldn’t get the start out of my head waiting for that to unfold.
December 20, 2025
A glorious story about the importance of friendship and how you find it in the most bizarre of locations and situations when you most need it. Set in Watervale Downs in country South Australia the story focuses on lawyer Tilly who was sent there by her father to broker a deal, celebrity gardening star Fenna, librarian Jane and local older lady Bev.
They all have their own stories and backgrounds which run through the book, but they end up becoming friends after all enrolling in a local writing course.
They made me laugh, they made me hope, they made me cry and they made me wish for them to mend broken friendships.
They all have their own stories and backgrounds which run through the book, but they end up becoming friends after all enrolling in a local writing course.
They made me laugh, they made me hope, they made me cry and they made me wish for them to mend broken friendships.
September 18, 2025
4.5 ⭐️⭐️ Set in South Australia, close to the Barossa wine country, this is a story about four different women, each with their own experiences, traumas, second chances and future paths. Heartfelt but does cover some dark topics, including domestic violence, the treatment of historical teenage pregnancy, media manipulation, strict parenting, misunderstandings and gossip and innuendo. The importance of female friendships is highlighted as is small town fellowship and the opportunity and courage to chase one’s own dreams.
September 28, 2025
For those who have lived in an Australian country town, and for those that haven’t, this is a tellingly delightful novel. The book begins introducing the main four women characters and then whirls those people into an entirely believable and entertaining story regarding contemporary Australian people - Glasgow it is not. This is a polished well written story about how we live. Sure, somethings are sentimental but then the simple truth often is. I look forward to the next book from Mette Menzies, if it’s half as good as this one I will be delighted.
September 19, 2025
From start to finish this book was a siren song for my heart. I loved every second and is a stand out favourite that I’m about to recommend to everyone I know. The characters are so well thought out, complicated and memorable. I’ll be thinking about this book for a long time as it truly touched my soul. The plot is very clever and captures the essence of living in a small country town. Seriously, do yourself a favour and read this immediately. I will automatically buy this authors next book!
November 29, 2025
I absolutely loved this book. It had everything you could want in it, friendship, love, death, laughter, disaster, mystery, small town life etc
I could not put it down and became quite invested in the lives of the writing group ladies.
This is a debut novel and I believe it will be the first of many for Steven and Viktoriya it was that good!!!
I could not put it down and became quite invested in the lives of the writing group ladies.
This is a debut novel and I believe it will be the first of many for Steven and Viktoriya it was that good!!!
December 4, 2025
A very enjoyable read that tackled some big issues, including domestic violence, rape, infertility and the power of friendship. Wonderful characters and a gorgeous setting. It was wonderful reading about how each woman grew to be the better version of herself.
September 13, 2025
I loved this book. So much about it resonated- including large law firm life. And the characters are all engaging and realistic
October 3, 2025
Absolutely loved this book. Loved the characters and the storey. The scenery was described in such a manner that I could picture myself there.
October 24, 2025
Nice book about four very different ladies all struggling but in the same location. It had me laughing, in tears, and rooting for each woman to get their happily ever after.
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