I thought this book was amazing and it really had me hooked. The author's unique approach allowed the writing to be very captivating. I'd recommend this book to anyone looking for a new read.

I really enjoyed this. There was, perhaps, a bit of similarity between this storyline and One Fine Day, but with a sadder undertone and not as happy go lucky. Very very enjoyable, kept me interested right to the end.

I enjoyed this book. Nick and Beth meet in their first week at uni and feel an instant connection. Before their relationship even gets started, a fatal fire occurs in their hall of residence. Nick is filled with at not being able to save the victim and leaves university. The two keep in touch over the years, very much in the One Day mould, supporting each other through life experiences. It was easy reading and tugs at the heart strings, though you really want to bang their heads together at times!!
Thanks to NetGalley for a preview copy.
Copied to Goodreads.

always enjoy Charlotte's books as really solid, no-nonsense, gripping fiction. Like her other work, After The Fire is really emotionally charged and has characters you really feel for. I would probbaly class it as a romance but it's certainly not cheesey.



With thanks to Head of Zeus for the ARC

After the Fire is a real tearjerker that follows Beth and Nick, two students who survived a fire in their university accommodation and still find themselves tangled up in the impact it left behind years later.

As their friendship spans over the following decade, we experience Beth and Nick deal with guilt, trauma, and the effects of their pasts. This is a book about love, loss, and the enduring power of human connection, and I absolutely loved it.

A ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read!

*Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Nick and Beth's relationship is filled with suspense, wrapped in a “will they, or won’t they” tension that keeps you hooked. The narrative unfolds in distinct sections, capturing their swift, passionate connection followed by a heart-wrenching tragedy that separates them. The book takes you through the aftermath over the years, offering a deeply thought-provoking exploration of their lives.

Charlotte handles themes like loss, domestic violence, mental health, and grief with remarkable sensitivity, enhancing the story's depth. Each time I reflect on After The Fire, I find new aspects to admire. It's a book that invites multiple readings for a fuller appreciation.

If you're in search of a story that is real, raw, and compelling from start to finish, I highly recommend this one. I thoroughly enjoyed the emotional journey it offered and am eagerly anticipating Charlotte’s future works.

http://thesecretbookreview.co.uk

The author has done it again! Her book last year was one of my reads of the year and this one is no different. It has suspense, an ever lasting friendship and guilt like no other, I loved it!

Excellent read, very well written about the aftermath effects of a fire in halls of residence on all concerned. I had all types of emotions whilst reading this book. Brilliant 👏🏼 👏🏼

"After the Fire" by Charlotte Rixon is a poignant and emotionally charged novel that delves into the aftermath of tragedy and the resilience required to rebuild life in its wake. Rixon's writing is both raw and lyrical, capturing the deep complexities of loss, grief, and the struggle to find hope and healing.

The story centers around characters whose lives are irrevocably changed by a devastating fire. As they navigate the ruins of their past and the uncertainty of their future, Rixon expertly explores themes of survival, redemption, and the enduring power of human connection. Each character is intricately developed, with their own unique journey of coming to terms with what was lost and what remains.

Rixon's narrative weaves together the personal and the universal, making "After the Fire" not just a story about a specific tragedy, but a broader exploration of how people cope with life-altering events. The novel is filled with moments of deep introspection, as well as a sense of hope that underscores the possibility of new beginnings even in the darkest of times.

"After the Fire" is a compelling and moving read, perfect for those who appreciate stories that tackle difficult subjects with sensitivity and grace. Charlotte Rixon has created a powerful narrative that will stay with readers long after the final page, reminding them of the strength of the human spirit and the importance of finding light even after the fire has burned.

I loved the authors first book and this was exactly the same level of incredible!!! The tension, the writing, the plot, the characters. I really enjoy this type of story where we follow the characters after an event. Will always read more by this author!

Oh how I love these kinds of stories! After the Fire is a delicious tale of first love, but first love that is hit by tragedy and consequently takes a long winding road. Following these characters and their lives was both wonderful and painful. I wanted them to be together so badly. Comparisons to Talking at Night and One day are worthy. Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for this wonderful read!

This is a right place/wrong time romance book that’ll rip your heart right out of your chest - if that’s the kind of thing you’re into then I highly recommend!

After The Fire follows Beth and Nick who meet in university halls but a tragic incident means their lives will soon change forever. We follow the pair in the years following as they fall in and out of touch, and grow together and apart.

Both Beth and Nick are clearly head over heels in love with each other but it’s never the right time for them to be together, and this can make for quite painful reading at times. My heart was actually hurting in parts but it’s a realistic portrayal of grief and suffering and takes us through all the stages instead of rushing a love story.

It’s a beautifully written book that reminded me a bit of Talking At Night by Clare Daverley which I also really liked. The only reason it’s not a five star is because I wish it had been slightly longer and not ended as quickly as it did, it did feel slightly rushed in the final chapters.

God, I absolutely love stories of first loves - the intensity, the drama, the effect it has on the rest of your life! - and 'After The Fire' from Charlotte Rixon is a total winner. The comparisons to 'One Day' are well-deserved.

Beth and Nick are in the same student flat at university (in fact, her first ever sighting of Nick was walking into their shared bathroom and getting an eyeful!). Beth has arrived a few weeks late following an ongoing bout of illness, and is trying to make friends with her new flatmates -as well as Nick, she's also sharing with Rosa and Anna, best friends from way back when. Nick and Anna have already started up a relationship, so when Beth feels a spark of chemistry between her and Nick, she does her best to ignore it. Its harder than she thought though, its such a strong pull calling her to Nick and she is fairly sure that he feels the same way. He even goes to watch her in drama club read-throughs - he's got it bad.

Nick breaks up with Anna and invites Beth out for a midnight walk - god, these scenes were so delicious, filled with the anticipation of what is going to happen, but neither of them wanting to make the first move. Just as they have their first kiss, which is every bit as amazing as they'd both hoped, they spot a fire raging through their flat - and the aftermath of what happens changes their lives forever.

Nick drops out of university and moves away. Beth completes her drama degree and starts to piece together a living as an actor. They both start other relationships and build their own lives. When Beth breaks up with a long term partner, the only person she wants to talk to is Nick. And so they rekindle their friendship, tentatively building connections again but both aware that they can only ever be friends.

The story is told from both Beth's and Nick's perspective; by hearing their internal thoughts, you can feel the ongoing longing and need for the other, but also the fear that they can never restart that very first relationship with all of its promise of a brighter future.

Charlotte Rixon has created such a wonderful book, it doesn't shy away from thornier issues of mental health and domestic abuse but it is told in a supportive empowering way. Definitely one I will be recommending.

And before I go -congratulations to the cover designer, I love those colours together and the design was so eyecatching.

Beth and Nick meet in the first week at university, become fast friends and soon fall in love. But their happily ever after is derailed after a fire tears through their accommodation block in the first term, killing one of their flatmates.

After the Fire by Charlotte Rixon charts the highs and lows of their relationship for the next fourteen years. The highs: Getting their degrees. Finding their feet in their careers. Finding love elsewhere. The lows: The bumps of new adulthood. Medical emergencies. Career changes. They remain friends throughout, but the timing for one or the other is never right to continue their love affair.

Over the years, Beth becomes a successful (but sad) actress living in Los Angeles and London, injecting some much-needed glamour into the proceedings. Nick starts to work for a hedge fund, ending up overworked and rich (but also sad).

The dual narrative structure—switching between Beth and Nick—allows the reader to take in the full picture. This clever device also means the story never gets stale. The novel doesn’t shy away from bigger issues, either, including hoarding and domestic violence, which are sensitively handled.

Much like the beloved novel One Day by David Nicholls, readers get to see all the twists and turns of their relationship through the years. The question of 'Will They or Won’t They Get Together’ hangs in the air for all fourteen years. You’ll have to read this lovely book until the end to find out what happens.

I really enjoyed this one.
I loved the premise. How one event can change the course of someone's lives.
The way that Rixon writes character is just excellent. The two protagonists in this book are just so real. They are characters with flaws, yet you love them and they drive the plot forwards.

You can clearly see how Charlotte Rixon has been influenced by other books and rom coms but it is a love letter to them as this book still feels so original despite using some of the classic troupes.

Really enjoyed this, and look forward to seeing what Rixon does next!

My second book by this author. We meet Beth and Nick who are two students sharing University accommodation. They have only just met, but it's obvious there is a connection between them. However, when a tragedy occurs in the building where they are staying, they find themselves drifting apart. We then follow both of their lives after University, but see that the trauma and guilt of what happened is still firmly embedded and affects them both for many years.

This was such a well-written story. I liked both Beth and Nick's characters, but it was obvious that they both have so many flaws and issues that need working on, especially after the fire at their old University building. Beth does initially seemed to have moved on more than Nick has, although as we go through the years we see that there are still things she struggles with. I liked Nick's character and could empathise with him more. He does have more issues than Beth and you can understand why he behaves like he does sometimes. It's clear that so many things should have happened in the years after the fire - they should have got together and they should have sought counselling to work through their own individual issues. But they didn't and we get to see what the affects of this are. It's a very emotional book, and at times I could feel the tears welling up - I particularly felt for Nick in his marriage.

The pace was a little slow at times though, especially in the earlier years. But as the storyline moves on, the pace picks up and whilst it isn't necessarily a happy read, it does have some happy moments which gives warmth to their stories. There are some trigger points, namely grief, mental health issues and domestic violence, but these are written sensitively. It was a lovely read, with lots of hope and second chances throughout the story and I would definitely recommend.

After the Fire follows the threads of Beth and Nick’s relationship after their very brief romance is shattered by tragedy while at university.

I really enjoyed the time jumps in this story, and the way the author captured the impact of the trauma and grief, for Beth and Nick, personally, and in their relationships with others. The story was well paced, and gently explored the various ways unprocessed grief can express itself in daily life. I was particularly intrigued by Nick’s relationship with his mother and the thoughtful conclusion to their story.

The story grapples with some heavier themes including grief and loss, domestic violence, mental health and substance use. The writing was rich with sensitivity, empathy and insight, making this a moving and engaging read.

A great book to pick up if you enjoyed David Nichols One Day, or Love Rosie.

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5🌟
If your looking for something to fill a hole after One Day then this may be just the ticket.
After The Fire explores alot of themes that are all handled carefully and sensitively. Nick and Beth's story is a slow burn that suffers many twist and turns. I was hooked with the will they won't they scenario. Both go through some really hard moments and it was tough reading and experiencing the heartache that came with their individual stories. I enjoyed watching the story unfold and never really knew how it was going to pan out. I was happy with the conclusion to the story and once I got into it I found it a real page turner that I couldn't put down. My only real niggle was I had a hard time getting into the writing style as I prefer to read in 1st person not 3rd.

I have followed author Charlotte Duckworth for a few years now. She writers psychological thrillers and they are well worth your time.
I would imagine it is quite difficult then to switch genre and write say a rom com.
But that's what Charlotte has done and her first novel delving in to her new genre was The One That Got Away. I loved it when it came out in 2023.
Charlotte writes her rom com's under the pen name Charlotte Rixon so that there is no confusion.
After The Fire is her second rom com novel..
And she has got it right yet again..
We follow two people Beth & Nick throughout their life. They meet in university sharing a bathroom in their student accommodation. There is an instant connection between them. Just when they are on the brink of getting together, a fire breaks out in their accommodation. A friend gets trapped in the building and it is one moment or one decision made that night that sets both their lives on a path or trajectory that never sees them come together.
They both loved each other but guilt, pain and many more emotions stopped them from ever having more.
Delving in and out of each others lives throughout the years after university helps at times but ultimately shows each of them what they could have if only they were strong enough.
How I wished they would sit down and discuss what happened, try get professional help to help them move on and heal. It was quite sad really to watch how their lives unfolded because of what happened in university.
A book I found to be so full of emotion between the two characters that you could almost feel it lift off the pages.
Well worth your time but be careful, there may be some triggers in it for people.

I absolutely adored After the Fire by Charlotte Rixon. This is 'One Day' meets 'Love, Rosie'. We go back to where it all began, when Beth and Nick met at university and immediately sparks flew. But it isn't plain sailing, and it's not your usual romance book. It tracks where both Beth and Nick are over a series of years since the fire.

Rixon's writing gets you immediately, and I was enthralled by the start. Beth and Nick have their flaws, their litanies, and their reasons why they do what they do. Everything is reasoned, and I felt true empathy for them. 

I found myself staying up far too late to read this amazing book, and felt true love and true pain. I will easily be picking up more of Rixon's writing. 

You should read this book if you're after a story that leaves you hanging again and again, but where you feel like you're in the relationships yourself. 

Thanks to NetGalley for this eArc.