A really good, realistic and sensitive portrayal of female friendships in your thirties. I really identified with aspects of all the characters in this book and found it a joy to read.

I think it's not easy to portray the struggles and pain of infertility in a literary form, but "That Time Everything Was On Fire" comes quite close to it. Even though this is only one of the issues explored in this book, it may be quite important one for some readers, especially that it's showcased not only in the marital/romantic relationship context, but also a broader social one.

The main subject of this book, however, is friendship between Sam and Daisy. Written from the points of view of each woman, it creates a complex landscape on navigating a type of relationship that there are very few recipes for, especially when it comes to resolving conflicts and managing fallouts in the context of major life events or difficulties.

What is really admirable, is how this book is structured. From the subtle foreshadowing in the wedding chapter, to how the story is organised. No unnecessary longueurs such as describing the character's looks or daily routines in the detail, but pure essence that serves to move the story forward. It's at times challenging, at times heartbreaking but overall an uplifting read that may give hope to those who became distant from their friends and hope for reconciliation.

A lovely story, written over the course of a number of years and following the developing and changing landscape of the friendship between Sam and Daisy.
The characters are excellent and have such clear voices and the storyline touches on a number of issues facing women in their late 20's through to their early 40's and maybe beyond so resonates via shared experience.

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.

A lovely modern novel all about long-term friends, and how relationships change. Themes include marriage, loss, pregnancy, pregnancy loss, IVF, modern relationships. I really enjoyed this and would love to read more by Kerry Downes in the future - I loved that she knows Whitby/that area of North Yorkshire so well!!!

This is a well structured book with a compelling, plot and important subject matter. I like the way it focused on the changes and decisions that can happen in your thirties. It was an easy read, well written and I especially liked the choice of scenes/vignettes that flow through the book. Beautiful cover, too, that fits with the book.

I struggled a bit with most of the characters and didn't feel a lot of affection for them, except Sam.

This is a promising debut. I'll be interested to see what the author writes next.