REVIEW:

Aren’t you just sick of reading about contemporary female main characters that are podcasters, influencers, writers, and marketing execs? I sure am.

That makes reading Katherine Center’s 2019 novel, Things You Save in a Fire, a truly refreshing change of pace. Here we’re given a heroine that’s a firefighter, and one with gumption at that. Cassie Hanwell leaves Austin to return to her Boston hometown because her estranged mother needs her. Starting over at an all-male firehouse is no easy task though, so she continually has to prove her strength and knowledge.

But gosh darn it, there’s a super cute all-around great guy called “The Rookie” that starts at the firehouse the same time she does. Despite knowing it would be career suicide to cozy up to this dude, her lady bits catch fire at the mere site of him. What’s a girl to do? Good thing there are a lot of hoses nearby. ;)

This is the third Katherine Center book I have read, and I’d classify them all as “enjoyable.” The tone falls somewhere in the middle (or shall I say “center?” sorry, too easy) of literary fiction and chick lit. Insightful, well-written passages about dark themes alternate with fluffy rom-kinda-com vibes. This strikes the just-right tone for many readers, but sometimes I wish she’d just pick a lane and stay in it. Case in point - I chose to read this because I needed something light where a woman isn’t kidnapped/assaulted/raped/murdered, but unfortunately one of those “tropes” is present. Le sigh.

Things You Save in a Fire is a 3.5 star read for me, but it’s easy to nudge up given how many other readers have adored it. Plus that cover?! Who could resist?

For those with the Hoopla library app, the audiobook is available for immediate download.

PUBLISHER SYNOPSIS:

Cassie Hanwell was born for emergencies. As one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she's seen her fair share of them, and she's excellent at dealing with other people's tragedies. But when her estranged and ailing mother asks her to uproot her life and move to Boston, it's an emergency of a kind Cassie never anticipated.

The tough, old-school Boston firehouse is as different from Cassie's old job as it could possibly be. Hazing, a lack of funding, and poor facilities mean that the firemen aren't exactly thrilled to have a "lady" on the crew, even one as competent and smart as Cassie. Except for the handsome rookie, who doesn't seem to mind having Cassie around. But she can't think about that. Because she doesn't fall in love. And because of the advice her old captain gave her: don't date firefighters. Cassie can feel her resolve slipping...but will she jeopardize her place in a career where she's worked so hard to be taken seriously?

Katherine Center's Things You Save in a Fire is a heartfelt, affecting novel about life, love, and the true meaning of courage.