Nothing Left to Burn

<i>"I never wanted a fire to claim."</i><br /><br />And I never wanted to get burned but this book is on fire.<br /><br />Let me tell you about my love for this novel. I fell in love when I saw the cover last year. Honestly, the colours, the pool, the fire reflected in it and this amazing title. It was love at first sight. It was one of my most anticipated 2018-releases and it did not let me down.<br /><br />The two things that make this book so unique are the piercing writing style and the complex main character. Her voice tells this story in an enthralling style that is 100% captivating. Audrey is the kind of main character that I admire. (Main) characters do not need to be likeable as long as they are relatable. That is not to say that I did not like Audrey. On the contrary, I admire her devotion and love for her sister. What I mean to say is that she is complicated. And that is what humans are, complicated. We have motives, thoughts and feelings that are not always obvious or seemingly logical.<br /><br />Another thing I admire is how the author managed to fascinate me and distress me at the same time. Firstly, with her many descriptions of fire and everything that is related to it. Secondly through the increasingly toxic relationship that the main character was involved in. My discomfort was so strong that I wanted to put down this book, but it would not let me. What I am glad of is that - spoiler - Audrey managed to free herself from this relationship. Brooks is manipulative, deceitful, and ultimately a threat to society and to Audrey. Even though she felt and still feels for him, she is aware of his harmful behaviour. She is torn between her romantic feelings for him and her consciousness telling her that she needs to stay far away from him. This relationship would have become abusive. I would even go so far and say that it already was that. Brooks isolated Audrey from her friends, was easily jealous, and emotionally unstable. He manipulated Audrey so she would feel guilt and shame. I'm glad that young adults and teenagers get to read such a powerful story that ultimately takes a good turn.<br /><br />My feelings are torn about the time shifts. The narration jumps back and forth between past and present, which is not unusual when an author builds up suspense through foreshadowing and by giving a hint here and there of what the bigger picture might look like. And it definitely worked. However, in the end, I would have liked it if it had been two linear stories. The many jumps and shifts often had me confused and I feel like a missed a thing or two.<br /><br />I loved this book and I can't wait to find out what else Heather Ezell has planned for her literary future. <br /><br /><a href="https://www.instagram.com/fantasticbooksandwheretofindem/" rel="nofollow noopener">Find more of my books on Instagram</a>

Reading this book was an extremely weird experience.<br /><br />When the synopsis of a book is “thrillerish contemporary in which a girl who just lost her virginity wakes up to a wildfire evacuation and the story expands from there, growing into an ever-darker web of lies and abuse and darkness,” you don’t exactly wanna be like…“Relatable.”<br /><br />But as a wise group of extremely wealthy British men once sang-said: You can’t always get what you want.<br /><br />This book follows Audrey, a teenage girl who, as mentioned, wakes up the morning after she lost her virginity to some extremely annoying loud knocking on her door. It’s firefighters, it’s a wildfire evacuation, she’s gotta get the hell out of dodge.<br /><br />You (the reader) at first don’t know anything except that.<br /><br />The story expands from there, alternating chapters between past and present, slowly giving you more and more answers until you reach a Big Reveal that has, at that point, become overwhelmingly obvious.<br /><br />This is pretty much made up for, though, by the themes covered along the way. Themes like young love, and the nuances of emotional abuse, and the damage that can be wreaked by loving boys who think they’re damaged.<br /><br />There are problems, too. Like the aforementioned bonkers obvious alleged “twist,” and a forced romance plotline, and the fact that sometimes it’s so boring you want to join a volunteer fire department in California because at least fighting wildfires would be more interesting.<br /><br />But overall: the plot construction was SO COOL. You start out knowing absolutely nothing, and then gain more information as the story moves back and forth and the whole thing feels like being dropped in at the center of a spiral and then slowly looping outward.<br /><br />Also, I really do think the exploration of young relationships and just what qualifies as emotionally abusive = dope.<br /><br />And I read it in a day! Even though I was reading it on my phone, which I hate doing and firmly believe is the absolute worst way to consume any work of literature whatsoever! A true testament to the quality of this read!<br /><br />Bottom line: Weird book? Not for everyone. Not perfect. But pretty rad all the same.<br /><br />Thanks to Penguin First to Read for the ARC &lt;3&lt;3<br />

Audrey evacuates her Orange County home as a wildfire nears her home. Over the course of twenty-four hours, she goes back through her relationship with her firefighter boyfriend, Brooks, and everything that has gotten her to this hill, waiting for her home to burn. All fires start small. <br /><br />This is a gorgeously written book and I flew through it. Actually, flew through it in one sitting. I was so invested in both the characters and the story of this novel that I genuinely struggled to put it down. <br /><br /><br />The discomfort of Audrey’s relationship with Brooks serves as a major focal point of this book. The way this is played is really interesting; at first, he actually doesn’t come off as all that bad. His desire to not be around her friends at first feels almost excusable; after all, he’s been through trauma, is cripplingly shy, etc. It’s only as the red flags start piling up that he becomes someone else. It’s this <b>nuance</b> that I enjoyed so much about the book. It would have been so easy to make Brooke caricaturally awful, and I loved that the book <i>always</i> strayed away from this. <br /><br />Audrey is not always particularly likeable, but I <i>got</i> her. To her as a younger person, her older boyfriend’s interest in her is validation, exactly what she wants. And as the relationship is so at-times normal, it’s hard for her to identify what is happening. It is a first relationship, and though Audrey is not stupid, she doesn't see the signs. Or she ignores them. As girls, we're often taught a very romantic image of 'saving' our heroic, traumatized boyfriends. And when we read these stories, we internalize that message for ourselves. So when a heroic, traumatized boy comes along for us to love, who are we to ask for more, to put up boundaries, to ask for what we need? <br /><br />The fire, by the way, is the most claustrophobic a symbol has ever made me feel. <br /><br />I also liked that Audrey had a support system: her best friend, Grace, and Grace’s girlfriend, Quinn, are both really wonderful. I especially appreciated their attempts to get her away, and seeing those attempts fail; I think we’ve all seen friends go down that road for relationships, and felt concerned as we saw the fallout. I liked the little spots of brightness. <br /><br />This was a really excellent book, a great binge-read, and an author I will absolutely be following from now on. <br /><br /><a href="https://thebookishactress.wordpress.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Blog</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/sockamommy" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thebookishactress/" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://sptfy.com/4F6I" rel="nofollow noopener">Spotify</a> | <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/thebookishactress" rel="nofollow noopener">Youtube</a> | <a href="https://thebookishactress.carrd.co/#about" rel="nofollow noopener">About</a> |

I thought that this book was okay. It was one of those stories that I liked but didn't love and will ultimately find rather forgettable. I am really not sure what caused me to add this one to my reading list since the cover does nothing for me and the synopsis is only mildly appealing. I did find this book to be a fairly quick read and I was entertained but it was never a book that was hard to set aside.<br /><br />This book jumped around in time quite a bit. About half of the book occurs on the day the fire comes so close to Audrey's home that she is evacuated. The rest of the book is set prior to that day. The present day events are told in a chronological manner but the flashes to the past do jump around just a bit with some happening closer to the fire and others at different times in Audrey's relationship with Brooks. <br /><br />I never really connected with any of the characters. Audrey often did things that didn't make sense to me. I kind of wanted to sit her down and give her a good mom talk since she seemed to be on a rather destructive path. Brooks was a character that I never trusted and his relationship with Audrey was rather unhealthy. <br /><br />I did like the fact that the story was centered around a fire. I thought that it was a really original setting and some of the descriptions of the fire were truly frightening. I did find some parts of the story to be rather predictable but I wanted to keep reading to see if things would actually work out the way I thought they would. I do have to say that I was really disappointed by the way the book ended. I really felt like the book just kind of stopped instead offering some kind of resolution. <br /><br />I do think that a lot of readers will like this one a lot more than I did. This was as story that kept me turning pages. I would not hesitate to read future books by this debut author.<br /><br />I received a digital review copy of this book from Penguin Publishing Group - Razorbill via First to Read.

Couldn't put this one down. This book is dark and compelling and chilling, lingering yet compleeeeeeetely intense, with the most beautiful prose—if any/all of this sounds like your thing, please put this book on your TBR and/or preorder it! (Also, I highly recommend going in blind to this one—I read the Kirkus review after reading the book, and while it's a good review, it's somewhat spoilery!)

Heather Ezell's thrilling debut novel, Nothing Left to Burn, is one of that will make you stop and think for a long time after you finish reading. When I first started reading this I had no idea what to expect (okay yes that is a small lie I did read the blurb so in that aspect I new exactly what the main gist of the story was) but before I realized it I was already halfway though. <br /><br />This novel is the perfect coming of age story. It has humor, mystery, tension, and classic teen moments. It has the sense of "Oh my god, did that just happen?" and "Did he really just say that?" With a timeline of 24 hours and dual POVs, Nothing Left to Burn, leaves the readers on the edge of their seats. This story was simply flaws, well done Ms. Ezell, what a perfect way to enter the literary world. <br /><br />I was provided an advance copy of this title in exchange for a honest review.

Compelling, dark and quite fascinating, too. A really, really good debut, more of a 4,5 stars, actually. Definitely recommend. <br />Full review coming soon on the blog, <a href="http://drizzleandhurricanebooks.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Drizzle &amp; Hurricane Books</a> :)

*I received an ARC of this from the publisher - thanks so much to Penguin for sending me over a copy but it didn't change my opinion of the book at all!!<br /><br />Okay, 2018 needs to simmer down because I’ve read 3 2018 debuts in a row and they have all be ridiculously well written, and if this keeps going, I’m so unprepared for this goodness.<br /><br />This book was a twisty, dark tale full of complexity, depth, and a lot of twists and turns. I’m going to warn you – this book is quite emotional and it’s a deep look into grief, a very complicated relationship, and a girl at her breaking point. You’re diving into a story that is will pretty much wreck your emotions and mess with your mind on what is right and wrong and what a person should or shouldn’t do. It lies in the grey lines, but it has a lot of heart and it’s such an interesting psychological, deep read that if you’re into books with a lot of brilliant characterization and well thought out and timed stories, this is the book for you. It’s definitely contemporary done right (IN CASE YOU SOMEHOW DID NOT GET IT THAT FROM MY LITTLE INTRO THERE BECAUSE IT MIGHT SCARE SOME PEOPLE OFF???? XD) But I just wanted to let people know this isn’t a nice little fluffy contemporary full of adorable swoons and unicorns and sunshine and happy endings. <br /><br />This story is Audrey – and partially Brooks, but mostly Audrey because she owns this story. It’s hers to tell and it flashes back and forth between the past, now, and just some of her general thoughts. Sometimes, I get a little annoyed between jumping back and forth between them because I usually focus on liking just one, but in truth, this one was well timed out and flipped back and forth between how we got to this point and the drama that was ensuing. I was eager to flip through the pages to get back to how the past shaped the present and all the drama that was going on right now. I did have to knock off a point because I was super totally confused for about 1/3 of the novel. I mean, I got what was going on, but I felt at times that the author was trying to make things too mysterious and I was just getting lost and feeling like I was just missing something. It finally got its groove and then the writing and plot organization was just gold from there.<br /><br />As I said, this is Audrey’s story. She was such a complex, shining character. You’re not going to agree or like all of her choices, but she just felt so realistic. She was well done and well layered and I could feel her pain and numbness and could see where she was coming from even when I was yelling at her not to do something. She was the perfect heroine for this story, and I felt for her so much sometimes. <br /><br />The side characters were well done as well. Brooks was certainlyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy well done. It was so ridiculously interesting to see his evolution along the way and I feel like Ezell must have taken psychology at some point because she just totally nailed allllllllll of his characterization so brilliantly. Grace, Hayden, Quinn, and the parents were all done well as well. I did like Maya quite a bit, but I honestly kind of wanted a bit more from her since I never got a true, true connection to her. <br /><br />The setting was so well done as well. I honestly felt like I could picture it all wonderfully and it was just so well described. I felt like I could feel the fire licking at my skin sometimes. I was quite amazed and impressed. You totally feel like you’ve been dropped into OC, California, and it was such an interesting backdrop to the story.<br /><br />I’m a little bit torn on the ending. Okay, I loved how realistic it was at the end, and it was kind of the ending I totally wanted for it. But I felt that the last two chapters working it up to it, kind of really confused me and I kind of just had my eyebrows raised (since I sadly can’t do the one eyebrow thing too well). I just felt a bit lost there. But I was pleased with that last chapter, for sure.<br /><br />Overall, this was such an interesting and fascinating story that definitely takes you on a journey. This was a stunning debut for sure, and it’s full of intense and haunting characterization, a wonderfully done setting, and a plot that was well executed and time. I did get quite confused in the beginning, and the ending left me a bit torn – however, I did enjoy the story for the most part and it was such an addicting read. You can easily torn through it, but prepare yourself for an emotional, twisted and dark tale that is contemporaries done right. Four crowns and an Ariel rating!

You can find more of my reviews at <a href="http://forever17books.com" rel="nofollow noopener">Forever 17 Books</a>.<br /><br /><i>Nothing Left to Burn</i> is a novel that captured me. A story about being swept away in young love, the cost of secrets, and survival when faced with the flames aiming to consume you.<br /><br />The story is told in alternating chapters as we follow Audrey being evacuated from her home in the wake of a wildfire threatening her neighborhood and the hours that follow along with chapters that provide a backstory on her relationship with the new boy in town, Brooks, and all the ways it consumed her. I had no idea what to expect when I picked this book up and I can’t say I completely know what it was I read when I finished because I found a story so full of twists and turns, so mysterious and full of secrets that it kept me guessing until the very last page, quite literally. It touches upon serious issues like mental illness and toxic relationships while retaining lighter moments filled with strong family bonds, especially between Audrey and her sister. The characters were flawed and intense yet showed a great deal of vulnerability and strength in their resolutions. This is absolutely a coming of age story for Audrey in so many ways and I was on board for her journey. With the threat of the fire in the background, it added some serious elements of excitement and danger.<br /><br />If you are looking for something a little dark and unlike anything you’ve read before then this is absolutely one to check out. This contemporary had all the elements of a thrill ride that will leave you hypnotized very much like the very fire burning among the pages. Prepare to be on the edge of your seat and watch the events unfold. A fantastic debut from this author!<br /><br /><br /><i>A copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review!</i>

<i>5 stars</i><br><br>Taking place over 16 intense hours, Heather Ezell's debut, <i>Nothing Left to Burn</i> tells the story of sixteen-year-old Audrey who is navigating her tumultuous and all-consuming relationship while also juggling her family's evacuation from the path of a deadly wildfire sweeping through Orange County, California. <br><br>Audrey not only wrestles with the possibility of losing her family home, but also with the secrets from her boyfriend's past coming to light and the danger lurking behind her feelings and the fire in the distance. <br><br>THIS WAS SO AMAZING EVERYONE PLEASE READ. <br><br>I totally was not expecting to like this so much--honestly, I assumed it was like a lot of other contemporaries until I read the word "wildfire" and caved into requesting it on First to Read. (Because wildfires are exciting! I mean, boo, wildfires.)<br><br>It just--it all came together really nicely and it also built up really well and I could see the symbolism and parallels within the novel while it was also a very entertaining read. <br><br>I had to physically stop myself from bingeing it all in 2 hours, cutting myself off because it was already midnight and I had to wake up at 6 am. But you better bet your whole bookshelf that one of the first things I did that morning was keep reading. <br><br>Not only was it very enjoyable to read and I was definitely entertained by the plot and pacing and just intensity of the story, but I could see how Ezell worked the novel to slowly reveal tidbits while simultaneously growing Audrey's character (I did forget her name, but semantics). <br><br>At first you think it's just a wildfire and just a boyfriend, but it grows into so much more. The boyfriend has a past. The boyfriend has a dark past. The boyfriend is <i>obsessed with fire</i>. <br><br>Seriously, this book was on <i>fire</i> not only with the recurring theme of burning/fire/flames/ashes, but also just the parallels in it and how it grew more thrilling as you read on. <br><br>It's told from Audrey's POV, but it cycles in between what's happening now and things from the past (like when she first met her boyfriend Brooks). Sometimes when there's multiple POVs or there's multiple times, I get confused at what I'm reading because I don't pay too much attention to the title (Thursday and 5:51 AM are just words to me). <br><br>But I was able to easily distinguish what point in time the story was from, and I think that's one of this story's biggest wins in helping the reader distinguish between what's happening when without the need for chapter titles. Whether it was because of how Ezell structured the sentences or the tone or mood or atmosphere, she managed to successfully convey what was happening without the need for chapter titles, which was awesome for me to read. <br><br>Also, the plot just gets so intense and this mimics how the forest fire gets more intense and I just love all the connections between everything. It's like all the parts of the novel are progressing at the same rate--even though the backstory, fire, and character development happen at different points in time &amp; with different mental states for Audrey. <br><br>It ended up feeling very cohesive and that's just part of why I loved this. Also, the thriller aspect (the wildfire is suspected to be a product of arson...) was super entertaining and I just thoroughly enjoyed the plot (I never really understood the true effect and what happens during a wildfire and I'm moved by Ezell's portrayal.)<br><br>I also really like the relationships in this novel--whether it was friends or family or talking about toxic relationships (dangerous feelings, a boy consuming your life, etc.) It all had a very good message and I liked how Ezell was very honest about Audrey's views on sex despite her family's insistence on abstinence. <br><br>If I had to pick out something that could have used more work, I'd probably just say where the chapters ended and where the book ended. Sometimes it ended a little abruptly with a cliffhanger, like in <a href="https://goodreads.com/book/show/30269126.Empress_of_a_Thousand_Skies__Empress_of_a_Thousand_Skies___1_" title="Empress of a Thousand Skies (Empress of a Thousand Skies, #1) by Rhoda Belleza" rel="noopener">Empress of a Thousand Skies</a>, and then picked up on a less intense moment and at times it felt a little bit like a cop out or a way to avoid writing those really intense scenes. Also, it did end a lot sooner than I wanted it to because <i>things</i> happen at the end that are super ASDFKLJDLS. But I can definitely see why Ezell ended everything this way, and so this isn't really something that <i>needs</i> to change. <br><br>Overall, I had an amazing time reading this book and was so surprised by how much I enjoyed it! I would definitely recommend this to everyone--lovers of contemporary or sci-fi or fantasy--because of the awesome character-based themes found in contemporaries that balances the action and intensity commonly found in SFF. <br><br><i>Thank you to Penguin Teen/First to Read for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for an honest review!</i><br><br><a href="https://vickywhoreads.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow noopener">Blog</a> | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/vickywhoreads" rel="nofollow noopener">Instagram</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/VickyCBooks" rel="nofollow noopener">Twitter</a><br><a href="https://vickywhoreads.wordpress.com/" rel="nofollow noopener"> <img src="https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/hostedimages/1503169545i/23635490._SX540_.png" alt="Vicky Who Reads" width="400" class="gr-hostedUserImg" loading="lazy"> </a>