Historical fiction is at its best when it teaches readers about something we didn’t know while creating characters that illuminate and further explore history. This book does just that. I had never heard of this devastating fire in 1811 and although I have read a lot about the role of women and enslaved people and white men in our country in the early 19th century, I gained a new understanding. The horror and the heroes were described in a way that was beautifully written and expertly researched. Heartfelt thanks to Simon & Schuster for the advanced copy. Go read this one.

This was easily the best book I have read this year and probably a top 10 favorite book. I will recommend this book to anyone that will listen. The writing was flawless. The characters were incredibly well created and realistic. The switching of perspectives was done incredibly - I was never confused about who was talking, what was happening or how the story tied together. It was historically well done (or seemed well researched) and realistic. It was heartbreaking and heartwarming - showing the different sides of tragedy and how different people behave under pressure. I was so disappointed when this book ended - and I read it in 1.5 days!

Thank you netgalley for my advanced reader copy!

I really enjoyed this book. I grew up about 30 miles outside of Richmond but had never heard of this incident before. Set in 1811, this story is about the Richmond Theater Fire, one of the worst urban disasters in the US at that time. We follow four characters, which helps to show a wide range of moments and events from that night and the days following. I think my favorite thing was that I recognized a lot of the places mentioned in the story.

I found all of the characters to be compelling. We follow a recent widow, an enslaved woman, an enslaved man, and a stagehand. Through their eyes, we experience the events of the fire and the days immediately following. Each character brings something different to the story and I enjoyed reading from all of them.

The story itself was riveting. It jumps right into the fire from the beginning, and the pace keeps up the whole book. There is never a good time for a disaster like this, but certainly, 1811 was a bad time to get injured in a fire. One thing I found rather shocking was that there were so many more women who died compared to men because they were trampling over everyone to get out and the women were unable to escape. I suppose when you live in a period when women had very few rights and were easily replaceable, men don't have to be chivalrous.

This was a fascinating story and very well written. I highly recommend it!

I just finished reading The House is on Fire yesterday and enjoyed the story. One of the biggest things I look for in a good book is whether or not it kept my attention from the start and this one did. I appreciated having 4 different points of view for the same event (Richmond Theatre fire) that affected so many in totally different ways. I found reading about the fire itself and not just the aftermath helped me relate to the storyline which doesn't always happen.

The characters were likable although I felt sorry for Cecily and Gilbert for all they had to experience. I am thankful that Jack was able to work through the incident and move forward. Sally was my favorite character though - she was a shining light in an emotional time.

At the end of the book, Rachel Beanland gave us more insight into the fire and the actual people she based the characters on. This was a great addition and made me want to find out more about the fire plus the people that experienced the fire. The amount of research put into the book helped lend credibility to the story and made it feel all the more "real".

The only wish I have after reading is to know more about what happened to the four characters before the book ended...knowing they all faced turning points at the end made me wonder what happened to them 6 months or a year later. Having the wrap up in the author's note helped, but I still felt like I was left hanging a bit.

Overall, I liked the book - 4 stars - and would recommend it! The thoughts shared here are mine and this review is voluntary. Thanks to NetGalley as well as Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this story!

I loved this book from the first page. Having the tale told through four distinctive character's points of views really lets you see how the whole event unfolds. It also sheds a light on how your decisions can effect others in ways that you are now even aware of. I enjoyed this story and couldn't read it fast enough to find out how it would all end for our four main characters.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. Pub date: April 4, 2023

A captivating historical fiction novel about the Richmond Theater fire, which I was previously unaware. Following four people and the decisions they made that night, this weaves each of their experiences surrounding this tragedy together. This seems very well researched historically but also told an enthralling story!

In The House is On Fire, Rachel Beanland transports readers back in time to 1811. It's the day after Christmas, and in Richmond, Virginia the most fatal urban catastrophe in the New World to date is about to take place. Opening with sequences immediately preceding the fire, Beanland introduces us to four main/POV characters: widowed Sally Campbell, en route to an evening at the theater with her beloved sister in law; Cecily Patterson, an enslaved woman attending the same performance as the chaperone to her master’s daughter; Jack Gibson, a young stagehand looking to make his place in the industry; and Gilbert Hunt, who visits his enslaved wife rather than the packed theater, so that they can dream of their own happy ending together.

When a fire breaks out, the choices made by our four main characters- and by those around them- carry grave consequences for everyone. In the aftermath of that fateful night, each of the four must face the music regarding the ramifications of their actions, and those of their closest family and friends. Beanland’s novel confronts the ugly truth about humanity- when push comes to shove, how far are we truly willing to go to save our loved ones, and how far will we go to save ourselves?

The House is on Fire was a great read for me. The beginning chapters require close attention as all of the characters are named and introduced- there are in excess of 40 speaking characters throughout all four points of view (and you better believe I made another character map!), and unfortunately some of the characters have the same or similar names, which is surely reflective of the time period. Once I was through the introductions and the action picks up- and it does, VERY quickly- I could not put this book down. I would not call this a quick read as there is a lot to digest, but short chapters and complex plot lines make for a compelling story that begs for chapter after one more chapter.

Upon finishing the book, I felt dismayed that some aspects of the story’s end were left particularly vague. I would have liked to know how the story ended for many of the characters. However, I more importantly appreciate the dedication to historical accuracy by the author. The four POV characters were based on real people, and to portray an ending that could not be confirmed to be truthful would do the book a disservice. Still, the ending had me wishing for more closure- if not for the based-in reality characters, then at least for the fictional characters created to support their roles.

I would recommend The House is on Fire to readers of historical fiction at its most brutally honest- this book does not sugar coat the bad deeds of the past, and paints what I was convinced is an accurate portrait of the time and the events that occurred. It is not flattering for all who are pictured in it. Readers who enjoy books about feminism, social justice, and morality will also like this book.However, it goes without saying that this book contains very serious topics and sensitive content, and I would encourage everyone to review the content warnings for this book before deciding to read it.
Special thanks to Simon and Schuster for the e-ARC of this great book via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. The House is on Fire is available now wherever books are sold.

A new and fresh addition to historical fiction, The House is On Fire, is one that shouldn't be missed. This is a story of the horrendous theater fire, in 1811 Richmond. Virginia. The story is told through four characters who lived through the fire, each recounting a part of the history in the fabric of their lives. Adler does a great job, snd her extensive research on the subject is apparent throughout the book. She also foes an excellent job touching on the sad history of slavery and the slaves who were present at the fire. I loved Adler's first book, but this was even better. I have officially added Florence Adler to my list of favorite authors and look forward to her next too!
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book.

I loved this historical fiction about the theater fire in Richmond VA in 1811. It was told from 4 POVs and their experience with the fire. Sally was a widow who narrowly escaped the fire, Gilbert is a slave who helped save a dozen white women, Cecily is a slave who escapes the fire and sees it as her chance to be free and Jack is a young stagehand who struggles with his role in how the fire started. It was a part of history I wasn’t familiar with but enjoyed learning about it. It was devastating in such a big way. I loved the character’s and was invested in their stories which are based on real people. If you enjoy historical fiction, I recommend picking this one up!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an arc for review!

Great historical fiction about an event I'd never encountered. The book was fast-paced and captivating, telling the story from four disparte points-of-view. Stories were intertwined enough that the storytelling was never choppy. The author did an excellent job of weaving the injustice and misogyny endemic in the time period into a story about loss and grief, regret and hope.

This story is about the 1811 Richmond, Virginia theatre fire which was the worst urban disaster in US history at that time. There were 600 people in the theatre and 72 did not survive - of the deaths, 54 were women, 18 were men. Why was this so disproportionate? Read the book to find out!!

This story follows four main characters, two are slaves, one is a white woman that was in the 3rd row seating, and one is a young male working as a stagehand for the theatre company. The story has short chapters and moves between characters quickly so it's easy to keep up with the story.

I listened to the audiobook and this was phenomenal on audio with a full cast! This will land in my top favorite books of the year and likely will be my favorite historical fiction of the year as well. I love reading about moments in history I know nothing about and love being able to take away so much to think about.

This was a very difficult time to be alive - slavery was in full swing, women had no rights or voice to advocate for best treatments for their own body. This book is full of characters you'll love and root for, some you'll despise and wish had perished in the fire, and will have many hopeful moments. I love how this story allows you to have a full understanding of the events leading up to the fire and the week following the event. We see so many aspects of the people during this time, societal expectations, and the inner workings of the town itself. You see the courage and cowardice of people, the joy and hopeful moments, and devastating and hopeless moments.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for gifting me a digital ARC of the sophomore book by Rachel Beanland - 5 stars! I was a huge fan of her debut, Florence Adler Swims Forever, and this book is just as wonderful.

In 1811, in Richmond, Virginia, on the night after Christmas. More than 600 of the Virginian elite as well as some of their slaves in the colored gallery, gather to watch a performance in a theater. When the theater goes up in flames, the true character of many are shown.

Based on a true story, this is a beautifully-written engrossing look into a tragedy and its aftereffects. Told through the voices of 4 very different characters - Sally, the widowed daughter of Patrick Henry; Cecily, a young slave; Gilbert, a slave who becomes a hero; and Jack, the young stagehand. This book will keep you gripped to the pages as you read of the horror experienced by the slaves, as well as decisions made to blame the slaves for a fire that they had nothing to do with. You'll go along the journey with each of these four characters as the fire changes their focus and shows their strength. The afterword by the author is not to be missed as it describes the real fire and people who inspired these characters. Don't miss this one!

DNF. I tried really hard but I just could not get into this one. I loved the author’s debut, but this just wasn’t it. Too many characters.

Pulse pounding and gripping. Historical fiction set in early 1800s, based on true events. When a fire rips through the Richmond theater, the stakes are high for those trapped inside. Well written and engaging, easy to get invested in the characters, tension filled. Very interesting read

Rachel Beanland has written an absolutely masterful novel based on a historical event known as the Richmond Theater Fire. Her writing drew me in immediately and the four main characters captivated me as well as giving me food for thought. The fire occurred in Richmond, Virginia in 1811. The novel is told from different points of view, which worked so well for this particular read - Jack, a 14 year old working at the theater with aspirations of his own, Sarah, a widow who is pivotal in her quest to help others, Cecily, a young slave who is trying to escape an owner’s obsession with her, and Gilbert, another slave who becomes a hero. Each character brings a reminder of how difficult life was in the Deep South during this time frame. Beanland’s writing style brings these four characters, as well as many others, to life. Truly this was a thought provoking read. Reading the author’s notes at the end made it that much more of an incredible read, giving more facts about the characters.
My sincere congratulations to Rachel Beanland for her superb writing and research, Simon & Schuster for seeing the brilliance of it, and NetGalley for affording me the pleasure of reading an arc of this just published novel.
I fully expect this gem to be snapped up to be made into a movie or a miniseries.
Well done Rachel Beanland. Florence Adler Swims Forever was enjoyable but this read is extraordinary.

This book really exceeded my expectations.
I had never heard of the Richmond theater fire so the historical context and background was enlightening.
I liked the four way split among Sally, Cecily, and Gilbert, I didn’t care for Jack, I thought he was repugnant.
The novel reflects,the prevalent attitudes of the 1811 and is well written.
I found the extensive notes provided by the author to be very helpful.

Pick this one up ASAP! I really appreciated the research that went into this book. I have never read a story involving the events that occurred in this story and it was so good!

I had never heard of this theater fire in Richmond before now but this novel truly brought it home for me. The characters are compelling and I was rooting for their survival and courage during an incredibly difficult time. I still hope that Cecily made it up north ok, that’s how real she was to me.

This is one of the absolute best works of historic fiction I’ve read in a long time. The author took an historical event, put in some stellar research hours, then applied her diligence, imagination and talents to craft this amazing and important story. There wasn’t a thing about this book that rang false or preachy or trite or trendy. Ms. Beanland took an assortment of characters, spanning a variety of ages, genders, occupations and races, and somehow gave them all depth and emotional life. Being presented with such a plethora of voices to follow initially intimidated me and I was concerned they wouldn’t be developed enough for me to invest in all their stories. But, that’s where I was wrong and by the conclusion of the book, I wanted to keep hearing more about each one of them; they had become familiar friends to me. There are other reviews that will detail and critique the setting, plot, etc of Ms. Beanland’s work, The House is on Fire, please read those if that’s how you choose your reads. This review is based on pure emotional impressions and sheer “can’t put it dow-ness” . Thanks much to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC.

Historical Fiction at its best Rachel Beanland recreates the true life tragedy of the Richmond theater fire of 1811..Told through the eyes of four characters we are shown the effect the inferno has on them and their community.As in her first novel Florence AdlerSwims Forever the characters through her beautiful writing come alive .Will be recommending the novel and the author #netgalley#simon&schuster