"There was a legacy of women just like Elizabeth, privileged white women who were allowed to ruin the lives of women like Brianna on nothing more than a hunch. Sometimes even less. "
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While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi is one of those books that made me think about how much I love reading. I was hooked from the very beginning through every twist and turn. The narrative was clever and compelling, and the characters had depth to them that is often lacking in extremely readable books. The characters, especially the main character were at times moralistically grey, and the way they were written by author Sara Koffi really had me waffling between hating them and sympathizing with them and then back to hating them (especially one of the main characters, Elizabeth). Koffi also does a really great job of writing the liberal white ally character in a way that was believable and true to form (and unsurprisingly Elizabeth shows her cards as soon as she thinks no one else is watching). In this way, While We Were Burning provides insightful and subtle social commentary on race and class in America while touching on so many related topics (e.g. police racism + brutality, white privilege, redlining, & the issues within white suburbia). The story felt unique and new to me. Though the blurb compares it both to Parasite and Such a Fun Age, and having seen/read both, While We Were Burning was very much it's own story. Would highly recommend to fans of both of the aforementioned works, as well as Little Fires Everywhere, Get Out, Gone Girl, and Other Black Girl.

Thank you SO much to Sara Koffi, Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons, and Netgalley for an advanced copy of While We Were Burning!

THis book was such a page turner. The plot was incredibly masterfully crafted and the suspense was REAL. I found the characters to be easy to hate, but also easy to sympathize with. My one criticism is that the plot does get a bit unbelievable at times, though not enough for me to put it down.

Thank you Putnam Books for my Netgalley copy = of WHILE WE WERE BURNING by Sara Koffi, out 4/16/24!

The publisher says this novel is Parasite meets Such a Fun Age and that’s a pretty good descriptor! This debut examines the intersections of race, class and female friendship with an exploration of devasting consequences of everyday actions.

I really, really enjoyed this book. It’s a slow burn thriller, letting you slowly uncover how our characters are connected and it really came together for me.

After her best friend's mysterious death, Elizabeth Smith’s picture-perfect life in the Memphis suburbs has spiraled out of control—so much so that she hires a personal assistant to keep her on track. Composed and elegant, Brianna is exactly who she needs and slides so neatly into Elizabeth’s life, almost like she belonged there from the start. Soon, the assistant Elizabeth hired to distract her from her obsession with her friend's death is the same person working with her to uncover the truth behind it.

Because Brianna has questions, too. There’s more to the synopsis, but I think this book is best when you go in unknowingly. The final showdown is electrifying and the lines get very blurred - it’s a wild ride.

I loved the ending, but I also have major questions that I’ll keep to myself to avoid any spoilers. Just know, the characters are incredibly complex and flawed and you’ll find yourself switching sides until the very end. Let me just say I do NOT understand the conclusion of the romance and I don’t think it does as much as the author thinks it does? Doesn’t seem like a win to me? But idk, maybe I’m the outlier!

I think both characters could have had more depth to them when it came to our understanding of them as readers - we get snapshots of their past that drive their characters, but not quite enough to make that full connection. I think they could have been fleshed out more. I wanted more back story on Charles, Camilla, parental upbringing, and the traumas that made each character the way they are (because both main protagonists are very unique).

The vision is immaculate though and I give Koffi major snaps.

Elizabeth Smith’s life is perfect! She has the perfect husband and house in the suburbs of Memphis. Things spiral out of control when she discovers the body of her friend and neighbor. She is sure her friend was murdered and is determined to find the killer.

Brianna comes into Elizabeth’s life after her world spirals out of control. She has been hired as her personal assistant to keep her focused and on track. Brianna is also looking to get some answers of her own. She is determined to find out why the police were called out to Elizabeth’s neighborhood, resulting in her son being killed.

NetGalley and Putnam Books, thank you for the advanced reading copy. “While We Were Burning” was an interesting twist to the normal protagonist storyline. The book was truly a page-turner and kept me on my toes! I never predicted the ending or where the plot was going. I thoroughly enjoyed the read😊. The book has a good amount of suspense/thriller plus mystery that will keep you interested until the end. Not only is the reader taken aback at the ending of the book, but throughout the book you truly don’t know which way the plot will turn.

I couldn’t get into this book and I’m not sure why. The writing style was smooth, the storyline wasn’t bad, I just lost interest early on because it was missing something

I really wanted to get into this, but I could not even finish it. There was just too much BML, political stuff in it that I sat it down only a quarter of the way through it. There are so many amazing novels that show you do NOT have to get political for it to be an excellent read.

I received a free copy of this for review from NetGalley.

Fun read and I wanted to keep reading to know what happened.

I had not heard anything about this author of this debut novel before I dove in to this book. I was pleasantly surprised. While We Were Burning is described as a cross between Such a Fun Age (one of my all time favorite novels) and the movie Parasite. The description is accurate. While We Were Burning is a psychological thriller that tackles serious current racial issues. The two main characters (Elizabeth and Brianna) are both unlikable and are both unreliable narrators. There are numerous twists and an unexpected ending. If you are a fan of domestic/psychological thrillers you will enjoy this debut novel. This was a very fast read for me and I look forward to more from this author. This book is expected to publish in April of 2024. Thank you to #Netgalley for the Advance Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, where to start. This book was a rollercoaster, the type that is thrilling but in the end leaves you feeling just a little sick.
Let me explain.
As a mother, I really connected with Brianna. I can’t imagine losing a child and the way that she lost him, I’ll never understand that. That makes me hurt for her. And I honestly can’t say I wouldn’t do some of the things she did if it were me. But don’t get me wrong…. She crazy.

Now Elizabeth, she’s also a cup and a half of crazy. Lol
But for a while, you feel for her too…. Not near as much but enough to get you hooked.

And as the plot unfolds you are just hit with twist after twist. It’s fast paced but in a very good way.

The author is an excellent writer and I would read her stuff again.

Overall I give it a solid 4, for tackling current issues and doing so in a way that it fit seamlessly into the book. Well done.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.

This was not at all what I expected. Often felt confused by the direction the story was taking and felt like the progression of dialogue wasn’t always sensical.
I would say there wasn’t really a likable character, but maybe that was intentional.
Overall, pretty entertaining and kept my attention. Would love to see what else this author puts out in the future.

A twisty debut novel set in a community in Tennessee.

Elizabeth can't let go of her friend's supposed suicide. She is obsessed to the point that her personal and professional life is suffering. Her husband suggests hiring an assistant to get back on track. She can't believe how helpful Brianna is and she steadily begins to improve.

But Brianna has a big secret she is keeping from Elizabeth and the two women are hurtling towards a showdown.

Good premise for a first book, many of the domestic aspects were believable and tension palpable. A bit of a stretch, but still enjoyable. #penguin #Whilewewereburning

While We Were Burning was an incredibly fast paced read. I think Koffi did an amazing job making her writing approachable and not too convoluted for a book that I could see could get convoluted. I think if you’re looking for a fast read to get you out of a slump, this is the one for you. I thought the dialogue felt a little childish or like a bad movie, especially towards the end. It The twist felt predictable, and I wasn’t sure why I should care about any of the characters. I keep saying it’s a fast book but this one could’ve done with a couple more pages exploring the depths of the three main characters- Brianna, Elizabeth, and David. It would’ve been far more interesting if the psyche of each character made sense with their actions. Overall, I would say 3 stars.

First - thank you to Penguin/Putnum for the Advanced Copy for review!

This is an impressive debut novel from Sara Koffi, and it was right up my alley! My favorite read is a page-turning thriller, and this novel delivered! Without giving out any spoilers, the book was engrossing and modern. It included institutional racism, but in a realistic way (without being preachy). The relationship between Elizabeth and Brianna is complicated and real, and I didn't figure out the mystery until just before the very end. I'm looking forward to Sara's next novel - well done!

A black boy dies while riding his new bike home in a case of mistaken identity. A white woman is found hanging from a lamppost in an apparent suicide. These separate tragedies collide and explode into one giant burning pile of deceit, rage, and delusion.

What. A. Twister! This book had me hooked within the first few chapters – it was so hard to put down! Just when you think the story is gonna go one way, a new chapter and POV comes and you don’t know anymore. If you love a psycho bitch like Gone Girl, you’re in for a treat.

*Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam Books for sending this book for review consideration! All opinions are my own.*

First off, the cover is to die for! It follows 2 friends as things go tragically wrong in their lives. I did enjoy the stories, but felt the characters a bit confusing at times. The story is raw and i loved that!

That being said, I'd read it again and recognize that it might be where I had to sit it down many times even in chapters (silly life and dogs).

Thank you NetGalley and Putnam for the advanced copy in exchange for a review!

While We Were Burning is the fresh take on the domestic thriller we need right now, a provocative observation of racism. Parasite meets Such a Fun Age in a scorching debut that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling, examining the intersection of race, class.

Elizabeth’s friend has died in what everyone thinks is a suicide, except Elizabeth. She is so distraught over the death that her husband hires her a personal assistant. Brianna is the personal assistant and she clearly has trauma in her past and motive for taking the job. Secrets are exposed, twists and turns abound. This is a very impressive debut. The prose is tight and the author pulls no punches. There is no flowery, descriptive writing here. This is a very propulsive, psychological drama that addresses racial and class issues in society today. I do feel there are some areas that could have been fleshed out more like delving more into Elizabeth’s background and mental health prior to her friends death, maybe more detail on the circumstances of Jay’s death, some more character development surrounding Brianna. However, overall, a highly impressive, page turning, twisty debut.

Hm, this book could have been so much more. I really liked the premise. There were depths to explore that weren't explored. Instead, it became sort of a cheesy thriller. The last 25% of the book is...pretty ridiculous. I would have appreciated a much subtler character story about these main characters. Also, the writing needs help, especially the dialogue. Every character includes the other character's name in EACH LINE OF DIALOGUE, eg:

"What do you think we should do, David?"
"I don't know, Brianna."
"She's your wife, David."
on and on...

NOBODY TALKS LIKE THIS. And it's done over and over again. It got so distracting and contributed to the story feeling increasingly cheesy and amateur. Kind of felt like a soap opera by the end.

I'm sad about this book because it really could have been so much more complex and nuanced. I suppose the publisher is just going for "thriller sales." Sigh.

*Mild Spoilers*

3.5 Stars rounded up

I’ll start with my critique of this book and move into what I loved about it.

First, the writing felt a little disjointed in some areas. For example, parts of the story line, such as Lizzie’s affair, could have been more fleshed out so as to intertwine better with the rest of the plot. Not a huge deal because the story was good enough to look past that but it did feel a little forced, like it was just the vehicle that led to the big reveal at the dinner table.

Second, I struggled with the relationships between the characters. Everything seemed to escalate so quickly between them. We didn’t get a whole lot of insight as to what they might have been thinking and feeling about everything that was going on around them. For instance, Brianna and David met only a couple of times while she was working for Lizzie. Then all of a sudden she’s chasing after him to save his marriage but ends up sleeping with him instead and then wakes up with a nightmare and he’s telling her she can confide in him because he truly cares about her and plans to “take care of her always?” I don’t know… it felt a little far fetched and I think it would have been better if we got to hear some inner turmoil, some contemplating of decisions before taking action, an analysis of potential consequences and subsequent calculation of whether they are worth it.

Now onto what made this book so good… Being inside Lizzie’s head throughout the book only to have it end the way it did… An ending that was essentially told to us early on but easily dismissed because you want to believe she is good – this characterizes white privilege and subtle racism. Her whole persona is a representation of how our system is fundamentally flawed despite any and all appearances to the contrary. On the outside you almost pity her… Is she just ignorant? What does everyone else see that she is missing? No way… she is clearly the victim here. Even Brianna is on her side. See she is friends with a Black person. Wait… WHAT!?

Brianna is an equally complex character – one who has suffered at the hands of said system both directly and indirectly. One who made mistakes trying to take that system on herself in ways that couldn't really addressed the deeper problem. When she realized her error though, she chose to do things differently. She also intentionally put herself in a position where she would never forget what happened and what she did, All while she continued to move forward and hope for better. Brianna is Black Lives Matter.

The quote that starts the book is by Kimberly Jones, “They’re lucky Black people are looking for equality and not revenge.” This was so perfectly fitting for this literary piece and how the story captured this message was exceptionally profound for a debut novel. I look forward to reading more by Sara Koffi.

This was a holy $h!t novel that I was not expecting.

I was drawn in by the relationship between Elizabeth and Brianna as they both seemed to be supporting each other through a painful past. I knew that Brianna had ulterior motives, and I knew she made poor decisions, but I was not quite prepared for how it all played out.

This would have been a five star read for me, but the last 2-3 chapters kind of dimmed my excitement.

Thank you to NetGalley & Putnam for the advanced digital review copy!