This felt so predictable and boring. I don;t mind a predicitable thriller but the characters have to be interesting and compelling and this just was flat and I had no real interest in picking it back up.
THanks to the author, publisher, and NEtgalley for the ARC

What. A. Book. Holy cow. So much to digest! Luckily, I'll have the weekend to do so before chatting with Sara about it for the podcast. I am very much looking forward to talking to her.

Thanks for the opportunity to read and review this book ahead of publication. My review will be posted to my blog on 4/9/24 and will also be featured on my Instagram feed that same day. I will also post my review to Goodreads, The Storygraph and retail sites.

Review:

As soon as I read the synopsis for this book on NetGalley, I knew I had to read it. I loved the idea of a Black mother who recently lost her son to police violence infiltrating the circle of white women who may have called the police on him. It sounded timely, juicy, and tense - precisely the type of book I love - and while this is a thought-provoking novel that delves into the complexities of race, class, and female friendship, I felt it was lacking in some areas.

The story follows Elizabeth Smith, a white woman living in an affluent suburb in Memphis whose life takes a tumultuous turn following the mysterious death of her best friend, Patricia. In an attempt to regain control of her life, Elizabeth and her husband, David, hire a personal assistant named Brianna, who quickly becomes an integral part of her life. Brianna and Elizabeth become fast friends, but what Elizabeth doesn't realize is that Brianna is on a mission to avenge her son's death. He was killed in this general area, and according to the 9-1-1 call, a woman from Elizabeth's suburb made the call to the police. Brianna won't stop until she finds out who it was and then ruins their life just as they ruined hers.

On the upside, Koffi's exploration of the characters' relationships is both compelling and nuanced. The dynamic between Elizabeth and Brianna is particularly fascinating, as they navigate the blurred lines between employer and friend. As the two women spend more time together, their bond deepens - but for different reasons. Elizabeth thinks she has a new best friend - one who will help her figure out who killed Patricia, while Brianna sees Elizabeth as nothing more than a means to an end. Their dynamic reminded me of the lead female characters in the movie "The Hand That Rocks the Cradle."

Another strength of the book is the way the author addresses important social issues within the context of the narrative. The novel raises questions about systemic racism, police brutality, and the impact of everyday actions on individuals and communities. Koffi sheds light on the ways in which race, privilege, and power shape our experiences and relationships.

While the book makes some great points and covers important topics, I did have a few problems with it. I think my biggest issue was the dialogue. One of my biggest pet peeves in a book is when whoever is speaking consistently calls the person they are speaking to by name. Typically, this happens in professional settings, group settings, or when you've just met someone, but once you establish a rapport with someone, you don't call them by name every time you speak to them (unless you are trying to get their attention). This consistently happened with all characters in this book, so it wasn't just a quirk of a single character. For example, "Elizabeth, I must say I really love your jacket." "Well, thank you, Brianna. I got it at Target." (This exchange was totally made up, but you get the gist.)

I also found some of the characters to be very basic, and sometimes, their actions didn't make sense or seemed very extreme. I don't want to get into specifics because I don't want to ruin the plot, but I will say there is one guy who sleeps with a woman and afterward immediately calls her baby, tells her he will protect her at all costs and soon after tells her he loves her. This seemed unrealistic and like something I would find in a YA novel, not one focusing on adults. Additionally, I found the pacing of the story to be uneven at times, and I felt like the tension that I would expect in a novel dealing with the topics that this one does didn't quite hit the level it could have. These shortcomings made it difficult for me to immerse myself fully in the narrative.

Overall, this novel tackles weighty topics with sensitivity and insight. The novel's exploration of timely and important themes offers readers a thought-provoking and mostly engaging story. I just felt it could have been a little tighter, and the tension could have been turned up to make it even more impactful.

Rating: 2.5

This was a drama, not a thriller. I didn't like the direction the plot took in the second half. And I hated the relationship that developed.

I love me a good revenge story! I thought this book was interesting and it kept me engaged the entire time. Now I will say that the characters do questionable things but to me it is what makes the story so good. Lots of twists that will keep you engaged!

Elizabeth, a white woman, that is having a hard time dealing with her "friend's" death and being the one to find her. She is fully convinced she was murdered instead of her death being ruled as a suicide. I sometimes didn't know what to think of Elizabeth, sometimes I felt bad for her and other times she was just infuriating lol. Her life is just a mess and this makes for interesting what the heck moments.

Brianna, a black woman, has her life ripped to shreds when her son was killed by the police. She is hired by Elizabeth to help around the house and quickly becomes her friend and helps Elizabeth try to solve the mystery behind her friend's death. Would I have liked for Brianna to have all the facts before action was taken? Sure, but I think that is the exact point of the story. Brianna had to take matters into her own hands if she wanted any bit of justice for her son. And I stan a mom on a mission!

I think for a debut novel the author came in hot with the storyline and flow of the book was easy and quick to read. The subjects of race and class are very relevant and I recommend this read if you like a page turning thriller!

Thank you NetGalley for the Arc!

When @rachkollercroft told me that I needed to prioritize Sara Koffi's debut novel, WHILE WE WERE BURNING, I immediately requested it from @putnambooks, thank you for the gifted copy! This story is a unique spin on mystery/thrillers in sadly an aspect that happens in American society.

The story focuses on Elizabeth Smith and her journey after witnessing her friend Patricia's death—the complete deterioration of her family and personal life, and her reputation around the neighborhood. As Elizabeth's spiral becomes unmanageable, she hires a personal assistant, Brianna, to help her get back on track. As Brianna begins to work for Elizabeth, she too is thrown into this mystery behind Patricia's death, because it somewhat relates to the death of her son. Brianna's Black son was killed by police during a confrontation started by someone in Elizabeth's neighborhood and she is going to find out who's responsible at any cost.

This book is a character-driven, voyeuristic, revenge story that uses tragedy and emotions to drive Elizabeth and Brianna forward. Obviously given the subject matter, this story has trigger warnings, so I encourage you to go into this story knowing that. This book dives into topics of female dynamics, toxic friendships, and neighborhood drama. WHILE WE WERE BURNING pushes forward how much racism and classism within communities can have a ripple effect. I am will definitely be tuning into whatever Sara Koffi writes next.

Thank you NetGalley and Penguin Group Putman for this arc in exchange for my honest review. I really enjoyed this book! I found it hard to put down which is always a good thing. The only thing I wasn't crazy about was the ending, I felt like it was missing something. I still give it 4.5 stars and I look forward to reading more from this author!

"While We Were Burning" is as shallow as a wading pool and as clunky as a toddler trying to walk in her mother's high heels. What makes this especially frustrating is that the book is being sold as, to quote the blurb, an examination of "the intersection of race, class, and female friendship, and the devastating consequences of everyday actions." It's not. It's "women's fiction" with cardboard characters who speak and behave as if the author had never witnessed real human beings before. I'm stunned by all the four- and five-star reviews.

Thank you, NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam, for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I was really really rooting for this book- one of my first requests on NetGalley (thank you!) and unfortunately it fell a little flat. The beginning was encapsulating, it had a really strong storyline and an extremely unreliable narrator, but toward the middle and end all of that seemed rushed and not at all resolved. I would say this is a nice beginner thriller- there’s a small twist that I semi expected but if you don’t typically read this genre this may be a good place to start.

An emotionally charged tale of grief, revenge, and secrets. This is one audacious thriller with subject matter with so much depth you feel like you are drowning in it too! Koffi touches on something that happens too often, she gives us a view into the grief of a mother whose life was forever changed because of the color of her sons skin. Koffi delves into tumultuous relationships, revenge, and even love with such an elegant style of writing you forget you are reading a book and just become fully emersed in the story. Raw characters with real world problems and an ending that will shock even the most seasoned of readers. The best psychological thriller of 2024 so far, this is going to be a hard one to put down and an even harder one to top!

Propulsive, compelling, with twists that were both unexpected and delightful, with a climax and ending that were satisfying and exactly right for this impressive novel.

I loved the domestic thriller premise and how the book explored the different relationships that Elizabeth had with those around her. The book did start off a little slow for me but picked up steam towards the latter half. I felt like a lot of the characters were pretty unlikable (especially the protagonist) and yet somehow it worked. I do wish the author had fleshed out Briana's character a little more, especially towards the end

I thought this book had a great premise but unfortunately for me it fell short. I felt the narrative and direction of this story was a little hard to follow. I didn’t find myself rooting for any characters or even particularly liking them. I would probably give this author another shot, I just disliked the book.

Thank you Netgalley & G.P.Putnam’s Sons for an eARC

I have just finished reading "While We Were Burning" and I must say it's a truly captivating novel. The author masterfully weaves together elements of mystery, thriller, and social commentary, creating a narrative that's both engaging and thought-provoking. The story follows Elizabeth, whose seemingly perfect life is thrown into disarray after her friend's tragic passing, and Brianna, her enigmatic assistant with secrets of her own. As they work together to uncover the truth behind the death, the narrative builds up to a gripping conclusion that's both surprising and satisfying.

The themes explored in the book are timely and relevant, tackling issues of race, class, and gender with nuance and sensitivity. Sara Koffi’s writing is masterful, with well-developed characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end.

Emotional roller coaster! Just when I thought I had it figured out, I get hit with another plot twist! This was an amazing book talking about racial and societal differences, how racism is still very much alive. Female rage is a powerful subject here too and honestly each character was so perfectly flawed, broken, angry a sad.

This isn’t your typical murder mystery, it’s a gut wrenching story about life as a black woman vs life as a white woman. How one single decision could very well make you many enemies and change the course of your life.

This is definitely a story I won’t forget.

First the good - short book with an intriguing concept.

Now the reason this wasn’t the book for me - hundreds if not thousands of times the f-word was used. I’m not a prude and realize part of the usage could have been to express rage within several of the characters. Too repetitive and very boring vocabulary.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Putnam for the opportunity to read this ARC.

At first, I was worried I was not going to connect with either of the characters. Sara Koffi's writing emersed me into both Elizabeth's and Brianna's points of view that I soon found myself rooting for them. Then the plot twists came and I found I didn't know who to trust or root for. For me, when an author has me questioning everyone's motives that is what hooks me. Her writing was simple and beautifully represented how truly messed up our society is. I would definitely recommend this book to my friends and read more for Sara Koffi.

The plot for this novel is sound. There’s a lot of intriguing elements that could’ve made this a really compelling read. I don’t mind a revenge plot, and I’d like to see an honest characterization of the “woke white woman.” But the writing style left a lot to be desired. The dialogue was over-the-top. The pacing was off—abruptly jumping from one plot point to the next without fully developing the characters’ motivations. I rarely wish a book were longer but this one could’ve done with more time moving from beat to beat and more careful characterization. As is, this book could find its readers with those that are desperate for a new domestic thriller or want a Lifetime movie in the form of a book. Unfortunately, it just wasn’t for me.

Many thanks to Net Galley for the advance reading copy of this eBook.

If you like fast-paced suspense thrillers with themes of revenge, this book could be up your alley. The strongest aspect of this book is the writing style, which is raw, vivid, and clear. The weakest element at play is the romantic subplot. I think adding a bit more to the book to spend time developing character dynamics between the twists would make it that much stronger. I’m interested in seeing what the author writes next; the writing style here was incredibly potent, so I definitely intend to keep an eye out for her next release.

The plot overall is cohesive and put together well. Conflict was interesting and compelling, with a lot of underlying tension between the lines. The secondary narrative, which was a romance subplot, felt kind of random and underdeveloped. I really enjoyed the structure and flow of the text: the use of perspective modes shifting between Elizabeth (first person) and Brianna (third person), the incorporation of texts and group chat transcripts, and the dual timeline aspect earlier in the book, all enhance the narrative. These structural elements don’t come across as gimmicky, instead feeling very natural and intentional.

The author’s stylistic voice is incredibly well-developed and remains consistent throughout the text. It’s very clear without being plain and has an almost cinematic feel. Exposition was trickled throughout the narrative at first, which didn’t slow the pace, which is appropriately fast and twisty, down much at all. Word choice felt overall very deliberate, employing a strong sense of character, verve, and style. Descriptive language isn’t absent, but it’s very casual and natural in its incorporation, never running the risk of becoming over- or under-written. Grammar, spelling, and syntax were all consistent and clear.

Thematically, this book centers around the concepts of revenge and codependency, as well as how they affect people’s relationships. I would have liked to see a little more exploration the complicated way the endeavor for vengeance irrevocably ties people together—not just Elizabeth’s dependence on Brianna, but more insight on their dynamic from Brianna’s point of view, too, would have enhanced the book for me. The dynamic between Elizabeth and Brianna is potent and fascinating, and I wish there was more time spent exploring that on page. The most interesting and memorable character here is Brianna; she’s incredibly compelling and has a fascinating interiority. Elizabeth is interesting, but less well-rounded. I wasn’t sure how I was supposed to feel about David; I wasn’t really invested in him or his relationships.

There was one scene that gave me pause towards the beginning, where Elizabeth is interviewing someone to be her assistant and there’s a very sudden aside about ableism; the inclusion of it seemed out of place and the portrayal of disability in that moment felt satirical. It didn’t feel realistic to me that the woman would disclose that way in an interview, knowing how often employers discriminate against disabled applicants. The following scene has Elizabeth conceding that she was wrong in the situation, and then it’s never really touched on again, so I’m not sure what the author actually intended to convey with it, but I was glad it wasn’t a reoccuring element and I was able to enjoy the book regardless.

The book had potential, and the writing was solid. However, I found the characters annoying. The only one I kind of liked was Jay. The ending was abrupt, and the Brianna/David angle seemed forced. It felt like the author was trying to do a bit too much at once, and it came together jumbled and confusing.