When Elizabeth’s friend is found dead, she is desperate to get answers. She enlists the help of her new assistant, Brianna, but Brianna is busy searching for answers to a different crime.

I loved the concept and the set up here. The first few chapters were great and then it just kind of plateaued. I didn’t necessarily dislike it, but I think there were some pretty big problems that needed addressed.

The dialogue felt incredibly forced. The story jumped all over the place and I never really felt like I had my bearings. The characters were very unlikable and needed a lot more development.

I think my biggest issue though was Brianna. She’s supposed to be doing all of these incredibly vengeful things, but her inner dialogue doesn’t seem like she has any interest in revenge at all. It just really didn’t match the storyline.

I think there was a lot of promise, but it just didn’t get there for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Putnam for the ARC!

While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi suffers the problem of wanting to be and to say too much. It's a revenge story. It's a race story. It's an equality story.

The summary is as follows: 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—she slides so neatly into Elizabeth’s life it's almost like she belonged there from the start, and proves herself indispensable. 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."

So the setup is interesting. Two women work together to find out the truth, however one (Brianna) wants the truth of a different mystery/death. Both women, Elizabeth and Brianna were....deranged. Elizabeth in her obsession with the murder, of her husband, tries to keep all her secrets secret. However, she willingly turned over passwords and information to her new assistant.
Brianna, the assistant, is a smart...conniving woman who is powered by her grief.

Where it fails is in getting me to care about either person and either mystery. While Brianna's story is most up-to-date with today's society - it felt like a pithy plotline to make this story a hot-button issue. There's other ways to tell that story.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book has two dynamic women who both have secrets they want to hide. Poor Elizabeth may not have loved her best friend, but she knows that she didn’t kill herself. Now if only everyone else would believe her. Brianna has a past that she knows somehow is tied to the neighborhood that Elizabeth lives in so when Elizabeth is looking for an assistant, Brianna jumps at the chance to get an inside view. Two lives entangled due to one moment. A moment that changed both of their lives forever.
Overall, this book has some highs and lows. For a thriller it is a slow burn, and at the end I am not quite sure that burn is fully worth the wait. I do feel like the end is probably more realistic than most thrillers, yet still you kind of leave wishing for more. I guess I am not sure if this will be the first book I recommend when I think of this genre.
Thank you so much to Penguin Group Putnam, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, and Netgalley for allowing me to read an advance copy of this title.

woooooweee this one was intense. It is very well described as Parasite meets Such a Fun Age and was a truly wild messy ride throughout. I flew through it in two days and think everyone will be reading this by the pool.

Like a lot of domestic thrillers (for me, anyway), this one was entertaining while I was reading it but best if you don't look too closely. The premise is solid and I like the theme of race and privilege Koffi is trying to interrogate. But the story is melodramatic and riddled with plot holes, the characters are wooden, and the dialogue is stiff.

Still, I wanted to know what was going to happen. I think this would be a solid vacation read.

Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.

Thank you NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Putnam, G.P. Putnam's Sons for the copy of While We Were Burning by Sara Koffi. I love great debuts. I loved how the story unfolded slowly, allowing me to learn more about the characters. Elizabeth was a strange and unlikable character, and I never got a handle on her, but she got more and more annoying. Brianna was interesting and complex, and I was rooting for her finding the answers she needed. And those answers! While partly predictable, one thing was WOW! This book was multifaceted and intriguing, and I look forward to more books by Koffi.

While We Were Burning is a dark, emotional thriller that explores racism and classism in the midst of a suspenseful tale of revenge.

Elizabeth's life is turning into an obsession over finding out who murdered her friend, and her husband suggests she hire an assistant to help her keep everything on track. Brianna, her assistant, has accepted the job with her own mission to figure out who in Elizabeth's neighborhood called the cops on her Black son, which ended in his death a year before. The two women's stories intersect in multiple dark ways and end in an fiery mess.

I loved how Koffi worked large, difficult themes into the plot of this well paced domestic suspense. While trying to figure out who instigated the events that brought Brianna's son to his death, Koffi challenges the reader to consider what true justice looks like, and who gets to call themselves a victim. And of course, I love any thriller with a satisfying revenge arc, and you get that with While We Were Burning too!

This is how it's billed: "After her best friend's [Patricia'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 ]at her husband's urging] to keep her on track... Brianna is exactly who she needs... [and shortly] proves herself indispensable.... Brianna has questions, too. She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighborhood called the cops on him that day.... As the two women hurtle towards an electrifying final showdown, and the lines between employer and friend blur, it becomes clear that neither of them is what they first appear." [OY--AND THERE WERE MANY OY MOMENTS!!]

Well, yes, but...it's so much more and so MUCH LESS [IMHO}!! Transparent-- should have been more suspenseful but wasn't.

Revenge, cheating, lies, toxicity, pettiness.

A soap opera. Melodramatic. And often, just seemed silly.

Who is likeable? No one.

I wonder was it necessary to write that the front doorbell was ringing--are there many side and back doorbells--maybe, but why not just doorbell? Petty, but just another thing that annoyed me.

I went back to the beginning to verify what I thought {no spoiler from me], Elizabeth and Patricia were NOT best friends--a premise the book sets out--and sort of retracts. And a big disconnect for me was some of David's voice--I do not believe men talk/think like he was presented--at least for the most part. Add in other characters--primarily Jack, Patricia's husband, and Janice, Elizabeth's boss and there are two more unlikeable people. And Nathan--he adds some sideplot, but not that much.

Many of the scenes between Lizzie [David's affectionate term for her] and her husband, David--tiresome, repetitve banter. And her mother--OMG! The David and Brianna moments--UGH. And did Elizabeth really consider Brianna her friend [epilogue]--I guess--more than just an employee, but...

Sorry to be so negative but this JUST DID NOT DO IT FOR ME.

A debut novel; I think she [and her editor/s] have a way to go. Sorry to pan it, but... 1.5, but will give it a 2 as I did finish it and it was a quick read--I could have walked away AT ANY TIME as it became clear early on, this was not my jam.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

A novel that reminds you to be circumspect about those to whom you chose to show your "soft underbelly" of vulnerability to - friends are not always who they appear to be.

Involved, interesting twist, well-written mystery that will easily capture your interest and your imagination.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author for this eArc!
I would give this book a 4 out of 5 stars.
The ending was predictable however the storyline and current racial matters were extremely riveting. It gives insight into racism in ways that others may not experience. This book showcases many perspectives and many characters to give insight on privilege, access to Healthcare, police crimes and other hot button topics. Those topics within the book were a reason I found myself finishing this book in record time!
The story was easy to follow and all the characters' stories ended in a way that left the book finished! I would absolutely read this book again and would highly recommend it to others!

why is this kinda boring?

for a mystery/thriller, it shouldn't be this way. the pacing was slow and unfulfilling. details revealed did not have a satisfying payoff and the characters were not very strong. true that we do not exactly need strong characters for a book such as this, but when the plot is weak and the pacing is slow, what else is there to focus on? the themes were not showcased well so i was disappointed by that too.

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.