This was a book that taught me again not to give up too early, it was a brilliant read.

To start with I wasn’t sure whether I would enjoy this. There was lots of fast moving, witty, cool chat but I felt I couldn’t quite connect with it. Like being not part of a group, and I got a bit bored with the conversation. I know this was mostly about setting the scene and give a feeling for the friendship group this book is about. This might also be a me-problem cause I don’t really know anything about London living and all that comes with it (it’s a thing, right?).

Told in dual POV, it’s about a group of female friends turning 30 and their various journeys. It dives into themes of infertility (this is explored in a lot of depth), IVF, loneliness, mental health, sexuality, friendship and love. I could definitely connect with a lot of these and they were very well written about.

I ended up really enjoying this book and really felt for the characters. I connected with their stories, their messiness and ups and downs. Their opposing point of views made for very interesting insights. I almost feel a bit sad to say goodbye to them now.

I would definitely recommend That Time Everything Was On Fire!

This book made me realise that my most read genre is definitely “group of female friends who all lead different lives with some who can have children and some going through fertility issues and either quitting jobs or getting new jobs while also multiple break ups are going on” 😂😂 I’ve read so many books that I’ve loved that have been around that type of genre!

Maybe it’s just my age but I really liked this book and basically loved it. I feel it really represents that time in life where everyone is doing different things at different times and everyone has their own wee lives going on! It felt so realistic and felt like there was so much going on but also easy to follow. I loved the friendships and relationships and was rooting for everyone. I also really liked the dual pov and really highlighted the girls having separate lives.

I’d recommend this book especially if you’re late twenties/early thirties and a bit confused about life!

Whenever I feel a bit of a slump looming I always reach for a coming of age story and this one is such a great representation of life as a millenial. The story follows four best friends navigating milestones in adult life; marriage, children , careers etc along with their friendship. Whilst the story may be nothing overly original what it is is real! The characters feel like your friendship group and the problems they are experiencing are those that you yourself or your friends may have had to confront . There's depth to the characters and it times it's emotional but there is also humour thrown in , it's a proper book about life!
Another great debut and an author I am excited to read more of in the future .

This book follows Daisy and Sam who have been best friends since they were teenagers but as they’ve grown older their lives are starting to drift apart.

I love a book about female friendship and the platonic love story between women but this didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I thought the book could’ve been shorter as it was a bit of a slog to get through. I did like Sam and Daisy as characters though and I do think this had the potential to be a great book.

I gulped this book down over a weekend, super readable and tackling a subject I wish there was more representation of in literature ie life for women in their 30s (and 40s), specifically navigating decisions about relationships and motherhood and exploring how this threads through friendships and social interactions. Also known as, per the title “That Time Everything Was On Fire”.
The main characters are best friends Daisy and Sam – both of whose journeys and perspectives we explore. Sam is newly married and keen to start a family whilst Daisy is single and trying to find her purpose whilst dodging f**k boys. We stay with these characters and their wider social group across four summers and winters. During this time absolutely everything changes for some characters and not enough changes for others.
The topics of infertility, post-partum depression and choosing to be childfree are written about with heart and empathy and I really appreciated reading about a character who like me is childfree by choice. It’s all too common an assumption that every woman must want to have children and it was really refreshing to have a main character with a different point of view.
This book also navigated really sensitively the feelings of loneliness at this stage in life when friendship groups find they are not on the same page anymore about these huge life milestones.
Really recommended for anyone thinking about these decisions for themselves or who has lived through the challenges mentioned above.

A moving and realistic look at friendship in the characters 40’s
Quite emotive and sensitive and believable I liked both characters and was invested in their stories
A good read

3 stars, but a good 3 stars! I didn't want to put the book down at any point (although it felt longer than it actually was, perhaps a little more editing wouldn't have gone amiss!), and I thought it was well-written. I feel like star ratings are subjective: for me, a 3 star read is a good read, it's just not fantastic. I probably won't want to reread the book, but I'm in no way suggesting that it was not worth reading.

This is Kerry Downes' debut, and it covers the first few years of four best friends in their thirties, a decade one of their mothers described as 'when everything was on fire'. Certainly, they have a lot to contend with! The story is covered from two perspectives, Sam and Daisy, and we see a lot more of their experiences as a result. I did wonder why we see less from the other characters; why did Downes choose these two middle class cis white women to tell the story from?

Honestly, it was a good book; I just think there was nothing hugely new to take from this. I empathised with the characters; there was a lot explored about infertility and the choice of whether or not to have children, and what this means (or whether it has to mean anything). The pacing is fairly good (although it felt a tad long, as I have said), and the writing was self-assured and fluid. The characters were a little generic, but I still found them relatable. (What does that say about me? :P)

The framing helped the story move along - it is told over the course of four summers and winters, missing out the intervening months. I think this was my favourite part, leaving these missing months to inference and not spoon-feeding the reader every detail of these women's lives. We didn't need to know everything, and Downes as a storyteller understood that.

Definitely accomplished writing, and (has been said) will probably appeal to fans of Holly Bourne's most recent work. I hope to see something a little more adventurous from Kerry Downes in the future - she has the writing talent!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC.

I really wanted to love this book more than I did. It's a light, character driven book about heavy topics - exactly my style. But somehow it just missed.

The feeling of disconnect between yourself and your friends was clear, but there felt like so much else going on that was never fully explored. It felt at point as though the story wasn't always clear what it was "about", who the reader was supposed to be rooting for, and how it all related together.

i love getting these stories across my TBR pile. some people ive heard saying weve heard themes of this before. but that is and it isnt true. because like in life we all might be living the same time amongst themes of our society. but none of of us has the exact same details of that time or place as the person standing beside us.
and this is where we have this book. its beautifully told from two friends pov. we really get to know the girls to woman aswell as seeing how their own circumstances shape what they think, see and do. i truly felt like i was hearing how they were feeling amongst the pages. humans are such a diverse set of characters. no two brains or minds the same. and when done well this is one of my favorite type of storytelling. you cant go wrong with them for me. and this book certainly does it sooooo well.
i was absorbed in these twos lives from the start. so different were these friends but hearts that found eachother amongst it all. they say love can cause heartbreak. but i think we often miss the love in friendships can cause the biggest heartaches of them all.
in this book we are given Sam and Daisy. they are two best friends from university. times have moved on and they are both trying to find where they are at in their 30s. both want different things in life. but that doesnt stop them being the best of friends. Sam wants to start a family but this isnt going the way shed hoped and its hard, really hard for her. and Daisy feels adrift and doesnt quite know what to do or who she is and why she cant find just one good man...is it her?
we are told their story over a few years spanning the seasons. the pacing is perfect and it never felt i was jumping or missing things as the times went on. we truly get to know these pair and i felt raw and in deep alongside them. it was a pleasure getting to know them both and i really did care what happened to them.
they are extremely relatable to many of us today. neither are perfect just like us and neither will always make the best decisions either for themselves or each other. this was just like a love story in the sense of i felt raw when it all went upside down for them and was desperate for them both to be ok as friends. things arent easy between them but you can see such strength and hope for what true friendship is.
that age in life isnt easy. its still full especially for woman of the "shoulds" in life. where woman should be, should feel, should want. and these two show that off perfectly. the themes in this book were handled really well and i never felt overwhelmed by them but equally didnt feel like they were glossed over. it was honest and painful but in a tender and kind way. i really appreciate this.
female friendship is the best. and should be. and this book shows how different two people can be whilst being there with understand of one another and being there for that person just the way they are. when you find that it can feel like the greatest love of all.

That Time When Everything Was On Fire by Kerry Downes is a powerful contemporary debut novel that gripped me from the start.
This is a book about women, friendship and life. It is a roller coaster read as we celebrate the highs and lows of life. Life is a journey, and it is a journey that is better together, but there are some roads that we traverse alone.
The reader joins four female friends who are roughly thirty years old. The book is told through the eyes of lifelong friends Sam and Daisy. It is split into ‘Summer’ and ‘Winter’ over several years.
We see the extremely difficult road of infertility as we follow a character through several rounds of IVF. “Infertility is like a shadow of grief, shimmering in the background of every aspect of your life… And who can understand such an experience other than those forced to enter its dark vicinity.” Kerry Downes really speaks straight from the heart and of personal experience.
We witness the loneliness of the character who is excluded from events/conversations as her friends for fear hurting her. “Don’t decide for me what I’m capable of.” She is far stronger and more resilient than her friends think. “I don’t feel like a warrior. I don’t feel brave; I feel tired.” IVF takes its’ toll physically and mentally. “The endless roller coaster of hope, grief and uncertainty.” There are some absolutely heart-breaking scenes as well as those of love and support.
In contrast, there is an unplanned pregnancy and decisions to be made. This too, is a lonely journey as it cannot be shared with the one person, they really want to share it with.
And there is the happy news of a planned pregnancy. We witness the love and chaos of the early days with a new baby.
Relationships come in many guises but ultimately “kindness is everything.”
This is a powerful book that is sensitively written and that will tear your heart in two. A character declares, “You have to find the beauty in the world, remind yourself of the good parts.”
This is a very beautiful book about friendships that loves and supports through all the seasons of life.
I look forward to reading more from Kerry Downes.
I received a free copy via the publishers. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book which is the story of a group of female friends who have known each other since university and during their young friends single times in their 20s. They have got to the point in their life where some of them have children someone are married and some are desperate to get pregnant and using Fertility treatment.
There’s a very strong feeling in this book about the fact that sometimes in your life you’re in a different period or life stage to your closest friends what happens then and it’s almost inevitable is that you lose your support structure. What happens when you’re close friends who you shared all your experiences with suddenly start to have different experiences to you.

The title refers to a comment that one of the young women’s mother told her about how she felt when she was in her 30s. That time when everything was on fire This story describes that time in these young women’s lives and without giving away spoilers their experiences are eerily similar.
This book was perhaps slightly more along the “chick lit” light reading genre of book that I normally read but having said that I did find it and enjoyable read and read in one sitting without putting the book down
The author has a clear flowing reading style. The book was an easy comfortable read.

I’d recommend this novel for lovers of character novels with strongly based female solidarity.
I read an early copy of the novel on NetGalley UK in return for an unbiased view. The book is published in the UK on the twenty second of May 2025 by H Q.
This reviewed that UK, Goodreads, StoryGraph, and my book blog bionicSarahSbooks.wordpress.com. It was also appear on Amazon UK and Waterstones after publication.

A debut novel involving female friendship for a group of thirty somethings. The story is covered from the perspectives of two of the group, Sam and Daisy, who are at different points in life. The book covered ideas of parenthood including an in depth plot around infertility which I felt was handled really well.
It’s true that this book isn’t exactly ground breaking in its themes, but what it did well was portray the realistic trials and tribulations we all face at one point or another. It’s written with humour and care and I loved it loads. I would love to read more from this author.

‘That Time Everything Was On Fire’ is a generic account of infertility and the struggles of white middle-class women in their early 30s. As such, it will suit readers who have never engaged with such stories before or who have but are looking for the familiar comfort of well-trodden ground. Anyone looking for unpredictable plot or fresh perspective will be disappointed. It’s one of those books where there is more intrigue in the synopsis than there is in the book itself.

Overall, I found there was nothing to really love or hate about the book. It’s okay. The writing is fluid, and the pacing is good. However, the characters are indistinct (I had a hard time remembering who was who, how they are connected, and their individual biographies), and their actions often feel OTT and cartoonish. I wanted something more—a new take on infertility and the shift in friendship dynamics as women age, or fresh plot points. Anything to differentiate it from all the other stories out there on the same topic and make it memorable.

It promised fire, and gave electric blanket.

Thank you to NetGalley, Kerry Downes and HQ for the ARC. My review will be posted on Instagram, Amazon UK, GoodReads and The StoryGraph nearer to the publishing date.

This was a really great read, taking place over 4 years of friendship. It’s a great exploration of friendship in your 30s. I enjoyed that it showed different life paths as equally valid, whether the characters wanted the marriage and kids route or not, and I thought the friendships were written really authentically. It was a really easy read and I’d recommend it!

"You said your mum described her thirties as that time when everything is on fire..."

And isn’t that relatable?
Millennials Sam and Daisy, two best friends, navigate their 30s in London, trying to find their purpose and path in life. Though they are inseparable, they have very different views on what their future should look like. Sam, newly married, is planning to start a family, but this comes with unexpected struggles. Daisy, on the other hand, feels lost—trapped in a job she hates, caught in toxic relationships with men, and unsure of her true purpose.
Their story is told over four summers and four winters, and it's really well-paced, which allows us to truly experience the ups and downs of their journey.

One of the aspects I loved most was that the story is told from both perspectives, letting us understand each character’s emotions and personalities.

Sam and Daisy are incredibly relatable, each with their own quirks and flaws. As someone in her late 30s, I found their experiences familiar—the societal expectations that come with this decade of life: marriage, children, buying a home, and securing a stable, well-paying job. Over the course of four years, their friendship is tested by betrayals, disagreements, and emotional distance, but ultimately, it is also filled with love, hope, and understanding.

The author does a fantastic job of tackling important topics, particularly the struggles of infertility and a subtle yet important mention of postpartum depression. Sam’s pain, guilt, and emotional turmoil are written with such authenticity that it mirrors the real-life experiences of many women facing infertility. The novel also highlights how society often assumes that marriage must immediately lead to parenthood, with people thoughtlessly asking intrusive questions without considering what a couple might be going through. This is something we should all be more mindful of.

Another aspect I truly enjoyed was how Kerry explores the alternative choice—choosing not to become a mother. Daisy struggles with this idea, but we also see her inner conflict about how society might perceive her decision. As a mother myself, I completely understand and respect those who decide not to have children. I firmly believe that no woman should feel pressured to compromise on this decision. Motherhood is hard—it changes you, sometimes making you feel like you’ve lost yourself. It can alter relationships and take a long time before you feel like yourself again. Of course, not everyone has the same experience, but I loved how this book touches on these realities in such an honest way.

Above all, this novel beautifully illustrates the importance of female friendship—how, even when we choose different paths, we can still support each other without judgment, without dismissing one another’s values, emotions, or experiences.

This is a beautifully written story about life in your 30s, adulthood, love, friendship, and the pressures society places on us. A very relatable read.

That Time Everything Was On Fire by Kerry Downes is a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the changes that come with adulthood. Sam and Daisy have been inseparable since university, sharing memories of wild nights out and youthful adventures. Daisy, the free-spirited girl from the Yorkshire Moors, and Sam, who spent her youth in Liverpool, have always leaned on each other for support. But as they sit together in the garden of their favourite local pub, watching Sam’s wedding unfold, neither of them knows that their lives are about to take very different paths.

As Sam’s yearning for motherhood grows, and Daisy struggles with her self-destructive tendencies, the two women find themselves drifting apart. Each decision, each unintentional betrayal, creates a wider gap between them. The novel revolves around the challenges of navigating personal desires, relationships, and careers while maintaining friendship, especially as the characters enter their early thirties. Can Sam and Daisy rebuild the bond they once shared, or will the distance between them be irreparable?

The book unfolds across four summers and four winters, offering a structured and thoughtful look at the passage of time. Downes’ debut novel is well-paced, with moments of emotional depth and sharp insight into the complexities of friendships during pivotal life stages. Although the themes explored may not feel entirely new, the writing is strong and the characters relatable, making it a compelling read for fans of emotional, character-driven stories like those by Holly Bourne.

That Time Everything Was On Fire is a warm, engaging look at how friendships evolve, the pressures of adulthood, and the struggles of trying to stay connected when life seems to pull you in different directions.

Read more at The Secret Book Review.

this was good, but also felt like it was too long? and why were daisy and james/jono/blake so intense with eachother so fast? and why were they all SO posh but acting like they weren't? and why was sam so obsessed with daisy and james being together? and I will forever seethe when characters just argue instead of just saying what they mean.
I think maybe I'm just the wrong reader for this book, which is surprising as a woman in her thirties, so I don't want to shit on it, but I also just can't sing it's praises.
thank you to Netgalley for the ARC :)

A really good, realistic and sensitive portrayal of female friendships in your thirties. I really identified with aspects of all the characters in this book and found it a joy to read.

I think it's not easy to portray the struggles and pain of infertility in a literary form, but "That Time Everything Was On Fire" comes quite close to it. Even though this is only one of the issues explored in this book, it may be quite important one for some readers, especially that it's showcased not only in the marital/romantic relationship context, but also a broader social one.

The main subject of this book, however, is friendship between Sam and Daisy. Written from the points of view of each woman, it creates a complex landscape on navigating a type of relationship that there are very few recipes for, especially when it comes to resolving conflicts and managing fallouts in the context of major life events or difficulties.

What is really admirable, is how this book is structured. From the subtle foreshadowing in the wedding chapter, to how the story is organised. No unnecessary longueurs such as describing the character's looks or daily routines in the detail, but pure essence that serves to move the story forward. It's at times challenging, at times heartbreaking but overall an uplifting read that may give hope to those who became distant from their friends and hope for reconciliation.

A lovely story, written over the course of a number of years and following the developing and changing landscape of the friendship between Sam and Daisy.
The characters are excellent and have such clear voices and the storyline touches on a number of issues facing women in their late 20's through to their early 40's and maybe beyond so resonates via shared experience.