Book Info:
Year on Fire by Julie Buxbaum
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Publishing Date: April 12, 2022
Synopsis:
What secrets will people keep—or reveal—to protect those they love? This novel, set against the frightening backdrop of an encroaching fire season, sparks reflection about friendship, the allure of romantic love, and loyalty to family. Can a single kiss change everything?
It was a year on fire. They fell in love. Someone was bound to get burned.
The Spark: Just days before the start of junior year for twins Arch and Immie and their best friend, Paige, a spontaneous kiss shakes the very foundation of their friendship. But some ties run too deep to be broken by accidental betrayal.
The Fuel: Enter Rohan, new to Wood Valley High by way of London, who walks into school on the first day completely overwhelmed by his sudden move halfway around the world. When Paige calls dibs on him—he’s too cute to ignore—Immie is in no position to argue, certainly not after taking the fall for the disloyal kiss. Too bad for Immie that Ro feels like the best kind of familiar.
The Kindling: Former lab partners Arch and Jackson, Paige’s ex-boyfriend, have never considered themselves more than friends. But sometimes feelings can grow like wildfire.
The Flames: When the girls’ bathroom at Wood Valley is set ablaze, no one doubts it’s arson. But in this bastion of privilege, who’d be angry enough to want to burn down the school? Answer: pretty much everyone.
Year on Fire explores the blinding power of the lies we tell others and those we tell ourselves, the tight grip of family secrets, the magic of first love, and the grounding beauty of friendship.
Book Links:
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/year-on-fire-julie-buxbaum/1139840706?ean=9781984893666
Book Depository: https://www.bookdepository.com/Year-on-Fire-Julie-Buxbaum/9781984893666?ref=grid-view&qid=1644951297865&sr=1-1
IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781984893666
About the Author:
Julie Buxbaum is the New York Times best selling author of Tell Me Three Things, her young adult debut, What to Say Next and most recently, Hope and Other Punchlines. She’s also the author of two critically acclaimed novels for adults: The Opposite of Love and After You. Her work has been translated into twenty-five languages. Julie’s writing has appeared in various publications, including The New York Times. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Harvard Law School and lives in Los Angeles with her husband, two children, and more books than is reasonable.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.juliebuxbaum.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/juliebux/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juliebuxbaum/
Tour Schedule:
When I first saw the email for the Blog tour of Year on Fire I was so intrigued and I had high hopes for it which I am afraid were lowered as I started reading it.
We have 4 POVs of Immie and Arch who are twins, Ro newly arrived from the UK and Paige who was the ultra rich girl . But we also had Jackson and I wished that Jackson was used more in the story.
The premise of the story was about secrets that would literally set things alight but for me it was is this it? . If Julie had cut back the POVs and used the scenario of "the secret" and ran with it I think it would of been a better outcome for the reader.
it was clear to me that Paige was not right and I think again this was only highlighted until we learnt something about her which probably should of been covered throughout the book instead of towards the ending.
For all these reasons I have given Year of Fire 3 stars