That Time Everything Was On Fire is celebrated for capturing the beauty, warmth, and solidarity of female friendship at its core.

An excellent debut novel from Kerry Downes, the book offers a perceptive take on modern womanhood and is noted for being incredibly addictive, relatable, and realistic.

Sam and Daisy have been best friends since university. Back then, Daisy was a wild, Fleetwood Mac-obsessed girl descended from the Yorkshire Moors, while Sam’s youth was characterised by traipsing around Liverpool on shopping trips and nights out.

As they lean against each other on a wooden bench in the tired garden of their beloved local pub, gazing out at Sam’s wedding, they have no idea that their paths are about to truly diverge for the first time.

Sam’s desire to become a mother consumes her, and Daisy’s inability to resist temptation haunts her. These best friends begin to lose sight of themselves—and each other. With each misstep and unintentional betrayal, the gulf widens. Can they build a bridge, or will they let it burn?

'An assured and clever debut' Kate Kemp, author of The Grapevine

'Warm, witty and deeply romantic' Lauren Bravo, author of Probably Nothing

‘Heart-warming, funny and so relatable’ Laura Dockrill, author of I Love You, I Love You, I Love You

‘Spending time with the characters—in their hope, uncertainty, and banter—was like being amongst friends’ Gabrielle Griffiths, author of Greater Sins

‘A heartfelt kaleidoscope of female friendship’ Roxy Dunn, author of As Young as This

‘A must-read full of heart’ Stephanie Steel, author of The Train from Platform 2

‘A touching, true-to-life story of friendship, the tensions and pressures of your thirties, and proper Northern representation’ Sarah Handyside, author of Instructions for Heartbreak

‘Sharp and observant, warm and touching’ Bonnie Burke-Patel, author of Dead as Gold

‘Warm, witty and charming, reading That Time Everything Was on Fire feels like gossiping with your best mates in a pub garden and finally feeling the sun on your skin after a long winter’ Marni Appleton, author of I Hope You’re Happy

‘A beautiful ode to the female friendships that carry us through our lives, with all their many complications’ Silvia Saunders, author of Homesick

‘A heartfelt and timely debut’ Elspeth Wilson, author of These Mortal Bodies