9780062855787
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When We Caught Fire audiobook

  • By: Anna Godbersen
  • Narrator: Suzanne Elise Freeman
  • Length: 9 hours 11 minutes
  • Publisher: HarperTeen
  • Publish date: October 02, 2018
  • Language: English
  • (446 ratings)
(446 ratings)
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When We Caught Fire Audiobook Summary

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Luxe series comes a lush, romantic novel about the love triangle that started Chicago’s infamous Great Fire.

It’s 1871, and Emmeline Carter is poised to take Chicago’s high society by storm. Between her father’s sudden rise to wealth and her recent engagement to Chicago’s most eligible bachelor, Emmeline has it all. But she can’t stop thinking about the life she left behind, including her childhood sweetheart, Anders Magnuson.

Fiona Byrne, Emmeline’s childhood best friend, is delighted by her friend’s sudden rise to prominence, especially since it means Fiona is free to pursue Anders herself. But when Emmeline risks everything for one final fling with Anders, Fiona feels completely betrayed.

As the summer turns to fall, the city is at a tipping point: friendships are tested, hearts are broken, and the tiniest spark might set everything ablaze.

Sweeping, soapy, and romantic, this is a story about an epic love triangle–one that will literally set the city ablaze and change the lives of three childhood friends forever.

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When We Caught Fire Audiobook Narrator

Suzanne Elise Freeman is the narrator of When We Caught Fire audiobook that was written by Anna Godbersen

Anna Godbersen is the author of the New York Times bestselling Luxe series. She was born in Berkeley, California, and educated at Barnard College. She currently lives in Brooklyn.

About the Author(s) of When We Caught Fire

Anna Godbersen is the author of When We Caught Fire

When We Caught Fire Full Details

Narrator Suzanne Elise Freeman
Length 9 hours 11 minutes
Author Anna Godbersen
Publisher HarperTeen
Release date October 02, 2018
ISBN 9780062855787

Additional info

The publisher of the When We Caught Fire is HarperTeen. The imprint is HarperTeen. It is supplied by HarperTeen. The ISBN-13 is 9780062855787.

Global Availability

This book is only available in the United States.

Goodreads Reviews

Melissa

November 04, 2018

I have so many feelings for this book. I felt so many emotions while reading it. I just want to read it again!!! Yes, there is a love triangle that is sure to end badly, but the Great Fire brings so many twists and turns in the story that you won’t be able to stop reading it.Thank you so so much to HarperCollins Canada for my copy of this book❤️

Rachel

July 01, 2018

Anna Godbersen has done it again!!! I was fully captivated and feeling all kinds of emotions, and maybe I’m biased because I love her work, but she just kills it when it comes to sophisticated writing, vivid details, and of course, historical research.

Eden

October 22, 2018

I LOVED this book! Victorian Chicago is so deftly rendered, I felt like I was there—I could see the city as I read, even though I’ve never been to modern-day Chicago, and have certainly never been to Chicago in the 1870s. I burned through this novel with romance that sizzled on every page (pardon the puns). The story of two women, one who fate favoured, the other who fate forgot, this novel delivers friendship dynamics right out of Downton Abbey. Fans of historical fiction, romantic fiction, glamour, and betrayal will not want to miss this book!*Thank you to Indigo and Harper Collins Canada for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

maggie

April 01, 2019

This novel was exquisite! I normally find myself reading only contemporary YA and when I reached for historical fiction, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I was blown away by the writing and I’m excited to read other similar stories soon! I recommend this book with all my heart.

Maisy (maisysbookshelf)

November 16, 2019

Chicago, 1871. Three childhood friends. A complicated love triangle. And a love that burns bright enough to set the whole city on fire.🔥Anna Godbersen has long been a favorite author of mine when it comes to young adult historical fiction (her Luxe series is one I’ve reread again and again). Her writing is vivid and sharp, and she expertly weaves her stories into a sense of time and place, and of course throws in just the right amount of drama, gossip, and heartbreak. I really enjoyed this fictional retelling of how the Great Fire was ignited in Chicago, in Godbersen’s classic style that always delivers. All in all, this was a really fun read!! ❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️

Kelesea

December 11, 2018

Title: When We Caught FireAuthor: Anna GodbersenAge Group: Teen/Young AdultGenre: Historical Fiction/RomanceStar Rating: 4 out of 5 StarsI borrowed this book from my local library and reviewed it.Anna Godbersen first won my heart way back in 2005, my freshman year of high school, with her bestselling Luxe series, so when I found out that she was writing a brand new standalone, revolving around a love triangle and the Great Fire of Chicago, I was so excited. She became one of my favorite authors with her first series, and I was so happy that she was finally writing another book. I reserved it at my library, and after another library haul return, I put it at my stack. It took me almost a week to read it, as my life has been insanely busy recently, but I really enjoyed this book: rife with romance, betrayal, disaster, both social and natural, secrets and danger, When We Caught Fire took one of my least favorite tropes: the love triangle, and framed it within one of the most horrifying natural disasters in history. When We Caught Fire was beautifully written, captivating, frightening, and surprisingly informative. One of the reasons that I so love historical fiction is that I can learn about things that happened before my time, in my favorite format: A story! When We Caught Fire is one of my favorite books of 2018. Lush, beautiful, and more than a bit painful, I expected nothing less from Anna Godbersen, and I hope that there’s more to come from her! Emmeline Carter, Anders Magnum, and Fiona Brynes all come from different walks of life. Emmeline longs to be a wealthy, admired socialite, and that dream is all but realized when she becomes affianced to one of Chicago’s richest scions. Fiona is her maid and best friend, and she is hiding secrets of her own; she has been secretly in love with their best friend, Anders, a fierce boxer and their childhood friend. But there’s a dangerous catch: So, too, is Emmeline. As the three former friends try to hide their secrets and reconcile their feelings for one another, another sort of fire is beginning to build, literally. As Chicago is swept up in wild, uncontrollable flames, these three friends must do everything to survive and achieve their dreams, or everyone that they love just might go up in smoke… I really enjoyed this book! The prose was gorgeous, lush, and captivating; I was entranced from the first line. The pacing was breakneck; I was immediately drawn into the dangerous, glittering world of early Chicago. I also loved the characters and the way the point of view moved between them: Emmeline, desperate for social standing and a romance straight out of a novel, Fiona, the lowly lady’s maid who longs for more in life than her class affords her, yet fiercely loyal to Emmeline, even as a young man comes between the two women, and Anders, the girls’ childhood friend, desperate to do right by them both even as their budding loves tear the three of them apart. But even more than I loved the character dynamics, it was so interesting to see an all-too familiar trope, the love triangle, framed within a survival scenario. I haven’t read much about the Great Fire of Chicago before this point, but to see it within the story, beautiful and deadly, was captivating, even as I wanted to turn away. The pacing really picked up as the fire swept through the city; the whole time, I was freaking out, hoping and praying that the characters I’d come to love would make it out. And that ending! It was so beautiful and bittersweet; by the end of the novel, I was in tears. At times, there were so many different names it was difficult to keep up; my only complaint was that I wish there had been a character list at the front of the novel. Nonetheless, Anna Godbersen makes a fantastic, exciting debut, reminding me of just how much I love historical fiction; I cannot wait until her next book! The bottom line: Bittersweet, gorgeously written, and meticulously researched, I loved When We Caught Fire, even though at times, it was hard to keep up with. Next on deck: Broken Things by Lauren Oliver!https://literatureobsessed.blogspot.c...

Teenreadsdotcom

October 18, 2018

Emmeline’s upcoming wedding to the most eligible bachelor is the talk of the town. However, she is not quite ready to give up her childhood love, Anders. On a whim, she has her lady’s maid and best friend, Fiona, track Anders down to set up a secret meeting. This course of action strikes a match that lights the world on fire.Anna Godbersen, author of The Luxe trilogy and the Bright Young Things trilogy, is back with another historical fiction that is sure to blow you away. From page one, Godbersen wows us with her magnificent writing. I admit I have never been a fan of the historical fiction genre but the way Godbersen writes it --- half intrigue and half drama --- makes you want to become a fan of the genre.WHEN WE CAUGHT FIRE focuses on the strength of first love. The theme is terribly romantic yet almost forbidden. Its love triangle is entirely dramatic in true Godbersen fashion which makes you catch your breath at every turn.The story is told in two parts: before and after. Its structure is seamless. Godbersen even gives readers glimpses of the end with the narrators thinking of "later." Yet, no matter how delightful it was to guess how it may end, WHEN WE CAUGHT FIRE is wholly unexpected.The book follows Emmeline, who is about to be married. Only she is suddenly nostalgic and wants to have one last fling with her childhood love (who she hasn’t made contact with in a long time). This fact alone will give readers a clue into who the protagonist is. She is selfish but also borderline unlikable. On the other hand, Fiona, Emmeline's lady’s maid, is the girl to root for. She is kind, hardworking and devoted.When there is a love triangle afoot, readers are always choosing sides. The drama of WHEN WE CAUGHT FIRE will also make you choose sides. Anders is not as developed as the two girls, but he still makes a lasting appearance. He is both mysterious and mischievous. The friendly neighbor turned bad boy encompasses Anders which certainly makes him swoon-worthy.The Great Chicago Fire plays a role in this and it is so interesting to see nature as a conflict since YA rarely makes it one. Godbersen steps the drama up a notch and adds some danger to the mix. It makes for a heart-pounding novel.WHEN WE CAUGHT FIRE is the book we have all been waiting from Anna Godbersen. She takes fact from history and fictionalizes it into a romance that will set your heart aflame.

gem

January 26, 2022

RtcI thoroughly enjoyed this!“Two best friends ignited by feelings for the same boy.A love story that set the city ablaze…”The Great Fire of Chicago 1871 killed 300 people, left 100,000 homeless and burnt 3sq miles of buildings to the ground.At a time where wooden buildings were still the norm, and certainly in the poorer areas they were vastly overpopulated it seems staggering that more people weren’t killed given the scale of the fires.The official cause is still unknown, although there are many theories.After We Caught Fire tells of the days and weeks leading up to this fateful event whilst a young girl prepares for her wedding day.Emmiline Carter is betrothed to Fredrick Tree, a well to do gent who will secure her place in high society (her father has “new money” so this will ensure her peers respect/at jealous of her as she’s made a good match) and Frannie, her life long friend, is brought along to act as her ladies maid. In reality they’re still very much best friends, Frannie has to do chores but she’s paid well and actually she has more financial freedom than Emmy who is beholden to her father, then presumably the husband.Emmeline’s wedding is fast approaching and yet she seeks one final visit to Anders, the boy she first dreamed about marrying who still lives in their old, rough neighbourhood. Frannie engineers this meeting and thus begins a chain of events that will change all of their lives forever…I really enjoyed this, it’s got love, lust, betrayal, secrets, danger and drama all in the character’s plots, let alone the fact Chicago is literally burning to the ground around them!I liked both Emmeline and Frannie and I was far more invested in their friendship than whether either of them ended up with Anders.I didn’t particular like him or know why either of these young women were so besotted, he seemed … ok… but maybe it was just a case of he was the only guy they’d been friends with really and therefore didn’t know any better? I don’t know, I think most people make terrible decisions at that age haha.Ultimately I think this was a story about friendship & what it can and can’t withstand.

Annette

October 01, 2018

Historical fiction is my favorite genre, and The Luxe Series is one of my favorite book series. So when I saw that Godbersen had a new book coming out, When We Caught Fire, I was very excited. I was not disappointed!The reader knows that this is a book about The Great Fire that occurred in Chicago in 1871. But the story starts out about a girl, Emmeline Carter, who is a society girl soon to be married to Frederick Tree. Emmeline's father has worked very hard, in a sort of rags-to-riches story that has gotten the Carter family accepted into society. And now he is to see his daughter "marry up."Emmeline's personal maid, Fiona, is a friend from her past. The days when they lived in squalor. Emmeline treats Fiona more like a friend, but Fiona knows that without the Carters, her family would be much worse off. She still visits her family often and gives them money each visit. But she hasn't seen the third member of their group, Anders, and she doesn't want to. They were getting along fine, but then there was a kiss, and Anders didn't want anything to do with Fiona anymore.Fiona wonders if he knows about Emmaline's upcoming nuptials. Anders and Emmaline were promised to each other at a young age. When Emmeline demands that Fiona find Anders for her just a few days before the wedding, Fiona senses trouble coming.And boy does it come! Emmeline decides she's going to bail on the wedding and run away with Enders. And Fiona has to help her with this plan. I don't want to go any further. There is excitement, entertainment, danger, romance, and some eye-rolling moments. I was thoroughly entertained the entire time.Several well known Chicago figures make an appearance, but this only adds to the authenticity. In Godbersen's accounting, it wasn't Mrs. O'Leary's cow that tipped over the lantern (this story has pretty much been debunked anyway), but of course, our characters are instrumental in starting the blaze. I enjoyed learning about that historical period in Chicago and a bit about how the city changed after the fire.Teens who enjoy historical romance will certainly enjoy When We Caught Fire, and so will adults.

Paperback Princess

August 04, 2021

I always enjoy reading Godbersen's books as it's always historical fiction. This book though is probably my favourite from Godbersen.When we caught fire is a historical standalone romance novel set in the 1870s. A love triangle and a fire based on true historical events make up the story.What I love about this novel is that it wasn't your usual love triangle. The love triangle is between 3 best friends, this is unique, most love triangles in novels isn't based on 3 best friends.The relationships in this novel is complex and well written, it wasn't a clear cut of who you cheered for. I also enjoyed the strong women, despite the era, we still had strong independent women.It was lovely to see Fiona see through her dreams, and I enjoyed how Godbersen also wrapped up with a wonderful ending for Georgie.I also enjoyed the intro to each chapter included quotes from newspaper articles, journal entries from characters, etiquette books etc. I thoroughly enjoyed guessing what was going to happen in that chapter just by the chapter quote intros.I love the 1800 era. I love being transported to that time, seeing how things are done differently. I loved how Anna included all types of people, the rich, the upcoming, maids, poor people, she truly captured so many different types of people, it was so interesting to see all the different ways people lived in that era.Another amazing historical fiction by Anna Godbersen and the fire was based on real fires that took place at Chicago. My only dislike was the questionable ending about Anders, was that from him, the postcard at the end? Why would he leave? Apart from that, this was an enjoyable read and fell in love with the characters, setting and everything in between.

Melissa

February 27, 2019

Well, now we know how the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 was started! 😉 This book was a bit slow starting, but it soon picked up the pace and was a very enjoyable read for me. The last 1/3 or so of the book covered the actual events of the fire, and it was at this point that I found it impossible to put down. I had to know what would happen next, so I stayed up until 2:30 am to finish it! I enjoyed reading about the life and times of the social elite, and at times this story reminded me a bit of one of my favorite series, Downton Abbey. I thought the story played out nicely, and the love triangle was well done. I fell in love with a couple of the characters. There weren’t really any twists and everything played out just as I thought it would (not that it made the book any less enjoyable, in my opinion). I do have to mention, though, that postcard from New York at the end—can anyone explain that to me? I was lost. Or maybe not. I have my theory, and just wonder if anyone can confirm it. Overall, I would recommend When We Caught Fire to anyone who loves historical fiction.Thank you to Harper Collins for this review copy.

Shelby

March 19, 2020

When I read a book, I typically find myself rooting for a particular character, or relationship, or ending, etc whether it ends in an expected way or with a plot twist. One of the things I enjoyed most about this book is that no matter how many times there was a twist in the story, I found myself growing into the changes with the characters and didn’t find myself growing more attached to any one character. I think the growth, change, beauty and tragedy affected all the characters equally and I was equally invested in all the stories. Not the ending I would have written initially, but left feeling satisfied all the same. Equal parts satisfying ending and plot twist value!

Amy

April 07, 2020

Emmeline and Fiona are best friends and spent their childhoods in a poorer section of Chicago. Then Emmeline's father makes a fortune and moves them into society. Emmeline wants Fiona to go with her, so her father hires her to be Emmeline's maid. Their new lives seem pretty perfect--lavish homes, parties, clothes, jewelry. Emmeline even has a new wealthy fiancee. There is just one problem--she is till in love with Anders, her childhood sweetheart, and she doesn't know that so is Fiona. Is Emmeline or Fiona willing to give up their new affluent lives to take a chance on love? Would you?

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