My second book by this author. We meet Beth and Nick who are two students sharing University accommodation. They have only just met, but it's obvious there is a connection between them. However, when a tragedy occurs in the building where they are staying, they find themselves drifting apart. We then follow both of their lives after University, but see that the trauma and guilt of what happened is still firmly embedded and affects them both for many years.

This was such a well-written story. I liked both Beth and Nick's characters, but it was obvious that they both have so many flaws and issues that need working on, especially after the fire at their old University building. Beth does initially seemed to have moved on more than Nick has, although as we go through the years we see that there are still things she struggles with. I liked Nick's character and could empathise with him more. He does have more issues than Beth and you can understand why he behaves like he does sometimes. It's clear that so many things should have happened in the years after the fire - they should have got together and they should have sought counselling to work through their own individual issues. But they didn't and we get to see what the affects of this are. It's a very emotional book, and at times I could feel the tears welling up - I particularly felt for Nick in his marriage.

The pace was a little slow at times though, especially in the earlier years. But as the storyline moves on, the pace picks up and whilst it isn't necessarily a happy read, it does have some happy moments which gives warmth to their stories. There are some trigger points, namely grief, mental health issues and domestic violence, but these are written sensitively. It was a lovely read, with lots of hope and second chances throughout the story and I would definitely recommend.

After the Fire follows the threads of Beth and Nick’s relationship after their very brief romance is shattered by tragedy while at university.

I really enjoyed the time jumps in this story, and the way the author captured the impact of the trauma and grief, for Beth and Nick, personally, and in their relationships with others. The story was well paced, and gently explored the various ways unprocessed grief can express itself in daily life. I was particularly intrigued by Nick’s relationship with his mother and the thoughtful conclusion to their story.

The story grapples with some heavier themes including grief and loss, domestic violence, mental health and substance use. The writing was rich with sensitivity, empathy and insight, making this a moving and engaging read.

A great book to pick up if you enjoyed David Nichols One Day, or Love Rosie.

Thank you Aria & Aries and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

3.5🌟
If your looking for something to fill a hole after One Day then this may be just the ticket.
After The Fire explores alot of themes that are all handled carefully and sensitively. Nick and Beth's story is a slow burn that suffers many twist and turns. I was hooked with the will they won't they scenario. Both go through some really hard moments and it was tough reading and experiencing the heartache that came with their individual stories. I enjoyed watching the story unfold and never really knew how it was going to pan out. I was happy with the conclusion to the story and once I got into it I found it a real page turner that I couldn't put down. My only real niggle was I had a hard time getting into the writing style as I prefer to read in 1st person not 3rd.

I have followed author Charlotte Duckworth for a few years now. She writers psychological thrillers and they are well worth your time.
I would imagine it is quite difficult then to switch genre and write say a rom com.
But that's what Charlotte has done and her first novel delving in to her new genre was The One That Got Away. I loved it when it came out in 2023.
Charlotte writes her rom com's under the pen name Charlotte Rixon so that there is no confusion.
After The Fire is her second rom com novel..
And she has got it right yet again..
We follow two people Beth & Nick throughout their life. They meet in university sharing a bathroom in their student accommodation. There is an instant connection between them. Just when they are on the brink of getting together, a fire breaks out in their accommodation. A friend gets trapped in the building and it is one moment or one decision made that night that sets both their lives on a path or trajectory that never sees them come together.
They both loved each other but guilt, pain and many more emotions stopped them from ever having more.
Delving in and out of each others lives throughout the years after university helps at times but ultimately shows each of them what they could have if only they were strong enough.
How I wished they would sit down and discuss what happened, try get professional help to help them move on and heal. It was quite sad really to watch how their lives unfolded because of what happened in university.
A book I found to be so full of emotion between the two characters that you could almost feel it lift off the pages.
Well worth your time but be careful, there may be some triggers in it for people.

I absolutely adored After the Fire by Charlotte Rixon. This is 'One Day' meets 'Love, Rosie'. We go back to where it all began, when Beth and Nick met at university and immediately sparks flew. But it isn't plain sailing, and it's not your usual romance book. It tracks where both Beth and Nick are over a series of years since the fire.

Rixon's writing gets you immediately, and I was enthralled by the start. Beth and Nick have their flaws, their litanies, and their reasons why they do what they do. Everything is reasoned, and I felt true empathy for them. 

I found myself staying up far too late to read this amazing book, and felt true love and true pain. I will easily be picking up more of Rixon's writing. 

You should read this book if you're after a story that leaves you hanging again and again, but where you feel like you're in the relationships yourself. 

Thanks to NetGalley for this eArc.

This was a very emotional and intriguing read. I enjoyed reading about Beth and Nick’s separate life professions, and how they kept coming back together in various ways.

However, the timeline felt very clunky to me. We barely got to spend any time with Beth and Nick before the fire happened, so the opportunity to build up valuable character development was lost. After that, the timeline jumps seemed quite sporadic, and I struggled to remain engaged with the story as a result.

This could have been an absolutely phenomenal read, but sadly the pacing lets it down.

That being said, I liked the writing style and the romantic monologues were done very well, so I would be interested in reading more works by this author 🥰

I love a will-they-won’t-they romance, and After the Fire was an emotional one, following the main characters through difficult times as they tried to live their lives despite experiencing grief. It addressed a range of topics, including relationship abuse, mental health and fame, depicting these in depth without taking away from the hopeful tone of the novel. Some moments were incredibly harrowing, but these were balanced with tender moments between Beth and Nick, along with lively dialogue that illustrated their friendship.

My only issue with this was the fact it took them so long to talk about the fire, especially as they were able to support each other through other experiences. There was also a lot of “we can never be together now”, which seemed a bit forced at points, because neither of them were in any way to blame for what happened. I just wanted them to hurry up and get together 😅

An incredibly compelling and emotional novel, perfect for those who love a complicated but heartwarming romance. Thank you so much to @headofzeus for the chance to read this early!

*I was gifted a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

The author has done it again! Her book last year was one of my reads of the year and this one is no different. It has suspense, an ever lasting friendship and guilt like no other, I loved it!

In this compelling story, Beth and Nick's lives intertwine from their university days, sharing moments of joy and sorrow through grief, marriages, divorces, career upheavals, and family dramas. Fourteen years ago, they survived a devastating fire that changed their paths forever, leaving them haunted by pain, memories, and guilt. Despite their attempts to move on, they can't escape the undeniable truth: they’re in love with each other. As they confront their past and the lingering effects of the fire, they must find a way to embrace their future together while overcoming the shadows that keep pulling them back.

TW: fire, domestic violence, death

I was kindly asked to read and review “After the fire” by the publisher, to whom I thank this opportunity. I also thank everyone involved in NetGalley in allowing me early access. All opinions are my own.

“After the fire” is the story of young Beth and Nick over the years. They’ve met at college, but a fire will determine the dynamics of their relationship and this is the aftermath of such traumatic experience for both of them.

The book follows the two MCs over the years, counting from after the fire, this means, one, two, three, etc, years after. It’s a book that’s ideal for fans of “One Day” by David Nicholls, as this has the same progression. It’s a slow burn romance of missed opportunities over the years, with an alternating point of view between the MCs. It is not, however, my kind of book, as I feel it relies too much on the miscommunication trope, which is present from earlier on, even when the MCs are together.

I felt their initial love was too sudden, which might make sense given they were only eighteen, but still it felt rushed and not in line with the remaining progression of the narrative. I felt the beginning was maybe too rushed, as Beth and Anna did not have that much proximity (neither did Anna and Nick). Nick felt too much Anna’s death while Beth felt too little. It gets clearer in the end, but I felt it could have been better achieved earlier on.

I always like to end on a positive note, highlight the parts I’ve enjoyed the most and for this one was, without a doubt, the portrait of domestic violence. As a society, we tend to believe only women are victims of domestic violence, which, being true in the majority of the cases, does not cover all of the spectrum. It was really interesting seeing the other face of domestic violence and the character’s conflicted feelings being a male suffering from it. It added realism to the overall plot and gave opportunity for character growth.

This review will also be available on my Goodreads account and, later on, on my Instagram account (@cat.literary.world)

After the fire, is about 2 uni students who met and have feelings for each other right from the start. However a tragedy at their residential halls separate them before they could give their blossoming love a chance. What follows is a 15 year friendship where the timing is never right for them to be in a romantic relationship especially with the tragedy they have in common.

I did not enjoy the part where the college tragic incident casts a shadow on their dynamic everytime they try to get together. It was a put off honestly and hence why I didn't enjoy the story very much. 2.5 stars for me as it gave a ending where the characters could finally be together.

I quite liked this book. I think it did well to show how different people process grief over the years. This book does centre around a few deaths (massive TW) but not only that, it also has representation for hoarding and dealing with a family member who hoards. I think this book is perfect for those who enjoyed One Day by David Nicholls.

After the Fire is emotional, heart-wrenching and very engaging from start to finish. I agree with other reviewers that it'll really resonate with fans of One Day. Highly recommended!

Meeting as Freshers at university, sharing they same halls of residence. Nick and Beth are at the start of their relationship, then tragedy happens.
Both deal with it very differently. Losing touch and moving on with careers in very different directions.
They reconnect at different stages of their lives. A case of never the right timing. Will they ever overcome the past to make a future?
A heart breaking and reaffirming story that your soul mate is out there

I loved After the Fire. It follows Beth and Nick who meet at university and their relationship over the many years After the Fire. It was great, I didn't want it to end!

I love stories that span over many years, and I love them even more when it's paired with a will they/ won't they scenario, just like this one.

There's lots of heavy, serious topics throughout. And I applaud the author for highlighting male domestic abuse because it isn't something that I see very often in books. It was difficult to read in parts, and I found it really emotional but I was also glad it wasn't shyed away from.

After the fire was authentic, relatable and heartbreaking. I honestly didn't know how this was going to end for them both, and that's why I love relationships that build over years. They were flawed, made huge mistakes, but the love they silently held for each other gave me hope.

The only reason this wasn't 5 stars is because I wasn't always a huge fan of the MMC. He had alot going on admittedly, but his behaviour towards our FMC wasn't always justified.

Fans of One Day will absolutely adore this book, as did I! Thank you netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of this.

Oh my goodness, finally I read something that I enjoyed and was engaged with emotionally. The thing is that whatever I tell you about this book it won`t do it justice. Here: it`s about friendship, family, love, trauma, timing, loneliness, longing, distance, and domestic violence. How does it sound? Not great, right? But it is great! This is a beautifully written story about finding yourself and the one and only at the right time, plus all of the above. It still sounds messy, but honestly, this book is worth your time. It`s not perfect, but it`s gripping, immersing, sad, yet hopeful. This is not another stupid romance, it`s so much more.

After the Fire is a story that delves into the complexities of timing and fate. The story opens before the tragedy of the fire at university, where the Beth and Nick, first cross paths. This initial meeting lays the foundation for a profound connection that will shape their lives in unexpected ways.

The story masterfully transitions from the early days of Beth and Nick's acquaintance to the years following the devastating fire. Then it explores the deep friendship and unspoken bond that ties Beth and Nick together, despite the passage of time and the scars of tragedy. Their annual reunions around the anniversary of the fire serve as a poignant reminder of their shared past and the enduring nature of their connection.

Character development is a standout feature in After the Fire. Beth and Nick are intricately developed, each embarking on their own personal journeys of healing and growth. Charlotte Rixon paints a really vivid picture of their individual struggles and triumphs. Beth's resilience and determination to rebuild her life are portrayed with sensitivity and authenticity, while Nick's own path is marked by moments of introspection and a search for meaning in the aftermath of the fire.

Their enduring friendship, despite the years and distance, is beautifully depicted. The recurring theme of finding their way back to each other year after year adds a layer of depth to their relationship, highlighting the power of fate and the indomitable human spirit.

It's a beautifully written story that explores themes of timing, fate, and the resilience of the human spirit. This book is a must-read for anyone who appreciates a well-crafted narrative filled with emotional depth and compelling characters.

I can definitely see this being the "it" book for fans of One Day by David Nicholls, and if you're in a numbed-down state after watching the show you should go for it. Beth and Nick’s relationship is a perfect blend of will-they-won’t-they, and the exploration of how grief and trauma manifests in each of them is executed painfully well. I, however, was not much of a fan of the aforementioned book… and the same goes for this one. I thought that there was a lot going on with the time-skips and everything, and would have loved to feel a bit more emotionally connected to the characters, considering what they’d been through together. We only briefly saw them interact at university before the tragedy took place, and between that and the aftermath, too much time had passed for me to believe they could pick up their relationship where they’d left off. I also felt that Rosa and Beth’s relationship dynamics could have been explored a bit more during the in-between years. Aside from these small criticisms, the book has its strengths. I was happy they got the ending they did, and I did like how delicately the story was handled (even the dramatic and gripping bits!) I always love me a dual POV because we get to see both sides of the story, and this delivered on that front. Didn’t cry like I’d expected to (no emotional connection), but some scenes — especially them going to Nick’s house together at the end, and the conversation that ensued — did tug at my heartstrings.
Amongst the numerous sensitive topics addressed, I was surprised — in a good way — to see the inclusion & discussion of male victims of domestic violence. The portrayal underscores that a perpetrator of domestic violence has no gender, and as heartbreaking as it was to see Nick go through what he did, I appreciated how carefully this side of the novel was put forth. All in all, a solid novel, just not one of my favourites by the author.
-
3.25/5 stars!

Girl meets boy, likes him but steers clear as he is in some sort of a relationship and then because tragedy separates their worlds before feelings can be heard. Spanning over a decade of choices, relationships, occasional contact and deep seated fear of the past the friendship between Nick and Beth will have you screaming inside for them to just talk, be honest and get it together!
A lovely cast of supporting characters, particularly the parents, bring depth to the will they-wont they situation as the years pass.
a great read!