I truly appreciate how, through a joyful and messy queer romcom, M.K. England thoughtfully highlights the importance of therapy and mental health, while exploring the courage it takes to move on from what no longer serves you and the power of choosing your own happiness over others’ expectations. And, of course, how the bonds of found family can absolutely be fireproof.

ARC Review: All Fired Up by M. K. England
Pub Date: April 29, 2o25

Nic Wells comes back to Seattle after two years away going to grad school and trying to get over her best friend, Skylar. When Skylar suddenly announces that she is moving to Fiji, Nic thinks she's making a huge mistake. And conveniently, the newest addition to their friend group, fire fighter Kira, thinks the same. So the two of them team up to help Skylar realize the mistake that she's making and become closer throughout this process.

I really really loved this book! Both Nic and Kira have quite a bit of character growth to do during the course of the book. but they really do the work! They were both really easy to root for and their histories and backstories made me really invested in their growth. I really liked their relationship. Typically I don't love books where one of the main characters is in love with someone else throughout the course of the book BUT here we get to see a really honest conversation between Skylar and Nic where Skylar helps Nic to realize that she never actually loved Skylar, she just doesn't want to lose her and her family (girl has some major abandonment issues). Nic's realization of this is a huge part to her growth and she realizes what she feels for Kira is so different and actually real.

The HEA was immensely satisfying and I loved the friend group so so much!! I think we got a hint of what the next book will be and as someone who loves a queer awakening...I'm SO ready

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing/Canary Street Press for the eARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Thank you to @canarystreetpress for providing me an early copy of this ebook. All opinions are my own.

I had such a great time with this one!

Nic is just back in town after 2 years away at grad school, hoping to finally admit her feelings to her best friend Skylar, when Skylar announces that she will be leaving the country in a few months! While she’s been away, Skylar and Nic’s other friends have added a new member to their friend group, Kira, whom Nic immediately befriends as they make a plan to work together to stop Skylar from leaving.

First of all, I loved that these two were a fire scientist and a firefighter. What could be better?! 😆

Secondly, I loved the scheming, that kind of got flirty, and had them spending so much time together…(“definitely” not *dates*. 👀)

The tension was so good, and I was just holding my breath waiting for a dam to break whenever they were alone together.

The writing style hooked me immediately; very engaging and fun.

There were some mysteries that kept me guessing, especially when it came to the side characters. Each side character definitely brought their own personality, and I wouldn’t be mad about seeing them featured in some theoretical future books?! 😍

Overall a really fun sapphic romcom that I think would make for a perfect summer read!

What this book is giving:
✅ Sapphic Romcom
✅ Dual POV
✅ Firefighter
✅ Fire Scientist
✅ Unrequited Love…for another character
✅ Forced Proximity
✅ Is this a date? It feels like a date?

Rating:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
🌶️🌶️🌶️ / 5

Right from the beginning I fell in love with this story. From the stop Skylar plot, to the little glances that Nic and Kira give each other the romance was one for the history books. They were really cute together and I like that their careers complement each other. I really enjoyed the way the story approaches moving forward as you grow up with your friendships (romances/crushes?). Those things are difficult to deal with and this story does a decent job of it.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an E-ARC of this book.

I thought this one was a sweet easy read that I read all in one sitting! It's clearly the start of a series in their friend group and I loveeee interconnected series so I look forward to it.

My inital reaction this book in the first few chapters was bad as I hate AirBnBs and Gentrification and I was worried that was what the friend was doing, so I was glad that the reveal was not that, although it still seems like the best friend is going to have an AirBnB and that is still upsetting to me as a person who lives in a city impacted by the AirBnB industry... This kept this from being a 4 Star Read.

OTHERWISE! I think our two characters were great for each other and balanced each other well. They were both a mess in their own ways and that's my favorite kind of book!

Plot-wise, this was silly and fun while still being hard-hitting as we think about adult friendship and growth as adults. I liked how England wrote that as someone struggling with adult friendships.

Out April 29th, check it out!

(I use storygraph so I actually gave this book 3.75)

A wonderful romance between two people who compliment each other so well, I absolutely loved Nic and Kira! Between the amazing smut, the genuine chaos of being in your mid-20s, firefighters, and a slew of loveable queer side characters, you have pretty much everything I could ask for in a sapphic romance. I do feel like the pacing got a little hectic towards the end, but that’s that is that case for contemporary romance. I also thought that the tarot scene in particular was very well written!

Thank you to MK England, the publisher, and NetGalley for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review.

I found this sapphic romcom to be be fast paced and well written. I liked both FMC-Nic and Kira and found that they complemented each other well.
I appreciated their similar but different jobs, and their personalities. Initially, I really didn't like Skylar but I warmed up to her after she explained her trip to her friends. I liked the whole friend group and would be interested to read more by this author if she expanded on them.

All Fired Up is a slow BURN romance with some stream! I enjoyed watching the characters relationships transform through communication & love. It took me a little longer to get into the story but once I was, I fell in love with Kira & Nic’s romance. I feel like I wanted a little more about their future! 3/5
Thank you to Net Galley & for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a fun read that I finished in one sitting (I couldn't put it down)! Light, witty, and sexy in all the best ways. I loved getting to know not only the main characters and the depth to their characters, but also the extensive group of supporting characters in the friend group. I want to be in a group like that, and while I think this is a standalone, it made me wish for several sequels featuring others in the friend group! So supportive, loving, and FUN as hell. The emotional depth of the characters and the way their trauma impacted them and their relationships felt very realistic and I found myself with tears at several points in the book.

I did find myself rooting for both Kira and Skylar as the love interests for Nic, which was a bit challenging knowing this is not a why-choose and that the HEA is for Kira and Nic, but I loved the way things wrapped up and the little reveals at the end of what happens next for the friend group. I wish more time was given for Kira and Nic to explore their relationship more, though, as Nic's unrequited feelings for Skylar were not resolved until quite a bit into the book.

I think when an author leaves a reader yearning for more of not only the current book and its main characters, but also additional stories about the same universe and supporting characters, they've gotten something right!

A light fun queer rom com that sees a second chance romance, a bit of a love triangle and ....fire. It's nice to read a novel with characters who work in interesting jobs-in this case firefighting and fire science. The characters are well drawn, the situation believable, and it's all about knowing yourself. Thanks to the publisher for the arc. A very good read.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley, Canary Street Press, and Harlequin Audio for giving me access to both the e-ARC and ALC in exchange for an honest review. I both read and listened to this book at the same time.
This book honestly hit me in the feels. As someone who is a licensed therapist (and struggles with mental health as well), it was nice seeing how the author worked through the different obstacles the characters faced, and showing that even the most "presentable" people have insecurities and flaws. I can relate both to Nic and Kira in different ways, and it was amazing watching their story unfold and bring them together. And the found family was really hitting me in the feels, with their compassion and hard but honest advice. And I thought the ending wrapped everything up perfectly - though I wouldn't mind seeing some of the other characters have their own story (iykyk). Overall, I highly recommend this heated (pun intended) sapphic romance.

This was cute! Ultimately it wasn't the perfect read for me, but it was light and fluffy and Sapphic. I wish the "being in love with your best friend" plotline resolved itself a little earlier, but if this book looks interesting to you, I'd give it a shot. Sapphic firefighter 🔥🔥🔥

This was so cute! I loved the pairing of a firefighter with someone who sets fires for a living. Kira and Nicole had excellent chemistry, which led to some very fun spicy scenes. I never really warmed up to Skylar, and I’m not sure I was supposed to, but I thought the rest of the found family was very sweet. And Kira’s frustrations with being passed over for promotions by less qualified dude bros was so relatable.

I received an advanced copy from the publisher and am voluntarily leaving this review.

The story of Nic and Kira was great! It really is a great example of how love shows up when you least expect it. While trying her hardest not to fall in love, Nic can't escape how perfectly Kira balances her. One critique I would like to make is that I was confused by the timeline of this book. Everything was fine until chapter 19 when I noticed the date said Aug 2025. So, we're reading into the future? While I enjoyed the story, that little detail was in my head for the rest of the book. Other than that, I loved the relationship dynamic, the shenanigans, the friend group, and the spice.

Anyways! Thank you, M. K. England and Canary Street Press, for allowing me to read this book prior to publication! I appreciate the opportunity.

First, I want to thank Netgalley and Harper Collins Publishing for giving me the opportunity to read All Fired Up by M K England. This review is solely my own opinion. This book was great! It was a decently quick read, and the storyline was cute. The story follows Nic, who recently returned to Seattle after spending 2 years in grad school. Nic left without telling her best friend Skyler. She was in love with her. While Nic is off at grad school, her group of friends adopt a newcomer, Kira. Kira is a firefighter for SFD and is constantly fighting the politics of moving up in the department. Nic and Kira instantly bond and get close to each other. The story was great, I rated it 4.25 stars and highly recommend reading it when it comes out at the end of this month.

This was such a fantastic read, especially with a new to me author! I found myself invested straight away and could tell from the hilarious get go that I was going to really enjoy this read. Paired with fantastic narration with a wide variety of voices that helps discern the characters, I read it in one sitting, what a wonderful introduction to this author!

This is the perfect Queer rom com that’s got just the right amount of hope, heart and healing all wrapped up into one hilariously witty tale. With diverse characters going through real life, and oh so relatable shifts in their hearts and minds, this is one of those books that will undoubtedly make readers feel seen in more ways than one.

For me pacing is King here, truly. The pacing was absolutely flawless. I loved the build up of the relationship alongside them sort of rebuilding themselves along the way. For me that really set this apart from a lot of rom coms that can feel a bit devoid of the time it might need to feel realistic. I really enjoyed the time that was given to develop the connection and the friendship, and that nothing ever felt rushed or dragged on whatsoever. I loved that we saw a lot of growth and healing along the way for these two oh so root for able MCs, and it was so easy to be invested in them. The spicy scenes were well written, and well timed, the narration was also fantastic for these parts too so it’s truly win win in the spice realm I never found myself wanting to speed things along, and even listened at a slower rate than normal because I loved being along for the ride on the authors timeline. I’m often a double speed must know what happens next theorizer, and I just wanted to sink in and enjoy this, which was so lovely!

Overall this was an absolute win for me and will be one I regularly recommend. It will absolutely be a comfort reread for me as well. I couldn’t have asked for anything more, well besides maybe a movie based on this, oh and spin off for a side character or three! I can’t wait to see what comes next for this author!

Thank you to M.K England, NetGalley, Hive, Harlequin Audio & Canary Street Press for giving me the ebook ARC and ALC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

This book and Nic are so chaotic I could only fell in love with both! I just liked it so much. The story is so funny and so deep at the same time! This is my first book from this author but certainly it will be not my last!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

I really enjoyed Nic’s chaotic personality, I think because her feelings and emotions felt very valid and genuine. Having essentially lost both her parents at a young age and finding solace in Skylar and her family made her feel loved and therefore attached. Skylar was honestly so caring and loveable, I could totally tell why Nic would have had feelings for her. Using school in Nic’s case to escape her unrequited feelings was definitely not the right move, but it also led her to finding out how much she loved what she was researching, so in this case it worked out for the best. It is so relatable to be scared of going after what you want and sometimes having to only rely on yourself and not others to get you there. I absolutely loved the shenanigans that her and Kira came up with and their ongoing banter and playfulness was really sweet and adorable. Even though they were very much opposites attract, I loved the unique idea of dealing with different sides of fire was something that brought them close together. Even though Nic definitely needed a lot of help in the beginning to figure out her feelings, her character development was really great and I loved seeing her finally confront her buried feelings and seek help from a therapist.

Kira was also such a great character, especially the fact that I could picture how hot she was in her firefighter uniform! Even though she came off as put together and confident, it was nice to see her vulnerable side and her ability to overcome her horrible situation at the fire station. Not only did I love her friendship with Skylar, but I loved the way she took care of Nic and was able to bring out the best in her. Her and Nic complemented each other perfectly and had amazing chemistry. Not only that, but I liked that the story didn't make Skylar choose between Nic and Kira and how they were both able to add their personality to the group and not have it be awkward. I thought the pacing of the romance was extremely well done and didn't feel rushed or lagging. Ultimately I just really loved both Kira and Nic individually, and adored them even more as a couple, and was rooting for them from the very beginning.

Skylar had such a big personality and yet, also had small glimpses of vulnerability that I loved. You could feel all the love she had for each and everyone in the friend group and vise versa how devastated they all are to see her go. I love how she seemed to know everything about everyone without them even knowing. I also especially loved how well she handled everything with Nic and letting her down gently but also using her counseling skills to give some tough love. She just seemed so intune to everyone and knew what they needed, which felt really special. Besides Skylar though, I wish the other members of the friend group were fleshed out more because there are so many secrets and mysteries surrounding each of them. Even though you could still feel all the love between everyone, it would have been nice to get a bigger glimpse into their lives, especially how they all became friends and their individual backstories. I also have to say that I really enjoyed Skylar’s mom and loved her relationship with Nic.

Even though the plot was a bit unconventional, I really enjoyed the story, especially the shenanigans. I appreciated the insight into the firefighting world (even though everything is how I unfortunately expected it to be) and the stem researching world. I’m also glad Skylar didn’t turn out to be some bimbo influencer but was actually very well educated and had very inspirational movies for her Fiji venture. My favorite parts were the tarot card scene (which gives you a very clear picture as to what is going to eventually happen) and of course the adorable proposal in the epilogue. Overall, you really can't help but fall in love with not only Nic and Kira, but also the entire friend group dynamic and how much love they have for each other and what they are willing to do to stay in each other’s lives. Everything from the character development to the unique plot and spicy chemistry was really heartfelt and beautiful.

All Fired Up has me fired up! This sapphic romance was such a fun read. I really enjoyed the characters and the way they were very human. Sometimes romance novels make these characters seem completely unreal, but I loved that I felt as if I was a part of Nic and Kira's friend group.

Nic and Kira's romance had the potential to be phenomenal or horrific, based on where the mis-communication was solved, and I was so THRILLED that it was dealt with at an appropriate time in the book and left room for realistic healing and apologies.

This romance was a dang good time and I'm hoping to see more of these friends again!

DNF@ 20%

I didn't like the writing. The dialogue was too cheesy and ridiculous to me. And I didn't care for the characters.