In "All Fired Up" we follow the stories of Nic and Kira, with each chapter switching perspectives between the characters. For two characters who were clearly made for each other, it was fantastic to see how realistic their journeys were to figure it out themselves. Each character tackles challenges that are so relatable and make them feel very well-developed. Seeing one of the characters struggle and work on breaking the cycle of feeling unworthy and another work on honestly communicating boundaries, all while seeking enthusiastic consent with each other was so important. Also, having a book where the queer characters just get to be queer and the drama is centered on other things is always a treat. There isn't any hand-holding or justifying people's identities. As such, this book felt like it was written for the LGBTQ+ community with found family, a nonbinary character who never has to correct others' use of their pronouns, disaster lesbians and a lot of inside jokes that go with that trope,. and recognizing everyone's humanity, no matter where they are in their journey. This book is a wonderful peek into a tight group of amazing folks and I hope there will be more to come that focus on the supporting characters, if we're lucky enough to get more books from this author.

cool and fun romance read that I really liked. both MCs were very cool and the setting was nice. 5s tars. tysm for the arc.

There’s lots of fire in this book & it is not just from Nic & Kira’s jobs.

I don’t always love a dual POV, but it definitely worked here. The mid-20s are generally a chaotic and challenging time of figuring out who you are and what you want to do with your life. Even for Kira who knows she wanted to stay in firefighting, had challenges that she had to overcome with personal growth in this book!

It was a perfect blend of spicy, found family, and romance… with a sprinkling of tarot! The shifting of the relationships - not just the romantic ones - brought another great element to the book. Friendships can shift and change and this book focuses not just on the new, exciting, and spicy romance — but those support systems to. It also left a very nice door open for more books in this universe with the tidbits about all the friends in the last chapters !

This was a fun read. The antics were hilarious, emotions high, and probably one of the best uses of a tarot reading I’ve read in a while. I wanted a little more towards the end with the emotional revelations, but I still enjoyed what occurred. Thank you NetGalley for the arc.

All Fired Up by M.K. England is a sapphic new adult romance that highlights the importance of found family, living life for you not the expectations others set forth for you, and facing feelings head on. Both main characters, Kira and Nic, find themselves struggling with their path in life. Nic had left her friend group and found family to attend grad school on the other side of the country. Once she completes her degree, she heads home, expecting to find everything just as she had left it in Seattle. What she wasn’t expecting was her best friend to have a new best friend; enter Kira. Kira is the newest member of the friend group, a firefighter, and her own biggest critic. The two girls join together as partners in crime to stop their shared best friend, Skylar, from jetting off to Fiji to start a new life without them. Once they get to plotting, things really begin to take off between the two.

Overall, I loved the book. It was near impossible to put down. The dynamic between Nic and Kira was perfect. From their jobs being two sides of the same coin (Nic being a pyrologist and Kira being a firefighter) to their opposite personalities. Nic is reserved, introverted, and far too relatable on my end. Kira, on the other hand, has a confidence about her that Nic was lacking. She was a badass and went after what she wanted, even when the powers that be tried to keep her down. They complimented each other exceptionally.

I would have liked to see more of the friend group and their dynamics. Despite this, with the short amount of time the group was on the page, it was clear this story lends itself to the possibility of a series.

CW: alcohol consumption; death of a parent, troubled parental relationships, burning building, misogynistic comments

Thank you to Netgalley and Canary Street Press for gifting me this e-book in exchange for an honest review. All Fired Up will be released on April 29th, 2025.

This is such a cute romcom sapphic read!

Nic is back in Seattle, WA to finally act on her crush for friend Skylar only to find out that Skylar is moving! All the way to Fiji too! While she has been gone, Skylar has found an another close friend, Kira. Nic and Kira strike up a friendship in order to complete operation Keep Skylar in Seattle. However, when a professional pyro and a firefighter team up, sparks are sure to fly!

Newfound friends to lovers, Nic and Kira’s friendship is so natural. More than just a romance book, this book explores topics of found family and letting go of relationships that do not serve you.

With excellent pacing and characters that are easy to connect to, this story pulled me in. I couldn’t put the book down. Even though some of the plot is predictable, there are some twists I didn’t see coming! I have a feeling there will be sequels that focus on Nic and Kira’s Seattle friend group because some mysterious facts are noted about their friends that are setting up for a story focused on each friend. Like what is Willow doing in the woods she keeps disappearing to?

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really loved this book! It was so much more than just a romance. I loved that it was about a 27 year old struggling with abandonment issues and highlighted how hard your mid to late twenties can be. I don’t think it’s talked enough about the time after college and grad school, how hard that transition can be to becoming a “real adult”. Going from what Skylar said “school being easy for her because of deadlines and rules were set by others.” hit me hard.

I loved the mental health aspect of the book too.

I did think that the whole engagement was super fast and I’m not sure how I feel about it. With all the immense changes, I feel like waiting to make big decisions like that is fine. They both already made a bunch of life changing decisions in the last 6 months.

When Nic fled across the country to go to graduate school, she was also running from her feelings for her best friend, Skylar. She comes back to Seattle two years later to a bright pink, glittery box - an elaborate invitation - and immediately assumes the worst. Kira, a firefighter desperate for a promotion in the neighborhood she grew up in and newer to the friend group, is terrified of what Skylar’s announcement and plans mean. She and Nic put their heads together to scheme up ways to make their best friend realize she needs to stay right there with them as emotions flare and relationships grow.

This is a great romance for someone who loves an over the top and slightly cheesy angle, which, unfortunately, is just not me. There are heavy emotional conversations and a lot of miscommunication between everyone in this large friend group. There are secrets and reveals. Frankly, some crazy decisions get made here and they had me absolutely ranting to a friend who had no idea what on earth I was going on about.

All Fired Up is both funny and heartfelt, but at least the first quarter of it was far too melodramatic for me. Honest to god, Nic stares at and waxes poetic about the box on her doorstep for what felt like ages right at the top of this book. That’s not the kind of story I’m normally sticking around for, but the dramatics mellowed out a degree not long after. I’ve enjoyed England’s writing in the past (I was obsessed with their YA sci-fi The Disasters when it came out in 2018) so I was glad that eventually that’s what All Fired up settled into as well. England’s prose is comfortable and fun and often reminded me of Ali Hazelwood’s romances (which I do enjoy, but recognize are divisive).

There were some character development flaws, namely that hardly any of the characters felt fleshed out to any satisfying degree. They hovered around the corners of the narrative for the most part, their absences usually excused by jokes. Willow’s probably a witch so they’re out in the woods somewhere. Grace is in the middle of a work crunch. You know how it goes. They just could have been more than cardboard cut outs of characters. I’m also just not sure if all of the choices made with Skylar’s character were necessary or if they even make sense. It felt like more development was needed there.

Lastly, and this might just be an ARC problem that gets fixed before the publication date, but there are a lot of little continuity errors. Little things that should be picked up easily in an edit. There were the normal little line edit issues, but these felt a little larger than that and were worth noting as I’m unsure how many will get fixed and they’re the kind of issues that trip me up.

All Fired Up is a fun romance, though, and I’m always going to welcome more queer and STEM works onto my shelves. It’s a little zany for me personally, but I know plenty of people who look for this specific vibe and I’m glad to see this filling that niche. I’ll be looking forward to England’s future works as well.

All Fired Up is set to release on April 29, 2025!

{Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing me this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions here are my own.}

3.5 ⭐️

okay guys this had a lot going on. there’s a love triangle-esque vibe, other person drama, and messy, complicated fmc’s just trying to figure out love together. honestly i thought they were pretty cute and the steam was quite excellent if i do say so myself 🙂‍↕️

I really enjoyed this book! A well written romantic comedy that had me invested and engaged the whole time. I loved the firefighter/scientist troupe and thought that the main characters were well developed. I could see this book being the first in a series where we follow the story lines of other characters. I know that I would read the sequel!

I was really surprised by how much I liked this book. The flow was good, the pace was right, the banter is light but true. I literally just kept on reading and not realizing I was at the end.

The book is about Nic, who is a scientist for fire, and Kira, a firefighter. As Skylar, their mutual best friend introduced the two, she realized that Nic & Kira is the ying and the yang. Nic was pining for Skylar forever, Nic had sever attachment issue basically because of her own parents abandon and emotionally abused her, and she crave a connection so bad that she takes even the negative ones. Kira has the ghost of her dad to deal with, which she channels it to be her career goals.

I like how they got together by scheming on their best friend, Skylar. It brought them together, it shows how much alike and how smart they both are. I appreciated how they both have insecurities of their own, but it's about themselves not necessary about each other. The relationship, chemistry grew very organically, and it's lovely to see. Often times, for bi-characters, the queer person would have insecurities of what-ifs... none of that here. It just shows how true to themselves these characters are, and how loyal they are to their partners, which is nice to see illustrated and not blown up to be characterized. Also love their group of friends, though they seem aloof, but they are there to support.

Like I said, this is lovelier than I had anticipated, and a quick read. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC.

All Fired Up is the first book I've read by MK England & it definitely put them on my authors-to-watch list. England writes fantastic fiction for queer nerds & I am absolutely that demographic. And if you're also a queer nerd who loves reading about friends to lovers, messy sapphics, and found family then All Fired Up is the book for you.

Kira, the firefighter, is not here for your stereotypes or misogyny. She's strong, capable, & committed to the people in her life.

Nic, the pyro scientist, is in love with her best friend & struggling to find her place within her friend group after coming home from grad school.

The two make a duo of self-appointed saviors for a friend they are both certain is about to make a horrible decision with her life. I'd be more frustrated with the characters determination to avoid an honest conversation on the subject if they were more competent in their mission. But as it stands, they're so busy trying not to be attracted to each other that they miss the mark entirely. It makes for a pretty funny rom-com that I thoroughly enjoyed.

Also, there is a fantastic scene with a tarot card reading that I absolutely loved. I am a tarot reader myself & often find fictional depictions to be a bit hokey but this one felt exactly how I would read cards for people. Like a mini therapy session. It was awesome to find this bit of whimsy in a book with characters that are very much about science.

This one comes out April 28th, pre-order it now!

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC.

M.K. England’s All Fired Up is a thrilling and heartfelt blend of action, humor, and personal growth. Following a group of misfit heroes navigating a high-stakes quest, the story delivers fast-paced adventure alongside themes of friendship, redemption, and finding one’s purpose. England’s witty prose and diverse, lovable characters shine, making this an engaging and uplifting read. A perfect pick for fans of adventurous tales with a lot of heart.

Before I get into my review I would like to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of “All Fired Up”! A fire dynamics scientist and a firefighter become friends through a mutual friend, Skylar. Skylar, an irresponsible influencer announces she’s packing up her things and moving to Fiji.

Kira and Nic decide they cannot let this happen. The duo becomes very close as they try to find ways to keep Skylar in Seattle.

I absolutely loved Kira’s and Nic’s chemistry and energy. The quirky humor and the steamy romance were an amazing combination!

I had an absolutely amazing time reading this book and read it in one sitting! I cannot wait to check out more of M.K. England’s books!

Again, thank you NetGalley and HTP for this arc!

All Fired Up was a fun, sexy, romantic comedy with a cast of extremely lovable and unique characters. I enjoyed the dual POVs through the story as the two main characters dealt with the impending departure of their best friend, developed feelings, and struggled with their own futures.

The author really nailed the chemistry between Kira and Nic and I was convinced early on just how compatible and good together they would be.

I can’t wait to read more from M.K. England!

4/5 ⭐
3/5 🌶️

Tropes
- WLW
- Women in STEM
- Found family
- Out and joyful

My Thoughts
I thought this book was a sweet story of a found family where not everyone has it all together. These are younger adults who are still trying to figure out what life is. If one thing I would say, the focus was one of the character's insecurities and mentioning it too many times about how bad she's going to mess up, although I can completely understand it is close to what happens in real life. She had anxiety over her student loans, and it was mentioned a little too much. To the point that I felt the character should've spent more time working on healing the anxiety before the resolution of the story. The author did spend quite a bit of time building the story and not getting to the essence until later. Other than that, this is a delightful read of real people with real issues. I will read this author again. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Triggers
Fires
Fire injury
Love triangle

LGBTQ+ representation
Author and main characters are LGBTQ+.

Nic and Kira don’t know each other, but they are friends with Skylar, and anyone who is friends with Skylar must be great. In fact, Skylar practically pushes them together, as they both learn that Skylar is planning to leave Seattle for Fiji, if not forever, for at least the foreseeable future.

Nic had planned to get together with Skylar, romantically, because she is her anchor. Neither Nic or Kira wants to lose her, so they try to find ways to make her stay, coming up with things that might make hr change her mind, and growing closer as they do. Nic sets things on fire and Kira puts fires out. How could they be compatible, and yet, they are.

This is such a cute romance. Of course, as with all romances, there are misunderstandings, and times you want to take the main characters and shake them until they see the light.

I liked that the reasons for Nic feeling the way she did made sense. And I also liked the Skylar, whom everyone thought of as cookey, was far less than that, and actually was thinking things through.

Thanks to Netgalley for making this book available for an honest review. This book is coming out the 29th of April 2025.

Totally fun queer (lesbian) rom com. I read so many of these and most are sort of meh but this was FUN and creative. I loved the friend group and how much they all obviously cared about each other. This would be a good series with other books focusing on the other characters. Like Ian and Marco! Or maybe Willow? And I want to hear about Skylar’s future adventures.
I grew to really care about these characters even if the original trope about their connection was so silly (the firefighter and the fire-starter!). I got to read an e-arc of this for free through NetGalley but I’d recommend it for everyone to read when it comes out. I might even buy my own copy just to have. It’s really great.

This was an enjoyable, easy/low-angst read. Once I started reading, I think I read the entire novel in just a few days (my to-do list was sorely neglected). I loved the dichotomy of a firefighter and a (legal/sanctioned) fire starter; while firefighters are common, this was the first time I recall seeing a non-arsonist fire starter paired with a firefighter. The two lead characters are in the same friend group, by virtue of sharing a best friend, and it was fun to see how the characters interacted with each of them together and independently, in very realistic and relatable ways.

I’d recommend this book to anyone looking for a light read featuring characters finding their place in life, love, and their careers.

M. K. England does a fantastic job in writing the romance between the characters and worked well overall. I was invested in what was happening and enjoyed the element of this story. I was engaged with what was happening and thought the romance worked well.