While We Were Burning

By: Sara Koffi

Narrated by: Heni Zoutomou, Karissa Vacker, Louisa Zhu

Parasite meets Such a Fun Age in a scorching debut that is as heartbreaking as it is thrilling, examining the intersection of race, class, and female friendship, and the devastating consequences of everyday actions.

After her best friend's mysterious death, Elizabeth Smith’s picture-perfect life in the Memphis suburbs has spiraled out of control—so much so that she hires a personal assistant to keep her on track. Composed and elegant, Brianna is exactly who she needs and slides so neatly into Elizabeth’s life, almost like she belonged there from the start. Soon, the assistant Elizabeth hired to distract her from her obsession with her friend's death is the same person working with her to uncover the truth behind it.

Because Brianna has questions too.

She wants to know why the police killed her young Black son. Why someone in Elizabeth’s neighborhood called the cops on him that day. Who took that first step that stole her child away from her. And the only way she’s ever going to be able to find out is to entwine herself deep into Elizabeth’s life, where the answers to her questions lie. As the two women hurtle towards an electrifying final showdown, and the lines between employer and friend blur, it becomes clear that neither of them is what they first appear.

What a wild ride!!

I really enjoyed this book. As soon as you think you’re on to something another plot twist is thrown your way and all you can do is read in complete and utter shock. I loved it and it was perfect for my book club

delicious revenge

this book is WILD! It was so good I made my husband listen to it just for how wild it was. twists and turns. I love books about unlikable women, and this was very well done.

Psycho Chaos

What a chaotic collection of characters.

More than one head shaking moment filled with WTFs.

Not the best, not the worst

It was okay! I’m not sure the “twists” were that earth shattering or overall very interesting but I wasn’t mad that I read it.

Loved the performers but the story was meh

I got to the end and was thinking, “wait, that’s it?!” So many loose ends, I’m mad I wasted money on this